Method and apparatus for controlling a start-up sequence of a DC/DC buck converter

1. A method of controlling a start-up sequence of a DC/DC Buck converter, the method comprising:

continuously comparing an output voltage of the Buck converter with an internal reference voltage;

continuously monitoring for a Buck converter start-up signal; and

if the output voltage is greater than the internal reference voltage when the Buck converter start-up signal is detected, switching off the Buck converter and discharging an output capacitor of the Buck converter through a pull-down unit until the output voltage substantially equals the internal reference voltage and then restarting the Buck converter.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising keeping the Buck converter switched on when the output voltage is less than the internal reference voltage.

3. A DC/DC Buck converter comprising,

a start-up controller including a comparator configured to compare an output voltage of the Buck converter with an internal reference voltage, an output of the comparator providing a first input for an AND logic controller whose second input is operatively connected to a Buck converter start-up signal, wherein an output of the AND logic controller is configured to switch off the Buck converter and to discharge an output capacitor of the Buck converter via a pull-down circuit when the AND logic controller's input are both in a logical state “1”.

4. The DC/DC Buck converter of claim 3 , wherein the output of the comparator connected to the first logical input of the AND logic controller goes to logical state “0” when output voltage of the Buck converter falls below the internal reference voltage.

5. The DC/DC Buck converter of claim 3 , further comprising an inductor coil wired in series, and a capacitor wired in parallel with, an output and an input, the input comprising switching means comprising a ramp generator and a comparator together being configured to deliver a pulsed input voltage from a voltage generator that is driven by a current source.

6. The DC/DC Buck converter of claim 5 , wherein the current source is connected to an input capacitor to provide the internal reference voltage.

7. The DC/DC Buck converter of claim 3 , further comprising a combining circuit for combining the internal reference voltage with a fixed voltage value to generate an output reference voltage.

8. The DC/DC Buck converter of claim 3 , wherein the start-up controller comprises a bridge circuit and a logical AND gate, whose output is only “on”, when the output voltage is greater than the fixed reference voltage, and when the Buck converter start-up request signal is in logical state “1”.

9. The DC/DC Buck converter of claim 8 , wherein the Buck Converter's output capacitor is discharged through the pull-down unit until the output voltage has dropped below a pre-specified value.

10. The DC/DC Buck converter of claim 9 , wherein the pre-specified value is determined by parameters of the comparator.

11. The DC/DC Buck converter of claim 8 , wherein while the Buck converter's output capacitor is discharged, the Buck converter is kept off, such that when the output voltage reaches the internal reference voltage, the ramp capacitor begins to load to the output voltage value.

12. The DC/DC Buck converter of claim 3 , wherein if the output voltage is less than the fixed voltage value when a buck start-up request goes from logical state “0” to logical state “1”, the ramp capacitor loads to the output voltage value and then the Buck converter starts.