Soft-Start System for Voltage Regulator Using Cyclic Capacitor Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dual-mode voltage regulators face issues with noise injection due to sudden input voltage changes and occupy significant IC space, while external compensation systems increase costs and require additional pins.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing cyclic coupling of energy storage devices, such as capacitors, to provide a slow ramp signal during the start-up phase, reducing overshoot and controlling current output, implemented within a single IC to minimize space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional dual-mode voltage regulators use current sources to charge capacitors during start-up, then overshoot is reduced, but IC wafer space increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the soft-start capacitor and compensation capacitor into a single shared capacitor component. This merging eliminates the need for separate capacitors, thereby reducing IC wafer space while maintaining both overshoot control during start-up and stability compensation during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared capacitor serves dual functions: it acts as the soft-start capacitor during the start-up phase to control overshoot, and simultaneously serves as the compensation capacitor during normal operation to maintain regulator stability. This multi-functionality reduces the total component count and IC space requirements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If external compensation systems are used to reduce slew rate, then noise injection is reduced, but additional pins and cost are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the compensation function directly into the internal structure of the voltage regulator by sharing a capacitor between soft-start and compensation functions. This eliminates the need for external compensation components and additional pins, reducing device complexity while maintaining noise reduction benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared capacitor acts as an intermediary element that provides both soft-start and compensation functions internally. By using this internal intermediary, the patent avoids the need for external compensation systems that would require additional pins and components.
3Reliability
If dual-mode voltage regulators implement soft-start circuitry, then start-up performance improves, but IC space occupation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the soft-start circuitry with the compensation circuitry by using a shared capacitor and common control logic. This integration reduces IC space occupation while maintaining improved start-up performance, as the same hardware components serve both soft-start and compensation purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The soft-start circuitry is designed to be multi-functional, where the same capacitor and control mechanisms used for soft-start also provide compensation functions during normal operation. This universality reduces the overall IC space required compared to having separate dedicated circuits for each function.
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
The approach effectively reduces overshoot and noise injection, controls current output, and minimizes IC space usage, providing a cost-effective solution for voltage regulation.
Implementation Method 1
the energy storage devices can be connected during a first part of a cycle so as to cause a change in a charge associated with the second storage device based on a redistribution of charge between the first and second storage devices
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method to provide a slow start up voltage, such as that can slowly ramp up or down by cyclically coupling a pair of associated energy storage devices, such as capacitors, during a start-up phase. The cyclic coupling of the capacitors, in conjunction with causing a change in charge associated with a first of the storage devices, results in incremental changes in the energy of the second energy storage device over a plurality of cycles. The energy associated with the second storage device can be used to control output circuitry that provides a desired ramp output signal.