US2017141675A1PendingUtilityA1

Enabling very large and very small duty cycles in switching converters

53
Assignee: CIRRUS LOGIC INT SEMICONDUCTOR LTDPriority: Nov 16, 2015Filed: Nov 1, 2016Published: May 18, 2017
Est. expiryNov 16, 2035(~9.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Eric J. KingJohn L. MelansonSiddharth Maru
H02M 1/10H02M 3/158H02M 1/084H02J 7/34H02J 7/345H02M 1/088H02M 3/1582H02M 3/156H03F 1/0227H02M 1/009H02M 1/008Y02B70/10
53
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an apparatus may include a switched-mode power supply and a controller. The switched-mode power supply may include an inductor and a plurality of switches coupled to the inductor. The controller may be configured to control an inductor current of the inductor by controlling the plurality of switches to operate the switched-mode power supply in at least three phases, the at least three phases comprising: a first phase having a first period in which the inductor current increases; and a second phase having a second period in which the inductor current decreases; wherein, at least one of the first period and the second period is defined by a difference in time between switching of at least two switches of the plurality of switches.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling an inductor current in a switched-mode power supply having a plurality of switches, comprising controlling the plurality of switches to operate the switched-mode power supply in at least three phases, the at least three phases comprising:
 a first phase having a first period in which the inductor current increases; and   a second phase having a second period in which the inductor current decreases;   wherein, at least one of the first period and the second period is defined by a difference in time between switching of at least two switches of the plurality of switches.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first phase and the second phase occur successively. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first phase and the second phase occur non-successively. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first period is defined by a difference in time between switching of at least two switches of the plurality of switches, and the first period occurs immediately before or after a third period of the at least three phases. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second period is defined by a difference in time between switching of at least two switches of the plurality of switches, and the second period occurs immediately before or after a third period of the at least three phases. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , the at least three phases comprising a third phase in which the inductor current remains substantially constant. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , the at least three phases comprising a third phase in which the inductor current increases. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current remains substantially constant. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current increases. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current decreases. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , the at least three phases comprising a third phase in which the inductor current decreases. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current remains substantially constant. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current increases. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current decreases. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 a switched-mode power supply comprising:
 an inductor; and 
 a plurality of switches coupled to the inductor; and 
   a controller configured to control an inductor current of the inductor by controlling the plurality of switches to operate the switched-mode power supply in at least three phases, the at least three phases comprising:
 a first phase having a first period in which the inductor current increases; and 
 a second phase having a second period in which the inductor current decreases; 
 wherein, at least one of the first period and the second period is defined by a difference in time between switching of at least two switches of the plurality of switches. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first phase and the second phase occur successively. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first phase and the second phase occur non-successively. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first period is defined by a difference in time between switching of at least two switches of the plurality of switches, and the first period occurs immediately before or after a third period of the at least three phases. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the second period is defined by a difference in time between switching of at least two switches of the plurality of switches, and the second period occurs immediately before or after a third period of the at least three phases. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , the at least three phases comprising a third phase in which the inductor current remains substantially constant. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , the at least three phases comprising a third phase in which the inductor current increases. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current remains substantially constant. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current increases. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current decreases. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , the at least three phases comprising a third phase in which the inductor current decreases. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current remains substantially constant. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current increases. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , the at least three phases comprising a fourth phase in which the inductor current decreases.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2017141675A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.