U.S. patent application number 15/424426 was filed with the patent office on 2018-08-09 for methods and apparatus to provide adaptive electromagnetic interference control in a power converter.
The applicant listed for this patent is Texas Instruments Incorporated. Invention is credited to Rahmi Hezar, Jeffrey Morroni.
Application Number | 20180226880 15/424426 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63014142 |
Filed Date | 2018-08-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180226880 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hezar; Rahmi ; et
al. |
August 9, 2018 |
METHODS AND APPARATUS TO PROVIDE ADAPTIVE ELECTROMAGNETIC
INTERFERENCE CONTROL IN A POWER CONVERTER
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for providing adaptive electromagnetic
interference control in a power converter are disclosed. An example
apparatus includes a current interface to measure an internal
current of the power converter. The example apparatus further
includes a performance determiner to determine a spur power of an
output voltage of the power converter based on the measured
internal current. The example apparatus further includes a ramp
generator to adjust a hopping configuration of a ramp voltage based
on the spur power.
Inventors: |
Hezar; Rahmi; (Allen,
TX) ; Morroni; Jeffrey; (Parker, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Texas Instruments Incorporated |
Dallas |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
63014142 |
Appl. No.: |
15/424426 |
Filed: |
February 3, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02M 2001/0038 20130101;
H02M 2001/0012 20130101; H02M 3/156 20130101; H02M 1/44
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H02M 1/14 20060101
H02M001/14; H02M 3/156 20060101 H02M003/156 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. The power converter of claim 8, wherein the spur power
corresponds to a harmonic peak in a frequency spectrum of the
internal current.
3. (canceled)
4. The power converter of claim 8, wherein the possible hopping
configurations include at least one of a frequency hopping
configuration or a phase hopping configuration.
5. (canceled)
6. (canceled)
7. The power converter of claim 8, wherein the performance
determiner is to determine the spur power and the power converter
efficiency corresponding to each tested hopping configuration,
based on the internal current.
8. A power converter comprising: a current interface to measure an
internal current of the power converter; a performance determiner
to determine a spur power of an output voltage of the power
converter based on the measured internal current; a ramp generator
to adjust a hopping configuration of a ramp voltage based on the
spur power; and a configurations applier to: test a plurality of
possible hopping configurations, including by instructing the ramp
generator to output the ramp voltage based on each tested hopping
configuration and, in response to the outputting, receiving the
spur power and a power converter efficiency corresponding to each
tested hopping configuration; and from the tested hopping
configurations, select the adjusted hopping configuration, based on
satisfying an efficiency threshold.
9. (canceled)
10. (canceled)
11. The method of claim 17, wherein the spur power corresponds to a
harmonic peak in a frequency spectrum of the internal current.
12. (canceled)
13. The method of claim 17, wherein the possible hopping
configurations include at least one of a frequency hopping
configuration or a phase hopping configuration.
14. (canceled)
15. (canceled)
16. The method of claim 17, further including determining the spur
power and the power converter efficiency corresponding to each
tested hopping configuration, based on the internal current.
17. A method comprising: measuring an internal current of a power
converter; determining a spur power of an output voltage of the
power converter based on the measured internal current; adjusting a
hopping configuration of a ramp voltage based on the spur power;
testing a plurality of possible hopping configurations, including
by outputting the ramp voltage based on each tested hopping
configuration and, in response to the outputting, receiving the
spur power and a power converter efficiency corresponding to each
tested hopping configuration; and from the tested hopping
configurations, selecting the adjusted hopping configuration, based
on satisfying an efficiency threshold.
18. (canceled)
19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising
instructions which, when executed, cause a power converter to at
least: measure an internal current of the power converter;
determine a spur power of an output voltage of the power converter
based on the measured internal current; adjust a hopping
configuration of a ramp voltage based on the spur power; test a
plurality of possible hopping configurations, including by
outputting the ramp voltage based on each tested hopping
configuration and, in response to the outputting, receiving the
spur power and a power converter efficiency corresponding to each
tested hopping configuration; and from the tested hopping
configurations, select the adjusted hopping configuration, based on
satisfying an efficiency threshold.
20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the
spur power corresponds to a harmonic peak in a frequency spectrum
of the internal current.
21. (canceled)
22. (canceled)
23. (canceled)
24. (canceled)
25. (canceled)
26. (canceled)
27. (canceled)
28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the
possible hopping configurations include at least one of a frequency
hopping configuration or a phase hopping configuration.
29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the
instructions, when executed, cause the power converter to at least:
determine the spur power and the power converter efficiency
corresponding to each tested hopping configuration, based on the
internal current.
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] This disclosure relates generally to power converters and,
more particularly, to methods and apparatus for providing adaptive
electromagnetic interference control in a power converter.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A power converter is a circuit that is used in various
devices to convert an input voltage to a desired output voltage.
Some power converters use a switching regulator to control the
conversion of power in a highly efficient manner. However, the
switching operation generates harmonic tones that may leak into the
input and/or output of such power converters, thereby causing
electromagnetic interference in the output of such power
converters. Frequency hopping may be used to reduce the effects of
electromagnetic interference. Frequency hopping includes switching
a regulator (e.g., on or off) at various frequencies to spread the
electromagnetic interference over a wider frequency band to reduce
the effects on any particular frequency band. The frequencies used
to frequency hop, number of frequencies used to frequency hop, the
order of frequencies used, etc. effect the spread of the
electromagnetic interference and the efficiency of the power
converter.
