Granted Patent B2

US 11,927,624 · App. 17/846,397 · Granted Mar 12, 2024

Inventors: Harsh Patel (Bangalore, IN); Aalok Dyuti Saha (Bangalore, IN); Sanjeev Praphulla Chandra Nyshadham (Bangalore, IN); Subrato Roy (Bangalore, IN); Gaurav Kumar Mittal (Bangalore, IN)

Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED

G01R31/3008G01R19/2506

Abstract

Claims (101)

1. A method for measuring a quiescent current in a switching voltage regulator, the method comprising:

generating a mathematical model of a circuit design associated with the switching voltage regulator, the mathematical model comprising measurable parameters to describe a switching current associated with a power switch of the switching voltage regulator;

fabricating a circuit comprising the switching voltage regulator based on the circuit design, the fabricated circuit comprising the power switch and conductive inputs/outputs (I/O);

coupling the conductive I/O of the fabricated circuit to a circuit test fixture;

providing electrical signals to the conductive I/O via the circuit test fixture;

measuring the measurable parameters in response to the electrical signals;

applying the measurable parameters to the mathematical model to calculate the switching current; and

calculating the quiescent current based on the switching current.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mathematical model describes an average switching current associated with the switching voltage regulator.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conductive I/O comprises:

a first lead adapted to be coupled to an inductor; and

a second lead adapted to be coupled to a capacitor;

wherein measuring the measurable parameters comprises:

measuring a peak switching current based on the electrical signals provided to the first and second leads;

measuring a threshold associated with a capacitor voltage at the second lead based on the electrical signals provided to the first and second leads; and

measuring internal operational currents of the switching voltage regulator.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein providing the electrical signals comprises providing a current ramp to the first lead, wherein measuring the peak switching current comprises:

monitoring a switching voltage at the first lead to determine a change in the switching voltage indicative of deactivation of the power switch; and

measuring the peak switching current corresponding to a magnitude of the current ramp at which the power switch deactivates.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein providing the electrical signals comprises:

providing a voltage at a first magnitude at the second lead;

gradually increasing the voltage from the first magnitude at a positive slope ramp;

wherein measuring the peak switching current comprises:

monitoring a current at the first lead to determine deactivation of the power switch; and

measuring a maximum capacitor voltage corresponding to the voltage at the second lead in response to determining the deactivation of the power switch.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein providing the electrical signals comprises:

providing a voltage at a first magnitude at the second lead;

gradually decreasing the voltage from the first magnitude at a negative slope ramp;

wherein measuring the peak switching current comprises:

monitoring a current at the first lead to determine activation of the power switch; and

measuring a minimum capacitor voltage corresponding to the voltage at the second lead in response to determining the activation of the power switch.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the conductive I/O further comprises a third lead adapted to be coupled to a supply voltage;

wherein providing the electrical signals comprises:

providing a first voltage at the third lead; and

providing a second voltage relative to the first voltage at the second lead;

wherein measuring internal operational currents of the switching voltage regulator comprises measuring the internal operational currents of the switching voltage regulator based on currents associated with each of the first and second voltages.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein calculating the quiescent current comprises calculating the quiescent current based on an average switching current and the internal operational currents associated with the mathematical model.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the switching voltage regulator is a boost switching voltage regulator.

10. A method for measuring a quiescent current in a boost switching voltage regulator, the method comprising:

generating a mathematical model of a circuit design associated with the boost switching voltage regulator, the mathematical model comprising measurable parameters to describe an average switching current and internal operational currents associated with a power switch of the boost switching voltage regulator;

fabricating a circuit comprising the boost switching voltage regulator based on the circuit design, the fabricated circuit comprising the power switch and conductive inputs/outputs (I/O);

coupling the conductive I/O of the fabricated circuit to a circuit test fixture;

providing electrical signals to the conductive I/O via the circuit test fixture;

measuring the measurable parameters in response to the electrical signals;

applying the measurable parameters to the mathematical model to calculate the average switching current; and

calculating the quiescent current based on the average switching current and the internal operational currents associated with the mathematical model.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the conductive I/O comprises:

