US 12,289,051 B2
Switching regulator and power management integrated circuit
Jaekwan Kim, Seoul (KR); Gwangyol Noh, Yongin-si (KR); Hwayeal Yu, Bucheon-si (KR); and Gil Won Yoon, Seoul (KR)
Assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., (KR)
Filed by SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed on Mar. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/706,237.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0139386 (KR), filed on Oct. 19, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0118761 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. H02M 3/158 (2006.01); H02M 1/00 (2006.01); H02M 1/08 (2006.01); H02M 1/38 (2007.01)
CPC H02M 3/158 (2013.01) [H02M 1/0009 (2021.05); H02M 1/0051 (2021.05); H02M 1/0058 (2021.05); H02M 1/08 (2013.01); H02M 1/38 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A switching regulator comprising:
an inductor connected to a switch node;
a power switch connected to the switch node and configured to apply a first voltage to the switch node in response to a first control signal and to apply a second voltage to the switch node in response to a second control signal;
a zero current detector configured to provide a zero current sensing signal when an inductor current flowing through the inductor is an offset current;
a controller configured to generate the first control signal and the second control signal based on a pulse frequency modulation signal and configured to control a first duration of a first dead time and a second duration of a second dead time;
a peak current sensor configured to provide a peak current sensing signal when the inductor current flowing through the inductor reaches a peak current; and
a pulse frequency modulation generator configured to output the pulse frequency modulation signal to the controller based on the zero current sensing signal, the peak current sensing signal, and a reference voltage,
wherein the zero current detector includes:
a comparator configured to compare a switch voltage of the switch node and a ground voltage and provide the zero current sensing signal based on an offset signal, and
an offset controller configured to output the offset signal to the comparator based on the zero current sensing signal and the second control signal,
wherein a magnitude of the offset current is based on the offset signal,
wherein the second control signal transitions from low to high following the first dead time after the first control signal transitions from low to high,
wherein the first control signal transitions from high to low following the second dead time after the second control signal transitions from high to low level, and
wherein the inductor current flows in a first direction during the first dead time and in a second direction, different from the first direction, during the second dead time.