Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080211475 | Step-up converter - The present invention provides a current-mode control step-up converter capable of reducing the minimum duty ratio to a sufficiently small value and facilitating the setting of the maximum duty ratio. The step-up converter comprises a current detector | 09-04-2008 |
20080218144 | On-Off-Valve - A power-supply apparatus for outputting from an output terminal via one or more switching elements, each having a control electrode, a voltage input to an input terminal, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a voltage-generating circuit for generating an output voltage Vo proportional to a voltage between an input end and an output end of the switching element so as to output the generated voltage, and a control circuit for controlling an operation of the switching element depending on the output voltage Vo of the voltage-generating circuit. The control circuit causes the switching element to reduce an output current when the output voltage Vo of the voltage-generating circuit exceeds a predetermined voltage Vs. | 09-11-2008 |
20080258699 | Converter Circuit with Improved Efficiency - The present invention relates to a converter circuit and a conversion method for converting an input signal to an output signal of a predetermined value based on a switched operating mode, wherein a first control loop ( | 10-23-2008 |
20080315852 | System and Method for Estimating Input Power for a Power Processing Circuit - A controller for a power processing circuit and a related method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the controller includes a multiplier configured to produce a product of an input current and an input voltage of the power processing circuit. The controller also includes a low-pass filter configured to produce an input power estimate of an input power to the power processing circuit as a function of the product of the input current and the input voltage. In another embodiment, the controller is a power-factor controller and includes a voltage loop compensator configured to produce a voltage compensation signal as a function of an output voltage of the power processing circuit. The controller also includes an input power estimator configured to produce an input power estimate of an input power to the power processing circuit as a function of the voltage compensation signal. | 12-25-2008 |
20090015229 | Bi-directional DC power converter - A bidirectional power converter is presented. The power converter includes a circuit having a first and second power node and a first and a second internal node. Energy storage components are coupled between the power nodes and ground. A first switch is coupled between the first power node and the first internal node. A second switch is coupled between the first internal node and ground. A third switch is coupled between the second internal node and ground. A fourth switch is coupled between the second power node and second internal node. An inductive component is coupled between the first internal node and second internal node. A controller controls the switches in a manner such that power conversion occurs from the first to the second power node, from the second to the first power node, or power conversion is disabled and the power nodes are isolated from each other. | 01-15-2009 |
20090015230 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A STEP-UP DC-DC CONVERTER AND RELATED CONVERTER - A method of controlling a DC-DC step-up converter including at least one power switch and an energy storage inductor may include comparing a converter output voltage to a first threshold and generating a first comparison flag based on the converter output voltage comparison. The method may also include comparing a voltage across the energy storage inductor to a second threshold and generating a second comparison flag based on the second energy storage inductor voltage comparison. The method may further include controlling the at least one power switch as a function of a logic state of the first comparison flag and the second comparison flag, and stepwise adjusting the second threshold as a function of the first comparison flag and the second comparison flag to limit a ripple on the converter output voltage. | 01-15-2009 |
20090027027 | Anti-ring asynchronous boost converter and anti-ring method for an asynchronous boost converter - The phase node voltage or the PWM signal in an asynchronous boost converter is monitored to detect a phase node voltage ringing. When a phase node voltage ringing is detected, a detection signal is asserted to establish a bypass path to bypass the inductor of the converter. A charge bypass circuit is shunt to the inductor, and controlled by the detection signal to establish the bypass path. Due to the bypass path, the phase node voltage is maintained at a constant, and the phase node voltage radiation and input/output noise are eliminated. | 01-29-2009 |
20090039854 | LOAD CONTROL DEVICE HAVING A GATE CURRENT SENSING CIRCUIT - A gate drive circuit for a controllably conductive device, such as a triac, includes a trigger circuit for conducting a gate current through a control input of the controllably conductive device, and a sense circuit operable to generate a control signal representative of the magnitude of the gate current. The controllably conductive device is adapted to be coupled in series between an AC power source and an electrical load for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The controllably conductive device is operable to change from a non-conductive state to a conductive state in response to the gate current being conducted through the control input. A controller is operable to control the controllably conductive device via the gate drive circuit and to determine, in response to the magnitude of the gate current through the control input of the controllably conductive device, whether the controllably conductive device is presently conducting current to the load. | 02-12-2009 |
20090039855 | Scientific method to accurately regulate point of load power distribution using remote sense connection point switchover - A power regulation system for providing a regulated voltage to a load is provided. The system includes an energy source or a power source and a switching device. The switching device switches a sensing voltage input of the energy source between a voltage input of a power-line controller and a voltage input of the load based on a status input. A method for providing a regulated voltage to a load is also described. | 02-12-2009 |
20090039856 | Stability enhancement apparatus and method for a self-clocking PWM buck converter - A DCR detecting circuit is parallel connected to the inductor of a self-clocking PWM buck converter which performs a trigger control of a PWM signal by an output feedback, to detect the current signal on the inductor to provide a large enough ripple to be combined into the output feedback, so as to enhance the system stability, while remains the small output ripple, without additional power loss. | 02-12-2009 |
20090039857 | DRIVER WITH CONTROL INTERFACE FACILITATING USE OF THE DRIVER WITH VARIED DC-TO-DC CONVERTER CIRCUITS - A driver for a DC-to-DC converter that may utilize a flyback or buck-boost converter circuit. The driver includes a driver circuit and an interface circuit. The interface circuit has a sensor sensing an input voltage from a DC supply and generating a sensor signal to a driver selector. The driver selector compares the sensor signal to a comparison voltage to determine the type of converter circuit and then transmits a selector signal to a driver circuit where it is used to control one or more of the components of the driver circuit, such as the logic circuit which is used for driving the converter to regulate the converter output. The sensor includes a sense resistor along with a current-sense amplifier, which is adapted for connection to a high side or a low side of a power supply while still producing a substantially equivalent output voltage or sensor signal. | 02-12-2009 |
20090051338 | Constant current regulator with current sensing circuit loop - A constant current regulator includes a current sensing circuit loop connected to a switch unit of the constant current regulator to detect a current flowing through the switch unit and to generate a detection current that is in proportion to the current flowing through the switch unit. The detection current flows through a detection resistor to induce a detection voltage. A differential amplifier bases on a set voltage and the received detection voltage to generate an error voltage to a pulse width modulation controller, which in turn causes a gate driver circuit to control the switching operation of the switch unit thereby supplying a constant current to a load connected to an output voltage of the regulator. | 02-26-2009 |
20090051339 | DC-DC CONVERTER AND CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR DC-DC CONVERTER - A DC-DC converter prevents through current from flowing in an output transistor. A first transistor receives an input voltage. A second transistor is connected to the first transistor. A comparator is connected to the second transistor. The comparator detects current flowing through a choke coil based on the potential difference between two terminals of the second transistor to generate a switching control signal for turning the second transistor on and off. The second transistor and the comparator form an ideal diode. A control circuit of the DC-DC converter generates an activation signal for turning the first transistor on and off based on a pulse signal to keep an output voltage constant. A through current prevention pulse generation circuit generates a pulse signal for turning off the second transistor from before the first transistor is turned on to after the first transistor is turned on. | 02-26-2009 |
20090072807 | ADAPTIVE PWM PULSE POSITIONING FOR FAST TRANSIENT RESPONSE - An adaptive pulse positioning system for a voltage converter including an adjustable ramp generator, a pulse generator circuit, and a sense and adjust circuit. The adjustable ramp generator has an adjust input and provides a periodic ramp voltage having an adjustable magnitude based on an adjust signal provided to the adjust input. The pulse generator circuit receives the ramp voltage and generates a pulse signal with control pulses for controlling the output voltage of the voltage controller based on the ramp voltage. The sense and adjust circuit senses an output load transient and provides the adjust signal to the adjust input of the ramp generator to adaptively shift the pulse signal in time in response to the output load transient without adding pulses to the pulse signal. | 03-19-2009 |
20090108824 | POWER SUPPLY CONTROLLER AND METHOD THEREFOR - In one embodiment, a PWM controller uses the input power of a power system to regulate a duty cycle of a switching PWM signal. | 04-30-2009 |
20090121696 | Controller of DC-DC Converter And Controlling Method Thereof - A PWM controller of a DC-DC converter is provided. The DC-DC converter converts an input voltage into an output voltage and comprises an output inductor coupled between an output of the DC-DC converter and a phase node. A first sense circuit senses a signal from the phase node to generate a first signal corresponding to the input voltage. A second sense circuit senses the signal from the phase node to generate a second signal corresponding to the output voltage. A PWM generator controls a first transistor and a second transistor of the DC-DC converter according to the first and second signals. The first transistor is coupled between the input voltage and the phase node, and the second transistor is coupled between the phase node and a ground. | 05-14-2009 |
20090140711 | SWITCHING REGULATOR WITH BALANCED CONTROL CONFIGURATION WITH FILTERING AND REFERENCING TO ELIMINATE COMPENSATION - A controller for a switching regulator is disclosed including a sense circuit, an error amplifier circuit, a filter and reference circuit, and a comparator circuit. The switching regulator includes a pulse switch circuit coupled to an output inductor for developing an output voltage. The sense circuit provides a sense signal indicative of current through the output inductor. The error amplifier circuit develops an error signal indicative of error of the output voltage. The filter and reference circuit high pass filters the sense signal to provide a filtered sense signal, and references the filtered sense signal and the error signal to a common DC level. The comparator circuit develops a pulse control signal used to control switching of the pulse switch circuit based on comparing the error signal with the filtered sense signal. | 06-04-2009 |
20090153123 | PWM CONTROLLER AND METHOD THEREFOR - In one embodiment, a PWM controller is configured to inhibit a drive signal responsively to a bulk input voltage remaining at a low value for a time interval. | 06-18-2009 |
20090167273 | VOLTAGE CONVERTER - An exemplary voltage converter includes a pulse width modulation controller chip, an enabling transistor, a first resistor, a pull-up transistor, a pull-down transistor, and a low pass filter. The pulse width modulation controller chip includes a plurality of pins, a gate control logic circuit, an enabling comparator, a first gate driver, a second gate driver, a current source, a first comparator, a power-on reset circuit, an inductor current sensor, a counter and current step generator, and an oscillator. The plurality of pins include a Vcc pin, a BOOT pin, a PHASE pin, a UGATE pin, a LGATE pin, and a pin OCSET. The current source, the first resistor, the inductor current sensor, the counter and current step generator, the oscillator, and the pull-down transistor constitute a light-load efficiency improvement circuit. | 07-02-2009 |
