Abstract: In a method performed by a Power Over Ethernet (PoE) system, Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) provides data and voltage over Ethernet wires to a Powered Device (PD). The PD converts the PSE voltage to a regulated voltage by at least one DC-DC converter in the PD. A first load in the PD, such as a processor, operates in a standby mode during a standby period and draws a low current from the converter via a low current path. During this standby period, a high current load in the PD is disconnected and does not draw current. When the first load comes out of the standby mode and into an active mode, the converter supplies a relatively high current to the second load and the first load. In this way, the first load, if a processor, can be already booted up at the time the second load becomes active.

Abstract: In a PoE system in an automobile, Power Source Equipment (PSE) is connected to Powered Devices (PDs) to provide data and power via Ethernet wires. When the ignition switch is on, the full PSE voltage, such as 44 volts, is supplied to the PDs, and the voltage is regulated by the PDs to power one or more loads in the PD. During a standby mode, such as when the ignition switch is off, the PSE is controlled to output a lower voltage of, for example, 5 volts, and the voltage is regulated by the PDs to power the loads, such as processors, in a low power standby mode. The voltage regulator in the PD for the low power mode may be an efficient linear regulator, and the voltage regulator in the PD for the full voltage mode may be a switching regulator. Thus, there is improved efficiency.

Abstract: An auto-resonant driver for a transmitter inductor drives the inductor at an optimal frequency for maximum efficiency. The transmitter inductor is magnetically coupled, but not physically coupled, to a receiver inductor, and the current generated by the receiver inductor is used to power a load. The system may be used, for example, to remotely charge a battery (as part of the load) or provide power to motors or circuits. A feedback circuit is used to generate the resonant driving frequency. A detector in the transmit side wirelessly detects whether there is sufficient current being generated in the receiver side to achieve regulation by a voltage regulator powering the load. This point is achieved when the transmitter inductor peak voltage suddenly increases as the driving pulse width is ramped up. At that point, the pulse width is held constant for optimal efficiency.

Abstract: In a current mode switching power supply, current through the inductor needs to be sensed to control the peak current. The inductor current includes a DC component and an AC component containing switching noise. To reduce the switching noise, the actual inductor current is sensed to generate a signal, and a first AC component is attenuated by a first RC circuit while not attenuating a first DC component. A second AC component is derived by applying the rectangular wave switch voltage, which is at the duty cycle of the regulator, to a second RC filter, which blocks a second DC component. The second AC component is much larger than the first AC component and does not contain switching noise. The large second AC component, the smaller “noisy” first AC component, and the first DC component are applied to the first RC circuit to create a low-noise inductor current signal.

Abstract: A method and system of driving an LED load. A driver is configured to deliver a level of current indicated by a control signal to the LED load when a PWM signal is ON and stop delivering the level of current when the PWM signal is OFF. An output capacitance element is coupled across a differential output of the LED driver. A feedback path, having a store circuit, is configured to store an information indicative of a first voltage level across the output capacitance element as a stored feedback reference signal just after the PWM signal is turned OFF. The feedback path causes the voltage across the output capacitance element to be at the first voltage level just before the PWM signal is turned ON.

Abstract: A method and system of driving an LED load. There is a power stage that is configured to deliver a level of current indicated by a control signal to the LED load when a PWM signal is ON and stop delivering the level of current when the PWM signal is OFF. There is a feedback circuit that is configured to generate the operating point signal, which causes the power stage to deliver a level of current indicated by the control signal, when the PWM signal is ON. A store and hold circuit is configured to store an information indicative of a level of the operating point signal just after the PWM signal is turned OFF and cause the operating point signal to be at that level just before the PWM signal is turned ON.

Abstract: A baseband signal-conditioning architecture applicable to radio receivers uses switched-capacitor techniques to provide high-performance signal conditioning in low-voltage, deep-submicron processes (e.g., 65 nm and below). In the architecture, a first mixer is coupled to an antenna receiving the signal, and outputs a first mixer output signal based on the signal received by the antenna. A buffer coupled to an output of the first mixer outputs a buffer signal based on the first mixer output signal. A first charge pump is coupled to an output of the buffer, and produces a first charge pump output signal based on the buffer signal. In some examples, a second charge pump is coupled to the output of the first mixer and produces a second charge pump output signal based on the first mixer output signal, and the buffer input is coupled to an output of the second charge pump.

Abstract: A Power Over Ethernet (PoE) system, or other power over data lines system, includes Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) providing combined data and voltage over wires to a Powered Device (PD). Since cable length and PD load currents may not be known, there is a variable voltage drop along the cable between the PSE and PD. Prior to the PD being fully powered up, a test is performed by the PSE to determine the actual resistance or voltage drop of the cable, and the results are stored in a memory accessed by the PSE upon powering up. The PSE uses the stored information to adjust its voltage source to provide a target voltage at the PD input during full power operation. This may obviate the need for a voltage regulator at the PD. The test may only be conducted when the PSE is initially powered up or may be conducted periodically.

Abstract: To reduce in-rush currents into a switched capacitor DC/DC converter and detect voltage and current faults, a converter controller is housed along with a current limit series transistor and fault detection circuitry. The series transistor is controlled to limit the in-rush current to a predetermined maximum level during start-up. If the duration of the current limit level, or the time for Vout to achieve a target voltage, exceeds a first threshold time, a first fault detector in the package shuts off the series transistor. During steady state operation, if the input current reaches the limit for a second threshold time or if Vout extends outside a certain range for the second threshold time, a second fault detector in the package shuts off the series transistor.

Abstract: A power control system includes an event data bus configured to carry event information. Several power supply managers are coupled to the same event bus. Each power supply manager has one or more point of load (POL) regulators assigned to it. Each power supply manager communicates event information with other POL power supply managers over the event data bus.

Abstract: A method and system of compensating for phase error. A phase error compensation circuit is configured to generate a phase-corrected quadrature Q output signal and a corresponding phase-corrected in-phase I output signal, the circuit includes a first transconductance circuit configured to convert a voltage signal related to an I input voltage signal to an I current signal. A second transconductance circuit is configured to convert a voltage signal related to a Q input signal to a Q current signal. A first multiplier circuit is configured to multiply the Q current signal times a Q scaling constant. A second multiplier circuit is configured to multiply the I current signal times an I scaling constant. An I summer sums the I current signal with the scaled Q signal. A Q summer sums the Q current signal with the scaled I signal.

Abstract: A configurable signal-processing circuit may provide a plurality of selectable signal-processing operations. The configurable signal-processing circuit may have a configuration circuit that provides a configuration code that selects a first signal-processing operation from the plurality of selectable signal-processing operations based on a timing pattern for evaluating an input signal and outputting an output signal.

Abstract: A Controller Area Network (CAN) driver (a transmitter) includes a conventional main driver having an open drain first driver MOSFET, for pulling up a first conductor of a bus in a dominant state, and an open drain second driver MOSFET, for pulling down a second conductor of the bus in the dominant state. Since it is difficult to perfectly match the driver MOSFET characteristics for conducting exactly equal currents during turning on and turning off, significant common mode fluctuations occur, resulting in electromagnetic emissions. Source followers are respectively connected in parallel with the first driver MOSFET and the second driver MOSFET for creating a low common mode loading impedance on the conductors during times when the main driver MOSFETs are turning on and turning off to greatly reduce any common mode fluctuations caused by the main driver MOSFETs.

Abstract: In an LDO regulator, two feedback loops are created. The first feedback loop includes a high power PNP bipolar power transistor connected in series between the input voltage Vin terminal and the output voltage Vout terminal. The first feedback loop includes a first error amplifier that controls a drive transistor to drive the base of the power transistor such that Vout matches a set voltage Vset. This first feedback loop circuitry uses an operating voltage (the upper rail voltage) that is regulated by a second feedback loop and is approximately 300 mV greater than Vout. As a result, the control circuitry will be powered by a low ripple supply to improve output PSRR. Further, the power transistor is connected such that any noise in the input voltage is a common mode voltage across the base-emitter of the transistor.

Abstract: A novel readdressing circuit is provided for supporting data communications over a data line and a clock line between at least one master device and multiple slave devices. For example, the master device and the multiple slave devices may be configured to communicate over an I2C bus including the data line and the clock line. The readdressing circuit has a data input node for receiving a data signal transferred over the data line and including an address word produced by the master device, and a data output node coupled to the multiple slave devices. The readdressing circuit also includes an address generator and an address transmit detections circuit. The address generator is configured for storing a multi-bit fixed offset value. The address generator is responsive to the address word at the data input node for generating multiple unique addresses for the multiple slave devices.

Abstract: A method of making an integrated circuit package that contains a semiconductor die having one or more electrical connections to an electronic circuit within the semiconductor die. The method may include: encapsulating the semiconductor die and its electrical connections in non-electrically conductive, encapsulation material; laser drilling the encapsulation material to expose one of the electrical connections within the integrated circuit package, thereby creating a via opening in an external surface of the encapsulation material to the electrical connection; and electroplating or sputtering over the via opening in the encapsulation material to create a conductive routing layer from the exterior surface of the encapsulation material to the electrical connection.

Abstract: A threshold detection circuit may sense when current between a power supply and a load reaches a current threshold level. The threshold detection circuit may include a transistor in series with the load; a feedback circuit that causes the voltage drop across the transistor to be constant while the transistor is conducting current between the power supply and the load; a constant current source that delivers a constant current into the load; and a comparator that indicates when the voltage drop across the transistor falls below a voltage threshold level.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package may include a semiconductor die, a heat spreader, and encapsulation material. The semiconductor die may contain an electronic circuit and exposed electrical connections to the electronic circuit. The heat spreader may be thermally-conductive and may have a first outer surface and a second outer surface substantially parallel to the first outer surface. The first outer surface may be affixed to all portions of a silicon side of the semiconductor die in a thermally-conductive manner. The encapsulation material may be non-electrically conductive and may completely encapsulate the semiconductor die and the heat spreader, except for the second surface of the heat spreader. The second surface of the heat spreader may be solderable and may form part of an exterior surface of the integrated circuit package.

Abstract: A power supply system includes a power source; a load device configured to receive power from the power source; and a power interface device coupled to the power source and the load device and configured to change a first voltage provided by the power source to a second voltage for operating the load device. The power interface device include a main switching converter configured to operate at a first switching frequency and source low frequency current to the load device and an auxiliary switching converter coupled in parallel with the main switching converter and configured to operate at a second and different switching frequency and source fast transient high frequency current to the load device.

Abstract: A Powered Device (PD) in a PoE system has two input channels, each being coupled to a separate Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) for increased reliability. A first PD controller is coupled to the first channel to perform hand-shaking and closes a first Power Good (PWRGD) switch when the PoE voltage is detected on the first channel. A second PD controller is coupled to the second channel to perform hand-shaking and closes a second PWRGD switch when the PoE voltage is detected on the second channel. A diode bridge couples both channels to a single regulating power supply that supplies power to a load. Auxiliary switches are controlled by the PWRGD signals so that only the first channel or the second channel is coupled to the diode bridge in the event that both channels receive the respective PoE voltages. Therefore, hot standby is provided using only one power supply.