Synthetic Current Signal Generation for Zero-Latency Converter Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital systems face challenges in providing accurate and efficient digitized current signals for switching converters due to high sample rates and latency issues in direct current sensing, making it impractical for practical use.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a current synthesizer that calculates and generates a digitized current signal by combining a measured current signal with a calculated current using a high pass filter and a low pass filter, effectively creating a synthetic current signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If direct current sensing is used to provide accurate digitized current signals, then measurement precision is improved, but latency increases and high sample rates become impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The current signal is segmented into two components: a measured current component (low-frequency, accurate) and a calculated current component (high-frequency, responsive). The measured signal is processed through a low-pass filter while the calculated signal passes through a high-pass filter, allowing each component to be optimized independently for its respective frequency range.
Solution Approach 2:
A calculated current signal acts as an intermediary to bridge the gap between direct sensing and actual current behavior. This calculated component, derived from circuit parameters and control signals, provides high-frequency current variations that would be lost in direct sensing due to latency, while the measured component provides accurate low-frequency baseline information.
2Measurement precision
If direct current sensing is implemented, then current measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and impracticality increase due to high sample rate requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the current measurement task into two parts: low-frequency measurement (handled by ADC and low-pass filter) and high-frequency calculation (handled by current modelling device). This segmentation eliminates the need for high-speed ADCs and complex high-bandwidth sensing circuits, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining overall accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of directly sensing the complete current signal with high bandwidth requirements, the system creates a calculated copy of the high-frequency current component based on circuit models and control signals. This copying approach avoids the need for complex high-speed sensing hardware while preserving the essential current information.
3Device complexity
If measured current signal alone is used, then simplicity is maintained, but time resolution and responsiveness to high-frequency variations are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic switching control signals (PWM) to drive the electrical circuit, and the current modelling device leverages this periodic nature to calculate current variations at the switching frequency and its harmonics. This allows the calculated current component to accurately represent high-frequency periodic variations without requiring direct high-speed sensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system substitutes direct electrical sensing (measurement-based approach) with a calculation-based approach using circuit models and control signals. This substitution replaces the need for high-bandwidth measurement hardware with computational methods, achieving high time resolution through mathematical modeling rather than physical measurement.
Data Source
AI summary
A current synthesizer for an electrical circuit configured to receive a measured current signal is provided. The measured current signal is dependent on a measurement of a current flowing through the electrical circuit. The current synthesizer includes a current modelling device configured to calculate the current flowing through the electrical circuit and to generate a calculated current signal based on the calculation of the current, and a current signal generator configured to generate a digitized current signal comprising the measured current signal and the calculated current signal.