Voltage converter and method for converting a voltage from an input voltage to an output voltage that is larger than the input voltage by a fixed additional value
Voltage converter including at least: a boost circuit to convert an input voltage Vin to an output voltage Vout, a setpoint for the output voltage Vout is, by a fixed additional value Vf, larger than the input voltage Vin, and the fixed additional value is independent of the input voltage Vin measurement circuit emits an electrical trigger signal based on a difference between the output voltage Vout and the input voltage Vin, and a trigger circuit adjusts the output voltage Vout depending on the electrical trigger signal.
1. A voltage converter comprising:
a boost circuit configured to convert an input voltage Vin to an output voltage Vout comprising:
an inductor;
a first diode coupled to the inductor; and
a switch directly connected to a node between the inductor and the first diode;
a measurement circuit configured to emit an electrical trigger signal based on a difference between the output voltage Vout and the input voltage Vin, wherein the measurement circuit comprises:
at least a third diode; and
a trigger circuit configured to adjusting the output voltage Vout based on the electrical trigger signal such that:
a setpoint for the output voltage Vout is larger than the input voltage Vin by a fixed additional value Vf, and
the fixed additional value Vf is independent of the input voltage Vin,
wherein one of:
the electrical trigger signal is a trigger current emitted by the measurement circuit only if the third diode is in a reverse breakdown mode and
a voltage difference across the third diode is equal to the difference of the output voltage Vout and the input voltage Vin if the third diode is in a reverse blocking mode.
2. The voltage converter according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical trigger signal comprises:
a first value if the output voltage Vout exceeds the input voltage Vin at least by a fixed additional value Vf, and
a second value, which is different from the first value, if the output voltage Vout does not exceed the input voltage Vin at least by the fixed additional value Vf.
3. The voltage converter according to claim 1 , wherein the boost circuit further comprises:
a first capacitor coupled to the first diode.
4. The voltage converter according to claim 3 , wherein the switch comprises:
a field effect transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the field effect transistor is connected at least to a switching signal generator configured to generate a switching signal for switching the field effect transistor periodically.
5. The voltage converter according to claim 1 , wherein the measurement circuit further comprises:
a current amplifier coupled to the third diode.
6. The voltage converter according to claim 1 , wherein the trigger circuit comprises at least a first bipolar transistor coupled to a ground.
7. The voltage converter according to claim 1 , wherein the trigger circuit is configured to drain a switching signal to ground depending on the electrical trigger signal.
8. The voltage converter according to claim 5 , wherein the current amplifier is a Darlington transistor.
9. A voltage converter comprising:
a boost circuit configured to convert an input voltage Vin to an output voltage Vout;
a measurement circuit configured to emit an electrical trigger signal based on a difference between the output voltage Vout and the input voltage Vin, wherein the measurement circuit comprises:
at least a third diode; and
a current amplifier coupled to the third diode; and
a trigger circuit configured to adjusting the output voltage Vout based on the electrical trigger signal such that:
a setpoint for the output voltage Vout is larger than the input voltage Vin by a fixed additional value Vf, and
the fixed additional value Vf is independent of the input voltage Vin,
wherein a voltage difference across the third diode is equal to the difference of the output voltage Vout and the input voltage Vin if the third diode is in a reverse blocking mode.
10. The voltage converter according to claim 9 , wherein the third diode is a Zener diode having a reverse breakdown voltage Vb, and wherein the fixed additional value Vf is based on the reverse breakdown voltage Vb of the Zener diode.
11. A voltage converter comprising:
a boost circuit configured to convert an input voltage Vin to an output voltage Vout;
a measurement circuit configured to emit an electrical trigger signal based on a difference between the output voltage Vout and the input voltage Vin, wherein the measurement circuit comprises:
at least a third diode; and
a current amplifier coupled to the third diode; and
a trigger circuit configured to adjusting the output voltage Vout based on the electrical trigger signal such that:
a setpoint for the output voltage Vout is larger than the input voltage Vin by a fixed additional value Vf, and
the fixed additional value Vf is independent of the input voltage Vin,
wherein the electrical trigger signal is a trigger current emitted by the measurement circuit only if the third diode is in a reverse breakdown mode.
12. The voltage converter according to claim 11 , wherein the trigger current results from a current amplification by the current amplifier.