Voltage converter apparatus and method therefor
US7786714B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 1, 2005 |
| Grant date | Aug 31, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 3, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02B70/10
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In the field of step-down voltage conversion, it is known to regulate an output of a DC-DC converter circuit with both a Pulse Wave Modulation voltage signal or a Pulse Frequency Modulation voltage signal, depending upon a current demand made upon the DC-DC converter circuit. Typically, circuits to generate both voltage signals are provided and selection of the appropriate regulation mode is achieved by means of a pin and decision software controlling the pin. However, the use of the pin and the software is an overhead that is desirably avoided. Consequently, the present invention provides a voltage conversion apparatus comprising a signal analyzer to analyze a load current signal and compare a characteristic of the load current signal to at least one predetermined criterion. Regulation by the PWM signal or the PFM signal is selected in response to the evaluation of the comparison with the at least one criterion.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.