# Patent

## Title
Control circuit of interleaved switching power supply and control method thereof

## Abstract

In one embodiment, a control circuit configured for an interleaved switching power supply, can include: (i) a feedback compensation signal generation circuit configured to sample an output voltage of the interleaved switching power supply, and to generate a feedback compensation signal; (ii) a first switch control circuit configured to compare a first branch voltage signal that represents an inductor current of a first voltage regulation circuit against the feedback compensation signal, where when the first branch voltage signal is consistent with the feedback compensation signal, a first switch on signal is generated to control a first main power switch of the first voltage regulation circuit to be on for a predetermined time, and then off; and (iii) a second switch control circuit configured to compare a second branch voltage signal that represents an inductor current of a second voltage regulation circuit against the feedback compensation signal.

## Background
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 201310422771.5, filed on Sep. 16, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a switch mode power supply, and more particularly to a control circuit of an interleaved switching power supply, and an associated control method.
BACKGROUND 
Switch mode power supplies can efficiently convert electrical power from a source to a load, or to several different loads, with each corresponding to a different output. The main transistor of a switching-mode supply can switch between on and off states at a given operating frequency, and voltage regulation can be achieved by varying the ratio of the on-to-off time of the main transistor. Switch mode power supplies may have relatively high power conversion efficiency, as compared to other types of power converters. Switch mode power supplies may also be substantially smaller and lighter than a linear supply due to the smaller transformer size and weight.
SUMMARY 
In one embodiment, a control circuit configured for an interleaved switching power supply, can include: (i) a feedback compensation signal generation circuit configured to sample an output voltage of the interleaved switching power supply, and to generate a feedback compensation signal; (ii) a first switch control circuit configured to compare a first branch voltage signal that represents an inductor current of a first voltage regulation circuit against the feedback compensation signal, where when the first branch voltage signal is consistent with the feedback compensation signal, a first switch on signal is generated to control a first main power switch of the first voltage regulation circuit to be on for a predetermined time, and then the first main power switch is controlled to be off; and (iii) a second switch control circuit configured to compare a second branch voltage signal that represents an inductor current of a second voltage regulation circuit against the feedback compensation signal, where when the second branch voltage signal is consistent with the feedback compensation signal, a second switch on signal is generated to control a second main power switch of the second voltage regulation circuit to be on, and where the second switch control circuit is configured to detect a phase difference between the first and second switch on signals, and to adjust an on time of the second main power switch to regulate the phase difference to be 180° in response to the phase difference being detected as other than 180°.
In one embodiment, a method of controlling an interleaved switching power supply, can include: (i) sampling an output voltage of the interleaved switching power supply, and generating a feedback compensation signal; (ii) comparing a voltage signal representing an inductor current of a first voltage regulation circuit against the feedback compensation signal, and comparing a voltage signal representing an inductor current of a second voltage regulation circuit against the feedback compensation signal; (iii) generating a first switch on signal to turn on a main power switch of the first voltage regulation circuit when the voltage signal representing the inductor current of the first voltage regulation circuit is consistent with the feedback compensation signal, and generating a second switch on signal to turn on a main power switch of the second voltage regulation circuit when the voltage signal representing the inductor current of the second voltage regulation circuit is consistent with the feedback compensation signal; (iv) controlling the main power switch of the first voltage regulation circuit to be on for a predetermined time and then turning off the main power switch of the first voltage regulation circuit; and (v) adjusting an on time of the main power switch of the second voltage regulation circuit to regulate a phase difference between the first and second switch on signals to be 180° in response to the phase difference being detected as other than 180°.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an example interleaved switching power supply.
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a first example control circuit of an interleaved switching power supply, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a second example control circuit of an interleaved switching power supply, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an example method of controlling an interleaved switching power supply, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Reference may now be made in detail to particular embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention may be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it may be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents that may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, processes, components, structures, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.
Main circuits of a switching power supply can be coupled in an “interleaved” fashion, and in parallel to decrease the burden of the power switches, to improve the power density of the power supply, and to decrease the ripple of the output voltage of the switching power supply in order to maintain a higher quality of output voltage. FIG. 1 shows an example of an interleaved switching power supply. In this example, the main circuit configuration can include two phase buck circuits coupled interleaved and in parallel, and the interleaved switching power supply can include a first voltage regulator, a second voltage regulator, and an output capacitor Co. The first voltage regulator can include main power switch (e.g., a power transistor) Q1, inductor L1, and free-wheeling diode D11. The second voltage regulator can include main power switch (e.g., a power transistor) Q2, inductor L2, and free-wheeling diode D12. Main power switches Q1 and Q2 can connect to the positive electrode of input supply Vi, and to inductors L1 and L2, respectively.