20090167274 | PWM CONTROLLER AND THE CHIP THEREOF - A PWM controller applied to a switching voltage regulator comprises a disabling circuit, a power-sensing circuit, an over-current protection circuit and a PWM logic circuit. The disabling circuit is connected to an external frequency compensation circuit for detecting a voltage used to stop the operation of the PWM controller. The power-sensing circuit is configured to stop the operation of the PWM controller if the input voltage of the high side switch is lower than a threshold. The over-current protection circuit is configured to monitor current flowing through the output circuit, and the over-current protection circuit generates an over-current protection signal when the current exceeds a threshold. The PWM logic circuit is connected to the outputs of the disabling circuit, power-sensing circuit and over-current protection circuit. | 07-02-2009 |
20090167275 | VOLTAGE REGULATOR FEEDBACK PROTECTION METHOD AND APPARATUS - An integrated circuit includes an output terminal. A plurality of feedback terminals receives a feedback signal. A voltage regulator has a feedback input in communication with the plurality of feedback terminals to receive the feedback signal. The voltage regulator has a power output in communication with the output terminal. The voltage regulator is responsive to the feedback signal to generate the power output. | 07-02-2009 |
20090174384 | SWITCHING REGULATOR AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - A disclosed switching regulator converts an input voltage to an output voltage of a predetermined level and outputs the output voltage. The disclosed switching regulator includes a switching transistor configured to be turned on and off according to a control signal; an inductor configured to be charged by the input voltage when the switching transistor is turned on; a mode switching circuit configured to generate a switching signal for switching a control mode of the switching transistor between a PWM control mode and a VFM control mode; and a control circuit configured to control the switching transistor in the PWM control mode or the VFM control mode depending on the switching signal from the mode switching circuit so that the output voltage is maintained at the predetermined level. | 07-09-2009 |
20090179625 | VOLTAGE CONVERTER - An exemplary voltage converter includes a pulse width modulation controller chip, a pull-up transistor, a pull-down transistor, and a low pass filter. The pulse width modulation controller chip includes a plurality of pins, a power management circuit, a gate control logic circuit, a first gate driver, a second gate driver, a current source, a first resistor, an inductor current sensor, a counter and current step generator, and an oscillator. The plurality of pins include a Vcc pin, a BOOT pin, a PHASE pin, a UGATE pin, a LGATE pin, and a GND pin. The PHASE pin serves as a multi-function pin in the pulse width modulation controller chip. The current source, the first resistor, the inductor current sensor, the counter and current step generator, the oscillator, and the pull-down transistor constitute a light-load efficiency improvement circuit. | 07-16-2009 |
20090189585 | PULSE WIDTH MODULATION CONTROLLER AND THE CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF - A PWM controller for controlling a switching voltage regulator comprises a first comparator, a second comparator and a third comparator. The first comparator is configured to detect voltages of a first node and a second node so as to determine whether to stop the PWM controller. The PWM controller is stopped if a first potential is lower than a threshold, and the first potential derives from the voltage of the first node by a level shift of a first voltage difference. The second comparator is configured to detect the voltage of the first node and then to compare the voltage with a power reference voltage so as to determine whether the PWM controller receives necessary power. The third comparator is configured to compare the voltage of the second node with an enable reference voltage so as to determine whether to disable the PWN controller. | 07-30-2009 |
20090212756 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POWER CONTROLLER - System and method for power controller. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a power factor correction apparatus. The apparatus includes a multiplier component that is configured to process a first input signal and a second input signal. For example, the first input signal is associated with a rectified alternating current signal, and the second input signal is associated with an error signal. The multiplier component further is configured to generate a first output signal based on the first input signal and the second input signal. The apparatus also includes a comparator component that is configured to process a third input signal and fourth input signal. The third input signal is associated with the first output signal. The comparator component is further configured to generate a second output signal based on the third input signal and the fourth input signal. | 08-27-2009 |
20090237057 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR AN ADAPTIVE HIGH EFFICIENCY SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY - An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for an adaptive high efficiency switching power supply. The switching power supply has a regulation stage with a stage controller that operates to regulate a voltage of the regulation stage relative to a reference voltage. A power detection module detects an amount of power used by the switching power supply. A low power module determines if the power supply is operating below a minimum power capacity threshold. A stage voltage adjustment module adjusts the reference voltage from a high power reference voltage to a low power reference voltage in response to the low power module determining that the power supply is operating below the minimum power capacity threshold. The low power reference voltage causes a regulated voltage adjustment such that the switching power supply operates more efficiently below the minimum power threshold. | 09-24-2009 |
20090256544 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO LIMIT OUTPUT POWER IN A SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY - Techniques are disclosed to adjust a current limit in a switching regulator. One example switching regulator includes a comparator having first and second inputs and an output. The first input of the comparator is adapted to sense a current flow through a switch and the second input of the comparator is adapted to sense a variable current limit value. A controller is coupled to the output of the comparator and to the switch to control switching of the switch to regulate an output of a power supply in response a feedback signal. The controller disables the switch if the sensed current flow through the switch is greater than the sensed variable current limit value. The variable current limit value is set to a first variable current limit value by the controller in response to an input line voltage of the power supply if there is not an over current condition during a first switching cycle that occurs after a skipped switching cycle of the switch. The variable current limit value is set to a second variable current limit value by the controller in response to the input line voltage if there is the over current condition during the first switching cycle that occurs after the skipped switching cycle. | 10-15-2009 |
20090261796 | ELECTRIC POWER SOURCE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE SAME - An electric power source system in which a momentary interruption of the electric power supply does not occur when the direction of voltage conversion is switched by a voltage conversion device that is capable of bidirectional voltage conversion. The electric power source system includes a bidirectional switching regulator that selectively switches between the voltage conversion in the step-up direction from a low-voltage system to a high-voltage system and the voltage conversion in the step-down direction from the high-voltage system to the low-voltage system, and a linear regulator, connected in parallel to the bidirectional switching regulator, that converts voltage in the step-down direction. The direction of current that flows via the bidirectional switching regulator switches from the step-up direction to the step-down direction after current flows in the step-down direction via the linear regulator. | 10-22-2009 |
20090284240 | Method and system for providing local converters to provide maximum power point tracking in an energy generating system - A method for providing maximum power point tracking for an energy generating device using a local buck-boost converter coupled to the device is provided. The method includes operating in a tracking mode, which includes initializing a conversion ratio for the buck-boost converter based on a previous optimum conversion ratio. A device power associated with the initialized conversion ratio is calculated. The conversion ratio is repeatedly modified and a device power associated with each of the modified conversion ratios is calculated. A current optimum conversion ratio for the buck-boost converter is identified based on the calculated device powers. The current optimum conversion ratio corresponds to one of a buck mode, a boost mode and a buck-boost mode for the buck-boost converter. | 11-19-2009 |
20090295357 | VARIABLE-FREQUENCY AND MULTI-PHASE VOLTAGE REGULATOR MODULE AND CONTROL METHOD OF THE SAME - A control method of a variable-frequency and multi-phase voltage regulator module is provided. The variable-frequency and multi-phase voltage regulator module is connected to a central processing unit and embedded on a motherboard for providing a central-processing-unit current. The control method includes steps of: detecting an intensity of a central-processing-unit current of the central processing unit; providing a power to the central processing unit via M number of phases based on a first switching frequency if the intensity of the central-processing-unit current is greater than a reference-current value; and providing a power to the central processing unit via N number of phases based on a second switching frequency if the intensity of the central-processing-unit current is less than the reference-current value. | 12-03-2009 |
20090302820 | SWITCHING REGULATOR - In a switching regulator, a peak current value of an inductor current iL corresponding to a critical current is obtained by {(Vin−Vout)/Vin×Vout/L×Ts}, where Ts is the frequency of clock signals CLK constituting set pulses generated at predetermined timings by an oscillating circuit | 12-10-2009 |
20100007319 | CONVERTER CONTROL DEVICE - A converter device which is configured by connecting three converter circuits in parallel is provided between a secondary battery serving as a first power supply and a fuel cell serving as a second power supply. Two differential ammeters are placed on three reactors corresponding to the three converter circuits. A control unit includes a passing electric power calculation module which calculates electric power passing through the converter device on the basis of detected values of the two differential ammeters, an electric power equalization module which performs equalization of passing electric power between the respective converter circuits which constitute the converter device, a module for changing the number of drive phases which changes the number of drive phases of the converter device in response to the passing electric power, and a voltage conversion control module which controls the converter device and executes a desired voltage conversion. | 01-14-2010 |
20100007320 | GATE DRIVER TOPOLOGY FOR MAXIMUM LOAD EFFICIENCY - A circuit comprises a first input for receiving a supply voltage and a second input for receiving a sensed current signal from an output of a DC to DC converter. The circuit also includes an output voltage for providing an adjustable drive voltage to a drive circuit. The circuit additionally includes circuitry for adjusting the drive voltage responsive to supply voltage and the sensed current signal. | 01-14-2010 |
20100026266 | PULSE WIDTH MODULATION CONTROLLER, CIRCUIT AND METHOD THEREOF WITH SHORT CIRCUIT PROTECTION - A PWM comprises a voltage transformation module, a voltage-sensing module and a timer. The voltage transformation module is configured to transform an input voltage into an output voltage. The voltage-sensing module is coupled to the voltage transformation module and configured to detect a voltage of a first terminal, wherein the voltage of the first terminal is proportional to the output voltage. The timer is configured to measure the time duration for which the voltage of the first terminal is lower than a reference voltage, wherein the timer initiates a short circuit signal when the time duration is greater than a predetermined value. | 02-04-2010 |
