Dcdc converters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022115950-A1
Application number	US-202117500629-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 13, 2021
Priority date	Oct 14, 2020
Publication date	Apr 14, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A circuit portion comprises a DCDC converter that provides current from an output to a plurality of loads. Channel logic circuitry is configured to provide current from the output of the converter to each load according to a cyclical sequence, wherein each cycle has a duration that is divided equally into a plurality of time slots. The channel logic circuitry is configured to provide current to each load for one or more discrete time slots. The number of time slots is greater than the number of loads so that at least two output loads receive current for different numbers of time slots in a cycle.

First claim

1 . A circuit portion comprising:
a DCDC converter arranged to provide current from an output of the converter to a plurality of output loads; and channel logic circuitry configured to provide current cyclically from the output of the converter to each of the plurality of output loads according to a sequence that is repeated for a plurality of cycles, wherein the channel logic circuitry is configured to select the sequence, from a plurality of predetermined sequence options, according to operating characteristics of one or more of the plurality of output loads; and wherein: each cycle has a cycle duration; the cycle duration is divided equally into a plurality of time slots; the channel logic circuitry is configured to provide current to each of the plurality of output loads for the duration of one or more discrete time slots; and the number of time slots is greater than the number of output loads so that at least two output loads receive current for different numbers of time slots in a cycle.

2 . The circuit portion of claim 1 , wherein the DCDC converter is configured to operate in discontinuous-conduction-mode

3 . The circuit portion of claim 1 , wherein the channel logic circuitry is configured to change which of the plurality of output loads receives the output current at each time slot transition.

4 . The circuit portion of claim 1 , wherein the channel logic circuitry is configured to generate or to modify the sequence during operation of the circuit.

5 . The circuit portion of claim 1 , wherein the circuit portion comprises a power monitor arranged to monitor loading of one or more of the plurality of output loads.

6 . The circuit portion of claim 5 , wherein the channel logic circuitry is arranged to modify the sequence according to a signal received from the power monitor.

7 . The circuit portion of claim 6 , wherein the sequence is selected by the channel logic circuitry from a lookup table according to the value of the received signal.

8 . The circuit portion of claim 1 , wherein the circuit portion further comprises a pulse width modulation module arranged to control operation of the DCDC converter.

9 . The circuit portion of claim 8 , wherein the pulse width modulation module comprises duty control logic, configured to activate and deactivate low side and high side switches of the DCDC converter such that an inductor of the DCDC converter is both charged and discharged within one time slot.

10 . The circuit portion of claim 9 , wherein the pulse width modulation module is configured to activate and deactivate the low side and high side switches of the DCDC converter such that the inductor of the DCDC converter is charged and discharged no more than once per time slot.

Assignees

• Nordic Semiconductor Asa

Inventors

• Hallikainen Samuli

Classifications

• H02M3/1588 Primary

  comprising at least one synchronous rectifier element (H02M3/1582, H02M3/1584 take precedence) · CPC title

• H02M3/158 Primary

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

• H02M1/009

  having two or more independently controlled outputs (for DC-DC converter with intermediate AC H02M3/33561) · CPC title

• G05F1/62

  using bucking or boosting DC sources · CPC title

• H02M3/157

  with digital control · CPC title