Abstract: A switching regulator and controller and an electronic device using same are disclosed in which the controller includes a sense circuit, an error amplifier circuit, a filter and reference circuit, and a comparator circuit. The switching regulator includes a pulse switch circuit coupled to an output inductor for developing an output voltage. The sense circuit provides a sense signal indicative of current through the output inductor. The error amplifier circuit develops an error signal indicative of error of the output voltage. The filter and reference circuit high pass filters the sense signal to provide a filtered sense signal and which balances the filtered sense signal and the error signal at a common DC level. The comparator circuit develops a pulse control signal using the error signal and the filtered sense signal, where the pulse control signal is for controlling switching of the pulse switch circuit.

Abstract: A controller integrated circuit for a switched mode regulator which converts an input voltage to an output voltage. The controller includes a phase pin, a modulation circuit and a filter. The modulation circuit is configured to regulate the output voltage using the input voltage and output voltage level information. The filter has an input coupled to the phase pin and an output providing the output voltage level information which approximates the output voltage based on phase pin voltage. Various filters are contemplated, including passive and active low pass filters and the like. A regulator using such a controller is disclosed. A method of determining a voltage level of an output voltage includes receiving a phase voltage from a phase pin coupled to the phase node, and filtering the phase voltage to provide an output sense voltage having a voltage level approximating the voltage level of the output voltage.

Abstract: A controller for a switch mode regulator with discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) correction which includes a correction network and a modulator. The correction network detects a low load condition indicative of regulation error during DCM and asserts an adjust value indicative thereof. The modulator receives the adjust value and adjusts operation accordingly to improve regulation during DCM. The correction network receives or determines a regulation metric, such as periods between successive pulses of a pulse control signal, or a current sense signal indicative of load current, and compares the regulation metric with one or more thresholds for determining the level of adjustment. Adjustment may be made using one or more methods, such as adjusting pulse on-time, adjusting pulse off-time, adjusting frequency of operation, etc.

Abstract: A switching regulator and controller and an electronic device using same are disclosed in which the controller includes a sense circuit, an error amplifier circuit, a filter and reference circuit, and a comparator circuit. The switching regulator includes a pulse switch circuit coupled to an output inductor for developing an output voltage. The sense circuit provides a sense signal indicative of current through the output inductor. The error amplifier circuit develops an error signal indicative of error of the output voltage. The filter and reference circuit high pass filters the sense signal to provide a filtered sense signal and which balances the filtered sense signal and the error signal at a common DC level. The comparator circuit develops a pulse control signal using the error signal and the filtered sense signal, where the pulse control signal is for controlling switching of the pulse switch circuit.

Abstract: A controller for a switching regulator is disclosed including a sense circuit, an error amplifier circuit, a filter and reference circuit, and a comparator circuit. The switching regulator includes a pulse switch circuit coupled to an output inductor for developing an output voltage. The sense circuit provides a sense signal indicative of current through the output inductor. The error amplifier circuit develops an error signal indicative of error of the output voltage. The filter and reference circuit high pass filters the sense signal to provide a filtered sense signal, and references the filtered sense signal and the error signal to a common DC level. The comparator circuit develops a pulse control signal used to control switching of the pulse switch circuit based on comparing the error signal with the filtered sense signal.

Abstract: A controller for a switched mode power supply converting an input voltage to a regulated output voltage according to one embodiment includes a control network and a detection network. The control network develops a pulse width control signal for regulating a level of the output voltage. The detection network detects a phase lag of the output voltage and adjusts operation of the control network based on the phase lag. The phase lag may be determined from any parameter incorporating phase shift, such as the output voltage or the compensation voltage. Various alternative schemes are disclosed for adjusting the control loop, including, but not limited to, adding slope compensation, adjusting window resistance or window current, adding adjustment current to adjust ripple voltage, adjusting ripple transconductance, and adjusting ripple capacitance. Digital and analog compensation adjustment schemes are disclosed.

Abstract: A phase current sharing network for a current mode multiphase switching regulator. The multiphase switching regulator includes switching networks for developing phase currents of switching phase networks controlled by pulse control signals for converting an input voltage to an output voltage. The regulator develops the pulse control signals based on current control values and at least one trigger value. The phase current sharing network includes conversion networks and a phase current combining network. Each conversion network provides a phase current value based on a corresponding phase current, such as by directly or indirectly measuring real current or by synthetically developing the phase current value. The phase current combining network develops an average phase current value based on the phase current values, and subtracts the average phase current value from each phase current value to provide the current control values used to control the switching networks.

