Zilker Labs, Inc.

Intersil Americas Inc.

Vizionware, Inc.

Gregory T Chandler

Chris Morrow Young

Douglas Edward Heineman

Stephen James Sheafor

Kenneth William Egan

James J Remedi

Jitendra K Budwal

Ted Beck

A feedback control system, e.g. a voltage regulator, may include a control stage controlling an output stage that generates an output. The control stage may generate a control signal, e.g. a pulse-width modulated signal, having a duty-cycle and a switching frequency, and adjust the switching frequency when a present value of the duty-cycle differs from a most recent previous value of the duty-cycle, until the duty-cycle starts increasing, while also adjusting the duty-cycle according to the output. By adjusting the switching frequency, the (power) efficiency of the system may be optimized also regulating the output. The feedback system may also adjust the switching frequency according to an alternate algorithm to improve but not necessarily optimize the power efficiency by scaling a programmed frequency value using a scaling factor that is a function of a maximum duty-cycle value, a present frequency value, the programmed frequency value, and a minimum frequency value.

Control system optimization via adaptive frequency adjustment

The operation of a voltage regulator (or point-of-load regulator) may be optimized, by performing diode emulation using the low-side output transistor (LS FET). The voltage regulator may be monitored for a specified trigger event, which may include an averaged value of the load current dropping below a threshold value, and upon recognizing the trigger event, one or more of a number of possible diode emulation algorithms may be enabled. In one algorithm, the duty-cycle of the LS FET control signal may be set to a specified value, then adjusted until the duty-cycle of the high-side output transistor (HS FET) control signal settles and steady state is reached. The duty-cycle of the LS FET control signal may then be adjusted, and the duty-cycle of the HS FET control signal monitored, until the monitoring indicates that the duty-cycle of the HS FET control signal has reached a minimum value, thereby optimizing operation of the voltage regulator with respect to power loss. The averaged current may be based on actual load current measurements, or it may be calculated. In the latter case, discontinuous operation of the regulator may be determined based on the duty-cycle of the HS FET control signal deviating from its highest value.

Control system optimization via digital diode emulation

A method for optimizing operation of a feedback system may include generating a control signal according to a control parameter, regulating an output of the feedback system via the control signal, and monitoring the control parameter. In response to the monitoring indicating that the present value of the control parameter is outside a specific range of values, a first parameter that impacts an operating characteristic of the feedback system may be adjusted until the present value of the control parameter is within the specific range of values. The specific range of values of the control parameter may correspond to a target level of the operating characteristic of the feedback system with respect to the first parameter. One or more additional independent parameters also impacting the operating characteristic of the system may be similarly adjusted to obtain a minimum present value of the control parameter at which the output of the feedback system would be regulated, with the minimum value of the control parameter corresponding to the target level of the operating characteristic of the feedback system with respect to, collectively, the first parameter and the one or more additional independent parameters.

Control system optimization via independent parameter adjustment

A method and system is disclosed for spreading the power associated with digital signals being transmitted to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) emissions by receiving, via a first transmission line, a first power spread signal representative a first digital signal modified using a first power spreading digital noise signal, modifying the power spread signal using a second power spreading digital noise signal substantially similar to the first power spreading digital noise signal to generate a second digital signal substantially similar to the first digital signal, modifying the second digital signal using a third power spreading digital noise signal to generate a second power spread signal and providing the second power spread signal for output to a second transmission line.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Gregory T Chandler