Power converter control using calculated average current

A method for controlling a buck converter configured to supply a set of light emitting diodes (LEDs), the method comprising:

• driving, by controller circuitry, a switching element to establish a channel that electrically couples a source to an inductive element of the buck converter during an on state for a current switching period;
• in response to driving the switching element to establish the channel, generating, by the controller circuitry, a minimum current sample corresponding to measured current at the switching element;
• in response to current at the switching element exceeding a target peak current threshold of a set of control parameters for the buck converter:
• driving, by the controller circuitry, the switching element to refrain from establishing the channel that electrically couples the source to the inductive element during an off state for the current switching period;
• generating, by the controller circuitry, a peak current sample corresponding to measured current at the switching element;
• calculating, by the controller circuitry, a mean current using the minimum current sample and the peak current sample;
• and
• modifying, by the controller circuitry, the set of control parameters for the buck converter using the mean current;
• and
• in response to the switching element satisfying an off time of the set of control parameters during the off state for the current switching period, driving, by the controller circuitry, the switching element to establish the channel that electrically couples the source to the inductive element during an on state for a subsequent switching period.

A buck converter system comprising:

• a battery;
• a set of light emitting diodes (LEDs);
• a buck converter comprising an inductive element;
• a controller circuit configured to:
• drive a switching element to establish a channel that electrically couples the battery to the inductive element during an on state for a current switching period;
• in response to driving the switching element to establish the channel, generate a minimum current sample corresponding to measured current at the switching element;
• in response to current at the switching element exceeding a target peak current threshold of a set of control parameters for the buck converter:
• drive the switching element to refrain from establishing the channel that electrically couples the battery to the inductive element during an off state for the current switching period;
• generate a peak current sample corresponding to measured current at the switching element;
• calculate a mean current using the minimum current sample and the peak current sample;
• and
• modify the set of control parameters for the buck converter using the mean current;
• and
• in response to the switching element satisfying an off time of the set of control parameters during the off state for the current switching period, drive the switching element to establish the channel that electrically couples the battery to the inductive element during an on state for a subsequent switching period.