Switched mode power supply output stage configuration
First Claim
1. A method of selecting an output stage configuration per selected operating performance point (OPP) for a switched mode power supply having a plurality of selectable, parallel output stages, each operative to supply current to a load, the power supply operative in a system that switches between discrete OPPs, the method comprising:
- upon receiving notice that the system has switched to a first OPP, retrieving historic output stage configuration data associated with the first OPP;
configuring the output stages according to the historic output stage configuration data;
during operation at the first OPP, periodically monitoring a current drawn by the load;
adjusting the output stage configuration based on the current monitoring; and
upon receiving notice that the system has switched to a second OPP, updating the historic output stage configuration data associated with the first OPP to reflect the output stage adjustment, and storing the updated historic output stage configuration data in association with the first OPP;
wherein the historic output stage configuration data associated with the first OPP comprises at least;
a mapping of the first OPP to a running average, over a predetermined number of iterations of the first OPP, of a determined optimal number of output stages to be enabled; and
a mapping of the first OPP to a running average, over a predetermined number of iterations of the first OPP, of deviations in the number of output stages enabled.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of optimizing the number of output stages of a switched mode power supply features a dynamically-updated lookup table (LUT) storing historic output stage configuration data per system operating performance point (OPP). Upon entering an OPP, a margin is added to the historic optimal configuration. During operation at the OPP, the current drawn by the load is periodically monitored, and the number of output stages is dynamically adjusted, as needed (with low pass filtering to ensure stability). When the system exits the OPP, a running average of the optimal number of output stages for the OPP is updated with the actual number of output stages enabled in this iteration of the OPP. A running average of the deviation, or change in number of output stages enabled, is also maintained. The updated values are written to the LUT, for use in setting the initial output stage configuration the next time the same OPP is invoked. This methodology is adaptive and self-learning, and automatically accounts for variations such as temperature, aging, process variation, software changes, and the like.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of selecting an output stage configuration per selected operating performance point (OPP) for a switched mode power supply having a plurality of selectable, parallel output stages, each operative to supply current to a load, the power supply operative in a system that switches between discrete OPPs, the method comprising:
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upon receiving notice that the system has switched to a first OPP, retrieving historic output stage configuration data associated with the first OPP; configuring the output stages according to the historic output stage configuration data; during operation at the first OPP, periodically monitoring a current drawn by the load; adjusting the output stage configuration based on the current monitoring; and upon receiving notice that the system has switched to a second OPP, updating the historic output stage configuration data associated with the first OPP to reflect the output stage adjustment, and storing the updated historic output stage configuration data in association with the first OPP; wherein the historic output stage configuration data associated with the first OPP comprises at least; a mapping of the first OPP to a running average, over a predetermined number of iterations of the first OPP, of a determined optimal number of output stages to be enabled; and a mapping of the first OPP to a running average, over a predetermined number of iterations of the first OPP, of deviations in the number of output stages enabled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A power management unit operative in a system that switches between discrete operating performance points (OPP), comprising:
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a switched mode power supply having a plurality of selectable, parallel output stages, each comprising two switches connected in series across a power supply, and each operative to supply current to a load when enabled; a lookup table operative to store, for each OPP, historic output stage configuration data; and a controller operative to upon receiving notice that the system has switched to a first OPP, retrieve historic output stage configuration data associated with the first OPP; configure the output stages according to the historic output stage configuration data; during operation at the first OPP, periodically monitor the current supplied to the load; adjust the output stage configuration so as to maintain an output stage configuration capable of supplying output current sufficient to meet the current demand of a load; and upon receiving notice that the system has switched to a second OPP, update the historic output stage configuration data associated with the first OPP to reflect the output stage adjustment, and store the updated historic output stage configuration data in association with the first OPP; wherein the historic output stage configuration data associated with the first OPP comprises at least a mapping of the first OPP to a running average, over a predetermined number of iterations of the first OPP, of a determined optimal number of output stages to be enabled; and a mapping of the first OPP to a running average, over a predetermined number of iterations of the first OPP, of deviations in the number of output stages enabled. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification