Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to semiconductors for power generation and conversion applications, and more particularly, to devices, integrated circuits, substrates, and methods to convert direct current (“DC”) voltage signals to alternating current (“AC”) voltage signals. In some embodiments, an inverter can include a modulator configured to convert a direct current signal into a first variable signal, and a transformation module configured to step up the first variable signal to form a second variable signal. The transformation module can be configured to generate a first portion of the second variable signal and a second portion of the second variable signal. Further, the inverter can include a waveform generator configured to synchronize the first portion and the second portion of the second variable signal at a frequency to generate an alternating current (“AC”) signal.

Abstract: A witching power supply unit, which suppresses switching loss in switching elements and surge voltage onto an output rectifier device and reduces the number of components, is provided. The switching power supply unit include: a switching circuit of full bridge type disposed on the input side; a rectifier circuit disposed on the output side; a transformer disposed between the switching circuit and the rectifier circuit and including a first winding on the input side, a second winding on the output side, a third winding; a surge voltage suppressing circuit connected in parallel with the switching circuit; and a driving circuit. The third winding is connected to the full bridge circuit to form a H-bridge configuration. Magnetic coupling between the first and second windings and magnetic coupling between the first and third windings are both looser than that between the second and third windings.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control apparatus for detecting an early stage short circuit between the terminals of an electrolytic capacitor, and detecting a short circuit between a load that is connected in parallel to the electrolytic capacitor, the apparatus performing appropriate processing before an adverse effect is inflicted on peripheral equipment. In the control apparatus, microcomputers switch on a second relay; an electrolytic capacitor is gradually charged via a current-limiting resistor; a first voltage detection control for detecting a voltage between terminals of the electrolytic capacitor is performed when a first set time period has elapsed after the second relay has been switched on; and a second voltage detection control for detecting a voltage between the terminals of the electrolytic capacitor is performed when a second set time period, which is longer than the first set time period, has elapsed after the second relay has been switched on.

Abstract: Power supply regulation. A power supply regulation system includes a transistor through which power is carried. The system also includes a switch connected to a gate of the transistor. Further, the system includes a transmission gate responsive to an input signal to apply a first signal level causing the transistor to enter an ON state in which the transistor carries full power, to apply a second signal level causing the transistor to enter an OFF state in which the transistor carries no power and to apply a third signal level causing the transistor to enter an INTERMEDIATE state in which the amount of power the transistor carries is controlled by the switch.

Abstract: An example power supply includes a controller and a detection circuit. The controller includes a sense terminal coupled to provide a sense terminal current representative of an input voltage of the power supply during normal operation. The detection circuit is external to the controller and is coupled to the sense terminal. The detection circuit includes a Zener diode coupled to conduct a current to adjust the sense terminal current during a fault condition, where during the fault condition the controller is responsive to a measured impedance of the detection circuit which is determined in response to the sense terminal current.

Abstract: A flyback converter controller with forced primary regulation is disclosed. An example flyback converter controller includes a secondary control circuit to be coupled to a switched element coupled to a second winding of a coupled inductor of a flyback converter. The secondary control circuit is to be coupled across an output of the second winding to switch the switched element in response to a difference between an actual output value at the output of the second winding and a desired output value to force a current in a third winding of the coupled inductor that is representative of the difference between the actual output value at the output of the second winding and the desired output value. A primary control circuit is also included and is to be coupled to a primary switch coupled to a first winding of the coupled inductor. The primary control circuit is to be coupled to receive the current forced in the third winding by the secondary control circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus of regulating a power converter with multiple operating modes includes a switch coupled to an energy transfer element coupled between an input and an output of the power converter. A control circuit is also included, which is coupled to the switch to control the switch. The control circuit includes first and second duty cycle control modes to regulate power delivered to the output of the power converter. A transition between the first and second duty cycle control modes is responsive to a magnitude of a current flowing in the switch reaching a current threshold value.

Abstract: Electronic leakage reduction techniques are provided, whereby an electrical outlet with a programmable computing unit is programmed to detect the current, resistance, power or pattern of current, resistance or power of an attached appliance in the on position and/or off position. Among other aspects, the electrical outlet with a programmable computing unit delivers a selected voltage below the original operational voltage and/or delivers voltage at particular durations for particular intervals to the appliance in the off position and compares detected current, resistance, power or pattern of current, resistance or power to programmed levels associated with the appliance in the on position and/or off position. If any or some of those characteristics match those programmed associated with the appliance in the on position, or fail to match those programmed associated with the off position by a set confidence interval, original operational voltage is provided to the appliance.

Abstract: A buck boost voltage converter circuit has a capacitor pump circuit for boosting an input voltage in a first mode of operation when an input voltage is below a desired voltage level. A buck converter circuit provides the output voltage responsive to the boosted input voltage from the capacitor pump circuit in the first mode of operation and provides the output voltage responsive to the input voltage in a second mode of operation when the input voltage is above the desired voltage level.

Abstract: A correcting circuit includes a correction current synthesizer synthesizing a correction current based on an output signal of a sensor, a current adjuster adjusting a determining current which corresponds to a correction amount based on the correction current, and a correction voltage generator generating a correction voltage for correcting a voltage signal based on the determining current, so as to correct an output characteristic of a voltage signal output in correspondence to the output signal of the sensor.

