Abstract: DC-DC voltage regulators for converting an input voltage into one or more output voltages and methods for operating such voltage regulators are described. The voltage regulator may have a high side switching device coupled between the input port and a first intermediate node. The voltage regulator may have an inductive element having one port coupled to the first intermediate node and may have a capacitive element having two ports, coupled between the first intermediate node and a second intermediate node, with its one port coupled to the first intermediate node. The voltage regulator may have a charging switching device coupled between the other port of the capacitive element and a predetermined voltage level, for charging the capacitive element when the high side switching device and the charging switching device are both in an ON state.

Abstract: A desaturation detector receives signals from a gate driver and circuitry that indicate whether a power semiconductor device is on and in desaturation. A logic circuit produces a signal as a function of the signals, from which a latch circuit produces an output signal. The signal has first and second values respectively in an as-designed condition, and in a short-circuit condition in which the power semiconductor device is on and in desaturation. The output signal has the first value, and transitioned and latched to the second value in response to a transition to the short-circuit condition, which causes the gate driver to switch the power semiconductor device off. And filter(s) reduce noise within the desaturation detector.

Abstract: A buck converter is disclosed that may operate in a low power mode or a high power mode based on a power requirements of a load. In the high power mode, modifications to increase frequency response include a higher polling frequency for a comparator, a lower impedance divider in a feedback circuit, a higher biasing current for a comparator, and larger switches for providing current to a reactive step-down circuit of the buck converter. In the low power mode these modifications are reversed. The buck converter may make use of an improved strong arm comparator and a circuit for sensing presence of an inductor in the reactive step-down circuit.

Abstract: The switching power supply device is provided with: a plurality of power supply circuits corresponding to phases of a multi-phase AC power supply; a switching circuit that is capable of switching a phase connected to a power supply circuit not corresponding to one discretionary phase of the multi-phase AC power supply between the one discretionary phase and a phase to which the power supply circuit corresponds; an inrush current prevention circuit for preventing inrush current that is provided on a negative-electrode-side power supply line of the multi-phase AC power supply and at a position further toward the multi-phase AC power supply than is a connection point to which each of the plurality of power supply circuits are connected; and a filter circuit that is provided between the multi-phase AC power supply and the inrush current prevention circuit and has all lines of the plurality of phases magnetically coupled thereto.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to voltage regulators and more specially voltage regulators including error detection and correction mechanisms. Example embodiments include a voltage regulator comprising: an input arranged to receive a trim signal used to specify a target voltage at an output of the regulator; a comparator arranged to compare a voltage derived from the trim signal to the voltage at the output of the regulator; a filter arranged to filter an output of the comparator; a checksum module comprising first and second portions arranged to calculate first and second checksums respectively from a plurality of states associated with the voltage regulator and to provide an error signal equal to the difference between the first and second checksums; and an adjustment module arranged to receive the error signal and adjust one or more of the plurality of states if the error signal is non-zero.

Abstract: An input protection circuit (200) and associated method are disclosed for protecting a circuit input (VINP) from positive and negative overvoltages at an input voltage (VIN) with a high-voltage PMOSFET (P1) having a gate, a drain connected across a zener diode (ZD1) to the gate, and a source connected to receive an input voltage; a blocking FET (N1) having a gate connected to a power supply voltage, a drain connected across a zener diode (ZD2) to the power supply voltage, and a source connected to the gate of the high-voltage PMOSFET; a high-voltage NMOSFET (N3) having a gate connected to the power supply voltage, a source providing the protected output voltage and connected across a zener diode (ZD3) to the gate, and a drain connected to a source follower node and a level shifter circuit (214) connected between the drain of the high-voltage PMOSFET and the source follower node.

Abstract: According to some aspects of the present disclosure, resonant converter power supplies and control methods for reducing unbalanced currents in resonant power supplies are disclosed. Example resonant converter power supplies include an input, an output, a transformer, and a bridge circuit coupled between the input and a primary winding of the transformer. The power supply also includes first and second rectifier rails each coupled between a secondary winding of the transformer and the output, and at least one sensor coupled to generate an error signal representing unbalanced currents in the first and second rectifier ails. The power supply further includes a controller configured to receive the error signal, and adjust a duty cycle of at least one of a first switch and a second switch of the bridge circuit based on the error signal to reduce the unbalanced currents in the first and second rectifier rails.

Abstract: A switching power supply device has a switching output stage generating an output voltage from an input voltage by switching operation and a controller controlling the switching output stage based on a feedback voltage commensurate with the output voltage. The switching power supply device can perform switching suspension control whereby it stops switching operation on detecting a light-load condition based on the feedback voltage, though it restarts switching operation on detection of an overvoltage condition during suspension of switching operation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for large-current power supply and constant-current control. Large-current power supply includes: primary power supply, energy-feedback circuit and direct-current (DC) large-current generator; energy-feedback circuit includes freewheel diode and magnetic reset winding; and secondary coil of DC large-current generator is connected to load. Without output rectifier diode and filter capacitor at load end of large-current power supply provided herein, power consumption problem of output rectifier diode at large current is unnecessarily considered, and electrolytic capacitor is not needed for filtration; and therefore, service life of power supply is greatly prolonged, larger current is output by extending, and power supply has advantages of simple circuit, small size, easy control and high working reliability.