Other terminals of inductor L1 and inductor L2 can connect to each other. For example, a first terminal of free-wheeling diode D11 can connect to a second terminal of main power switch Q1. A first terminal of free-wheeling diode D12 can connect to a second terminal of main power switch Q2. The second terminals of free-wheeling diodes D11 and D12 can both connect to the negative electrode of input supply Vi. Output capacitor Co can connect to the second terminals of inductor L1 and inductor L2, and to ground. The positive electrode and negative electrode of output capacitor Co can be configured as the positive electrode and negative electrode of the output terminals of the interleaved switching power supply.
In operation of the interleaved switching power supply, the conduction phase of main power switch Q2 may lag that of main power switch Q1 by about 180°. Thus, currents and i2 can be generated, and ripple waves of current i1 and i2 can be counteracted to decrease the current ripple of output current io. However, the frequency may be increased by, e.g., two times the original frequency, and the voltage ripple of output voltage Vo may also be decreased. Therefore, the values of inductor L1, inductor L2, and output capacitor Co can be decreased to improve the dynamic response. For example, each buck circuit may only afford half of the output power, and current flowing through inductors L1 and L2, and power switches Q1 and Q2 may be only half of that of regular buck circuit. Also, in high frequency working conditions, ceramic capacitors of lower equivalent resistance can be utilized as output capacitor Co to maintain the output of the switching power supply as steadier and with higher efficiency.
The phase difference control of the interleaved switching power supply can be achieved when a constant frequency control is employed. For typical switching power supplies, better dynamic response performance and simplified compensation design can be achieved by constant time control mode. However, when the constant on time control mode is used in interleaved switching power supplies, the interleaved parallel control of the two voltage regulators may be difficult to achieve due to the variable operation frequency.
In particular embodiments, a control circuit and a control method may be applied in an interleaved switching power supply. Also, a feedback compensation signal generation circuit may be employed to obtain output voltage information at the output terminals of the interleaved switching power supply, to generate a feedback compensation signal (e.g., by compensation and/or calculating). The branch voltage signals of the two voltage regulation circuits can be compared against the feedback compensation signal by a switch control circuitry, and the phase difference between the two branch voltage signals may be detected. When the branch voltage signal is consistent with (e.g., the same or substantially the same value as) the feedback compensation signal, the corresponding main power switch of the two voltage regulation circuits can be turned on, and the on time can be controlled. When the phase difference is other than 180° (e.g., greater than a predetermined phase amount away from 180°), the on time of the main power switch may be correspondingly increased or decreased to regulate the phase difference to be about 180°. In this fashion, a constant on time control mode may be applied in an interleaved switching power supply.
In one embodiment, a control circuit configured for an interleaved switching power supply, can include: (i) a feedback compensation signal generation circuit configured to sample an output voltage of the interleaved switching power supply, and to generate a feedback compensation signal; (ii) a first switch control circuit configured to compare a first branch voltage signal that represents an inductor current of a first voltage regulation circuit against the feedback compensation signal, where when the first branch voltage signal is consistent with the feedback compensation signal, a first switch on signal is generated to control a first main power switch of the first voltage regulation circuit to be on for a predetermined time, and then the first main power switch is controlled to be off; and (iii) a second switch control circuit configured to compare a second branch voltage signal that represents an inductor current of a second voltage regulation circuit against the feedback compensation signal, where when the second branch voltage signal is consistent with the feedback compensation signal, a second switch on signal is generated to control a second main power switch of the second voltage regulation circuit to be on, and where the second switch control circuit is configured to detect a phase difference between the first and second switch on signals, and to adjust an on time of the second main power switch to regulate the phase difference to be 180° in response to the phase difference being detected as other than 180°.
Referring now to FIG. 2, shown is a schematic block diagram of a first example control circuit of an interleaved switching power supply, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. This example interleaved switching power supply can include a first voltage regulator and a second voltage regulator coupled in parallel, and both may be buck topology circuits. However, the voltage regulators can be any suitable topology (e.g., boosts, flyback, SEPIC, Zeta, etc.) in particular embodiments. Further, a voltage regulator can increase or decrease a voltage of input supply Vi at the input terminals of the interleaved switching power supply to generate a DC supply voltage of higher quality at the output terminals.
This example control circuit can include feedback compensation signal generation circuit 301, which can sample output voltage Vo at the output terminals of the interleaved switching power supply to generate feedback compensation signal VC1 (e.g., by calculating and/or compensating). Switch control circuit 302 can receive a voltage signal (e.g., branch voltage signal ViL1) representing the inductor current of the first voltage regulator. Branch voltage signal ViL1 may be compared against feedback compensation signal VC1. When branch voltage signal ViL1 is consistent with (e.g., the same or substantially the same value as) feedback compensation signal VC1, main power switch Q1 of the first voltage regulator may be controlled to be on for a predetermined time by switch control circuit 302, and then main power switch Q1 can be turned off.
Switch control circuit 303 can receive a voltage signal (e.g., branch voltage signal ViL2) representing the inductor current of the second voltage regulator. Branch voltage signal ViL2 may be compared against feedback compensation signal VC1. When branch voltage signal ViL2 is consistent with feedback compensation signal VC1, main power switch Q2 of the first voltage regulator may be turned on. In addition, the phase difference between the on signal of main power switch Q1 (e.g., VS1) and that of main power switch Q2 (e.g., VS2) may be detected. For example, if this phase difference is greater than a predetermined amount away from 180°, the on time of main power switch Q2 may be increased or decreased, and then main power switch Q2 may be turned off. After several such regulations of the on time of main power switch Q2, the phase difference can be regulated to be about 180°.
Switch control circuit 302 can include comparator A1, flip-flop RS1, and a first off signal generation circuit. The non-inverting input terminal of comparator A1 can receive feedback compensation signal VC1, and the inverting input terminal of comparator A1 can receive branch voltage signal ViL1 of the first voltage regulation circuit. Switch on signal VS1 may be generated at the output terminals of comparator A1, and may be provided to the set terminal (S) of RS flip-flop RS1. The first off signal generation circuit can receive control signal (e.g., VQ1) of main power switch Q1. When VQ1 is active (e.g., logic high), the first off signal generation circuit begin operation. After the predetermined time, a first switch off signal may be provided to the reset terminal (R) of RS flip-flop RS1 to control the on time of main power switch Q1 to be substantially the predetermined time.
The output terminal (Q) of flip-flop RS1 can generate VQ1. When the first switch on signal is active, flip-flop RS1 may be set, and hence the control signal of main power switch Q1 therefrom may be active to control main power switch Q1 to be on. When the first switch off signal is inactive, flip-flop RS1 may be reset, and hence the control signal of main power switch Q1 therefrom may be inactive to control main power switch Q1 to be off. Further, the first off signal generation circuit can include comparator A3, capacitor C2, current source I1, and switch S1. Switch S1, current source I1 and capacitor C2 can be coupled in parallel, and a first common node of which can connect to the non-inverting input terminal of comparator A3, while a second common mode of which can connect to ground. Operation of switch S1 may be controlled by the control signal of main power switch Q1. When the control signal of main power switch Q1 is active, main power switch Q1 may be turned on, and capacitor C1 may be charged by current source I1. When the control signal of main power switch Q1 is inactive, main power switch Q1 may be turned off, and the voltage of capacitor C1 may be discharged to ground.
The inverting input terminal of comparator A3 can receive reference voltage Vref3. When the voltage across capacitor C2 is charged to be consistent with reference voltage Vref3, the first switch off signal may be activated at the output of comparator A3. Furthermore, switch control circuit 303 can include comparator A2, flip-flop RS2, a second off signal generation circuit, transconductance operational amplifier Gm3, and phase difference judging circuit 3031. The inverting input terminal of comparator A2 can receive branch voltage signal ViL2 representing the inductor current of the second voltage regulation circuit, and the non-inverting input terminal can receive feedback compensation signal VC1. Second switch on signal VS2 may be generated at the output terminal by comparing branch voltage signal ViL2 with feedback compensation signal VC1, which can connect to the set terminal of flip-flop RS2.
Phase difference judging circuit 3031 can receive the first switch on signal (e.g., VS1) and the second switch on signal (e.g., VS2) to determine the phase difference between the two signals, and to generate a voltage signal (e.g., VC3) representing the phase difference, which may be then be provided to the non-inverting input terminal of transconductance operational amplifier Gm3. The inverting input terminal of transconductance operational amplifier Gm3 can connect to ground. A current signal ix, which may be positive or negative, may be generated in accordance with VC3 by transconductance operational amplifier Gm3.
The second off signal generation circuit can receive current signal ix, and the control signal of main power switch Q2 (e.g., VQ2). When the control signal of main power switch Q2 is active, the time of generation of the second switch off signal, which may be provided to the reset terminal of flip-flop RS2 by the second off signal generation circuit, may be regulated by the current signal ix to regulate the on time of main power switch Q2. The output terminal of flip-flop RS2 can generate the control signal of main power switch Q2. When the second switch on signal is active, flip-flop RS2 may be set to make the control signal of main power switch Q2 active to control main power switch Q2 to be on. When the second switch on signal is inactive, flip-flop RS2 may be reset to make the control signal of main power switch Q2 inactive to control main power switch Q2 to be off.
For example, the second off signal generation circuit can include switch S2, current source I2, capacitor C4 and comparator A4. Switch S2, current source I2, and capacitor C4 can be coupled in parallel, the first common node of which can connect to the non-inverting input terminal of comparator A4, and the second common node of which can connect to ground. The operation of switch S2 may be controlled by the control signal of main power switch Q2. When the control signal of switch S2 is active, S2 may be turned on, and capacitor C4 may be charged by current source I2 and current signal ix. When the control signal of main power switch S2 is inactive, switch S2 may be turned off, and the voltage across capacitor C4 may be discharged to ground. Also, the inverting input terminal of comparator A4 can receive reference voltage Vref5. When the voltage across capacitor C4 is charged to be consistent with reference voltage Vref5, the second switch off signal may be generated at the output terminal of comparator A4.
For example, phase difference judging circuit 3031 can include flip-flop RS3, a low-pass filter, transconductance operational amplifier Gm2, and compensation capacitor C3. The set terminal of flip-flop RS3 can receive the first switch on signal, the reset terminal can receive the second switch on signal, and the output can generate a square wave signal representing the phase difference between the first and second switch on signals. The low-pass filter can convert the square wave signal to a voltage signal representing the phase difference between the first and second switch on signals. Transconductance operational amplifier Gm2 can receive the voltage signal (e.g., VCf) at its non-inverting input terminal, and reference voltage Vref2 at its inverting input terminal. For example, the value of reference voltage Vref2 may be set as the half of the amplitude of the square wave signal.
Compensation capacitor C3 may be coupled between the output terminal of transconductance operational amplifier Gm2 and ground. When VCf is greater than reference voltage Vref2, the voltage of compensation capacitor C3 may be increased to represent that the phase difference between the first and second switch on signals is greater than 180°. When VCf is less than reference voltage Vref2, the voltage of compensation capacitor C3 may be decreased to represent that the phase difference between the first and second switch on signals is less than 180°. The low-pass filter can include filtering capacitor Cf and filtering resistor Rf. One terminal of filtering resistor Rf can connect to the output terminal of flip-flop RS3, and the other terminal can connect to the non-inverting input terminal of transconductance operational amplifier Gm2. Filtering capacitor Cf can connect to filtering resistor Rf, and to ground.
