Circuit for calculating efficiency in switching regulators
AssigneeAnalog Devices, Inc.
InventorsMichael Daly, Gabriele Bernardinis, Lok Hin Cheng
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present subject matter improves efficiency of a switching power supply. Generally, in a switching power supply scheme as described herein, the input voltage and an output voltage of the switching power supply are monitored. A bitstream is produced using the input voltage, the output voltage, and a switching control signal used to control charging of an inductor of the switching power supply. The bitstream is representative of efficiency of operation of the switching power supply. One or more operating parameters of the switching power supply according to the bitstream.
Claims20
A method of operating a switching power supply, the method comprising:
- monitoring an input voltage and an output voltage of the switching power supply;
- producing a bitstream using the input voltage, the output voltage, and a switching control signal used to control charging of an inductor of the switching power supply;
- determining a number of bits produced in the bitstream that are one bits during a specified time duration;
- and
- changing operation of the switching power supply according to the determined number of bits.
A circuit to monitor efficiency of a switching converter circuit, the circuit comprising:
- a first input to receive an output voltage of the switching converter circuit;
- a second input to receive an input voltage of the switching converter circuit;
- a third input to receive a switching control signal used to control charging of an inductor of the switching converter circuit;
- and
- a sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit to output a serial bitstream representative of efficiency of the switching converter circuit using the input voltage, the output voltage, and the switching control signal.
An electronic system, the system comprising:
- a switching converter circuit including:
- an input to receive an input voltage and an output to provide an output voltage;
- at least one inductor;
- and
- a switch control circuit to produce a switching control signal used to control charging of an inductor of the switching converter circuit to produce the output voltage;
- an efficiency monitor circuit including:
- a first input connected to the output of the switching converter circuit;
- a second input connected to the input of the switching converter circuit;
- a third input connected to a switch control circuit of the switching converter circuit;
- and
- a sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit including an output to generate a bitstream representative of efficiency of the switching converter circuit using the input voltage the output voltage, and the switching control signal of the switching converter circuit;
- and
- a controller circuit configured to change operation of the switching converter circuit according to the generated bitstream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.