Serial Bus Control for Point-of-Load Regulators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power control systems for electronic systems are complex and bulky due to the need for multiple connections to control and monitor point-of-load (POL) regulators and auxiliary devices, which increases with the complexity and power requirements of electronic systems.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a uni-directional or bi-directional serial bus to communicate with POL regulators, allowing for centralized control and monitoring, reducing the number of connections needed and integrating auxiliary device control, with a system controller managing POL regulators and auxiliary devices through a unified interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a multi-connection parallel bus is used to control and monitor each POL regulator individually, then each regulator can be precisely controlled and monitored, but the system complexity and size increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a single serial communication bus that serves multiple functions: it controls POL regulator activation, programs voltage set-points via VID codes, monitors output voltages, and detects fault conditions. This universal communication interface replaces multiple dedicated parallel buses, reducing system complexity while maintaining comprehensive control and monitoring capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple separate control and monitoring functions into a unified serial communication protocol. Instead of having separate parallel buses for enable/disable control, voltage programming, voltage monitoring, and fault detection, all these functions are combined into a single serial bus communication system, significantly reducing the number of connections and system complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple separate connections are provided for each POL regulator control and monitoring, then precise control is achieved, but the physical routing congestion and circuit board area consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The serial communication bus performs multiple control and monitoring functions through a single physical connection, eliminating the need for separate parallel buses for each function. This reduces the number of physical traces required on the circuit board, freeing up routing space and reducing overall circuit board area consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential control and monitoring functions from multiple separate parallel connections and consolidates them into a single serial communication interface. This extraction of core functionality into a unified protocol removes the redundant physical connections that would otherwise congest the circuit board routing.
3Loss of energy
If intermediate bus voltage is distributed throughout the system with POL regulators at each power consumption point, then power delivery efficiency improves, but the need for coordinated control of multiple regulators increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The serial communication bus implements a feedback mechanism where each POL regulator reports its output voltage and status to the system controller. The controller uses this feedback information to monitor system-wide power distribution and coordinate regulator operation, ensuring efficient power delivery while maintaining simple individual regulator design and control.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal serial communication interface provides a standardized method for the system controller to coordinate all POL regulators throughout the system. This single communication protocol handles activation, programming, monitoring, and fault detection for all regulators, simplifying the coordination of distributed power delivery across the entire system.
Data Source
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AI summary
A power control system comprises at least one POL regulator, at least one auxiliary device, a serial data bus operatively connecting the POL regulator and the auxiliary device, and a system controller adapted to exchange digital data with the POL regulator and auxiliary device via the serial data bus. The auxiliary device may include a power regulation device, a switching device, a motor control device, a temperature control device, and/or a peripheral device. At least one auxiliary device controller may be operatively coupled between the auxiliary device and the serial data bus. The auxiliary device controller may be integrated with the system controller, or may be external to the system controller. The auxiliary device controller may further comprise at least one register adapted to store the programming data, with the programming data including at least one of turn-on delay, turn-off delay, polarity of input/output signals, fault configuration, and group membership. The auxiliary device controller may be further adapted to receive monitoring data from the auxiliary device, with the auxiliary device controller communicating the monitoring data to the system controller via the serial data bus.