Controller for DC to DC converter

• US 6,844,710 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lipcsei, Laszlo, Popescu, Serban-Mihai
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Rajnikant B.
• Application Number:
  US10/668,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20040114398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 363/16, 363/17, 363/20, 363/19, 363/21.7, 363/21.4, 363/21.9, 323/282, 323/283, 323/284, 323/285, 323/266, 323/272, 323/268, 323/269
• US Class Current: 323/284
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0009 Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0012 Control circuits using digital or numerical techniques in DC/DC converters H02M3/157, H02M3/33515; in DC-AC converters H02M7/53873
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/088 for the simultaneous control of series or parallel connected semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/156 with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/157 with digital control
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1582 Buck-boost converters H02M3/1584 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1588 comprising at least one synchronous rectifier element H02M3/1582, H02M3/1584 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

A switching circuit includes at least one switch, and a controller configured to provide a periodic control signal. The switch is responsive to the periodic control signal to change states with a start of each period, and a frequency of the periodic control signal has a predetermined minimum frequency level greater than an audible frequency limit for humans. The switching circuit may be used to control a high side switch and a low side switch in a DC to DC converter. A controller having an input voltage sensing circuit to sense an input of a DC to DC converter without using an additional input pin is also provided. Related methods are also provided. A dual phase controller having a phase selection circuit to select between phases is also provided.

Claims

1. A switching circuit comprises:

at least one switch; and

a controller configured to control a state of said at least one switch with a periodic control signal, said controller having a skip mode wherein said controller maintains said at least one switch in an OFF state, said controller responsive to a timer, said timer configured to count for a predetermined time interval upon a start of a first period of said periodic control signal, said controller responsive to expiration of said predetermined time interval to disable said skip mode so that said at least one switch changes states at a frequency rate greater than an audible frequency limit for humans.

2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said periodic signal comprises a pulse width modulated signal.

3. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said predetermined time interval is about 40 microseconds.

4. The circuit claim 1, wherein said timer is coupled between an output terminal of said controller for said periodic control signal and an input terminal of said controller for said skip mode.

5. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said timer is an internal component of said controller.

6. A method comprising:

starting a time count of a predetermined time interval at a start of a state change of a switch of a DC to DC converter;

monitoring if said switch is in a skip mode; and

disabling said skip mode in response to an expiration of said predetermined time interval so that said switch changes states at a frequency rate greater than said audible frequency for humans.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said predetermined time interval is about 40 microseconds.

8. A DC to DC converter for converting an input voltage to an output voltage, said DC to DC converter comprising:

a controller configured to provide a PWM signal in a first state during a first time interval based on a first signal representative of said input voltage less a second signal representative of said output voltage;

a driver circuit configured to accept at least said PWM signal and provide a switch driving signal;

a pair of switches including a high side switch and a low side switch reponsive to said switch driving signal to drive said pair of switches to a switch ON state where said high side switch is ON and said low side switch is OFF when said PWM signal is in said first state;

an inductor coupled to an output of said pair of switches, wherein a current level in said inductor increases in said switch ON state; and

a logic circuit configured to provide a low side enabling signal having an enabling and disabling state, wherein said PWM signal controls said low side switch when said low side enabling signal is in said enabling state, said logic circuit receiving a comparison signal from an over current comparator, said over current comparator configured to provide said comparison signal based on said current level through said inductor compared to a threshold current value, wherein said logic circuit is further configured to provide said low side enabling signal in said enabling state if said current level in said inductor is greater than said threshold current value.

9. The DC to DC converter of claim 8, wherein said logic circuit comprises a NAND gate.

10. A method of sensing an input voltage level of a DC to DC converter utilizing an existing pin coupled to a switching node of the DC to DC converter, said method comprising:

determining a state of a high side switch coupled to an input voltage source and said switching node;

determining a state of a low side switch coupled between ground and said switching node; and

sensing said input voltage when said high side switch is closed and said low side switch is open.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said determining steps are based on a state of a pulse width modulated signal that controls said high side and low side switch.

12. A controller for a DC to DC converter, said controller comprising:

an input pin terminal coupled to a switching node of a DC to DC converter, said switching node of said DC to DC converter coupled to an input voltage when a high side switch is closed and a low side switch is open; and

an input voltage sensing circuit coupled to said input pin terminal, said input voltage circuit comprising;

a switch state determination circuit configured to sense when said switching node is coupled to said input voltage based on a state of said high side switch and said low side switch and to provide a determination signal in response thereto; and

a voltage sensing circuit configured to sense a voltage level representative of said input voltage in response to said determination signal representative of said switching node coupled to said input voltage.

13. The controller of claim 12, wherein said switch state determination signal provides said determination signal in response to a state of a pulse width modulated signal that controls a state of said high side and low side switches.

14. A dual phase DC to DC controller comprising:

a first phase controller configured to provide a first PWM signal based on a first signal representative of an input voltage to a DC to DC converter less a second signal representative of an output voltage of said DC to DC converter;

a second phase controller configured to provide a second PWM signal based on said first signal representative of said input voltage to said DC to DC converter less said second signal representative of said output voltage of said DC to DC converter; and

a phase selection circuit configured to select among said first phase controller and said second phase controller.

15. A method comprising:

starting a time count of a predetermined time interval at a start of a state change of a high side switch of a DC to DC converter;

detecting if said high side switch and a low side switch of said DC to DC converter are in a skip mode; and

disabling said skip mode in response to expiration of said predetermined time interval by closing said low side switch so that said high side switch changes states at a frequency rate greater than an audible frequency limit for humans.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising controlling said high and low side switches with a periodic control signal, and wherein said closing of said low side switch causes discharging of an output capacitor of said DC to DC converter.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said periodic control signal comprises a pulse width modulated signal, and wherein a new pulse of said pulse width modulated is generated to turn on said high side switch when a voltage level of said output capacitor decreases to a set voltage level.