Abstract: A mode control method and apparatus for a switching regulator is disclosed. The method receives an input signal and amplifying the input signal to get an amplified signal. The amplified signal is sent to a sample circuit to get a sample signal. The sample signal is delivered to an averaging circuit to get an averaged sensed output signal. The averaged sensed output signal is compared with a first pre-determined threshold or an second pre-determined threshold to get a PWM enable signal. The appropriate mode is determined based on the PWM enable signal.

Abstract: A switching power supply circuit includes a direct current (DC) power supply input terminal, a first transformer including a first primary winding, a second transformer, and a pulse generating circuit, and a startup circuit. The pulse generating circuit includes first and second first switching units connected in series and two voltage division resistors connected in series between the DC power supply input terminal and ground, and two capacitors connected in parallel with one of the two voltage division resistors. The second transformer includes a second primary winding connected between control terminal and second conducting terminal of the first switching unit, a second secondary winding; and an assistant winding connected between the control terminal of the second switching unit and ground. The second conducting terminal of the first switching unit is grounded via the second secondary winding, the first primary winding and a capacitor in series.

Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure relates to converting an energy or power contained in a signal received by an at least one mote device into an energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device. Another aspect of this disclosure relates to extracting an energy or power contained in a signal received by an at least one mote device to be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device. Yet another aspect of this disclosure relates to directing from an at least one directing device an energy or power contained in a signal at an at least one mote device that can be utilized to operate the at least one mote device.

Abstract: A linear voltage regulator which includes on its input side an array of switched super capacitors coupled between the power source and the load. This apparatus is capable of delivering currents typically from milliamperes to greater than several amperes at very low switching frequencies. In addition by using capacitors rather than resistors or transistor devices to drop voltage on the input side, power consumption is reduced. The array of capacitors is switched by simple analog circuitry or a switching logic with or without a processor subsystem and the capacitors themselves are of the super capacitor type, thus providing very high capacitance, and are effectively series connected during certain phases of operation with the input terminal of the conventional linear voltage regulator portion of the apparatus. Energy stored in the super capacitors during the various phases of operation is reused.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a power converter with low standby power consumption, used to convert an AC input power to an output DC power, comprising: an EMI filter, coupled to the AC input power to filter the EMI; a TRIAC, coupled to the EMI filter to access the AC input power; and a TRIAC driver, used for driving the gate of the TRIAC switch according to an on-off control signal from a loading device, to control the conduction of the TRIAC switch.

Abstract: A power supply configuration includes a monitor circuit to monitor an output voltage and output current of a power supply. The output voltage can be used to supply power to a dynamic load. The power supply varies a rate of changing an adaptive output voltage reference value that tracks the output voltage. Based on a comparison of the output voltage with respect to the adaptive output voltage reference voltage value, a controller associated with the power supply controls switching operation of the power supply to maintain the output voltage within a voltage range. For example, modifying the rate of changing the adaptive output voltage reference value over time depending on current operating conditions of the power supply changes a responsiveness and ability of the power supply to provide current to the dynamic load.

Abstract: A system includes a current sense amplifier to receive an input voltage based on a sense current provided to load circuitry. The current sense amplifier is configured to generate an output voltage from the input voltage based, at least in part, on one or more reconfigurable characteristics of the current sense amplifier. The system also includes a microcontroller to compare the output voltage from the current sense amplifier to one or more programmable thresholds. The microcontroller is configured to direct a current controller to regulate the sense current provided to the load circuitry according to the comparison.

Abstract: An example power converter includes a power switch, a controller, and a current offset circuit. The controller is coupled to switch the power switch between an ON state and an OFF state to regulate an output of the power converter. The controller is adapted to terminate the ON state of the power switch in response to a switch current flowing through the power switch reaching a switch current threshold. The current offset circuit is coupled to generate an offset current in response to an input voltage of the power converter and an input current of the power converter is adjusted in response to the offset current.

Abstract: A circuit and method for generating an electrical alternating current power signal in which the alternating current signal is dropped once at a non-zero crossing point in every 540 plus N degrees, where N is a non-negative number. This manner of controlling power to a device enables wide ranges of power control while generating acceptable levels of power line harmonics and while conforming to existing international regulations governing voltage variations.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a low drop-out regulator for providing a regulated output voltage. The low drop-out regulator generally comprises a power MOSFET transistor having a gate coupled to a driver. The driver has a first path including an NMOS transistor and being coupled to the gate of the power MOSFET, a second path having a PMOS transistor and being coupled to the gate of the power MOSFET, and a switch for alternately switching between the first and second paths so as to provide a voltage to the gate of the power MOSFET ranging from ground to a power supply level.

Abstract: A power factor correction apparatus which uses Pulse Frequency Modulation (PFM) to control an AC/DC converter is disclosed. Only a current signal from the converter is used to determine the switching frequency. Sensing of the input line voltage is not needed. The switching frequency varies with the line voltage such that the converter emulates a resistive load. By using PFM control, EMI is spread over a range rather than concentrated at a few frequencies. Thus a smaller EMI filter can be used. Since the switching frequency decreases with the loading of the converter, the switching loss decreases with the loading as well. Thus, the need of meeting efficiency standards, e.g. the 80 PLUS and Energy Star, can be fulfill without extra circuitry.

