US 6,204,651 B1 · Method and apparatus for regulating an output voltage of a switch mode converter

Abstract

A method and apparatus for regulating a DC output voltage of a switch mode converter. The method and apparatus includes processing that begins by comparing a representation of the DC output voltage with a reference voltage to produce a digital stream of comparison data. The comparing is done at a given clock rate such that the digital stream of comparison data is produced at the corresponding clock rate. The processing then continues by interpreting the digital stream of comparison data to produce a digital stream of charged data and load data. The processing continues by interpreting the digital stream of charge data and load data to determine, for a given set of clock cycles, a charge signal and a load signal. The processing then continues by enabling charging of an external element (e.g., an inductor) in accordance with a charge signal for the given set of clock cycles. The processing further includes enabling discharging of the external elements to a load (e.g., a capacitor) in accordance with the load signal for the given set of clock cycles.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A method for regulating an output voltage of a switch mode converter, the method comprises the steps of:

a) comparing a representation of the output voltage with a reference voltage to produce a digital stream of comparison data;
b) interpreting the digital stream of comparison data to produce a digital stream of charge data and load data;
c) interpreting the digital stream of charge data and load data to determine, for a given set of clock cycles, a charge signal and a load signal;
d) during the given set of clock cycles, enabling charging of an external element in accordance with the charge signal;
and
e) during the given set of clock cycles, enabling discharging of the external element to a load in accordance with the load signal.

3 more elements

A method for regulating multiple output voltages of a switch mode converter, the method comprises the steps of:

a) combining a representation of a first output voltage and a representation of a second output voltage to produce a combined output voltage;
b) comparing the combined output voltage with a reference voltage to produce a digital stream of comparison data;
c) interpreting the digital stream of comparison data to produce a digital stream of charge data and load data;
d) interpreting the digital stream of charge data and load data to determine, for a given set of clock cycles, a charge signal and a load signal;
e) during the given set of clock cycles, enabling charging of an external element in accordance with the charge signal;
f) determining whether, for the given set of clock cycles, the first or the second output voltage is to be charged;
and
g) during the given set of clock cycles, enabling discharging of the external element to a first load in accordance with the load signal when the first output is to be charged and enabling discharging of the external element to a second load in accordance with the load signal when the second output is to be charged.

5 more elements

A regulation circuit for regulating an output voltage of a switch mode converter, the regulation circuit comprising:

a comparator operably coupled to compare a representation of the output voltage with a reference voltage at a first clock rate to produce a digital stream of comparison data;
a decimator operably coupled to receive the digital stream of comparison data, wherein the decimator interprets the digital stream of comparison data to produce a digital stream of charge data and load data;
an interpolator operably coupled to receive the digital stream of charge data and load data, wherein the interpolator interprets the digital stream of charge data and load data to produce, for a given set of clock cycles, a charge signal and a load signal;
and
switching circuit operably coupled to receive the charge signal and the load signal, wherein the switching circuit couples an external element to a source for charging in accordance with the charge signal and couples the external element to a load in accordance with the load signal.

2 more elements

A switch mode converter comprises:

an inductor;
an impedance load that supplies an output voltage;
a feedback circuit operably coupled to the impedance load and to produce a representation of the output voltage;
a comparator operably coupled to compare the representation of the output voltage with a reference voltage at a first clock rate to produce a digital stream of comparison data;
a decimator operably coupled to receive the digital stream of comparison data, wherein the decimator interprets the digital stream of comparison data to produce a digital stream of charge data and load data;
an interpolator operably coupled to receive the digital stream of charge data and load data, wherein the interpolator interprets the digital stream of charge data and load data to produce, for a given set of clock cycles, a charge signal and a load signal;
and
switching circuit operably coupled to receive the charge signal and the load signal, wherein the switching circuit couples the inductor to a voltage source for charging in accordance with the charge signal and couples the external element to the capacitive load in accordance with the load signal.

5 more elements

An apparatus for regulating a DC output voltage of a switch mode converter, the apparatus comprises:

a processing module;
and
memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:
(a) compare a representation of the output voltage with a reference voltage to produce a digital stream of comparison data;
(b) interpret the digital stream of comparison data to produce a digital stream of charge data and load data;
(c) interpret the digital stream of charge data and load data to determine, for a given set of clock cycles, a charge signal and a load signal;
(d) during the given set of clock cycles, enable charging of an external element in accordance with the charge signal;
and (e) during the given set of clock cycles, enable discharging of the external element to a load in accordance with the load signal.

5 more elements

An apparatus for regulating multiple output voltages of a switch mode converter, the apparatus comprises:

a processing module;
and
memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:
(a) combine a representation of a first output voltage and a representation of a second output voltage to produce a combined output voltage;
(b) compare the combined output voltage with a reference voltage to produce a digital stream of comparison data;
(c) interpret the digital stream of comparison data to produce a digital stream of charge data and load data;
(d) interpret the digital stream of charge data and load data to determine, for a given set of clock cycles, a charge signal and a load signal;
(e) during the given set of clock cycles, enable charging of an external element in accordance with the charge signal;
(f) determine whether, for the given set of clock cycles, the first or the second output voltage is to be charged;
and (g) during the given set of clock cycles, enable discharging of the external element to a first load in accordance with the load signal when the first output is to be charged and enable discharging of the external element to a second load in accordance with the load signal when the second output is to be charged.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for regulating an output voltage of a switch mode converter

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for regulating an output voltage of a switch mode converter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims35