Abstract: A power converter system converts power from an input source for delivery to an active load. An input current surge at startup may be reduced by combining power converter switch resistance modulation with active load control. In another aspect, an input current surge at startup in an array of power converters may be reduced by periodically reconfiguring the array during the startup phase to accumulatively increase the output voltage up to a predetermined output voltage. A power converter may include a controller that provides an over-current signal to the load to reduce the load or advise of potential voltage perturbations.

Abstract: Apparatus for power conversion are provided. One apparatus includes a power converter including an input circuit and an output circuit. The power converter is configured to receive power from a source for providing power at a DC source voltage VS. The power converter is adapted to convert power from the input circuit to the output circuit at a substantially fixed voltage transformation ratio KDC=VOUT/VIN at an output current, wherein VIN is an input voltage and VOUT is an output voltage. The input circuit and at least a portion of the output circuit are connected in series across the source, such that an absolute value of the input voltage VIN applied to the input circuit is approximately equal to the absolute value of the DC source voltage VS minus a number N times the absolute value of the output voltage VOUT, where N is at least 1.

Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a VLSI semiconductor die and one or more output circuits connected to supply power to the die mounted to a package substrate. The output circuit(s), which include a transformer and rectification circuitry, provide current multiplication at an essentially fixed conversion ratio, K, in the semiconductor package, receiving AC power at a relatively high voltage and delivering DC power at a relatively low voltage to the die. The output circuits may be connected in series or parallel as needed. A driver circuit may be provided outside the semiconductor package for receiving power from a source and driving the transformer in the output circuit(s), preferably with sinusoidal currents. The driver circuit may drive a plurality of output circuits. The semiconductor package may require far fewer interface connections for supplying power to the die.

Abstract: A power converter including a transformer, a resonant circuit including the transformer and a resonant capacitor having a characteristic resonant frequency and period, and output circuitry connected to the transformer for delivering a rectified output voltage to a load. Primary switches drive the resonant circuit, a switch controller operates the primary switches in a series of converter operating cycles which include power transfer intervals of adjustable duration during which a resonant current at the characteristic resonant frequency flows through a winding of the transformer. The operating cycles may also include energy recycling intervals of variable duration for charging and discharging capacitances within the converter.

Abstract: A switching power conversion system includes a main power circuit structured to convert power from a power source at an input voltage to an output voltage using a first inductive current. The power conversion system also includes a secondary power circuit structured to scale the first inductive current to a second inductive current smaller than the first inductive current by a scaling factor. A controller is configured to control operations of the main power circuit and the secondary power circuit. Zero voltage switching (ZVS) and zero current switching (ZCS) is detected by sensing voltages across switches on the secondary power circuit. Accuracy can thus be improved. Output current of the conversion system is also determined by monitoring the voltage across a sense resistor in the secondary power circuit, which is a scaled representation of the output current, thus power loss can be reduced.

Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a VLSI semiconductor die and one or more output circuits connected to supply power to the die mounted to a package substrate. The output circuit(s), which include a transformer and rectification circuitry, provide current multiplication at an essentially fixed conversion ratio, K, in the semiconductor package, receiving AC power at a relatively high voltage and delivering DC power at a relatively low voltage to the die. The output circuits may be connected in series or parallel as needed. A driver circuit may be provided outside the semiconductor package for receiving power from a source and driving the transformer in the output circuit(s), preferably with sinusoidal currents. The driver circuit may drive a plurality of output circuits. The semiconductor package may require far fewer interface connections for supplying power to the die.

Abstract: An improved power distribution architecture includes a voltage regulator configured to operate with its output voltage approximately equal to its input voltage for most of the time. The regulator set point can be set to follow the input voltage within a limited range and set to a minimum or maximum set point outside the range. An improved ZVSBB controller adaptively extends the I-O phase of the converter while the input to output voltage ratio is close to one and responds to changes in input-output voltage differential within a short response time. The controller may respond asymmetrically to voltage changes with a steep response to voltage differentials in the boost range and a shallow response to voltage differentials in the buck range. An improved ZVSBB converter may achieve a peak converter efficiency greater than 99% owing to substantial reductions in switching and inductor losses within a narrow input range.

Abstract: A power converter including a transformer, a resonant circuit including the transformer and a resonant capacitor having a characteristic resonant frequency and period, and output circuitry connected to the transformer for delivering a rectified output voltage to a load. Primary switches drive the resonant circuit, a switch controller operates the primary switches in a series of converter operating cycles which include power transfer intervals of adjustable duration during which a resonant current at the characteristic resonant frequency flows through a winding of the transformer. The operating cycles may also include energy recycling intervals of variable duration for charging and discharging capacitances within the converter.

