Current sampling circuit applied to a multi-mode circuit and associated control method

• US 10,651,738 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2018
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Company Limited (Monolithic Power Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Company Limited (Monolithic Power Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gong, Junyong, Zhang, Jian
• Primary Examiner(s): Finch, III, Fred E
• Assistant Examiner(s): De Leon Domenech, Rafael O.
• Application Number:
  US16/208,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20190173370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0092 measuring current only all subgroups of G01R19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0009 Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0048 Circuits or arrangements for reducing losses using snubbers H02M1/34
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1582 Buck-boost converters H02M3/1584 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

A multi-mode circuit has a first switch, a second switch, a third switch and a fourth switch. A current sampling circuit applied to the buck-boost has a first sampling circuit, a second sampling circuit and a current processing circuit. The first sampling circuit generates a first sampling current by sampling the current flowing through the first switch, the second sampling circuit generates a second sampling current by sampling the current flowing through the second switch, and the current processing circuit generates a third sampling current based on the first sampling current and the second sampling current. An average value of the third sampling current of one cycle represents the output current of the multi-mode circuit.

Claims

1. A power switching circuit, comprising:

a multi-mode circuit, comprising a first switch, a second switch, a third switch and a fourth switch, wherein the multi-mode circuit is configured to work in buck mode, boost mode or buck-boost mode;

a current sampling circuit, coupled to the first switch and the fourth switch, and configured to provide a first sampling current representing a current flowing through the first switch and to provide a second sampling current representing a current flowing through the fourth switch; and

a current processing circuit, configured to generate a third sampling current based on the first sampling current and the second sampling current, wherein the third sampling current equals to the second sampling current during an entire period when the multi-mode circuit works in buck mode, the third sampling current equals to the first sampling current during a period when the fourth switch is on and equals to zero otherwise when the multi-mode circuit works in boost mode, the third sampling current equals to zero during a first period, equals to the first sampling current during a second period, and equals to the second sampling current during a third period and a fourth period when the multi-mode circuit works in buck-boost mode;

wherein

one cycle of the buck-boost mode comprises four periods;

the first period, the second period, the third period and the fourth period.

2. The power switching circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

when the multi-mode circuit works in buck mode, the third switch is off, the fourth switch is on, and the first switch and the second switch are turned on and off alternately;

when the multi-mode circuit works in boost mode, the first switch is on, the second switch is off, the third switch and the fourth switch are turned on and off alternately; and

when the multi-mode circuit works in buck-boost mode, during the first period, the first switch and the third switch are on, the second switch and the fourth switch are off, during the second period, the first switch and the fourth switch are on, the second switch and the third switch are off, during the third period, the second switch and the fourth switch are on, the first switch and the third switch are off, and during the fourth period, the first switch and the fourth switch are on, the second switch and the third switch are off.

3. The power switching circuit of claim 1, wherein the current sampling circuit comprises:

a first sampling circuit, configured to sample the current flowing through the first switch; and

a second sampling circuit, configured to sample the current flowing through the fourth switch.

4. The power switching circuit of claim 3, wherein the first sampling circuit comprises:

a first transistor, configured to mirror the current flowing through the first switch, and a gate terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a gate terminal of the first switch to receive a first gate driving signal;

a first sampling resistance, coupled between the first switch and the first transistor; and

a first amplifying circuit, configured to amplify a voltage across the first sampling resistance and to generate the first sampling current.

5. The power switching circuit of claim 3, wherein the second sampling circuit comprises:

a second transistor, configured to mirror the current flowing through the fourth switch, and a gate terminal of the second transistor is coupled to a gate terminal of the fourth switch to receive a fourth gate driving signal;

a second sampling resistance, coupled between the fourth switch and the second transistor; and

a second amplifying circuit, configured to amplify the voltage across the second sampling resistance and to generate the second sampling current.

6. The power switching circuit of claim 1, wherein the current processing circuit comprises:

a working mode signal generating circuit, configured to generate a buck mode signal, a boost mode signal and a buck-boost mode signal based on an input voltage and an output voltage of the multi-mode circuit; and

an enable signal generating circuit, configured to generate a first enable signal and a second enable signal based on a second gate driving signal coupled to a terminal of the second switch and a third gate driving signal coupled to a terminal of the third switch.

