Abstract: Disclosed herein are integrated circuit (IC) components with dummy structures, as well as related methods and devices. For example, in some embodiments, an IC component may include a dummy structure in a metallization stack. The dummy structure may include a dummy material having a higher Young's modulus than an interlayer dielectric of the metallization stack.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are integrated circuit (IC) components with dummy structures, as well as related methods and devices. For example, in some embodiments, an IC component may include a dummy structure in a metallization stack. The dummy structure may include a dummy material having a higher Young's modulus than an interlayer dielectric of the metallization stack.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are integrated circuit (IC) components with dummy structures, as well as related methods and devices. For example, in some embodiments, an IC component may include a dummy structure in a metallization stack. The dummy structure may include a dummy material having a higher Young's modulus than an interlayer dielectric of the metallization stack.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are integrated circuit (IC) components with dummy structures, as well as related methods and devices. For example, in some embodiments, an IC component may include a dummy structure in a metallization stack. The dummy structure may include a dummy material having a higher Young's modulus than an interlayer dielectric of the metallization stack.

Abstract: In a power converter, the duty cycle of a primary winding circuit causes near continuous flow of power through the primary and secondary winding circuits during normal operation. By providing no regulation during normal operation, a very efficient circuit is obtained with a synchronous rectifier in the secondary operating at all times. However, during certain conditions such as start up or a short-circuit, the duty cycle of the primary may be reduced to cause freewheeling periods. A normally non-regulating isolation stage may be followed by plural non-isolating regulation stages. To simplify the gate drive, the synchronous rectifiers may be allowed to turn off for a portion of the cycle when the duty cycle is reduced. A filter inductance of the secondary winding circuit is sufficient to minimize ripple during normal operation, but allows large ripple when the duty cycle is reduced. By accepting large ripple during other than normal operation, a smaller filter inductance can be used.

Abstract: In a power converter, the duty cycle of a primary winding circuit causes near continuous flow of power through the primary and secondary winding circuits during normal operation. By providing no regulation during normal operation, a very efficient circuit is obtained with a synchronous rectifier in the secondary operating at all times. However, during certain conditions such as start up or a short-circuit, the duty cycle of the primary may be reduced to cause freewheeling periods. To simplify the gate drive, the synchronous rectifiers may be allowed to turn off during the freewheeling periods, resulting in large ripple. A filter inductance of the secondary winding circuit reduces that ripple, and is sufficient to minimize ripple during normal operation, but still allows large ripple during the freewheeling periods. By accepting large ripple during other than normal operation, a smaller filter inductance can be used.

Abstract: Half-bridge isolation stage topologies are provided in power converters, dividing an input voltage between capacitors. Primary transformer windings are periodically switched across respective capacitors. In current-fed implementations, the current flow through the primary windings is constrained as by an inductive element. In some implementations, a capacitor, primary winding and switch are connected in series in different orders in each of plural legs across the input. Current feed circuitry includes a current constraining component connecting nodes within each of respective legs. The switches of the isolation stage may be turned on with a fixed duty cycle, and a secondary circuit may comprise synchronous rectifiers.

Abstract: In a power converter, the duty cycle of a primary winding circuit causes near continuous flow of power through the primary and secondary winding circuits during normal operation. By providing no regulation during normal operation, a very efficient circuit is obtained with a synchronous rectifier in the secondary operating at all times. However, during certain conditions such as start up or a short-circuit, the duty cycle of the primary may be reduced to cause freewheeling periods. To simplify the gate drive, the synchronous rectifiers may be allowed to turn off during the freewheeling periods, resulting in large ripple. A filter inductance of the secondary winding circuit reduces that ripple, and is sufficient to minimize ripple during normal operation, but still allows large ripple during the freewheeling periods. By accepting large ripple during other than normal operation, a smaller filter inductance can be used.

Abstract: Half-bridge isolation stage topologies are provided in power converters, dividing an input voltage between capacitors. Primary transformer windings are periodically switched across respective capacitors. In current-fed implementations, the current flow through the primary windings is constrained as by an inductive element. In some implementations, a capacitor, primary winding and switch are connected in series in different orders in each of plural legs across the input. Current feed circuitry includes a current constraining component connecting nodes within each of respective legs. The switches of the isolation stage may be turned on with a fixed duty cycle, and a secondary circuit may comprise synchronous rectifiers.

Abstract: An inductor configuration (50) comprising a three-legged inductor core (20) with a first leg (22), second leg (24), and third leg (26) integrally extending from a base (28). The first leg (22) and second leg (24) are predisposed and spaced about a first surface (30) of the base (28) to form a first channel area (32). The second leg (24) also forms, along with the third leg (26), a second channel area (34) separated from the first channel area (32) by the second leg (24). The inductor also comprises an inductor winding (36) arranged about the inductor core (20) to provide relatively equal magnetic flux through the first leg (22), second leg (24), and third leg (26) when current flows through the inductor winding (36). The inductor configuration may be used as an input or output inductor for a synchronous rectifier circuit (100).

Abstract: A current sharing circuit scheme comprising first and second power modules (36,38) each including an input side (30) and an output side (32), the power modules (36, 38) coupled to each other via respective input sides (30), each of the output sides (32) including a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The circuit scheme also comprises first and second circuit output voltage terminals (47, 46) and first and second set point controls (40, 41) coupled to the negative terminal of each of the output sides (32). First and second initial set point controls (42,45) are included providing current signal paths between corresponding first and second set point controls (40, 41) and the first output voltage terminal (47).

Abstract: An asymmetrical half-bridge power converter and a method of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, the asymmetrical half-bridge power converter includes: (1) first and second power switches configured to be controlled by complementary drive signals having nominal first and second duty cycles of D and 1-D, respectively and (2) first and second capacitors, having intrinsic capacitance values proportional to 1-D and D, respectively, and intrinsic equivalent series resistance (ESR) values proportional to D and 1-D, respectively, configured to reduce input ripple current associated with the asymmetrical half-bridge power converter.

Abstract: An externally-driven synchronous rectifier circuit (18) comprises first and second synchronous rectifiers (SQ1, SQ2), and first and second synchronous rectifier recovery switches (SQ3, SQ5), and a pair of resonant inductors (LR1, LR2). The resonant inductors (LR1, LR2) store the energy normally loss during charging and discharging the input capacitance of the first and second synchronous rectifiers (SQ1, SQ2). The recovery switches (SQ3, SQ5) transfer the stored energy from the at least one inductor (LR) to the output terminal (Vout) creating a more energy efficient circuit (18).

Abstract: A zero-voltage multi-resonant converter that operates at constant frequency. In the zero-voltage multi-resonant converter, the resonant circuit is formed in a .pi.-network with resonant capacitors connected in parallel with the switches. In practicing the present invention, certain rules are applied to derive a CF ZVS-MRC from a PWM converter. In particular, one resonant capacitor is placed in parallel with the active switch, which may be either uni-directional or bi-directional, the rectifying switch is replaced by another active switch, which may also be uni-directional or bi-directional, another resonant capacitor is placed in parallel with the other active switch, and an inductor is inserted in the loop containing the two switches. This loop can also contain voltage sources and filter or blocking capacitors.