Patent US6563294B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6563294B2
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System and method for highly phased power regulation
Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
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Filing: 2002-04-01
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Granted: 2003-05-13
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Expires: 2022-04-01
Abstract
Abstract A highly phased power regulation (converter) system having an improved control feature is provided. A controller, such as a digital signal processor or microprocessor, receives digital information from a plurality of power conversion blocks and transmits control commands in response to the information. The controller is able to change the mode of operation of the system and/or re-phase the power blocks to accommodate a dynamic load requirement, occasions of high transient response or detection of a fault. In one embodiment, a microprocessor receives digital information and converted power from one or more power blocks. In this manner, the microprocessor is able to receive feedback on its own operation. The controller is also able to anticipate and predict conditions by analyzing precursor data. In this manner, the controller is able to modify the system as needed in anticipation of the forthcoming event.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas P. Duffy
- 👤 Ryan Goodfellow
- 👤 David Susak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:37
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M7/00; H02M7/42; H02M7/44; H02M7/48; H02M7/493; H02J; H02J1/00; H02J1/10; H02J1/102; H02M3/00; H02M3/02; H02M3/04; H02M3/10; H02M3/145; H02M3/155; H02M3/156; H02M3/157; H02M3/158; H02M3/1584; H02M1/00; H02M1/0067; H02M1/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A power regulation system coupled to an input source voltage (Vin) and an output voltage (Vout), said Vout electrically coupled to a load, the system comprising: a plurality of power conversion blocks in a multi-phase configuration, each block electrically coupled to said Vin at a power IC and coupled to said Vout at an output inductance, said power IC including a command interface having read/write capabilities for storing data; a controller in communication with and providing an instruction to said power conversion blocks, said controller having a plurality of adaptive algorithms configured to receive power conversion data from said blocks and to determine said instruction based on said power conversion data, said controller determining said multi-phase configuration and capable of re-phasing said blocks in response to said power conversion data; and a digital bus providing a communication channel between said plurality of power conversion blocks and said controller.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A power regulation system coupled to an input source voltage (Vin) and an output voltage (Vout), said Vout electrically coupled to a load, the system comprising: a plurality of power conversion blocks in a multi-phase configuration, each block electrically coupled to said Vin at a power IC and coupled to said Vout at an output inductance, said power IC including a command interface having read/write capabilities for storing data; a controller in communication with and providing an instruction to said power conversion blocks, said controller having a plurality of adaptive algorithms configured to receive power conversion data from said blocks and to determine said instruction based on said power conversion data, said controller determining said multi-phase configuration and capable of re-phasing said blocks in response to said power conversion data; and a digital bus providing a communication channel between said plurality of power conversion blocks and said controller.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The power regulation system of claim 1 , wherein said controller comprises one of a digital signal processor (DSP) or a microprocessor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The power regulation system of claim 1 , further comprising a current feedback line between each of said power conversion blocks and said controller to facilitate current balancing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The power regulation system of claim 1 , wherein said command interface of said power IC further comprises a fault register.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The power regulation system of claim 4 , wherein said controller periodically polls said fault register via said digital bus to determine if a fault within said power IC has occurred.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The power regulation system of claim 1 , wherein each of said power ICs comprises an identification (ID) as assigned by said controller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The power regulation system of claim 1 , wherein said controller comprises a predictive control algorithm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The power regulation system of claim 1 , wherein said power conversion data comprises prediction control data and said controller provides said instruction in anticipation of a predicted condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The power regulation system of claim 1 , wherein said power conversion data and said instruction comprise a mode of operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The power regulation system of claim 9 , wherein said mode of operation includes one of pulse width modulation, constant ON time variable frequency, constant ON or OFF time and variable frequency, simultaneous phases ON, simultaneous phases OFF, active transient response high, active transient response low, continuous conduction or discontinuous conduction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The power regulation system of claim 10 , further comprising a multi-mode system wherein said controller provides a change of mode of operation instruction to said power block.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of controlling a multi-phased power regulation system, said method comprising the steps of: receiving, at a controller, a plurality of digital information from each of a plurality of power conversion blocks in a multi-phase configuration, said information relating to an operation of said power conversion block; analyzing said received information to include prediction of anticipated conditions; transmitting a plurality of control information from said controller to each of said power conversion blocks in response to said analyzing step; re-phasing said power conversion blocks in response to said analyzing step; and changing to a different mode of operation of said power conversion blocks in response to said analyzing step.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of controlling a multi-phased power regulation system, said method comprising the steps of: receiving, at a controller, a plurality of digital information from each of a plurality of power conversion blocks in a multi-phase configuration, said information relating to an operation of said power conversion block; analyzing said received information to include prediction of anticipated conditions; transmitting a plurality of control information from said controller to each of said power conversion blocks in response to said analyzing step; re-phasing said power conversion blocks in response to said analyzing step; and changing to a different mode of operation of said power conversion blocks in response to said analyzing step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of periodically polling a fault register of each of said power conversion blocks to receive fault information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of: analyzing said fault information; removing a faulty power conversion block from said multi-phase configuration; and re-phasing the remaining power conversion blocks.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said controller comprises a microprocessor and said receiving step occurs at said microprocessor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of forming a synchronized current share line between said controller and each of said power conversion blocks.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of addressing each of said power conversion blocks.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of determining a number of available power conversion blocks in response to said addressing step.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of determining a relative phase relationship between a plurality of channels in response to said addressing step.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said changing step comprises changing to one of pulse width modulation, constant ON time variable frequency, constant ON or OFF time and variable frequency, simultaneous phase ON, simultaneous phase OFF, active transient response high, active transient response low, continuous conduction, or discontinuous conduction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said changing step comprises changing to an active transient response mode and said controller instructs a plurality of FETs within said power conversion block to remain ON.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
115 words
A multi operational mode power converter comprising: a plurality of power ICs, each of said power ICs receiving a voltage input (Vin) and outputting a converted voltage (Vout); a microprocessor in electrical communication with said plurality of power ICs, said microprocessor receiving said Vout from at least one of said power ICs and receiving a plurality of digital data from each of said power ICs, said microprocessor providing a control instruction to said power ICs in response to said received digital data, said control instruction comprising a mode of operation; and a digital communication channel coupled to said microprocessor and said plurality of power ICs for transmission of said digital data and said control instruction.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
115 words
A multi operational mode power converter comprising: a plurality of power ICs, each of said power ICs receiving a voltage input (Vin) and outputting a converted voltage (Vout); a microprocessor in electrical communication with said plurality of power ICs, said microprocessor receiving said Vout from at least one of said power ICs and receiving a plurality of digital data from each of said power ICs, said microprocessor providing a control instruction to said power ICs in response to said received digital data, said control instruction comprising a mode of operation; and a digital communication channel coupled to said microprocessor and said plurality of power ICs for transmission of said digital data and said control instruction.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The power converter of claim 22 , wherein said digital communication channel comprises a digital backplane.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The power converter of claim 22 , wherein said digital communication channel comprises an optical backplane.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The power converter of claim 22 , further comprising a plurality of control algorithms stored on said microprocessor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The power converter of claim 22 , wherein said digital data comprises anticipatory operational information and said control instruction comprises a predictive control mode of operation.
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