Method circuitry and electronic device for controlling a variable output dc power source

• US 7,095,217 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bucur, Constantin, Niculae, Marian
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Shawn
• Application Number:
  US11/094,983
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 323/274, 323/275, 323/280
• US Class Current: 323/274
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/56 using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices G05F1/461 takes precedence

Abstract

Power control circuitry and method for controlling a variable output DC power source. The power control circuitry may comprise a first comparator to compare a signal representative of an output current level of the variable output DC power source with a threshold level and provide a first output signal in response to the comparison. The power control circuitry may further comprise threshold input circuitry to provide the threshold level to the first comparator, the threshold level being a fixed threshold level if an output voltage of the variable output DC power source is less than or equal to a first fixed voltage level, the threshold level being a variable threshold level if the output voltage is greater than the first fixed voltage level.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a first plurality of output current levels over a first range of output voltage levels for a variable output DC power source, each one of said first plurality of output current levels equal to a maximum output power level of said variable output DC power source divided by an output voltage level of said variable output DC power source over said first range;

establishing a second plurality of output current levels over said first range of output voltage levels in response to said first plurality of output current levels, said second plurality of output current levels decreasing with increasing voltage levels over said first range;

monitoring an output current of said variable output DC power source; and

driving said output current towards one of said second plurality of output current levels if an output voltage of said variable output DC power source is within said first range and if said output current at said output voltage is greater than or equal to said one of said second plurality of output current levels associated with said output voltage.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

defining an initial range of output voltage levels for said variable output DC power source, said initial range from about zero volts to a first fixed voltage level, said first range of output voltage levels from said first fixed voltage level to a second fixed voltage level, said second fixed voltage level greater than said first fixed voltage level;

establishing a fixed current level over said initial range; and

driving said output current towards said fixed current level if said output voltage of said variable output DC power source is within said initial range and if said output current is greater than or equal to said fixed current level.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said second plurality of output current levels are given by an equation:

Ima=Io−

k(Vout−

Vo)

wherein Ima is one of said second plurality of output current levels, wherein Io is said fixed current level, wherein k represents a slope of a line defined by said equation, wherein Vout is said output voltage of said variable output DC power source over said first range, and wherein Vo is said first fixed voltage level.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said second plurality of output current levels linearly decreases with increasing voltage levels over said first range of output voltage levels.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first plurality of output current levels hyperbolically decreases with increasing voltage levels over said first range and wherein said second plurality of output current levels linearly decreases with increasing voltage levels over said first range, and wherein said method further comprises establishing said second plurality of output current levels to approximate said first plurality of output current levels.

6. Power control circuitry for controlling a variable output DC power source, said power control circuitry comprising:

a first comparator to compare a signal representative of an output current level of said variable output DC power source with a threshold level and provide a first output signal in response to said comparison;

threshold input circuitry to provide said threshold level to said first comparator, said threshold level being a fixed threshold level over an initial range of output voltage values where an output voltage of said variable output DC power source is less than or equal to a first fixed voltage level, said threshold level being a variable threshold level over a first range of output voltage values where said output voltage is greater than said first fixed voltage level; and

power limiting control circuitry to provide a control signal to said variable output DC power source in response to said first output signal from said first comparator.

7. The power control circuitry of claim 6, wherein said variable threshold is representative of a second plurality of output current levels of said variable output DC power source over said first range, said second plurality of output current levels approximates a first plurality of output current levels where each one of said first plurality of output current levels equals a maximum output power level of said variable output DC power source divided by an output voltage of said variable output DC power source over said first range.

8. The power control circuitry of claim 7, wherein said first plurality of output current levels hyperbolically decreases with increasing voltage levels over said first range and wherein said second plurality of output current levels linearly decreases with increasing voltage levels over said first range.

9. The power control circuitry of claim 6, wherein said threshold input circuitry comprises:

a first transistor controlled by an output of a first operational amplifier, said first transistor turning OFF is said output voltage is less than said first fixed voltage level, said threshold level being said fixed threshold level if said first transistor is OFF.

10. The power control circuitry of claim 9, said first transistor turning ON if said output voltage is greater than said first fixed voltage level, said threshold level being said variable threshold level if said first transistor is ON.

11. The power control circuitry of claim 10, wherein said variable threshold is equal to said fixed threshold less an amount dependent on a difference by which said output voltage exceeds said first fixed voltage level.

