TWI842143B

TWI842143B - Switch module with an automatic switching function according to load and method thereof

Info

Publication number: TWI842143B
Application number: TW111139726A
Authority: TW
Inventors: 陳慶國; 黃文楠
Original assignee: 博盛半導體股份有限公司
Filing date: 2022-10-19
Publication date: 2024-05-11

Abstract

A switch module with an automatic switching function and a method for automatically switching the switch module according to the load, wherein a first comparator and a second comparator are configured to automatically determine whether the load is light or heavy according to the voltage divided by a first resistor and a second resistor and the voltage of a source resistor, thereby generating a voltage control signal. A plurality of transistors are configured to receive a gate input signal according to the voltage control signal, thereby selectively bringing a GaN transistor or a MOSFET transistor in a conducting state. In this way, the output quality and efficiency of the power supply at light and heavy loads can be improved according to the characteristics of different transistors.

Description

根據負載自動切換的開關模組及方法Switch module and method for automatic switching according to load

本發明涉及一種自動切換開關模組，尤指是一種提升電源供應器效率的自動切換開關模組。The present invention relates to an automatic switching switch module, and in particular to an automatic switching switch module for improving the efficiency of a power supply.

當電源供應器因應不同應用需求時，例如不同負載，輸出的效率也會有所不同；又，電源供應器開關在導通及截止之間，會有切換損耗（switching loss）和導通損耗（conduction loss），使得輸出效率變差；據此，如何提升電源供應器的輸出品質和效率，此乃待須解決之問題。When a power supply responds to different application requirements, such as different loads, the output efficiency will also be different. In addition, when the power supply switch is turned on and off, there will be switching loss and conduction loss, which will reduce the output efficiency. Therefore, how to improve the output quality and efficiency of the power supply is a problem that needs to be solved.

有鑒於上述的問題，本發明人係依據多年來從事相關行業的經驗，針對自動切換開關模組進行改進；緣此，本發明之主要目的在於提供一種提升電源供應器的輸出品質和效率的根據負載自動切換開關模組及方法。In view of the above problems, the inventors have made improvements to the automatic switching switch module based on their experience in the relevant industry over the years. Therefore, the main purpose of the present invention is to provide a load-based automatic switching switch module and method that improves the output quality and efficiency of a power supply.

為達上述的目的，本發明之根據負載自動切換開關模組及方法主要藉由一第一比較器和一第二比較器基於一第一電阻和一第二電阻的分壓、及一源極電阻的電壓，自動判斷負載輕重載，並輸出一電壓控制訊號；再藉由複數個電晶體基於前述電壓控制訊號，接收一閘極輸入訊號，並選擇導通一第一開關或一第二開關，其中，第一開關為一氮化鎵場效電晶體(Gallium Nitride Field-Effect Transistor, GaN FET)，而第二開關為一金氧半場效電晶體（Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor, MOSFET）。To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the load-based automatic switching switch module and method of the present invention mainly uses a first comparator and a second comparator to automatically judge whether the load is light or heavy based on the voltage division of a first resistor and a second resistor and the voltage of a source resistor, and outputs a voltage control signal; then, a plurality of transistors receive a gate input signal based on the aforementioned voltage control signal and select to turn on a first switch or a second switch, wherein the first switch is a gallium nitride field-effect transistor (Gallium Nitride Field-Effect Transistor, GaN FET), and the second switch is a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor, MOSFET).

當重載時，第一比較器輸出電壓控制訊號給一第一電晶體和一第二電晶體，如此，GaN電晶體可基於外部的一閘極輸入信號，控制本身導通或截止，從而根據GaN切換損耗和導通損耗較小的特性，提升電源供應器重載時的效率；又，當輕載時，第二比較器輸出電壓控制訊號給一第三電晶體和一第四電晶體，如此，MOSFET電晶體可基於外部的閘極輸入信號，控制本身導通或截止，從而根據MOSFET電晶體驅動損失較小的特性，提升電源供應器輕載時的效率。When the load is heavy, the first comparator outputs a voltage control signal to a first transistor and a second transistor, so that the GaN transistor can control itself to be turned on or off based on an external gate input signal, thereby improving the efficiency of the power supply when the load is heavy according to the characteristics of GaN with small switching loss and conduction loss; and when the load is light, the second comparator outputs a voltage control signal to a third transistor and a fourth transistor, so that the MOSFET transistor can control itself to be turned on or off based on an external gate input signal, thereby improving the efficiency of the power supply when the load is light according to the characteristics of the MOSFET transistor with small driving loss.

