# US 2011/0215737 A1 · Voltage Conversion Circuit and Voltage Conversion Method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2011/0215737 A1 - Document ID: US20110215737A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/002,902 - Filed: 2009-06-24 - Published: 2011-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2008-07-08 - Assignees: austriamicrosystems AG - Inventors: Sébastien Poirier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20110215737A1 ## CPC - H02M 3/156: with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators - H05B 45/3725: Switched mode power supply [SMPS] - H05B 45/38: using boost topology - Y02B 20/30: Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED] - 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) - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A voltage conversion circuit comprises a first and a second output (O1, O2) which are configured to have an electric load (LD) connected therebetween, wherein an output signal between the first and a second output (O1, O2) is generated in response to a pulse-width modulated clock signal (PWM). The circuit further comprises a forward branch (FWD) being configured to generate an output voltage (VDC) at the first output (O1) depending on a control signal. A feedback branch (FBK) comprises a comparison circuit (CC) being configured to generate the control signal. The feedback branch (FBK) is configured to provide a first potential corresponding to a voltage (VSINK) at a second output (O2) to a comparison input (CI) of the comparison circuit (CC) during a first sensing period which corresponds to at least a part of a period of a first state of the clock signal (PWM) and to provide a second potential derived from the voltage (VSINK) at a second output (O2) by means of a first charge store (C1) to the comparison input (CI) during a second sensing period which corresponds to a part of a period of a second state of the clock signal (PWM). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A voltage conversion circuit comprising a first output and a second output which are configured to have an electric load connected therebetween, the voltage conversion circuit being configured to generate an output signal between the first output and the second output in response to a pulse-width modulated clock signal, and further comprising: a forward branch configured to generate an output voltage at the first output depending on a control signal; and a feedback branch comprising a comparison circuit to generate the control signal and comprising a first charge store with a first end coupled to the second output, the feedback branch being configured to provide a first potential corresponding to a voltage at the second output to a comparison input of the comparison circuit during a first sensing period which corresponds to at least a part of a period of a first state of the pulse-width modulated clock signal, and to provide a second potential derived from the voltage at the second output by the first charge store to the comparison input during a second sensing period which corresponds to a part of a period of a second state of the pulse-width modulated clock signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The voltage conversion circuit according to claim 1, wherein the feedback branch is configured to connect the comparison input to the second output directly during the first sensing period and via the first charge store during the second sensing period. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The voltage conversion circuit according to claim 1, wherein the comparison circuit is configured to generate the control signal depending on a respective comparison of the first and second potential with a reference voltage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The voltage conversion circuit according to claim 1, wherein the feedback branch comprises a first switch coupling the second output to the comparison input and further comprises the first charge store with a second end coupled to the comparison input via a second switch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The voltage conversion circuit according to claim 4, wherein the feedback branch comprises a buffer stage with an input coupled to the comparison input and an output coupled to the second end of the first charge store via a third switch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The voltage conversion circuit according to claim 1, wherein the feedback branch comprises a second charge store coupled between the comparison input and a ground potential terminal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The voltage conversion circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a current source coupled to the second output, the current source being controllable by the pulse-width modulated clock signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The voltage conversion circuit according to claim 7, wherein the current source is configured to provide a first current for the first state of the pulse-width modulated clock signal and to provide a second current for the second state of the pulse-width modulated clock signal, the first and the second current being distinct from zero. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The voltage conversion circuit according to claim 1, wherein the forward branch is configured to generate the output voltage further depending on a clocked activation signal and on the state of the pulse-width modulated clock signal. ### Claim 10 A voltage conversion method, comprising the steps of: providing an electric load connected between a first output and a second output; providing a charge store with a first end coupled to the second output; generating an output voltage at the first output depending on a control signal; generating an output signal between the first and the second output in response to a pulse-width modulated clock signal; comparing a first potential corresponding to a voltage at the second output with a reference voltage during a first sensing period which corresponds to at least a part of a period of a first state of the pulse-width modulated clock signal; comparing a second potential derived from the voltage at the second output by means of the charge store with the reference voltage during a second sensing period which corresponds to a part of a period of a second state of the pulse-width modulated clock signal; and generating the control signal depending on the comparison results. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The voltage conversion method according to claim 10, wherein the charge store is pre-charged during an intermediate period between the first and the second sensing period. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The voltage conversion method according to claim 10, wherein the charge store is pre-charged during the first sensing period depending on the first potential. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The voltage conversion method according to claim 10, wherein generating the output signal comprises providing a first current for the first state of the pulse-width modulated clock signal and providing a second current for the second state of the pulse-width modulated clock signal, the first and the second current being provided at the second output and being distinct from zero. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The voltage conversion method according to claim 10, wherein the output voltage is generated further depending on a clocked activation signal and on the state of the pulse-width modulated clock signal. ### Claim 15 (canceled) ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The voltage conversion circuit according to claim 1, wherein said first end of said first charge store is coupled directly to the second output. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) An illumination arrangement having a voltage conversion circuit according to claim 1, wherein the electric load comprises at least one light emitting element. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The voltage conversion method according to claim 10, wherein the first end of the charge store is coupled directly to the second output.