High-efficiency bias voltage generating circuit

Disclosed are bias voltage generating circuits and methods for a switching power supply. In one embodiment, a switching power supply can include: (i) a driver circuit configured to receive a bias voltage, and to drive a switch in a power stage of the switching power supply; (ii) where a ratio of an output voltage of the switching power supply to an expected bias voltage of the driver circuit is configured as a proportionality coefficient; (iii) a bias voltage generating circuit configured to generate the bias voltage for the driver circuit based on a first voltage; and (iv) an H-shaped inductor coupled to an input of the bias voltage generating circuit, where the first voltage is configured to be generated based on a number of turns of the H-shaped inductor and the proportionality coefficient.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 201210301935.4, filed on Aug. 23, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of a switching power supply, and more particularly to a high-efficiency bias voltage generating circuit.

BACKGROUND

During operation of a switching power supply, an input AC voltage can be converted into a DC output signal to supply a load. This conversion can be performed through switching operations of a power switch in a power stage circuit of the switching power supply. The power switch can be driven by a driver circuit, and the driver circuit may utilize an appropriate bias voltage to control the power switch.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a switching power supply can include: (i) a driver circuit configured to receive a bias voltage, and to drive a switch in a power stage of the switching power supply; (ii) where a ratio of an output voltage of the switching power supply to an expected bias voltage of the driver circuit is configured as a proportionality coefficient; (iii) a bias voltage generating circuit configured to generate the bias voltage for the driver circuit based on a first voltage; and (iv) an H-shaped inductor coupled to an input of the bias voltage generating circuit, where the first voltage is configured to be generated based on a number of turns of the H-shaped inductor and the proportionality coefficient.

Embodiments of the present invention can provide several advantages over conventional approaches, as may become readily apparent from the detailed description of preferred embodiments below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now toFIG. 1, shown is a schematic block diagram of an example voltage converter through a bias voltage generating circuit. In this example, the power supply can absorb energy from an output terminal of the switching power supply to be a bias voltage for driver circuit102. However, an output terminal voltage of a switching power supply may be much higher than a bias voltage desired by the driver circuit. Thus, an appropriate voltage converter may be utilized to reduce the output terminal voltage to an applicable voltage range for biasing the driver circuit. In this example, the power stage circuit may be a buck topology, and can include inductor L1. Bias voltage generating circuit101can receive output terminal voltage VOof the switching power supply, and may generate bias voltage VCCfor driver circuit102through a conversion process.

Bias voltage generating circuit101can be realized by using one of a variety of implementations. For example,FIG. 2shows one example implementation of the bias voltage generating circuit inFIG. 1. In this example, bias voltage generating circuit101can utilize a step-down process through resistor R3and diode D2. Resistor R3can be used to divide voltage so as to convert output voltage VOto bias voltage VCC, and to maintain bias voltage VCCat an appropriate value. However, resistor R3may be relatively high resistance because output voltage VOcan be relatively high. As a result, power losses may be relatively high, and conversion efficiency may be relatively low in this implementation.

Referring now toFIG. 3, shown is a second example implementation of the bias voltage generating circuit inFIG. 1. In this example, bias voltage generating circuit101can include resistor R3, diode D2, and zener diode DZ. Zener diode DZcan be utilized to convert output voltage VOto bias voltage VCC, such that bias voltage VCCcan be maintained at an appropriate value. However, this implementation utilizes a high-performance zener diode, which may be designed to meet the particular voltage range requirements of bias voltage VCC.

Referring now toFIG. 4, shown is a third example implementation of the bias voltage generating circuit inFIG. 1. Here, bias voltage generating circuit101can include resistor R3, diode D2, and a linear regulator (e.g., a low-dropout [LDO] regulator). The linear regulator LDO may be utilized to regulate output voltage VOand to further convert VOto suitable bias voltage VCC. In this example the linear regulator may be configured as a separate regulating device, which can result in relatively high product costs, large circuit volume, and low conversion efficiency.

