# US 8,786,377 B2 · System and method of maintaining gain linearity of variable frequency modulator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,786,377 B2 - Document ID: US8786377B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/537,708 - Filed: 2012-06-29 - Published: 2013-05-23 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-11-21 - Assignees: Intersil Americas Inc. - Applicants: M. Jason Houston; Steven P. Laur; Rhys S. A. Philbrick - Inventors: M. Jason Houston; Steven P. Laur; Rhys S. A. Philbrick - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786377B2 ## CPC - H03K 7/08: Duration or width modulation {; Duty cycle modulation} - H02M 3/156: with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators - H02M 3/1563: {without using an external clock (H02M3/158 takes precedence)} - H03K 3/0231: Astable circuits {(H03K3/0315 takes precedence)} - H03K 7/06: Frequency or rate modulation, i.e. PFM or PRM - H03K 7/10: Combined modulation, e.g. rate modulation and amplitude modulation - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - 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) ## Abstract A variable frequency modulator including a compensation network, first and second pulse control networks and a linearity controller. The compensation network is configured to provide a compensation signal indicative of an output load condition. The first pulse control network is configured to initiate pulses on a pulse control signal and to adjust operating frequency based on changes of the compensation signal. The second pulse control network is configured to terminate the pulses on the pulse control signal based on a predetermined timing parameter. The linearity controller is configured to adjust timing of terminating the pulses based on a predetermined steady state operating frequency and an actual operating frequency to maintain modulator gain at a constant level. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A variable frequency modulator, comprising: a compensation network which is configured to provide a compensation signal indicative of an output load condition; a first pulse control network which is configured to initiate pulses on a pulse control signal, wherein said first pulse control network is configured to adjust operating frequency based on changes of said compensation signal; a second pulse control network which is configured to terminate said pulses on said pulse control signal based on a predetermined timing parameter; and a linearity controller, coupled to said second pulse control network, which is configured to adjust timing of terminating said pulses by said second pulse network based on a predetermined steady state operating frequency and an actual operating frequency to maintain modulator gain at a constant level. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The variable frequency modulator of claim 1, further comprising: a slew detection network which is configured to sense changes of said compensation signal and to provide a slew rate signal indicative thereof; and wherein said linearity controller comprises a filter network configured according to said steady state operating frequency, wherein said filter network receives said slew rate signal and provides a timing adjust signal indicative thereof and wherein said timing adjust signal is used to adjust said predetermined timing parameter to adjust timing of terminating said pulses. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The variable frequency modulator of claim 2, wherein said slew rate detection network comprises a high pass filter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The variable frequency modulator of claim 2, wherein said filter network comprises a resistor-capacitor filter which is configured based on a steady state operating period. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The variable frequency modulator of claim 1, wherein said linearity controller comprises: a steady state frequency setting module which provides a steady state period value; a timer network which receives said pulse control signal and which provides an actual operating period value; a first combiner which is configured to combine said steady state period value and said actual operating period value to provide an adjust value; and a second combiner which is configured to combine said adjust value with a predetermined timing value provided by said second pulse control network. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The variable frequency modulator of claim 1, wherein said linearity controller comprises: a slew detection network which is configured to sense changes of said compensation signal and to provide a slew rate signal indicative thereof; at least one gain block which is configured to adjust a gain of said slew rate signal; and a filter network configured according to said steady state operating frequency, wherein said filter network receives said slew rate signal and provides a timing adjust signal indicative thereof that is used to adjust said predetermined timing parameter to adjust timing of terminating said pulses. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The variable frequency modulator of claim 1, wherein: said first pulse control network is configured to generate a first ramp signal and to initiate a pulse on said pulse control signal when said first ramp signal intersects said compensation signal, wherein said first pulse control network is configured to adjust a slew rate of said first ramp signal based on changes of said compensation signal; wherein said second pulse control network is configured to generate a second ramp signal upon initiation of said pulse of said pulse control signal and to terminate said pulse when said second ramp signal intersects said compensation signal; and wherein said linearity controller is configured to adjust a slew rate of said second ramp signal based on said predetermined steady state operating frequency and said actual operating frequency to maintain said modulator gain at said constant level. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The variable frequency modulator of claim 1, wherein: said first pulse control network comprises: a window network which is configured to develop an upper window level at a fixed amount above said compensation signal and a lower window level at a fixed amount below said compensation signal; and a ramp generator which is configured to generate a first ramp signal which ramps between said upper and lower window signals; wherein said second pulse control network is configured to generate a second ramp signal which ramps up to said upper window level during a pulse of said pulse control signal at a rate based on an input voltage and a reference voltage and which ramps down between pulses of said pulse control signal at a rate based on said reference voltage; and wherein said linearity controller is configured to adjust a slew rate of said second ramp signal when ramping down based on said predetermined steady state operating frequency and said actual operating frequency to maintain said modulator gain at said constant level. ### Claim 9 A method of operating a variable frequency modulator, comprising: providing a compensation signal indicative of an output load condition; initiating pulses on a pulse control signal at an operating frequency based on changes of the compensation signal; terminating the pulses on the pulse control signal based on a predetermined timing parameter; and adjusting timing of terminating the pulses based on a predetermined steady state operating frequency and an actual operating frequency to maintain modulation gain at a constant level. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: sensing changes of the compensation signal and providing a slew rate signal indicative thereof; filtering the slew rate signal based on a steady state period and providing a timing adjust signal indicative thereof; and wherein said adjusting timing comprises using the timing adjust signal to adjust a timing signal based on the predetermined timing parameter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein said filtering comprises high pass filtering. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein said filtering comprises filtering using a resistor-capacitor filter which is configured based on the steady state period. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said adjusting timing comprises: providing a steady state period value; measuring timing of the pulse control signal and providing an actual operating period value; combining the steady state period value with the actual operating period value and providing a corresponding adjust value; and using the adjust value to adjust the predetermined timing parameter to adjust timing of said terminating the pulses. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said adjusting timing comprises: sensing changes of the compensation signal and providing a slew rate signal indicative thereof; adjusting a gain of the slew rate signal; filtering the slew rate signal based on a steady state period and providing a timing adjust signal indicative thereof; and using the timing adjust signal to adjust the predetermined timing parameter to adjust timing of said terminating the pulses. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein: said initiating pulses on a pulse control signal comprises generating a first ramp signal and initiating a pulse on the pulse control signal when the first ramp signal intersects the compensation signal; adjusting a slew rate of the first ramp signal based on changes of the compensation signal; wherein said terminating the pulses on the pulse control signal comprises generating a second ramp signal upon initiating of the pulse on the pulse control signal and terminating the pulse when the second ramp signal intersects the compensation signal; and wherein said adjusting timing of terminating the pulses comprises adjusting a slew rate of the second ramp signal based on the predetermined steady state operating frequency and the actual operating frequency to maintain modulation gain at a constant level. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein: said initiating pulses on a pulse control signal comprises developing a window range on either side of the compensation signal and generating a first ramp signal which ramps within the window range; wherein said terminating the pulses on the pulse control signal comprises generating a second ramp signal which ramps in one direction to a boundary of the window range during a pulse of the pulse control signal at a rate based on a difference between an input voltage and a reference voltage, and which ramps in an opposite direction at a rate based on the reference voltage; and wherein said adjusting timing of terminating the pulses comprises adjusting a slew rate of the second ramp signal when ramping in the opposite direction based on the predetermined steady state operating frequency and the actual operating frequency to maintain modulation gain at a constant level. ### Claim 17 An electronic device, comprising: a switching circuit responsive to a pulse control signal for switching voltage applied to an output inductor to convert an input voltage to a regulated output voltage; and a variable frequency modulator, comprising: a compensation network which is configured to provide a compensation signal indicative of an output load condition; a first pulse control network which is configured to initiate pulses on said pulse control signal, wherein said first modulation pulse control network is configured to adjust operating frequency based on changes of said compensation signal; a second pulse control network which is configured to terminate said pulses on said pulse control signal based on a predetermined timing parameter; and a linearity controller, coupled to said second pulse control network, which is configured to adjust timing of terminating said pulses by said second pulse network based on a predetermined steady state operating frequency and an actual operating frequency to maintain modulator gain at a constant level. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The electronic device of claim 17, further comprising a processor and a memory both receiving power via said output voltage. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The electronic device of claim 17, wherein said variable frequency modulator further comprises: a slew detection network which is configured to sense changes of said compensation signal and to provide a slew rate signal indicative thereof; and wherein said linearity controller comprises a filter network configured according to said steady state operating frequency, wherein said filter network receives said slew rate signal and provides a timing adjust signal indicative thereof and wherein said timing adjust signal is used to adjust said predetermined timing parameter to adjust timing of terminating said pulses. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The electronic device of claim 17, wherein said linearity controller comprises: a steady state frequency setting module which provides a steady state period value; a timer which receives said pulse control signal and which provides an actual operating period value; and a combiner which is configured to combine said steady state period value and said actual operating period value to provide an adjust value which is used to adjust said predetermined timing parameter to adjust timing of terminating said pulses.