Psemi Corporation

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Brian Zanchi

Gregory Szczeszynski

Aichen Low

Tim Wen Hui Yu

Chak Sang Ngai

Circuits and methods for adding a Current Mode signal into a Voltage Mode controller for fixed-frequency DC-to-DC power converters. A current-controlled voltage source (CCVS) generates a voltage proportional to the power converter output current, which voltage is combined with a comparison signal generated by comparing a target output voltage to the actual output voltage. The modified comparison signal generates a pulse-width modulation control signal that regulates the power converter output as a function of output voltage and some portion of output current. With the addition of an inductor current signal into the controller Voltage Mode feedback loop, the double pole predominant in constant conduction mode (CCM) mode can be smoothed over to improve stability, while discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) loop response is largely unchanged with or without the added Current Mode signal. Embodiments enable simplified compensation while covering a wider operating range.

Mixed-mode power converter control

Circuits and methods for reducing lagging responses of a power converter to changes in circuit voltages or current, over-shoot/under-shoot when a target output voltage changes faster than the power converter's response, and open loop conditions. Embodiments include scanning a feedback voltage from a load powered by a voltage output by a power converter controlled by a PWM control signal; detecting an under-regulation condition; and, while the under-regulation condition is detected, increasing a clock signal rate to a counter outputting a count value usable to generate the PWM control signal. Embodiments include comparing a target output voltage to a signal representative of an output voltage of the power converter; indicating an under-shoot or over-shoot condition if the voltage difference exceeds a corresponding offset value; and limiting the range of values for an M-bit count value used to generate the PWM control signal to mitigate the under-shoot or over-shoot condition.

Controller for a power converter

A switching network includes a switch, a driver for the switch, and a floating-regulator that powers the driver. The floating-regulator includes a shunt that is used only when testing the network. The shunt diverts biasing current so that it does not interfere with a measurement of an electrical property of a switch.

Testing switches in a power converter

Power converter counter circuit with under-regulation detector

Power converter circuits, including DC-DC converter circuits, that conserve IC area by utilizing more area-efficient alternatives for measurement circuitry. Various embodiments include a power converter circuit including a charge pump having a plurality of stack-nodes Vand at least one multiplexor for coupling selected stack-nodes Vto a corresponding comparator circuit configured to output a signal indicative of a difference between a selected input to the multiplexor and a reference signal. The number of comparator circuits is less than (N&#x2212;1)&#xd7;M, where N is the conversion gain of the power converter circuit (i.e., the number of charge pump stages X plus one), and M is the number of parallel charge pump legs. Related methods include measuring voltages at stack-nodes Vin a charge pump, wherein the stack-nodes Vare selected by means of a multiplexor and an input to a comparator.

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Dracut, MA, United States of America

Brian Zanchi