Integrated circuit switching power supply controller with selectable buck mode operation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An integrated circuit for controlling a power supply circuit that generates an output current, the integrated circuit comprising:
- an input for receiving a signal from a winding of a magnetic storage element of the power supply circuit;
a detection circuit coupled to the input for processing the signal from the winding of the magnetic storage element to detect a duration of a flyback interval during which the magnetic storage element of the power supply circuit is supplying current to an output of the power supply circuit and for determining an indication of a peak current in the magnetic storage element at the end of a charging interval during which the magnetic storage element is storing energy supplied from the power supply circuit; and
a control circuit for generating a switching control signal to control a cycle rate of the power supply circuit according to a selectable operating mode of the integrated circuit that is selectable between a buck operating mode and another operating mode, wherein in the buck operating mode the cycle rate is controlled according to a first value computed according to a first algorithm from the indication of the peak current and the detected duration of the flyback interval to maintain the output current at a constant value, and wherein in the another operating mode the cycle rate is controlled according to a second value computed according to a second algorithm from the peak current and the detected duration of the flyback interval to maintain the output current at the constant value, wherein the second algorithm differs from the first algorithm.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated circuit (IC) controller for a switching power supply has a selectable operating mode for supporting multiple switching power supply topologies. The IC controls current by controlling a cycle rate of the switching power supply to provide a constant or variable output current, which may be provided to lighting devices such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The selectable operating mode includes at least a buck converter operating mode and another operating mode, which may be a flyback converter operating mode.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. An integrated circuit for controlling a power supply circuit that generates an output current, the integrated circuit comprising:
-
an input for receiving a signal from a winding of a magnetic storage element of the power supply circuit; a detection circuit coupled to the input for processing the signal from the winding of the magnetic storage element to detect a duration of a flyback interval during which the magnetic storage element of the power supply circuit is supplying current to an output of the power supply circuit and for determining an indication of a peak current in the magnetic storage element at the end of a charging interval during which the magnetic storage element is storing energy supplied from the power supply circuit; and a control circuit for generating a switching control signal to control a cycle rate of the power supply circuit according to a selectable operating mode of the integrated circuit that is selectable between a buck operating mode and another operating mode, wherein in the buck operating mode the cycle rate is controlled according to a first value computed according to a first algorithm from the indication of the peak current and the detected duration of the flyback interval to maintain the output current at a constant value, and wherein in the another operating mode the cycle rate is controlled according to a second value computed according to a second algorithm from the peak current and the detected duration of the flyback interval to maintain the output current at the constant value, wherein the second algorithm differs from the first algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of operating an integrated circuit controller capable of controlling a power supply circuit having either a buck topology or alternatively another topology to generate a constant output current, the method comprising:
-
receiving an indication of whether the integrated circuit controller is installed in a buck converter circuit or alternatively another converter circuit having another topology; selecting a buck operating mode if the indication indicates that the integrated circuit controller is installed in a buck converter circuit; selecting another operating mode if the indication indicates that the integrated circuit controller is installed in the another converter circuit; detecting a duration of a flyback interval of the power supply; determining an indication of a peak current supplied to a magnetic storage element of the power supply during a charging interval of the power supply; responsive to selecting the buck operating mode, controlling a cycle rate of the buck converter circuit to maintain the output current at a constant value according to a first value computed by first control algorithm from the indication of peak current; and responsive to selecting the another operating mode, controlling the cycle rate of the another converter circuit to maintain the output current at the constant value according to a second control value computed by a second control algorithm from the peak current and that differs from the first control algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. An integrated circuit for controlling a power supply circuit, the integrated circuit comprising a control circuit for controlling a cycle rate of the power supply circuit according to a selectable operating mode of the integrated circuit that is selectable between a buck operating mode and another operating mode to generate an output current of the power supply circuit, wherein in the buck operating mode the cycle rate is determined to maintain the output current at the constant value according to a first value computed by a first algorithm from a peak current through a winding of a magnetic storage element of the power supply circuit, and wherein in the another operating mode the cycle rate is determined to maintain the output current at the constant value according to a second value computed by a second algorithm differing from the first algorithm from the peak current through the winding of the magnetic storage element during the switching cycle.
-
19. A method of controlling a power supply circuit from an integrated circuit controller, the method comprising:
-
selecting an operating mode of the integrated circuit controller, wherein the operating mode is selectable between a buck operating mode and another operating mode; controlling a cycle rate of the power supply circuit according to the selected operating mode to generate an output current of the power supply circuit, wherein in the buck operating mode the cycle rate is determined to maintain the output current at a constant value according to a first value computed by a first algorithm from a peak current through a winding of a magnetic storage element of the power supply circuit during a switching cycle of the power supply circuit, and wherein in the another operating mode the cycle rate is determined in order to maintain the output current at the constant value according to a second value computed by a second algorithm differing from the first algorithm from the peak current through the winding of the magnetic storage element during the switching cycle.
-
Specification