Abstract: This invention provides a switching converter having a number N of outputs providing N output signals, said switching converter being operable in at least a boost mode. The switching converter has at least one inductor, a number of switches, and a controlling device for controlling a charging time of the at least one inductor at least by the switches such that a discharging time of the at least one inductor is constant.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a voltage reference circuit and oscillator which operates for a low voltage power supply. The voltage reference circuit is used in an “always on” mode of operation, and have low power usage. The operational range is 1.1V to 3.6 V, and must allow for sub-bandgap voltage conditions as well as voltage tolerant for higher voltages. The circuit minimizes the number of current branches by avoiding complexity of operational amplifiers and comparator networks. The circuit avoids stacking of more than 2 devices to allow for low voltage operation.

Abstract: The present document relates to linear regulators or linear voltage regulators configured to provide a constant output voltage. In particular, the present document relates to driver circuits of low-dropout (LDO) regulators. A driver circuit (300) for driving a pass device (201) of a linear regulator (120) is described. The driver circuit (300) comprises a driver stage (110) adapted to regulate a driver gate (220) for connecting to the gate of the pass device (201); wherein the driver stage (110) comprises a transistor diode (210) having the driver gate (220); and a feedback transistor (305) having a source and a drain coupled to a source and drain of the transistor diode (210); wherein a feedback voltage at the gate of the feedback transistor (305) is regulated based on the output current of the pass device (201).

Abstract: This invention relates to control circuits for LED systems with a feedback loop to regulate a drive voltage. A controller for the system is proposed comprising a plurality of LED circuits and a controllable power source. The controller comprises a control unit configured to cause regulation of the drive voltage based on a determination of a plurality of feedback voltages and a fault condition detecting means. At least one of the LED circuits is determined as having a fault condition if the respective feedback voltage is below a fault threshold. In response to a detected fault condition, a test voltage is applied to a cathode of the fault circuit to confirm the presence of a fault condition.

Abstract: Methods and circuits for linearly controlling a limited, constant current during startup of LDOs, amplifiers, or DC-to-DC converters independent of load capacitor size and controlling a clean transition without glitches from a constant current (CC) mode during startup to a constant voltage (CV) mode during normal operation (CC-CV method) are disclosed. The constant current control loop and the constant voltage control loop are implemented in such a way that at the end of startup the voltage loop has taken over control and the current loop is moved far away from its active transistor region, allowing a switch of modes to occur without any nasty transitions on the output.

Abstract: A low dropout (LDO) device with improved linear mode comprising an error amplifier, a programmable attenuation factor circuit coupled to said error amplifier, a feedback network whose input is electrically connected to said programmable attenuation factor circuit and whose output is electrically coupled to the negative input of said error amplifier, a high side (HS) pre-drive circuit whose input is a high impedance (HiZ) mode signal, a low side (LS) pre-drive circuit whose input is a low pull-down input mode signal, a high side (HS) output stage element electrically coupled to said high side (HS) pre-drive circuit, a low side (LS) output stage element electrically coupled to said low side (LS) pre-drive circuit, and a high side sense (HSENSE) output stage element whose gate is electrically coupled to said high side (HS) pre-drive circuit, and whose gate and source are electrically connected to the output of said error amplifier.

Abstract: Circuits and related methods for artificial ramp generation for pulse-width modulators (PWM) for current control mode switch mode power supplies (SMPS) are disclosed. The artificial ramp generation is separated from a current sensing part and allows easy trimming of both paths. Artificial ramp is generated as a voltage on a capacitor biased by constant current and placed between a voltage sensing node and an input of a PWM comparator. The circuit disclosed reduces circuit complexity and susceptibility to noise and spikes from the input voltage.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and circuits to achieve ground centered charge-pumps generating output voltages of +/?VDD/2 or +/?VDD/3 while achieving high efficiency of power conversion and minimized output impedances. Key points of the disclosure are minimizing number of switching states, reducing the time required for transition through all switching states, maintain constant flying capacitor voltages in all switching states, and, ideally, configuring the size of the flying capacitors large enough to provide the required load charge of each switching state without voltage change of the flying capacitors.

Abstract: Circuits and methods to control current through a device biasing an output device in case the supply voltage is not higher than the output voltage are disclosed. The circuits and methods are applicable to e.g. LDOs, amplifiers, or buffers. A control loop detects if the supply voltage is not higher than the output voltage and regulates the drain-source voltage of the biasing device. The disclosure reduces power consumption in a driver stage in case the supply voltage is not higher than the output voltage.

Abstract: The present document relates to a current sensing and/or control circuit with reduced sensing errors. A current control circuit for controlling a load current into an electronic device is described. The current control circuit comprises an array of control transistors configured to adjust the load current provided at an output of the array of control transistors. The load current is drawn from a power supply at an input voltage. Furthermore, the power supply is coupled to an input of the array of control transistors. The circuit further comprises a reference transistor coupled to the power supply at an input of the reference transistor and a reference current source configured to draw a reference current at an output of the reference transistor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a system with improved power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) over a wide frequency range. The improved PSRR is achieved by negating the influence of the parasitic capacitance associated with the bias lines and the introduction of a regulated power supply with embodiments associated with providing a ripple free and regulated supply. With reduction of parasitic capacitance, and providing an ENABLE switch by a pre-regulated supply, the degradation of the PSRR is achieved. The embodiments include both n-channel and p-channel MOSFETs implementations, and a positive and negative regulated power supply voltage. With the combined influence of the utilization of the VREG supply, and the lowering of battery-to-bias line capacitance using design layout and improved floor planning an improved PSRR over a wide frequency distribution is achieved.

Abstract: The present document relates to a method and system for dimming low power illumination devices, such as LED (Light Emitting Diode) assemblies. A controller for a driver circuit of a light source is described. The driver circuit controls a plurality of illumination states of the light source using a power converter, which converts power from an input voltage waveform of a mains power supply into a drive signal for the light source. The controller comprises an event detection unit; a state register to store an indication of a current state of the illumination states; a state processor to determine a target state of the illumination states, based on the detected event and based on the current state; and an output control unit controls the power converter of the driver circuit to provide a drive signal for the target state.

Abstract: The present document relates to a current sensing circuit. In particular, the present document relates to a current sensing circuit which provides reliable indications of the current through a transistor. A current sensing circuit configured to provide an indication of a load current through a pass device is described. The current sensing circuit comprises a sensing replica of the pass device and a sensing resistor arranged in series with the sensing replica. The sensing resistor is arranged such that a voltage drop at the sensing resistor provides an indication of the load current through the pass device.

Abstract: The present document relates to multiphase DC-DC power converters. In particular, the present document relates to the compensation of the phase offset incurred in multiphase DC-DC power converters which are controlled based on coil current zero crossing. A control circuit for a multiphase power converter is described. The multiphase power converter comprises a first and a second constituent switched-mode power converter, wherein the first and second constituent power converters provide first and second phase currents, respectively. The first and second phase currents contribute to a joint load current of the multiphase power converter. The first and second constituent power converters comprise first and second half bridges with first and second high side switches and first and second low side switches, respectively.

Abstract: Circuits and methods to detect a threshold for entering and leaving a discontinuous current mode of a buck converter have been disclosed. A buck converter is switched to continuous mode if the filtered battery current has reached a defined threshold current Ithccm. In order to expedite the transition from DCM mode to CCM mode the time delay between two or more pulses of a current through an inductor is monitored and the buck converter is switched to CCM mode if this time delay is smaller than a defined threshold.

Abstract: A method for charging a battery is provided, wherein current pulses are supplied to the battery, wherein each pulse is followed by a rest period during which no current is supplied to the battery, and wherein the state of charge of the battery is determined during the rest period.

Abstract: A CMOS transmission gate that is compensated for lost current to parasitic capacitance. Parasitic capacitance current is detected by an amplifier and fed back in-phase to the input of the CMOS transmission gate with the gain of the amplifier set to avoid circuit instability. In a first example a transconductance amplifier detects a voltage drop across a resistor in and RC network and the resulting current applied to the input of the transmission gate. A second example uses a current amplifier to detect gate current of the N-channel and P-channel transistors of the transmission gate, and an output current is fed back in phase to the input of the CMOS transmission gate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a linear voltage regulator with improved voltage regulation is disclosed. A linear voltage regulator device with improved voltage regulation that combines good resiliency to noisy ground reference, high Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR), good current load regulation with changes in the current load and good feedback loop stability. The linear voltage regulator comprises of an amplifier, a current source, a pass gate, a current load, a first feedback loop, a second feedback loop, a second amplifier and second pass gate. A second feedback loop is formed to control the bias of the first feedback loop.

Abstract: A multi-phase DC-to-DC converter is configured to achieve fast transient response and to optimize efficiency over the load range. Phase shedding changes the active number of phases according to output currents. Each phase of the converter has an inductor configured to optimize the efficiency for a range of load currents in which that phase is used. A converter may have 3 phases, the first used only in sleep mode and has a large inductance with low AC losses, the second used in sync mode at low currents and having a lower inductance with low AC losses, the third phase is used in sync mode at high currents and has small inductance with low DC losses. The number of phases is ?2.

Abstract: An overshoot reduction circuit within a low dropout voltage regulator eliminates an overshoot at an output terminal resulting from a transient fault condition occurring at an input or output terminal. The overshoot reduction circuit monitors to sense if there is a transient fault condition occurring at the input or output terminal and provides a Miller capacitance at the output terminal of a differential amplifier of the low dropout voltage regulator to prevent the output of the differential amplifier from being discharged to ground during the transient. A control loop circuit balances current within an active load of the differential amplifier to clamp the output of the differential amplifier to its normal operating point. When the transient fault condition ends, the output voltage of the differential amplifier is set such that a pass transistor of the low dropout regulator responds quickly to resume the regulation to reduce or eliminate the overshoot.