Abstract: A multi-level power converter with hysteretic control is disclosed. In one embodiment, a power converter includes a switching circuit and a control circuit. The switching circuit includes a plurality of switches, a capacitor, and a switch node coupled to a regulated supply voltage node via an inductor. The switching circuit is configured to couple the switch node to different circuit nodes according to different switch states. The control circuit is configured to activate a particular set of switches according a current switch state, perform a comparison of an output current of the switching circuit to various threshold values, and determine a next switch state using results of the comparison and duty cycle information. Based on these results, the control circuit is configured to cause a transition from the current switch state to the next switch state by activating a different set of switches according to the next switch state.

Abstract: A circuit for providing a current flowing from a supply voltage into an electric load is presented. The circuit comprises a first circuit branch connected between the supply voltage and an output node connected to the electric load, wherein the first circuit branch comprises a first transistor device, a second circuit branch connected between the supply voltage and a predetermined voltage level, wherein the second circuit branch comprises a series connection of a second transistor device that is a scaled replica of the first transistor device and a current source. The control terminals of the first and second transistor devices are connected to each other. A control circuit is configured to control the voltage at the control terminal of the first transistor device depending on a current flowing through the first transistor device. The application further relates to a method of operating such circuit.

Abstract: A switching mode power converter circuit and a method are presented. The circuit comprises a first transistor switch and a second transistor switch coupled in series between an input voltage level and ground. There is a control circuit for controlling switching operation of the first transistor switch and the second transistor switch. There is a detection circuit for sensing a voltage at an intermediate node arranged between the first transistor switch and the second transistor switch, for deriving an indication of a slope of the sensed voltage, and for generating a switching control signal for the control circuit on the basis of the derived indication of the slope of the sensed voltage. The control circuit sets a first timing for activating the first transistor switch and/or a second timing for activating the second transistor switch on the basis of the switching control signal.

Abstract: A battery charging regulator for use with a charger. The regulator comprises a switch element coupled to a control-circuit and to an adjuster-circuit. The switch element is adapted to selectively couple an input provided by a DC-DC converter with an output for a battery. The switch element comprises a control terminal and first and second path terminals located at a first and a second end of a conductive path respectively. The control-circuit is adapted to adjust an input to the control terminal to regulate at least one of a charge current and a charge voltage supplied to the battery via the conductive path. The adjuster-circuit is adapted to sense an electrical parameter of the switch element; and to adjust a value of the input provided by the DC-DC converter based on the sensed electrical parameter value.

Abstract: This application relates to a circuit for determining whether a first transistor device is in a predetermined operation mode. The circuit comprises comprising: a second transistor device, wherein control terminals of the first and second transistor devices are connected, and one of input and output terminals of the first transistor device is connected to the other one of input and output terminals of the second transistor device, a buffer amplifier connected between the one of input and output terminals of the first transistor device and the other one of input and output terminals of the second transistor device, and circuitry for determining whether the first transistor device is in the predetermined operation mode based on an indication of a current flowing through the second transistor device. The application further relates to a method of determining whether a first transistor device is in a predetermined operation mode.

Abstract: A switching mode power converter circuit and a method are presented. The circuit comprises a first transistor switch and a second transistor switch coupled in series between an input voltage level and ground. There is a control circuit for controlling switching operation of the first transistor switch and the second transistor switch. There is a detection circuit for sensing a voltage at an intermediate node arranged between the first transistor switch and the second transistor switch, for deriving an indication of a slope of the sensed voltage, and for generating a switching control signal for the control circuit on the basis of the derived indication of the slope of the sensed voltage. The control circuit sets a first timing for activating the first transistor switch and/or a second timing for activating the second transistor switch on the basis of the switching control signal.

Abstract: A circuit for providing a current flowing from a supply voltage into an electric load is presented. The circuit comprises a first circuit branch connected between the supply voltage and an output node connected to the electric load, wherein the first circuit branch comprises a first transistor device, a second circuit branch connected between the supply voltage and a predetermined voltage level, wherein the second circuit branch comprises a series connection of a second transistor device that is a scaled replica of the first transistor device and a current source. The control terminals of the first and second transistor devices are connected to each other. A control circuit is configured to control the voltage at the control terminal of the first transistor device depending on a current flowing through the first transistor device. The application further relates to a method of operating such circuit.

Abstract: A battery charging regulator for use with a charger. The regulator comprises a switch element coupled to a control-circuit and to an adjuster-circuit. The switch element is adapted to selectively couple an input provided by a DC-DC converter with an output for a battery. The switch element comprises a control terminal and first and second path terminals located at a first and a second end of a conductive path respectively. The control-circuit is adapted to adjust an input to the control terminal to regulate at least one of a charge current and a charge voltage supplied to the battery via the conductive path. The adjuster-circuit is adapted to sense an electrical parameter of the switch element; and to adjust a value of the input provided by the DC-DC converter based on the sensed electrical parameter value.

Abstract: The present document relates to DC/DC converters with a modular structure for providing different levels of output currents. A power converter configured to convert electrical power at an input voltage into electrical power at an output voltage is described. The power converter comprises inverter stages with half bridges comprising a high side switches and low side switches which are arranged in series between the input voltage and a reference voltage; and with high side drivers for providing drive signals for the high side switches, subject to a high side control signals at a drive voltage level. In addition, the power converter comprises a level shifting unit configured to convert a high side control signal at a logic voltage level into the high side control signal at the drive voltage level for driving the high side switches.

Abstract: This application relates to a circuit for determining whether a first transistor device is in a predetermined operation mode. The circuit comprises comprising: a second transistor device, wherein control terminals of the first and second transistor devices are connected, and one of input and output terminals of the first transistor device is connected to the other one of input and output terminals of the second transistor device, a buffer amplifier connected between the one of input and output terminals of the first transistor device and the other one of input and output terminals of the second transistor device, and circuitry for determining whether the first transistor device is in the predetermined operation mode based on an indication of a current flowing through the second transistor device. The application further relates to a method of determining whether a first transistor device is in a predetermined operation mode.

Abstract: The present document relates to efficient DC/DC converters with a modular structure for providing different levels of output currents. A controller for controlling a power converter which is configured to convert electrical power at an input voltage into electrical power at an output voltage is described. The power converter comprises first and second inverter stages comprising high side switches and low side switches which are arranged in series between the input voltage and a reference voltage. The midpoints between the high side switches and the low side switches are coupled. The electrical power at the output voltage is drawn from the midpoint. The controller is configured to determine an indication of a requested level of the electrical power at the output voltage, and to activate or deactivate the second inverter stage based on the indication of the requested level of the electrical power at the output voltage.

Abstract: The present document relates to DC/DC converters with a modular structure for providing different levels of output currents. A power converter configured to convert electrical power at an input voltage into electrical power at an output voltage is described. The power converter comprises inverter stages with half bridges comprising a high side switches and low side switches which are arranged in series between the input voltage and a reference voltage; and with high side drivers for providing drive signals for the high side switches, subject to a high side control signals at a drive voltage level. In addition, the power converter comprises a level shifting unit configured to convert a high side control signal at a logic voltage level into the high side control signal at the drive voltage level for driving the high side switches.

Abstract: The present document relates to efficient DC/DC converters with a modular structure for providing different levels of output currents. A controller for controlling a power converter which is configured to convert electrical power at an input voltage into electrical power at an output voltage is described. The power converter comprises first and second inverter stages comprising high side switches and low side switches which are arranged in series between the input voltage and -a reference voltage. The midpoints between the high side switches and the low side switches are coupled. The electrical power at the output voltage is drawn from the midpoint. The controller is configured to determine an indication of a requested level of the electrical power at the output voltage, and to activate or deactivate the second inverter stage based on the indication of the requested level of the electrical power at the output voltage.