# US 2016/0252918 A1 · Pulsed feedback switching converter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0252918 A1 - Document ID: US20160252918A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/632,774 - Filed: 2015-02-26 - Published: 2016-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-26 - Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l. - Applicants: Stmicroelectronics S.R.L. - Inventors: Claudio Adragna - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160252918A1 ## CPC - G05F 1/56: using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices (G05F1/461 takes precedence) - H02M 3/156: with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators - H02M 3/33571: {Half-bridge at primary side of an isolation transformer} - G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES - 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 The present disclosure is directed to a switching power converter having a regulated output voltage or output current. The power converter uses a control unit having a signal conditioning circuit to produce a control voltage signal, which is used to drive a power stage of the converter. The signal conditioning circuit includes a comparator that compares a measured electrical quantity to a reference value representative of a desired regulated output quantity, and produces a digital detection signal based on the comparison. A control actuator uses the digital detection signal to produce a correction signal, which is received by an averaging circuit. The averaging circuit then produces the control voltage signal based on an average of the correction signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device, comprising: a comparator configured to receive a reference signal and a measured value signal representative of an output electrical quantity of a power stage of a switching converter, the comparator being configured to produce a digital detection signal based on a comparison of the measured value signal and the reference signal; a control actuator configured to produce a correction signal based on the digital detection signal; an averaging circuit configured to produce a control signal by averaging the correction signal; and a power stage driver configured to drive the power stage of the switching converter based on the control signal, to regulate the output electrical quantity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the control actuator includes a monostable oscillator configured to produce the correction signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the control actuator further includes a counter coupled to the monostable oscillator and configured to reduce a frequency of the correction signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the control actuator further includes a logic gate configured to receive the digital detection signal and a clock signal, and to produce a logic signal to the monostable oscillator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the control actuator further includes: a clock configured to produce a clock signal; a set-reset flip-flop having a set input configured to receive the digital detection signal and a reset input configured to receive the clock signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the control actuator further includes a counter configured to reduce a frequency of the correction signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the control actuator further includes: a time delay circuit coupled between the clock and the reset input of the flip-flop and configured to delay the clock signal; a logic gate configured to receive the clock signal and an output of the flip-flop, and to produce a logic signal to the monostable oscillator, the monostable oscillator being configured to produce the correction signal based on the logic signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the control actuator includes: an oscillator configured to produce the correction signal based on the digital detection signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the measured value signal is representative of an output voltage of the switching converter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the averaging circuit further comprises: a first resistor coupled to a reference voltage terminal; a second resistor coupled to the first resistor; and a capacitor coupled to the first resistor and configured to discharge based on the correction signal. ### Claim 11 A method, comprising: comparing a measured value signal representative of a an output electrical quantity of a power stage of a switching converter to a reference value; producing a digital detection signal based on the comparison of the measured value signal and the reference value; performing a corrective action at a control actuator when the measured value signal has a value greater than the reference value, performing the corrective action including: receiving the digital detection signal at an input of the control actuator; producing a correction signal based on the digital detection signal; averaging the correction signal to produce a control voltage signal; and driving the power stage of the switching convert based on the control voltage signal to regulate the output voltage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, performing the corrective action further including: receiving the digital detection signal and a clock signal at a logic gate; receiving an output signal of the logic gate at a monostable oscillator; producing the correction signal from the monostable oscillator based on the output signal of the logic gate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, performing the corrective action further including: receiving the digital detection signal at a set input of a set-reset flip-flop; receiving a clock signal at a reset input of the set-reset flip-flop; producing the correction signal from the set-reset flip-flop based on the digital detection signal and the clock signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, performing the corrective action further including: receiving the digital detection signal at a monostable oscillator; producing the correction signal from the monostable oscillator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, performing the corrective action further including: receiving the digital detection signal at a set input of a set-reset flip-flop; producing a clock signal; delaying the clock signal; receiving the delayed clock signal at a reset input of the set-reset flip-flop; producing an output signal from the set-reset flip-flop; receiving the clock signal and the output signal of the set-reset flip-flop at a logic gate; receiving an output signal of the logic gate at a monostable oscillator; producing the correction signal from the monostable oscillator based on the output signal of the logic gate. ### Claim 16 A switching converter, comprising: a power stage, including: a transformer coupled to an input voltage and configured to produce an output electrical quantity; a first switch coupled to the transformer; a sensing circuit configured to produce a measured value signal representative of the output voltage of the transformer; a signal conditioning circuit, including: a comparator configured to receive a reference signal and the measured value signal, and to produce a digital detection signal based on a comparison of the measured value signal and the reference signal; a control actuator configured to produce a correction signal based on the digital detection signal; an averaging circuit configured to produce a control voltage signal by averaging the correction signal over time; a modulator coupled to the signal conditioning circuit and configured to produce a pulsed signal based on the control voltage signal; and a driver coupled to the modulator and configured to provide a driving signal to the switch of the power stage based on the pulsed signal to regulate the output voltage of the transformer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The switching converter of claim 16, wherein the control actuator includes an oscillator configured to produce the correction signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The switching converter of claim 17, wherein the control actuator further includes a logic gate configured to receive the digital detection signal and a clock signal, and to provide a logic signal to the oscillator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The switching converter of claim 16, wherein the control actuator includes: a clock configured to produce a clock signal; and a set-reset flip-flop having a set input configured to receive the digital detection signal and a reset input configured to receive the clock signal, the flip-flop being configured to produce the correction signal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The switching converter of claim 16, wherein the power stage further comprises a second switch coupled to the transformer.