Switch control circuit 303 can include an upper clamping circuit and a lower clamping circuit, which can both be coupled to the non-inverting input terminal of transconductance operational amplifier Gm3. Therefore, the phase difference between branch voltage signals ViL1 and ViL2 of the two voltage regulation circuits may not be substantially far away from 180°. Further, the lower clamping circuit can include diode D3 and supply V3 coupled in series. The anode of diode D3 can connect to the non-inverting input terminal of transconductance operational amplifier Gm3, and the cathode of which can connect to the anode of supply V3. The cathode of supply V3 can connect to ground. The voltage may be clamped below UV3-UD3 by the lower clamping circuit.
The upper clamping circuit can include diode D4 and supply V4 coupled in series. The cathode of diode D4 can connect to the non-inverting input terminal of transconductance operational amplifier Gm3, the anode of which can connect to the anode of supply V3. The cathode of supply V4 can connect to ground. The voltage may be clamped above UV4+UD4 by the upper clamping circuit. In this particular example, the capacitance of capacitors C1 and C4 may be substantially identical, the output current of current sources I1 and I2 may be substantially identical, and the value of reference voltages Vref3 and Vref5 may be substantially identical. Therefore, the on time of main power switches Q1 and Q2 may be substantially identical, and the phase difference between main power switches Q1 and Q2 may be about 180° to achieve interleaved control.
Feedback compensation signal generation circuit 301 can include transconductance operational amplifier Gm1, compensation capacitor C1, sampling resistor R1, and sampling resistor R2. One terminal of sampling resistor R1 can connect to an anode of the output terminals of the interleaved switching power supply, and the other terminal can connect to the inverting input terminal of transconductance operational amplifier Gm1. One terminal of sampling resistor R2 can connect to the inverting input terminal of transconductance operational amplifier Gm1, and the other terminal can connect to ground. The non-inverting input terminal of transconductance operational amplifier Gm1 can receive reference voltage Vref1. The current at the output terminal of transconductance operational amplifier Gm1 may be compensated by compensation capacitor C1 to generate feedback compensation signal VC1.
Feedback compensation signal generation circuit 301 can also include an upper clamping circuit and a lower clamping circuit, which can be both coupled to the output terminal of transconductance operational amplifier Gm1 to control a fluctuation range of feedback compensation signal VC1. Further, the upper clamping circuit can include diode D1 and supply V1 coupled in series. The anode of diode D1 can connect to the output terminal of transconductance operational amplifier Gm1, and the cathode of diode D1 can connect to the anode of supply V1. The cathode of supply V1 can connect to ground. Also, the voltage of feedback compensation signal VC1 may be clamped below UV1+UD1 by the upper clamping circuit.
For example, the lower clamping circuit can include diode D2 and supply V2 coupled in series. The cathode of diode D2 can connect to the output terminal of transconductance operational amplifier Gm1, and the anode of diode D2 can connect to the anode of supply V2. The cathode of supply V2 can connect to ground. Also, the voltage of feedback compensation signal VC1 may be clamped above UV2-UD2 by the lower clamping circuit. Further, the interleaved switching power supply can include a first voltage regulation circuit, a second voltage regulation circuit, and output capacitor Co. The first voltage regulation circuit can include main power switch Q1, inductor L1, and free-wheeling diode D11. The second voltage regulation circuit can include main power switch Q2, inductor L2, and free-wheeling diode D12. Terminals of main power switches Q1 and Q2 can be both coupled to the anode of input supply Vi. A second terminal of main power switch Q1 can connect to a first terminal of inductor L1, and a second terminal of main power switch Q2 can connect to a first terminal of inductor L2. A second terminal of inductor L1 can connect to a second terminal of inductor L2.
A first terminal of free-wheeling diode D11 can connect to a second terminal of main power switch Q1. A first terminal of free-wheeling diode D12 can connect to a second terminal of main power switch Q2. Second terminals of both free-wheeling diode D11 and free-wheeling diode D12 can connect a cathode of input supply Vi. The anode of output capacitor Co can connect to second terminals of inductors L1 and L2, and the cathode can connect to input supply Vi and to ground. The anode of output capacitor Co may be configured as the anode of the output terminals of the interleaved switching power supply, and the cathode of output capacitor Co may be configured as the cathode of the output terminals.
Feedback compensation signal generation circuit 301 can receive feedback signal Vs of output voltage Vo, which may be then be calculated and compensated by transconductance operational amplifier Gm1 and compensation capacitor C1, to generate feedback compensation signal VC1. Comparator A1 of switch control circuit 302 can receive feedback compensation signal VC1 and branch voltage signal ViL1 representing the inductor current of the first voltage regulation circuit. When the valley (e.g., low point, range, or local minima) of branch voltage signal ViL1 reaches a level of feedback compensation signal VC1, output signal Vs of comparator A1 may go high, and output signal VQ1 of flip-flop RS1 may thus go high to turn on main power switch Q1 of the first voltage regulation circuit. Also, switch S1 may be turned off by an inverted version of signal VQ1.
Capacitor C2 may be charged by current source I1. When the voltage across capacitor C2 reaches a level of reference voltage Vref3, the output signal of comparator A3 may be high to reset flip-flop RS1. Output signal VQ1 may go low to control main power switch Q1 of the first voltage regulation circuit to be off. Therefore, the on time of main power switch Q1 of the first voltage regulation circuit may be determined by the value of current source I1, capacitor C2, and reference voltage Vref3. The on time of main power switch Q1 may be fixed when the value of current source I1, capacitor C2, and reference voltage Vref3 is substantially constant. Comparator A2 of switch control circuit 303 can receive feedback compensation signal VC1 and branch voltage signal ViL2 representing the inductor current of the second voltage regulation circuit. When the valley of branch voltage signal ViL2 reaches a level of feedback compensation signal VC1, output signal VS2 of comparator A2 may go high, and output signal VQ2 of flip-flop RS2 may thus go high to turn on main power switch Q2 of the second voltage regulation circuit.
