Dynamic current-limit circuit
First Claim
1. A comparator circuit which is configured to provide a control current and a control voltage based on a first input voltage and a second input voltage, the comparator circuit comprisingan input amplifier configured to generate an output signal based on a delta voltage which corresponds to a difference between the first input voltage and the second input voltage;
- offset means configured to generate a first offset;
a first output circuit configured to generate the control current based on the output signal and based on the first offset; and
a second output circuit configured to generate the control voltage based on the output signal and not based on the first offset;
wherein the second output circuit is configured to generate the control voltage such that the control voltage exhibits a swing from a first potential to a second potential at a first delta voltage; and
wherein the first output circuit is configured to generate the control current such that the control current is substantially linear for delta voltages within a pre-determined interval around the first delta voltage.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A comparator circuit is described, which is configured to provide a control current and a control voltage based on a first input voltage and a second input voltage. The comparator circuit comprises an input amplifier configured to generate an output signal based on the first input voltage and the second input voltage, and offset means configured to generate a first offset. Furthermore, the comparator circuit comprises a first output circuit configured to generate the control current based on the output signal and based on the first offset. In addition, the comparator circuit comprises a second output circuit configured to generate the control voltage based on the output signal and not based on the first offset.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A comparator circuit which is configured to provide a control current and a control voltage based on a first input voltage and a second input voltage, the comparator circuit comprising
an input amplifier configured to generate an output signal based on a delta voltage which corresponds to a difference between the first input voltage and the second input voltage; -
offset means configured to generate a first offset; a first output circuit configured to generate the control current based on the output signal and based on the first offset; and a second output circuit configured to generate the control voltage based on the output signal and not based on the first offset;
wherein the second output circuit is configured to generate the control voltage such that the control voltage exhibits a swing from a first potential to a second potential at a first delta voltage; and
wherein the first output circuit is configured to generate the control current such that the control current is substantially linear for delta voltages within a pre-determined interval around the first delta voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A DC-DC power converter which is configured to provide an output current at an output voltage to a load at an output of the DC-DC power converter, wherein the DC-DC power converter comprises
a high side switch and a low side switch which are arranged in series between a supply voltage and ground; -
an inductor which is arranged to couple a midpoint between the high side switch and the low side switch to the output of the DC-DC power converter; a control circuit which is configured to switch on or off the high side switch based on an under-voltage signal and based on a current-limit signal; a feedback loop configured to provide a feedback voltage based on the output voltage; a current sense circuit which is configured to provide a sensed current that is indicative of a current through the inductor; a comparator circuit which is configured to provide a control current and a control voltage based on a first input voltage and a second input voltage, the comparator circuit comprising an input amplifier configured to generate an output signal based on a delta voltage which corresponds to a difference between the first input voltage and the second input voltage; offset means configured to generate a first offset; a first output circuit configured to generate the control current based on the output signal and based on the first offset; and a second output circuit configured to generate the control voltage based on the output signal and not based on the first offset;
wherein the second output circuit is configured to generate the control voltage such that the control voltage exhibits a swing from a first potential to a second potential at a first delta voltage; and
wherein the first output circuit is configured to generate the control current such that the control current is substantially linear for delta voltages within a pre-determined interval around the firstdelta voltage which is configured to provide the under-voltage signal and a reference current based on the feedback voltage and based on a reference voltage;
wherein the current-limit signal is dependent on the sensed current and on the reference current. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for providing a control current and a control voltage based on a first input voltage and a second input voltage, the method comprising
generating an output signal based on the first input voltage and the second input voltage; -
generating a first offset; generating the control current based on the output signal and based on the first offset; and generating the control voltage based on the output signal and not based on the first offset;
wherein the control voltage is generated such that the control voltage exhibits a swing from a first potential to a second potential at a first delta voltage; and
wherein the control current is generated such that the control current is substantially linear for delta voltages within a pre-determined interval around the first delta voltage. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification