Driver with control interface facilitating use of the driver with varied DC-to-DC converter circuits

A DC-to-DC converter, comprising:

• a converter circuit for converting an input DC voltage to an output DC voltage, the converter circuit being configured as a buck-boost converter or flyback converter;
• a driver electrically connected to the converter circuit for providing a driver signal to the converter circuit for driving the converter circuit;
• and
• an automatic bi-mode interface circuit electrically connected to the converter circuit and the driver so as to sample the input DC voltage and to provide a selector signal based on the sampled input DC voltage to the driver to control operation of the driver,
• wherein the interface circuit comprises a current-sense amplifier for sensing the input DC voltage and in response, generating a sensor signal and further comprises a driver selector receiving the sensor signal, comparing the sensor signal to a comparison voltage, and based on the comparing, generating the selector signal operable in a first state and a second state corresponding to connection of the current-sense amplifier to a high side and a low side, respectively, of a power source supplying the input DC voltage and wherein the sensor signal is substantially equivalent in the first and second states and includes means for selecting a first circuit or a second circuit for generating an output current that generates the sensor signal.

A driver for use with multiple DC-to-DC converter types, comprising:

• means for automatically sensing an input voltage from a power supply and generating a sensor signal based on the sensing in one of two operational modes;
• means for comparing the sensor signal to a comparison voltage and generating a selector signal based on the comparing, the selector signal indicating one of the DC-to-DC converter types;
• and
• means for driving a DC-to-DC converter circuit linked to the comparing and generating means as the one DC-to-DC converter type with a driver signal based on the selector signal,
• wherein the sensing and generating means comprises a voltage sensor sensing the input voltage and generating the sensor signal corresponding to the sensed input voltage, the voltage sensor comprising a current-sense amplifier operable in a first state and a second state corresponding to connection of the current-sense amplifier to a high side and a low side, respectively, of a power source supplying the input voltage and wherein the sensor signal is substantially equivalent in the first and second states and includes means for selecting a first circuit or a second circuit for generating an output current that generates the sensor signal.