Flip-flop RS1 can receive signals VS1 and VS2, and may generate a square wave signal representing a phase difference between signals VS1 and VS2, which may be then be filtered by a low-pass filter including resistor Rf and capacitor Cf to generate voltage signal VCf in direct proportion with the phase difference between signals VS1 and VS2. Transconductance operational amplifier Gm2 can receive voltage signal VCf at the non-inverting input terminal, and reference voltage Vref2, which may be half of the peak value of the square wave signal, at the inverting input terminal. Whether the phase difference between signals VS1 and VS2 is about 180° can be determined by comparing voltage signal VCf with reference voltage Vref2. The output signal of transconductance operational amplifier Gm2 may be compensated by compensation capacitor C3 to generate voltage signal VC3, which may be then be compared with zero by transconductance operational amplifier Gm3 to generate current signal ix to represent whether the phase difference between signals VS1 and VS2 is about 180°.
When the phase difference between signals VS1 and VS2 is about 180°, the phase difference between signals ViL1 and ViL2 may be about 180° in a steady state, and current signal ix may be zero. Therefore, in steady state, if the value of capacitor C2 is consistent with that of capacitor C4, the value of current I1 is consistent with that of current I2, and the value of voltage Vref3 is consistent with that of voltage Vref5 the on time of main power switches Q1 and Q2 may be substantially identical. Also, the phase difference between the control signals of main power switches Q1 and Q2 may be about 180°, in order to achieve the interleaved control mode.
When the phase difference between signals VS1 and VS2 is greater than 180°, current signal ix may flow from the output terminal of transconductance operational amplifier Gm3. Switch S2 may be turned off because an inverted version of control signal VQ2 of switch S2 may be low. Capacitor C4 may be charged by current source I2 together with current signal ix. The charge of capacitor C4 may be accelerated in order to decrease the time that capacitor C4 is charged to a level of reference voltage Vref5. An output of comparator A4 may be advanced to be converted to high to reset flip-flop RS2. Thus, signal VQ2 can go low to turn off main power switch Q2 of the second voltage regulation circuit in advance. The phase difference between signals ViL1 and ViL2 may thus be forced to be regulated to about 180° to achieve interleaved control mode.
Similarly, when the phase difference between signals VS1 and VS2 is less than 180°, current signal ix may flow into the output terminal of transconductance operational amplifier Gm3. Switch S2 may be turned off because an inverted version of control signal VQ2 of switch S2 is low. Capacitor C4 may be charged by current source I2 minus current signal ix. The charge of capacitor C4 may be decreased in order to increase the time that capacitor C4 is charged to a level of reference Vref5. The output of comparator A4 may be delayed to be converted to high to reset flip-flop RS2. Thus, signal VQ2 may be delayed to go low to turn off main power switch Q2 of the second voltage regulation circuit. The phase difference between signals ViL1 and ViL2 may thus be forced to be regulated to about 180° to achieve interleaved control mode.
Referring now to FIG. 3, shown is a schematic block diagram of a second example control circuit of an interleaved switching power supply, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. This example control circuit can include comparator A2, phase difference judging circuit 4031, charging and discharging signal generation circuit 4032, a first current signal generation circuit, a second off signal generation circuit, and flip-flop RS2. Comparator A2 can receive branch voltage signal ViL2 representing the inductor current of the second voltage regulation circuit at the inverting input terminal, and feedback compensation signal VC1 at the non-inverting input terminal. The second switch on signal can be generated at the output terminal of comparator A2, to be provided to the set terminal of flip-flop RS2.
The phase difference judging circuit 4031 can receive the first switch on signal (VS1) and the second switch on signal (VS2), and may generate a voltage signal (VC3) representing the phase difference between the two signals. Charging and discharging signal generation circuit 4032 can receive voltage signal VC3. When voltage signal VC3 is zero, charging and discharging signal generation circuit 4032 may be disabled. When voltage signal VC3 increases, charging signal CHG may go high intermittently (e.g., periodically). When voltage signal VC3 decreases, discharging signal DIS may go high intermittently.
The first current generation circuit can generate current signal ix (e.g., positively or negatively) in accordance with charging signal CHG and discharging signal DIS. The second off signal generation circuit can receive current signal ix and the control signal of main power switch Q2. When the control signal of main power switch Q2 is active, the time at which the second switch off signal generated by the second off signal generation circuit is provided to the reset terminal of flip-flop RS2 may be regulated by current signal ix, in order to regulate the on time of main power switch Q2.
The output terminal of flip-flop RS2 can generate the control signal of main power switch Q2. When the second switch on signal is active, flip-flop RS2 may be set, and the control signal generated therefrom of main power switch Q2 may be active to control main power switch Q2 to be on. When the second switch off signal is active, flip-flop RS2 may be reset, and the control signal generated therefrom of second main power switch may be inactive to control main power switch Q2 to be off. Charging and discharging signal generation circuit 4032 can include comparator A5, comparator A6, first and second buffers, flip-flop RS4, flip-flop RS5, an OR-gate, and switch S5. Comparator A5 can receive voltage signal VC3 at its non-inverting input terminal, and reference voltage Vref7 at the inverting input terminal, and can provide an output to the set terminal of flip-flop RS4 and the input of the first buffer.
Comparator A6 can receive voltage signal VC3 at the non-inverting input terminal, and reference voltage Vref6 at the inverting input terminal, and the output terminal of which can connect to the set terminal of flip-flop RS5 and the input terminal of the second buffer. The output terminal of the first buffer can connect to the reset terminal of flip-flop RS4, and the output terminal of the second buffer can connect to the reset terminal of flip-flop RS5. The output terminal of flip-flop RS4 can connect to the first input terminal of the OR-gate, and can generate charging signal CHG. The output terminal of flip-flop RS5 can connect to the second input terminal of the OR-gate, and can generate discharging signal DIS. The output signal of the OR-gate can control switch S5, which may be coupled between the output terminal of phase difference judging circuit 4031 and ground.
