U.S. patent application number 15/785757 was filed with the patent office on 2019-04-18 for pfc controller providing reduced line current slope when in burst mode.
The applicant listed for this patent is Texas Instruments Incorporated. Invention is credited to PHILOMENA CLEOPHA BRADY, JOSEPH MICHAEL LEISTEN, BRENT ALAN MCDONALD, ANANTHAKRISHNAN VISWANATHAN.
Application Number | 20190115826 15/785757 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 66096189 |
Filed Date | 2019-04-18 |
![](/patent/app/20190115826/US20190115826A1-20190418-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20190115826/US20190115826A1-20190418-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20190115826/US20190115826A1-20190418-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20190115826/US20190115826A1-20190418-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20190115826/US20190115826A1-20190418-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20190115826/US20190115826A1-20190418-D00005.png)
![](/patent/app/20190115826/US20190115826A1-20190418-D00006.png)
![](/patent/app/20190115826/US20190115826A1-20190418-D00007.png)
United States Patent
Application |
20190115826 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEISTEN; JOSEPH MICHAEL ; et
al. |
April 18, 2019 |
PFC CONTROLLER PROVIDING REDUCED LINE CURRENT SLOPE WHEN IN BURST
MODE
Abstract
A Power Factor Correction (PFC) controller includes an error
amplifier for amplifying a difference between Vout and intended
Vout to provide a power demand (Pdem) output at a compensation pin.
A burst mode controller includes soft-start circuitry coupled to
receive Pdem and to a drive pin which provides pulses to a control
node of a power switch of a DC-DC converter during burst periods.
The pulses slow ramping of line current over a first 2 to 36
switching cycles at a beginning of bursts when energizing the
inductor to reduce a line current slope as compared to without
ramping up, and for slowing ramping down of line current over the
last 2 to 36 switching cycles to reduce a line current slope when
de-energizing the inductor as compared to a line current without
ramping down. The PFC controller does not utilize zero-crossings of
the line voltage for burst period synchronization.
Inventors: |
LEISTEN; JOSEPH MICHAEL;
(CORK, IE) ; VISWANATHAN; ANANTHAKRISHNAN; (ALLEN,
TX) ; BRADY; PHILOMENA CLEOPHA; (CORINTH, TX)
; MCDONALD; BRENT ALAN; (MURPHY, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Texas Instruments Incorporated |
Dallas |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
66096189 |
Appl. No.: |
15/785757 |
Filed: |
October 17, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02M 1/36 20130101; H02M
1/4225 20130101; H02M 1/44 20130101; H02M 2001/0035 20130101; H02M
3/157 20130101; H02M 2001/0012 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H02M 1/42 20060101
H02M001/42 |
Claims
1.-20. (canceled)
21. A controller comprising: an error amplifier configured to
generate a power demand signal based on a difference between a
sensed output voltage and a regulation voltage; a multiplexer
coupled to the error amplifier, and configured to generate an
adjusted power demand signal based on a counter signal, the
adjusting power demand signal having an adjusted voltage divided
from the power demand signal; and a burst mode controller coupled
to the multiplexer, and configured to generate the counter signal
based on a comparison of the power demand signal against a boost
threshold signal.
22. The controller of claim 21, wherein the multiplexer includes: a
voltage divider having: a first node coupled to an amplifier output
of the error amplifier to receive the power demand signal; a second
node; a first resistor coupled between the first and second nodes;
and a second resistor coupled between the second node and a ground
terminal.
23. The controller of claim 22, wherein the first resistor has a
first resistance, and the second resistor has a second resistance
three times of the first resistance.
24. The controller of claim 22, wherein the first resistor has a
first resistance, and the second resistor has a second resistance
the same as the first resistance.
25. The controller of claim 22, wherein the first resistor has a
first resistance, and the second resistor has a second resistance
one third of the first resistance.
26. The controller of claim 22, wherein the multiplexer includes: a
switching network having: a first switch coupled between the first
node and a multiplexer output of the multiplexer; and a second
switch coupled between the second node and the multiplexer output
of the multiplexer.
27. The controller of claim 26, wherein the multiplexer includes: a
decoder configured to close the first switch based on a first value
of the counter signal, and close the second switch based on a
second value of the counter signal.
28. The controller of claim 27, wherein the first value is higher
than the second value.
29. The controller of claim 21, wherein: the boost threshold signal
includes a boost fall threshold; and the burst mode controller is
configured to reduce a value of the counter signal when a demand
voltage of the power demand signal is less than the boost fall
threshold.
