Abstract: A controller for controlling a DC-DC converter in a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) includes an output module configured to provide a switch control signal to the DC-DC converter having an on-time and a switching frequency. The controller includes an on-time-control-module configured to receive a first compensation signal based on the output voltage of the DC-DC converter; and set the on-time of the switch control signal based on the first compensation signal. The controller also includes a frequency-control-module configured to receive a second compensation signal, wherein the second compensation signal is based on the output voltage of the DC-DC converter, and regulate the second compensation signal to a target range by setting the switching frequency of the switch control signal to one of a plurality of pre-defined discrete switching frequencies.

Abstract: In an embodiment, there is provided a battery management method for a vehicle comprising a plurality of batteries. According to another embodiment there is a control unit for performing the battery management method. The battery management method comprising detecting an incoming hazard; predicting an impact of the incoming hazard from one or more sensors coupled to the vehicle; determining a course of action to be taken in response to the predicted impact; and controlling one or more batteries of the plurality of batteries according to the determined course of action.

Abstract: Disclosed are a controller and power converter having a main buck converter connected between a first input voltage and ground and having a main output, a bidirectional auxiliary converter connected between a second terminal and ground and having an auxiliary output connected to the main output, an output capacitor, and an auxiliary capacitor connected between the second terminal and the ground for providing a second terminal voltage at the second terminal; the controller comprising: first control circuit configured to operate the main converter at a first frequency; and second control circuit configured to operate the auxiliary converter at a higher frequency; the first control circuit being further configured to operate the main converter in dependence on the second terminal voltage; and the second control circuit being further configured to operate the auxiliary converter to control the voltage at the main output terminal.

Abstract: A method, power converter and controller are disclosed for controlling a power converter having a main converter connected between a first input voltage and a ground and having a main output at an output terminal, an auxiliary converter connected between a second input voltage and the ground and having an auxiliary output, an output capacitor connected between the main output terminal and a ground, and an auxiliary capacitor connected between the auxiliary output and the main output terminal; and a controller; the method comprising: operating the main converter at a first frequency, operating the auxiliary converter at a second frequency; controlling the main converter to control the voltage at the auxiliary output; and controlling the auxiliary converter to control the voltage at the main output.

Abstract: A burst-mode controller for a DC-DC converter includes an output module configured to provide a switch control signal to the DC-DC converter. The switch control signal includes a plurality of burst windows, each burst window corresponding to a period of a fixed-frequency burst clock and having a number of switching cycles. The burst-mode controller includes an on-time-control-module configured to receive a compensation signal based on the output voltage of the DC-DC converter, and set an on-time of the switching cycles of the switch control signal based on the compensation signal. The burst-mode controller also includes a burst-control-module configured to regulate the on-time of the switching cycles of the switch control signal by setting the number of switching cycles for each burst window of the switch control signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of power-on reset (POR) circuits are described. In one embodiment, a POR circuit includes a primary ladder circuit connected to a supply voltage and configured to generate a reference signal for a reset signal in response to the supply voltage and a secondary ladder circuit connected to the supply voltage and configured to bias the primary ladder circuit in response to the supply voltage.

Abstract: A burst-mode controller for a DC-DC converter includes an output module configured to provide a switch control signal to the DC-DC converter. The switch control signal includes a plurality of burst windows, each burst window corresponding to a period of a fixed-frequency burst clock and having a number of switching cycles. The burst-mode controller includes an on-time-control-module configured to receive a compensation signal based on the output voltage of the DC-DC converter and set an on-time of the switching cycles of the switch control signal based on the compensation signal. The burst-mode controller also includes a burst-control-module configured to regulate the on-time of the switching cycles of the switch control signal by setting the number of switching cycles for each burst window of the switch control signal.

Abstract: A controller for controlling a DC-DC converter in a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) includes an output module configured to provide a switch control signal to the DC-DC converter having an on-time and a switching frequency. The controller includes an on-time-control-module configured to receive a first compensation signal based on the output voltage of the DC-DC converter; and set the on-time of the switch control signal based on the first compensation signal. The controller also includes and a frequency-control-module configured to receive a second compensation signal, wherein the second compensation signal is based on the output voltage of the DC-DC converter and regulate the second compensation signal to a target range by setting the switching frequency of the switch control signal to one of a plurality of pre-defined discrete switching frequencies.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter operates in a burst mode having at least one charge cycle with a charging phase followed by a discharging phase. A charging phase is terminated when an inductor current flowing through an inductance connected to the DC-DC converter reaches a compensated peak-current threshold, wherein the compensated peak-current threshold compensates for charging-phase loop delay. A discharging phase is terminated when the inductor current reaches a compensated valley-current threshold, wherein the compensated valley-current threshold compensates for discharging-phase loop delay.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter operates in a burst mode having at least one charge cycle with a charging phase followed by a discharging phase. A charging phase is terminated when an inductor current flowing through an inductance connected to the DC-DC converter reaches a compensated peak-current threshold, wherein the compensated peak-current threshold compensates for charging-phase loop delay. A discharging phase is terminated when the inductor current reaches a compensated valley-current threshold, wherein the compensated valley-current threshold compensates for discharging-phase loop delay.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter selectively operates in at least a first burst mode having at least one first-mode charge cycle with a first-mode charging phase followed by a first-mode discharging phase or a second burst mode having at least one second-mode charge cycle with a second-mode charging phase followed by a second-mode discharging phase. A first-mode charging phase is terminated when an inductor current flowing through the inductance reaches a first-mode peak-current threshold, and a first-mode discharging phase is terminated when the inductor current reaches a first-mode valley-current threshold.

Abstract: Embodiments provide forced-burst voltage regulation for burst mode direct-current-to-direct-current (DC-DC) converters in integrated circuits. The DC-DC converter generates an output voltage and operates in a burst mode to raise the output voltage to a threshold voltage. A controller is coupled to the DC-DC converter. In operation, the DC-DC converter is configured to perform the burst mode based upon a low-voltage detection for the output voltage. The DC-DC converter is further configured to perform the burst mode when a force-burst command is asserted by the controller to the DC-DC converter regardless of a state for the low-voltage detection. For one embodiment, the force-burst command is asserted as a burst control signal from the controller to the DC-DC converter to generate a long quiet period for sensitive actions. For another embodiment, the force-burst command is asserted using enable and refresh control signals to facilitate low-power operation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of charging a battery, including determining at a first time interval a current to be applied until a second time interval such that the current charges the battery so that an anode Li-ion surface concentration at the second time interval is kept smaller than or equal to a maximum Li-ion surface concentration of the anode, applying the current to the battery, and determining at the second time interval another current to be applied until a third time interval such that the another current charges the battery so that an anode Li-ion surface concentration at the third time interval is kept smaller than or equal to the maximum Li-ion surface concentration of the anode.

Abstract: One example discloses, an apparatus for power management, having: a power input node configured to receive charge from a primary power source at a first power level; a power-converter, having an enabled state and a disabled state, and coupled to receive the charge from the power input node; an energy buffer, coupled to receive and store the charge from the power-converter, and configured to release the charge at a second power level; a power output node, coupled to receive the charge from the energy buffer, and configured to supply the charge at the second power level to a load; wherein the second power level is greater than the first power level; and wherein the power-converter switches between the enabled state and the disabled state based on whether the charge is supplied to the load.

Abstract: A predictive controller for an inductive DC-DC converter comprising a switchable inductor is described. The predictive controller includes a DC-DC controller configured to generate a plurality of switching phases to control the inductor current in the switchable inductor, the duration of the switching phases being determined from at least one of a reference inductor current value and a reference output voltage value. The predictive controller includes a supervisory controller coupled to the DC-DC controller and configured to set a reference inductor current value dependent on an expected change in load current and/or voltage of a load configured to be connected to the load terminal. The expected change in load current and/or voltage is determined from a predetermined load profile.

Abstract: A predictive controller for an inductive DC-DC converter comprising a switchable inductor is described. The predictive controller includes a DC-DC controller configured to generate a plurality of switching phases to control the inductor current in the switchable inductor, the duration of the switching phases being determined from at least one of a reference inductor current value and a reference output voltage value. The predictive controller includes a supervisory controller coupled to the DC-DC controller and configured to set a reference inductor current value dependent on an expected change in load current and/or voltage of a load configured to be connected to the load terminal. The expected change in load current and/or voltage is determined from a predetermined load profile.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of charging a battery, including determining at a first time interval a current to be applied until a second time interval such that the current charges the battery so that an anode Li-ion surface concentration at the second time interval is kept smaller than or equal to a maximum Li-ion surface concentration of the anode, applying the current to the battery, and determining at the second time interval another current to be applied until a third time interval such that the another current charges the battery so that an anode Li-ion surface concentration at the third time interval is kept smaller than or equal to the maximum Li-ion surface concentration of the anode.

Abstract: One example discloses, an apparatus for power management, having: a power input node configured to receive charge from a primary power source at a first power level; a power-converter, having an enabled state and a disabled state, and coupled to receive the charge from the power input node; an energy buffer, coupled to receive and store the charge from the power-converter, and configured to release the charge at a second power level; a power output node, coupled to receive the charge from the energy buffer, and configured to supply the charge at the second power level to a load; wherein the second power level is greater than the first power level; and wherein the power-converter switches between the enabled state and the disabled state based on whether the charge is supplied to the load.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, methods, and systems that include at least two regions of a first semiconductor material and at least two regions of second semiconductor material that are alternatively interleaved. Additionally, the apparatuses, methods, and systems include a first electrode and a second electrode that can operate both as a source and drain. The apparatuses, methods, and systems also include a first gate electrode having multiple portions on the first semiconductor material and a second gate electrode having multiple portions on the second semiconductor material that bidirectionally control current flow between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, methods, and systems that include at least two regions of a first semiconductor material and at least two regions of second semiconductor material that are alternatively interleaved. Additionally, the apparatuses, methods, and systems include a first electrode and a second electrode that can operate both as a source and drain. The apparatuses, methods, and systems also include a first gate electrode having multiple portions on the first semiconductor material and a second gate electrode having multiple portions on the second semiconductor material that bidirectionally control current flow between the first electrode and the second electrode.