US 2026/0312480 A1 · SINGLE-ENDED DRIVER AND BIDIRECTIONAL OVERCURRENT PROTECTION FOR A THERMOELECTRIC COOLER

Abstract

In accordance to an embodiment, an electronic circuit includes: first and second supply terminals; first and second inductor terminals; an output terminal; a first switch coupled between the first supply terminal and the first inductor terminal; a second switch coupled between the first inductor terminal and the second supply terminal; a third switch coupled between the first supply terminal and the second inductor terminal; a fourth switch coupled between the second inductor terminal and the output terminal; and a controller configured to: when an output voltage at the output terminal is higher than a first threshold, close the fourth switch, open the third switch, and operate the first and second switches in alternate phases; when the output voltage is lower than a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold, close the second switch, open the first switch, and operate the third and fourth switches in alternate phases; and when the output voltage is between the first and second thresholds, operate the first and fourth switches according to a first clock signal, and operate the second and third switches according to a second clock signal that is non-overlapping with respect to the first clock signal.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An electronic circuit comprising:

first and second supply terminals;
first and second inductor terminals;
an output terminal;
a first switch coupled between the first supply terminal and the first inductor terminal;
a second switch coupled between the first inductor terminal and the second supply terminal;
a third switch coupled between the first supply terminal and the second inductor terminal;
a fourth switch coupled between the second inductor terminal and the output terminal;
and
a controller configured to:
when an output voltage at the output terminal is higher than a first threshold, close the fourth switch, open the third switch, and operate the first and second switches in alternate phases;
when the output voltage is lower than a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold, close the second switch, open the first switch, and operate the third and fourth switches in alternate phases;
and
when the output voltage is between the first and second thresholds, operate the first and fourth switches according to a first clock signal, and operate the second and third switches according to a second clock signal that is non-overlapping with respect to the first clock signal.

10 more elements

A method comprising:

operating first and second switches with a fixed switching frequency to regulate an output voltage at an output terminal, wherein the first switch is coupled between a first supply terminal and a first inductor terminal, wherein the second switch is coupled between the first inductor terminal and a second supply terminal, wherein an inductor is coupled between the first inductor terminal and a second inductor terminal, and wherein the output terminal is coupled to the second inductor terminal;
in response to inductor current through the inductor being higher than a first current threshold, turning off the first switch and turning on the second switch to start a first discharge phase of the inductor;
during the first discharge phase of the inductor, maintain the first switch off and the second switch on;
and
in response to the inductor current dropping below a second current threshold that is lower than the first current threshold, restarting operation of the first and second switches with the fixed switching frequency to exit the first discharge phase.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Single-ended driver and bidirectional overcurrent protection for a thermoelectric cooler

Life of this patent

Single-ended driver and bidirectional overcurrent protection for a thermoelectric cooler

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20