Granted Patent B2

US 7,800,923 · App. 12/039,754 · Granted Sep 21, 2010

Abstract

Claims (53)

1. An offline synchronous regulator, comprising:

a plurality of switches, coupled to switch a primary winding of a transformer and generating a switching signal in a secondary winding of said transformer;

a switching circuit, coupled to said transformer and an output of said offline synchronous regulator to generate pulse signals in response to said switching signal and a feedback signal; and

a synchronous switch, having a power-switch set and a control circuit, said power-switch set being coupled from said transformer to said output of said offline synchronous regulator; said control circuit being operated to receive said pulse signals for turning on or off said power-switch set;

wherein said feedback signal is correlated to said output of said offline synchronous regulator; said pulse signals are generated for rectifying and regulating said offline synchronous regulator; and a polarity of said pulse signals determines on or off states of said power-switch set.

2. The offline synchronous regulator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said power-switch set is formed by a first switch and a second switch connected in series; said first switch has a first diode connected in parallel, said second switch has a second diode connected in parallel; said control circuit generates a first control signal and a second control signal; said first control signal is coupled to control said first switch, said second control signal is coupled to control said second switch.

3. The offline synchronous regulator as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said first switch can be turned on once said first diode is conducted.

4. The offline synchronous regulator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said synchronous switch comprises:

a boost diode and a boost capacitor, for developing a charge-pump circuit to power said control circuit;

wherein a power source is coupled to charge said boost capacitor via said boost diode; said control circuit is connected in parallel to said boost capacitor; said boost capacitor is connected to said power-switch set.

5. The offline synchronous regulator as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a flyback switch, coupled to said power-switch set to freewheel an inductor current of said offline synchronous regulator;

wherein said flyback switch is turned on in response to an off state of said power-switch set; an on-time of said flyback switch is correlated to an on-time of said power-switch set.

6. The offline synchronous regulator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said switching circuit comprises:

a linear-predict circuit, for generating a driving signal in response to said switching signal and said pulse signals;

wherein said driving signal is utilized to control said flyback switch.

7. The offline synchronous regulator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said switching circuit comprises:

a PWM circuit, for generating a PWM signal in response to said switching signal;

an error amplifier, coupled to said output of said offline synchronous regulator to receive said feedback signal and generate an error signal;

a soft-start circuit, for generating a soft-start signal in response to a power-on signal;

a ramp circuit, for generating a ramp signal in response to said PWM signal;

a comparator, for generating a clear signal to disable said PWM signal in response to said error signal and said ramp signal; and

a pulse-signal generator, for generating said pulse signals in accordance with said PWM signal;

wherein said PWM signal is enabled in response to said switching signal, said PWM signal is disabled in response to said clear signal; said soft-start signal is coupled to control the pulse width of said PWM signal; said pulse signals are differential signals, and the polarity of said pulse signals determine the on/off states of said power-switch set.

8. The offline synchronous regulator as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said switching circuit further comprises:

an oscillation circuit, for generating an oscillation signal;

wherein said oscillation signal is coupled to said pulse-signal generator to generate said pulse signals for turning off said power-switch set.

9. The offline synchronous regulator as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the switching circuit further comprises:

a comparison circuit, for generating an open-loop signal in response to said feedback signal; and

a timer circuit, for generating an off signal in response to said open-loop signal;

wherein said open-loop signal is enabled when said feedback signal is higher than an open-loop threshold; said off signal is generated when said open-loop signal is enabled for over a time-out period of said timer circuit; and said off signal is coupled to disable said PWM signal.

10. The offline synchronous regulator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the synchronous switch comprises:

an input terminal, coupled to said transformer;

an output terminal, coupled to said output of said offline synchronous regulator;

a first input terminal; and

a second input terminal;

wherein said power-switch set is connected in between said input terminal and said output terminal; said first input terminal and said second input terminal are coupled to said control circuit to receive pulse signals for turning on/off said power-switch set.

11. The offline synchronous regulator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said control circuit comprises a latch circuit coupled to receive said pulse signals for set or reset said latch circuit; and said latch circuit is coupled to turn on/off said power-switch set.

12. A method for providing a synchronous switching regulator, comprising:

switching a transformer to generate a switching signal at a secondary winding of said transformer;

generating pulse signals in response to a feedback signal and said switching signal;

transferring said pulse signals to a latch;

setting or resetting said latch in response to the polarity of said pulse signals; and

turning on/off a power-switch set in accordance with a state of said latch;

wherein said feedback signal is correlated to an output of said synchronous switching regulator; and said power-switch set is coupled in between said transformer and said output of said synchronous switching regulator for rectifying and regulating thereof.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising:

generating a driving signal to turn on/off a flyback switch in response to said switching signal and said pulse signals;

wherein said flyback switch is coupled to said power-switch set and said output of said synchronous switching regulator.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising:

generating an off signal to turn off said power-switch set in response to an open-loop signal; and

generating said open-loop signal in response to said feedback signal;

wherein said open-loop signal is generated when said feedback signal is higher than an open-loop threshold; and said off signal is generated when said open-loop signal sustains over a time-out period.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein a maximum on-time of said power-switch set is limited by a maximum-on-time circuit.

Assignments (8)