SUMMARY
[0003] Examples disclosed herein provide adaptive electromagnetic
interference control in a power converter. An example power
converter includes a current interface to measure an internal
current of the power converter. The example apparatus further
includes a performance determiner to determine a spur power of an
output voltage of the power converter based on the measured
internal current. The example apparatus further includes a ramp
generator to adjust a hopping configuration of a ramp voltage based
on the spur power.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is an illustration of an example power converter to
provide adaptive electromagnetic interference control.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example ramp controller of
FIG. 1.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a flowchart representative of example machine
readable instructions that may be executed to implement the example
ramp controller of FIGS. 1 and 2 to output an example ramp voltage
of FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a flowchart representative of example machine
readable instructions that may be executed to implement the example
ramp controller of FIGS. 1 and 2 to test frequency and/or phase
hopping configurations.
[0008] FIG. 5 is a flowchart representative of example machine
readable instructions that may be executed to implement the example
ramp controller of FIGS. 1 and 2 to select a frequency and/or phase
hopping configuration based on efficiency preferences.
[0009] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a processor platform structured
to execute the example machine readable instructions of FIGS. 3-5
to control the example ramp controller of FIGS. 1-2.
[0010] The figures are not to scale. Wherever possible, the same
reference numbers will be used throughout the drawing(s) and
accompanying written description to refer to the same or like
parts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Switch mode power converters are highly efficient power
converters that convert an input voltage to an output voltage by
enabling and disabling (e.g., cycling) a transistor(s) at one or
more frequencies to output a desired output voltage. The efficiency
of a power converter (e.g., power converter efficiency) depends on
the amount of time that the transistor is enabled (e.g.,
corresponding to a duty cycle). Although switch mode power
converters are efficient, switching a transistor(s) from enable to
disable and vice versa generates unwanted electromagnetic
interference (EMI) in the form of spurs (i.e., spurious radio
frequency emissions at fundamental and/or harmonic tones) at
various bands of the output spectrum. Such spurs degrade the output
of the power converter.
[0012] Hopping (e.g., frequency hopping and/or phase hopping) may
be used to minimize the effect of the spurs generated in switch
mode power converters. Frequency and/or phase hopping reduces spur
power (e.g., corresponding to the harmonic peak of a tone at a
frequency with the highest energy of the output frequency spectrum)
by spreading the spur power throughout the output spectrum, thereby
reducing the effects of EMI. As used herein, a harmonic peak
represents an energy level of a fundamental tone or a harmonic tone
at a frequency of a frequency spectrum caused by EMI. As used
herein, spur power corresponds to the highest peak energy of a
signal across the frequency spectrum of the signal. Although
frequency and/or phase hopping reduces spur power, frequency and/or
phase hopping increases the average switching loss, thereby
decreasing the efficiency of the power converter. Frequency and/or
phase hopping includes adjusting (e.g., switching or hopping) the
switching frequency and/or phase of the power converter to two or
more frequency and/or phases. For example, frequency and/or hopping
may include switching the transistor(s) (e.g., on and off) between
at a first frequency (1.1 Megahertz (MHz)) for a first duration of
time, a second frequency (1.0 MHz) for a second duration of time,
and a third frequency (0.9 MHz) for a third duration of time.
Alternatively, any combination of phases (e.g., offsets) used,
number of phases, frequencies used, number of frequencies used,
order of phases, order of frequencies, and/or durations of time may
be used for frequency and/or phase hopping. Each combination of
phases (e.g., offsets) used, number of phases, frequencies used,
number of frequencies used, order of phases, order of frequencies,
and/or durations of time correspond to a different hopping
configuration (e.g., frequency hopping and/or phase hopping). Each
configuration corresponds to different effects on the efficiency
and spur power associated with the power converter. For example, a
three-phase frequency hopping cycle may be less efficient than a
two-phase frequency hopping cycle. However, the three-phase
frequency hopping cycle may correspond to a smaller spur power than
the two-phase frequency hopping cycle. Examples disclosed herein
utilize internal power converter current to identify spur power and
adaptively adjust a frequency hopping mechanism based on the
internal current to reduce spur power while maintaining desired
efficiency.
[0013] Conventional techniques for reducing spur power while
maintaining desired efficiency include measuring EMI at the output
of the power converter during the design phase of a circuit
including the power converter. Such conventional techniques program
a frequency hopping configuration based on the initial testing.
However, EMI may change with changes in the environment. For
example, EMI may change due to component age, load changes,
temperature changes, etc. Such conventional techniques do not
adjust the frequency hopping configuration based on such changes.
Such conventional techniques require re-testing and reprogramming
the power converter based on the additional test. Examples
disclosed herein alleviate the problems of conventional techniques
by monitoring internal current corresponding to EMI spurs. Using
examples disclosed herein, power converters can adaptively adjust
frequency and/or phase hopping configurations in real-time to
utilize the optimal configuration regardless of environmental
changes.
[0014] Examples disclosed herein provide a switching power
converter with a current sense to measure internal current of the
power converter. Examples disclosed herein identify spur power
related to the EMI based on the internal current. When the spur
power is too high (e.g., above an acceptable spur power threshold),
examples disclosed herein operate the power converter using various
frequency and/or phase configurations to identify a configuration
that, when applied, satisfies the acceptable spur power threshold.
In some examples, because the frequency and/or phase configuration
affects the efficiency of the power converter, examples disclosed
herein select a configuration that satisfies some efficiency
standard (e.g., a minimum efficiency threshold). In this manner,
examples disclosed herein adjust the frequency and/or phase
configurations to reduce spur power and while maintaining a desired
efficiency.
