Switching voltage regulator with dual modulation control scheme
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United States of America Patent
Stats
-
Apr 2, 2002
Grant Date -
N/A
app pub date -
Jul 12, 2001
filing date -
Jul 12, 2001
priority date (Note) -
In Force
status (Latency Note)
Importance
Abstract
A switching voltage regulator employs a 'dual modulation' scheme to control the regulator's switching components. A control circuit indirectly monitors load current. When the load decreases, the control circuit reduces both the duty ratio and the frequency of the control signals which operate the switching transistors, thereby maintaining a high efficiency level over a wider output current range than can be achieved with fixed-frequency control signals. In a preferred embodiment, the regulator employs three operating modes. For heavy loads, the switching components are operated at a constant frequency. For moderate-to-light loads, the dual modulation control scheme is used. For light loads, the regulator enters a 'pulse-skipping' mode which can achieve very low operating frequencies to further improve efficiency. The invention may be used with switching regulators using peak current mode, average current mode, or voltage mode control, as well as buck, buck-boost, and boost power stages.
First Claim
Other Claims data not available