# US 10,122,258 B2 · DC-DC converter with pull-up or pull-down current and associated control method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,258 B2 - Document ID: US10122258B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/826,715 - Filed: 2017-11-30 - Published: 2018-03-22 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-29 - Assignees: Mediatek Inc. - Applicants: Mediatek Inc. - Inventors: Shih-Mei Lin; Chien-Wei Kuan; Chien-Lung Lee; Che-Hao Meng - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122258B2 ## CPC - H02M 1/143: {using compensating arrangements (for reducing noise from the supply in transmission systems H04B15/005)} - H02M 1/08: Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters - H02M 3/158: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load - G05F 1/618: using semiconductor devices in series and in parallel with the load as final control devices (G05F1/461 takes precedence) - H02M 1/0009: {Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter} - H02M 1/0045: {Converters combining the concepts of switch-mode regulation and linear regulation, e.g. linear pre-regulator to switching converter, linear and switching converter in parallel, same converter or same transistor operating either in linear or switching mode} - H02M 3/1566: {with means for compensating against rapid load changes, e.g. with auxiliary current source, with dual mode control or with inductance variation} - 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) - G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES ## Abstract A DC-DC converter includes an inductor, a switch module, and a pull-up circuit or a pull-down circuit. The inductor has a first node and a second node, and the second node is coupled to an output node of the DC-DC converter. The switch module is arranged for selectively connecting an input voltage or a ground voltage to the first node of the inductor according to a driving signal. The pull-up circuit is arranged for selectively providing a first current to the output node of the DC-DC converter. The pull-down circuit is arranged for selectively sinking a second current from the output node of the DC-DC converter. In addition, the first current or the second current is determined based on an inductor current flowing through the inductor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A DC-DC converter for converting an input voltage to an output voltage at an output node, comprising: an inductor having a first node and a second node, with an inductor current flowing through the inductor; a switch module, for selectively connecting the input voltage or a ground voltage to the first node of the inductor according to a driving signal; a pull-up circuit, coupled to the output node of the DC-DC converter, for providing a current to the output node of the DC-DC converter, wherein the current is a multiple of the inductor current; wherein when the switch module couples the input voltage to the first node of the inductor, the pull-up circuit is enabled to provide the current to the output node of the DC-DC converter according to the inductor current and when the switch module couples the ground voltage to the first node of the inductor, the pull-up circuit is disabled. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The DC-DC converter of claim 1, wherein the current does not flow through the inductor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The DC-DC converter of claim 1, wherein the current is a function of the inductor current. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The DC-DC converter of claim 1, further comprising: a current detector, for detecting the inductor current to generate a detecting result; and a control circuit, for generating a control signal to selectively provide the current to the output node of the DC-DC converter according to the detecting result. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The DC-DC converter of claim 1, wherein the pull-up circuit comprises: a transistor comprising a gate electrode, a first electrode and a second electrode, where the first electrode is coupled to a supply voltage, and the second electrode is coupled to the output node of the DC-DC converter; and an operational amplifier, wherein a first input terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the first electrode of the transistor, a second input terminal of the operational amplifier receives a reference signal, and an output terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the gate electrode of the transistor, and the reference signal is generated based on the inductor current. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The DC-DC converter of claim 5, further comprising: a current detector, for detecting the inductor current to generate a detecting result; and a control circuit, for generating the reference signal according to the detecting result. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The DC-DC converter of claim 6, wherein when the inductor current increases, the control circuit generates the lower reference signal to the second input terminal of the operational amplifier. ### Claim 8 A DC-DC converter for converting an input voltage to an output voltage at an output node, comprising: an inductor having a first node and a second node, with an inductor current flowing through the inductor; a switch module, for selectively connecting the input voltage or a ground voltage to the first node of the inductor according to a driving signal; a pull-down circuit, coupled to the output node of the DC-DC converter, for sinking a current from the output node of the DC-DC converter; wherein the current is a multiple of the inductor current. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The DC-DC converter of claim 8, wherein the current do not flow through the inductor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The DC-DC converter of claim 8, wherein the current is a function of the inductor current. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The DC-DC converter of claim 8, wherein when the switch module couples the input voltage to the first node of the inductor, the pull-down circuit is disabled; and when the switch module couples the ground voltage to the first node of the inductor, the pull-down circuit sinks the current from the output node of the DC-DC converter according to the inductor current. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The DC-DC converter of claim 8, further comprising: a current detector, for detecting the inductor current to generate a detecting result; and a control circuit, for generating a control signal to selectively sink the current from the output node of the DC-DC converter according to the detecting result. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The DC-DC converter of claim 8, wherein the pull-down circuit comprises: a transistor comprising a gate electrode, a first electrode and a second electrode, where the first electrode is coupled to a ground voltage, and the second electrode is coupled to the output node of the DC-DC converter; and an operational amplifier, wherein a first input terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the first electrode of the transistor, a second input terminal of the operational amplifier receives a reference signal, and an output terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the gate electrode of the transistor, and the reference signal is generated based on the inductor current. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The DC-DC converter of claim 13, further comprising: a current detector, for detecting the inductor current to generate a detecting result; and a control circuit, for generating the reference signal according to the detecting result. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The DC-DC converter of claim 14, wherein when the switch module connects the ground voltage to the first node of the inductor, the greater the inductor current, the control circuit generates the greater reference signal to the second input terminal of the operational amplifier. ### Claim 16 A DC-DC converter for converting an input voltage to an output voltage at an output node, comprising: an inductor having a first node and a second node, with an inductor current flowing through the inductor; a switch module, for selectively connecting the input voltage or a ground voltage to the first node of the inductor according to a driving signal; a pull-up circuit, coupled to the output node of the DC-DC converter, for providing a current to the output node of the DC-DC converter, wherein the current is a multiple of the inductor current; and the pull-up circuit comprises: a transistor comprising a gate electrode, a first electrode and a second electrode, where the first electrode is coupled to a supply voltage, and the second electrode is coupled to the output node of the DC-DC converter; and an operational amplifier, wherein a first input terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the first electrode of the transistor, a second input terminal of the operational amplifier receives a reference signal, and an output terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the gate electrode of the transistor, and the reference signal is generated based on the inductor current. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The DC-DC converter of claim 16, further comprising: a current detector, for detecting the inductor current to generate a detecting result; and a control circuit, for generating the reference signal according to the detecting result. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The DC-DC converter of claim 17, wherein when the inductor current increases, the control circuit generates the lower reference signal to the second input terminal of the operational amplifier.