Tracker Module Switched-Capacitor Layout for Low Wire Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In power supply modulator circuits, long wires connecting switches and capacitors in tracker modules lead to increased resistance loss, deteriorating the output characteristics of the power supply voltage due to high-speed charging and discharging currents.
Innovation Solution
The tracker module design includes a module laminate with integrated circuits and capacitors positioned to minimize wire length between switches and capacitors, specifically configuring the switched-capacitor circuit and supply modulator to reduce parasitic resistance and inductance, ensuring stable and accurate voltage supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If switches and capacitors are mounted on a module laminate as different integrated circuits, then the tracker module can be manufactured with separate functional blocks, but the wire length between the switch and capacitor increases causing resistance loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the switch and capacitor into a single integrated circuit, eliminating the need for separate mounting and long connecting wires. This integration directly reduces resistance loss while maintaining manufacturability through standardized IC fabrication processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a planar layout with separate components to a three-dimensional integrated structure where the capacitor is positioned immediately adjacent to the switch within the same IC package, dramatically reducing the wire length and associated resistance.
2Ease of operation
If long wires are used to connect the switch and capacitor, then the components can be mounted separately on the module laminate, but the resistance loss increases and output characteristics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the switch and capacitor into one integrated circuit, the patent eliminates long connecting wires and their associated resistance losses, thereby improving the reliability of the power supply voltage output characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a localized low-resistance path between the switch and capacitor by placing them immediately adjacent to each other within the same integrated circuit, ensuring high reliability for the specific function of voltage generation while maintaining ease of overall module assembly.
3Loss of energy
If the wire length is reduced by integrating the switch and capacitor closer, then resistance loss decreases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the switch and capacitor into a single IC, reducing resistance loss. The complexity is managed by using standard integrated circuit fabrication techniques and modular design, where the integrated IC is treated as a single replaceable component in the overall tracker module.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the switch-capacitor combination as a separate integrated circuit module, allowing it to be manufactured with optimized internal wiring for minimal resistance while keeping the overall tracker module design modular and manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
A tracker module includes a module laminate, a first integrated circuit and a second integrated circuit on the module laminate, and a capacitor disposed on the module laminate and included in a switched-capacitor circuit. The switched-capacitor circuit is configured to generate discrete voltages based on an input voltage. The first integrated circuit includes a switch included in the switched-capacitor circuit. The second integrated circuit includes a switch included in at least one of a supply modulator and a pre-regulator circuit. The supply modulator is configured to selectively output at least one of the discrete voltages based on an envelope signal. The pre-regulator circuit is configured to convert the input voltage into a first voltage and output the first voltage to the switched-capacitor circuit. A distance between the first integrated circuit and the capacitor is shorter than a distance between the second integrated circuit and the capacitor.