Reference Voltage Tracking Circuit for Low-Latency DVS-Up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Voltage regulators experience latency in responding to dynamic voltage scaling-up commands due to the time it takes for the output voltage to increase after exiting scaling-down mode, degrading system performance.
Innovation Solution
A voltage regulator design that includes a voltage conversion circuit, voltage divider, reference voltage generator, and error amplifier, where the reference voltage is adjusted to track the second feedback voltage during scaling-down, allowing immediate increase in output voltage when switching to scaling-up mode by starting from the current level rather than a target level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the voltage regulator performs DVS-down operation in free-running mode to decrease output voltage, then power consumption is reduced, but latency time increases when switching to DVS-up mode
Solution Approach 1:
The reference voltage generator performs preliminary action by pre-adjusting the reference voltage to trace the second feedback voltage during DVS-down mode. This preliminary adjustment ensures that when switching to DVS-up mode, the reference voltage is already at the appropriate level, eliminating the latency time that would otherwise occur while the reference voltage catches up from a lower target level.
2Speed
If the reference voltage is adjusted to trace the second feedback voltage during scaling-down, then the output voltage can immediately increase in scaling-up mode, but the circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit performs multiple functions: it generates the control signal for the voltage conversion circuit, adjusts the reference voltage to trace the second feedback voltage during DVS-down mode, and maintains this traced reference voltage for rapid DVS-up response. By making the control circuit multi-functional, the patent achieves fast response speed without adding separate dedicated circuits for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A reference voltage generation circuit includes a voltage conversion circuit, a voltage divider, a reference voltage generator, an error amplifier, and a control circuit. The voltage conversion circuit is configured to convert an input voltage to an output voltage according to a first control signal. The voltage divider performs a voltage division operation on the output voltage to generate first and second feedback voltages. The reference voltage generator is configured to generate a reference voltage according to a second control signal. The error amplifier is configured to generate the first control signal according to a difference between the reference voltage and the first feedback voltage. The control circuit is configured to generate the second control signal according to the second feedback voltage and the reference voltage. In response to the second feedback voltage being decreasing gradually, the reference voltage is adjusted to trace the second feedback voltage.