Switching Power Supply Ripple Reduction via Segmented Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional switching power supplies generate unsuitable ripple components and have low efficiency, making them inadequate for applications like AMOLED displays and low-power or 'green' applications, where the ripple component is too high and efficiency is below 80%.
Innovation Solution
The power supply employs an intermediate regulator and an output regulator with an offset feedback circuit to generate a regulated output signal with reduced ripple and increased efficiency, using buck-converter or buck-boost circuitry to manage the DC components and filter capacitors to compensate feedback loops, achieving a ripple component 10-100 times less than conventional supplies and efficiency within 80-90%.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional switching power supply regulation technique is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ripple component magnitude increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply regulation is divided into two separate stages: an intermediate regulator that generates an intermediate voltage from the input voltage, and an output regulator that generates the final output voltage from the intermediate voltage. This segmentation allows each regulator to operate optimally, with the intermediate regulator handling bulk voltage conversion and the output regulator providing precise regulation with minimal ripple, thereby reducing overall ripple magnitude while maintaining manageable complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate voltage signal is introduced as a mediator between the input voltage and the output voltage. The intermediate regulator generates this intermediate voltage, and the output regulator uses it to produce the final regulated output. This intermediary approach allows the system to achieve better ripple performance and efficiency by distributing the regulation function across two stages rather than one.
2Device complexity
If conventional switching power supply regulation technique is used, then device complexity is reduced, but efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The regulation function is segmented into two independent regulator stages, allowing each to be optimized for its specific function. The intermediate regulator can operate at higher efficiency for bulk power conversion, while the output regulator operates at low ripple conditions, collectively achieving overall efficiency above 80% without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate voltage acts as an energy mediator that enables more efficient power transfer. By converting input voltage to an intermediate voltage first, then to output voltage, the system reduces energy losses compared to direct conversion, achieving efficiency improvements while maintaining reasonable device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional switching power supply is used, then design simplicity is maintained, but ripple component becomes unsuitable for sensitive applications
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply design is segmented into two functional blocks (intermediate regulator and output regulator), making it easier to implement and manufacture while achieving low ripple performance suitable for sensitive applications like AMOLED displays. Each block can be independently optimized and tested.
4Device complexity
If single-stage regulation is used, then device complexity is minimized, but ripple reduction and efficiency improvement cannot be achieved simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The regulation structure is segmented into two stages that work together to simultaneously achieve ripple reduction (10-100 times less than conventional) and efficiency improvement (80-90%), proving that segmented design can enhance productivity without excessive complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate voltage signal serves as a mediator that enables simultaneous achievement of multiple performance goals. By introducing this intermediate stage, the system can optimize both ripple performance and efficiency together, rather than having to trade off between them as in single-stage designs.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of a method includes generating a regulated output signal from a regulated intermediate signal in response to a reference signal and the regulated output signal, and generating the regulated intermediate signal from an input signal in response to the regulated output signal and the regulated intermediate signal. By generating one regulated signal (e.g., a regulated output voltage) from another regulated signal (e.g., a regulated intermediate voltage), the magnitude of the ripple component of the one regulated signal may be reduced. Furthermore, by generating the regulated intermediate signal in response to the regulated output signal, the efficiency of the regulation may be increased.