DC-DC Converter

• US 20140375295A1
• Filed: 04/26/2013
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Ito, Satoru
• Granted Patent: US 9,263,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 323/300
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/67 to the maximum power available from a generator, e.g. from solar cell
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 5/00 Systems for regulating electric variables by detecting deviations in the electric input to the system and thereby controlling a device within the system to obtain a regulated output
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 5/00 Methods or arrangements for data conversion without changing the order or content of the data handled
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0022 the disturbance parameters being input voltage fluctuations
• 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 3/06 using resistors or capacitors, e.g. potential divider
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/156 with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

A DC-DC converter includes: an error amplifier for outputting an error between an output voltage and a predetermined voltage; a phase compensation impedance element for accumulating the error across one end to generate an error phase; a determination unit for determining whether the voltage output by the error amplifier is higher, or lower than a reference voltage that is consonant with the predetermined voltage, and outputting a determination signal indicating determination results; and a voltage setting unit for setting a voltage for one end of the phase compensation impedance element higher than a lower output voltage limit for the error amplifier when the determination signal indicates that the voltage output by the error amplifier is lower than the reference voltage, or for canceling setting of the voltage when the determination signal indicates that the voltage output by the error amplifier is higher than the reference voltage.

Claims

1. A DC-DC converter, characterized by comprising:

an error amplifier for outputting an error between an output voltage and a predetermined voltage;

a phase compensation impedance element for performing phase compensation, and for accumulating the error across one end to generate an error voltage;

a determination unit for monitoring a voltage output of the error amplifier to determine whether the voltage output of the error amplifier is higher, or lower than a reference voltage according to the predetermined voltage, and for outputting a determination signal indicating results of the determination; and

a voltage setting unit for setting a voltage at one end of the phase compensation impedance element higher than a lower output voltage limit of the error amplifier when the determination signal indicates that the voltage output of the error amplifier is lower than the reference voltage, or for canceling the setting of the voltage when the determination signal indicates that the voltage output of the error amplifier is higher than the reference voltage.

2. The DC-DC converter according to claim 1, characterized by:

setting, when an input voltage applied at an input terminal is higher than the predetermined voltage, a bypass mode of outputting the input voltage, unchanged, from an output terminal as an output voltage; and

setting, when the input voltage is lower than the predetermined voltage, a boost mode of increasing the input voltage and outputting the output voltage from the output terminal.

3. The DC-DC converter according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the bypass mode, the voltage setting unit sets a voltage at one end of the phase compensation impedance element, either equal to, or higher than a voltage at the other end.

4. The DC-DC converter according to claim 3, characterized in that, in the bypass mode, the voltage setting unit establishes a short circuit between both ends of the phase compensation impedance element, and in the boost mode, cancels the short circuit.

5. The DC-DC converter according to claim 4, characterized in that the voltage setting unit includes:

a first latch circuit for receiving the determination signal at a set terminal, and for outputting a first output signal and a second output signal having an opposite polarity of the first output signal;

a first switch, connected between an output terminal of the error amplifier and one end of the phase compensation impedance element, for receiving the second output signal and the first switch is turned on when the second output signal have the same polarity as that of the determination signal, or is turned off when the second output signal has an opposite polarity of the determination signal; and

a second switch, connected between one end and the other end of the phase compensation impedance element, for receiving the first output signal and the second switch is turned on when the first output signal has the same polarity as that of the determination signal, or is turned off when the second output signal has an opposite polarity of the determination signal.

6. The DC-DC converter according to claim 2, characterized in that the voltage setting unit includes:

a first latch circuit for receiving the determination signal at a set terminal, and for outputting a first output signal and a second output signal having an opposite polarity of the first output signal;

a first switch, connected between an output terminal of the error amplifier and one end of the phase compensation impedance element, for receiving the second output signal and the first switch is turned on when the second output signal have the same polarity as that for the determination signal, or is turned off when the second output signal has an opposite polarity of the determination signal; and

a second switch, connected between one end of the phase compensation impedance element and a voltage source for generating a voltage to be set at the one end in the bypass mode, for receiving the first output signal and the second switch is turned on when the first output signal has the same polarity as that of the determination signal, or is turned off when the second output signal has an opposite polarity of the determination signal.

7. The DC-DC converter according to claim 5, the determination unit includes:

a first comparator, for comparing a voltage output by the error amplifier with the reference voltage, and for outputting, when the voltage output by the error amplifier is lower than the reference voltage, the determination signal indicating that the bypass mode is currently set, or outputting, when the voltage output by the amplifier is higher than the reference voltage, the determination signal indicating that the boost mode is currently set.

8. The DC-DC converter according to claim 7, further comprising:

a PWM signal generator for outputting a PWM signal having a duty cycle according to the error voltage, wherein in the boost mode a switching operation is performed based on the PWM signal.