為使　貴審查委員得以清楚了解本發明之目的、技術特徵及其實施後之功效，茲以下列說明搭配圖示進行說明，敬請參閱。In order to enable you to clearly understand the purpose, technical features and effects of this invention after implementation, the following description is provided with illustrations for your reference.

請參閱「圖1」，係為本發明之電路方塊示意圖，如圖所示，本發明之根據負載自動切換的開關模組可包含一控制電路1、一驅動電路2、一開關電路3、及一源極電阻Rs，上述各電路和元件可整合為晶片，但不以此為限；其中，控制電路1電性連接一電路電壓V _cc和一源極端點S，驅動電路2電性連接一閘極端點G，開關電路3電性連接一汲極端點D，且源極電阻Rs電性連接源極端點S。 Please refer to "Figure 1", which is a schematic diagram of the circuit block of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the switch module of the present invention that automatically switches according to the load may include a control circuit 1, a drive circuit 2, a switch circuit 3, and a source resistor Rs. The above circuits and components can be integrated into a chip, but are not limited to this; wherein the control circuit 1 is electrically connected to a circuit voltage _Vcc and a source terminal S, the drive circuit 2 is electrically connected to a gate terminal G, the switch circuit 3 is electrically connected to a drain terminal D, and the source resistor Rs is electrically connected to the source terminal S.

請參閱「圖2」，係為本發明之根據負載自動切換開關模組電路圖，如圖所示，控制電路1包含一第一比較器11、一第二比較器12、一第一電阻R1、及一第二電阻R2，第一比較器11具有一第一反向輸入端、一第一非反向輸入端、及一第一輸出端；又，第二比較器12具有一第二反向輸入端、一第二非反向輸入端、及一第二輸出端，其中，第一電阻R1一端電性連接電路電壓V _cc，另一端電性連接第一反向輸入端、第二非反向輸入端、及第二電阻R2，第二電阻R2另一端電性連接源極端點S和源極電阻Rs，源極電阻Rs另一端電性連接第一非反向輸入端和第二反向輸入端，如此，控制電路1可基於內部電阻的分壓、及外部電阻產生的電壓，自動判斷負載輕重載，從而產生控制訊號。 Please refer to "FIG. 2", which is a circuit diagram of the load automatic switching switch module of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the control circuit 1 includes a first comparator 11, a second comparator 12, a first resistor R1, and a second resistor R2. The first comparator 11 has a first reverse input terminal, a first non-reverse input terminal, and a first output terminal; and the second comparator 12 has a second reverse input terminal, a second non-reverse input terminal, and a second output terminal. Among them, one end of the first resistor R1 is electrically connected to the circuit voltage _Vcc. , the other end is electrically connected to the first reverse input terminal, the second non-reverse input terminal, and the second resistor R2, the other end of the second resistor R2 is electrically connected to the source terminal S and the source resistor Rs, and the other end of the source resistor Rs is electrically connected to the first non-reverse input terminal and the second reverse input terminal. In this way, the control circuit 1 can automatically determine whether the load is light or heavy based on the voltage division of the internal resistor and the voltage generated by the external resistor, thereby generating a control signal.

請續參閱「圖2」，驅動電路2包含一第一電晶體Tr1、一第二電晶體Tr2、一第三電晶體Tr3、及一第四電晶體Tr4，第一電晶體Tr1和第二電晶體Tr2相互串聯，第一電晶體Tr1的射極電性連接第一輸出端，第一電晶體Tr1的集極電性連接第二電晶體Tr2的集極，第二電晶體Tr2的射極電性連接源極端點S，而第一電晶體Tr1的基極和第二電晶體Tr2的基極電性連接閘極端點G；又，第三電晶體Tr3和第四電晶體Tr4相互串聯，第三電晶體Tr3的射極電性連接第二輸出端，第三電晶體Tr3的集極電性連接第四電晶體Tr4的集極，第四電晶體Tr4的射極電性連接源極端點S，而第三電晶體Tr3的基極和第四電晶體Tr4的基極電性連接閘極端點G，如此，驅動電路2根據控制電路1傳輸的控制訊號，接收閘極端點G輸入的輸入信號，從而驅動開關電路3。Please continue to refer to "Figure 2", the driving circuit 2 includes a first transistor Tr1, a second transistor Tr2, a third transistor Tr3, and a fourth transistor Tr4. The first transistor Tr1 and the second transistor Tr2 are connected in series with each other. The emitter of the first transistor Tr1 is electrically connected to the first output terminal, the collector of the first transistor Tr1 is electrically connected to the collector of the second transistor Tr2, the emitter of the second transistor Tr2 is electrically connected to the source terminal S, and the base of the first transistor Tr1 and the base of the second transistor Tr2 are electrically connected to the gate. Terminal G; in addition, the third transistor Tr3 and the fourth transistor Tr4 are connected in series with each other, the emitter of the third transistor Tr3 is electrically connected to the second output terminal, the collector of the third transistor Tr3 is electrically connected to the collector of the fourth transistor Tr4, the emitter of the fourth transistor Tr4 is electrically connected to the source terminal S, and the base of the third transistor Tr3 and the base of the fourth transistor Tr4 are electrically connected to the gate terminal G, so that the driving circuit 2 receives the input signal inputted from the gate terminal G according to the control signal transmitted by the control circuit 1, thereby driving the switch circuit 3.

請續參閱「圖2」，開關電路3包含一第一開關31、及一第二開關32，第一開關31和第二開關32相互並聯，且兩者汲極電性連接汲極端點D，兩者源極電性連接源極電阻Rs，而第一開關31的閘極電性連接第一電晶體Tr1和第二電晶體Tr2的集極，第二開關32的閘極電性連接第三電晶體Tr3和第四電晶體Tr4的集極，其中，第一開關31為一GaN電晶體，第二開關32為一金氧半場效電晶體，如此，開關電路3根據驅動電路2傳輸的驅動訊號，選擇控制第一開關31或第二開關32。Please continue to refer to "Figure 2". The switch circuit 3 includes a first switch 31 and a second switch 32. The first switch 31 and the second switch 32 are connected in parallel, and the drains of the two are electrically connected to the drain terminal D, and the sources of the two are electrically connected to the source resistor Rs. The gate of the first switch 31 is electrically connected to the collectors of the first transistor Tr1 and the second transistor Tr2, and the gate of the second switch 32 is electrically connected to the collectors of the third transistor Tr3 and the fourth transistor Tr4. The first switch 31 is a GaN transistor, and the second switch 32 is a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor. In this way, the switch circuit 3 selects to control the first switch 31 or the second switch 32 according to the driving signal transmitted by the driving circuit 2.

請參閱「圖3」，係為本發明之根據負載自動切換開關方法流程圖，如圖所示，本發明之根據負載自動切換開關的方法，其步驟如下：Please refer to "FIG. 3", which is a flow chart of the method for automatically switching a switch according to a load of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the method for automatically switching a switch according to a load of the present invention has the following steps:

判斷輕重載S1：控制電路1藉由第一比較器11、第二比較器12，基於電路內部電阻的分壓、及電路外部電阻產生的電壓，自動判斷負載輕重載，並輸出一電壓控制訊號；更進一步細說，內部電阻的分壓係由電路電壓V _cc對第一電阻R1和第二電阻R2進行分壓，控制電路1藉由用第一比較器11和第二比較器12，基於第二電阻R2的分壓和源極電阻Rs所產生的電壓，隨著輕重載的變化，自動選擇由第一輸出端或第二輸出端輸出電壓控制訊號。 Determine whether the load is light or heavy S1: The control circuit 1 automatically determines whether the load is light or heavy through the first comparator 11 and the second comparator 12 based on the voltage division of the internal resistor of the circuit and the voltage generated by the external resistor of the circuit, and outputs a voltage control signal; more specifically, the voltage division of the internal resistor is performed by dividing the first resistor R1 and the second resistor R2 by the circuit voltage _Vcc , and the control circuit 1 automatically selects to output the voltage control signal from the first output terminal or the second output terminal based on the voltage division of the second resistor R2 and the voltage generated by the source resistor Rs using the first comparator 11 and the second comparator 12 as the light or heavy load changes.

切換內部開關S2：驅動電路2藉由第一電晶體Tr1、第二電晶體Tr2、第三電晶體Tr3、及第四電晶體Tr4，基於電壓控制訊號，將自閘極端點G接收的一閘極輸入訊號傳送至開關電路3，以選擇導通第一開關31或第二開關32，其中，第一開關31為GaN電晶體，第二開關32為金氧半場效電晶體。Switching the internal switch S2: The driving circuit 2 transmits a gate input signal received from the gate terminal G to the switch circuit 3 based on the voltage control signal through the first transistor Tr1, the second transistor Tr2, the third transistor Tr3, and the fourth transistor Tr4 to select turning on the first switch 31 or the second switch 32, wherein the first switch 31 is a GaN transistor and the second switch 32 is a metal oxide semi-conductor field effect transistor.

在一實施例中，當電路整體負載為重載時，源極電阻Rs的電壓大於第二電阻R2的分壓，故第一比較器11輸出電壓控制訊號給第一電晶體Tr1和第二電晶體Tr2，第一開關31（GaN電晶體）因而可接受外部輸入的閘極輸入信號，從而導通或截止，如此，由於GaN電晶體的切換及導通損失較小，因此可提升電路在重載時的效率。In one embodiment, when the circuit is overloaded, the voltage of the source resistor Rs is greater than the voltage divided by the second resistor R2, so the first comparator 11 outputs a voltage control signal to the first transistor Tr1 and the second transistor Tr2, and the first switch 31 (GaN transistor) can accept an external gate input signal to turn on or off. In this way, since the switching and conduction losses of the GaN transistor are smaller, the efficiency of the circuit under overload can be improved.

在一實施例中，當電路整體負載為輕載時，源極電阻Rs的電壓小於第二電阻R2的分壓，故第二比較器12輸出電壓控制訊號給第三電晶體Tr3和第四電晶體Tr4，第二開關32（MOSFET電晶體）因而可接受外部輸入的閘極輸入信號，從而導通或截止，如此，由於MOSFET電晶體的驅動損失較小，因此可提升電路在輕載時的效率。In one embodiment, when the overall load of the circuit is light, the voltage of the source resistor Rs is less than the divided voltage of the second resistor R2, so the second comparator 12 outputs a voltage control signal to the third transistor Tr3 and the fourth transistor Tr4, and the second switch 32 (MOSFET transistor) can therefore accept an externally input gate input signal to be turned on or off. In this way, since the driving loss of the MOSFET transistor is smaller, the efficiency of the circuit under light load can be improved.

由上所述可知，本發明之根據負載自動切換的開關模組及方法，藉由第一比較器和第二比較器基於第一電阻和第二電阻的分壓、及源極電阻的電壓，自動判斷負載輕重載，並輸出電壓控制訊號；再藉由複數個電晶體基於前述電壓控制訊號，接收閘極輸入訊號以選擇導通GaN電晶體或MOSFET電晶體，如此，在電路輕重載時，可根據不同電晶體的特性，提升電源供應器輕重載時的輸出品質和效率；本發明其據以實施後，確實可以達到提供一種提升電源供應器的輸出品質和效率的根據負載自動切換開關模組及方法之目的。As described above, the switch module and method for automatic switching according to load of the present invention automatically judge whether the load is light or heavy based on the voltage division of the first resistor and the second resistor and the voltage of the source resistor by the first comparator and the second comparator, and output a voltage control signal; then, a plurality of transistors receive a gate input signal based on the aforementioned voltage control signal to select a GaN transistor or a MOSFET transistor to be turned on. In this way, when the circuit is light or heavy loaded, the output quality and efficiency of the power supply under light or heavy load can be improved according to the characteristics of different transistors; after the present invention is implemented, it can indeed achieve the purpose of providing a switch module and method for automatic switching according to load that improves the output quality and efficiency of the power supply.

