Abstract: A gate drive control circuit is provided that charges a gate voltage of a power switch transistor during a power switch transistor on-time period. During a first portion of the on-time period, the gate drive control circuit charges the gate voltage through a relatively-low resistance. During a second portion of the on-time period, the gate drive control circuit charges the gate voltage through a relatively-high resistance. Finally, during a third portion of the on-time period, the gate drive control circuit charges the gate voltage through another relatively-low resistance.

Abstract: A gate drive control circuit is provided that charges a gate voltage of a power switch transistor during a power switch transistor on-time period. During a first portion of the on-time period, the gate drive control circuit charges the gate voltage through a relatively-low resistance. During a second portion of the on-time period, the gate drive control circuit charges the gate voltage through a relatively-high resistance. Finally, during a third portion of the on-time period, the gate drive control circuit charges the gate voltage through another relatively-low resistance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for determining a primary switching event in an isolated converter having a primary-side and a secondary-side. The system includes a primary-switch (PS) on the primary-side, a synchronous rectifier (SR) on the secondary-side, an integration circuit, and a SR controller. The integration circuit is in signal communication with the SR on the secondary-side and the SR controller is in signal communication with the SR and the integration circuit. The SR is configured to produce a drain-to-source voltage (VDS) and the integration circuit is configured to integrate a difference between the VDS and a output voltage (VOut) (produced by the secondary-side) over time to produce a VDS over time value (VTime). The SR controller is configured to determine if the VDS is greater than a first threshold voltage (VTH) and determine the primary switching event when the VTime is greater than a second threshold voltage (VSTH).

Abstract: Disclosed is a universal primary-only output current regulation for a flyback converter. A controller determines a peak sense resistor voltage responsive to a desired average output current for the flyback converter during a continuous conduction mode of operation. After a power switch transistor is cycled on, the controller monitors a sense resistor voltage to determine when the sense resistor voltage equals the peak sense resistor voltage. The controller switches off the power switch transistor when the sense resistor voltage equals the peak sense resistor voltage to maintain an average output current for the flyback converter equal to the desired average output current.

Abstract: Disclosed is a universal primary-only output current regulation for a flyback converter. A controller determines a peak sense resistor voltage responsive to a desired average output current for the flyback converter during a continuous conduction mode of operation. After a power switch transistor is cycled on, the controller monitors a sense resistor voltage to determine when the sense resistor voltage equals the peak sense resistor voltage. The controller switches off the power switch transistor when the sense resistor voltage equals the peak sense resistor voltage to maintain an average output current for the flyback converter equal to the desired average output current.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for determining a primary switching event in an isolated converter having a primary-side and a secondary-side. The system includes a primary-switch (PS) on the primary-side, a synchronous rectifier (SR) on the secondary-side, an integration circuit, and a SR controller. The integration circuit is in signal communication with the SR on the secondary-side and the SR controller is in signal communication with the SR and the integration circuit. The SR is configured to produce a drain-to-source voltage (VDS) and the integration circuit is configured to integrating a difference between the VDS and a output voltage (VOut) (produced by the secondary-side) over time to produce a VDS over time value (VTime). The SR controller is configured to determine if the VDS is greater than a first threshold voltage (VTH) and determine the primary switching event when the VTime is greater than a second threshold voltage (VSTH).

Abstract: A synchronous rectifier controller method is provided for controlling the on and off periods of a synchronous rectifier (SR) switch transistor in a switching power converter. The method includes a first step of monitoring an unfiltered to control whether the SR switch transistor is turned on during a first part of a power switch cycle. The method also includes a second step of monitoring a filtered SR switch signal to control whether the SR switch is turned on during a remaining second part of the power switch cycle.

Abstract: A synchronous rectifier controller for controlling the on and off periods of a synchronous rectifier switch transistor in a switching power converter. In particular, the synchronous rectifier controller is configured to adaptively enable and disable a deglitch filter for filtering a turn-on signal for the synchronous rectifier switch transistor. In this fashion, the synchronous rectifier switch transistor may be switched on more rapidly during periods when the deglitch filter is disabled for greater efficiency yet the switching power converter is protected by the deglitch filter when it is not disabled.

Abstract: A synchronous rectifier controller for controlling the on and off periods of a synchronous rectifier switch transistor in a switching power converter. In particular, the synchronous rectifier controller is configured to adaptively enable and disable a deglitch filter for filtering a turn-on signal for the synchronous rectifier switch transistor. In this fashion, the synchronous rectifier switch transistor may be switched on more rapidly during periods when the deglitch filter is disabled for greater efficiency yet the switching power converter is protected by the deglitch filter when it is not disabled.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for inspecting a manufacturing component. Devices include a centering device configured to modify a position of an ultrasonic probe assembly relative to a manufacturing component to bisect an angle associated with the manufacturing component. Devices may also include a surface sensing device configured to sense a curvature associated with the manufacturing component. Devices may further include a plurality of sensors configured to measure a first displacement value associated with the centering device and a second displacement value associated with the surface sensing device. The devices may include a control circuit configured to determine a position adjustment value based on at least one of the first displacement value and the second displacement value. The devices may also include an actuator configured to modify a position of an ultrasonic transducer based, at least in part, on the position adjustment value.

Abstract: A synchronous rectifier controller for controlling the on and off periods of a synchronous rectifier switch transistor in a switching power converter. In particular, the synchronous rectifier controller is configured to adaptively enable and disable a deglitch filter for filtering a turn-on signal for the synchronous rectifier switch transistor. In this fashion, the synchronous rectifier switch transistor may be switched on more rapidly during periods when the deglitch filter is disabled for greater efficiency yet the switching power converter is protected by the deglitch filter when it is not disabled.

Abstract: An adaptive valley mode switching power converter is provided that switches on a power switch within valley periods of a resonant voltage oscillation for the power switch. Each valley period is determined with regard to a valley threshold voltage.

Abstract: A switching power converter may include a power switch coupled to a primary winding of a transformer, and a primary controller configured to turn on and off the power switch, a synchronous rectifier switch coupled to a secondary winding of a transformer, and a synchronous rectifier controller configured to turn on and off the synchronous rectifier switch. The synchronous rectifier controller may monitor a voltage across the synchronous rectifier switch. The synchronous rectifier controller may determine a period of a resonant oscillation of the voltage across the synchronous rectifier switch following at least one cycling off of the synchronous rectifier switch. The synchronous rectifier controller may adjust the minimum off-time period for the synchronous rectifier switch based on the period of the resonant oscillation. The synchronous rectifier controller may adaptively adjust a minimum off-time period for the synchronous rectifier switch.

Abstract: A synchronous rectifier controller for controlling the on and off periods of a synchronous rectifier switch transistor in a switching power converter. In particular, the synchronous rectifier controller is configured to adaptively enable and disable a deglitch filter for filtering a turn-on signal for the synchronous rectifier switch transistor. In this fashion, the synchronous rectifier switch transistor may be switched on more rapidly during periods when the deglitch filter is disabled for greater efficiency yet the switching power converter is protected by the deglitch filter when it is not disabled.

Abstract: A switching power converter is provided that includes a detector to detect whether a controller power supply voltage has fallen below a threshold voltage during a dormant period in which a power switch is no longer cycling to deliver power to a load. In response to a detection of such a threshold crossing by the detector, a controller powered by the controller power supply voltage is configured to cycle the power switch to replenish the controller power supply voltage.

Abstract: A switching power converter may include a power switch coupled to a primary winding of a transformer, and a primary controller configured to turn on and off the power switch, a synchronous rectifier switch coupled to a secondary winding of a transformer, and a synchronous rectifier controller configured to turn on and off the synchronous rectifier switch. The synchronous rectifier controller may monitor a voltage across the synchronous rectifier switch. The synchronous rectifier controller may determine a period of a resonant oscillation of the voltage across the synchronous rectifier switch following at least one cycling off of the synchronous rectifier switch. The synchronous rectifier controller may adjust the minimum off-time period for the synchronous rectifier switch based on the period of the resonant oscillation. The synchronous rectifier controller may adaptively adjust a minimum off-time period for the synchronous rectifier switch.

Abstract: An adaptive valley mode switching power converter is provided that switches on a power switch within valley periods of a resonant voltage oscillation for the power switch. Each valley period is determined with regard to a valley threshold voltage.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for inspecting a manufacturing component. Devices include a centering device configured to modify a position of an ultrasonic probe assembly relative to a manufacturing component to bisect an angle associated with the manufacturing component. Devices may also include a surface sensing device configured to sense a curvature associated with the manufacturing component. Devices may further include a plurality of sensors configured to measure a first displacement value associated with the centering device and a second displacement value associated with the surface sensing device. The devices may include a control circuit configured to determine a position adjustment value based on at least one of the first displacement value and the second displacement value. The devices may also include an actuator configured to modify a position of an ultrasonic transducer based, at least in part, on the position adjustment value.

Abstract: A flyback converter is provided that includes a base driver for driving a base current into a base of a BJT power switch. The base driver is controlled so as to adaptively vary the base current across at least some of the pulses.

Abstract: A switching power converter is provided that detects an activity signal generated in response to load activity using an adaptively-declining threshold.