US 12,255,533 B2
Power converter with loading detector for enhancing conversion efficiency
Yi-Meng Lan, Tainan (TW); Yung-Chou Lin, Kaohsiung (TW); Tuo-Kuang Chen, Hsinchu (TW); and Chih-Yang Kang, Baoshan Township, Hsinchu County (TW)
Assigned to Novatek Microelectronics Corp., Hsinchu (TW)
Filed by NOVATEK MICROELECTRONICS CORP., Hsinchu County (TW)
Filed on Aug. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/895,046.
Prior Publication US 2024/0072669 A1, Feb. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. H02M 3/158 (2006.01); H02M 1/00 (2007.01); H02M 1/08 (2006.01); H02M 3/156 (2006.01)
CPC H02M 3/158 (2013.01) [H02M 1/0006 (2021.05); H02M 1/0032 (2021.05); H02M 1/08 (2013.01); H02M 3/1566 (2021.05)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A power converter comprising:
a high side switch having a first terminal that receives an input voltage, a second terminal that is adapted to be coupled to an inductor, and a control terminal that receives a high side drive signal;
a low side switch having a first terminal that is coupled to said second terminal of said high side switch, a second terminal that is adapted to be coupled to a load and that provides an output voltage, and a control terminal that receives a low side drive signal;
a low side driver coupled to said control terminal of said low side switch, and generating the low side drive signal for receipt by said control terminal of said low side switch;
a loading detector receiving the low side drive signal and generating an indication output based on the low side drive signal;
a configurable regulator coupled to said loading detector to receive the indication output, and generating a regulation voltage based on the indication output; and
a high side driver coupled to said configurable regulator to receive the regulation voltage, further coupled to said control terminal of said high side switch, further receiving the input voltage, and generating the high side drive signal,
wherein said configurable regulator is further coupled to said second terminal of said low side switch to receive the output voltage, and further receives the input voltage and a reference voltage,
wherein the indication output includes an indication signal and an inverted indication signal, and said configurable regulator includes:
a first resistor having a first terminal that receives the input voltage, and a second terminal;
a second resistor having a first terminal that receives the input voltage, and a second terminal;
a first transistor having a first terminal that is coupled to said second terminal of said first resistor, a second terminal, and a control terminal that is coupled to said second terminal of said first transistor;
a second transistor having a first terminal that is coupled to said second terminal of said second resistor, a second terminal, and a control terminal that is coupled to said control terminal of said first transistor;
a current source coupled between said second terminal of said first transistor and said second terminal of said second transistor;
a first switch having a first terminal that is coupled to said second terminal of said second transistor, a second terminal that receives the reference voltage, and a control terminal that is coupled to said loading detector to receive the indication signal; and
a second switch having a first terminal that is coupled to said second terminal of said second transistor, a second terminal that is coupled to said second terminal of said low side switch to receive the output voltage, and a control terminal that is coupled to said loading detector to receive the inverted indication signal;
the regulation voltage being provided at a common node of said second resistor and said second transistor.