30. The controller of claim 21, wherein: the boost threshold signal
includes a boost rise threshold; and the burst mode controller is
configured to increase a value of the counter signal when a demand
voltage of the power demand signal is greater than the boost fall
threshold.
31. The controller of claim 21, wherein: the boost threshold signal
includes a boost fall threshold; and the burst mode controller is
configured to assign a soft-stop value to the counter signal when a
demand voltage of the power demand signal is less than the boost
fall threshold.
32. The controller of claim 21, wherein: the boost threshold signal
includes a boost rise threshold; and the burst mode controller is
configured to assign a soft-start value to the counter signal when
a demand voltage of the power demand signal is greater than the
boost fall threshold.
33. A controller comprising: an error amplifier configured to
generate a power demand signal based on a difference between a
demand voltage of the sensed output voltage and a regulation
voltage; a multiplexer coupled to the error amplifier, and
configured to generate an adjusted power demand signal having an
adjusted voltage divided from the demand voltage corresponding to
either a soft-start state or a soft-stop state; and a burst mode
controller coupled to the multiplexer, and configured to: enter the
soft-stop state when the demand voltage is less than the boost fall
threshold; and enter the soft-start state when the demand voltage
is greater than the boost fall threshold
34. The controller of claim 33, wherein the multiplexer includes: a
first node configured to receive a first adjusted voltage
approximating the demand voltage; a second node configured to
receive a second adjusted voltage approximating three quarters of
the demand voltage; a third node configured to receive a third
adjusted voltage approximating one half of the demand voltage; and
a fourth node configured to receive a fourth adjusted voltage
approximating one fourth of the demand voltage.
35. The controller of claim 34, wherein the multiplexer includes a
multiplexer output configured to output the adjusted power demand
signal, and the multiplexer includes: a first switch coupled
between the first node and the multiplexer output; a second switch
coupled between the second node and the multiplexer output; a third
switch coupled between the third node and the multiplexer output;
and a fourth switch coupled between the fourth node and the
multiplexer output.
36. The controller of claim 35, wherein the multiplexer is
configured to: close the first switch based on a first counter
value corresponding to either the soft-start state or the soft-stop
state; close the second switch based on a second counter value
corresponding to either the soft-start state or the soft-stop
state; close the third switch based on a third counter value
corresponding to either the soft-start state or the soft-stop
state; and close the fourth switch based on a fourth counter value
corresponding to either the soft-start state or the soft-stop
state.
37. The controller of claim 36, wherein the first value is higher
than the second value, the second value is higher than the third
value, and the third value is higher than the fourth value.
38. A controller comprising: an error amplifier configured to
generate a power demand signal based on a difference between a
demand voltage of the sensed output voltage and a regulation
voltage; a multiplexer coupled to the error amplifier, and having:
a multiplexer output; a first node configured to receive a first
voltage as a first fraction of the demand voltage; a second node
configured to receive a second voltage as a second fraction of the
demand voltage, the second fraction lower than the first fraction;
a first switch coupled between the first node and the multiplexer
output; and a second switch coupled between the second node and the
multiplexer output; and a burst mode controller coupled to the
multiplexer, and configured to generate a counter signal for
controlling the first and second switches based on a difference
between the power demand signal and a boost threshold signal.
39. The controller of claim 38, wherein: the boost threshold signal
includes a boost fall threshold; and the burst mode controller is
configured to reduce a value of the counter signal when the demand
voltage is less than the boost fall threshold.
40. The controller of claim 38, wherein: the boost threshold signal
includes a boost rise threshold; and the burst mode controller is
configured to increase a value of the counter signal when the
demand voltage is greater than the boost fall threshold.
Description
FIELD
[0001] Disclosed embodiments relate to Power Factor Correction
(PFC) controllers that have a burst mode.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Power converters for medium and high voltage applications
are commonly used for converting a first current at a first
frequency and a first voltage into a second current at a second
frequency and a second voltage. Many types of different power
converters are known, such as for converting AC to AC, AC to DC, DC
to AC and DC to DC.
[0003] A switching regulator is a circuit that includes a
controller and a power converter. The power converter includes at
least one power phase (or stage) that can comprise a power switch,
an inductor, and a diode, or a high-side power transistor and a
low-side power transistor connected in series between supply
terminals with a converter switching node at the interconnection of
the power transistors. The switching node is adapted for connection
to an inductor, or 4 power switches per phase with the inductor in
between for a buck-boost converter, to transfer energy from the
input to the output, where the power switch(es) converts the input
voltage to the desired output. The controller and power phase
stage(s) are linked by a feedback loop, and the controller
supervises the switching operation of the power phase(s) stage by
controlling the control node(s) of the power switch(es) to regulate
the output voltage to the intended voltage level.
[0004] Power Factor Correction (PFC) shapes the input current of
the power supply to be synchronized with the mains voltage (line
voltage input) to maximize the power drawn from the mains. In an
ideal PFC circuit, the input current follows the input voltage as a
pure resistor, without any input current harmonics. Although active
PFC can be achieved by several converter topologies, the boost
converter is the most popular topology used in PFC applications,
for several reasons. The line voltage varies from zero to some peak
value typically about 375 V so that a stepup (or boost) converter
is needed to output a DC bus voltage such as 380 V or more.
Accordingly, a buck converter cannot be used. A buck-boost
converter also has a high switch voltage stress (Vin+Vout), so that
it is also not a common converter choice.
[0005] The boost converter has the filter inductor on the input
side of the converter, which provides a smooth continuous input
current waveform as opposed to the discontinuous input current of
the buck or buck-boost topology. The continuous input current is
significantly easier to filter, which is a major advantage of the
boost converter design because any additional filtering needed on
the converter input will increase the cost and reduce the power
factor due to capacitive loading of the line.
SUMMARY
[0006] This Summary briefly indicates the nature and substance of
this Disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it
will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the
claims.
[0007] It is recognized that during switching operation of a PFC
power stage(s) fast rising and falling line current at the start
and at the end of each burst period results in unwanted acoustic
noise and electromagnetic emissions (EMI). Disclosed embodiments
provide PFC burst mode operation with reduced line current slope at
the beginning and at the end each burst period by using a
soft-start process to ramp up the input current more slowly over
the first few switching cycles of each burst period and a soft-stop
process to ramp down the input current more slowly over the last
few switching cycles of each burst period, where the `few`
switching cycles as used herein refers to 2 to 36 switching cycles,
generally.ltoreq.10 switching cycles, such as .ltoreq.6 switching
cycles, or 4 switching cycles in one particular embodiment.
Disclosed reduced line current slope prevents the otherwise sharp
rising/falling line currents thus helping to prevent unwanted
acoustic noise and EMI without any need to utilize line voltage
zero-crossings for burst period synchronization to implement.
[0008] Disclosed embodiments include PFC controllers including an
error amplifier for amplifying a difference between Vout and an
intended Vout to generate an error signal that provides a power
demand (Pdem) output at a compensation pin. A burst mode controller
includes soft-start circuitry coupled to receive Pdem and to a
drive pin adapted to be coupled to provide pulses to a control node
of a power switch of a DC-DC power converter during burst periods.
The pulses are for slowing a ramping of the line current over the
first few switching cycles at a beginning of each burst period when
energizing the inductor to reduce the line current slope as
compared to a line current slope without ramping up, and for
slowing a ramping down of line current over the last few switching
cycles to reduce the line current slope when de-energizing the
inductor as compared to a line current slope with no ramping
down.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings,
which are not necessarily drawn to scale, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a flow chart that shows steps in an example method
of reduced line current slope when bursting for PFC of a DC-DC
converter that reduces a slope of the line current at the start of
and at the end of burst periods, without any need to utilize line
voltage zero-crossings for burst period synchronization to
implement, according to an example embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 2 shows an example plot of line voltage vs. time, the
burst period and the resulting line current vs. time from using a
disclosed method of reduced line current slope when bursting for
PFC of a DC-DC converter, showing reduced line current ramp up and
ramp down slopes, according to an example embodiment. For
comparison, also shown is a plot of conventional line current vs.
time that does not have disclosed soft-start or soft-stop which
shows a fast rising edge at the start of the burst period and a
fast falling edge at the end of the burst period.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a portion of a disclosed PFC
controller comprising a burst mode controller including soft-start
circuitry for implementing reduced line current slope for a DC-DC
converter at the start of the burst period and at the end of the
burst period, without any need for circuitry to utilize line
voltage zero-crossings for burst period synchronization to
implement, according to an example embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 4A shows example details for soft-start circuitry for
the PFC controller shown in FIG. 3.
[0014] FIG. 4B shows waveforms for various nodes of the PFC
controller shown in FIG. 3 and the soft-start circuitry shown in
FIG. 4A.
[0015] FIG. 5 is an example application schematic showing a
switching converter comprising a disclosed PFC controller
comprising a burst mode controller including soft-start circuitry
in a control loop with a boost converter.
[0016] FIG. 6 shows results from simulations from the operation of
the boost converter in the application schematic shown in FIG.
5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Example embodiments are described with reference to the
drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to designate
similar or equivalent elements. Illustrated ordering of acts or
events should not be considered as limiting, as some acts or events
may occur in different order and/or concurrently with other acts or
events. Furthermore, some illustrated acts or events may not be
required to implement a methodology in accordance with this
disclosure.
[0018] Also, the terms "coupled to" or "couples with" (and the
like) as used herein without further qualification are intended to
describe either an indirect or direct electrical connection. Thus,
if a first device "couples" to a second device, that connection can
be through a direct electrical connection where there are only
parasitics in the pathway, or through an indirect electrical
connection via intervening items including other devices and
connections. For indirect coupling, the intervening item generally
does not modify the information of a signal but may adjust its
current level, voltage level, and/or power level.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a flow chart that shows steps in an example method
100 of reduced line current slope when bursting for PFC of a DC-DC
converter for reducing a slope of the line current at the start and
at the end of burst periods, according to an example embodiment.
Although the power source provided to the DC-DC converter is
generally an AC power source that is rectified to DC by a
rectifying diode bridge, disclosed methods may also be applied when
the power source is simply a DC source. As described above,
disclosed methods solve the problem of fast rising and falling line
current at the start and end of each burst period which as
described above results in unwanted acoustic noise and high EMI,
without any need to utilize (and thus sense or estimate) the line
voltage zero-crossings for burst period synchronization to
implement.
[0020] Step 101 comprises providing a PFC controller in a control
loop with a DC-DC converter that includes an inductor coupled to
ground through at least one power switch having a control node,
where the inductor is coupled to receive power including a line
voltage (Vin) from a power source and having an output node that is
coupled to drive a load. The PFC controller includes an error
amplifier that provides Pdem output at a compensation (COMP) pin
which is connected to ground through a resistor-capacitor (RC)
compensating network, and there is soft-start circuitry coupled to
receive the Pdem and to a drive (DRV) pin coupled to provide pulses
to the control node during burst periods. The power switch is
controlled to switch between ON and OFF a plurality (e.g.,
thousands) of times per second.
[0021] Step 102 comprises slowing a ramping up of a line current
over the first 2 to 36 switching cycles (typically over a few
hundred .mu.secs) at a beginning of each burst period using pulses
from the DRV pin when energizing the inductor to reduce a slope of
the line current as compared to the line current without disclosed
ramping up when energizing the inductor. (see the start of the
burst period for the respective line current waveforms shown in
FIG. 2 described below). Step 103 comprises ramping down of the
line current over the last 2 to 36 switching cycles to reduce a
slope of the line current using pulses from the DRV pin when
de-energizing the inductor as compared to the line current without
disclosed ramping down when de-energizing the inductor during an
end of each burst period. (see the end of the burst period for the
line current waveforms shown in FIG. 2 described below).
[0022] In some embodiments, such as pure transition mode (TM)
control embodiments, a period of the pulses during the energizing
(T.sub.ON) can be ramped linearly from zero to a value calculated
from the Pdem value, and a period of the pulses during the
de-energizing (T.sub.Off) can be ramped linearly from a value
calculated from the Pdem to zero. As described above, the first 2
to 36 switching cycles and last 2 to 36 switching cycles may each
comprise .ltoreq.10 switching cycles, such as .ltoreq.6 switching
cycles, or 4 switching cycles in one particular embodiment. The PFC
control can comprise continuous conduction mode control (CCM),
discontinuous-conduction mode (DCM) control, or TM control (also
called critical-conduction mode (CrM) control). The DC-DC converter
can comprise a boost converter, or another DC-DC converter
type.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows an example plot of line voltage, the burst
period (shown as a burst duty cycle), and the resulting line
current (the bottom trace) from using a disclosed method of reduced
line current slope when bursting for PFC of a DC-DC converter for
reducing a slope of the line current at the start and at the end of
the burst periods, showing reduced ramp up and ramp down line
current slopes, according to an example embodiment. For comparison,
also shown is a plot of conventional line current vs. time marked
`prior art` (trace immediately above the bottom trace) that does
not have disclosed soft-start or soft-stop which thus has a fast
rising edge at the start of the burst period and a fast falling
edge at the end of the burst period. It is noted that the line
voltage and line current waveforms shown are based on average
values that are generally averaged over thousands of switching
cycles.
