Load current sharing circuit
US5157269A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 31, 1991 |
| Grant date | Oct 20, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 31, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05F1/59
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A load current sharing circuit is disclosed that allows multiple independent power modules, either switching or linear, to be connected in a parallel configuration such that each module delivers only its proportionate share of the load current. Each module measures the common output voltage, compares that voltage to an internal reference voltage signal, and generates an error voltage signal to be used as feedback for regulating its output voltage. The internal reference voltage signal is a function of the extent to which the current within each module differs from the current of the module with the highest current. That module functions as the master, and all the other modules act as slaves. Each slave increases its share of the load current so as to asymptotically approach the load current of the master to within a preset offset voltage, while the load current of the master decreases.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.