RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims priority to commonly owned U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/132,025 filed March 12, 2015; which is hereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to combinatorial pulse width modulation (PWM), in particular, to PWM modules and peripheral units used in microcontrollers comprising such a combinatorial PWM module. BACKGROUND

Power conversion applications are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Many power conversion circuits use multiple PWM generators to control the flow of power. Often there are multiple stages of PWM controlled circuitry, where the PWM required for a later stage is dependent upon what occurred in an earlier stage (such as synchronous rectification). When the behavior of the earlier stage PWM is dependent upon external asynchronous events, it becomes difficult to create the required PWM for the subsequent stages.

Synchronous Rectifiers, e.g., synchronously driven field effect transistors (Sync-FETs), are widely used due to their superior power efficiency compared to standard rectifier diodes. The control of synchronous rectifiers is challenging due to the need to be reactive to what is happening in the primary power conversion stage in front of the synchronous rectifiers. Existing synchronous rectifier control methods require additional control circuitry, or additional computation resources to plan and react to events (such as current limits) in proceeding power stages. Figure 5 shows a typical application of devices driven with a plurality of PWM signal and used in a switched mode power supply (SMPS). Historically, PWM modules were either analog designs, or very simple digital designs used for motor control. Heretofore, complex computation and/or analog circuits have been required for downstream control of power devices such as synchronous rectifiers as one example. SUMMARY

Hence there is a need for a way to create PWM signals to control downstream power devices, such as synchronous rectifiers, that require little or no processor computation, and that respond to asynchronous events such as current limits on the source PWM signals. According to an embodiment, an apparatus for generating a pulse width modulation

(PWM) signal from a logical combination of two other PWM signals may comprise: a first PWM generator adapted for generating a first PWM signal; a second PWM generator adapted for generating a second PWM signal; and first combinatorial logic adapted for receiving the first and second PWM signals and generating a third PWM signal therefrom. According to a further embodiment, the first combinatorial logic may comprise a plurality of logic functions. According to a further embodiment, the plurality of logic functions may be selected from any one or more of the group consisting of AND, NAND, OR, NOR, XOR and NXOR gate logic. According to a further embodiment, the first PWM generator may be adapted for generating the first PWM signal and an inverse first PWM signal. According to a further embodiment, the first and the inverse first PWM signals may be coupled to the first combinatorial logic. According to a further embodiment, the second PWM generator may be adapted for generating the second PWM signal and an inverse second PWM signal. According to a further embodiment, the second and the inverse second PWM signals may be coupled to the first combinatorial logic. According to a further embodiment, second combinatorial logic may be adapted for receiving the first and second PWM signals and generating a fourth PWM signal therefrom. According to a further embodiment, the second combinatorial logic may comprise a plurality of logic functions. According to a further embodiment, the first and the inverse first PWM signals may be coupled to second combinatorial logic. According to a further embodiment, the second and the inverse second PWM signals may be coupled to second combinatorial logic.

According to a further embodiment, the plurality of logic functions may be selectable. According to a further embodiment, the selectable plurality of logic functions may be programmable. According to a further embodiment, the programmable selection of the plurality of logic functions may be stored in a memory. According to a further embodiment, the memory may be at least one configuration register. According to a further embodiment, the plurality of logic functions may be selectable, the selection thereof may be programmable, and the programmable selection of the plurality of logic functions may be stored in a memory. According to a further embodiment, first sequential logic may be adapted for receiving the first and second PWM signals and generating the third PWM signal therefrom. According to a further embodiment, second sequential logic may be adapted for receiving the first and second PWM signals and generating the fourth PWM signal therefrom. According to a further embodiment, the first sequential logic may be selected from the group consisting of synchronous and asynchronous sequential logic. According to a further embodiment, a microcontroller that may comprise the PWM apparatus and be adapted to select certain ones of the plurality of logic functions thereof.

According to another embodiment, a method for generating a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal from a logical combination of two other PWM signals may comprise the steps of: generating a first PWM signal with a first PWM generator; generating a second PWM signal with a second PWM generator; and generating a third PWM signal from a logical combination of the first and second PWM signals.

According to a further embodiment of the method, the logical combination may be selected from the group consisting of AND, NAND, OR, NOR, XOR and NXOR logic. According to a further embodiment of the method, may comprise the step of generating a fourth PWM signal from a second logical combination of the first and second PWM signals. According to a further embodiment of the method, may comprise the step of generating a dead time between the third and fourth PWM signals. According to a further embodiment of the method, may comprise the step of substituting an asynchronous PWM signal for the third PWM signal. According to a further embodiment of the method, the asynchronous PWM signal may be a current limit PWM signal. According to a further embodiment of the method, may comprise the step of generating the third PWM signal from a sequential logic combination of the first and second PWM signals. According to yet another embodiment, a method for generating a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal from a sequential logic combination of two other PWM signals may comprise the steps of: generating a first PWM signal with a first PWM generator; generating a second PWM signal with a second PWM generator; and generating a third PWM signal from a sequential logic combination of the first and second PWM signals. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present disclosure may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates schematic block diagrams of PWM generators with dead time logic, according to the teachings of this disclosure;

Figures 2, 2A, 3 and 3 A illustrate schematic diagrams of PWM combinatorial logic blocks, according to specific example embodiments of this disclosure;

Figure 4 illustrates a schematic block diagram of synchronous/asynchronous PWM selection and dead time logic, according to the teachings of this disclosure; Figure 5 illustrates a PWM macro block in a microcontroller comprising multiple PWM generators, a combinatorial logic block and polarity selection, according to specific example embodiments of this disclosure;

Figure 5A illustrates a PWM macro block in a microcontroller comprising multiple PWM generators, a combinatorial and sequential logic block, and polarity selection, according to specific example embodiments of this disclosure;

Figure 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of an H-bridge primary stage and secondary stage synchronous FET rectifiers, according to the teachings of this disclosure;

Figure 7 illustrates a schematic timing diagram for PWM signals ORed together to provide synchronous rectification control when a SMPS is in continuous conduction mode, according to the teachings of this disclosure;

Figure 8 illustrates a schematic timing diagram for diagram for PWM signals ANDed together to provide synchronous rectification control when a SMPS is in a dis continuous conduction mode, according to the teachings of this disclosure;

Figure 9 illustrates a schematic timing diagram for PWM signals NORed together to provide rectification for an interleaved forward converter, according to the teachings of this disclosure; and

Figure 10 illustrates a schematic timing diagram for PWM signals ANDed together to provide LED lighting or motor control, according to the teachings of this disclosure. While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific example embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific example embodiments is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to various embodiments of this disclosure, a user controllable creation of PWM signals that are the logical processing of other PWM signals may be provided with user selectable combinatorial and/or sequential logic functions. According to various embodiments of this disclosure, a method may be provided to create "Derivative PWM" signals based on a plurality of input PWM signals. The various embodiments provide for the creation of PWM signals in a microcontroller device via combinatorial and/or sequential logic receiving source PWM signals. Microcontrollers are systems on a single integrated circuit die (chip) that may generally comprise a central processing unit, memory, a plurality of input/output ports, and a variety of peripheral devices.

A number of standard PWM generators produce PWM signals that may be used to drive the power stages for Full-Bridge, Feed-Forward, Push-Pull, Phase-Shift Zero Voltage Transition (ZVT), and other switched mode power supply (SMPS) conversion topologies. These PWM signals may be fed to the combinatorial logic block disclosed and claimed herein. The user (via control registers) may select the appropriate PWM signals as the operands, and select the desired logic function(s) that operates on the input operands. The resultant combinatorial PWM signals may be used directly or may be fed through dead-time processing circuitry prior to outputting to an application circuit. In addition to the combinatorial logic functions, sequential logic functions may also be used to provide sequential PWM signals, e.g., synchronous sequential, asynchronous sequential, and/or sequential-combinatorial PWM signals.

Referring now to the drawings, the details of specific example embodiments are schematically illustrated. Like elements in the drawings will be represented by like numbers, and similar elements will be represented by like numbers with a different lower case letter suffix. Referring to Figure 1, depicted are schematic block diagrams of PWM generators with dead time logic, according to the teachings of this disclosure. A first PWM generator 150 may produce raw first PWM signals RPWM1H and RPWM1L coupled to a first dead time logic 152 that may produce first PWM signals PWMIH and PWMIL, used to prevent "current shoot through" in SMPS power switches. A second PWM generator 154 may produce raw second PWM signals RPWM2H and RPWM2L coupled to a second dead time logic 156 that may produce second PWM signals PWM2H and PWM2L, used to prevent "current shoot through" in SMPS power switches.

Referring to Figures 2, 2A, 3 and 3A; depicted are schematic diagrams of PWM combinatorial logic blocks, according to specific example embodiments of this disclosure. In Figure 2 a combinatorial PWM module 200 has signals RPWM1H, RPWM1L, RPWM2H, RPWM2L, PWMIH, PWMIL, PWM2H and PWM2L coupled to a first multiplexer 202 and a second multiplexer 204. The output of the first multiplexer 202 is coupled to an input of a first de-multiplexer 206, and the output of the second multiplexer 204 is coupled to an input of a second de-multiplexer 208. The outputs of the first and second de-multiplexers 206 and 208 are coupled to first and second inputs, respectively, of a plurality of different logic gates 210. A third multiplexer 212 has its inputs coupled to respective outputs of the plurality of different logic gates 210 and is used to select which output of the plurality of different logic gates 210 will be coupled to the output of the third multiplexer 212 to provide the PWM signal CPWM1H. A first register 214 may be used to hold the multiplexer and de-multiplexer input/output steering selections, and may be programmed by a user of this combinatorial PWM module 200.

In Figure 2A a combinatorial PWM module 200A has signals RPWM1H, RPWM1L, RPWM2H, RPWM2L, PWMIH, PWMIL, PWM2H and PWM2L coupled to a first multiplexer 202 and a second multiplexer 204. The output of the first multiplexer 202 is coupled to first inputs of a plurality of different logic gates 210. The output of the second multiplexer 204 is coupled to second inputs of the plurality of different logic gates 210. A third multiplexer 212 has its inputs coupled to respective outputs of the plurality of different logic gates 210 and is used to select which output of the plurality of different logic gates 210 will be coupled to the output of the third multiplexer 212 to provide the PWM signal CPWM1H. A first register 214 may be used to hold the multiplexer and de-multiplexer input/output steering selections, and may be programmed by a user of this combinatorial PWM module 200A. In Figure 3 a combinatorial PWM module 200 has signals RPWM1H, RPWM1L, RPWM2H, RPWM2L, PWM1H, PWM1L, PWM2H and PWM2L coupled to a fourth multiplexer 322 and a fifth multiplexer 324. The output of the fourth multiplexer 322 is coupled to an input of a third de-multiplexer 326, and the output of the fifth multiplexer 324 is coupled to an input of a fourth de-multiplexer 328. The outputs of the third and fourth demultiplexers 326 and 328 are coupled to first and second inputs, respectively, of a plurality of different logic gates 330. A sixth multiplexer 332 has its inputs coupled to respective outputs of the plurality of different logic gates 330 and is used to select which output of the plurality of different logic gates 330 will be coupled to the output of the sixth multiplexer 332 to provide the PWM signal CPWM1L. A second register 334 may be used to hold the multiplexer and de-multiplexer input/output steering selections, and may be programmed by a user of this combinatorial PWM module 300.

In Figure 3A a combinatorial PWM module 300A has signals RPWM1H, RPWM1L, RPWM2H, RPWM2L, PWM1H, PWM1L, PWM2H and PWM2L coupled to a fourth multiplexer 322 and a fifth multiplexer 324. The output of the fourth multiplexer 322 is coupled to first inputs of a plurality of different logic gates 330. The output of the fifth multiplexer 324 is coupled to second inputs of the plurality of different logic gates 330. A sixth multiplexer 332 has its inputs coupled to respective output of the plurality of different logic gates 330 and is used to select which output of the plurality of different logic gates 330 will be coupled to the output of the sixth multiplexer 332 to provide the PWM signal CPWM1HL. A second register 334 may be used to hold the multiplexer and de-multiplexer input/output steering selections, and may be programmed by a user of this combinatorial PWM module 300A.

The multiplexers and/or de-multiplexers shown in Figures 2, 2A, 3 and/or 3A may be replaced by an X-Y switch matrix and controlled from the register(s) shown. It is contemplated and within the scope of this disclosure that one having ordinary skill in digital electronic integrated circuit design and the benefit of this disclosure could come up with other circuit designs that would function accordingly.

Referring to Figure 4, depicted is a schematic block diagram of synchronous/asynchronous PWM selection and dead time logic, according to the teachings of this disclosure. In Figure 4, multiplexers 464 and 466 are used two switch between synchronous PWM signals CPWM1H and CPWM1L, and asynchronous PWM signals ACPWMH 460 and ACPWML 468, e.g., overcurrent alarm/trip. The CPWM1H and CPWMIL PWM signals from the combinatorial PWM modules 200, 200a, 300 and/or 300A may be further "conditioned" with dead time logic 462. A register 470 may be used to store and control selection between the synchronous and asynchronous PWM signals. The outputs PWM3H and PWM3L from the multiplexers 464 and 466, respectively, may be used to drive SMPS circuits. Users may program the control register 470 to select either the dead-time processed versions of the combinatorial PWM signals or use the outputs of the combinatorial block outputs directly.

