Abstract: A coil element with no solder joints is made of a continuous conductive strip includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a conductive path between the first terminal and the second terminal. The conductive path has curved regions and foldable hinge regions shaped such that the coil element may be folded into single or multi-turn coils for use in transformers and other electronic devices.

Abstract: A single ended forward DC-to-DC converter includes a transformer having a. primary winding electrically connected to a primary switch and a secondary winding electrically connected to a secondary switch and a clamping capacitor. The clamping capacitor stores the magnetization energy from the secondary winding when the primary switch is turned off, thus causing the transformer core to be reset during the period that the primary switch remains off. The converter can use mosfets as the primary and secondary switches, such that a change in the voltage at the secondary winding of the transformer, due to the turning off of the primary switch, results in an automatic turning on of the secondary switch. The combination of the clamping capacitor and the mosfet switches increases the simplicity of the DC-to-DC converter while eliminating undesirable characteristics such as dead time and voltage stresses on the switches.

Abstract: A coil element with no solder joints is made of a continuous conductive strip includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a conductive path between the first terminal and the second terminal. The conductive path has curved regions and foldable hinge regions shaped such that the coil element may be folded into single or multi-turn coils for use in transformers and other electronic devices.

Abstract: A multi-output power supply having half-brick dimensions includes a forward converter circuit which receives a DC input voltage and in response to a first control signal generates a first DC output voltage at a first level; and a buck regulator circuit which receives the first DC output voltage from the forward converter circuit. In response to a second control signal, the buck regulator generates a second DC output voltage at a second level.

Abstract: A single ended forward DC-to-DC converter includes a transformer having a primary winding electrically connected to a primary switch and a secondary winding electrically connected to a secondary switch and a clamping capacitor. The clamping capacitor stores the magnetization energy from the secondary winding when the primary switch is turned off, thus causing the transformer core to be reset during the period that the primary switch remains off. The converter can use mosfets as the primary and secondary switches, such that a change in the voltage at the secondary winding of the transformer, due to the turning off of the primary switch, results in an automatic turning on of the secondary switch. The combination of the clamping capacitor and the mosfet switches increases the simplicity of the DC-to-DC converter while eliminating undesirable characteristics such as dead time and voltage stresses on the switches.

Abstract: A multi-output power supply having half-brick dimensions includes a forward converter circuit which receives a DC input voltage and in response to a first control signal generates a first DC output voltage at a first level; and a buck regulator circuit which receives the first DC output voltage from the forward converter circuit. In response to a second control signal, the buck regulator generates a second DC output voltage at a second level.

Abstract: A single ended forward DC-to-DC converter includes a transformer having a primary winding electrically connected to a primary switch and a secondary winding electrically connected to a secondary switch and a clamping capacitor. The clamping capacitor stores the magnetization energy from the secondary winding when the primary switch is turned off, thus causing the transformer core to be reset during the period that the primary switch remains off. The converter can use mosfets as the primary and secondary switches, such that a change in the voltage at the secondary winding of the transformer, due to the turning off of the primary switch, results in an automatic turning on of the secondary switch. The combination of the clamping capacitor and the mosfet switches increases the simplicity of the DC-to-DC converter while eliminating undesirable characteristics such as dead time and voltage stresses on the switches.

Abstract: A planar winding assembly includes first and second windings, each winding having an axis and a pair of insulative sheet layers, laminated together, with at least one of each of the pairs of insulative sheets having a hole. Each winding further includes a metal strip conductor that is wound about the axis of its winding and is sealed between the laminated insulative sheet layers. The metal strip conductor has a portion projecting into the hole. The metal strip conductor of the first winding is electrically connected to the metal strip conductor of the second winding through the holes of the insulative sheets.

Abstract: A multi-deck power converter module assembly for connection with a substrate (e.g., a host board) having connection regions disposed on its surface includes a second circuit board positioned over a first circuit board, the second circuit board having apertures extending from an upper surface to a lower surface of the second circuit board. At least two rail members are positioned over the second circuit board, each rail member having a first and a second plurality of holes. A pair of spacers are disposed between the first and second circuit boards, each spacer extending through one of the apertures of the second circuit board and received within one of the first plurality of holes of one of the rail members. Terminal pins are attached to the first circuit board, at least one terminal pin extending through the second circuit board and a corresponding one of the second plurality of holes for connection to one of the connection regions on the substrate.

