Switching control circuit for primary-side controlled power converters

• US 7,362,592 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: System General Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Inventors: Chiu, Shao-Wei, Yang, Ta-yung, Hung, Guo-Kiang, Li, Chuh-Ching, Lin, Jenn-yu G.
• Primary Examiner(s): STERRETT, JEFFREY L
• Application Number:
  US10/943,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20060056204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 363/21.05, 363/21.08, 363/21.09, 363/21.1, 363/21.13, 363/21.16, 363/21.17, 363/21.18, 363/97, 363/131
• US Class Current: 363/21.13
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33507 with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention discloses a switching control circuit for a primary-side controlled power converter. A voltage-waveform detector produces a voltage-feedback signal and a discharge-time signal. A current-waveform detector generates a current-waveform signal by measuring a primary-side switching current. An integrator generates a current-feedback signal by integrating the current-waveform signal with the discharge time. A time constant of the integrator is correlated with the switching frequency, thus the current-feedback signal is proportional to an output current of the power converter. A PWM circuit controls the pulse width of the switching signal in response to the outputs of a voltage-loop error amplifier and a current-loop error amplifier. The output voltage and the maximum output current of the power converter are therefore regulated.

Claims

1. A switching control circuit for a primary-side controlled power converter, comprising:

a switching device, for switching a transformer, wherein said transformer is supplied with an input voltage of the power converter;

a switching signal, controlling said switching device for regulating an output voltage and a maximum output current of the power converter; and

a controller, coupled to said transformer and a current-sense device to generate a voltage-feedback signal and a current-feedback signal by sampling a voltage signal and a discharge time of said transformer during an off-time of said switching signal, and measuring a current signal of said transformer during an on-time of said switching signal, wherein said switching signal is generated in response to said voltage-feedback signal and said current-feedback signal.

2. The switching control circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controller comprises:

a voltage-waveform detector, coupled to said transformer, producing said voltage-feedback signal and a discharge-time signal by multi-sampling said voltage signal from an auxiliary winding of said transformer;

wherein said discharge-time signal represents said discharge time of said transformer;

a current-waveform detector, coupled to said current-sense device for generating a current-waveform signal by measuring said current signal;

wherein said current signal is generated in response to a primary-side switching current of said transformer;

an integrator, for producing said current-feedback signal by integrating said current-waveform signal with said discharge time;

an oscillator, for generating an oscillation signal for determining a switching frequency of said switching signal;

a voltage-loop error amplifier and a current-loop error amplifier, for amplifying said voltage-feedback signal and said current-feedback signal respectively; and

a PWM circuit, for generating said switching signal in response to an output of said voltage-loop error amplifier and an output of said current-loop error amplifier.

3. The switching control circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said controller further comprises:

a programmable current source, connected to an input of said voltage-waveform detector for temperature compensation;

wherein said programmable current source produces a programmable current in response to the temperature of said controller.

4. The switching control circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said voltage-waveform detector multi-samples said voltage signal to generate an end voltage for producing said voltage-feedback signal, wherein said end voltage is sampled and measured instantly before a secondary-side switching current of said transformer drops to zero.

5. The switching control circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein a time constant of said integrator is correlated with a switching period of said switching signal.

6. The switching control circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said voltage-waveform detector comprises:

a sample-pulse generator, for producing a sample-pulse signal;

a threshold voltage, wherein said threshold voltage adds said voltage signal to produce a level-shift signal;

a first capacitor and a second capacitor;

a first signal generator, for generating a first sample signal and a second sample signal, wherein said first sample signal and said second sample signal are used for alternately sampling said voltage signal, wherein a first hold voltage and a second hold voltage are respectively held across said first capacitor and said second capacitor, wherein said first sample signal and said second sample signal are alternately generated in response to said sample-pulse signal during an enabled period of said discharge-time signal, wherein a delay time is inserted at the beginning of said discharge-time signal, wherein said first sample signal and said second sample signal are disabled during the period of said delay time;

a buffer amplifier, generating a hold signal from the higher voltage of said first hold voltage and said second hold voltage;

a first output capacitor, for generating said voltage-feedback signal by sampling said hold signal; and

a second signal generator, for producing said discharge-time signal, wherein said discharge-time signal is enabled as said switching signal is disabled, wherein after said delay time said discharge-time signal can be disabled as said level-shift signal is lower than said voltage-feedback signal, wherein said discharge-time signal can also be disabled as long as said switching signal is enabled.

7. The switching control circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said controller further comprises:

a pattern generator, for generating a digital pattern code;

a first programmable capacitor, coupled to said oscillator and said pattern generator for modulating said switching frequency in response to said digital pattern code; and

a second programmable capacitor, coupled to said integrator and said pattern generator for correlating a time constant of said integrator with said switching frequency;

wherein the capacitance of said first programmable capacitor and said second programmable capacitor are controlled by said digital pattern code.