20100033151 | MULTI-PHASE VOLTAGE REGULATOR MODULE AND METHOD CONTROLLING THE SAME - A multi-phase voltage regulator module connects to a central processing unit and is able to operate in one of a high-load mode and a low-load mode. The multi-phase voltage regulator module comprises: a pulse-width-modulation controller generating a plurality of phase-width-modulation signals; and, a plurality of phase circuits, each of which receives a corresponding one of the phase-width-modulation signals and generates a corresponding output current to the central processing unit; wherein a first portion of the phase circuits are activated when the multi-phase voltage regulator module is operated in the low-load mode at a first time, and, a second portion of the phase circuits are activated when the multi-phase voltage regulator module is operated in the low-load mode at a second time, the first portion being non-identical to the second portion. | 02-11-2010 |
20100066337 | Novel Utilization of a Multifunctional Pin Combining Voltage Sensing and Zero Current Detection to Control a Switched-Mode Power Converter - An embodiment of the invention relates to a power converter including an inductor coupled in series with a power switch and a resistor coupled to a winding of the inductor. Input and output power converter voltages including an input brownout condition or an output overvoltage condition are estimated, and the output voltage may be regulated, by sensing a current in the resistor. An input current waveform can thereby be controlled to replicate substantially the input voltage waveform. The controller adjusts an on time and terminates an off time of the power switch by sensing respectively a current and a change of current in the resistor. The controller may sense a current flowing in the resistor to select a line voltage range of the input voltage to the power converter. The controller may estimate an input current to the power converter employing the current flowing in the resistor. | 03-18-2010 |
20100079125 | Current sensing in a switching power converter - A power control system includes a current sense resistor located on an output side of a switching power converter. By locating the current sense resistor on the output side of the switching power converter, the current sense resistor conducts a sense current when a control switch of the switching power converter is nonconductive. Since a duty cycle of the control switch is larger for a low input voltage than for a higher input voltage, the current sense resistor conducts current for a shorter time duration for low input voltages than for higher input voltages. Thus, the root mean square (RMS) of a sense current in the current sense resistor and, thus, power dissipation by the current sense resistor, is lower during low input voltages than power dissipation in conventionally located current sense resistors. The RMS of the sense current is approximately constant across a full range of input voltages. | 04-01-2010 |
20100079126 | DUAL-LOOP DC-TO-DC CONVERTER APPARATUS - A dual loop DC-to-DC converter is provided that includes a first control loop that maintains a DC output voltage (V | 04-01-2010 |
20100079127 | Regulating current output from a buck converter without external current sensing - A step-down (buck) switching regulator regulates output current without sensing a current external to a converter integrated circuit. The regulator generates a set current that is indicative of a predetermined current level to which the output current is regulated. The regulator generates a sense current whose magnitude is proportional to an inductor current flowing through a power switch during an on time. During a first time period, the sense current is less than the set current. During a second time period, the sense current is greater than the set current. The output current of the regulator is maintained at the predetermined current level such that the first time period is equal to the second time period when the output current equals the predetermined current level. The set current is compared to the sense current in circuitry inside a bootstrap power generator whose voltage fluctuates with the voltage across the inductor. | 04-01-2010 |
20100097044 | Power optimization of operating multiple power supplies - Apparatus and a method of optimizing operating efficiency of multiple power supplies that are provided to power a system, the power supplies being selectively operable in an active or standby mode, said method comprising the steps of interconnecting at least some of the multiple power supplies in a load sharing configuration monitoring the output current of at least one of the interconnected power supplies selectively placing the interconnected power supplies in standby mode so that the active power supplies are operating at a relatively high efficiency. | 04-22-2010 |
20100102791 | AUXILIARY TURN-ON MECHANISMS FOR REDUCING CONDUCTION LOSS IN BODY-DIODE OF LOW SIDE MOSFET OF COUPLED-INDUCTOR DC-DC CONVERTER - An embodiment of a power-supply controller includes first and second circuits. The first circuit is operable to cause a first current to flow through a first phase of a power supply. And the second circuit is operable to cause the second phase of the power supply to operate in a reduced-power-dissipation mode for at least a portion of a time period during which a second current magnetically induced by the first current flows through the second phase. | 04-29-2010 |
20100117617 | Negative lock loop and control method for a flyback voltage converter - A flyback voltage converter includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, a switch serially connected to the primary winding for being switched to produce a current in the secondary winding, and a negative lock loop to adjust the peak value of the current in the secondary winding according to a current conduction time during which the current in the secondary winding is higher than a current threshold, such that the peak value of the current in the secondary winding will be in inverse proportion to the time. | 05-13-2010 |
20100127684 | CURRENT SENSE CASCODE AMPLIFIER - A current sense amplifier sensing current through a main switch of a converter. The amplifier includes first and second switch devices, an amplifier control circuit, a bias circuit, a current generator circuit, and a sense circuit. The main switch is coupled to an input, phase and control nodes. The first and second switch devices are smaller matching versions of the main switch and are both coupled to the main switch and form first and second nodes. The bias circuit is coupled between second and fourth nodes and the amplifier control circuit is coupled between first and third nodes. The current generator develops a first current through the amplifier control circuit and a second current through the bias circuit. The sense circuit has a current path coupled to the first node and is controlled by the third node to develop a sense voltage indicative of current through the main switch. | 05-27-2010 |
20100134085 | HYSTERETIC SWITCHING REGULATOR AND CONTROL METHOD USED THEREIN - A switching regulator includes a switching transistor, an inductor, a feedback voltage generator, a hysteresis comparator circuit, and a feedback loop circuit. The switching transistor alternately switches on and off. The inductor charges when the switching transistor is on. The feedback voltage generator generates a first feedback voltage by dividing an output voltage. The hysteresis comparator circuit has a voltage comparator to compare the first feedback voltage against a reference voltage to output a comparator output signal as a result of the comparison. The feedback loop circuit feeds the comparator output signal back to the feedback voltage generator to generate a second feedback voltage. The first feedback voltage has an alternating current component substantially dependent on the second feedback voltage varying with the comparator output signal. | 06-03-2010 |
20100148741 | CONVERTING CIRCUIT AND CONTROLLER FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - The present invention uses a discharge path to release the power stored in an output capacitor of a converting circuit when the time interval between two adjacent switching thereof is too long and may generate noises whose frequencies can be sensed by human ears. Hence, the present invention can keep the operating frequency of the converting circuit higher than a predetermined frequency and reduce the audio noise of the converting circuit. | 06-17-2010 |
20100164461 | REFERENCE VOLTAGE GENERATION CIRCUIT - An object of the present invention is to generate a reference voltage that is stable in relation to manufacturing process variations, by matching the operating regions of the MOSFETs contributing to generation of the reference voltage. The reference voltage generation circuit | 07-01-2010 |
20100194370 | Reverse Current Sensing Regulator System and Method - A reverse current sensing (RCS) regulator system and method is provided. One embodiment of the invention includes a RCS regulator system. The system comprises a RCS comparator that monitors a drain voltage of a LS FET and is configured to switch states at a zero crossing point to provide an indication of the start of a reverse current condition. The system further comprises a RCS evaluator that measures a drain voltage of the LS FET upon receiving an indication that the LS FET has been turned off by the driver logic circuit and adjusts an offset to the RCS comparator to adjust the trip point of the RCS comparator relative to the drain voltage if the measured drain voltage falls outside a predetermined threshold. | 08-05-2010 |
20100201336 | Voltage mode switching regulator and control circuit and method therefor - The present invention discloses a voltage mode switching regulator with improved light load efficiency and mode transition characteristic, and a control circuit and a control method therefor. The switching regulator can switch between a pulse width modulation (PWM) mode and a pulse skipping mode. The control method for the switching regulator comprises: comparing a feedback signal relating to an output voltage with a reference signal, to generate an error amplification signal; generating a duty signal according to the error amplification signal and a ramp signal, to control the switching regulator; setting a threshold level of the error amplification signal and a threshold level of the pulse skipping mode according to the error amplification signal in a stable status; and when the error amplification signal is close or equal to the threshold level of the pulse skipping mode, generating a pulse skip signal to enter the pulse skipping mode. | 08-12-2010 |
20100264895 | POWER-SUPPLY CONTROLLER - An embodiment of a power-supply controller includes a signal combiner and a control circuit. The signal combiner is operable to generate a combined feedback signal from sense and output feedback signals that are respectively derived from a sense signal and a regulated output signal, and the signal combiner is operable to receive the sense signal from a sense circuit that is operable to generate the sense signal while a current is flowing through an inductor and while a switch that is disposed between the inductor and an input voltage has a first state. The sense signal generated by the sense circuit is related to the current, and the switch and the inductor are operable to generate the regulated output signal. The control circuit is coupled to the signal combiner and is operable to cause the switch to have a second state for a predetermined time in response to the combined feedback signal having a predetermined relationship to a reference signal. | 10-21-2010 |
20100270995 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING OUTPUT VOLTAGE LEVEL INFORMATION FROM PHASE VOLTAGE FOR SWITCHED MODE REGULATOR CONTROLLERS - A controller integrated circuit for a switched mode regulator which converts an input voltage to an output voltage. The controller includes a phase pin, a modulation circuit and a filter. The modulation circuit is configured to regulate the output voltage using the input voltage and output voltage level information. The filter has an input coupled to the phase pin and an output providing the output voltage level information which approximates the output voltage based on phase pin voltage. Various filters are contemplated, including passive and active low pass filters and the like. A regulator using such a controller is disclosed. A method of determining a voltage level of an output voltage includes receiving a phase voltage from a phase pin coupled to the phase node, and filtering the phase voltage to provide an output sense voltage having a voltage level approximating the voltage level of the output voltage. | 10-28-2010 |
20100295525 | POWER SUPPLY ARRANGEMENT WITH SECONDARY VOLTAGE MONITORING - According to the invention, a blocking oscillator type converter circuit functions with a transformator that only comprises a primary winding and a secondary winding. Said transformator does not comprise a return coupling winding for the blocking oscillator. The control voltage for the oscillator is derived from the primary voltage of the transformator during the free-wheeling phase. The invention also relates to a voltage monitoring circuit that works independently from the oscillator, the output voltage of the oscillator being repressed when the voltage on the output of the blocking oscillator is too high. A power monitoring circuit functions independently from the oscillator and the voltage monitoring circuit and suppresses the impulses for the power transistor when the power on the output side exceeds a predetermined measurement. | 11-25-2010 |
20100295526 | POWER SUPPLY ARRANGEMENT WITH OUTPUT FLOW MONITORING - According to the invention, a blocking oscillator type converter circuit functions with a transformator that only comprises a primary winding and a secondary winding. Said transformator does not comprise a return coupling winding for the blocking oscillator. The control voltage of the oscillator is derived from the primary voltage of the transformator during the free-wheeling phase. The invention also relates to a voltage monitoring circuit that works independently from the oscillator, the output voltage of the oscillator being repressed when the voltage on the output of the blocking oscillator is too high. A flow monitoring circuit functions independently from the oscillator and the voltage monitoring circuit and suppresses the impulses for the power transistor when the power on the output side exceeds a predetermined measurement. | 11-25-2010 |
20100301826 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ORING PHASES TO OVERCOME DUTY CYCLE LIMITATIONS IN A MULTI-PHASE BOOST CONVERTER - A multiphase boost converter includes a multiphase PWM controller for generating a plurality of PWM signals. A plurality of boost converters are each associated with a separate phase connected between an input voltage node and an output voltage node and generating an output voltage responsive to an input voltage and the plurality of PWM signals. Phase nodes of each of the plurality of boost converters are ORed to each other. | 12-02-2010 |
20100320989 | PROTECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AN ISOLATED TYPE POWER SUPPLY - An isolated type power supply includes a transformer, and a power switch and a current sense resistor serially connected to a primary coil of the transformer, and a protection apparatus and method monitor a control signal which is used to switch the power switch in normal operation, and trigger a signal to stop the power from switching when the control signal becomes greater than a threshold. This protection apparatus and method can more quickly detect short circuit of the current sense resistor, and prevent the isolated type power supply from overcurrent impact. | 12-23-2010 |
20100327837 | POWER CONVERTER FOR TRACTION CONTROL AND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM - The following problem associated with a semiconductor device of silicon or the like having low band gap is solved by temperature estimation using voltage drop in such a semiconductor device having low accuracy and this complicates a circuit for temperature detection suitable for practical use or a configuration for implementing a detection system. A power converter provided with an inverter circuit includes a semiconductor device whose band gap is larger than that of silicon and which has a range in which the temperature coefficient of voltage drop during conduction is positive. The power converter further includes a measurement condition setting circuit. This circuit adjusts the timing of the following measurement values used for temperature estimation at a device temperature estimation circuit to each other so that a measurement value of a voltage measurement circuit and a measurement value of a current measurement circuit become data obtained by measurement at the same time. | 12-30-2010 |
20110025289 | TWO-STAGE SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY - A two-stage switching power supply includes a first-stage power circuit, a bus capacitor, a second-stage power circuit and a power control unit. The first-stage power circuit is connected to a power bus for receiving an input voltage, and includes a first switching circuit. The input voltage is converted into a bus voltage by alternately conducting and shutting off the first switching circuit. The second-stage power circuit is connected to the power bus for receiving the bus voltage, and includes a second switching circuit. The power control unit is used for controlling operations of the first switching circuit and the second switching circuit. The bus voltage is dynamically adjusted according to electricity consumption amount of the system circuit under control of the power control unit. An operating mode of the second switching circuit of the second-stage power circuit is changed according to the electricity consumption amount of the system circuit. | 02-03-2011 |
20110050193 | POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT FOR CPU - A power supply circuit includes a PWM controller, which is capable of providing pulse signals to the CPU, a temperature feedback circuit coupled to the PWM controller, and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is coupled to the temperature feedback circuit, the temperature sensor is located adjacent the CPU, and capable of detects a temperature of the CPU. The PWM controller is capable of adjusting the pulse signals to maintain the pulse signals stably when the temperature sensor detects the temperature of the CPU rising. | 03-03-2011 |
20110057636 | Method for Reducing Energy Loss in DC-DC Converter and Related Control Device and DC-DC Converter - A method for reducing energy loss in a DC-DC converter comprises detecting an output current of the DC-DC converter to generate a sensing signal, adjusting a frequency of an oscillation signal, comparing a reference signal and a feedback signal of the DC-DC converter to generate a comparison result, comparing the comparison result and the oscillation signal to generate a PWM signal, and determining whether an input end of the DC-DC converter is electrically connected to an output end of the DC-DC converter according to the PWM signal. | 03-10-2011 |
20110080151 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTI-PHASE VOLTAGE REGULATION - In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a multi-phase voltage regulator may comprise a plurality of phases, each phase configured to supply electrical current to one or more information handling resources electrically coupled to the voltage regulator. A controller may be electrically coupled to the plurality of phases. The controller may designate at least one of the plurality of phases as a first state phase, and designate each of the plurality of phases not designated as a first state phase as a second state phase. The controller may alternate the designation of at least two of the plurality of phases between a first state phase and a second state phase. Each first state phase may be configured to supply a first electrical current regardless of electrical current demand. Each second state phase may be configured to supply a second electrical current based on the current demand. | 04-07-2011 |
20110084679 | METHOD AND APPARATUS PROVIDING FINAL TEST AND TRIMMING FOR A POWER SUPPLY CONTROLLER - A power supply controller having final test and trim circuitry. In one embodiment, a power supply controller for switched mode power supply includes a selector circuit, a trim circuit, a shutdown circuit and a disable circuit. The trim circuit includes a programmable circuit connection that can be selected by the selector circuit by toggling a voltage on an external terminal such as for example a power supply terminal, a control terminal or a function terminal of the power supply controller. The programmable circuit connection in the trim circuit can be programmed by applying a programming voltage to the external terminal. The shutdown circuit shuts down the power supply controller if the temperature rises above an over temperature threshold voltage. The shutdown circuit includes adjustment circuitry that can be used to test the shutdown circuit. The adjustment circuitry can adjust and reduce the over temperature threshold of the power supply controller. Thus, the power supply controller can be tested without having to actually heat the part. The disable circuit includes a programmable circuit connection, which when programmed prevents further trimming of power supply controller and prevents adjustment of the shutdown circuit over temperature threshold. | 04-14-2011 |
20110089925 | SWITCHING REGULATOR - A switching regulator is configured to generate an output voltage by stepping down an input voltage by switching control of a switching element. The switching regulator includes a first comparator configured to compare a feedback voltage of the output voltage and a target voltage; a second comparator configured to compare magnitude of a current flowing through the switching element and a predetermined value; an on-time timer configured to measure fixed on-time for on-control of the switching element; an off-time timer configured to measure fixed off-time for off-control of the switching element; and a control circuit configured to perform the on-control of the switching element with the fixed on-time in accordance with an output of the first comparator, and the off-control of the switching element with the fixed off-time in accordance with an output of the second comparator. | 04-21-2011 |
20110109294 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING PRE-BIAS IN A SWITCH-MODE CONTROLLER - A switch-mode controller, buck converter or DC to DC step-down regulated voltage converter that senses an initial pre-bias voltage at initialization and adjust a duty cycle of the switching frequency to help minimize an output voltage transient at initialization or power-on reset. | 05-12-2011 |
20110115459 | PHASE ADJUSTING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A phase adjusting system includes a controlled element, a multi-phase pulse-width modulation (PWM) controller comprising default and non-default phases, and a microprogrammed control unit (MCU). The PWM controller provides phases to the controlled element. The MCU is connected to the controlled element via the multi-phase PWM controller. The MCU detects the work voltage level of the controlled element and controls the multi-phase PWM controller to provide a corresponding number of phases to the controlled element. The MCU determines whether work time of the default phases of the multi-phase PWM controller is greater than a predetermined value in response to the MCU being initialized. The default phases are changed to non-default phases and a corresponding number of the plurality of non-default phases are changed to default phases in response to the work time of the plurality of default phases of the multi-phase PWM controller being greater than the predetermined value. | 05-19-2011 |
20110115460 | ELECTRICAL SWITCHING MODULE - A module including a case; an electrical switching device configured to control power to a load; and a controller coupled to the electrical switching device. The electrical switching device and the controller are substantially encapsulated by the case. Functionality of the module can be exposed through a communication interface in the case. | 05-19-2011 |
20110127985 | VOLTAGE CONVERTING APPARATUS - A voltage converting apparatus is disclosed. The voltage converting apparatus mentioned above includes an error comparator. The error comparator receives a feedback voltage and a reference voltage and generates a control signal according to the feedback voltage and the reference voltage. Moreover, the error comparator includes a differential pair, a first current source, and an offset voltage controlling circuit. The offset voltage controlling circuit receives a ramp enabling signal and adjusts a bias current flowing through at least one of a first and a second output terminal of the differential pair according to the ramp enabling signal. | 06-02-2011 |
20110133715 | DRIVE CONTROL DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRIC LOAD - Provided is a drive control device capable of surely detecting, by a monitoring/controlling unit, an abnormality of a short circuit and a disconnection in a power supply circuit to an electric load, and of decreasing a load required for a quick response imposed on the monitoring/controlling unit. A switching element is controlled to open/close by a control output signal generated by a monitoring/controlling unit, and a determination storing circuit determines whether circuit opening and circuit closing have been correctly carried out and stores a result of the determination, and periodically reports to the monitoring/controlling unit. While the stored content of the determination is periodically reset, the determination operation is updated and continues. The monitoring/controlling unit does not need to immediately monitor the determination storing signal when the open/closing command is generated. | 06-09-2011 |
20110133716 | CONTROLLER AND DRIVER COMMUNICATION FOR SWITCHING REGULATORS - Pulse width modulation (PWM) controllers and output stage driver circuits and related methods of communicating switching regulator mode information. The controller includes circuitry that recognizes intervals when the load driven by the regulator is in a low power mode. Responsive to recognizing the low power mode, the controller generates a PWM mode signal having at least three (3) different levels including at least one intermediate level that is coupled to at least one driver. Based on the PWM mode signal, the regulator is switched into a power saving low power operational mode. | 06-09-2011 |
