Converter One Pin Sensing
AssigneeDialog Semiconductor GmbH
InventorHorst Knoedgen
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Abstract
Power converters, such as switched-mode power converters comprise a reduced number of sensing pins. A power converter is configured to convert electrical energy at an input voltage into electrical energy at an output voltage. The power converter comprises a power switch configured to be switched between on- and off-states; and a controller configured to generate a control signal for putting the power switch into the on-state and off-state, respectively; wherein the control signal is generated based on a first and second measurement signal from the power converter external to the controller. The controller comprises a sensing pin configured to sense the first measurement signal, when the power switch is in on-state, and configured to sense the second measurement signal, when the power switch is in off-state.
Claims28
A power converter configured to convert electrical energy at an input voltage into electrical energy at an output voltage, the power converter comprising
- a power switch configured to be switched between an on-state and an off-state;
- a voltage divider coupled to the input voltage for providing a first measurement signal;
- a transformer comprising a primary winding and an auxiliary winding for providing a second measurement signal;
- wherein the primary winding is arranged in series to the power switch;
- and
- a controller configured to generate a control signal for putting the power switch into the on-state and into the off-state, respectively;
- wherein the control signal is generated based on the first and the second measurement signal from the power converter external to the controller;
- wherein the controller comprises a sensing pin configured to sense the first measurement signal, when the power switch is in on-state, and configured to sense the second measurement signal, when the power switch is in off-state.
A method for converting electrical energy at an input voltage into electrical energy at an output voltage, the method comprising
- providing a controller comprising a single sensing pin, controlling a power converter comprising a power switch;
- switching a power switch of a power converter between an on-state and an off-state, subject to a control signal;
- providing a first measurement signal from the power converter to a controller via the single sensing pin of the controller, when the power switch is in on-state;
- wherein the first measurement signal is derived from a voltage divider coupled to the input voltage;
- providing a second measurement signal from the power converter to the controller via the single sensing pin of the controller, when the power switch is in off-state;
- wherein the second measurement signal is derived from a transformer comprising a primary winding arranged in series with the power switch;
- and
- generating the control signal for putting the power switch into the on-state and into the off-state, respectively, based on the first and/or the second measurement signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.