Referring to Figure 5, depicted is a PWM macro block in a microcontroller comprising multiple PWM generators, a combinatorial logic block and polarity selection, according to specific example embodiments of this disclosure. A microcontroller, generally represented by the numeral 500, may comprise a digital processor and memory 552, a first PWM generator and dead time logic 550, a second PWM generator and dead time logic 552, combinatorial logic 556, a plurality of polarity selection XOR gates 558 and a combination storage register 560. The combinatorial logic 556 may comprise the circuits shown in Figures 2, 2A, 3, 3 A or any other comparable in function logic circuit design. The combinatorial logic 556 and plurality of polarity selection XOR gates 558 may provide for user controlled selection of various additional PWM signals derived from the PWM signals provided by the first and second PWM generators 550 and 552. The combination register 560 may use a plurality of bits to store the combinatorial logic configurations used in the combinatorial logic 556. The combination register 560 may be part of the digital processor memory 554 or a separate storage register in the microcontroller 500. The PWM outputs may be multiplexed on external connection nodes (pins) of the microcontroller 500 package and the desired configurations of these multiplexed pins may be programmed and stored in configuration registers (not shown). Referring to Figure 5A, depicted is a PWM macro block in a microcontroller comprising multiple PWM generators, a combinatorial and sequential logic block, and polarity selection; according to specific example embodiments of this disclosure. The microcontroller 500a shown in Figure 5A functions in substantially the same way as the microcontroller 500 shown in Figure 5 and may further comprise both combinatorial and sequential logic 556a. Sequential logic is a type of logic whose output depends not only on the present value of its input(s) but on a sequence of past inputs, e.g., sequential logic may be thought of as combinatorial logic with memory. Sequential logic may further be defined as being either synchronous or asynchronous, where synchronous sequential logic relies upon a clock input, which may be one of the PWM signals selected; and asynchronous sequential logic is not synchronized by a clock signal. There are many examples of both synchronous and asynchronous sequential logic, and are contemplated herein for all purposes. Referring to Figure 6, depicted is a schematic diagram of an H-bridge primary stage and secondary stage synchronous FET rectifiers, according to the teachings of this disclosure. The PWM signals derived in Figures 1-4 may be used to drive the FET power switches shown in Figure 6. Synchronous rectifiers (Sync-FETs) are widely used due to their superior power efficiency compared to standard rectifier diodes. The control of (Sync-FETs) is challenging due to the need to be reactive to what is happening in the primary power conversion stage in front of the synchronous rectifiers. Existing (Sync-FET) control methods require additional control circuitry, or additional computation resources to plan and react to events (such as current limits) in proceeding power stages. The combinatorial PWM module shown in Figures 2, 2A, 3 and/or 3A create PWM signals to control synchronous rectifiers that require little processor computation, and that respond to asynchronous events such as current limits on the source PWM signals. A few example PWM waveform timing diagrams and descriptions are as follows:

Referring to Figure 7, depicted is a schematic timing diagram for PWM signals ORed together to provide synchronous rectification control when a SMPS is in continuous conduction mode, according to the teachings of this disclosure. PWM signals PWMIH is ORed with PWM2L, and PWMIL is ORed with PWM2H to produce two new PWM signals as shown in Figure 7. These new PWM signals may be used to control synchronous rectifiers with the SMPS is in continuous conduction mode.

Referring to Figure 8, depicted is a schematic timing diagram for diagram for PWM signals ANDed together to provide synchronous rectification control when a SMPS is in discontinuous conduction mode, according to the teachings of this disclosure. PWM signals PWMIH is ANDed with PWM2L, and PWMIL is ANDed with PWM2H to produce two new PWM signals as shown in Figure 8. These new PWM signals may be used to control synchronous rectifiers when the PSU is in discontinuous conduction mode. Referring to Figure 9, depicted is a schematic timing diagram for PWM signals NORed together to provide rectification for an interleaved forward converter, according to the teachings of this disclosure. Figure 9 shows the inverse result of when the PWM1H signal is NORed with the PWM2L signal. This new PWM signal may be used to control interleaved synchronous rectification in a SMPS.

Referring to Figure 10, depicted is a schematic timing diagram for PWM signals ANDed together to provide LED lighting or motor control, according to the teachings of this disclosure. Note, the signals shown are not drawn to scale. This circuit may effectively control LED lamp brightness or motor speed. A benefit of using sequential-combinatorial logic is that the much higher frequency PWMl signal may be turned off when the lower frequency PWM2 is at a logic low to conserve power and then when the PWM2 signal goes back to a logic high then the PWMl signal may be synchronized (circuit not shown), e.g., phase-locked, to the rising edge of the PWM2 signal, thereby providing a clean (spike-less) PWM output signal from the AND gate.