Abstract: A power converter provides a low-voltage output using a full-bridge fault-tolerant rectification circuit. The output circuit uses controlled switches as rectifiers. A fault detection circuit monitors circuit conditions. Upon detection of a fault, the switches are disabled decoupling the power converter from the system. A common-source dual MOSFET device includes a plurality of elements arranged in alternating patterns on a semiconductor die. A common-source dual synchronous rectifier includes control circuitry powered from the drain to source voltage of the complementary switch. A DC-to-DC transformer converts power from an input source to a load using a fixed voltage transformation ratio. A clamp phase may be used to reduce power losses in the converter at light loads, control the effective output resistance of the converter, effectively regulate the voltage transformation ratio, provide narrow band output regulation, and control the rate of change of output voltage for example during start up.

Abstract: A power adapter package comprises a power conversion module, an input board assembly comprising terminals for receiving power from an input source and delivering power to the input of the power conversion module, an output board assembly for receiving power from the output of the power conversion module and delivering power to a load via output terminations, a signal isolator comprising a bridge board spanning a distance between the input board and the output board, a case comprising top and bottom covers, and end cap assemblies for supporting and insulating input and output terminations. The bridge board may comprise a multilayer substrate comprising galvanically isolated and magnetically coupled transformer windings. The input and output boards may be soldered to contacts formed along a peripheral edge of the power conversion module.

Abstract: Circuit assemblies can be electrically interconnected by providing a circuit assembly having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a perimeter edge connecting the top and bottom surfaces, the perimeter edge being formed of insulative material and having a plurality of conductive features embedded in and exposed on the surface of the edge. The conductive features are arranged in contact sets, and each contact set is separated from adjacent contact sets by a portion of the perimeter edge that is free of conductive features. Each contact set includes conductive features that together form a distributed electrical connection to a single node. The insulative material is selectively removed to form recesses adjacent the conductive features exposing additional surface contact areas along lateral portions of the conductive features in the recesses.

Abstract: A switching power converter converts power from an input source for delivery to a load at the converter output. The converter comprises at least two switches connected in series across either the input source or the output, and an inductor connected to a central node between the two switches. A controller operates the converter in a series of converter operating cycles, each operating cycle comprising an input phase, during which one of the two switches is conductive, the inductor receives energy from the input source, and a current in the inductor is increasing positively, phase. The controller is configured to adjust the duration of the input phase, and the amount of energy stored in the inductor at the end of the input phase, as a function of a an amount of energy required to charge or discharge the node capacitance during the energy recycling phase.

Abstract: A switching power converter converts power from an input source for delivery to a load at the converter output. The converter comprises at least two switches connected in series across either the input source or the output, and an inductor connected to a central node between the two switches. A controller operates the converter in a series of converter operating cycles, each operating cycle comprising an input phase, during which one of the two switches is conductive, the inductor receives energy from the input source, and a current in the inductor is increasing positively, phase. The controller is configured to adjust the duration of the input phase, and the amount of energy stored in the inductor at the end of the input phase, as a function of a an amount of energy required to charge or discharge the node capacitance during the energy recycling phase.

Abstract: An vertical PCB inductive device is adapted to be surface mount soldered to a substrate. The inductive device may comprise a transformer having a plurality of windings or one or more discrete inductive devices. The inductive device, being amenable to volume production, may also provide cost savings by reducing the number of layers and the PCB area otherwise required by planar magnetics in a power converter. A power converter may be fashioned to be vertically oriented and surface mount soldered to a substrate such as a customer PCB.

Abstract: A power converter provides a low-voltage output using a full-bridge fault-tolerant rectification circuit. The output circuit uses controlled switches as rectifiers. A fault detection circuit monitors circuit conditions. Upon detection of a fault, the switches are disabled decoupling the power converter from the system. A common-source dual MOSFET device includes a plurality of elements arranged in alternating patterns on a semiconductor die. A common-source dual synchronous rectifier includes control circuitry powered from the drain to source voltage of the complementary switch. A DC-to-DC transformer converts power from an input source to a load using a fixed voltage transformation ratio. A clamp phase may be used to reduce power losses in the converter at light loads, control the effective output resistance of the converter, effectively regulate the voltage transformation ratio, provide narrow band output regulation, and control the rate of change of output voltage for example during start up.

Abstract: Low-voltage outputs are provided by full-bridge rectification using controlled switches with fault detection monitoring of circuit conditions and disabling switches upon detection of a fault to decouple the converter from the system. Common-source dual MOSFET devices include elements arranged in alternating patterns on the die. Common-source dual synchronous rectifiers include control circuitry powered from the voltage across the complementary switch. A DC-to-DC transformer converts power using a fixed voltage transformation ratio. A clamp phase may be used to reduce power losses, control the output resistance, effectively regulate the voltage transformation ratio, provide narrow band output regulation, and control the rate of change of output voltage. A new point of load converter includes input driver circuitry removed from and output circuitry located at the point of load, with a transformer located near the output circuit and an AC bus between the driver circuit and the primary winding of the transformer.