Serial Bus Voltage Compensation via Feedback Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
As advanced devices connected to serial buses like USB increase their power demands, voltage drops across power-switching components can cause the voltage provided to devices to fall outside the operational range, violating USB standards.
Innovation Solution
A serial bus voltage control system comprising a voltage regulator, power switches, and a voltage monitor that compares bus voltages, adjusts the output voltage to maintain voltages within a predetermined operational range, and includes a control loop to prevent excessive voltage output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If power switches are used to distribute power to multiple serial buses, then power delivery capability is improved, but voltage drops cause voltage to fall outside operational range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a voltage monitoring system that continuously measures voltage at each power switch output and feeds this information back to a controller. The controller adjusts the voltage regulator output dynamically based on actual voltage conditions, ensuring voltage remains within operational range despite power distribution losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the voltage regulator output parameter based on monitored voltage conditions. When voltage drops are detected at power switch outputs, the controller increases the regulator output voltage to compensate, maintaining stable voltage delivery to devices despite varying power demands and switch losses.
2Reliability
If voltage regulator output is increased to compensate for voltage drops, then voltage at bus outputs is maintained, but excessive voltage may be generated
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage monitoring system provides real-time feedback on actual bus voltages to the controller. This feedback mechanism prevents overvoltage by continuously comparing monitored voltages against operational thresholds and adjusting the regulator output accordingly, ensuring voltage is increased only to the extent needed to compensate for drops.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic voltage adjustment rather than static compensation. The controller continuously adapts the voltage regulator output based on real-time monitoring data, adjusting voltage levels dynamically to match actual bus conditions and device requirements, preventing both undervoltage and overvoltage conditions.
3Measurement precision
If voltage monitoring is implemented at each power switch output, then voltage control precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage monitoring system serves multiple functions: it monitors voltage for control purposes, detects fault conditions, and provides data for power management decisions. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering comprehensive system management capabilities beyond simple voltage control.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A serial bus network includes a voltage regulator, a plurality of power switches, and a voltage monitor. The voltage regulator provides power to a plurality of serial buses. Each of the serial buses provides power from the voltage regulator to a device coupled to the serial bus. Each of the power switches power from the voltage regulator to one of the serial buses, and includes an input terminal coupled to a voltage regulator output, and an output terminal coupled to one of the serial buses. The voltage monitor is coupled to the voltage regulator and to the output terminal of each of the power switches. The voltage monitor compares bus voltages at the output terminals of the power switches, identifies a lowest of the bus voltages, and adjusts the voltage regulator output voltage such that the identified lowest of the bus voltages is within a predetermined operational voltage range.