Efficient current monitoring for DC-DC converters

a converter and current monitoring technology, applied in the direction of pulse technique, multi-input and output pulse circuit, instruments, etc., can solve the problems of short circuit operation time of current limiting circuit, etc., to avoid degrading input signals, reduce the size of the inductor, and speed up the decision circuit
US20050242845A1Inactive Publication Date: 2005-11-03TEXAS INSTR INC
7 Cites 6 Cited by

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Current Assignee / Owner
TEXAS INSTR INC
Publication Date
2005-11-03
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

Smart Images

  • Figure 1
    Figure 1
  • Figure 2
    Figure 2
  • Figure 3
    Figure 3
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The present invention achieves technical advantages as a current monitoring circuit for DC-DC switching converters, including a track and latch comparator circuit (30) having a preamplifier (32) that is controlled independently of a latch circuit (34). Advantageously, the comparator is small and operates very fast and with improved sensitivity. For example, the preamplifier circuit is disabled when the latch stage is making its decision to avoid noise and input disturbances from affecting the latch stage. This selective disabling feature speeds up the signal processing of the comparator and allows it to work in parallel with other circuits. The latch stage can make its decision later, regardless of any further activity at the inputs of the comparator.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is generally related to DC-DC switching converters, and more particularly to current monitoring of these converters. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Current monitoring and overcurrent trip circuits are typically used in high current voltage regulation IC's, including DC-DC switching converters. These circuits protect the IC, and / or the other circuits to which the regulator is supplying current, in applications such as computers, communications, and industrial machinery. Without over current monitoring, both the switching regulator itself and the circuits powered by the regulator may overheat and collapse when there is too much current being supplied to the load.

[0003] In a conventional DC-DC converter, a switching transistor (switcher) is turned ON to pass a noisy input voltage to the output as a quiet, well regulated output voltage that is sourcing a large current. This current may be monitored a number of ways. A typical curr...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More