ENABLING VERY LARGE AND VERY SMALL DUTY CYCLES IN SWITCHING CONVERTERS

• US 20170141675A1
• Filed: 11/01/2016
• Published: 05/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd. (Cirrus Logic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd. (Cirrus Logic Incorporated)
• Inventors: MARU, Siddharth, KING, Eric J., MELANSON, John L.
• Application Number:
  US15/340,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20170141675A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• 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 1/009 having two or more independently controlled outputs for DC-DC converter with intermediate AC H02M3/33561
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/084 using a control circuit common to several phases of a multi-phase system
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/088 for the simultaneous control of series or parallel connected semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/10 Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1582 Buck-boost converters H02M3/1584 takes precedence
• 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

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an apparatus may include a switched-mode power supply and a controller. The switched-mode power supply may include an inductor and a plurality of switches coupled to the inductor. The controller may be configured to control an inductor current of the inductor by controlling the plurality of switches to operate the switched-mode power supply in at least three phases, the at least three phases comprising: a first phase having a first period in which the inductor current increases; and a second phase having a second period in which the inductor current decreases; wherein, at least one of the first period and the second period is defined by a difference in time between switching of at least two switches of the plurality of switches.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an inductor current in a switched-mode power supply having a plurality of switches, comprising controlling the plurality of switches to operate the switched-mode power supply in at least three phases, the at least three phases comprising:

a first phase having a first period in which the inductor current increases; and

a second phase having a second period in which the inductor current decreases;

wherein, at least one of the first period and the second period is defined by a difference in time between switching of at least two switches of the plurality of switches.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first phase and the second phase occur successively.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first phase and the second phase occur non-successively.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first period is defined by a difference in time between switching of at least two switches of the plurality of switches, and the first period occurs immediately before or after a third period of the at least three phases.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second period is defined by a difference in time between switching of at least two switches of the plurality of switches, and the second period occurs immediately before or after a third period of the at least three phases.

6. The method of claim 1, the at least three phases comprising a third phase in which the inductor current remains substantially constant.

7. The method of claim 1, the at least three phases comprising a third phase in which the inductor current increases.

8. The method of claim 7, the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current remains substantially constant.

9. The method of claim 7, the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current increases.

10. The method of claim 7, the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current decreases.

11. The method of claim 1, the at least three phases comprising a third phase in which the inductor current decreases.

12. The method of claim 11, the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current remains substantially constant.

13. The method of claim 11, the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current increases.

14. The method of claim 11, the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current decreases.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a switched-mode power supply comprising;

an inductor; and

a plurality of switches coupled to the inductor; and

a controller configured to control an inductor current of the inductor by controlling the plurality of switches to operate the switched-mode power supply in at least three phases, the at least three phases comprising;

a first phase having a first period in which the inductor current increases; and

a second phase having a second period in which the inductor current decreases;

wherein, at least one of the first period and the second period is defined by a difference in time between switching of at least two switches of the plurality of switches.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first phase and the second phase occur successively.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first phase and the second phase occur non-successively.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first period is defined by a difference in time between switching of at least two switches of the plurality of switches, and the first period occurs immediately before or after a third period of the at least three phases.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second period is defined by a difference in time between switching of at least two switches of the plurality of switches, and the second period occurs immediately before or after a third period of the at least three phases.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, the at least three phases comprising a third phase in which the inductor current remains substantially constant.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, the at least three phases comprising a third phase in which the inductor current increases.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current remains substantially constant.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current increases.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current decreases.

25. The apparatus of claim 15, the at least three phases comprising a third phase in which the inductor current decreases.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current remains substantially constant.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current increases.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current decreases.