Abstract: Driver circuitry for driving a power semiconductor switch having a control input and main terminals is described. The driver circuitry includes control terminal driver circuitry coupled to the control input and configured to provide a drive signal, a sense terminal coupled to the main terminal, a current mirror coupled to the sense terminal to mirror a current input into the sense terminal during turn-off, a first current comparator configured to compare a current signal received from the current mirror to a first current threshold and output a first signal representative of the comparison, and a second comparator configured to compare a signal received from the sense terminal to a turn-on threshold and output a second signal representative of the comparison. The turn-on threshold represents a highest voltage of the main terminal during turn-on. The first current threshold represents a highest voltage of the main terminal during turn-off.

Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter including a first controller coupled to control switching of a power switch of the power converter to transfer energy to an output of the power converter. The first controller includes a communication delay generator configured to receive a first signal. The communication delay generator determines a communication delay in response to the first signal and outputs a communication signal representative of the communication delay. The first controller further includes a drive circuit coupled to the communication delay generator and configured to receive a request signal which includes a request event to turn ON the power switch. The drive circuit turns ON the power switch in response to the request event. The drive circuit is further configured to receive the communication signal and responsive to the communication signal, delays the turn ON of the power switch by the communication delay.

Abstract: A controller comprising a regulation circuit and a frequency request circuit. The regulation circuit configured to receive a signal representative of an output and a reference representative of a desired value of the output, the regulation circuit configured to output a regulation signal in response to a difference between the signal and the reference. The frequency request circuit configured to receive the regulation signal and outputs an increment signal representative of a request to increase a switching frequency and a decrement signal representative of a request to decrease the switching frequency in response to the regulation signal. The frequency request circuit configured to assert the increment signal when the output is less than the desired value for a duration longer than a first period and assert the decrement signal when the output is greater than the desired value for a duration longer than a second period.

Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter that is configured to operate in a plurality of modes including a first mode and a second mode includes a frequency monitor module coupled to measure a signal characteristic of a switch drive signal coupled to control switching of a switches block of the power converter. The frequency monitor module includes a memory coupled to store a measured signal characteristic of the switch drive signal measured during the first mode. The frequency monitor module is coupled to generate a clock signal in response to the measured signal characteristic stored in the memory. The switch drive signal is coupled to be generated in response to the clock signal during the second mode.

Abstract: A controller to regulate a power converter includes a terminal that receives an enable signal including enable events representative of an output of the power converter. A drive circuit generates a drive signal to control switching of a power switch to control an energy transfer from an input to an output of the power converter. The drive circuit turns on the power switch when an enable event is received in the enable signal. A current limit threshold generator is coupled to the drive circuit to generate a threshold signal. The threshold signal increases in response to the power switch turning off and subsequently decreases. The threshold signal and a time between consecutive enable events are used to modulate the drive signal to regulate the output of the power converter.

Abstract: A switched mode power converter has an energy transfer element that delivers an output signal to a load. A power switching device coupled to the primary side of the energy transfer element regulates a transfer of energy to the load. A secondary controller is coupled to receive a feedback signal and output a pulsed signal in response thereto. A primary controller is coupled to receive the pulsed signal and output a drive signal in response thereto, the drive signal being coupled to control switching of the power switching device. A compensation circuit generates an adaptively compensated signal synchronous with the pulsed signal. The adaptively compensated signal has a parameter that is adaptively adjusted in response to a comparison of the feedback signal with a threshold reference signal. The parameter converges towards a final value that produces a desired level of the output signal.

Abstract: Pulse sharing control to enhance performance in multiple output power converters is described herein. During a switching cycle, an energy pulse is provided to more than one port (i.e., output) using pulse sharing transfer. Pulse sharing transfer may enhance performance by reducing audible noise due to subharmonics and by reducing a root mean square current of one or more secondary currents. A primary switch is closed to energize an energy transfer element via a primary current. Energy may be shared among a first load port on a first circuit path via a first secondary current and among a second load port on a second circuit path via a second secondary current.

Abstract: A superjunction device comprising a drain contact, a substrate layer above the drain contact, an epitaxial layer above the substrate layer, a P+ layer above the epitaxial layer formed by P-type implantation to a bottom of the superjunction device, a trench with a sloped angle formed by use of a hard mask layer. The trench is filled with an insulating material. A first vertical column is formed adjacent to the trench. A second vertical column is formed adjacent to the first vertical column. A source contact is coupled to the first vertical column and the second vertical column. A P-body region is coupled to the source contact. A gate oxide is formed above the source contact and the epitaxial layer, and a gate formed above the gate oxide.

Abstract: A controller for use with a power converter and a power switch comprising a primary controller and a secondary controller. The primary controller to control the power switch to transfer energy from the input side to the output side of the power converter. The secondary controller to transmit a control signal to the primary controller through a communication link, and to initiate a transition operation with the primary controller through the communication link. The secondary controller comprises a secondary switch control circuit configured to output the control signal in response to an output of the power converter, a charging circuit coupled to an energy storage element for providing power to the secondary control circuit, and a voltage detection circuit coupled to the energy storage element, wherein the voltage detection circuit is configured to indicate to the secondary switch control circuit when to initiate the transition operation.

Abstract: An inductive charging circuit coupled to a winding of a power converter and a supply terminal of a controller of the power converter. The inductive charging circuit comprising an input coupled to the winding, the input coupled to receive a switching voltage generated by the power converter, an inductor coupled to the input to provide an inductor current in response to the switching voltage, a first diode coupled to the inductor to enable the inductor current to flow from the input of the inductive charging circuit to an output of the inductive charging circuit; and the output of the inductive charging circuit coupled to the supply terminal of the controller, the output of the inductive charging circuit configured to provide an operational current responsive to the switching voltage, the controller is configured to control a power switch of the power converter to generate the switching voltage.

Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter for transferring energy between an input and an output, the controller comprising a second controller to generate a request event and a request signal in response to a feedback signal and a switching window signal, the second controller to transmit the request event during a switching window of the switching window signal. The second controller comprising an extremum locator switching window generator to generate the switching window corresponding with an extremum in the winding signal and a measurement enable circuit to output an enable signal to enable the extremum locator switching window generator to measure a duration of a half cycle to generate the switching window. The measurement enable circuit to enable the extremum locator switching window generator in response to the feedback signal reaching a percentage of a target reference and output a quiet signal to prevent transmitting the request event.

Abstract: A half-bridge switching module is one of a plurality of half-bridge switching modules coupled to an input voltage to regulate energy provided to a load in response to a system controller. The half-bridge switching module includes a low-side switch. A low-side control is referenced to ground and is coupled to the low-side switch. A high-side switch is coupled to the low-side switch. A high-side control circuit is coupled to the high-side switch and is referenced to a floating node of the half-bridge switching module. A single fault terminal is coupled to a fault bus coupled to the system controller. The fault bus consists of a single wire. The single fault terminal is configured to provide multidirectional multi-fault group communication between the plurality of the half-bridge switching modules and the system controller through the fault bus.

Abstract: An inductive charging circuit coupled to a winding of a power converter and a supply terminal of a controller of the power converter. The inductive charging circuit comprising an input coupled to the winding, the input coupled to receive a switching voltage generated by the power converter, an inductor coupled to the input to provide an inductor current in response to the switching voltage, a first diode coupled to the inductor to enable the inductor current to flow from the input of the inductive charging circuit to an output of the inductive charging circuit; and the output of the inductive charging circuit coupled to the supply terminal of the controller, the output of the inductive charging circuit configured to provide an operational current responsive to the inductor current to the controller, the controller is configured to control a power switch of the power converter to generate the switching voltage.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods and apparatus for biasing magnetic circuits to reduce audible noise from a switching power supply. A magnetic component (e.g., a magnet) is constructed and provided to a core (e.g., a ferromagnetic core) to offset (i.e., bias) an applied magnetomotive force. By selecting and/or manufacturing the magnetic component based on a circuit operating condition, the offset may be tailored to advantageously shift a frequency of mechanical deformation outside the audible noise range. In a switching power supply with fixed peak current, the offset to the applied magnetomotive force may be determined, at least in part, by the fixed peak.

Abstract: An HFET includes a first and second semiconductor material. A first composite passivation layer includes a first insulation layer and a first passivation layer, and the first passivation layer is disposed between the first insulation layer and the second semiconductor material. The HFET includes a second passivation layer, where the first insulation layer is disposed between the first passivation layer and the second passivation layer. A gate dielectric is disposed between the second semiconductor material and the first passivation layer. A source electrode and a drain electrode are coupled to the second semiconductor material, and a gate electrode is disposed laterally between the source electrode and the drain electrode. A first gate field plate is disposed between the first passivation layer and the second passivation layer and electrically connected to the gate electrode, and a second gate field plate is disposed above first gate field plate.

Abstract: A controller comprising a driver interface referenced to a first reference potential, a drive circuit referenced to a second reference potential, and an inductive coupling. The driver interface comprises a first receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a first polarity on the first terminal of the inductive coupling with a first threshold, and a second receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a second polarity on the second terminal of the inductive coupling with a third threshold. The drive circuit comprises a first transmitter configured to drive current in a first direction in the second winding to transmit first signals, and a second transmitter configured to drive current in a second direction in the second winding to transmit second signals, the second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for sequencing outputs in a multi-output power converter system are disclosed herein. During start-up multiple CC/CV outputs may be sequenced so that energy is first provided to a highest voltage secondary output and subsequently provided to a lowest voltage secondary output. Additionally, control may be exerted so as to concurrently and monotonically increase voltages during at least part of the start-up transient; and concurrent control may be further implemented using control circuitry and a variable reference generator. In some embodiments a variable reference may be generated from a capacitor voltage.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controllable networks to vary inter-stage power transfer in a multi-stage power conversion system are disclosed herein. By using controllable networks (111-113) within the first power converter stage (102), intermediate power delivered to a subsequent or second power converter stage (104) can be varied so that the multi-stage power conversion system (100) may respond to a full load step while offering improved light load power conversion efficiency. A power estimation circuit (122) within the second power converter stage (104) can provide a control signal (Cl-CN) to each of the controllable networks (111-113); the controllable networks (111-113), in turn, can provide network signals (SI, S2) to control the intermediate power delivered to the second power converter stage (104).

Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter that is configured to operate in a plurality of modes including a first mode and a second mode includes a frequency monitor module coupled to measure a signal characteristic of a switch drive signal coupled to control switching of a switches block of the power converter. The frequency monitor module includes a memory coupled to store a measured signal characteristic of the switch drive signal measured during the first mode. The frequency monitor module is coupled to generate a clock signal in response to the measured signal characteristic stored in the memory. The switch drive signal is coupled to be generated in response to the clock signal during the second mode.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for continuous conduction mode operation in multi-output power converters are described herein. During a switching cycle, secondary current may be delivered via a diode to a secondary output. Prior to beginning a subsequent switching cycle, a diverting current may be provided to a lower voltage secondary output on a parallel path. In this way diode current may be reduced to substantially zero prior to the subsequent switching cycle.