# US 9,520,787 B2 · Voltage regulator device having negative current sensing and control method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,520,787 B2 - Document ID: US9520787B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/313,503 - Filed: 2014-06-24 - Published: 2015-01-01 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-26 - Assignees: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. - Applicants: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. - Inventors: Yi-Peng Lin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520787B2 ## CPC - H02M 3/1584: {with a plurality of power processing stages connected in parallel} - H02M 3/156: with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators - H02M 1/0009: {Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter} - H02M 1/008: {Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators} - 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 voltage regulator device includes at least one output unit, a current sensing unit, a control unit, at least one transistor driving unit and a pulse width modulation unit. The output unit outputs an output signal. The output unit includes a first transistor, a second transistor and an energy storage element. The second transistor is electronically connected to the first transistor and the energy storage element, respectively. The current sensing unit is electronically connected to a first end and a second end of the energy storage element. The control unit is electronically connected to the current sensing unit and the output unit, respectively. The transistor driving unit is disposed corresponding to the output unit and is electronically connected to the control unit and the output unit. The pulse width modulation unit is electronically connected to the control unit and the transistor driving unit, respectively. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A voltage regulator device, comprising: at least one output unit outputting an output signal, wherein the output unit includes a first transistor, a second transistor and an energy storage element, and the second transistor is electronically connected to the first transistor and the energy storage element, respectively; a current sensing unit electronically connected to the energy storage element to sense a current of the energy storage element, a control unit electronically connected to the current sensing unit and the output unit, respectively; at least one transistor driving unit electronically connected to the control unit and the output unit; and a pulse width modulation unit electronically connected to the control unit and the transistor driving unit, respectively, wherein when the current sensing unit senses that the current flowing through the energy storage element of the output unit is negative, the control unit correspondingly controls to cut off a negative current flowing through the energy storage element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The voltage regulator device according to claim 1, wherein when the current sensing unit senses that the current of the energy storage element is negative, the control unit controls the transistor driving unit by controlling the pulse width modulation unit to generate a turn-off signal to turn-off the first transistor and the second transistor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The voltage regulator device according to claim 1, wherein when the current sensing unit senses that the current of the energy storage element is negative, the control unit controls to turn off the first transistor and the second transistor by disabling the transistor driving unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The voltage regulator device according to claim 1, wherein when the number of the output units is more than one, the output units output output signals with different phases, respectively, the current sensing unit is electronically connected to the energy storage elements of the output units, and senses the current of each of the energy storage element of the output units, respectively. ### Claim 5 A control method of a voltage regulator device, wherein the voltage regulator device includes at least one output unit, a current sensing unit, a control unit, a pulse width modulation unit and at least one transistor driving unit, the output unit outputs an output signal, the output unit includes a first transistor, a second transistor and an energy storage element, the second transistor is electronically connected to the first transistor and the energy storage element, respectively, the current sensing unit is electronically connected to the energy storage element, the control unit is electronically connected to the current sensing unit, the output unit, the pulse width modulation unit, and the transistor driving unit, the control method comprising: the current sensing unit sensing a current flowing through the energy storage element of the output unit; and wherein when the current sensing unit senses that the current flowing through the energy storage element of the output unit is negative, the control unit correspondingly controls to turn off the first transistor and the second transistor of the output unit to cut off a negative current of the energy storage element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The control method according to claim 5, wherein in the step of controlling to turn off the first transistor and the second transistor of the output unit, the control unit controls the corresponding transistor driving unit by controlling the pulse width modulation unit to generate a turn-off signal, and then controls to turn off the first transistor and the second transistor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The control method according to claim 5, wherein in the step of controlling to turn off the first transistor and the second transistor of the output unit, the control unit controls to turn off of the first transistor and the second transistor by disabling the transistor driving unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The control method according to claim 5, wherein when the number of the output units is more than one, the output units output output signals with different phases, respectively, and the current sensing unit senses the current flowing through each energy storage element of the output units, respectively. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The voltage regulator device according to claim 1, wherein when the current is positive, the first transistor and the second transistor are controlled in a normal operation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The voltage regulator device according to claim 1, wherein the first transistor and the second transistor are turned off so the negative current of the energy storage element does not flow through the drain and source of the second transistor to a ground. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The control method according to claim 5, wherein when the current is positive, the first transistor and the second transistor are controlled in a normal operation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The control method according to claim 5, wherein the first transistor and the second transistor are turned off so the negative current of the energy storage element does not flow through the drain and source of the second transistor to a ground.