唯，以上所述者，僅為本發明之較佳之實施例而已，並非用以限定本發明實施之範圍；任何熟習此技藝者，在不脫離本發明之精神與範圍下所作之均等變化與修飾，皆應涵蓋於本發明之專利範圍內。However, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any equivalent changes and modifications made by a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be included in the patent scope of the present invention.

綜上所述，本發明係具有「產業利用性」、「新穎性」與「進步性」等專利要件；申請人爰依專利法之規定，向　鈞局提起發明專利之申請。In summary, this invention has the patent requirements of "industrial applicability", "novelty" and "progress"; the applicant has filed an application for invention patent with the Jun Bureau in accordance with the provisions of the Patent Law.

1 控制電路 11 第一比較器 12 第二比較器 2 驅動電路 3 開關電路 31 第一開關 32 第二開關 R1 第一電阻 R2 第二電阻 Rs 源極電阻 Tr1 第一電晶體 Tr2 第二電晶體 Tr3 第三電晶體 Tr4 第四電晶體 S 源極端點 G 閘極端點 D 汲極端點 V _cc電路電壓 1 Control circuit 11 First comparator 12 Second comparator 2 Drive circuit 3 Switch circuit 31 First switch 32 Second switch R1 First resistor R2 Second resistor Rs Source resistor Tr1 First transistor Tr2 Second transistor Tr3 Third transistor Tr4 Fourth transistor S Source terminal G Gate terminal D Drain terminal _Vcc Circuit voltage

圖1，為本發明之電路方塊示意圖。圖2，為本發明之根據負載自動切換開關模組電路圖。圖3，為本發明之根據負載自動切換開關方法流程圖。 Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the circuit block of the present invention. Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of the switch module that automatically switches according to the load of the present invention. Figure 3 is a flow chart of the method for automatically switching the switch according to the load of the present invention.

11 第一比較器 12 第二比較器 31 第一開關 32 第二開關 R1 第一電阻 R2 第二電阻 Rs 源極電阻 Tr1 第一電晶體 Tr2 第二電晶體 Tr3 第三電晶體 Tr4 第四電晶體 S 源極端點 G 閘極端點 D 汲極端點 V _cc電路電壓 11 First comparator 12 Second comparator 31 First switch 32 Second switch R1 First resistor R2 Second resistor Rs Source resistor Tr1 First transistor Tr2 Second transistor Tr3 Third transistor Tr4 Fourth transistor S Source terminal G Gate terminal D Drain terminal _Vcc Circuit voltage

Claims

一種根據負載自動切換開關的方法，包含：藉由一第一比較器和一第二比較器基於一第一電阻和一第二電阻的分壓、及一源極電阻的電壓，自動判斷負載輕重載，並輸出一電壓控制訊號；藉由複數個電晶體基於該電壓控制訊號，接收一閘極輸入訊號，並選擇導通一第一開關或一第二開關；該第一開關為一GaN電晶體，該第二開關為一金氧半場效電晶體；以及當負載為重載時，該第一比較器輸出該電壓控制訊號給部分該電晶體，以選擇導通該第一開關。 A method for automatically switching a switch according to a load includes: automatically judging whether the load is light or heavy based on a voltage division of a first resistor and a second resistor and a voltage of a source resistor by a first comparator and a second comparator, and outputting a voltage control signal; receiving a gate input signal based on the voltage control signal by a plurality of transistors, and selecting to turn on a first switch or a second switch; the first switch is a GaN transistor, and the second switch is a metal oxide semi-conductor field effect transistor; and when the load is heavy, the first comparator outputs the voltage control signal to part of the transistors to select to turn on the first switch.

如請求項1所述之根據負載自動切換開關的方法，其中，當負載為輕載時，該第二比較器輸出該電壓控制訊號給部分該電晶體，以選擇導通該第二開關。 The method of automatically switching a switch according to a load as described in claim 1, wherein when the load is light, the second comparator outputs the voltage control signal to a portion of the transistor to select to turn on the second switch.

