Shared Voltage Generating Unit for Circuit Size Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional circuit configurations require separate regulators for voltage conversion and monitoring units, making it difficult to reduce the size of the circuit configuration.
Innovation Solution
An image processing device with a power supply unit that includes a monitoring unit, a voltage conversion unit, and a voltage generating unit, where the voltage generating unit generates a control voltage from an external power source and applies it to both the monitoring unit and the voltage conversion unit, allowing for shared operation and reduced circuit size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate regulators are used to generate control voltage for voltage conversion unit and monitoring unit, then each unit can be independently controlled, but the circuit configuration size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the voltage generation function into a single shared regulator that provides control voltage to both the voltage conversion unit and monitoring unit. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate regulators, reducing circuit configuration size while maintaining independent control capability through shared voltage supply architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared regulator is designed to serve multiple functions by providing control voltage to both the voltage conversion unit and monitoring unit simultaneously. This multi-functional approach allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require separate dedicated regulators, thereby reducing overall circuit size.
2Ease of operation
If separate regulators are used for voltage conversion and monitoring units, then each unit has dedicated power control, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple voltage generation functions into a single shared regulator, reducing the total power consumption associated with voltage regulation operations. By eliminating redundant regulator circuits and their associated overhead, the system achieves lower overall power consumption while maintaining necessary control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared regulator performs multiple voltage regulation tasks simultaneously, improving power utilization efficiency. This multi-functional design reduces the total power required for voltage conversion operations compared to having separate dedicated regulators for each unit.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the size of the circuit configuration and power consumption by allowing the DC/DC converter and monitoring circuit to operate using a common internal voltage, and the clock signal to be shared among multiple components, thereby minimizing the overall circuit size and power usage.
Implementation Method 1
a voltage conversion unit which converts the power-source voltage into a voltage for the power-supplied circuit block
Data Source
AI summary
In the image processing device, a power supply unit outputs a drive voltage. The control unit is driven by the drive voltage and control the image processing unit. The monitoring unit performs a monitoring operation to determine whether the receiving unit receives the operation instruction. A monitoring unit outputs an activation instruction to the voltage conversion unit when the monitoring unit determines that the receiving unit receives the operation instruction. In response to the activation instruction from the monitoring unit, a voltage conversion unit performs a voltage conversion operation for converting a voltage applied by an external power source to the drive voltage. The voltage generating unit generates a control voltage based on a voltage applied by the external power source and applies the control voltage to both the monitoring unit and the voltage conversion unit.