Inductance detection for power converters

A circuit comprising:

• an emulated current generator configured to provide an emulated current signal responsive to a charge current and a discharge current respectively charging or discharging a timing capacitor, the emulated current signal representative of an emulated current through an output inductor;
• a comparator configured to provide a comparator signal responsive to the emulated current signal and sensed current signal representative of a measure of current through the output inductor;
• and
• an inductor code counter configured to adjust an inductor code count value responsive to the comparator signal, wherein a slope of the emulated current signal is adjusted responsive to the inductor code count value.

A system comprising:

• an inductor;
• and
• a power stage comprising:
• a high-side switch coupled between a voltage supply terminal and a switching output terminal, the inductor coupled to the switching output terminal;
• a low-side switch coupled between the switching output terminal and a ground terminal;
• a driver configured to control the high-side and low-side switches responsive to a pulse-width modulated control signal;
• and
• inductance detection circuitry comprising:
• an emulated current generator having a current output;
• a comparator having first and second comparator inputs, and a comparator output, the first comparator input coupled to the current output, and the second comparator input is configured to receive a measure of current through the inductor;
• an inductor code counter having a counter input and a counter output, the counter input coupled to the comparator output;
• a charge circuit having an input coupled to the comparator output, the charge circuit comprising a variable slope resistor having a trim input coupled to the counter output;
• and
• a discharge circuit having an input coupled to the comparator output, the discharge circuit comprising a variable valley resistor having a trim input coupled to the counter output.