Abstract: An asymmetric two-stage DC-DC switching converter, using multi-stage phases, in parallel to single-stage phases, to supply an output voltage, is described. An intermediate voltage supply is used to provide supply to some second-stage phases. Several different silicon dies are used to implement a multi-phase DC-DC switching converter, where different phases are located on different dies, and different silicon processes are used to implement the different dies. The silicon die containing the faster phases, and the fast-response control circuitry, is placed closer to the load, than the silicon die containing the slower phases, and the larger value inductors. A single control signal is used to control all the single-stage and second-stage phases. A way of implementing a control scheme for the second-stage phases that allows them to operate independently from the first-stage phases, but still regulate correctly in the DC-DC switching converter system, is described.

Abstract: An object of the disclosure is to provide a compact RC triggered ESD clamp, which is used for fast ramp supplies, and is immune to parasitics, process, temperature variations, and a noisy environment. A further object of the disclosure is to provide an ESD clamp circuit with low power consumption, and which is robust against reliability or burnout failures. A further object of the disclosure is that the short time constant and the long time constant are realized using a single capacitor, charged by two separate resistors. Still further, another object of the disclosure is that the elements are connected in such a way that there are no additional active junctions connected to the charging node of the ESD clamp.

Abstract: A method for pulse-frequency modulation efficiency optimization, for fast load transient response, in a DC-DC switching converter, is disclosed. The method provides for dynamic blanking, of the under voltage comparator, while maintaining the maximum switching frequency in pulse-frequency mode. The optimization becomes more relevant with the reduction of the regulated output voltage. A further object of the disclosure is to increase the power conversion efficiency of pulse-frequency mode (PFM) by increasing the Load Bursting Point (LBP), maintaining compatibility with the fast load transient response of current DC-DC switching converter architectures.

Abstract: A dynamic over voltage protection OVP system for limiting an output voltage at an output of a voltage regulation system is described. The dynamic OVP system contains an enabling device and an output voltage limiting device which are communicatively coupled to each other. The enabling device detects a load release at the output of the external voltage regulation system and generates an enable signal based on the detection. The output voltage limiting device receives the enable signal and limits the output voltage based on the enable signal. In this way, the voltage fluctuation at the output of the voltage regulation system is reduced when a subsequent load step occurs e.g. when a load is re-connected to the output of the voltage regulation system.

Abstract: A voltage generator and a method for generating an output voltage is presented. The generator has a current mirror circuit with a first transistor having a gate and a first terminal, and a second transistor having a gate coupled to the gate of the first transistor, and with a first terminal coupled to a feedback node. A third transistor has a gate, a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal is coupled to the feedback node and the second terminal is coupled to an output node. A fourth transistor has a gate coupled to the third transistor. There is a current source coupled to the output node, and a feedback circuit to detect a terminal voltage at the feedback node and to control the terminal voltage by adjusting a gate voltage at the gate of the second transistor.

Abstract: A switch mode power supply, which functions in a continuous current mode and a discontinuous mode employing a zero crossing control circuit for determining a polarity of an inductor current and from the polarity of the inductor current, controlling an operational state of a switching section of the switch mode power supply such that the inductor current becomes approximately zero amperes at the end of each demagnetization phase of operation.

Abstract: A fast start-up oscillator circuit to reduce a start-up time of a crystal oscillator is presented. The circuit contains a crystal resonator to output a first oscillation signal and a tunable RC oscillator to output a second oscillation signal. A driver is coupled between the tunable RC oscillator and the crystal resonator The driver transfers the second oscillation signal output from the tunable RC oscillator to the crystal resonator. The driver drives the crystal resonator, and a feedback circuit connected between the crystal resonator and the tunable RC oscillator to align a phase of the tunable RC oscillator with a phase of the crystal resonator based on the oscillation signal output by the crystal resonator.

Abstract: An asynchronous circuit and methods for requesting that an action is triggered. The circuit performs the following steps: 1) receive a plurality of input signals, the input signals each having a first transition between states at a different time, 2) select one of the input signals based on the time of its first transition compared to the time of the first transition of the other input signals, 3) provide a request to an action block to: i) trigger the action in response to receiving the request, and ii) to provide an acknowledgement upon completion of the action, wherein the request and the action are dependent on the input signal that was selected, 4) receive the acknowledgement from the action block, and 5) initiate steps 1) to 4) for a second transition of the input signals after the plurality of input signals have undergone their first transitions.

