IP Library Granted Patent US 8,692,482
Granted Patent B2
US 8,692,482 · App. 12/966,139 · Granted Apr 8, 2014

Circuitry to control a switching regulator

Inventors: Gregory Szczeszynski (Hollis, NH); Matthew Szaniawski (Fremont, NH)
Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,692,482
App. No.
12/966,139
Granted
Apr 8, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one aspect, a circuit includes a switching regulator configured to provide power to a load, a current regulator circuit coupled to the load and a response circuit configured to provide a control signal to the switching regulator in response to electrical changes of the current regulator circuit. The control signal changes non-linearly with respect to the electrical changes at the current regulator circuit. In another aspect, a circuit includes an adaptive regulation voltage circuit configured to provide a regulation voltage to a first input of an amplifier to maintain operability of a current regulator circuit. The adaptive regulation voltage circuit replicates electrical characteristics of the current regulator circuit.

Claims (48)

1. A circuit comprising:

a switching regulator configured to provide power to a load;

a current regulator circuit coupled to the load; and

a response circuit configured to provide a control signal to the switching regulator in response to electrical changes of the current regulator circuit,

wherein the control signal changes non-linearly with respect to the electrical changes at the current regulator circuit, and

wherein the response circuit is configured to provide a non-linear increase to the control signal in response to a voltage drop at the current regulator circuit.

2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the non-linear increase to the control signal comprises increasing a current output of the response circuit.

3. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the non-linear increase to the control signal is an exponentially related to the electrical changes of the current regulation circuit.

4. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the switching regulator is a DC-DC converter.

5. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the response circuit comprises an amplifier.

6. The circuit of claim 5 wherein the amplifier receives a first input from a regulation voltage circuit and a second input from the current regulator circuit.

7. The circuit of claim 5 wherein the amplifier is a non-linear amplifier.

8. The circuit of claim 5 wherein the amplifier is a linear amplifier.

9. The circuit of claim 8 , further comprising a current detection circuit configured to determine if a current at the current regulator circuit reaches a predetermined threshold level.

10. The circuit of claim 9 wherein the current detection circuit enables the linear amplifier to increase a current output of the linear amplifier if a current at the current regulator circuit reaches the predetermined threshold level.

11. The circuit of claim 9 wherein the current detection circuit provides additional current if current at the current regulator circuit reaches a predetermined threshold level.

12. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the voltage drop at the current regulator circuit corresponds to a voltage at the current regulator circuit falling below a predetermined threshold.

13. The circuit of claim 12 wherein the predetermined threshold is related to a minimum operating voltage associated with the current regulator circuit.

14. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the load comprises one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).

15. A circuit comprising:

a switching regulator configured to provide power to a load;

a current regulator circuit coupled to the load;

a response circuit configured to provide a control signal to the switching regulator in response to electrical changes of the current regulator circuit; and

a current detection circuit configured to determine if a voltage at the current regulator circuit is saturated,

wherein the control signal changes non-linearly with respect to the electrical changes at the current regulator circuit, and

wherein the response circuit comprises a linear amplifier.

16. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the current detection circuit causes the linear amplifier to increase a current output of the linear amplifier if the voltage at the current regulator circuit is saturated.

17. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the current detection circuit provides additional current to the switching regulator if the voltage at the current regulator circuit is saturated.

18. A circuit comprising:

a switching regulator configured to provide power to a load;

a current regulator circuit coupled to the load; and

an adaptive response circuit comprising:

an amplifier configured to provide a control signal to the switching regulator in response to electrical changes at the current regulator and comprising a first input and a second input coupled to the current regulator circuit; and

an adaptive regulation voltage circuit configured to provide a regulation voltage to the first input of the amplifier to maintain operability of the current regulator circuit,

wherein the adaptive regulation voltage circuit replicates electrical characteristics of the current regulator circuit,

wherein the adaptation regulation circuit comprises a first current source that mirrors a second current source in the current regulator circuit, and

wherein the first current source in the adaptation regulation circuit provides a current that is 1/N times a current provided by the second current source in the current regulation circuit, where N≧1.

19. The circuit of claim 18 wherein the adaptation regulation circuit further comprises:

a voltage source coupled to ground; and

and a first resistor coupled between the voltage source and the first current source,

wherein the current regulator circuit comprises a second resistor coupled to the second current source,

wherein resistance of first resistor is N times resistance of the second resistor.

20. The circuit of claim 19 wherein the first current source is coupled to the first resistor and the regulation voltage is provided at a node between the first resistor and the first current source.

21. The circuit of claim 18 wherein current regulation circuit further comprises a second FET, and

wherein the first FET and the second FET have the same electrical characteristics.

22. The circuit of claim 19 wherein the adaptive regulation circuit further comprises a first field effect transistor (FET) with one of a drain or a source coupled to the first resistor and the other one of the drain or source coupled to the first current source,

wherein the regulation voltage is provided at a node between the first FET and the second current source.

23. The circuit of claim 22 wherein the first FET is fully on.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL 053957/FRAME 0874 Recorded Nov 1, 2023
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 065420/0572 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064068/0459 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (R/F 053957/0620) Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: MIZUHO BANK, LTD., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 064068/0360 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 1, 2020
From: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
To: MIZUHO BANK LTD., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053957/0620 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 1, 2020
From: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053957/0874 →
CONVERSION AND NAME CHANGE Recorded Apr 10, 2013
From: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 030426/0178 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2010
From: SZCZESZYNSKI, GREGORY; SZANIAWSKI, MATTHEW
To: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025501/0754 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120146541A1 · Jun 14, 2012