Abstract: Current absorption management for an electronic fuse coupled between an electrical supply source node and an electrical load node selectively controls a high current electronic switch and a low current electronic switch coupled in parallel between the electrical supply source node and the electrical load node. The high current and low current electronic switches are alternatively actuated: in a first mode where the high current electronic switch is turned on and the low current electronic switch is turned off, and in a second mode where the high current electronic switch is turned off and the low current electronic switch is turned on. Change to the second mode may be made in response to a standby state or a sensing of a lower current in the electrical load. Conversely, change to the first mode may be made in response to a sensing of a higher current in the electrical load.

Abstract: A control circuit for a voltage source generates a reference signal for a voltage source, wherein the reference signal indicates a requested output voltage to be generated by the voltage source. A digital feed-forward control circuit computes a digital feed-forward regulation value indicative of a requested output voltage by determining a maximum voltage drop at strings of solid-state light sources. A digital feed-back control circuit determines a minimum voltage drop for current regulators/limiters for the strings and determines a digital feed-back correction value as a function of the minimum voltage drop. The control circuit then sets the reference signal after a start-up as a function of the digital feed-forward regulation value and corrects the reference signal as a function of the digital feed-back correction value.

Abstract: Current absorption management for an electronic fuse coupled between an electrical supply source node and an electrical load node selectively controls a high current electronic switch and a low current electronic switch coupled in parallel between the electrical supply source node and the electrical load node. The high current and low current electronic switches are alternatively actuated: in a first mode where the high current electronic switch is turned on and the low current electronic switch is turned off, and in a second mode where the high current electronic switch is turned off and the low current electronic switch is turned on. Change to the second mode may be made in response to a standby state or a sensing of a lower current in the electrical load. Conversely, change to the first mode may be made in response to a sensing of a higher current in the electrical load.

Abstract: A control circuit for a voltage source generates a reference signal for a voltage source, wherein the reference signal indicates a requested output voltage to be generated by the voltage source. A digital feed-forward control circuit computes a digital feed-forward regulation value indicative of a requested output voltage by determining a maximum voltage drop at strings of solid-state light sources. A digital feed-back control circuit determines a minimum voltage drop for current regulators/limiters for the strings and determines a digital feed-back correction value as a function of the minimum voltage drop. The control circuit then sets the reference signal after a start-up as a function of the digital feed-forward regulation value and corrects the reference signal as a function of the digital feed-back correction value.

Abstract: An electronic device such as an e-fuse includes analog circuitry configured to be set to one or more self-test configurations. To that effect the device has self-test controller circuitry in turn including: an analog configuration and sensing circuit configured to set the analog circuitry to one or more self-test configurations and to sense test signals occurring in the analog circuitry set to such self-test configurations, a data acquisition circuit configured to acquire and convert to digital the test signals sensed at the analog sensing circuit, and a fault event detection circuit configured to check the test signals converted to digital against reference parameters. The device includes integrated therein a self-test controller configured to control parts or stages of the device to configure circuits, acquire data and control test execution under the coordination of a test sequencer.

Abstract: A method includes generating a control signal for controlling a switch element, and determining at each switching cycle alternation of an ON interval with storage of energy in the inductor element starting from an input voltage, and an OFF interval with transfer of the energy stored in an inductor element into a storage element on which an output voltage is present. The method includes when the inductor current reaches the first threshold value before the end of a first interval, determining the end of the ON interval at the end of the first interval. The method includes following detection of the ON interval having a duration equal to the first interval, the detection being indicative of a possible short-circuit condition at output, determining the OFF interval having a second duration equal to a lengthened interval longer than the first duration.

Abstract: A method includes generating a control signal for controlling a switch element, and determining at each switching cycle alternation of an ON interval with storage of energy in the inductor element starting from an input voltage, and an OFF interval with transfer of the energy stored in an inductor element into a storage element on which an output voltage is present. The method includes when the inductor current reaches the first threshold value before the end of a first interval, determining the end of the ON interval at the end of the first interval. The method includes following detection of the ON interval having a duration equal to the first interval, the detection being indicative of a possible short-circuit condition at output, determining the OFF interval having a second duration equal to a lengthened interval longer than the first duration.

Abstract: An electronic system to discharge a transformer in case of a failure during a charging phase of the transformer. The system includes the transformer having a primary winding with a first terminal connected to a battery voltage and with a second terminal for generating a primary voltage signal, includes a switch serially connected to the primary winding and having a control terminal carrying a control voltage signal for opening or closing the switch and includes an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit further includes a current generator and a voltage clamping.

Abstract: A switching system for a combustion engine ignition system comprises a switching device switchable between an accumulation condition and a transfer condition to activate an ignition element. The switching system comprises control logic that provides a control signal for controlling the switching device, measures a progress indicator indicative of progress in switching the switching device from the transfer condition to the accumulation condition, and causes the control signal to vary with a first variation rate during a first stage until the progress indicator reaches a first progress condition. The control logic causes the control signal to vary with a second variation rate, lower than the first variation rate, during a second stage until the progress indicator reaches a second progress condition, and causes the control signal to vary with a third variation rate, higher than the second variation rate, during a third stage of the preliminary switching.

Abstract: An electronic system to discharge a transformer in case of a failure during a charging phase of the transformer. The system includes the transformer having a primary winding with a first terminal connected to a battery voltage and with a second terminal for generating a primary voltage signal, includes a switch serially connected to the primary winding and having a control terminal carrying a control voltage signal for opening or closing the switch and includes an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit further includes a current generator and a voltage clamping.

Abstract: A switching system for a combustion engine ignition system comprises a switching device switchable between an accumulation condition and a transfer condition to activate an ignition element. The switching system comprises control logic that provides a control signal for controlling the switching device, measures a progress indicator indicative of progress in switching the switching device from the transfer condition to the accumulation condition, and causes the control signal to vary with a first variation rate during a first stage until the progress indicator reaches a first progress condition. The control logic causes the control signal to vary with a second variation rate, lower than the first variation rate, during a second stage until the progress indicator reaches a second progress condition, and causes the control signal to vary with a third variation rate, higher than the second variation rate, during a third stage of the preliminary switching.