BACKGROUND

[0001] The increasing demand of integrating electronic devices onto automotive, industrial, and customer platforms requires more sophisticated power conversion and distribution designs. Often these electronic devices include embedded processors, memories, and other electronic components that are operated from one battery source. DC-to-DC voltage converters are used to supply different voltages to the different electronic device

[0002] In pursuit of reducing the overall solution form factor for battery powered devices, an increasing trend is moving from two AA (2AA) cells (having a voltage range of approximately 2V to 3.2V) to a single AA (1AA) cell (having a voltage range of approximately IV to 1.6V). The power stage for a typical DC-to-DC converter employs two field effect transistors (FETs) connected in series. The power transistors used for devices that employ a 2AA cell power source are usually high voltage devices (for reliability reasons) and would not conduct for 1AA cell voltage levels due to the high threshold voltages of these transistors. Using low-voltage transistors for the power stage solves this conduction problem, but reliability related concerns would exist when the same device is expected to work from two AA cells.

SUMMARY

[0003] In described examples of a power stage for a DC-to-DC voltage converter, the power stage includes a voltage input, a high-side n-channel transistor, a high-side p-channel transistor, and a low-side n-channel transistor. The voltage input is couplable to a supply voltage. The drain terminal of the high-side n-channel transistor is coupled to the voltage input and the source terminal is coupled to a first node that is couplable to an output stage of the DC-to-DC converter. The source terminal of the high-side p-channel transistor is coupled to the voltage input and the drain terminal is coupled to the first node. The drain terminal of the low-side n-channel transistor is coupled to the first node and the source terminal is coupled to a ground.

[0004] In further described examples, a DC-to-DC voltage converter includes a voltage input, a high-side n-channel transistor, a high-side p-channel transistor, a low-side n-channel transistor, an inductor, and a capacitor. The voltage input is couplable to a supply voltage. The drain terminal of the high-side n-channel transistor is coupled to the voltage input and the source terminal is coupled to a first node. The source terminal of the high-side p-channel transistor is coupled to the voltage input and the drain terminal is coupled to the first node. The drain terminal of the low-side n-channel transistor is coupled to the first node and the source terminal is coupled to a ground. The inductor is coupled between the first node and a converter output. The capacitor is coupled between the converter output and ground.

[0005] In described examples of a method of operating a power stage of a DC-to-DC converter, a drain terminal of a high-side n-channel transistor is coupled to a voltage input that is couplable to a power supply, and the source terminal is coupled to a first node that is couplable to an output stage of the DC-to-DC converter. A source terminal of a high-side p-channel transistor is coupled to the voltage input and the drain terminal is coupled to the first node. The power supply voltage is compared to a threshold voltage level. If the power supply voltage is greater than the threshold voltage, the high-side n-channel transistor is deactivated, and the high-side p-channel transistor is caused to serve as the active high-side transistor of the DC-to-DC converter. If the power supply voltage is less than the threshold voltage, the high-side p-channel transistor is deactivated, and the high-side n-channel transistor is caused to serve as the active high-side transistor of the DC-to-DC converter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a DC-to-DC voltage converter.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a DC-to-DC voltage converter whose power stage includes a high-side switch that includes an n-channel transistor and a p-channel transistor coupled in parallel.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram representing a power stage of DC-to-DC voltage converter such as that shown in FIG. 2 powered by a single AA cell power supply.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram representing a power stage of DC-to-DC voltage converter such as that shown in FIG. 2 powered by two AA cells.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a flow chart representing a method of operating a power stage of a DC-to-DC converter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a DC-to-DC voltage converter 100. The type of DC-to-DC voltage converter 100 depicted in FIG. 1 is sometimes referred to as a buck converter. The DC-to-DC voltage converter 100 includes a power stage that includes a high-side transistor Ql and a low-side transistor Q2 that serve as switches. In the example of FIG. 1, transistor Ql is a p-channel transistor and transistor Q2 is an n-channel transistor. The source of transistor Ql is coupled to a voltage input 102 that is couplable to a power supply VBAT. During operation of the DC-to-DC voltage converter 100, the voltage input 102 operates at an input voltage VBAT, which is a DC voltage that is to be converted to another DC voltage by the DC-to-DC voltage converter 100. The drain of transistor Ql is coupled to a node Nl . The drain of transistor Q2 is coupled to the node Nl and the source of transistor Q2 is coupled to a ground node. The ground node may operate at a potential of ground or a potential that is different than or lower than the input voltage VBAT. In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the high-side transistor Ql is a PMOS (p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect) transistor, and the low-side transistor Q2 is an NMOS (n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect) transistor, which constitutes a typical power stage for a DC-to-DC voltage converter.

