Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a regulator system that includes a high-side power transistor electrically connected between a first node and a second node. The system also includes a low-side power transistor electrically connected between the second node and a third node. The high and low-side power transistors can be controlled by high and low-side control signals, respectively. A mode controller provides at least one mode control signal having a value to enable operation of the regulator system in each of a buck switching, boost switching, negative switching, and linear regulator mode. The regulator system can utilize at least one of the high-side power transistor and the low-side power transistor to operate in the selected mode depending on at least one of an input voltage and an arrangement of external circuitry that are electrically coupled to at least one of the first, second, and third nodes to provide a regulated output voltage.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to detect voltage conditions of power supplies are disclosed. An example power supply monitor to detect fault conditions in a power supply includes a capacitive element communicatively coupled to the power supply, the capacitive element being configured to change state between a collapsed state and an open state in response to the power supply having a first voltage associated with a first fault condition of the power supply; a detector communicatively coupled to the capacitive element to detect a voltage spike generated from the state change of the capacitive element; and a signal generator to generate a fault signal in response to the voltage spike to indicate the power supply being in the first fault condition.

Abstract: Power management circuitry (7-2,3,4) for converting a harvested voltage (Vhrv) to an output voltage (VBAT) applied to a battery (6) includes an inductor (L0) having a first terminal (3) coupled to receive the harvested voltage (Vhrv) and a second terminal coupled to a first terminal of a first switch (S0). The power management circuitry transfers the current generated by an energy harvester (2) to the battery if it (6) is not fully charged, and shunts the current away from the battery (6) to avoid overcharging if it is fully charged.

Abstract: A charge pump in a low dropout (LDO) regulator includes a first capacitor coupled to an output of an amplifier and to a gate of a pass transistor. A first plurality of switches is operable to couple a second capacitor between an output of the LDO regulator and to a ground in a first clock phase, such that the second capacitor charges to an output voltage. A second plurality of switches is operable to couple the second capacitor in parallel to the first capacitor in a second clock phase such that the second capacitor charges the first capacitor.

Abstract: A voltage sensing device with which high-precision voltage sensing is possible without acquiring a unique correction constant for each device. A pair of voltage input nodes NCk and NCk-1 are selected from n+1 voltage input nodes NC0-NCn in switch part 10, and the selected voltage input nodes NCk and NCk-1 are connected to inspection input nodes NA and NB. Here, voltage input nodes NCk and NCk-1 and inspection input nodes NA and NB are connected in two types of patterns of different polarity (forward connection, reverse connection) under the control of control part 50, and digital data S30 for the two sensed voltage signals S20 generated in the two types of connection patterns is input to sensed data processing part 40. With sensed data processing part 40, sensed voltage data S40 that represents the potential difference between voltage input nodes NCk and NCk-1 is generated according to the difference in the two sensed voltage signals S20.

Abstract: When the load of a battery powered device is removed or significantly reduced, the voltage response may be recorded or analyzed in real time. The parameters of a battery's equivalent circuit can be found by fitting recorded or real time voltage response to a model function. The model function may describe the equivalent circuit voltage response to the load transition through equivalent circuit parameters. The model function may account for a duration of a load application prior to a transition as well as values of the load before and after the transition. Response of battery voltage to load application or load release is time dependent. Modeling of this time dependence can provide significant advantages in fuel gauging implementation, for example, to significantly reduce the waiting time before measured voltages can be used for state of charge (SOC) correlation and to improve the accuracy of the prediction of run-time for devices that drain a battery in short high-current pulses.

Abstract: A quantized voltage feed-forward (QVFF) circuit and integrated circuits using this technique. The QVFF circuit includes a plurality of comparators in combination with a logic control circuit. The comparators are structured and arranged to establish various voltage threshold levels, each providing a digital state signal representative of the sensed input voltage level. The logic control circuit is structured and arranged to use the digital input signals from the comparators to output a voltage feed-forward factor (KVFF) signal that is representative of the V2rms voltage. Output from the logic control circuit is provided to an analog signal multiplier and used to shape an input current reference (IMO) waveform. This allows detection of changes in the rms level of the input voltage on the half-cycle of the AC line voltage, resulting in a rapid response to line voltage changes. Because the KVFF factor signal contains no AC ripple component, it does not contribute to THD of the input current reference, IMO.

Abstract: A device and method for dc isolation and level shifting includes a driver circuit powered by a first voltage range, a capacitor connected to the driver circuit, and a latching circuit connected to the capacitor. The latching circuit is powered by a second voltage range and is configured to restore and/or minimize charge loss of the capacitor during a voltage transition at the capacitor. A device and method for analog isolation and measurement configured to measure an analog voltage at a second potential without requiring analog circuits at the second potential.

Abstract: Battery driven display device includes a battery, first and second comparators, non-volatile memory, controller driven by the voltage of the battery, and display device. Non-volatile memory stores the first and second reference voltages of the first and second comparators measured by using stabilized power supply. Controller detects when the first and second reference voltages of the first and second comparators become lower than the voltage of the battery when battery is connected, and determines the time at which end-point voltage of the battery will be reached based on the first and second detection times at the time of measurement and the measured reference voltages.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a surge current protection circuit. The surge current protection circuit comprises a peak current detector and a current sensing device. When the peak current detector detects when a surge current has occurred, by monitoring a change in duty cycle on a node of a HS (high side) switch, a LS (low side) switch is activated. The current sensing device senses the current drawn through the LS switch. When the current sensing device senses a current that exceeds a current limit, the HS switch is turned off for a period of time such that the surge current is reduced.