[0015] The illustration of FIG. 1 illustrates an example power
converter 100 providing adaptive EMI control. The example power
converter 100 receives an example input voltage 102, an example
signal (clock) 104, an example external control 106, an example
reference voltage (Vref) 108, and outputs an example output voltage
(Vout) 110. The example power converter 100 includes an example
internal current 114, an example current interface 116, an example
analog to digital (A/D) converter 118, an example ramp controller
120, an example ramp voltage (Vramp) 122, an example compensation
filter 124, an example comparator 126, and an example transistor
128.
[0016] The example power converter 100 of FIG. 1 is an integrated
circuit (IC) chip to convert the example Vin 102 to the example
Vout 110 using a frequency and/or phase switching (e.g., hopping)
technique. Alternatively, the example power converter 100 may be
any kind of circuit. The example power converter may be a DC/DC
converter (e.g., a buck converter or boost converter), an AC/DC
converter, an AC/AC converter, and/or any other type of converter.
Accordingly, the example Vin 102 and/or the example Vout 110 may be
an alternating current (AC) voltage or a direct current (DC)
voltage. In some examples, the example Vin 102 corresponds to an
input device coupled to the input of the example power converter
100. In such examples, EMI tones may couple to the input device
conductively via transmission lines, IC chip/board substrates
and/or inductors. The input device corresponds with an input
inductance and capacitance. Additionally, the example Vout 110 may
correspond with an output device coupled to the output of the
example power converter 100. EMI tones may couple to the output
device conductively via transmission lines, IC chip/board
substrates and/or inductors. The output device corresponds with an
output inductance and capacitance.
[0017] As the example power converter 100 of FIG. 1 generates the
example Vout 110, the example internal current 114 flows toward the
drain of the example transistor 128. As described above, the
internal current 114 of the power converter 100 can be processed to
identify spur power (e.g., the highest fundamental and/or harmonic
tones) in the output spectrum of the example Vout 110. Accordingly,
the example current interface 116 senses the internal current 114
for further processing. In this manner, if environmental conditions
(e.g., load, temperature, age) cause changes in spur power, such
changes can be immediately detected by the example current
interface 116. The example current interface 116 may be a sensor
and/or any other device capable of determining the drain current.
Alternatively, the example current interface 116 may sense the
source current to identify spur power.
[0018] The example A/D converter 118 of FIG. 1 receives the sensed
internal current 114 (e.g., the drain current) from the example
current interface 116. The example A/D converter 118 converts the
analog sensed current of the example current interface 116 into a
digital value for further processing by the example ramp controller
120. In some examples, the A/D converter 118 may be replaced with
any other device capable of converting an analog value into a
digital value (e.g., an analog threshold, for example). The example
A/D converter 118 transmits the digital current value to the
example ramp controller 120.
[0019] The example ramp controller 120 of FIG. 1 generates the
example Vramp 122 based on a frequency and/or phase configuration
to reduce spur power and increase efficiency. The example ramp
controller 120 receives the digital current value from the example
A/D converter 118, the example clock 104, and the example external
control 106. The example ramp controller 120 processes the example
digital current value to identify spur power corresponding to the
example Vout 110. Based on the identified spur power, the example
ramp controller 120 determines if the example Vramp 122 should be
adjusted by changing the phase and/or frequency hopping
configuration to A) reduce the spur power and/or B) increase
efficiency of the power converter 100. In some examples, the ramp
controller 120 is capable of operating using a plurality of
frequency and/or phase configurations based on the example clock
104. For example, if the clock is pulsing at 10 MHz, the example
ramp controller 120 may be able to generate 1 MHz ramp by cycling a
ramp up of 10 pulses. Additionally, the example ramp controller 120
may be capable of generating a 0.9 MHz ramp, and a 1.1 MHz ramp. In
such an example, a first frequency and/or phase configuration may
include operating the Vramp 122 at 1.0 MHz for 5 milliseconds,
followed by 0.9 MHz for 5 milliseconds, followed by 1.1 MHz for 5
milliseconds, and repeating. A second frequency and/or phase
configuration may include operating the Vramp 122 at 1.1 MHz for 10
milliseconds followed by 0.9 MHz for 5 milliseconds and repeating.
Additionally, the ramp controller 120 may be capable of operating
using any combination of frequency, number of phases, time, and/or
order of phases. The example ramp controller 120 may store the
possible configurations locally. In this manner, when the internal
current 114 corresponds to a spur power above a threshold, the
example ramp controller 120 can operate under a different frequency
and/or phase configuration to lower the spur power. Each
configuration corresponds to a different spur power and/or
efficiency. Accordingly, when the spur power increases above the
threshold, the ramp controller 120 can test each configuration to
decrease in spur power while maintaining a desired efficiency.
Additionally, the example ramp controller 120 may receive the
example external control 106. The example external control 106 is a
signal that may include instructions to override the dynamic
frequency and/or phase configuration based on user and/or
manufacture preferences. The example ramp controller 120 is further
described below in conjunction with FIG. 2.
[0020] The example compensation filter 124 of FIG. 1 filters the
example Vout 110 based on the example Vref 108 to generate a
feedback voltage. The feedback voltage ensures that the example
Vout 110 is output at the correct voltage level. In the illustrated
example of FIG. 1, the desired voltage level is the example Vref
108. For example, if the example Vout 110 is higher or lower than
the example Vref 108, the example compensation filter 124 adjusts
the feedback loop to ensure that the signal applied to the gate of
the example transistor 128 (e.g., the output of the example
comparator 126) will correspond to the example Vref 108. In other
words, the feedback voltage provides an error correction for any
error in the example Vout 110. The feedback voltage provides and
error correction for any error in the example Vout 110. The example
compensation filter 124 outputs the feedback voltage to the example
comparator 126.