[0012] A first terminal of an inductor LI is coupled to the node Nl . The second terminal of the inductor LI is coupled to a capacitor COUT. The junction of the inductor LI and the capacitor COUT is the output 104 or output node of the DC-to-DC voltage converter 100, which operates at an output voltage VOUT. The voltage VOUT is the DC voltage generated by the DC-to-DC voltage converter 100.

[0013] The gates of transistors Ql and Q2 are coupled to a gate controller 110 that generates gate voltages to turn the transistors Ql and Q2 off and on. Accordingly, the gate controller 110 serves as a switch controller to control the switching function of transistors Ql and Q2. The DC-to-DC voltage converter 100 receives the input voltage VBAT at the input 102. The gate controller 110 turns transistors Ql and Q2 off and on, so that one transistor is on while the other transistor is off. The off and on period controls the current IL flowing through the inductor LI . The current IL generates a voltage across the capacitor COUT, which is the output voltage VOUT of the DC-to-DC voltage converter 100. In discontinuous modes of operation, both transistor Ql and transistor Q2 are turned off at the same time for a period.

[0014] In many implementations, the power supply VBAT is provided by a battery power supply comprising one or more batteries. In implementations such as the one shown in FIG. 1, wherein a PMOS transistor Ql is used as the high-side switch, when VBAT is relatively low, i.e. close to the threshold voltage Vth of the PMOS transistor Ql, the PMOS transistor Ql will exhibit a very high resistance, and will therefore not act like an effective switch. Thus such a DC-to-DC voltage converter 100 has a limited of range of operation with regards to the power supply voltage VBAT. The power transistors Ql and Q2 used for devices that employ a 2AA cell power source (having a voltage range of approximately 2V to 3.2V) are typically high voltage devices and would not conduct for 1AA cell voltage levels (which typically range from approximately IV to 1.6V) due to the high threshold voltages of these transistors. Using low-voltage transistors for the power stage solves this conduction problem, but reliability related concerns would exist when the same device is expected to work from two AA cells.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a DC-to-DC voltage converter 200 whose power stage includes a high-side switch that includes an n-channel transistor Ql 210 and a p-channel transistor Q2 215 in parallel. The illustrative embodiment depicted in FIG. 2 demonstrates aspects with respect to a buck DC-to-DC voltage converter, but the aspects that are described herein can also be implemented with other types of DC-to-DC converters, such as boost converters, buck-boost converters, flyback converters, and flybuck converters. The drain of n-channel transistor Ql 210 is coupled to a voltage input 205 that is couplable to a power supply VBAT. The source of p-channel transistor Q2 215 is also coupled to the voltage input 205. During operation of the DC-to-DC voltage converter 200, the voltage input 205 operates at the input voltage VBAT, which is a DC voltage that is to be converted to another DC voltage by the DC-to-DC voltage converter 200. The drain of the n-channel transistor Ql 210 and the source of the p-channel transistor 215 are both coupled to a node Nl . The drain of n-channel transistor Q3 220 is coupled to the node Nl and the source of transistor Q3 220 is coupled to a ground node. The ground node may operate at a potential of ground or a potential that is different than or lower than the input voltage VBAT. In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the high-side n-channel transistor Ql 210 and the low-side n-channel transistor Q3 220 are NMOS transistors and the high-side p-channel transistor Q2 215 is a PMOS transistor.

[0016] A first terminal of an inductor 225 is coupled to the node Nl . The second terminal of the inductor 225 is coupled to an output capacitor 230. The junction of the inductor 225 and the output capacitor 230 is the output or output node of the DC-to-DC voltage converter 200, which operates at an output voltage VOUT. The voltage VOUT is the DC voltage generated by the DC-to-DC voltage converter 200.

