Patent Abstract:
An evaluator ( 210 ) having an input ( 207 ) for receiving a signal indicative of a channel current sensed via a sensor in a mutlichannel current sharing system, and circuitry ( 313, 319 ) coupled to the input ( 207 ) and responsive to the signal for indicating an unreliable sensing for the sensor when a low current condition occurs for a time period exceeding the switching time period of the channel current. Further, the apparatus can include an additional input ( 207 ) and circuitry ( 313, 319 ) for evaluating an additional sensor sensing an additional channel current. The low current condition is characterized by thresholds corresponding to the peak level and a valley level of the channel current over a switching time period.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates generally to integrated circuits and, more particularly, to current sensing evaluation in a multiphase power system. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Multiphase DC/DC converters have gained a significant market share in high current low output voltage applications. Conventional converters include an integrated pulse width modulation (PWM) controller, power MOSFETs and an output filter, such as that shown in the  FIG. 1 , in which power conversion is performed by a plurality of power channels working in parallel. An output filter typically includes inductors (L) and capacitors (C). The MOSFETs control current in the output inductors in which a high-side switch selectively couples the inductor to a positive power supply while a low-side switch selectively couples the inductor to ground. The PWM controller controls the high-side and low-side switches. An important function of the PWM controller is to assure equal sharing between the plurality of channels and provide protection functions to the MOSFETs. Conventional current sharing functions include sensing channel current (typically via sensor circuitry such as the resistors shown in  FIG. 1 ), comparing channel currents to the average system current, and adjusting control signals of the PWM controller in accordance with the results. The sensed channel current information can also be used to monitor the state of a load. 
   Components of the current sensing circuitry, are typically not integrated with the PWM controller and thus are susceptible to damage or variations from manufacturing, testing, and operation. For example, current sense resistors or printed wires can be damaged during the processes of placing, soldering, washing, and handling at manufacturing, or burned out due to a severe overload. In any of these cases the channel current information (typically produced in the form of a representative signal) obtained from the current sense resistor will not be a true representation or is not produced at all, falsely indicating a zero current. 
   Conventional current share schemes will respond to such a false zero current indication by steering more current to that channel creating a severe overload for the components within this channel. An example of a behavioral pattern of a four-channel system with a failure in the second channel current sense path is illustrated in the graph shown in  FIG. 1A . As shown in the graph, most of the load current, approximately 60A, has been steered into the second channel. Eventually, the overall system will encounter catastrophic damage as a single channel of a multiphase system is typically designed to carry a load that is only 1/n of the system load. Therefore, a need exist for a effective approach for detecting sensing component irregularity or failure for improving overall system reliability and robustness and/or increasing manufacturing yields. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention achieves technical advantages as an apparatus, system and method for detecting current sensor component irregularity or failure in multiphase converters in which the channel currents alternate between a peak level and a valley level over a switching time period. The apparatus and system include an input for receiving a signal indicative of a current sensed via a sensor, and circuitry coupled to the input and responsive to the input signal for indicating an unreliable sensing when a low current condition occurs for a time period corresponding to the switching time period. The apparatus and system can further include an additional input and circuitry for evaluating an additional sensor sensing an additional channel current. The method includes providing a signal indicative of a current sensed by the current sensor and comparing the signal to a predetermined threshold for detecting a low condition for providing a low condition signal upon detecting a low condition transition. Further the low condition signal is compared to a predetermined time period for providing a fail signal upon detecting the low condition signal having a duration greater than the predetermined time period. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional converter including an integrated pulse width modulation controller, power MOSFETs and an output filter; 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates an example of a behavioral pattern of a four-channel system with a failure in the second channel current sense path; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a system for current sensing component failure detection according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a fault device in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates a circuit for enabling a window comparator shown in  FIG. 3  in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates an example of an input signal and corresponding comp out signal for the circuit shown in  FIG. 4A ; 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates a digital filter for enabling the filter shown in  FIG. 3 ; and 
       FIG. 5B  illustrates an analog filter for enabling the filter shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will be described with particular reference to the presently preferred exemplary embodiments. However, it should be understood that this class of embodiments provides only a few examples of the many advantageous uses and innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily delimit any of the various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features, but not to others. Throughout the drawings, it is noted that the same reference numerals or letters will be used to designate like or equivalent elements having the same function. Detailed descriptions of known functions and constructions unnecessarily obscuring the subject matter of the present invention have been omitted for clarity. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2  there is shown a system  200  for current sensing component failure detection according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The system  200  includes a sensor device  205  for sensing currents for each channel and for generating signals representative of each channel current (herein referred to as channel current signal), a fault device  210  for determining whether any one of the channel current signals exhibit features which indicate failed sensor components and, thus unreliable current readings in which a dearth of current for over a time period corresponding to the switching time of the current indicates an unreliable reading from the sensor components. The fault device  210  further outputs an indicator or flag consistent with a positive determination. The system  200  further includes a control signal generator  215  for generating control signals appropriate for a determination of unreliability the fault device  210 . 
