Voltage Regulator with Phase-Shifted Slaves for Ripple Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional voltage regulators face challenges in handling large currents and reacting quickly to load changes, particularly in microprocessor applications, due to increased complexity and inefficiency as the number of slaves increases, leading to higher costs and larger size for the master controller.
Innovation Solution
The proposed voltage regulator employs multiple slaves operated out of phase to reduce current ripple, with a master controller generating differential analog signals to control the slaves, allowing each slave to adjust its current based on the signal and a threshold, and an output filter to provide a stable DC voltage, enabling efficient handling of large currents and rapid load changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple slaves are used to handle large currents and fast load changes, then the current handling capability and response speed are improved, but the complexity and size of the master controller increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into one master controller and multiple slave controllers. The master controller handles high-level coordination and configuration, while each slave controller independently manages its own switching circuit and provides feedback. This segmentation distributes the control complexity across multiple independent units rather than concentrating all control functions in a single complex controller.
Solution Approach 2:
Each slave controller is autonomous and self-managing. It receives configuration from the master, controls its own switching circuit based on local feedback, and independently adjusts its operation. This self-service capability reduces the burden on the master controller, allowing it to remain simple while still coordinating multiple slaves for high current handling.
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple slaves are used to reduce current ripple by operating out of phase, then the output stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple slave controllers operate their switching circuits at the same frequency but with different phase shifts. This periodic action with phase differentiation causes the current ripples from each slave to partially cancel each other out, resulting in reduced overall current ripple and more stable output voltage.
Solution Approach 2:
The output currents from multiple slaves are combined through a common output filter. By merging the outputs of multiple phase-shifted slaves, the system achieves ripple cancellation and improved output stability while distributing the current handling load across multiple simpler controller units.
3Loss of energy
If the voltage regulator is placed close to the microprocessor to reduce parasitic losses, then the efficiency is improved, but the available space for the regulator is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage regulator is segmented into a small master controller and multiple compact slave controllers that can be distributed in a compact arrangement. This segmentation allows the regulator to maintain a small overall footprint while being placed close to the microprocessor, minimizing parasitic losses in connecting traces.
Solution Approach 2:
The regulator architecture allows for a compact nested arrangement where the master controller coordinates multiple slave controllers in a space-efficient configuration. This nested structure enables the regulator to achieve high current handling capability in a small footprint suitable for placement near the microprocessor.
Data Source
AI summary
A voltage regulator coupled to an unregulated DC input voltage source by an input terminal, and to a load by an output terminal is disclosed. The voltage regulator converts an input voltage at the input terminal to an output voltage at the output terminal. The voltage regulator includes one or more slaves, and each slave includes a switching circuit which serves as a power switch for alternately coupling and decoupling the input terminal to an intermediate node. Each slave can include a high-side power transistor having a drain connected to the input terminal and a source connected to the intermediate node, and a low-side power transistor having a source connected to ground and a drain connected to the intermediate node. Each slave can act as a switching circuit to alternate between coupling the intermediate node to the input terminal and between the intermediate node to a ground.