# US 11,909,301 B2 · Switching power supply and intermittent power saving mode control circuit and method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,909,301 B2 - Document ID: US11909301B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/474,671 - Filed: 2021-09-14 - Published: 2022-03-17 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2020-09-15 - Assignees: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD - Applicants: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Zhan Chen; Qiukai Huang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11909301B2 ## CPC - H02M 1/0035: {using burst mode control} - H02M 1/0025: {Arrangements for modifying reference values, feedback values or error values in the control loop of a converter} - H02M 3/10: using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode (H02M3/07 takes precedence) - Y02B 70/10: Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes - 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) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract The present disclose relates to an intermittent power saving mode control circuit and method thereof, comprising: a mode indication signal generating circuit configured to generate a mode indication signal according to an output voltage compensation signal, a first reference voltage, and a second reference voltage, the mode indication signal is configured to indicate that a switching power supply is working in a work mode or a sleep mode; wherein the second reference voltage is adjusted according to a frequency of the mode indication signal, so that the frequency of the mode indication signal is maintained within a predetermined range. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An intermittent power saving mode control method, comprising: controlling a switching power supply to operate alternately between a work mode and a sleep mode under a burst mode; controlling the switching power supply to operate in the sleep mode according a first reference voltage, the first reference voltage is constant; controlling the switching power supply to operate in the work mode according to a second reference voltage; monitoring an alternating frequency of the switching power supply in the burst mode, wherein the alternating frequency is a frequency value that the switching power supply changes from a current work mode to a next work mode or from a current sleep mode to a next sleep mode, wherein in the work mode, a power switch of the switching power supply is periodically turned on and turned off and in sleep mode, the switching power supply remains off; and adjusting the second reference voltage according to the alternating frequency, so that the alternating frequency is within a range of a first frequency to a second frequency. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The intermittent power saving mode control method according to claim 1, wherein the alternating frequency is adjusted according to a magnitude relationship between the current alternating frequency and the first frequency and the second frequency. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The intermittent power saving mode control method according to claim 1, further comprising: controlling the switching power supply to operate in the work mode or the sleep mode according to the output voltage compensation signal characterizing an error between an output voltage of the switching power supply and an expected value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The intermittent power saving mode control method according to claim 3, further comprising: controlling the switching power supply to operate in the sleep mode when the output voltage compensation signal drops below the first reference voltage; and controlling the switching power supply to operate in the work mode when the output voltage compensation signal rises to be greater than the second reference voltage, wherein the second reference voltage is greater than the first reference voltage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The intermittent power saving mode control method according to claim 1, wherein generating a mode indication signal according to the output voltage compensation signal, the first reference voltage, and the second reference voltage, and a frequency of the mode indication signal is the same as the alternating frequency, wherein the second reference voltage is adjusted according to the frequency of the mode indication signal, so that the alternating frequency is within the range of the first frequency to the second frequency. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The intermittent power saving mode control method according to claim 5, further comprising: decreasing the second reference voltage when the frequency of the mode indication signal is less than the first frequency; and increasing the second reference voltage when the frequency of the mode indication signal is greater than the second frequency, wherein, the second frequency is greater than the first frequency. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The intermittent power saving mode control method according to claim 5, wherein the second reference voltage remains unchanged when the frequency of the mode indication signal is greater than the first frequency and less than the second frequency. ### Claim 8 An intermittent power saving mode control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to: control a switching power supply to operate alternately between a work mode and a sleep mode under a burst mode; control the switching power supply to operate in the sleep mode according a first reference voltage, the first reference voltage is constant; control the switching power supply to operate in the work mode according to a second reference voltage; monitor an alternating frequency of the switching power supply in the burst mode, wherein the alternating frequency is a frequency value that changes from a current work mode to a next work mode or from a current sleep mode to a next sleep mode, wherein in the work mode, a power switch of the switching power supply is periodically turned on and turned off and in sleep mode, the switching power supply remains off; and adjust the second reference voltage according to the alternating frequency, so that the alternating frequency is within a range of a first frequency to a second frequency. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The intermittent power saving mode control circuit according to claim 8, wherein the alternating frequency is adjusted according to a magnitude relationship between the current alternating frequency and the first frequency and the second frequency. