System and method for programming and controlling over current trip point limits in voltage regulators
AssigneeIntersil Americas Inc.
InventorsGUSTAVO JAMES MEHAS, ATUL WOKHLU, NAVEEN JAIN, XIAOLE CHEN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for controlling an over current protection trip point for a voltage regulator includes an input for receiving a monitored operating parameter of the voltage regulator. Control logic responsive to this input generates a digital current control signal. A digital to analog controller converts the digital current control signal to an analog current control signal and this analog current control signal is used for controlling a current source for generating a current that establishes the over current protection trip point of the voltage regulator.
Claims20
An apparatus for dynamically controlling an over current protection trip point for a voltage regulator, comprising:
- a first input for receiving monitored changes in at least one operating parameter other than an output voltage of the voltage regulator;
- a digital controller for generating a digital control signal to set the over current protection trip point at a substantially constant level responsive to the changes in the at least one operating parameter of the voltage regulator, the over current protection trip point establishing a point for disabling at least one power switch of the voltage regulator when a measured value indicative of a load current of the voltage regulator exceeds the over current protection trip point;
- and
- a digital to analog converter for generating an analog control signal to set the over current protection trip point at the substantially constant level responsive to the digital control signal.
A system comprising:
- a voltage regulator for generating a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage, the voltage regulator including at lease one switching transistor;
- an integrated circuit for maintaining an over current protection trip point at a substantially constant level for the voltage regulator, responsive to changes in at least one monitored parameter of the voltage regulator, the integrated circuit further including:
- a digital controller for generating a digital control signal to set the over current protection trip point at a substantially constant level responsive to the changes in the at least one operating parameter of the voltage regulator, the over current protection trip point establishing a point for disabling at least one power switch of the voltage regulator when a measured value indicative of a load current of the voltage regulator exceeds the over current protection trip point;
- a digital to analog converter for generating an analog control signal to set the over current protection trip point at the substantially constant level responsive to the digital control signal;
- and
- a current source responsive to the analog control signal for establishing the over current protection trip point, further wherein the over current protection trip point established by the current source remains substantially constant over variations in the operating parameter.
A method for controlling a variable over current protection trip point of a voltage regulator, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring at least one operating parameter other than an output voltage of the voltage regulator;
- generating a digital current control signal responsive to the at least one monitored parameter of the voltage regulator;
- converting the digital current control signal to an analog control signal;
- and
- generating the over current protection trip point at a substantially constant level responsive to the analog control signal, the over current protection trip point establishing a point for disabling at least one power switch of the voltage regulator when a measured value indicative of a load current of the voltage regulator the over current protection trip point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.