# US 8,570,011 B2 · DC-DC converter circuit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,570,011 B2 - Document ID: US8570011B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/103,250 - Filed: 2011-05-09 - Published: 2011-11-24 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-07 - Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l. - Applicants: Giovanni Gritti - Inventors: Giovanni Gritti - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8570011B2 ## CPC - H02M 3/156: with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators - H02M 3/1588: {comprising at least one synchronous rectifier element (H02M3/1582, H02M3/1584 take precedence)} - H02M 1/0025: {Arrangements for modifying reference values, feedback values or error values in the control loop of a converter} - Y02B 70/10: Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract An embodiment of a voltage conversion unit comprising a switching DC-DC converter including an input terminal for receiving an input voltage from a source, a control terminal adapted to receive a pulse width modulated driving signal oscillating at a first frequency, and an output terminal for providing to a load an output voltage generated from the input voltage according to the driving signal. The switching DC-DC converter and the switching control unit form a feedback loop having a loop gain defining a corresponding operating bandwidth. The load is configured to d rain a current pulse train having a second frequency; the values of the first and second frequencies are such to cause the occurrence of beat oscillations at frequencies comprised within the operating bandwidth. The switching control unit comprises means for reducing the beat oscillations by increasing the loop gain at least for a frequency interval comprised within the operating bandwidth. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power supply, comprising: an output node; a circuit node configured to receive an interference signal having a first frequency; a converter circuit configured to generate a regulated output signal at the output node and to switch at a second frequency; and a feedback circuit coupled to the output node and to the converter circuit and configured to generate a compensation signal having a third frequency that is approximately equal to a difference between the first and second frequencies. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power supply of claim 1 wherein the interference signal comprises a current signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The power supply of claim 1 wherein the interference signal comprises a load signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The power supply of claim 1 wherein the regulated output signal comprises a regulated output voltage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The power supply of claim 1, further comprising: an input node; wherein the converter circuit comprises an inductor having a first node and having a second node coupled to the output node; and wherein the converter circuit is configured to switch between coupling and uncoupling the first node of the inductor to the input node at the second frequency. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The power supply of claim 1, further comprising: first and second input nodes; wherein the converter circuit comprises an inductor having a first node and having a second node coupled to the output node; and wherein the converter circuit is configured to alternately couple the first node of the inductor to the first and second input nodes at the second frequency. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The power supply of claim 1 wherein the first frequency is in a range of approximately 0-2 MHz. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The power supply of claim 1 wherein the second frequency is in a range of approximately 0-2 MHz. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The power supply of claim 1 wherein the third frequency is in a range of approximately 0-100 KHz. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The power supply of claim 1 wherein the converter circuit and feedback circuit form a loop having a unity-gain frequency that is approximately one tenth of the second frequency. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The power supply of claim 1 wherein: the converter circuit and feedback circuit form a loop having a unity-gain frequency; and the loop has a zero at a frequency that is less than the unity-gain frequency. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The power supply of claim 1 wherein: the converter circuit and feedback circuit form a loop having a unity-gain frequency; and the loop has two zeros at a frequency that is less than the unity-gain frequency. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The power supply of claim 1 wherein the converter circuit is configured to switch at a duty cycle that is related to the compensation signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The power supply of claim 1 wherein the output node and the circuit node comprise a same node. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The power supply of claim 1 wherein: the converter circuit and feedback circuit form a loop having a unity-gain frequency; and the loop has two poles at a frequency that is less than the unity-gain frequency. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The power supply of claim 1 wherein the converter circuit comprises a single phase. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The power supply of claim 1 wherein the converter circuit comprises multiple phases. ### Claim 18 A power supply, comprising: an output node; a circuit node configured to receive an interference signal having a first frequency; a converter circuit configured to generate a regulated output signal at the output node and to switch at a second frequency; and a feedback circuit coupled to the output node and to the converter circuit and configured to generate a compensation signal having a third frequency that is approximately equal to a difference between the first and second frequencies; wherein the feedback circuit comprises: an operational amplifier having an input node and an output node; a first capacitor coupled between the input and output nodes; a resistor and second capacitor serially coupled between the input and output nodes; and a third capacitor coupled in electrical parallel with the resistor. ### Claim 19 A system, comprising: a power supply, including: an output node; a circuit node configured to receive an interference signal having a first frequency; a converter circuit configured to generate a regulated output signal at the output node and to switch at a second frequency; and a feedback circuit coupled to the output node and to the converter circuit and configured to generate a compensation signal having a third frequency that is approximately equal to a difference between the first and second frequencies; and a load coupled to the output node. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein: the output node and the circuit node comprise the same node; and the load is configured to generate the interference signal at the output node. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein the load is configured to generate the interference signal by periodically changing a current that the load draws from the power supply. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein the load is configured to generate the interference signal by periodically changing a magnitude of a current that the load draws from the power supply. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein the load comprises an integrated circuit. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein the load comprises a processor. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein a portion of the power supply and the load are disposed on a same integrated-circuit die. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein a portion of the power supply and the load are disposed on different integrated-circuit dies. ### Claim 27 A method, comprising: generating a regulated output signal at an output node by coupling a first input signal to the output node at a first frequency and at a duty cycle; receiving an interference signal having a second frequency; and compensating the regulated output signal at a third frequency that is approximately equal to a difference between the first and second frequencies. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the regulated output signal comprises a regulated output voltage. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein generating the regulated output signal comprises coupling the input signal to the output node via an inductor. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein generating the regulated output signal comprises alternately coupling the output node to the first input signal and to a second input signal. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein generating the regulated output signal comprises alternately coupling the output node to the first input signal and to ground. ### Claim 32 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein receiving the interference signal comprises receiving the interference signal at the output node. ### Claim 33 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the interference signal comprises an interference current. ### Claim 34 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, further comprising generating the interference signal with a load that is coupled to the output node. ### Claim 35 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein compensating the regulated output signal comprises varying the duty cycle at the third frequency.