Multi-phase Stepdown Power Supply with Dynamic Phase Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-phase power supply systems for stepdown systems sacrifice light load efficiency and lack effective protection mechanisms, particularly during circuit abnormalities.
Innovation Solution
A two-stage multi-phase power supply system with open-loop first stage and closed-loop second stage voltage converters, along with a controller that adjusts enabled phases and regulates output power based on input and output voltages, currents, and temperatures, generating protective signals for overcurrent, overvoltage, and overtemperature conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple voltage converters are connected in parallel to output supplied power, then power output wattage is improved, but light load efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic phase adjustment where the controller enables or disables specific phases based on load conditions. Under light load, only necessary phases are activated to reduce energy loss, while under heavy load, all phases operate to provide sufficient power output. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction between maintaining high power output capability and achieving good light load efficiency.
2Device complexity
If a single-phase protective mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but protection effectiveness during circuit abnormalities deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protective mechanism is segmented into multiple independent protection modules, each responsible for monitoring specific parameters (overcurrent, overvoltage, overtemperature) of individual phases. This segmentation allows comprehensive multi-parameter protection across all phases while keeping each protection module relatively simple and modular, resolving the contradiction between low complexity and high effectiveness.
3Power
If multi-phase power supply is used, then power output capability is improved, but voltage conversion efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of active phases based on real-time load detection. When the load is light, fewer phases are activated to reduce conversion losses, and when the load increases, more phases are enabled to maintain power output capability. This dynamic phase enable/disable strategy resolves the contradiction between power output capability and voltage conversion efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-phase power supply for stepdown system includes a plurality of first stage voltage converters, a plurality of second stage voltage converters and a controller. The first stage voltage converters are under open-loop control, and the second stage voltage converters are under close-loop voltage regulation control. The first stage voltage converters convert an input voltage to generate a midway voltage. The second stage voltage converters convert the midway voltage to generate an output voltage. The controller receives the output current of each phase of the first stage voltage converters and the second stage voltage converters, the input voltage, the midway voltage of each phase and the output voltage. The controller adjusts a number of enabled phases and balances the output current according to the output currents, and outputs stable power according to the input voltage, the midway voltage and the output voltage.