Dual-mode, high-efficiency dc-dc converter useful for portable battery-operated equipment
First Claim
1. A dual-mode dc--dc converter system, comprising:
- a dc--dc converter for converting an input dc voltage to an output dc voltage, said dc--dc converter comprising at least one power switching device;
gate driver circuitry for providing gating signals for driving said at least one power switching device;
a strobe signal generator responsive to load current outputted by said dc--dc converter for providing a strobe signal to said gate driver circuitry for commanding operation of said converter in a switching regulation mode or a linear regulation mode, said strobe signal commanding operation in a switching regulation mode for values of said load current above a threshold and in a linear regulation mode for values of said load current below said threshold.
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Abstract
A dual-mode dc--dc converter is configured for operation at high efficiencies over a wide load range. At light loads and during equipment sleep mode, a dc--dc converter is operated in a linear regulation mode; at heavy loads, the dc--dc converter is operated in a switching mode. In this way, efficiency is maximized over a wide load range, and for portable battery-operated equipment, for example, battery operating time is extended. The linear regulation mode avoids any switching losses which can far exceed the low output power at light loads, including equipment sleep mode. To further extend battery life, synchronous rectification is used during the switching mode, and low drop-out regulation is used during the linear regulation mode over the entire battery voltage range and load range. During the switching mode, the converter is synchronized to the system clock in order to minimize interference. Advantageously, a converter according to the present invention is useful for low-noise portable equipment such as, for example, cellular phones.
105 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A dual-mode dc--dc converter system, comprising:
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a dc--dc converter for converting an input dc voltage to an output dc voltage, said dc--dc converter comprising at least one power switching device; gate driver circuitry for providing gating signals for driving said at least one power switching device; a strobe signal generator responsive to load current outputted by said dc--dc converter for providing a strobe signal to said gate driver circuitry for commanding operation of said converter in a switching regulation mode or a linear regulation mode, said strobe signal commanding operation in a switching regulation mode for values of said load current above a threshold and in a linear regulation mode for values of said load current below said threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification