Methods and systems of controlling switching frequency of LLC resonant power converters

1. A method of operating an inductor-inductor-capacitor (LLC) converter, the method comprising:

measuring values indicative of current through a primary winding of a transformer of an LLC converter, the measuring during a first on-time of a first switching period of an electrically controlled switch coupled to the primary winding, and the measuring creates a current waveform;

calculating a slope of the current waveform; and

controlling frequency of switching the electrically controlled switch based on the slope.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling frequency further comprises setting a subsequent on-time of the electrically controlled switch in a subsequent switching period based on the slope of the current waveform.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein setting the subsequent on-time of the electrically controlled switch in the subsequent switching period further comprises increasing the subsequent on-time relative to the first on-time if the slope of the current waveform indicates the first on-time was a resonant half period or shorter than the resonant half period.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein setting the subsequent on-time of the electrically controlled switch in the subsequent switching period further comprises decreasing the subsequent on-time relative the first on-time if the slope of the current waveform indicates the first on-time was a longer than a resonant half period.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein controlling frequency further comprises controlling the subsequent on-time of the electrically controlled switch in an immediately subsequent switching period based on the slope of the current waveform.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling frequency further comprises:

calculating the slope of the current waveform during the first on-time of the electrically controlled switch; and

ending the first on-time based on the slope of the current waveform.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein ending the first on-time further comprises ending the first on-time when the slope indicates the first on-time exceeds a resonant half period.

8. A controller for an inductor-inductor-capacitor (LLC) converter, the controller comprising:

a high-gate terminal, a low-gate terminal, and a current-sense terminal;

a frequency controller coupled to the high-gate terminal, the low-gate terminal, and the current-sense terminal, the frequency controller configured to:

assert the high-gate terminal for a first asserted time during a first switching period;

measure values indicative of current by way of the current-sense terminal, the measuring during the first asserted time, and the measurement creates a current waveform;

calculate a slope of the current waveform; and

control frequency of assertion of the high-gate terminal based on the slope.

9. The controller of claim 8 wherein when the frequency controller controls frequency of assertion of the high-gate terminal, the frequency controller is further configured to set an asserted time of the high-gate terminal in a subsequent switching period based on the slope of the current waveform in the first switching period.

10. The controller of claim 9 wherein when the frequency controller sets the asserted time of the high-gate terminal in the subsequent switching period, the frequency controller is further configured to increase the asserted time of the high-gate terminal in the subsequent switching period if the slope of the current waveform in the first switching period indicates the first asserted time was a resonant half period or shorter than the resonant half period.

11. The controller of claim 9 wherein when the frequency controller sets the asserted time of the high-gate terminal in the subsequent switching period, the frequency controller is further configured to decrease the asserted time of the high-gate terminal in the subsequent switching period if the slope of the current waveform in the first switching period indicates the first asserted time was longer than a resonant half period.

12. The controller of claim 9 wherein when the frequency controller controls frequency, the frequency controller is further configured to set the asserted time of the high-gate terminal in an immediately subsequent switching period based on the slope of the current waveform.

13. The controller of claim 8 wherein when the frequency controller controls frequency, the frequency controller is further configured to:

calculate the slope of the current waveform during the first asserted time; and

end the first asserted time based on the slope of the current waveform.

14. The controller of claim 13 wherein when the frequency controller ends the first asserted time, the frequency controller is further configured to end the first asserted time when the slope indicates the first asserted time exceeds a resonant half period.

15. An inductor-inductor-capacitor (LLC) converter, comprising:

a primary side comprising:

a high-side electrically-controlled switch configured to couple an input voltage to a switch node based on a control input;

a low-side electrically-controlled switch configured to couple the switch node to ground based on a control input;

a primary winding of a transformer having a first lead coupled to the switch node;

a capacitor coupled between a second lead of the transformer and ground;

an LLC controller coupled to the control input of the high-side electrically-controlled switch, the control input of the low-side electrically-controlled switch, and the second lead of the primary winding;

a secondary side comprising:

a secondary winding of the transformer;

a secondary rectifier coupled between the transformer and an output voltage of the LLC converter;

the LLC controller is configured to:

measure values indicative of current through the primary winding, the measurement during a first on-time of the high-side electrically-controlled switch in a first switching period, and the measurement creates a current waveform;

calculate a slope of the current waveform; and

control frequency of switching the high-side electrically-controlled switch based on the slope.

16. The LLC converter of claim 15 wherein when the LLC controller controls frequency, the LLC controller is further configured to set a subsequent on-time of the high-side electrically-controlled switch in a subsequent switching period based on the slope of the current waveform.

17. The LLC converter of claim 16 wherein when the LLC controller sets the subsequent on-time of the high-side electrically-controlled switch in the subsequent switching period, the LLC controller is further configured to increase the subsequent on-time relative to the first on-time if the slope of the current waveform indicates the first on-time was a resonant half period or shorter than a resonant half period.

18. The LLC converter of claim 16 wherein when the LLC controller sets the subsequent on-time of the high-side electrically-controlled switch in the subsequent switching period, the LLC controller is further configured to decrease the subsequent on-time relative to the first on-time if the slope of the current waveform indicates the first on-time was a longer than a resonant half period.

19. The LLC converter of claim 16 wherein when the LLC controller controls frequency, the LLC controller is further configured to control the subsequent on-time of the high-side electrically-controlled switch in an immediately subsequent switching period based on the slope of the current waveform.

20. The LLC converter of claim 15 wherein when the LLC controller controls frequency, the LLC controller is further configured to:

calculate the slope of the current waveform during the first on-time of the high-side electrically-controlled switch; and

end the first on-time when the slope indicates the first on-time exceeds the resonant half period.