Abstract: A bleeder circuit emulator for use in a power converter to compensate and increase the current demand from the Triac dimmer above its holding current. The circuit includes an input voltage modifier and a leading edge dimming detection circuit. The input voltage modifier receives an input voltage signal that is representative of a magnitude of an input voltage of the power converter and selectively provides a modified input voltage signal to an input of a controller in response to receiving a control signal. The modified input voltage signal is representative of a value that is less than the magnitude of the input voltage. The leading edge dimming detection circuit generates the control signal to engage the input voltage modifier to generate the modified input voltage signal in response to detecting leading edge dimming at an input of the power converter.

Abstract: This relates to a rectifier with indicator switch circuit that may be used in a power conversion system. The rectifier with indicator switch circuit may be configured to rectify an ac line voltage and output an indicator signal that is representative of a fault condition in the ac line voltage. The rectifier with indicator switch circuit may include a storage capacitor configured to be charged by the ac line voltage during a first half-cycle of the ac line voltage and a detection capacitor configured to be charged by the storage capacitor during a second half-cycle of the ac line voltage. A switch coupled to the detection capacitor may be configured to generate the indicator signal based on a voltage across the detection capacitor. The indicator signal may be provided to a controller to disable operation of the power conversion system in response to the detection of a fault condition.

Abstract: A bleeder circuit for use with a driver circuit having input circuitry that receives an ac input signal and outputs a rectified voltage signal at a positive terminal. The driver circuit further including converter and output circuitry operably coupled to a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The bleeder circuit including a first resistor having a first terminal coupled to the positive terminal, and a heat sensor positioned to detect an increase in temperature of the first resistor. The heat sensor produces a heat sense signal in response to the temperature increase. A bleeder heat controller is coupled to receive the heat sense signal and produce a heat control signal in response thereto. A switching device controls a bleeder current flowing through the first resistor. The switching device receives the heat sense signal, which turns the switching device off when the temperature of the first resistor exceeding a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A secondary control circuit includes a voltage regulator circuit coupled to an output of the power converter to provide a regulated power supply. One or more switched loads are coupled between a first terminal and an output ground terminal. The first terminal is coupled to the output of the power converter. Each switched load is coupled to draw a respective current from a load current to clamp the output of a power converter. One or more comparator circuits are coupled to a second terminal. The second terminal is coupled to receive an output sense signal. Each comparator circuit is coupled to receive a reference signal that is a scaled representation of a first reference signal. Each switched load is switched in response to a respective comparator circuit to draw a respective current from the load current of the power converter to clamp the output of the power converter.

Abstract: A switched mode power converter includes a switch, an energy transfer element coupled to the switch, and a controller that includes a delayed ramp generator coupled to generate a delayed ramp signal, an input charge control signal generator coupled to generate an input charge control signal representative of an integral of an input current sense signal and a ratio of an input voltage sense signal to an output voltage sense signal, and a drive signal generator coupled to receive the delayed ramp signal and the input charge control signal, to regulate an output of the switch mode power converter. The drive signal generator produces a drive signal responsive to the input charge control signal and the delayed ramp signal. The drive signal is coupled to control the switch of the switch mode power converter.

Abstract: A switch mode power converter (SMPC) includes a switching control system to control the turn off time delay of a switching device. The SMPC also has an inductive component including an input winding to receive power from an input and a switching device to conduct input winding current. The switching control system applies turn on and turn off signals to the switching device. The turn off signal initiates turning off of the switching device and a sensing signal from a further winding inductively coupled to the input winding is detected to indicate an end of a turn off time delay or duration. The turn on signal for a subsequent switching cycle of the SMPC device is controlled to regulate the turn off delay time.

Abstract: A power factor correction (PFC) controller includes a driver circuit coupled to vary the switching frequency of the power switch of the PFC converter in response to an input current of a PFC converter and an input voltage of the PFC converter, and to output a third signal to switch the power switch of the PFC converter to control the input current to substantially follow the input voltage. A frequency adjust circuit is coupled to receive an error voltage signal representative of an output of the PFC converter. The frequency adjust circuit is further coupled to output an adjusted error signal to adjust the end of the off time of the power switch of the PFC converter in response to the error voltage signal.

