Circuit and method for soft start from a residual voltage

• US 7,501,805 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2006
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Isaac Y., Chen, An-Tung, Tai, Liang-Pin
• Primary Examiner(s): Sterrett; Jeffrey L
• Application Number:
  US11/487,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20070064454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 323/271, 323/282, 323/901, 363/49
• US Class Current: 323/282
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0025 Arrangements for modifying reference values, feedback values or error values in the control loop of a converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/36 Means for starting or stopping converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/156 with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/901 Starting circuits

Abstract

A circuit and method for soft start of a system compare a feedback signal produced from an output voltage of the system with a ramp signal to generate a comparison signal, and enables the system once the comparison signal indicating the ramp signal reaches the feedback signal, such that the output voltage becomes active from a residual voltage toward a target level.

Claims

1. A circuit for soft start from a residual voltage, comprising:

a comparator for comparing a feedback signal produced from an output voltage of a system with a ramp signal to generate a comparison signal;

a controller being responsive to the comparison signal, for enabling the system such that when the ramp signal reaches the feedback signal the output voltage adjusts from the residual voltage to a target level according to the ramp signal; and

a multiplexer for switching the ramp signal for the comparator in response to a comparison of the feedback signal with a reference signal.

2. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a sample and hold unit for producing the feedback signal from the output voltage.

3. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the ramp signal is a rising up signal.

4. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the ramp signal is a falling down signal.

5. A method for soft start from a residual voltage, comprising the steps of:

producing a feedback signal from an output voltage of a system;

comparing the feedback signal with a reference signal for selecting a ramp signal; and

comparing the feedback signal with the ramp signal for enabling the system upon the ramp signal reaching the feedback signal, such that the output voltage becomes active to adjust according to the ramp signal directly from the residual voltage to a target level.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the ramp signal is a falling down signal.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the ramp signal is a rising up signal.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of producing a feedback signal from an output voltage of a system comprises the step of sampling the output voltage.

9. A DC to DC converter with soft start from a residual voltage, comprising:

a power stage for converting an input voltage to an output voltage;

a comparator for comparing a feedback signal produced from the output voltage with a ramp signal to generate a first comparison signal and a second comparison signal;

a modulator for generating a modulation signal in response to the first comparison signal; and

a controller receiving the modulation signal and the second comparison signal, for driving the power stage with the modulation signal once the ramp signal reaches the feedback signal, such that the output voltage becomes active from the residual voltage toward a target level.

10. The converter of claim 9, further comprising a sample and hold unit for producing the feedback signal from the output voltage.

11. The converter of claim 9, wherein the ramp signal is a falling down signal.

12. The converter of claim 9, further comprising a multiplexer in response to a comparison of the feedback signal with a reference signal, for switching the ramp signal for the comparator.

13. The converter of claim 9, wherein the ramp signal is a rising up signal.