In particular embodiments, a bias voltage generating circuit can achieve flexible voltage conversion with relatively low costs and high efficiency. In one embodiment, a switching power supply can include: (i) a driver circuit configured to receive a bias voltage, and to drive a switch in a power stage of the switching power supply; (ii) where a ratio of an output voltage of the switching power supply to an expected bias voltage of the driver circuit is configured as a proportionality coefficient; (iii) a bias voltage generating circuit configured to generate the bias voltage for the driver circuit based on a first voltage; and (iv) an H-shaped inductor coupled to an input of the bias voltage generating circuit, where the first voltage is configured to be generated based on a number of turns of the H-shaped inductor and the proportionality coefficient.

Referring now toFIG. 5, shown is a schematic block diagram of a first example bias voltage generating circuit in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In this example, bias voltage generating circuit201can be utilized in a switching power supply. The switching power supply can include a power stage circuit, bias voltage generating circuit201, and driver circuit202, where the power stage circuit can include H-shaped inductor L1. Bias voltage generating circuit201can connect to H-shaped inductor L1in the power stage circuit to provide bias voltage VCCfor driver circuit202. Driver circuit202can receive bias voltage VCC, and may control a switching operation of power switch Q1in the power stage circuit, so as to drive a load (e.g., a light-emitting diode [LED]). In this example, the power stage circuit may be a buck topology; however, power stages in particular embodiments can be any suitable apology (e.g., a boost topology, a buck-boost topology, a single-ended primary-inductor converter [SEPIC] topology, etc.).

The switching power supply can convert an AC voltage (e.g., received from a power grid) into a DC output voltage to supply a load (e.g., an LED). Thus, the DC output voltage may be a substantially constant value. Driver circuit202in the switching power supply may receive bias voltage VCC. For example, the bias voltage may be a supply voltage for driver circuit202. Also, driver circuit202may have expected bias voltage that is a predetermined value. For example, driver circuit202may be enabled or configured for operation when the bias voltage meets or exceeds the expected bias voltage. In addition, a ratio of the output voltage of the switching power supply to the expected bias voltage of the driver circuit may be a constant value, which may be denoted as proportionality coefficient K.

In this particular example, H-shaped inductor L1may have a center tap that is connected to bias voltage generating circuit201to obtain voltage V1. For example, a location of the center tap may be determined by a number of turns of H-shaped inductor L1and proportionality coefficient K. In particular embodiments, voltage V1may be generated in various ways based on different types of H-shaped inductors. Further, the switching power supply can operate in a variety of modes, such as a floating-driving mode.

Referring now toFIG. 6, shown is a diagram of an example H-shaped inductor with two pins in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In this example, the two pins may be labeled 1 and 2. The two pins may be located at a same terminal, or two terminals (e.g., input and output terminals) of the magnetic core of H-shaped inductor L1. As described herein with respect to H-shaped inductors, a “pin” may be a physical connection point (e.g., pins1and2), and a “terminal” may be an electrical connection to the inductor (e.g., via a wire connected to pin1, a wire connected to pin2, and free wire3). For example, a pin may be an external connection point from a package (e.g., an integrated circuit [IC] package), or an input/output output point from a circuit (e.g., on chip or IC) module or portion. For example, terminals can be coincident with left and right sides of the inductor, such as to form the “H” shape. Also, a terminal can be a wire connection to the inductor, and such wire connections may be “lead out” by way of a pin (e.g., at a fixed location) or a free terminal.

In particular embodiments, the terminals of the H-shaped inductor can be mapped to the various pins in any suitable way. In this example, two pins of H-shaped inductor L1may be located at the same terminal or side of the magnetic core of H-shaped inductor L1. Two terminals of H-shaped inductor L1may be lead out by the two pins1and2, and the center tap may be free terminal3. Specifically, the coil may be winding from free terminal3of the center tap to pin1of H-shaped inductor L1, and then from pin1to pin2. Also, the coil from pin1to pin2may cover the coil from the center tap to pin1, to fix the position of the coil from the center tap to pin1.

