Power converter circuitry and method
View Patent ↗A control system and method for simultaneously regulating the operation of a plurality of different types of switching power converters. The system utilizes in regulating the power converters sampled data and nonlinear feedback control loops.
1. A digital signal to pulse converter ( 1201 ) comprising:
a content addressable memory ( 2494 . 4 ) having at least a write port ( 2428 . 4 ) and a read port ( 2498 . 4 ), wherein the write port ( 2428 . 4 ) is operable to write a first set of data into the content addressable memory ( 2494 . 4 ) as stored data, and the read port ( 2498 . 4 ) is operable to receive a second set of data, wherein the write port ( 2428 . 4 ) is further operable to write said first set of data as stored data to two or more address locations in the content addressable memory ( 2494 . 4 ), wherein each of said two or more address locations is associated with a respective one of a plurality of pulses, and the content addressable memory ( 2494 . 4 ) is operable to compare the stored data with the second set of data and, if a match occurs, to provide an output signal to simultaneously determine a beginning or an end of each of the two or more pulses which are respectively associated with said two or more address locations.
2. The digital signal to pulse converter ( 1201 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a Grey counter ( 2484 . 4 ), coupled to the content addressable memory, adapted to provide the second set of data, and wherein the stored data in the content addressable memory ( 2494 . 4 ) is Grey coded.
3. The digital signal to pulse converter ( 1201 ) of claim 2 , further comprising a phase lock loop ( 2480 . 4 ), coupled to the Grey counter ( 2484 . 4 ), adapted to increment the Grey counter ( 2484 . 4 ) to provide the second set of data.
4. The digital signal to pulse converter ( 1201 ) of claim 3 , further comprising a spreader divider ( 2482 . 4 ), coupled between the phase lock loop ( 2480 . 4 ) and the Grey counter ( 2484 . 4 ), adapted to receive a signal from the phase lock loop ( 2480 . 4 ) and provide spread spectrum clocking to the Grey counter ( 2484 . 4 ).
5. The digital signal to pulse converter ( 1201 ) of claim 1 , wherein one of said plurality of pulses is operative to control a transistor for power regulation.
6. The digital signal to pulse converter ( 1201 ) of claim 1 , wherein one of said plurality of pulses is operative to control analog to digital signal conversion.
7. The digital signal to pulse converter ( 1201 ) of claim 1 , wherein the output signal is not encoded.
8. The digital signal to pulse converter ( 1201 ) of claim 1 wherein the output signal activates one or more address lines to set or reset a latch ( 2504 . 4 ) that determines the beginning or the end of a pulse.
9. A circuit comprising:
means for generating a reference frequency;
means for providing a first set of data at a rate based on the reference frequency;
means for storing a second set of data to two or more address locations wherein each of said two or more address locations is associated with a respective one of a plurality of pulses; and
means for comparing the first set of data and the second set of data and if a match occurs providing an output signal to simultaneously determine an edge of each of the two or more pulses which are respectively associated with said two or more address locations.
10. The circuit of claim 9 , further comprising means for providing the second set of data.
11. The circuit of claim 9 , wherein one of the plurality of pulses is used to control a transistor for power regulation.
12. The circuit of claim 9 , wherein one of the plurality of pulses used to control analog to digital signal conversion.
13. The circuit of claim 9 , wherein the output signal is not encoded.
14. A method of generating a pulse, the method comprising:
storing a first set of data to two or more address locations in a content addressable memory ( 2494 . 4 ), wherein each of said two or more address locations is associated with a respective one of a plurality of pulses;
receiving a second set of data;
comparing the first set of data to the second set of data; and
providing an output signal if a match occurs as a result of the comparing of the first set of data and the second set of data, wherein said output signal simultaneously determines an edge of each of the two or more pulses which are respectively associated with said two or more address locations.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein one of the plurality of pulses is used to control a transistor for power regulation.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein one of the plurality of pulses is used to control analog to digital signal conversion.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the output signal activates one or more address lines to set or reset a latch that that determines the beginning or the end of the pulse.