DC/DC converter with adaptive drive voltage supply

• US RE44,587 E1
• Filed: 12/06/2012
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intersil Americas LLC (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intersil Americas LLC (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Inventors: Qiu, Weihong, Dowlat, Ben, Abou-Hamze, Rami, Laur, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): STERRETT, JEFFREY L
• Application Number:
  US13/707,148
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 323/271, 323/282, 323/283, 323/285, 323/351
• US Class Current: 323/282
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1588 comprising at least one synchronous rectifier element H02M3/1582, H02M3/1584 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/0822 in field-effect transistor switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/6871 the output circuit comprising more than one controlled field-effect transistor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/1466 in non-galvanically isolated DC/DC converters

Abstract

A circuit comprises a first input for receiving a supply voltage and a second input for receiving a sensed current signal from an output of a DC to DC converter. The circuit also includes an output voltage for providing an adjustable drive voltage to a drive circuit. The circuit additionally includes circuitry for adjusting the drive voltage responsive to supply voltage and the sensed current signal.

Claims

1. A DC to DC converter circuit, comprising:

a power stage for generating a regulated DC output voltage responsive to drive signals;

a driver circuit for generating the drive signals for power transistors in the power stage responsive to an adjustable supply voltage and drive control signals;

a controller for generating the drive control signals to the driver circuit responsive to a sensed current signal at least the regulated DC output voltage;

a current sensor for generating the a sensed current signal responsive to a sensed current in the power stage;

an adaptive drive voltage supply responsive to a supply voltage, the sensed current signal and a switching frequency of the power transistors in the power stage for generating the adjustable supply voltage.

2. The DC to DC converter circuit of claim 1, wherein the current sensor senses a load current of the power stage.

3. The DC to DC converter circuit of claim 2, wherein the adaptive drive voltage supply varies the adjustable supply voltage responsive to the sensed load current to improve an efficiency of the DC to DC converter circuit over a wide range of load currents.

4. The DC to DC converter circuit of claim 1, wherein the adaptive drive voltage supply adjusts the adjustable supply voltage responsive to a digital control signal.

5. The DC to DC converter circuit of the claim 1, wherein the adaptive drive voltage supply comprises a linear voltage regulator responsive to the supply voltage and the sensed current signal to linearly adjust the adjustable supply voltage between a first voltage responsive to a first sensed current signal and a second voltage responsive to a second sensed current signal.

6. The DC to DC converter circuit of claim 1, wherein the adaptive drive voltage supply comprises a switching voltage regulator responsive to the supply voltage and the sensed current signal to adjust the adjustable supply voltage.

7. The DC to DC converter circuit of claim 1, wherein the adaptive drive voltage supply comprises a plurality of adaptive drive voltage supplies, each of the plurality of adaptive drive voltage supplies providing a different adjustable supply voltage for a portion of the power transistors of the power stage.

8. A DC to DC converter circuit, comprising:

a power stage for generating a regulated DC output voltage responsive to drive signals;

a driver circuit for generating the drive signals for power transistors in the power stage responsive to an adjustable supply voltage and drive control signals;

a controller for generating the drive control signals to the driver circuit responsive to a sensed current signal at least the regulated DC output voltage;

a current sensor for generating the a sensed current signal responsive to a sensed current in the power stage;

an adaptive drive voltage supply responsive to a supply voltage and the sensed current signal for generating the adjustable supply voltage, wherein the adaptive drive voltage supply comprises a plurality of adaptive drive voltage supplies, each of the plurality of adaptive drive voltage supplies providing a different adjustable supply voltage for a portion of the power transistors of the power stage.

9. The DC to DC converter circuit of claim 8, wherein the adaptive drive voltage supply adjusts the adjustable supply voltage responsive to a digital control signal.

10. The DC to DC converter circuit of claim 8, wherein the current sensor senses a load current of the power stage.

11. The DC to DC converter circuit of claim 10, wherein the adaptive drive voltage supply varies the adjustable supply voltage responsive to the sensed load current to improve an efficiency of the DC to DC converter circuit over a wide range of load currents.

12. The DC to DC converter circuit of claim 8, wherein the adaptive drive voltage supply is further responsive to a switching frequency of the power transistors in the power stage.

13. The DC to DC converter circuit of the claim 8, wherein the adaptive drive voltage supply comprises a linear voltage regulator responsive to the supply voltage and the sensed current signal to linearly adjust the adjustable supply voltage between a first voltage responsive to a first sensed current signal and a second voltage responsive to a second sensed current signal.

14. The DC to DC converter circuit of claim 8, wherein the adaptive drive voltage supply comprises a switching voltage regulator responsive to the supply voltage and the sensed current signal to adjust the adjustable supply voltage.

15. A DC to DC converter circuit, comprising:

a power stage for generating a regulated DC output voltage responsive to drive signals;

a driver circuit for generating the drive signals for power transistors in the power stage responsive to an adjustable supply voltage and drive control signals;

a controller for generating the drive control signals to the driver circuit responsive to a sensed current signal at least the regulated DC output voltage;

a current sensor for generating the a sensed current signal responsive to a sensed current in the power stage;

an adaptive drive voltage supply responsive to a supply voltage and the sensed current signal for generating the adjustable supply voltage, wherein the adaptive drive voltage supply adjusts the adjustable supply voltage responsive to a digital control signal.

16. The DC to DC converter circuit of claim 15, wherein the current sensor senses a load current of the power stage.

17. The DC to DC converter circuit of the claim 16, wherein the adaptive drive voltage supply comprises a linear voltage regulator responsive to the supply voltage and the sensed current signal to linearly adjust the adjustable supply voltage between a first voltage responsive to a first sensed current signal and a second voltage responsive to a second sensed current signal.

18. The DC to DC converter circuit of claim 16, wherein the adaptive drive voltage supply varies the adjustable supply voltage responsive to the sensed load current to improve an efficiency of the DC to DC converter circuit over a wide range of load currents.

19. The DC to DC converter circuit of claim 16, wherein the adaptive drive voltage supply is further responsive to a switching frequency of the power transistors in the power stage.