20110133717 | CONTROLLER AND DRIVER COMMUNICATION FOR SWITCHING REGULATORS - Pulse width modulation (PWM) controllers and output stage driver circuits and related methods of communicating switching regulator mode information. The controller includes circuitry that recognizes intervals when the load driven by the regulator is in a low power mode. Responsive to recognizing the low power mode, the controller generates a PWM mode signal having at least three (3) different levels including at least one intermediate level that is coupled to at least one driver. Based on the PWM mode signal, the regulator is switched into a power saving low power operational mode. | 06-09-2011 |
20110148381 | CONVERTER WITH CROSSOVER FREQUENCY RESPONSIVE TO SWITCHING FREQUENCY - A power converter constituted of: a reference source; a clock generator exhibiting a variable frequency output, the value of the frequency of the variable frequency output responsive to an input signal; and an error amplifier in communication with the reference source, the error amplifier exhibiting a gain whose value is responsive to the input signal. Preferably the error amplifier is a transconductance amplifier. In one embodiment the power converter further exhibits a current squarer, arranged to produce a squared value of the input signal and provide the squared value to the transconductance amplifier. | 06-23-2011 |
20110187340 | EFFECTIVE CURRENT SENSING FOR HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCHING REGULATORS - A high voltage switching regulator has significantly reduced current sensing delay between measurement of input current and generation of sensed current values, while maintaining good accuracy of the current through a power transistor using current replication and a current conveyor. High sensing accuracy of the input current ensures good load regulation, and low sensing delay ensures fixed duty cycle over a wide range of output currents and high input to output voltage ratios. A current conveyor is used to transfer high side current values to low side control circuits, e.g., pulse width modulation (PWM) control. The current conveyor is always on, e.g., some current flow is always present, thus minimizing any current measurement delay. This is accomplished by dynamically biasing the current conveyor by draining to ground a current equal to the sensed current. Wherein balancing of the current conveyor is ensured and offset at the input of the current conveyor is minimized. | 08-04-2011 |
20110187341 | USING OFFSET CANCELLATION CIRCUIT TO MITIGATE BEAT-FREQUENCY OSCILLATION OF PHASE CURRENTS IN A MULTIPHASE INTERLEAVED VOLTAGE REGULATOR - For a multiphase interleaved voltage regulator, an offset cancellation circuit is applied for each phase separately. The current loop gain of each phase is thus increased to mitigate the beat-frequency oscillation in phase currents when the beat frequency is below the bandwidth of the low-pass filter in the offset cancellation circuit, without introducing additional instability issue that is the drawback of increasing current-sensing gain. | 08-04-2011 |
20110193543 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONOUS BUCK WITH ACTIVE NEGATIVE CURRENT MODULATION - A circuit is disclosed that includes a buck voltage regulator electrically coupled to an active current modulator. The active current modulator is operable to detect a negative current in the low-side switch of the buck voltage regulator circuit during a light mode operation. Whenever the negative current is detected, the active negative current modulator causes the low-side switch to stay ON in a linear mode and limits the negative current to a predetermined current level. | 08-11-2011 |
20110199064 | DC-TO-DC CONVERTER - A DC-to-DC converter adapted for generating a power voltage required by a load and including a buck circuit and a boost circuit is provided. The buck circuit is used for receiving a DC input voltage, and outputting the power voltage by performing a buck process to the DC input voltage, or directly outputting the DC input voltage according to a first control signal. The boost circuit is used for receiving the power voltage or the DC input voltage both output from the buck circuit, and outputting the power voltage to the load by performing a boost process to the DC input voltage output from the buck circuit, or directly outputting the power voltage output from the buck circuit to the load according to a second control signal. | 08-18-2011 |
20110199065 | DC-TO-DC CONVERTER - A DC-to-DC converter includes a triangular wave generator, a variable gain amplifier configured to amplify an error between a reference voltage and a feedback voltage which is a feedback of an output voltage so that a gain relatively decreases as an input voltage increases, and relatively increases as the input voltage decreases, and a comparator configured to compare an output of the triangular wave generator with an output of the variable gain amplifier. The variable gain amplifier includes a differential pair configured to convert the feedback voltage and the reference voltage into currents, a Gilbert cell circuit configured to differentially receive the currents output from the differential pair, an output conversion circuit configured to convert differential outputs from the Gilbert cell circuit into a single output, and a tail current source configured to supply, to the differential pair, tail currents having a magnitude corresponding to the input voltage. | 08-18-2011 |
20110204868 | Digitally Controlling a DC-DC Converter - A current-mode controlled power converter ( | 08-25-2011 |
20110215784 | CONTROLLER FOR, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING, A SWITCHED MODE POWER CONVERTER - A method is disclosed for controlling a DC-DC switched-mode power converter comprising a switch, the method comprising, whilst controlling the switch by a main control loop: detecting a step in a load on the switched-mode power converter; generating a signal in response to the detector detecting a step in the load, and switching the switch in response to the signal. Advantageously, the method may avoid a delay (such as waiting for a subsequent oscillator pulse) which might otherwise occur before switching the switch, to react to the transient. The faster response may result in a reduction of the transient current from the converter, which may facilitate the use of smaller and cheaper components. | 09-08-2011 |
20110221416 | Battery charger and method for collecting maximum power from energy harvester circuit - An energy harvesting system for transferring energy from an energy harvester ( | 09-15-2011 |
20110234191 | SWITCH CONTROL DEVICE, MULTI-CHANNEL CONVERTER INCLUDING THE SAME, AND SWITCH CONTROLLING METHOD - The present invention relates to a switch control device, a multi-channel converter including the same, and a switch control method thereof. | 09-29-2011 |
20110241642 | VOLTAGE CONVERTER - A voltage converter includes an input circuit that is designed to receive an input voltage. The voltage converter includes a switch circuit comprising a pair of switches that receive the input voltage through the input circuit. The voltage converter includes an output circuit configured to supply current at a regulated voltage. The voltage converter includes a feedback circuit that generates a feedback signal. The voltage converter includes a switch control circuit that generates a switch control signal during an operational mode of circuit operation. The voltage converter includes an idle mode control circuit that generates an idle mode control signal during the operational mode and causes the switch circuit to turn off one of the switches for a period of time. The voltage converter includes a switch turn-off circuit that generates a second control signal, which causes the switch circuit to turn off the other switch. | 10-06-2011 |
20110248695 | Switching mode power supply apparatus and power supply method thereof - A switching mode power supply apparatus includes a conversion unit to convert input power into output power having a predetermined voltage by performing a switching operation, a light emitting unit to emit light if the voltage of the output power exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage, a light receiving unit to receive the light emitted from the light emitting unit and output a signal indicative of the voltage of the output power, a switching controller to control the switching operation of the conversion unit according to the voltage of the output power indicated by the signal output from the light receiving unit, and a disconnection unit to disconnect power applied to the light receiving unit if a voltage of the power applied to the light receiving unit exceeds a predetermined trigger voltage. | 10-13-2011 |
20110291634 | OVERCURRENT PROTECTION CIRCUIT AND OVERCURRENT PROTECTION METHOD - An overcurrent protection circuit includes: a determiner configured to determine whether or not the switch current exceeds a predetermined threshold, that is, the switch current is an overcurrent state when the switching element is turned ON; an OFF period setting counter configured to increase or decrease a counter output depending on a determination result of the determiner; and a drive signal generator configured to generate a drive signal of the switching element such that a length of an ON timing interval of the switching element corresponds to the counter output of the OFF period setting counter. | 12-01-2011 |
20110316511 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DC-TO-DC CONVERSION - A direct current-to-direct current (‘DC-DC’) converter generates a pulse-width modulated (‘PWM’) control signal, and generates an output voltage from an input voltage as a function of a duty cycle of the PWM control signal. A feed-forward module controls both the duty cycle and a repetition rate of the PWM control signal as regressive functions of the input voltage so as to tend to compensate for variation in the input voltage. | 12-29-2011 |
20120013323 | HALF BRIDGE APPARATUS AND HALF BRIDGE CONTROL METHOD - A half bridge method and apparatus that provides a desired output using pulse width modulation and the predicted condition of a power supply is disclosed. The power supply is operatively connected to a first one the switch drivers of the switching elements of the half bridge. The condition of the power supply is predicted using of a model of power supply operating parameters. This model is used in conjunction with a signal applied to a second one of the switch drivers of the switching elements of the half bridge to determine whether an operating criterion for the power supply is satisfied. If the condition is satisfied then a signal to the first one of the switch drivers is enabled. | 01-19-2012 |
20120019226 | TRACKING CURRENT THROUGH SWITCHING DEVICES - A system can include a switching circuit configured to conduct electrical current through at least one switch device thereof during an activation interval of the switch device in response to a periodic control signal. A tracking system is configured to provide a tracking signal indicative of a predetermined point of the activation interval. Sampling circuitry is configured to measure the electrical current at the predetermined point of the activation interval in response to the tracking signal, such that the sampling circuitry provides an output signal indicative of an average electrical current. | 01-26-2012 |
20120025799 | SENSING AND FEEDBACK IN A CURRENT MODE CONTROL VOLTAGE REGULATOR - The disclosed embodiments of voltage regulators incorporate a current mode control architecture. In one embodiment, a comparator mechanism triggers a transition in a power switch when the error in the regulated output voltage is equal to a proportionally scaled value of current provided at an output filter. The voltage regulator includes a power switch having an input and an output. The power switch is configured to provide a first voltage during a first conduction period and a second voltage during a second conduction period. An output filter is coupled between the power switch output and an output terminal to be coupled to a load. A comparator mechanism has a reference input coupled to a reference voltage, a feedback input coupled to sense a feedback voltage at the output filter, a current sensing input coupled to sense a current sensing voltage corresponding to a current provided to the output filter, and an output in communication with the power switch input. The comparator mechanism is configured to trigger responsive to a difference between the feedback voltage and the reference voltage equaling the current sensing voltage. The triggering causes a transition of the power switch from the second conduction period to the first conduction period. | 02-02-2012 |
20120081095 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING INDUCTIVE ENERGY IN DC-DC CONVERTERS - A DC-DC converter comprises a high-side switch, a low-side switch connected to the high-side switch, and an output capacitance. An inductance has one end connected to the high-side switch and the low-side switch and another end connected to the output capacitance. A shunting device circulates current flowing through the inductance back to the inductance during a load reduction transition to control a voltage across the output capacitance. | 04-05-2012 |
