IP Library Granted Patent US 8,908,396
Granted Patent B2
US 8,908,396 · App. 13/611,091 · Granted Dec 9, 2014

Control circuit for controlling the maximum output current of power converter and method thereof

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,908,396
App. No.
13/611,091
Granted
Dec 9, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control circuit of the power converter according to the present invention comprises a feedback circuit, an output circuit and an adaptive clamping circuit. The feedback circuit generates a feedback signal in accordance with an 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 adaptive clamping circuit limits the level of the feedback signal under a first level for a first load condition. The feedback circuit determines a slew rate of the feedback signal for increasing the level of the feedback signal from the first level to a second level. The adaptive clamping circuit is disabled and the level of the feedback signal can be increased to the second level for a second load condition.

Claims (24)

1. A control circuit of a power converter, comprising:

a feedback circuit, generating a feedback signal in accordance with an 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

an adaptive clamping circuit, limiting the level of the feedback signal under a first level for a first load condition;

wherein the feedback circuit determines a slew rate of the feedback signal for increasing the level of the feedback signal from the first level to a second level; the adaptive clamping circuit is disabled and the level of the feedback signal can be increased to the second level for a second load condition.

2. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the feedback circuit comprises a timing circuit, the timing circuit determines the slew rate of the feedback signal for increasing the level of the feedback signal from the first level to the second level.

3. The control circuit as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the timing circuit is operated by a frequency compensation network of the feedback circuit.

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

5. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second level is higher than the first level, and the second load condition is heavier than the first load condition.

6. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the feedback circuit is a current-feedback circuit, the feedback signal is a current-loop feedback signal.

7. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the enable or disable of the adaptive clamping circuit is determined by the level of a voltage-loop feedback signal.

8. The control circuit as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the adaptive clamping circuit comprises:

a switch, having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal is coupled to the feedback circuit;

a transistor, coupled between the second terminal of the switch and a ground, and controlled by a reference signal, wherein the level of the feedback signal is limited under the first level for the first load condition when the switch is turned on, and the first level is determined by the reference signal; and

a comparator, comparing the level of the voltage-loop feedback signal with a threshold for controlling the on/off of the switch.

9. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the feedback circuit further comprises a current-feedback loop.

10. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a voltage-feedback loop.

11. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the power converter is a primary-side controlled power converter; in which no opto-coupler is needed for a feedback loop control.

12. A method for controlling a power converter, comprising:

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

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

clamping the level of the feedback signal under a first level for a first load condition; and

generating a slew rate for increasing the level of the feedback signal from the first level to a second level;

wherein the level of the feedback signal can be increased to the second level for a second load condition.

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 12, 2012
From: YANG, TA-YUNG; LIN, LI; TANG, YUE-HONG; CHEN, JUNG-SHENG
To: SYSTEM GENERAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 028992/0260 →