Abstract: A solar farm system is provided that is configured for reducing electrical loss. The solar farm system includes a plurality of PV arrays coupled to inverters and a collector system including a conductor or network of conductors. The collector system also includes a plurality of transformers with one or more transformers connected between the inverters and the conductors. The solar farm also includes a substation transformer connecting the solar farm collector system to the electrical grid. The solar farm includes a control system configured to determine at least one operating parameter for the solar farm system to reduce electrical loss and to regulate the collector system and the plurality of inverters based at least in part on the at least one operating parameter.

Abstract: To provide a power supply unit capable of realizing a multiphase power supply at low cost. For example, each of a plurality of semiconductor devices DEV[1]-DEV[n] comprises a trigger input terminal TRG_IN, a trigger output terminal TRG_OUT, and a timer circuit TM that delays a pulse signal input from TRG_IN and outputs it to TRG_OUT. DEV[1]-DEV[n] are mutually coupled in a ring shape by its own TRG_IN being coupled to TRG_OUT of one semiconductor device other than itself. Each of DEV[1]-DEV[n] performs switching operation by using the pulse signal from TRG_IN as a starting point, and feeds a current into an inductor L corresponding to itself. Moreover, DEV[1] generates the above-described pulse signal only once during startup by a start trigger terminal ST being set to a ground voltage GND, for example.

Abstract: A device for generating a voltage comprises first and second plates spaced apart from each other, for being charged at respective different potentials. A third plate is placed at a first distance from the first plate so as to form a first capacitor, and a first semiconductor element is connected between the third plate and the second plate. This voltage generating device produces an output voltage having an amplitude that is dependent upon the first distance and taken between the third and second plates.

Abstract: Components, systems and methods for generating variable frequency AC voltage from a DC power supply are described. The components include a full-bridge (FB) parallel load resonant (PLR) converter which operates in discontinuous conduction mode. The PLR converter includes MOSFETs in an H-bridge configuration and employs a topology which minimizes inductance. The PLR converter can be coupled to a single or poly-phase bridge for use as an inverter. The inverter can be used to produce an AC sinusoidal waveform from a low voltage, high current DC power supply. Systems and techniques for modulating the output from the PLR converter to produce an AC sinusoidal waveform having desired characteristics, including frequency and voltage, are also provided. The PLR converter can also be coupled to a rectifier for use as a DC-DC converter.

Abstract: A switching power supply includes an energy-storing device, a power switch, a driving circuit and a thermal sensing device. The energy-storing device is coupled to an input power source and controlled by the power switch to increase or decrease the power therein. The power switch has a control terminal connected to the driving circuit for switching. The thermal sensing device is connected to the control terminal of the power switch and powered by the driving circuit. When sensing an operation temperature exceeding a predetermined range, the thermal sensing device disables the driving circuit.

Abstract: An analog insulation multiplexer not causing magnetic saturation even if a small transformer is used and having a wide use temperature range. The analog insulation multiplexer includes: a first switching element for generating a drive control signal in accordance with an external signal; a drive insulation transformer for receiving the drive control signal on a primary side via a first resistor and for delivering an insulated drive control signal from a secondary side; a second switching element for chopping an analog signal input in accordance with the insulated drive control signal; and an analog signal insulation transformer for delivering an insulated chopped analog signal on a secondary side.

Abstract: A voltage supply interface provides both coarse and fine current control with reduced series resistance. The voltage supply interface has a segmented switch having N component switches that are digitally controlled. The voltage supply interface replaces a conventional sense resistor with a calibration circuit that has a replica switch that is a replica of the N component switches. The calibration circuit includes a reference current IREF that is sourced through the replica switch. A voltage comparator forces a common voltage drop across the replica switch and the n-of-N activated component switches so that the cumulative current draw through the segmented switch is n·IREF. The current control of the voltage interface can be coarsely tuned by activating or deactivating component switches, and can be finely tuned by adjusting the reference current. The current sense resistor is eliminated so that the overall series resistance is lower.

Abstract: To provide a power supply apparatus which realizes a high-speed response, a stable operation, and a low output ripple with low power consumption. The first stage switching regulator receives an input voltage and forms a first voltage. The second stage switching regulator receives the first voltage and forms a second voltage. The second stage switching regulator includes an N-phase (N is two or more) switching regulator, and the first voltage is set to be N times a target value of the second voltage. The input voltage is set to be higher than the first voltage.

Abstract: A power converter (1) comprises a voltage level increasing circuit (3) which receives a DC-input voltage (VIN) between first and second power converter inputs (IN1, IN2), and which has an output (O1; O2, O3) to supply an adapted input voltage having either a higher level than the input voltage (VIN) or a polarity opposite to the input voltage (VIN). A down-converter (2) has first and second down-converter inputs (IN3, IN4), a control switch (S1) with a main current path arranged between a first node (N1) and the first downconverter input (IN3), an inductor (L) arranged between the first node (N1) and a load (LO), and a sync switch (S2) arranged between the first node (N1) and the second down-converter input (IN4). A controller (4) controls the control switch (S1), and switches (S3, S4; S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8) of the voltage level increasing circuit (3) for either coupling the input voltage (VIN) or the adapted input voltage to the first node (N1) or to the first or second downconverter inputs (IN3, IN4).

Abstract: A method for providing non-resonant zero-current switching in a switching power converter operating in a continuous current mode. The switching power converter converts power from input power to output power. The switching power converter includes a main switch connected to a main inductor, wherein an auxiliary inductor is connectible with the main inductor. The main current flows from an input to an output. The auxiliary inductor is connected with the main inductor thereby charging the auxiliary inductor so that an auxiliary current flows from the output to the input opposing the main current. Upon a total current including a sum of the main current and the auxiliary current. substantially equals or approaches zero, the switch is turned on.