Providing timing signals to gate drivers of a converter
AssigneeMicrochip Technology Incorporated
InventorsPaolo Nora, Isaac Terasuth Ko, Claudiu Patru
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Abstract
One or more examples relate, generally, to providing timing signals to gate drivers of a converter. An example apparatus for providing timing signals to gate drivers of a converter includes a circuit that includes a timing input, and a plurality of outputs. The timing input may receive an incoming timing signal. The plurality of outputs may couple to a respective plurality of gate drivers to control an output voltage of a converter. The circuit may provide respective timing signals, at respective ones of the plurality of outputs at least partially responsive to the incoming timing signal, the respective timing signals synchronized such that like edges of the respective timing signals coincide.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a circuit comprising:
- a timing input to receive an incoming timing signal;
- and
- a plurality of outputs to couple to a respective plurality of gate drivers for which an associated switch controls an output voltage of a converter;
- and
- the circuit to provide respective timing signals, at respective ones of the plurality of outputs at least partially responsive to the incoming timing signal, the respective timing signals synchronized such that like edges of the respective timing signals coincide,
- wherein the circuit aligns timing of turning ON one or more of the plurality of gate drivers relative to one another such that at least two separate but similar switches associated with the plurality of gate drivers provide current to the converter via multiple parallel gate driver paths.
An apparatus comprising:
- a circuit comprising:
- a timing input to receive an incoming timing signal;
- a control input to receive a control signal;
- and
- a number of outputs to couple to a respective plurality of gate drivers for which an associated switch controls an output voltage of a converter;
- the circuit to provide a selectable number of timing signals, at respective ones of the number of outputs, at least partially responsive to the control signal,
- wherein the circuit aligns timing of turning ON one or more of the plurality of gate drivers relative to one another, the plurality of gate drivers comprising at least two separate and distinct switches that provide current to the converter via multiple parallel paths.
An apparatus comprising:
- a converter comprising an inductor;
- a plurality of gate drivers comprising respective switches coupled between a supply-voltage line and a terminal of the inductor;
- and
- a circuit to provide respective timing signals to the respective switches of the plurality of gate drivers to control the plurality of gate drivers to control an output voltage of the converter, the circuit to synchronize the respective timing signals such that like edges of the respective timing signals coincide,
- wherein the circuit aligns timing of turning ON one or more of the plurality of gate drivers relative to one another, the plurality of gate drivers comprising at least two separate and distinct switches that provide current to the converter via multiple parallel paths.
A method comprising:
- receiving an incoming timing signal;
- receiving a control signal;
- and
- providing a selectable number of timing signals to a respective number of gate drivers to control an output voltage of a converter,
- the selectable number of timing signals responsive to the control signal,
- the selectable number of timing signals responsive to the incoming timing signal,
- the selectable number of timing signals synchronized such that like edges of the selectable number of timing signals coincide,
- wherein a circuit aligns timing of turning ON one or more of the respective number of gate drivers relative to one another, the respective number of gate drivers comprising at least two separate and distinct switches that provide current to the converter via multiple parallel paths.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.