A system and method is provided for dynamically controlling output voltage slew
rate in a power converter. Preferred embodiments of the present invention operate
in accordance with a power converter including at least a slew-rate control lead
(a trim lead, a control lead, etc.), an error-amplifier circuit located therein,
a slew-rate circuit, and a controller electrically connected to the power converter
and adapted to dynamically control the converter's output voltage slew rate through
the transmission of a slew-rate signal. In one embodiment of the present invention,
the slew-rate circuit is external to the power converter and electrically connected
to both a trim lead of the power converter and to the controller. In another embodiment
of the present invention, the slew-rate circuit is internal to the power converter
and electrically connected to both a control lead of the power converter and to
the error-amplifier circuit. In either embodiment, the controller is adapted to
transmit a slew-rate signal to the slew-rate-control lead (i.e., the trim lead,
the control lead, etc.), where the nature of the slew-rate signal is dependant
on the configuration of the slew-rate circuit. For example, if the slew-rate circuit
comprises a transistor and/or a capacitor, the slew rate signal may comprise a
dynamically adjusted voltage or charge-based signal; if the slew-rate circuit comprises
a resistor, the slew-rate signal may comprise a dynamically adjusted current-based
signal; or if the slew-rate circuit comprises a digital variable resistor, the
slew-rate signal may comprise a dynamically adjusted digital signal.
