Abstract: A gas-discharge lamp controller utilizing a novel preheating phase control mechanism, having: a supply voltage tracking reference voltages generator, biased between a supply voltage and a reference ground, for generating a first reference voltage which is proportional to the supply voltage; and a control unit, for generating a high threshold signal according to the first reference voltage and a saw-tooth signal, the peak value of the saw-tooth signal being proportional to the supply voltage, wherein the control unit has a preheating phase, the high threshold signal is coupled with the first reference voltage during the preheating phase, and the time duration of the preheating phase is set by a predetermined number of periods of the saw-tooth signal.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a safety capacitor discharging method for AC-to-DC converters, wherein the AC-to-DC converters have a safety capacitor connected between two line voltages, the method comprising the steps of: detecting at least one line voltage to generate a line-off signal, wherein the line-off signal is at a first state when the peak voltage of the at least one line voltage is above a reference voltage, and the line-off signal is at a second state when the peak voltage of the at least one line voltage is below the reference voltage; and performing discharge of the safety capacitor by generating a conduction path between two plates of the safety capacitor when the line-off signal is at the second state. The present invention also provides a safety capacitor discharging apparatus for AC-to-DC converters.

Abstract: A low-pin count fan speed control system and a method thereof include primarily an activation unit to drive a fan to operate. When the fan starts completely, the fan slows down to a pre-determined rotation speed through an idle speed regulation unit. After achieving a pre-determined temperature through a temperature transition unit, the fan speed beings to increase from the idle speed. When the fan is operating, the rotation speed is properly increased in proportion to the temperature, using a positive temperature regulation slope unit. Therefore, through this method, the rotation speed will not be decreased by foreign objects when the fan is operating and a computer host can be provided with proper heat dissipation.

Abstract: A gas-discharge lamp controller utilizing a novel preheating frequency generation mechanism, including: a resistance sensing means, used to generate a sensed voltage when coupled to an external series resistor-capacitor network, the external series resistor-capacitor network being biased between a first supply voltage and a reference ground; a sample and hold circuit, used to generate a sampled voltage of the sensed voltage under the control of a latch signal; and a mapping circuit, used to generate a control voltage according to a function of the sampled voltage.

Abstract: A gas-discharge lamp controller utilizing a novel preheating frequency generation mechanism, including: a resistance sensing means, used to generate a sensed voltage when coupled to an external series resistor-capacitor network, the external series resistor-capacitor network being biased between a first supply voltage and a reference ground; a sample and hold circuit, used to generate a sampled voltage of the sensed voltage under the control of a latch signal; and a mapping circuit, used to generate a control voltage according to a function of the sampled voltage.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electronic ballast with dimming control from power line sensing for a fluorescent lamp, comprising: a control voltage generator, used to generate a control voltage according to a switching count of a power line; an oscillator, used to generate an oscillating signal, wherein the oscillating signal is of a fixed frequency and has a rising voltage portion and a falling voltage portion; and a comparator, used to generate a high side gating signal according to voltage comparison of the oscillating signal and the control voltage.

Abstract: A gas-discharge lamp controller utilizing a novel preheating phase control mechanism, having: a supply voltage tracking reference voltages generator, biased between a supply voltage and a reference ground, for generating a first reference voltage which is proportional to the supply voltage; and a control unit, for generating a high threshold signal according to the first reference voltage and a saw-tooth signal, the peak value of the saw-tooth signal being proportional to the supply voltage, wherein the control unit has a preheating phase, the high threshold signal is coupled with the first reference voltage during the preheating phase, and the time duration of the preheating phase is set by a predetermined number of periods of the saw-tooth signal.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a full-range-duty PWM signal generation method for an AC-to-DC power conversion, comprising the steps of: generating a saw-tooth signal with a predetermined valley voltage; generating a reference signal according to at least one of a current feedback signal and a voltage feedback signal; and generating a PWM signal according to voltage comparison of the saw-tooth signal and the reference signal. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a full-range-duty PWM signal generation apparatus for an AC-to-DC power conversion, and a system using the full-range-duty PWM signal generation apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a single chip ballast controller, capable of providing brightness levels overview and brightness setting of a fluorescent lamp during power-on period, having: a switching detection circuit, used to generate a set signal, which changes from an inactive state to an active state when a supply voltage falls below a threshold voltage; a time-varying reference voltage generator, used to generate a time-varying reference voltage varying between a first level and a second level during a power-on period, wherein the time-varying reference voltage can be fixed at a level by the active state of the set signal during the power-on period; and a gating signal generator, used to generate a high side driving signal and a low side driving signal according to an error voltage between the time-varying reference voltage and a current sensing voltage.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electronic ballast with dimming control from power line sensing for a fluorescent lamp, comprising: a line switching sensing circuit, used to generate a switching sensing signal by performing a voltage comparison operation on a DC voltage; an oscillating signal gating unit, used to gate an oscillating signal with a pulse signal to generate a gated oscillating signal, wherein the pulse width of the pulse signal is generated according to the switching sensing signal; and a non-overlapping driver, used to generate a high side driving signal and a low side driving signal according to the gated oscillating signal.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electronic ballast with dimming control from power line sensing for a fluorescent lamp, comprising: a line switching sensing circuit, used to generate a switching sensing signal by performing a voltage comparison operation on a DC voltage, and generate a reset signal according to the off time of the power line; a control voltage generator, used to generate a control voltage according to the count of said switching sensing signal; a voltage controlled oscillator, used to generate an oscillating signal according to the control voltage; and a non-overlapping driver, used to generate a high side driving signal and a low side driving signal according to the oscillating signal.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electronic ballast with dimming control from power line sensing for a fluorescent lamp, comprising: a line switching sensing circuit, used to generate a switching sensing signal by performing a voltage comparison operation on a DC voltage, and generate a reset signal according to the off time of the power line; a dimming voltage generator, used to generate a dimming voltage according to a count of the switching sensing signal; and a phase-controlled non-overlapping driver, used to generate a high side driving signal and a low side driving signal for delivering a lamp current according to the dimming voltage, wherein the dimming voltage is used to generate a phase, and the phase is used to generate the lamp current.

Abstract: The present invention relates a single chip ballast controller for step-dimming of a fluorescent lamp, comprising: a counting circuit, used to generate a switching count by counting the instances where the supply voltage falls below a threshold voltage; a reference voltage generator, used to generate a reference voltage proportional to the switching count; and a gating signal generator, used to generate a high side driving signal and a low side driving signal according to an error voltage between the reference voltage and a current sensing voltage to regulate the current sensing voltage at the reference voltage, wherein the current sensing voltage is proportional to a lamp current flowing through the fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: A single-pin multifunctional device and method for input and output in controlling a direct-current fan use a control chip to control an operation of the fan, thereby protecting issues generated by too high a temperature. The control chip uses a value of a temperature induction unit to determine a range of protection and maintains the fan at an idle speed operation through an idle speed regulation unit. Meanwhile, the temperature induction unit notifies an over-temperature protection unit to switch from the idle speed regulation unit to the over-temperature protection unit. Therefore, the fan is controlled through a single pin to input and output simultaneously.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a safety capacitor discharging method for AC-to-DC converters, wherein the AC-to-DC converters have a safety capacitor connected between two line voltages, the method comprising the steps of: detecting at least one line voltage to generate a line-off signal, wherein the line-off signal is at a first state when the peak voltage of the at least one line voltage is above a reference voltage, and the line-off signal is at a second state when the peak voltage of the at least one line voltage is below the reference voltage; and performing discharge of the safety capacitor by generating a conduction path between two plates of the safety capacitor when the line-off signal is at the second state. The present invention also provides a safety capacitor discharging apparatus for AC-to-DC converters.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electronic ballast with dimming control from power line sensing for a fluorescent lamp, comprising: a control voltage generator, used to generate a control voltage according to a switching count of a power line; an oscillator, used to generate an oscillating signal, wherein the oscillating signal is of a fixed frequency and has a rising voltage portion and a falling voltage portion; and a comparator, used to generate a high side gating signal according to voltage comparison of the oscillating signal and the control voltage.

Abstract: A low-pin count fan speed control system and a method thereof include primarily an activation unit to drive a fan to operate. When the fan starts completely, the fan slows down to a pre-determined rotation speed through an idle speed regulation unit. After achieving a pre-determined temperature through a temperature transition unit, the fan speed beings to increase from the idle speed. When the fan is operating, the rotation speed is properly increased in proportion to the temperature, using a positive temperature regulation slope unit. Therefore, through this method, the rotation speed will not be decreased by foreign objects when the fan is operating and a computer host can be provided with proper heat dissipation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a standby power saving method for power module applications, comprising the steps of: generating a mode signal according to voltage comparison of a feedback signal and a threshold voltage, wherein the mode signal has a normal mode state and a standby mode state; generating a pulse signal according to the mode signal, wherein the pulse signal has a normal PWM mode responsive to the normal mode state of the mode signal, and a VCC mode responsive to the standby mode state of the mode signal; and generating a gating signal according to the pulse signal for driving a primary side power switch. The present invention also provides a standby power saving apparatus for power module applications.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electronic ballast with dimming control from power line sensing for a fluorescent lamp, comprising: a line switching sensing circuit, used to generate a switching sensing signal by performing a voltage comparison operation on a DC voltage, and generate a reset signal according to the off time of the power line; a control voltage generator, used to generate a control voltage according to the count of said switching sensing signal; a voltage controlled oscillator, used to generate an oscillating signal according to the control voltage; and a non-overlapping driver, used to generate a high side driving signal and a low side driving signal according to the oscillating signal.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electronic ballast with dimming control from power line sensing for a fluorescent lamp, comprising: a line switching sensing circuit, used to generate a switching sensing signal by performing a voltage comparison operation on a DC voltage; an oscillating signal gating unit, used to gate an oscillating signal with a pulse signal to generate a gated oscillating signal, wherein the pulse width of the pulse signal is generated according to the switching sensing signal; and a non-overlapping driver, used to generate a high side driving signal and a low side driving signal according to the gated oscillating signal.