Electronic converter and method of operating an electronic converter

An integrated circuit comprising:

• a first input pin/pad and a second input pin/pad configured to receive a supply voltage therebetween;
• a first output pin/pad and a second output pin/pad configured to provide a regulated voltage therebetween, the first output pin/pad and the second output pin/pad being configured to be coupled to an output capacitor;
• a current regulator circuit arranged between the first input pin/pad and an intermediate node, the current regulator circuit configured to regulate to a certain regulated value current flowing between the first input pin/pad and the intermediate node;
• a first and a second pin/pad configured to be coupled to an input capacitor;
• a switching stage having an input port coupled to the intermediate node and the second input pin/pad, and an output port coupled to the first output pin/pad and the second output pin/pad;
• and
• a control circuit block configured to:
• sense an input voltage at the intermediate node and the regulated voltage at the first output pin/pad;
• compare the regulated voltage to a reference value and generate a first signal having first and second values indicative of the regulated voltage being higher or lower than the reference value, respectively;
• compare the input voltage to a lower and an upper threshold and generate a second signal having respective first and second values indicative of the input voltage reaching either one of the lower or the upper threshold, respectively;
• switch the integrated circuit between an active mode and an idle mode as a function of the first signal, wherein a regulated current flows through the current regulator circuit between the first input pin/pad and the intermediate node to charge the input capacitor in the active mode, and wherein energy transfer from the input capacitor to the output capacitor is inhibited and current flow through the current regulator circuit between the first input pin/pad and the intermediate node is discontinued in the idle mode;
• and
• when the integrated circuit is in the active mode, switch the integrated circuit between a recharge phase and a switching phase as a function of the second signal, wherein energy transfer from the input capacitor to the output capacitor is inhibited in the recharge phase, and wherein switching of one or more electronic switches in the switching stage is controlled by the control circuit block to enable energy transfer from the input capacitor to the output capacitor in the switching phase.

A method of operating an electronic converter having first and second input terminals, first and second output terminals, a current regulator circuit arranged between the first input terminal and an intermediate node, an input capacitor arranged between the intermediate node and the second input terminal, and an output capacitor, the method comprising:

• sensing an input voltage at the intermediate node;
• sensing a regulated voltage at the first output terminal;
• comparing the regulated voltage to a reference value;
• generating a first signal having first and second values indicative of the regulated voltage being higher or lower than the reference value, respectively;
• comparing the input voltage to a lower threshold and an upper threshold;
• generating a second signal having first and second values indicative of the input voltage reaching either one of the lower or the upper threshold, respectively;
• switching the electronic converter between an active mode and an idle mode as a function of the first signal, wherein a regulated current flows through the current regulator circuit between the first input terminal and the intermediate node to charge the input capacitor in the active mode, and wherein energy transfer from the input capacitor to the output capacitor is inhibited and current flow through the current regulator circuit between the first input terminal and the intermediate node is discontinued in the idle mode;
• and
• when the electronic converter is in the active mode, switching the electronic converter between a recharge phase and a switching phase as a function of the second signal, wherein energy transfer from the input capacitor to the output capacitor is inhibited in the recharge phase, and wherein switching of one or more electronic switches is controlled to enable energy transfer from the input capacitor to the output capacitor in the switching phase.