Abstract: An electrical protection device used in a controller of a mechanical equipment is disclosed to include a circuit board, and a pre-stage protection circuit and a post-stage protection circuit formed on the circuit board. The pre-stage protection circuit connects a power supply and a pre-stage of the controller, providing an electrical protection condition such that when a transient surge energy of the power supply surpasses the electrical protection condition, the pre-stage protection circuit blocks the transient surge energy from entering the controller. The post-stage protection circuit connects pre-stage protection circuit and a post-stage of the controller. Further, when the transient surge energy occurs, a response speed of the post-stage protection circuit is slower than that of the pre-stage protection circuit. The electrical protection device of the invention effectively blocks transient surge energy, avoiding electronic system component damage of the mechanical equipment.

Abstract: Methods and circuits are provided for controlling an electronic switch such that it may be controlled by an external control signal, such as a PWM signal, or be set to operate in an active-diode mode, wherein current is allowed to flow through the switch in only one direction. The described circuits are configured to autonomously control the electronic switch, such that no external control signal is required when the active-diode mode is used. The provided techniques allow electronic switches to be efficiently used as part of a power stage or part of an active rectifier, so as to support bi-directional switched-mode power supplies, motor/generator drivers, and related electric circuits that require bi-directional power flow. By reusing electronic switches thusly and implementing an active-diode mode, the circuitry is minimized while maintaining good power efficiency.

Abstract: Techniques to adapt the DC bias of voltage regulators for memory devices as a function of bandwidth demand are described. In one example, a non-volatile memory device includes a plurality of voltage regulator slices, wherein outputs of the plurality of voltage regulators slices are tied together to provide a voltage to perform operations on the array. The voltage regulator slices can be enabled or disabled based on a signal from a memory controller, such as an indication of an upcoming change in bandwidth demand for a rank including the memory device.

Abstract: A band-gap reference start-up circuit includes a pull-up unit, a bias current unit, and a start-up unit. The pull-up unit and the bias current unit are coupled to a control node. The start-up unit is coupled to a trigger terminal of the band-gap voltage reference circuit and the control node. During a start-up process of the band-gap voltage reference circuit, the bias current unit is enabled to generate a bias current for pulling down a voltage of the control node, the start-up unit is enabled to generate a start-up current for raising a voltage of the trigger terminal to enable the band-gap voltage reference circuit when the voltage of the control node is pulled down by the bias circuit unit, and the pull-up unit is enabled to generate the pull-up current for raising the voltage of the control node when the band-gap voltage reference circuit is enabled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite material (10) comprising a layer of electrically conductive material (12) being provided on both sides with a lightweight fibrous veil (14), each veil (14) being coated on its surface remote from the electrically conductive material layer (12) with a curable thermosetting resin matrix material (16).

Abstract: A control system, and corresponding method, for a Multi-Level Hybrid Flying Capacitor (MLHFC) converter. The control system includes a controller configured to control an output of the MLHFC converter; a feedback region detector configured to detect a change in a feedback region of the MLHFC converter; and a controller adjuster configured to, in response to the detected change, adjust the control system to counteract instability.

Abstract: A switching power supply includes: a switching output circuit configured to generate an output voltage from an input voltage by charging a capacitor by turning on and off an output transistor; a control circuit configured to halt the driving of the switching output circuit when charging electric charge to the capacitor per switching event is limited to a lower limit value and the output voltage, or a feedback voltage commensurate therewith, is raised from a predetermined reference voltage; and a lower limit value setting circuit configured to variably control the lower limit value during the driven period of the switching output circuit. For example, the lower limit value setting circuit can increase the lower limit value with increase in the number of times of switching.

Abstract: An exemplary transformer is provided for high voltage and low leakage inductance, including an outer housing, a complementary pair of iron C-sections, bobbins and Litz wire. The iron C-sections form a magnetic loop core, forming proximal and distal sides. The bobbins include outer and inner primary bobbins, as well as outer, middle and inner secondary bobbins. The inner secondary bobbin has a center gap for receiving the proximal side of the core and is disposable within the inner primary bobbin. Inner and outer primary Litz wires have rectangular cross-sections and respectively wrap around the inner and outer primary bobbins. The secondary Litz wire contiguously wraps around the secondary bobbins. The primary Litz wires connect together by a shunt. The inner primary bobbin is disposable within the middle secondary bobbin. The middle secondary bobbin is disposable within the outer primary bobbin. The outer primary bobbin is disposable within the outer secondary bobbin.

Abstract: A power converter, a control circuit and a control method for the same. Ground references of a first controller and a second controller are different to isolate drive signals of a first transistor and a second transistor. Thus the first transistor and the second transistor are controlled to be switched between on and off alternatively to achieve power conversion. The circuit is simple in structure and easy to implement with a low cost. The ground reference of the first controller is an intermediate node of a bridge arm of the power converter, so as to facilitate sampling and acquiring a feedback signal, thereby achieving closed-loop control of the power converter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a power conversion system that includes a sole DC/DC converter are described. The systems and methods reduce a total number of DC/DC converters in a power system that includes an electric energy storage device and a photovoltaic array. The system and method provide for transferring electrical charge from the photovoltaic array and the electric energy storage device to an alternating current stationary electrical grid via a DC bus and an inverter.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a low-dropout regulator (LDO) is disclosed. The system and method includes a charge pump that is controlled to provide a charge pump voltage to power the LDO. The charge pump voltage can be adjusted relative to the LDO's input voltage to ensure efficient operation of the LDO for input voltages over a range. The charge pump is also controlled to limit the maximum charge pump voltage provided to ensure safe operation of the LDO. The system and method also includes a under voltage lockout circuit that enables the LDO when it is determined that the charge pump voltage is sufficient to meet multiple criteria enable For example, the charge pump voltage may be analyzed to determine if it is above a minimum voltage and also sufficiently higher than the LDO's output voltage.