Charging and discharging signal generation circuit 4032 can receive voltage signal VC3 representing a phase difference between signals VS1 and VS2. When voltage signal VC3 is zero, the phase difference between signals VS1 and VS2, and also the phase difference between signals ViL1 and ViL2, may be about 180°, and charging and discharging signal generation circuit 4032 may be disabled. Thus, switches S3 and S4 can be off. The on time of main power switch Q1 may be consistent with that of main power switch Q2 through the matching of the following elements: C2=C4, I1=I2, and Vref3=Vref5. Also, the phase difference between the control signals of main power switches Q1 and Q2 can be controlled to be about 180° to achieve interleaved control mode.
When voltage signal VC3 increases (e.g., continuously increases), the phase difference between signals VS1 and VS2 may be greater than 180°. When voltage signal VC3 is greater than reference voltage Vref7 (e.g., reference voltage Vref7 can be slightly greater than zero), an output of comparator A5 may be high to set flip-flop RS4, and signal CHG of flip-flop RS4 may also be high. Switch S3 may be controlled to be on by signal CHG, and capacitor C4 can be charged by current sources I2 and I3 to accelerate the charging of capacitor C4. After a buffering time after signal CHG goes high, switch S5 may be turned on to decrease the voltage across compensation capacitor C3, and voltage signal VC3 may be discharged zero.
Comparator A5 can go low to reset flip-flop RS4, and charging signal CHG may go low to turn off switch S3 again. Until voltage signal VC3 reaches a value greater than reference voltage Vref7 again, the above operation may be repeated. The time that capacitor C4 may be charged to a level of reference voltage Vref5 may be decreased by charging signal CHG to control the output signal of comparator A4 to be high (in advance), as part of the adjustment. Then, flip-flop RS2 may be set, and output signal VQ2 may go low to turn off main power switch Q2 of the second voltage regulation circuit in advance), as part of the adjustment. The phase difference between branch voltage signals ViL1 and ViL2 may thus be adjusted/regulated to be about 180° for interleaved control.
When voltage signal VC3 decreases, the phase difference between signals VS1 and VS2 may be less than about 180°. When voltage signal VC3 is less than reference voltage Vref6 (e.g., reference voltage Vref6 is slightly less than zero), the output signal of comparator A6 may be high to set flip-flop RS5, and output signal DIS of flip-flop RS5 may also be high. Switch S4 may be controlled to be on by signal DIS, and capacitor C4 can be charged by a current (e.g., the difference between current sources I2 and I4) to decelerate the charging of capacitor C4. After a buffering time after signal DIS goes high, switch S5 may be turned on to decrease the voltage across compensation capacitor C3, and voltage signal VC3 may be discharged to zero.
Comparator A6 can go low to reset flip-flop RS5, and discharging signal DIS may go low to turn off switch S4 again. Until voltage signal VC3 reaches a value less than reference voltage Vref6 again, the above operation may be repeated. The time that capacitor C4 may be charged to a level of reference voltage Vref5 may be increased by discharging signal DIS to control the output signal of comparator A4 to be delayed to be high. Then, flip-flop RS2 may be set, and output signal VQ2 may be delayed to be low to turn off main power switch Q2 of the second voltage regulation circuit. The phase difference between branch voltage signals ViL1 and ViL2 may thus be adjusted/regulated to be 180° to achieve interleaved control.
In one embodiment, a method of controlling an interleaved switching power supply, can include: (i) sampling an output voltage of the interleaved switching power supply, and generating a feedback compensation signal; (ii) comparing a voltage signal representing an inductor current of a first voltage regulation circuit against the feedback compensation signal, and comparing a voltage signal representing an inductor current of a second voltage regulation circuit against the feedback compensation signal; (iii) generating a first switch on signal to turn on a main power switch of the first voltage regulation circuit when the voltage signal representing the inductor current of the first voltage regulation circuit is consistent with the feedback compensation signal, and generating a second switch on signal to turn on a main power switch of the second voltage regulation circuit when the voltage signal representing the inductor current of the second voltage regulation circuit is consistent with the feedback compensation signal; (iv) controlling the main power switch of the first voltage regulation circuit to be on for a predetermined time and then turning off the main power switch of the first voltage regulation circuit; and (v) adjusting an on time of the main power switch of the second voltage regulation circuit to regulate a phase difference between the first and second switch on signals to be 180° in response to the phase difference being detected as other than 180°.
Referring now to FIG. 4, shown is a flow diagram of an example method of controlling an interleaved switching power supply, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. At 402, an output voltage (e.g., Vo) of an interleaved switching power supply can be sampled, and a feedback compensation signal can be generated (e.g., by comparing and/or compensating). At 404, a voltage signal (e.g., ViL1) representing the inductor current of the first voltage regulation circuit can be compared against the feedback compensation signal (e.g., VC1), and a voltage signal (e.g., ViL2) representing the inductor current of the second voltage regulation circuit can be compared against the feedback compensation signal.
At 406, a first switch on signal (e.g., VS1) can be generated to turn on the main power switch (e.g., Q1) of the first voltage regulation circuit when the voltage signal representing the inductor current of the first voltage regulation circuit is consistent with (e.g., the same, or substantially the same level as) the feedback compensation signal. Also, a second switch on signal (e.g., VS2) can be generated to turn on the main power switch (e.g., Q2) of the second voltage regulation circuit when the voltage signal representing the inductor current of the second voltage regulation circuit is consistent with the feedback compensation signal.
At 408, the main power switch of the first voltage regulation circuit can be turned on for a predetermined time, and then turned off. At 410, a phase difference between the first and second switch on signals (e.g., VS1 and VS2) can be detected. The on time of the main power switch of the second voltage regulation circuit can be adjusted and/or regulated when the phase difference is not 180°, in order to turn off the main power switch of the second voltage regulation circuit. In addition, one or more of these steps can be repeated until a steady state is achieved, and the phase difference between the first and second switch on signals is controlled to be about 180°.
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.

