High Efficiency Voltage Conversion and Converter
A novel switching power converter comprises a state machine. The state machine continuously seeks an optimal switching timing of a switch in the converter for maximum system efficiency. The state machine moves the triggering edge of a switching signal that triggers a second switch in a controlled step and direction with respect to a prior signal, and measures the on-time during which power goes into the converter. The measured on-time is then compared to a reference to determine the correctness of the movement. The movement of the triggering edge continues to maintain maximum conversion efficiency.
1 . A switching voltage converter, comprising:
a first switch coupled to a power source and a second switch coupled to the first switch;
a pulse controller configured to deliver a first pulse train of pulses to switch the first switch;
a counter configured to mea ire on-time and off-time of the first switch and store the measured counts;
a pulse edge modulator configured to move a triggering edge of pulses in a second pulse train based on the measured counts; and
the second switch configured to be switched by the pulses of the second pulse train.
2 . The switching voltage converter of claim 1 , in which the counter measure by counting the on-time and off-time based on the frequency of a system clock.
3 . The switching voltage converter of claim 1 , further comprising a state machine configured to compare the counts of consecutive pulses of the first pulse train and to move the triggering edge based on the comparisons.
4 . The switching voltage converter of claim 3 , in which the on-time is constant and the state machine is configured to measure and compare only the off-time of the pulses in the first pulse train.
5 . The switching voltage converter of claim 3 , in which the on-time is not constant and the state machine is configured to measure and compare only the off-time of the pulses in the first pulse train.
6 . The switching voltage converter of claim 3 , in which the state machine moves the triggering edge based further on history of a prior movement.
7 . The switching voltage converter of claim 6 , in which the history of the prior movement including amount of movement and direction of movement.
8 . The switching voltage converter of claim 7 , in which the state machine maintains the direction of the movement if an off-time measured is greater than an immediate prior off-time measurement.
9 . The switching voltage converter of claim 7 , in which the state machine reverses the direction of the movement if a measured off-time is less than an immediate prior off-time.
10 . The switching voltage of claim 7 , in which the amount of the movement is a function of the system clock period.
11 . A method of operating a switching voltage converter, comprising:
providing a first switch coupled to a power source and a second switch coupled to the first switch;
providing a pulse controller configured to deliver a first pulse train of pulses to switch the first switch;
providing a counter configured to measure on-time and off-time of the first switch and store the measured counts;
providing a pulse edge modulator configured to move a triggering edge of pulses in a second pulse train based on the measured counts; and
configuring the second switch to be switched by the pulses of the second pulse train.
12 . The method of claim 11 , in which the counter measures by counting the on-time and off-time based on the frequency of a system clock.
13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing a state machine configured to compare counts of consecutive pulses of the first pulse train and to move the triggering edge based on the comparisons.
14 . The method of claim 13 , in which the on-time is constant and the state machine is configured to measure and compare only the off-time of the pulses in the first pulse train.
15 . The method of claim 13 , in which the on-time is not constant and the state machine is configured to measure and compare only the off-time of the pulses in the first pulse train.
16 . The method of claim 13 , in which the state machine moves the triggering edge based further on history of a prior movement.
17 . The method of claim 16 , in which the history of the prior movement including amount of movement and direction of movement.
18 . The method of claim 17 , in which the state machine maintains the direction of the movement if an off-time measured is greater than an immediate prior off-time measurement.
19 . The method of claim 17 , in which the state machine reverses the direction of the movement if a measured off-time is less than an immediate prior off-time.
20 . The method of claim 17 , in which the amount of the movement is a function of the system clock period.