[0017] Depending on the voltage level of the power supply VBAT, one of the high-side transistors, either n-channel transistor Ql 210 or p-channel transistor Q2 215, serves as the active switch of the power stage of the DC-to-DC voltage converter 200 while the other high-side transistor is deactivated. In an illustrative embodiment, the determination of which of the high-side transistors Ql 210 and Q2 215 to select as the active high-side switch is made by comparing the power supply voltage VBAT to a supply voltage threshold. If VBAT is less than the supply voltage threshold, the n-channel transistor Ql 210 serves as the active high-side transistor and the p-channel transistor Q2 215 is deactivated. If VBAT is greater than the supply voltage threshold, the p-channel transistor Q2 215 is selected as the active high-side transistor and the n-channel transistor Ql 210 is deactivated. Thus, when the power supply voltage VBAT is less than the supply voltage threshold, the n-channel transistor Ql 210 is the active high-side switch, thus allowing the high-side of the power stage to conduct at lower supply voltage levels. And when the power supply voltage VBAT is greater than the supply voltage threshold, the p-channel transistor Q2 215 is the active high-side switch, thus offering the increased reliability that is associated with a higher-voltage device.

[0018] In an alternative embodiment, the determination of which of the high-side transistors Ql 210 and Q2 215 to select as the active high-side switch is made by determining what type and how many batteries make up the power supply VBAT. For example, if the power supply VBAT consists of a single AA battery, the n-channel transistor Ql 210 serves as the active high-side transistor and the p-channel transistor Q2 215 is deactivated. Or, if the power supply VBAT consists of two AA batteries, the p-channel transistor Q2 215 is selected as the active high-side transistor, and the n-channel transistor Ql 210 is deactivated.

[0019] The gates of the high-side n-channel transistor Ql 210, the high-side p-channel transistor Q2 215, and n-channel low-side transistor Q3 220 are coupled to a gate controller 235 that generates gate voltages to turn the transistors Ql 210, Q2 215 and Q3 220 on and off. Thus, the gate controller 235 serves as a switch controller to control the switching function of transistors Ql 210, Q2 215 and Q3 220.

[0020] The gate control circuit 235 receives information regarding the power supply VBAT and, based on such information, controls one of the transistors Ql 210 and Q2 215 as the active high-side switch of the power stage and deactivates the other of the transistors Ql 210 and Q2 215. For example, in an illustrative embodiment, the gate control circuit 235 receives the supply voltage VBAT and compares it to a supply voltage threshold. In an illustrative embodiment the gate control circuit 235 includes a comparator for comparing the supply voltage VBAT to the supply voltage threshold. If VBAT is less than the supply voltage threshold, the gate control circuit 235 provides gate driver signals to the n-channel transistor Ql 210 and provides a voltage to the gate of p-channel transistor Q2 215 that turns off the p-channel transistor Q2 215. Thus, the p-channel transistor Q2 215 is deactivated and the n-channel transistor Ql 210 serves as the active transistor of the power stage when the supply voltage VBAT is less than the supply voltage threshold. If VBAT is greater than the supply voltage threshold, the gate control circuit 235 provides gate driver signals to the p-channel transistor Q2 215 and provides a voltage to the gate of n-channel transistor Ql 210 that turns off the n-channel transistor Ql 210. Thus, the n-channel transistor Ql 210 is deactivated and the p-channel transistor Q2 215 serves as the active transistor of the power stage when the supply voltage VBAT is greater than the supply voltage threshold.

[0021] In an illustrative implementation wherein the DC-to-DC converter 200 is intended to be compatible with both a power supply comprising a single AA cell and a power supply comprising two AA cells, the supply voltage threshold is set at a level that lies between the normal ranges of operation of a single-AA-cell power supply and a two-AA-cell power supply. For example, the supply voltage threshold can be set at approximately 1.8 volts, which lies between the normal ranges of operation of a single AA cell (1.0-1.6 V) and two AA cells (2.0-3.2 V).

[0022] In an alternative embodiment, the gate control circuit 235 receives or determines information regarding what type and how many batteries make up the power supply VBAT. For example, if the gate controller 235 determines, or receives information indicating, that the power supply VBAT consists of a single AA battery, the gate control circuit 235 provides gate driver signals to the n-channel transistor Ql 210 and provides a voltage to the gate of p-channel transistor Q2 215 that turns off the p-channel transistor Q2 215. Thus, the p-channel transistor Q2 215 is deactivated and the n-channel transistor Ql 210 serves as the active transistor of the power stage if the power supply VBAT consists of a single AA battery. Or, if the gate controller 235 determines, or receives information indicating, that the power supply VBAT consists of two AA batteries, the gate control circuit 235 provides gate driver signals to the p-channel transistor Q2 215 and provides a voltage to the gate of n-channel transistor Ql 210 that turns off the n-channel transistor Ql 210. Thus, the n-channel transistor Ql 210 is deactivated and the p-channel transistor Q2 215 serves as the active transistor of the power stage if the power supply VBAT consists of two AA batteries.

[0023] In an illustrative embodiment, when n-channel transistor Ql 210 is the active high-side transistor of the DC-to-DC converter 200, i.e., when the power supply VBAT is a relatively lower-voltage power supply such as a single AA cell, the gate driver signal generated by the gate controller 235 for controlling the switching of the n-channel transistor Ql 210 is boosted using a charge pump circuit 245. This boosting of the gate driver signal causes the "on" voltage of the gate driver signal to be greater than the source voltage by an amount that is appreciably greater than the transistor voltage threshold Vth, thereby allowing the n-channel transistor Ql 210 to behave as an effective switch. If the magnitude of the gate driver signal is too low, as would be the case if the maximum level of the gate driver signal was substantially equal to a single AA cell voltage, the transistor Ql 210 does not behave as a switch.

[0024] In illustrative embodiments, the transistors Ql 210, Q2 215, and Q3 220 are all implemented with thick gate oxide transistors, which are capable of handling 3.3 volts. Accordingly, all of these transistors are capable of working with either a single AA cell power supply or with a power supply consisting of two AA cells.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram representing a power stage 300 of a DC-to-DC voltage converter, such as that shown in FIG. 2, powered by a single AA cell power supply. The drain of n-channel transistor Ql 310 is coupled to a voltage input 305 that is connected to a power supply VBAT 308 that consists of a single AA cell. The source of p-channel transistor Q2 315 is also coupled to the voltage input 305. The drain of the n-channel transistor Ql 310 and the source of the p-channel transistor 315 are both coupled to a node Nl . The drain of n-channel transistor Q3 320 is coupled to the node Nl and the source of transistor Q3 320 is coupled to a ground node. Though not shown in FIG. 3, the node Nl is coupled to an output stage of the DC-to-DC power converter as shown in FIG. 2. Also, the gates of the high-side n-channel transistor Ql 310 and the high-side p-channel transistor Q2 315 are coupled to a gate control circuit such as gate controller 235 shown in FIG. 2, although the gate control circuit is not explicitly shown in FIG. 3. [0026] The gate control circuit 235 determines, based on information regarding the power supply VBAT 308, which of the high-side transistors Ql 310 and Q2 315 are to serve as the active high-side transistor of the power stage 300. In the illustrative embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein the DC-to-DC converter is intended to be compatible with both a power supply comprising a single AA cell and a power supply comprising two AA cells, this determination can be made in different ways, including comparing the power supply voltage VBAT to a supply voltage threshold (such as 1.8V), or by determining whether the power supply consists of one battery cell or two. In either case, when the power supply consists of a single AA battery as in FIG. 3, the gate controller 235 will determine that the n-channel transistor Ql 310 is to serve as the active high-side transistor of the power stage 300. Based on that determination, the gate controller 235 deactivates, or turns off, the p-channel transistor Q2 315.

[0027] In an illustrative embodiment, the gate controller 235 turns off the p-channel transistor Q2 315 by applying a voltage that is substantially equal to VBAT to the gate of the p-channel transistor Q2 315. In that event, the source voltage Vs of transistor Q2 315 is substantially equal to the gate voltage Vg, in which case the p-channel transistor Q2 215 does not conduct any appreciable current. At the same time, the gate controller actively controls the n-channel high-side transistor Ql 310 and the transistor Q3 320 by controlling the duty cycle of gate driver signals provided to Ql 310 and Q3 320.

[0028] In an illustrative embodiment, the voltage of the gate driver signal provided to the n-channel high-side transistor Ql 310 is boosted using the charge pump circuit 245 shown in FIG. 2. For example, the gate driver signal for transistor Ql 310 might be boosted to have a range from 0V on the low end to approximately 3V on the high end, as shown in FIG. 3. This boosting of the gate driver signal for transistor Ql 310 allows for better performance of the high-side n-channel transistor Ql 310 in view of the relatively lower voltage level of the single AA cell power supply 308, as described with respect to FIG. 2.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram representing a power stage of DC-to-DC voltage converter such as that shown in FIG. 2 powered by two AA cells. The power stage 400 of FIG. 4 is substantially the same as that shown In FIGS. 3 and 4 except for the fact that the power supply VBAT 408 consists of two AA cells. The drain of n-channel transistor Ql 410 and the source of p-channel transistor Q2 415 are coupled to a voltage input 405 that is connected to the 2AA power supply VBAT 408. The source of the n-channel transistor Ql 410 and the drain of the p-channel transistor 415 are both coupled to a node Nl . The drain of n-channel transistor Q3 420 is coupled to the node Nl and the source of transistor Q3 420 is coupled to a ground node. Though not shown in FIG. 4, the node Nl is coupled to an output stage of the DC-to-DC power converter as shown in FIG. 2. Also, the gates of the high-side n-channel transistor Ql 410 and the high-side p-channel transistor Q2 415 are coupled to a gate control circuit such as gate controller 235 shown in FIG. 2, although the gate control circuit is not explicitly shown in FIG. 4.

[0030] As described hereinabove, the gate control circuit 235 determines, based on information regarding the power supply VBAT 408, which of the high-side transistors Ql 410 and Q2 415 are to serve as the active high-side transistor of the power stage 400. In the illustrative embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein the DC-to-DC converter is intended to be compatible with both a power supply comprising a single AA cell and a power supply comprising two AA cells, this determination can be made in different ways, including comparing the power supply voltage VBAT to a supply voltage threshold (such as 1.8V), or by determining whether the power supply consists of one battery cell or two. In either case, when the power supply consists of two AA batteries as in FIG. 4, the gate controller 235 will determine that the p-channel transistor Q2 410 is to serve as the active high-side transistor of the power stage 400. Based on that determination, the gate controller 235 deactivates, or turns off, the n-channel transistor Ql 410. In an illustrative embodiment, the gate controller 235 turns off the n-channel transistor Ql 410 by applying a voltage that is substantially equal to 0V to the gate of the n-channel transistor Ql 410. At the same time, the gate controller actively controls the p-channel high-side transistor Q2 415 and the transistor Q3 420 by controlling the duty cycle of gate driver signals provided to Q2 415 and Q3 420.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a flow chart representing a method of operating a power stage of a DC-to-DC converter. At block 500, a high-side n-channel transistor is provided. The drain terminal of the high-side n-channel transistor is coupled to a voltage input that is couplable to a power supply, and the source terminal is coupled to a first node that is couplable to an output stage of the DC-to-DC converter. At block 510, a high-side p-channel transistor is provided. The source terminal of the high-side p-channel transistor is coupled to the voltage input and the drain terminal is coupled to the first node. At block 520, the power supply voltage is compared to a threshold voltage level. At decision block 530, a determination is made about whether the power supply voltage VBAT is greater than the power supply voltage threshold Vth. If the power supply voltage VBAT is greater than the threshold voltage Vth, the high-side n-channel transistor is deactivated, as shown at block 540, and the high-side p-channel transistor is caused to serve as the active high-side transistor of the DC-to-DC converter, as shown at block 550. If the power supply voltage VBAT is less than the threshold voltage Vth, the high-side p-channel transistor is deactivated, as shown at block 560, and the high-side n-channel transistor is caused to serve as the active high-side transistor of the DC-to-DC converter, as shown at block 570.

[0032] Accordingly, examples of DC-to-DC voltage converter power stages and methods for operating a power stage of a DC-to-DC voltage converter have been described in detail herein.

[0033] Modifications are possible in the described embodiments, and other embodiments are possible, within the scope of the claims.