Regulator with feedback voltage and current signal summing into controller
First Claim
1. A current control circuit configured to regulate a power source having an output connected to a load, the current control circuit comprising:
- a current sensing circuit configured to provide a current feedback signal as a function of a level of current flow from the output of the power source;
a current amplifier having a first input configured to receive the current feedback signal, a second input configured to receive a reference voltage, and an output configured to provide a current amplifier output signal as a function of the difference between the current feedback signal and the reference voltage;
a coupling circuit configured to receive the current amplifier output signal and to produce a coupling signal as a function of the current amplifier output signal to a voltage regulation error amplifier configured to receive the sum of the coupling signal and the feedback signal.
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Abstract
A current control circuit forces current sharing among paralleled power converters. Each power converter has an associated current control circuit, which includes a current amplifier and a coupling circuit. The current amplifier outputs a feedback signal to a voltage regulation error amplifier when the power converter output current falls below a predetermined threshold level. The error amplifier causes an increase in the power converter output voltage, forcing an increase in output current. Therefore, each power converter in a paralleled arrangement is regulated to provide a minimum level of output current, based on a predetermined threshold value.
44 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A current control circuit configured to regulate a power source having an output connected to a load, the current control circuit comprising:
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a current sensing circuit configured to provide a current feedback signal as a function of a level of current flow from the output of the power source;
a current amplifier having a first input configured to receive the current feedback signal, a second input configured to receive a reference voltage, and an output configured to provide a current amplifier output signal as a function of the difference between the current feedback signal and the reference voltage;
a coupling circuit configured to receive the current amplifier output signal and to produce a coupling signal as a function of the current amplifier output signal to a voltage regulation error amplifier configured to receive the sum of the coupling signal and the feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A current balancing circuit for paralleled power converters, where the outputs of the paralleled power converters are commonly connected to a load, comprising:
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a first current control circuit connected to a first paralleled power converter, the first current control circuit comprising;
a current sensing circuit configured to provide a current feedback signal as a function of a level of current flow from the output of the power converter;
a current amplifier having a first input configured to receive the current feedback signal, a second input configured to receive a reference voltage, and an output configured to provide a current amplifier output signal as a function of the difference between the current feedback signal and the reference voltage;
a coupling circuit configured to receive the current amplifier output signal and to produce a coupling signal as a function of the current amplifier output signal to a voltage regulation error amplifier configured to receive the sum of the coupling signal and the feedback signal; and
a second current control circuit connected to a second paralleled power converter comprising like elements cooperating in the same manner as in the first current control circuit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of controlling the output current of a voltage regulated power converter, comprising the steps of:
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a) sensing the output current of the voltage regulated power converter;
b) comparing the sensed output current to a predetermined minimum current threshold;
c) regulating the voltage regulated power converter to maintain an output current level above the predetermined minimum threshold, wherein the regulating step comprises summing a signal related to the sensed output current with a feedback signal related to the output voltage of the power converter.
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18. A voltage regulated power converter circuit comprising:
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a voltage regulated power converter;
a sensing circuit;
a comparing circuit; and
a regulating circuit;
wherein the voltage regulated power converter circuit is configured to compare the converter output current to a predetermined threshold level, and to maintain the output current above the predetermined threshold level, and wherein the regulating circuit is configured to receive the sum of a signal related to the converter output current and a feedback signal related to the converter output voltage.
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19. A method of sharing load current between paralleled voltage regulated power converters, comprising the steps of:
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a) independently sensing the output current of each paralleled voltage regulated power converter;
b) independently comparing each sensed output current to a predetermined minimum current threshold;
c) regulating each paralleled voltage regulated power converter independently to maintain an output current above the predetermined minimum threshold, wherein the regulating step for each paralleled voltage regulated power converter comprises summing a signal related to the sensed output current with a feedback signal related to the output voltage of the power converter.
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20. A system of multiple voltage regulated power converters providing current to a load, comprising:
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a plurality of voltage regulated power converters commonly connected in parallel to the load, each one of the plurality of voltage regulated power converters having an independent current control circuit;
whereineach independent current control circuit is configured to;
sense the output current of its respective voltage regulated power converter;
compare the sensed output current to a predetermined minimum threshold level; and
raise the output voltage of its respective voltage regulated power converter to maintain an output current above the predetermined minimum threshold, wherein raising, the output voltage comprises summing a signal related to the sensed output current with a feedback signal related to the output voltage of the power converter.
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Specification