Voltage Regulator Reference Offset for Overshoot Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Variable power supplies face challenges in reducing overshoot, undershoot, and delay in output voltage transitions due to over-damped or under-damped control loops, which can lead to inefficiencies and increased costs in meeting maximum delay, overshoot, and undershoot requirements.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a power supply that dynamically offsets the reference voltage by generating an offset voltage waveform and adding it to the input reference voltage, allowing the power supply to operate efficiently within specified voltage transition requirements, reducing overshoot, undershoot, and delay.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If an under-damped voltage control loop is used to achieve rapid output voltage transitions, then the transition speed is improved, but excessive voltage overshoot and undershoot occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput voltage transition speedVSAvoidvoltage transition accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by detecting the voltage ramp in the reference voltage and generating an offset voltage waveform before the actual voltage transition occurs. This offset waveform is added to the reference voltage in advance, preparing the control system to counteract the upcoming overshoot and undershoot, thereby achieving both rapid transition and accurate voltage control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary anti-action by generating an offset voltage waveform that is opposite in polarity to the expected overshoot and undershoot. When this offset is added to the reference voltage, it creates a counteracting effect that prevents the harmful voltage excursions while maintaining the rapid transition characteristics of the under-damped control loop

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Manufacturing precision

If an over-damped voltage control loop is used to eliminate output voltage overshoot and undershoot, then voltage transition accuracy is improved, but excessive delays occur in transitioning between output voltages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoltage transition accuracyVSAvoidvoltage transition delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by dynamically adjusting the offset voltage waveform based on the detected voltage ramp characteristics. The offset is not a fixed value but varies in real-time according to the reference voltage changes, allowing the system to maintain optimal performance across different transition scenarios and prevent both overshoot and excessive delay

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If the reference voltage is dynamically offset by generating and adding an offset voltage waveform, then overshoot and undershoot are reduced, but circuit complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoltage transition accuracyVSAvoidcircuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary element - the offset voltage waveform generator - that mediates between the reference voltage and the control loop. This intermediary component processes the reference voltage, adds the appropriate offset, and feeds the corrected signal to the control loop, thereby reducing overshoot and undershoot while maintaining a modular and manageable circuit architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by detecting the voltage ramp in the reference voltage and using this information to generate an appropriate offset voltage waveform. The detected ramp characteristics feed into the offset generation process, creating a closed-loop system that automatically adjusts the offset to counteract predicted overshoot and undershoot, thereby improving voltage transition accuracy through intelligent feedback control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10551859B2Methods and apparatus for overshoot, undershoot and delay reduction of a voltage regulator output by dynamically offsetting a reference voltage

Publication Date: 2020.02.04 TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC

AI summary

In a described example, a method includes using a power supply, supplying an output voltage that varies in response to a reference voltage; detecting a voltage ramp in an input reference voltage; generating an offset voltage waveform; adding the offset voltage waveform to the input reference voltage to generate a second reference voltage; and using the second reference voltage, operating the power supply to supply the output voltage.