TW201547169A - Control circuits and control methods - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for controlling an adaptive power converter is provided. The method comprises: generating an output-sense signal by sampling a reflected voltage of a transformer; receiving a feedback signal related to an output power of the adaptive power converter; generating a clock signal in response to the feedback signal and the output-sense signal; generating a switching signal for switching the transformer and regulating an output voltage of the adaptive power converter. The reflected voltage is correlated to the output voltage of the adaptive power converter. The switching signal is generated in response to the feedback signal. The frequency of the switching signal is determined by the clock signal. The frequency of the switching signal is decreased in response to a decrement of the feedback signal.

Description

Control circuit and control method

This invention relates to an adjustable power converter, and more particularly to a control circuit for an adjustable power converter.

The output voltage of the adjustable power converter is programmable, such as 5 volts (V), 9V, 12V, and 20V. Therefore, the adjustable power converter can be used in a variety of different applications. For example, it can be used to charge different mobile devices, such as smart phones, tablets, and notebooks. Whenever the output voltage is switched to a different output level, the adjustable power converter should also be able to adaptively adjust its energy saving mechanism to save power under light load or no load conditions. A related art is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6, 515, 882, entitled "Pulse Width Modulation Controller having Frequency Modulation for Power Converter", and is numbered 6, 597, 159. U.S. Patent No. 6,661,679, entitled "Switching control circuit having off-time modulation to improve efficiency of primary-side controlled power supply" and numbered 7,362,593. Obtained in the US patent.

Therefore, the industry desires to provide a frequency modulation method and apparatus to achieve energy savings of an adjustable power converter.

The present invention provides a control circuit for an adjustable power converter. The control circuit includes a sample hold circuit, an input circuit, an oscillating circuit, and a pulse width modulation circuit. A sample hold circuit is coupled to the transformer to generate an output sense signal, wherein the output sense signal is associated with an output voltage of the adjustable power converter. The input circuit receives the feedback signal, wherein the feedback signal is associated with the output power of the adjustable power converter. The oscillating circuit generates a frequency signal based on the feedback signal and the output sensing signal. The pulse width modulation circuit generates a switching signal to switch the transformer and adjust the output voltage of the adjustable power converter. The switching signal is generated based on the feedback signal. The frequency of the switching signal is determined by the frequency signal. The frequency of the switching signal decreases as the feedback signal decreases. In the light load state or no load state, the frequency of the switching signal decreases as the output voltage of the adjustable power converter increases. In the case where the output voltage of the adjustable power converter is adjusted to the first output level, once the output power of the adjustable power converter drops below the first threshold, the frequency of the switching signal begins to decrease. In the case where the output voltage of the adjustable power converter is adjusted to the second output level, once the output power of the adjustable power converter drops below the second threshold, the frequency of the switching signal begins to decrease. The first output level is higher than the second output level, and the first threshold is higher than the second threshold. The output voltage of the adjustable power converter is programmable.

The present invention provides a control method for controlling an adjustable power converter. The control method includes: generating an output sensing signal by sampling a reflected signal of the transformer; receiving a feedback signal, wherein the feedback signal is associated with an output power of the adjustable power converter; and sensing the signal according to the feedback signal and the output Signal to generate a frequency signal; and generating a switching signal based on the feedback signal and the frequency signal to switch the transformer and adjust an output voltage of the adjustable power converter. The reflected signal is associated with the output voltage of the adjustable power converter. The frequency of the switching signal is determined by the frequency signal. The frequency of the switching signal decreases as the feedback signal decreases.

In the light load state or no load state, the frequency of the switching signal decreases as the output voltage of the adjustable power converter increases. In the event that the output voltage of the adjustable power converter is adjusted to a first output level, once the output power of the adjustable power converter drops below a first threshold, the frequency of the switching signal begins to decrease. In the case where the output voltage of the adjustable power converter is adjusted to the second output level, once the output power of the adjustable power converter drops below the second threshold, the frequency of the switching signal begins to decrease. The first output level is higher than the second output level, and the first threshold is higher than the second threshold. The output voltage of the adjustable power converter is programmable.