Abstract: A voltage control mode buck converter circuit includes a feedback amplifier providing a comparison signal and a storage circuit in communication with the comparison signal to store a storage comparison signal value. The storage circuit stores the operating conditions for the circuit during normal continuous conduction mode operation in response to sensing a load drop for the circuit. A switching circuit locks the feedback amplifier into the stored operating parameters while the converter circuit operates in non-continuous conduction mode. When the circuit transitions back into the continuous conduction operation mode, the feedback amplifier is already operating at conditions that are compatible with a continuous conduction operation mode.

Abstract: Open and short systems and methods for testing integrated circuits are disclosed. An example implementation includes engaging an integrated circuit testing module with an integrated circuit testing apparatus, the integrated circuit testing module for receiving an integrated circuit, a first set of contact points, and a second set of contact points; engaging a first probe onto at least one of the contact points of the first set of contact points, controllably engaging at least one of a second probe onto at least one contact pair of the integrated circuit testing module, and providing an electrical stimulus to the integrated circuit testing module.

Abstract: A multi-rail power-supply system provides power to circuitry requiring at least one additional rail between a high and a low-voltage rail. The system comprises a first power regulator that interconnects the high-voltage rail and an intermediate node and sets a first voltage rail that has a magnitude that is less than the high-voltage rail, wherein current that flows from the high-voltage rail is employed by a first set of peripheral circuitry prior to sinking through the first power regulator to the intermediate node. The system further comprises a second power regulator that interconnects the intermediate node and the low-voltage rail and sets a second voltage rail that has a magnitude that is greater than the low-voltage rail, wherein current that flows from the intermediate node is sourced by the second regulator and is employed by a second set of peripheral circuitry prior to flowing to the low-voltage rail.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transformer assembly (1) and a process for manufacturing same. The transformer (1) comprises a primary winding (5) wound on a PCB (9) and a secondary winding (7) mounted adjacent to the primary winding. The primary winding comprises a spiral coil, for example of wire or insulated wire, wound on the PCB. Gate drive windings (31, 33) are incorporated in the PCB (9) and there is therefore very close coupling between the primary winding and the gate drive windings. Furthermore, the secondary winding (7) is a center-tapped secondary having two halves. A flux balance winding (13) is provided to connect the two halves of the center-tapped secondary winding (7) and minimize leakage inductance thereby reducing power loss and spiking effects and obviating the need for complex control arrangements.

Abstract: An RFID transponder having an antenna for receiving an RF signal including an amplitude modulated downlink data signal, and a demodulating stage coupled to the antenna for receiving a derived RF signal which is derived from the received RF signal. The demodulating stage has a first filter for extracting a field strength signal component from the derived RF signal and a second filter for extracting the modulated downlink data signal component from the derived RF signal. Further, a demodulator is coupled to the second filter to receive the modulated downlink signal for demodulating the modulated downlink data signal component and coupled to the first filter to receive the field strength signal such that the demodulator is adapted to vary a demodulation sensitivity parameter in response to the field strength signal.

Abstract: An electronic device for switched mode DC-DC conversion is provided that includes a stage for sensing an output current causing a voltage difference between a first and a second node. The current sensing stage includes a comparator being capacitively coupled with a first input to the first node and with a second input to the second node for determining a magnitude of the output current.

Abstract: This invention relates to a power converter (1) comprising a converter input (3), a converter output, a power factor pre-regulation stage (5), an isolation stage (7) and a control unit (9). The power factor pre-regulation stage (5) further comprises a buck power factor correction (PFC) circuit (15) and a bulk capacitor (25) fed by the buck PFC circuit. The amount of line current provided to the bulk capacitor (25) by the buck PFC circuit (15) may be adjusted according to the converter requirements in order to keep the voltage across the bulk capacitor (25) sufficient to ensure uniform operation of the power converter. Monitoring of the voltage across the bulk capacitor (25) and monitoring of the isolation stage (7) output current is provided to determine when additional current is to be applied to the bulk capacitor (25) and to ensure the power converter (1) operates within pre-defined parameters.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device, comprising a DC-DC converter for converting a primary supply voltage into an output voltage at an output node to be coupled to a super capacitor and a control stage for operating the regulated DC-DC converter in a forward direction in a boost mode providing a boost voltage level at the output node and for operating the regulated DC-DC converter in a reverse direction in a buck mode providing a buck voltage level at an auxiliary node arranged between a primary voltage supply providing the primary supply voltage and the output node, wherein the control stage is adapted to control the DC-DC converter when operating in reverse direction to provide a current to the auxiliary node using the super capacitor as a power source.

Abstract: Systems and methods for bit stuffing pulse width modulation are provided. Example embodiments of the systems and methods of bit stuffing pulse width modulation disclosed herein may allow for a significant reduction in the size of the bootstrap capacitor while giving up only a small percentage of output drive, and reduce die space. Included in such systems and methods is the ability to digitally detect inactivity on the PMW signals for a class D power amplifier, and to digitally insert small charge pulses at a fairly low repetition rate relative to the normal switching frequency. The low repetition rate may preserve the maximum output power while still allowing enough charge to transfer to the bootstrap capacitor.

Abstract: An integrated electronic device includes circuitry for providing a system supply voltage from a primary power supply. The circuitry has a high power (HP) stage coupled to the primary power supply and having an output node coupled to a supply system node for providing a HP system supply voltage level and a HP output current such that the HP stage is configured to be active in a full power mode, and a low power (LP) stage coupled to the primary power supply and to the supply system node through a voltage follower for providing a LP supply voltage level and an LP output current such that the LP stage is configured to be active in a low power mode.