System and Method for Balancing Current of Converter Phases
First Claim
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1. A method for balancing phase currents of a plurality of phases of a multiphase converter, the method comprising:
- alternately connecting the phases during respective intervals to an input current;
generating trigger signals at successive time instants respectively for the phases, wherein the trigger signals are synchronous in that the trigger signals are generated at a same time following the connection of the phases to the input current;
sampling, at the time instants in response to the trigger signals, at a node of the multiphase converter that is common to the phases, the input current provided to the phases to obtain respective input current samples for the phases; and
while the input current samples are unequal, adjusting the intervals based only on differences between the input current samples to minimize inequality of the input current samples.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for balancing phase currents of the phases of a multiphase converter include alternately connecting the phases during respective intervals to an input current and sampling, at a node of the multiphase converter that is common to the phases, the input current provided to the phases to obtain respective input current samples for the phases. While the input current samples are unequal, the intervals are adjusted to minimize inequality of the input current samples and thereby balance the phase currents.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for balancing phase currents of a plurality of phases of a multiphase converter, the method comprising:
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alternately connecting the phases during respective intervals to an input current; generating trigger signals at successive time instants respectively for the phases, wherein the trigger signals are synchronous in that the trigger signals are generated at a same time following the connection of the phases to the input current; sampling, at the time instants in response to the trigger signals, at a node of the multiphase converter that is common to the phases, the input current provided to the phases to obtain respective input current samples for the phases; and while the input current samples are unequal, adjusting the intervals based only on differences between the input current samples to minimize inequality of the input current samples. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 21)
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2-3. -3. (canceled)
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8. A system for balancing phase currents of a plurality of phases of a multiphase converter, the system comprising:
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a controller configured to alternately connect the phases during respective intervals to an input current from a power source and to generate trigger signals at successive time instants respectively for the phases, wherein the trigger signals are synchronous in that the trigger signals are generated at a same time following the connection of the phases to the input current; a current sensor configured to sample, at the time instants in response to the trigger signals, at a node of the multiphase converter that is common to the phases, the input current provided to the phases to obtain respective input current samples for the phases, wherein the current sensor includes a current shunt connected in series between the power source and the node; and wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the intervals based only on differences between the input current samples to minimize inequality of the input current samples. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 22)
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9-10. -10. (canceled)
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15. A converter for converting DC voltage levels, comprising:
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a plurality of phases connected in parallel to a common node; a power source configured to provide an input current to the common node; a controller configured to alternately connect the phases during respective intervals to the input current at the common node and to generate trigger signals at successive time instants respectively for the phases, wherein the trigger signals are synchronous in that the trigger signals are generated at a same time following the connection of the phases to the input current; a current sensor having a current shunt connected in series between the power source and the common node, the current sensor configured to sample, at the time instants in response to the trigger signals, the input current provided to the phases to obtain respective input current samples for the phases; and the controller is further configured to adjust the intervals based only on differences between the input current samples to minimize inequality of the input current samples. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 23)
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16-17. -17. (canceled)
Specification