Analog control loop with digital feedback

A method of controlling current flow to an associated inductive load, the method comprising:

• via a switching element having an open state and a closed state, intermittently connecting an associated power supply to the associated inductive load when the switching element is in the closed state;
• via a switch driver, generating a switch drive signal provided to a control element of the switching element, the switch drive signal being configured to control the state of the switching element to be in the open state or in the closed state based on a desired load current set point and a feedback signal;
• via a current sensor, measuring a current flowing through the switching element and the associated inductive load and generating, from the measured flowing current, a sensed current signal representing a present current sensor reading;
• via a summing circuit, adding the sensed current signal and a representation of the present switch drive signal to generate the feedback signal.

An analog circuit tar controlling current flow to an associated load, the analog circuit comprising:

• a switching element having an open state and a closed state that is configured to intermittently connect an associated power supply to the associated load when the switching element is in the dosed state;
• a switch driver that generates a switch drive signal provided to a control element of the switching element, the switch drive signal being configured to control the state of the switching dement to be in the open state or in the dosed state based on a desired load current set point and a feedback signal;
• a current sensor configured to measure a current flowing through the switching element and the associated bad and generate, from the measured flowing current, an analog sensed current signal representing a present current sensor reading;
• and an analog summing circuit that adds the analog sensed current signal and a supplemental signal comprising a representation of the present switch drive signal to generate the feedback signal.

A circuit for controlling current flow to an associated inductive load,

• the circuit comprising:
• a switching element having an open state and a closed state that is configured to intermittently connect an associated power supply to the associated inductive load when the switching element is in the closed state;
• a switch driver that generates a substantially binary (high/low) switch drive signal provided to a control element of the switching element, the switch drive signal being configured to control the state of the switching element to be in the open state (off) or in the closed state (on) based on a desired load current set point and a feedback signal;
• a current sensor configured to measure a current flowing through the switching element and the associated inductive load and generate, from the measured flowing current, a sensed current signal representing a present current sensor reading;
• and
• a summing circuit that adds the sensed current signal and a supplemental signal comprising a scaled version of the present state of the substantially binary (high/low) switch drive signal to generate the feedback signal.