Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes comparator coupled to generate a regulation signal in response to a regulation reference and an output sense signal. The output sense signal is representative of an output of the power converter. A drive signal generator is coupled to the comparator to generate a drive signal to control switching of a power switch of the power converter in response to the regulation signal. The drive signal generator is further coupled to generate an operation sense signal representative of an operational state of the power switch. A foldback control is coupled to the comparator and the drive signal generator to generate the regulation reference in response to the regulation signal and the operation sense signal.

Abstract: A controller for a multiple output power converter, including an error amplifier configured to generate an error signal based on a difference between an output signal of a multiple output power converter and a reference signal. A switch request circuit is configured to generate a request signal in response to the error signal. The switch request circuit is further configured to control a switching of a power switch of the multiple output power converter to transfer energy from an input of the multiple output power converter to an output of the multiple output power converter. A power limit fault circuit is configured to receive the request signal and the error signal, the power limit fault circuit further configured to generate a first fault signal in response to detection of an output overload or short circuit.

Abstract: A switched mode power converter has an energy transfer element that delivers an output signal to a load. A power switching device coupled to the primary side of the energy transfer element regulates a transfer of energy to the load. A secondary controller is coupled to receive a feedback signal and output a pulsed signal in response thereto. A primary controller is coupled to receive the pulsed signal and output a drive signal in response thereto, the drive signal being coupled to control switching of the power switching device. A compensation circuit generates an adaptively compensated signal synchronous with the pulsed signal. The adaptively compensated signal has a parameter that is adaptively adjusted in response to a comparison of the feedback signal with a threshold reference signal. The parameter converges towards a final value that produces a desired level of the output signal.

Abstract: A power conversion system comprising a system controller configured to generate an input signal in response to a system input and a switch controller coupled to the system controller, the switch controller configured to control a power switch. The switch controller comprises a driver interface configured to receive the input signal that indicates whether the power switch should be ON or OFF, the driver interface further configured to transmit one or more current pulses across a galvanic isolation using an inductive coupling. The driver interface further comprises a first local power supply configured to increase an output voltage of the first local power supply when a transmission of current pulses is imminent.

Abstract: A switch having a drain terminal, a source terminal and a control terminal. The switch comprises a normally-on device including a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, a normally-off device including a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, and a clamp circuit. The first terminal of the normally-on device is the drain terminal of the switch and the control terminal of the normally-on device is coupled to the source terminal of the switch. The control terminal of the normally-off device is coupled to the control terminal of the switch. The second terminal of the normally-off device is the source terminal of the switch, and the first terminal of the normally-off device is coupled to the second terminal of the normally-on device. The clamp circuit coupled across the normally-off device and comprises a first transistor coupled to the first terminal of the normally-off device.

Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes a first power switch having a first gate, a second power switch paralleled with the first power switch and having a second gate, a gate driver to output a gate drive signal to drive both the first gate and the second gate, a first conduction path to couple the gate drive signal to the first gate, a second conduction path to couple the gate drive signal to the second gate, and a distribution choke to distribute the gate drive signal to the first and second power switches. The distribution choke has a first winding disposed in the first conduction path and a second winding disposed in the second conduction path. The distribution choke is coupled in a differential mode.

Abstract: A controller includes an oscillator coupled to a switch to determine a time at which the switch is turned on. The oscillator includes a capacitor, a charging current source and a discharging current source coupled to charge and discharge the capacitor. A time period for the capacitor to charge and discharge between first and second voltage levels is a time period of a switching cycle. A duty cycle mode control circuit is coupled to operate in a first duty control mode in response to a feedback signal being between first and second feedback signal values, operate in a second duty control mode in response to the feedback signal being a between the second and third feedback signal values, and operate in a third duty control mode in response to the feedback signal being between the third and fourth feedback signal values.

Abstract: A power converter includes a primary winding and multiple output windings to provide multiple independently controlled and regulated outputs with a common return line. The outputs are coupled to independently regulate constant current, constant voltage, or both constant current and constant voltage outputs. A secondary control block is coupled to control a synchronous rectifier switch coupled to the common return line to synchronize switching with a primary side power switch to provide complementary conduction of the primary winding and the multiple output windings. A plurality of controlled power pulse switches is coupled to the multiple output windings. A request of a power pulse from each of the outputs is transferred through the secondary control block to a primary switch control block to turn on the primary side power switch to transfer a power pulse to the multiple output windings and through controlled power pulse switches to the outputs.

Abstract: A heterostructure semiconductor device includes a first active layer and a second active layer disposed on the first active layer. A two-dimensional electron gas layer is formed between the first and second active layers. An AlSiN passivation layer is disposed on the second active layer. First and second ohmic contacts electrically connect to the second active layer. The first and second ohmic contacts are laterally spaced-apart, with a gate being disposed between the first and second ohmic contacts.

