Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080258701 | DC-DC converter with improved dynamic response - The invention relates to a control method and a controller for a DC-DC converter, such as a synchronous Buck converter, which exploits the principle of capacitor charge balance to allow the converter to recover from a positive and/or negative load current step in the shortest achievable time, with the lowest possible voltage undershoot/overshoot. The control method may be implemented by either an analog or a digital circuit. The controller may be integrated with existing controller schemes (such as voltage-mode controllers) to provide superior dynamic performance during large-signal transient conditions while providing stable operation during steady state conditions. The invention also relates to a method and a modification of a DC-DC converter topology that comprises connecting a controlled current source between an input terminal and an output terminal of the DC-DC converter; detecting a load current step to a new load current; modifying a duty cycle of the DC-DC converter; and modifying current through a parallel output capacitor of the DC-DC converter by controlling current of the current source. The methods and circuits provided herein are applicable to Buck converters and Buck-derived converters such as forward, push-pull, half-bridge, and full-bridge converters. | 10-23-2008 |
20100019807 | Current-source gate driver - Provided is a current-source gate driver for use with a switching device having a gate capacitance, including an input terminal for receiving a DC voltage; a first switch connected between the input terminal and an output terminal; a second switch connected between the output terminal and a circuit common; a series circuit comprising a first capacitor and an inductor, the series circuit connected between the input terminal and the output terminal; wherein the gate capacitance of the switching device is connected between the output terminal and the circuit common. The current-source gate driver improves efficiency of the power switching devices of a voltage regulator module or other switching converter. | 01-28-2010 |
20100038967 | DISTRIBUTED POWER SUPPLY ARRANGEMENT - Distributed power supply arrangements and related methods are disclosed. Voltage is sensed at least one sense point in a power plane of a power distribution network. The power plane includes distributed source points and load points through which a plurality of power sources supply power to a plurality of loads. Currents supplied to the power plane by the power sources are regulated based on the voltage sensed at each of the at least one sense point. | 02-18-2010 |
20110101951 | Zero-Voltage-Switching Self-Driven Full-Bridge Voltage Regulator - non-isolated full bridge (FB) converters have self-driven synchronous rectifier (SR) MOSFETs in the current doubler rectifier (CDR). The gate terminals of the SR MOSFETs are connected to the bridge leg midpoints of the FB converter. The primary side of the FB converter shares the same ground of the secondary side, which provides the gate drive path for the SRs. The asymmetrical control featuring zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) capability is applied to the two bridge legs of the FB converter respectively. This creates the right gate drive voltage waveforms for the SRs. The energy of the leakage inductance of the transformer is used to achieve SR gate energy recovery. High gate drive voltages can be used to reduce the on-resistance of SRs and the conduction loss. In this way, no additional gate driver circuitry is needed for the SRs compared to the conventional external drive circuitry for SRs. In this invention, the above features provide high conversion efficiency with high switching frequency. This can help to achieve high power density and fast dynamic response accordingly. The invented power circuits are suitable to low voltage and high current application. | 05-05-2011 |
20120063175 | COMPENSATION CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR A SYNCHRONOUS RECTIFIER DRIVER - Provided are circuits and methods for driving the synchronous rectifier (SR) of a power converter. A non-linear voltage sense compensator is applied across the drain and source of the SR, and a sense signal is provided to the SR driver sense input, such that false triggering of the SR is effectively eliminated. In addition, the voltage sense compensator ensures that the SR is turned on as soon as its current starts to flow and is turned off when its current falls to zero. The embodiments described herein may be incorporated into new VR designs, or they may be used to improve the SR driving characteristics of commercially available voltage sensing SR drivers. | 03-15-2012 |
20120068683 | Current Source Gate Driver with Negative Gate Voltage - Described herein are methods and circuits for driving a power switching device of a power converter. The methods and circuits include providing a negative gate to source voltage to the power switching device during an off transition of the power switching device, wherein the negative gate to source voltage is provided independent of one or more switching element for driving the power switching device; wherein body diode conduction by the one or more switching element is mitigated; wherein a circuit connected in parallel with the gate and source of the power switching device is used to set or define the negative gate to source voltage. | 03-22-2012 |
20130093403 | Methods and Circuits for Improving the Dynamic Response of a DC-DC Converter - Methods and circuits are described herein which may be used to improve the unloading transient response of a DC-DC converter. In some embodiments the transient response may be improved by improving the way MOSFET switches in the buck converter are controlled at the point in time when a current transient is detected, and subsequently during the transient, in such a way that the impact of the current transient is mitigated. In other embodiments an auxiliary current source is used to provide rapid transient response required by the overall power converter, leaving the main portion of the DC-DC converter to provide long term stability. | 04-18-2013 |
20140252973 | Ripple Cancellation Converter with High Power Factor - Provided are circuits and methods for use with a power supply that provides a main output including a main DC voltage having a first AC voltage ripple, or a main DC current having a first AC current ripple. A ripple cancellation converter provides a second AC voltage ripple connected in series with the main output, such that the first AC voltage ripple is substantially cancelled; or a second AC current ripple connected in parallel with the main output, such that the first AC current ripple is substantially cancelled. As a result, substantially ripple-free DC output power is provided. | 09-11-2014 |