Variable Inductor Voltage Regulator for Transient Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional voltage regulators face a conflict in optimizing inductor design to meet both transient demand and high efficiency requirements, leading to significant power losses during light loads and impaired transient response due to inductor ripple current and inductance optimization trade-offs.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a variable inductor in the power stages whose inductance changes with load current and operating set-points, combined with an Adaptive Voltage Positioning (AVP) module and digital compensator to dynamically adjust PID filter coefficients, allowing for improved power conversion efficiency and transient response without compromising system stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the inductance of the inductor is increased to reduce inductor ripple current and improve power conversion efficiency, then power conversion efficiency is improved, but the regulator's transient response is degraded by limiting the speed at which the regulator's output current magnitude can change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the inductance value variable rather than fixed. The inductor's inductance is dynamically adjusted based on operating conditions - higher inductance during light loads to reduce ripple current and improve efficiency, and lower inductance during transient conditions to enable faster current changes and improve transient response. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between efficiency and transient response speed.
2Speed
If the inductance of the inductor is decreased to improve the regulator's transient response, then transient response is improved, but power conversion efficiency is reduced due to increased inductor ripple current
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic inductance adjustment to resolve this contradiction. During transient conditions requiring fast response, the inductance is temporarily reduced to enable faster current changes. During steady-state light load conditions, the inductance is increased to reduce ripple current and improve efficiency. This time-varying inductance strategy allows the system to optimize for transient response when needed and for efficiency when not under transient load.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances power conversion efficiency during light loads and maintains transient response at higher loads, reducing power losses and system instability by dynamically compensating for changing LC output filter characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
In some cases, the inductor ripple current may be reduced and power conversion efficiency may be improved by increasing the inductance of the inductor(s) in the power stage(s)
Implementation Method 2
Voltage regulators transfer power from an input source to the load by charging and discharging the inductor(s) in the power stage(s) during each switching cycle
Implementation Method 3
the inductor ripple current results in power losses in the inductor and in the switching transistors
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are embodiments of an improved switching regulator and a method for controlling a switching regulator, for example, to meet stringent transient demand and high efficiency requirements over wide operating range without impacting system stability. According to one embodiment, the switching regulator may be a voltage regulator comprising a plurality of voltage regulator phases, each phase comprising a power stage operable to produce an output voltage for a transient load, and a driver stage coupled for driving the power stage based on a modulated input signal supplied to the driver stage. A variable inductor is included within the power stages in order to meet stringent transient demand and high efficiency requirements over a range of load conditions and operating set points. A power controller is coupled for controlling the modulated input signals supplied to the driver stages to compensate for changing output filter characteristics when the inductance of the variable inductors changes with changes in the load current.