Voltage set point control scheme

• US 20060069935A1
• Filed: 11/16/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bel Power Solutions Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alain Chapuis, Mahesh Natverlal Thaker
• Inventors: Chapuis, Alain, Thaker, Mahesh Natverlal
• Granted Patent: US 7,526,660 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/08 Three-wire systems; Systems having more than three wires
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/082 Plural DC voltage, e.g. DC supply voltage with at least two different DC voltage levels
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0025 Arrangements for modifying reference values, feedback values or error values in the control loop of a converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/008 Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/157 with digital control

Abstract

A system and method is provided for determining a voltage output of a programmable power converter based on programming voltage data received from one of a variety of alternate sources. Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, a control unit is adapted to monitor a digital data serial interface, a digital data parallel interface, and an analog data interface to determine whether programming voltage data has been received. If programming voltage data has been received, the data is used to determine an output voltage for the programmable power converter. If more than one set of programming voltage data has been received, a determination is made as to which set of data takes priority. The selected set of data is then used to determine an output voltage for the programmable power converter.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A power converter comprising:

a control unit having at least one digital data interface and at least one analog data interface, the control unit adapted to determine an output voltage based upon programming voltage data received from the at least one digital data interface and the at least one analog data interface; and

a power conversion circuit operatively coupled to the control unit and adapted to produce said output voltage responsive to the programming voltage data.

22. The power converter of claim 21, further comprising a storage device adapted to store said programming voltage data if said programming voltage data is received from said at least one digital data interface.

23. The power converter of claim 21, further comprising a storage device adapted to store look-up table data, said control unit accessing said look-up table data to determine said output voltage if said programming voltage data is received from said at least one digital data interface.

24. The power converter of claim 21, further comprising a resistor network connected to said at least one analog data interface.

25. The power converter of claim 21, wherein said control unit further comprises:

an analog control circuit operatively connected to said at least one analog data interface, said analog control circuit converting analog programming voltage data received via said at least one analog data interface into digital programming voltage data; and

a digital signal processor connected to said analog control circuit and said at least one digital data interface, said digital processor determining said output voltage from said digital programming voltage data.

26. The power converter of claim 21, wherein said at least one digital data interface further comprises a digital parallel data interface.

27. The power converter of claim 21, wherein said at least one digital data interface further comprises a digital serial data interface.

28. The power converter of claim 21, wherein the control unit is further adapted to prioritize between programming voltage data received from the at least one digital data interface and the at least one analog data interface.

29. A method of selecting a power converter output, comprising:

receiving at least one of digital programming voltage data via a digital data interface and analog programming voltage data via an analog data interface;

if both digital programming voltage data and analog programming voltage data is received, selecting one of said digital programming voltage data and said analog programming voltage data based on predetermined criteria; and

determining an output voltage of a power converter based upon the selected one of said digital programming voltage data and said analog programming voltage data.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said digital programming voltage data further comprises at least one of digital serial programming voltage data and digital parallel programming voltage data, and said selecting further comprises selecting among said digital serial programming voltage data, said digital parallel programming voltage data and said analog programming voltage data.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said selecting further comprises selecting said digital parallel programming voltage data over said digital serial programming voltage data.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein said selecting further comprises selecting said digital programming voltage data over said analog programming voltage data.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising storing said digital programming voltage data.

34. A machine-readable medium storing instructions that cause a processing device to perform the functions of:

receiving at least one of digital programming voltage data via a digital data interface and analog programming voltage data via an analog data interface;

if both digital programming voltage data and analog programming voltage data is received, selecting one of said digital programming voltage data and said analog programming voltage data based on predetermined criteria; and

determining an output voltage of a power converter based upon the selected one of said digital programming voltage data and said analog programming voltage data.

35. The machine-readable medium of claim 34, wherein said digital programming voltage data further comprises at least one of digital serial programming voltage data and digital parallel programming voltage data, and said selecting instruction further comprises selecting among said digital serial programming voltage data, said digital parallel programming voltage data and said analog programming voltage data.

36. The machine-readable medium of claim 35, wherein said selecting instruction further comprises selecting said digital parallel programming voltage data over said digital serial programming voltage data.

37. The machine-readable medium of claim 34, wherein said selecting instruction further comprises selecting said digital programming voltage data over said analog programming voltage data.

38. The machine-readable medium of claim 34, further comprising storing said digital programming voltage data.