a first lead adapted to be coupled to an inductor; and

a second lead adapted to be coupled to a capacitor;

wherein measuring the measurable parameters comprises:

measuring a peak switching current based on the electrical signals provided to the first and second leads;

measuring a threshold associated with a capacitor voltage at the second lead based on the electrical signals provided to the first and second leads; and

measuring internal operational currents of the switching voltage regulator.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the electrical signals comprises providing a current ramp to the first lead, wherein measuring the peak average switching current comprises:

monitoring a switching voltage at the first lead to determine a change in the switching voltage indicative of deactivation of the power switch; and

measuring the peak average switching current corresponding to a magnitude of the current ramp at which the power switch deactivates.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the electrical signals comprises:

providing a voltage at a first magnitude at the second lead;

gradually increasing the voltage from the first magnitude at a positive slope ramp;

wherein measuring the peak switching current comprises:

monitoring a current at the first lead to determine deactivation of the power switch; and

measuring a maximum capacitor voltage corresponding to the voltage at the second lead in response to determining the deactivation of the power switch.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the electrical signals comprises:

providing a voltage at a first magnitude at the second lead;

gradually decreasing the voltage from the first magnitude at a negative slope ramp;

wherein measuring the peak switching current comprises:

monitoring a current at the first lead to determine activation of the power switch; and

measuring a minimum capacitor voltage corresponding to the voltage at the second lead in response to determining the activation of the power switch.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the conductive I/O further comprises a third lead adapted to be coupled to a supply voltage;

wherein providing the electrical signals comprises:

providing a first voltage at the third lead; and

providing a second voltage relative to the first voltage at the second lead;

wherein measuring internal operational currents of the switching voltage regulator comprises measuring the internal operational currents of the switching voltage regulator based on currents associated with each of the first and second voltages.

16. A method for measuring a quiescent current in a switching voltage regulator, the method comprising:

generating a mathematical model of a circuit design associated with the switching voltage regulator, the mathematical model comprising measurable parameters to describe an average switching current associated with a power switch of the switching voltage regulator, the measurable parameters comprising a peak switching current, a capacitor voltage, and internal operational currents of the switching voltage regulator;

fabricating a circuit comprising the switching voltage regulator based on the circuit design, the fabricated circuit comprising the power switch, a first lead adapted to be coupled to an inductor, and a second lead adapted to be coupled to a capacitor;

coupling the first and second leads of the fabricated circuit to a circuit test fixture;

providing electrical signals to the first and second leads via the circuit test fixture;

measuring the measurable parameters in response to the electrical signals;

applying the measurable parameters to the mathematical model to calculate the average switching current; and

calculating the quiescent current based on the average switching current and the internal operational currents associated with the mathematical model.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein providing the electrical signals comprises providing a current ramp to the first lead, wherein measuring the peak switching current comprises:

monitoring a switching voltage at the first lead to determine a change in the switching voltage indicative of deactivation of the power switch; and

measuring the peak switching current corresponding to a magnitude of the current ramp at which the power switch deactivates.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein providing the electrical signals comprises:

providing a voltage at a first magnitude at the second lead;

gradually increasing the voltage from the first magnitude at a positive slope ramp;

wherein measuring the peak switching current comprises:

monitoring a current at the first lead to determine deactivation of the power switch; and

measuring a maximum capacitor voltage corresponding to the voltage at the second lead in response to determining the deactivation of the power switch.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein providing the electrical signals comprises:

providing a voltage at a first magnitude at the second lead;

gradually decreasing the voltage from the first magnitude at a negative slope ramp;

wherein measuring the peak switching current comprises:

monitoring a current at the first lead to determine activation of the power switch; and

measuring a minimum capacitor voltage corresponding to the voltage at the second lead in response to determining the activation of the power switch.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the fabricated circuit further comprises a third lead adapted to be coupled to a supply voltage;

wherein providing the electrical signals comprises:

providing a first voltage at the third lead; and

providing a second voltage relative to the first voltage at the second lead;

wherein measuring internal operational currents of the switching voltage regulator comprises measuring the internal operational currents of the switching voltage regulator based on currents associated with each of the first and second voltages.

Assignments (2)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

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