IP Library Granted Patent US 8,576,595
Granted Patent B2
US 8,576,595 · App. 13/237,957 · Granted Nov 5, 2013

Method and apparatus of providing a biased current limit for limiting maximum output power of power converters

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,576,595
App. No.
13/237,957
Granted
Nov 5, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A biased current-limit circuit for limiting a maximum output power of a power converter includes an oscillator for generating a pulse signal and an oscillation signal. A waveform generator generates a waveform signal in response to the oscillation signal. A sample-hold circuit is used to sample the waveform signal to generate a hold signal in response to a switching signal. The sample-hold circuit further samples the hold signal to generate a current-limit threshold in response to a second-sampling signal. A current comparator is utilized to compare a current-sensing signal with the current-limit threshold to limit a maximum on-time of the switching signal.

Claims (23)

1. A method of a biased current limit for limiting a maximum output power of a power converter, comprising:

generating a pulse signal and an oscillation signal;

generating a waveform signal in response to the oscillation signal;

sampling the waveform signal to generate a hold signal in response to a switching signal;

sampling the hold signal to generate a current-limit threshold in response to a second-sampling signal, wherein the switching signal is utilized to switch a transformer of the power converter, and the second-sampling signal is correlated to the pulse signal; and

comparing a current-sensing signal with the current-limit threshold to limit a maximum on-time of the switching signal, wherein the current-sensing signal is correlated to a switching current of the transformer.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the current-limit threshold is a constant when the switching signal is at a high level.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the current-limit threshold is only changed when the switching signal is at a low level.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , the waveform signal comprising:

a first DC element;

a ramp element, wherein the amplitude of the ramp element is higher than the amplitude of the first DC element; and

a second DC element, wherein the amplitude of the second DC element is higher than the amplitude of the ramp element, and a slope of the ramp element is determined by the oscillation signal, and the amplitude of the ramp element increases from the amplitude of the first DC element to the amplitude of the second DC element.

5. A biased current-limit circuit for limiting a maximum output power of a power converter, comprising:

an oscillator, generating a pulse signal and an oscillation signal;

a waveform generator, coupled to the oscillator for generating a waveform signal in response to the oscillation signal;

a sample-hold circuit, sampling the waveform signal to generate a hold signal in response to a switching signal, the sample-hold circuit further sampling the hold signal to generate a current-limit threshold in response to a second-sampling signal, wherein the switching signal is utilized to switch a transformer of the power converter, and the second-sampling signal is correlated to the pulse signal; and

a current comparator, comparing a current-sensing signal with the current-limit threshold to limit a maximum on-time of the switching signal, wherein the current-sensing signal is correlated to a switching current of the transformer.

6. The biased current-limit circuit as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the current-limit threshold is a constant when the switching signal is at a high level.

7. The biased current-limit circuit as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the current-limit threshold is only changed when the switching signal is at a low level.

8. The biased current-limit circuit as claimed in claim 5 , the waveform signal comprising:

a first DC element;

a ramp element, wherein the amplitude of the ramp element is higher than the amplitude of the first DC element; and

a second DC element, wherein the amplitude of the second DC element is higher than the amplitude of the ramp element, and a slope of the ramp element is determined by the oscillation 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 May 2, 2016
From: SYSTEM GENERAL CORP.
To: FAIRCHILD (TAIWAN) CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038594/0168 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2011
From: HUANG, SHAO-CHUN; HSU, CHIEN-TSUN; FU, JIAN-MING; HUANG, WEI-HSUAN; YANG, TA-YUNG
To: SYSTEM GENERAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 026945/0940 →