DC-DC converter with a constant on-time pulse width modulation controller

• US 8,395,367 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2009
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: uPI Semiconductor Corporation
• Original Assignee: uPI Semiconductor Corporation
• Inventors: Huang, Yung-Peng, Chien, Min-Chu
• Primary Examiner(s): Dole, Timothy J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grubb, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US12/536,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20110031948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 323/282, 323/284, 323/285, 323/288
• US Class Current: 323/288
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/156 with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1588 comprising at least one synchronous rectifier element H02M3/1582, H02M3/1584 take 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 DC-DC converter including a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controller for converting an input voltage into an output voltage is provided. The PWM controller includes an error amplifier, a comparator, a PWM generator and a ramp generator. The error amplifier generates an error signal according to a difference between a reference voltage and the output voltage. The comparator compares the error signal with a ramp signal to generate a trigger signal. The PWM generator generates a PWM signal with a fixed turn-on time, wherein a frequency of the PWM signal is adjusted according to the trigger signal, the input and output voltages. The ramp generator generates the ramp signal according to the PWM signal, the input voltage and the output voltage.

Claims

1. A DC-DC converter for converting an input voltage into an output voltage, comprising:

an input node, receiving the input voltage;

an output node, providing the output voltage to a load;

an inductor coupled between the output node and a first node;

a first transistor coupled between the input node and the first node;

a second transistor coupled between the first node and a ground;

a control unit coupled to the first transistor and the second transistor, driving the first transistor and the second transistor; and

a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controller, comprising;

an error amplifier, receiving a reference voltage and the output voltage to generate an error signal according to a difference between the reference voltage and the output voltage;

a first comparator, comparing the error signal with a ramp signal to generate a trigger signal;

a PWM generator coupled between the first comparator and the control unit, generating a PWM signal with a fixed turn-on time, wherein a frequency of the PWM signal is adjusted according to the trigger signal, the input voltage and the output voltage; and

a ramp generator, generating the ramp signal according to the PWM signal, the input voltage and the output voltage,

wherein the PWM controller provides the PWM signal to control the first transistor and the second transistor, so as to convert the input voltage into the output voltage,

wherein the PWM generator comprises;

a current generating unit, providing a first current corresponding to the input voltage when the trigger signal is triggered and providing a second current in response to the first current;

a capacitor coupled between the current generating unit and the ground, wherein the capacitor is charged by the second current when the trigger signal is triggered; and

a second comparator, comparing a voltage of the capacitor with a voltage corresponding to the output voltage to generate the PWM signal.

2. The DC-DC converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first transistor is turned on and the second transistor is turned off by the control unit when an active state of the PWM signal is asserted, and the first transistor is turned off and the second transistor is turned on by the control unit when an inactive state of the PWM signal is asserted.

3. The DC-DC converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the PWM controller further comprises a compensation unit for compensating the error signal.

4. The DC-DC converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the PWM generator further comprises:

a first amplifier having an inverting input terminal coupled to a second node, a non-inverting input terminal for receiving a first voltage corresponding to the input voltage, and an output terminal;

a resistor coupled between the second node and the ground;

a third transistor coupled between the second node and the current generating unit, having a gate coupled to the output terminal of the first amplifier, wherein the first current from the current generating unit flows to the resistor through the third transistor when the trigger signal is triggered, and the first current corresponds to the first voltage.

5. The DC-DC converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ramp generator comprises:

a third node for providing the ramp signal;

a second amplifier having a non-inverting input terminal for receiving a third voltage corresponding to a difference between the input voltage and the output voltage, an inverting input terminal, and an output terminal coupled to the inverting input terminal;

a first switch coupled between the output terminal of the second amplifier and the third node, wherein the first switch is controlled by the PWM signal;

a second capacitor coupled between the third node and the ground;

a third current source coupled to the ground; and

a second switch coupled between the third current source and the third node, wherein the second switch is controlled by the PWM signal.

6. The DC-DC converter as claimed in claim 5, wherein the PWM signal controls the first switch to turn on and controls the second switch to turn off when an active state of the PWM signal is asserted, such that a voltage level of the ramp signal is equal to that of the third voltage.

