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Abstract

An apparatus and method for accurately sensing the output current delivered to a load by a buck-type DC-to-DC switched mode power converter corrects for thermal variation of the output inductor. A first current sense signal provides a fast indication of output current of the DC-to-DC converter that is susceptible to thermal variation of the output inductor of the converter, and a second current sense signal provides a slow but accurate indication of output current that is not affected by said thermal variation. The first current sense signal is corrected using the second current sense signal to yield accurate output current sensing information. In an embodiment of the invention, an output current sensing apparatus is provided for use in a multi-phase DC-to-DC voltage converter comprising a plurality of converter modules connected to a common load and having a common input voltage source. A first current sensor is adapted to be coupled to an output inductor of at least one of the plurality of converter modules to derive a first current sense signal corresponding to current passing through an internal DC resistance of the output inductor. A second current sensor is adapted to be coupled to a sensing resistor disposed in series between the common input voltage source and the load to derive a second current sense signal corresponding to current passing through the sensing resistor. A current sense circuit receives the first and second current sense signals. The current sense circuit filters the second current sense signal, integrates a difference between the first current sense signal and the filtered second current sense signal, and adjusts attenuation of the first current sense signal based on the integrated difference. The current sense circuit thereby provides the first current sense signal as a slope signal for controlling a conduction duty cycle of the DC-to-DC converter and a DC level signal corresponding to a thermal drift error of the slope signal.

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