US 7,064,530 B2 · Voltage regulator current sensing

Abstract

A system may include a voltage regulator converter to generate a supply voltage, the voltage regulator converter comprising a high side power transistor to generate a high side alternating current and a low side power transistor to generate a low side alternating current, a current sensing circuit to generate a first alternating current based on the high side alternating current and to generate a second alternating current based on the low side alternating current, a rectifier circuit to generate a substantially direct current based on the first alternating current and on the second alternating current, and a resistive element to receive the substantially direct current, wherein a voltage drop across the resistive element is to be proportional to the supply voltage.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

a first switch;
a first transformer comprising first primary winding and first secondary winding, the first primary winding coupled in series to the first switch;
a second switch;
a second transformer comprising second primary winding and second secondary winding, the second primary winding coupled in series to the second switch;
a control unit coupled to the first switch and to the second switch, the control unit to control the first switch and the second switch to enter a first state in which the first switch is closed and the second switch is open, and to enter a second state in which the first switch is open and the second switch is closed;
a first load coupled to an input node via the first switch in the first state and coupled to ground via the second switch in the second state, the first load to receive a first current;
a circuit coupled to the first secondary winding and to the second secondary winding;
and
a second load coupled to the circuit, the second load to receive a second current substantially proportional to the first current.

6 more elements

An apparatus comprising:

a voltage regulator converter to generate a supply voltage, the voltage regulator converter comprising a high side power transistor to generate a high side alternating current and a low side power transistor to generate a low side alternating current;
a current sensing circuit to generate a first alternating current based on the high side alternating current and to generate a second alternating current based on the low side alternating current;
a rectifier circuit to generate a substantially direct current based on the first alternating current and on the second alternating current;
and
a resistive element to receive the substantially direct current, wherein a voltage drop across the resistive element is to be proportional to the supply voltage.

2 more elements

A system comprising:

a microprocessor;
a double data rate memory coupled to the microprocessor;
and
a voltage regulator to provide a supply voltage to the microprocessor, the voltage regulator comprising:
a voltage regulator converter to generate the supply voltage, the voltage regulator converter comprising a high side power transistor to generate a high side alternating current and a low side power transistor to generate a low side alternating current;
a current sensing circuit to generate a first alternating current based on the high side alternating current and to generate a second alternating current based on the low side alternating current;
a rectifier circuit to generate a substantially direct current based on the first alternating current and on the second alternating current;
and
a resistive element to receive the substantially direct current, wherein a voltage drop across the resistive element is to be proportional to the supply voltage.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description2,632 words

Summary200 words

#A voltage regulator may convert power that is received from a power supply at first voltage and current levels to second voltage and current levels. According to some examples, the power is supplied at 12V and 20 A and is converted by the voltage regulator to 1V and 100 A. The converted voltage and current levels may be suitable for providing power to an integrated circuit (IC).

#An IC may be designed to operate in conjunction with a specified range of supply voltage and current levels. Levels that fall outside this range may cause speed path problems and/or IC degradation. A voltage regulator may therefore also be used to tightly control the voltage and current levels of power supplied to an IC.

#A voltage regulator may use a current sensing circuit to detect and control the voltage and current levels of power supplied thereby. Increases in the accuracy of current sensing may allow the use of voltage regulator elements that are rated for lower power use, and therefore may increase voltage regulator reliability and decrease voltage regulator cost. However, since current sensing consumes power generated by the voltage regulator, current sensing reduces the efficiency of power delivery to the IC.

Brief description of the drawings5 figures

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to some embodiments.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a voltage regulator according to some embodiments.

#FIG. 3 is diagram of a process according to some embodiments.

Detailed description2,367 words

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of system 1 according to some embodiments. System 1 comprises voltage regulator 10, which in turn comprises voltage regulator controller 12 and voltage regulator converter 14. Voltage regulator 10 outputs power at a supply voltage and a supply current to power bus 15, which in turn provides the power to IC 20. IC 20 may comprise a microprocessor or any suitable IC. System 1 may be used in a computer motherboard or in any other platform according to some embodiments. For example, voltage regulator 10 may be implemented as a voltage regulator “module” that is mounted to a substrate that in turn may be coupled to a motherboard, as a voltage regulator “down” having elements that are mounted directly on a motherboard, or in any other fashion.

#Generally, voltage regulator 10 may comprise any currently- or hereafter-known device to provide power at a particular supply voltage and a particular supply current to IC 20. According to some embodiments, voltage regulator controller 12 transmits a control signal to voltage regulator converter 14. Voltage regulator converter 14 then adjusts the supply voltage, with the value of the supply voltage being controlled by the control signal. Voltage regulator converter 14 may comprise a single or multi-phase Buck regulator or any other suitable device. Further details of voltage regulator converter 14 according to some embodiments are provided below.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of voltage regulator 10 according to some embodiments. Voltage regulator 10 of FIG. 2 comprises control unit 30, a voltage regulator converter composed of switch 42, switch 44, inductor 46 and capacitor 48, and current sensing circuit 50. Voltage regulator 10 receives a first power signal at node Vin and generates a second power signal at node Vout.

Facts

Application

10/813,378Filed 30 Mar 2004

Published

US 2005/0219865 A16 Oct 2005

Granted

20 Jun 2006

Term ended

9 Nov 2024

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 224 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification3 codes

H02M 3/33569
Using semiconductor devices only: having several active switching elements
H02M 1/0009
Details of control, feedback or regulation circuits: devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter
H02M
Apparatus for conversion between ac and ac, between ac and dc, or

Voltage regulator current sensing

Life of this patent

Voltage regulator current sensing

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims20

Description2,632 words

Drawings

Classification3 codes

Life of this patent

Description2,632 words