Methods and apparatus for actively snubbing waveforms in switching regulators
First Claim
1. A method for snubbing waveforms in a switching regulator while maintaining regulator efficiency, said switching regulator including an inductor, a power switch and a rectifying diode electrically coupled to said inductor, a snubber circuit comprising a snubber switch, said snubber circuit being coupled in parallel to said inductor, the method comprising:
- beginning a switching cycle by switching said power switch CLOSED while said snubber switch is OPEN;
switching said power switch OPEN while said snubber switch is OPEN;
switching said snubber switch CLOSED while said power switch is OPEN;
decaying current flowing through said inductor via said snubber circuit when said rectifying diode self-commutates so that current in said inductor is prevented from repeatedly changing polarity; and
switching said snubber switch OPEN to end said switching cycle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A switching regulator that actively snubs waveforms is provided. The switching regulator includes an inductor, a power switch electrically coupled to the inductor, a first diode electrically coupled to the inductor, and a snubber circuit being coupled in parallel to the inductor. The power switch and the snubber circuit include break-before-make switches such that the power switch is closed only after the snubber switch is opened to initiate a switching cycle, and the snubber switch is closed only after the power switch is opened to provide a decay path for snubbing ringing waveforms.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for snubbing waveforms in a switching regulator while maintaining regulator efficiency, said switching regulator including an inductor, a power switch and a rectifying diode electrically coupled to said inductor, a snubber circuit comprising a snubber switch, said snubber circuit being coupled in parallel to said inductor, the method comprising:
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beginning a switching cycle by switching said power switch CLOSED while said snubber switch is OPEN; switching said power switch OPEN while said snubber switch is OPEN; switching said snubber switch CLOSED while said power switch is OPEN; decaying current flowing through said inductor via said snubber circuit when said rectifying diode self-commutates so that current in said inductor is prevented from repeatedly changing polarity; and switching said snubber switch OPEN to end said switching cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A switching regulator coupled to an input power supply and having an output node, said switching regulator comprising:
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an inductor; a power switch electrically coupled to said inductor; a rectifying diode electrically coupled to said inductor; an output capacitor coupled to said output node; and a snubber circuit coupled in parallel to said inductor, said snubber circuit comprising a snubber switch that is CLOSED only after said power switch is OPENED to provide a decay path for snubbing ringing waveforms when said rectifying diode self-commutates such that current in said inductor is prevented from repeatedly changing polarity, and such that said power switch is CLOSED only after said snubber switch is OPENED. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A switching regulator coupled to an input power supply and having an output node, said switching regulator comprising:
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a transistor having stray capacitance and parasitic diode characteristics associated therewith; an inductor electrically coupled to said transistor; a rectifying diode electrically coupled to said inductor; an output capacitor electrically coupled to said output node; and a snubber circuit coupled in parallel to said inductor, said snubber circuit comprising a snubber diode in series with a snubber switch, said snubber switch being CLOSED a first preselected delay after said transistor is OPENED to provide a decay path for snubbing ringing waveforms associated with said transistor, said decay path being provided when said rectifying diode self-commutates such that current in said inductor is prevented from repeatedly changing polarity, and said transistor being CLOSED a second preselected delay after said snubber switch is OPENED. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A switching regulator coupled to an input power supply and having an output node, said switching regulator comprising:
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a transistor having output capacitance and parasitic diode characteristics associated therewith; an inductor electrically coupled to said transistor; a rectifying element electrically coupled to said inductor; an output capacitor electrically coupled to said output node; and a snubber circuit coupled in parallel to said inductor, said snubber circuit comprising a snubber diode in series with a snubber switch, said snubber switch being CLOSED after said transistor is OPENED and a voltage across said inductor approaches zero to provide a decay path for snubbing ringing waveforms associated with the regulator, said decay path being provided when said rectifying diode self-commutates such that current in said inductor is prevented from repeatedly changing polarity, said transistor being CLOSED a preselected delay after said snubber switch is OPENED.
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Specification