Abstract: A startup circuit for a switching-mode power supply (SMPS) includes a first voltage detector configured to trigger the switching-mode power supply from a startup mode to a normal operation mode when an input supply voltage exceeds a first threshold voltage, a current consumption in the first voltage detector in the startup mode being determined by a reverse leakage current of a diode. A feedback circuit is coupled to the first voltage detector and being capable of maintaining a positive feedback loop with a current consumption of no more than a microampere. A second voltage detector is coupled to the first voltage detector and the feedback circuit, and is configured to trigger the switching-mode power supply to switch from the normal operation mode to the startup mode when the input supply voltage is below a second threshold voltage.

Abstract: A power converter includes at least one electric control switch, an electric current detecting and converting unit, a power controller, and a voltage detecting and controlling unit at the primary side; and a synchronous rectifying circuit, two MOSFETs, and an oscillating loop. During the actual operation, electric current detecting and converting unit outputs an AC voltage signal to the power controller and outputs a DC voltage signal to the voltage detecting and controlling unit, and then voltage detecting and controlling unit compares with a reference voltage to turn off the synchronous rectifying circuit at the no-load mode and to rectify via a body diodes of the MOSFETs. Accordingly, the power converter can reduce the power wastage at the no-load mode to be energy-saving.

Abstract: A control circuit for use in controlling a phase of a multi-phase voltage converter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a driver operable to provide a first control signal to a high side switch of a half-bridge of the phase and a second control signal to a low side switch of the half bridge, such that a desired output voltage is provided by the phase, current sensing circuitry operable to detect the output current of the phase, a comparator operable to compare the output current to a threshold current value and a disabling device operable to provide an enable/disable signal to disable the driver when the output current is below the threshold current value.

Abstract: A switching power supply circuit for generating an output voltage at an output node based on an input voltage at an input node includes a reference voltage generating circuit configured to generate a reference voltage such that during an initial start-up period of the reference voltage a voltage rise rate of the reference voltage within a first predetermined period from a start point of the initial start-up period and a voltage rise rate thereof within a second predetermined period immediately preceding an end point of the initial start-up period are smaller than a voltage rise rate thereof in a period between the first predetermined period and the second predetermined period, a coil disposed between the input output nodes, and a switch circuit configured to switch on and off to control current through the coil in response to comparison between the reference voltage and a voltage proportional to the output voltage.

Abstract: A power transmission control device includes a power-transmitting-side control circuit that controls an operation of a power transmitting device, a driver control circuit that controls operations of a first power transmitting driver and a second power transmitting driver, and a waveform detection circuit that performs a waveform detection process based on a monitor signal from a waveform monitor circuit. The first power transmitting driver drives a first node of a primary coil directly, and the second power transmitting driver drives a second node of the primary coil through a capacitor. A switch circuit is provided in the waveform monitor circuit, the switch circuit being situated in a signal path between the primary coil and a low-level power supply potential. The power-transmitting-side control circuit causes the switch circuit to be turned ON/OFF using a switch control signal.

Abstract: A method in connection with a frequency converter for correcting the power factor of the frequency converter, and a power factor correction unit. The method includes connecting the power factor correction unit between a rectifier bridge of the frequency converter and the supplying AC voltage network, generating with the power factor correction unit DC voltage from the AC voltage of the supply network and feeding the generated DC voltage to the frequency converter via the rectifier bridge of the frequency converter.

Abstract: Control systems, methods and power conversion systems are presented for controlling common mode currents in power converters, in which feedback signals used in pulse width modulated inverter switching control are selectively adjusted to ensure minimum differences between the resulting common mode compensated feedback signals according to a common mode dwell time in each pulse width modulation period, with the common mode dwell time being adjusted according to modulation index.

Abstract: A flyback converter with forced primary regulation is disclosed. An example flyback converter includes a coupled inductor including a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding. The first winding is coupled to an input voltage and the second winding is coupled to an output of the power converter. A switched element is coupled to the second winding. A secondary control circuit is coupled to the switched element and the second winding. The secondary control circuit is coupled to switch the switched element in response to a difference between a desired output value and an actual output value to force a current in the third winding that is representative of the difference between the desired output value and the actual output value. A primary switch is coupled to the first winding. A primary control circuit is coupled to the primary switch and the third winding.

Abstract: A control circuit and control method for a power converter detects change of the output voltage of the converter, and performs the time-optimal control function when the change exceeds the default value. According to the voltage slew rate detected at the time of the change exceeding the default value, a time interval T1 from the change exceeding the default value being detected to the current of the inductor rising to be the same as the output current of the converter is estimated, and the time intervals T2 and T3 are figured out based on the time interval T1. The parasitic resistance of the output capacitor of the converter is taken into account during estimating process such that even if the output capacitor has larger parasitic resistance, the output voltage can be back to the steady state value accurately to avoid the time-optimal control being triggered repeatedly.