Abstract: A circuit board assembly may include a first circuit board including a first slot. The circuit board assembly may include a second circuit board. The first circuit board may be interlocked with the second circuit board via interlocking provided by the second circuit board into the first slot.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller. The controller controls a main power supply to produce an output signal to power multiple dynamic loads such as disposed in series or other suitable configuration. The controller detects a transient power consumption condition associated with a first dynamic load of the multiple dynamic loads. The controller then adjusts control of the main power supply and generation of the output signal based on the detected transient power consumption condition.

Abstract: A power supply includes a first (main) power converter and a second (auxiliary) power converter disposed in parallel with the first power converter to produce an output voltage to power a dynamic load. The second power converter includes a primary inductive path magnetically coupled to a secondary inductive path. A controller controls a flow of first current through the primary inductive path of the second power converter to control flow of second current supplied by the secondary inductive path to the dynamic load. During steady state conditions, the first power converter produces the output voltage while the second power converter is deactivated. During transient load conditions, the second power converter provides current boost capability to maintain a magnitude of the output voltage within a desired range.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller. The controller monitors a magnitude of first current supplied by an output voltage of a first power converter to power a dynamic load. The controller controls a second power converter to supply second current through the dynamic load based on the monitored magnitude of first current.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller. The controller monitors a magnitude of first current supplied by an output voltage of a first power converter to power a dynamic load. The controller controls a second power converter to supply second current through the dynamic load based on the monitored magnitude of first current.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller. The controller controls a main power supply to produce an output signal to power multiple dynamic loads such as disposed in series or other suitable configuration. The controller detects a transient power consumption condition associated with a first dynamic load of the multiple dynamic loads. The controller then adjusts control of the main power supply and generation of the output signal based on the detected transient power consumption condition.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller. The controller monitors a magnitude of voltage powering a first dynamic load disposed in a series circuit path of multiple dynamic loads. The controller compares the magnitude of the voltage to a reference voltage. Based on the comparing, the controller controls operation of multiple power converter phases in a power converter to maintain a magnitude of the voltage powering the first dynamic load.

Abstract: An isolated switched-mode power converter converts power from an input source into power for an output load. Power switches within a primary-side power stage control the amount of power input to the power converter and, ultimately, provided to the output load. A digital controller on the secondary side of the power converter generates signals to control the power switches. This controller also senses a rectified voltage on the secondary side of the power converter and uses this sensed voltage to detect fault conditions of the primary side. For example, the sensed rectified voltage is used to detect undervoltage or overvoltage conditions of the input power source of the power converter, or faulty power switches within the primary-side power stage.

Abstract: A scheme is provided for dynamically adjusting an amount of power drawn from individual power sources to optimize the power usage without violating power limits. Coarse adjustment is provided through dynamic phase reallocation while a fine adjustment is provided through dynamic current steering. By adding a control loop around current steering techniques in digital voltage regulator controllers, power drawn from multiple input rails is balanced. The apparatus allows users to maximize the power delivered to discrete graphics cards without violating PCIe specifications. This allows maximum performance with minimal bill-of-material (BOM) cost.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller. The controller controls a first power supply to produce an output current supplied through a series connection of multiple dynamic loads powered at least in part by the output current. The controller further monitors current consumption by the multiple dynamic loads. Based on the monitored current consumption, the controller adjusts a magnitude of the output current from the power supply supplied through the series connection.

Abstract: A method of assembling a DC-DC converter includes: attaching first and second discrete power stage transistor dies to a first side of a substrate, the first discrete die including a high-side power transistor and the second discrete die including a low-side power transistor electrically connected to the high-side power transistor to form an output phase of the DC-DC converter; attaching an inductor to the first side of the substrate so as to electrically connect the output phase to a metal output trace on the substrate, the inductor partly covering at least one of the first and the second discrete power stage transistor dies such that each discrete power stage transistor die that is partly covered by the inductor comprises a plurality of pins that are not covered by the inductor; and visually inspecting the plurality of pins uncovered by the inductor.

Abstract: A scheme is provided for dynamically adjusting an amount of power drawn from individual power sources to optimize the power usage without violating power limits. Coarse adjustment is provided through dynamic phase reallocation while a fine adjustment is provided through dynamic current steering. By adding a control loop around current steering techniques in digital voltage regulator controllers, power drawn from multiple input rails is balanced. The apparatus allows users to maximize the power delivered to discrete graphics cards without violating PCIe specifications. This allows maximum performance with minimal bill-of-material (BOM) cost.

Abstract: A method of assembling a DC-DC converter includes: attaching first and second discrete power stage transistor dies to a first side of a substrate, the first discrete die including a high-side power transistor and the second discrete die including a low-side power transistor electrically connected to the high-side power transistor to form an output phase of the DC-DC converter; attaching an inductor to the first side of the substrate so as to electrically connect the output phase to a metal output trace on the substrate, the inductor partly covering at least one of the first and the second discrete power stage transistor dies such that each discrete power stage transistor die that is partly covered by the inductor comprises a plurality of pins that are not covered by the inductor; and visually inspecting the plurality of pins uncovered by the inductor.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes a substrate having opposing first and second sides, a first discrete power stage transistor die attached to the first side of the substrate and including a high-side power transistor, and a second discrete power stage transistor die attached to the first side of the substrate and including a low-side power transistor electrically connected to the high-side power transistor to form an output phase of the DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter further includes an inductor attached to the first side of the substrate so as to electrically connect the output phase to a metal output trace on the substrate. The inductor at least partly covers at least one of the first and the second discrete power stage transistor dies.

Abstract: A resonant or semi-resonant DC/DC converter makes use of one or more synchronous rectification (SR) switches for rectifying an output current that is provided to a load of the converter. The SR switches are ideally turned off when zero current is flowing through them. To achieve such zero-current switching, the current through each of the SR switches is monitored and compared against a turn-off threshold. The turn-off threshold for a particular SR switch is determined from the slope of a waveform of the current together with a transition delay for turning off the SR switch. This transition delay typically includes a delay through a driver circuit for the SR switch together with a latency through the SR switch itself. Once it is detected that the current for an SR switch has dropped to or below the turn-off threshold, a signal is provided to the SR switch turning it off.

Abstract: An isolated switched-mode power converter converts power from an input source into power for an output load. Power switches within a primary-side power stage control the amount of power input to the power converter and, ultimately, provided to the output load. A digital controller on the secondary side of the power converter generates signals to control the power switches. This generation is based upon closed-loop (feedback) control as well as feedforward control. The feedforward control compensates for variations in the voltage of the input source. The input voltage is estimated by sensing a rectified voltage at a node between a secondary winding of the isolation transformer and an output filter. The feedforward compensation modifies the generated switch control signals based upon the sensed rectified voltage.

Abstract: An isolated switched-mode power converter converts power from an input source into power for an output load. Power switches within a primary-side power stage control the amount of power input to the power converter and, ultimately, provided to the output load. A digital controller on the secondary side of the power converter generates signals to control the power switches. This controller also senses a rectified voltage on the secondary side of the power converter and uses this sensed voltage to detect fault conditions of the primary side. For example, the sensed rectified voltage is used to detect undervoltage or overvoltage conditions of the input power source of the power converter, or faulty power switches within the primary-side power stage.

Abstract: An isolated switched-mode power converter converts power from an input source into power for an output load. Power switches within a primary-side power stage control the amount of power input to the power converter and, ultimately, provided to the output load. A digital controller on the secondary side of the power converter generates signals to control the power switches. This generation is based upon closed-loop (feedback) control as well as feedforward control. The feedforward control compensates for variations in the voltage of the input source. The input voltage is estimated by sensing a rectified voltage at a node between a secondary winding of the isolation transformer and an output filter. The feedforward compensation modifies the generated switch control signals based upon the sensed rectified voltage.

Abstract: A method of controlling an isolated DC-DC converter includes switching the primary side switching devices of the converter at a fixed first switching period and variable duty cycle during non-transient load conditions so as to transfer energy across the transformer of the converter during first energy transfer intervals separated by energy circulation intervals, such that the ratio of each first energy transfer interval to the first switching period is less than unity. The method also includes switching the primary side switching devices at a second switching period different than the first switching period during a transient load condition so as to transfer energy across the transformer during second energy transfer intervals of a duration determined so as to avoid saturation of the transformer core, and such that any energy circulation interval separating the second energy transfer intervals is shorter than the energy circulation intervals separating the first energy transfer intervals.

Abstract: An isolated power converter includes primary side switch devices coupled to secondary side rectifying devices by a transformer and a controller. Responsive to a transient load condition, the controller switches the primary side switch devices at an initial switching period having a positive half cycle and a negative half cycle to transfer energy across the transformer during the positive half cycle and the negative half cycle. The positive half cycle and the negative half cycle of the initial switching period have the same initial duration. The controller is further operable to symmetrically reduce the duration of the positive half cycle and the negative half cycle for at least one subsequent switching period during the transient load condition.