Voltage Regulator Boost Circuit for Instantaneous Load Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing voltage regulators struggle to react instantaneously to varying loads in digital circuits, leading to potential voltage dips, and are often power-consuming or require external capacitors, which are not feasible in low-power applications.

Innovation Solution

A voltage regulator design that includes a boost circuit with a switching arrangement and a Miller capacitor, allowing it to switch between low and high power modes based on digital control signals, eliminating the need for a fast feedback loop and enabling instantaneous reaction to load changes without external capacitors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the speed of the feedback loop is increased to react faster to load changes, then the response time is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse timeVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a preliminary action by detecting the boost signal from the digital circuit before the actual load change occurs. This allows the regulator to proactively adjust the pass device current in advance, eliminating the need for a fast feedback loop and thereby avoiding increased power consumption while maintaining fast response

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If external capacitors are used to stabilize voltage, then the voltage stability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage stabilityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the need for external capacitors by implementing an adaptive current control mechanism that directly responds to boost signals from the digital circuit. The regulator achieves voltage stability through intelligent current adjustment rather than passive capacitance, thereby reducing device complexity and external component requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If the regulator uses a conventional feedback mechanism, then the implementation is simple, but the response to load changes is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregulator structureVSAvoidreaction speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enhances the conventional feedback mechanism by adding a boost signal detection pathway that provides predictive feedback. The regulator monitors the boost signal from the digital circuit, which indicates upcoming load changes, and adjusts the pass device current accordingly. This augmented feedback approach maintains implementation simplicity while dramatically improving reaction speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3373102B1Low power voltage regulator
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 EM MICROELECTRONIC-MARIN
  • EP3373102B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3373102B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3373102B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a voltage regulator for driving a digital circuit (20). The voltage regulator comprises: - an input terminal (Vin) and an output terminal (OUT), wherein the output terminal (OUT) is connectable to a power terminal (21) of a digital or switching circuit (20) having at least a boost signal output terminal (22), - a pass device (P3) and a first capacitor (C1), - a boost circuit (30) connected to the pass device (P3) or to the first capacitor (C1) and having a regulator boost input terminal (12) connectable to the boost signal output terminal (22), - wherein the boost circuit (30) comprises at least a boost capacitor (C2) and a switching arrangement (50) connected to the regulator boost input terminal (12) and connected to the boost capacitor (C2), wherein the switching arrangement (50) is controllable by a boost signal generated by the digital or switching circuit (20).