Sensing a phase-path current in a multiphase power supply such as a coupled-inductor power supply
US8704500B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 8, 2008 |
| Grant date | Apr 22, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 7, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02M1/0009
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An embodiment of a power supply includes a supply output node, phase paths, and sensor circuits. The supply output node is operable to carry a regulated output voltage, and each phase path has a respective phase-path non-output node, has a respective phase-path output node coupled to the supply output node, and is operable to carry a respective phase current. And each sensor circuit has a respective sensor node coupled to the phase-path non-output nodes and is operable to generate a respective sense signal that represents the phase current flowing through a respective one of the phase paths. For example, where the phase paths are magnetically coupled to one another, the sensor circuits take into account the portions of the phase currents induced by the magnetic couplings to generate sense signals that more accurately represent the phase currents as compared to conventional sensor circuits.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.