Thermally compensated current sensing of intrinsic power converter elements
First Claim
1. A method of regulating a DC-to-DC converter comprising at least one power switch, a pulse width modulation circuit for generating control pulses for the at least one power switch, an output inductor connected to the at least one power switch, and a current feedback loop circuit cooperating with the pulse width modulation circuit for controlling the at least one power switch, the method comprising:
- sensing current passing through the inductor using a thermally compensated current sensor connected in parallel to the output inductor and comprising a resistor and capacitor connected in series, the thermally compensated current sensor having a temperature coefficient that substantially matches a temperature coefficient of the output inductor; and
operating the current feedback loop circuit to control the at least one power switch in response to the thermally compensated current sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A DC-to-DC converter includes one or more power switches, a pulse width modulation circuit for generating control pulses for the power switches, and an output inductor connected to the power switches. A thermally compensated current sensor is connected to an intrinsic current sensing element exhibiting a temperature-based parameter non-linearity. The thermally compensated current sensor has a temperature coefficient that substantially matches a temperature coefficient of an intrinsic power converter element used to measure current flow, thus linearizing the current measurement. Also, a current feedback loop circuit cooperates with the pulse width modulation circuit to control the power switches responsive to the thermally compensated current sensor.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method of regulating a DC-to-DC converter comprising at least one power switch, a pulse width modulation circuit for generating control pulses for the at least one power switch, an output inductor connected to the at least one power switch, and a current feedback loop circuit cooperating with the pulse width modulation circuit for controlling the at least one power switch, the method comprising:
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sensing current passing through the inductor using a thermally compensated current sensor connected in parallel to the output inductor and comprising a resistor and capacitor connected in series, the thermally compensated current sensor having a temperature coefficient that substantially matches a temperature coefficient of the output inductor; and
operating the current feedback loop circuit to control the at least one power switch in response to the thermally compensated current sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of regulating a DC-to-DC converter comprising at least one power switch, a pulse width modulation circuit for generating control pulses for the at least one power switch, an output inductor connected to the at least one power switch, and a current feedback loop circuit cooperating with the pulse width modulation circuit for controlling the at least one power switch, the method comprising:
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providing a sensed current related to a current being conducted through the output inductor using a thermally compensated current sensor connected to the at least one power switch, the thermally compensated current sensor having a temperature coefficient that substantially matches a temperature coefficient of an on-state resistance of the at least one power switch; and
operating the current feedback loop circuit to control the at least one power switch in response to the thermally compensated current sensor. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification