US 2022/0094318 A1Published application

Fully differential pwm/pfm power converter control

AssigneeInfineon Technologies AG

InventorsDavide Dal Bianco, Cristian Garbossa

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Abstract

Differential control circuitry configured to control the operation of a power converter. The control circuitry of this disclosure is configured to receive two differential feedback signals from a fully differential amplifier. The amplifier receives an output voltage (Vout) from the switched mode power supply as well as a reference voltage (Vref). When Vout is less than Vref, the control circuitry may output a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal to the switched mode power supply with a duty cycle of the PWM control signal based on a relative difference between a positive difference voltage and a negative difference voltage. When Vout is greater than Vref, the control circuitry may output a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) control signal to the switched mode power supply with a switching time of the PFM control signal based on a relative difference between the positive difference voltage and the negative difference voltage.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A circuit comprising:

a first input terminal configured to receive a first differential input signal;
a second input terminal configured to receive a second differential input signal;
a current sink input terminal configured to sink an electrical current based on a relative magnitude between the first differential input signal and the second differential input signal;
a peak detected input terminal configured to receive a logical signal from a peak detector circuit;
and
an output terminal configured to control a power converter, wherein the circuit is configured to:
in response to the first differential input signal being greater than the second differential input signal:
sink the electrical current at the current sink input terminal;
and
output a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal at the output terminal, wherein a duty cycle of the PWM control signal is based on a relative magnitude between the first differential input signal and the second differential input signal;
and
in response to the first differential input signal being less than the second differential input signal, output a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) control signal at the output terminal, wherein a switching time of the PFM control signal is based on the relative magnitude between the first differential input signal and the second differential input signal.

9 more elements

A system comprising:

a power converter;
a dual output difference amplifier configured to:
receive an output voltage from the power converter;
receive a reference voltage;
output a first differential signal;
and
output a second differential signal;
and
a differential control circuit comprising a first input terminal and a second input terminal and configured to:
receive the first differential signal at the first input terminal;
receive the second differential signal at the second input terminal;
and
control the operation of the power converter, wherein:
in response to the first differential signal being greater than the second differential input signal, output a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal to the power converter, wherein a duty cycle of the PWM control signal is based on a relative magnitude between the first differential signal and the second differential signal;
and
in response to the first differential signal being less than the second differential signal, output a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) control signal to the power converter, wherein a switching time of the PFM control signal is based on the relative magnitude between the first differential signal and the second differential signal.

13 more elements

A method comprising:

receiving, by a dual output difference amplifier, an output voltage from a power converter;
receiving, by the dual output difference amplifier, a reference voltage;
outputting, by the dual output difference amplifier, a first differential signal and a second differential signal, wherein:
a magnitude of the first differential signal is based on a relative difference between the output voltage from the power converter and the reference voltage,
a magnitude of the second differential signal is based on the relative difference between the output voltage from the power converter and the reference voltage, and
the first differential signal is greater than the second differential signal when the reference voltage is greater than the output voltage from the power converter;
and
in response to the first differential signal being greater than the second differential signal, outputting a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal to the power converter, wherein a duty cycle of the PWM control signal is based on a relative magnitude between the first differential signal and the second differential signal.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/028,348Filed 22 Sep 2020
Published: 24 Mar 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

H03F 3/45475
Characterised by the way of implementation of the active amplifying circuit in the differential amplifier: using IC blocks as the active…
H02M 1/0025
Details of control, feedback or regulation circuits: arrangements for modifying reference values, feedback values or error values in the control…
H02M 1/0032
Details of control, feedback or regulation circuits: control circuits allowing low power mode operation, e.g. in standby mode
H02M 3/156
Using semiconductor devices only: with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators