Abstract: A system and method for combining power from DC power sources. Each power source is coupled to a converter. Each converter converts input power to output power by monitoring and maintaining the input power at a maximum power point. Substantially all input power is converted to the output power, and the controlling is performed by allowing output voltage of the converter to vary. The converters are coupled in series. An inverter is connected in parallel with the series connection of the converters and inverts a DC input to the inverter from the converters into an AC output. The inverter maintains the voltage at the inverter input at a desirable voltage by varying the amount of the series current drawn from the converters. The series current and the output power of the converters, determine the output voltage at each converter.

Abstract: A semiconductor unit includes a semiconductor device, a controller, and a resistor. The semiconductor device includes a transistor arranged between a positive electrode of a battery and an inverter circuit electrically connected to the battery. The controller is connected to a control terminal of the transistor and configured to control the transistor. The resistor arranged between the control terminal and the controller. The controller controls the transistor so that when a current flowing to the transistor is greater than or equal to a threshold value, the transistor is deactivated. The resistor has a resistance value that is greater than or equal to 100 ?.

Abstract: A power provider includes: a first power converter to convert an input voltage, and output a first power voltage to a display panel through a first power line; a second power converter to convert the input voltage, and output a second power voltage to the display panel through a second power line; and a short circuit detecting circuit to detect a short-circuit of the first power line and the second power line in the display panel, by determining whether or not a level of a sensed voltage measured at the second power line is greater than or equal to a reference short circuit voltage level during a short circuit detecting period. The short circuit detecting circuit is to vary a length of the short circuit detecting period and the reference short circuit voltage level in response to a driving frequency.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a power supply apparatus having power limiting mechanism. A switch transistor is controlled by a control voltage such that a power supply unit supplies a power to a powered device when the switch transistor is controlled to be conducted, wherein the switch transistor has an operation current, an operation voltage and an operation power under conduction. A voltage detection circuit detects the operation voltage. A power-limiting circuit performs analog-to-digital conversion on the operation voltage, generates a current-limiting signal related to a current-limiting value according to the operation voltage based on a predetermined voltage-current curve and performs digital-to-analog conversion on the current-limiting signal to generate a reference voltage.

Abstract: A power converter having a mechanism of dynamically controlling a minimum off time is provided. A high-side overcurrent protecting circuit determines whether or not a current flows from a high-side switch through a node between a second terminal of the high-side switch and a first terminal of a low-side switch toward an inductor, and determines whether or not the current is larger than a threshold to output a high-side overcurrent detected signal and a high-side overcurrent protecting signal. An off time adjusting circuit outputs a minimum off time signal to a driver circuit according to the high-side overcurrent protecting signal. The driver circuit determines that an overcurrent event occurs when the high-side switch is turned on according to the high-side overcurrent detected signal, and accordingly the driver circuit at least continually turns on the low-side switch during a longer minimum off time of the minimum off time signal.

Abstract: A current sense short protection circuit includes a switch unit, a current sensing unit, a detection circuit and a short detection module. The first terminal of the switch unit receives a first voltage. The control terminal of the switch unit receives a control signal. The first terminal of the current sensing unit is coupled to the second terminal of the switch unit. The second terminal of the current sensing unit receives a second voltage. The detection unit receives the second voltage and a third voltage provided by the first terminal of the current sensing unit, and generates a detection signal according to the second voltage and the third voltage. The short detection module receives the first voltage, the second voltage and the detection signal, and generates a short detection signal according to the first voltage, the second voltage and the detection signal.

Abstract: A motor control device controls a motor. The motor control device is provided separate from the motor. The motor control device includes a switch provided in an electrical conduction path for the motor. The motor control device detects a temperature of the switch. The motor control device controls the switch between an on state and an off state.

Abstract: An overvoltage protecting system and method of a motor pre-driver are provided. An overvoltage protecting circuit compares a first reference voltage with a common voltage inputted to a single phase motor to output a first comparison signal. When a controller circuit determines that the common voltage is higher than the first reference voltage according to the first comparison signal, the controller circuit turns off a first high-side switch and a second high-side switch, and turns on the first low-side switch and the second low-side switch, during a phase time of a phase transition signal of the single phase motor. After the phase time ends, the controller circuit alternately turns on the first low-side switch and the second low-side switch according to a level of the phase transition signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a battery pack including a pack body and a plurality of terminals. The pack body has first and second main surfaces that are opposed to each other in a first axis direction, first and second end surfaces that are opposed to each other in a second axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction, and first and second side surfaces that are opposed to each other in a third axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction and the second axis direction. The plurality of terminals includes a positive terminal, a negative terminal, a temperature detection terminal, and a control terminal that are arranged on the first end surface along the third axis direction. The negative terminal is arranged between the temperature detection terminal and the control terminal and closer to the control terminal than the temperature detection terminal.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a power processor, an interface, a detector that detects at least one of a voltage value and a current value on an electric power line that connects the power processor and the interface, and a controller. The controller transmits warning information to an external device via the interface in a case where a detection value of the detector indicates an abnormal value while electric power is supplied to the external device via the interface.

Abstract: The connection distance between a first snubber circuit and the positive electrode of a first semiconductor element is shorter than the connection distance between the first snubber circuit and the positive electrode of a third semiconductor element. The connection distance between the first snubber circuit and the negative electrode of a fourth semiconductor element is shorter than the connection distance between the first snubber circuit and the negative electrode of a second semiconductor element. The connection distance between a second snubber circuit and the positive electrode of the third semiconductor element is shorter than the wiring distance between the second snubber circuit and the positive electrode of the first semiconductor element, and the connection distance between the second snubber circuit and the negative electrode of the second semiconductor element is shorter than the wiring distance between the second snubber circuit and the negative electrode of the fourth semiconductor element.

Abstract: An electronic device having a universal serial bus (USB) power delivery function includes a connector, an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit, a power reception notification circuit, and a control circuit. The connector is coupled to a USB host. The connector includes a configuration channel (CC) pin. The power reception notification circuit is configured to turn on, in response to an enable signal, a pull-down path of a pull-down circuit of the ESD protection circuit. The configuration channel pin generates a pull-down voltage through the pull-down path of the pull-down circuit when the pull-down path is turned on. The control circuit is configured to send the enable signal to the power reception notification circuit when a trigger signal that meets a power reception condition is detected. The control circuit controls the connector to draw power from the USB host when the pull-down voltage of the connector is greater than a pull-down threshold.

Abstract: A short protection method for a power converter having an output terminal for providing an output voltage. The power converter works in a hiccup protection mode when a short fault occurs. The hiccup protection mode has a sleep stage and a reset stage, the short protection method detects the output voltage during the hiccup protection mode and sets the time period of the reset stage based on the detected output voltage. The time period of the reset stage increases with the increase of the detected output voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an amplifier circuit and a protection circuit. The amplifier circuit may be configured to generate an output signal by amplifying an input signal received at an input port. The input signal may be a radio-frequency signal. The protection circuit may be configured to (i) generate a detection signal by detecting when a level of the input signal exceeds a corresponding threshold, where the level is a power level, a voltage level or both, (ii) route the input signal away from the input port of the amplifier circuit and disable the amplifier circuit both in response to the detection signal being continuously active at least a first time duration and (iii) route the input signal to the input port of the amplifier circuit and enable the amplifier circuit both in response to the detection signal being continuously inactive at least a second time duration.

Abstract: Disclosed examples include flyback converters, control circuits and methods to facilitate secondary side regulation of the output voltage. A primary side control circuit operates a primary side switch to independently initiate power transfer cycles to deliver power to a transformer secondary winding in a first mode. A secondary side control circuit operates a synchronous rectifier or secondary side switch to generate a predetermined cycle start request signal via a transformer auxiliary winding to assume secondary side regulation and to cause the primary side controller to initiate new power transfer cycles.

Abstract: A test and measurement circuit including a capacitor in parallel with a device under test, a direct current voltage source configured to charge the capacitor, a pulse generator configured to generate a pulse for testing the device under test, and a sensor for determining a current in the device under test.

Abstract: An electrical supply device is connected on a network side to an electrical supply network and includes a frequency converter having a network-side power converter and an intermediate circuit, and a network filter, which is connected upstream of the network-side power converter. In a method for operating the electrical supply device, during a pulse-blocking operating state of the frequency converter, a check is carried out for the presence of a dangerous state of the network filter, and only in the presence of the dangerous state, only the network-side power converter is actuated such that a network perturbation causing the dangerous state of the network filter is at least damped to protect the network filter from the dangerous state.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a fluctuation generating portion, and a connection identifying portion. The fluctuation generating portion fluctuates an output power of a power supply portion that supplies power to a load. The connection identifying portion identifies a connection relationship between the power supply portion and the load based on a correlative relationship between a fluctuation of the output power and a fluctuation of the power supplied to the load.

Abstract: A method for protecting a system including a driver integrated circuit includes receiving a driver input signal. The method includes driving an output signal externally to the driver integrated circuit. The output signal is driven based on the driver input signal and an indication of a delay between receipt of an edge of the driver input signal and arrival of a corresponding edge of the output signal at an output node coupled to a terminal of the driver integrated circuit.

Abstract: A switch device includes a first node, a switch unit, an adjustment switch, an impedance element, a second node and a detection unit. A first terminal of the switch unit is coupled to the first node. A first terminal and a second terminal of the adjustment switch are respectively coupled to a second terminal of the switch unit and a reference voltage terminal. A first terminal and a second terminal of the impedance element are respectively coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal of the adjustment switch. The detection unit is coupled to the second node, and a control terminal of the switch unit and a control terminal of the adjustment switch. The detection unit detects a node signal at the second node to accordingly control the switch unit and the adjustment switch.

Abstract: A two-stage driver supplies current to a light emitting diode (LED) load. The two-stage driver includes a first stage and a second stage. The first stage has a first flyback converter. The first stage is configured to receive a non-regulated voltage input and to generate a substantially constant bulk voltage across a first-stage output filter capacitor. The second stage has a second flyback converter. The second stage is configured to receive the bulk voltage from the first stage. The second stage is further configured to generate a desired current through the LED load. The second stage is electrically isolated from the first stage such that the LED load does not share a common ground reference with the non-regulated voltage input to the first stage.

Abstract: A power interrupter device includes a solid-state bidirectional switch and control circuitry to control the solid-state bidirectional switch. The bidirectional switch is connected between input and output terminals of the power interrupter device. The control circuitry includes driver circuitry and fault detection circuitry. The driver circuitry generates a regulated direct current (DC) voltage using current drawn from an input power source applied to the input terminal and applies the regulated DC voltage to a control input of the bidirectional switch. The fault detection circuitry is configured to sense a level of load current flowing in an electrical path between the input and output terminals, to detect an occurrence of a fault condition based on the sensed load current level, and to short the control input of the bidirectional switch to place the bidirectional switch in a switched-off state, in response to detecting the occurrence of a fault condition.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an overcurrent protection circuit configured to, upon detection of an output current that flows through a switch element reaching a first overcurrent limit value, reduce an overcurrent limit value for the output current from the first overcurrent limit value to a second overcurrent limit value smaller than the first overcurrent limit value.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an electric power distribution bus of an electric or hybrid vehicle are described. In one example, an output of an electric power consumer is decoupled from other electric power consumers so that electric current drawn from the electric power distribution bus is lowered while the electric power consumer provides a capacitive load to the electric power distribution bus, thereby reducing voltage ripple associated with the electric power distribution bus.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a main IGBT, a sense, a resistor, a MOSFET and a diode, as main components. The sense IGBT and the main IGBT are connected in parallel with each other. The drain of MOSFET is connected to the gate of the sense IGBT, the source thereof is connected to the gate of the main IGBT, and the gate thereof is connected to the emitter of the sense IGBT and the cathode of diode. One end of the resistor is connected to the gate of the main IGBT and the source of the MOSFET, and the other end of the resistor is connected to the emitter of the main IGBT and the anode of the diode.

Abstract: A conversion apparatus with overload control includes a primary conversion circuit, a resonant conversion circuit, and a control unit. The control unit controls a voltage value of a DC power source outputted from the primary conversion circuit according to a current signal of an output current of the resonant conversion circuit. When the control unit realizes that the output current exceeds a rated current according to the current signal, the control unit steps up the voltage value of the DC power source.

