Thermal compensation method and device for circuits with temperature-dependent current sensing elements
AssigneeIntersil Americas Inc.
InventorsBogdan M. Duduman, Matthew B. Harris, Robert H. Isham
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Abstract
The integrated control circuit is for an electronic circuit, such as a DC-to-DC converter, using current sense information developed across an intrinsic circuit element of the electronic circuit. The integrated control circuit includes a temperature sensor to sense a temperature rise induced by the intrinsic circuit element of the electronic circuit. The temperature error signal and a feedback signal from the intrinsic circuit element of the converter are combined to provide a temperature-corrected feedback signal to a control unit for the converter.
Claims35
An integrated control circuit for an electronic circuit using current sense information developed across an intrinsic circuit element of the electronic circuit, the integrated control circuit comprising:
- a control unit to control the electronic circuit;
- a temperature sensor to sense a temperature rise induced by the intrinsic circuit element of the electronic circuit and output a temperature error signal;
- a variable gain amplifier connected to the temperature sensor to generate an amplified temperature error signal;
- and
- an adder connected to the variable gain amplifier to combine the amplified temperature error signal and a feedback signal from the intrinsic circuit element of the converter, and to provide a temperature-corrected feedback signal to the control unit.
An integrated control circuit for an electronic circuit using current sense information developed across an intrinsic circuit element of the electronic circuit, the integrated control circuit comprising:
- a control unit to control the electronic circuit;
- a temperature sensor to sense a temperature rise induced by the intrinsic circuit element of the electronic circuit and output a temperature error signal, the temperature sensor having a positive temperature coefficient;
- and
- an amplifier to receive a feedback signal from the intrinsic circuit element of the electronic circuit and the temperature error signal from the temperature sensor to generate a temperature-corrected feedback signal to the control unit.
A DC-to-DC converter comprising:
- at least one power switch;
- a pulse width modulation circuit for generating control pulses for the at least one power switch;
- an output inductor connected to the at least one power switch;
- a current sensor for sensing current in an intrinsic circuit element of the converter, the intrinsic circuit element comprising one of the output inductor and the at least one power switch;
- a current feedback loop circuit cooperating with the pulse width modulation circuit for controlling the at least one power switch responsive to the current sensor;
- a temperature sensor to sense a temperature rise induced by the intrinsic circuit element of the converter and output a temperature error signal;
- a variable gain amplifier connected to the temperature sensor to generate an amplified temperature error signal;
- and
- an adder connected to the variable gain amplifier to combine the amplified temperature error signal and a feedback signal from the current feedback loop circuit, and to provide a temperature-corrected feedback signal to the pulse width modulation circuit.
A DC-to-DC converter comprising:
- at least one power switch;
- a pulse width modulation circuit for generating control pulses for the at least one power switch;
- an output inductor connected to the at least one power switch;
- a current sensor for sensing current in an intrinsic circuit element of the converter, the intrinsic circuit element comprising one of the output inductor and the at least one power switch;
- a current feedback loop circuit cooperating with the pulse width modulation circuit for controlling the at least one power switch responsive to the current sensor;
- a temperature sensor to sense a temperature rise induced by the intrinsic circuit element of the converter and output a temperature error signal, the temperature sensor having a positive temperature coefficient;
- and
- an amplifier to receive a feedback signal from the current feedback loop circuit and the temperature error signal from the temperature sensor to generate a temperature-corrected feedback signal to the pulse width modulation circuit.
A method of regulating a DC-to-DC converter comprising an output terminal, at least one power switch, a pulse width modulation circuit for generating control pulses for the at least one power switch, an output inductor connected between the at least one power switch and the output terminal, and a current feedback loop circuit cooperating with the pulse width modulation circuit for controlling the at least one power switch, the method comprising:
- sensing current in an intrinsic circuit element of the converter, the intrinsic circuit element comprising one of the output inductor and the at least one power switch;
- operating the current feedback loop circuit in cooperation with the pulse width modulation circuit to control the at least one power switch in response to the current sensor;
- generating a temperature error signal by sensing a temperature rise induced by the intrinsic circuit element of the converter;
- and
- providing a temperature-corrected feedback signal to the pulse width modulation circuit by combining the temperature error signal and a feedback signal from the current feedback loop circuit.
A method of regulating a DC-to-DC converter comprising at least one power switch, a pulse width modulation circuit for generating control pulses for the at least one power switch, an output inductor connected to the at least one power switch, and a current feedback loop circuit cooperating with the pulse width modulation circuit for controlling the at least one power switch, the method comprising:
- sensing current in an intrinsic circuit element of the converter, the intrinsic circuit element comprising one of the output inductor and the at least one power switch;
- operating the current feedback loop circuit in cooperation with the pulse width modulation circuit to control the at least one power switch in response to the current sensor;
- generating a temperature error signal by sensing a temperature rise induced by the intrinsic circuit element of the converter with a temperature sensor having a positive temperature coefficient;
- and
- generating a temperature-corrected feedback signal to the pulse width modulation circuit based upon a feedback signal from the current feedback loop circuit and the temperature error signal from the temperature sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.