Time-Shared Voltage Control Circuit for Multi-Regulator Area Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional regulator circuits require significant integrated circuit device area due to duplicated controller circuitry for each regulator, leading to inefficiencies in power handling and system integration, especially in systems with multiple regulators.
Innovation Solution
A time-shared voltage control circuit configuration where a shared voltage control circuit is separated from the power stage and distributed among multiple regulators, utilizing a continuous-time current regulation loop for fast transient responses and a discrete-time voltage regulation loop for efficient area utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple regulator circuits use duplicated controller circuitry for each regulator, then each regulator can be independently controlled and regulated, but the integrated circuit device area increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the voltage control functionality of multiple regulators into a single shared voltage control circuit. This circuit selectively controls multiple output voltages through time-multiplexed operation, where the control circuit alternates between regulating different regulator outputs. This consolidation eliminates the need for duplicated controller circuitry in each regulator, significantly reducing integrated circuit device area while maintaining independent regulation capability through selective switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared voltage control circuit is designed to perform multiple functions by selectively controlling different regulator circuits at different time intervals. A single control circuit instance serves multiple regulators, making the controller universal rather than dedicated to a single regulator. This multi-functional approach allows one controller to regulate multiple output voltages independently through time-division multiplexing.
2Area of stationary object
If a time-shared voltage control circuit is used among multiple regulators, then integrated circuit device area is reduced, but the controller must rapidly switch between multiple regulators which may affect transient response
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage control circuit operates using periodic clock intervals to selectively control different regulator circuits. The control circuit switches between regulators in a time-multiplexed manner, with each regulator receiving control signals during its designated clock interval. This periodic switching approach enables the shared controller to rapidly alternate between multiple regulators, maintaining effective transient response through systematic time-division operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit dynamically switches its operation between different regulator circuits based on real-time requirements. The system transitions from a static one-to-one controller-regulator mapping to a dynamic many-to-one relationship where a single controller adaptively serves multiple regulators. This dynamic time-shared operation allows the controller to respond to transient conditions in different regulators by allocating control resources appropriately during each clock interval.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple instances of regulator control circuitry are duplicated for each regulator, then system-level integration is simplified with modular design, but the available integrated device area is significantly consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate controller circuit instances into a single shared voltage control circuit that serves multiple regulators. This consolidation reduces the total controller circuit area from N separate instances to one shared instance, where N is the number of regulators. The modular regulator structures can still be independently designed and manufactured, but they share a common control resource, achieving area efficiency while preserving manufacturing modularity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Circuit techniques control multiple regulator circuits. Regulator circuits are configured to time share voltage control circuitry. The voltage control circuitry may include multiple sets of switches to selectively couple a voltage control circuit with a selected voltage regulation loop of one of the regulators.