US6795009B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for current handling in a digitally-controlled power converter
Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
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Filing: 2002-09-09
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Granted: 2004-09-21
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Expires: 2022-09-09
Abstract
Abstract Currents flowing in the various channels within a voltage regulator module (VRM) are suitably converted to digital equivalents that can be processed to control each module in a modular power supply. Functions that may be digitally implemented include current balancing between channels, current sharing between various modules in a power supply, and/or the like. By monitoring the current provided on each channel within a module, for example, a controller can determine an average current for the channels, which in turn can be used to identify and compensate for over- or under-production in any particular channel. Active voltage positioning techniques and overload protection may also be implemented using digital techniques.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas P. Duffy
- 👤 Malay Trivedi
- 👤 Kevin Mori
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:19
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/02; H02M3/04; H02M3/10; H02M3/145; H02M3/155; H02M3/156; H02M3/158; H02M3/1584; H02M3/157
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of balancing current provided by a plurality of modules coupled to a common bus, the method comprising the steps of: measuring a module current provided by one of said plurality of modules; converting said module current to a digital representation; transmitting said digital representation on said common bus; receiving signals on said common bus, wherein said signals represent currents provided by other modules coupled to said common bus; and adjusting the current provided by said module in response to said signals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of balancing current provided by a plurality of modules coupled to a common bus, the method comprising the steps of: measuring a module current provided by one of said plurality of modules; converting said module current to a digital representation; transmitting said digital representation on said common bus; receiving signals on said common bus, wherein said signals represent currents provided by other modules coupled to said common bus; and adjusting the current provided by said module in response to said signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said measuring step comprises measuring a plurality of channel currents, each of said plurality of channel currents corresponding to a channel of said module.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said adjusting step comprises adjusting the channel currents provided by each of said channels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of processing said signals to determine an average current for said plurality of modules.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of performing active voltage positioning as a function of said average current and said module current.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said digital representation comprises a series of pulses on said shared bus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said digital representation is transmitted on said common bus such that the density of said pulses is indicative of said module current.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving step comprises counting said pulses on said shared bus to determine the total current supplied by said plurality of modules.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said adjusting step comprises calculating an average current provided by said plurality of modules.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said adjusting step further comprises performing adaptive voltage processing as a function of said average current and said module current.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for providing a balanced current to a load, the system comprising at least two modules communicating via a shared bus, wherein each of said at least two modules comprises: an interface to said shared bus; an analog-to-digital converter configured to detect the output current provided by said module and to provide a digital representation thereof; and a controller configured to receive said digital representation, to transmit said digital representation via said interface, to receive data via said interface indicating a total current provided by said system, and to adjust the current provided by said module in response to said total current.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for providing a balanced current to a load, the system comprising at least two modules communicating via a shared bus, wherein each of said at least two modules comprises: an interface to said shared bus; an analog-to-digital converter configured to detect the output current provided by said module and to provide a digital representation thereof; and a controller configured to receive said digital representation, to transmit said digital representation via said interface, to receive data via said interface indicating a total current provided by said system, and to adjust the current provided by said module in response to said total current.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said data comprises a stream of digital pulses having a density proportional to said total current provided by said system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said controller further comprises a counter configured to detect said stream of digital pulses via said interface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said counter is an edge. triggered counter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said controller is further configured to provide adaptive voltage processing as a function of said digital representation and of said total current.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
119 words
A voltage regulator module (VRM) providing an electrical output to a load, the VRM comprising: at least two channels, each of said channels having an electrical source switchably coupled to said electrical output; an analog-to-digital converter associated with each of said at least two current-providing channels, said analog-to-digital converter configured to provide a digital representation of the current provided by each of said at least two channels; and a controller configured to determine a desired output level as a function of said digital representation and of information received via a current sharing bus, wherein said controller is further configured to provide a control signal to each of said channels to adjust said electrical output to said desired output level.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
119 words
A voltage regulator module (VRM) providing an electrical output to a load, the VRM comprising: at least two channels, each of said channels having an electrical source switchably coupled to said electrical output; an analog-to-digital converter associated with each of said at least two current-providing channels, said analog-to-digital converter configured to provide a digital representation of the current provided by each of said at least two channels; and a controller configured to determine a desired output level as a function of said digital representation and of information received via a current sharing bus, wherein said controller is further configured to provide a control signal to each of said channels to adjust said electrical output to said desired output level.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The VRM of claim 16 wherein each of said at least two channels comprises a switch electrically coupled to said controller and receiving said control signal from said controller.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The VRM of claim 17 wherein said switch is a MOSFET.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The VRM of claim 16 wherein said controller is further configured to compute an average channel output for said at least two channels and to adjust the outputs of said at least two channels in response to said average channel output.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The VRM of claim 16 wherein said information comprises a digital indication of a total current provided to said load.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The VRM of claim 20 wherein said digital indication comprises a stream of digital pulses.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The VRM of claim 21 wherein a density of said pulses is proportional to said total current.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The VRM of claim 20 wherein said processor is further configured to provide adaptive voltage processing as a function of said digital representation and of said total current.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The VRM of claim 23 wherein said adaptive voltage processing is accomplished by providing a calculated offset to a voltage error signal by an amount proportional to said total current.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The VRM of claim 24 wherein analog-to-digital converter is configured to provide a digital representation of the voltage sensed across the output load to obtain said voltage error signal.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for controlling a plurality of channel currents provided by a voltage regulator module, the method comprising the steps of: sampling each of the channel currents to produce a digital representation of each channel current; determining an average channel current as a function of the digital representations; comparing each of the digital representations to the average channel current to determine a channel deviation for each channel; and adjusting the channel currents to compensate for the channel deviations.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for controlling a plurality of channel currents provided by a voltage regulator module, the method comprising the steps of: sampling each of the channel currents to produce a digital representation of each channel current; determining an average channel current as a function of the digital representations; comparing each of the digital representations to the average channel current to determine a channel deviation for each channel; and adjusting the channel currents to compensate for the channel deviations.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the adjusting step comprises varying a duty cycle on a control signal associated with the channel current.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of disabling the channel current if the channel current exceeds a threshold current.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the adjusting step further comprises adjusting each channel current as a function of an average module current.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of providing a digital signal on a shared bus as a function of the channel currents.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of monitoring the shared bus to receive digital signals from other voltage regulator modules to determine a system current.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the adjusting step further comprises adjusting the channel currents as a function of the system current.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-09-21 | 2008-03-22 | 2008-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-09-21 | 2012-03-22 | 2012-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-09-21 | 2016-03-22 | 2016-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |