Method and apparatus for fast, efficient, low noise power supply

• US 9,250,694 B1
• Filed: 05/10/2013
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sridhar Kotikalapoodi
• Original Assignee: Sridhar Kotikalapoodi
• Inventors: Kotikalapoodi, Sridhar
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Nugyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): AHMED, YUSEF A
• Application Number:
  US13/891,664
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 323222-225, 323266-277, 323280-285, 323/337
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C

Abstract

A method and apparatus for fast, efficient, low noise power supply have been disclosed. In one implementation a switching power supply and a linear regulator provide efficiency and rapid response.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing power to a load operating at a frequency comprising:

a voltage regulator having a first control device having an input and an output;

said voltage regulator having a second control device having an input and an output;

said first control device input connected to a first power supply source;

said second control device input connected to a second power supply source;

wherein said first control device output and said second control device output are combined in parallel for said providing power to said load operating at said frequency;

wherein said first control device provides power in a first frequency range and said second control device provides power in a second frequency range;

a low pass filter having an input and an output, and a high pass filter having an input and an output, wherein said low pass filter input and said high pass filter input are driven by an error signal generated by comparing a voltage at said load and a reference signal wherein said low pass filter output is connected to a control input of said first control device, and said high pass filter output is connected to a control input of said second control device; and

a pull down device with an input, an output, and a control input, said pull down device input connected to said first control device output, and said pull down device control input connected to said error signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a low end of said first frequency range is less than a low end of said second frequency range, and a high end of said second frequency range is higher than a high end of said first frequency range.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second power supply source is at a higher voltage than said first power supply source.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first power supply source is regulated at a predetermined voltage higher than a voltage at said load.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first power supply source is a switching mode power supply source.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein when said power is below a predetermined level output devices in said switching mode power supply are turned off.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein when said frequency is equal to or less than said first frequency said first control device is turned on, and when said frequency is higher than said first frequency said first control device is turned off.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein when said power is below a predetermined level said first control device is turned off regardless of said frequency.

9. An apparatus comprising:

an error amplifier with a first input and a second input and a first output and a second output, said error amplifier first input for receiving a signal input, said error amplifier second input for receiving a voltage out;

a low pass filter with an input and an output, said low pass filter input coupled to said error amplifier second output;

a high pass filter with an input and an output, said high pass filter input coupled to said error amplifier second output;

a switching regulator having a first input, a second input, and an output, said first input coupled to said error amplifier first output;

said second input coupled to said switching regulator output;

a push-pull output stage having a first pull up device, a second pull up device, and a pull down device;

said first pull up device having an input, an output, and a control input, said first pull up device control input coupled to said low pass filter output, said first pull up device input coupled to said switching regulator output, and said first pull up device output coupled to a load;

said second pull up device having an input, an output, and a control input, said second pull up device control input coupled to said high pass filter output, said second pull up device input coupled to a power source, and said second pull up device output coupled to said load; and

said pull down device having an input, an output, and a control input, said pull down device control input coupled to said error amplifier second output, said pull down device input coupled to said load, and said pull down device output coupled to a ground reference.

10. A method for providing power to a load operating at a frequency the method comprising:

receiving an input signal, wherein said input signal is generated by comparing a voltage at said load and a reference signal;

filtering said input signal into two or more frequency band signals, wherein one of said two or more frequency band signals is a low frequency signal, and another one of said two or more frequency band signals is a high pass frequency signal;

using each of said two or more frequency band signals to control power delivery from two or more power supplies, wherein said low pass frequency signal controls a switching mode power supply, and wherein said high pass frequency signal controls a linear mode power supply; and

combining an output from each of said two or more power supplies to power a load; and

using said input signal to control a pull down device connected across said load.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

determining when said power to said load is below a predefined power level and then disabling one or more of said two or more power supplies.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

determining when said input signal is at or below a predefined frequency and then using said switching mode power supply as one or more of said power supplies.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

determining when said power to said load is below a predefined power level and then disabling one or more output devices in said switching mode power supply.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein one of said two or more power supplies outputs a voltage a preset level above a voltage at said load.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein said two or more frequency band signals may have overlapping signals.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein said combining an output from each of said two or more power supplies is by controlling two or more pass devices.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said two or more pass devices are each turned on or turned off.