ADJUSTING PEAK INDUCTOR CURRENT TO LIMIT SUPPLY INPUT CURRENT

• US 20170040895A1
• Filed: 08/05/2016
• Published: 02/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cirrus Logic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd. (Cirrus Logic Incorporated)
• Inventors: MAY, Jeffrey Allen, KING, Eric J.
• Granted Patent: US 11,239,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/165 Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0009 Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/08 Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/32 Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
• 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

Abstract

A method may include monitoring an input power supply, monitoring an inductance of an inductor of a boost converter, monitoring one or more other characteristics of the boost converter, and calculating a target peak inductor current based on the input power supply voltage, the inductance, the one or more other characteristics of the boost converter, and a target average current of the inductor during a switching cycle of the boost converter. A method may include monitoring an input power supply voltage, monitoring an inductance of an inductor of a boost converter, monitoring one or more other characteristics of the boost converter, and calculating an average current of the inductor during a switching cycle of the boost converter based on the input power supply voltage, the inductance, the one or more other characteristics of the boost converter, and a peak inductor current of the inductor.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

monitoring an input power supply voltage of a power supply;

monitoring an inductance of an inductor of a boost converter comprising the inductor;

monitoring one or more other characteristics of the boost converter; and

calculating a target peak inductor current based on the input power supply voltage, the inductance, the one or more other characteristics of the boost converter, and a target average current of the inductor during a switching cycle of the boost converter.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling an average current of the inductor by regulating a peak inductor current of the inductor in accordance with a maximum average inductor current during a switching cycle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise a duty cycle for switching of a switch of the boost converter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise an output voltage of the boost converter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise an output current of the boost converter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise an efficiency of the boost converter.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising deactivating a switch of the boost converter in response to an instantaneous inductor current of the inductor exceeding the target peak inductor current.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling an instantaneous inductor current and the target peak inductor current based on a user configuration.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the user configuration comprises at least one of a voltage response threshold, a slope response of a voltage response threshold, state machine response timings, changes of supply current with respect to input power supply voltage, a desired limit of the target peak inductor current, and recovery options in response to recovery of the power supply.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the target peak inductor current in a controllable manner responsive to the input power supply voltage falling below a threshold voltage.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a boost converter having a power supply input for receiving an input power supply voltage of a power supply, an inductor, and an output for generating an output voltage greater than the input power supply voltage; and

a controller configured to;

monitor the input power supply voltage;

monitor the inductance of the inductor;

monitor one or more other characteristics of the boost converter; and

calculate a target peak inductor current based on the input power supply voltage, the inductance, the one or more other characteristics of the boost converter, and a target average current of the inductor during a switching cycle of the boost converter.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to control an average current of the inductor by regulating a peak inductor current of the inductor in accordance with a maximum average inductor current during a switching cycle.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise a duty cycle for switching of a switch of the boost converter.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise the output voltage.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise an output current of the boost converter.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise an efficiency of the boost converter.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to deactivate a switch of the boost converter in response to an instantaneous inductor current of the inductor exceeding the target peak inductor current.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to control an instantaneous inductor current and the target peak inductor current based on a user configuration.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the user configuration comprises at least one of a voltage response threshold, a slope response of a voltage response threshold, state machine response timings, changes of supply current with respect to input power supply voltage, a desired limit of the target peak inductor current, and recovery options in response to recovery of the power supply.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to reduce the target peak inductor current in a controllable manner responsive to the input power supply voltage falling below a threshold voltage.

21. A method comprising:

monitoring an input power supply voltage of a power supply;

monitoring an inductance of an inductor of a boost converter comprising the inductor;

monitoring one or more other characteristics of the boost converter; and

calculating an average current of the inductor during a switching cycle of the boost converter based on the input power supply voltage, the inductance, the one or more other characteristics of the boost converter, and a peak inductor current of the inductor.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising controlling the peak inductor current of the inductor by regulating an average current of the inductor in accordance with a maximum peak inductor current during a switching cycle.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise a duty cycle for switching of a switch of the boost converter.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise an output voltage of the boost converter.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise an output current of the boost converter.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise an efficiency of the boost converter.

27. An apparatus comprising:

a boost converter having a power supply input for receiving an input power supply voltage of a power supply, an inductor, and an output for generating an output voltage greater than the input power supply voltage; and

a controller configured to;

monitor the input power supply voltage;

monitor the inductance of the inductor;

monitor one or more other characteristics of the boost converter; and

calculate an average current of the inductor during a switching cycle of the boost converter based on the input power supply voltage, the inductance, the one or more other characteristics of the boost converter, and a peak inductor current of the inductor.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the controller is further configured to control the peak inductor current of the inductor by regulating an average current of the inductor in accordance with a maximum peak inductor current during a switching cycle.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise a duty cycle for switching of a switch of the boost converter.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise an output voltage of the boost converter.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise an output current of the boost converter.

32. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise an efficiency of the boost converter.