Abstract: An energy storage circuit for use with a power converter includes a base capacitor coupled between an input bus and a ground potential, and an adjust capacitor. A switching device is coupled in series with the adjust capacitor between the input bus and the ground potential. A voltage regulator coupled between a control terminal of the switching device and ground. The voltage regulator has an input coupled to the second internal node, wherein when the power switch is turned on a signal at the second internal node is representative of a fluctuating input voltage. The voltage regulator is activated when the fluctuating input voltage is in a crest region, thereby turning the switching device off and disengaging the adjust capacitor. The voltage regulator is deactivated when the fluctuating input voltage is in a valley region, thereby turning the switching device on and engaging the adjust capacitor.

Abstract: A controller for controlling a power supply includes a feedback signal generator to generate a feedback signal representative of an output current in response to an output sense signal. A state selector circuit receives the feedback signal and outputs a digital state signal to set an operational state of a switch of the power supply. The state selector circuit adjusts the digital state signal in response to feedback information at an end of a feedback period. A driver circuit receives the digital state signal and generates a drive signal in response to the digital state signal. The drive signal drives switching of the switch in accordance with the operational state of the switch.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a transistor includes a pillar of semiconductor material arranged in a racetrack-shaped layout having a substantially linear section that extends in a first lateral direction and rounded sections at each end of the substantially linear section. First and second dielectric regions are disposed on opposite sides of the pillar. First and second field plates are respectively disposed in the first and second dielectric regions. First and second gate members respectively disposed in the first and second dielectric regions are separated from the pillar by a gate oxide having a first thickness in the substantially linear section. The gate oxide being substantially thicker at the rounded sections. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a gate drive circuit coupled to generate a control signal to switch a power switch of the power converter. A zero current detection circuit is coupled to a multifunction pin coupled to receive a multifunction signal that is representative of an input voltage of the power converter when the power switch is on, and representative of an output voltage of the power converter when the power switch is off. The zero current detection circuit is coupled to generate a zero current detection signal. An overvoltage detection circuit is coupled to receive the multifunction signal and a state signal representative of a state of the power switch to generate in response to the state signal and the multifunction signal a line overvoltage signal and an output over voltage signal coupled to be received by the gate drive circuit.

Abstract: A power converter includes an energy transfer element, a switched element, a secondary control circuit, a primary switching, and a primary control circuit. The secondary control circuit generates a voltage pulse across a secondary winding of the energy transfer element while the secondary winding provides current to an output. The secondary control circuit is coupled to vary a voltage across the switched element to generate the voltage pulse across the secondary winding in response to an output of the power converter. The primary control circuit is coupled to the primary switch and a third winding of the energy transfer element. The primary control circuit is coupled to switch the primary switch to regulate the output in response to the voltage pulse. The secondary winding is coupled to reflect the voltage pulse onto the third winding which is on the same side of the energy transfer element as a primary winding.

Abstract: Thermally protected bleeder circuits for maintaining an input current of a power converter above a dimmer circuit holding current are disclosed. In one example, a bleeder control circuit may generate a bleeder control signal to control a bleeder current of the bleeder circuit based on an input current signal and a temperature signal. The bleeder control circuit may cause the bleeder current to be substantially equal to zero in response to the input current signal being greater than or equal to a reference signal, and may cause the bleeder current to be proportional to a difference between the input current signal and the reference signal in response to the input current signal being less than the reference signal. The reference signal may be constant for temperatures less than a threshold temperature, but may decrease with respect to increases in temperature for temperatures greater than the threshold temperature.