Figure 1:

10‧‧‧Transformers

20‧‧‧Optoelectronics

25‧‧‧Resistors

30‧‧‧Optocoupler

40‧‧‧Rectifier

45‧‧‧ capacitor

51, 52‧‧‧ resistors

56, 57‧‧‧ resistors

60‧‧‧Operational Amplifier

70‧‧‧ capacitor

75‧‧‧Resistors

100‧‧‧Control circuit

I _O ‧‧‧Output current

N _A ‧‧‧Auxiliary coil

N _P ‧‧‧ primary side coil

N _S ‧‧‧second side coil

S _W ‧‧‧Switching signal

V _CS ‧‧‧Switching current signal

V _FB ‧‧‧Response signal

V _IN ‧‧‧ input voltage

V _O ‧‧‧Output voltage

V _REF ‧‧‧reference voltage

V _S ‧‧‧reflected signal

Figure 2:

100‧‧‧Control circuit

111‧‧‧Resistors

112‧‧‧Optoelectronics

117, 118‧‧‧ resistors

120‧‧‧Sampling maintenance circuit

150‧‧‧Voltage to Current Converter

200‧‧‧Oscillation circuit

300‧‧‧ pulse width modulation circuit

CK‧‧‧ frequency signal

I _M ‧‧‧ modulated signal

KV _O ‧‧‧ output sensing signal

RMP‧‧‧ ramp signal

S _W ‧‧‧Switching signal

V _A , V _B ‧‧ ‧ feedback signal

V _CS ‧‧‧Switching current signal

V _FB ‧‧‧Response signal

V _S ‧‧‧reflected signal

Figure 3:

150‧‧‧Voltage to Current Converter

151, 152‧‧‧Operational Amplifier

153‧‧‧Optoelectronics

155, 158‧‧‧ resistors

159‧‧‧ capacitor

161, 162, 163, 164‧‧‧ transistors

165‧‧‧current source

171, 172‧‧‧Optoelectronics

I _M ‧‧‧ modulated signal

I _X ‧‧‧ current signal

KV _O ‧‧‧ output sensing signal

V _A ‧‧‧Response signal

Figure 4:

200‧‧‧Oscillation circuit

210‧‧‧Constant current source

211, 212, 213, 216, 217‧‧‧ transistors

230‧‧‧ capacitor

241, 242‧‧ ‧ switch

251, 252‧‧‧ comparator

253, 254‧‧‧ anti-gate

256‧‧‧Inverter

CK‧‧‧ frequency signal

CKB‧‧‧ reverse frequency signal

I _C ‧‧‧Charging current

I _D ‧‧‧discharge current

I _M ‧‧‧ modulated signal

RMP‧‧‧ ramp signal

V _H , V _L ‧‧‧ jumping point voltage

Figure 5:

300‧‧‧ pulse width modulation circuit

310‧‧‧Adder

320‧‧‧ comparator

350‧‧‧Factor

360‧‧‧buffer

RMP‧‧‧ ramp signal

CK‧‧‧ frequency signal

S _W ‧‧‧Switching signal

V _B ‧‧‧Response signal

V _CS ‧‧‧Switching current signal

V _SAW ‧‧‧ signal

Figure 6:

F _H ‧‧‧Maximum frequency

F _L ‧‧‧Minimum frequency

P _O1 ‧‧‧first threshold

P _O2 ‧‧‧second threshold

S _W ‧‧‧Switching signal

V _O1 , V _O2 ‧‧ ‧ voltage level

Figure 1 shows an adjustable power converter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a control circuit in the adjustable power converter of Fig. 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a voltage to current converter in the control circuit of Figure 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a view showing an oscillation circuit in the control circuit of Fig. 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing the pulse in the control circuit of Figure 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Wide modulation circuit.

Figure 6 shows the frequency versus output power curve of the switching signal at different output voltage levels.

