Abstract: A power controller is in use of a power converter whose output voltage can be regulated at a first nominal output voltage or a second nominal output voltage less than the first nominal output voltage. An ON-time controller controls an ON time of a driving signal provided to a power switch according to a compensation signal. A frequency controller controls, based on the compensation signal and a feedback signal, a switching frequency of the driving signal. If the compensation signal has an input waveform and when the output voltage is regulated at the first or second nominal output voltage, the frequency controller provides first or second settling time to stabilize the switching frequency, respectively. The second settling time is longer than the first settling time.

Abstract: A substrate support assembly for use in an electrostatic chuck (ESC) in a chamber of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus is presented for eliminating thermal conductance gas light-up. In one embodiment, the substrate support assembly includes a dielectric block having an upper surface for interfacing with a substrate support surface and a lower surface configured for interfacing with a baseplate. The assembly further includes a plurality of plug channels for introducing gas through the dielectric block to a temperature conduction region between the substrate support surface and a lower surface of the substrate. Each of plug channels contains a ceramic foam plug having a body and a pre-formed pore matrix that is integrally distributed through the body for reducing the mean free path of the gas.

Abstract: A switched-mode power supply with near valley switching includes a quasi-resonant converter. The converter includes a switch element that is turned on not only at the valley, but also in a window range of ?tNVW close to the valley, where the voltage across the switch element is at its minimum. This advantageously reduces switching loss and maintains a balance between efficiency and frequency variation.

Abstract: A storage device that includes a first switching circuit connected to a direct-current voltage bus and a second switching circuit connected between the first switching circuit and a DC-DC converter. A smoothing capacitor is connected between the DC-DC converter and the switching circuit. Moreover, the second switching circuit includes a pair of relays connected in series between the first switching circuit and the DC-DC converter and an inrush current prevention circuit connected in parallel with the series circuit of the relays. A first voltage sensor is connected to a node between the pair of relays and a second voltage sensor is connected between both terminals of the smoothing capacitor. A control unit determines the presence of welding at the relays on the basis of voltage values detected by the voltage sensors.

Abstract: A locus of integrals, in terms of time, of unit voltage vectors forms a loop within a period shorter than a reciprocal of a maximum value of an operating frequency, in terms of electrical angle, of a compressor motor, the unit voltage vectors being voltage vectors that are units composing an instantaneous space vector indicating voltage which an inverter for driving the compressor motor outputs except in a dead time period.

Abstract: A multiple output rectifier achieving effective supply of power to a plurality of loads. The multiple output rectifier converts an AC input signal into a first rectified output signal and a second rectified output signal, wherein the AC input signal has a fundamental period dividing into a first partial period where an AC current flows in a first direction and a second partial period where the AC current flows in a second direction being a reverse direction to the first direction. The multiple output rectifier includes a first input terminal and a second input terminal different from the first input terminal for input of the AC input signal. The multiple output rectifier further includes a common output terminal, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal. The common output terminal, the first output terminal, and the second output terminal are decoupled from each other for operation in a multiple output operative mode.

Abstract: In accordance with one example, the electronic switch has a load current path operably coupled to a load via a wire; the electronic switch is configured to connect or disconnect a load current supply node and the load via the wire dependent on a drive signal. Further, the electronic fuse circuit includes a monitoring circuit configured to receive a current sense signal representing the load current passing through the wire and to determine a first protection signal based on the current sense signal and at least one wire parameter. The first protection signal is indicative of whether to disconnect the load current supply node from the load. Moreover, the electronic fuse circuit includes a logic circuit configured to receive at least one selection signal and to set the at least one wire parameter based on the at least one selection signal.

Abstract: A longitudinal voltage regulator includes: a voltage source for generating an additional voltage; and a transformer for coupling the additional voltage into an input voltage. The transformer both generates the additional voltage and couples the additional voltage into the input voltage. In an embodiment, the transformer has an input winding and an output winding.

Abstract: A power switching circuit includes a transformer, a rectifying unit, a first switching unit, a second switching unit and a feedback unit. The transformer includes a central-tapped terminal. The transformer is configured to output a first power signal. The rectifying unit is coupled to the transformer. The rectifying unit receives the first power signal and outputs a second power signal to a load. The first switching unit is coupled to the central-tapped terminal of the transformer. The second switching unit is coupled to the rectifying unit and the first switching unit. The feedback unit is configured to receive the second power signal and control the first switching unit and the second switching unit.

Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes: an insulating plate consisting of alumina, and YAG (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) added with cerium, and configured to mount a substrate thereon; and an electrode which is embedded in the insulating plate and configured to generate electrostatic force for adsorbing the substrate.

Abstract: A flyback converter control architecture is provided in which primary-only feedback techniques are used to ensure smooth startup and detection of fault conditions. During steady-state operation, secondary-side regulation is employed. In addition, current limits are monitored during steady-state operation using primary-only feedback techniques to obviate the need for a secondary-side current sense resistor.

Abstract: A USB Type-C/Power Delivery controller chip includes a first pin for receiving a first voltage, a second pin for receiving a second voltage, and a third pin for coupling to the CC pin of a USB connector. The USB controller chip includes a VCONN power supply circuit having a blocking field effect transistor (BFET) coupled in series with a hot-swap field FET (HSFET) between the first and third pins, and first and second Zener diodes coupled anode-to-anode between the HSFET's source and gate. A cable detection circuit includes a BFET coupled between the second and third pins, and a Zener diode coupled between the BFET's gate and a lower rail. A power delivery physical layer circuit includes a receiver and a transmitter, each coupled to the third pin through a respective BFET, the respective BFETs each having a Zener diode coupled between respective gates and the lower rail.

Abstract: A method of discharging a Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) includes a plurality of phase legs connected in delta configuration. Each leg includes a plurality of series connected submodules, each submodule including an energy storage. The method includes disconnecting the MMC from an electrical grid, discharging the energy storages by means of a circulating current, and reconnecting the MMC to the electrical grid. The discharging includes, for each phase leg, setting a voltage reference, and sequentially selecting submodules in zero state by means of a sorting algorithm for switching each of the selected submodules to plus or minus state until the voltage deviation from the set voltage reference of the energy storage of each submodule in the phase leg is within a predefined range.

Abstract: A modular multilevel converter (MMC) converter including an auxiliary sub-module provided between an upper converter arm and a lower converter arm of the MMC converter is provided. An MMC converter includes an auxiliary sub-module including: an energy storage unit storing a DC voltage in the sub-module; a first semiconductor switch connected to the energy storage unit; a second semiconductor switch connected to the first semiconductor switch; a third semiconductor switch connected to the second semiconductor switch; and a switching controller turning ON/OFF the first to third semiconductor switches, wherein a mid-point between the first and second semiconductor switches is connected to the sub-module of the upper converter arm, a mid-point between the second and third semiconductor switches is connected to a load connection terminal, and a mid-point between the third semiconductor switch and the energy storage unit is connected to the sub-module of the lower converter arm.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to generating a reference voltage with trim adjustment. Accordingly, a reference voltage with trim adjustment is generating which involves generating a trim current using at least one of a plurality of selectable parallel elements; inputting the trim current to parallel resistor branches to generate a first scaled voltage; and combining a first voltage with the first scaled voltage to generate the reference voltage.

Abstract: Described herein is a technology for implementing a scalable SCIB regulator for high conversion step down application. Particularly, the SCIB is configured to include stacked input switch circuits with parallel-connected output switch circuits. The input switch circuits are stacked with or without DC shift switch circuits in between. Furthermore, the input voltage is stepped down to a biasing voltage by input switch circuits and then is regulated to one or more output voltages having one or more independent and predetermined values by output switch circuits. The input switch circuits, output switch circuits and DC shift switch circuits can be modified for scalable power capability and ease of control and manufacturing.

Abstract: A converter arrangement includes a converter which can be switched between an AC voltage supply system and a DC voltage circuit and which has converter valves that extend between AC voltage connections and DC voltage connections. Each converter valve has a series connection of bipolar submodules that include power semiconductor devices. The converter arrangement further includes a star point reactor which is located on the AC voltage side of the converter and which has impedance coils that are interconnected to form a grounded neutral point. A suppression filter is connected between the neutral point and a ground connection. The suppression filter is configured to suppress a harmonic of an alternating voltage in the AC voltage supply system.

Abstract: A controller for a power conversion circuit includes a first limiter for limiting a compensating voltage component within a compensating voltage switching level. A delay time measurement section measures an ON-delay time and an OFF-delay time, based on a binarized digital value and a PWM command value. A multiplier calculates an error voltage component average value by multiplying an average value of the ON-delay time and the OFF-delay time by a value that is obtained by dividing a direct-current power supply voltage by a half cycle of a triangular wave carrier signal. A second limiter extracts a component of the error voltage component average value that is beyond the compensating voltage switching level in absolute value. An adder sets a combined compensating voltage component to a sum of a limited compensating voltage component outputted by the first limiter and a limited error voltage component outputted by the second limiter.

Abstract: A method for detecting zero-current of a voltage converter includes resetting a comparator output during a first period when a power switch of the voltage converter is turned on, and receiving, by an offset cancellation circuit, sample signals from the comparator. The method also determines a comparator offset using the sample signals. In response to an output voltage of the voltage converter being less than a threshold voltage, the comparator output is reset during a second period when the power switch is turned off. The comparator compares a first signal from the voltage converter with a second signal representing a ground voltage to generate a ZCD signal indicative of a comparison of the first and second signals. Then, an offset cancellation signal indicative of the determined comparator offset is generated to cancel the comparator offset.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices implement direct current (DC)-DC converters having fast wake up times and low ripple effects. Methods include determining a DC-DC converter is to be transitioned from an operational mode to a low power mode, and storing a voltage at an input of a comparator coupled to an input of a charge pump, the voltage being stored in a feedback capacitor of a feedback regulation loop. The methods further include uncoupling a voltage trimming circuit from the input of the comparator, and maintaining, at least in part, the stored voltage at the feedback capacitor during the low power mode.