IP Library Granted Patent US 8,698,473
Granted Patent B2
US 8,698,473 · App. 13/173,926 · Granted Apr 15, 2014

Switching regulator

Inventor: Takeshi Kimura (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: Spansion LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,698,473
App. No.
13/173,926
Granted
Apr 15, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A switching regulator: first switching element and second switching element; a logic unit which outputs to the load the output voltage converted from the input voltage to the constant voltage, by causing the first switching element and the second switching element to perform a switching operation; an error amplifier which outputs first signal indicating an error between the output voltage and the first reference voltage; first comparator which inputs the first signal and second signal indicating an output voltage that is proportional to load current flowing in the load, and outputs to the logic unit control signal causing the logic unit to perform the switching operation based on the first signal and the second signal; and a correction unit which is connected to an input side of the error amplifier, and corrects an input voltage of the error amplifier to reduce the input voltage to a certain value or lower.

Claims (20)

1. A switching regulator for converting an input voltage to a certain constant voltage and outputting the constant voltage, as an output voltage, to a load, the switching regulator comprising:

first switching element and second switching element; a logic unit which outputs to the load the output voltage converted from the input voltage to the constant voltage, by causing the first switching element and the second switching element to perform a switching operation;

an error amplifier which inputs the output voltage and first reference voltage, and outputs first signal indicating an error between the output voltage and the first reference voltage;

first comparator which inputs the first signal and second signal indicating an output voltage that is proportional to load current flowing in the load, and outputs to the logic unit control signal causing the logic unit to perform the switching operation based on the first signal and the second signal; and

a correction unit which is connected to an input side of the error amplifier, and outputs a correction current causing the input voltage of the error amplifier to be reduced to a certain value or lower, wherein the correction unit includes a constant voltage source which supplies a reference voltage, and a Gm amplifier which is connected to the constant voltage source and converts a voltage to a current, and the Gm amplifier outputs the correction current according to a difference between the input voltage of the error amplifier and the reference voltage.

2. The switching regulator according to claim 1 , further comprising a constant voltage source which is connected between the constant voltage source supplying the reference voltage and the Gm amplifier, and supplies an offset voltage, wherein the Gm amplifier outputs the correction current according to a difference between the input voltage of the error amplifier including the offset voltage and the reference voltage.

3. The switching regulator according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of semiconductor elements which are connected between an input and an output of the Gm amplifier, wherein the plurality of semiconductors forms a closed loop, and is connected in such a manner that a product of current densities of each of the semiconductor elements in the clockwise direction and a product of current densities of each of the semiconductor elements in the counterclockwise direction are identical, when a number of the semiconductor elements in a clockwise direction and a number of the semiconductor elements in a counterclockwise direction in the closed loop are identical.

4. The switching regulator according to claim 1 , wherein the correction unit includes a first resistor and a second resistor, and a switching circuit which modifies a feedback resistance ratio of the first resistor and the second resistor, and the switching circuit causes the input voltage of the error amplifier to be reduced to the certain value or lower by varying the feedback resistance ratio.

5. The switching regulator according to claim 1 , further comprising an input terminal which inputs an external control signal instructing first mode to supply the output voltage at a constant cycle, or second mode to include a pause period in the first mode, wherein the correction unit causes the input voltage of the error amplifier to be reduced to the certain value or lower, when the switching regulator is at the pause period in the second mode and the external control signal instructing the first mode is inputted.

6. The switching regulator according to claim 5 , wherein the correction unit discontinues the correction of the input voltage of the error amplifier when the switching regulator shifts from the pause period in the second mode to the first mode.

7. The switching regulator according to claim 6 , further comprising a reverse current detection comparator which detects a reverse current flowing in the second switching element, wherein the logic unit turns off the second switching element, when signal detecting the reverse current is input from the reverse current detection comparator, until a certain period of time elapses since the pause period in the second mode shifts to the first mode.

8. The switching regulator according to claim 5 , further comprising a mode control circuit which inputs the external control signal and a third signal and outputs a control signal controlling the operation of the correction unit, wherein, the mode control circuit outputs a control signal to control the correction unit so as to operate when the third signal indicated the pause period and the external control signal indicating the first mode is input, and outputs a control signal to control the correction unit so as to stop operation when the third signal indicating the first mode is input.

9. The switching regulator according to claim 1 , wherein the error amplifier is an inverting amplifier circuit which inputs the output voltage and is connected to the correction unit in a negative input side of the inverting amplifier circuit, and inputs the first reference voltage in a positive input side.

10. The switching regulator according to claim 1 , further comprising an I/V conversion circuit which outputs the second signal.

11. The switching regulator according to claim 1 , further comprising a second comparator which inputs the first signal and second reference voltage, and outputs third signal indicating whether first mode or a pause period, in a second mode including the pause period in the first mode to supply the output voltage at a constant cycle based on the first signal and the second reference voltage, wherein the logic unit performs a switching operation to the first switching element and the second switching element when the third signal indicates the first mode, and discontinues the switching operation when the third signal indicates the pause period.

12. A switching regulator for converting an input voltage to a certain constant voltage and outputting the constant voltage, as an output voltage, to a load, the switching regulator comprising:

first switching element and second switching element; a logic unit which outputs to the load the output voltage converted from the input voltage to the constant voltage, by causing the first switching element and the second switching element to perform a switching operation;

an error amplifier which inputs the output voltage and first reference voltage, and outputs first signal indicating an error between the output voltage and the first reference voltage;

first comparator which inputs the first signal and second signal indicating an output voltage that is proportional to load current flowing in the load, and outputs to the logic unit control signal causing the logic unit to perform the switching operation based on the first signal and the second signal; and

a correction unit which is connected to an input side of the error amplifier, and outputs a correction current causing the input voltage of the error amplifier to be reduced to a certain value or lower, wherein the correction unit includes a constant current source, and a current mirror circuit which is connected to the constant current source and outputs a constant current, as the correction current, outputted from the constant current source.

Assignments (7)
MERGER Recorded Nov 14, 2025
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AMERICAS CORP.
Reel/Frame 073571/0456 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2022
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 059410/0438 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE 8647899 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 035240 FRAME 0429. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTERST. Recorded Nov 3, 2020
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058002/0470 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Oct 28, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050896/0366 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2015
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 035240/0429 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2013
From: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
To: SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 031205/0461 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2011
From: KIMURA, TAKESHI
To: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
Reel/Frame 026536/0110 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2010-197530 · Sep 3, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120056610A1 · Mar 8, 2012