[0021] The example comparator 126 of FIG. 1 compares the example
Vramp 122 output by the example ramp controller 120 to the feedback
voltage output by the example compensation filter 124. When the
example Vramp 122 is larger than the feedback voltage, the example
comparator 126 outputs a high voltage (e.g., 3 V) and, when the
example Vramp 122 is smaller than the example feedback voltage, the
example comparator 126 outputs a low voltage (e.g., 0V). In the
illustrated example of FIG. 1, the Vramp 122 will be larger than
the feedback voltage for a first portion of time and will be
smaller than the feedback voltage for a second portion of time
depending on the frequency and/or phase configuration controlling
the example Vramp 122. The output of the example comparator 126 is
used to control (e.g., enable or disable) the example transistor
128. Accordingly, the output of the example comparator 126 will be
a pulse wave, thereby enabling the example transistor to increase
the example Vout 110 (e.g., using the example Vin 102) for the
first duration of time and decrease Vout 110 for the second
duration of time. The enabling and/or disabling of the example
transistor 128 creates a substantially stable Vout 110.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example implementation of
the example ramp controller 120 of FIG. 1, disclosed herein, to
provide adaptive EMI control in the example power converter 100 of
FIG. 1 by changing frequency and/or phase configurations based on a
sensed internal current. While the example ramp controller 120 is
described in conjunction with the example power converter 100 of
FIG. 1, the example ramp controller 120 may be utilized provide
adaptive EMI control in any type of power converter. The example
ramp controller 120 includes an example clock interface 200, an
example (A/D) converter interface 202, an example external control
interface 204, an example performance determiner 206, an example
configurations applier 208, an example configurations storage 210,
an example response storage 212, and an example ramp generator
214.
[0023] The example clock interface 200 of FIG. 2 receives the
example clock signal 104 of FIG. 1. As described above, the example
clock signal 104 is a series of pulse that can be counted and/or
used as a trigger. In this manner, the clock interface 200 receives
the clock signal 104 to provide a time reference for the example
ramp controller 120. For example, the ramp generator 214 may
generate a ramp at a first frequency based on a first number of
clock pulses of the clock signal 104. When the ramp generator 214
changes the ramp to correspond to a second frequency, the ramp
generator 214 may generate the ramp based on a second number of
clock pulses of the clock signal 104. The example A/D converter
interface 202 receives a digital value from the example A/D
converter 118 of FIG. 1. The digital value represents the frequency
spectrum of the example internal current 114 of FIG. 1, used to
identify spur power. The example external control interface 204
receives the example external control 106 of FIG. 1. As described
above in conjunction with FIG. 1, the example external control 106
provides an input to override frequency and/or phase hopping
configurations set by the example configurations applier 208. An
external user interface, an external controller, and/or any other
external device may generate the external control 106.
Alternatively, the example clock interface 200, the example A/D
converter interface 202, and/or the example external control
interface 204 may be combined and/or expanded into any number of
interfaces.
[0024] The example performance determiner 206 of FIG. 2 determines
the amount of interference and/or spur power at the example Vout
110 based on the digital value representative of the example
internal current 114 received by the example A/D converter
interface 202. The example performance determiner 206 determines
the spur power caused by the EMI by identifying harmonic peaks in
the frequency spectrum of the example internal current 114. For
example, higher peak energies correspond to a higher EMI effect
and/or spur power. Additionally, the example performance determiner
206 identifies the efficiency of the power converter 100 of FIG. 1.
As described above, the efficiency of the converter relates to the
frequency and/or phase hopping configurations. In some examples,
the performance determiner 206 uses the digital value of the
example internal current 114 to determine the efficiency of the
example power converter 100. For example, the performance
determiner 206 may compare the internal current 114 to an expected
or actual output current to identify the efficiency. In some
examples, the performance determiner 206 determines the efficiency
of the example power converter 100 based on an observed change of
the example internal current 114. In some examples, the performance
determiner 206 determines the interference periodically and/or
aperiodically to identify when the frequency and/or phase hopping
configuration should be adjusted. As described above, the frequency
and/or phase hopping configurations may need to be adjusted based
on a change in load, temperature, age, etc.
[0025] The example configurations applier 208 of FIG. 2 gathers
frequency and/or phase hopping configurations stored in the example
configurations storage 210 and instructions the example ramp
generator 214 to apply (e.g., output) and/or adjust the example
Vramp 122 based on one or more of the example configurations. The
example configurations applier 208 determines whether the spur
power and/or efficiency of the power converter 100 is too high
and/or low and adjusts the frequency and/or phase hopping output of
the ramp generator 214 (e.g., Vramp 122) accordingly. For example,
if output of the example Vramp 122 corresponds to the example
internal current 114 being too noisy (e.g., one or more harmonic
peaks are above a maximum interference threshold), the example
configurations applier 208 may adjust the frequency and/or phase
hopping configurations to spread the interference across the output
spectrum, thereby reducing the spur power. In some examples, the
configurations applier 208 runs a diagnostic test to determine
which frequency and/or phase hopping configuration to utilize based
on the example internal current 114. In such examples, the
configurations applier 208 may apply all of the frequency and/or
phase hopping configurations stored in the example configuration
storage 210 for one or more cycles. While testing, the example
performance determiner 206 determines the performance (e.g.,
interference and efficiency) of each frequency and/or phase hopping
configuration stored in the example configuration storage 210 and
the example configurations applier 208 stores the testing results
(e.g., the responses) in the example response storage 212. In this
manner, the configuration applier 208 selects the most appropriate
frequency and/or phase hopping configuration to satisfy any
efficiency and/or interference parameters based on the results
stored in the example response storage 212.