9. The DC-DC converter according to claim 8, characterized in that the PWM signal generator includes:

a second comparator for comparing, with the error voltage, a voltage that corresponds to an input current that flows at the input terminal, and for outputting a reset signal when the error voltage is higher than the voltage that corresponds to the input current; and

a second latch circuit for receiving a clock at a set terminal and receiving the reset signal at a reset terminal to output the PWM signal, and for outputting, to a reset terminal of the first latch circuit, a signal having polarity opposite to that of the PWM signal.

10. The DC-DC converter according to claim 1, characterized in that the phase compensation impedance element includes resistors connected in series and a capacitor.

13. The DC-DC converter according to claim 3, characterized in that the voltage setting unit includes:

a first latch circuit for receiving the determination signal at a set terminal, and for outputting a first output signal and a second output signal having an opposite polarity of the first output signal;

a first switch, connected between an output terminal of the error amplifier and one end of the phase compensation impedance element, for receiving the second output signal and the first switch is turned on when the second output signal have the same polarity as that for the determination signal, or is turned off when the second output signal has an opposite polarity of the determination signal; and

a second switch, connected between one end of the phase compensation impedance element and a voltage source for generating a voltage to be set at the one end in the bypass mode, for receiving the first output signal and the second switch is turned on when the first output signal has the same polarity as that of the determination signal, or is turned off when the second output signal has an opposite polarity of the determination signal.

14. The DC-DC converter according to claim 6, the determination unit includes:

a first comparator, for comparing a voltage output by the error amplifier with the reference voltage, and for outputting, when the voltage output by the error amplifier is lower than the reference voltage, the determination signal indicating that the bypass mode is currently set, or outputting, when the voltage output by the amplifier is higher than the reference voltage, the determination signal indicating that the boost mode is currently set.

15. The DC-DC converter according to claim 14, further comprising:

a PWM signal generator for outputting a PWM signal having a duty cycle according to the error voltage, wherein in the boost mode a switching operation is performed based on the PWM signal.

16. The DC-DC converter according to claim 15, characterized in that the PWM signal generator includes:

a second comparator for comparing, with the error voltage, a voltage that corresponds to an input current that flows at the input terminal, and for outputting a reset signal when the error voltage is higher than the voltage that corresponds to the input current; and

a second latch circuit for receiving a clock at a set terminal and receiving the reset signal at a reset terminal to output the PWM signal, and for outputting, to a reset terminal of the first latch circuit, a signal having polarity opposite to that of the PWM signal.

17. The DC-DC converter according to claim 3, characterized in that the phase compensation impedance element includes resistors connected in series and a capacitor.

18. The DC-DC converter according to claim 4, characterized in that the phase compensation impedance element includes resistors connected in series and a capacitor.

19. The DC-DC converter according to claim 5, characterized in that the phase compensation impedance element includes resistors connected in series and a capacitor.

20. The DC-DC converter according to claim 6, characterized in that the phase compensation impedance element includes resistors connected in series and a capacitor.

21. The DC-DC converter according to claim 13, characterized in that the phase compensation impedance element includes resistors connected in series and a capacitor.

11. A DC-DC converter, which sets, when an input voltage input at an input terminal is higher than a predetermined voltage, bypass mode for outputting the input voltage, unchanged, from an output terminal as an output voltage, or sets, when the input voltage is lower than the predetermined voltage, boost mode for increasing the input voltage and outputting the output voltage from the output terminal, characterized by comprising:

an error amplifier for outputting an error between the output voltage and the predetermined voltage;

a phase compensation impedance element for performing phase compensation, and for accumulating the error across one end to generate an error voltage;

a determination unit for monitoring a voltage output by the error amplifier, and for determining whether the bypass mode or the boost mode is currently set, and outputting a determination signal indicating obtained determination results;

a first switch connected between output of the error amplifier and one end of the phase compensation impedance element; and

a second switch connected between one end and the other end of the phase compensation impedance element,

wherein when the determination signal indicates the bypass mode is currently set, the first switch is turned off and the second switch is turned on, or when the determination signal indicates the boost mode is currently set, the first switch is turned on and the second switch is turned off.

12. A DC-DC converter, which sets, when an input voltage input at an input terminal is higher than a predetermined voltage, bypass mode for outputting the input voltage, unchanged, from an output terminal as an output voltage, or sets, when the input voltage is lower than the predetermined voltage, boost mode for increasing the input voltage and outputting the output voltage from the output terminal, characterized by comprising:

an error amplifier for outputting an error between the output voltage and the predetermined voltage;

a phase compensation impedance element for performing phase compensation, and accumulating the error across one end to generate an error voltage;

a determination unit for monitoring a voltage output by the error amplifier, and for determining whether the bypass mode or the boost mode is currently set, and outputting a determination signal indicating obtained determination results;

a first switch connected between output of the error amplifier and one end of the phase compensation impedance element;

a second switch connected between one end of the phase compensation impedance element and a node having a voltage higher than a voltage at the other end of the phase compensation impedance element,

wherein when the determination signal indicates the bypass mode is currently set, the first switch is turned off and the second switch is turned on, or when the determination signal indicates the boost mode is currently set, the first switch is turned on and the second switch is turned off.