Abstract: A controller circuit is configured to receive a measurement signal representing a power converter state and receive a control signal representing a power converter resonant period. Based on the power converter state and the power converter resonant period, the controller circuit determines for a switching cycle: a charging interval, a first dead time interval, a discharging interval, and a second dead time interval. The first dead time interval is after the charging interval. The discharging interval is after the first dead time interval. The second dead time interval is after the discharging interval. The controller circuit provides a first drive signal and a second drive signal based on the charging interval, the first dead time interval, the discharging interval, and the second dead time interval.

Abstract: An IC is coupled to a power stage having a first half bridge having first and second transistors and a second half bridge having third and fourth transistors. A controller has a first control output to provide first-fourth control signals to the first-fourth transistors. The controller asserts the first-fourth control signals to implement a state sequence. The state sequence includes a first state in which the first and fourth transistors are ON, a second state in which the first and third transistors are ON, a third state in which the second and fourth transistors are ON, and a fourth state in which the second and third transistors are ON. During each switching cycle, the controller implements the first and fourth states with one of the second or third states implemented between the first and fourth states, with every n switching cycles alternating implementation of the second or third states.

Abstract: Disclosed examples include methods and control circuits to operate a single or multi-phase DC-DC converter, including an output that turns a first switch on for a controlled on time and then turns the switch off for a controlled off time in successive control cycles, as well as a PWM circuit that computes a threshold time value corresponding to a predetermined peak inductor current and a duty cycle value, and computes a first time value according to an error value for a subsequent second switching control cycle. The PWM circuit sets the on time to the first time value to operate in a critical conduction mode for the second switching control cycle when the first time value is greater than or equal to the threshold time value, and otherwise sets the controlled on time to the threshold time value for discontinuous conduction mode operation in the second control cycle.

Abstract: An LLC converter includes an input having a first node and a second node. A first switch is coupled between the first node and a third node and a second switch is coupled between the third node and the second node. A transformer having a first transformer input is coupled to the third node. A resonant capacitor is coupled to a second transformer input and a first input of a summer. A voltage ramp generator is coupled to a second input of the summer, the summer for summing voltages at the first input and the second input. The converter further includes circuitry for generating control signals for the first switch and the second switch in response to the output of the summer.

Abstract: A power factor correction (PFC) pre-converter includes a boost converter and a PFC controller. The boost converter is configured to step up a boost converter input voltage by generating a boost converter output voltage. The boost converter includes an inductor, a switch, and a diode. The PFC controller is configured to control the switch by generating a signal causing the switch to be closed for a first period of time. The first period of time ends when current through the inductor reaches a target current value. The PFC controller is also configured to control the switch by, in response to the first period of time ending, generating a signal causing the switch to be open for a second period of time. The second period of time is based on a ratio between the first period of time and a critical conduction mode on time.

Abstract: An LLC converter includes an input having a first node and a second node. A first switch is coupled between the first node and a third node and a second switch is coupled between the third node and the second node. A transformer having a first transformer input is coupled to the third node. A resonant capacitor is coupled to a second transformer input and a first input of a summer. A voltage ramp generator is coupled to a second input of the summer, the summer for summing voltages at the first input and the second input. The converter further includes circuitry for generating control signals for the first switch and the second switch in response to the output of the summer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a current monitor circuit to measure a load current. A controller controls drive signals having a signal phase to operate a synchronous rectifier (SR) circuit based on the measured load current from the current monitor circuit. The controller applies a first control phase sequence to control the signal phase to the SR circuit if the measured load current is above a predetermined current threshold. The controller applies a second control phase sequence to control the signal phase to the SR circuit if the measured load current is equal or below the predetermined current threshold.

Abstract: A power converter system is provided, comprising a plant having a plant input and a plant output; and a plant identification filter that receives the plant input and the plant output, and estimates the values of poles and zeros of the plant, wherein the plant identification filter updates the estimates of the poles and zeros, based upon the plant input and the plant output, beginning from an initial state; and a rate at which the plant identification filter updates the estimates of the values of the poles and zeros is slower than a rate at which the plant input and the plant output are received by the plant identification filter.

Abstract: An information handling system may comprise a direct-current to direct-current step-down power converter, a memory, and a processor. The step-down power converter may include a first inductive unit, a first switching unit connected between a voltage source and the first inductive unit, a second switching unit connected to ground, a capacitance unit connected between the second switching unit and the first inductive unit, and a second inductive unit connected between the second switching unit and the first inductive unit. The capacitance unit is configured to delay a change in voltage across the first or second switching units, and the second inductive unit is configured to delay a change in current in the first or second switching units.

Abstract: In an information handling system, a multi-phase electrical converter includes an electrical input, an electrical output, a plurality of converter phases coupled with the electrical input and the electrical output, and a controller to ramp operation of one or more of the converter phases as a load demand adjusts. In an embodiment the converter may be a multi-phase buck converter having a high side switch, a low side switch, and an inductor. In an embodiment, the controller may ramp operation of the converter phases by adjusting a duty cycle of the high side switch. In an embodiment, the controller may adjust a phase angle of one or more of the converter phases, wherein the adjustment may be relative to the ramping operation of the one or more of the converter phases.

