阅读说明：本技术 差动控制器 (Differential controller ) 是由 赵汉良 于 2019-06-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：本文描述的各个例子涉及包括第一调节器和第二调节器的差动控制器。第一调节器接收第一调节器控制信号并产生第一调节器输出信号。第二调节器接收第二调节器控制信号并产生第二调节器输出信号。负载电耦合在第一调节器输出和第二调节器输出之间。负载电流和电压基于第一调节器输出和第二调节器输出之间的差异。电流传感器产生描述负载处的负载电流的负载电流信号。第一放大器使用负载电流信号和控制信号产生第一调节器控制。第二放大器使用第一调节器输入电压和共模电压产生第二调节器控制信号。(Various examples described herein relate to a differential controller including a first regulator and a second regulator. The first regulator receives the first regulator control signal and generates a first regulator output signal. The second regulator receives the second regulator control signal and generates a second regulator output signal. A load is electrically coupled between the first regulator output and the second regulator output. The load current and voltage are based on a difference between the first regulator output and the second regulator output. The current sensor generates a load current signal that is descriptive of a load current at the load. The first amplifier uses the load current signal and the control signal to generate a first regulator control. The second amplifier generates a second regulator control signal using the first regulator input voltage and the common mode voltage.)

1. A differential controller, comprising:

a first regulator configured to receive the first regulator control signal at the first regulator input and to generate a first regulator output signal at the first regulator output;

a second regulator configured to receive the second regulator control signal at the second regulator input and to generate a second regulator output signal at the second regulator output;

a feedback sensor configured to generate a feedback signal based on a condition of a load between the first regulator output and the second regulator output;

a first amplifier configured to generate the first regulator control signal using the feedback signal and a set voltage; and

a second amplifier configured to generate the second regulator control signal using the first regulator control signal and a common mode control voltage, wherein the first regulator output and the second regulator output are based at least in part on the common mode control voltage.

2. The differential controller of claim 1, wherein the feedback sensor comprises a current sensor and wherein the feedback signal is based on a load current of the load.

3. The differential controller of claim 1, further comprising a compensation network coupled between the first amplifier output of the first amplifier and the common mode control voltage.

4. The differential controller of claim 3, wherein the load comprises an inductive component, and wherein the load comprises a pole at a load pole frequency, and wherein the compensation network comprises a zero at a load pole frequency.

5. The differential controller of claim 3, further comprising a soft start switch having a closed position and an open position, wherein the soft start switch shorts the compensation network when the soft start switch is in the closed position.

6. The differential controller of claim 1, further comprising a common mode amplifier configured to generate the common mode control voltage using a supply voltage.

7. The differential controller of claim 1, wherein the second regulator control signal is proportional to a difference between the first regulator control signal and the common mode control voltage.

8. The differential controller of claim 1, wherein the first regulator comprises a buck converter.

9. The differential controller of claim 8, further comprising a common mode amplifier configured to generate the common mode control voltage using a supply voltage and a common mode reference voltage, wherein the common mode reference voltage is proportional to a reference voltage of the buck converter.

10. The differential controller of claim 1, wherein the first regulator comprises a first regulator feedback network, and wherein the first regulator control signal is provided to the first regulator feedback network.

11. The differential controller of claim 1 wherein the first regulator comprises a linear regulator.

12. The differential controller of claim 1, further comprising a clamping circuit configured to clamp a differential voltage between the first regulator control signal and the second regulator control signal to a maximum value.

13. The differential controller of claim 1, wherein the feedback sensor comprises a voltage sensor, and wherein the feedback signal is indicative of a load voltage.

14. A method of controlling a load using a differential controller including a first regulator and a second regulator, the method comprising:

detecting a load condition by a feedback sensor to generate a feedback signal, the load condition being associated with the load, wherein the load is between a first regulator output of a first regulator and a second regulator output of a second regulator;

generating, by a first amplifier, a first regulator control signal for the first regulator using the feedback signal and a set voltage; and

generating, by a second amplifier, a second regulator control signal for the second regulator using the first regulator control signal and a common mode control voltage, wherein the first regulator output and the second regulator output are based at least in part on the common mode control voltage.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the feedback sensor comprises a current sensor and wherein the feedback signal is indicative of a load current at the load.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising applying a supply voltage and a common mode reference voltage to generate the common mode control voltage.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

increasing the common mode control voltage in response to an increase in the supply voltage;

modifying the first regulator control signal to increase the voltage of the first regulator output signal in response to an increase in the common mode control voltage; and

modifying the second regulator control signal to increase the voltage of the second regulator output signal in response to an increase in the common mode control voltage.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

reducing the common mode control voltage in response to a decrease in the supply voltage;

modifying the first regulator control signal to reduce the voltage of the first regulator output signal in response to a reduction in the common mode control voltage; and

modifying the second regulator control signal to reduce the voltage of the second regulator output signal in response to a reduction in the common mode control voltage.

19. A differential controller, comprising:

means for generating a first regulator output signal at a first regulator output based at least in part on a first regulator control signal received at a first regulator input;

means for generating a second regulator output signal at a second regulator output based at least in part on a second regulator control signal received at a second regulator input;

means for generating a feedback signal based on a load condition between the first regulator output and the second regulator output;

means for generating the first regulator control signal using the feedback signal and a set voltage; and

means for generating the second regulator control signal using the first regulator control signal and a common mode control voltage, wherein the first regulator output and the second regulator output are based at least in part on the common mode control voltage.

Technical Field

This document relates generally, but not by way of limitation, to circuits, such as integrated circuits or groups of integrated circuits, and is particularly, but not by way of limitation, for use in differential controller circuits.

Background

The controller circuit is used to drive an electrical load, such as a motor, a lamp, an electronic display, etc. The differential controller includes two single-ended voltage regulators for controlling the current or voltage of the load. The positive and negative terminals of the load may vary with respect to a reference voltage (e.g., ground). The outputs of the two respective regulators track each other to produce the required current or voltage at the load.

Summary of The Invention

Various examples described herein relate to a differential controller including a first regulator and a second regulator. The first regulator receives the first regulator control signal at a first regulator input and generates a first regulator output signal at the first regulator output. A second regulator receives the second regulator control signal at the second regulator input and generates a second regulator output signal at the second regulator output. A load is electrically coupled between the first regulator output and the second regulator output. The load current and voltage are based on a difference between the first regulator output and the second regulator output.

The control signals of the respective regulators are generated separately. For example, a current sensor generates a load current signal that describes a load current at a load. The first amplifier is configured to generate a first regulator control using the load current signal and the control signal. The second amplifier is configured to generate a second regulator control signal using the first regulator input voltage and the common mode voltage.