Integrated Overvoltage Protection Circuit Without External Dividers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing overvoltage protection circuits for switching converters require additional pins and external resistor divider networks, which increase chip area and are prone to failure, leading to unreliable overvoltage protection.
Innovation Solution
An overvoltage protection circuit that includes an output voltage simulation circuit to generate a signal representing the output voltage and an overvoltage signal generator that activates based on threshold comparisons, eliminating the need for external resistor dividers and reducing chip area by integrating the necessary circuitry within the IC.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external resistor divider networks are used for overvoltage detection, then overvoltage protection function is achieved, but chip area increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the overvoltage detection function into the integrated circuit by incorporating an output voltage simulation circuit and overvoltage signal generator within the IC. This eliminates the need for external resistor divider networks, reducing external components and improving reliability while maintaining the overvoltage protection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an output voltage simulation circuit to generate a simulated output voltage signal that copies the characteristics of the actual output voltage. This simulated signal is then used by the overvoltage signal generator for detection, replacing the need for direct external voltage division and improving system reliability.
2Reliability
If additional pins and external resistor divider networks are used, then overvoltage detection is enabled, but chip area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (voltage simulation, overvoltage detection, and signal generation) into a single integrated circuit module. This integration eliminates the need for additional external pins and components, thereby reducing chip area while maintaining detection accuracy through internal circuitry.
Solution Approach 2:
By generating a simulated output voltage signal internally through the output voltage simulation circuit, the patent eliminates the need for external resistor divider networks. This copying approach allows accurate voltage detection to be performed using only internal IC resources, reducing the required chip area.
Data Source
AI summary
An overvoltage protection circuit configured to prevent an overvoltage of an output voltage of a switching converter, can include: an output voltage simulation circuit configured to generate an output voltage simulation signal according to circuit parameters of the switching converter, where the output voltage simulation signal changes along with the output voltage; and an overvoltage signal generator configured to activate an overvoltage signal when a feedback voltage is less than a first threshold value and the output voltage simulation signal is greater than a second threshold value.