IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,549,083
Granted Patent B2
US 12,549,083 · App. 18/412,996 · Granted Feb 10, 2026

Power conversion system for limiting the input burst current

Inventors: Yi-Chun Chen (Taoyuan, TW); Kuo-Ping Liu (Hsinchu, TW)
Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
H02M1/0009H02M1/32H02M3/157H02M3/158
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,549,083
App. No.
18/412,996
Granted
Feb 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power conversion system for converting an input power to an output power, includes: a current limit circuit clamping an input current of the output power to be not exceeding an input current limit during a current clamping state; and a charge quantity regulation circuit converting the output power to a temporary storage power in a temporary storage capacitor during a charging mode, wherein the charge quantity regulation circuit converts the temporary storage power to generate the output power in collaboration with the current limit circuit during a discharging mode. When the input current reaches a current threshold, the charge quantity regulation circuit enters the discharging mode. During the discharging mode, the charge quantity regulation circuit regulates an output voltage of the output power to a target level, wherein the target level is lower than an input voltage of the input power.

Claims (15)

1 . A power conversion system, which is configured to operably convert an input power to an output power; the power conversion system comprising:

a current limit circuit, which is configured to operably clamp an input current of the input power to be not exceeding an input current limit during a current clamping state; and

a charge quantity regulation circuit, which is configured to operably convert the output power to a temporary storage power in a temporary storage capacitor during a charging mode, wherein the charge quantity regulation circuit is configured to operably convert the temporary storage power to generate the output power in collaboration with the current limit circuit during a discharging mode, wherein when the input current reaches a current threshold, the charge quantity regulation circuit enters the discharging mode;

wherein during the discharging mode, the charge quantity regulation circuit is configured to operably regulate an output voltage of the output power to a target level, wherein the target level is lower than an input voltage of the input power.

2 . The power conversion system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the target level is lower than the input voltage to an extent that the current limit circuit is maintained in the current clamping state.

3 . The power conversion system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the current limit circuit includes: a path switch, wherein a preset difference between the input voltage and the target level is greater than a product of the input current limit multiplied by an ON resistance of the path switch when the path switch is ON, such that the current limit circuit is maintained in the current clamping state.

4 . The power conversion system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the ON resistance is a highest one among all ON resistances of the path switch under different operation conditions and different manufacturing process variations.

5 . The power conversion system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a criterion to judge whether the charge quantity regulation circuit enters the discharging mode does not include: a level of the output voltage.

6 . The power conversion system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the charge quantity regulation circuit is a switching converter including an inductor and at least one switch, wherein the switching converter is configured to operably execute power conversion between the output power and the temporary storage power.

7 . The power conversion system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the switching converter further includes:

an error amplification circuit, which is configured to operably generate an error amplification signal in accordance with a difference between a reference voltage and the output voltage, so as to control the at least one switch, thereby executing the power conversion between the output power and the temporary storage power;

wherein during the discharging mode, the reference voltage is correlated with the target level.

8 . The power conversion system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the current limit circuit further includes:

a current control circuit, which is configured to operably sense the input current, and is configured to operably control the path switch according to a difference between the input current and a reference signal, thus clamping the input current to be not exceeding the input current limit.

9 . The power conversion system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the current threshold is greater than the input current limit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2024
From: CHEN, YI-CHUN; LIU, KUO-PING
To: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066122/0407 →
Priority Claims (1)
TW 112136691 · Sep 26, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250105718A1 · Mar 27, 2025
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