IP Library Granted Patent US 8,749,999
Granted Patent B2
US 8,749,999 · App. 13/344,134 · Granted Jun 10, 2014

Controller and power converter using the same for clamping maximum switching current of power converter

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,749,999
App. No.
13/344,134
Granted
Jun 10, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A controller of a power converter is provided. The controller includes a feedback circuit, an output circuit, and a clamping circuit. The feedback circuit generates a feedback signal in accordance with output of the power converter. The output circuit generates a switching signal in accordance with the feedback signal for regulating the output of the power converter. The clamping circuit limits the feedback signal under a first level for a first load condition and limits the feedback signal under a second level for a second load condition. The clamping circuit includes a timer circuit. The timer circuit determines a slew rate of the feedback signal for increasing the feedback signal from the first level to the second level, and the second level is higher than the first level.

Claims (38)

1. A controller of a power converter comprising:

a feedback circuit generating a feedback signal in accordance with output of the power converter;

an output circuit generating a switching signal in accordance with the feedback signal for regulating the output of the power converter; and

a clamping circuit limiting the feedback signal under a first level for a first load condition and limiting the feedback signal under a second level for a second load condition;

wherein the clamping circuit includes a timer circuit determining a slew rate of the feedback signal for increasing the feedback signal from the first level to the second level, and the second level is higher than the first level.

2. The controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the switching signal is coupled to switch a transformer for regulating the output of the power converter.

3. The controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first level and the second level of the clamping circuit is determined by a level of a voltage feedback signal.

4. The controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the timer circuit comprises:

a counter performing a counting operation according to the switching signal to generate a counted value;

an analog-to-digital circuit coupled to the counter and generating a modulation signal according to the counted value for limiting the feedback signal; and

a comparator comparing a voltage feedback signal with a reference signal to clear the counter, wherein the voltage feedback signal is correlated to the output of the power converter.

5. The controller as claimed in claim 1 comprising a current feedback loop or a voltage feedback loop.

6. A controller for limiting a switching current of a power converter, comprising:

a feedback circuit generating a feedback signal in accordance with output of the power converter;

an output circuit generating a switching signal in accordance with the feedback signal for regulating the output of the power converter;

a clamping circuit limiting the feedback signal under a first level for a first load condition and limiting the feedback signal under a second level for a second load condition;

a current limit threshold coupled to limit the switching current of the power converter;

wherein the clamping circuit has a timer circuit determining a slew rate of the feedback signal for increasing the feedback signal from the first level to a second level, and the second level is higher than the first level.

7. The controller as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the switching signal is coupled to switch a transformer for regulating the output of the power converter.

8. The controller as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the current limit threshold is changed in response to change of an input voltage of the power converter.

9. The controller as claimed in claim 8 , in which the input voltage is detected through a transformer.

10. The controller as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the first level and the second level of the clamping circuit is determined by a level of a voltage feedback signal.

11. The controller as claimed in claim 6 , wherein which the timer circuit comprises:

a counter performing a counting operation according to the switching signal to generate a counted value;

an analog-to-digital circuit coupled to the counter and generating a modulation signal according to the counted value for limiting the feedback signal; and

a comparator comparing a voltage feedback signal with a reference signal to clear the counter, wherein the voltage feedback signal is correlated to the output of the power converter.

12. A controller for limiting a switching current of a power converter, comprising:

a feedback circuit generating a feedback signal in accordance with output of the power converter;

an output circuit generating a switching signal in accordance with the feedback signal for regulating the output of the power converter;

a current limit threshold coupled to limit the switching current of the power converter; and

a clamping circuit limiting the feedback signal under a first level for a first load condition and limiting the feedback signal under a second level for a second load condition;

wherein the clamping circuit has a timer circuit determining a slew rate of the feedback signal for increasing the feedback signal from the first level to a second level, and the second level is higher than the first level; and

wherein the switching signal is coupled to switch a transformer for regulating the output of the power converter, and the current limit threshold is changed in response to change of an input voltage of the power converter.

13. The controller as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the input voltage is detected through the transformer.

14. The controller as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the timer circuit comprising

a counter performing a counting operation according to the switching signal to generate a counted value;

an analog-to-digital circuit coupled to the counter and generating a modulation signal according to the counted value for limiting the feedback signal; and

a comparator comparing a voltage feedback signal with a reference signal to clear the counter, wherein the voltage feedback signal is correlated to the output of the power converter.

Assignments (3)
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 →