Voltage Regulator Switch Circuits Reduce Current Pulsation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Switched-mode power supplies face challenges in minimizing current pulsation and achieving miniaturization due to shared ground between input and output ports, leading to larger volume coils and undesirable current ripple.

Innovation Solution

A voltage regulator design incorporating N energy storage capacitors, input capacitors, and switch circuits that switch among different states to isolate the input and output ports, using an isolation capacitor to form multiple current paths and reduce current pulsation, allowing for a high step-down ratio in a compact circuit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a shared ground between input and output ports is used in switched-mode power supplies, then the circuit structure is simplified, but current pulsation and current ripple increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecircuit structureVSAvoidcurrent pulsation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the single ground connection into separate input ground and output ground paths by introducing an isolation capacitor. This segmentation allows independent control of current paths, reducing current pulsation while maintaining circuit simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The isolation capacitor acts as an intermediary element between the input and output grounds. It provides a high-impedance path for high-frequency current ripple while maintaining DC connectivity, thereby reducing current pulsation without significantly complicating the circuit structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Power

If transformers are used to achieve high step-down ratio, then the voltage conversion capability is improved, but the circuit volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestep-down ratioVSAvoidcircuit volume

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the transformer component from the circuit and replaces it with a purely electronic switching network consisting of capacitors and switches. This extraction eliminates the bulky magnetic core while achieving the same voltage step-down function through capacitive voltage division and switching control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the electromagnetic transformation mechanism (transformer) with an electronic switching mechanism. The voltage conversion is achieved through controlled charging and discharging of capacitors via electronic switches, replacing the mechanical/electromagnetic field-based transformer operation with solid-state electronic control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Volume of stationary object

If miniaturization is pursued in switched-mode power supplies, then the circuit volume is reduced, but current ripple and pulsation become more problematic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecircuit volumeVSAvoidcurrent ripple

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The isolation capacitor serves as a mediator that specifically targets high-frequency current ripple. By placing this capacitor between the input and output grounds, the patent creates a localized filter that reduces current ripple without requiring large-volume external filtering components, thus maintaining miniaturization while suppressing harmful current variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The design effectively reduces current pulsation and achieves a high step-down ratio without transformers, minimizing circuit volume and avoiding current ripple influences, thereby enhancing the efficiency and compactness of power conversion.

Implementation Method 1

using an isolation capacitor to form multiple current paths and reduce current pulsation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive coupling: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

N energy storage capacitors, each having first nodes connected together

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnergy storage in capacitor: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS11283348B2Voltage regulator having a plurality of input switch circuits

Publication Date: 2022.03.22 SILERGY SEMICON TECH (HANGZHOU) CO LTD

AI summary

A voltage regulator can include: N energy storage capacitors, each having first nodes connected together, where N is a positive integer; N input capacitors connected in series between two nodes of an input port; N input switch circuits, each being connected in parallel with a corresponding one of the N input capacitors, where each of the N input switch circuits is configured to selectively couple a second node of a corresponding one of the N energy storage capacitors to a first node or a second node of the corresponding input capacitor; and a first output switch circuit configured to selectively couple the first nodes of the N energy storage capacitors to a first node or a second node of an output port.