IP Library Granted Patent US 7,570,038
Granted Patent B2
US 7,570,038 · App. 11/451,454 · Granted Aug 4, 2009

Control circuit to reduce reverse current of synchronous rectifier

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,570,038
App. No.
11/451,454
Granted
Aug 4, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control circuit for a power converter receives a switching signal that is applied to charge an inductor of the power converter. The control circuit includes a predication circuit that generates a timing signal in response to the switching signal. The timing signal is used to turn off a synchronous rectifier for preventing a reverse current during light load and no load conditions.

Claims (37)

1. A control circuit to reduce a reverse current of a synchronous rectifier, comprising:

a predication circuit predicting a discharge time for discharging an inductor of a power converter and generating a timing signal to turn off the synchronous rectifier of the power converter in response to a switching signal and a control signal, in which the timing signal represents the discharge time of the inductor of the power converter;

wherein the control signal is related to an output voltage of the power converter, an on time of the switching signal is correlated to a charge time of the inductor.

2. The circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein an on time of the timing signal is decreased in response to a decrease of the on time of the switching signal, and the on time of the timing signal is increased in response to an increase of a voltage of the switching signal.

3. The circuit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a programmable signal.

4. A control circuit to reduce a reverse current of a synchronous rectifier, comprising:

a predication circuit generating a timing signal to turn off the synchronous rectifier of a power converter in response to a switching signal and a control signal, in which the timing signal represents a discharge time of an inductor of the power converter, the control signal being related to an output voltage of the power converter, an on time of the switching signal being correlated to a charge time of the inductor, the prediction circuit including:

an input circuit generating a charge signal and a discharge signal in accordance with an input signal and the control signal, in which the input signal is correlated to a voltage of the switching signal; and

a timer circuit coupled to the input circuit for generating the timing signal in accordance with the charge signal, the discharge signal and the on time of the switching signal;

wherein the timer circuit generates a charge voltage in accordance with the charge signal and the on time of the switching signal and then generates the timing signal in accordance with the charge voltage and the discharge signal once the switching signal is turned off.

5. The circuit as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the input circuit, comprising:

a first V-to-I converter generating an input current signal in accordance with the input signal;

a second V-to-I converter generating a control current signal in accordance with the control signal; and

current mirrors coupled to the first V-to-I converter and the second V-to-I converter to generate the charge signal and the discharge signal in accordance with the input current signal and the control current signal.

6. The circuit as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the timer circuit, comprising:

a capacitor generating the charge voltage;

a charge switch coupled between the charge signal and the capacitor to charge the capacitor from the charge signal, in which the on/off of the charge switch is controlled by the switching signal;

a discharge switch coupled between the discharge signal and the capacitor to discharge the capacitor from the discharge signal, in which the on/off of the discharge switch is controlled by the timing signal; and

a comparator coupled to the capacitor to generate the timing signal, in which the comparator compares the charge voltage with a threshold to disable the timing signal.

7. A control circuit to reduce a reverse current of a synchronous rectifier, comprising:

a predication circuit predicting a discharge time for discharging an inductor of a power converter and generating a timing signal to turn off the synchronous rectifier of the power converter in response to a switching signal; wherein an on-time of the switching signal is correlated to a charge time of the inductor of the power converter.

8. The circuit as claimed in claim 7 wherein an on time of the timing signal is decreased in response to a decrease of the on time of the switching signal, and the on time of the timing signal is increased in response to an increase of a voltage of the switching signal.

9. A control circuit to reduce a reverse current of a synchronous rectifier, comprising:

a predication circuit generating a timing signal to turn off the synchronous rectifier of a power converter in response to a switching signal; wherein an on time of the switching signal is correlated to a charge time of an inductor of the power converter, the prediction circuit including:

an input circuit generating a charge signal and a discharge signal in accordance with an input signal and a control signal, in which the input signal is correlated to a voltage of the switching signal, the control signal is related to an output voltage of the power converter; and

a timer circuit coupled to the input circuit to generate the timing signal in accordance with the charge signal, the discharge signal and the switching signal;

wherein the timer circuit generates a charge voltage in accordance with the charge signal and the on time of the switching signal and then generates the timing signal in accordance with the charge voltage and the discharge signal once the switching signal is turned off.

10. The circuit as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the control signal is a programmable signal.

11. The circuit as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the input circuit, comprising:

a first V-to-I converter generating an input current signal in accordance with the input signal;

a second V-to-I converter generating a control current signal in accordance with the control signal; and

current mirrors coupled to the first V-to-I converter and the second V-to-I converter to generate the charge signal and the discharge signal in accordance with the input current signal and the control current signal.

12. The circuit as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the timer circuit, comprising:

a capacitor generating the charge voltage;

a charge switch coupled between the charge signal and the capacitor to charge the capacitor from the charge signal, in which the on/off of the charge switch is controlled by the switching signal;

a discharge switch coupled between the discharge signal and the capacitor to discharge the capacitor from the discharge signal, the on/off of the discharge switch is controlled by the timing signal; and

a comparator coupled to the capacitor to generate the timing signal, in which the comparator compares the charge voltage with a threshold to disable the timing signal.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT RECORDED AT REEL 046410, FRAME 0933 Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC; FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064072/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 22, 2018
From: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046410/0933 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2017
From: FAIRCHILD (TAIWAN) CORPORATION (FORMERLY SYSTEM GENERAL CORPORATION)
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 042328/0318 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 8, 2016
From: SYSTEM GENERAL CORP.
To: FAIRCHILD (TAIWAN) CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038906/0030 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2006
From: YANG, TA-YUNG
To: SYSTEM GENERAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 017826/0103 →