Abstract: A current source inverter, including: a first switching cell including at least first and second power switches coupling a same first input node of the inverter respectively to first and second output nodes of the inverter; and a circuit of protection against a placing in open circuit of an input current source of the inverter.

Abstract: Recently, it is desired to improve responsiveness in case where a drop in the output voltage is prevented. A power supply control device is provided, comprising a switch control unit for controlling an ON/OFF state of a switching device of a boosting chopper using an oscillation wave, a voltage acquisition unit for acquiring DC output voltage corresponding to an output of the boosting chopper, and an oscillation control unit for reducing a change speed of the oscillation wave during at least a part of a period during which the switching device is in an ON state, in response to a drop in the DC output voltage.

Abstract: A power supply controller used in a DC/DC converter includes a feedback control unit that generates a pulse-shaped PWM signal having a first level that is one of a high level and a low level and a second level that is the other of the high level and the low level, on the basis of a feedback voltage based on an output voltage of the DC/DC converter; a low voltage detection unit that detects a low voltage of the feedback voltage; and a selection unit that chooses, as a chosen clock signal, a first clock signal having a high duty when the low voltage is not detected by the low voltage detection unit, and chooses a second clock signal having a low duty when the low voltage is detected by the low voltage detection unit.

Abstract: A voltage converter circuit, comprising: a bridge rectifier; a first transistor, having a first end, a second end and a third end; a second transistor, having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the first transistor and the first end of second transistor are electrically connected to bridge rectifier, and the second end of the first transistor is electrically connected to the first end of the second transistor; and a Zener diode, connected between the third end of the first transistor and the second end of the second transistor.

Abstract: A semiconductor circuitry includes a plurality of diodes and a first resister. The semiconductor circuitry is arranged in a circuit in which a first transistor and a second transistor are connected to a power supply in series, and the circuit outputs a voltage applied to an external load. The plurality of diodes which are connected in parallel with a first transistor and a second transistor, are diodes to which a reverse bias is applied by the power supply, and are connected in series with each other, and in which each breakdown voltage is lower than a voltage of the power supply and the sum of breakdown voltage of all these diodes is higher than the voltage of the power supply. The first resistor which connects a connection node between the plurality of diodes and a connection node between the first transistor and the second transistor.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an amplifier circuit and a protection circuit. The amplifier circuit may be configured to generate an output signal by amplifying an input signal received at an input port. The input signal may be a radio-frequency signal. The protection circuit may be configured to (i) generate a detection signal by detecting when a level of the input signal exceeds a corresponding threshold, where the level is a power level, a voltage level or both, (ii) route the input signal away from the input port of the amplifier circuit and disable the amplifier circuit both in response to the detection signal being continuously active at least a first time duration and (iii) route the input signal to the input port of the amplifier circuit and enable the amplifier circuit both in response to the detection signal being continuously inactive at least a second time duration.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a discharge controlling circuit of an electric-motor controller, wherein the discharge controlling circuit includes a discharging-signal transmitting circuit, a switch circuit and a discharging circuit; the switch circuit is connected respectively to the discharging-signal transmitting circuit and the discharging circuit; the discharging circuit is connected to an anode of a busbar; an input end of the discharging-signal transmitting circuit is connected to a discharging-signal outputting pin of the electric-motor controller, and an output end of the discharging-signal transmitting circuit is connected to a cathode of the busbar; the discharging-signal transmitting circuit is configured to output a controlling signal to the switch circuit according to a received discharging signal; and the switch circuit is connected to the anode of the busbar, the cathode of the busbar and the output end of the discharging-signal transmitting circuit, and is configured to be turned on accordi

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a converter cell (4) for a power converter. The cell comprises a plurality of semiconductor devices (T) forming a half-bridge or full-bridge topology in the cell. The cell also comprises an energy storage (5) connected across the at least one switch leg (6). The cell also comprises a crowbar leg (7) connected across the at least one switch leg, comprising a plurality of series connected semiconductor crowbar switches (C) arranged to short-circuit the energy storage (5). The cell also comprises first and second AC terminals (A, B), wherein at least one of said AC terminals is connected to one of the at least one switch leg, between two of the plurality of series connected semiconductor devices of said switch leg, and connected to the crowbar leg, between two of the plurality of series connected crowbar switches of said crowbar leg.

Abstract: LED lamp assembly comprising a safety switch, a plurality of connector pins arranged at first and second ends of the LED lamp assembly, the connector pins being adapted for electrical connection to a lamp fixture, a plurality of filament simulation circuits, wherein at least one of the connector pins at each of the first and second ends is electrically coupled to a corresponding one of the filament simulation circuits, a plurality of rectifier circuits, one or more LEDs electrically coupled to an output of the rectifier circuits, and a safety switch control circuit operatively coupled to the safety switch. At least one of the connector pins at the first end is electrically coupled via the safety switch to an input of a first one of the rectifier circuits, and at least one of the connector pins at the second end is electrically coupled to an input of a second one of the rectifier circuits.

Abstract: A method for the discharging a DC-link capacitor includes electrically coupling the DC-link capacitor to at least one half-bridge, wherein the half-bridge comprises at least two switches and that are connected in series. The method includes at least one step in which the switches and of the half-bridge are controlled in order to carry out a simultaneous closing of the switches.

Abstract: A main control circuit includes a PWM comparator that compares a contrast voltage generated according to a feedback voltage with a ramp voltage having a periodically varying voltage value, and causes an output stage circuit to perform a switching action based on a result of the comparison in the PWM control. A feedback path switch is inserted in a feedback path for propagating a signal according to the feedback voltage to the PWM comparator. The main control circuit controls, upon switching from sleep control that stops the switching action to the PWM control, within a specific period equal to one or more periods of the PWM control, the feedback path switch off and sets a voltage within a variation range of the ramp voltage as an initial voltage for the contrast voltage to thereby start a switching action and controlling the feedback path switch on after the specific period.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to circuits and techniques for protecting a body diode of a power switch from an inductive load when the power switch is turned OFF. A driver circuit may detect whether the power switch is in a desaturation mode when the power switch is turned ON and disable the power switch in response to detecting that the power switch is in the desaturation mode. In addition, the driver circuit may detect whether the body diode of the power switch needs protection when the power switch is turned OFF, and in response to detecting that the body diode needs protection, control the power switch according to a body diode protection scheme.

Abstract: Circuits for providing overcurrent and overvoltage protection are disclosed herein. The circuits feature a depletion mode MOSFET (D MOSFET) as a current limiter, the D MOSFET being connected to a bi-metallic switch, where the bi-metallic switch acts as a temperature sensing circuit breaker. In combination, the D MOSFET and bi-metallic switch are able to limit current to downstream circuit components, thus protecting the components from damage.

Abstract: A power supply circuit configured to generate an output voltage from a predetermined AC voltage. The power supply circuit includes a rectifier circuit rectifying the predetermined AC voltage, an inductor receiving a rectified voltage from the rectifier circuit, a transistor controlling an inductor current flowing through the inductor, and an integrated circuit configured to drive the transistor based on the inductor current and the output voltage. The integrated circuit includes a comparison circuit configured to compare a current value of the inductor current and a predetermined current value, and a timer circuit configured to receive a comparison result indicating that the current value is smaller than the predetermined current value, and output a signal indicating that the AC voltage is interrupted, when the current value has been smaller than the predetermined current value for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a power semiconductor switch; a logic circuit connected to an input terminal; an overheat detection circuit that outputs to the logic circuit an overheat detection signal when a temperature of the power semiconductor switch exceeds an overheat detection threshold; and an overcurrent detection circuit that monitors a current that flows through the power semiconductor switch and that outputs to the logic circuit and to the overheat detection circuit an overcurrent detection signal when the current that flows through the power semiconductor switch exceeds a prescribed threshold, wherein in the overheat detection circuit, the overheat detection threshold values is changed from a first threshold value to a second threshold value that is lower than the first threshold value when the overheat detection circuit receives the overcurrent detection signal from the overcurrent detection circuit.

Abstract: A high speed arc suppressor and method include a first phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across contacts of the power contactor in a positive domain and a second phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across the contacts in a negative domain. First and second high speed switches are configured to enable and disable operation of an associated one of the first and second phase-specific arc suppressors. First and second drivers are configured to drive the first and second high speed switches.

Abstract: A device and method for detecting faults in a shield of an electrosurgical instrument is described. The device has a relay configured to selectively interrupt power to the electrosurgical instrument, monitoring circuitry configured to monitor a shield in the electrosurgical instrument, control circuitry to control the relay, and a battery power source. The monitoring circuitry has an envelope detector and a detected average shield current detector. The monitoring circuitry is configured to compare a shield current peak value to a shield current peak threshold value, and to compare a detected average shield current value to a detected average shield current threshold value. The device is further configured to operatively couple an active electrode of an electrosurgical instrument and a return electrode to an electrosurgical generator.

Abstract: A system for reducing inrush current to an electronic component, the system including: a power supply, the power supply providing power at multiple non-zero voltages; and the electronic component; wherein, when the electronic component is connected to the power supply, the power supply provides a first non-zero voltage to the electronic component and, in response to a signal from the electronic component, provides a second voltage, the second voltage being higher than the first voltage, to the electronic component.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a power module, which may include an inverter circuit employing semiconductor switch dies. In the presence of a failure of a die, which may include an arc from a short, a sensor produces a signal responsive to the failure. The signal initiates an indirect fuse, such as a pyrotechnic element, that opens conductors associated with the die. For example, the die or a related die may be wire bonded to terminals of the module. The indirect element may therefore open the bonds to the terminals to isolate the failed die and/or related dies.

Abstract: A controller for an electric motor system including a three phase bridge inverter having a plurality of high side switches and a plurality of low side switches, the controller comprising means arranged upon detection of a fault in one of the high side switches to place the remaining high side switches in a closed circuit configuration and the plurality of low side switches in an open circuit configuration and upon detection of a fault in one of the low side switches to place the remaining low side switches in a closed circuit configuration and the plurality of high side switches in an open circuit configuration to allow coil windings of an electric motor to be placed in a short circuit configuration.

Abstract: A method analyzes an operation of a power semiconductor device. The method includes: providing a set of reference voltages of the power semiconductor device and a set of corresponding reference currents; measuring an on-state voltage and a corresponding on-state current of the power semiconductor device to obtain a measurement point; adapting the set of reference voltages by adapting two of the set of reference voltages lying closest to the measurement point by extrapolating the measurement point; and using the adapted set of reference voltages to analyze the operation of the power semiconductor device. The extrapolation is based on a predefined reference increment current and a predefined reference increment voltage.

Abstract: A power supply includes a power converter, a protection circuit, and a control circuit. The protection circuit includes an input for receiving an input voltage, an output for providing an output voltage to the power converter, a first switching device coupled in a current path between the input and the output, and a second switching device coupled across the first switching device. The control circuit is configured to sense the input voltage and the output voltage, in response to the output voltage exceeding a first defined threshold, turn off the first switching device and turn on the second switching device to supply power to the power converter, and in response to the input voltage exceeding a second defined threshold, turn off the second switching device to disconnect the power source from the power converter. Other example power supplies and protection circuits are also disclosed.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for a power supply circuit that generates an output voltage at a target level from an AC voltage input thereto. The power supply circuit includes an inductor, and a transistor that controls a current flowing through the inductor. The integrated circuit drives the transistor based on the inductor current and the output voltage. The integrated circuit has a signal output circuit including a first comparator circuit comparing the inductor current and a predetermined current value, a timer circuit measuring a time elapsed since the value of the inductor current becomes smaller than the predetermined current value, and a second comparator circuit comparing the output voltage and a lower-than-target level. The signal output circuit indicates that the AC voltage is not input to a rectifier circuit, when the elapsed time reaches a predetermined time period and a level of the output voltage is lower than the lower-than-target level.

Abstract: A switching mode power supply preventing false triggering of an over current protection due to a surge pulse. The switching mode power supply has a switch and an inductor. An inductor current flows through the inductor. The switching mode power supply turns off the switch and meanwhile starts timing for a preset period of time when the inductor current is larger than a preset value. The switch is kept off during the preset period of time and is then turned on when the preset period of time expires.