Abstract: A DC/DC converter including a low side and a high side is disclosed. The converter includes a first switching device being part of the low side, a low side current generator configured to generate a low side current flowing in the first switching device, a second switching device, a compensation resistor coupled in series to the second switching device, a valley current reference current generator configured to generate a valley current threshold current (Ivalclth) flowing in the second switching device and in the compensation resistor for obtaining a first voltage value, and a comparator configured to compare the first voltage value and a reference voltage for generating an error signal as a function of the comparison, the error signal controlling a conductivity of the first switching device of the low side.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a bootstrap drive circuit for driving a bootstrap switch in a DC-DC converter is proposed. The bootstrap drive circuit includes a non-overlapping circuit, a first and a second capacitor, and a first and a second n-channel transistor. The non-overlapping circuit is configured to receive an input signal, the input signal being a function of a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal, wherein the input signal and the PWM signal are characterized by a first logic level, generate a first control signal from the input signal at a first output terminal of the non-overlapping circuit, the first control signal having the first logic level, and generate a second control signal from the input signal at a second output terminal of the non-overlapping circuit, the second control signal being characterized by a second logic level different from the first logic level.

Abstract: A Buck converter includes: a first power switch coupled between a supply voltage node and a switching node, where the first power switch is configure to be controlled by a first control signal; a boot-strap capacitor, where a first terminal of the boot-strap capacitor is coupled to the switching node; a first buffer coupled between a first node and a control terminal of the first power switch; a first switch circuit coupled between the first node and a second terminal of the boot-strap capacitor, where the first switch circuit is controlled by the first control signal, and is configured to pass through a first charging current provided by the boot-strap capacitor when the first control signal is asserted; and a slew-rate control capacitor, where a first terminal of the slew-rate control capacitor is coupled to the first node.

Abstract: Provided is a power converter including first, second, third and fourth nodes and a wire bonding test circuit. The wire bonding test circuit includes a multiplexer having a first terminal of a first side coupled to the first node and second and third terminals of a second side. The wire bonding test circuit includes a first switch having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal or the third terminal of the multiplexer and a second terminal coupled to the second node. The wire bonding test circuit includes a second switch having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal or the third terminal of the multiplexer and a second terminal coupled to the third node. The wire bonding test circuit includes a third switch having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal or the third terminal of the multiplexer and a second terminal coupled to the fourth node.

