Abstract: A DC power supply includes a point-of-load (PoL) regulator providing power to a load with a desired efficiency only when a PoL input voltage is in a first sub-range of a specified larger system input voltage range. The supply has an auxiliary circuit with an output in series with the supply input, generating an auxiliary voltage and adding it to the DC supply voltage to form a boosted supply voltage. Switching circuitry connects the supply input to the PoL input to apply a DC supply voltage as the PoL input voltage when the supply voltage is in the first sub-range, and connects the output of the auxiliary circuit to the PoL input to apply the boosted supply voltage as the PoL input voltage when the supply voltage is outside the first sub-range, maintaining the PoL input voltage within the first sub-range.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter suitable for conversion of high input voltages to regulated low output voltages at very high output currents has a cascade of stages including a buck regulation stage, an unregulated switched capacitor voltage doubler, and an unregulated voltage isolation stage. These three stages are merged in a single switching structure so that each stage optimally performs its respective function while also taking advantage of characteristics and features of neighboring stages.

Abstract: A power switch includes a bridge-connected switching circuit with (1) a pair of MOSFETs back-to-back in series between line and load connections, an interconnection point of the MOSFETs being a first common connection, and (2) a pair of diodes back-to-back between the line and load connections, an interconnection point of the diodes being a second common connection. A line/load controller has supply inputs connected to the first and second common connections for receiving operating power, and (1) places both MOSFETs in the ON state to deliver normal operating current to the load for normal operation, and (2) places both MOSFETs in the OFF state to deliver (by body diode conduction) a substantially reduced leakage current to the load when the load is not powered for normal operation, the leakage current providing the operating power to the line/load controller.

Abstract: A filter inductor for high-current applications. The filter inductor includes a magnetic core and a winding. The winding includes a shaped section having opposing ends, a pair of arm sections laterally extending from the opposing ends of the shaped section, respectively, and a pair of inductor pins, each extending perpendicular from an end of a respective arm section. The magnetic core includes a first core portion and a second core portion. The first core portion includes a recessed channel configured to receive the shaped section of the winding. The second core portion includes a pair of recessed regions configured to receive the pair of arm sections of the winding, respectively. The first core portion and the second core portion are coupled in contact to one another to secure the shaped section of the winding within the magnetic core. The filter inductor can be edge-mounted to a printed circuit board.

Abstract: A modular jack connector compensates for plug characteristics via a controlled primary compensation in the immediate vicinity of the connector interface. A jack contact assembly is positioned within a jack housing and includes first and second sets of elongate contacts each having a plug contact portion and a signal output portion. Each elongate contact is configured such that their respective plug contact portions are coplanar and a signal path is defined between their plug contact portions and their signal output portions. A flexible circuit board is coupled proximate to the plug contact portions, and configured to provide capacitance compensation between respective contacts engaged thereby, wherein the capacitance compensation is offset from a signal path defined between the plug contact portions and the corresponding signal output portions.

Abstract: A power inductor includes a core and winding. The winding has at least two portions, one made of pure copper and the other made of a low-TCR (temperature coefficient of resistance) alloy, wherein the alloy portion is used to form a current sensor. The two portions are joined to provide a unitary winding. The inductor can provide accurate current detection sensor while minimizing total resistance of the winding.

Abstract: A modular RJ45-type plug apparatus is provided for forming a connector interface with a connector jack in a high speed data transmission network. A housing comprises an insulative front portion and a conductive shield portion attachable to define an interior, within which is positioned a contact subassembly including a first PCB having cable mounting pads on one end and through holes for elongate plug contacts on the other end. The contacts are connected on one end to the first PCB and on a second end to a second PCB, with bridge portions therebetween collectively defining a jack contact interface. The second PCB comprises desired electrical characteristics which provide the apparatus with certain capacitance compensation properties, wherein the capacitance compensation is offset from a signal path defined between the jack-plug connector interface and the cable pairs.

Abstract: An isolation transformer includes a transformer core. First and second through-bores extend through the transformer core from a first surface to a second surface. Each through-bore has an elongated profile with at least a portion of the elongated profile providing a respective flat winding surface. The flat winding surfaces are spaced apart by a central portion of the transformer core. The transformer is wound with a six-wire cable having a central non-conductive core. First, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth conductive wires are positioned around and adjacent to the central non-conductive core in a substantially equally spaced angular relationship. The second conductive wire is positioned between the first conductive wire and the third conductive wire; and the fifth conductive wire is positioned between the fourth conductive wire and the sixth conductive wire. The conductive wires are twisted about the central non-conductive core at a selected twist density.

Abstract: A modular connector plug includes controlled capacitances to compensate for near end cross talk at the connector interface created by interaction of signals having signal frequencies in a data transmission bandwidth. A printed circuit board (PCB) is configured to receive cable pairs, and a connector assembly includes first and fourth plug contacts corresponding to the first cable pair and second and third plug contacts corresponding to the second cable pair. First ends of each contact are connected to the PCB, and second ends extend in parallel with each other and transversely to the PCB length, collectively defining a contact interface proximate the contact end. Each contact has a maximum width at the contact interface, with at least one plug contact having a maximum width greater than the maximum width of another plug contact. Each contact accordingly defines an electrode of a compensating capacitance formed between adjacent pairs of plug contacts.

Abstract: A modular jack connector compensates for plug characteristics via a controlled primary compensation in the immediate vicinity of the connector interface. A jack contact assembly is positioned within a jack housing and includes first and second sets of elongate contacts each having a plug contact portion and a signal output portion. Each elongate contact is configured such that their respective plug contact portions are coplanar and a signal path is defined between their plug contact portions and their signal output portions. A flexible circuit board is coupled proximate to the plug contact portions, and configured to provide capacitance compensation between respective contacts engaged thereby, wherein the capacitance compensation is offset from a signal path defined between the plug contact portions and the corresponding signal output portions.

Abstract: A modular jack connector compensates for plug characteristics via a controlled primary compensation in the immediate vicinity of the connector interface. A jack contact assembly is positioned within a jack housing and includes first and second sets of elongate contacts each having a plug contact portion and a signal output portion. Each elongate contact is configured such that their respective plug contact portions are coplanar and a signal path is defined between their plug contact portions and their signal output portions. A flexible circuit board is coupled proximate to the plug contact portions, and configured to provide capacitance compensation between respective contacts engaged thereby, wherein the capacitance compensation is offset from a signal path defined between the plug contact portions and the corresponding signal output portions.

Abstract: A power supply includes power circuitry configured to provide DC power to a separate load, and wireless communication circuitry for wirelessly communicating with an external control device such as a smart phone. A controller is configured to (1) conduct communications with the external control device via the wireless communication circuitry to receive configuration parameters, and (2) incorporate the configuration parameters into a control scheme for operation of the power supply. The power supply may be used with an LED lamp including a series of LEDs, and the configuration parameters establish desired operating characteristics including selection of constant-current or constant-voltage operation, and/or parameters for a dimming curve applied in dimming operation of the LED lamp. The power supply may be used in other applications including battery charging applications.

Abstract: A power converter startup circuit establishes an operating voltage for control circuitry during startup and is then disabled to reduce no-load power dissipation. The startup circuit has a normally on characteristic to automatically provide startup charging current for a startup capacitor. The control circuitry begins operating as the startup capacitor voltage reaches an operating value, and it generates an inhibitory signal that disables the startup circuit to stop the startup charging current and reduce power dissipation. The normally on characteristic is achieved by an emitter switched current source employing a normally on device such as a depletion-mode J-FET. A resistor divider network provides both biasing for the startup current source and a point of monitoring the power supply input voltage during steady state operation. A charge pump provides a voltage of the inhibitory control signal sufficiently above the auxiliary voltage to turn off the normally on switching transistor.

Abstract: A switched-mode power supply in a set of parallel-connected switched-mode power supplies is operated to (1) monitor both output current and operating temperature, and (2) auto-tune an output voltage using two-dimensional control that employs a two-dimensional function of the output current and the operating temperature. The two-dimensional function is a sharing function whose use in each of the supplies effects a coordinated sharing of both load current and operating temperature across the set of supplies. Temperature sharing includes monitoring and controlling distribution of operating temperatures across the set of supplies to reduce undesirable temperature imbalance that can cause excessive thermal stress and reduce reliability.

Abstract: A network interface connector includes a plurality of first and second alternating elongate contacts having contact portions situated in a common plane. The first and second contacts have rearward portions situated in respective first and second spaced parallel planes defining a proximity gap between them. A proximity insert having a particular electrical construction suited for a particular application is situated, preferably in a replaceable manner, in the proximity gap to provide the connector with desired transmission properties.

Abstract: A power converter startup circuit establishes an operating voltage for control circuitry during startup and is then disabled to reduce no-load power dissipation. The startup circuit has a normally on characteristic to automatically provide startup charging current for a startup capacitor. The control circuitry begins operating as the startup capacitor voltage reaches an operating value, and it generates an inhibitory signal that disables the startup circuit to stop the startup charging current and reduce power dissipation. The normally on characteristic is achieved by an emitter switched current source employing a normally on device such as a depletion-mode J-FET. A resistor divider network provides both biasing for the startup current source and a point of monitoring the power supply input voltage during steady state operation.

Abstract: A regulated switching power converter generates a converter output having first and second regulated output values under corresponding operating conditions. The converter output transitions between the first and second output values in response to transition of a trigger signal in a transition window between first and second trigger values. A transition step function is based on transition amplitude, transition interval and number of steps, the transition amplitude being a difference between the first and second regulated output values, and the transition interval being a difference between the first and second trigger values. The transition step function generates a step-like transition signal based on values of the trigger signal between the first and second trigger values. During operation in the transition window, the step-like transition signal is included in the regulation reference value to generate a step-like transition of the converter output between the first and second regulated output values.

Abstract: A power supply includes signaling circuitry coupled to output terminals for engaging in bidirectional communications with a load. A controller is capable of conducting the bidirectional communications and selecting among different operating modes for the power supply based on the communications. The modes may include a constant-current mode suitable for applications such as battery charging and power LED lamps, and a constant-voltage mode suitable for a variety of conventional uses such as powering electronic circuitry. The signaling circuitry may include a power switching transistor in series with the load, which is pulsed in a binary fashion to transmit communications to the load. A signal-forming resistor in parallel with the power switching transistor develops a signaling voltage monitored by the controller to receive communications from the load.

Abstract: A power converter startup circuit establishes an operating voltage for control circuitry during startup and is then disabled to reduce no-load power dissipation. The startup circuit has a normally on characteristic to automatically provide startup charging current for a startup capacitor. The control circuitry begins operating as the startup capacitor voltage reaches an operating value, and it generates an inhibitory signal that disables the startup circuit to stop the startup charging current and reduce power dissipation. The normally on characteristic is achieved by an emitter switched current source employing a normally on device such as a depletion-mode J-FET. A resistor divider network provides both biasing for the startup current source and a point of monitoring the power supply input voltage during steady state operation.

Abstract: A power supply system includes a digital power manager and multiple power blocks each conveying regulated power to a respective load. The power blocks include the power part of non-isolated DC/DC converters, signal sampling and conversion circuits to provide analog voltage signal representing output voltage, output current, temperature, etc., and driving circuits to receive pulse width modulation (PWM) signals and drive switching devices. Closed-loop voltage control and protection functions for the power blocks are integrated into the digital power. The digital power manager includes a non-volatile memory containing registers, including a digital power manager configuration register, a power block set-up register, and a power block monitor register, as well as a user-definable space.