REDUCED SLEEP CURRENT IN POWER CONVERTERS
First Claim
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1. A method in a power supply circuit comprising:
- operating the power supply circuit to convert an input voltage at a first voltage level to an output voltage at a second voltage level;
(i) activating a sleep cycle in the power supply circuit by disabling operation of the power supply for a duration of time;
(ii) at expiration of the duration of time, restoring the output voltage to the second voltage level by enabling operation of the power supply, but only when a difference between the output voltage and a reference voltage exceeds a predetermined voltage level;
(iii) selectively altering the duration of time during which the power supply is disabled by increasing or decreasing the duration of time; and
repeating (i) through (iii).
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Abstract
A low standby power DC-DC converter can be powered down during standby mode. The DC-DC converter can be periodically awakened between sleep cycles to check if the output voltage needs to be recharged (refreshed). The duration of the sleep cycles can be varied to accommodate for changing load conditions that would affect the output voltage.
12 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method in a power supply circuit comprising:
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operating the power supply circuit to convert an input voltage at a first voltage level to an output voltage at a second voltage level; (i) activating a sleep cycle in the power supply circuit by disabling operation of the power supply for a duration of time; (ii) at expiration of the duration of time, restoring the output voltage to the second voltage level by enabling operation of the power supply, but only when a difference between the output voltage and a reference voltage exceeds a predetermined voltage level; (iii) selectively altering the duration of time during which the power supply is disabled by increasing or decreasing the duration of time; and repeating (i) through (iii). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A power supply circuit comprising:
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a power converter section having an input terminal for a connection to a source of an input voltage and an output terminal to output an output voltage at a controlled voltage level; and a control section to control operation of the power converter section, the control section operative to; activate a plurality of sleep cycles in the power converter section, wherein during each sleep cycle operation of the power converter section is disabled; enable operation of the power converter section between sleep cycles to selectively restore the output voltage to the controlled voltage level in response to an outcome of a comparison of the output voltage to a reference voltage; and change a duration of the sleep cycles depending on a number of consecutive sleep cycles repeated without restoring the output voltage. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A power converter circuit comprising:
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a switching circuit; a compensation circuit; and a controller operative to; enable operation of the switching circuit to generate an output voltage at an output terminal; enable operation of the compensation circuit to control the switching circuit to maintain the output voltage at a controlled voltage level; (i) activate a sleep cycle in the power converter circuit by disabling operation of at least the switching circuit for a duration of time; (ii) selectively enable operation of the switching circuit, at the end of the sleep cycle, when the output voltage falls below the controlled voltage level in order to restore the output voltage to the controlled voltage level; (iii) selectively change the duration of time depending on a number of consecutive sleep cycles in which operation of the switching circuit was not enabled between sleep cycles; and repeat (i) through (iii). - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification