# US 2013/0154587 A1 · Arrangements of current conduction for simo converters > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0154587 A1 - Document ID: US20130154587A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/327,503 - Filed: 2011-12-15 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Assignees: Cree, Inc. - Inventors: Michael Gilliom - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130154587A1 ## CPC - H02M 3/158: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load - H02M 3/33561: {having more than one ouput with independent control} - H02M 1/009: {having two or more independently controlled outputs (for DC-DC converter with intermediate AC H02M3/33561)} - 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) ## Abstract A system includes a single-inductor-multiple-out (SIMO) converter that includes storage circuitry in communication with a plurality of output channels, and a controller that is configured to output one or more signals to alternatingly conduct current through the output channels over a plurality of switching cycles. The controller may determine fixed ratios of channel conduction periods between the plurality of output channels and set channel conduction periods for each switching cycle based on the fixed ratios. In addition or alternatively, the controller may determine an arrangement of orders in which to conduct current over the switching cycles. The arrangement may include an order for a current switching cycle that is a reverse order of an order for a previously switching cycle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling current conduction in a single-inductor-multiple-out (SIMO) converter comprising a plurality of output channels, the method comprising: determining, with at least one first controller, one or more fixed ratios of channel conduction periods between the plurality of output channels; determining, with at least one second controller, an estimated discharge period for a switching cycle; determining, with at least one third controller, channel conduction periods for each of the plurality of output channels, wherein each channel conduction period is based on the one or more fixed ratios of channel conduction periods and the estimated discharge period; and outputting, with at least one fourth controller, switching signals to alternatingly conduct current through the plurality of output channels over the channel conduction periods in the switching cycle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the channel conduction periods comprise first channel conduction periods, the switching cycle comprises a first switching cycle, and the switching signals comprise first switching signals, the method further comprising: measuring, with at least one fifth controller, a measured discharge period for the first switching cycle, the measured discharge period being a measured total time period that current is conducted through the plurality of output channels during the first switching cycle; determining, with at least one sixth controller, a second estimated discharge period for a second switching cycle, the second estimated discharge period based on the measured discharge period for the first switching cycle; determining, with at least one seventh controller, second channel conduction periods for each of the plurality of output channels, wherein each of the second channel conduction periods is based on the one or more ratios of channel conduction periods and the second expected discharge period; and outputting, with at least one eighth controller, second switching signals to alternatingly conduct current through the plurality of output channels over the second channel conduction periods in the second switching cycle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein measuring the measured discharge period comprises: starting a timer when current begins being conducted through the plurality of output channels during the first switching cycle; and stopping the timer when current is no longer being conducted through the plurality of output channels during the first switching cycle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising: determining, with a zero-detector, when no more current is being conducted through the plurality of output channels during the first switching cycle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the channel conduction periods comprise first channel conduction periods, the switching cycle comprises a first switching cycle, and the switching signals comprise first switching signals, the method further comprising: outputting, with at least one fifth controller, second switching signals to alternatingly conduct current through the plurality of output channels over second channel conduction periods in a second switching cycle, wherein the first signals are output to alternatingly conduct current through the plurality of channels in the first switching cycle in a first order, and wherein the second signals are output to alternatingly conduct current through the plurality of channels in the second switching cycle in a second order, and wherein the second order is a reverse order of the first order. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the first switching cycle and the second switching cycle comprise consecutive switching cycles. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the channel conduction periods are determined for discontinuous current conduction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the channel conduction periods are determined for continuous current conduction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein outputting switching signal comprises: outputting the switching signals to alternatingly turn “on” and “off” switches in the plurality of output channels, each switch being configured to turn “on” so that current is conducted through the channel and turn “off” so that current is not conducted through the channel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating, with at least one fifth controller, the switching signals using a first count and a second count, wherein the second count is offset from the first count. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: setting, with at least one sixth controller, an offset to offset the second count from the first count based on a period of zero conduction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the offset is one-half the period of zero conduction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein two or more of the first controller, the second controller, the third controller, and the fourth controller are the same controller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein two or more of the first controller, the second controller, the third controller, and the fourth controller are different controllers. ### Claim 15 A system comprising: a single-inductor-multiple-out (SIMO) converter comprising: storage circuitry in communication with a plurality of output channels, the storage circuitry being configured to store current and discharge at least some of the stored current into the plurality of output channels; and a controller in communication with the SIMO converter, the controller configured to: determine one or more fixed ratios of channel conduction periods between the plurality of output channels; determine an estimated discharge period for a switching cycle; determine channel conduction periods for each of the plurality of output channels, wherein each channel conduction period is based on the one or more fixed ratios of channel conduction periods and the estimated discharge period; and output switching signals to alternatingly conduct current through the plurality of output channels over the first channel conduction periods in the switching cycle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the channel conduction periods comprise first channel conduction periods, the switching cycle comprises a first switching cycle, and the switching signals comprise first switching signals, and wherein the controller is further configured to: measure a measured discharge period for the first switching cycle, the measured discharge period being a measured total time period that current is conducted through the plurality of output channels during the first switching cycle; determine a second estimated discharge period for a second switching cycle, the second estimated discharge period based on the measured discharge period for the first switching cycle; determine second channel conduction periods for each of the plurality of output channels, wherein each of the second channel conduction periods is based on the one or more ratios of channel conduction periods and the second expected discharge period; and output second switching signals to alternatingly conduct current through the plurality of output channels over the second channel conduction periods in the second switching cycle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising a timer that is configured to: start when current begins being conducted through the plurality of output channels during the first switching cycle; and stop when current is no longer being conducted through the plurality of output channels during the first switching cycle, wherein the measured discharge period is a time period from when the timer starts to when the timer stops. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, further comprising a zero-detector that is configured to determine when no more current is being conducted through the plurality of output channels during the first switching cycle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the channel conduction periods comprise first channel conduction periods, the switching cycle comprises a first switching cycle, and the switching signals comprise first switching signals, and wherein the controller is further configured to: output second switching signals to alternatingly conduct current through the plurality of output channels over second channel conduction periods in a second switching cycle, wherein the first signals are output to alternatingly conduct current through the plurality of channels in the first switching cycle in a first order, and wherein the second signals are output to alternatingly conduct current through the plurality of channels in the second switching cycle in a second order, and wherein the second order is a reverse order of the first order. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the first switching cycle and the second switching cycle comprise consecutive switching cycles. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to determine channel conduction periods for discontinuous current conduction. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to determine channel conduction periods for continuous current conduction. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein each of the output channels comprises a load in communication with a switch, each switch being configured to turn “on” so that current is conducted through the output channel and turn “off” so that current is not conducted through the channel, wherein the controller is configured to output the switching signals to alternatingly turn “on” and “off” the switches in the output channels. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the SIMO converter further comprises main switching circuitry connected to the storage circuitry, wherein the storage circuitry is configured to store current when the main switching circuitry is turned “on,” and wherein the storage circuitry is configured to discharge at least some of the stored current to at least one of the output channels when at least one of the switches in the output channels is turned “on.” ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the controller is further configured to: generate the switching signals using a first count and a second count, wherein the second count is offset from the first count. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the controller is further configured to: set an offset to offset the second count from the first count based on a period of zero conduction. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the offset is one-half the period of zero conduction. ### Claim 28 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of output channels comprises three output channels, each channel comprising a light-emitting diode configured as a load. ### Claim 29 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the SIMO converter comprises a flyback converter. ### Claim 30 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the SIMO converter comprises a boost converter. ### Claim 31 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the SIMO converter comprises a buck converter. ### Claim 32 A method of controlling current conduction in a single-in-multiple-out (SIMO) converter comprising a plurality of output channels, the method comprising: outputting, with a signal generator, switching signals to alternatingly conduct current through the output channels over a first switching cycle in a first order, outputting, with the signal generator, switching signals to alternatingly conduct current through the output channels over a second switching cycle in a second order, wherein the second order is a reverse order of the first order. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein the first switching cycle and the second switching cycle are consecutive switching cycles. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, further comprising: outputting, with the signal generator, a main switching signal to store current in storage circuitry of the SIMO controller during a charge period of the first switching cycle, wherein for the first switching cycle, the charge period does not overlap with a discharge period during which the plurality of output channels conduct current. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, further comprising: outputting, with the signal generator, a main switching signal to store current in storage circuitry of the SIMO controller during a charge period of the first switching cycle, wherein for the first switching cycle, the charge period and at least a portion of a discharge period during which the plurality of output channels conduct current overlap. ### Claim 36 A system comprising: a SIMO converter comprising: storage circuitry configured to store and discharge current; a plurality of output channels in communication with the storage circuitry, the plurality of output channels configured to conduct the current discharged from the storage circuitry, wherein the plurality of output channels is configured to: alternatingly conduct current over a first switching cycle in a first order; and alternatingly conduct current over a second switching cycle in a second order; and wherein the second order is a reverse order of the first order. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The system of claim 36, further comprising: a signal generator in communication with the SIMO converter, the signal generator configured to output signals to the SIMO converter to control the flow of current through the plurality of output channels in the first order and the second order. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The system of claim 37, wherein the signal generator comprises a counting module that generates a first count and a second count to generate the signals, wherein the second count is offset from the first count. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The system of claim 38 wherein the second count is offset from the first count by an amount based on a period of zero conduction. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The system of claim 39, wherein the amount is one-half of the period of zero conduction.