Hysteretic regulator with output slope detection
AssigneeMarvell International Ltd.
InventorsSiew Yong Chui, Rudy Kurniawan, Jye Sheng Hong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes output voltage comparison circuitry that compares an output voltage of a regulator and a reference voltage and outputs an output voltage comparison signal based on the comparison. Slope detection circuitry detects a slope of the output voltage and outputs a slope comparison signal based on the slope detected. Duty cycle determination circuitry receives the output voltage comparison signal and the slope comparison signal and outputs a pre-driver signal having a duty cycle based on the output voltage comparison signal and the slope comparison signal. The pre-driver signal is used to regulate the output voltage of the voltage regulator.
Claims16
A method for regulating an output voltage of a regulator, the method comprising:
- comparing the output voltage of the regulator to a reference voltage;
- determining a slope of the output voltage of the regulator;
- based on (i) the comparison of the output voltage of the regulator to the reference voltage and (ii) the slope of the output voltage of the regulator, selecting a duty cycle from a plurality of duty cycles, wherein the plurality of duty cycles comprise (i) a first duty cycle, (ii) a second duty cycle, (iii) a third duty cycle, and (iv) a fourth duty cycle, and wherein selecting the duty cycle further comprises
- selecting the first duty cycle when (i) the output voltage of the regulator is greater than the reference voltage and (ii) the determined slope of the output voltage of the regulator is positive,
- selecting the second duty cycle when (i) the output voltage of the regulator is greater than the reference voltage and (ii) the slope of the output voltage of the regulator is negative,
- selecting the third duty cycle when (iii) the output voltage of the regulator is less than the reference voltage and (ii) the slope of the output voltage of the regulator is positive, and
- selecting the fourth duty cycle when (i) the output voltage of the regulator is less than the reference voltage and (ii) the slope of the output voltage of the regulator is negative;
- and
- based on the selected duty cycle, regulating the output voltage of the regulator.
An apparatus comprising:
- a regulator configured to generate an output voltage;
- and
- a control circuitry coupled to the regulator, the control circuitry including
- (A) a comparison circuitry configured to compare the output voltage of the regulator to a reference voltage,
- (B) a slope detection circuitry configured to detect a slope of the output voltage of the regulator, and
- (C) a duty cycle determination circuitry configured to, based on (i) the comparison of the output voltage of the regulator to the reference voltage and (ii) the slope of the output voltage of the regulator, select a duty cycle from a plurality of duty cycles, wherein the plurality of duty cycles comprise (i) a first duty cycle, (ii) a second duty cycle, (iii) a third duty cycle, and (iv) a fourth duty cycle, and wherein the duty cycle determination circuitry is further configured to select the duty cycle from the plurality of duty cycles by
- selecting the first duty cycle when (i) the output voltage of the regulator is greater than the reference voltage and (ii) the determined slope of the output voltage of the regulator is positive,
- selecting the second duty cycle when (i) the output voltage of the regulator is greater than the reference voltage and (ii) the slope of the output voltage of the regulator is negative,
- selecting the third duty cycle when (iii) the output voltage of the regulator is less than the reference voltage and (ii) the slope of the output voltage of the regulator is positive, and
- selecting the fourth duty cycle when (i) the output voltage of the regulator is less than the reference voltage and (ii) the slope of the output voltage of the regulator is negative,
- wherein based on the selected duty cycle, the control circuitry is configured to regulate the output voltage of the regulator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.