Abstract: An apparatus includes a material, a first tag portion and a second tag portion. The material may be configured to be worn. The second tag portion may comprise a fastener. The first tag portion and the second tag portion may be attached near an opening of the material. When the material is worn, (a) the first tag portion may overlap the second tag portion and (b) the second tag portion may be between the first tag portion and the material. The fastener may be configured to removably attach to a complementary fastener on another of the apparatus.

Abstract: A controller includes an oscillator coupled to a switch to determine a time at which the switch is turned on. The oscillator includes a capacitor, a charging current source and a discharging current source coupled to charge and discharge the capacitor. A time period for the capacitor to charge and discharge between first and second voltage levels is a time period of a switching cycle. A duty cycle mode control circuit is coupled to operate in a first duty control mode in response to a feedback signal being between first and second feedback signal values, operate in a second duty control mode in response to the feedback signal being a between the second and third feedback signal values, and operate in a third duty control mode in response to the feedback signal being between the third and fourth feedback signal values.

Abstract: A controller includes an oscillator coupled to a switch to determine a time at which the switch is turned on. The oscillator includes a capacitor, a charging current source and a discharging current source coupled to charge and discharge the capacitor. A time period for the capacitor to charge and discharge between first and second voltage levels is a time period of a switching cycle. A duty cycle mode control circuit is coupled to operate in a first duty control mode in response to a feedback signal being between first and second feedback signal values, operate in a second duty control mode in response to the feedback signal being a between the second and third feedback signal values, and operate in a third duty control mode in response to the feedback signal being between the third and fourth feedback signal values.

Abstract: A method for controlling a power converter switch includes operating the power converter switch in first, second, and third duty cycle control modes in response to a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter. The first duty cycle control mode includes modulating a peak switch current of the power converter switch in response to the feedback signal, and switching the power converter switch at a substantially fixed first switching frequency value. The second duty cycle control mode includes modulating the switching frequency in response to the feedback signal, and maintaining the peak switch current substantially at a peak switch current threshold value. The third duty cycle control mode includes modulating the peak switch current of the power converter switch in response to the feedback signal, and switching the power converter switch at a substantially fixed second switching frequency value.

Abstract: A method for controlling a power converter switch includes operating the power converter switch in first, second, and third duty cycle control modes in response to a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter. The first duty cycle control mode includes modulating a peak switch current of the power converter switch in response to the feedback signal, and switching the power converter switch at a substantially fixed first switching frequency value. The second duty cycle control mode includes modulating the switching frequency in response to the feedback signal, and maintaining the peak switch current substantially at a peak switch current threshold value. The third duty cycle control mode includes modulating the peak switch current of the power converter switch in response to the feedback signal, and switching the power converter switch at a substantially fixed second switching frequency value.

Abstract: A method for controlling a power converter switch to regulate power delivered to an output of a power converter includes operating the power converter switch in first, second, and third duty cycle control modes in response to a feedback signal. The first duty cycle control mode includes modulating a peak switch current of the power converter switch in response to the feedback signal, and switching the power converter switch at a substantially fixed first switching frequency value. The second duty cycle control mode includes modulating the switching frequency in response to the feedback signal, and maintaining the peak switch current substantially at a peak switch current threshold value. The third duty cycle control mode includes modulating the peak switch current of the power converter switch in response to the feedback signal, and switching the power converter switch at a substantially fixed second switching frequency value.

Abstract: A method for controlling a power converter switch to regulate power delivered to an output of a power converter includes operating the power converter switch in first, second, and third duty cycle control modes in response to a feedback signal. The first duty cycle control mode includes modulating a peak switch current of the power converter switch in response to the feedback signal, and switching the power converter switch at a substantially fixed first switching frequency value. The second duty cycle control mode includes modulating the switching frequency in response to the feedback signal, and maintaining the peak switch current substantially at a peak switch current threshold value. The third duty cycle control mode includes modulating the peak switch current of the power converter switch in response to the feedback signal, and switching the power converter switch at a substantially fixed second switching frequency value.

Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes an oscillator that generates a first signal that determines a duration of a switching cycle period of a switch included in the power converter. The controller also includes a logic circuit that generates a second signal to control switching of the switch in response to a feedback signal and in response to the first signal. The logic circuit generates the second signal to control a peak switch current of the switch during each switching cycle period according to either a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation. The peak switch current of the switch is varied in the first mode of operation in response to the feedback signal indicating that an output load is greater than a threshold and the peak switch current of the switch is kept at a constant value in the second mode of operation in response to the feedback signal indicating that the output load is less than the threshold.

Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes an oscillator that generates a first signal that determines a duration of a switching cycle period of a switch included in the power converter. The controller also includes a logic circuit that generates a second signal to control switching of the switch in response to a feedback signal and in response to the first signal. The logic circuit generates the second signal to control a peak switch current of the switch during each switching cycle period according to either a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation. The peak switch current of the switch is varied in the first mode of operation in response to the feedback signal indicating that an output load is greater than a threshold and the peak switch current of the switch is kept at a constant value in the second mode of operation in response to the feedback signal indicating that the output load is less than the threshold.

