Buck converter with inductor sensor
AssigneeAmbiq Micro, Inc.
InventorsIvan Bogue, Yousof Mortazavi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A buck converter may operate in a low power mode or a high power mode based on a power requirements of a load. In the high power mode, modifications to increase frequency response include a higher polling frequency for a comparator, a lower impedance divider in a feedback circuit, a higher biasing current for a comparator, and larger switches for providing current to a reactive step-down circuit of the buck converter. In the low power mode these modifications are reversed. The buck converter may make use of an improved strong arm comparator and a circuit for sensing presence of an inductor in the reactive step-down circuit.
Claims14
An apparatus comprising:
- a first drive circuit coupled to a reactive step-down circuit;
- a second drive circuit coupled to the reactive step-down circuit;
- and
- a sensing circuit coupled to a first node in the reactive step-down circuit and having an output line, the sensing circuit programmed to assert the output line when a reactive component is not connected between the first node and a second node of the reactive step-down circuit,
- wherein the sensing circuit further includes a polling input, the sensing circuit programmed to evaluate whether the reactive component is connected between the first node and the second node in response to asserting of the polling input;
- wherein the sensing circuit comprises:
- a first transistor coupling the first node to a resistor connected to ground and having a first gate of the first transistor coupled to the polling input such that the first transistor is turned on when the polling input is asserted;
- and
- a second transistor coupling the second node to a drive voltage and having a second gate of the second transistor coupled to the polling input such that the second transistor is turned on when the polling input is asserted;
- and
- wherein the output line is connected to the first node.
A method comprising:
- providing a first drive circuit coupled to a reactive step-down circuit;
- providing a second drive circuit coupled to the reactive step-down circuit;
- evaluating whether a reactive component is coupled between a first node in the reactive step-down circuit and a second node of the reactive step-down circuit;
- and
- when the reactive component is sensed, operating the reactive step-down circuit using the first drive circuit,
- wherein evaluating whether the reactive component is coupled between the first node and the second node comprises:
- receiving a polling input;
- turning on a first transistor coupling the first node to a resistor coupled to ground and having a first gate of the first transistor coupled to the polling input such that the first transistor is turned on in response to the polling input;
- turning on a second transistor coupling the second node to a drive voltage and having a second gate of the second transistor coupled to the polling input such that the second transistor is turned on in response to the polling input;
- and
- sensing a voltage on the first mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.