IP Library Granted Patent US 9,337,727
Granted Patent B2
US 9,337,727 · App. 14/147,811 · Granted May 10, 2016

Circuitry to control a switching regulator

Inventors: Gregory Szczeszynski (Hollis, NH); Matthew Szaniawski (Fremont, NH)
Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
H02M3/156H05B33/0815H05B33/0824Y02B20/346Y02B20/347
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,337,727
App. No.
14/147,811
Granted
May 10, 2016
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 (22)

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 voltage control signal to the switching regulator in response to voltage changes from a signal received by the response circuit from the current regulator circuit,

wherein the voltage control signal changes non-linearly with respect to the voltage changes from the signal received by the response circuit from the current regulator circuit.

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

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

4. The circuit of claim 3 wherein the amplifier receives a first input from a regulation voltage circuit and a second input from the current regulator circuit.

5. The circuit of claim 3 wherein the amplifier is a non-linear amplifier.

6. The circuit of claim 3 wherein the amplifier is a linear amplifier.

7. The circuit of claim 6 , further comprising a current detection circuit configured to determine if a current at the current regulator circuit reaches a predetermined threshold level.

8. The circuit of claim 7 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.

9. The circuit of claim 7 wherein the current detection circuit provides additional current if current at the current regulator circuit reaches a predetermined threshold level.

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

11. 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 voltage control signal to the switching regulator in response to a voltage signal from the current regulator circuit and comprising a first input and a second input coupled to the current regulator circuit configured to receive the voltage signal from 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 compensates for changes in electrical characteristics of the current regulator circuit due to changes in temperature.

12. The circuit of claim 11 wherein the adaptation regulation circuit comprises a first current source that mirrors a second current source in the current regulator circuit.

Assignments (8)
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 →
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 Jun 22, 2023
From: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064068/0459 →
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 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 21, 2017
From: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 042929/0018 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 032059 FRAME: 0649. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 3, 2017
From: SZCZESZYNSKI, GREGORY; SZANIAWSKI, MATTHEW
To: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 042394/0086 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2014
From: SZCZESZYNSKI, GREGORY; SZANIAWSKI, MATTHEW
To: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 032059/0649 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 12966139 · Dec 13, 2010
Related Publication 20140176018A1 · Jun 26, 2014