Peak charging current modulation for burst mode conversion

• US 7,893,665 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2005
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Belch, Mark Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US11/219,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20070052395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,994 Days
• Field of Search: 323/222, 323/282, 323/284, 323/224
• US Class Current: 323/222
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0032 Control circuits allowing low power mode operation, e.g. in standby mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1582 Buck-boost converters H02M3/1584 takes 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

During burst mode operation of a four switch buck-boost converter, the input voltage and an output voltage can be detected and a preset peak charging current threshold level can be modulated when the difference between the input voltage and output voltage is within a prescribed range. A burst mode charging cycle will progress until the modulated peak charging threshold level is attained and cut off at the set peak level. A charge transfer cycle and discharge cycle may proceed thereafter.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a voltage converter having multiple switches and an inductive element coupled to the switches and charged with charging current until a peak current charging level is reached, the method comprising the steps of:

comparing the peak current charging level with a preset peak charging current threshold level to control switching of the switches, detecting an input voltage and an output voltage of the converter; and

modulating the preset peak charging current threshold level in accordance with a difference between the input voltage and the output voltage.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising burst mode control steps of:

charging the inductive element until the peak current charging level is attained;

transferring energy from the inductor to an output; and

discharging the inductor.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

setting a voltage threshold level related to the peak current charging level;

sensing a voltage related to current in the inductive element;

comparing the sensed voltage to the voltage threshold level; and

advancing from the charging step to the transferring step when the sense voltage approaches the voltage threshold level.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the modulating step comprises:

generating a signal related to the difference between the converter input and output voltages;

adjusting a variable current source in response to the generated signal; and

adding the variable current source to a fixed current source to obtain a current threshold.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of modulating comprises decreasing the peak charging current threshold level from a preset level by an amount that varies with the absolute value of the difference between the input voltage and the output voltage.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the preset level is a first value if the input voltage exceeds the output voltage outside a prescribed range of the difference between the input voltage and the output voltage, and the preset level is a second value if the output voltage exceeds the input voltage outside the prescribed range.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the multiple switches includes a first switch coupled between an input of the converter and a first electrode of the inductive element, a second switch coupled between the first electrode of the inductive element and a common node, a third switch coupled between a second electrode of the inductive element and the common node, and a fourth switch coupled between the second electrode of the inductive element and an output of the converter.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the first and third switches are activated to connect the inductive element between the input of the converter and the common node when the inductive element is charged, and the first and fourth switches are activated to connect the inductive element between the input of the converter and the output of the converter when the charging current reaches the peak current charging level.

7. A voltage converter comprising:

an input node and an output node;

an inductor charged with current until a peak level of inductor current is reached;

multiple controllable switches coupled to the inductor;

a controller having an output for controlling the switches;

a reference level setting circuit coupled to the input and output nodes to produce a variable reference level defining the peak level of the inductor current, the reference level being variable in accordance with a difference between input voltage at the input node and output voltage at the output node; and

a comparator responsive to the inductor current and the reference level at an output of the reference level setting circuit to produce an output signal supplied to the controller to control switching of the switches when the inductor current reaches the peak level.

8. A voltage converter as recited in claim 7, wherein the comparator comprises:

a first input coupled to a current sensor;

a second input coupled to an output of the reference level setting circuit; and

an output coupled to the controller.

9. A voltage converter as recited in claim 7, wherein the reference level setting circuit comprises:

a voltage differential circuit coupled to the input and output nodes; and

a modulation circuit coupled to an output of the voltage differential circuit, an output of the modulation circuit setting the reference level for the comparator.

10. A voltage converter as recited in claim 9, wherein the modulation circuit comprises a fixed current source coupled with a variable current source circuit at an output node of the modulation circuit.

11. A voltage converter as recited in claim 10, wherein the variable current source circuit comprises a second fixed current source coupled in series with a transistor and a third fixed current source across a power supply, a control terminal of the transistor coupled to the voltage differential circuit output.

12. A voltage converter as recited in claim 11, wherein the variable current source circuit further comprises a current transmission circuit coupled between the modulation circuit output node and a junction of the third fixed current source and the transistor.

15. A voltage converter as recited in claim 7, wherein the multiple switches includes a first switch coupled between the input node of the converter and a first electrode of the inductor, a second switch coupled between the first electrode of the inductor and a common node, a third switch coupled between a second electrode of the inductor and the common node, and a fourth switch coupled between the second electrode of the inductor and the output node of the converter.

16. A voltage converter as recited in claim 15, wherein the first and third switches are activated to connect the inductive element between the input of the converter and the common node when the inductor is being charged, and the first and fourth switches are activated to connect the inductor between the input node and the output node when the inductor current reaches the peak level.