20120081096 | POWER SUPPLY UNIT - A power supply unit, which is mounted in a host device for supplying power to a client device through a cable interposed therebetween, includes an output unit configured to generate a first output voltage from an input voltage. A controller is provided in the power supply to perform voltage feedback control on the output unit such that the first output voltage is maintained at a predetermined target value. Also, the power supply unit includes a first correction unit configured to correct the voltage feedback control at the controller such that the first output voltage is increased as a second output voltage finally supplied to the client device becomes lower, and a second correction unit configured to correct the voltage feedback control at the controller such that the first output voltage is increased as an output current supplied from the host device to the client device becomes larger. | 04-05-2012 |
20120086423 | SWITCHED MODE VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND METHOD OF OPERATION - A voltage regulator includes a transistor, a comparator, and a compensation circuit. The comparator has a first input terminal coupled to receive a clock signal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal coupled to a control electrode of the transistor. The compensation circuit has a first input terminal coupled to receive a reference voltage, a second input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the voltage regulator, and an output terminal coupled to the second input terminal of the comparator. The compensation circuit has a filter circuit. The filter circuit has a first RC time constant during startup of the voltage regulator, and the filter circuit has a second RC time constant during normal operation. Changing the RC time constant for startup prevents an overshoot of an output voltage of the voltage regulator. | 04-12-2012 |
20120098514 | Current mode switching regulator and control circuit and control method thereof - The present invention discloses a current mode switching regulator, a control circuit of a switching regulator, and a control method of a switching regulator. The switching regulator includes a power stage driven by a driver voltage outputted from a driver circuit. And the power stage switches at least one power transistor to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. The present invention generates an error signal according to a feedback signal related to the output voltage, and adjusts an operation voltage supplied to the driver circuit according to the error signal. | 04-26-2012 |
20120098515 | DC-DC CONVERTER - A DC-DC converter has an error amplifier that amplifies a potential difference between a first voltage based on an output voltage at the output terminal and a reference voltage, and outputs a resultant error amplified signal; a differential detecting circuit that senses an inclination of a temporal change of the output voltage by differentiating the first voltage, outputs a control signal according to a result of the sensing; and a PWM generating circuit that compares a synthetic signal obtained by conducting computation on the amplified error signal and the control signal with a periodically changing comparison signal, and outputs a PWM signal having a duty ratio controlled according to a result of the comparison. | 04-26-2012 |
20120105041 | DISCONTINUOUS CONDUCTION CURRENT MODE MAXIMUM POWER LIMITATION PHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERTER - A discontinuous conduction current mode maximum power limitation photovoltaic converter connects to a ground and a solar cell having a temperature compensation signal and an output power and being solarized and comprises a direct current/direct current voltage converter and a maximum power control circuit. The direct current/direct current voltage converter connects to the solar cell, comprises an input terminal and an output terminal, offers a stable voltage and has an output voltage signal and an inner current. The maximum power control circuit connects to the direct current/direct current voltage converter and the solar cell, controls the direct current/direct current voltage converter to limit the output power of the solar cell to maximum and comprises a temperature compensation feedback circuit, an output voltage feedback circuit, a current detection circuit and a main control circuit. | 05-03-2012 |
20120133349 | MEASUREMENT CIRCUIT FOR BUCK CIRCUIT - A measurement circuit for overload protection is applied in a buck circuit. The buck circuit includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller and a voltage output terminal. The measurement circuit includes a resistance setting circuit to connect different resistances to the PWM controller of the buck circuit. A switch circuit turns the measurement circuit on or off. A current collection circuit receives a voltage from the voltage output terminal of the buck circuit and transforms the received voltage to a current, and amplifies the transformed current and outputs the amplified current to the resistance setting circuit. The resistance setting circuit chooses a resistance through comparison of the amplified current with a preset current. A display unit displays the chosen resistance. | 05-31-2012 |
20120153920 | SYSTEMS FOR INDIRECT AVERAGE CURRENT MEASUREMENT - One example of the invention relates to a power system. The power system can include a power converter configured to convert an input voltage to an output voltage for providing power at an output thereof to which a load is connectable. A measurement system can include measurement circuitry configured to measure an average of an accessible current in the power converter and derive an average measurement of another current in the power converter based on timing control signals used to control operation of the power converter. | 06-21-2012 |
20120161739 | VARIABLE TIME CLAMP FOR A POWER SUPPLY CONTROLLER - An example integrated circuit for use in a power supply includes a feedback terminal and a controller having a variable time clamp (VTC). The feedback terminal is to be coupled to receive a feedback signal and the controller is to be coupled to enable or disable the conduction of a power switch during a switching cycle in response to the feedback signal. The controller includes a current limit comparator coupled to terminate the conduction of the power switch during an enabled switching cycle in response to a current through the power switch exceeding a variable current limit. The VTC is coupled to clamp the feedback terminal to a voltage for a clamp time that is responsive to the variable current limit. | 06-28-2012 |
20120176113 | Regulating Current Output From A Buck Converter Without External Current Sensing - A step-down (buck) switching regulator regulates output current without sensing a current external to a converter integrated circuit. The regulator generates a set current that is indicative of a predetermined current level to which the output current is regulated. The regulator generates a sense current whose magnitude is proportional to an inductor current flowing through a power switch during an on time. During a first time period, the sense current is less than the set current. During a second time period, the sense current is greater than the set current. The output current of the regulator is maintained at the predetermined current level such that the first time period is equal to the second time period when the output current equals the predetermined current level. The set current is compared to the sense current in circuitry inside a bootstrap power generator whose voltage fluctuates with the voltage across the inductor. | 07-12-2012 |
20120217945 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FEED-FORWARD CONTROL OF LOAD CURRENT IN DC TO DC BUCK CONVERTERS - A feed-forward control system for load current in a direct current (DC) to DC converter includes a current normalization module, a feed-forward generation module, and a duty cycle generation module. The current normalization module generates a normalized load current by matching a gain of a measured load current to a gain of an inductor current. The feed-forward generation module that generates a load current feed-forward (LCFF) signal based on the normalized load current. The duty cycle generation module generates a duty cycle for the DC to DC converter based on a commanded output voltage and the LCFF signal. | 08-30-2012 |
20120217946 | CONTROL FOR SWITCHING BETWEEN PWM AND PFM OPERATION IN A BUCK CONVERTER - Mode control circuitry is disclosed for use in a buck switching voltage regulator capable of operating in a pulse width modulation (PWM) mode and a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) mode, with the regulator including an inductor having first and second opposite inductor terminals, a first transistor switch connected between the first inductor terminal and a power input terminal and a second transistor switch connected between the first inductor terminal and a circuit common. Current sensing circuitry is provided to sense inductor current through the second switching transistor when the second switching transistor is switched to an ON state and to produce a current sense signal which is integrated over time starting when the second switching transistor is switched to an ON state and to produce a sense signal. The mode switching circuitry switches between the PWM and PFM modes in response to the sense signal. | 08-30-2012 |
20120268095 | DC-DC VOLTAGE CONVERTER SYSTEM WITH A HIGH-EFFICIENCY PULSE-SKIP OPERATIONAL MODE - DC-DC voltage converter systems are provided in which a switching voltage converter is arranged with an inductor to switch first and second currents with duty cycles D and D′ determined by an error voltage V | 10-25-2012 |
20130002224 | HIGH EFFICIENCY BOOST CONVERTER - A boost converter circuit receives an input power supply voltage and produces an output boosted supply voltage. The circuit includes a voltage regulator, boosting circuitry, and a timing controller. The voltage regulator provides a regulated voltage to the boosting circuitry, which controls switching a transistor to drive the output boosted supply voltage; and the timing controller controls switching the boost circuit from the start-up mode to the normal operation mode. In start-up mode, the regulated voltage is generated from the input power supply voltage. During normal operation mode, the regulated voltage is generated from the output boosted supply voltage. The circuitry performs a low-power start-up when the input power supply voltage is low, and maintains efficient low-power operation by driving the transistor to produce the output boosted supply voltage as the input power supply voltage decreases. | 01-03-2013 |
20130027015 | MULTI INPUT CIRCUIT - The present invention relates to a multi input circuit, including: a first terminal being supplied with sensing signals of a current means, an RTD temperature sensor, and a TC temperature sensor; a second terminal being supplied with a compensation signal of the RTD temperature sensor and a sensing signal of the voltage means; a third terminal being supplied with a common signal of the current means, the RTD temperature sensor, the TC temperature sensor, and the voltage means and being grounded; a current means sensing signal detection unit connected between the first terminal and the third terminal; a multiplexer of which input ports are each connected to the first to third terminals and an output end of the current means sensing signal detection unit; a key input unit selecting the input ports for receiving the sensing signals from the multiplexer; a power supply unit supplying power for sensing a change in a resistance value of the RTD temperature sensor; a switch turning-on/off power supplied to the RTD temperature sensor from the power supply unit; and a control unit outputting a control signal selecting the input ports of the multiplexer and a control signal controlling the turn-on/off of the switch according to the selection of the key input unit to receive the sensing signal input to the input port of the multiplexer, whereby it is possible to reduce the manufacturing costs, miniaturize the products, and improve user convenience by allowing the same input terminal of a control measuring instrument, such as a temperature controller, a panel meter, and the like, to receive a temperature sensor signal, an analog voltage signal, and an analog current signal so as to differentiate the types of the signals using the diode. | 01-31-2013 |
20130106383 | CONTROL CIRCUIT AND CONTROL METHOD FOR POWER CONVERSION DEVICE | 05-02-2013 |
20130113451 | INTELLIGENT SWITCHING CONTROLLER AND POWER CONVERSION CIRCUITS AND METHODS - A power conversion circuit comprising a voltage estimation circuit, a current estimation circuit, and a pulse width modulation circuit. The voltage estimation circuit is configured to receive a voltage corresponding to an input of an inductor of the power conversion circuit and generate an estimate of an output voltage of the power conversion circuit based on the voltage. The current estimation circuit is configured to receive a current corresponding to a switch connected in series with the inductor and generate an estimate of an output current of the power conversion circuit based on the current. The pulse width modulation circuit is configured to produce a pulse width modulated signal based on the estimate of the output voltage and the estimate of the output current. | 05-09-2013 |