一種根據負載自動切換的開關模組，包含：一源極電阻；一控制電路，電性連接該源極電阻，具有一第一比較器、一第二比較器、一第一電阻、及一第二電阻，且供以基於該第一電阻和該第二電阻的分壓、及該源極電阻的電壓，藉由該第一比較器和該第二比較器自動判斷負載輕重載，輸出一電壓控制訊號；一驅動電路，電性連接該控制電路，供以基於該電壓控制訊號，輸出一閘極輸入訊號；一開關電路，電性連接該驅動電路，供以基於該閘極輸入訊號導通一第一開關或一第二開關；該第一開關為一GaN電晶體，該第二開關為一金氧半場效電晶體；該第一電阻電性連接一電路電壓，該源極電阻電性連接一源極端點；以及當負載為重載時，該第一比較器輸出該電壓控制訊號給部分該電晶體，以選擇導通該第一開關。 A switch module that automatically switches according to load, comprising: a source resistor; a control circuit electrically connected to the source resistor, having a first comparator, a second comparator, a first resistor, and a second resistor, and providing a voltage based on the voltage division of the first resistor and the second resistor and the voltage of the source resistor, and automatically judging whether the load is light or heavy through the first comparator and the second comparator, and outputting a voltage control signal; a drive circuit electrically connected to the control circuit, providing a voltage control signal based on the voltage A control signal is outputted to output a gate input signal; a switch circuit is electrically connected to the driving circuit to conduct a first switch or a second switch based on the gate input signal; the first switch is a GaN transistor, and the second switch is a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor; the first resistor is electrically connected to a circuit voltage, and the source resistor is electrically connected to a source terminal; and when the load is heavy, the first comparator outputs the voltage control signal to part of the transistor to select the first switch to be turned on.

如請求項3所述之根據負載自動切換的開關模組，其中，該第一比較器具有一第一反向輸入端和一第一非反向輸入端，該第一反向輸入端電性連接該第一電阻和該第二電阻，該第一非反向輸入端電性連接該源極電阻，該第二比較器具有一第二反向輸入端和一第二非反向輸入端，該第二反向輸入端電性連接該源極電阻，該第二非反向輸入端電性連接該第一電阻和該第二電阻。 The switch module according to the load automatic switching as described in claim 3, wherein the first comparator has a first inverting input terminal and a first non-inverting input terminal, the first inverting input terminal is electrically connected to the first resistor and the second resistor, the first non-inverting input terminal is electrically connected to the source resistor, and the second comparator has a second inverting input terminal and a second non-inverting input terminal, the second inverting input terminal is electrically connected to the source resistor, and the second non-inverting input terminal is electrically connected to the first resistor and the second resistor.

如請求項3所述之根據負載自動切換的開關模組，其中，該驅動電路具有一第一電晶體、一第二電晶體、一第三電晶體、及一第四電晶體，該第一電晶體和該第二電晶體相互串聯，該第三電晶體和該第四電晶體相互串聯，各該第一電晶體、該第二電晶體、該第三電晶體、及該第四電晶體的基極電性連接一閘極端點。 As described in claim 3, the switch module according to load automatic switching, wherein the driving circuit has a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, and a fourth transistor, the first transistor and the second transistor are connected in series with each other, the third transistor and the fourth transistor are connected in series with each other, and the base of each of the first transistor, the second transistor, the third transistor, and the fourth transistor is electrically connected to a gate terminal.

如請求項3所述之根據負載自動切換的開關模組，其中，該第一開關和該第二開關相互並聯，該第一開關和該第二開關的汲極電性連接一汲極端點，該第一開關和該第二開關的源極電性連接該源極電阻，而該第一開關的閘極電性連接該第一電晶體和該第二電晶體的集極，該第二開關的閘極電性連接該第三電晶體和該第四電晶體的集極。 The switch module according to claim 3 that automatically switches according to the load, wherein the first switch and the second switch are connected in parallel to each other, the drains of the first switch and the second switch are electrically connected to a drain terminal, the sources of the first switch and the second switch are electrically connected to the source resistor, and the gate of the first switch is electrically connected to the collectors of the first transistor and the second transistor, and the gate of the second switch is electrically connected to the collectors of the third transistor and the fourth transistor.