# US 12,224,667 B2 · Voltage regulation apparatus and overcurrent protection method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,224,667 B2 - Document ID: US12224667B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/148,123 - Filed: 2022-12-29 - Published: 2023-05-11 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-30 - Assignees: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Zhangrong Hu; Xuegang Yang; Kun Wu; Yi Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12224667B2 ## CPC - H02H 3/087: for DC applications - H02M 3/1582: {Buck-boost converters (H02M3/1584 takes precedence)} - H02H 3/006: {Calibration or setting of parameters} - H02H 5/041: {additionally responsive to excess current (H02H5/048 takes precedence)} - H02M 1/0009: {Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter} - H02M 1/32: Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection - H02M 3/158: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load - H02H 9/025: {Current limitation using field effect transistors} - Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) - 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) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract A voltage regulation apparatus and an overcurrent protection method are disclosed. The voltage regulation apparatus includes a current detection control circuit, a power stage circuit, a voltage input terminal, and a voltage output terminal. The power stage circuit includes at least one transistor. Because a current parameter indicates a load current of the at least one transistor, and a plurality of preset overcurrent protection thresholds are dynamic overcurrent protection thresholds obtained after being preset based on temperature information and the like, after obtaining the current parameter, the current detection control circuit compares the current parameter with the plurality of preset overcurrent protection thresholds, to output a control signal, to implement a limiting operation on the current parameter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A voltage regulation apparatus, comprising: a voltage input terminal configured to receive an input voltage; a power stage circuit that includes at least one transistor; a voltage output terminal configured to generate an output voltage; a current detection control circuit is configured to: obtain a current parameter of the power stage circuit based on a detected load current of the at least one transistor, wherein the current parameter indicates the load current of the at least one transistor; dynamically set a target over-limit duration threshold based on the current parameter; and output a control signal to limit the load current of the at least one transistor when a first duration is greater than the target over-limit duration threshold, wherein the first duration is a duration in which the current parameter is greater than or equal to a current limiting threshold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The voltage regulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the current detection control circuit comprises a current limiting control module configured to: compare the current parameter with a plurality of overcurrent protection thresholds select, based on the comparison, the target over-limit duration threshold from a plurality of over-limit duration thresholds corresponding to the plurality of overcurrent protection thresholds, and output the control signal when the first duration is greater than the target over-limit duration threshold, and the plurality of preset overcurrent protection thresholds are all greater than the current limiting threshold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The voltage regulation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the current detection control circuit further comprises a temperature obtaining module, wherein: the temperature obtaining module is configured to obtain temperature information; and the current limiting control module is further configured to set each of the plurality of over-limit duration thresholds to a second duration based on the temperature information. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The voltage regulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the current detection control circuit further comprises a timing module, wherein: the current limiting control module is further configured to compare the current parameter with the current limiting threshold; and the timing module is configured to count the first duration when the current parameter is greater than or equal to the current limiting threshold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The voltage regulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control signal is used to turn off the at least one transistor, to limit the load current. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The voltage regulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control signal is used to limit a current passing through the at least one transistor to a corresponding standard current, to limit the control signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The voltage regulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the voltage regulation apparatus further comprises a switch control circuit, wherein the switch control circuit is configured to receive a feedback voltage indicating the output voltage, and control the at least one transistor based on the feedback voltage, to regulate the output voltage. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The voltage regulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the voltage regulation apparatus further comprises a filtering network, and the filtering network is coupled to the voltage output terminal or the voltage input terminal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The voltage regulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the target over-limit duration threshold decreases as the current parameter increases. ### Claim 10 An overcurrent protection method, performed by a voltage regulation apparatus, wherein the method comprises: receiving an input voltage by a voltage input terminal in the voltage regulation apparatus; generating an output voltage by a voltage output terminal in the voltage regulation apparatus; obtaining a current parameter based on a detected load current of at least one transistor, of a power stage circuit in the voltage regulation apparatus, wherein the current parameter indicates a load current of the at least one transistor in the power stage circuit; and dynamically setting a target over-limit duration threshold based on the current parameter, and outputting a control signal when a first duration is greater than the target over-limit duration threshold, wherein the control signal is used to limit the current parameter, and the first duration is a duration in which the current parameter is greater than or equal to a current limiting threshold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the control signal being used to limit the current parameter comprises: the control signal is used to turn off the at least one transistor, to limit the current parameter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the control signal being used to limit the current parameter comprises: the control signal is used to limit a current passing through the at least one transistor to a corresponding standard current, to limit the current parameter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising: comparing the current parameter with the current limiting threshold; count the first duration when the current parameter is greater than or equal to the current limiting threshold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising: receiving a feedback voltage indicating the output voltage; and controlling the at least one transistor based on the feedback voltage, to regulate the output voltage. ### Claim 15 A system, comprising: a system on chip (SOC); and a voltage regulation apparatus coupled to the SOC, comprising: a voltage input terminal configured to receive an input voltage, a power stage circuit that includes at least one transistor; a voltage output terminal configured to generate an output voltage for the SOC; a current detection control circuit is configured to: obtain a current parameter of the power stage circuit, wherein the current parameter indicates a load current of the at least one transistor; dynamically set a target over-limit duration threshold based on the current parameter; and output a control signal to limit the load current when a first duration is greater than the target over-limit duration threshold, wherein the first duration is a duration in which the current parameter is greater than or equal to a current limiting threshold. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The chip according to claim 15, wherein the current detection control circuit comprises a current limiting control module configured to: compare the current parameter with a plurality of overcurrent protection thresholds select, based on the comparison, the target over-limit duration threshold from a plurality of over-limit duration thresholds corresponding to the plurality of overcurrent protection thresholds, and output the control signal when the first duration is greater than the target over-limit duration threshold, and the plurality of preset overcurrent protection thresholds are all greater than the current limiting threshold. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The chip according to claim 16, wherein the current detection control circuit further comprises a temperature obtaining module, wherein: the temperature obtaining module is configured to obtain temperature information; and the current limiting control module is further configured to set each of the plurality of over-limit duration thresholds to a second duration based on the temperature information. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The chip according to claim 15, wherein the control signal is used to turn off the at least one transistor, to limit the control signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The chip according to claim 15, wherein the voltage regulation apparatus further comprises a switch control circuit, wherein the switch control circuit is configured to receive a feedback voltage indicating the output voltage, and control the at least one transistor based on the feedback voltage, to regulate the output voltage. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The chip according to claim 15, wherein the target over-limit duration threshold decreases as the current parameter increases.