Output current control circuit for power converter with a changeable switching frequency

• US 7,778,051 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries LLC (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: System General Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yang, Ta-yung
• Primary Examiner(s): BEHM, HARRY RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US11/685,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20080232142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 363/21.18, 363/21.16, 363/80, 363/79, 363/21.15, 363/21.01
• US Class Current: 363/21.18
• 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

A control circuit controls the output current of the power converter at the primary side of the transformer. The control circuit includes a current-detection circuit for generating a primary-current signal in response to the switching current of the transformer. A voltage-detection circuit is coupled to the transformer to generate a period signal and a discharge-time signal in response to the reflected voltage of the transformer. A signal-process circuit is utilized to generate a current signal in response to the primary-current signal, the period signal and the discharge-time signal. The period signal is correlated to the switching period of the switching signal of the power converter. The discharge-time signal is correlated to the duty cycle of switching current at the secondary-side of the transformer. The current signal is correlated to the output current of the power converter.

Claims

1. An output current control circuit for a power converter, comprising:

a current-detection circuit, coupled to a current sense device, for generating a primary-current signal in response to a primary-side switching current of a transformer;

a voltage-detection circuit, coupled to the transformer, for generating a period signal and a discharge-time signal in response to a reflected voltage of the transformer;

a signal-process circuits, for generating a current signal in response to the primary-current signal, the period signal and the discharge-time signal;

a switching control circuit, coupled to the signal-process circuit, for generating a switching signal in response to the current signal; and

a pulse generator, coupled to the voltage-detection circuit, for generating a sample-pulse signal in response to the period signal,

wherein the switching signal is utilized to switch the transformer and regulate the output current of the power converter;

the period signal is correlated to the switching period of the switching signal, the discharge-time signal is correlated to the duty cycle of a secondary-side switching current of the transformer;

the current signal is correlated to the output current of the power converter;

the sample-pulse signal is used to control sampling of the signal-process circuit.

2. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a ramp signal generator for generating a ramp signal in response to the switching signal.

3. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the current-detection circuit comprising:

a peak detector, coupled to the current sense device, for generating a peak current signal in response to the peak values of the primary-side switching current;

a sample circuit, connected to the peak detector, for generating the primary-current signal by sampling the peak current signal.

4. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the voltage-detection circuit comprising:

a first sample circuit, coupled to the transformer, for generating a voltage signal by sampling the reflected voltage of the transformer;

a first comparison circuit for generating a first reset signal in response to the reflected voltage of the transformer and the voltage signal; and

a second comparison circuit for generating a second reset signal in response to the reflected voltage of the transformer and a threshold voltage,

wherein the discharge-time signal is enabled in response to disable of the switching signal, the discharge-time signal is disabled in response to the first reset signal, the period signal is enabled in response to the enable of the switching signal, the period signal is disabled in response to the second reset signal.

5. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal-process circuit comprising:

a conversion circuit for generating a first-voltage signal and a second-voltage signal in response to the discharge-time signal and the period signal respectively; and

an integration circuit for generating the current signal in response to the first-voltage signal, the second-voltage signal and the primary-current signal,

wherein the current signal is increased in response to the increase of discharge-time signal and the primary-current signal;

the current signal is decreased in response to the increase of the period signal.

6. The control circuit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the integration circuit comprising:

a first voltage-to-current circuit for generating a first current in response to the second-voltage signal;

a first capacitor, coupled to the first current generated by the first voltage-to-current circuit, for charging the first capacitor;

a comparator having an input connected to the first capacitor;

another input of the comparator is linked the first-voltage signal, wherein the comparator outputs a charge signal when the voltage of the first capacitor is lower than the first-voltage signal;

a second voltage-to-current circuit for generating a second-charge current in response to the primary-current signal;

a switch controlled by the charge signal;

a second capacitor, coupled to the second-charge current, for charging the second capacitor through the switch; and

a second sample circuit, coupled to the second capacitor, for generating the current signal by sampling the voltage of the second capacitor,

wherein the current signal is increased in response to the increase of first-voltage signal and the primary-current signal, and the current signal is decreased in response to the increase of the second-voltage signal.

7. An output current detection circuit for a power converter, comprising:

a current-detection circuit, for generate a primary-current signal in response to a switching current of a transformer;

a voltage-detection circuit, coupled to the transformer, for generating a period signal and a discharge-time signal;

a signal-process circuits for generating a current signal in response to the primary-current signal, the period signal and the discharge-time signal; and

a pulse generator, coupled to the voltage-detection circuit, for generating a sample-pulse signal in response to the period signal,

wherein the power converter includes a switching signal for switching the transformer and regulating the output of the power converter;

the period signal is correlated to the switching period of the switching signal, the discharge-time signal is correlated to the demagnetizing period of the transformer, and the current signal is correlated to the output current of the power converter;

the sample-pulse signal is used to control sampling of the signal-process circuit.

8. The detection circuit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the current-detection circuit comprising:

a peak detector, coupled to a current sense device, for generating a peak current signal in response to the peak value of the primary-side switching current; and

a first sample circuit, connected to the peak detector, for generating the primary-current signal by sampling the peak current signal.

9. The detection circuit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the voltage-detection circuit comprising:

a first sample circuit, coupled to the transformer, for generating a voltage signal by sampling the reflected voltage of the transformer;

a first comparison circuit for generating a first reset signal in response to the reflected voltage of the transformer and the voltage signal; and

a second comparison circuit for generating a second reset signal in response to the reflected voltage of the transformer and a threshold voltage,

wherein the discharge-time signal is enabled in response to disable of the switching signal, the discharge-time signal is disabled in response to the first reset signal, the period signal is enabled in response to the enable of the switching signal, and the period signal is disabled in response to the second reset signal.

10. The detection circuit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the signal-process circuit comprising:

an integration circuit for generating the current signal in response to the discharge-time signal, the period signal and the primary-current signal, wherein the current signal is increased in response to the increase of discharge-time signal and the primary-current signal and the current signal is decreased in response to the increase of the period signal.