Abstract: A power converter is disclosed. The power converter includes a switching circuit coupled to a capacitor and further coupled to a regulated power supply node via an inductor. The switching circuit is configured to magnetize the inductor, using the capacitor, in response to activation of a first control signal, and further configured to charge the capacitor, using an input power supply, in response to activation of a second control signal. A control circuit is configured to activate the first control signal based on a comparison of a first threshold value and a current flowing in the inductor. The control circuit is further configured to activate the second control signal based on a comparison of a second threshold value and the current flowing in the inductor.

Abstract: A hysteretic current control switching power converter with a clock-controlled switching frequency is disclosed. A power converter includes a switching circuit including a high side switch and a low side switch coupled to one another at a switching node, with an inductor being coupled between the switching node and a regulated supply voltage node. The power converter further includes a control circuit configured to alternately cause activation of the high side switch and the low side switch, wherein the control circuit is configured to activate the low side switch in response to a first voltage reaching peak threshold value, the first voltage corresponding to a current through the inductor. A ramp voltage circuit is configured to, in response to a clock signal, generate a ramp voltage, wherein the peak threshold value is based on the ramp voltage.

Abstract: A hysteretic current control switching power converter with a clock-controlled switching frequency is disclosed. A power converter includes a switching circuit including a high side switch and a low side switch coupled to one another at a switching node, with an inductor being coupled between the switching node and a regulated supply voltage node. The power converter further includes a control circuit configured to alternately cause activation of the high side switch and the low side switch, wherein the control circuit is configured to activate the low side switch in response to a first voltage reaching peak threshold value, the first voltage corresponding to a current through the inductor. A ramp voltage circuit is configured to, in response to a clock signal, generate a ramp voltage, wherein the peak threshold value is based on the ramp voltage.

Abstract: A power converter is disclosed. The power converter includes a switching circuit coupled to a capacitor and further coupled to a regulated power supply node via an inductor. The switching circuit is configured to magnetize the inductor, using the capacitor, in response to activation of a first control signal, and further configured to charge the capacitor, using an input power supply, in response to activation of a second control signal. A control circuit is configured to activate the first control signal based on a comparison of a first threshold value and a current flowing in the inductor. The control circuit is further configured to activate the second control signal based on a comparison of a second threshold value and the current flowing in the inductor.

Abstract: A method of controlling a power converter for converting a DC input voltage to a DC output voltage is presented The power converter comprises an inductor, one or more switching elements for energizing and de-energizing the inductor, a drive circuit for controlling switching operation of the one or more switching elements in accordance with a control signal, and a feedback circuit for generating the control signal on the basis of a first feedback quantity indicative of an actual output voltage of the power converter and in accordance with one or more circuit parameters of the feedback circuit, the method comprising: detecting an open loop condition of feedback control by the feedback circuit; and modifying at least one of the circuit parameters of the feedback circuit in such a manner that a time until the feedback control by the feedback circuit returns to the closed loop condition is reduced.

Abstract: A method of controlling a power converter for converting a DC input voltage to a DC output voltage is presented The power converter comprises an inductor, one or more switching elements for energizing and de-energizing the inductor, a drive circuit for controlling switching operation of the one or more switching elements in accordance with a control signal, and a feedback circuit for generating the control signal on the basis of a first feedback quantity indicative of an actual output voltage of the power converter and in accordance with one or more circuit parameters of the feedback circuit, the method comprising: detecting an open loop condition of feedback control by the feedback circuit; and modifying at least one of the circuit parameters of the feedback circuit in such a manner that a time until the feedback control by the feedback circuit returns to the closed loop condition is reduced.

Abstract: DC-DC current mode switching power converters that have negative current capability are presented. The power converters comprise: an output node, a pass device connected to the output node of the power converter, the pass device being configured to operate in accordance with a PWM signal and to supply at least a portion of an output current of the power converter, a PWM comparator for generating the PWM signal for controlling operation of the pass device in accordance with a current conducted by the pass device and a difference between an output voltage of the power converter and a reference voltage. The converters have push pull class B (or AB) current sensing, dynamic biasing of a current sense amplifier using error information, and using operational transconductance amplifiers that are fed an error voltage. This results in a lower quiescent current at zero load.

Abstract: A voltage regulator, which contains a circuit to determine its output power. It has an output node providing an output voltage for a load; current sensing means for sensing an output current flowing at the output node; voltage providing means for providing a digital representation of the output voltage or of an input voltage to the voltage regulator; output power determination means comprising a digitally controllable variable resistance circuit receiving the digital voltage representation from the voltage providing means and generating a resistance, wherein the variable resistance circuit is connected to the current sensing means to obtain a signal that depends upon the output current and generates a voltage depending on the generated resistance and the obtained signal; and the output power determining means are adapted to determine the output power of the voltage regulator based on the voltage generated by the variable resistance circuit.

Abstract: DC-DC current mode switching power converters that have negative current capability are presented. The power converters comprise: an output node, a pass device connected to the output node of the power converter, the pass device being configured to operate in accordance with a PWM signal and to supply at least a portion of an output current of the power converter, a PWM comparator for generating the PWM signal for controlling operation of the pass device in accordance with a current conducted by the pass device and a difference between an output voltage of the power converter and a reference voltage. The converters have push pull class B (or AB) current sensing, dynamic biasing of a current sense amplifier using error information, and using operational transconductance amplifiers that are fed an error voltage. This results in a lower quiescent current at zero load.

Abstract: A voltage regulator, which contains a circuit to determine its output power. It has an output node providing an output voltage for a load; current sensing means for sensing an output current flowing at the output node; voltage providing means for providing a digital representation of the output voltage or of an input voltage to the voltage regulator; output power determination means comprising a digitally controllable variable resistance circuit receiving the digital voltage representation from the voltage providing means and generating a resistance, wherein the variable resistance circuit is connected to the current sensing means to obtain a signal that depends upon the output current and generates a voltage depending on the generated resistance and the obtained signal; and the output power determining means are adapted to determine the output power of the voltage regulator based on the voltage generated by the variable resistance circuit.

Abstract: A method of controlling a power converter for converting a DC input voltage to a DC output voltage is presented The power converter comprises an inductor, one or more switching elements for energizing and de-energizing the inductor, a drive circuit for controlling switching operation of the one or more switching elements in accordance with a control signal, and a feedback circuit for generating the control signal on the basis of a first feedback quantity indicative of an actual output voltage of the power converter and in accordance with one or more circuit parameters of the feedback circuit, the method comprising: detecting an open loop condition of feedback control by the feedback circuit; and modifying at least one of the circuit parameters of the feedback circuit in such a manner that a time until the feedback control by the feedback circuit returns to the closed loop condition is reduced.