DC-dC converter having dynamic regulator with current sourcing and sinking means
First Claim
1. An electronic circuit comprising:
- a dc-to-dc converter and a load connected thereto, said load being capable of generating a load current demand transient and a load current excess transient; and
a dynamic regulator connected in parallel with said load and said dc-to-dc convertor and comprising;
current sourcing means for actively sourcing current during the load current demand transient to thereby reduce a load voltage dip which would otherwise occur,current sinking means for actively sinking current during the load current excess transient to thereby reduce a load voltage spike which would otherwise occur,voltage sensing means for sensing a load voltage,load voltage tracking means for tracking the load voltage by following an average load voltage, andcontrol means for operating at least one of said current sourcing means and said current sinking means responsive to the sensed load voltage changing rapidly with respect to the tracked load voltage so that other changes in the sensed load voltage do not trigger operation of a respective one of said current sourcing means and said current sinking means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic circuit includes a dynamic regulator connected to a load and a dc-to-dc converter to reduce a need for bulky and expensive capacitors which would otherwise be required to suppress transients. The dynamic regulator comprises one or both of a current source circuit for actively sourcing current to the load during load current demand transients, and a current sink circuit for actively sinking current from the load during load current excess transients. The dynamic regulator preferably senses the load voltage, and tracks the load voltage. The current source circuit preferably includes a current source switch, and a current source controller for operating the current source switch responsive to the load voltage falling rapidly with respect to the tracked load voltage. In a similar fashion, the current sinking circuit may include a current sink switch, and a current sink controller for operating the current source switch responsive to the load voltage rising quickly above the tracked load voltage. In one embodiment, the load voltage tracking may be provided by a resistor-capacitor (R/C) network connected across the load. The R/C network may operate at a fast time constant for following load ripple, but at a slower time constant when sourcing or sinking current. The dynamic regulator is preferably a monolithic integrated circuit and may be either separate from or incorporated into the dc-to-dc converter.
44 Citations
47 Claims
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1. An electronic circuit comprising:
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a dc-to-dc converter and a load connected thereto, said load being capable of generating a load current demand transient and a load current excess transient; and a dynamic regulator connected in parallel with said load and said dc-to-dc convertor and comprising; current sourcing means for actively sourcing current during the load current demand transient to thereby reduce a load voltage dip which would otherwise occur, current sinking means for actively sinking current during the load current excess transient to thereby reduce a load voltage spike which would otherwise occur, voltage sensing means for sensing a load voltage, load voltage tracking means for tracking the load voltage by following an average load voltage, and control means for operating at least one of said current sourcing means and said current sinking means responsive to the sensed load voltage changing rapidly with respect to the tracked load voltage so that other changes in the sensed load voltage do not trigger operation of a respective one of said current sourcing means and said current sinking means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A dynamic regulator for parallel connection to a load and a dc-to-dc converter connected thereto, the load being capable of generating a load current demand transient, said dynamic regulator comprising;
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voltage sensing means for sensing a load voltage; load voltage tracking means for tracking the load voltage by following an average load voltage; current sourcing means for actively sourcing current during a load current demand transient to thereby reduce a load voltage dip which would otherwise occur; and current source control means for operating said current sourcing means responsive to the sensed load voltage falling rapidly with respect to the tracked load voltage so that other changes in the sensed load voltage do not trigger operation of said current sourcing means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A dynamic regulator for parallel connection to a load and a dc-to-dc converter connected thereto, the load being capable of generating a load current excess transient, said dynamic regulator comprising:
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voltage sensing means for sensing a load voltage; load voltage tracking means for tracking the load voltage by following an average load voltage; current sinking means for actively sinking current during a load current excess transient to thereby reduce a load voltage spike which would otherwise occur; and current sink control means for operating said current sinking means responsive to the sensed load voltage rising rapidly with respect to the tracked load voltage so that other changes in the sensed load voltage do not trigger operation of said current sinking means. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for controlling transients in an electronic circuit comprising a load and a dc-to-dc converter connected thereto, the load being capable of generating a load current demand transient, the method comprising the steps of:
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sensing a load voltage; tracking the load voltage by following an average load voltage; and actively sourcing current during a load current demand transient responsive to the sensed load voltage falling rapidly with respect to the tracked load voltage, to thereby reduce a load voltage dip which would otherwise occur and so that other changes in the sensed load voltage do not trigger actively sourcing current. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for controlling transients in an electronic circuit comprising a load and a dc-to-dc converter connected thereto, the load being capable of generating a load current excess transient, the method comprising the steps of:
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sensing a load voltage; tracking the load voltage by following an average load voltage; and actively sinking current during the load current excess transient responsive to the sensed load voltage rising rapidly with respect to the tracked load voltage, to thereby reduce a load voltage spike which would otherwise occur and so that other changes in the sensed load voltage do not trigger active current sinking. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47)
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Specification