Abstract: A digitally implemented voltage regulator in which a switching circuit intermittently couples the input terminal and the output terminal in response to a digital control signal. A current sensor generates a digital first feedback signal derived from the current passing through the switching circuit, and a voltage sensor generates a digital second feedback signal derived from the output voltage. A digital controller receives and uses the digital feedback signals to generate the digital control signal.

Abstract: A digitally implemented voltage regulator in which a switching circuit intermittently couples the input terminal and the output terminal in response to a digital control signal. A current sensor generates a digital first feedback signal derived from the current passing through the switching circuit, and a voltage sensor generates a digital second feedback signal derived from the output voltage. A digital controller receives and uses the digital feedback signals to generate the digital control signal.

Abstract: A voltage regulator has an input terminal, an output terminal, a first transistor to intermittently form an electrical circuit between the input terminal and the output terminal, a rectifier connecting an intermediate terminal in the electrical circuit between the input terminal and the output terminal to ground, a controller that drives the first transistor, and a capacitorless filter. Capacitance for the filter function can be provided by a capacitor, e.g., the input capacitor of the load, located in the load chip or on the same printed circuit board as the load chip. The capacitorless filter can include an inductor connected between the intermediate terminal and the output terminal, or the inductance can be provided by parasitic effects in the connections between the voltage regulator and load.

Abstract: A controller and apparatus for use in a control system. The controller includes a first gain element configured to provide a first predetermined gain to an output error signal describing an error in the output of the control system; a compensator including a control loop including a storage element, the control loop receiving the output error signal, a second gain element configured to provide a second predetermined gain to the output of the control loop, and a detector configured to modify the contents of the storage element according to a predetermined adjustment value when a minimum predetermined excursion occurs in the output error signal; and a combiner configured to combine the outputs of the first and second gain elements to produce an output control signal for the control system.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring a current passing through a load. The sensor has a power transistor having a first terminal connected to substantially constant voltage and a second terminal connected to the load. The sensor can sample a voltage difference with a variable capacitor, and a controller can be configured to cause a variable capacitor in the current sensor to have a capacitance inversely proportional to a resistance of the power transistor, whereby a charge stored on the variable capacitor is proportional to the current passing through the power transistor when the sampling switches are opened. A comparator can compare the current through the power transistor to a known reference current to generate a digital output signal. The sensor can include a power transistor, reference transistor and amplifier connected and configured so as to generate a signal on a reference line having a current of known proportion to the current passing through the load.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for use in a control system. The controller includes a first gain element configured to provide a first predetermined gain to an output error signal describing an error in the output of the control system; a compensator including a control loop including a storage element, the control loop receiving the output error signal, a second gain element configured to provide a second predetermined gain to the output of the control loop, and a detector configured to modify the contents of the storage element according to a predetermined adjustment value when a minimum predetermined excursion occurs in the output error signal; and a combiner configured to combine the outputs of the first and second gain elements to produce an output control signal for the control system.

Abstract: A voltage regulator has an input terminal, an output terminal, a first transistor to intermittently form an electrical circuit between the input terminal and the output terminal, a rectifier connecting an intermediate terminal in the electrical circuit between the input terminal and the output terminal to ground, a controller that drives the first transistor, and a capacitorless filter. Capacitance for the filter function can be provided by a capacitor, e.g., the input capacitor of the load, located in the load chip or on the same printed circuit board as the load chip. The capacitorless filter can include an inductor connected between the intermediate terminal and the output terminal, or the inductance can be provided by parasitic effects in the connections between the voltage regulator and load.

Abstract: A voltage regulator with an input terminal to be coupled to an input voltage source and an output terminal to be coupled to a load. The voltage regulator has a first switch to intermittently couple the output terminal to the input terminal, a voltage sensor to detect a voltage at the output terminal, a current sensor to detect a current flowing along a circuit path between the input terminal and the output terminal, and a controller connected to the switch, the voltage sensor and the current sensor. The controller is configured to close the first switch if the voltage is less than a first threshold voltage and the current is less than a first threshold current, and the controller is configured to open the first switch if the voltage is greater than a second threshold voltage and the current is greater than a second threshold current.

Abstract: A digitally implemented voltage regulator in which a switching circuit intermittently couples the input terminal and the output terminal in response to a digital control signal. A current sensor generates a digital first feedback signal derived from the current passing through the switching circuit, and a voltage sensor generates a digital second feedback signal derived from the output voltage. A digital controller receives and uses the digital feedback signals to generate the digital control signal.

Abstract: A digitally implemented voltage regulator in which a switching circuit intermittently couples the input terminal and the output terminal in response to a digital control signal. A current sensor generates a digital first feedback signal derived from the current passing through the switching circuit, and a voltage sensor generates a digital second feedback signal derived from the output voltage. A digital controller receives and uses the digital feedback signals to generate the digital control signal.

Abstract: A voltage regulator with a switch to alternately couple and decouple an input terminal to an output terminal with a variable duty cycle and a filter disposed between the input terminal and the output terminal to provide a substantially DC voltage at the output terminal. A sampling circuit makes measurements of an electrical characteristic of the voltage regulator at discrete moments of time, such as just before the opening and closing of the switch. A feedback circuit is coupled to the sampling circuit and the switch, and is configured to use the measurements to control the duty cycle to maintain the DC voltage substantially constant. The feedback circuit uses the switch as the resistive element in order to measure the current passing through the voltage regulator.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring a current passing through a load. The sensor has a power transistor having a first terminal connected to substantially constant voltage and a second terminal connected to the load. The sensor can sample a voltage difference with a variable capacitor, and a controller can be configured to cause a variable capacitor in the current sensor to have a capacitance inversely proportional to a resistance of the power transistor, whereby a charge stored on the variable capacitor is proportional to the current passing through the power transistor when the sampling switches are opened. A comparator can compare the current through the power transistor to a known reference current to generate a digital output signal. The sensor can include a power transistor, reference transistor and amplifier connected and configured so as to generate a signal on a reference line having a current of known proportion to the current passing through the load.

Abstract: A voltage regulator with a switch to alternately couple and decouple an input terminal to an output terminal with a variable duty cycle and a filter disposed between the input terminal and the output terminal to provide a substantially DC voltage at the output terminal. A sampling circuit makes measurements of an electrical characteristic of the voltage regulator at discrete moments of time, such as just before the opening and closing of the switch. A feedback circuit is coupled to the sampling circuit and the switch, and is configured to use the measurements to control the duty cycle to maintain the DC voltage substantially constant. The feedback circuit uses the switch as the resistive element in order to measure the current passing through the voltage regulator.