Switching Power Converter Temporal Energy Splitting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power supply systems for personal audio devices, such as Class H amplifiers, face inefficiencies in managing variable voltage supply rails, leading to wasted power and peak current issues when driving audio output signals.

Innovation Solution

A switched-mode power supply with a power inductor and energy storage element, where the power inductor and energy storage element operate temporally split between delivering energy to the load and receiving energy from the power supply, allowing for efficient energy transfer and minimizing peak currents by using multiple switch configurations to buck or boost voltages as needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a Class H amplifier uses an infinitely variable voltage supply rail to track the output signal envelope, then power efficiency is improved, but the system complexity and difficulty of implementing precise voltage tracking increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply is segmented into multiple discrete voltage rails instead of a single infinitely variable rail. The amplifier operates by switching between these segmented voltage levels, which simplifies the implementation while maintaining the ability to track the signal envelope and improve power efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The voltage supply dynamically switches between discrete voltage levels in response to the signal envelope, providing adaptive power supply tracking without requiring complex continuous variable control mechanisms. This dynamic switching approach achieves efficiency improvements with simpler hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If switched-mode power supply is used to create output signal-tracking voltage rails, then power efficiency increases, but peak current issues and energy wastage occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower efficiencyVSAvoidenergy wastage

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Energy is pre-stored in the capacitor during periods when the signal envelope is low or during voltage transitions, so that it is readily available when needed. This preliminary energy storage prevents peak current demands and reduces energy wastage by avoiding repeated charging cycles of the power inductor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The capacitor recovers and stores energy that would otherwise be wasted during voltage transitions and switching operations. By capturing and reusing this energy, the system reduces overall energy wastage while maintaining high power efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Use of energy by moving object

If voltage supply rail is modulated to be only slightly larger than the audio output signal magnitude, then power efficiency improves, but the system becomes more sensitive to signal variations and harder to control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply dynamically switches between discrete voltage levels that track the signal envelope, providing adaptive control that maintains efficiency while simplifying the control mechanism. The dynamic switching approach achieves close voltage tracking without requiring complex continuous control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the voltage parameter in discrete steps rather than continuously, which simplifies the control mechanism while maintaining the ability to closely track the signal envelope. This parameter quantization approach reduces control complexity while preserving efficiency benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 energy wastage and minimizes peak currents drawn from the power source, enhancing power efficiency and reducing the occurrence of brownouts, while allowing for more effective use of stored energy.

Implementation Method 1

a power inductor coupled between the power supply input and the output

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

an energy storage element coupled to the power supply input, the power inductor, and the output

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS10848061B2Switching power converter

Publication Date: 2020.11.24 CIRRUS LOGIC INC

AI summary

An apparatus may include a power converter having a power supply input for receiving an input power supply voltage generated by a power supply, an output for generating an output voltage to a load, and a power inductor coupled between the power supply input and the output may and further include an energy storage element coupled to the power supply input, the power inductor, and the output such that operation of the power inductor is split temporally between delivering energy to the energy storage element and delivering energy to the load, and operation of the energy storage element is split temporally between delivering energy to the load and receiving energy from one or both of the power supply and the load.