[0026] The example configurations storage 210 and the example
response storage 212 of FIG. 2 are storage devices and/or memory
such as such as a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a read-only
memory, a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a cache, a
random-access memory and/or any other storage device or storage
disk in which information is stored for any duration (e.g., for
extended time periods, permanently, for brief instances, for
temporarily buffering, and/or for caching of the information). The
example configurations storage 210 stores all possible frequency
and/or phase hopping configurations that may be applied by the
example ramp generator 214 to generate the example Vramp 122. The
stored frequency and/or phase hopping configurations may be
automatically generated based on the limitations of the example
power converter 100 and/or may be generated by a user and/or
manufacturer. The example hopping configurations stored in the
example configurations storage 210 may be updated at any time by a
user and/or manufacturer using an interface (e.g., the example
external control interface 204 and/or any other additional
interface). The example response storage 212 stores the testing
results of the diagnostic tests run by the example configurations
applier 208.
[0027] The example ramp generator 214 of FIG. 2 outputs the example
Vramp 122 based on frequency and/or phase hopping configurations
selected by the configuration applier. For example, during a
testing phase, the ramp generator 214 outputs the example Vramp 122
based on some or all of the frequency and/or phase hopping
configurations stored in the example configurations storage 210.
After the example configuration applier 208 selects the frequency
and/or phase hopping configuration, the example ramp generator 214
adjusts the example Vramp 122 based on the selected frequency
and/or phase hopping configuration. In some examples, the ramp
generator 214 is a digital ramp generator capable of generating a
digital ramp signal. In some examples, the ramp generator 214 is a
hardware-based generator capable of generating a ramp signal
utilizing electrical components, such as switches, transistors,
capacitors, etc.
[0028] While example manners of implementing the example ramp
controller 120 of FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 2, elements,
processes and/or devices illustrated in FIG. 2 may be combined,
divided, re-arranged, omitted, eliminated and/or implemented in any
other way. Further, the example clock interface 200, the example
A/D converter interface 202, the example external control interface
204, the example performance determiner 206, the example
configurations applier 208, the example configuration storage 210,
the example response storage 212, the example ramp generator 214,
and/or, more generally, the example ramp controller 120 of FIGS. 1
and 2, may be implemented by hardware, machine readable
instructions, software, firmware and/or any combination of
hardware, machine readable instructions, software and/or firmware.
Thus, for example, any of the example clock interface 200, the
example A/D converter interface 202, the example external control
interface 204, the example performance determiner 206, the example
configurations applier 208, the example configuration storage 210,
the example response storage 212, the example ramp generator 214,
and/or, more generally, the example ramp controller 120 of FIGS. 1
and 2 could be implemented by analog and/or digital circuit(s),
logic circuit(s), programmable processor(s), application specific
integrated circuit(s) (ASIC(s)), programmable logic device(s)
(PLD(s)) and/or field programmable logic device(s) (FPLD(s)). When
reading any of the apparatus or system claims of this patent to
cover a purely software and/or firmware implementation, at least
one of the example clock interface 200, the example A/D converter
interface 202, the example external control interface 204, the
example performance determiner 206, the example configurations
applier 208, the example configuration storage 210, the example
response storage 212, the example ramp generator 214, and/or, more
generally, the example ramp controller 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is/are
hereby expressly defined to include a tangible computer readable
storage device or storage disk such as a memory, a digital
versatile disk (DVD), a compact disk (CD), a Blu-ray disk, etc.
storing the software and/or firmware. Further still, the example
ramp controller 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2 includes elements, processes
and/or devices in addition to, or instead of, those illustrated in
FIGS. 3-5, and/or may include more than one of any or all of the
illustrated elements, processes and devices.
[0029] A flowchart representative of example machine readable
instructions for implementing the example ramp controller 120 of
FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown in FIGS. 3-5. In the examples, the machine
readable instructions comprise a program for execution by a
processor such as the processor 612 shown in the example processor
platform 600 discussed below in connection with FIG. 6. The program
may be embodied in machine readable instructions stored on a
tangible computer readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a
floppy disk, a hard drive, a digital versatile disk (DVD), a
Blu-ray disk, or a memory associated with the processor 612, but
the entire program and/or parts thereof could alternatively be
executed by a device other than the processor 612 and/or embodied
in firmware or dedicated hardware. Further, although the example
program is described with reference to the flowchart illustrated in
FIGS. 3-5, many other methods of implementing the example ramp
controller 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2 may alternatively be used. For
example, the order of execution of the blocks may be changed,
and/or some of the blocks described may be changed, eliminated, or
combined.
[0030] As mentioned above, the example process of FIGS. 3-5 may be
implemented using coded instructions (e.g., computer and/or machine
readable instructions) stored on a tangible computer readable
storage medium such as a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a
read-only memory (ROM), a compact disk (CD), a digital versatile
disk (DVD), a cache, a random-access memory (RAM) and/or any other
storage device or storage disk in which information is stored for
any duration (e.g., for extended time periods, permanently, for
brief instances, for temporarily buffering, and/or for caching of
the information). As used herein, the term tangible computer
readable storage medium is expressly defined to include any type of
computer readable storage device and/or storage disk and to exclude
propagating signals and to exclude transmission media. As used
herein, "tangible computer readable storage medium" and "tangible
machine readable storage medium" are used interchangeably.
