Abstract: A method for regulating a flow of energy from an input to an output of a power converter includes receiving a first signal representative of an output voltage, and receiving a second signal representative of a current of the power converter. An output current of the power converter is determined in response to at least one of the first and second signals. A power switch of the power converter is switched to regulate the output current of the power converter to a substantially constant output current value for a first range of power converter output voltages, to regulate an output power of the power converter to a substantially constant power value for a second range of power converter output voltages, and to regulate the output voltage of the power converter at substantially a highest output voltage value of the second range of power converter output voltages.

Abstract: A method of operation for flyback power converter includes operating a controller of the flyback power converter in a regulation mode when a control signal is below a first threshold. The control signal is provided as an input to a terminal of the flyback power converter. When the control signal is below a second threshold and above the first threshold, the controller is operated in a limiting mode. The controller is operated in an external command mode when the control signal is below a third threshold and above the second threshold. Lastly, when the control signal is above the third threshold, the controller is operated in a protection mode.

Abstract: A power converter controller includes a primary controller and a secondary controller. The primary controller is coupled to receive one or more request signals from the secondary controller and transition a power switch from an OFF state to an ON state in response to the received request signals. The secondary controller is coupled to transmit the request signals to the primary controller and control the amount of time between the transmission of each of the request signals. The secondary controller includes a timing circuit that sets a minimum amount of time between the transmission of the request signals. The secondary controller also includes a secondary switch control circuit coupled to trigger the timing circuit in response to transmitting a request signal.

Abstract: A fault detection circuit for use with a power converter includes an initiate fault check circuit coupled to generate an enable signal in response to a first sense signal coupled to be received from an output socket. A threshold detection circuit is coupled to generate a threshold detection output signal in response to a second sense signal coupled to be received from the power converter and a second reference signal. A logic circuit is coupled to generate a fault signal that is coupled to be received by the power converter in response to the threshold detection output signal and the enable signal.

Abstract: A power converter controller includes a primary controller and a secondary controller. The primary controller is coupled to receive one or more request signals from the secondary controller and transition a power switch from an OFF state to an ON state in response to each of the received request signals. The primary controller is coupled to detect a turn-off condition when the power switch is in the ON state and transition the power switch from the ON state to the OFF state in response to detection of the turn-off condition. The secondary controller is galvanically isolated from the primary controller. The secondary controller is coupled to transmit the request signals to the primary controller and control the amount of time between the transmission of each of the request signals.

Abstract: A power converter controller includes a drive signal generator coupled to generate a drive signal to control switching of a power switch to regulate a flow of energy to a power converter output in response to an energy requirement of a load. A voltage supply rail is coupled to supply a voltage to the drive signal generator. The supplied voltage is used by the drive signal generator to generate the drive signal. A control circuit is coupled to generate a power down signal that stops the supply of the voltage to the drive signal generator to stop the generation of the drive signal and the control of the switching of the power switch for a period of time. Timer circuitry determines a duration of the period of time and triggers the control circuit to restart the supply of the voltage by the supply rail to the drive signal generator.

Abstract: A circuit for use in a power converter includes a control circuit coupled to detect whether an electrical energy source is coupled to an input of the power converter. A switch is coupled to the control circuit, and is coupled to transfer energy from the input of the power converter to an output of the power converter during a first operating mode. The control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in the first operating mode when the electrical energy source is coupled to the input of the power converter. The control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a second operating mode when the electrical energy source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter to drive the switch to discharge a capacitance coupled between input terminals of the power converter to a threshold voltage in less than a maximum period of time.

Abstract: A stacked switching circuit with normally-on devices includes a first normally-on switch coupled between a first input rail and an output port, and is coupled to be switched in response to a first control signal. A second normally-on switch is coupled to the output port and is coupled to a normally-off switch in a cascode coupled configuration. A second terminal of the normally-off switch is coupled to a second input rail. The normally-off switch is coupled to be switched in response to a second control signal. Switching of the stacked switching circuit is coupled to provide chopped high frequency pulses through the output port. Current flow through the stacked switching circuit between the first input rail and the second input rail is blocked at startup.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes an encapsulation and a lead frame. A portion of the lead frame is disposed within the encapsulation. The lead frame includes a first conductor forming a first conductive loop. A second conductor is galvanically isolated from the first conductor. The second conductor forms a second conductive loop proximate to and magnetically coupled to the first conductive loop to provide a magnetic communication link between the first and second conductors. A signal that is transmitted from a transmit circuit coupled to the first conductor is coupled to be received through the magnetic communication link by a receive circuit coupled to the second conductor.

Abstract: A secondary control circuit includes a voltage regulator circuit coupled to an output of the power converter to provide a regulated power supply. One or more switched loads are coupled between a first terminal and an output ground terminal. The first terminal is coupled to the output of the power converter. Each switched load is coupled to draw a respective current from a load current to clamp the output of a power converter. One or more comparator circuits are coupled to a second terminal. The second terminal is coupled to receive an output sense signal. Each comparator circuit is coupled to receive a reference signal that is a scaled representation of a first reference signal. Each switched load is switched in response to a respective comparator circuit to draw a respective current from the load current of the power converter to clamp the output of the power converter.

Abstract: A power converter controller includes an input sense circuit to receive an input sense signal representative of an input of a power converter. A zero-crossing detector is coupled to the input sense circuit to be responsive to the input sense signal falling below a first zero-crossing threshold and rising above a second zero-crossing threshold to determine zero-crossing intervals. A timer circuit is coupled to the zero-crossing detector to determine peak intervals and to synchronize an enable signal generated to enable the input sense circuit to sense the input of the power converter during the peak intervals of the input of the power converter. A comparator circuit is coupled to the input sense circuit and the timer circuit to detect if the input of the power converter is greater or less than one or more thresholds during the peak intervals of the input of the power converter.

Abstract: A circuit includes a control circuit coupled to detect whether an electrical energy source is coupled to an input of a power converter. A switch is coupled to the control circuit to transfer energy from the input of the power converter to an output of the power converter during a first operating mode. The control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in the first operating mode when the electrical energy source is coupled to the input of the power converter. The control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a second operating mode when the electrical energy source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter. The control circuit is coupled to discharge a capacitance coupled between input terminals of the power converter through the switch to a threshold voltage in less than a maximum period of time in the second operating mode.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package for use in a switch mode power converter includes a portion of a lead frame disposed within an encapsulation. The lead frame includes a first conductor having an inner conductive loop disposed within the encapsulation, and a second conductor galvanically isolated from the first conductor having an outer conductive loop disposed within the encapsulation and magnetically coupled to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductors. First and second control circuits are coupled to the first and second conductors, respectively. The first control circuit is coupled to control a switching circuit in response to one or more control signals communicated between first and second dice that include the first and second control circuits, respectively, through the communication link to regulate a transfer of energy from an input to an output of the switch mode power converter.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes an encapsulation and a lead frame. A portion of the lead frame is disposed within encapsulation. The lead frame includes a first conductor having a first conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation. The lead frame also includes a second conductor that is galvanically isolated from the first conductor. The second conductor includes a second conductive loop that is substantially disposed within the encapsulation proximate to and magnetically coupled to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductors.

Abstract: A secondary control circuit includes a voltage regulator circuit to be coupled to an output of a power converter to provide a regulated power supply. One or more switched loads is coupled between a first terminal to be coupled to the output of the power converter and an output ground terminal. One or more comparator circuits is coupled to a second terminal coupled to receive an output sense signal. Each one of the one or more comparator circuits is coupled to receive a respective one of one or more reference signals. Each respective one of the one or more reference signals is a scaled representation of a first one of the one or more reference signals. Each one of the one or more switched loads is coupled to be switched in response to an output of a respective one of the one or more comparator circuits.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package for use in a switch mode power converter comprises an encapsulation and a lead frame. A portion of the lead frame is disposed within the encapsulation. The lead frame includes a first conductor having a first conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation. The lead frame also includes a second conductor galvanically isolated from the first conductor. The second conductor includes a second conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation proximate to and magnetically coupled to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductors. A first control die including a first control circuit is coupled to the first conductor. A second control die including a second control circuit is coupled to the second conductor. One or more control signals are communicated between the first and second control dice through the communication link.

Abstract: An example power converter includes a first winding, a second winding, a switch, a controller and an output circuit. The second winding is magnetically coupled to the first winding and the controller includes a feedback terminal and a common terminal. The controller is coupled to control the switch to regulate an output of the power converter in response to a feedback voltage received at the feedback terminal. The output circuit is coupled between the common terminal of the controller and a common reference of the power converter to provide an output voltage to a load. The feedback voltage is a positive voltage with respect to the common terminal and the output voltage is a negative voltage with respect to the common reference of the power converter.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes an encapsulation and a lead frame with a portion of the lead frame disposed within the encapsulation. The lead frame includes a first conductor having a first conductive loop and a third conductive loop disposed within the encapsulation. The third conductive loop is wound in a direction relative to the first conductive loop such that the first conductive loop is coupled out of phase with the third conductive loop. The lead frame also includes a second conductor galvanically isolated from the first conductor. The second conductor includes a second conductive loop disposed within the encapsulation proximate to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductors.

Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a comparator coupled to receive a signal representative of an output of the power converter. A counter is coupled to an output of the comparator to sample the output of the comparator a plurality of times within a period. A state machine is coupled to an output of the counter to control switching of the power converter according to one of a plurality of operating condition states in response to the output of the counter. The state machine is coupled to be updated at an end of the period.

Abstract: A power converter controller includes an input sense circuit to receive an input sense signal representative of an input of a power converter. A zero-crossing detector is coupled to the input sense circuit to be responsive to the input sense signal falling below a first zero-crossing threshold and rising above a second zero-crossing threshold to determine zero-crossing intervals. A timer circuit is coupled to the zero-crossing detector to determine peak intervals and to synchronize an enable signal generated to enable the input sense circuit to sense the input of the power converter during the peak intervals of the input of the power converter. A comparator circuit is coupled to the input sense circuit and the timer circuit to detect if the input of the power converter is greater or less than one or more thresholds during the peak intervals of the input of the power converter.