Regulator Diagnostic Circuit Adaptive Threshold Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional voltage and current regulators face challenges in detecting degradation independently of the regulation point, often requiring redesign for different output levels and failing to continue operation until regulation is lost, with fixed threshold-based under voltage detection being inadequate for identifying causes beyond low supply voltage.
Innovation Solution
A diagnostic circuit and regulator configuration that uses an amplifier with a reference voltage and feedback signal to generate a control voltage, allowing adaptive diagnostics independent of the regulation point, and includes a current mirror for voltage and current regulators to indicate regulator performance issues such as supply voltage sufficiency, faults, temperature effects, and load connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a fixed threshold is used for under voltage detection, then the detection is simple to implement, but the threshold must be higher than the actual degradation level and cannot adapt to different regulation points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the diagnostic threshold adaptive rather than fixed. The diagnostic circuit dynamically adjusts its comparison threshold based on the actual regulation point of the regulator, allowing it to detect degradation at the true performance boundary regardless of what the regulation point is. This resolves the contradiction by enabling both ease of implementation (through a straightforward comparison mechanism) and adaptability (through automatic threshold adjustment based on regulation point).
Solution Approach 2:
The diagnostic circuit performs self-service by automatically determining its own comparison threshold based on the regulator's operation. Rather than requiring external configuration or fixed design values, the circuit monitors the regulator's output and autonomously sets the appropriate threshold for detecting degradation, making the system adaptable without additional complexity.
2Device complexity
If a fixed threshold is used for under voltage detection, then the circuit design is simple, but the regulator must be shut down before actual degradation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamics to enable the diagnostic circuit to operate continuously across varying conditions. By making the detection threshold dynamic rather than static, the circuit can adapt to different regulation points and load conditions, allowing the regulator to operate right up to its actual degradation point rather than being conservatively shut down early. This maintains simplicity while improving reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the diagnostic circuit is designed for a specific regulation point, then the design is straightforward, but redesign is required for different output levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a diagnostic circuit that works with any regulation point without requiring redesign. The circuit achieves this by deriving its comparison threshold from the regulator's actual output rather than from a fixed design parameter, making it universally applicable across different output levels and applications while maintaining straightforward design principles.
4Reliability
If conventional under voltage detection is used, then low supply voltage can be detected, but other causes of regulation loss such as faults and temperature effects cannot be identified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by continuously monitoring the regulator's actual performance and comparing it to the dynamic threshold. This feedback mechanism enables the diagnostic circuit to detect not only low supply voltage but also other conditions such as internal faults, temperature effects, and load issues that cause the regulator to deviate from its regulation point, thereby improving detection accuracy without excessive complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus including a regulator configured to generate a regulated output and a diagnostic circuit configured to generate a diagnostic signal indicative of whether the regulator is able to maintain regulation is described. The regulator includes an amplifier having a first input responsive to a reference voltage, a second input responsive to a feedback signal associated with the regulated output, and an output at which a control voltage is provided and further includes a pass element controlled by the control voltage and coupled to a node which the regulated output is provided. The diagnostic circuit is responsive to the control voltage and to the reference voltage to generate the diagnostic signal. The regulator may be a voltage regulator or a current regulator and in some embodiments, the diagnostic signal takes the form of a composite signal indicative of whether a voltage regulator and whether a current regulator can maintain regulation.