Abstract: This relates to systems and processes for programming parameters of a controller of a power converter. In one example, a predetermined signal may be applied to the input or output terminals of the power converter to unlock the controller and cause the controller to enter a programming mode. While in the programming mode, one or more additional predetermined signals may be applied to the terminals of the power converter to program one or more parameters of the controller. Once the desired parameters have been programmed, another predetermined signal may be applied to the terminals of the power converter to cause the controller to exit the programming mode and enter a locked mode. The predetermined signals applied to the terminals of the power converter can include an ac or dc signal having a predetermined pattern of changes in frequency, amplitude, and/or magnitude that are applied for a fixed or variable duration.

Abstract: A Safe Operating Area (SOA) adaptive gate driver for a switch mode power converter is disclosed. In response to a detection of a fault condition, the SOA adaptive gate driver may limit the peak current in a power transistor (e.g., power MOSFET) of the power converter by limiting the voltage applied to the gate of the power MOSFET or by limiting the current injected into the gate of the power MOSFET. The limited gate voltage or current may increase the margin between an SOA border and the turn-off locus of the drain voltage and current (VD and ID) to ensure safe operation of the switch mode power converter during the fault condition.

Abstract: A vertical power transistor device includes a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, with a plurality of cylindrically-shaped dielectric regions disposed in the semiconductor layer. The cylindrically-shaped dielectric regions extend in a vertical direction from a top surface of the semiconductor layer downward. Adjacent ones of the cylindrically-shaped dielectric regions being laterally separated along a common diametrical axis by a narrow region of the semiconductor layer having a first width. Each dielectric region has a cylindrically-shaped, conductive field plate member centrally disposed therein. The cylindrically-shaped, conductive field plate member extends in the vertical direction from the top surface downward to near a bottom of the dielectric region. The dielectric region laterally separates the cylindrically-shaped, conductive field plate member from the narrow region.

Abstract: A controller includes a switching control coupled to switch a power switch of a power converter to regulate an output of the power converter. A sensor is coupled to receive a signal from a single terminal of the controller. The signal from the single terminal is representative of a line input voltage of the power converter during at least a portion of an on time of the power switch, and an output voltage of the power converter during at least a portion of an off time of the power switch. The switching control is responsive to an output of the sensor, and includes a first current source, an internal voltage supply coupled to the first current source, and a buffer circuit coupled to receive the signal from the single terminal. The first current source is coupled to supply a first current to the buffer circuit.

Abstract: A power converter includes an energy transfer element, a power switch, a controller and a leading edge dimming detection circuit. The controller is coupled to control switching of the power switch to regulate the output of the power converter by controlling a transfer of energy through the energy transfer element. The leading edge dimming detection circuit is coupled to generate a control signal in response to detecting leading edge dimming at the input of the power converter. In one aspect, the leading edge dimming detection circuit detects the leading edge dimming and then generates a control signal to engage a compensator which maintains the input current of the power converter to be equal to or greater than a minimum current. In another aspect, the leading edge dimming detection circuit detects and reutilizes the turn-on current spike energy of a leading edge dimmer.

Abstract: A diode includes a two-dimensional electron gas formed in a heterojunction defined between first and second semiconductor material layers. First and second layers of insulating material are disposed on the second semiconductor layer. First and second electrodes are disposed in the second layer of insulating material. The first electrode is coupled to the second semiconductor material layer. The second electrode is coupled to the heterojunction. Third and fourth layers of insulating material are disposed on the second insulating layer. A first via is disposed in the fourth layer of insulating material and coupled to the second electrode. A first field plate is disposed in the fourth layer of insulating material. An edge of the first field plate laterally extends towards first via. The first via is separated from an edge of the first via. The first field plate is coupled to the first electrode.

Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a drive circuit coupled to control switching of a power switch of the power converter to regulate the output of the power converter. A limit sense circuit is coupled to output a limit sense signal in response to a condition of the power converter. The drive circuit is coupled to operate in a first operation mode if there is a no limit condition. The first operation mode includes regulating the output of the power converter with a regulated output voltage and a first maximum output current. The drive circuit is coupled to operate in a second operation mode if there is a limit condition. The second operation mode regulating the output of the power converter with the regulated output voltage and a second maximum output current wherein the second maximum output current is less than the first maximum output current.