Average inductor charging current measurement in a switched-mode power supply using switched-capacitor charge sharing
US12381468B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 1, 2023 |
| Grant date | Aug 5, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 22, 2044 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02M3/156
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Techniques for measuring average inductor charging current in a switched-power circuit avoid incurring measurement delay or a requirement of a complex filter. An inductor charging current measurement circuit coupled to a power output stage of the switched-power circuit measures an average charging current in an inductor of the switched-power circuit using pair of capacitors to sample an output voltage of the power output stage at different cycle times of an inductor current waveform. The measurement circuit includes a switch that connects the pair of capacitors together to provide a measurement indicative of the average inductor charging current by sharing charge between the first capacitor and the second capacitor to provide the measurement voltage. The provided measurement voltage is indicative of an average of an estimated peak and an estimated valley of the inductor current waveform, which may be used to make determinations regarding a magnitude of the load current.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.