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The intermittent power saving mode control circuit according to claim 8, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the switching power supply to operate in the work mode or the sleep mode according to an output voltage compensation signal characterizing an error between an output voltage of the switching power supply and an expected value. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The intermittent power saving mode control circuit according to claim 10, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the switching power supply to operate in the sleep mode when the output voltage compensation signal drops below the first reference voltage, and control the switching power supply to operate in the work mode when the output voltage compensation signal rises to be greater than the second reference voltage, wherein the second reference voltage is greater than the first reference voltage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The intermittent power saving mode control circuit according to claim 8, further comprising: a mode indication signal generating circuit configured to generate a mode indication signal according to the output voltage compensation signal, the first reference voltage, and the second reference voltage, and a frequency of the mode indication signal is the same as the alternating frequency; wherein, the second reference voltage is adjusted according to the frequency of the mode indication signal, so that the alternating frequency is within the range of the first frequency to the second frequency. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The intermittent power saving mode control circuit according to claim 12, wherein the control circuit is configured to decrease the second reference voltage when the frequency of the mode indication signal is less than the first frequency, and increase the second reference voltage when the frequency of the mode indication signal is greater than the second frequency, wherein the second frequency is greater than the first frequency. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The intermittent power saving mode control circuit according to claim 12, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the second reference voltage to remain unchanged when the frequency of the mode indication signal is greater than the first frequency and less than the second frequency. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The intermittent power saving mode control circuit according to claim 12, wherein when the switching power supply is in a light load condition, the mode indication signal switches between two states, so that the switching power supply enters an intermittent power saving mode; when the switching power supply is in a normal or heavy load condition, a state of the mode indication signal remains unchanged. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The intermittent power saving mode control circuit according to claim 12, wherein the mode indication signal generating circuit comprises: a first comparator configured to compare the output voltage compensation signal with the first reference voltage and output a first comparison signal; a second comparator configured to compare the output voltage compensation signal with the second reference voltage and output a second comparison signal; a logic circuit configured to generate the mode indication signal according to the first comparison signal and the second comparison signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The intermittent power saving mode control circuit according to claim 12, further comprising: a second reference voltage generating circuit configured to generate the second reference voltage according to the mode indication signal, a first time value characterizing the first frequency and a second time value characterizing the second frequency. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The intermittent power saving mode control circuit according to claim 17, wherein the second reference voltage generating circuit comprises: a first detection circuit, configured to detect whether a cycle duration of the mode indication signal exceeds the first time value characterizing the first frequency, and generate a first adjustment signal for instructing to decrease the second reference voltage when the cycle duration of the mode indication signal exceeds the first time value; and a second detection circuit, configured to detect whether the cycle duration of the mode indication signal is less than the second time value characterizing the second frequency, and generate a second adjustment signal for instructing to increase the second reference voltage when the cycle duration of the mode indication signal is less than the second time value; and an adjustment circuit, configured to adjust the second reference voltage according to the first adjustment signal and the second adjustment signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The intermittent power saving mode control circuit according to claim 18, wherein the first detection circuit comprises: a first timing circuit configured to generate a first timing signal according to the mode indication signal and the first time value; a first one-shot circuit configured to generate a first single pulse signal according to the mode indication signal; a first logic circuit, configured to generate the first adjustment signal according to the first timing signal and the first single pulse signal; the second detection circuit comprises: a second timing circuit configured to generate a second timing signal according to the mode indication signal and the second time value; a second one-shot circuit configured to generate a second single pulse signal according to the mode indication signal; a second logic circuit configured to generate the second adjustment signal according to the second timing signal and the second single pulse signal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The intermittent power saving mode control circuit according to claim 18, wherein the adjustment circuit comprises: a first adjustment circuit, configured to reduce the second reference voltage when the first adjustment signal is valid; a second adjustment circuit, configured to increase the second reference voltage when the second adjustment signal is valid; and an adjusting capacitor, coupled to both the first adjustment circuit and the second adjustment circuit, and configured to generate the second reference voltage at a non-grounded port.