Voltage Regulator Asymmetric Offset Control Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voltage regulators have poor energy transforming efficiency and large capacitor sizes due to unequal voltage offsets between positive and negative output terminals, leading to inefficiencies and increased component sizes.
Innovation Solution
A voltage regulator design with a control circuit that balances the voltage offsets between positive and negative output terminals by using a first and second pump circuit coupled to respective voltage sources, with a control circuit comprising resistors, transistors, and voltage comparison circuits to generate control signals for equalizing voltage levels, thereby ensuring equal offsets for both positive and negative outputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the voltage regulator uses unequal voltage offsets for positive and negative output terminals, then the design complexity is reduced, but the energy transforming efficiency deteriorates and capacitor size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by intentionally creating unequal voltage offsets between the positive and negative output terminals of the charge pump circuit. Specifically, the positive terminal has a smaller offset (ΔV1) compared to the negative terminal (ΔV2), which is designed to be larger. This asymmetric design allows the negative pump circuit to operate more efficiently by reducing its voltage swing requirements, thereby improving overall energy transforming efficiency despite the apparent imbalance.
2Device complexity
If the voltage regulator uses unequal voltage offsets for positive and negative output terminals, then the design is simpler, but the capacitor area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements asymmetric voltage offset design where the negative output terminal maintains a larger voltage offset (ΔV2) than the positive terminal (ΔV1). This asymmetry optimizes the operating conditions for the charge pump circuits, allowing capacitors to be sized more efficiently for their specific functions, thereby reducing the total capacitor area required while maintaining design simplicity.
3Power
If the voltage regulator increases the voltage offset of the negative terminal, then the negative voltage output is improved, but the capacitance of the capacitor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage offset parameters asymmetrically between the positive and negative terminals. By setting the negative terminal offset (ΔV2) to be larger than the positive terminal offset (ΔV1), the design optimizes the voltage output characteristics for each terminal independently, allowing the negative voltage output to be improved without requiring proportionally larger capacitance values than initially expected.
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
This design improves the energy transforming efficiency of the second pump circuit, reduces capacitor area, and simplifies manufacturing by maintaining equal voltage offsets, enhancing overall performance and yield.
Implementation Method 1
each of the capacitors 12, 14, 16, and 18 of the charge pump circuit 10 are charged and discharged repeatedly to pump the voltage levels
Data Source
AI summary
A voltage regulator has a first charge circuit, a second charge circuit, and a control circuit. The control circuit has five input terminals and two output terminals. The five input terminals are respectively coupled to a reference voltage, a first voltage source, a second voltage source, an output terminal of the first charge circuit, and an output terminal of the second charge circuit. The control circuit equalizes a voltage difference between the output terminal of the first charge circuit and the first voltage source and a voltage difference between the second voltage source and the output terminal of the second charge circuit.