## Claims

1. A control circuit configured for an interleaved switching power supply, the control circuit comprising:
a) a feedback compensation signal generation circuit configured to sample an output voltage of said interleaved switching power supply, and to generate a feedback compensation signal;
b) a first switch control circuit configured to compare a first branch voltage signal that represents an inductor current of a first voltage regulation circuit against said feedback compensation signal, wherein when said first branch voltage signal is consistent with said feedback compensation signal, a first switch on signal is generated to control a first main power switch of said first voltage regulation circuit to be on for a predetermined time, and then said first main power switch is controlled to be off; and
c) a second switch control circuit configured to compare a second branch voltage signal that represents an inductor current of a second voltage regulation circuit against said feedback compensation signal, wherein when said second branch voltage signal is consistent with said feedback compensation signal, a second switch on signal is generated to control a second main power switch of said second voltage regulation circuit to be on, and wherein said second switch control circuit is configured to detect a phase difference between said first and second switch on signals, and to adjust an on time of said second main power switch to regulate said phase difference to be 180° in response to said phase difference being detected as other than 180°.

2. The control circuit of claim 1, wherein said first switch control circuit comprises:
a) a first comparator configured to compare said first branch voltage signal against said feedback compensation signal at its non-inverting terminal, and to generate said first switch on signal;
b) a first off signal generation circuit configured to receive a control signal of said first main power switch, and to generate a first switch off signal; and
c) a first flip-flop configured to generate said control signal of said first main power switch, wherein said first flip-flop is set to control said first main power switch to be on when said first switch on signal is active, and said first flip-flop is reset to control said first main power switch to be off when said first switch off signal is active.

