Shunt Integrated Voltage Regulator for Power Delivery Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
External voltage regulators suffer from long latency in responding to sudden changes in current demand, leading to voltage droops, and have stringent design requirements for capacitance and magnetics, while integrated voltage regulators can respond quicker but complicate design with tighter requirements.
Innovation Solution
A shunt integrated voltage regulator is implemented on the same IC die as the load circuit to augment the external voltage regulator, providing current to maintain voltage within specified ranges during sudden increases in demand, thereby minimizing voltage droops and allowing the external regulator time to respond.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an external voltage regulator is used to supply voltage to the load circuit, then the design requirements for capacitance and magnetics can be less stringent, but the regulator suffers from long latency in responding to sudden changes in current demand, leading to voltage droops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary integrated voltage regulator circuit located on the IC die between the external voltage regulator and the load circuit. This intermediary regulator acts as a buffer that can rapidly respond to voltage droops caused by sudden current demands, while the external regulator continues to operate with its simpler design. The intermediary regulator detects voltage droops and activates to supplement current delivery, resolving the contradiction between external regulator design simplicity and fast response time.
2Loss of time
If an integrated voltage regulator is implemented on the IC die to respond quicker to current demand changes, then latency is reduced, but the design requirements become tighter and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the voltage regulation function into two separate circuits: an external voltage regulator and an integrated voltage regulator on the IC die. Each regulator has a specialized role - the external regulator handles steady-state voltage supply with relaxed design requirements, while the integrated regulator handles transient response with tight timing requirements. This segmentation allows each circuit to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the overall design complexity compared to requiring a single regulator to handle both scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated voltage regulator on the IC die is designed to provide partial action - it only activates when voltage droops are detected and provides supplemental current during transient conditions. It does not need to provide full voltage regulation under all conditions, as the external regulator handles the primary regulation. This partial action approach reduces the design complexity and component requirements of the integrated regulator while still achieving fast response times when needed.
3Ease of manufacture
If a linear voltage regulator is used, then the circuit is simple to implement, but significant power is wasted due to equal input and output currents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of a linear voltage regulator (simplicity) and a switching voltage regulator (efficiency) into a single integrated voltage regulator circuit on the IC die. The circuit can operate in different modes - acting as a linear regulator when the external regulator is stable, and as a switching regulator when rapid current supplementation is needed. This merging allows the system to achieve both circuit simplicity and energy efficiency, as the integrated regulator only activates during transient conditions rather than continuously dissipating power.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for augmenting an external voltage regulator with a shunt integrated voltage regulator is disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a load circuit coupled to a supply voltage node. The supply voltage node is electrically coupled to receive a supply voltage from an external voltage regulator. The IC also includes a shunt integrated voltage regulator coupled to the supply voltage node and implemented on the same IC die as the load circuit. If the supply voltage falls below a specified value (e.g., to increased current demand), the integrated voltage regulator may begin supplying current to the load. This may cause the supply voltage to return to within its specified range of the specified value, while allowing the external voltage regulator sufficient time to respond to the increased current demand. Thus, voltage droops on the supply voltage node may be minimized.