Adaptive Boost Off-Time Control for Short-Circuit Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power converters with boost cycle or boost mode face challenges in effectively protecting against short circuits, which can lead to circuit damage and inefficient operation.
Innovation Solution
A power converter design incorporating a boost off time adaptive adjustment unit and a boost cycle short circuit protection module that adjusts the off time of the boost cycle based on input and output voltages, changing the off time in opposite directions during normal operation and the same direction during short-circuit faults to prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the off time of the boost cycle is extended to prevent excessive inductor current, then the short-circuit protection capability is improved, but the output voltage regulation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the off time of the boost cycle dynamically adjustable based on operating conditions. The control circuit monitors the output voltage and automatically adjusts the off time: extending it during short-circuit conditions to prevent excessive inductor current, and reducing it during normal operation to maintain precise output voltage regulation. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between short-circuit protection and voltage regulation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of off time based on detected operating conditions. When a short-circuit fault is detected, the off time parameter is increased to limit inductor current; when operating normally, the off time parameter is adjusted to maintain optimal output voltage regulation. This parameter change strategy enables the system to achieve both improved short-circuit protection and maintained voltage regulation performance across different operating states.
2Device complexity
If the off time is fixed to simplify control, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different operating conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control where the control circuit continuously monitors the output voltage and uses this feedback to automatically adjust the off time of the boost cycle. This feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to different operating conditions including short-circuit faults and normal operation without requiring complex manual intervention or multiple fixed control modes, thus achieving high adaptability with moderate complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit performs self-service by automatically detecting operating conditions and adjusting the off time parameter without external intervention. The system monitors its own output voltage and autonomously modifies its switching parameters to maintain optimal performance across varying conditions, reducing the need for complex external control mechanisms while improving adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A power converter, a boost off time adaptive adjustment unit and a boost cycle short circuit protection module for controlling an off time of a boost cycle of the power converter. The boost off time adaptive adjustment unit is adapted to generate an off time control signal based at least on an input voltage and an output voltage of the power converter to regulate the off time of the boost cycle to change in an opposite direction to the output voltage when the power converter is operating normally during the boost cycle, and to regulate the off time of the boost cycle to change in a same direction as the output voltage when a short-circuit fault occurs during the power converter operating in the boost cycle.