Abstract: A voltage regulator provides power to an information handling system component under management by a controller, such as a Buck circuit managed by a PID controller according to PID coefficient settings. An update module interfaced with the voltage regulator monitors operating conditions of the voltage regulator to update the coefficients used by the controller. For example, changes in the load applied to the voltage regulator and an inductance associated with the voltage regulator are used to periodically compute updated PID coefficients, which are then used by the controller to control the voltage regulator.

Abstract: In an information handling system, a multi-phase electrical converter includes an electrical input, an electrical output, a plurality of converter phases coupled with the electrical input and the electrical output, and a controller to ramp operation of one or more of the converter phases as a load demand adjusts. In an embodiment the converter may be a multi-phase buck converter having a high side switch, a low side switch, and an inductor. In an embodiment, the controller may ramp operation of the converter phases by adjusting a duty cycle of the high side switch. In an embodiment, the controller may adjust a phase angle of one or more of the converter phases, wherein the adjustment may be relative to the ramping operation of the one or more of the converter phases.

Abstract: In an information handling system, a multi-phase electrical converter includes an electrical input, an electrical output, a plurality of converter phases coupled with the electrical input and the electrical output, and a controller to ramp operation of one or more of the converter phases as a load demand adjusts. In an embodiment the converter may be a multi-phase buck converter having a high side switch, a low side switch, and an inductor. In an embodiment, the controller may ramp operation of the converter phases by adjusting a duty cycle of the high side switch. In an embodiment, the controller may adjust a phase angle of one or more of the converter phases, wherein the adjustment may be relative to the ramping operation of the one or more of the converter phases.

Abstract: For operating each smart battery included in a smart battery system, the smart battery is initialized prior to the smart battery being electrically coupled to the smart battery system. The smart battery system or an external power source is selected to provide power to an information handling system device. The smart battery includes an electronics device, a charge switch and a discharge switch. The electronics device operates the charge and discharge switches to jointly control an operating condition of the smart battery in response to receiving a control input from a controller of the device. The charge and discharge switches are closed in response to the electronics device and the controller being in agreement to charge the first smart battery. The charge or the discharge switch is opened in response to either the electronics device or the controller directing either of the switches to be opened.

Abstract: An enhanced transistor gate drive is disclosed in which a pair of Kelvin sense leads measure the voltage potential across at the gate and source of the transistor. The difference in the voltage potential of the Kelvin sense lead from the gate and the Kelvin sense lead of the source is provided to a voltage controlled current source, which compares the output of the voltage differentiator to an oscillating voltage input. Changes to the voltage difference between the Kelvin sense connectors will result in more or less voltage being applied at the gate of the transistor, thereby parasitic inductance in the transistor from causing the device to switch on and off.

Abstract: A power converter system is provided, comprising a plant having a plant input and a plant output; and a plant identification filter that receives the plant input and the plant output, and estimates the values of poles and zeros of the plant, wherein the plant identification filter updates the estimates of the poles and zeros, based upon the plant input and the plant output, beginning from an initial state; and a rate at which the plant identification filter updates the estimates of the values of the poles and zeros is slower than a rate at which the plant input and the plant output are received by the plant identification filter.

Abstract: An alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) power converter comprises a first electrical path in a primary circuit having an inductor coupled in series with a first primary winding and a first switch to a ground connection. A second electrical path in the primary circuit has the inductor coupled in series with a second primary winding and a second switch to the ground connection. A secondary circuit is electromagnetically coupled to the primary circuit. A controller operates the first switch and the second switch in a predetermined manner to induce a current in the secondary circuits.

Abstract: An information handling system may comprise a direct-current to direct-current step-down power converter, a memory, and a processor. The step-down power converter may include a first inductive unit, a first switching unit connected between a voltage source and the first inductive unit, a second switching unit connected to ground, a capacitance unit connected between the second switching unit and the first inductive unit, and a second inductive unit connected between the second switching unit and the first inductive unit. The capacitance unit is configured to delay a change in voltage across the first or second switching units, and the second inductive unit is configured to delay a change in current in the first or second switching units.

Abstract: An enhanced transistor gate drive is disclosed in which a pair of Kelvin sense leads measure the voltage potential across at the gate and source of the transistor. The difference in the voltage potential of the Kelvin sense lead from the gate and the Kelvin sense lead of the source is provided to a voltage controlled current source, which compares the output of the voltage differentiator to an oscillating voltage input. Changes to the voltage difference between the Kelvin sense connectors will result in more or less voltage being applied at the gate of the transistor, thereby parasitic inductance in the transistor from causing the device to switch on and off.

Abstract: A technique for addressing a low line voltage condition in an information handling system includes determining whether a magnitude of an input voltage of a power supply unit (PSU) is below a first threshold for at least a first time period. The technique also includes adjusting, based on the determining, a magnitude of a reference voltage of the PSU to track a magnitude of an output voltage of the PSU when the input voltage is below the first threshold for at least the first time period.