[0024] The line current is a filtered version of the inductor
current due to action of the capacitor that is coupled to the input
side of the inductor which is shown as Cin in FIG. 5 described
below, and EMI filter components that may also be present (shown as
530 in FIG. 5). Also the line current on the left side (input side)
of the rectifying diode (DRec) bridge 540 shown FIG. 5 is a true AC
current signal, not a rectified AC signal. The line voltage is the
voltage across the AC power supply (shown as an AC power supply 525
in FIG. 5 described below) and the line current is the current that
flows in wires connected to the output of AC power supply 525.
Significantly, as described above, to implement disclosed methods
of reduced line current slope at the start and end of bursts there
is no need to utilize (e.g., by sensing or estimating) the line
voltage zero-crossings for the start and the end of the burst
periods.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a portion of a disclosed PFC
controller 300 including a burst mode controller 320 comprising
soft-start circuitry for implementing reduced line current slope at
the start of burst periods and at the end of burst periods for
controlling a DC-DC converter, according to an example embodiment.
The PFC controller 300 comprises a substrate 305 having at least a
semiconductor surface, typically silicon, and circuitry formed in
and on the semiconductor surface. The output of the error amplifier
310 shown is normally a current which can be from a positive
voltage level +ve (thus providing a current source) or from a
negative voltage level -ve (thus providing a current sink). This is
necessary so that the Pdem value can be increased or reduced as
needed to maintain output voltage regulation. The current is thus
provided from the COMP (or Vcomp) pin shown, and it develops the
present Pdem as a voltage level across the external RC compensation
network 445 shown coupled to the COMP pin in FIG. 4A described
below. Soft-start circuitry is included in the burst mode
controller 320 shown in an example arrangement in FIG. 4A described
below.
[0026] The PFC controller 300 is shown including a mixer 315, and a
control law block 325 that is coupled to a waveform generator 330
then to a gate driver 335. The Soft-Start Count (SSCnt) shown as
SSCnt/4 that is shown coupled to an input of the mixer 315 is a
variable used to denote the current SSCnt value that can in one
particular embodiment be a binary digital value controllable
between 0 and 4. Application of the SSCnt input to the mixer 315
provides a soft transition signal at the DRV pin, where the SSCnt
input can be generated by the example soft-start circuitry shown in
FIG. 4A which is applied between the COMP pin and the control law
power demand input of the control law block 325.
[0027] The soft-start circuitry of the burst mode controller 320
acts on the current power demand generated by the PFC controller
300. The soft-start circuitry for a pure TM controller will have
the effect of linearly ramping T.sub.ON (and T.sub.off), but this
may not be true for other types of PFC controllers such as for CCM
and DCM operation. For CCM and DCM control in general there is a
non-linear relationship between P.sub.Dem and T.sub.ON. This is
particularly true for CCM. This non-linearity between P.sub.Dem and
T.sub.ON is however taken care of by the control law block 325
which will differ its actions taken between CCM and DCM
controllers. The T.sub.ON (and Toff) time is the time when the
power switch is ON. During this period the inductor current ramps
up linearly and the voltage across the power switch is fixed at
zero.
[0028] The Pdem value is generated by the error amplifier 310 that
performs voltage amplification which amplifies the difference
between the sensed (or estimated) actual output voltage from the
converter (Vout) and the intended Vout. This amplified difference
is applied to an external passive compensation network (filter)
coupled to the COMP pin shown as 445 in FIG. 4A in the form of a
current signal. The filtered value, in the form of a voltage on the
COMP pin, becomes the Pdem. The control law block 325 and waveform
generator 330 convert this Pdem into the pulses at the DRV pin
which are applied to the power switch(es) of the power converter to
achieve delivery of the demanded power by the power circuit. In its
simplest form being TM control the control law block 325/waveform
generator 330 produces pulses having a pulse width that is
proportional to the instantaneous power demand.
[0029] FIG. 3 shows the COMP voltage level multiplied by SSCnt/4 to
form the output of the mixer 315 shown as PdemAdj. In normal
operation SSCnt=4 so that VCOMP=PDem. The number 4 for the SSCnt
value is the only parameter needed to implement disclosed methods.