If a number of turns of H-shaped inductor L1in the power stage circuit is N, then the number of turns of coil from pin1to pin2is N. If the number of turns of the coil from the center tap to pin1is N×(1/K), due to the voltage drop of diode D3(see, e.g., bias voltage generating circuit201), the number of turns of the coil from the center tap to pin1can be increased accordingly. Based on a direct proportionality relationship between the number of turns of the coil and the voltage, voltage V1obtained at the center tap can be slightly higher than 1/K of the input voltage of the switching power supply. Therefore, voltage V1can be higher than the expected bias voltage of the driver circuit202. In this particular example, voltage V1may be a sum of the expected bias voltage of the driver circuit202and the voltage drop of diode D3.

Referring toFIG. 7, shown is a diagram of an example H-shaped inductor with three pins in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The three pins (1,2, and3) may be located at a same terminal or side, or two terminals or sides of the H-shaped inductor L1, as shown. Two terminals of the H-shaped inductor L1may be lead out by two pins1and2, and the center tap may be lead out by pin3. In this case, pins1,2, and3can be freely arranged in any suitable arrangement. InFIG. 7, diagram “a” shows three pins located at two terminals (pins1and2on the left side, and pin3on the right side) of the magnetic core of the H-shaped inductor. Diagram “b” shows three pins located at the same (left side) terminal of the magnetic core of the H-shaped inductor. Diagram “c” shows a cross-sectional view of the H-shaped inductor with three pins, allowing for external connection to the inductor.

The coil may be winding from pin1to pin2, and the center tap can be lead out from the windings that are from pin1to pin2. In the same way, if the number of turns of H-shaped inductor L1in the power stage circuit is N, the number of turns of the coil from pin1to pin2may be N. For example, the position of the center tap can be arranged to make the number of turns of the coil from pin1to the center tap N×(1/K). The number of turns of the coil from the center tap to pin1can be increased such that that voltage V1can be slightly higher than an expected bias voltage of the driver circuit202. For example, voltage V1can be set to be the sum of the expected bias voltage of driver circuit202and the voltage drop of diode D3.

Bias voltage generating circuit201can include resistor R4and diode D3. A first terminal of resistor R4can connect to the center tap of H-shaped inductor L1to receive voltage V1. A second terminal of resistor R4can connect to the anode of diode D3. The cathode of diode D3can connect to driver circuit202to provide bias voltage VCCfor driver circuit202. In this example, voltage V1may correspond to the expected bias voltage of the driver circuit202. Without any dividing resistance, resistor R4can be a relatively small resistance with low losses and high efficiency, and diode D3can be used for preventing current reflow of driver circuit202. In this way, bias generation circuits of particular embodiments can obtain a suitable voltage from the H-shaped inductor according to the expected bias voltage, and without using any voltage conversion, so as to reduce power losses and improve conversion efficiency.

Referring toFIG. 8, shown is a schematic block diagram of a second example bias voltage generating circuit in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In this particular example, the power stage circuit of the switching power supply may be similar to that in the first example, so it will not be described here again. Also, the relationship between the output voltage of the switching power supply and the expected bias voltage of driver circuit302may be similar to that in the example ofFIG. 5.

In the example ofFIG. 8, bias voltage generating circuit301can include auxiliary winding L2, resistor R5and diode D4. A first terminal of auxiliary winding L2can connect to a first terminal (e.g., an input terminal) of H-shaped inductor L1, and a second terminal auxiliary winding L2can connect to a first terminal of resistor R5, to generate voltage V1. For example, the number of turns of auxiliary winding L2can be determined by the number of turns of H-shaped inductor L1and the proportionality coefficient.

Voltage V1can be obtained in a variety of ways according to types of H-shaped inductor L1. The types of H-shaped inductor L1can also be a type with two pins or a type with three pins, as discussed above. In another example, H-shaped inductor L1can contain four pins. When H-shaped inductor L1has two pins, two terminals of H-shaped inductor L1may be lead out by the two pins. In this example, in order to reduce chip volume into facilitate integration, auxiliary winding L2and the windings of H-shaped inductor L1may share one magnetic core. The following with three pins or four pins may also be the same. For example, a first terminal (e.g., an input terminal) of auxiliary winding L2can connect to a pin at a first terminal (e.g., an input terminal) of H-shaped inductor L1, and a second terminal of auxiliary winding L2can be a free terminal.

