Start-up method and apparatus for boost converters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10686377-B1
Application number	US-201916561309-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Sep 5, 2019
Priority date	Sep 5, 2019
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

There is presented a boost converter and an associated method for starting the boost converter. The boost converter includes an input terminal for receiving an input voltage, an output terminal for providing an output voltage, a low-side power switch and a high-side power switch coupled at a switching node, and a voltage regulator coupled to the high-side power switch. The boost converter is also provided with a controller for operating the boost converter in a start-up phase. In the start-up phase the controller controls the boost converter to generate an intermediate voltage and increase the intermediate voltage to a predetermined value. The intermediate voltage is then provided to the voltage regulator to obtain a drive voltage. The high side power switch is then driven to increase the output voltage linearly up to a start-up voltage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A boost converter comprising a low-side power switch coupled to a high-side power switch at a switching node, an input terminal for receiving an input voltage and an output terminal for providing an output voltage; a voltage regulator coupled to the high-side power switch and a controller adapted to operate the boost converter in a start-up phase; wherein in the start-up phase the controller controls the boost converter
to generate an intermediate voltage and increase the intermediate voltage to a predetermined value;
to provide the intermediate voltage to the voltage regulator to obtain a drive voltage to drive the high side power switch; and
to drive the high side power switch to increase the output voltage linearly up to a start-up voltage.

2. The boost converter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the predetermined value is greater than the input voltage.

3. The boost converter as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the predetermined value is about twice the input voltage; and wherein the start-up voltage is about the input voltage.

4. The boost converter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted to operate the boost converter in a plurality of states forming a cycle, and to perform multiple cycles until the output voltage has reached the start-up voltage.

5. The boost converter as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a bypass switch coupled in parallel with an inductor, wherein the controller is adapted to close the bypass switch to prevent a switching node voltage to increase beyond a threshold value.

6. The boost converter as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the boost converter comprises a first capacitor coupled to the low side power switch via the switching node; the inductor; and a rectifier switch provided between the first capacitor and the voltage regulator wherein in a first state, the controller decouples the switching node from the output terminal, charges the first capacitor to obtain the intermediate voltage and closes the low-side power switch to magnetise the inductor.

7. The boost converter as claimed in claim 6 , wherein in a second state, the controller maintains the switching node decoupled from the output terminal and opens the low-side power switch to increase the intermediate voltage to the predetermined value.

8. The boost converter as claimed in claim 7 , wherein in a third state, the controller couples the switching node to the output terminal and closes the rectifier switch to provide the intermediate voltage to the voltage regulator.

9. The boost converter as claimed in claim 8 , wherein in a fourth state, the controller maintains the switching node coupled to the output terminal and closes the bypass switch.

10. The boost converter as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the rectifier switch is coupled to a second capacitor.

11. The boost converter as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the second capacitor is coupled to the output terminal.

12. The boost converter as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the bypass switch comprises a driver coupled to a pair of switches in a cascode configuration.

13. The boost converter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the voltage regulator comprises a low drop out regulator.

14. The boost converter as claimed in claim 1 , comprising another high-side power switch coupled to the high-side power switch.

15. The boost converter as claimed in claim 14 , wherein a drain terminal of the high-side power switch is connected to a drain terminal of the said another high-side power switch.

16. The boost converter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the high-side power switch and the low-side power switch are N-types power switches.

17. A start-up method for use with a boost converter comprising a low-side power switch coupled to a high-side power switch at a switching node, an input terminal for receiving an input voltage and an output terminal for providing an output voltage; a voltage regulator coupled to the high-side power switch; the method comprising
generating an intermediate voltage and increasing the intermediate voltage to a predetermined value;
providing the intermediate voltage to the voltage regulator to obtain a drive voltage to drive the high side power switch; and
driving the high-side power switch to increase the output voltage linearly up to a start-up voltage.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the predetermined value is greater than the input voltage.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the predetermined value is about twice the input voltage; and wherein the start-up voltage is about the input voltage.

20. The method as claimed in claim 17 , comprising rectifying the intermediate voltage.

Assignees

• Dialog Semiconductor Uk Ltd

Inventors

• Lu Edward
• Su Stella
• Hsiao Yuan Wen
• Hung Der-Ju

Classifications

• H02M1/0045

  Converters combining the concepts of switch-mode regulation and linear regulation, e.g. linear pre-regulator to switching converter, linear and switching converter in parallel, same converter or same transistor operating either in linear or switching mode · CPC title

• H02M1/0006

  Arrangements for supplying an adequate voltage to the control circuit of converters · CPC title

• H02M3/158 Primary

  including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load · CPC title

• H02M1/36

  Means for starting or stopping converters · CPC title

• H02M1/08

  Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters · CPC title