Abstract: An electronic device includes a surface and a conductive termination on the surface. A protective conformal coating on the surface of the electronic device includes a window formed in the protective coating to expose a portion of the conductive termination. The exposed portion of the conductive termination is recessed in the conformal coating.

Abstract: Modulation control circuitry modulates the equivalent output resistance of a power converter, for example a Sine Amplitude Converter, by varying the ON resistance of the primary switches in the converter. The modulation control circuitry may be used to “soft-start” the converter, perform output current limiting, and to improve current sharing between converters in a power sharing array. Soft-start may be achieved by controlling the rate of rise of the peak voltage applied to the gate control inputs of the primary switches. As the gate voltage passes through a range near the threshold voltage of the primary switches, the ON resistance of the switches, and the equivalent output resistance of the converter, will vary smoothly from a relatively high value to a relatively low value. Current limiting may be accomplished by measuring the output current of the converter and controlling the gate voltages of the main switches in order to keep the current at or below a predetermined level.

Abstract: A Factorized Power Architecture (“FPA”) includes a power regulator providing controlled DC bus voltages distributed and converted to load voltages, at the load, using DC voltage transformation modules (“VTMs”) having fixed transformation ratios. Optional feedback from the load improves regulation. A Sine Amplitude Converter (“SAC”) VTM locks the conversion frequency to resonance of a resonant circuit including a transformer, uses complementary primary switches, balanced switching, and a high conversion duty cycle, and may use primary ZVS and secondary ZVS and ZCS, low Q, and a low profile core structure, and may exhibit greater than 400 Watts/cubic-inch power density and 95% efficiency. Common-source gate-control topologies efficiently drive switches higher than 1 MHz. Symmetrical power trains reduce common-mode noise. Modulated converter output resistance controls Vout, limits Iout, or improves current sharing. Gate drive circuitry recycles energy from the transformer magnetizing inductance.

Abstract: Low-loss, common-source gate-control topologies may be used to efficiently drive a multiplicity of switches at frequencies greater than 1 MHz and over a range of duty cycles, including 50%. The control switches can be controlled at high speed using simple, directly-coupled drive circuitry. The gate control topology provides for ZVS of control switches and of primary and synchronous rectifier switches while also eliminating essentially all losses associated with the charging and discharging of gate capacitances of the primary and synchronous switches. The overall switching losses in the converter are reduced to the conduction losses in the channels of the switches enabling high operating frequencies to be achieved at high conversion efficiency. An inductive clamp circuit may be incorporated across a winding to provide a low-loss, common source gate drive topology for complementary switches having different duty cycles and an aggregate duty cycle less than 100%.

Abstract: An automated custom power supply design system uses an expert system containing a set of rules, including manufacturing limitations to limit design choices and ensure feasibility and manufacturability of the design. A design interface collects specifications from a user. A complement of power components for satisfying the electrical specifications is defined and mechanical specifications for each component are provided by the system for use in creating the mechanical design. After the mechanical design is established a thermal analysis is performed and the completed design is returned to a host computer. After an order is received, a computer integrated manufacturing system generates all of the specifications required to manufacture the components for the system and the system.

Abstract: Apparatus operates at a power level within a range of power levels that includes a rated maximum power level of the apparatus. The apparatus includes circuit elements to deliver power at an output voltage to a load from a source at an input voltage using an inductor selectively connected between the source and the load during a power conversion cycle. The inductor conducts a current having an average positive value during the power conversion cycle. A first switching device is interposed between the source and a first terminal of the inductor. A second switching device is interposed between a second terminal of the inductor and the load. A switch controller turns ON the first switching device during a time interval within the power conversion cycle during which the current is negative.

Abstract: Apparatus operates at a power level within a range of power levels that includes a rated maximum power level of the apparatus. The apparatus includes circuit elements to deliver power at an output voltage to a load from a source at an input voltage using an inductor selectively connected between the source and the load during a power conversion cycle. The inductor conducts a current having an average positive value during the power conversion cycle. A first switching device is interposed between the source and a first terminal of the inductor. A second switching device is interposed between a second terminal of the inductor and the load. A switch controller turns ON the first switching device during a time interval within the power conversion cycle during which the current is negative.