Abstract: The invention relates to a device, method, computer program and computer program product for determining the equivalent series resistance of a power converter having power train parameters comprising a capacitance, an inductance and the equivalent series resistance, the device comprising a resistance determining unit that obtains a ripple voltage embedded in an output voltage of the power converter, determines a ripple current based on the output voltage, the inductance and operational switching data of the power converter, and estimates the equivalent series resistance of the power converter based on the ripple voltage, ripple current and the operational switching data.

Abstract: A controller for a switched mode power supply (SMPS) including a reference voltage signal generator to generate a variable reference voltage signal for regulating an output voltage of the SMPS, and a voltage droop control signal generator to receive a current indicator signal indicative of an output current of the SMPS, and generate an output voltage droop control signal in response to a first function and a second function of the current indicator signal. The first function is employed when the reference voltage signal generator ramps the variable reference voltage signal, and the second function is employed thereafter. The controller includes a switching control signal generator to receive a voltage indicator signal, and to generate a control signal to regulate the output voltage of the SMPS based on the voltage indicator signal, the variable reference voltage signal, and the output voltage droop control signal.

Abstract: A system and method to determine a capacitance of a capacitor. In one embodiment, a power converter includes a controller coupled to an output capacitor and a power train configured to convert an input voltage to a nominal output voltage. The controller is configured to ramp up an output voltage of the power converter with a first slope and a second slope, and receive a first output current of the power converter during a first rise time associated with the first slope and a second output current of the power converter during a second rise time associated with the second slope. The controller is also configured to compute a capacitance of the output capacitor employing the first and second output currents, the first and second rise times, and the nominal output voltage.

Abstract: A system and method to determine a capacitance of a capacitor. In one embodiment, a power converter includes a controller coupled to an output capacitor and a power train configured to convert an input voltage to a nominal output voltage. The controller is configured to ramp up an output voltage of the power converter with a first slope and a second slope, and receive a first output current of the power converter during a first rise time associated with the first slope and a second output current of the power converter during a second rise time associated with the second slope. The controller is also configured to compute a capacitance of the output capacitor employing the first and second output currents, the first and second rise times, and the nominal output voltage.

Abstract: A controller for a switched mode power supply (SMPS) including a reference voltage signal generator to generate a variable reference voltage signal for regulating an output voltage of the SMPS, and a voltage droop control signal generator to receive a current indicator signal indicative of an output current of the SMPS, and generate an output voltage droop control signal in response to a first function and a second function of the current indicator signal. The first function is employed when the reference voltage signal generator ramps the variable reference voltage signal, and the second function is employed thereafter. The controller includes a switching control signal generator to receive a voltage indicator signal, and to generate a control signal to regulate the output voltage of the SMPS based on the voltage indicator signal, the variable reference voltage signal, and the output voltage droop control signal.

Abstract: A control circuit for a switched mode power supply (SMPS) has an input voltage reference voltage generator arranged to receive a signal indicative of an input voltage of the SMPS and is arranged to generate a reference signal directly proportional to the input voltage. An error signal generator of the control circuit is arranged to receive a signal indicative of an output voltage of the SMPS and arranged to generate an error signal based on the reference signal generated by the input reference voltage generator and based on the output voltage of the SMPS. A duty cycle control signal generator of the control circuit is arranged to generate a control signal, to control the duty cycle of the SMPS, in dependence upon the error signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device, method, computer program and computer program product for determining the equivalent series resistance of a power converter having power train parameters comprising a capacitance, an inductance and the equivalent series resistance, the device comprising a resistance determining unit that obtains a ripple voltage embedded in an output voltage of the power converter, determines a ripple current based on the output voltage, the inductance and operational switching data of the power converter, and estimates the equivalent series resistance of the power converter based on the ripple voltage, ripple current and the operational switching data.

Abstract: A method of operating a switched mode power supply comprising a switched mode converter and a control arrangement. The switched mode converter converts an input voltage to an output voltage and includes a primary winding, controllable switch based circuitry connecting the input voltage over the primary winding, a secondary winding coupled to the primary winding, and an LC filter including an inductive element and a capacitive element, wherein the output voltage is obtained as the voltage over the capacitive element and a duty cycle of the switched mode converter can be controlled by controlling the switch based circuitry. The switched mode converter is controlled depending on measurements of the input and output voltages in a hybrid regulated ratio control scheme. The power of the switched mode power supply is shut off or a current thereof is limited, when a current of the switched mode power supply reaches a maximum current.

Abstract: A converter control unit, method, and computer program product for controlling a power supply device including a converter that provides power to a load. In one embodiment, the converter control unit is configured to obtain a load voltage measure from the converter representing a load voltage of the load, obtain an estimate of a voltage drop between the converter and the load, and obtain a reference voltage corresponding to a desired load voltage. The converter control unit is also configured to adjust the reference voltage or the load voltage measure with the estimate of the voltage drop, and compare, after the adjustment, the load voltage measure with the reference voltage to acquire an error signal. The converter control unit is still further configured to control the converter to provide the load voltage based on the error signal.

Abstract: A switched mode power supply comprising a switched mode converter and a controller for controlling the switched mode converter, the switched mode converter being provided for converting an input voltage to an output voltage and including, on a primary side, a primary winding and a controllable switch based circuitry connecting the input voltage over the primary winding; and, on a secondary side, a secondary winding coupled to the primary winding and a capacitive element connected over the secondary winding, wherein the output voltage is obtained as the voltage over the capacitive element.

Abstract: A voltage converter (200) is disclosed, which comprises a controller (210) operable in: a first mode to control the voltage converter so as to convert an input voltage (Vin) at an input (230) of the voltage converter to an output voltage (Vout) at an output (240) of the voltage converter; and a second mode, in which the controller (210) is configurable by configuration control signals (270) so as to change the control applied by the controller to the voltage converter. The voltage converter (200) also includes a power module (280) arranged to derive and supply an operation voltage (Voperation) to the controller (210), the power module (280) being arranged to derive the operation voltage from the input voltage (Vin) during operation of the controller (210) in the first mode, and a voltage source (340) other than the input voltage (Vin) during operation of the controller (210) in the second mode.

Abstract: A method of operating a switched mode power supply comprising a switched mode converter and a control arrangement. The switched mode converter converts an input voltage to an output voltage and includes a primary winding, controllable switch based circuitry connecting the input voltage over the primary winding, a secondary winding coupled to the primary winding, and an LC filter including an inductive element and a capacitive element, wherein the output voltage is obtained as the voltage over the capacitive element and a duty cycle of the switched mode converter can be controlled by controlling the switch based circuitry. The switched mode converter is controlled depending on measurements of the input and output voltages in a hybrid regulated ratio control scheme. The power of the switched mode power supply is shut off or a current thereof is limited, when a current of the switched mode power supply reaches a maximum current.

Abstract: A switched mode power supply comprising a switched mode converter and a controller for controlling the switched mode converter, the switched mode converter being provided for converting an input voltage to an output voltage and including, on a primary side, a primary winding and a controllable switch based circuitry connecting the input voltage over the primary winding; and, on a secondary side, a secondary winding coupled to the primary winding and a capacitive element connected over the secondary winding, wherein the output voltage is obtained as the voltage over the capacitive element.

Abstract: A method for writing status data regarding the operation of a power converter provided for converting an input voltage to an output voltage and which comprises a digital controller for controlling the operation of the power converter, the digital controller being powered by the input voltage. According to the method status data related to the operation of the power converter are repeatedly received, a measure of the level of the input voltage is repeatedly received, a threshold voltage level is provided, each received measure of the input voltage is compared, upon reception, with the threshold voltage level, and at least some of the status data are written to a non-volatile storage medium when a received measure of the input voltage falls short of the threshold voltage level.

Abstract: A switched mode power supply comprises a switched mode converter and a controller for controlling the switched mode converter, wherein the switched mode converter is provided for converting an input voltage to an output voltage and includes, on a primary side, a primary winding and a controllable switch based circuitry connecting the input voltage over the primary winding; and, on a secondary side, a secondary winding coupled to the primary winding, and a capacitive element connected over the secondary winding, wherein the output voltage is obtained as the voltage over the capacitive element. The primary winding comprises a first winding portion and at least one further winding portion.

Abstract: A digital control unit generates a control signal to control a duty cycle of a switched mode power supply such that a faster response to an input voltage transient is achieved. The digital control unit comprises a feedback compensator, a feed forward compensator, a transient detector, and a controller. The transient detector receives a signal indicative of the input voltage of the switched mode power supply and detects transients on the received signal. The feedback compensator receives a signal indicative of the output voltage of the switched mode power supply and adjusts the control signal. The feed forward compensator receives a signal indicative of the input voltage of the switched mode power supply, performs a relatively fast, but coarse, adjustment of the control signal, and then performs a more accurate, but relatively slow, adjustment of the control signal.

Abstract: A voltage converter (200) is disclosed, which comprises a controller (210) operable in: a first mode to control the voltage converter so as to convert an input voltage (Vin) at an input (230) of the voltage converter to an output voltage (Vout) at an output (240) of the voltage converter; and a second mode, in which the controller (210) is configurable by configuration control signals (270) so as to change the control applied by the controller to the voltage converter. The voltage converter (200) also includes a power module (280) arranged to derive and supply an operation voltage (Voperation) to the controller (210), the power module (280) being arranged to derive the operation voltage from the input voltage (Vin) during operation of the controller (210) in the first mode, and a voltage source (340) other than the input voltage (Vin) during operation of the controller (210) in the second mode.

Abstract: To reduce power loss in an intermediate bus architecture power system, embodiments of the present invention provide an intermediate bus converter which converts an input voltage to an intermediate bus voltage using a converting unit; receives a signal indicative of an output of a converting unit; determines an intermediate bus voltage to reduce power loss in dependence upon the signal indicative of an output of the converting unit; generates a control signal to control the converting unit to convert the input voltage to the determined intermediate bus voltage; and generates an intermediate bus voltage in dependence upon the control signal.

Abstract: A digital control unit generates a control signal to control a duty cycle of a switched mode power supply such that a faster response to an input voltage transient is achieved. The digital control unit comprises a feedback compensator, a feed forward compensator, a transient detector, and a controller. The transient detector receives a signal indicative of the input voltage of the switched mode power supply and detects transients on the received signal. The feedback compensator receives a signal indicative of the output voltage of the switched mode power supply and adjusts the control signal. The feed forward compensator receives a signal indicative of the input voltage of the switched mode power supply, performs a relatively fast, but coarse, adjustment of the control signal, and then performs a more accurate, but relatively slow, adjustment of the control signal.

Abstract: A switching delay controller is configured to control a switching delay between the switching of first and second switching elements in a switched mode power supply. The switched mode power supply generates a feedback signal indicative of a difference between an output of the switched mode power supply and a reference for the output, and switches the first and second switching elements to convert an input voltage into an output voltage based on the feedback signal. The switching delay controller includes a switching delay calculator operable to cause a change of the switching delay for at least one switching cycle of the switched mode power supply, and a feedback signal monitor operable to monitor the feedback signal and determine a change in the feedback signal in response to the change of the switching delay by the switching delay calculator.