Abstract: To reduce gate-drive losses caused by high switching frequency operation, embodiments herein include a novel resonant gate driver circuit for driving switches. This gate drive circuit can include a simple two-half-bridge structure. A coupling inductor of the resonant gate driver circuit can provide energy circulation between gates of high and low side switches and also works as a voltage-boost transformer. According to one configuration, the resonant gate driver circuit can be extended to drive two MOSFETs with a common ground. Both theoretical and simulation results for the new resonant gate driver circuit illustrate increased efficiency via lower switching losses.

Abstract: Provided are methods, circuits, and systems for obtaining power from a power generator such as a photovoltaic cell or a fuel cell. The methods, circuits, and systems comprise converting substantially DC output power from the power generator into a high frequency AC voltage while rejecting or minimizing oscillations in the output power from the power generator; converting the high frequency AC voltage into a high frequency substantially sinusoidal voltage or current; and converting the high frequency substantially sinusoidal AC voltage or current into (i) a DC voltage or current, and (ii) a low frequency substantially sinusoidal AC voltage or current; wherein the high frequency substantially sinusoidal AC voltage or current is isolated from the DC voltage or current or the low frequency substantially sinusoidal AC voltage or current.

Abstract: A resonant power converter circuit stage can be configured to: i) receive a rectified voltage derived from an AC input voltage; ii) convert the rectified voltage to an internal voltage based on the application of a duty cycle that varies depending on the input voltage and the output dynamic load, and iii) convert the internal voltage to a DC output voltage for driving the dynamic load based on application of a switching frequency that varies depending on a dynamic load. The efficiency of the power converter system can be increased by setting the internal DC voltage magnitude to be load adaptive. Variation of the internal DC voltage depending on the dynamic load enables the resonant converter circuit to operate at a switching frequency near its optimum resonance frequency. This method results in constant power converter system efficiency over a wide range of loading. In order to further increase the light load efficiency interleaved resonant power converters with load, adaptive internal DC voltage are used.

Abstract: Provided are methods, circuits, and systems for obtaining power from a power generator such as a photovoltaic cell or a fuel cell. The methods, circuits, and systems comprise converting substantially DC output power from the power generator into a high frequency AC voltage while rejecting or minimizing oscillations in the output power from the power generator; converting the high frequency AC voltage into a high frequency substantially sinusoidal voltage or current; and converting the high frequency substantially sinusoidal AC voltage or current into (i) a DC voltage or current, and (ii) a low frequency substantially sinusoidal AC voltage or current; wherein the high frequency substantially sinusoidal AC voltage or current is isolated from the DC voltage or current or the low frequency substantially sinusoidal AC voltage or current.

Abstract: A maximum power point tracking method and system for use with a power generator comprises sampling instantaneous output voltage and current of the power generator at a first instant in time and at a second instant in time to obtain first and second power samples, generating a reference voltage or current signal from a difference of the first and second power samples; comparing the reference voltage or current to the instantaneous power generator voltage or current and generating at least one gating signal; and repeating so as to minimize the difference of the first and second power samples; wherein the gating signal affects magnitude of the output voltage and current of the power generator; wherein the maximum power point is tracked when the difference signal is minimized. The power generator may be at least one photovoltaic cell, wind turbine, or fuel cell.

Abstract: This invention relates to circuits and methods for controlling a resonant power converter. Control of the power converter may comprise comparing an output voltage or current of the converter to at least one reference voltage or current; enabling primary side switching signals based on a first selected result of the comparison; and disabling primary side switching signals based on a second selected result of the comparison; wherein a primary side switching signal for each primary side switch includes at least one off-on-off transition.

Abstract: A power supply configuration includes a monitor circuit to monitor an output voltage and output current of a power supply. The output voltage can be used to supply power to a dynamic load. The power supply varies a rate of changing an adaptive output voltage reference value that tracks the output voltage. Based on a comparison of the output voltage with respect to the adaptive output voltage reference voltage value, a controller associated with the power supply controls switching operation of the power supply to maintain the output voltage within a voltage range. For example, modifying the rate of changing the adaptive output voltage reference value over time depending on current operating conditions of the power supply changes a responsiveness and ability of the power supply to provide current to the dynamic load.