Abstract: A controller includes a switch controller, a current limit generator, a jitter modulator, and an arithmetic operator circuit. The switch controller is coupled to generate a drive signal to control switching of a power switch in response to a current sense signal and a modulated current limit signal to control a transfer of energy from an input of a power converter to an output of the power converter. The current limit generator is coupled to generate a current limit signal. The jitter modulator is coupled to generate a jitter signal for jittering a switching period of the drive signal without an oscillator. The arithmetic operator circuit is coupled to receive the current limit signal and the jitter signal and is coupled to generate a modulated current limit signal in response to the current limit signal and the jitter signal.

Abstract: A controller for a power converter includes a switching control coupled to switch a power switch to regulate an output of the power converter. A sensor is coupled to receive a signal from a terminal of the controller that represents a line input voltage 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 sensor is coupled to sample the signal from the terminal during the portion of the on time of the power switch and to generate a sample input line voltage signal. An output regulator is coupled between the sensor and the switching control to output an output regulation signal to the switching control. The switching control is coupled to switch the power switch in response to the output regulation signal.

Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter comprising a feedback reference circuit coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of an output voltage of the power converter. A feedback reference circuit generates a drive signal in response to the feedback signal and the drive signal is used to control switching of a power switch of the power converter to regulate the output voltage. The controller further comprises an output power control circuit coupled to receive a current sense signal representative of an output current of the power converter and a power signal representative of a desired value of an output power of the power converter. The output power control circuit generates an adjust signal to adjust the feedback signal such that the controller modifies the output voltage to regulate to the desired value of the output power.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes a lead frame and an encapsulation that substantially encloses the lead frame. The lead frame further includes a first conductor comprising a first conductive loop and a second conductor galvanically isolated from the first conductor, proximate to and magnetically coupled to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductor. The second conductor includes a first conductive portion, a second conductive portion, and a wire coupling together the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion.

Abstract: A controller for use in a switched mode power converter includes a comparator coupled to compare an output sense signal representative of an output of the switched mode power converter to a target value. An update clock generator is coupled to generate a clock signal having a clock frequency in response to the output sense signal. A request control is coupled to generate a request signal having a request frequency in response to an output of the comparator and the clock signal to control an operational state of a power switch of the switched mode power converter. A speed at which the request control updates the request frequency of the request signal is responsive to the clock frequency of the clock signal.

Abstract: A driver circuit for use in a controller includes a signal generator coupled to generate a first control signal, a second control, and a third control signal in response to a drive signal that is coupled to control switching of a selection switch that is coupled to the driver circuit and referenced to an output voltage that is greater than a ground reference voltage. A first switch is coupled to selectively couple a first voltage to a first terminal of the controller in response to the first control signal. A second switch is coupled to selectively couple a second voltage to a second terminal of the controller in response to the second control signal. A third switch is coupled to selectively couple the second terminal of the controller to a third terminal of the controller in response to the third control signal.

Abstract: A controller for use in a switched mode power converter includes a comparator coupled to compare an output sense signal representative of an output of the switched mode power converter to a target value. A ripple compensation block is coupled to generate a compensation signal in response to the output sense signal. The compensation signal is a fraction of the output sense signal. A request control is coupled to generate a request signal having a request frequency in response to an output of the comparator and a clock signal to control an operational state of a power switch of the switched mode power converter. The request control is further coupled to receive the compensation signal to modulate the request frequency of the request signal with the compensation signal in response to the output of the comparator to provide ripple compensation at the output of the switched mode power converter.

Abstract: An LLC resonant converter controller comprising an overcurrent protection circuit coupled to receive a current sense signal representative of current in a primary winding, wherein the overcurrent protection circuit outputs an overcurrent signal when the perturbed current sense signal is above a low threshold for a number of consecutive switching cycles. The LLC resonant converter controller further includes a control circuit coupled to generate a high side drive signal and a low side drive signal in response to a feedback signal representative of an output of an LLC resonant converter is further coupled to receive the overcurrent signal and is operable to disable switching of the first power switch and second power switch in response to the overcurrent signal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes an encapsulation and a lead frame. A portion of the lead frame is disposed within the encapsulation. The lead frame includes a first conductor having an inner conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation and a second conductor galvanically isolated from the first conductor. The second conductor includes an outer conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation proximate to and magnetically coupled to the inner conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductors.

Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a comparator that receives an output signal representative of an output voltage of the power converter. The comparator generates a constant voltage signal in response to a comparison of the output signal and a reference signal. A switch request circuit receives the constant voltage signal and a fault signal. The switch request circuit generates a request signal in response to the constant voltage signal and the fault signal to control switching of a power switch of the power converter to control a transfer of energy from an input of the power converter to the output of the power converter. A power limit fault circuit receives the request signal. The power limit fault circuit generates the fault signal to indicate a fault existence in the power converter in response to a rate of consecutive request pulses greater than a threshold.

Abstract: Signal transmission circuitry comprises a conductive transmitting coil, a first power supply, a semiconductor switch to reversibly couple the transmitting coil to the first power supply, control circuitry to control the coupling of the transmitting coil to the first power supply by the semiconductor switch, a second power supply coupled to supply power to the control circuitry.