Fast-transient constant on-time DC-DC converter control
This technology improves how power converters handle sudden changes in electrical load — for example, when a processor chip abruptly demands more or less current. Standard constant on-time converters struggle with these sudden shifts, causing the output voltage to temporarily dip or spike before stabilizing. This invention adds a simple detection circuit that senses the size and direction of the voltage change and immediately overrides normal switching behavior to counteract it. The result is a faster, tighter voltage response, and it also allows engineers to use smaller output capacitors, reducing cost and board space.
What you could build
A power management IC or reference design for high-performance DC-DC converters used in servers, networking hardware, and consumer electronics — sold to or licensed by semiconductor companies like Texas Instruments, Renesas, or Monolithic Power Systems.
Who in Virginia should care
Northern Virginia data center operators and the defense electronics suppliers clustered around the Pentagon corridor would benefit from more efficient, space-saving power management in dense compute hardware.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Syed Bari, Fred C. Lee, Qiang Li, Pei-Hsin Liu
- Granted
- October 23, 2018
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 10110122
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.