Abstract: The present invention discloses a control circuit for constant on-time converter and a control method thereof. The proposed constant on-time DC/DC converter stabilizes the system and improves the performance of the load transient response without large equivalent series resistance of the output capacitor.

Abstract: High voltage NMOS devices with low on resistance and associated methods of making are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for making N typed MOSFET devices includes forming an N-well and a P-well with twin well process, forming field oxide, forming gate comprising an oxide layer and a conducting layer, forming a P-base in the P-well, the P-base being self-aligned to the gate, side diffusing the P-base to contact the N-well, and forming N+ source pickup region and N+ drain pickup region.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a self-aligned trench structure junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET) includes a silicon substrate, two or more trenches having a P-type polysilicon gate region near a bottom portion of the trench and an interlayer dielectric layer (ILDL) above the P-type polysilicon gate region, a channel region separating each trench including epitaxial silicon, an N+ source region above the channel region extending between a top of each trench, and a source metal above the N+ source region. In another embodiment, a self-aligned trench structure JFET includes a silicon substrate, two or more trenches having an N-type polysilicon gate region near a bottom portion of the trench and an ILDL above the N-type polysilicon gate region, a channel region separating each trench including epitaxial silicon, a P+ source region above the channel region extending between a top of each trench, and a source metal above the P+ source region.

Abstract: For a DC to DC converter circuit integrated on a packaged die, the relative positions of various die pads and power MOSFETs on the die for a small outline integrated circuit package are described.

Abstract: Voltage converters with integrated low power leaker device and associated methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a voltage converter includes a switch configured to convert a first electrical signal into a second electrical signal different than the first electrical signal. The voltage converter also includes a controller operatively coupled to the switch and a leaker device electrically coupled to the controller. The controller is configured to control the on and off gates of the switch, and the leaker device is configured to deliver power to the controller. The leaker device and the switch are formed on a first semiconductor substrate, and the controller is formed on second semiconductor substrate separate from the first semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: SIMO power converters and associated methods of control are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of converting a signal input signal into multiple output signals includes supplying power to a plurality of output terminals based on a signal input signal, detecting a voltage at individual output terminals, determining an arithmetic relationship between the detected voltages of the output terminals, and adjusting the power supplied to the plurality of output terminals based at least in part on the determined arithmetic relationship between the detected voltages of the output terminals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for driving discharge lamps are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for driving a discharge lamp includes generating a switching signal to drive a discharge lamp, monitoring a working status of the discharge lamp, and determining whether the discharge lamp is operating abnormally based at least in part on the monitored working status. The method also includes decreasing a duty cycle of the switching signal when the discharge lamp is determined to operate abnormally.

Abstract: An error amplifier expected to exhibit rail-to-rail operation, high bandwidth, and high slew rate, is described, the error amplifier comprising a first stage to receive an input differential voltage and to provide transconductance gain, an intermediate stage to provide current gain, and an output stage to drive a load.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes a switching stage and a control circuit coupled to provide an accurate current limit for peak current mode for the DC-DC converter. The control circuit is operative to provide a peak value of the peak current mode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for driving multiple parallel discharge lamps, which increases the switching frequency once the open lamp condition is detected to provide an output voltage that is high enough to ignite the lamp again.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a smart driving method for a secondary synchronous rectifier of an isolated converter and its apparatus thereof. The apparatus comprises: a main circuit having a secondary synchronous rectifier Q1; a differentiation filter circuit, filtering the drain-source voltage Vds of the secondary synchronous rectifier, comprising a capacitor and at least one resistor connected in series and outputting a filtered voltage Vf from either between said capacitor and said at least one resistor or between said at least one resistor; a smart driver, receiving Vf and Vds and putting out a driving signal to the gate of the secondary synchronous rectifier. The control approach is fulfilled by comparing Vds to a reference voltage Vthr2 and comparing the absolute value of Vf to another reference voltage Vthr3. When Vds<Vthr2 and |Vf|>Vthr3, Q1 is turned on. When Vds>Vthr1, Q1 is turned off, where Vthr1 is a predetermined reference voltage.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present technology provide short-circuit detection and protection suitable for a discharge lamp system. In several embodiments, the transformer's primary current is sensed and used to provide short-circuit protection of the secondary winding side or high voltage side.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pulse dimming circuit and a method thereof. The pulse dimming circuit is compatible for both DC input signal and PWM input signal using only one circuit board, and includes a first input port, a second input port, a comparison signal generator, a comparator, a logic module, and a switch network electrically coupled to the second input port, an output terminal of the comparator, and an output terminal of the logic module.

Abstract: Power devices with super junctions and associated methods of manufacturing are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for forming a power device includes forming an epitaxial layer on a substrate material and forming a trench in the epitaxial layer. The trench has a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a bottom between the first and second sidewalls. The method also includes forming an insulation material on at least one of the first and second sidewalls of the trench and diffusing a dopant into the epitaxial layer via at least one of the first and second sidewalls of the trench via the insulation material.

Abstract: A regulator with a high side pass device and a low side pass device coupled in series to the high side pass device is disclosed. The apparatus further includes a control module coupled to the high side pass device and the low side pass device. The control module is coupled to the high side pass device and the low side pass device to control the high side pass device and the low side pass device. The control module is operable to lock out the high side pass device under certain conditions.

Abstract: Circuit configurations for a high power switch-mode voltage regulator circuit is disclosed that include an array of Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) switching transistors electrically coupled to one another at their drains and sources and a plurality of gate driver circuits. Each gate driver circuit is coupled to a gate and dedicated to driving only one MOS switching transistor.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a smart driver used in flyback converters adopting a transconductance amplifier to turn on a synchronous rectifier FET, and a comparator to quickly turn off the synchronous rectifier FET.

Abstract: An error amplifier expected to exhibit rail-to-rail operation, high bandwidth, and high slew rate, is described, the error amplifier comprising a first stage to receive an input differential voltage and to provide transconductance gain, an intermediate stage to provide current gain, and an output stage to drive a load.

Abstract: An input surge suppression device and method that uses a simple JFET structure. The JFET has its gate clamped to a predetermined value, its the drain receives the input voltage from an input power source, its source is connected to the input of a down-stream device, and a resistor connected between the drain and the gate or between the source and the gate. Thus, when the drain voltage approximates the clamped gate voltage, the source voltage nearly equals the drain voltage. When the drain voltage rises above the clamped gate voltage, the source voltage is lower than the drain voltage. The downstream device may be a DC-DC converter and the gate is biased by the enable (EN) pin of a DC-DC converter.

Abstract: A sandwich structure and method thereof is disclosed for double-sided cooling, EMI noise shielding and current carrying in mini-modules. The proposed structure comprises a top structure and a bottom structure to achieve double-sided cooling. Meanwhile, the top structure is configured to shield EMI noises as well. The proposed structure further comprises a first set of connecting structures for connecting devices of the mini-modules with the top structure and a second set of connecting structure for connecting the top structure with the bottom structure. The connecting structures are capable of carrying current.