Voltage Regulator Idle Control Super Capacitor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Voltage regulators in electronic devices experience significant power losses, particularly during idle conditions, due to switching losses in DC-DC buck type voltage regulators, which contribute to reduced battery life.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a super-capacitor device and an idle control mechanism within the voltage regulator, which switches to the super-capacitor for power delivery during idle states, reducing the operational load on the buck converter and minimizing power losses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a DC-DC buck type voltage regulator is used to power electronic devices, then the device can operate during idle conditions, but switching losses occur that reduce battery life

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidle operation capabilityVSAvoidswitching losses

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the idle current path from the main buck converter by introducing a separate low-dropout (LDO) regulator that handles only idle conditions. This separation removes the switching losses from the idle path while maintaining the buck converter for active load conditions, directly resolving the contradiction between idle operation capability and switching energy losses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The power delivery system is segmented into two distinct paths: a buck converter for active load conditions and an LDO regulator for idle conditions. This segmentation allows each component to operate optimally in its designated regime, eliminating the switching losses that occur when the buck converter operates during idle states while preserving full operational capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Duration of action of moving object

If the voltage regulator operates at idle condition for significant portion of battery life, then the device can conserve power, but power losses in idle states increase total platform power loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery lifeVSAvoididle state power losses

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The idle current path is extracted from the main buck converter and routed through a dedicated LDO regulator. This extraction eliminates the switching losses that would otherwise occur during idle conditions, allowing the device to maintain idle operation for extended periods without accumulating significant power losses, thereby extending battery life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the voltage regulation system by introducing an LDO regulator that operates in a different mode (linear regulation instead of switching). This parameter change eliminates switching losses during idle conditions while maintaining the ability to deliver power for extended durations, directly addressing both battery life extension and idle power loss reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If a super capacitor device is added to the voltage regulator, then power losses during idle conditions are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidle condition power lossesVSAvoidvoltage regulator structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A super capacitor is introduced as an intermediary energy storage element between the input voltage source and the LDO regulator. This intermediary component allows the LDO to maintain stable output voltage during idle conditions without drawing continuous power from the input, reducing power losses while adding only minimal complexity to the overall voltage regulator structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The super capacitor is charged in advance during active load conditions and then discharged during idle conditions to supply the LDO regulator. This preliminary charging action stores energy that can be used later during idle periods, reducing the need for continuous power input and thereby reducing idle power losses without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 solution significantly reduces power losses during idle conditions by utilizing the super-capacitor for power supply, thereby extending battery life and improving noise performance in electronic devices.

Implementation Method 1

a super-capacitor device and an idle control mechanism within the voltage regulator, which switches to the super-capacitor for power delivery during idle states

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS10228756B2Voltage regulator having circuit to control super capacitor

Publication Date: 2019.03.12 INTEL CORP

AI summary

A voltage regulator may be provided that includes a first circuit to receive at least one feedback signal from a buck converter and to provide at least one driving signal to the buck converter to provide an output voltage based on the at least one feedback signal, and a second circuit to control a super-capacitor to provide the output voltage when the first circuit is not using the buck converter to provide the output voltage.