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Z-ARCHIVE-Energy Storage: Bidirectional Direct Current Converters
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Patent US9863982
Issued 2018-01-09
Bi-directional Current Sensing Circuit
The embodiments described herein relate to an improved circuit technique for sensing current conducting in a power transistor coupled with an input power supply. The circuit includes a bi-directional current sensing circuit using current sensing transistor gate control. The circuit includes a forward current sensing transistor to sense current conducting in the power transistor during forward mode current of the circuit and a reverse boost current sensing transistor to sense current conducting during reverse current mode of the circuit. A level shifter is also provided with complementary outputs to either turn on the forward current sensing transistor or turn off the reverse boost current sensing transistor when the circuit is in forward current mode, or to turn off the forward current sensing transistor and turn on the reverse boost current sensing transistor when the circuit is in reverse current mode.
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- 1. A circuit for sensing current conducting in a power transistor coupled between an input power supply and a power regulator, the circuit comprising:
a first current loop comprising a first current sensing transistor coupled between a first terminal of the power transistor and a current sensing circuit node coupled to a current sensing circuit, the first current loop configured to sense current conducting in the power transistor during a forward current mode of the circuit; a second current loop comprising a second current sensing transistor coupled between the current sensing circuit node and a second terminal of the power transistor, the second current loop configured to sense current conducting in the power transistor during a reverse current mode of the circuit, wherein only one of the first current sensing loop and the second current sensing loop is active at a time based on whether the circuit is in the forward current mode or the circuit is in the reverse current mode.
- 11. A method for sensing current conducting in a power transistor coupled between an input power supply and a power regulator, the method comprising:
sensing current conducting in the power transistor during a forward current mode of the circuit with a first current loop comprising a first current sensing transistor coupled between a first terminal of the power transistor and a current sensing circuit node; sensing current conducting in the power transistor during a reverse current mode of the circuit with a second current loop comprising a second current sensing transistor coupled between the current sensing circuit node and a second terminal of the power transistor, wherein the first and second current sensing transistors form a series connection in parallel with the power transistor; and activating only one of the first current sensing loop and the second current sensing loop based on whether the circuit is in the forward current mode or the reverse current mode.
- 18. A circuit means for sensing current conducting in a power transistor coupled between an input power supply and a power regulator, the circuit means comprising:
means for sensing forward current conducting in the power transistor during a forward current mode of the circuit at a first current sensing transistor coupled between a first terminal of the power transistor and a current sensing circuit node in a first current loop; means for sensing reverse current conducting in the power transistor during a reverse current mode of the circuit at a second current sensing transistor coupled between the current sensing circuit node and a second terminal of the power transistor in a second current loop, wherein the first and second current sensing transistors form a series connection in parallel with the power transistor; and means for activating only one of the first current sensing loop and the second current sensing loop comprising at a time based on whether the circuit is in the forward current mode or the reverse current mode.
- 25. A circuit for sensing current conducting in a power transistor, the circuit comprising:
a first current loop comprising a first current sensing transistor coupled between a first terminal of the power transistor and a first node, the first current loop configured to sense current conducting in the power transistor during a charging mode and comprising a first amplifier; and a second current loop comprising a second current sensing transistor coupled between the first node and a second terminal of the power transistor, the second current loop configured to sense current conducting in the power transistor during a discharging mode and comprising the first amplifier.