One can use a SSCnt number different from 4, but the number
selected is generally fixed in the controller design. In operation,
when the VCOMP voltage level falls below its boost fall (BstFall)
threshold switching pulses are issued from the DRV pin so that the
soft-stop state is entered. During the soft-stop period the SSCnt
is decremented by 1 on each switching cycle which results in
ramping down the Pdem linearly for all control cases. The
difference will be in the control law block 325 meaning that a
different treatment will occur on T.sub.ON to achieve the same
result on line current. Once the SSCnt reaches zero, switching
operation is halted meaning the end of the soft-start phase has
been reached, so that the power converter stops transferring energy
from the input to the output.
[0030] When the VCOMP voltage rises above its boost rise (BstRise)
threshold switching pulses are issued from the DRV pin so that the
soft-start state is entered. During the Soft_Start period SSCnt is
incremented by 1 on each switching cycle hence ramping up the Pdem
linearly. Once the SSCnt reaches 4, switching operation is halted
so the converter stops transferring energy from the input to the
output. No controller parameters need to be changed dynamically,
and the soft-start and soft-stop process above is generally
repeated exactly the same each burst period by the controller
issuing switching pulses from the DRV pin that are applied to the
control node of the power switch of the power converter.
[0031] FIG. 4A shows example details for the soft-start circuitry
for burst mode control for a disclosed PFC controller. As noted
above and shown in FIG. 4A (and FIG. 5) an external RC compensation
network 445 is generally coupled between the COMP pin and ground.
The blocks added to a conventional burst mode controller to realize
a disclosed burst mode control block that implements disclosed
burst soft-start and soft-stop without the need for line voltage
zero crossing information to synchronize the start or end of burst
periods includes a multiply by SSCnt/4 Block shown as 315'.
[0032] The analog PDem signal at the COMP pin is passed to four
resistor dividers 315a1 that are binary weighted (1, 3/4, 1/2, and
1/4). A decoder 315a3 and analog multiplexer 315a2 are used to
select which resistor divider of the resistor dividers 315a1 is
used according to the two bit counter output SSCnt. Burst mode
controller 320' comprises a burst mode state machine 320a' that
includes two additional new states, SoftStartb and SoftStopb. Runb
and BstOffb states are used to implement known burst operation and
these are driven by a signal (BstRunb) from a comparator 338 having
an input for receiving the COMP pin voltage. The outputs of the
burst mode state machine 320a' are coupled to an OR gate 320b' that
provides the Pauseb output that is shown coupled to the EN input of
the waveform generator 330.
[0033] The SoftStopb state comes between the Runb and BstOffb
states. During the SoftStopb state the binary counter 320c' counts
down from an initial value of 4 to a final value of 1. When a count
value of 1 is reached the SoftStopb state exits to the BstOffb
state. The SoftStartb state comes between the BstOffb and Runb
states. During the SoftStartb state the binary counter 320c' counts
up from an initial value of 1 to a final value of 4. When the count
value of 4 is reaches the SoftStartb state exits to the Runb state.
The binary counter 320c's Clk input is driven by the waveform
generator 330 so that the binary counter 320c' is advanced by one
count each time a switching cycle occurs.
[0034] FIG. 4B shows waveforms for some nodes shown in FIG. 4A
illustrating operation during the transition from Runb through
SoftStopb to BstOffb states. The lower four traces include a
digital output for each of the four states (SoftStartb, Runb,
BstOffb and SoftStopb). DRV shown above the lower four traces is
the waveform at the DRV pin that indicates the DRV pin voltage. A
high DRV pin signal indicates that the corresponding state is
active and a low DRV pin signal indicates that the state it is
inactive. It can be seen that only one state is active at any point
in time. The DRV pin voltage is also a digital signal, with a high
indicating for a conventional n-channel MOSFET power switch that
the MOSFET is ON (T.sub.ON period) and a low indicating that the
MOSFET is OFF. The trace labeled ILswavg is the switching cycle
average of the inductor current I.sub.L that is separated from the
other waveforms for clarity. This inductor current waveform is an
approximation of the Line current waveform flowing into the PFC
stage. This is because the EMI filter (see EMI filter 530 in FIG.
5) removed most of the high frequency content from the inductor
current waveform. It is clear from this waveform that the Line
current steps down during the SoftStopb period in response to the
ramped power demand signal (PDemAdj).
