Voltage Regulator Switch Protection via Storage Capacitors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Switched-mode power supplies lack effective protection against switch damage, which can lead to direct short circuits between input and output, potentially damaging rechargeable batteries and causing explosions, especially when the input voltage is high.
Innovation Solution
A voltage regulator design with an input port and output port sharing a common ground potential, featuring a series of input switches, output half-bridge topologies, and storage capacitors that prevent direct connection between the input and output when switches are damaged, ensuring safety by maintaining storage capacitors between the ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If switched-mode power supply uses simple switch system for voltage regulation, then device complexity is reduced and power density is increased, but reliability deteriorates due to lack of protection against switch damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces storage capacitors as intermediary elements positioned between the input switches and output half-bridge circuits. These capacitors serve as protective mediators that block direct short-circuit paths when switches fail, thereby improving reliability without adding complex protection circuits. The capacitors are strategically placed at nodes where switch failures could create dangerous direct connections between input and output.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by pre-positioning storage capacitors in the circuit topology before any switch failure occurs. These capacitors are already in place to cushion or block potential short-circuit currents that could result from switch damage, providing proactive protection rather than reactive protection. This approach maintains simplicity while ensuring safety.
2Reliability
If voltage regulator maintains storage capacitors between input and output ports, then reliability is improved by preventing direct short circuits, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the storage capacitors to serve multiple functions simultaneously: they perform standard voltage regulation and energy storage functions while also providing protective blocking against short circuits. This multi-functionality allows the same components to improve reliability without requiring separate dedicated protection elements, thereby avoiding increased device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the protection function with the existing voltage regulation function by integrating storage capacitors into the standard switched-mode power supply topology. Rather than adding separate protection circuits, the capacitors are combined with the existing switch and half-bridge structures to provide both regulation and protection in a unified design.
3Power
If switched-mode power supply operates with high input voltage, then power density is increased, but harmful factors increase due to risk of battery damage and explosions
Solution Approach 1:
The storage capacitors act as intermediary protective barriers between the high-voltage input side and the battery load on the output side. When switches fail, these capacitors block the propagation of high-voltage short-circuit currents to the battery, thereby eliminating the harmful effect of high input voltage while preserving its beneficial power density characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
A voltage regulator can include: an input port with two terminals, and being configured to receive an input voltage; an output port with two terminals, and being configured to generate an output voltage, where the input port and the output port have a common ground potential; a group of input switches coupled in series between the two terminals of the input port, where a common node of every two adjacent input switches that form an input half-bridge topology is taken as an input switch node; at least one output half-bridge topology coupled between two terminals of the output port, where a common node of a high-side output switch and a low-side output switch in each output half-bridge topology is taken as an output switch node; and N storage capacitors, where each of the storage capacitors is coupled between one input switch node and one output switch node.