Abstract: A secondary side controller of a flyback AC-DC converter includes an integrated circuit, which includes: an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to a voltage bus (VBUS), the ADC to output a digital value corresponding to a voltage level of the VBUS; first logic configured to generate a reference voltage based on the digital value; second logic configured to generate a VBUS gain value based on output power of a flyback transformer of the flyback AC-DC converter; an integrator to accumulate current corresponding to a sensed voltage at a drain of a synchronous rectifier (SR) of a secondary side of the flyback transformer, the accumulated current to be modified according to the VBUS gain value, wherein the integrator outputs an updated sensed voltage; and a comparator to output a detection signal, indicative of a negative sense voltage, in response to the updated sensed voltage matching the reference voltage.

Abstract: A mode-transition architecture for USB Type-C controllers is described herein. In an example embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) controller includes controller includes a controller coupled to a slope compensation circuit, the controller to cause the slope compensation circuit to apply a first slope compensation to the input current in a first mode in which the buck-boost converter is operating in a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). The controller detects a transition of the buck-boost converter from a first mode having a first duty cycle to a second mode and causes the slope compensation circuit to apply a second slope compensation to the input current. The second slope compensation starts at a maximum offset of the first slope compensation.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first high-side driver of a buck-boost converter, the first high-side driver powered between a first bootstrap voltage (VBST1) and a first output voltage of a first high-side switch driven by the first high-side driver. A second high-side driver is powered between a second bootstrap voltage (VBST2) and a second output voltage of a second high-side switch driven by the second high-side driver. A comparator is to detect VBST1 drop below a threshold value with respect to the first output voltage when the buck-boost converter is in boost mode. A leakage control circuit is to boost, using VBST2 as a voltage source, VBST1 each cycle of boost mode in which an output of the comparator is enabled.

Abstract: Communicating information stored at a secondary controller to a primary controller in a secondary-controlled flyback converter is described. In one embodiment, a method includes storing, by a secondary-side controller of a power converter, calibration information associated with a primary-side controller of the power converter. The power converter is a secondary-controlled alternating current to direct current (AC-DC) flyback converter comprising a galvanic isolation barrier. The method further includes sending, by the secondary-side controller, the calibration information to the primary-side controller across the galvanic isolation barrier in response to power-up of the power converter.

Abstract: A controller includes a buck gate driver coupled to first high-side switch and first low-side switch of a buck-boost (BB) converter. A zero crossing detection (ZCD) comparator is coupled to first low-side switch. The ZCD comparator is to, while the BB converter operates in buck mode: detect zero current flow through inductor; and turn off first low-side switch in response to detecting the zero current. A boost gate driver is coupled to second high-side switch and second low-side switch of the BB converter. A reverse current detection (RCD) comparator coupled to second high-side switch. The RCD comparator is to, while the BB converter operates in boost mode: detect zero current flow through second high-side switch; and turn off second high-side switch in response to detecting the zero current.

Abstract: An IC controller for USB Type-C device includes an error amplifier (EA), which includes an EA output coupled to a PWM comparator of a buck-boost converter; a first transconductance amplifier to adjust a current at the EA output, the first transconductance amplifier operating in a constant voltage mode; and a second transconductance amplifier to adjust the current at the EA output, the second transconductance amplifier operating in a constant current mode. A first set of programmable registers is to store a first set of increasingly higher transconductance values. A second set of programmable registers is to store a second set of increasingly higher transconductance values. Control logic is to: cause the first transconductance amplifier to operate while sequentially using transconductance values stored in the first set of programmable registers; and cause the second transconductance amplifier to operate while sequentially using transconductance values stored in the second set of programmable registers.

Abstract: A multi-port Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) controller with ground and supply cable compensation technologies is described. A USB-C controller includes a first power control circuit (PCU) coupled to a system ground terminal and a first ground terminal and a second PCU coupled to the system ground terminal and a second ground terminal. The first PCU receives a first ground signal indicative of a first ground potential at a first USB-C connector and adjusts a first power voltage line (VBUS) signal on the first VBUS terminal based on the first ground signal and the system ground. The second PCU receives a second ground signal indicative of a second ground potential at a second USB-C connector and adjusts a second VBUS signal on the second VBUS terminal based on the second ground signal and the system ground.