Abstract: A power supply system delivers current to a load at a corresponding load voltage. The power supply system includes multiple power converter phases. Each power conversion phase comprises a phase switch and a phase inductor. In one embodiment, activation of a corresponding phase switch (e.g., a field effect transistor such as a MOSFET) electrically couples a voltage input (e.g., Vin) to an inductor electrically coupled to deliver current to a load. A controller (e.g., a processor device) associated with the power supply system is configured to monitor the load and/or a change in the current delivered to the load. Based on the monitoring, the controller modifies a relative timing of an initiation and duration of on-times of the phase switches in order to alter a rate-of-change of the current delivered by the power supply system.

Abstract: A power supply system includes multiple power converter phases. A controller (e.g., a processor device, ASIC) monitors an output voltage generated by a combination of multiple power converter phases that supply power to a load. Based on the monitoring, the controller determines: i) a magnitude of an error signal representing a relative difference between the output voltage and a predetermined setpoint value, and ii) a rate-of-change associated with the output voltage. The controller compares the rate-of-change to threshold criteria. In response to detecting that the rate-of-change associated with the output voltage exceeds a threshold value, the controller adjusts a time of turning on of a phase switch (e.g., a power switch configured to convey an input voltage to an inductor that in turn delivers energy to the load) in one or more of the multiple power converter phases depending on the magnitude of the error signal.

Abstract: A power supply circuit includes one or more reference voltage generators that respectively generate a time-varying output voltage reference value as well as a corresponding time-varying output current reference value. During operation, the reference voltage generators produce different step values for the time-varying output voltage reference value and the corresponding time-varying output current reference value over time such that the power supply has a substantially fixed output impedance value. According to one configuration, the time-varying output voltage reference value tracks the power supply output voltage. Via a comparison of the power supply output voltage with respect to the adaptive output voltage reference voltage value and a comparison of the output current to the corresponding time-varying output current reference value, a controller circuit associated with the power supply controls switching operation of the power supply to regulate the power supply output voltage.

Abstract: A power supply system includes a first driver circuit to control a corresponding switching of a first switch device and a second switch device in the power supply system via different drive circuits. To reduce losses and thus improve efficiency of the power supply system, a first driver circuit can be configured to initiate a faster rate of transitioning the first switch device between ON and OFF states than a second driver initiates transitioning of the second switch device between ON and OFF states. To reduce the effects of introducing unwanted ripple voltage on an output signal used to drive a dynamic load, a controller in the power supply system can be configured to initiate shedding or adding of multiple voltage converter phases at the same time when load requirements cross a threshold value.

Abstract: A controller circuit in a power supply system is configured to simultaneously control both a voltage regulator circuit and a dynamic power supply circuit. The controller circuit monitors voltage produced by the voltage regulator circuit. The voltage regulator circuit conveys power from a voltage source to a dynamic load such as a microprocessor, whose power consumption can change rapidly change during operation. Depending on a state (e.g., current value, trend, etc.) of the monitored voltage applied to the load by the voltage regulator circuit, the controller circuit can initiate activation of the dynamic power supply circuit in parallel with the voltage regulator circuit to selectively supply additional power to the load. Supplying additional power to the dynamic load during heavy load conditions prevents the regulated voltage supplied to the load from falling below a threshold value.

Abstract: A controller circuit in a power supply system is configured to simultaneously control both a voltage regulator circuit and a dynamic power supply circuit. The controller circuit monitors voltage produced by the voltage regulator circuit. The voltage regulator circuit conveys power from a voltage source to a dynamic load such as a microprocessor, whose power consumption can change rapidly change during operation. Depending on a state (e.g., current value, trend, etc.) of the monitored voltage applied to the load by the voltage regulator circuit, the controller circuit can initiate activation of the dynamic power supply circuit in parallel with the voltage regulator circuit to selectively supply additional power to the load. Supplying additional power to the dynamic load during heavy load conditions prevents the regulated voltage supplied to the load from falling below a threshold value.

