Abstract: A pulse width modulation system for use in a switching power supply circuit provides high-resolution pulse width modulated signals. The pulse width modulation system is configured to receive a control signal comprising a (m+n)-bit binary word and to provide a pulse width modulated signal with a predetermined average duty cycle having a resolution of substantially 2−(m+n). The pulse width modulation system includes a timing circuit for providing 2m timing signals, a dithering circuit, and a signal generator. Upon receiving the control signal, the dithering circuit is configured to provide a modified control signal, which comprises a series of up to 2n m-bit binary words. The signal generator is configured to receive the timing signals and the modified control signal and to provide the pulse width modulated signal having a duty cycle, which, when averaged over 2n timing cycles, is approximately equal to the predetermined average duty cycle.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for programming the digital filter compensation coefficients of a digitally controlled switched mode power supply within a distributed power system. The distributed power system comprises a plurality of point-of-load (POL) regulators each comprising at least one power switch adapted to convey power to a load and a digital controller adapted to control operation of the power switch responsive to a feedback measurement. The digital controller further comprises a digital filter having a transfer function defined by plural filter coefficients. A serial data bus operatively connects each of the plurality of POL regulators. A system controller is connected to the serial data bus and is adapted to communicate digital data to the plurality of POL regulators via the serial data bus. The digital data includes programming data for programming the plural filter coefficients. The system controller further comprises a user interface adapted to receive the programming data therefrom.

Abstract: A power supply comprises at least one power switch adapted to convey power between input and output terminals of the power supply, and a digital controller adapted to control operation of the at least one power switch responsive to an output measurement of the power supply. The digital controller comprises an analog-to-digital converter providing a digital error signal representing a voltage difference between the output measurement and a reference value, a digital filter providing a digital control output based on a sum of previous error signals and previous control outputs, an error controller adapted to modify operation of the digital filter upon an error condition, and a digital pulse width modulator providing a control signal to the power switch having a pulse width corresponding to the digital control output.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for determining a voltage output of a programmable power converter based on programming voltage data received from one of a variety of alternate sources. Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, a control unit is adapted to monitor a digital data serial interface, a digital data parallel interface, and an analog data interface to determine whether programming voltage data has been received. If programming voltage data has been received, the data is used to determine an output voltage for the programmable power converter. If more than one set of programming voltage data has been received, a determination is made as to which set of data takes priority. The selected set of data is then used to determine an output voltage for the programmable power converter.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for utilizing output-timing data to control at least one output timing parameter of a point-of-load (“POL”) regulator. Specifically, a power supply controller (“controller”) is adapted to transmit output-timing data to at least one POL regulator. In one embodiment of the present invention, each POL regulator includes an output builder, a control unit and a storage device. The control, unit is adapted to store the output-timing data in the storage device. The control unit and the output builder are then adapted to produce an output having at least one output timing parameter in accordance with the output-timing data. Examples of output-timing data include sequencing data, turn-on data, turn-off data, termination data, slew-rate data, etc. For example, a POL regulator may be adapted to utilize output-timing data, or a portion thereof (e.g., slew-rate data), to generate an output having a particular slew rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sharing current among a plurality of power modules is provided. The method includes sensing of a characteristic of an output power signal of at least one of the plurality of power modules and providing a first signal having a pulse width corresponding to the sensed characteristic. The first signal is imparted onto a current share bus coupled to each of the plurality of power modules if the first signal has a pulse width greater than corresponding first signals of other power modules coupled to the current share bus, whereupon one of the first signals from the plurality of power modules having greatest pulse width is imparted onto the current share bus as a second signal. A phase difference between the first signal and the second signal is detected and a feedback signal is provided to the at least one power module in response to the detected phase difference. The feedback signal thereby controls the at least one power module to regulate the output power signal.

Abstract: A switched mode power supply comprises at least one power switch adapted to convey power between input and output terminals of the power supply, and a digital controller adapted to control operation of the at least one power switch responsive to an output parameter of the power supply. The digital controller comprises an analog-to-digital converter providing a digital error signal representing a difference between the output parameter and a reference value, a digital filter providing a digital control output based on a sum of current and previous error signals and previous control outputs, the error signals comprising integers having a relatively low numerical range and said control outputs comprising integers having a relatively high numerical range, and a digital pulse width modulator providing a control signal to the power switch having a pulse width corresponding to the digital control output.