12. The power control circuitry of claim 11, wherein said threshold input circuitry further comprises:

a first resistor disposed between a terminal accepting said output voltage and a terminal of said first transistor;

a second resistor coupled to another terminal of said first transistor;

a second operational amplifier having one input coupled to said another terminal of said first transistor;

a second transistor having a control terminal to accept a signal from said second operational amplifier;

a third resistor disposed between a terminal accepting said fixed threshold level and a terminal of said second transistor, an output node coupled between said third resistor and said terminal of said second transistor;

a fourth resistor coupled to another terminal of said second transistor, wherein said variable threshold level is given by an equation;

$\mathrm{Vcl}=\mathrm{Vclo}-\frac{\mathrm{R3}}{\mathrm{R4}}·<br><br>\frac{\mathrm{R2}}{\mathrm{R1}}<br><br>\left(\mathrm{Vout}-\mathrm{Vo}\right)$

where Vc1 is said variable threshold level provided at said output node, Vc1o is said fixed threshold level, R1 is a resistance value of said first resistor, R2 is a resistance value of said second resistor, R3 is a resistance value of said third resistor, R4 is a resistance value of said fourth resistor, Vout is said output voltage, and Vo is said first fixed voltage level.

13. An electronic system comprising:

a variable output DC power source to provide power to a load; and

power control circuitry to provide a control signal to said variable output DC power source, said variable output DC power source responsive to said control signal to adjust an output power level of said DC power source, said power control circuitry comprising;

a first comparator to compare a signal representative of an output current level of said variable output DC power source with a threshold level and provide a first output signal in response to said comparison;

threshold input circuitry to provide said threshold level to said first comparator, said threshold level being a fixed threshold level if an output voltage of said variable output DC power source is less than or equal to a first fixed voltage level, said threshold level being a variable threshold level if said output voltage is greater than said first fixed voltage level; and

power limiting control circuitry to provide a control signal to said variable output DC power source in response to said first output signal from said first comparator.

14. The electronic system of claim 13, wherein said variable threshold is representative of a second plurality of output current levels of said variable output DC power source over said first range, said second plurality of output current levels approximates a first plurality of output current levels where each one of said first plurality of output current levels equals a maximum output power level of said variable output DC power source divided by an output voltage of said variable output DC power source over said first range.

15. The electronic system of claim 14, wherein said first plurality of output current levels hyperbolically decreases with increasing voltage levels over said first range and wherein said second plurality of output current levels linearly decreases with increasing voltage levels over said first range.

16. The electronic system of claim 13, wherein said threshold input circuitry comprises:

a first transistor controlled by an output of a first operational amplifier, said first transistor turning OFF is said output voltage is less than said first fixed voltage level, said threshold level being said fixed threshold level if said first transistor is OFF.

17. The electronic system of claim 16, said first transistor turning ON if said output voltage is greater than said first fixed voltage level, said threshold level being said variable threshold level if said first transistor is ON.

18. The electronic system of claim 17, wherein said variable threshold is equal to said fixed threshold less an amount dependent on a difference by which said output voltage exceeds said first fixed voltage level.

19. The electronic system of claim 17, wherein said threshold input circuitry further comprises:

a first resistor disposed between a terminal accepting said output voltage and a terminal of said first transistor;

a second resistor coupled to another terminal of said first transistor;

a second operational amplifier having one input coupled to said another terminal of said first transistor;

a second transistor having a control terminal to accept a signal from said second operational amplifier;

a third resistor disposed between a terminal accepting said fixed threshold level and a terminal of said second transistor, an output node coupled between said third resistor and said terminal of said second transistor;

a fourth resistor coupled to another terminal of said second transistor, wherein said variable threshold level is given by an equation;

$\mathrm{Vcl}=\mathrm{Vclo}-\frac{\mathrm{R3}}{\mathrm{R4}}·<br><br>\frac{\mathrm{R2}}{\mathrm{R1}}<br><br>\left(\mathrm{Vout}-\mathrm{Vo}\right)$

where Vc1 is said variable threshold level provided at said output node, Vc1o is said fixed threshold level, R1 is a resistance value of said first resistor, R2 is a resistance value of said second resistor, R3 is a resistance value of said third resistor, R4 is a resistance value of said fourth resistor, Vout is said output voltage, and Vo is said first fixed voltage level.