20130154598 | BUCK CONVERTER HAVING PULSE SKIPPING MODE AND RELATED METHOD OF OPERATION - A buck converter comprises a switching unit configured to control a connection between a power terminal and a load terminal, a PWM controller configured to provide a PWM signal to the switching unit, and a control signal generator configured to generate a first control signal and a second control signal based on a current flowing to the load terminal, wherein the first control signal controls generation of the PWM signal and the second control signal controls a pulse width of the PWM signal. | 06-20-2013 |
20130214754 | POWER SUPPLY DEVICE - A power supply device includes a power supply unit, a buck converter, a logic circuit, and a snubber circuit. The buck converter and the logic circuit are connected to the power supply unit. The buck converter is configured to convert a direct current voltage output from the power supply unit into a preset voltage supplied to an input terminal of an electronic device. The snubber circuit is electronically connected between the buck converter and the logic circuit. The power supply unit determines whether the buck converter is under a heavy load or light load. If the buck converter is under the heavy load, the power supply unit triggers the logic circuit to allow the snubber circuit to connect to ground through the logic circuit. If the buck converter is under the light load, the power supply unit triggers the logic circuit to allow the snubber circuit to disconnect from ground. | 08-22-2013 |
20130241516 | SWITCHING REGULATOR - A switching regulator includes a ripple generating circuit that generates a ripple voltage signal having a voltage that increases when a first switch element is on and decreases when a second switch element is on, or a voltage that decreases when the first switch element is on and increases when the second switch element is on, a comparator that compares the ripple voltage signal to a reference voltage, and generates a comparison signal indicating the comparison result, and a switch element control circuit that generates, according to the comparison signal, a control signal to switch on and off of the first switch element and a control signal to switch on and off of the second switch element, and applies the control signals to the first and second switch elements, respectively, wherein the ripple generating circuit generates the ripple voltage signal based on the control signals. | 09-19-2013 |
20130249520 | BOOST REGULATOR WITH TIMING CONTROLLED INDUCTOR BYPASS - Apparatus and methods of implementing a voltage converter bypass switch, among other things, are discussed herein. In certain examples, a boost converter can include a bypass switch configured to bypass an inductor and a transistor of the boost converter to more directly couple a supply voltage to an output of the boost converter during a bypass mode, and to isolate a supply voltage input from the output during a boost mode of the boost converter. | 09-26-2013 |
20130307512 | SYSTEMS FOR INDIRECT AVERAGE CURRENT MEASUREMENT - One example of the invention relates to a power system. The power system can include a switching power converter configured to convert an input voltage to an output voltage for providing power at an output thereof to which a load is connectable. A measurement system can include measurement circuitry configured to measure an average of an accessible current in the power converter during both continuous and discontinuous modes of operation and derive an average measurement of another current in the power converter based on timing control signals used to control operation of the power converter. | 11-21-2013 |
20130335052 | HIGH SIDE BUCK CONVERTERS AND CONTROL METHODS THEREOF - A high side buck converter includes a high side transistor, a low side transistor, a sensor, a sensing window generator, an error amplifier, a first comparator and an on-time signal generator. The high side and low side transistors are coupled together to form a switch node which is used as the reference ground of the controller. The sensor senses the output voltage and generates a sensing signal. The sensing window generator generates a sensing window signal. The error amplifier amplifies the error between a feedback signal of the sensing signal and a reference signal during the sensing window, and generates an error signal. The first comparator compares the feedback signal with the error signal and generates a first comparison signal. The on-time signal generator generates an on-time signal based on the first comparison signal, so as to control the high side and low side transistors. | 12-19-2013 |
20140015505 | Efficient Energy Use in Low Power Products - Techniques are provided that can extend the efficiency of a switching regulator further into the low current region by making use of the available knowledge on predictable load variations and voltage ripple tolerance across different states, providing improved efficiency and reducing total current consumption. The load current requirement in low power states is provided using switch mode rather than linear regulation, the switch mode operation being controlled by a mode dependent control circuit so as to minimize the energy cost of the switching operation in each mode and thus obtain improved efficiency from the power source. | 01-16-2014 |
20140043005 | DC-DC CONVERTER AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - A DC-DC converter according to the present invention includes a power supply control circuit-that generates pulse signals, an output transistor that is controlled to be turned on and off based on the pulse signal, a rectification transistor-that is controlled to be turned on and of based on a control signal, a coil provided between a node between the output transistor and the rectification transistor, and an external output terminal, a comparator that compares a voltage of the node-with a reference voltage, a first control circuit that generates a control signal based on a comparison result of the comparator, and a second control circuit that generates the control signal based on a backward-current detection timing and a reference timing. | 02-13-2014 |
20140062444 | BOUNDARY CONDUCTION MODE SWITCHING REGULATOR AND DRIVER CIRCUIT AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A boundary conduction mode (BCM) switching regulator controls a power stage to convert an input voltage to an output voltage or output current. The BCM switching regulator detects whether it is operating in continuous conduction mode (CCM) or discontinuous conduction mode (DCM), and adjusts the On-time, Off-time, or frequency of the power stage accordingly, so that the switching regulator operates in or near BCM. | 03-06-2014 |
20140070785 | CONTROLLER FOR A DC TO DC CONVERTER, A COMBINATION OF A CONTROLLER AND A DC TO DC CONVERTER, AND A METHOD OF OPERATING A DC TO DC CONVERTER - A controller for a DC to DC converter, comprising first and second electrically controlled switches and an inductor, wherein placing the first switch in a low impedance state causes a current flow in a first direction through the inductor to increase, and placing the second switch in a low impedance state causes the current flow in the first direction to decrease. The controller can operate a DC to DC converter in a first mode when a current taken by a load supplied by the converter is above a first current threshold, and in a low power mode when the current taken by the load is below the first current threshold, wherein the controller uses information about a switching time of the first switch in the first mode to control a switching time of the first switch in the low power mode. | 03-13-2014 |
20140070786 | Power Converter Including Integrated Driver Providing Overcurrent Protection - In one implementation, a power converter includes an output stage integrated circuit (IC) in a group III-V die including a depletion mode group III-V transistor, and a driver IC in a group IV die. The driver IC is configured to drive the output stage IC. In addition, a group IV control switch in the group IV die is cascoded with the depletion mode group III-V transistor. The power converter further includes an overcurrent protection circuit for the depletion mode group III-V transistor, the overcurrent protection circuit monolithically integrated in the group IV die. | 03-13-2014 |
20140084892 | PULSE WIDTH MODULATION POWER CONVERTER AND CONTROL METHOD - In a Pulse Width Modulation power converter and control method, wherein one of the operating modes steady state or load transient is detected. For either of the two operating modes one set of PID coefficients is provided for the control law that controls the duty ratio command. In case a load transient is detected, the KP gain is selected adaptively. Operating mode detection is supported by oversampling the error signal. | 03-27-2014 |
20140125306 | Switching Regulator Control with Nonlinear Feed-Forward Correction - A switching regulator includes a power stage and a controller. The power stage is operable to produce an output voltage. The controller is operable to set a duty cycle for the power stage based on feed-forward control so that the power stage produces the output voltage as a function of an input voltage and a reference voltage provided to the switching regulator. The controller is further operable to adjust the feed-forward control to counteract the effect of one or more nonlinearities of the switching regulator on the output voltage. | 05-08-2014 |
20140145698 | DC-DC CONVERTER - A DC-DC converter includes a signal generator that sets a first signal at a prescribed value when an input power supply voltage is at or lower than a prescribed voltage, a first voltage controller that generates a first voltage so that an output voltage rises gradually during a prescribed period of time, an error amplifier outputting a second signal corresponding to the voltage difference between the either the first voltage and a voltage correlated to the output voltage of the converter or a reference voltage and the voltage correlated to the output voltage, a signal processor that generates a third signal and a switch control signal for a high-side switch and a low-side switch on the basis of the first signal and the second signal, and an output voltage controller that causes the low-side switch to be turned off during a prescribed period from the start of the prescribed period. | 05-29-2014 |
20140152285 | AVERAGE LOAD CURRENT DETECTOR FOR A MULTI-MODE SWITCHING CONVERTER - An average load current detector for a multi-mode switching converter is disclosed. The average load current detector includes a sense voltage generator that generates an average sense voltage that is proportional to an average load current delivered by the multi-mode switching converter. Also included is a duty voltage generator that generates an average duty voltage that is proportional to a duty cycle of a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal that controls switching of the multi-mode switching converter. Further included is a comparator adapted to output a detector signal that indicates an operational mode for the multi-mode switching converter to operate in for predetermined load current ranges. A controller receives the detector signal and in response maintains an efficient energy transfer from one supply voltage level to another by transitioning the multi-mode switching converter from the PWM mode to a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) mode or vice versa if necessary. | 06-05-2014 |
20140159693 | STEP-DOWN SWITCHING MODE POWER SUPPLY AND THE METHOD THEREOF - A step-down switching mode power supply having: a Buck converter configured to provide power to a load, wherein the Buck converter has a power switch and an energy storage component; a current sense circuit coupled to the power switch to generate a current sense signal; a square circuit configured to generate a first multiply signal indicating the squared value of the input voltage; a multiply circuit configured to generate a product signal based on the first multiply signal and a second multiply signal; a current comparison circuit configured to generate a current comparison signal based on the current sense signal and the product signal; and a logic circuit configured to control the power switch. | 06-12-2014 |
20140159694 | SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY DEVICE - A control circuit ( | 06-12-2014 |
20140176106 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADAPTIVE CURRENT LIMIT OF A SWITCHING REGULATOR - An adaptive current limiter including a conversion network and an amplifier network developing an adaptive current limit signal for use by a switching regulator to limit peak current through an inductor of the switching regulator. The switching regulator develops a pulse control signal for controlling switching of current through the inductor to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. The conversion network provides a limit value by applying a duty cycle of the pulse control signal to a reference value. The amplifier network is configured to develop the adaptive current limit signal based on the limit value. The conversion network may multiply the reference value by the duty cycle to develop the limit value. The amplifier network may include a current source providing a fixed reference current to an amplifier to establish a minimum level of the adaptive current limit signal. | 06-26-2014 |