The above described objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing an adjustable power converter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. This tunable power converter is a reverse-latency architecture. Transformer 10 receives the input voltage V _{IN of the} adjustable power converter. The transistor 20 is coupled to switch the primary side coil N _{P of the} transformer 10. The control circuit 100 generates a switching signal S _W at its terminal SW to adjust the output voltage V _{O of the} adjustable power converter. When the transistor 20 is turned on, the switching current flowing through the primary side coil N _P of the transformer 10 will generate a switching current signal V _CS across the resistor 25. The switching current signal V _CS is supplied to the terminal CS of the control circuit 100. The switching signal S _W is generated based on the feedback signal V _FB received at the terminal FB of the control circuit 100. The feedback signal V _{FB is} associated with the output voltage V _{O of the} adjustable power converter and the output current I _O . In detail, the feedback signal V _FB is associated with the output power of the adjustable power converter. The transformer 10 further includes an auxiliary coil N _A . Resistors 51 and 52 are coupled to the auxiliary winding N _A reflection signal V _S, V _S provides the reflected signal to the control circuit 100 of the terminal VS. The reflected signal V _S represents the reflected voltage of the transformer. The level of the reflected signal V _S is associated with the level of the output voltage V _O during the demagnetization of the transformer 10 .

The transformer 10 further includes a secondary side coil N _S that passes through the rectifier 40 and the capacitor 45 to generate an output voltage V _O . The operational amplifier 60 includes a reference voltage V _REF that is coupled to the positive input (+) of the operational amplifier 60. An operational amplifier 60 at its negative input terminal (-) receiving the output voltage V _O of the attenuation, the attenuation voltage V _O of the output voltage system described in this voltage divider formed by resistors 56 and 57 consisting generated. The capacitor 70 and the resistor 75 are coupled in series to the negative input terminal and the output terminal of the operational amplifier 60. Based on the reference voltage V _REF and the voltage divider, the output of operational amplifier 60 will drive optocoupler 30 to provide feedback signal V _FB at terminal FB of control circuit 10. Therefore, the control circuit 100 will adjust the output voltage V _O as shown in the following equation (1)

Figure 2 is a diagram showing a control circuit 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The control circuit 100 comprises a sample hold circuit 120, which receives the reflected signals V _S to generate an output sensing signal KV _O. The output sense signal KV _O is associated with the output voltage V _O . The detailed sampling of the reflected signal V _S of the transformer 10 can be found in the US Patent No. 7,016,204 entitled "Close-loop PWM controller for primary-side controlled power converters", entitled "Multiple-sampling circuit for measuring reflected voltage and discharge". U.S. Patent No. 7,151,681, entitled "Causal sampling circuit for measuring reflected voltage and demagnetizing time of transformer", and U.S. Patent No. 7,349,229, and entitled "Linear-predict sampling for measuring demagnetized voltage of transformer". Obtained in U.S. Patent No. 7,486,528.

The transistor 112 and the resistors 111, 117, and 118 constitute an input circuit that receives the feedback signal V _FB and generates feedback signals V _A and V _B based on the feedback signal V _FB . In this input circuit, the transistor 112 and the resistor 111 perform a quasi-displacement bit operation on the feedback signal V _FB to generate a feedback signal V _A . In detail, the level of the feedback signal V _FB is shifted to the level of the feedback signal V _A . Resistors 117 and 118 perform an attenuating operation on feedback signal V _A to generate feedback signal V _B . Both the feedback signal V _A and the output sense signal KV _O are supplied to the voltage to current converter 150 to generate a modulated signal I _M . The modulation signal I _M is reduced according to the decrease of the feedback signal V _A , and the modulation signal I _M is decreased according to the increase of the output sensing signal KV _O , that is, whenever the load of the adjustable power converter is reduced, the modulation signal is modulated. I _{M is} reduced. In the light load or no load state, the modulation signal I _M decreases each time the output voltage V _{O of the} adjustable power converter increases. The modulation signal I _{M is} further coupled to the oscillation circuit 200 to generate a frequency signal CK. The frequency of the switching signal S _W is determined by the frequency of the frequency signal CK. Therefore, the frequency of the switching signal S _W will decrease in accordance with the decrease of the modulation signal I _M . In other words, the frequency of the switching signal S _W will decrease in accordance with the decrease in the feedback signal V _FB .

