Regulator Start-Up Current Boost for Fast Low-Power Wake-Up

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Solution Overview

Problem

Low-power regulators experience prolonged start-up times due to low supply currents, which can significantly delay the charging of internal and external capacitors, limiting system speed and user experience.

Innovation Solution

A circuit that provides an additional current during the start-up phase, comprising a first circuit for operational mode and a second circuit for start-up mode, with a switch connecting both circuits during start-up and disconnecting the second circuit once the device transitions to operational mode, utilizing a Schmitt trigger and NOR gate to manage current supply based on power down exit mode signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by stationary object

If low supply current is used in power regulator, then power consumption is reduced, but start-up time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidstart-up time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The power regulator dynamically adjusts its operating state by transitioning from a low-current power-saving mode to a high-current start-up mode when activation is detected. The circuit includes a start-up circuit that provides high current temporarily during power-up, then switches to the low-current operational mode after start-up completion, achieving both low power consumption and fast start-up

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit prepares for fast start-up by including a dedicated start-up circuit that is activated beforehand when power-down exit mode is detected. This preliminary action ensures that high current is immediately available when needed, reducing start-up time without affecting normal power consumption during steady-state operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If high current is provided during start-up, then start-up speed is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestart-up speedVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The high current is provided only periodically during the brief start-up phase rather than continuously. The switch transitions from connecting the start-up circuit (high current) to disconnecting it (low current) after start-up completion, ensuring high power is delivered only when necessary for fast start-up while minimizing overall power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The start-up circuit is discarded after it completes its function of charging the capacitor during start-up. The switch disconnects the start-up circuit from the output once the capacitor is sufficiently charged, preventing continued high current draw and reducing power consumption during normal operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentUS11092988B2Start-up speed enhancement circuit and method for lower-power regulators

Publication Date: 2021.08.17 INVENSENSE INC

AI summary

A start-up speed enhancement circuit and method for lower-power regulators is provided herein. Operations of a method can comprise detecting a condition of a power regulator being a start-up condition and applying a first current and a second current to the power regulator based on the start-up condition. The method can also comprise determining the condition of the power regulator changes from the start-up condition to an operation condition. Further, the method can comprise stopping application of the second current to the power regulator based on the condition being the operation condition.