Charge Pump Converter Protection Against In-Rush Current Spikes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power converters based on charge pump converter circuits are vulnerable to damage from VOUT short circuit events and rapid falls in VIN, leading to damaging current spikes due to the dead time between clock signals, which existing protection mechanisms fail to adequately address without compromising efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a VX Detection Block and a VIN Detection Block into the power converter circuit to detect large, rapid falls in voltage nodes VX and VIN, generating signals to disable the converter circuit and prevent damaging current spikes, thereby protecting switches from in-rush currents without significantly decreasing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional charge pump converter circuits are used, then high efficiency voltage conversion is achieved, but the circuit is vulnerable to damage from VOUT short circuit events and rapid VIN falls due to in-rush current spikes during dead time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting voltage drops at nodes VX and VIN before damaging in-rush current spikes can occur. The detection blocks monitor voltage levels continuously and proactively disable the converter circuit when abnormal drops are detected, preventing the harmful current spikes that would otherwise damage the circuit during dead time periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through detection blocks that continuously monitor voltage nodes VX and VIN. When abnormal voltage drops are detected, the system feeds back a disable signal to the converter circuit, creating a closed-loop protection system that responds to actual circuit conditions and prevents damage while maintaining efficient operation during normal conditions.
2Reliability
If protection mechanisms are added to prevent in-rush current damage, then circuit reliability is improved, but conversion efficiency may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The protection mechanism uses feedback-based detection that only activates during abnormal conditions. The detection blocks continuously monitor voltage nodes and only disable the converter when actual voltage drops exceed thresholds, allowing the circuit to operate at full efficiency during normal operation while providing automatic protection when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-protection through autonomous detection and response. The detection blocks automatically monitor circuit conditions and trigger disable signals without external intervention, allowing the converter to protect itself from damage while maintaining efficient operation during normal conditions, thus avoiding the efficiency penalties associated with continuous protection circuitry.
Data Source
AI summary
Circuits and methods for protecting the switches of charge pump-based power converters from damage if a VOUT short circuit event occurs and/or if VIN falls rapidly with respect to VX or VOUT. A general embodiment includes a VX Detection Block coupled to the core block of a power converter. The VX Detection Block is coupled to VX and to a control circuit that disables operations of an associated converter circuit upon detection of large, rapid falls in VX during the dead time between clock phase signals, thereby prevent damaging current spikes. Some embodiments include a VIN Detection Block configured to detect and prevent excessive in-rush current due to rapidly falling values of VIN to the power converter. The VIN Detection Block is coupled to VIN, and to VX or VOUT in some embodiments, and to a control circuit to that disables operation of an associated converter circuit.