Constant current driver based on critical condition mode buck converter

1. A buck converter operable to provide a predetermined average current to a load, said buck converter comprising:

a converter positive input, a first load terminal and a second load terminal;

a primary inductor connected between the converter positive input and the first load terminal;

a primary inductor current sensing circuit effective to sense current through the primary inductor and provide a primary inductor current signal indicative of the current through the primary inductor;

a switch connected between the second load terminal and a ground input of the converter;

a switch current sensing circuit effective to sense an instantaneous current through the switch and provide an instantaneous current signal indicative of the sensed instantaneous current through the switch; and

a controller operable to receive the primary inductor current signal and the instantaneous current signal and control the switch as a function of the primary inductor current signal and the instantaneous current signal, wherein:

controlling the switch comprises turning the switch on and off;

the switch is operable to conduct current through the switch when turned on; and

the switch is operable to substantially prevent current flow through the switch when turned off.

2. The converter of claim 1 , wherein the controller is functional to control the switch by turning the switch on when the primary inductor current signal indicates zero current through the primary inductor; and

turning the switch off when the instantaneous current signal indicates that the current through the switch is twice the predetermined average current.

3. The converter of claim 1 , further comprising a peak current sensor effective to sense a peak current through the switch and provide a peak current signal indicative of the peak current through the switch to a peak current input of the controller.

4. The converter of claim 1 , further comprising a reference current circuit operable to provide a reference current to a reference current input of the controller, wherein the controller is further operable to determine the predetermined average current as a function of the reference current.

5. The converter of claim 1 , wherein:

the primary inductor comprises a primary winding of a transformer;

the primary inductor current sensing circuit comprises a secondary winding of the transformer and a primary inductor current sensing circuit resistor connected in series with the secondary winding of the transformer; and

the primary inductor current sensing circuit resistor and secondary winding are connected between the ground input of the converter and a primary inductor current input of the controller.

6. The converter of claim 1 , wherein:

the switch current sensing circuit comprises a sensing resistor connected between the switch and the ground input of the converter and the instantaneous current signal is a voltage of the current sensing resistor;

the converter further comprises a peak current sensor comprising

a diode having an anode connected to a high side of the current sensing resistor, and

a capacitor connected between a cathode of the diode and the ground input of the converter;

the peak current sensor is effective to provide a peak current signal indicative of a peak current through the switch to the controller from the cathode of the diode; and

the controller determines a peak current through the switch as a function of the peak current signal.

7. The converter of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a gate drive output connected to a control terminal of the switch and the controller is functional to provide a gate drive signal to the control terminal to turn the switch on and off.

8. The converter of claim 1 , further comprising;

a peak current sensor effective to sense a peak current through the switch and provide a peak current signal indicative of the peak current through the switch to a peak current input of the controller; and

the controller is functional to

turn the switch on when the primary inductor current signal indicates zero current through the primary inductor,

turn the switch off a predetermined period of time after turning the switch on; and

adjust the predetermined period of time as a function of the peak current signal.

9. A light fixture operable to connect to a power source and provide light, said light fixture comprising:

a housing;

a light source supported by the housing, said light source operable to provide light in response to receiving current;

a buck converter supported by the housing, said converter operable to provide a predetermined average current to the light source, said buck converter comprising:

a primary inductor connected between a positive input of the converter and the light source;

a primary inductor current sensing circuit operable to sense current through the primary inductor and provide a primary inductor current signal indicative of the current through the primary inductor;

a switch connected between the light source and a ground input of the converter;

a switch current sensing circuit operable to sense an instantaneous current through the switch and provide an instantaneous current signal indicative of the sensed instantaneous current through the switch; and

a controller operable to receive the primary inductor current signal and the instantaneous current signal and control the switch as a function of the primary inductor current signal and the instantaneous current signal, wherein:

controlling the switch comprises turning the switch on and off;

the switch is operable to conduct current through the switch when turned on; and

the switch is operable to substantially prevent current flow through the switch when turned off.