The oscillation circuit 200 generates a frequency signal CK and a ramp signal RMP. The frequency signal CK and the ramp signal RMP are coupled to a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit (PWM) 300. The pulse width modulation circuit 300 will generate the switching signal S _W based on the frequency signal CK, the ramp signal RMP, the switching current signal V _{CS ,} and the feedback signal V _B .

Figure 3 shows a voltage to current converter 150 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The positive input of operational amplifier 151 receives feedback signal V _A . A common junction of resistor 158 and capacitor 159 is coupled to the positive input of operational amplifier 152. The positive input of operational amplifier 152 receives an output sense signal KV _O through resistor 158. The operational amplifiers 151 and 152 generate a current signal I _X based on the received feedback signal V _A and the output sensing signal KV _O . The slope of the increase/decrease of the current signal I _X is determined by the resistor 155. The current signal I _X can be expressed by equation (2).

I _X =(V _A -KV _O )÷R ₁₅₅ --------------------------(2)

The current signal I _{X is} further coupled to a plurality of current mirrors composed of transistors 161, 162, 163, 164, 171, and 172 to generate a modulated signal I _M (as shown in equation (3)).

I _M =K ₀ ×(V _A -KV _O )÷R ₁₅₅ --------------------- ( 3 ) where K ₀ is a fixed value, It is determined by the ratio of the plurality of current mirrors (the transistors 161, 162, 163, 164, 171, and 172).

Furthermore, the maximum value of the modulation signal I _M is limited by the current source 165.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing an oscillating circuit 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The modulation signal I _M and the constant current source 210 pass through the transistors 211, 212, 213, 216, and 217 to generate a charging current I _C and a discharging current I _D . The constant current source 210 provides a minimum to the charging current I _C and the discharging current I _D . The minimum value of the charging current I _C and the discharging current I _D determines the minimum frequency of the frequency signal CK and the switching signal S _W .

The charging current I _C and the discharging current I _D are used to charge and discharge the capacitor 230 through the switches 241 and 242, respectively. The ramp signal RMP is generated across the capacitor 230. The ramp signal RMP is further coupled to the comparators 251 and 252. The comparator 251 has a trip-point voltage V _H . Comparator 252 has a hop point voltage V _L. The level of the trip point voltage V _H is higher than the level of the trip point voltage V _L . The NAND gates 253 and 254 form a latch circuit that receives the output signals of the comparators 251 and 252. This latch circuit and inverter 256 operate together to generate a frequency signal CK and an inverted frequency signal CKB. The inverted frequency signal CKB is used to control the switch 242 to effect discharge of the capacitor 230. The frequency signal CK is used to control the switch 241 to effect charging of the capacitor 230. The modulation signal I _M will modulate the frequency of the frequency signal CK. When the level of the modulation signal I _M decreases, the frequency of the frequency signal CK and the frequency of the switching signal S _W will thus decrease.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing an exemplary design of a pulse width modulation circuit 300 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The flip-flop 350 will enable the switching signal S _{W in a} cycle-by-cycle manner according to the rising edge of the frequency signal CK and through the buffer 360. Under the pulse width modulation operation, when the signal V _{SAW is} higher than the feedback signal V _B , the switching signal S _W is disabled cycle by cycle by the comparator 320. The adder 310 sums the ramp signal RMP and the switching current signal V _CS to produce the above-described signal V _SAW .