Additionally or alternatively, the example process of FIGS. 3-5 may
be implemented using coded instructions (e.g., computer and/or
machine readable instructions) stored on a non-transitory computer
and/or machine readable medium such as a hard disk drive, a flash
memory, a read-only memory, a compact disk, a digital versatile
disk, a cache, a random-access memory and/or any other storage
device or storage disk in which information is stored for any
duration (e.g., for extended time periods, permanently, for brief
instances, for temporarily buffering, and/or for caching of the
information). As used herein, the term non-transitory computer
readable medium is expressly defined to include any type of
computer readable storage device and/or storage disk and to exclude
propagating signals and to exclude transmission media. As used
herein, when the phrase "at least" is used as the transition term
in a preamble of a claim, it is open-ended in the same manner as
the term "comprising" is open ended.
[0031] FIG. 3 is an example flowchart 300 representative of example
machine readable instructions that may be executed by the example
ramp controller 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2 to provide adaptive EMI
control in the example power converter 100 of FIG. 1. Although the
instructions of FIG. 3 are described in conjunction with the
example ramp controller 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the example
instructions may be utilized by any type of controller in any type
of power converter.
[0032] At block 302, the example A/D converter interface 202
receives an internal current measurement from the example A/D
converter 118 of FIG. 1. As described above in conjunction with
FIGS. 1 and 2, the internal current measurement is a digital value
corresponding to the example internal current 114 of FIG. 1. The
internal current 114 is sampled via the example current interface
116 and converted into a digital value by the example A/D converter
118. The internal current 114 includes EMI within the frequency
spectrum of internal current 114. The effect of the EMI (e.g., spur
power) is based on power of the harmonic peaks (e.g., the
fundamental and/or harmonic tones) in the frequency spectrum. For
example, if the EMI is evenly spread across all frequency domains
in a spectrum, the harmonic peaks in each domain will be relatively
small (e.g., the spur power will be small), thereby reducing the
effect of the EMI. If the EMI is not evenly spread, there may be a
frequency domain with a large harmonic peak corresponding to a
large spur power, thereby increasing the effect of the EMI. At
block 304, the example performance determiner 206 determines the
spur power (e.g., the energy corresponding to the largest peak in
the frequency spectrum) of the example internal current 114.
[0033] At block 306, the example configurations applier 208
determines if the spur power satisfies an interference threshold
(e.g., a maximum interference threshold). For example, as described
above, if the spur power is low (e.g., below the interference
threshold), the effect of the EMI is low. In such an example, it
may not be desirable to reduce the effect of EMI, because doing so
would also reduce efficiency. However, if the spur power is high
(e.g., above the interference threshold), the effect of EMI is
high. Accordingly, it may be desirable to reduce the effect of EMI
to reduce the EMI effect. The interference threshold may be
adjusted based on user and/or manufacture preferences.
[0034] If the example configurations applier 208 determines that
the spur power satisfies the interference threshold (e.g., all of
the harmonic peaks are below the interference threshold) (block
306: YES), the process returns to block 302 until the example
internal current 114 corresponds to a spur power that do not
satisfy (e.g., is above) the interference threshold. If the example
configurations applier 208 determines that the spur power does not
satisfy the interference threshold (e.g., one or more of the
harmonic peaks are above the interference threshold) (block 306:
NO), the example configurations applier 208 tests frequency and/or
phase hopping configurations stored in the example configurations
storage 210 (block 308). The example configurations applier 208
tests the frequency and/or phase hopping configurations to
determine a configuration that, when applied by the ramp generator
214, satisfies the interference threshold, as described below in
conjunction with FIG. 4.
[0035] At block 310, the example configurations applier 208 selects
a frequency and/or phase hopping configuration based on efficiency
preferences. The efficiency preferences correspond to the
efficiency of the example power converter 100 when generating the
example Vout 110. The efficiency preferences are based on a minimum
efficiency of the power converter 100 and may be adjusted based on
user and/or manufacturer preferences. The selection of the
frequency and/or phase hopping configuration is further described
below in conjunction with FIG. 5. At block 312, the example ramp
generator 214 outputs the example Vramp 122 based on the selected
frequency and/or phase hopping configurations. As explained above
in conjunction with FIG. 2, the ramp generator 214 outputs the
Vramp 122 at the selected frequency based on the example clock
signal 104. As described above in conjunction with FIG. 2, the
example ramp generator 214 may adjust the Vramp 122 at any time
based on the example external control 106 received by the example
external control interface 204.
[0036] FIG. 4 is an example flowchart 308 representative of example
machine readable instructions that may be executed by the example
ramp controller 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2 to test frequency and/or phase
hopping configurations as described above in conjunction with block
308 of FIG. 3. Although the instructions of FIG. 4 are described in
conjunction with the example ramp controller 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2,
the example instructions may be utilized by any type of controller
in any type of power converter.
[0037] At block 402, the example configurations applier 208 adjusts
the frequency and/or phase hopping configuration for one or more
cycles. The example configurations applier 208 identifies available
frequency and/or phase hopping configurations based on the
frequency and/or phase hopping configurations stored in the example
configurations storage 210. In some examples, the configurations
storage 210 store a hierarchy of configurations. As described above
in conjunction with FIG. 2, the example configurations applier 208
applies each of the frequency and/or phase configurations stored in
the example configuration storage 210 for one or more cycles to
identify the optimal frequency and/or phase hopping configuration
based on a desired spur power and/or efficiency. The example
configurations applier 208 adjusts the frequency and/or phase
hopping configurations by selecting a first hopping configuration
of the configurations and instructing the ramp generator 214 to
output the example Vramp 122 based on the selected frequency and/or
phase hopping configurations. In this manner, each stored frequency
and/or phase hopping configuration can be tested to identify the
optimal configuration.
