US-20260126823-A1 - CROSS-STAGE SENSING VOLTAGE REGULATION

US20260126823A1US 20260126823 A1US20260126823 A1US 20260126823A1US-20260126823-A1

Abstract

An example electrical system includes a first voltage regulator, a second voltage regulator, a cross-stage sensing path, and a cross-stage voltage regulation mechanism. The cross-stage sensing path is external to an input line of the first voltage regulator and connected to an output line of the second voltage regulator. The cross-stage voltage regulation mechanism is connected to the cross-stage sensing path and configured to regulate an outgoing voltage of the first voltage regulator in response to receipt through at least the cross-stage sensing path of an outgoing voltage from the second voltage regulator output line. The cross-stage voltage regulation mechanism includes a mode switch or a control loop. Some variations include more than two voltage regulators, more than one cross-stage sensing path, more than one cross-stage voltage regulation mechanism, temperature sensing, and combinations thereof.

Inventors

Vlad Radu CALUGARU

Assignees

MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20241105

Claims (20)

1 . A cross-stage voltage regulation method performed in an electrical system which includes an upstream voltage regulator in an upstream voltage regulation stage and a downstream voltage regulator in a downstream voltage regulation stage, the upstream voltage regulator having an upstream voltage regulator output line, the downstream voltage regulator having a downstream voltage regulator input line and a downstream voltage regulator output line, the downstream voltage regulator input line being electrically connected to receive an incoming downstream voltage which is regulated at least in part by the upstream voltage regulator, the electrical system also including a cross-stage sensing path and a cross-stage voltage regulation mechanism, the cross-stage sensing path being external to the downstream voltage regulator input line and electrically connecting the downstream voltage regulation stage to the upstream voltage regulation stage, the voltage regulation method comprising: the electrical system transmitting an outgoing downstream voltage from the downstream voltage regulator output line through at least the cross-stage sensing path to the cross-stage voltage regulation mechanism; and the cross-stage voltage regulation mechanism regulating an outgoing upstream voltage of the upstream voltage regulator output line in response to at least the transmitted outgoing downstream voltage.
2 . The voltage regulation method of claim 1 , wherein a cross-stage sensing propagation time is less than half of a stage-by-stage propagation time, the cross-stage sensing propagation time being defined as a first elapsed time between a voltage change on the downstream voltage regulator output line and an arrival via at least the cross-stage sensing path of a corresponding sensed voltage change at the voltage regulation mechanism of the upstream voltage regulator, the stage-by-stage propagation time being defined as second elapsed time between the voltage change on the downstream voltage regulator output line and an arrival via at least the downstream voltage regulator input line and the upstream voltage regulator output line of a corresponding responsive voltage change at a connection of the upstream voltage regulator output line to the upstream voltage regulator.
3 . The voltage regulation method of claim 1 , wherein regulating an outgoing upstream voltage of the upstream voltage regulator output line in response to at least the transmitted outgoing downstream voltage comprises adjusting the upstream voltage regulator and thereby reducing a difference between a reference voltage and the outgoing upstream voltage.
4 . The voltage regulation method of claim 1 , wherein regulating an outgoing upstream voltage of the upstream voltage regulator output line in response to at least the transmitted outgoing downstream voltage comprises switching a mode of the upstream voltage regulator and thereby changing a current on the upstream voltage regulator output line.
5 . The voltage regulation method of claim 1 , wherein regulating an outgoing upstream voltage of the upstream voltage regulator output line in response to at least the transmitted outgoing downstream voltage comprises at least one of: altering a frequency of the upstream voltage regulator; altering a duty cycle of the upstream voltage regulator; or altering a power state of the upstream voltage regulator.
6 . A cross-stage voltage regulation subsystem in an electrical system, the electrical system comprising an upstream voltage regulator in an upstream voltage regulation stage and a downstream voltage regulator in a downstream voltage regulation stage, the upstream voltage regulator having an upstream voltage regulator output line, the downstream voltage regulator having a downstream voltage regulator input line and a downstream voltage regulator output line, the downstream voltage regulator input line being electrically connected to receive an incoming downstream voltage which is regulated at least in part by the upstream voltage regulator, the voltage regulation subsystem comprising: a cross-stage sensing path external to the downstream voltage regulator input line and connectable to the downstream voltage regulator output line; and a cross-stage voltage regulation mechanism connectable to the cross-stage sensing path and configured to regulate an outgoing upstream voltage of the upstream voltage regulator output line in response to receipt through at least the cross-stage sensing path of at least an outgoing downstream voltage from the downstream voltage regulator output line.
7 . The voltage regulation subsystem of claim 6 , wherein the cross-stage sensing path comprises a voltage sensing line connectable to the downstream voltage regulator output line, and the cross-stage sensing path further comprises at least one of: a current sensing path; a temperature sensing path; or an energy usage meter.
8 . The voltage regulation subsystem of claim 6 , wherein the cross-stage voltage regulation mechanism comprises at least one of: a mode switch; or a control loop.
9 . The voltage regulation subsystem of claim 6 in an electrically connected combination with the upstream voltage regulator and the downstream voltage regulator which forms a combination system, wherein the cross-stage sensing path electrically connects the downstream voltage regulator output line to the cross-stage voltage regulation mechanism.
10 . The combination system of claim 9 , comprising at least three voltage regulators which have different respective output voltages, and which are electrically connected in a serial topology.
11 . The combination system of claim 9 , comprising at least three voltage regulators which are electrically connected in at least one of: a many-to-one topology; or a one-to-many topology.
12 . The combination system of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the upstream voltage regulator or the downstream voltage regulator comprises an off-die voltage regulator.
13 . The combination system of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the upstream voltage regulator or the downstream voltage regulator comprises an on-die voltage regulator.
14 . The combination system of claim 9 , wherein at least one of: the upstream voltage regulator comprises an in-stage upstream voltage sensing line which senses the outgoing upstream voltage of the upstream voltage regulator output line, the in-stage upstream voltage sensing line external to the cross-stage sensing path; or the downstream voltage regulator comprises an in-stage downstream voltage sensing line which senses the outgoing downstream voltage of the downstream voltage regulator output line, the in-stage downstream voltage sensing line external to the cross-stage sensing path.
15 . A cross-stage voltage regulated electrical system which includes voltage regulators with respective input lines and output lines, the system comprising: a first voltage regulator in a first voltage regulation stage, the first voltage regulator having an input line, having an output line, and being configured to provide a first voltage on the output line; a second voltage regulator in a second voltage regulation stage, the second voltage regulator having an input line, having an output line, and being configured to provide a second voltage on the output line, the second voltage being different from the first voltage; a cross-stage sensing path which is external to the second voltage regulator input line, external to the first voltage regulator output line, and electrically connected to the second voltage regulator output line; a cross-stage voltage regulation mechanism electrically connected to the cross-stage sensing path and configured to regulate the first voltage in response to receipt by way of the cross-stage sensing path of at least the second voltage; and wherein “first” and “second” herein distinguish items without necessarily indicating a relative position in time or in space.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the system has a topology, the topology includes a tree having branches, and the first voltage regulator is on a different branch than the second voltage regulator.
17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the first voltage regulator is in series with the second voltage regulator.
18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the first voltage regulator is in parallel with the second voltage regulator.
19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the first voltage regulator or the second voltage regulator or both comprise at least one of: a boost convertor; a buck convertor; or an inverter.
20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the first voltage regulator or the second voltage regulator or both comprise at least one of: a linear voltage regulator; or a switching regulator.