Figure 6 is a graph showing the frequency of the switching signal S _W versus the output power P _O at different output voltage levels V _O1 and V _O2 v. For example, in the case where the output voltage V _{O is} adjusted to the first output level V _O1 (eg, 12V), when the output power falls below the first threshold P _O1 , the frequency of the switching signal S _W will begin to decrease. . The maximum frequency F _H of the switching signal S _W is determined by the sum of the maximum value of the modulation signal I _{M and} the value of the constant current source 210 . The minimum frequency F _L of the switching signal S _W is determined by the value of the constant current source 210. In the case where the output voltage V _{O is} adjusted to the second output level V _O2 (eg, 5V), when the output power falls below the second threshold P _O2 , the frequency of the switching signal S _W will begin to decrease. The first output level V _{O1 is} higher than the second output level V _O2 . The first critical value P _{O1 is} higher than the second critical value P _O2 .

The present invention has been disclosed in the above preferred embodiments, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any one of ordinary skill in the art can make a few changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is therefore defined by the scope of the appended claims.

100‧‧‧Control circuit

111‧‧‧Resistors

112‧‧‧Optoelectronics

117, 118‧‧‧ resistors

120‧‧‧Sampling maintenance circuit

150‧‧‧Voltage to Current Converter

200‧‧‧Oscillation circuit

300‧‧‧ pulse width modulation circuit

CK‧‧‧ frequency signal

I _M ‧‧‧ modulated signal

KV _O ‧‧‧ output sensing signal

RMP‧‧‧ ramp signal

S _W ‧‧‧Switching signal

V _A , V _B ‧‧ ‧ feedback signal

V _CS ‧‧‧Switching current signal

V _FB ‧‧‧Response signal

V _S ‧‧‧reflected signal

Claims (10)

A control circuit for an adjustable power converter includes: a sample and hold circuit coupled to a transformer to generate an output sense signal, wherein the output sense signal and an output voltage of the adjustable power converter Corresponding to an input circuit, receiving a feedback signal, wherein the feedback signal is associated with an output power of the adjustable power converter; an oscillation circuit is generated according to the feedback signal and the output sensing signal a frequency signal; and a pulse width modulation circuit, generating a switching signal to switch the transformer and adjusting the output voltage of the adjustable power converter; wherein the switching signal is generated according to the feedback signal; and wherein A frequency of the switching signal is determined by the frequency signal, and the frequency of the switching signal decreases as the feedback signal decreases. The control circuit of claim 1, wherein the frequency of the switching signal decreases as the output voltage of the adjustable power converter increases in a light load state or a no load state. The control circuit of claim 1, wherein the output power of the adjustable power converter decreases once the output voltage of the adjustable power converter is adjusted to a first output level. Until the first threshold is reached, the frequency of the switching signal begins to decrease; Wherein, in a case where the output voltage of the adjustable power converter is adjusted to a second output level, the switching signal is once the output power of the adjustable power converter drops below a second threshold This frequency begins to decrease. The control circuit of claim 3, wherein the first output level is higher than the second output level, and the first threshold is higher than the second threshold. The control circuit of claim 1, wherein the output voltage of the adjustable power converter is programmable. A control method for controlling an adjustable power converter includes: sampling a reflected signal of a transformer to generate an output sensing signal; receiving a feedback signal, wherein the feedback signal and the adjustable signal Generating an output power of the power converter; generating a frequency signal according to the feedback signal and the output sensing signal; and generating a switching signal according to the feedback signal and the frequency signal to switch the transformer and adjust the An output voltage of the adjustable power converter; wherein the reflected signal is associated with the output voltage of the adjustable power converter; and wherein a frequency of the switching signal is determined by the frequency signal, and the switching signal is This frequency decreases as the feedback signal decreases. The control method of claim 6, wherein the frequency of the switching signal decreases as the output voltage of the adjustable power converter increases in a light load state or a no load state. The control method of claim 6, wherein the output power of the adjustable power converter decreases once the output voltage of the adjustable power converter is adjusted to a first output level. The frequency of the switching signal begins to decrease below a first threshold; and wherein the adjustable power is once the output voltage of the adjustable power converter is adjusted to a second output level When the output power of the converter drops below a second threshold, the frequency of the switching signal begins to decrease. The control method of claim 8, wherein the first output level is higher than the second output level, and the first threshold is higher than the second threshold. The control method of claim 6, wherein the output voltage of the adjustable power converter is programmable.