Apple patents faster power management for electronic components
Apple describes a method for managing power supply in electronic devices using a dual-loop control system. It measures the power needed by the component directly and adjusts the power delivery quickly to handle sudden changes in demand.
In the filing’s own words
An electrical system can include a switching regulator that delivers a regulated voltage to a system load via an interconnect impedance. The switching regulator can include an inner control loop that regulates an output current of the switching regulator based on a received current command, the received current command determined responsive in part to a load current sensed at the system load downstream of the interconnect impedance; and an outer control loop that regulates an output voltage of the switching regulator by providing a contribution to the current command, wherein the contribution to the current command provided by the outer control loop during a transient load is smaller than a portion of the current command responsive to the load current sensed at the system load downstream of the interconnect impedance.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An electrical system including a switching regulator that delivers a regulated voltage to a system load via an interconnect impedance, the switching regulator comprising: an inner control loop that regulates an output current of the switching regulator based on a received current command, the received current command determined responsive in part to a load current sensed at the system load downstream of the interconnect impedance; and an outer control loop that regulates an output voltage of the switching regulator by providing a contribution to the current command, wherein the contribution to the current command provided by the outer control loop during a transient load is smaller than a portion of the current command responsive to the load current sensed at the system load downstream of the interconnect impedance.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- VOLTAGE REGULATOR FAST TRANSIENT RESPONSE USING LOAD FOLLOWER CONTROL METHODOLOGY
- Publication number
- US20260291360A1
- Application number
- 19082672
- Filed
- Mar 18, 2025
- Published
- Sep 24, 2026
- Inventors
- 1
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H02M 1/0009 Electricity & electronicsH02M 3/01 Electricity & electronicsH02M 3/158 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.