Abstract: Systems for power conversion, and controllers and methods for operating a multiage power converter. The method includes determining a target body brake time period for setting a load current of the multistage power converter below a predetermined threshold. The method also includes activating a body brake condition for the multistage power converter. The method further includes turning off each stage in the multistage power converter when the body brake condition is active. The method also includes deactivating the body brake condition after the target body brake time period following an activation of the body brake condition.

Abstract: A power converter with secondary side active clamp. At least one example is a method including: limiting a push-phase voltage excursion of a phase node on a secondary side of a power converter during a push phase of a primary side of the power converter, the limiting by extracting current from the phase node and storing the current on a clamp capacitor; limiting a pull-phase voltage excursion of the phase node on the secondary side of the power converter during a pull phase of the primary side of the power converter, the limiting by extracting current from the phase node and storing the current on a clamp capacitor; and utilizing the current stored on the clamp capacitor to drive a component on the secondary side.

Abstract: Quasi-Constant On-Time Controller. At least one example embodiment is a method of operating a power converter, comprising: charging an inductor of a switching power converter, each charging has an on-time; and then discharging the inductor while providing current to the load; and repeating the charging and the discharging at a switching frequency. During the repeating, the example method may comprise: adjusting the switching frequency proportional to a voltage difference between an output voltage and a setpoint voltage; generating an on-time reference proportional to a frequency difference between the switching frequency and a setpoint frequency, the on-time of each charging of the inductor is based on the on-time reference; and modifying the on-time proportional to the voltage difference.

Abstract: Multiphase power converter with CLC resonant circuit. One example is a method of operation a power converter, the method including: charging, during a first on-time, a first output inductor by way of a first switching-tank circuit defining a first switch node coupled to a first lead of a resonant inductor; creating, during the first on-time, a first current flow into the first switching-tank circuit through the resonant inductor; and then charging, during a second on-time, a second output inductor by way of a second switching-tank circuit defining a second switch node coupled to a second lead of the resonant inductor; and creating, during the second on-time, a second current flow into the second switching-tank circuit through the resonant inductor.

Abstract: Multiphase trans-inductor voltage regulator fault diagnostic. One example is a method of detecting electrical faults in a multiphase power converter, the method comprising: driving, by a controller of the multiphase power converter, a first phase of the power converter, the first phase comprising a phase-one transformer module; driving, by the controller, a second phase of the power converter, the second phase comprising a phase-two transformer module distinct from the phase-one transformer module; testing, by the controller of the multiphase power converter, for a phase-one electrical fault associated with the phase-one transformer module; testing, by the controller, for a phase-two electrical fault associated with the phase-two transformer module; and driving, by the controller, a fault indicator in the presence of a phase-one or phase-two electrical fault.

Abstract: Multiphase power converter with CLC resonant circuit. One example is a method of operation a power converter, the method including: charging, during a first on-time, a first output inductor by way of a first switching-tank circuit defining a first switch node coupled to a first lead of a resonant inductor; creating, during the first on-time, a first current flow into the first switching-tank circuit through the resonant inductor; and then charging, during a second on-time, a second output inductor by way of a second switching-tank circuit defining a second switch node coupled to a second lead of the resonant inductor; and creating, during the second on-time, a second current flow into the second switching-tank circuit through the resonant inductor.

Abstract: Quasi-Constant On-Time Controller. At least one example embodiment is a method of operating a power converter, comprising: charging an inductor of a switching power converter, each charging has an on-time; and then discharging the inductor while providing current to the load; and repeating the charging and the discharging at a switching frequency. During the repeating, the example method may comprise: adjusting the switching frequency proportional to a voltage difference between an output voltage and a setpoint voltage; generating an on-time reference proportional to a frequency difference between the switching frequency and a setpoint frequency, the on-time of each charging of the inductor is based on the on-time reference; and modifying the on-time proportional to the voltage difference.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a power supply system includes a plurality of power stages including a first power stage and a second power stage. The power supply system includes a voltage regulator connected to the first power stage and the second power stage. The voltage regulator is configured to detect an analog temperature signal from at least one of the first power stage and the second power stage via a communication line. The analog temperature signal is detected within a first voltage range. The voltage regulator is configured to transmit a digital bit stream to the first power stage and the second power stage via the communication line. The digital bit stream includes one or more programmable power stage parameters. The digital bit stream has digital levels within a second voltage range.

Abstract: Quasi-Constant On-Time Controller. At least one example embodiment is a method of operating a power converter, comprising: charging an inductor of a switching power converter, each charging has an on-time; and then discharging the inductor while providing current to the load; and repeating the charging and the discharging at a switching frequency. During the repeating, the example method may comprise: adjusting the switching frequency proportional to a voltage difference between an output voltage and a setpoint voltage; generating an on-time reference proportional to a frequency difference between the switching frequency and a setpoint frequency, the on-time of each charging of the inductor is based on the on-time reference; and modifying the on-time proportional to the voltage difference.

Abstract: Multiphase power converter with CLC resonant circuit. One example is a method of operation a power converter, the method including: charging, during a first on-time, a first output inductor by way of a first switching-tank circuit defining a first switch node coupled to a first lead of a resonant inductor; creating, during the first on-time, a first current flow into the first switching-tank circuit through the resonant inductor; and then charging, during a second on-time, a second output inductor by way of a second switching-tank circuit defining a second switch node coupled to a second lead of the resonant inductor; and creating, during the second on-time, a second current flow into the second switching-tank circuit through the resonant inductor.

Abstract: A power converter with secondary side active clamp. At least one example is a method including: limiting a push-phase voltage excursion of a phase node on a secondary side of a power converter during a push phase of a primary side of the power converter, the limiting by extracting current from the phase node and storing the current on a clamp capacitor; limiting a pull-phase voltage excursion of the phase node on the secondary side of the power converter during a pull phase of the primary side of the power converter, the limiting by extracting current from the phase node and storing the current on a clamp capacitor; and utilizing the current stored on the clamp capacitor to drive a component on the secondary side.

Abstract: A power converter with secondary side active clamp. At least one example is a method including: limiting a push-phase voltage excursion of a phase node on a secondary side of a power converter during a push phase of a primary side of the power converter, the limiting by extracting current from the phase node and storing the current on a clamp capacitor; limiting a pull-phase voltage excursion of the phase node on the secondary side of the power converter during a pull phase of the primary side of the power converter, the limiting by extracting current from the phase node and storing the current on a clamp capacitor; and utilizing the current stored on the clamp capacitor to drive a component on the secondary side.

Abstract: Quasi-Constant On-Time Controller. At least one example embodiment is a method of operating a power converter, comprising: charging an inductor of a switching power converter, each charging has an on-time; and then discharging the inductor while providing current to the load; and repeating the charging and the discharging at a switching frequency. During the repeating, the example method may comprise: adjusting the switching frequency proportional to a voltage difference between an output voltage and a setpoint voltage; generating an on-time reference proportional to a frequency difference between the switching frequency and a setpoint frequency, the on-time of each charging of the inductor is based on the on-time reference; and modifying the on-time proportional to the voltage difference.

Abstract: In one form, a multiphase controller for controlling a plurality of phases using a corresponding plurality of phase controllers includes a plurality of inputs, each for receiving a respective current monitor signal, an averaging circuit for generating an averaged signal representative of an average of current monitor signals received from said plurality of inputs, wherein each phase controller generates an error voltage in response to said averaged signal and said respective current monitor signal, controls a drive signal in response to said error voltage and a control voltage, and provides a digital signal representative of a difference between said error voltage and said control voltage. The multiphase controller provides an adjustment signal representative of said digital signal divided by a corresponding output current for each phase controller, and said adjustment signal adjusts a corresponding error voltage.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a power supply system includes a plurality of power stages including a first power stage and a second power stage. The power supply system includes a voltage regulator connected to the first power stage and the second power stage. The voltage regulator is configured to detect an analog temperature signal from at least one of the first power stage and the second power stage via a communication line. The analog temperature signal is detected within a first voltage range. The voltage regulator is configured to transmit a digital bit stream to the first power stage and the second power stage via the communication line. The digital bit stream includes one or more programmable power stage parameters. The digital bit stream has digital levels within a second voltage range.

Abstract: A controller for a DCX power converter includes an SR controller that controls conduction times of first and second SR transistors in response to respective conduction conditions thereof, and a primary side controller that provides first and second primary phase signals controlling first and second transistors, measures a first sense signal as a time between a gate voltage of the first SR transistor falling below a first threshold and an activation of the second primary phase signal, an adaptive dead time proportional to an average of current conducted in the SR transistors during their respective active times, a first reference signal as a predetermined delay time plus the adaptive dead time, and a first error signal as an average difference between the first sense signal and the first reference signal, and controls a switching speed of the first and second primary phase signals to reduce the first error signal.

Abstract: Operating a resonant Dickson converter. At least some of the example embodiments are methods including: driving a voltage output of the Dickson converter by a resonant current through a first branch for a first on time, the resonant current has a resonant half-period; driving the voltage output by a resonant current through a third branch for a second on time, the resonant current through the third branch has a resonant half-period; and then electrically isolating the first branch and the third branch; detecting, during a first dead time, that the first on time was different than the resonant half-period of the first branch; and adjusting the first on time used in a subsequent cycle of driving the resonant currents, the adjusting makes the first on time more closely match the resonant half-period of the first branch.

Abstract: A converter includes first and second input terminals and first and second output terminals. The converter also includes an output capacitor coupled between the first output terminal and the second output terminal, and a magnetic component having two input terminals and three output terminals. A first output terminal of the magnetic component is coupled through a first electronic switch to the second output terminal of the converter, a second output terminal of the magnetic component is coupled to the first output terminal of the converter, and a third output terminal of the magnetic component is coupled through a second electronic switch to the second output terminal of the electronic converter. In addition, the converter includes a switching stage configured to transfer current pulses from the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the converter to the two input terminals of the magnetic component.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a converter of the multiphase interleaving type. According to the method, there is detected when a change of the load applied to an output terminal of the converter occurs. All the phases of the converter are simultaneously turned off, and a driving interleaving phase shift is recovered so as to restart a normal operation of the converter. A controller for carrying out such a method is also provided.

Abstract: A converter includes first and second input terminals and first and second output terminals. The converter also includes an output capacitor coupled between the first output terminal and the second output terminal, and a magnetic component having two input terminals and three output terminals. A first output terminal of the magnetic component is coupled through a first electronic switch to the second output terminal of the converter, a second output terminal of the magnetic component is coupled to the first output terminal of the converter, and a third output terminal of the magnetic component is coupled through a second electronic switch to the second output terminal of the electronic converter. In addition, the converter includes a switching stage configured to transfer current pulses from the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the converter to the two input terminals of the magnetic component.