Abstract: A power supply comprises at least one power switch adapted to convey power between input and output terminals of the power supply, and a digital controller adapted to control operation of the at least one power switch responsive to an output measurement of the power supply. The digital controller comprises an analog-to-digital converter providing a digital error signal representing a difference between the output measurement and a reference value, a digital filter providing a digital control output based on a sum of previous error signals and previous control outputs, an error controller adapted to modify operation of the digital filter upon an error condition, and a digital pulse width modulator providing a control signal to the power switch having a pulse width corresponding to the digital control output.

Abstract: A system and method for providing interleaving point-of-load (POL) regulators such that each regulator's switching cycle is phase displaced with respect to those of other POL regulators in the array is disclosed. As a result, the aggregate input and/or output reflected ripple and noise of the input, output, or both is reduced. Each regulator in the array is associated with an unique address. A serial data-line writes the phase spacing programmed to each addressable POL regulator in the array. The present invention permits phase displacement of POL regulators without limitation to the input and output voltages of each of the regulators in the array. The array of POL regulators may also operate in a phase displaced mode with only a single control line. The need for separate controllers and multiple control lines is thereby eliminated.

Abstract: A power control system comprises a plurality of POL regulators, at least one serial data bus operatively connecting the plurality of POL regulators, and a system controller connected to the serial data bus and adapted to send and receive digital data to and from the plurality of POL regulators. The serial data bus further comprises a first data bus carrying programming and control information between the system controller and the plurality of POL regulators. The serial data bus may also include a second data bus carrying fault management information between the system controller and the plurality of POL regulators. The power control may also include a front-end regulator providing an intermediate voltage to the plurality of POL regulators on an intermediate voltage bus.

Abstract: A pulse width modulation system for use in a switching power supply circuit provides high-resolution pulse width modulated signals. The pulse width modulation system is configured to receive a control signal comprising a (m+n)-bit binary word and to provide a pulse width modulated signal with a predetermined average duty cycle having a resolution of substantially 2−(m+n). The pulse width modulation system includes a timing circuit for providing 2m timing signals, a dithering circuit, and a signal generator. Upon receiving the control signal, the dithering circuit is configured to provide a modified control signal, which comprises a series of up to 2n m-bit binary words. The signal generator is configured to receive the timing signals and the modified control signal and to provide the pulse width modulated signal having a duty cycle, which, when averaged over 2n timing cycles, is approximately equal to the predetermined average duty cycle.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for using a point-on-load (“POL”) control unit to program and/or monitor a POL regulator. Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, a power supply controller is adapted to provide initial-configuration data to at least one POL regulator. A POL control unit (located within the POL regulator) then stores at least a portion of the initial-configuration data in a storage device and uses at least a portion of the initial-configuration data to produce an output. The POL control unit is further adapted to store fault-monitoring data in the storage device and provide at least a portion of the fault-monitoring data to the controller. If the provided portion violates a known parameter, the controller (or POL control unit) may respond by perform a particular action (e.g., disable the POL regulator, etc.).

Abstract: A system and method is provided for using a serial bus to communicate (either passively or actively) with a point-of-load (“POL”) regulator. Specifically, a power supply controller (“controller”) communicates with at least one POL regulators by writing and/or reading data (either synchronously or asynchronous) over a unidirectional or bi-directional serial bus. In one embodiment of the present invention, the controller is adapted to write initial-configuration data (e.g., output voltage set-point, current limit set-point, etc.) to at least one POL regulator via the serial bus. At least a portion of the initial-configuration data is then used by the POL regulator to produce a particular output. In another embodiment of the invention, each POL regulator includes at least one register for maintaining POL information, such as unique identification information, fault protection information, output voltage set-point data, current limit set-point data, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a power supply module for high output currents, particularly a DC-DC converter, with a plate-shaped carrier element (10) configured to interact with a planar inductor and having a plurality of conductor layers, which has a suitably formed opening (12) to receive a core element of the planar inductor, on the component side is formed for automated mounting of electronic components (16), particularly a power semiconductor (14), and on the output side has a contact arrangement (40) to discharge the high output current. On the component side a strip- and/or rail-shaped bridge element (18) is provided, which forms a conductor for the output current and has a conductor cross section greater than 2 mm2. The bridge element, as a component independent of the carrier element, is preferably mounted and contacted on the carrier element by means of an automated assembly process.

Abstract: The invention concerns a voltage converter of a flux converter type with a self-regulating synchronous rectifier in the secondary circuit related to a transformer (17), with a capacitor device (C1; C1, C2) being provided, for driving an active switching element (V1, V2) of the synchronous rectifier, which is charged by means of an auxiliary winding (W1, W2) of the transformer in the secondary circuit, and its charge is applied to a control terminal of the active switching element by means of a semiconductor element (D1, D2; 30, 32), with the capacitor device being implemented in such a way that the charge allows synchronous switching operation of the active switching element.

Abstract: A micro gamma camera having several gamma radiation detection devices adjacent to each other. The detection devices are laid out above an information processing device that processes information output by the detection devices. Each of the detection devices includes: a plurality of detectors positioned adjacent to each other to form a detection plane; a first substrate including a detection plane polarizer and a first signal processor for processing the signal detected by the detection plane; a second substrate placed between the detection plane and the first substrate; a ground plane placed between the first and second substrates; and a third substrate including second and third signal processors.

Abstract: The invention concerns a voltage converter of a flux converter type with a self-regulating synchronous rectifier in the secondary circuit related to a transformer (17), with a capacitor device (C1; C1, C2) being provided, for driving an active switching element (V1, V2) of the synchronous rectifier, which is charged by means of an auxiliary winding (W1 W2) of the transformer in the secondary circuit, and its charge is applied to a control terminal of the active switching element by means of a semiconductor element (D1, D2; 30, 32), with the capacitor device being implemented in such a way that the charge allows synchronous switching operation of the active switching element.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for low-power current detection by means of a shunt resistor (Rshunt) generating a shunt voltage, with an amplifier network, implemented to amplify the shunt voltage into a measurement voltage, having a first nullator-norator combination (N1, /N1) wired as an amplifier, with a second nullator-norator combination (B2) being connected in series upstream from the first nullator-norator combination in the direction of the shunt resistor in such a way that the first nullator and the second nullator are operated in a feedback loop and non-linearity of the first nullator is corrected by an opposing behavior of the second nullator, with a feedback signal for the second nullator-norator combination being picked up at the output of the first nullator-norator combination.

Abstract: The invention relates to a power supply module for high output currents, particularly a DC-DC converter, with a plate-shaped carrier element (10) configured to interact with a planar inductor and having a plurality of conductor layers, which has a suitably formed opening (12) to receive a core element of the planar inductor, on the component side is formed for automated mounting of electronic components (16), particularly a power semiconductor (14), and on the output side has a contact arrangement (40) to discharge the high output current. On the component side a strip- and/or rail-shaped bridge element (18) is provided, which forms a conductor for the output current and has a conductor cross section greater than 2 mm2. Said bridge element, as a component independent of the carrier element, is preferably mounted and contacted on the carrier element by means of an automated assembly process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-layer planar inductance coil on a portion of a first plate-shaped support (10) which has a plurality of first conducting layers (14) which extend substantially parallel to each other and which is designed for holding and contacting further electronic components (32), wherein at least one conducting layer (14) of the first support, which forms a first electrical winding, is arranged for co-operation with a core (24) which is provided for guiding a magnetic flux and which is to be arranged in the portion, wherein at least one second plate-shaped support (20; 22; 44; 54) with a plurality of second conducting layers (16; 18) which extend substantially parallel to each other is so arranged in the portion parallel to the first support (10) that at least one conducting layer (16) of the second support, which provides a second electrical winding, can inductively co-operate with the core (24) and the first electrical winding.