Voltage Regulator Current Sink for Temperature-Dependent Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Voltage regulators face instability and increased power losses due to temperature variations in leakage current, as they are designed to maintain a stable supply voltage across a broad range of temperatures, leading to oscillations at low temperatures and excessive power consumption at high temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a current sink with a negative voltage-temperature coefficient reference voltage applied as a bias voltage to manage the total current supplied, ensuring stability and reducing power losses by adjusting current draw based on temperature, using an n-channel MOSFET transistor and a bias control circuit that includes a voltage selector, amplifier, and offset circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the voltage regulator is designed to provide proper supply voltage at low temperature when total current drawn by load is low, then the supply voltage stability is improved, but the voltage regulator becomes unstable resulting in oscillations in supply voltage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by introducing a current sink that proactively draws additional current at low temperatures to prevent the voltage regulator from becoming unstable. The current sink is configured to draw current in opposition to the low load current condition, ensuring the voltage regulator receives sufficient current to maintain stable operation without oscillations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by making the current sink's current draw temperature-dependent. The current sink draws more current at low temperatures and less current at high temperatures, dynamically adjusting the total current to maintain voltage regulator stability across the full temperature range while preventing oscillations at low temperatures.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the voltage regulator is designed to provide proper supply voltage at high temperature when leakage current is at maximum, then the supply voltage stability is improved, but the total power drawn from the voltage regulator is well above the target power consumption level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the current sink's operation dynamic and temperature-adaptive. The current sink automatically adjusts its current draw based on temperature: it draws more current when temperature is low to maintain stability, and draws less current when temperature is high to reduce power consumption. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between maintaining voltage stability and minimizing energy loss across different temperature conditions.
3Reliability
If an NMOS transistor is used to draw additional load current when total current drawn by load is insufficient, then the voltage regulator stability is improved, but the total current drawn increases at normal operating temperature resulting in greater power losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by configuring the current sink's bias voltage to have a negative temperature coefficient. This causes the current sink to draw more current at low temperatures (improving stability) and automatically draw less current at high temperatures (reducing power losses). Unlike a fixed-bias NMOS transistor that continuously draws excess current, the temperature-dependent biasing ensures the current sink adapts its operation to minimize power losses while maintaining stability.
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 approach maintains a stable supply voltage and reduces power consumption by minimizing the percentage increase in current draw across operating temperatures, ensuring the voltage regulator remains stable and efficient throughout the temperature range.
Implementation Method 1
generating at least one reference voltage having a negative voltage-temperature coefficient. The method further can include applying the reference voltage as a bias voltage to a current sink that is electrically coupled in parallel with a path of a leakage current drawn by the load circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A method of regulating a supply voltage (Vgg) provided to a load circuit. The method can include generating at least one reference voltage (Vr1, Vr2, Vr3) having a negative voltage-temperature coefficient. The method further can include applying the reference voltage as a bias voltage (Vbias) to a current sink that is electrically coupled in parallel with a path of a leakage current (Ileak) drawn by the load circuit. A related voltage regulator can include a current sink that is electrically coupled in parallel with a path of a leakage current drawn by a load circuit, and a bias control circuit that generates at least one reference voltage having a negative voltage-temperature coefficient and applies the reference voltage as a bias voltage to a current sink.