Regulator Circuits and Methods
First Claim
1. A method of regulating supply energy in a digital regulator, comprising:
- receiving a first digital control code;
receiving raw energy from a power supply;
using a power digital-to-analog convertor (DAC), forwarding a portion of the raw energy to a power load, wherein the portion is determined by the first digital control code;
sensing a physical quantity related to the portion of the raw energy in the power load, and forwarding the sensed physical quantity to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC);
receiving a first reference physical quantity and forwarding it to the ADC;
in the ADC, based on the first reference physical quantity and the sensed physical quantity, generating an updated first digital control code; and
regularly repeating the previous steps with the updated first digital control code to obtain a proportional relation between the sensed physical quantity and the first reference physical quantity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A voltage or current regulator has a power DAC and ADC in a negative feedback loop, locked to a reference voltage or current. The ADC may have one or more parallel comparators followed by one or more parallel filters. The regulator may include a multiplexer to select between filter output signals and to forward the selected signal to the power DAC. The regulator may receive power management mode control codes to modify filter behavior and/or to select between multiple parallel filters. By modifying the loop behavior, the regulator is able to swiftly change between power management modes supporting different power level and noise profiles. Regulators with a single comparator can lock the output to a single reference voltage or current. Regulators with two comparators can regulate the output to vary within a range limited by an upper and a lower reference voltage or current.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of regulating supply energy in a digital regulator, comprising:
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receiving a first digital control code; receiving raw energy from a power supply; using a power digital-to-analog convertor (DAC), forwarding a portion of the raw energy to a power load, wherein the portion is determined by the first digital control code; sensing a physical quantity related to the portion of the raw energy in the power load, and forwarding the sensed physical quantity to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC); receiving a first reference physical quantity and forwarding it to the ADC; in the ADC, based on the first reference physical quantity and the sensed physical quantity, generating an updated first digital control code; and regularly repeating the previous steps with the updated first digital control code to obtain a proportional relation between the sensed physical quantity and the first reference physical quantity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of regulating supply energy in an analog regulator, comprising:
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receiving raw energy from a power supply; receiving an analog control signal; from a power stage, forwarding a portion of the raw energy to a power load, wherein the portion is determined by the analog control signal; sensing a physical quantity related to the portion of the raw energy in the power load, and forwarding the sensed physical quantity to a comparator; receiving and forwarding a reference physical quantity to the comparator; receiving a clock signal; in the comparator, comparing the sensed physical quantity to the reference physical quantity to obtain a comparator output signal; forwarding the comparator output signal to two or more analog filters; in the two or more analog filters, filtering the comparator output signal to obtain two or more updated analog control signals; forwarding the two or more updated analog control signals to an analog multiplexer; receiving a mode control code; in the analog multiplexer, based on the mode control code, selecting one of the two or more updated analog control signals to determine the portion of raw energy; and continuously repeating the previous steps with the selected one of the two or more updated analog control signals to obtain a proportional relation between the sensed physical quantity and the first reference physical quantity. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A level regulator circuit, comprising:
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a power digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with a raw energy input, a digital control code input, and a regulated power output, wherein the raw energy input is configured to receive raw energy from a power supply, and the regulated power output is configured to deliver regulated energy to a power load; an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), with a first input coupled with the regulated power output, and with a second input configured to receive a reference physical quantity; and a first digital filter, with; an input coupled to an ADC output; a mode control code input, wherein the digital filter is capable of modifying filter behavior based on a code received on the mode control code input; and an output at least part of the time directly or indirectly coupled with the power DAC digital control code input. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A range regulator circuit, comprising:
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a power digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with a raw energy input, a digital control code input, and a regulated power output, wherein the raw energy input is configured to receive raw energy from a power supply, and the regulated power output is configured to deliver regulated energy to a power load; a first and a second clocked comparator, each with a first input coupled with the regulated power output, and with a second input configured to each receive a separate reference physical quantity; and a first digital filter, with inputs coupled with outputs of the first and second clocked comparator, and with an output coupled with the power DAC digital control code input. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 23, 24)
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22. A two-step regulator system, comprising:
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a range regulator with a raw energy input configured to receive raw energy from a power supply, two reference inputs, and a regulated power output coupled to an energy storage device; a level regulator with a raw energy input coupled to the range regulator regulated power output, one reference input, and a regulated power output coupled to a power load; wherein; the range regulator is configured to regulate a first physical quantity on the energy storage device between limits determined by signal levels on the two range regulator reference inputs; and the level regulator is configured to regulate a second physical quantity on the power load to a level determined by a signal level on the level regulator reference input.
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Specification