Sensing current of a DC-DC converter
First Claim
1. A current sensor for a DC (‘
- Direct Current’
)-DC converter, the DC-DC converter comprising;
a directly coupled inductor comprising a plurality of coil elements; and
a plurality of power-switching phases, each power-switching phase coupled to a different one of the plurality of coil elements, each phase comprising;
a high-side switch and a low-side switch, wherein the high-side switch is configured, when activated, to couple a voltage source to one of the coil elements and the low-side switch is configured, when activated, to couple the coil element to a ground voltage, wherein each switch of the DC-DC converter is configured to be alternately activated and no two switches are activated at the same time;
the current sensor comprising;
a single current amplifier comprising a plurality of inputs and an output, wherein the output provides a current sensing signal;
a single RC network (Resistor-Capacitor network'"'"') coupled to one of the power-switching phases and a first input of the current amplifier, the RC network comprising a resistor in series with a capacitor; and
a resistive ladder comprising;
for each of the other power-switching phases, a resistor coupled in parallel to the resistor of the RC network and coupled to a second input of the current amplifier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A DC-DC converter includes a directly coupled inductor with coil elements and power-switching phases. Each phase includes a high-side and low-side switch, where the high-side switch couples a voltage source to a coil element and the low-side switch couples the coil element to a ground voltage. Each switch is configured to be alternately activated and no two switches are activated at the same time. A current sensor for the DC-DC converter includes a single current amplifier having inputs and an output. The output provides a current sensing signal. The current sensor also includes a single RC network coupled to one of the power-switching phases and a first input of the current amplifier. The current sensor also includes a resistive ladder. The ladder includes, for each of the other power-switching phases, a resistor coupled in parallel to the RC network resistor and to a second input of the current amplifier.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A current sensor for a DC (‘
- Direct Current’
)-DC converter, the DC-DC converter comprising;a directly coupled inductor comprising a plurality of coil elements; and a plurality of power-switching phases, each power-switching phase coupled to a different one of the plurality of coil elements, each phase comprising;
a high-side switch and a low-side switch, wherein the high-side switch is configured, when activated, to couple a voltage source to one of the coil elements and the low-side switch is configured, when activated, to couple the coil element to a ground voltage, wherein each switch of the DC-DC converter is configured to be alternately activated and no two switches are activated at the same time;the current sensor comprising; a single current amplifier comprising a plurality of inputs and an output, wherein the output provides a current sensing signal; a single RC network (Resistor-Capacitor network'"'"') coupled to one of the power-switching phases and a first input of the current amplifier, the RC network comprising a resistor in series with a capacitor; and a resistive ladder comprising;
for each of the other power-switching phases, a resistor coupled in parallel to the resistor of the RC network and coupled to a second input of the current amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- Direct Current’
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7. A method of sensing current of a DC (‘
- Direct Current’
)-DC converter, the DC-DC converter comprising;a directly coupled inductor comprising a plurality of coil elements; and a plurality of power-switching phases, each power-switching phase coupled to a different one of the plurality of coil elements, each phase comprising;
a high-side switch and a low-side switch, wherein the high-side switch is configured, when activated, to couple a voltage source to one of the coil elements and the low-side switch is configured, when activated, to couple the coil element to a ground voltage, wherein each switch of the DC-DC converter is configured to be alternately activated and no two switches are activated at the same time; andthe method comprises; measuring a current sensing signal provided by a current sensor, wherein the current sensor comprises; a single current amplifier comprising a plurality of inputs and an output, wherein the output provides the current sensing signal; a single RC network (‘
Resistor-Capacitor network’
) coupled to one of the power-switching phases and a first input of the current amplifier, the RC network comprising a resistor in series with a capacitor; anda resistive ladder comprising;
for each of the other power-switching phases, a resistor coupled in parallel to the resistor of the RC network and coupled to a second input of the current amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- Direct Current’
Specification