7. The power switching circuit of claim 6, wherein the current processing circuit comprises:

a third transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, wherein the second terminal of the third transistor is configured to receive the first sampling current, and the third terminal of the third transistor is configured to receive the boost mode signal;

a fourth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, wherein the second of the fourth transistor is coupled to the first terminal of the third transistor, and the third terminal of the fourth transistor is configured to receive the fourth gate driving signal;

a fifth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, wherein the second terminal of the fifth transistor is coupled to the second terminal of the third transistor to receive the first sampling current, and the third terminal of the fifth transistor is configured to receive the buck-boost mode signal;

a sixth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, wherein the second terminal of the sixth transistor is coupled to the first terminal of the fifth transistor, and the third terminal of the sixth transistor is configured to receive the first enable signal;

a seventh transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, wherein the second terminal of the seventh transistor is configured to receive the second sampling current, and the third terminal of the seventh transistor is configured to receive the buck mode signal;

an eighth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, wherein the second terminal of the eighth transistor is coupled to the second terminal of the seventh transistor to receive the second sampling current, and the third terminal of the eighth transistor is configured to receive the buck-boost mode signal; and

a ninth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, wherein the drain of the ninth transistor is coupled to the second terminal of the eighth transistor, and the third terminal of the ninth transistor is configured to receive the second enable signal;

wherein

the first terminal of the fourth transistor, the first terminal of the sixth transistor, the first terminal of the seventh transistor and the first terminal of the ninth transistor are coupled to a common point to provide the third sampling current.

8. The power switching circuit of claim 6, wherein the working mode signal generating circuit comprises:

a first comparison circuit, configured to generate the buck mode signal based on a compare result of the input voltage and a first voltage signal, wherein the first voltage signal is configured to be greater than the output voltage;

a second comparison circuit, configured to generate the boost mode according to a compare result of the output voltage and a second voltage signal, wherein the second voltage signal is configured to be greater than the input voltage; and

an logic circuit, configured to generate the buck-boost mode based on the buck mode signal and the boost mode signal.

9. The power switching circuit of claim 6, wherein the enable signal generating circuit comprises:

a first RS trigger, having a set terminal, a reset terminal and an output terminal, wherein the set terminal is configured to receive a falling edge of the third gate driving signal, the reset terminal is configured to receive a rising edge of the second gate driving signal; and

a second RS trigger, having a set terminal, a reset terminal and an output terminal, wherein the set terminal of the second RS trigger is configured to receive the rising edge of the second gate driving signal, and the reset terminal of the second RS trigger is configured to receive a rising edge of the third gate driving signal.

10. The power switching circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a capacitor, coupled to the current processing circuit to receive the third sampling current; and

an output resistance, coupled in parallel with the capacitor;

wherein

the capacitor and the output resistance are configured to provide an average value of the third sampling current of one cycle.

11. A current sampling circuit applied to a multi-mode circuit, wherein the multi-mode circuit comprises a first switch, a second switch, a third switch and a fourth switch, the multi-mode circuit is configured to work in buck mode, boost mode or buck-boost mode, the current sampling circuit comprising:

a first sampling circuit, configured to provide a first sampling current representing the current flowing through the first switch;

a second sampling circuit, configured to provide a second sampling current representing the current flowing through the fourth switch; and

a current processing circuit, configured to generate a third sampling current based on the first sampling current and the second sampling current, wherein the third sampling current equals to the second sampling current during an entire period when the multi-mode circuit works in buck mode, the third sampling current equals to the first sampling current during a period when the fourth switch is on and equals to zero otherwise when the multi-mode circuit works in boost mode, the third sampling current equals to zero during a first period, equals to the first sampling current during a second period, and equals to the second sampling current during a third period and a fourth period when the multi-mode circuit works in buck-boost mode;

wherein

one cycle of the buck-boost mode comprises four periods;

the first period, the second period, the third period and the fourth period.

12. The current sampling circuit of claim 11, wherein:

when the multi-mode circuit is in buck mode, the third switch is off, the fourth switch is on, the first switch and the second switch are turned on and off alternately;

when the multi-mode circuit is in boost mode, the first switch is on, the second switch is off, the third switch and the fourth switch are turned on and off alternately; and

when the multi-mode circuit works in buck-boost mode, during the first period, the first switch and the third switch are on, the second switch and the fourth switch are off, during the second period, the first switch and the fourth switch are on, the second switch and the third switch are off, during the third period, the second switch and the fourth switch are on, the first switch and the third switch are off, and during the fourth period, the first switch and the fourth switch are on, the second switch and the third switch are off.

13. The current sampling circuit of claim 11, wherein the first sampling circuit comprises:

a first transistor, configured to mirror the current flowing through the first switch, and a gate terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a gate terminal of the first switch to receive a first gate driving signal;

a first sampling resistance, coupled between the first switch and the first transistor; and

a first amplifying circuit, configured to amplify a voltage across the first sampling resistance and to generate the first sampling current.

