Voltage Regulation via Time-to-Digital Converter Delay Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digitally controlled DC-to-DC converters require a voltage margin to account for sensor errors and dynamic regulation, leading to increased power dissipation and leakage power with little performance benefit, as they are dependent on supply voltage, process variation, and temperature.
Innovation Solution
A control architecture using a time-to-digital (TDC) converter and buck converter with clock scaling techniques to regulate performance by measuring and adjusting the output voltage based on propagation delay, reducing the need for voltage margins and minimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional DC-to-DC converters use voltage margin to account for sensor errors and dynamic regulation, then reliability is improved, but power dissipation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the regulation parameter from voltage to frequency. By using a ring oscillator whose frequency is directly controlled by the output voltage, the system regulates voltage by controlling frequency, eliminating the need for voltage margin while maintaining regulation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/analog voltage sensing and comparison system with a time-to-digital converter that measures the period of a ring oscillator. This substitution allows for more precise regulation without requiring voltage margin, as the frequency measurement provides direct feedback on the actual output voltage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If supply voltage is increased to provide voltage margin, then dynamic regulation capability is improved, but leakage power increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic voltage regulation by continuously monitoring the ring oscillator frequency and adjusting the DC-to-DC converter output accordingly. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain optimal voltage levels without requiring a static voltage margin, thereby reducing leakage power while preserving dynamic regulation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a feedback mechanism where the time-to-digital converter measures the ring oscillator period and feeds this information back to the DC-to-DC converter control. This closed-loop feedback enables precise voltage regulation without needing excessive voltage headroom, reducing both leakage and dynamic power consumption.
3Reliability
If conventional systems use ADC for voltage feedback, then voltage regulation is achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the power-consuming ADC voltage sampling system with a time-based measurement approach using a ring oscillator and time-to-digital converter. This substitution reduces power consumption because the ring oscillator can operate at low frequencies and the time measurement requires less energy than continuous voltage sampling and conversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic oscillation of the ring oscillator as the basis for voltage measurement. By measuring the period of this natural oscillation rather than continuously sampling voltage, the system achieves regulation with lower average power consumption, as the measurement can be performed less frequently and with lower energy per measurement.
Data Source
AI summary
Various implementations described herein are directed to a device having a voltage regulator that uses a modulator to adjust an output voltage. The device may include a time-to-digital converter that measures a timing delay of a logic chain, compares the timing delay to a reference delay to determine a timing delay error, and provides the timing delay error to the modulator for adjusting the output voltage.