Abstract: An example controller for use in a power converter includes an oscillator that is to be coupled to a switch of the power converter to determine a switching cycle period of the switch. The controller also includes means for controlling a duty cycle of the switch to regulate an output of the power converter and for maintaining a substantially constant rate of change of the duty cycle with respect to changes in a magnitude of a feedback signal as the controller transitions between duty cycle control modes such that a control loop gain of the power converter is substantially constant during the transition.

Abstract: An example controller for use in a power converter includes an oscillator that is to be coupled to a switch of the power converter to determine a switching cycle period of the switch. The controller also includes means for controlling a duty cycle of the switch to regulate an output of the power converter and for maintaining a substantially constant rate of change of the duty cycle with respect to changes in a magnitude of a feedback signal as the controller transitions between duty cycle control modes such that a control loop gain of the power converter is substantially constant during the transition.

Abstract: An example controller for use in a power converter includes an oscillator and a logic circuit. The oscillator is to be coupled to a switch of the power converter and determines a switching cycle period of the switch. The logic circuit is also to be coupled to the switch to control a duty cycle of the switch in response to a magnitude of a feedback signal to regulate an output of the power converter. The logic circuit controls the duty cycle of the switch such that a control loop gain of the power converter is substantially constant during a transition of the controller between duty cycle control modes.

Abstract: An example controller for use in a power converter includes an oscillator and a logic circuit. The oscillator is to be coupled to a switch of the power converter and determines a switching cycle period of the switch. The logic circuit is also to be coupled to the switch to control a duty cycle of the switch in response to a magnitude of a feedback signal to regulate an output of the power converter. The logic circuit controls the duty cycle of the switch such that a control loop gain of the power converter is substantially constant during a transition of the controller between duty cycle control modes.

Abstract: An apparatus of regulating a power converter with multiple operating modes includes a switch coupled to an energy transfer element coupled between an input and an output of the power converter. A control circuit is also included, which is coupled to the switch to control the switch. The control circuit includes first and second duty cycle control modes to regulate power delivered to the output of the power converter. A transition between the first and second duty cycle control modes is responsive to a magnitude of a current flowing in the switch reaching a current threshold value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of providing a pulse width modulated signal that is responsive to a current are disclosed. An integrated circuit according to aspects of the present invention regulates an output of a power supply and includes a switch coupled to receive an external current. The integrated circuit also includes a controller coupled to the switch to control a switching of the external current by the switch in response to an external control signal and an internal current sense signal. The internal current sense signal is proportional to a current in the switch. The output of the power supply is also regulated in the absence of the internal current sense signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of providing a pulse width modulated signal that is responsive to a current are disclosed. An integrated circuit according to aspects of the present invention regulates an output of a power supply and includes a switch coupled to receive an external current. The integrated circuit also includes a controller coupled to the switch to control a switching of the external current by the switch in response to an external control signal and an internal current sense signal. The internal current sense signal is proportional to a current in the switch. The output of the power supply is also regulated in the absence of the internal current sense signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of providing a pulse width modulated signal that is responsive to a current are disclosed. An integrated circuit according to aspects of the present invention regulates an output of a power supply and includes a switch coupled to receive an external current. The integrated circuit also includes a controller coupled to the switch to control a switching of the external current by the switch in response to an external control signal and an internal current sense signal. The internal current sense signal is proportional to a current in the switch. The output of the power supply is also regulated in the absence of the internal current sense signal.

Abstract: An apparatus of regulating a power converter with multiple operating modes includes a switch coupled to an energy transfer element coupled between an input and an output of the power converter. A control circuit is also included, which is coupled to the switch to control the switch. The control circuit includes first and second duty cycle control modes to regulate power delivered to the output of the power converter. A transition between the first and second duty cycle control modes is responsive to a magnitude of a current flowing in the switch reaching a current threshold value.

Abstract: An apparatus for regulating a power converter with multiple operating modes includes a switch coupled to an energy transfer element coupled between an input and an output of the power converter. A control circuit is also included, which is coupled to the switch to control the switch. The control circuit includes first and second duty cycle control modes to regulate power delivered to the output of the power converter. A transition between the first and second duty cycle control modes is responsive to a magnitude of a current flowing in the switch reaching a current threshold value.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing aging of at least one transistor device employed in a read path for a data storage device may include: a signal unit coupled with the at least one transistor device and coupled with the data storage device. The signal unit may be coupled for receiving an input signal from the data storage device related with operation of the data storage device. The signal unit may provide a first signal to the at least one transistor device when the input signal is in a first state. The signal unit may provide a second signal to the at least one transistor device when the input signal is in a second state. The first signal may be a variable signal.