# US 10,122,255 B2 · Devices, systems and processes for average current control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,255 B2 - Document ID: US10122255B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/888,343 - Filed: 2018-02-05 - Published: 2018-06-28 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-21 - Assignees: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC - Applicants: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC - Inventors: Pavel Horsky; Jean-Paul Eggermont; Jan Plojhar; Martin Musil; Paul Andrem Decloedt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122255B2 ## CPC - H05B 45/375: using buck topology - H02M 1/08: Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters - H02M 1/44: Circuits or arrangements for compensating for electromagnetic interference in converters or inverters - H02M 3/156: with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators - H02M 1/0009: {Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter} - H02M 1/0025: {Arrangements for modifying reference values, feedback values or error values in the control loop of a converter} - H02M 1/12: Arrangements for reducing harmonics from AC input or output - H05B 47/10: Controlling the light source - Y02B 20/30: Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED] - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract Various embodiments of apparatuses, systems and methods for regulating the currents provided by a DCDC buck converters to an LED unit are provided. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a device includes a time-off module configured to output a time-off signal when an output voltage of a power supply reaches a predetermined threshold; a timer module configured to determine a first duration, and after waiting a second duration, output a measured time signal; and a control module, coupled to each of the timer module and the time-off module, configured to output a set signal during a current cycle of the power supply, wherein the “on” slate for the current cycle occurs while the control module outputs the set signal and ends when the control module receives the measured time signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device, comprising: a time-off module configured to output a time-off signal when an output voltage of a power supply reaches a predetermined threshold; a timer module configured to determine a first duration, and after waiting a second duration, output a measured time signal: a control module, coupled to each of the timer module and the time-off module, configured to output a set signal during a current cycle of the power supply; wherein the power supply operates over two or more cycles, each cycle including an “on” state lasting for an “on” duration, and an “off” state lasting for an “off” duration; wherein the “on” state for the current cycle occurs while the control module outputs the set signal and ends when the control module receives the measured time signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the following conditions applies: the second duration is equal to the first duration; the current cycle “off” duration equals the predetermined threshold; and the predetermined threshold is inversely proportional to the output voltage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the time-off signal is output for the “off” duration of a current cycle; wherein the first duration is determined, from a time of receipt of the set signal until a time of receipt of a first signal by the timer module; wherein the control module stops outputting the set signal when substantially simultaneously receiving each of the measured time signal and the time-off signal; and wherein the control module, upon cessation of receipt of the time-off signal, begins a next cycle by outputting a second set signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the “off” state for the current cycle begins when the control module receives the measured time signal and lasts while the time-off signal is output by the time-off module for the current cycle “off” duration; and wherein the “on” state for the current cycle ends when the control module receives the measured time signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the power supply is a switched mode power supply; wherein the first signal is received from a current sensor configured to sense a first current; and wherein the first signal indicates when the first current reaches a target current. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, comprising: the control module being configured to: determine an amount of any adjustment to the current cycle “off” duration, and, if an adjustment is needed, output a time-oil adjustment signal; and the time-off module being configured to: adjust a second “off” duration by the amount of the received time-off adjustment signal; wherein the power supply operates during a second cycle occurring after the current cycle and including a second “on” state lasting a second “on” duration and a second “off” state lasting the second “off” duration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, comprising: the control module, being configured to receive a second signal indicating when the first current reaches a desired maximum current. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, comprising: the time-off module being configured to adjust the “off” duration of two or more cycles so that an output current of the power supply is maintained at a constant ripple current over the two or more cycles. ### Claim 9 A method for adjusting timing periods controlling the operating states of a buck converter module for a power supply, comprising: comparing a first voltage potential of a first capacitor to a second voltage potential of a second capacitor; and when the first voltage potential equals the second voltage potential: outputting a measured time signal; wherein the measured time signal indicates a duration of a first period during which a buck converter module is in an “on” state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, comprising: charging the first capacitor with a first current to the first voltage potential for a first period; charging the second capacitor with a second current to the second voltage potential for the first period and a second period; and wherein the operation of comparing the first voltage potential with the second voltage potential occurs during charging of the first capacitor and the second capacitor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, comprising: discharging the first capacitor and discharging the second capacitor; wherein the discharging of the first capacitor and the discharging of the second capacitor occur substantially simultaneously and upon receipt of a set signal; and wherein the set signal instructs closing of a first switch utilized in a buck converter module to control operating states of the buck converter module. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, comprising: converting, by a first current source, a source power into the first current; converting, by a second current source, the source power into the second current; providing the first current to a compare switch; closing a first discharge switch to discharge the first capacitor to a second voltage potential source; closing a second discharge switch to discharge the second capacitor to the second voltage potential source; opening the first discharge switch and closing the compare switch to provide the First current to charge the first capacitor to the first voltage potential; and opening the second discharge switch to provide the second current to charge the second capacitor to the second voltage potential. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the first discharge switch and the second discharge switch are opened and closed substantially simultaneously. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the first capacitor reaches the first voltage potential when a first current in the buck converter module reaches a first current threshold. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the first current threshold equals a target current set to a desired effective average current level for an output current of the buck convener module. ### Claim 16 A method for regulating a buck converter module, comprising: monitoring a switch current through a first switch of a buck converter module during a first period; when the switch current reaches a first threshold, determining a duration of a second period; and operating the first switch over an operating cycle including a first operating state and a second operating state; wherein the first operating state occurs during the first period and the second period. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the duration of the second period equals a ratio of a threshold voltage to one-half of a difference between an input voltage and an output voltage of the buck converter module. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the second operating state has, an “off” duration that begins after the second period and ends when an output current of the buck converter module equals a minimum current threshold; wherein the minimum current threshold equals a maximum current threshold minus a quotient of a threshold voltage divided by an inductance of a coil provided by the buck converter module. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the second operating state has an “off” duration set to maintain an output current of the buck converter module within a fixed ripple over two or more operating cycles. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the first period begins with closing of the first switch and ends when the switch current equals an average current through, the first switch during a given operating cycle.