[0035] As described above PDem is the power demand level produced
by the error amplifier 310 on the COMP pin. PDemAdj is the adjusted
power demand level after the action of the SoftStop circuit. This
adjusted power demand signal ramps down from PDem to zero in
response to the change in SSCnt value during the SoftStopb period.
SSCnt represents the output of the binary counter 320c' shown in
FIG. 4A.
[0036] FIG. 5 is an application schematic showing an example
switching converter 500 comprising a disclosed PFC controller 300
in a control loop with a boost converter 520 including an inductor
L.sub.BST coupled to ground through at least one power switch 521
having a control node 521a shown as a gate, with the inductor
L.sub.BST coupled to receive power including a line voltage. Vin
for the Boost converter is the output of rectifier bridge (DRec)
540 which is a full wave rectified form of the line voltage (AC)
from the AC power source 525, with the boost converter 520 having
an output node (shown as Vout bus) coupled to drive a load.
[0037] An EMI filter 530 is shown between the AC power source 525
and the DRec 540. As described above relative to FIG. 3, and the
PFC controller 300 includes an error amplifier that provides a Pdem
output at its compensation (COMP) pin which is connected to ground
through RC compensating network 445, and burst mode controller 320
including soft-start circuitry is coupled to receive Pdem and to
the DRV pin to provide pulses to the control node 521a of the power
switch 521 shown as an n-channel MOSFET during burst periods.
[0038] Although the power converters are shown herein as having a
single power phase with a single power switch, disclosed
embodiments also apply to power converters having a plurality of
power phases, and also to power converter phases having a high-side
power transistor and a low-side power transistor connected in
series, or 4 power transistors per phase for a Buck-boost
converter, positioned between supply terminals with a converter
switching node at the interconnection of the power transistors.
EXAMPLES
[0039] Disclosed embodiments are further illustrated by the
following specific Examples, which should not be construed as
limiting the scope or content of this Disclosure in any way.
[0040] Results obtained from an actual switching converter circuit
are shown in FIG. 6 that were measured by an oscilloscope as
waveforms covering a SoftStart period for the circuit shown in the
switching converter 500 application schematic in FIG. 5. The DRV
pin provides a V.sub.GS waveform (see FIG. 4B) that is coupled to
the control node 521a (e.g., gate) that controls the power switch
521 so that for an n-channel power MOSFET when the V.sub.GS
waveform is high the power switch is ON (T.sub.ON period) when the
VGS waveform is low the power switch is OFF.
[0041] During switching converter operation, the inductor current
(shown as boost inductor current) ramps up during the T.sub.ON
period corresponding to the VGS pulses because the input voltage
V.sub.IN is applied across the inductor. The inductor current ramps
down during the T.sub.OFF period. This is because the (output
voltage-input voltage) is applied across the inductor as current is
forced to flow through the output diode (see Dbst shown in FIG. 5).
When the inductor current becomes zero the power switch is turned
ON again to start a new switching cycle.
[0042] The simulations shown clearly evidence disclosed Soft-Start
operation. The SoftStart period will occur at the start of each
Burst ON period. The upper trace in FIG. 6 shows the boost inductor
current waveform. During the T.sub.ON period the inductor current
ramps up linearly. During the TDCH period the inductor current
ramps down linearly. During the TDCM period the inductor current
remains close to zero. There is some resonant oscillation that
occurs during this period.
[0043] Over the first four switching cycle the peak inductor
current ramps up to its demanded value. The cycle average of this
inductor current waveform will represent the line current that will
ramp up over the first four switching cycles. The lower trace shows
the voltage across the boost power switch which is generally a
MOSFET switch, shown as power switch 521 in FIG. 5 described
above.
[0044] During the T.sub.ON period the voltage across the MOSFET
switch is close to zero. During the TDCH period the voltage across
the MOSFET is high, and this voltage is equal to the voltage on the
output capacitor (see CBlk in FIG. 5). During the TDCM period the
average voltage across the MOSFET is equal to the voltage on the
input capacitor (see C.sub.In in FIG. 5). The voltage across the
power switch 521 again has a resonant oscillation.
[0045] Those skilled in the art to which this disclosure relates
will appreciate that many other embodiments and variations of
embodiments are possible within the scope of the claimed invention,
and further additions, deletions, substitutions and modifications
may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the
scope of this disclosure.
* * * * *