20140176107 | FAST RESPONSE CONTROL CIRCUIT AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - In one embodiment, a control circuit configured to control a switch mode power supply, can include: (i) a compensation signal generating circuit configured to generate a compensation signal according to an error between an output voltage feedback signal and a first reference voltage of the switch mode power supply; (ii) a switching signal generating circuit configured to control a switching operation of a power switching device of the switch mode power supply according to the compensation signal; (iii) a judge circuit configured to determine an operation state of the switch mode power supply according to the output voltage feedback signal; and (iv) a loop gain regulating circuit configured to regulate a loop gain of the control circuit according to the operation state. | 06-26-2014 |
20140218001 | CURRENT-PARKING SWITCHING REGULATOR DOWNSTREAM CONTROLLER PRE-DRIVER - A system and method are provided for generating non-overlapping enable signals. A peak voltage level is measured at an output of a current source that is configured to provide current to a voltage control mechanism. The non-overlapping enable signals are generated for the voltage control mechanism based on the peak voltage level. A system includes the current source, a downstream controller, and the voltage control mechanism that is coupled to the load. The current source is configured to provide current to the voltage control mechanism. The controller is configured to measure the peak voltage level at the output of the current source and generate the non-overlapping enable signals based on the peak voltage level. The non-overlapping enable signals provide a portion of the current to the load. | 08-07-2014 |
20140239932 | DETERMINING A CHARACTERISTIC OF A SIGNAL IN RESPONSE TO A CHARGE ON A CAPACITOR - In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a charging circuit and a determining circuit. The charging circuit is configured to generate a charge on a capacitor with a first current that is related to a signal having a characteristic, and the determining circuit is configured to determine the characteristic of the signal in response to the charge on the capacitor. For example, such an apparatus can determine an average of an input current to a power supply, or an average of an output current from a power source for the power supply, by mirroring the input current, charging a capacitor with the mirroring current, and determining the voltage across the charged capacitor. | 08-28-2014 |
20140239933 | DETERMINING A CHARACTERISTIC OF A SIGNAL IN RESPONSE TO A CHARGE ON A CAPACITOR - In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a charging circuit and a determining circuit. The charging circuit is configured to generate a charge on a capacitor with a first current that is related to a signal having a characteristic, and the determining circuit is configured to determine the characteristic of the signal in response to the charge on the capacitor. For example, such an apparatus can determine an average of an input current to a power supply, or an average of an output current from a power source for the power supply, by mirroring the input current, charging a capacitor with the mirroring current, and determining the voltage across the charged capacitor. | 08-28-2014 |
20140247031 | NEGATIVE CURRENT PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR LOW SIDE SWITCHING CONVERTER FET - A negative current protection system for a low side switching converter FET, for use with a switching converter arranged to operate high and low side FETs connected to an output inductor to produce an output voltage. The negative current protection system comprises a current sensing circuit which produces an output Vcs that varies with the current in the high side FET, a negative current threshold generator which produces a threshold signal −Ith which represents the maximum negative current to which the low side FET is to be subjected, and a comparison circuit arranged to compare the valley portion of Vcs and −Ith and to set a flag if Vcs<−Ith at a predetermined time in the switching cycle—typically after the converter's blanking time. When the flag is set, the system preferably responds by adjusting the operation of the switching FETs to reduce the negative current. | 09-04-2014 |
20140247032 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FEED-FORWARD CONTROL OF LOAD CURRENT IN DC TO DC BUCK CONVERTERS - A system for controlling load current in a voltage converter includes a current normalization module that receives a first measurement corresponding to the load current, receives a second measurement corresponding to an inductor current, and matches a first gain of the first measurement corresponding to the load current to a second gain of the second measurement corresponding to the inductor current to generate a normalized load current. A feed-forward generation module receives the normalized load current from the current normalization module and generates a load current feed-forward (LCFF) signal based on the normalized load current. A duty cycle generation module generates a duty cycle used to control the voltage converter based on a commanded output voltage of the voltage converter and the LCFF signal. | 09-04-2014 |
20140253083 | CONTROLLING CURRENT IN A SWITCHING REGULATOR - In one aspect, this disclosure relates to a method of controlling current output from a switching regulator to a load via an inductor. Inductor current information can be sampled at a peak level, such as just before a transistor configured to cause current to flow through the inductor is turned off. The sampled inductor current can be compared with a reference current, and a current limit threshold can be adjusted based on the comparison. The output current of the switching regulator can be controlled based on a comparison of the current limit threshold with an indicator of current flowing through the inductor. This method can accurately and efficiently limit current in a switching regulator. | 09-11-2014 |
20140285172 | POWER CIRCUIT - According to one embodiment, the power circuit includes a first feedback loop which feedbacks information on an output voltage and a second feedback loop which feedbacks information on a load current. When the load current is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the second feedback loop is blocked and a PWM signal is generated using data of a feedback current signal which is stored before blocking the second feedback loop. | 09-25-2014 |
20140300336 | LOAD REGULATION COMPENSATION MODULE AND SWITCHING CONVERTER COMPRISING THE SAME - A switching converter and a load regulation compensation module for improving load regulation accuracy of the switching converter. The switching converter regulates its output voltage through controlling a switch module to switch on and off based on a first reference signal and a feedback signal indicative of the output voltage. The on and off switching of the switch module generates a switching current, resulting in an average offset voltage between an internal reference ground and a package ground pin of the switching converter. The load regulation compensation module is configured to monitor the switching current, and to compensate a second reference signal having a bandgap reference voltage referenced to the internal reference ground based on the monitored switching current to generate the first reference signal, so that the average offset voltage is substantially cancelled out from the first reference signal with respect to the package ground pin. | 10-09-2014 |
20140306679 | DRIVING CIRCUIT AND ERROR AMPLIFIER THEREOF - An error amplifier and a driving circuit are disclosed herein. The error amplifier is configured to charge a compensation capacitor with an error current. The error amplifier includes an input stage, a main output stage, and an auxiliary output stage. The input stage is configured to provide a first differential output signal and a second differential output signal in response to a comparison between a reference voltage and a feedback voltage. The main output stage is configured to charge the compensation capacitor. The auxiliary output stage is configured to be activated to charge the compensation capacitor. | 10-16-2014 |
20140320103 | Direct Current Control with Low E-M Emission - A switching control circuit includes driving a flow of direct current through an at least partially inductive load. The switching control circuit is adapted for adjusting a control current in order to activate and/or deactivate a flow of current to a load terminal. The system comprises a timer element for initiating at least one timed adjustment of the control current during activation or deactivation of the flow of current through a first semiconductor switch of the circuit so as to anticipate a state change of a component of the switching control circuit. The controller is adapted for determining a timing for the timed adjustment in a predictive manner. A method employs the various features of the switching control circuit. | 10-30-2014 |
20150008895 | CURRENT MODE DC-DC CONVERSION DEVICE WITH FAST TRANSIENT RESPONSE - A current mode DC-DC conversion device with fast transient response is provided. The device includes a DC-DC converter, a pulse width control unit, a current feedback circuit, a fast transient feedback circuit, a first error amplifier, an adder, and a comparator. The current feedback circuit generates a current feedback signal according to the current passing through an inductor in the DC-DC converter. The fast transient feedback circuit generates a transient feedback signal according to a first voltage feedback signal. The first error amplifier amplifies the difference value between a second voltage feedback signal and a reference signal to generate an error amplification signal. The comparator compares the error amplification signal and the summation of current feedback signal and transient feedback signal to generate a comparison signal. The comparison signal is provided to the pulse width control unit for controlling the duty cycle of the power switch. | 01-08-2015 |
20150069991 | POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT - The power supply circuit includes a power supply-side capacitor The power supply circuit includes a ground-side capacitor The power supply circuit includes a power supply-side amplifier that is connected to the voltage output terminal at a non-inverting input terminal thereof and to the second end of the power supply-side resistor at an inverting input terminal thereof and outputs a power supply-side control signal at an output terminal thereof. The power supply circuit includes a ground-side amplifier that is connected to the second end of the ground-side resistor at a non-inverting input terminal thereof, receives a ground-side detection voltage that is based on the output voltage at an inverting input terminal thereof and outputs a ground-side control signal. | 03-12-2015 |
20160065074 | DC-DC CONVERTER AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - A DC-DC converter according to the present invention includes a power supply control circuit—that generates pulse signals, an output transistor that is controlled to be turned on and off based on the pulse signal, a rectification transistor—that is controlled to be turned on and off based on a control signal, a coil provided between a node between the output transistor and the rectification transistor, and an external output terminal, a comparator that compares a voltage of the node—with a reference voltage, a first control circuit that generates a control signal based on a comparison result of the comparator, and a second control circuit that generates the control signal based on a backward-current detection timing and a reference timing. | 03-03-2016 |
20160094122 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVING LIGHT LOAD EFFICIENCY FOR POWER STAGES OF MULTI-PHASE VOLTAGE REGULATOR CIRCUITS - Methods and systems are disclosed that may be employed to improve efficiency of smart integrated power stages (IPstages) of multi-phase VR systems while operating under relatively light, ultra-light, or partial or reduced loads. The disclosed methods and systems may be implemented to improve VR system light load efficiency by providing and enabling reduced power IPstage operating modes in one or more smart IPstage/s of a VR system, and by enabling state transition between IPstage active and reduced power operating modes such as IPstage standby and IPstage hibernation modes. | 03-31-2016 |
20160134187 | POWER CONVERTER CONTROLLER WITH ANALOG CONTROLLED VARIABLE CURRENT CIRCUIT - A bleeder controller for controlling a magnitude of a variable current conducted by bleeder circuitry between input terminals of a device is disclosed. The magnitude of the variable current is controllable in response to a control signal. The bleeder controller includes a dimming detector to classify a half line cycle as leading-edge-dimmed or a trailing-edge-dimmed in response to at least one of an input current sense signal and an input voltage sense signal. | 05-12-2016 |
20160156262 | ADAPTIVE DUAL STAGE IDENTIFICATION CONTROL METHOD FOR A POWER STAGE OF A POWER CONVERTER | 06-02-2016 |
20180026533 | BOOST CONVERTER | 01-25-2018 |
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