Switching power converter controller

• US 20060279970A1
• Filed: 08/15/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FYRE Storm Incorporated (Maxlinear Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: FYRE Storm Incorporated (Maxlinear Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kernahan, Kent
• Application Number:
  US11/505,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20060279970A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/65
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 3/262 using field-effect transistors only
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0012 Control circuits using digital or numerical techniques in DC/DC converters H02M3/157, H02M3/33515; in DC-AC converters H02M7/53873
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/007 Plural converter units in cascade push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826
• 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 1/0845 digitally controlled (or with digital control)
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/156 with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/157 with digital control
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1588 comprising at least one synchronous rectifier element H02M3/1582, H02M3/1584 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 5/08 Code representation by pulse width
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/2828 using control circuits for the switching elements H05B41/2827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

A control system and method for simultaneously regulating the operation of a plurality of different types of switching power converters. The system utilizes in regulating the power converters sampled data and nonlinear feedback control loops.

Claims

1. A switching power converter controller, wherein the switching power converter controls a plurality of pulse-width-modulated switching power converters, comprising:

a controller configured to control the pulse widths for each switching power converter so as to regulate the corresponding power from each switching power converter, wherein the pulse widths for the switching power converters are defined with respect to a single period; and

wherein the controller is further configured to control the pulse widths for each switching power converter in a given period based upon feedback information from each power converter in previous periods.

2. The switching power converter controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to schedule the switch on and off times for each switching power converter based upon the desired pulse widths to achieve a predetermined pulse schedule rule.

3. The switching power converter controller of claim 2, wherein the predetermined pulse schedule rule requires the switch on times within a given period for each switching power converter to be different.

4. The switching power converter controller of claim 2, wherein each period is divided into a predetermined number of counts, and wherein the controller is further configured to command the switch on and off times for each switching power converter to occur only at the times specified by the counts.

5. The switching power converter of claim 4, wherein the number of counts is 1024.