Unified Serial Bus for POL Regulator Control and Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional distributed power systems face complexity and size issues due to the need for multiple connections to control and monitor point-of-load (POL) regulators and auxiliary devices, which complicates power delivery and management in electronic systems.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a common serial data bus to control and monitor both programmable and non-programmable voltage regulators, with a data monitoring circuit to receive and communicate analog measurements from auxiliary voltage regulators, allowing for coordinated control and monitoring of POL regulators and auxiliary devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a multi-connection parallel bus is used to control and monitor each POL regulator, then each regulator can be individually activated and programmed, but the system complexity and size increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate control connections (enable/disable, VID coding, monitoring) into a single serial data bus that carries all control and monitoring signals for multiple POL regulators and auxiliary devices, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining individual control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The serial data bus serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides enable/disable control, voltage programming via VID codes, and fault monitoring for both POL regulators and auxiliary devices, replacing the need for separate dedicated connections for each function
2Reliability
If additional connections are added to monitor voltage and current from each POL regulator, then fault detection capability is improved, but the system complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines fault monitoring signals from multiple POL regulators and auxiliary devices into the same serial data bus used for control and programming, eliminating the need for separate monitoring connections and reducing overall system size while maintaining comprehensive fault detection
3Power
If conventional distributed power systems are used to control POL regulators, then power delivery is achieved, but flexibility to control auxiliary devices is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the serial data bus control interface to work with both POL regulators and auxiliary devices (such as fans and LEDs), allowing a single unified control system to manage diverse components with different functions, thereby increasing system versatility while maintaining power delivery capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
A power control system comprises at least one programmable voltage regulator, at least one non-programmable auxiliary voltage regulator, and a system controller operatively connected to the at least one programmable voltage regulator and to said at least one auxiliary voltage regulator via a common serial data bus. The at least one programmable voltage regulator is adapted to provide a corresponding output voltage having characteristics defined by received programming data and to provide monitoring data reflecting operational status of the at least one programmable voltage regulator. The at least one nonprogrammable auxiliary voltage regulator is adapted to provide a corresponding output voltage in response to an enable signal. The system controller is adapted to send the programming data and receive the monitoring data via the serial data bus. A data monitoring circuit is operatively coupled to at least one auxiliary voltage regulator to receive analog measurements and communicate monitoring data.