8. The switching control circuit as claimed in claim 7, wherein said pattern generator comprises:

a clock generator, for generating a clock signal; and

a linear-shift register, for generating said digital pattern code in response to said clock signal.

9. The switching control circuit as claimed in claim 7, wherein said oscillator comprises:

a first V-to-I converter, for generating an oscillator charge current and an oscillator discharge current, wherein said first V-to-I converter includes an oscillation operational amplifier, an oscillation resistor and oscillation transistors;

an oscillation capacitor, connected in parallel with said first programmable capacitor;

a first oscillation switch, wherein a first terminal of said first oscillation switch is supplied with said oscillator charge current and a second terminal of said first oscillation switch is connected to said oscillation capacitor;

a second oscillation switch, wherein a first terminal of said second oscillation switch is connected to said oscillation capacitor and a second terminal of said second oscillation switch is driven by said oscillator discharge current;

an oscillation comparator, having a positive input connected to said oscillation capacitor, wherein said oscillation comparator generates said oscillation signal;

a third oscillation switch, having a first terminal supplied with a high threshold voltage and a second terminal connected to a negative input of said oscillation comparator;

a fourth oscillation switch, having a first terminal supplied with a low threshold voltage and a second terminal connected to said negative input of said oscillation comparator; and

an oscillation inverter, having an input connected to an output of said oscillation comparator for producing an inverse oscillation signal;

wherein said oscillation signal turns on/off said second oscillation switch and said fourth oscillation switch, wherein said inverse oscillation signal turns on/off said first oscillation switch and said third oscillation switch.

10. The switching control circuit as claimed in claim 9, wherein said oscillation capacitor is connected in parallel with said first programmable capacitor, wherein said first programmable capacitor comprises oscillation switching capacitors, wherein said oscillation switching capacitors are turned on/off by said digital pattern code.

11. The switching control circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said current-waveform detector comprises:

a peak detector, for generating a peak-current signal by measuring a peak value of said current signal;

a third capacitor, for holding said peak-current signal;

a second output capacitor, for producing said current-waveform signal; and

a switch, for conducting said peak-current signal to said second output capacitor, wherein said switch is turned on/off by said oscillation signal.

12. The switching control circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said integrator comprises:

a second V-to-I converter, fanned by a timing operational amplifier, a timing resistor and timing transistors, wherein said second V-to-I converter generates a programmable charge current in response to said current-waveform signal;

a timing capacitor, connected in parallel with said second programmable capacitor, for producing an integrated signal;

a first switch, wherein a first terminal of said first switch is supplied with said programmable charge current and a second terminal of said first switch is connected to said timing capacitor, wherein said first switch is turned on/off by said discharge-time signal;

a second switch, connected in parallel with said timing capacitor for discharging said timing capacitor;

a third output capacitor, for generating said current-feedback signal; and

a third switch, for conducting said integrated signal to said third output capacitor, wherein said third switch is turned on/off by said oscillation signal.

13. The switching control circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switching signal has a minimum on-time once said switching signal is enabled, which further ensures a minimum value of said discharge time for multi-sampling said voltage signal.

14. A switching control circuit for a primary-side controlled power converter, comprising:

a switching device, for switching a transformer, wherein said transformer is supplied with an input voltage of the power converter;

a switching signal, controlling said switching device for regulating an output voltage of the power converter; and

a controller, coupled to said transformer to generate a voltage-feedback signal by multi- sampling a voltage signal and a discharge time of said transformer during an off-time of said switching signal, wherein said switching signal is generated in response to said voltage-feedback signal.

15. The switching control circuit as claimed in claim 14, wherein said controller comprises:

a voltage-waveform detector, coupled to said transformer, producing said voltage-feedback signal and a discharge-time signal by multi-sampling said voltage signal from an auxiliary winding of said transformer, wherein said discharge-time signal represents said discharge time of said transformer;

an oscillator, for generating an oscillation signal For determining a switching frequency of said switching signal;

a voltage-loop error amplifier, for amplifying said voltage-feedback signal

a current-loop error amplifier, for amplifying a current-feedback signal; and

a PWM circuit for generating said switching signal in response to an output of said voltage-loop error amplifier and an output of said current-loop error amplifier.

16. The switching control circuit as claimed in claim 15, wherein said controller further comprises:

a programmable current source, connected to an input of said voltage-waveform detector for temperature compensation, wherein said programmable current source produces a programmable current in response to the temperature of said controller.

17. The switching control circuit as claimed in claim 15, wherein said controller further comprises:

a pattern generator, for generating a digital pattern code;

a first programmable capacitor, coupled to said oscillator and said pattern generator for modulating said switching frequency in response to said digital pattern code; and

a second programmable capacitor, coupled to said integrator and said pattern generator for correlating a time constant of said integrator with said switching frequency, wherein the capacitance of said first programmable capacitor and said second programmable capacitor are controlled by said digital pattern code.