Abstract: Multiple characteristics of a DC-DC converter, such as its mode of operation (e.g., either forced continuous conduction mode, or discontinuous conduction mode), and an operational parameter (such as the dead-time between switching times of the output switching devices (upper and lower MOSFETs) of the converter, whose associated driver integrated circuit has a pin usage that leaves only a single pin available for auxiliary purposes, are programmed by a single pin-based digital and analog information extracting circuit that couples both digital information and analog information within the same control signal to the driver IC by way of only the one available pin.

Abstract: A controller integrated circuit for a switched mode regulator which converts an input voltage to an output voltage. The controller includes a phase pin, a modulation circuit and a filter. The modulation circuit is configured to regulate the output voltage using the input voltage and output voltage level information. The filter has an input coupled to the phase pin and an output providing the output voltage level information which approximates the output voltage based on phase pin voltage. Various filters are contemplated, including passive and active low pass filters and the like. A regulator using such a controller is disclosed. A method of determining a voltage level of an output voltage includes receiving a phase voltage from a phase pin coupled to the phase node, and filtering the phase voltage to provide an output sense voltage having a voltage level approximating the voltage level of the output voltage.

Abstract: A phase-modulated, double-ended, full-bridge topology-based DC-AC converter supplies AC power to a load, such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp used to back-light a liquid crystal display. First and second converter stages generate respective first and second sinusoidal voltages having the same frequency and amplitude, but having a controlled phase difference therebetween. By employing a voltage controlled delay circuit to control the phase difference between the first and second sinusoidal voltages, the converter is able to vary the amplitude of the composite voltage differential produced across the opposite ends of the load.

Abstract: A phase-modulated, double-ended, half-bridge topology-based DC-AC converter supplies AC power to a load, such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp used to back-light a liquid crystal display. First and second converter stages generate respective first and second sinusoidal voltages having the same frequency and amplitude, but having a controlled phase difference therebetween. By employing a voltage controlled delay circuit to control the phase difference between the first and second sinusoidal voltages, the converter is able to vary the amplitude of the composite voltage differential produced across the opposite ends of the load.

Abstract: A controller for a switching regulator is disclosed including a sense circuit, an error amplifier circuit, a filter and reference circuit, and a comparator circuit. The switching regulator includes a pulse switch circuit coupled to an output inductor for developing an output voltage. The sense circuit provides a sense signal indicative of current through the output inductor. The error amplifier circuit develops an error signal indicative of error of the output voltage. The filter and reference circuit high pass filters the sense signal to provide a filtered sense signal, and references the filtered sense signal and the error signal to a common DC level. The comparator circuit develops a pulse control signal used to control switching of the pulse switch circuit based on comparing the error signal with the filtered sense signal.

Abstract: A double-ended, DC-AC converter supplies AC power to a load, such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp used to back-light a liquid crystal display. First and second converter stages generate respective first and second sinusoidal voltages having the same frequency and amplitude, but having a controlled phase difference therebetween. By employing a voltage controlled delay circuit to control the phase difference between the first and second sinusoidal voltages, the converter is able to vary the amplitude of the composite voltage differential produced across the opposite ends of the load. The converter may be either voltage fed or current fed.

Abstract: A distributed controller and DC voltage switch-driver system supplies AC power to a cold cathode fluorescent lamp of the type used to backlight a liquid crystal display. The system includes a local controller and lamp operation-monitoring subsystem, which generates two pairs of low voltage drive signals. These drive signals are distributed over low voltage wires to respective pairs of step-up transformer-driving switches installed at opposite ends of the lamp. The high voltage AC outputs of the two transformers have the same frequency, but opposite phase, to reduce the voltage ratings of the components that are installed at the opposite ends of the lamp. The use of low voltage connections from the local controller to driver circuitry at the far end of the lamp serves to reduce the cost of the components, and results in lower emitted noise and lower energy lost to capacitive coupling.

Abstract: A double-ended, DC-AC converter supplies AC power to a load, such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp used to back-light a liquid crystal display. First and second converter stages generate respective first and second sinusoidal voltages having the same frequency and amplitude, but having a controlled phase difference therebetween. By employing a voltage controlled delay circuit to control the phase difference between the first and second sinusoidal voltages, the converter is able to vary the amplitude of the composite voltage differential produced across the opposite ends of the load. The converter may be either voltage fed or current fed.