7. The DC-DC converter as claimed in claim 5, wherein the PWM signal controls the first switch to turn off and controls the second switch to turn on when an inactive state of the PWM signal is asserted, such that the third current source sinks a third current corresponding to the input voltage from the third node to the ground to decrease a voltage level of the ramp signal.

8. A DC-DC converter for converting an input voltage into an output voltage, comprising:

an input node, receiving the input voltage;

an output node, providing the output voltage to a load;

an inductor coupled between the output node and a first node;

a first transistor coupled between the input node and the first node;

a second transistor coupled between the first node and a ground; and

a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controller, comprising;

an error amplifier, receiving a reference voltage and the output voltage to generate an error signal according to a difference between the reference voltage and the output voltage;

a sense unit, generating a sense current corresponding to a loading of the load;

a compensation unit, generating a compensation signal according to the error signal and the sense current;

a first comparator, comparing the compensation signal with a ramp signal to generate a trigger signal;

a PWM generator, generating a PWM signal with a fixed turn-on time, wherein a frequency of the PWM signal is adjusted according to the trigger signal, the input voltage and the output voltage; and

a ramp generator, generating the ramp signal according to the PWM signal,

wherein the PWM controller provides the PWM signal to control the first transistor and the second transistor, so as to convert the input voltage into the output voltage.

9. The DC-DC converter as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

a control unit for controlling the first transistor and the second transistor according to the PWM signal,

wherein the first transistor is turned on and the second transistor is turned off by the control unit when an active state of the PWM signal is asserted, and the first transistor is turned off and the second transistor is turned on by the control unit when an inactive state of the PWM signal is asserted.

10. The DC-DC converter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the PWM generator comprises:

a first amplifier having an inverting input terminal coupled to a second node, a non-inverting input terminal for receiving a first voltage corresponding to the input voltage, and an output terminal;

a resistor coupled between the second node and the ground;

a first current source, providing a first current when the trigger signal is triggered;

a third transistor coupled between the second node and the first current source, having a gate coupled to the output terminal of the first amplifier, wherein the first current from the first current source flows to the resistor through the third transistor when the trigger signal is triggered, and the first current corresponds to the first voltage;

a second current source, providing a second current according to the first current;

a first capacitor coupled between the second current source and the ground, wherein the first capacitor is charged by the second current when the trigger signal is triggered; and

a second comparator, comparing a voltage of the first capacitor with a second voltage corresponding to the output voltage to generate the PWM signal.

11. The DC-DC converter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the ramp generator comprises:

a third node for providing the ramp signal;

a second amplifier having a non-inverting input terminal for receiving a third voltage corresponding to a difference between the input voltage and the output voltage, an inverting input terminal, and an output terminal coupled to the inverting input terminal;

a first switch coupled between the output terminal of the second amplifier and the third node, wherein the first switch is controlled by the PWM signal;

a second capacitor coupled between the third node and the ground;

a third current source coupled to the ground; and

a second switch coupled between the third current source and the third node, wherein the second switch is controlled by the PWM signal.

12. The DC-DC converter as claimed in claim 11, wherein the PWM signal controls the first switch to turn on and controls the second switch to turn off when an active state of the PWM signal is asserted, such that a voltage level of the ramp signal is equal to that of the third voltage.

13. The DC-DC converter a claimed in claim 11, wherein the PWM signal controls the first switch to turn off and controls the second switch to turn on when an inactive state of the PWM signal is asserted, such that the third current source sinks a third current corresponding to the input voltage from the third node to the ground to decrease a voltage level of the ramp signal.

14. The DC-DC converter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the compensation unit comprises:

a resistor coupled between the error amplifier and the first comparator, wherein a voltage across the resistor corresponds to the sense current, and the compensation signal is generated according to the error signal and the voltage across the resistor.

15. The DC-DC converter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the PWM generator comprises:

a current generating unit, providing a first current corresponding to the input voltage when the trigger signal is triggered and providing a second current in response to the first current;

a capacitor coupled between the current generating unit and the ground, wherein the capacitor is charged by the second current when the trigger signal is triggered; and

a second comparator, comparing a voltage of the capacitor with a voltage corresponding to the output voltage to generate the PWM signal.

16. A DC-DC converter for converting an input voltage into an output voltage, comprising:

an input node, receiving the input voltage;

an output node, providing the output voltage to a load;

an inductor coupled between the output node and a first node;

a first transistor coupled between the input node and the first node;

a second transistor coupled between the first node and a ground; and

a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controller, comprising;

an error amplifier, receiving a reference voltage and the output voltage to generate an error signal according to a difference between the reference voltage and the output voltage;

a sense unit, generating a sense current corresponding to a loading of the load;

a compensation unit, generating a compensation signal according to the sense current and a ramp signal, and comprising a first resistor and a first capacitor connected in series for compensating the error signal;

a first comparator, comparing the compensation signal with the error signal to generate a trigger signal;

a PWM generator, generating a PWM signal with a fixed turn-on time, wherein a frequency of the PWM signal is adjusted according to the trigger signal, the input voltage and the output voltage; and

a ramp generator, generating the ramp signal according to the PWM signal, the input voltage and the output voltage,

wherein the PWM controller provides the PWM signal to control the first transistor and the second transistor, so as to convert the input voltage into the output voltage,

wherein the PWM generator comprises;

a current generating unit, providing a first current corresponding to the input voltage when the trigger signal is triggered and providing a second current in response to the first current;

a second capacitor coupled between the current generating unit and the ground, wherein the second capacitor is charged by the second current when the trigger signal is triggered; and

a second comparator, comparing a voltage of the second capacitor with a voltage corresponding to the output voltage to generate the PWM signal.

17. The DC-DC converter as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

a control unit for controlling the first transistor and the second transistor according to the PWM signal,

wherein the first transistor is turned on and the second transistor is turned off by the control unit when an active state of the PWM signal is asserted, and the first transistor is turned off and the second transistor is turned on by the control unit when an inactive state of the PWM signal is asserted.

18. The DC-DC converter as claimed in claim 16, wherein the PWM generator further comprises:

a first amplifier having an inverting input terminal coupled to a second node, a non-inverting input terminal for receiving a first voltage corresponding to the input voltage, and an output terminal;

a second resistor coupled between the second node and the ground;

a third transistor coupled between the second node and the current generating unit, having a gate coupled to the output terminal of the first amplifier, wherein the first current from the current generating unit flows to the second resistor through the third transistor when the trigger signal is triggered, and the first current corresponds to the first voltage.

19. The DC-DC converter as claimed in claim 16, wherein the ramp generator comprises:

a third node for providing the ramp signal;

a second amplifier having a non-inverting input terminal for receiving a third voltage corresponding to a difference between the input voltage and the output voltage, an inverting input terminal, and an output terminal coupled to the inverting input terminal;

a first switch coupled between the output terminal of the second amplifier and the third node, wherein the first switch is controlled by the PWM signal;

a second capacitor coupled between the third node and the ground;

a third current source coupled to the ground; and

a second switch coupled between the third current source and the third node, wherein the second switch is controlled by the PWM signal.

20. The DC-DC converter as claimed in claim 19, wherein the PWM signal controls the first switch to turn on and controls the second switch to turn off when an active state of the PWM signal is asserted, such that a voltage level of the ramp signal is equal to that of the third voltage.

21. The DC-DC converter as claimed in claim 19, wherein the PWM signal controls the first switch to turn off and controls the second switch to turn on when an inactive state of the PWM signal is asserted, such that the third current source sinks a third current corresponding to the input voltage from the third node to the ground to decrease a voltage level of the ramp signal.

22. The DC-DC converter as claimed in claim 16, wherein the compensation unit further comprises:

a second resistor coupled between the sense unit and the ramp generator, wherein a voltage across the second resistor corresponds to the sense current, and the compensation signal is generated according to the sense current, the ramp signal and the voltage across the second resistor.