Abstract: A startup circuit includes a first circuit leg coupled between an input node and an output node and a second circuit leg coupled between the input node and the output node. The first circuit generates a first current and the second circuit leg sinks current from a first node based upon the first current. A third circuit leg is coupled between the input node and the output node and sources current to a second node based upon a voltage at the first node to thereby generate a feedback voltage at the second node. The first circuit leg increases the first current based upon the feedback voltage, in turn increasing the current sunk from the first node by the second circuit leg and increasing the current sourced to the second node by the third circuit leg to thereby generate a startup current at the output node.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method for controlling a constant on-time switched mode power converter includes: generating a pulse signal having an on-time; during a soft-start phase of the power converter, successively increasing the on-time from an initial duration to a final duration, wherein the final duration is larger than the initial duration; sensing an output voltage of the power converter and generating a feedback signal proportional to the output voltage; adjusting a frequency of the pulse signal based on the feedback signal and a reference signal; and driving a power switch with the pulse signal to control the power switch and regulate the output voltage.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes: one or more switches of a Buck converter; and a control circuit for the Buck converter, including: a comparator configured to compare a feedback voltage of the Buck converter with a compensation ramp voltage; a pulse generator configured to generate, in response to a rising edge in a comparator output signal, a pulse signal for controlling the Buck converter; a transconductance amplifier (TA) configured to generate, at an output terminal of the TA, a current proportional to a difference between a reference voltage and the feedback voltage; a capacitor coupled between an output terminal of the TA and a reference voltage node; and a ramp signal generator configured to generate the compensation ramp voltage by adding a voltage at the output terminal of the TA and a ramp voltage having a gradient proportional to a switching frequency of the Buck converter.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes: one or more switches of a Buck converter; and a control circuit for the Buck converter including: a comparator configured to generate a comparator output signal by comparing a feedback voltage of the Buck converter with a compensation ramp voltage; a pulse generator configured to generate, in response to a rising edge in the comparator output signal, a pulse signal for controlling the Buck converter; a transconductance amplifier configured to generate, at an output terminal of the transconductance amplifier, a current proportional to a difference between a reference voltage and the feedback voltage; a capacitor coupled between the output terminal of the transconductance amplifier and a reference voltage node; and a ramp signal generator configured to generate the compensation ramp voltage by adding a voltage at the output terminal of the transconductance amplifier and a ramp voltage generated by the ramp signal generator.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a switching converter includes: a switching stage configured to receive a direct current input voltage, receive a driving signal for driving the switching stage, and provide a direct current output voltage according to the input voltage and the driving signal; a driving stage configured to provide the driving signal to the switching stage; a current sensing circuit configure to sense an output current provided by the switching stage; and a voltage generation circuit configured to generate at least one supply voltage for powering the driving stage, and adjust the at least one supply voltage according to the output current.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a switching converter includes: a switching stage including first and second switching devices for receiving an input voltage and for providing an output voltage; a driving stage including first and second driving devices for driving the first and second switching devices, respectively; a current sensing arrangement for sensing an output current provided by the switching stage; a voltage generation arrangement configured to generate a supply voltage for powering the driving stage, the voltage generation arrangement being configured to adjust the supply voltage according to the sensed output current; and a charge recovery stage configured to store a first electric charge being lost from the first driving device during driving of the first switching device and to release at least partially the stored first electric charge to the second driving device during driving of the second switching device.

Abstract: A DC-DC switching converter includes power switches selectively coupling an output terminal with a first voltage or with a second voltage. A driver stage is coupled with the power switches for driving the power switches. A driver control stage is coupled with the driver stage for controlling the operation of the driver stage. An output current sensing circuit is coupled with the output terminal and with the driver control stage, and is configured to sense a sign of an output current delivered by the DC-DC switching converter at the output terminal and to generate control signals for the driver control stage. The driver control stage controls the operation of the driver stage according to states of the control signals received from the output current sensing circuit, for selectively delaying the activation of the power switches depending on the sensed sign of the output current.

Abstract: A DC-DC switching converter includes power switches selectively coupling an output terminal with a first voltage or with a second voltage. A driver stage is coupled with the power switches for driving the power switches. A driver control stage is coupled with the driver stage for controlling the operation of the driver stage. An output current sensing circuit is coupled with the output terminal and with the driver control stage, and is configured to sense a sign of an output current delivered by the DC-DC switching converter at the output terminal and to generate control signals for the driver control stage. The driver control stage controls the operation of the driver stage according to states of the control signals received from the output current sensing circuit, for selectively delaying the activation of the power switches depending on the sensed sign of the output current.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a switching converter includes: a switching stage configured to receive a direct current input voltage, receive a driving signal for driving the switching stage, and provide a direct current output voltage according to the input voltage and the driving signal; a driving stage configured to provide the driving signal to the switching stage; a current sensing circuit configure to sense an output current provided by the switching stage; and a voltage generation circuit configured to generate at least one supply voltage for powering the driving stage, and adjust the at least one supply voltage according to the output current.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a switching converter includes: a switching stage including first and second switching devices for receiving an input voltage and for providing an output voltage; a driving stage including first and second driving devices for driving the first and second switching devices, respectively; a current sensing arrangement for sensing an output current provided by the switching stage; a voltage generation arrangement configured to generate a supply voltage for powering the driving stage, the voltage generation arrangement being configured to adjust the supply voltage according to the sensed output current; and a charge recovery stage configured to store a first electric charge being lost from the first driving device during driving of the first switching device and to release at least partially the stored first electric charge to the second driving device during driving of the second switching device.