Voltage Regulator Current Limiter for Overload Current Clamping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High current output from on-chip voltage regulators can cause degradation of integrated circuits, off-chip electronic components, and intermediate connections, leading to reduced operational lifetime and potential brown-out events due to high current surges during power cycling.
Innovation Solution
A voltage regulator circuit with an amplifier stage and a current limiter stage that operates in quiescent and overload modes, where the current limiter stage acts as a buffer in normal conditions and clamps output current to a designated level in overload situations, allowing quick detection and mitigation of current overloads without external components or digital signal processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the voltage regulator outputs high current during power cycling, then the power delivery capability is improved, but the integrated circuit and off-chip components suffer degradation and reduced operational lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The current limiter stage is configured to detect current overload conditions and automatically activate to clamp the output current to a safe level. This preliminary protective action prevents high current surges from degrading the integrated circuit and off-chip components during power cycling, thereby extending operational lifetime while maintaining power delivery capability under normal conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The current limiter stage acts as an intermediary component between the amplifier stage and the output. It monitors the output current and intervenes only when necessary to clamp excessive current, allowing the voltage regulator to deliver full power during normal operation while protecting against harmful current surges during transient conditions
2Reliability
If external components or digital signal processing are used for current limiting, then the current overload protection is improved, but the device complexity and component count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The current limiter stage is integrated directly into the voltage regulator circuit, merging the current limiting function with the existing amplifier and feedback stages. This integration eliminates the need for external current limiting components or separate digital signal processing circuits, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable current overload protection
Solution Approach 2:
The current limiter stage is configured to automatically detect current overload conditions and activate protective action without requiring external control signals or digital processing. The circuit self-monitors its output current and self-corrects by clamping the current when overload is detected, simplifying the overall system architecture
3Reliability
If the current limiter stage operates continuously in overload mode, then the component protection is improved, but the power delivery and system performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The current limiter stage is configured to dynamically switch between quiescent mode and overload mode based on real-time monitoring of output current conditions. During normal operation, the circuit operates in quiescent mode with full power delivery capability. When current overload is detected, the circuit automatically transitions to overload mode to clamp the current, providing temporary protection without permanently limiting power delivery
Data Source
AI summary
Examples are disclosed herein that relate to automatically limiting an output current of a voltage regulator circuit responsive to detecting that the voltage regulator is in a current overload mode. In one example, a voltage regulator circuit includes an amplifier stage and a current limiter stage electrically connected to an output of the amplifier stage. The amplifier stage is configured to output a DC voltage based on a reference voltage and feedback from an output voltage. The current limiter stage is configured to operate in a quiescent mode and an overload mode. In the quiescent mode, the current limiter stage is configured to operate as a buffer stage that forms a closed feedback loop to an input of the amplifier stage. In the overload mode, the current limiter stage is configured to act as a current source that clamps an output current to a designated current.