Patent ID: 6956361

Claim:
A DC/DC converter employing synchronous rectification, comprising: an energy transfer switch including a first terminal, a second terminal and a first control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the energy transfer switch is coupled to a power source, and wherein the energy transfer switch is configured to provide a low impedance path between the first and second terminals responsive to a first control signal on the first control terminal; a diode coupled to the second terminal of the energy transfer switch and an electrical load; a synchronous switch including a third terminal, a fourth terminal and a second control terminal, wherein the third terminal is coupled to an anode of the diode and the fourth terminal is coupled to a cathode of the diode, and wherein the synchronous switch is configured to provide a low impedance path between the third and fourth terminals responsive to a second control signal on the second control terminal; a processor coupled to the first and second control terminals; and a memory subsystem coupled to the processor, the memory subsystem storing code that when executed by the processor instructs the processor to perform the steps of: estimating a conduction time of the diode; providing the first control signal on the first control terminal of the energy transfer switch to achieve a predetermined voltage level at the load; and providing the second control signal on the second control terminal of the synchronous switch to cause the synchronous switch to conduct for a time period substantially equal to the estimated diode conduction time.