10. The light fixture of claim 9 , wherein controlling the switch comprises:

turning the switch on when the primary inductor current signal indicates zero current through the primary inductor; and

turning the switch off when the instantaneous current signal indicates that the current through the switch is twice the predetermined average current.

11. The light fixture of claim 9 , wherein the converter further comprises a peak current sensor operable to sense a peak current through the switch and provide a peak current signal indicative of the peak current through the switch to a peak current input of the controller.

12. The light fixture of claim 9 , wherein the converter further comprises a reference current circuit operable to provide a reference current to a reference current input of the controller, wherein the controller is further operable to determine the predetermined average current as a function of the reference current.

13. The light fixture of claim 9 , wherein the primary inductor is a primary winding of a transformer, and the primary inductor current sensing circuit comprises:

a secondary winding of the transformer; and

a primary inductor current sensing circuit resistor connected in series with the secondary winding of the transformer, wherein the primary inductor current sensing circuit resistor and secondary winding are connected between the ground input of the converter and a primary inductor current input of the controller.

14. The light fixture of claim 9 , wherein:

the switch current sensing circuit comprises a sensing resistor connected between the switch and the ground input of the converter and the instantaneous current signal is a voltage of the current sensing resistor;

the converter further comprises a peak current sensor comprising:

a diode having an anode connected to a high side of the current sensing resistor; and

a capacitor connected between a cathode of the diode and the ground input of the converter;

the peak current sensor is operable to provide a peak current signal indicative of a peak current through the switch to the controller from the cathode of the diode; and

the controller determines a peak current through the switch as a function of the peak current signal.

15. The light fixture of claim 9 , wherein the controller comprises a gate drive output connected to a control terminal of the switch, and wherein the controller is operable to provide a gate drive signal to the control terminal to turn the switch on and off.

16. The light fixture of claim 9 , wherein the converter further comprises a peak current sensor operable to sense a peak current through the switch and provide a peak current signal indicative of the peak current through the switch to a peak current input of the controller and the controller is functional to control the switch by

turning the switch on when the primary inductor current signal indicates zero current through the primary inductor,

turning the switch off a predetermined period of time after turning the switch on, and

adjusting the predetermined period of time as a function of the peak current signal.

17. The light fixture of claim 9 , wherein:

the light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes connected in series with one another; and

the light fixture further comprises a rectifier connected to the positive input and the ground input of the converter, wherein the rectifier is operable to receive alternating current line power and provide a direct current power source to the converter.

18. A method of providing a predetermined average current to a load, said method comprising:

sensing, via a primary inductor current sensing circuit, a current through a primary inductor of a buck converter connected to the load, wherein the primary inductor is connected between a positive input of the converter and the load;

providing a primary inductor current signal indicative of the current through the primary inductor from the primary inductor current sensing circuit to a controller of the converter;

sensing an instantaneous current through a switch of the converter via a switch current sensing circuit of the converter, wherein the switch is connected between the load and a ground input of the converter;

providing an instantaneous current signal indicative of the sensed instantaneous current through the switch from the switch current sensing circuit to the controller; and

receiving the primary inductor current signal and the instantaneous current signal at the controller; and

controlling the switch via the controller as a function of the primary inductor current signal and the instantaneous current signal, wherein:

controlling the switch comprises turning the switch on and off;

the switch is operable to conduct current through the switch when turned on; and

the switch is operable to substantially prevent current flow through the switch when turned off.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein controlling the switch comprises:

turning the switch on when the primary inductor current signal indicates zero current through the primary inductor; and

turning the switch off when the instantaneous current signal indicates that the current through the switch is twice the predetermined average current.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the converter further comprises a peak current sensor operable to sense a peak current through the switch and provide a peak current signal indicative of the peak current through the switch to a peak current input of the controller, wherein controlling the switch comprises:

turning the switch on when the primary inductor current signal indicates zero current through the primary inductor; and

turning the switch off a predetermined period of time after turning the switch on; and

adjusting the predetermined period of time as a function of the peak current signal.