Abstract: A multi-port USB Power Delivery Type-C (USB-C/PD) power converter for switching clock phase shifts is described herein. The multi-port USB-C/PD power converter includes a first PD port, a second PD port, and a power controller coupled to the first and second PD ports. The power controller includes a first phased clock generator to generate a first phase-shifted clock signal by shifting a clock signal by a first phase with respect to a reference clock signal, and a second phased clock generator to generate a second phase-shifted clock signal to generate a second phased-shifted clock signal by shifting the clock signal by a second phase with respect to the reference clock signal. The first PD port and the second PD port output power in response to a first control signal based on the first phase-shifted clock signal and a second control signal based on the second phase-shifted clock signal, respectively.

Abstract: An IC controller for a USB Type-C device includes a register that is programmable to store a pulse width and a frequency. A buck-boost converter of the controller includes a first high-side switch and a second high-side switch. Control logic is coupled to the register and gates of the first/second high-side switches. To perform a soft start in one of buck mode or boost mode, the control logic: causes the second high-side switch to operate in diode mode; retrieves values of the pulse width and the frequency from the register; causes the first high-side switch to turn on using pulses having the pulse width and at the frequency; detects an output voltage at the output terminal of the buck-boost converter that exceeds a threshold value; and in response to the detection, transfers control of the buck-boost converter to an error amplifier loop coupled to the control logic.

Abstract: A mode-transition architecture for USB Type-C controllers is described herein. In an example embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) controller includes controller includes a controller coupled to a slope compensation circuit, the controller to cause the slope compensation circuit to apply a first slope compensation to the input current in a first mode in which the buck-boost converter is operating in a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). The controller detects a transition of the buck-boost converter from a first mode having a first duty cycle to a second mode and causes the slope compensation circuit to apply a second slope compensation to the input current. The second slope compensation starts at a maximum offset of the first slope compensation.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first high-side driver of a buck-boost converter, the first high-side driver powered between a first bootstrap voltage (VBST1) and a first output voltage of a first high-side switch driven by the first high-side driver. A second high-side driver is powered between a second bootstrap voltage (VBST2) and a second output voltage of a second high-side switch driven by the second high-side driver. A comparator is to detect VBST1 drop below a threshold value with respect to the first output voltage when the buck-boost converter is in boost mode. A leakage control circuit is to boost, using VBST2 as a voltage source, VBST1 each cycle of boost mode in which an output of the comparator is enabled.

Abstract: A mode-transition architecture for USB controllers is described herein. In an example embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) controller includes a controller coupled to a slope compensation circuit, the controller to detect a transition of a buck-boost converter from a first mode having a first duty cycle to a second mode having a second duty cycle that is less or more than the first duty cycle. The controller controls the slope compensation circuit to nullify an error in an output caused by the transition. The controller can cause the slope compensation circuit to apply a charge stored in a capacitor during a first cycle to start a second cycle with a higher voltage than the first cycle.

Abstract: An AC-DC converter with synchronous rectifier (SR) architecture and method for operating the same are described. Generally, a secondary side integrated circuit (IC controller of the AC-DC converter includes a peak-detector block coupled to detect peak voltages sensed on a SR-SNS pin. The peak-detector block comprises a peak comparator, a sample-and-hold (S/H) circuit, and a DC offset circuit. The peak comparator is coupled to receive a sinusoidal input from the SR-SNS pin. The S/H circuit is coupled to sample the sinusoidal input and to provide a peak sampled voltage. The DC offset voltage circuit is coupled between the output of the S/H circuit and a reference voltage input of the peak comparator to subtract a DC offset voltage from the peak sampled voltage.

