Control circuit and switching power supply unit

• US 9,564,803 B1
• Filed: 03/04/2016
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TDK Corporation
• Original Assignee: TDK Corporation
• Inventors: Min, Lin, Matsuura, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane, Adolf
• Application Number:
  US15/061,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20170063224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: 323/282, 323/283, 323/284, 323/285, 323/351
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/156 with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators

Abstract

A control circuit controls a switching element in a switching power supply unit. The control circuit includes: a controller connected to the switching element; a signal generating circuit connected to the input part of the controller; a reference voltage source connected to the signal generating circuit; and a comparator having a first input terminal to which an output voltage is input from the switching power supply unit, a second input terminal to which a comparison signal is input from the signal generating circuit, and an output terminal connected to the signal generating circuit and to the input part of the controller.

Claims

1. A control circuit that controls a switching element in a switching power supply unit, the control circuit comprising:

a controller connected to the switching element;

a signal generating circuit connected to an input part provided for the controller;

a reference voltage source connected to the signal generating circuit; and

a comparator having a first input terminal to which an output voltage is input from the switching power supply unit, a second input terminal to which a comparison signal is input from the signal generating circuit, and an output terminal connected to the signal generating circuit and to the input part provided for the controller;

wherein

the comparison signal is created according to an output signal from the comparator and to a reference voltage of the reference voltage source,

the comparison signal is raised when the output signal from the comparator is switched from a second level to a first level,

the comparison signal is lowered with a first inclination during a period in which the output signal from the comparator is at the first level,

the comparison signal is further lowered when the output signal from the comparator is switched from the first level to the second level, and

the comparison signal is raised with a second inclination during a period in which the output signal from the comparator is at the second level.

2. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein a time average value of the comparison signal is equal to the reference voltage.

3. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the reference voltage source includes an integrating circuit that integrates a difference between a comparison voltage and the output voltage from the switching power supply unit.

4. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the output voltage from the switching power supply unit is input to the first input terminal of the comparator through a constant-voltage source.

5. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the signal generating circuit includes a proportional element, an integrating element, a subtracter, a first capacitive element, and a first resistor.

6. The control circuit according to claim 5, wherein:

an input part provided for the proportional element is connected to the output terminal of the comparator;

an input part provided for the integrating element is connected to the output terminal of the comparator;

an output part provided for the proportional element is connected to a first input part provided for the subtracter;

an output part provided for the integrating element is connected to a second input part provided for the subtracter;

an output part provided for the subtracter is connected to one end of the first capacitive element;

another end of the first capacitive element is connected to one end of the first resistor and to the second input terminal of the comparator;

another end of the first resistor is connected to one end of the reference voltage source; and

another end of the reference voltage source is connected to common ground.

7. The control circuit according to claim 6, wherein:

the proportional element has a second resistor and a third resistor;

the second resistor is disposed between an output part provided for the comparator and the first input part provided for the subtracter; and

the third resistor is disposed between the common ground and the first input part provided for the subtracter.

8. The control circuit according to claim 6, wherein:

the integrating element has a fourth resistor and a second capacitive element;

the fourth resistor is disposed between the output part provided for the comparator and the second input part provided for the subtracter; and

the second capacitive element is disposed between the common ground and the second input part provided for the subtracter.

9. The control circuit according to claim 5, wherein the subtracter includes an operational amplifier, a capacitor, and a fifth resistor.

10. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein:

the controller switches the switching element a plurality of times during a period in which the output signal from the comparator is at the first level; and

the controller stops switching of the switching element during a period in which the output signal from the comparator is at the second level.

11. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the switching power supply unit is a resonant converter.

13. A switching power supply unit that has the control circuit according to claim 1.

14. The control circuit according to claim 2, wherein the reference voltage source includes an integrating circuit that integrates a difference between a comparison voltage and the output voltage from the switching power supply unit.

15. The control circuit according to claim 2, wherein the output voltage from the switching power supply unit is input to the first input terminal of the comparator through a constant-voltage source.

16. The control circuit according to claim 3, wherein the output voltage from the switching power supply unit is input to the first input terminal of the comparator through a constant-voltage source.

17. The control circuit according to claim 2, wherein:

the controller switches the switching element a plurality of times during a period in which the output signal from the comparator is at the first level; and

the controller stops switching of the switching element during a period in which the output signal from the comparator is at the second level.

18. The control circuit according to claim 3, wherein:

the controller switches the switching element a plurality of times during a period in which the output signal from the comparator is at the first level; and

the controller stops switching of the switching element during a period in which the output signal from the comparator is at the second level.

19. The control circuit according to claim 4, wherein:

the controller switches the switching element a plurality of times during a period in which the output signal from the comparator is at the first level; and

the controller stops switching of the switching element during a period in which the output signal from the comparator is at the second level.

12. A control circuit that controls a switching element in a switching power supply unit, the control circuit comprising:

a controller connected to the switching element;

a signal generating circuit; and

a comparator having a first input terminal to which an output voltage is input from the switching power supply unit, a second input terminal to which a comparison signal is input from the signal generating circuit, and an output terminal connected to an input part provided for the controller;

wherein

the signal generating circuit has a first input terminal to which a signal is input according to an output signal output from the output terminal of the comparator and also has a second input terminal to which a reference voltage is input from a reference voltage source,

the comparison signal is created according to a signal based on the output signal output from the output terminal of the comparator and to the reference voltage of the reference voltage source,

the comparison signal is raised when the signal based on the output signal output from the output terminal of the comparator is switched from a second level to a first level,

the comparison signal is lowered with a first inclination during a period in which the signal based on the output signal output from the output terminal of the comparator is at the first level,

the comparison signal is further lowered when the signal based on the output signal output from the output terminal of the comparator is switched from the first level to the second level, and

the comparison signal is raised with a second inclination during a period in which the signal based on the output signal output from the output terminal of the comparator is at the second level.

20. A switching power supply unit that has the control circuit according to claim 12.