Abstract: A single ended forward DC-to-DC converter includes a transformer having a primary winding electrically connected to a primary switch and a secondary winding electrically connected to a secondary switch and a clamping capacitor. The clamping capacitor stores the magnetization energy from the secondary winding when the primary switch is turned off, thus causing the transformer core to be reset during the period that the primary switch remains off. The converter can use mosfets as the primary and secondary switches, such that a change in the voltage at the secondary winding of the transformer, due to the turning off of the primary switch, results in an automatic turning on of the secondary switch. The combination of the clamping capacitor and the mosfet switches increases the simplicity of the DC-to-DC converter while eliminating undesirable characteristics such as dead time and voltage stresses on the switches.

Abstract: A multi-deck power converter module assembly for connection with a substrate (e.g., a host board) having connection regions disposed on its surface includes a second circuit board positioned over a first circuit board, the second circuit board having apertures extending from an upper surface to a lower surface of the second circuit board. At least two rail members are positioned over the second circuit board, each rail member having a first and a second plurality of holes. A pair of spacers are disposed between the first and second circuit boards, each spacer extending through one of the apertures of the second circuit board and received within one of the first plurality of holes of one of the rail members. Terminal pins are attached to the first circuit board, at least one terminal pin extending through the second circuit board and a corresponding one of the second plurality of holes for connection to one of the connection regions on the substrate.

Abstract: A single ended forward DC-to-DC converter includes a transformer having a primary winding electrically connected to a primary switch and a secondary winding electrically connected to a secondary switch and a clamping capacitor. The clamping capacitor stores the magnetization energy from the secondary winding when the primary switch is turned off, thus causing the transformer core to be reset during the period that the primary switch remains off. The converter can use mosfets as the primary and secondary switches, such that a change in the voltage at the secondary winding of the transformer, due to the turning off of the primary switch, results in an automatic turning on of the secondary switch. The combination of the clamping capacitor and the mosfet switches increases the simplicity of the DC-to-DC converter while eliminating undesirable characteristics such as dead time and voltage stresses on the switches.

Abstract: A planar winding assembly includes first and second windings, each winding having an axis and a pair of insulative sheet layers, laminated together, with at least one of each of the pairs of insulative sheets having a hole. Each winding further includes a metal strip conductor that is wound about the axis of its winding and is sealed between the laminated insulative sheet layers. The metal strip conductor has a portion projecting into the hole. The metal strip conductor of the first winding is electrically connected to the metal strip conductor of the second winding through the holes of the insulative sheets.

Abstract: A multi-output power supply having half-brick dimensions includes a forward converter circuit which receives a DC input voltage and in response to a first control signal generates a first DC output voltage at a first level; and a buck regulator circuit which receives the first DC output voltage from the forward converter circuit. In response to a second control signal, the buck regulator generates a second DC output voltage at a second level.

Abstract: A DC--DC converter including a transformer having a primary winding and a tapped secondary winding; an output filter made up of a filter inductor and a filter capacitor connected in series with one side of the output filter connected to the tap terminal of the secondary winding; a first unidirectional device and a second unidirectional device connected in series with each other and with opposite polarities, there being a common node between them, the first unidirectional device electrically coupled to the first terminal of the secondary winding, the second unidirectional device electrically coupled to the second terminal of the secondary winding, and the output filter electrically coupled to the common node; a first switch connected in series with the primary winding; and a clamping circuit connected between two of the terminals of the secondary winding, wherein the clamping circuit includes a clamping capacitor connected in series with a second switch.

Abstract: A regulated power source for supplying power to a circuit, the power source including a regulated power converter generating an output voltage for the circuit, the converter including a control terminal through which the output voltage can be regulated by feedback from the circuit; a monitoring circuit including a plurality of input terminals each of which monitors a voltage at a different location on the circuit, the monitoring circuit producing a control signal that is a function of all of the monitored voltages at the plurality of input terminals, the control signal driving the control terminal of the regulated power converter so as to regulate the output voltage to maintain the control signal at a constant value.