Minimizing voltage droop in a power converter
A system may include a power converter configured to receive an input voltage and generate an output voltage and a controller configured to control operation of the power converter based on a comparison of a current associated with the power converter to a threshold current and control the threshold current as a function of the input voltage.
1. A system comprising:
a power converter configured to receive an input voltage and generate an output voltage; and
a controller configured to:
control operation of the power converter based on a comparison of a current associated with the power converter to a threshold current;
control the threshold current as a function of the input voltage;
control operation of the power converter based on a comparison of the output voltage with a plurality of output voltage thresholds; and
set the plurality of output voltage thresholds based on the input voltage.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the threshold current is a peak current for the current associated with the power converter.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein controlling the threshold current as a function of the input voltage comprises controlling the peak current to a minimum peak current that will support a given maximum power load drawn from the power converter.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the threshold current is a valley current for the current associated with the power converter.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a switch controller for controlling switching of the power converter to define a charging state and a transfer state of the power converter, wherein the switch controller is configured to control the switching of the power converter based on the comparison.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control operation of the power converter based on a comparison of the output voltage with a plurality of output voltage thresholds.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein controlling the threshold current as a function of the input voltage comprises controlling the threshold based on a desired ripple current between a peak current for the current associated with the power converter and a valley current for the current associated with the power converter.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein controlling the threshold current as a function of the input voltage comprises controlling the threshold based on a power efficiency of the power converter.
9. A method comprising:
controlling operation of a power converter configured to receive an input voltage and generate an output voltage, such controlling based on a comparison of a current associated with the power converter to a threshold current;
controlling the threshold current as a function of the input voltage;
controlling operation of the power converter based on a comparison of the output voltage with a plurality of output voltage thresholds; and
setting the plurality of output voltage thresholds based on the input voltage.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the threshold current is a peak current for the current associated with the power converter.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein controlling the threshold current as a function of the input voltage comprises controlling the peak current to a minimum peak current that will support a given maximum power load drawn from the power converter.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the threshold current is a valley current for the current associated with the power converter.
13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising controlling switching of the power converter to define a charging state and a transfer state of the power converter, wherein a switch controller is configured to control the switching of the power converter based on the comparison.
14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising controlling operation of the power converter based on a comparison of the output voltage with a plurality of output voltage thresholds.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein controlling the threshold current as a function of the input voltage comprises controlling the threshold based on a desired ripple current between a peak current for the current associated with the power converter and a valley current for the current associated with the power converter.
16. The method of claim 9 , wherein controlling the threshold current as a function of the input voltage comprises controlling the threshold based on a power efficiency of the power converter.
17. A method comprising:
controlling operation of a power converter configured to receive an input voltage and generate an output voltage, such controlling based on a comparison of a current associated with the power converter to a threshold current, wherein the power converter is configured to operate in a bypass mode in which a bypass switch couples an output of the power converter configured to generate the output voltage to an input of the power converter at which the input voltage is received;
controlling the threshold current as a function of the input voltage; and
setting the at least one output voltage threshold to the first magnitude in response to the power controller entering the bypass mode.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the threshold current is a peak current for the current associated with the power converter.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein controlling the threshold current as a function of the input voltage comprises controlling the peak current to a minimum peak current that will support a given maximum power load drawn from the power converter.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the threshold current is a valley current for the current associated with the power converter.
21. The method of claim 17 , further comprising controlling switching of the power converter to define a charging state and a transfer state of the power converter, wherein a switch controller is configured to control the switching of the power converter based on the comparison.
22. The method of claim 17 , further comprising controlling operation of the power converter based on a comparison of the output voltage with a plurality of output voltage thresholds.
23. The method of claim 17 , wherein controlling the threshold current as a function of the input voltage comprises controlling the threshold based on a desired ripple current between a peak current for the current associated with the power converter and a valley current for the current associated with the power converter.
24. The method of claim 17 , wherein controlling the threshold current as a function of the input voltage comprises controlling the threshold based on a power efficiency of the power converter.
25. A system comprising:
a power converter configured to:
receive an input voltage and generate an output voltage; and
operate in a bypass mode in which a bypass switch couples an output of the power converter configured to generate the output voltage to an input of the power converter at which the input voltage is received; and
a controller configured to:
control operation of the power converter based on a comparison of a current associated with the power converter to a threshold current;
control the threshold current as a function of the input voltage; and
set the at least one output voltage threshold to the first magnitude in response to the power controller entering the bypass mode.
26. The system of claim 25 , wherein the threshold current is a peak current for the current associated with the power converter.
27. The system of claim 26 , wherein controlling the threshold current as a function of the input voltage comprises controlling the peak current to a minimum peak current that will support a given maximum power load drawn from the power converter.
28. The system of claim 25 , wherein the threshold current is a valley current for the current associated with the power converter.
29. The system of claim 25 , wherein the controller comprises a switch controller for controlling switching of the power converter to define a charging state and a transfer state of the power converter, wherein the switch controller is configured to control the switching of the power converter based on the comparison.
30. The system of claim 25 , wherein the controller is further configured to control operation of the power converter based on a comparison of the output voltage with a plurality of output voltage thresholds.
31. The system of claim 25 , wherein controlling the threshold current as a function of the input voltage comprises controlling the threshold based on a desired ripple current between a peak current for the current associated with the power converter and a valley current for the current associated with the power converter.
32. The system of claim 25 , wherein controlling the threshold current as a function of the input voltage comprises controlling the threshold based on a power efficiency of the power converter.