EP0503806A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
A synchronizable power supply controller and a system incorporating the same
Assignee: STMicroelectronics lnc USA
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Filing: 1992-02-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A pulse width modulated power supply controller is disclosed which is capable of generating synchronization pulses in such a manner that multiple ones of such power supply controllers in a system are synchronized to the controller having the highest oscillation frequency, without requiring one of the controllers to be implemented as a master and the others implemented as slaves. The power supply controller includes two comparators which are coupled to receive the external capacitor voltage. A first comparator enables a fast charging circuit, such as a current source, for increasing the rate at which the capacitor is charged responsive to the capacitor voltage reaching a first threshold; a single-ended or differential synchronization pulse is also generated, and communicated to the first comparators of other power supply controllers in a multiple controller system. The second comparator, which includes hysteresis in its characteristic, turns off the fast charging circuit at the upper threshold and initiates the discharge of the capacitor. Control of the output and masking of the comparators of the controllers is also based on the operation of the first and second comparators.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter Stanley Gontowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:19
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/10; H; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/22; H02M3/24; H02M3/28; H02M3/285; G05F1/46; G05F1/56; G05F1/577; G05F1/59; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
286 words
A power supply controller, comprising: a PWM comparator for comparing a feedback signal to a commanded level; a circuit for generating a pulse width modulated signal responsive to the output of said PWM comparator, and for applying the same to the output of the power supply controller; and an oscillator, comprising: a first comparator having an input coupled to a first terminal for receiving a voltage thereat and for generating an output corresponding to the comparison of said voltage with a first threshold level; a second comparator, having an input coupled to a second terminal for receiving a voltage thereat, and for generating an output corresponding to the comparison of the voltage at its input with second and third threshold levels, said second comparator driving its output to a first state responsive to the voltage at its input exceeding said second threshold level and maintaining said first state until the voltage at its input falls below said third threshold level, said second threshold level being higher than said first threshold level, and said third threshold level being lower than said first threshold level; a charging circuit for applying a charging current to said first terminal responsive to said first and second comparators in such a manner that said charging circuit is enabled responsive to the voltage at the input of said first comparator exceeding said first threshold level, and is disabled responsive to the output of said second comparator at said first state, for applying a charging current to said first terminal; and a pulse generator circuit having an output coupled to the input of said first comparator, for generating a synchronization pulse responsive to the voltage at said first terminal exceeding said first threshold level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
18 words
The power supply controller of claim 1, further comprising: a capacitor coupled to said first and second terminals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The power supply controller of claim 2, further comprising: a first resistor, connected between said first terminal and said capacitor; wherein said second terminal is coupled to said capacitor in such a manner that said first resistor is connected between said first and second terminals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The power supply controller of claim 1 or 3 further comprising: a discharge circuit, coupled to said second terminal, for discharging the voltage thereat responsive to the output of said second comparator being at said first state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The power supply controller of claim 4, further comprising: a capacitor coupled to said first and second terminals; a first resistor connected between said first terminal and said capacitor; and wherein said second terminal is coupled to said capacitor in such a manner that said first resistor is connected between said first and second terminals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The power supply controller of claim 5, further comprising: a second resistor, connected between said capacitor and said second terminal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The power supply controller of claim 1, further comprising: a mask circuit, having an output coupled to a control input of said PWM comparator and having an input coupled to the output of said first comparator, for disabling said PWM comparator responsive to the voltage at the input of said first comparator exceeding said first threshold level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The power supply controller of claim 7, wherein said mask circuit also has an input coupled to the output of said second comparator, and is also for enabling said PWM comparator responsive to the voltage at said second terminal falling below said third threshold level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The power supply controller of claim 1, wherein said pulse generator circuit applies said synchronization pulse to said first terminal responsive to the voltage at the input of said first comparator exceeding said first threshold level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The power supply controller of claim 1, wherein said pulse generator circuit applies a differential synchronization pulse to first and second sync terminals responsive to the voltage at the input of said first comparator exceeding said first threshold level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
The power supply controller of claim 10 wherein said pulse generator circuit comprises: a differential amplifier, having inputs coupled to said first and second sync terminals, and having an output coupled to said input of said first comparator at which a pulse of a voltage higher than said first threshold level is generated responsive to receiving said differential amplifier receiving a differential synchronization pulse at said first and second sync terminals.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
346 words
A system comprising a plurality of power supply controllers, wherein each power supply controller comprises: a PWM comparator for comparing a feedback signal to a commanded level; a circuit for generating a pulse width modulated signal responsive to the output of said PWM comparator, and for applying the same to the output of the power supply controller; a capacitor; and an oscillator, comprising: a first comparator having an input coupled to a first terminal, for receiving a voltage thereat and for generating an output corresponding to the comparison of said voltage with a first threshold level, said first terminal coupled to said capacitor; a second comparator, having an input coupled to a second terminal for receiving a voltage thereat, and for generating an output corresponding to the comparison of the voltage at its input with second and third threshold levels, said second comparator driving its output to a first state responsive to the voltage at its input exceeding said second threshold level and maintaining said first state until the voltage at its input falls below said third threshold level, said second threshold level being higher than said first threshold level, and said third threshold level being lower than said first threshold level, said second terminal also coupled to said capacitor; a charging circuit for applying charging current to said capacitor responsive to said first and second comparators in such a manner that said charging circuit is enabled responsive to the voltage at the input of said first comparator exceeding said first threshold level, and is disabled responsive to the output of said second comparator at said first state; and a pulse generator circuit, having an output coupled to the input of said first comparator, for generating a synchronization pulse responsive to the voltage at the input of said first comparator exceeding said first threshold level; wherein said power supply controllers are connected to one another in such a manner that said synchronization pulse generated by a first of said plurality of power supply controllers is received by a second of said plurality of power supply controllers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said pulse generator circuit applies said synchronization pulse to said first terminal responsive to the input of said first comparator exceeding said first threshold level, said synchronization pulse having a voltage above said first threshold level; and wherein said first terminals of said plurality of power supply controllers are connected to one another, such that the synchronization pulse applied by a first of said plurality of power supply controllers is received at the first terminal of another of said plurality of power supply controllers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said pulse generator circuit applies a differential synchronization pulse to first and second sync terminals responsive to the voltage at the input of said first comparator exceeding said first threshold level; and wherein said first sync terminals of said plurality of power supply controllers are connected in common with one another, and wherein said second sync terminals of said plurality of power supply controllers are connected in common with one another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
102 words
The system of claim 12, further comprising, for each of said plurality of power supply controllers: a disable circuit, having an output coupled to a control input of said circuit for generating a pulse width modulated signal, having an input coupled to the output of said first comparator and having an input coupled to the output of said second comparator, for disabling said generating circuit responsive to responsive to the voltage at the input of said first comparator exceeding said first threshold level and for enabling said generator circuit responsive to the voltage at said second terminal exceeding said second threshold level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of said power controllers further comprises a power controller as claimed in claim 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 or 11.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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