Abstract: A power supply configuration includes a monitor circuit to monitor an output voltage and output current of a power supply. The output voltage can be used to supply power to a dynamic load. The power supply varies a rate of changing an adaptive output voltage reference value that tracks the output voltage. Based on a comparison of the output voltage with respect to the adaptive output voltage reference voltage value, a controller associated with the power supply controls switching operation of the power supply to maintain the output voltage within a voltage range. For example, modifying the rate of changing the adaptive output voltage reference value over time depending on current operating conditions of the power supply changes a responsiveness and ability of the power supply to provide current to the dynamic load.

Abstract: A power supply system delivers current to a load at a corresponding load voltage. The power supply system includes multiple power converter phases. Each power conversion phase comprises a phase switch and a phase inductor. In one embodiment, activation of a corresponding phase switch (e.g., a field effect transistor such as a MOSFET) electrically couples a voltage input (e.g., Vin) to an inductor electrically coupled to deliver current to a load. A controller (e.g., a processor device) associated with the power supply system is configured to monitor the load and/or a change in the current delivered to the load. Based on the monitoring, the controller modifies a relative timing of an initiation and duration of on-times of the phase switches in order to alter a rate-of-change of the current delivered by the power supply system.

Abstract: A power supply system includes multiple power converter phases. A controller (e.g., a processor device, ASIC) monitors an output voltage generated by a combination of multiple power converter phases that supply power to a load. Based on the monitoring, the controller determines: i) a magnitude of an error signal representing a relative difference between the output voltage and a predetermined setpoint value, and ii) a rate-of-change associated with the output voltage. The controller compares the rate-of-change to threshold criteria. In response to detecting that the rate-of-change associated with the output voltage exceeds a threshold value, the controller adjusts a time of turning on of a phase switch (e.g., a power switch configured to convey an input voltage to an inductor that in turn delivers energy to the load) in one or more of the multiple power converter phases depending on the magnitude of the error signal.

Abstract: In a power factor corrected AC-to-DC power supply system, a DC-to-DC power converter is coupled to the output of an AC-to-DC power converter in order to produce a regulated DC output signal from a rectified AC input signal. The AC-to-DC power converter and the DC-to-DC power converter each includes a switch for controlling the operation of their respective power converter. The AC-to-DC converter includes an inductor. The system provides power factor correction for minimizing harmonic distortion by including a controller that receives the regulated DC output voltage as a feedback signal, and in response, produces a series of drive pulses having predetermined constant duty cycle. These pulses are simultaneously fed to each switch, to operate the respective converters alternately between ON and OFF states.

Abstract: A full bridge DC-DC converter has four switching devices in two switching legs each of two devices connected in series between two supply voltage terminals, junction points of the legs being connected to a primary winding of a transformer, from a secondary winding of which an output voltage of the converter is derived by rectifying and filtering. The output voltage is regulated by phase shift control of the switching devices. Zero voltage switching (ZVS) of the switching devices under potentially all converter load conditions is provided by snubber capacitors, connected in parallel with the switching devices, in conjunction with two inductors each connected between the junction point of a respective one of the switching legs and a point at a voltage midway between the voltages of the supply voltage terminals, which can be provided by a capacitive voltage divider between the supply voltage terminals. The inductors typically have different inductances, and one of the inductors may be omitted.

Abstract: A flyback converter has a main switch coupling a primary winding of a transformer between supply terminals, a duty cycle of the main switch controlling an output of the converter derived from a secondary winding of the transformer. Soft (zero voltage) switching of the main switch is facilitated by a snubber capacitor in parallel with the main switch. An auxiliary circuit coupled in parallel with the snubber capacitor and main switch includes a series-connected auxiliary switch, capacitor, and inductor coupled via another inductor to a full wave rectifier arrangement for recovering energy from the snubber capacitor. Resonant circuits provided by the auxiliary circuit facilitate soft switching of the auxiliary switch for low power loss and high frequency operation. The switches can be MOSFETs with reverse-poled diodes in parallel with their drain-source paths.

Abstract: Novel high frequency power distribution systems are disclosed. The system of the present invention uses a relatively high frequency AC (e.g. 100 kHz or higher) and distributes it by a high frequency bus which includes magnetic coupling. AC/DC converters are magnetically connected to the bus by way of associated magnetic coupling and rectify the AC to obtain DC power to be used by a respective load. The bus includes an inductive element which, in one embodiment, forms a series resonant circuit with a capacitive element of the AC/DC converter when it is magnetically connected to the bus.