[0038] At block 404, the example A/D converter interface 202
receives an internal current measurement from the example A/D
converter 118 representative of the example internal current 114
based on the adjusted frequency and/or phase hopping configuration.
In this manner, the internal current 114 response can be identified
for each frequency and/or phase configuration during testing. At
block 406, the example performance determiner 206 determines the
spur power (e.g., the highest harmonic peak in the frequency
spectrum) of the example internal current 114 due to EMI. At block
408, the example performance determiner 206 determines the
efficiency of the adjusted frequency and/or phase hopping
configuration. As described above in conjunction with FIG. 2, the
example performance determiner 206 determines the efficiency of the
power converter 100 comparing the internal current 114 to an
expected or actual output current and/or observing the change of
the example internal current 114.
[0039] At block 410, the example configurations applier 208 stores
the frequency and/or phase hopping configuration response in the
example response storage 212. The frequency and/or phase hopping
configuration response includes the data related to the example
internal current 114 (e.g., the harmonic peak energies, the spur
power, the total EMI, the efficiency of the power converter 100, an
identifier of the configuration, etc.) measured while testing the
frequency and/or phase hopping configuration. For example, the
configuration applier 208 may store a configuration response for a
first frequency and/or phase hopping configuration including an
identifier for the first hopping configuration, the digital value
of the internal current when applying the first hopping
configuration, the peak energies of the internal current, the spur
power of the internal current, the efficiency of the power convert
while apply the first hopping configuration, etc. In this manner,
the example configurations applier 208 can select an optimal
frequency and/or phase hopping configuration by comparing the
configuration responses of all the available frequency and/or phase
configurations.
[0040] At block 412, the example configurations applier 208
determines if a subsequent frequency and/or phase hopping
configuration requires testing. For example, if the configuration
storage 210 includes five difference frequency and/or phase hopping
configurations, the process continues to test the remaining (e.g.,
subsequent) frequency and/or phase hopping configurations until all
stored configurations have been tested. Alternatively, the example
configurations applier 208 may test each configuration until a
frequency and/or phase hopping configuration is selected that
satisfies the interference threshold. In this manner, the example
configuration applier 208 selects the configuration that satisfies
the interference threshold without continuing to test remaining
(e.g., untested) frequency and/or phase hopping configurations. In
such an example, the configurations applier 208 may also verify
that the efficiency of the selected configuration satisfies any
efficiency requirements before selecting the configuration for
operation.
[0041] If the example configurations applier 208 determines that a
subsequent frequency and/or phase hopping configuration requires
testing (block 412: YES), the process returns to block 402 to test
the subsequent frequency and/or phase hopping configuration. If the
example configurations applier 208 determines that a subsequent
frequency and/or phase hopping configuration does not require
testing (block 412: NO), the process ends.
[0042] FIG. 5 is an example flowchart 310 representative of example
machine readable instructions that may be executed by the example
ramp controller 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2 to select a frequency and/or
phase hopping configuration based on efficiency preferences, as
described above in conjunction with block 310 of FIG. 3. Although
the instructions of FIG. 5 are described in conjunction with the
example ramp controller 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the example
instructions may be utilized by any type of controller in any type
of power converter.
[0043] At block 502, the example configurations applier 208
determines if there is a minimum efficiency threshold. Some power
converters may be designed to operate under a minimum efficiency
threshold. Accordingly, such power converters may be limited to
frequency and/or phase hopping configurations that satisfy the
minimum efficiency threshold. If the configurations applier 208
determines that there is not a minimum efficiency threshold (block
502: NO), the example configurations applier 208 selects the
frequency and/or phase hopping configuration corresponding to the
result stored in the example response storage 212 with the lowest
spur power (block 510). In this manner, the effect of EMI is
reduced to the minimum amount based on the available frequency
and/or phase hopping configurations. The minimum efficiency
threshold may be adjusted based on user and/or manufacturer
preferences. Alternatively, the example configurations applier 208
may select the frequency and/or phase hopping configuration that is
closest to a target value or range. For example, a user and/or
manufacturer may select a target spur power value or range. This
target spur power may correspond to the maximum amount of spur
power that does not significantly impact the example Vout 110. In
this manner, the example configurations applier 208 may select the
frequency and/or phase hopping configuration that is closest to the
target spur power to maximize efficiency while ensuring that the
example Vout 110 is not significantly effected.
[0044] If the example configurations applier 208 determines that
there is a minimum efficiency threshold (block 502: YES), the
example configurations applier 208 determines if there is a stored
response(s) that satisfies the minimum efficiency threshold (block
504). As described above, during the configuration testing phase of
flowchart 308 (FIG. 4), the configuration response for each
frequency and/or phase hopping configuration is stored in the
example response storage 212. Accordingly, the example
configurations applier 208 analyzes the stored responses to
identify if there is a stored response(s) that satisfies the
minimum efficiency threshold.
