Controller for a power converter and method of operating the same

1. A controller for use with a power converter including a switch configured to conduct to provide a regulated output characteristic at an output of said power converter, comprising:

a linear control circuit, coupled to said output, configured to provide a first control signal to control a duty cycle and a switching frequency for said switch as a function of said output characteristic; and

a nonlinear control circuit, coupled to said output, configured to provide a second control signal to control said duty cycle and said switching frequency for said switch as a function of said output characteristic, wherein said controller is configured to select one of said first and second control signals for said switch in response to a change in said output characteristic.

2. The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said output characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:

an output voltage of said power converter,

an output current of said power converter, and

an output filter capacitor current of said power converter.

3. The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to select one of said first and second control signals for said switch in response to a change in a set point of said output characteristic.

4. The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said nonlinear control circuit is configured to provide open loop control for said power converter.

5. The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said first control signal includes a compensation signal and said nonlinear control circuit is configured to provide a signal to said linear control circuit to modify said compensation signal when said controller transitions control from said nonlinear control circuit to said linear control circuit.

6. The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said nonlinear control circuit is responsive to an output filter capacitor current using a mirror circuit to provide said second control signal.

7. The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said nonlinear control circuit includes a lookup table to provide said second control signal.

8. A power converter, comprising:

a switch that conducts to provide a regulated output characteristic at an output of said power converter; and

a controller, including:

a linear control circuit, coupled to said output, that provides a first control signal to control a duty cycle and a switching frequency for said switch as a function of said output characteristic, and

a nonlinear control circuit, coupled to said output, that provides a second control signal to control said duty cycle and said switching frequency for said switch as a function of said output characteristic, wherein said controller selects one of said first and second control signals for said switch in response to a change in said output characteristic.

9. The power converter as recited in claim 8 wherein said output characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:

an output voltage of said power converter,

an output current of said power converter, and

an output filter capacitor current of said power converter.

10. The power converter as recited in claim 8 wherein said controller is configured to select one of said first and second control signals for said switch in response to a change in a set point of said output characteristic.

11. The power converter as recited in claim 8 wherein said nonlinear control circuit provides open loop control for said power converter.

12. The power converter as recited in claim 8 wherein said first control signal includes a compensation signal and said nonlinear control circuit is configured to provide a signal to said linear control circuit to modify said compensation signal when said controller transitions control from said nonlinear control circuit to said linear control circuit.

13. The power converter as recited in claim 8 wherein said nonlinear control circuit is responsive to an output filter capacitor current using a mirror circuit to provide said second control signal.

14. The power converter as recited in claim 8 wherein said nonlinear control circuit includes a lookup table to provide said second control signal.

15. A method of operating a controller for a power converter including a switch that conducts to provide a regulated output characteristic at an output of said power converter, comprising:

providing a first control signal to control a duty cycle and a switching frequency for said switch as a function of said output characteristic with a linear control circuit coupled to said output of said power converter;

providing a second control signal to control said duty cycle and said switching frequency for said switch as a function of said output characteristic with a nonlinear control circuit coupled to said output of said power converter; and

selecting one of said first and second control signals for said switch in response to a change in said output characteristic.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said output characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:

an output voltage of said power converter,

an output current of said power converter, and

an output filter capacitor current of said power converter.

17. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said selecting comprises selecting one of said first and second control signals for said switch in response to a change in a set point of said output characteristic.

18. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said nonlinear control circuit provides open loop control for said power converter.

19. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said first control signal includes a compensation signal and said nonlinear control circuit is configured to provide a signal to said linear control circuit to modify said compensation signal when said controller transitions control from said nonlinear control circuit to said linear control circuit.

20. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said nonlinear control circuit is responsive to an output filter capacitor current using a mirror circuit to provide said second control signal.