Patent ID: 8120335

Claim:
An average current mode switching converter for providing a regulated output current independent of load conditions, and a regulated output voltage as a function of the load connected to the converter, comprising: an inductor; a modulator configured to provide a regulated current through the inductor; a feed back loop coupled between the inductor and the modulator for regulating the current through the inductor; and; a precharger configured and arranged so as to provide and maintain a preset minimum current through the inductor independent of the load so as to improve the recovery time of the converter from a step in the desired regulated output current, wherein the precharger includes (a) a sensing resistance element configured and arranged so as to conduct a current representative of the current flowing through the inductor, and (b) a second feed back loop comprising a comparator configured and arranged so as to (i) compare the voltage across the sensing resistance element with a second reference voltage and (ii) provide and maintain the current through the inductor at a minimum level as a function of the second reference voltage.