Description

BACKGROUND Many modern systems and devices in a broad range of fields utilize electric power, including lighting devices, heating and cooling systems, air filter devices, pumps, refrigeration devices, kitchen appliances, industrial machinery, robots, electronic devices such as computers, televisions, radios, and videogame systems, vehicles such as vehicles operating underwater, on the surface of water, on roads, off roads, in the air, and in space, satellites, private and public transportation systems, medical devices, scientific research devices, military defense systems, and communication devices, among many others. Different devices have different operational requirements for the electric power they use. Accordingly, a variety of approaches to electrical power regulation have been developed. However, improvements in electrical power regulation technology are still possible. SUMMARY Some embodiments address technical challenges arising in electrical power regulation, and more particularly in voltage regulation. One challenge is how to optimize the handling of voltage dips, voltage spikes, and other transient events in a power supply system that includes multiple voltage regulators arranged serially in a cascade. Another challenge is how to reduce response times for mode switches, control loops, and other control elements in a power supply system. Other technical challenges are also addressed herein. Some embodiments taught herein provide or utilize cross-stage voltage regulation technology in an electrical system which includes voltage regulators with respective input lines and output lines. The electrical system includes a first voltage regulator in a first voltage regulation stage, the first voltage regulator having an input line, having an output line, and being configured to provide a first voltage on the output line. The electrical system also includes a second voltage regulator in a second voltage regulation stage, the second voltage regulator having an input line, having an output line, and being configured to provide a second voltage on the output line. The second voltage is different from the first voltage. The electrical system also includes a cross-stage sensing path which is external to the second voltage regulator input line, external to the first voltage regulator output line, and electrically connected to the second voltage regulator output line. A cross-stage voltage regulation mechanism is electrically connected to the cross-stage sensing path and configured to regulate the first voltage in response to receipt (by way of the cross-stage sensing path) of at least the second voltage. By transmitting voltage information across stages through the cross-stage sensing path, these examples permit faster responses to transient events or other voltage changes than would be possible by relying only on propagation through the input and output lines (sometimes referred to as ripple propagation). Faster responses in turn provide benefits such as reduced power dissipation, better anticipation of computer processor power requirements, redundancy, and more efficient use of electric power. Additional technical activities, technical characteristics, and technical benefits pertinent to teachings herein will also become apparent to those of skill in the art. The examples given are merely illustrative. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Rather, this Summary is provided to introduce—in a simplified form—some technical concepts that are further described below in the Detailed Description. Subject matter scope is defined with claims as properly understood, and to the extent this Summary conflicts with the claims, the claims should prevail. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more particular description will be given with reference to the attached drawings. These drawings only illustrate selected aspects and thus do not fully determine coverage or scope. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating aspects of computer systems, including some aspects generally suitable for embodiments which include or use cross-stage voltage regulation (CSVR) functionality; FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating aspects of a family of enhanced systems which are each configured with CSVR functionality; FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a single voltage regulator stage; FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a two-stage voltage regulator enhanced with a cross-stage sensing line and a junction; FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an enhanced two-stage voltage regulator which includes a cross-stage sensing path, in which the individual stages each include an in-stage sensing path; FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an enhanced two-stage voltage regulator which includes a cross-stage sensing path and a mode switch external to both of the individual stages; FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an enhanced two-stage vol