US5870296A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual interleaved DC to DC switching circuits realized in an integrated circuit
Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products Inc
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Filing: 1997-10-14
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Granted: 1999-02-09
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Expires: 2017-10-14
Abstract
Abstract Dual interleaved DC to DC switching circuits realizable in an integrated circuit form, capable of monitoring individual inductor current using only one current sense resistor and providing automatic duty cycle adjustment to keep the inductor currents in the interleaved DC to DC switching circuits balanced. The preferred embodiment includes a gain error amplifier, an integral error amplifier, and a differentiator error amplifier and circuits for controlling the nominal duty cycle, with the gain error amplifier, integral error amplifier and differentiator error amplifier being adjustable independently by external components. The circuit further includes a high speed load regulation circuit that momentarily overrides the control circuitry to take over control of the interleaved converters during sudden load changes, such control also being programmable. The circuit further includes a load variation circuit to target the output voltage of the circuit to an optimal value with load to better keep the output voltage within a targeted range in the event of major step changes in the load. The disclosed embodiment is for two interleaved buck converters, though the principles of the invention are applicable to interleaved step up converters and the interleaving of more than two converters.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory L. Schaffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:19
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/02; H02M3/04; H02M3/10; H02M3/145; H02M3/155; H02M3/156; H02M3/158; H02M3/1584
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A DC to DC switching circuit for controlling power switching devices in a DC to DC converter having first and second interleaved converter circuits operating into a common load comprising: a current sense circuit sensing the voltage across a sense resistor in series with the power supply supplying power to the power switching devices; a first pulse width modulator controlling the power switching devices of the first converter circuit; a second pulse width modulator controlling the power switching devices of the second converter circuit; a feedback circuit responsive to the voltage across the common load; control circuits for controlling the first and second pulse width modulators responsive to the feedback circuit and a commanded output voltage; the control circuits also being responsive to the difference in the voltage across the sense resistor when the first converter is drawing power from the power supply through the sense resistor and the second converter is not, and when the second converter is drawing power from the power supply through the sense resistor and the first converter is not, to adjust the relative duty cycle of the first and second converters to tend to minimize the difference in the voltage across the sense resistor; the current sense circuit, the first pulse width modulator, the second pulse width modulator, the feedback circuit and the control circuits being in a single integrated circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
A DC to DC switching circuit for controlling power switching devices in a DC to DC converter having first and second interleaved converter circuits operating into a common load comprising: a current sense circuit sensing the voltage across a sense resistor in series with the power supply supplying power to the power switching devices; a first pulse width modulator controlling the power switching devices of the first converter circuit; a second pulse width modulator controlling the power switching devices of the second converter circuit; a feedback circuit responsive to the voltage across the common load; control circuits for controlling the first and second pulse width modulators responsive to the feedback circuit and a commanded output voltage; the control circuits also being responsive to the difference in the voltage across the sense resistor when the first converter is drawing power from the power supply through the sense resistor and the second converter is not, and when the second converter is drawing power from the power supply through the sense resistor and the first converter is not, to adjust the relative duty cycle of the first and second converters to tend to minimize the difference in the voltage across the sense resistor; the current sense circuit, the first pulse width modulator, the second pulse width modulator, the feedback circuit and the control circuits being in a single integrated circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The DC to DC switching circuit of claim 1 wherein the sense resistor is external to the integrated circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The DC to DC switching circuit of claim 1 further comprised of an integrator having an output responsive to the integral of an error signal, the error signal being responsive to the voltage across the common load and a desired voltage, the control circuits also being responsive to the output of integrator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The DC to DC switching circuit of claim 3 wherein the time constant of the integrator is adjustable by the selection of at least one component external to the integrated circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The DC to DC switching circuit of claim 3 further comprised of a differentiator having an output responsive to the rate of change of the voltage across the common load, the control circuits also being responsive to the output of differentiator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The DC to DC switching circuit of claim 5 wherein the time constant of the differentiator is adjustable by the selection of at least one component external to the integrated circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The DC to DC switching circuit of claim 1 wherein the control circuits are also responsive to rapid decreases in the voltage on the common load to turn on the first and second converter circuits independent of the phase of the first and second pulse width modulators.