Overload protection for power converter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020119651-A1
Application number	US-201916714944-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 16, 2019
Priority date	Jun 2, 2016
Publication date	Apr 16, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A circuit includes an overload monitor comparing a current sense signal to a threshold signal to generate a comparison result and adjusting a value of a first count signal in response to the comparison result and a monitoring signal. The monitoring signal indicates a time interval during which the overload monitor adjusts the value of the first count signal. The circuit further includes an overload protection signal generator generating an overload protection signal in response to the first count signal, the overload protection signal indicating whether the power converter is operating in an overload condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A circuit for controlling a power converter, comprising:
an overload monitor configured to compare a current sense signal to a threshold signal to generate a comparison result, and to adjust a value of a first count signal in response to the comparison result and a monitoring signal, the monitoring signal indicating a time interval during which the overload monitor adjusts the value of the first count signal; and an overload protection signal generator configured to generate an overload protection signal in response to the first count signal, the overload protection signal indicating whether the power converter is operating in an overload condition.

2 . The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the overload monitor includes a first counter circuit that increases the value of the first count signal when a value of the current sense signal is equal to or greater than a value of the threshold signal and the monitoring signal has a first logic value.

3 . The circuit of claim 2 , wherein the overload monitor further includes a second counter circuit that adjusts a value of a second count signal when the value of the first count signal is equal to or greater than a value of a first reference signal and the monitoring signal has a second logic value.

4 . The circuit of claim 2 , wherein the comparison result of the current sense signal to the threshold signal is a first comparison result, and
wherein the overload monitor further comprises: a first comparator generating a first comparison signal indicative of the first comparison result of the current sense signal to the threshold signal; a first flip-flop generating a first output signal in response to the first comparison signal and a modulation signal; a first logic gate generating a first intermediate output signal in response to the first output signal and an oscillation signal; and a second logic gate generating a first counter input signal in response to the first intermediate output signal and the monitoring signal and outputting the first counter input signal to the first counter circuit.

5 . The circuit of claim 4 , wherein the overload monitor further comprises:
a third logic gate generating a second intermediate output signal in response to an inverted version of the first output signal and the oscillation signal; and a fourth logic gate generating a second counter input signal in response to the second intermediate output signal and the monitoring signal and outputting the second counter input signal to the first counter circuit.

6 . The circuit of claim 4 , wherein the overload monitor further comprises:
a second comparator generating a second comparison signal indicative of a second comparison result of the first count signal to a first reference signal; a second flip-flop generating a second output signal in response to the second comparison signal and the monitoring signal; and a second counter circuit generating a second count signal in response to the second output signal.

7 . The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the comparison result of the current sense signal to the threshold signal is a first comparison result, and
wherein the overload monitor is further configured to compare the first count signal to a first reference signal and to adjust a value of a second count signal in response to a second comparison result of the first count signal to the first reference signal.

8 . The circuit of claim 7 , wherein the overload protection signal generator generates the overload protection signal that has a specific logic value when the value of the second count signal has a given value relative to that of a second reference signal, the specific logic value of the overload protection signal indicating that the power converter is operating in the overload condition.

9 . The circuit of claim 1 , wherein an on-time duration of the monitoring signal is equal to or longer than 60%, 75%, 90%, 95%, 97%, or 99% of a cycle time of the input signal.

10 . A power converter, comprising:
a switching device; and an overload protection circuit configured to determine whether the power converter is operating in an overload condition based on a current sense signal, the current sense signal indicating a magnitude of a current that flows through the switching device, wherein the overload protection circuit includes:
an overload monitor configured to compare the current sense signal to a threshold signal to generate a comparison result, and to adjust a value of a first count signal in response to the comparison result and a monitoring signal, the monitoring signal indicating a time interval during which the overload monitor adjusts the value of the first count signal; and
an overload protection signal generator configured to generate an overload protection signal in response to the first count signal, the overload protection signal indicating whether the power converter is operating in the overload condition.

11 . The power converter of claim 10 , wherein the overload monitor includes a first counter circuit that increases the value of the first count signal when a value of the current sense signal is equal to or greater than a value of the threshold signal and the monitoring signal has a first logic value.

12 . The power converter of claim 11 , wherein the overload monitor further includes a second counter circuit that adjusts a value of a second count signal when the value of the first count signal is equal to or greater than a value of a first reference signal and the monitoring signal has a second logic value.

13 . A method of controlling a power converter, the method comprising:
comparing a current sense signal to a threshold signal to generate a comparison result; adjusting a value of a first count signal in response to the comparison result and a monitoring signal, the monitoring signal indicating a time interval during which the value of the first count signal is adjusted; and generate an overload protection signal in response to the first count signal, the overload protection signal indicating whether the power converter is operating in an overload condition.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
increasing the value of the first count signal when a value of the current sense signal is equal to or greater than a value of the threshold signal and the monitoring signal has a first logic value.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
adjusting a value of a second count signal when the value of the first count signal is equal to or greater than a value of a first reference signal and the monitoring signal has a second logic value.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the comparison result of the current sense signal to the threshold signal is a first comparison result, the method further comprising:
generating a first comparison signal indicative of the first comparison result; generating a first output signal in response to the first comparison signal and a modulation signal; generating a first intermediate output signal in response to the first output signal and an oscillation signal; and generating a first counter input signal in response to the first intermediate output signal and the monitoring signal.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
generating a second intermediate output signal in response to an inverted version of the first output signal and the oscillation signal; and generating a second counter input signal in response to the second intermediate output signal and the monitoring signal to provide the second

Assignees

• Semiconductor Components Ind Llc

Inventors

• Eum Hyun-Chul
• Kim Young-Jong

Classifications

• H02M1/32

  Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection · CPC title

• H02M3/33507 Primary

  with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters (H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take precedence) · CPC title

• H05B45/44

  with an active control inside an LED matrix · CPC title

• H02H7/1213 Primary

  for DC-DC converters · CPC title

• H02M1/08

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