Patent US6087816A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US6087816A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Step-up/step-down switching regulators and pulse width modulation control therefor

Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products Inc
•
Filing: 1999-06-29
•
Granted: 2000-07-11
•
Expires: 2019-06-29
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract Step-up/step-down switching regulators and pulse width modulation control therefor which can provide a high output current, high efficiency, use physically smaller inductor and transistors, have lower output voltage ripple, excellent line and load regulation stability and very fast transient response. The modulation control includes three operating states. The improved operating characteristics are obtained by including, as one of the operating states, the direct flow of current from the input of the regulator to the output of the regulator. This allows delivery of current from the inductor to the output a greater percentage of the time than in the prior art. An exemplary embodiment and exemplary method of operation are described.

Inventors

  • 👤 Karl Richard Volk

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 18:02
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/02; H02M3/04; H02M3/10; H02M3/145; H02M3/155; H02M3/156; H02M3/158; H02M3/1582

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 232 words
A converter for step-up and step-down operation having a converter input, a converter output and a common connection, comprising: an inductor having first and second connections; a first transistor coupled between the converter input and the first inductor connection; a first rectifying device coupled between the first inductor connection and the common connection; a second transistor coupled between the second inductor connection and the common connection; a second rectifying device coupled between the second inductor connection and the converter output; a controller controlling the state of conduction of the first and second transistors responsive to a compensated converter output and a clock signal, the controller having three states of operation, a first state turning the first and second transistors off, a second state turning the first and second transistors on, and a third state turning the first transistor on and second transistor off, the controller switching from the third state to the first state on clock pulses occurring when the compensated converter output indicates an over regulation condition and switching back to the third state when the compensated converter output changes to indicate an under regulation condition, and the controller switching from the third state to the second state on clock pulses occurring when the compensated converter output indicates an under regulation condition and switching back to the third state when the compensated converter output changes to indicate an over regulation condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 232 words
A converter for step-up and step-down operation having a converter input, a converter output and a common connection, comprising: an inductor having first and second connections; a first transistor coupled between the converter input and the first inductor connection; a first rectifying device coupled between the first inductor connection and the common connection; a second transistor coupled between the second inductor connection and the common connection; a second rectifying device coupled between the second inductor connection and the converter output; a controller controlling the state of conduction of the first and second transistors responsive to a compensated converter output and a clock signal, the controller having three states of operation, a first state turning the first and second transistors off, a second state turning the first and second transistors on, and a third state turning the first transistor on and second transistor off, the controller switching from the third state to the first state on clock pulses occurring when the compensated converter output indicates an over regulation condition and switching back to the third state when the compensated converter output changes to indicate an under regulation condition, and the controller switching from the third state to the second state on clock pulses occurring when the compensated converter output indicates an under regulation condition and switching back to the third state when the compensated converter output changes to indicate an over regulation condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The converter of claim 1 wherein the controller is comprised of logic gates and inverters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 44 words
The converter of claim 1 wherein the controller, when switched into the first or the second state, maintains the respective state for at least a minimum period of time, irrespective of any change in the compensated converter output during that minimum period of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
The converter of claim 3 wherein the minimum period of time is substantially equal to the period of the clock pulse.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
The converter of claim 4 wherein the clock signal has a duty cycle of approximately 10 percent.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 187 words
A method of operating a converter having a converter input, a converter output and a common connection, the converter also having an inductor having first and second connections, a first transistor coupled between the converter input and the first inductor connection, a first rectifying device coupled between the first inductor connection and the common connection, a second transistor coupled between the second inductor connection and the common connection and a second rectifying device coupled between the second inductor connection and the converter output, comprising: controlling the state of conduction of the first and second transistors responsive to a compensated converter output and a clock signal by: a) switching the first and second transistors off on clock pulses occurring when the compensated converter output indicates an over regulation condition and then switching the first transistor on when the compensated converter output changes to indicate an under regulation condition; and, b) switching the first and second transistors on clock pulses occurring when the compensated converter output indicates an under regulation condition and switching the second transistor off when the compensated converter output changes to indicate an over regulation condition.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 187 words
A method of operating a converter having a converter input, a converter output and a common connection, the converter also having an inductor having first and second connections, a first transistor coupled between the converter input and the first inductor connection, a first rectifying device coupled between the first inductor connection and the common connection, a second transistor coupled between the second inductor connection and the common connection and a second rectifying device coupled between the second inductor connection and the converter output, comprising: controlling the state of conduction of the first and second transistors responsive to a compensated converter output and a clock signal by: a) switching the first and second transistors off on clock pulses occurring when the compensated converter output indicates an over regulation condition and then switching the first transistor on when the compensated converter output changes to indicate an under regulation condition; and, b) switching the first and second transistors on clock pulses occurring when the compensated converter output indicates an under regulation condition and switching the second transistor off when the compensated converter output changes to indicate an over regulation condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 63 words
The method of claim 6 wherein in subparagraph a), the first and second transistors are both switched off for at least a minimum period of time, and in subparagraph b), the first and second transistors are both switched on for at least a minimum period of time, all irrespective of any change in the compensated converter output during that minimum period of time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 21 words
The converter of claim 7 wherein the minimum period of time is substantially equal to the period of the clock pulses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 17 words
The converter of claim 8 wherein the clock signal has a duty cycle of approximately 10 percent.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4347474A Cited
US4395675A Cited
US4578630A Cited
US5109186A Cited
US5350997A Cited
US5402060A Cited
US5528125A Cited
US5831418A Cited
US5949224A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-07-11 2004-01-10 2004-07-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-07-11 2008-01-10 2008-07-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-07-11 2012-01-10 2012-07-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag