Patent ID: 7088599

Claim:
A dual-mode converter for converting power from an input voltage level to an output voltage level, the dual-mode converter comprising: an inductor section having an input side and an output side, the input side receiving an input signal and the output side outputting at least one output signal based on the input voltage level of the input signal; a feedback loop section which receives a feedback signal from one or more of the at least one output signals, the feedback loop section including a first transistor, a second transistor and a comparator unit which outputs a comparator output signal based on a comparison of the feedback signal to a comparator reference signal, wherein the respective states of the first and second transistors configure the feedback loop section to function in one of a linear mode and a comparator mode; a current mode controller unit which receives the input signal, the feedback signal, and a current sense signal representing a sensed current flowing through the input side of the inductor section, the current mode controller unit outputting an output control signal based on the received input signal, the feedback signal, and the current sense signal; and a control gate that enables the current flow through the input side of the inductor section when the output control signal or the comparator output signal is greater than a predetermined threshold.