Apparatus and methods for switching regulator current sensing
US8937467B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 8, 2013 |
| Grant date | Jan 20, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 27, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02M1/0009
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for current sensing in switching regulators are provided. In certain implementations, a switching regulator includes a switch transistor, a replica transistor, a sense resistor, and a current sensing circuit. The drain and gate of the switch transistor can be electrically connected to the drain and gate of the replica transistor, respectively. The current sensing circuit can generate an output current that varies in response to a sense current from a source of the replica transistor. Additionally, the current sensing circuit can sink the sense current when the sense current flows from the drain to the source of the replica transistor and source the sense current when the sense current flows from the source to the drain of the replica transistor. The sense resistor can receive the output current such that the voltage across the sense resistor changes in relation to the current through the switch transistor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.