Buck-boost circuit with protection feature

摘要

In accordance with some embodiments, a buck-boost circuit is contemplated which is bi-directional. That is, the buck-boost circuit be configured to produce a load voltage for a load responsive to a source voltage from a voltage source, and the buck-boost circuit may also be configured to produce a charging voltage for the voltage source responsive to a second voltage source connected to the load. In an embodiment, the buck-boost circuit may be operating in boost mode when providing the load voltage and may be operating in buck mode when providing the charging voltage.

主权项

1. A buck-boost circuit comprising:
a plurality of buck-boost converters coupled in parallel between a first power bus and a second power bus; a control circuit coupled to the plurality of buck-boost converters, wherein the control circuit is configured to generate one or more signals indicative of operation of the plurality of buck-boost converters; and a second circuit configured to monitor the one or more signals from the control circuit, wherein the second circuit is configured to detect a failure of a first buck-boost converter of the plurality of buck-boost converters in response to the one or more signals, and wherein the second circuit is configured to control remaining ones of the plurality of buck-boost converters to supply power to at least one of the first power bus and the second power bus; wherein:
each of the plurality of buck-boost converters comprise an inductor;the control circuit is configured to monitor a voltage across the inductor in each of the plurality of buck-boost converters to generate the one or more signals;a peak voltage across the inductor of zero indicates the failure; andthe control circuit is configured to generate a corresponding one of the one or more signals to indicate the failure in response to the peak voltage of zero.