Abstract: Provided is a current-sensing circuit that includes a power-supply line providing electrical power to a high side of a load, a high-side field-effect transistor (FET) component between the power-supply line and the high side of the load, and a low-side FET component coupled to a low side of the load. Gate signals continually repeat a cycle that includes: a first part in which the high-side FET component is turned on and the low-side FET component is turned off, and a second part in which the high-side FET component is turned off and the low-side FET component is turned on. In addition, a single transconductance stage is configured to: input signals indicating a voltage drop across whichever one of the high-side FET component or the low-side FET component currently is on, and output a signal indicating a current flow that corresponds to such voltage drop.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods using three separate switching phases for a buck-boost regulator are disclosed. The regulator may operate in a boost mode, a buck mode or in a buck-boost mode. The output voltage remains constant through mode changes and the ripple voltage is well-controlled. If the input voltage is lower than the output voltage by a first threshold, the regulator operates in boost (step-up) mode. If the input voltage is higher than the output voltage by a second threshold, it operates in buck (step-down) mode. The regulator operates in the buck-boost mode when the difference between the input and output voltages is within a certain range.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods using three separate switching phases for a buck-boost regulator are disclosed. The regulator may operate in a boost mode, a buck mode or in a buck-boost mode. The output voltage remains constant through mode changes and the ripple voltage is well-controlled. If the input voltage is lower than the output voltage by a first threshold, the regulator operates in boost (step-up) mode. If the input voltage is higher than the output voltage by a second threshold, it operates in buck (step-down) mode. The regulator operates in the buck-boost mode when the difference between the input and output voltages is within a certain range.

Abstract: A power converter includes an inductor, a first switch and a second switch. A summing module generates a voltage sum based on a ramp voltage and a first voltage based on a sensed inductor current. Error amplifier modules generate error voltages. A comparing and control signal generating module generates first and second switching signals and skip signals. A state machine module switches the first and second switches based on the first switching signal, the second switching signal and the skip signals. The state machine module, during a single clock period, operates in one of a two phase mode with a TON phase during which the inductor is charged and one TOFF phase during which one of a first load and a second load is fed and a three phase mode with the TON phase and two TOFF phases during which both the first load and the second load are sequentially fed.

Abstract: A process for preparing alkyl acrylates is disclosed. The process provides for the synthesis of alkyl (meth)acrylates, hydrolysis of process impurities into starting materials and separation of starting materials and reaction products in one reactor.

Abstract: The method is for controlling a voice coil motor which drives a mechanical arm via a control circuit which sets the output nodes, to which the motor is connected, in a high impedance state for a certain time interval. The method and circuit detect the back electromotive force induced on the motor winding during the time interval, and deliver current pulses for driving the motor. The circuit compares the detected back electromotive force with a certain target value and regulates the amplitude of the driving current pulses as a function of the difference between the detected value of the back electromotive force and a voltage signal representing the desired speed of the arm, according to a pre-established function. A preferred embodiment includes such a function being a pre-established saturated linear characteristic with an offset value.

Abstract: The monitoring of multiple supply voltages of an integrated circuit is done using a single external capacitor connected to a pin of the integrated circuit. Part of the multiple supply voltages are externally generated and part are internally generated. The internally generated supply voltages may include different voltages with different signs. A logic signal indicating that all the supply voltages have reached pre-established values before enabling functioning of the integrated circuit is generated after an initial soft start phase of the turn-on process.

Abstract: A switching regulator having a switching element, a control loop for varying a duty cycle of the switching element according to a difference between a switching regulator output electric quantity and a target output electric quantity, and a digital soft start-up circuit for digitally controlling the duty cycle of the switching element, independently from said difference, in a start-up phase of the switching regulator operation.

Abstract: An improved process for producing n-butyl acrylate in high yield and high purity substantially free of acrylic acid, incorporates one or more of the following new process components in an acid-catalyzed esterification process for producing n-butyl acrylate: 1. A hydrolytic recovery component, wherein heavy end adducts produced during the acid-catalyzed esterification are hydrolyzed, recovered, and recycled as valuable reactants from a hydrolytic recovery unit (HRU); 2. A cracking reactor component, preferably used with the HRU, wherein additional valuable reactants are recovered and recycled after treatment in the cracking reactor; and 3. A new distillative component, wherein a crude n-butyl acrylate stream is efficiently distilled in an aqueous mode through an acrylic acid separation column, thereby providing n-butyl acrylate substantially free of acrylic acid and in high yield. The first two components also are applicable to acid-catalyzed processes producing C1 to C4 alkyl acrylates.

Abstract: A circuit and a method generate first and second triangular waveforms opposite in phase to each other. The circuit includes a capacitor having a first plate coupled to a first output at which the first triangular waveform is produced and a second plate coupled to a second output at which the second triangular waveform is produced. First and second switches are coupled between a first voltage reference and the first and second plates, respectively, of the capacitor. The circuit also includes a controller having a first output coupled to the control terminal of the first switch and a second output coupled to a controlled terminal of a second switch. The controller is structured to produce at the first and second outputs respective first and second control signals in opposition to each other and thereby control the first and second switches in opposition to each other.

Abstract: An improved process for producing n-butyl acrylate in high yield and high purity substantially free of acrylic acid, incorporates one or more of the following new process components in an acid-catalyzed esterification process for producing n-butyl acrylate:1. A hydrolytic recovery component, wherein heavy end adducts produced during the acid-catalyzed esterification are hydrolyzed, recovered, and recycled as valuable reactants from a hydrolytic recovery unit (HRU);2. A cracking reactor component, preferably used with the HRU, wherein additional valuable reactants are recovered and recycled after treatment in the cracking reactor; and3. A new distillative component, wherein a crude n-butyl acrylate stream is efficiently distilled in an aqueous mode through an acrylic acid separation column, thereby providing n-butyl acrylate substantially free of acrylic acid and in high yield.The first two components also are applicable to acid-catalyzed processes producing C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl acrylates.

Abstract: An improved process for producing n-butyl acrylate in high yield and high purity substantially free of acrylic acid, incorporates one or more of the following new process components in an acid-catalyzed esterification process for producing n-butyl acrylate:1. A hydrolytic recovery component, wherein heavy end adducts produced during the acid-catalyzed esterification are hydrolyzed, recovered, and recycled as valuable reactants from a hydrolytic recovery unit (HRU);2. A cracking reactor component, preferably used with the HRU, wherein additional valuable reactants are recovered and recycled after treatment in the cracking reactor; and3. A new distillative component, wherein a crude n-butyl acrylate stream is efficiently distilled in an aqueous mode through an acrylic acid separation column, thereby providing n-butyl acrylate substantially free of acrylic acid and in high yield.The first two components also are applicable to acid-catalyzed processes producing C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl acrylates.