Abstract: Communicating fault conditions between primary-side and secondary-side controllers of a Universal Serial Bus Power Delivery (USB-PD) device is described. The primary-side controller receives a control signal from the secondary-side controller across a galvanic isolation barrier. The primary-side controller converts the control signal into a first pulse signal and applies the first pulse signal to control a primary-side switch. When the primary-side controller detects that a first fault condition has occurred, the primary-side controller communicates a first information signal about the first fault condition to the secondary-side controller across the galvanic isolation barrier. The first information signal is generated by converting the control signal into a second pulse signal having a different pulse width than the first pulse signal. The primary-side controller applies the second pulse signal to control the primary-side power switch.

Abstract: An AC-DC converter with synchronous rectifier (SR) architecture and method for operating the same are described. Generally, a secondary side IC controller of the AC-DC converter includes a SR-SNS pin coupled to a peak-detector block, a zero-crossing block, and a calibration block. The calibration block is configured to: measure a loop turn-around delay (Tloop), a time (Tpkpk) between two successive peak voltages detected on the SR-SNS pin, and a time (Tzpk) from when the voltage sensed on the SR-SNS pin crosses zero voltage to when a peak voltage is detected on the SR-SNS pin; and set timing for a signal to turn on a power switch in a primary side of the AC-DC converter based at least on Tloop, Tpkpk, and Tzpk.

Abstract: An AC-DC converter with synchronous rectifier (SR) architecture and method for operating the same are described. Generally, a secondary side integrated circuit (IC) controller of the AC-DC converter includes a SR-SNS pin, a VBUS_IN pin, a first voltage-to-current converter, a sample-and-hold (S/H) circuit, a second voltage-to-current converter, and a signal generation circuit. The first voltage-to-current converter is coupled to remove a component of the output bus voltage sensed on the VBUS_IN pin from the voltage sensed on the SR-SNS pin. The S/H circuit is coupled to sample the voltage sensed on the SR-SNS pin and to provide a sampled voltage. The second voltage-to-current converter is coupled to convert the sampled voltage to a feed-forward current. The signal generation circuit is coupled to receive the feed-forward current and to generate feed-forward signals used to control operation of a primary side of the AC-DC converter.

Abstract: An AC-DC converter with synchronous rectifier (SR) architecture and method for operating the same are described. Generally, a secondary side IC controller of the AC-DC converter includes a SR-SNS pin coupled to a peak-detector block, a zero-crossing block, and a calibration block. The calibration block is configured to: measure a loop turn-around delay (Tloop), a time (Tpkpk) between two successive peak voltages detected on the SR-SNS pin, and a time (Tzpk) from when the voltage sensed on the SR-SNS pin crosses zero voltage to when a peak voltage is detected on the SR-SNS pin; and set timing for a signal to turn on a power switch in a primary side of the AC-DC converter based at least on Tloop, Tpkpk, and Tzpk.

Abstract: Controlling an active clamp field effect transistor (FET) in a secondary-controlled active clamp converter is described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a primary-side FET coupled to a transformer, a secondary-side FET coupled to the transformer, and an active clamp FET disposed on a primary side of the transformer. A secondary-side controller is configured to control the active clamp FET across a galvanic isolation barrier.

Abstract: Communicating fault indications between primary and secondary controller in a secondary-controlled flyback converter is described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a primary-side field effect transistor (FET) coupled to a flyback transformer coupled to the primary-side FET, and a primary-side controller coupled to the flyback transformer. The primary-side controller is configured to receive a signal from a secondary-side controller across a galvanic isolation barrier, apply a pulse signal to the primary-side FET in response to the signal to turn-on and turn-off the primary-side FET, communicate information to the secondary-side controller across the flyback transformer by varying a first pulse width of the pulse signal to a second pulse width and applying the pulse signal with the second pulse width to the primary-side FET.

Abstract: Controlling an active clamp field effect transistor (FET) in a secondary-controlled active clamp converter is described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a primary-side FET coupled to a transformer, a secondary-side FET coupled to the transformer, and an active clamp FET disposed on a primary side of the transformer. A secondary-side controller is configured to control the active clamp FET across a galvanic isolation barrier.