Abstract: Methods and structures for constructing a magnetic core of a coupled inductor. The method provides for constructing N-phase coupled inductors as both single and scalable magnetic structures, where N is an integer greater than 1. The method additionally describes how such a construction of the magnetic core may enhance the benefits of using the scalable N-phase coupled inductor. The first and second magnetic cores may be formed into shapes that, when coupled together, may form a single scalable magnetic core. For example, the cores can be fashioned into shapes such as a U, an I, an H, a ring, a rectangle, and a comb, that cooperatively form the single magnetic core.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a semiconductor die including one or more switching circuits, a magnetic core having length and width, first and second metallic leads, and integrated circuit packaging material. The first metallic lead forms a first winding turn around a portion of the magnetic core, and the first metallic lead is electrically coupled to the semiconductor die. The second metallic lead forms a second winding turn around a portion of the magnetic core. The first and second winding turns are offset from each other along both of the width and length of the magnetic core. The integrated circuit is, for example, included in an integrated electronic assembly.

Abstract: A method for operating a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller including a switching circuit adapted to transfer power between an input port and an output port includes the steps of: (a) in a first operating mode of the MPPT controller, causing a first switching device of the switching circuit to operate at a fixed duty cycle; and (b) in a second operating mode of the MPPT controller, causing a control switching device of the switching circuit to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states to maximize an amount of power extracted from a photovoltaic device electrically coupled to the input port.

Abstract: An electric power system includes a string of N maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controllers having output ports electrically coupled in series, where N is an integer greater than one. At least one of the N MPPT controllers includes respective transistor driver circuitry powered from a power supply rail of an adjacent one of the N MPPT controllers of the string. Another MPPT controller includes an n-channel field effect freewheeling transistor electrically coupled across an output port and a resistive device electrically coupled between an input port and a gate of the freewheeling transistor, such that the freewheeling transistor operates in its conductive state when power is applied to the input port and a control subsystem of the controller is in an inactive state.

Abstract: A maximum power point tracking controller includes an input port for electrically coupling to an electric power source, an output port for electrically coupling to a load, a control switching device, and a control subsystem. The control switching device is adapted to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states to transfer power from the input port to the output port. The control subsystem is adapted to control switching of the control switching device to regulate a voltage across the input port, based at least in part on a signal representing current flowing out of the output port, to maximize a signal representing power out of the output port.

Abstract: A scalable maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller includes an input and an output port, a switching circuit adapted to transfer power from the input port to the output port, and a controller core. The controller core is adapted to (a) control the switching circuit to maximize an amount of power extracted from a photovoltaic device electrically coupled to the input port, and (b) set one or more parameters of the MPPT controller based at least in part on a configuration code representing a number of photovoltaic cells of the photovoltaic device electrically coupled in series.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, circuits, components, mechanisms, and processes in which a switching mechanism can be coupled between components. The switching mechanism is configured to have an on state or an off state, where the on state allows current to pass along a current path. A monitoring mechanism has one or more sensing inputs coupled to sense an electrical characteristic at the current path. The electrical characteristic can be a current, voltage, and/or power by way of example. The monitoring mechanism is configured to output a reporting signal indicating the sensed electrical characteristic. The monitoring mechanism can be integrated with the switching mechanism on a chip.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip includes a first input port, a first output port, and first and second transistors electrically coupled in series across the first input port. The second transistor is also electrically coupled across the first output port and is adapted to provide a path for current flowing through the first output port when the first transistor is in its non-conductive state. The integrated circuit chip additionally includes first driver circuitry for driving gates of the first and second transistors to cause the transistors to switch between their conductive and non-conductive states. The integrated circuit chip further includes first controller circuitry for controlling the first driver circuitry such that the first and second transistors switch between their conductive and non-conductive states to at least substantially maximize an amount of electric power extracted from an electric power source electrically coupled to the first input port.

Abstract: An energy transfer device for solar power systems operates to draw power from high-producing photovoltaic devices and apply that power across low-producing photovoltaic devices. An embodiment is a self-regulating energy exchanger using bidirectional DC-DC converters that operates to maintain uniform voltage across each series-connected photovoltaic device. An alternative embodiment is an energy exchanger that is controlled to maintain each of several series-connected photovoltaic devices at a maximum power point by drawing power from high-performing devices and applying that power across low-performing devices to provide uniform current among series-connected photovoltaic devices.

Abstract: A switching circuit for extracting power from an electric power source includes (1) an input port for electrically coupling to the electric power source, (2) an output port for electrically coupling to a load, (3) a first switching device configured to switch between its conductive state and its non-conductive state to transfer power from the input port to the output port, (4) an intermediate switching node that transitions between at least two different voltage levels at least in part due to the first switching device switching between its conductive state and its non-conductive state, and (5) a controller for controlling the first switching device to maximize an average value of a voltage at the intermediate switching node.

Abstract: An electric power system includes N electric power sources and N switching circuits, where N in an integer greater than one. Each switching circuit includes an input port electrically coupled to a respective one of the N electric power sources, an output port, and a first switching device adapted to switch between its conductive and non-conductive states to transfer power from the input port to the output port. The output ports of the N switching circuits are electrically coupled in series and to a load to establish an output circuit. Each of the N switching circuits uses an interconnection inductance of the output circuit as a primary energy storage inductance of the switching circuit.

Abstract: A switching regulator that has first, second, third and fourth terminals, a first power transistor disposed between the first terminal and a first node, a second power transistor disposed between the first node and a second node, a filter including a capacitor and an inductor, and a controller. The first power transistor is partitioned into a plurality of individually-addressable first transistor segments. The second node couples the second and fourth terminals. The second power transistor is partitioned into a plurality of individually-addressable second transistor segments. The inductor is disposed between the first node and the third terminal, and the capacitor is disposed between the third and fourth terminals.

Abstract: A switching regulator that has first, second, third and fourth terminals, a first power transistor disposed between the first terminal and a first node, a second power transistor disposed between the first node and a second node, a filter including a capacitor and an inductor, and a controller. The first power transistor is partitioned into a plurality of individually-addressable first transistor segments. The second node couples the second and fourth terminals. The second power transistor is partitioned into a plurality of individually-addressable second transistor segments. The inductor is disposed between the first node and the third terminal, and the capacitor is disposed between the third and fourth terminals.

Abstract: A switching regulator that has first, second, third and fourth terminals, a first power transistor disposed between the first terminal and a first node, a second power transistor disposed between the first node and a second node, a filter including a capacitor and an inductor, and a controller. The first power transistor is partitioned into a plurality of individually-addressable first transistor segments. The second node couples the second and fourth terminals. The second power transistor is partitioned into a plurality of individually-addressable second transistor segments. The inductor is disposed between the first node and the third terminal, and the capacitor is disposed between the third and fourth terminals.

Abstract: A voltage regulator has an input terminal, an output terminal, a first transistor to intermittently form an electrical circuit between the input terminal and the output terminal, a rectifier connecting an intermediate terminal in the electrical circuit between the input terminal and the output terminal to ground, a controller that drives the first transistor, and a capacitorless filter. Capacitance for the filter function can be provided by a capacitor, e.g., the input capacitor of the load, located in the load chip or on the same printed circuit board as the load chip. The capacitorless filter can include an inductor connected between the intermediate terminal and the output terminal, or the inductance can be provided by parasitic effects in the connections between the voltage regulator and load.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features a method, apparatus, and computer program product for use within a voltage regulator. It includes deactivating the voltage regulator; and periodically activating the voltage regulator to monitor and selectively refresh the output of the voltage regulator.

Abstract: A voltage regulator has an input terminal, an output terminal, a first transistor to intermittently form an electrical circuit between the input terminal and the output terminal, a rectifier connecting an intermediate terminal in the electrical circuit between the input terminal and the output terminal to ground, a controller that drives the first transistor, and a capacitorless filter. Capacitance for the filter function can be provided by a capacitor, e.g., the input capacitor of the load, located in the load chip or on the same printed circuit board as the load chip. The capacitorless filter can include an inductor connected between the intermediate terminal and the output terminal, or the inductance can be provided by parasitic effects in the connections between the voltage regulator and load.

Abstract: A voltage regulator with an input terminal to be coupled to an input voltage source and an output terminal to be coupled to a load. The voltage regulator has a first switch to intermittently couple the output terminal to the input terminal, a voltage sensor to detect a voltage at the output terminal, a current sensor to detect a current flowing along a circuit path between the input terminal and the output terminal, and a controller connected to the switch, the voltage sensor and the current sensor. The controller is configured to close the first switch if the voltage is less than a first threshold voltage and the current is less than a first threshold current, and the controller is configured to open the first switch if the voltage is greater than a second threshold voltage and the current is greater than a second threshold current.

Abstract: A switching regulator has first, second, third and fourth terminals. The switching regulator includes a power switch, a rectifier switch, a filter, a shorting switch and a controller operable in a plurality of modes to open and close the switches. The power switch is disposed between the first terminal and a first node, and the rectifier switch is disposed between the first node and a second node coupling the second and fourth terminals. An inductor is disposed between the first node and the third terminal. One or more shorting switches can be connected in parallel with the inductor.

Abstract: A voltage regulator with a switch to alternately couple and decouple an input terminal to an output terminal with a variable duty cycle and a filter disposed between the input terminal and the output terminal to provide a substantially DC voltage at the output terminal. A sampling circuit makes measurements of an electrical characteristic of the voltage regulator at discrete moments of time, such as just before the opening and closing of the switch. A feedback circuit is coupled to the sampling circuit and the switch, and is configured to use the measurements to control the duty cycle to maintain the DC voltage substantially constant. The feedback circuit uses the switch as the resistive element in order to measure the current passing through the voltage regulator.