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The DC to DC switching circuit of claim 7 wherein the control circuits are also responsive to rapid increases in the voltage on the common load to turn off the first and second converter circuits independent of the phase of the first and second pulse width modulators.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The DC to DC switching circuit of claim 1 further comprised of a load variation circuit coupled to the control circuits to decrease the voltage on the common load for higher voltages across the current sense resistor and to increase the voltage on the common load for lower voltages across the current sense resistor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
157 words
DC to DC switching circuit for controlling power switching devices in a DC to DC converter having first and second interleaved converter circuits operating into a common load comprising: a first pulse width modulator controlling the power switching devices of the first converter circuit; a second pulse width modulator controlling the power switching devices of the second converter circuit; a feedback circuit responsive to the voltage across the common load; control circuits for controlling the first and second pulse width modulators responsive to the feedback circuit; the control circuits also being responsive to the difference in current through the first converter and the second converter to adjust the relative duty cycle of the first and second converters to tend to minimize the difference in the voltage across the sense resistor; the current sense circuit, the first pulse width modulator, the second pulse width modulator, the feedback circuit and the control circuits being in a single integrated circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
157 words
DC to DC switching circuit for controlling power switching devices in a DC to DC converter having first and second interleaved converter circuits operating into a common load comprising: a first pulse width modulator controlling the power switching devices of the first converter circuit; a second pulse width modulator controlling the power switching devices of the second converter circuit; a feedback circuit responsive to the voltage across the common load; control circuits for controlling the first and second pulse width modulators responsive to the feedback circuit; the control circuits also being responsive to the difference in current through the first converter and the second converter to adjust the relative duty cycle of the first and second converters to tend to minimize the difference in the voltage across the sense resistor; the current sense circuit, the first pulse width modulator, the second pulse width modulator, the feedback circuit and the control circuits being in a single integrated circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The DC to DC switching circuit of claim 10 wherein the commanded output voltage is controllable through an input to the integrated circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The DC to DC switching circuit of claim 10 wherein the commanded output voltage is controllable through a digital input to the integrated circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The DC to DC switching circuit of claim 12 further comprised of an integrator having an output responsive to the integral of an error signal, the error signal being responsive to the voltage across the common load and a desired voltage, the control circuits also being responsive to the output of integrator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The DC to DC switching circuit of claim 13 wherein the time constant of the integrator is adjustable by the selection of at least one component external to the integrated circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The DC to DC switching circuit of claim 13 further comprised of a differentiator having an output responsive to the rate of change of the voltage across the common load, the control circuits also being responsive to the output of differentiator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The DC to DC switching circuit of claim 15 wherein the time constant of the differentiator is adjustable by the selection of at least one component external to the integrated circuit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The DC to DC switching circuit of claim 12 wherein the control circuits are also responsive to rapid decreases in the voltage on the common load to turn on the first and second converter circuits independent of the phase of the first and second pulse width modulators.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The DC to DC switching circuit of claim 17 wherein the control circuits are also responsive to rapid increases in the voltage on the common load to turn off the first and second converter circuits independent of the phase of the first and second pulse width modulators.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The DC to DC switching circuit of claim 12 further comprised of a load variation circuit coupled to the control circuits to decrease the voltage on the common load for higher currents through the converters and to increase the voltage on the common load for lower currents through the converters.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The DC to DC switching circuit of claim 12 wherein the commanded output voltage is controllable through an input to the integrated circuit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The DC to DC switching circuit of claim 12 wherein the commanded output voltage is controllable through a digital input to the integrated circuit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-08 | 2002-08-10 | 2003-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-08 | 2006-08-10 | 2007-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-08 | 2010-08-10 | 2011-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |