Abstract: A gate charge profiler for a power transistor may include a voltage comparator unit and a timer unit. An input signal may control a gate drive current input to a gate of the power transistor to control conduction between a drain and a source of the power transistor. The voltage comparator unit may be configured to compare an input voltage and a threshold voltage, and to output a comparison signal. The input voltage may be a drain-source voltage across the drain and the source of the power transistor or a gate-source voltage across the gate and the source of the power transistor. The timer unit may be configured to output a time value based on input of a transition of the input signal and input of the comparison signal.

Abstract: A gate charge profiler for a power transistor may include a voltage comparator unit and a timer unit. An input signal may control a gate drive current input to a gate of the power transistor to control conduction between a drain and a source of the power transistor. The voltage comparator unit may be configured to compare an input voltage and a threshold voltage, and to output a comparison signal. The input voltage may be a drain-source voltage across the drain and the source of the power transistor or a gate-source voltage across the gate and the source of the power transistor. The timer unit may be configured to output a time value based on input of a transition of the input signal and input of the comparison signal.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller. The controller receives feedback associated with a device powered by a power source. Sampling of the feedback associated with the device is susceptible to noise caused by a power converter in a vicinity of the controller. To achieve more accurate sampling of the feedback, the controller adjusts operation of the power converter during a window of time in which the power source powers the device. The adjusted operation reduces noise caused by the power converter such that, during the window of time in which the operation of the power converter is adjusted, the controller derives one or more accurate sample values from the received feedback.

Abstract: A power conversion device includes: a plurality of legs, each leg including a high-side switch connected between a voltage supply node and a phase node and a low-side switch connected between the phase node and a reference node; a phase current sensor for each leg and configured to sense current flowing through the high-side switch or the low-side switch of the corresponding leg; a single current sensor connected between the reference node and the low-side switches, or between the voltage supply node and the high-side switches; and a controller. During a subperiod of a switching period, the controller is configured to sample the current sensed by at least one of the phase current sensors and a current sensed by the single current sensor such that the current in one or more of the legs is sampled during the same subperiod as the current flowing through the single current sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller. To control current through a motor winding, the controller monitors a magnitude of current supplied through the motor winding. The controller compares the magnitude of current to a threshold value. In response to detecting that the magnitude of current crosses the threshold value, the controller terminates a flow of the current through the motor winding. In one application, termination of the current through the motor winding supports more efficient use of energy to drive the motor winding. For example, via the controller, terminating the current through the motor winding to prevent the current from flowing in a reverse direction through the motor winding.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller that controls operation of an amplifier. The amplifier receives a sample voltage produced by a resistive path; the sample voltage from the resistive path is indicative of a magnitude of current through a motor winding. The controller selects a gain setting to apply to the amplifier based on one or more conditions. The selected gain setting is selected amongst multiple possible gain settings. Subsequent to selection, via application of the selected gain setting to the amplifier, and based on an output of the amplifier, the controller monitors a magnitude of the current through the motor winding. According to one configuration, the amplifier adjusts the magnitude of the selected gain setting depending on one or more parameters such as the magnitude of the current through the motor winding, a selected operational range of controlling current through the motor winding, etc.

Abstract: A power conversion device includes: a plurality of legs, each leg including a high-side switch connected between a voltage supply node and a phase node and a low-side switch connected between the phase node and a reference node; a phase current sensor for each leg and configured to sense current flowing through the high-side switch or the low-side switch of the corresponding leg; a single current sensor connected between the reference node and the low-side switches, or between the voltage supply node and the high-side switches; and a controller. During a subperiod of a switching period, the controller is configured to sample the current sensed by at least one of the phase current sensors and a current sensed by the single current sensor such that the current in one or more of the legs is sampled during the same subperiod as the current flowing through the single current sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller. To control current through a motor winding, the controller monitors a magnitude of current supplied through the motor winding. The controller compares the magnitude of current to a threshold value. In response to detecting that the magnitude of current crosses the threshold value, the controller terminates a flow of the current through the motor winding. In one application, termination of the current through the motor winding supports more efficient use of energy to drive the motor winding. For example, via the controller, terminating the current through the motor winding to prevent the current from flowing in a reverse direction through the motor winding.

Abstract: A gate driver circuit includes at least one driver configured to generate a first gate control signal for a first power disconnect switch and a second gate control signal for a second power disconnect switch in parallel with the first power disconnect switch, and logic configured to implement a delayed turn on time for the second gate control signal compared to the first gate control signal such that the first power disconnect switch turns on before the second power disconnect switch when powering up a load coupled to the first and the second power disconnect switches. The gate driver circuit logic may also be configured to implement a delayed turn off time such that the first power disconnect switch turns off before the second power disconnect switch when powering down the load. Corresponding power conversion circuits, electronic systems, and methods of power disconnect switch control are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller that controls operation of an amplifier. The amplifier receives a sample voltage produced by a resistive path; the sample voltage from the resistive path is indicative of a magnitude of current through a motor winding. The controller selects a gain setting to apply to the amplifier based on one or more conditions. The selected gain setting is selected amongst multiple possible gain settings. Subsequent to selection, via application of the selected gain setting to the amplifier, and based on an output of the amplifier, the controller monitors a magnitude of the current through the motor winding. According to one configuration, the amplifier adjusts the magnitude of the selected gain setting depending on one or more parameters such as the magnitude of the current through the motor winding, a selected operational range of controlling current through the motor winding, etc.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller. The controller receives feedback associated with a device powered by a power source. Sampling of the feedback associated with the device is susceptible to noise caused by a power converter in a vicinity of the controller. To achieve more accurate sampling of the feedback, the controller adjusts operation of the power converter during a window of time in which the power source powers the device. The adjusted operation reduces noise caused by the power converter such that, during the window of time in which the operation of the power converter is adjusted, the controller derives one or more accurate sample values from the received feedback.

Abstract: In some examples, a device includes control circuitry configured to receive a first input signal, receive a second input signal, and cause gate driver circuitry to deliver a driver signal to a switch to cause the switch to deliver electrical power to an electrical load. In some examples, the control circuitry is further configured to determine whether the first input signal has an active value and determine whether the second input signal has an active value. In some examples, the control circuitry is also configured to cause the gate driver circuitry to change the driver signal across a switching cycle of the switch to increase or decrease the electrical power delivered by the switch to the electrical load in response to determining that the first input signal has the active value or in response to determining that the second input signal has the active value.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital conversion system includes at least two analog-to-digital conversion units configured to receive a plurality of analog signals and convert the analog signals to digital signals. The system further includes a delay unit including at least one delay circuit, wherein the analog-to-digital conversion system is configured to convey trigger signals to the analog-to-digital conversion units, and wherein at least one of the trigger signals is delayed via the at least one delay circuit.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital conversion system includes at least two analog-to-digital conversion units configured to receive a plurality of analog signals and convert the analog signals to digital signals. The system further includes a delay unit including at least one delay circuit, wherein the analog-to-digital conversion system is configured to convey trigger signals to the analog-to-digital conversion units, and wherein at least one of the trigger signals is delayed via the at least one delay circuit.