Abstract: A device for determining impedance at a data pin of a communication interface. In one embodiment, the device includes a current source configured to selectively inject a test current to the data pin. The device also includes a sensing circuit for sensing a first test voltage corresponding to a voltage at the data pin without the test current injected, and a second test voltage corresponding to another voltage at the data pin with the test current injected. The sensing circuit determines the impedance at the data pin based on the first test voltage and the second test voltage.

Abstract: It is an object of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure to provide a power stage overdrive circuit, at low supply voltages, that can be enabled/disabled on the fly. The power stage overdrive circuit increases the overdrive of a power switch to allow for simple power stage architecture with high voltage PMOS and NMOS devices. The power stage overdrive circuit comprises a driver, configured to drive the power switch having a control terminal, for example a gate terminal, and a boost circuit, further comprising a boost capacitor having a first terminal coupled to a power supply, for example a battery, and a second terminal coupled to the control terminal, configured to provide an overdrive voltage to the control terminal to turn the power switch on.

Abstract: A switching power converter is configured to control switching noise by implementing a plurality of pulse width modulation modes of operation. The peak current in each pulse width modulation mode of operation is controlled so that an output power for the switching power converter is continuous with regard to transitions between the pulse width modulation modes.

Abstract: An inductor arrangement has a first inductor structure having one or more inductors at least partially on a first layer and a second inductor structure having one or more inductors at least partially on a second layer. The inductors are arranged such that currents induced by an external magnetic field are substantially cancelled in at least one of the first inductor structure and the second inductor structure. The, or each, inductor of the second inductor structure overlaps, at least partially, the, or each, inductor of the first inductor structure. An oscillator circuit having an inductor arrangement is also presented.

Abstract: A sigma-delta modulator and method for converting an input voltage such as an analog signal into a digital signal is presented. The modulator may be used as an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The modulator has a plurality of bias transistors with at least one p-type transistor and at least one n-type transistor. The modulator receives a bias voltage, wherein each bias transistor receives the same bias voltage. This sigma-delta modulator results in reduced power consumption.

Abstract: An auto-calibrated current sensing comparator is provided. A secondary dynamic comparator shares the same inputs and acts to adjust a calibration control of the current sensing comparator. The calibration control may be in the form of adjusting the offset of the current sensing comparator or adjusting a propagation delay that is added to its output.

Abstract: A switching power converter is disclosed that communicates a thermal alarm to a mobile device over a data channel in a data cable for charging the mobile device.

Abstract: A multi-level buck converter is provided with multiple control loops to regulate the output voltage in the presence of over-current conditions and in the vicinity of a 50% duty cycle.

Abstract: A linear regulator with a pass device having a first terminal, a second terminal and a drive terminal is presented. The first terminal of the pass device is coupled with the supply voltage of the linear regulator. The second terminal of the pass device is coupled with the output of the linear regulator. A driver stage is coupled with the supply voltage of the linear regulator, and the drive terminal of the pass device drives the pass device with a driving voltage. A compensating circuit compensates for a change in a voltage difference between the drive terminal of the pass device and the supply voltage of the linear regulator.

Abstract: This specification relates to a method and a system for detecting light emitting diode (LED) short circuit in a plurality of LED strings or detecting matching among the plurality of LED strings, wherein one end of each of the plurality of LED strings is connected to a same output end of a power supply, and the other end is respectively connected to a corresponding switch. According to the present invention, first current of each of LED strings is obtained when the output end of the power supply outputs a first voltage; differences between the minimum of the first currents of LED strings and other first currents are calculated; the differences are compared with a comparing threshold; it is determined that the LED strings corresponding to the other currents for which differences are larger than the comparing threshold include short circuit or mismatch with the LED string corresponding to the minimum current. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number of pins and area of a control chip.

Abstract: A direct charging method is provided that alerts a mobile device when a switching power converter is operating in a constant-current mode to alert the mobile device of an output current without the use of a secondary-side current sense resistor.

Abstract: There is provided a signal generator and associated method for generating a source signal. The signal generator includes a frequency generator for providing an oscillating signal, a phase comparator, a first phase modulator, a second phase modulator and a phase shifter. The phase comparator is adapted to compare a phase signal with a feedback signal and to generate an error signal to control the phase of the oscillating signal. The first and second phase modulators are adapted to provide a first phase control word and a second phase control word respectively. The phase shifter is adapted to modulate the oscillating signal based on the second phase control word to generate the source signal. The source signal comprises the feedback signal.