PULSE WIDTH MODULATED CONTROLLER APPLIED TO SWITCH-TYPE VOLTAGE REGULATOR

• US 20090027028A1
• Filed: 04/08/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Niko Semiconductor Co., Ltd
• Original Assignee: Niko Semiconductor Co., Ltd
• Inventors: Ting, Ming-Chiang
• Granted Patent: US 8,063,684 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 323/288
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/32 Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/36 Means for starting or stopping converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/156 with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators

Abstract

A PWM controller applied to switch-type voltage regulator includes an error amplifier, a soft-start control circuit, a compensating load and a comparator. The error amplifier receives a reference voltage signal and a feedback voltage signal and outputs an error current signal according to the received feedback voltage signal and the reference voltage signal. The soft-start control circuit outputs a compensating current signal according to at least one soft-start control signal. The compensating load receives the error current signal and the compensating current signal, and outputs a compensating signal. The comparator receives a ramp signal and the compensating signal, and outputs a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal. When a supply voltage rises, the error amplifier is compensated with a preset soft-start compensating current to a circuit common ground VSS, so that the error signal slowly rises during the soft-start control process. Therefore, the function of soft-starting is effectuated.

Claims

1. A pulse width modulated (PWM) controller applied to a switch-type voltage regulator, comprising:

an error amplifier for receiving a reference voltage signal and a feedback voltage signal, and outputting an error current signal according to the received reference voltage signal and feedback voltage signal;

a soft-start control circuit for outputting a compensating current signal according to at least one soft-start control signal;

a compensating load for receiving the error current signal and the compensating current signal, and outputting a compensating signal according to the received error current signal and compensating current signal; and

a comparator for receiving a ramp signal and the compensating signal, and outputting a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal.

2. The PWM controller applied to a switch-type voltage regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compensating load includes a resistor.

3. The PWM controller applied to a switch-type voltage regulator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the error amplifier is a transconductance amplifier.

4. The PWM controller applied to a switch-type voltage regulator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the error amplifier includes:

a reference current source for generating a reference current; and

a transconductance differential amplifying unit for generating the error current signal according to the reference voltage signal and the feedback voltage signal as well as based on the reference current.

5. The PWM controller applied to a switch-type voltage regulator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the soft-start control circuit includes at least one bias current source, which generates a bias current corresponding to the error current signal.

6. The PWM controller applied to a switch-type voltage regulator as claimed in claim 5, wherein the soft-start control circuit further includes at least one control switch corresponding to the at least one bias current source;

and the at least one control switch controls outputting of the bias current according to the at least one soft-start control signal, so as to form the compensating current signal.

7. The PWM controller applied to a switch-type voltage regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the soft-start control circuit includes at least one bias current source, which generates a bias current corresponding to the error current signal.

8. The PWM controller applied to a switch-type voltage regulator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the soft-start control circuit further includes at least one control switch corresponding to the at least one bias current source;

and the at least one control switch controls outputting of the bias current according to the at least one soft-start control signal, so as to form the compensating current signal.

9. The PWM controller applied to a switch-type voltage regulator as claimed in claim 6, wherein the soft-start control circuit outputs a largest value of the compensating current signal at the beginning of a soft-start control.

10. The PWM controller applied to a switch-type voltage regulator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the soft-start control circuit outputs a maximum value of the compensating current signal at the beginning of a soft-start control.

11. The PWM controller applied to a switch-type voltage regulator as claimed in claim 6, wherein the soft-start control circuit outputs a smallest value of the compensating current signal at the ending of a soft-start control.

12. The PWM controller applied to a switch-type voltage regulator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the soft-start control circuit outputs a smallest value of the compensating current signal at the ending of a soft-start control.