[0045] If the example configurations applier 208 determines that
there is a stored response(s) that satisfies the minimum efficiency
threshold (block 504: YES), the example configurations applier 208
selects the frequency and/or phase hopping configuration
corresponding to the response with the lowest spur power that also
satisfies the minimum efficiency threshold (block 506). For
example, if the minimum efficiency threshold is 800/% efficient and
two frequency and/or phase hopping configurations are above the
minimum efficiency threshold (e.g., a first hopping configuration
that is 85% efficient and a second hopping configuration that is
90% efficient), then the configurations applier 208 selects the
minimum threshold satisfying configuration with the lowest spur
power. For example, if the first hopping configuration corresponds
to a spur power of 20 decibels (dB) and the second hopping
configuration corresponds to a spur power of 25 dB, the example
configurations applier 208 selects the first hopping
configuration.
[0046] If the example configurations applier 208 determines that
there is not a stored response(s) that satisfies the minimum
efficiency threshold (block 504: NO), the example configurations
applier 208 selects the frequency and/or phase hopping
configuration corresponding to the response with the highest
efficiency (block 508). In this manner, if none of the stored
frequency and/or phase hopping configurations in the example
configuration storage 210 satisfy the minimum efficiency threshold,
the example configurations applier 208 selects the hopping
configuration with the highest efficiency to get as close to the
minimum efficiency threshold as possible.
[0047] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an example processor platform
600 capable of executing the instructions of FIGS. 7-10 to
implement the example ramp controller 120 of FIGS. 1 and/or 2. The
processor platform 600 can be, for example, a server, a personal
computer, a mobile device (e.g., a cell phone, a smart phone, a
tablet such as an iPad.TM.), a personal digital assistant (PDA), an
Internet appliance, or any other type of computing device.
[0048] The processor platform 600 of the illustrated example
includes a processor 612. The processor 612 of the illustrated
example is hardware. For example, the processor 612 can be
implemented by integrated circuits, logic circuits, microprocessors
or controllers from any desired family or manufacturer.
[0049] The processor 612 of the illustrated example includes a
local memory 613 (e.g., a cache). The example processor 612 of FIG.
6 executes the instructions of FIGS. 3-5 to implement the example
clock interface 200, the example A/D converter interface 202, the
example external control interface 204, the example performance
determiner 206, the example configurations applier 208, the example
configuration storage 210, the example response storage 212, and/or
the example ramp generator 214 of FIG. 2 to implement the example
ramp controller 120 of FIG. 1. The processor 612 of the illustrated
example is in communication with a main memory including a volatile
memory 614 and a non-volatile memory 616 via a bus 618. The
volatile memory 614 may be implemented by Synchronous Dynamic
Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM),
RAMBUS Dynamic Random Access Memory (RDRAM) and/or any other type
of random access memory device. The non-volatile memory 616 may be
implemented by flash memory and/or any other desired type of memory
device. Access to the main memory 614, 616 is controlled by a clock
controller.
[0050] The processor platform 600 of the illustrated example also
includes an interface circuit 620. The interface circuit 620 may be
implemented by any type of interface standard, such as an Ethernet
interface, a universal serial bus (USB), and/or a PCI express
interface.
[0051] In the illustrated example, one or more input devices 622
are connected to the interface circuit 620. The input device(s) 622
permit(s) a user to enter data and commands into the processor 612.
The input device(s) can be implemented by, for example, a sensor, a
microphone, a camera (still or video), a keyboard, a button, a
mouse, a touchscreen, a track-pad, a trackball, isopoint and/or a
voice recognition system.
[0052] One or more output devices 624 are also connected to the
interface circuit 620 of the illustrated example. The output
devices 624 can be implemented, for example, by display devices
(e.g., a light emitting diode (LED), an organic light emitting
diode (OLED), a liquid crystal display, a cathode ray tube display
(CRT), a touchscreen, a tactile output device, and/or speakers).
The interface circuit 620 of the illustrated example, thus,
typically includes a graphics driver card, a graphics driver chip
or a graphics driver processor.
[0053] The interface circuit 620 of the illustrated example also
includes a communication device such as a transmitter, a receiver,
a transceiver, a modem and/or network interface card to facilitate
exchange of data with external machines (e.g., computing devices of
any kind) via a network 626 (e.g., an Ethernet connection, a
digital subscriber line (DSL), a telephone line, coaxial cable, a
cellular telephone system, etc.).
[0054] The processor platform 600 of the illustrated example also
includes one or more mass storage devices 628 for storing software
and/or data. Examples of such mass storage devices 628 include
floppy disk drives, hard drive disks, compact disk drives, Blu-ray
disk drives, RAID systems, and digital versatile disk (DVD)
drives.
[0055] The coded instructions 632 of FIGS. 3-5 may be stored in the
mass storage device 628, in the volatile memory 614, in the
non-volatile memory 616, and/or on a removable tangible computer
readable storage medium such as a CD or DVD.
[0056] From the foregoing, it would be appreciated that the above
disclosed method, apparatus, and articles of manufacture provide
adaptive electromagnetic interference control in a power converter.
Examples disclosed herein adjust the frequency and/or phase
configurations of the power converter to reduce spur power while
maintaining efficiency preferences based on an internal current of
the power converter. In this manner, the power converter can adjust
the frequency and/or phase configurations in real-time to adjust
for changes in EMI due to changes in load, temperature, and time.
Conventional techniques for reducing spur power while maintaining
desired efficiency include measuring EMI at the output of the power
converter during the design phase of a circuit including the power
converter. Such conventional techniques program a frequency hopping
configuration based on the initial testing. However, EMI may change
with changes in the environment. Examples disclosed herein
alleviate the problems associated with such conventional techniques
by monitoring internal current for changes in spur power to quickly
adapt to the changes while maintaining efficiency preferences.
[0057] Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of
manufacture have been described herein, other implementations are
possible. The scope of coverage of this patent is not limited
thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus
and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the
claims of this patent.
* * * * *