Abstract: A switching circuit for extracting power from an electric power source includes (1) an input port for electrically coupling to the electric power source, (2) an output port for electrically coupling to a load, (3) a first switching device configured to switch between its conductive state and its non-conductive state to transfer power from the input port to the output port, (4) an intermediate switching node that transitions between at least two different voltage levels at least in part due to the first switching device switching between its conductive state and its non-conductive state, and (5) a controller for controlling the first switching device to maximize an average value of a voltage at the intermediate switching node.

Abstract: An electric power system includes N electric power sources and N switching circuits, where N is an integer greater than one. Each switching circuit includes an input port electrically coupled to a respective one of the N electric power sources, an output port, and a first switching device adapted to switch between its conductive and non-conductive states to transfer power from the input port to the output port. The output ports of the N switching circuits are electrically coupled in series and to a load to establish an output circuit. Each of the N switching circuits uses an interconnection inductance of the output circuit as a primary energy storage inductance of the switching circuit.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip includes a first input port, a first output port, and first and second transistors electrically coupled in series across the first input port. The second transistor is also electrically coupled across the first output port and is adapted to provide a path for current flowing through the first output port when the first transistor is in its non-conductive state. The integrated circuit chip additionally includes first driver circuitry for driving gates of the first and second transistors to cause the transistors to switch between their conductive and non-conductive states. The integrated circuit chip further includes first controller circuitry for controlling the first driver circuitry such that the first and second transistors switch between their conductive and non-conductive states to at least substantially maximize an amount of electric power extracted from an electric power source electrically coupled to the first input port.

Abstract: An electric power system includes N electric power sources and N switching circuits, where N is an integer greater than one. Each switching circuit includes an input port electrically coupled to a respective one of the N electric power sources, an output port, and a first switching device adapted to switch between its conductive and non-conductive states to transfer power from the input port to the output port. The output ports of the N switching circuits are electrically coupled in series and to a load to establish an output circuit. Each of the N switching circuits uses an interconnection inductance of the output circuit as a primary energy storage inductance of the switching circuit.

Abstract: An electric power system includes N electric power sources and N switching circuits, where N is an integer greater than one. Each switching circuit includes an input port electrically coupled to a respective one of the N electric power sources, an output port, and a first switching device adapted to switch between its conductive and non-conductive states to transfer power from the input port to the output port. The output ports of the N switching circuits are electrically coupled in series and to a load to establish an output circuit. Each of the N switching circuits uses an interconnection inductance of the output circuit as a primary energy storage inductance of the switching circuit.

Abstract: A switching circuit for extracting power from an electric power source includes (1) an input port for electrically coupling to the electric power source, (2) an output port for electrically coupling to a load, (3) a first switching device configured to switch between its conductive state and its non-conductive state to transfer power from the input port to the output port, (4) an intermediate switching node that transitions between at least two different voltage levels at least in part due to the first switching device switching between its conductive state and its non-conductive state, and (5) a controller for controlling the first switching device to maximize an average value of a voltage at the intermediate switching node.

Abstract: A switching circuit for extracting power from an electric power source includes (1) an input port for electrically coupling to the electric power source, (2) an output port for electrically coupling to a load, (3) a first switching device configured to switch between its conductive state and its non-conductive state to transfer power from the input port to the output port, (4) an intermediate switching node that transitions between at least two different voltage levels at least in part due to the first switching device switching between its conductive state and its non-conductive state, and (5) a controller for controlling the first switching device to maximize an average value of a voltage at the intermediate switching node.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip includes a first input port, a first output port, and first and second transistors electrically coupled in series across the first input port. The second transistor is also electrically coupled across the first output port and is adapted to provide a path for current flowing through the first output port when the first transistor is in its non-conductive state. The integrated circuit chip additionally includes first driver circuitry for driving gates of the first and second transistors to cause the transistors to switch between their conductive and non-conductive states. The integrated circuit chip further includes first controller circuitry for controlling the first driver circuitry such that the first and second transistors switch between their conductive and non-conductive states to at least substantially maximize an amount of electric power extracted from an electric power source electrically coupled to the first input port.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip includes a first input port, a first output port, and first and second transistors electrically coupled in series across the first input port. The second transistor is also electrically coupled across the first output port and is adapted to provide a path for current flowing through the first output port when the first transistor is in its non-conductive state. The integrated circuit chip additionally includes first driver circuitry for driving gates of the first and second transistors to cause the transistors to switch between their conductive and non-conductive states. The integrated circuit chip further includes first controller circuitry for controlling the first driver circuitry such that the first and second transistors switch between their conductive and non-conductive states to at least substantially maximize an amount of electric power extracted from an electric power source electrically coupled to the first input port.

Abstract: An electric power system includes N electric power sources and N switching circuits, where N is an integer greater than one. Each switching circuit includes an input port electrically coupled to a respective one of the N electric power sources, an output port, and a first switching device adapted to switch between its conductive and non-conductive states to transfer power from the input port to the output port. The output ports of the N switching circuits are electrically coupled in series and to a load to establish an output circuit. Each of the N switching circuits uses an interconnection inductance of the output circuit as a primary energy storage inductance of the switching circuit.

Abstract: An electric power system includes N electric power sources and N switching circuits, where N in an integer greater than one. Each switching circuit includes an input port electrically coupled to a respective one of the N electric power sources, an output port, and a first switching device adapted to switch between its conductive and non-conductive states to transfer power from the input port to the output port. The output ports of the N switching circuits are electrically coupled in series and to a load to establish an output circuit. Each of the N switching circuits uses an interconnection inductance of the output circuit as a primary energy storage inductance of the switching circuit.

Abstract: An electric power system includes N electric power sources and N switching circuits, where N in an integer greater than one. Each switching circuit includes an input port electrically coupled to a respective one of the N electric power sources, an output port, and a first switching device adapted to switch between its conductive and non-conductive states to transfer power from the input port to the output port. The output ports of the N switching circuits are electrically coupled in series and to a load to establish an output circuit. Each of the N switching circuits uses an interconnection inductance of the output circuit as a primary energy storage inductance of the switching circuit.

Abstract: A switching circuit for extracting power from an electric power source includes (1) an input port for electrically coupling to the electric power source, (2) an output port for electrically coupling to a load, (3) a first switching device configured to switch between its conductive state and its non-conductive state to transfer power from the input port to the output port, (4) an intermediate switching node that transitions between at least two different voltage levels at least in part due to the first switching device switching between its conductive state and its non-conductive state, and (5) a controller for controlling the first switching device to maximize an average value of a voltage at the intermediate switching node.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip includes a first input port, a first output port, and first and second transistors electrically coupled in series across the first input port. The second transistor is also electrically coupled across the first output port and is adapted to provide a path for current flowing through the first output port when the first transistor is in its non-conductive state. The integrated circuit chip additionally includes first driver circuitry for driving gates of the first and second transistors to cause the transistors to switch between their conductive and non-conductive states. The integrated circuit chip further includes first controller circuitry for controlling the first driver circuitry such that the first and second transistors switch between their conductive and non-conductive states to at least substantially maximize an amount of electric power extracted from an electric power source electrically coupled to the first input port.

Abstract: A method for determining the speed of rotation of an unpowered, coasting electric motor, driven, when powered, by an electronic inverter, and without activating switches of the inverter. The steps include determining an electrical frequency of a back emf signal generated at a terminal of the motor or switching node of the inverter when the motor is coasting and determining the mechanical motor frequency and thus speed of rotation by dividing the electrical frequency by the number of motor pole pairs.

Abstract: A power converter circuit for providing maximum utilization of a DC bus voltage to a two-phase Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) is disclosed. The circuit includes first, second, and third nodes, each node being the junction between series connected high and low side switches connected across a DC bus; a PMSM having first and second windings and a star point at which the first and second windings are coupled to each other, the first winding having a terminal connected to the first node, the second winding having a terminal connected to the second node, and the star point being connected to the third node; and a controller for performing a three-point Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) coupled to a gate of each switch.

Abstract: A circuit for converting from an input serial pulse code modulated (PCM) digital signal to an output pulse width modulated (PWM) digital signal for driving a switching audio amplifier requiring a pulse width modulated input signal, the circuit comprising a sample rate converter receiving the input serial PCM digital signal at a first sampling frequency and converting the input serial PCM digital signal to a second serial PCM digital signal at a second frequency if the first sampling frequency is lower than the second frequency, a digital filter stage for up-sampling the second serial PCM digital signal to a third frequency and converting the second serial PCM digital signal to a parallel digital signal, a volume control stage receiving the parallel digital signal and generating a volume adjusted parallel digital signal in accordance with a digital volume command control signal, a digital cross-point estimator stage for calculating a cross-point between the volume adjusted parallel digital signal and a digital

Abstract: A method for determining the speed of rotation of an unpowered, coasting electric motor, driven, when powered, by an electronic inverter, and without activating switches of the inverter. The steps include determining an electrical frequency of a back emf signal generated at a terminal of the motor or switching node of the inverter when the motor is coasting and determining the mechanical motor frequency and thus speed of rotation by dividing the electrical frequency by the number of motor pole pairs.

Abstract: A plurality of parameters of a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) is determined by a motor controller for differentiating between a plurality of PMSMs. This is achieved by first applying regulated DC motor currents at a commanded fixed rotor angle and measuring a quadrature voltage; parking the PMSM at standstill, Then, after selecting an initial set of controller parameters; applying the quadrature voltage equal to zero and measuring a time constant. Then, accelerating the PMSM with a constant torque up to a preset target speed and measuring a total acceleration time taccelerate until the preset target speed ?target is reached. After regulating a stator current at 0 value, measuring the quadrature voltage and a freewheeling motor speed ?freewheel immediately after applying the 0 stator current; and calculating an electrical constant KE of the PMSM; a load inertia J; and a set of parameters for the controller.

Abstract: A plurality of parameters of a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) is determined by a motor controller for differentiating between a plurality of PMSMs. This is achieved by first applying regulated DC motor currents at a commanded fixed rotor angle and measuring a quadrature voltage; parking the PMSM at standstill, Then, after selecting an initial set of controller parameters; applying the quadrature voltage equal to zero and measuring a time constant. Then, accelerating the PMSM with a constant torque up to a preset target speed and measuring a total acceleration time taccelerate until the preset target speed ?target is reached. After regulating a stator current at 0 value, measuring the quadrature voltage and a freewheeling motor speed ?freewheel immediately after applying the 0 stator current; and calculating an electrical constant KE of the PMSM; a load inertia J; and a set of parameters for the controller.