Efficiency improved voltage converter

• US 20050017701A1
• Filed: 07/06/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hsu, Chih-Yuan
• Granted Patent: US 7,064,533 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 323/282
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/575 characterised by the feedback circuit

Abstract

A voltage converter improves the efficiency thereof by connecting a boost converter and an LDO regulator with a buck converter in parallel. The boost converter boosts up a supply voltage to generate a first output voltage at a first output, and the buck converter bucks down the supply voltage to generate a second output voltage at a second output. When the second output voltage is lower than a threshold, the LDO regulator converts the first output voltage to a third voltage at said second output.

Claims

1. An efficiency improved voltage converter comprising:

a boost converter connected between a supply voltage and a first output for boosting up said supply voltage to generate a first output voltage at said first output;

a buck converter connected between said supply voltage and a second output for bucking down said supply voltage to generate a second output voltage at said second output; and

an LDO voltage regulator connected between said first output and said second output for converting said first output voltage to a third output voltage at said second output when said second output voltage is lower than a threshold.

2. The voltage converter according to claim 1, further comprising a shutdown circuit connected to said buck converter for turning off said buck converter to prevent reverse current flowing therethrough.

3. The voltage converter according to claim 2, wherein said shutdown circuit comprises a comparator for comparing a first voltage related to said supply voltage with a second voltage related to said second output voltage to thereby generate a shutdown signal to turn off said buck converter.