Abstract: A switching power converter and method of controlling an output voltage thereof using predictive sensing of magnetic flux provides a low-cost switching power converter via primary-side control using a primary-side winding. An integrator generates a voltage representing magnetic flux within a power magnetic element by integrating a voltage on a primary-side winding of the power magnetic element. A detection circuit detects the end of a half-cycle of post-conduction resonance in the power magnetic element after the energy level in the power magnetic element reaches zero. The voltage of the integrator is stored at the end of the post-conduction resonance half-cycle and is used to determine a sampling point prior to or equal to the start of post-conduction resonance in a subsequent switching cycle of the power converter. The primary-side winding voltage is then sampled at the sampling point, providing an indication of the output voltage of the power converter.

Abstract: AC/DC cascaded power converters having high DC conversion ratio and improved AC line harmonics provide low input harmonic currents, high power factor and efficient operation for low voltage DC outputs when coupled directly to a source of unfiltered rectified AC voltage. The power converter incorporates an intermediate storage element that provides most or all of the energy storage capacitance within the power converter and a blocking device that enables continuous energy transfer from AC line to output to achieve unity power factor and regulated output while maintaining low AC input current ripple.

Abstract: A switch state controller generating a pulse train is used in a power converter utilizing a plurality of converter stages all simultaneously controlled by a single switch controlled by said pulse train. On time of the pulse train is controlled according to an input or interim node characteristic of the supply and period is controlled by a characteristic of the output of the converter. This allows development of AC-to-DC converters, including power-factor-correction converters, and DC to DC converters with high conversion ratio with minimal parts count & high reliability.

Abstract: AC/DC cascaded power converters having high DC conversion ratio and improved AC line harmonics provide low input harmonic currents, high power factor and efficient operation for low voltage DC outputs when coupled directly to a source of unfiltered rectified AC voltage. The power converter incorporates an intermediate storage element that provides most or all of the energy storage capacitance within the power converter and a blocking device that enables continuous energy transfer from AC line to output to achieve unity power factor and regulated output while maintaining low AC input current ripple.

Abstract: A family of DC-to-DC converters includes a multi-resonant snubber network connected in parallel with a power switching device. The multi-resonant snubber network includes an auxiliary switch that is connected to transfer the energy from a parasitic capacitance of the power switching device into a resonant inductor and to achieve zero-voltage turn-on of the power switching device. An additional resonant path is included in the snubber network to achieve zero-voltage turn-off of the auxiliary switch and the power switching device.