Voltage converter
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics S.r.l.
InventorSaul Darzy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A voltage converter comprises an input, an output and a current control arrangement for controlling the output current of the voltage converter circuit. The current control arrangement comprises a first mode, when the voltage output by the converter circuit is above a threshold voltage, and a second mode in which the voltage output by the circuit is below the threshold voltage. The first and second modes are controlled by the same current control arrangement. The current control arrangement comprises comparing means arranged to receive a reference voltage wherein the reference voltage is a voltage offset associated with at least one of the inputs of the comparing means.
Claims20
A voltage converter circuit comprising:
- an input;
- an output;
- a current control arrangement for controlling the output current of said circuit, said current control arrangement comprising a first mode when the voltage output by said converter circuit is above a threshold voltage and a second mode in which the voltage output by said circuit is below said threshold voltage, said first and second modes being controlled by the same current control arrangement, said current control arrangement comprising comparing means arranged to receive a reference voltage, wherein said reference voltage is a voltage offset associated with at least one of the inputs of the comparing means.
A circuit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said current control arrangement further comprises a resistive element.
A circuit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said current control arrangement is arranged to determine the voltage across said resistive element.
A circuit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said comparing means comprises a differential amplifying arrangement.
A circuit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said comparing means comprises a rail to rail amplifier.
A circuit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an output of the current control arrangement is used to generate a control signal for controlling said circuit.
A circuit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said control signal is used to control a switch.
A circuit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said converter circuit is a DC to DC converter circuit.
A circuit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a voltage control arrangement is provided.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.