14. The current sampling circuit of claim 11, wherein the second sampling circuit comprises:

a second transistor, configured to mirror the current flowing through the fourth switch, and a gate terminal of the second transistor is coupled to a gate terminal of the fourth switch to receive a fourth gate driving signal;

a second sampling resistance, coupled between the fourth switch and the second transistor; and

a second amplifying circuit, configured to amplify the voltage across the second sampling resistance and to generate the second sampling current.

15. The current sampling circuit of claim 11, wherein the current processing circuit comprises:

a working mode signal generating circuit, configured to generate a buck mode signal, a boost mode signal and a buck-boost mode signal based on an input voltage and an output voltage of the multi-mode circuit; and

an enable signal generating circuit, configured to generate a first enable signal and a second enable signal based on a second gate driving signal coupled to a terminal of the second switch and a third gate driving signal coupled to a terminal of the third switch.

16. The current sampling circuit of claim 15, wherein the current processing circuit comprises:

a third transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, wherein the second terminal of the third transistor is configured to receive the first sampling current, and the third terminal of the third transistor is configured to receive the boost mode signal;

a fourth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, wherein the second of the fourth transistor is coupled to the first terminal of the third transistor, and the third terminal of the fourth transistor is configured to receive the fourth gate driving signal;

a fifth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, wherein the second terminal of the fifth transistor is coupled to the second terminal of the third transistor to receive the first sampling current, and the third terminal of the fifth transistor is configured to receive the buck-boost mode signal;

a sixth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, wherein the second terminal of the sixth transistor is coupled to the first terminal of the fifth transistor, and the third terminal of the sixth transistor is configured to receive the first enable signal;

a seventh transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, wherein the second terminal of the seventh transistor is configured to receive the second sampling current, and the third terminal of the seventh transistor is configured to receive the buck mode signal;

an eighth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, wherein the second terminal of the eighth transistor is coupled to the second terminal of the seventh transistor to receive the second sampling current, and the third terminal of the eighth transistor is configured to receive the buck-boost mode signal; and

a ninth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, wherein the drain of the ninth transistor is coupled to the second terminal of the eighth transistor, and the third terminal of the ninth transistor is configured to receive the second enable signal;

wherein

the first terminal of the fourth transistor, the first terminal of the sixth transistor, the first terminal of the seventh transistor and the first terminal of the ninth transistor are coupled to a common point to provide the third sampling current.

17. A control method for a current sampling circuit applied to a multi-mode circuit, wherein the multi-mode circuit comprises a first switch, a second switch, a third switch and a fourth switch, the multi-mode circuit is configured to work in buck mode, boost mode or buck-boost mode, the control method comprising:

generating a first sampling current representing a current flowing through the first switch;

generating a second sampling current representing a current flowing through the fourth switch; and

generating a third sampling current based on the first sampling current and the second sampling current;

wherein

the third sampling current equals to the second sampling current during an entire period when the multi-mode circuit works in buck mode, the third sampling current equals to the first sampling current during a period when the fourth switch is on and equals to zero otherwise when the multi-mode circuit works in boost mode, the third sampling current equals to zero during a first period, equals to the first sampling current during a second period, and equals to the second sampling current during a third period and a fourth period when the multi-mode circuit works in buck-boost mode, wherein one cycle of the buck-boost mode comprises four periods;

the first period, the second period, the third period and the fourth period.

18. The control method for a current sampling circuit of claim 17, wherein:

when the multi-mode circuit works in buck mode, the third switch is off, the fourth switch is on, and the first switch and the second switch are turned on and off alternately;

when the multi-mode circuit works in boost mode, the first switch is on, the second switch is off, the third switch and the fourth switch are turned on and off alternately; and

when the multi-mode circuit works in buck-boost mode, during the first period, the first switch and the third switch are on, the second switch and the fourth switch are off, during the second period, the first switch and the fourth switch are on, the second switch and the third switch are off, during the third period, the second switch and the fourth switch are on, the first switch and the third switch are off, and during the fourth period, the first switch and the fourth switch are on, the second switch and the third switch are off.

19. The control method for a current sampling circuit of claim 17, further comprising:

generating a buck mode signal, a boost mode signal and a buck-boost mode signal based on an input voltage and an output voltage of the multi-mode circuit; and

generating a first enable signal and a second enable signal based on whether the second switch and the third switch are on or off.

20. The control method for a current sampling circuit of claim 19, further comprising:

generating the third sampling current further based on the buck mode signal, the boost mode signal, the buck-boost mode signal, the first enable signal and the second enable signal.