   The sensor  205  receives channel current information from the multiphase converter (such as that illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) at input  203  for generating a channel current signal for each phase, the channel current signal can be a voltage signal for example. The channel current signals are subsequently output to an input  207  of the fault device  210 . The sensor  205  can be operatively configured using well-known conventional techniques. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3  there is shown a fault device  210  in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The fault device  210  includes window comparators  313  and filters  319 , and can include an OR gate  325  for multichannel indication mode. Channel current signals are received at respective inputs  207  of the comparators  313 . The high and low thresholds of the comparators  313  are selected to correspond with the peak and valley of the channel switching current of the converter and are in most cases symmetrical about zero. It is expected that during normal operation the channel current signal will only temporarily cross the high threshold and low threshold, and will be mostly outside the window for any given switching period. Even for a power system at zero output current, the individual channel current will exceed these thresholds due to the ripple effect of the channel current associated with the typical switching nature of the converter,  FIG. 4B . 
   The channel current signal is compared to the thresholds and signals representative of the results of the comparison (LST 1 , LST 2 , LST 3  . . . LST N ) are output at  315  to an input  317  of a respective filter  319 . During normal operation, signals LST 1 , LST 2 , LST 3  . . . LST N  will be logic ‘low’ (i.e., outside the window) and logic ‘high’ (i.e., inside the window) for a fraction of the converter switching cycle. 
   Each of the filters  319  include a low pass filter for filtering the received comparator signals (LST 1 , LST 2 , LST 3  . . . LST N ). The low pass filter is configured to have a time constant which exceeds the time constant associated with switching processes in the converter. Thus, signals LST 1 , LST 2 , LST 3  . . . LS N  which are long enough to pass through the filter  319  are indicated as fault signals at outputs  321  received at the OR gate  325 . For a fault indication on any of the channels, the OR gate  325  outputs a single fault signal at output  211  to the control signal generator  215  ( FIG. 2 ). In a further embodiment, the individual outputs  321  can be forwarded directly to the control signal generator  215  for individual indication mode. 
   The control signal generator  215  generates control signals for informing the PWM of failed channel components in the sensing circuit so that the PWM may take appropriate actions (such as limiting or disabling the indicated channels, or shutting down the converter). The control signal generator  215  can be operatively configured using well-known conventional techniques. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4A  there is illustrated a circuit for enabling a window comparator  313  ( FIG. 3 ) in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. For a channel current signal received at ‘input’, the circuit produces a high logic state on output ‘comp out’ when the channel current signal (which in this case is a voltage signal) is of a value that falls within the upper threshold V thh  and lower threshold V thl  (an example of an input signal and corresponding comp out signal is shown in  FIG. 4B ). The thresholds V thh  and V thl  are symmetrical and programmed in comparators comp 1  and comp 2  by the voltage source V th  in which comp 2  is receiving an inverted signal of the input. The V th  voltage is selected based on the peak and valley levels of the current signal of the converter. In the case of a failure within the current sense path (which causes a false indication of zero current in conventional systems), the channel current signal will be contained within the thresholds for a time period greater than that expected during a normal switching cycle. In this example, the output of the window comparator  313  will be high for the amount of time substantially longer compared to a period of the system switching frequency. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5A  there is shown a digital filter  510  for enabling the filter  319  shown in  FIG. 3  in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The digital filter  510  is responsive to the ‘high’ logic state of the window comparator signal received on input IN and is reset by the ‘low’ logic state. If the input stays ‘high’ longer than 2 m-1  clock cycles (where m is a number of flip-flops used in a counter) the filter output will also produce a ‘high’ logic signal. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5B  there is shown an analog filter  520  for enabling the filter  319  shown in  FIG. 3  in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The analog filter  520  produces a logic ‘low’ signal due to the current source that pulls inverting input of the comparator to Vcc. An RC time constant is programmed such that short ‘high’ pulses cannot bring the inverting input to the level that is lower than a threshold set by the voltage source. Only pulses that are long enough are capable to discharge the capacitor to the level that is lower than the voltage source and produce a logic ‘high’ signal on the analog filter output. 
   Although preferred embodiments of the apparatus and method of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanied drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7