Power supply system

• US 8,723,485 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2012
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Original Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Inventors: Liu, Chien-Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): Behm, Harry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grubb, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US13/364,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20130106386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 320/166, 320/167, 307/64, 307/110, 363/59, 363/60
• US Class Current: 320/167
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/07 using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode , e.g. charge pumps

Abstract

A power supply system includes an output node, an internal power supply unit, a boost storage unit, a charging path unit, and a discharging path unit. The output node is coupled to a load device. The internal power supply unit includes a gold capacitor unit for storing an internal storage voltage. The charging path unit is turned on in a charging period to store a boost supply voltage in the boost storage unit. The discharging path is turned on in a discharging period to provide a power signal for drive the load device according to the internal storage voltage and the boost supply voltage. The charging and discharging periods are non-overlapping.

Claims

1. A power supply system, for providing a power signal to a first load device, comprising:

a first output node, coupled to the first load device;

a first internal power supply unit, comprising;

a first gold capacitor unit, for storing a first internal storage voltage;

a first boost storage unit;

a first charging path unit, being turned on in a first charging period for providing the first internal storage voltage to the first boost storage unit, which correspondingly stores a first boost supply voltage;

a first discharging path unit, being turned on in a first discharging period for serially connecting the first boost storage unit and the first gold capacitor unit between the first output node and a reference voltage, to provide the power signal for driving the first load device according to the first internal storage voltage and the first boost supply voltage, wherein

the first charging period and the first discharging period are non-overlapping and

a boost/buck unit, for receiving the first internal storage voltage and accordingly charging the first boost storage unit, which correspondingly stores the first boost supply voltage.

2. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the first charging path unit comprises:

a first set of switches, coupled to the first boost storage unit and the first gold capacitor unit, the first set of switches turned on in the first charging period in response to a first set of timing signals, to couple the first gold capacitor unit to the first boost storage unit and charge the first boost storage unit according to the first internal storage voltage.

3. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the first discharging path unit comprises:

a second set of switches, coupled to the first gold capacitor unit, the first boost storage unit, the reference voltage and the first output node, the second set of switches turned on in the first discharging period in response to a second set of timing signals, to serially connect the first capacitor unit and the first boost storage unit between the first output node and the reference voltage.

4. The power supply system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second boost storage unit;

a second charging path unit, turned on in a second charging period for providing the first internal storage voltage to the second boost storage unit, which correspondingly stores a second boost supply voltage; and

a second discharging path unit, turned on in a second discharging period for serially connecting the second boost storage unit and the first gold capacitor unit between the first output node and the reference voltage, to provide the power signal for driving the first load device according to the first internal storage voltage and the second boost supply voltage;

wherein, the second charging period and the second discharging period are non-overlapping.

5. The power supply system according to claim 4, wherein the second charging path unit comprises:

a third set of switches, coupled to the second boost storage unit and the first gold capacitor unit, the third set of switches turned on in the second charging period in response to a second set of timing signals, to serially connect the first capacitor unit to the second boost storage unit and to charge the second boost storage unit according to the first internal storage voltage.

6. The power supply system according to claim 4, wherein the second discharging path unit comprises:

a fourth set of switches, coupled to the first gold capacitor unit, the second boost storage unit, the reference voltage and the first output node, being turned on in the second discharging period in response to a second set of timing signals, to serially connect the first gold capacitor unit and the second boost storage unit between the first output node and the reference voltage.

7. The power supply system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third boost storage unit;

a third charging path unit, turned on in a third charging period for providing the first internal storage voltage to the third boost storage unit, which correspondingly stores a third boost supply voltage; and

a third discharging path unit, turned on in a third discharging period for serially connecting the third boost storage unit and the first gold capacitor unit between the first output node and the reference voltage, to provide the power signal for driving the first load device according to the first internal storage voltage and the third boost supply voltage, wherein,

the third charging period and the third discharging period are non-overlapping.

8. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the first discharging path unit further comprises:

a second output node, having the reference voltage;

a sub internal power supply unit, comprising;

a sub gold capacitor unit, for storing a sub internal storage voltage;

a sub boost storage unit;

a sub charging path unit, turned on in the first charging period for providing the sub internal storage voltage to the sub boost storage unit, which correspondingly stores a sub boost supply voltage; and

a sub discharging path unit, turned on in the first discharging period for serially connecting the sub boost storage unit and the first boost storage unit between the second output node and a ground reference voltage, to determine a level of the reference voltage according to the sub internal storage voltage and the first boost supply voltage.

9. The power supply system according to claim 8, wherein the second output node is further coupled to a second load device and drives the second load device according to the reference voltage.

10. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the first boost storage unit selectively comprises either a capacitor circuit or an inductor circuit.

11. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein first gold capacitor unit is controlled and driven by an external power circuit to store the first internal storage voltage, and the external power circuit comprises:

a charging unit, for providing an external supply voltage; and

a gas gauge integrated circuit, coupled to the charging unit and the first internal power supply unit, for charging the first gold capacitor unit, which correspondingly has the internal storage voltage;

wherein, the gas gauge integrated circuit further measures a voltage and a current of the first gold capacitor unit.