Multiphase Voltage Regulator Parallel Pathway Error Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multiphase voltage regulator systems face mismatches due to manufacturing variations and misalignment tolerances, leading to voltage errors that existing technologies struggle to accurately correct.
Innovation Solution
The system employs parallel signal pathways with global and local error correction mechanisms, where energy storage element charging signals are adjusted based on global and local error signals to maintain a constant output voltage, using error amplifiers and circuitry to compare and correct differences between reference and output signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If parallel signal pathways are used to provide constant output voltage, then voltage stability is improved, but manufacturing variations cause mismatches between pathways leading to voltage errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through error amplifiers that continuously monitor the output voltage and compare it against a reference voltage. The error amplifiers generate correction signals based on the voltage error detected, which are then fed back to adjust the energy storage element charging signals. This closed-loop feedback system compensates for mismatches between parallel signal pathways caused by manufacturing variations, maintaining accurate voltage regulation despite component tolerances.
2Measurement precision
If error correction mechanisms are added to compensate for manufacturing variations, then voltage accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the error correction function into multiple independent error amplifiers, each associated with specific parallel signal pathways. Rather than using a single complex correction mechanism, the system segments the correction task across multiple simpler amplifier circuits. Each error amplifier handles a portion of the voltage error correction independently, which simplifies the design of individual components while collectively achieving high voltage regulation accuracy across the entire system.
Data Source
AI summary
Multiphase voltage regulator systems are disclosed which include parallel signal pathways that functionally cooperate to provide an analog output signal at a constant, or substantially constant, voltage. The parallel signal pathways generate energy storage element charging signals to charge and/or discharge energy storage elements. Energy provided by discharging energy storage elements is thereafter combined to provide the analog output signal. Moreover, the parallel signal pathways compare one of the energy storage element charging signals with a reference input signal to provide a global error correction signal representing a difference, or error, between the reference input signal and the analog output signal. The parallel signal pathways thereafter adjust the energy storage element charging signals in accordance with the global error correction signal to lessen this difference or error. In some situations, manufacturing variations and/or misalignment tolerances present within the parallel signal pathways can cause mismatches between the parallel signal pathways. In these situations, the parallel signal pathways compare remaining energy storage element charging signals to the global error correction signal to provide local error correction signals to quantify these mismatches. Thereafter, the parallel signal pathways adjust the remaining energy storage element charging signals in accordance with the one or more local error correction signals to compensate for these mismatches.