IP Library Granted Patent US 12695382
Granted Patent B2
US 12695382 · App. 18/521,225 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Current detection circuit, integrated circuit, and power supply circuit

Inventor: Ryuji Yamada (Hachioji-city, JP)
Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
H02M3/155G01R19/175H02M1/08H03K5/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12695382
App. No.
18/521,225
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A current detection circuit for a power supply circuit configured to generate an output voltage from an input voltage thereof, the power supply circuit including an inductor configured to receive the input voltage, a transistor configured to control an inductor current flowing through the inductor, and a diode coupled to a first node that is a node at which the inductor and the transistor are coupled. The current detection circuit is configured to detect the inductor current, and includes: a first capacitor coupled to the first node; and a second capacitor provided between the first capacitor and a ground, the second capacitor being coupled in series with the first capacitor.

Claims (63)

1 . A current detection circuit for a power supply circuit configured to generate an output voltage from an input voltage thereof, the power supply circuit including

an inductor configured to receive the input voltage,

a transistor configured to control an inductor current flowing through the inductor, and

a diode coupled to a first node, which is a node at which the inductor and the transistor are coupled,

the current detection circuit being configured to detect the inductor current, the current detection circuit comprising:

a first capacitor coupled to the first node;

a second capacitor provided between the first capacitor and a ground, the second capacitor being coupled in series with the first capacitor at a second node; and

a setting circuit, including a resistor, configured to set a direct-current (DC) level of a voltage at the second node, wherein

the second capacitor and the resistor form a RC parallel circuit, which has a time constant longer than a switching period of the transistor.

2 . A current detection circuit for a power supply circuit configured to generate an output voltage from an input voltage thereof, the power supply circuit including

an inductor configured to receive the input voltage,

a transistor configured to control an inductor current flowing through the inductor, and

a diode coupled to a first node, which is a node at which the inductor and the transistor are coupled,

the current detection circuit being configured to detect the inductor current, the current detection circuit comprising:

a first capacitor coupled to the first node;

a second capacitor provided between the first capacitor and a ground, the second capacitor being coupled in series with the first capacitor; and

a setting circuit configured to set a direct-current (DC) level of a voltage at a second node, which is a node at which the first capacitor and the second capacitor are coupled, wherein

the setting circuit is a clamp circuit configured to clamp the voltage at the second node to a first level, when the transistor is off.

3 . The current detection circuit according to claim 2 , wherein the clamp circuit includes a first diode having a cathode that is grounded and an anode coupled to the second node.

4 . The current detection circuit according to claim 2 , wherein the clamp circuit clamps the voltage at the second node to a second level, when the transistor is on.

5 . The current detection circuit according to claim 4 , wherein the clamp circuit includes

a second diode having a cathode that is grounded and an anode coupled to the second node, and

a third diode having a cathode coupled to the second node and an anode that is grounded.

6 . The current detection circuit according to claim 4 , wherein the clamp circuit is a Zener diode.

7 . The current detection circuit according to claim 6 , wherein

the Zener diode has a cathode coupled to the second node and an anode that is grounded,

the first level is a level of a Zener voltage of the Zener diode, and

the second level is a level of a forward voltage of the Zener diode.

8 . The current detection circuit according to claim 1 , wherein a first capacitance value of the first capacitor is smaller than a second capacitance value of the second capacitor.

9 . The current detection circuit according to claim 8 , wherein a first rated voltage of the first capacitor is higher than a second rated voltage of the second capacitor.

10 . A power supply circuit configured to generate an output voltage from an input voltage thereof, the power supply circuit comprising:

an inductor configured to receive the input voltage;

a transistor configured to control an inductor current flowing through the inductor;

a diode coupled to a first node, which is a node at which the inductor and the transistor are coupled;

a current detection circuit configured to detect the inductor current; and

an integrated circuit configured to switch the transistor, based on a detection voltage outputted from the current detection circuit, wherein

the current detection circuit includes

a first capacitor coupled to the first node, and

a second capacitor provided between the first capacitor and a ground, the second capacitor being coupled in series with the first capacitor at a second node,

a setting circuit, including a resistor, configured to set a direct-current (DC) level of a voltage at the second node, the second capacitor and the resistor forming a RC parallel circuit, which has a time constant longer than a switching period of the transistor, the current detection circuit being configured to output, as the detection voltage, the voltage at the second node; and

the integrated circuit includes

a terminal configured to receive the voltage at the second node,

a comparator circuit configured to compare the received voltage at the terminal with a reference voltage, and

a driver circuit configured to

turn on the transistor, based on a result of comparison of the comparator circuit, and

turn off the transistor, based on another voltage corresponding to the output voltage.

11 . A power supply circuit configured to generate an output voltage from an input voltage thereof, the power supply circuit comprising:

an inductor configured to receive the input voltage;

a transistor configured to control an inductor current flowing through the inductor;

a diode coupled to a first node, which is a node at which the inductor and the transistor are coupled;

a current detection circuit configured to detect the inductor current; and

an integrated circuit configured to switch the transistor, based on a detection voltage outputted from the current detection circuit, wherein

the current detection circuit includes

a first capacitor coupled to the first node, and

a second capacitor provided between the first capacitor and a ground, the second capacitor being coupled in series with the first capacitor,

a setting circuit configured to set a direct-current (DC) level of a voltage at a second node, which is a node at which the first capacitor and the second capacitor are coupled, the setting circuit being a clamp circuit configured to clamp the voltage at the second node to a first level, when the transistor is off,

the current detection circuit being configured to output, as the detection voltage, the voltage at the second node; and

the integrated circuit includes

a terminal configured to receive the voltage at the second node,

a comparator circuit configured to compare the received voltage at the terminal with a reference voltage, and

a driver circuit configured to

turn on the transistor, based on a result of comparison of the comparator circuit, and

turn off the transistor, based on another voltage corresponding to the output voltage.