Voltage Regulator Segmented Pass Transistors Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Voltage regulators face challenges in maintaining stability due to variations in load capacitance and predicting decoupling requirements, especially in digital circuits with transient current spikes, which affects the regulation of voltage in electronic devices.

Innovation Solution

A voltage regulator with both closed and open loop topologies, featuring a control circuit with an operational amplifier and pass devices, including a second pass device sized to match predicted load currents, and additional pass devices controlled by the controller to maintain stability and regulate voltage independently of output capacitance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If decoupling capacitors are employed to minimize transient voltage drops, then transient voltage stability is improved, but regulator stability becomes dependent on unpredictable load capacitance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransient voltage stabilityVSAvoidregulator stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The regulator output stage is segmented into multiple independent pass transistors (first pass transistor, second pass transistor, third pass transistor, fourth pass transistor) that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows the regulator to maintain stability by selectively activating appropriate pass transistors based on load conditions, rather than relying on total output capacitance for stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The regulator dynamically adjusts which pass transistors are active based on estimated average load current. The controller selectively switches between different combinations of pass transistors to match the load requirements, making the system adaptive rather than static. This dynamic adjustment ensures stability across varying load conditions without dependence on fixed capacitance values.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Power

If the number of pass devices is increased to handle transient current spikes, then current delivery capability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent delivery capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The regulator uses a controller to dynamically select and switch between different combinations of pass transistors based on estimated average load current. During low current modes, fewer pass transistors are active, reducing power consumption. During high current modes, additional pass transistors are activated to meet the increased current demand. This dynamic switching allows the system to optimize between current delivery capability and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The regulator activates only the necessary number of pass transistors required to meet the current load demand, rather than keeping all pass transistors continuously active. By applying partial action (activating only needed transistors), the system avoids excessive power consumption while maintaining sufficient current delivery capability for transient spikes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9841777B2Voltage regulator, application-specific integrated circuit and method for providing a load with a regulated voltage
Publication Date: 2017.12.12 NXP USA INC
  • US9841777B2 patent drawing
  • US9841777B2 patent drawing
  • US9841777B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A voltage regulator for digital loads combines a closed loop regulation circuit with an open loop topology. A transistor and a bank of transistors share the same voltage source VDD and gate control current. Each of the bank of transistors is sized to match different current load requirements and one or more may be switched in or out as appropriate when the digital load transitions from one operating mode to another. The regulator has good DC load regulation and unconditional stability regardless of output capacitance.