In addition, a coil of H-shaped inductor L1can cover the coil of auxiliary windings L2to fix a coil position of auxiliary windings L2. Similarly, if the number of turns of H-shaped inductor L1in the power stage circuit is N, the number of turns of auxiliary winding L2can be N×(1/K). For example, in accordance with the bias voltage generating circuit301as shown inFIG. 8, due to the voltage drop of diode D4, the number of turns of auxiliary windings L2can be increased. Thus, voltage V1obtained from the center tap can be slightly higher than 1/K of the input voltage of the switching power supply. So, voltage V1can be slightly higher than expected bias voltage of the driver circuit302. For example, a suitable number of turns of auxiliary winding L2can be arranged so as to make voltage V1be a sum of the expected bias voltage of the driver circuit302and the voltage drop of diode D4.

When H-shaped inductor L1has three pins, two terminals of H-shaped inductor L1may be lead out by two of the three pins. A first terminal (e.g., an input terminal) of auxiliary winding L2can connect to a pin of a first terminal (e.g., an input terminal) of H-shaped inductor L1, and a second terminal can be lead out by pin3. The turns of the auxiliary winding L2can be set to be similar to that discussed above with two pins, such that a voltage V1that is slightly (e.g., greater than a predetermined amount, such as 2%, 5%, etc.) higher than the expected bias voltage of driver circuit302can be obtained.

Referring now toFIG. 9, shown is a schematic diagram of an example H-shaped inductor L1with four pins in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The four pins can be located as pairs at each of the two terminals, or all four at the same (e.g., left side) terminal of the magnetic core of H-shaped inductor L1. InFIG. 9, diagram “a” shows four pins located at two terminals of the magnetic core of H-shaped inductor L1, and diagram “b” shows four pins located at the same (left side) terminal of the magnetic core of H-shaped inductor L1. Diagram “c” shows a cross-sectional view of H-shaped inductor L1with four pins. Two terminals of the H-shaped inductor L1can be lead out by two pins1and3, and two terminals of auxiliary winding L2can be lead out by other two pins2and4. In addition, a pin at the first terminal (e.g., an input terminal) of H-shaped inductor L1, and a pin at the first terminal (e.g., in input terminal) of auxiliary winding L2can be connected to a same node A in the power stage circuit (see, e.g.,FIG. 8).

When four pins are located at a same terminal, in order to facilitate the connection, pin3at the input terminal of H-shaped inductor L1can connect to pin4at an input or left side terminal of auxiliary winding L2, and also can connect to the power stage circuit, as shown in “b” ofFIG. 9. Similarly, the number of turns of the auxiliary winding may be 1/K of the number N, which is the number of turns of H-shaped inductor L1. For example, the number of turns of auxiliary winding L2can be increased to obtain voltage V1that is slightly (e.g., 2%, 5%, etc.) higher than an expected bias voltage of driver circuit302. In one case, voltage V1can be set to be the sum of the expected bias voltage of the driver circuit302and the voltage drop of diode D4.

By using one of the various types of the H-shaped inductors and connection modes of the auxiliary winding, voltage V1can be obtained without use of a complicated transformer structure. In this way, the production process may be simplified, and associated product costs can be reduced. In addition, users can select an appropriate H-shaped inductor and pin arrangements based on the particular bias generation and/or switching power supply applications.

InFIG. 8, a first terminal of resistor R5can connect to the auxiliary winding L2to receive voltage V1, and a second terminal of resistor R5can connect to an anode of diode D4. A cathode of diode D4can connect to driver circuit302to provide bias voltage VCCfor driver circuit302. This example may thus utilize an auxiliary-winding approach to obtain a suitable voltage from an H-shaped inductor according to an expected bias voltage, but without any voltage conversion, so as to reduce losses and improve overall conversion efficiency.

In this way, a suitable voltage can be obtained through a ratio of an output terminal voltage of a switching power supply to an expected bias voltage of a driver circuit and turns of an H-shaped inductor. A bias voltage for the driver circuit can then be generated according to the suitable voltage. Bias voltage generation in particular embodiments may not utilize any relatively complex voltage drop conversion of the suitable voltage in order to generate the bias voltage requirements for the driver circuit, thus potentially reducing costs and increasing conversion efficiency.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.