3. The control circuit of claim 2, wherein said first off signal generation circuit comprises:
a) a first switch, a first current source, and a first capacitor coupled in parallel, wherein said first capacitor is charged by said first current source when said control signal of said first main power switch is active, and wherein a voltage across said first capacitor is zero when said control signal of said first main power switch is inactive; and
b) a second comparator configured to activate said first switch off signal when said voltage across said first capacitor is consistent with a first reference voltage.

4. The control circuit of claim 2, wherein second switch control circuit comprises:
a) a third comparator configured to receive said second branch voltage signal and said feedback compensation signal, and to generate said second switch on signal; and
b) a phase difference judging circuit configured to generate a second voltage signal that represents a phase difference between said first and second switch on signals.

5. The control circuit of claim 4, wherein second switch control circuit comprises:
a) a first current signal generation circuit configured to generate a first current signal in accordance with said second voltage signal;
b) a second off signal generation circuit configured to receive said first current signal and a control signal of said second main power switch, wherein an on time of said second main power switch is regulated by said first current signal when said control signal of said second main power switch is active; and
c) a second flip-flop configured to generate said control signal of said second main power switch, wherein said second flip-flop is set to control said second main power switch to be on when said second switch on signal is active, and wherein said second flip-flop is reset to control said second main power switch to be off when said second switch off signal is active.

6. The control circuit of claim 5, wherein second switch control circuit comprises a first transconductance operational amplifier configured to receive said second voltage signal, and to generate said first current signal.

7. The control circuit of claim 5, wherein said second switch control circuit comprises:
a) a charging and discharging signal generation circuit configured to be disabled when said second voltage signal is zero;
b) said charging and discharging signal generation circuit being configured to generate a charging signal that is intermittently high when said second voltage signal increases, and to generate a discharging signal that is intermittently high when said second voltage signal decreases; and
c) wherein said first current signal is generated in accordance with said charging signal and said discharging signal.

8. The control circuit of claim 4, wherein said phase difference judging circuit comprises:
a) a third flip-flop configured to receive said first switch on signal at a set terminal, and said second switch on signal at a reset terminal, and to generate a square wave signal that represents said phase difference between said first and second switch on signals;
b) a low-pass filter configured to convert said square wave signal to a first voltage signal that represents said phase difference between said first and second switch on signals; and
c) a second transconductance operational amplifier having an output coupled to a first compensation capacitor, wherein a voltage across said first compensation capacitor increases and said phase difference between said first and second switch on signals is greater than 180° when said first voltage signal is greater than said second reference voltage, and wherein said voltage across said first compensation capacitor decreases and said phase difference between said first and second switch on signals is less than 180° when said first voltage signal is less than said second reference voltage.

9. The control circuit of claim 5, wherein said second off signal generation circuit comprises a second switch, a second current source, and a second capacitor coupled in parallel, wherein said second capacitor is charged by said second current source when said control signal of said second main power switch is active, and wherein a voltage across said second capacitor is zero when said control signal of said second main power switch is inactive.

10. The control circuit of claim 7, wherein said charging and discharging signal generation circuit comprises:
a) a fourth comparator configured to receive said second voltage signal and a third reference voltage, wherein an output of the fourth comparator is coupled to a set terminal of a fourth flip-flop and an input of a first buffer;
b) a fifth comparator configured to receive said second voltage signal and a fourth reference voltage, wherein an output of the fifth comparator is coupled to a set terminal of a fifth flip-flop and an input of a second buffer;
c) said fourth flip-flop having a reset terminal coupled to an output of said first buffer, said fifth flip-flop having a reset terminal coupled to an output of said second buffer; and
d) an OR-gate configured to receive outputs from said fourth and fifth flip-flops, and to control a third switch that is coupled between said phase difference judging circuit and ground.

11. The control circuit of claim 1, wherein said feedback compensation signal generation circuit comprises:
a) a sampling circuit configured to sample said output voltage of said interleaved switching power supply, and to generate a voltage sampling signal;
b) a third transconductance operational amplifier configured to receive a first reference voltage and said voltage sampling signal; and
c) a second compensation capacitor coupled between an output of said third transconductance operational amplifier and ground, wherein a voltage across said second compensation capacitor is configured as said feedback compensation signal.

12. A method of controlling an interleaved switching power supply, the method comprising:
a) sampling an output voltage of said interleaved switching power supply, and generating a feedback compensation signal;
b) comparing a voltage signal representing an inductor current of a first voltage regulation circuit against said feedback compensation signal, and comparing a voltage signal representing an inductor current of a second voltage regulation circuit against said feedback compensation signal;
c) generating a first switch on signal to turn on a main power switch of said first voltage regulation circuit when said voltage signal representing said inductor current of said first voltage regulation circuit is consistent with said feedback compensation signal, and generating a second switch on signal to turn on a main power switch of said second voltage regulation circuit when said voltage signal representing said inductor current of said second voltage regulation circuit is consistent with said feedback compensation signal;
d) controlling said main power switch of said first voltage regulation circuit to be on for a predetermined time and then turning off said main power switch of said first voltage regulation circuit; and
e) adjusting an on time of said main power switch of said second voltage regulation circuit to regulate a phase difference between said first and second switch on signals to be 180° in response to said phase difference being detected as other than 180°.