Shared Bus-Voltage Sensing in Two-Stage Switching Converters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing two-stage switching converters face challenges in efficiently sensing the bus voltage for both the front and rear stage circuits, leading to potential power loss due to the need for separate voltage dividing circuits.
Innovation Solution
A switching converter design that includes a front stage circuit, a voltage dividing circuit, a current sensing circuit, and a voltage sensing circuit, where the voltage dividing circuit generates a first voltage signal and the current sensing circuit generates a second voltage signal, allowing the voltage sensing circuit to generate a voltage sensing signal indicative of the output voltage based on both signals, enabling effective control of the front stage circuit and reducing power loss by sharing the voltage dividing circuit between stages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate voltage dividing circuits are used for front stage and rear stage circuits, then each stage can independently sense the bus voltage, but power loss increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the voltage dividing circuit functionality into a single shared circuit that serves both the front stage and rear stage circuits. The voltage dividing circuit generates a first voltage signal that is used by both stages, eliminating the need for separate voltage dividing circuits and reducing power loss while maintaining sensing accuracy through the voltage sensing circuit that processes this shared signal.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage dividing circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides voltage division for the front stage circuit and simultaneously provides the bus voltage signal for the rear stage circuit. This multi-functional design allows one circuit to replace what would traditionally require two separate circuits, reducing overall system power consumption and complexity.
2Reliability
If separate voltage dividing circuits are used for front stage and rear stage circuits, then each stage can independently sense the bus voltage, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the voltage dividing circuit functionality into a single shared circuit that serves both the front stage and rear stage circuits. The voltage dividing circuit generates a first voltage signal that is used by both stages, eliminating the need for separate voltage dividing circuits and reducing power loss while maintaining sensing accuracy through the voltage sensing circuit that processes this shared signal.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage dividing circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides voltage division for the front stage circuit and simultaneously provides the bus voltage signal for the rear stage circuit. This multi-functional design allows one circuit to replace what would traditionally require two separate circuits, reducing overall system power consumption and complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A control method for a switching converter. The switching converter has a front stage circuit providing a first output voltage between a first node and a second node, a voltage dividing circuit coupled between the first node and a third node and a current sensing circuit coupled between the third node and the second node. The control method includes the following steps. Receiving a first voltage signal from an output terminal of the voltage dividing circuit. Receiving a second voltage signal from the third node. Generating a voltage sensing signal indicative of the first output voltage based on the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal. And generating a switch control signal to control the front stage circuit based on the voltage sensing signal and the second voltage signal.