Abstract: A power supply control system delivers regulated power to a load via a delivery cable. The power supply control system includes a power stage operable to deliver power to the load at a first regulated voltage level and a second regulated voltage level. A cable offset voltage unit generates an offset voltage signal representing a drop in voltage across the delivery cable. The offset voltage signal is generated based on a first cable drop compensation value when the power stage is operated to deliver power at the first regulated voltage level and based on a second cable drop compensation value when the power stage is operated to deliver power at the second regulated voltage level. A controller coupled to the power stage and the cable offset voltage unit controls the power stage to deliver the regulated power to the load based at least in part on the offset voltage signal.

Abstract: A method for estimating an output voltage of a power converter comprises sensing a voltage waveform representative of the output voltage; and detecting a first gap and a second gap. The first gap is between a time when the sensed voltage waveform crosses a first voltage reference and a time when the sensed voltage waveform crosses a second voltage reference at a voltage offset below the first voltage reference. The second gap is between a time when the sensed voltage waveform crosses a third voltage reference and a time when the sensed voltage waveform crosses the second voltage reference, the third voltage referenced at a predetermined voltage above the second voltage reference. Responsive to the first gap exceeding a threshold, a tracking error is computed based on the first gap; and responsive to the first gap not exceeding the threshold, the tracking error is computed based on the second gap.

Abstract: A power converter system comprises a switching power converter having a primary side and a secondary side that are electrically isolated from each other. A first controller on the primary side of the switching power converter controls a switch in the switching power converter on or off at a switching frequency of the switching power converter to regulate an output voltage of the switching power converter. A second controller on the secondary side of the switching power converter encodes information into one or more pulses such that a first duration between the consecutive pulses corresponds to a first logic level and a second duration between the consecutive pulses corresponds to a second logic level, the second duration being greater than the first duration.

Abstract: A power supply control system delivers regulated power to a load via a delivery cable. The power supply control system includes a power stage operable to deliver power to the load at a first regulated voltage level and a second regulated voltage level. A cable offset voltage unit generates an offset voltage signal representing a drop in voltage across the delivery cable. The offset voltage signal is generated based on a first cable drop compensation value when the power stage is operated to deliver power at the first regulated voltage level and based on a second cable drop compensation value when the power stage is operated to deliver power at the second regulated voltage level. A controller coupled to the power stage and the cable offset voltage unit controls the power stage to deliver the regulated power to the load based at least in part on the offset voltage signal.

Abstract: A power converter includes a transformer with a primary and a secondary winding and a switch. A controller of the power converter at the primary winding side of the transformer generates a control signal to turn on or turn off the switch, the switch being turned on responsive to the control signal being in a first state and the switch being turned off responsive to the control signal being in a second state. The controller determines current through the primary winding generated while the switch is turned on and indirectly detects an input voltage to the power converter based on the current through the primary winding generated while the switch is turned on. The controller in turn may detect conditions such as a loss of power or brown out at the input of the power converter based on the indirectly detected input voltage.

Abstract: A switching power converter provides regulated output power to a load. The switching power converter comprises a transformer including a primary winding coupled to an input voltage, a secondary winding coupled to an output of the switching power converter, an auxiliary winding on a primary side of the transformer, and a switch coupled to the primary winding of the transformer. Output voltage across the secondary winding is reflected as a feedback voltage across the auxiliary winding. The switching power converter detects output current based on a reset time of the transformer. Based on the detected output power, the switching power converter controls switching of the switch to provide regulated output power.

Abstract: The drive current of the switch in a switching power converter is adjusted dynamically according to line or load conditions within a switching cycle and/or over a plurality of switching cycles. The magnitude of the switch drive current can be dynamically adjusted within a switching cycle and/or over a plurality of switching cycles, in addition to the pulse widths or pulse frequencies of the switch drive current.

Abstract: A power converter system comprises a switching power converter having a primary side and a secondary side that are electrically isolated from each other. A first controller on the primary side of the switching power converter controls a switch in the switching power converter on or off at a switching frequency of the switching power converter to regulate an output voltage of the switching power converter. A second controller on the secondary side of the switching power converter encodes information into one or more pulses such that a first duration between the consecutive pulses corresponds to a first logic level and a second duration between the consecutive pulses corresponds to a second logic level, the second duration being greater than the first duration.

Abstract: A power converter that controls a collector current of a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) by controlling the base current to the BJT after having determined the gain of the BJT. A gain detection block determines a gain of the BJT during a first mode. A current calculation block generates a current setting for the base current based on the gain of the BJT determined by the gain detection block during a second mode distinct from the first mode. In some embodiments, the power converter may be included in a LED lamp system.

Abstract: A method for estimating an output voltage of a power converter comprises sensing a voltage waveform representative of the output voltage; and detecting a first gap and a second gap. The first gap is between a time when the sensed voltage waveform crosses a first voltage reference and a time when the sensed voltage waveform crosses a second voltage reference at a voltage offset below the first voltage reference. The second gap is between a time when the sensed voltage waveform crosses a third voltage reference and a time when the sensed voltage waveform crosses the second voltage reference, the third voltage referenced at a predetermined voltage above the second voltage reference. Responsive to the first gap exceeding a threshold, a tracking error is computed based on the first gap; and responsive to the first gap not exceeding the threshold, the tracking error is computed based on the second gap.

Abstract: A switching power converter provides regulated output power to a load. The switching power converter comprises a transformer including a primary winding coupled to an input voltage, a secondary winding coupled to an output of the switching power converter, an auxiliary winding on a primary side of the transformer, and a switch coupled to the primary winding of the transformer. Output voltage across the secondary winding is reflected as a feedback voltage across the auxiliary winding. The switching power converter detects output current based on a reset time of the transformer. Based on the detected output power, the switching power converter controls switching of the switch to provide regulated output power.

Abstract: A method of a controller of a switching power converter that provides a configurable power factor control method for the switching power converter. The controller combines power regulation control methods of constant on-time control and constant power control to adjust the power factor of the switching power converter. The controller switches between constant on-time control and constant power control based on an input voltage of the power converter.

Abstract: An improved valley-mode switching (VMS) scheme and circuitry for implementing the improved VMS switching scheme in a switch-mode power converter are disclosed. For a given switching cycle, a desired switch turn-on time is determined based on a pulse width modulation, pulse frequency modulation, or other suitable power converter control scheme. Also, one or more times corresponding to local minimums (valleys) are predicted for the voltage across a power switch of the switching power converter. The power switch is turned on at a valley immediately subsequent or otherwise subsequent to the desired switch time determined according to the power converter control scheme. Thus, the improved VMS scheme enables low-voltage switch operation to reduce switching loss and EMI noise without restricting the control scheme of the power converter.

Abstract: A power converter includes a transformer with a primary and a secondary winding and a switch. A controller of the power converter at the primary winding side of the transformer generates a control signal to turn on or turn off the switch, the switch being turned on responsive to the control signal being in a first state and the switch being turned off responsive to the control signal being in a second state. The controller determines current through the primary winding generated while the switch is turned on and indirectly detects an input voltage to the power converter based on the current through the primary winding generated while the switch is turned on. The controller in turn may detect conditions such as a loss of power or brown out at the input of the power converter based on the indirectly detected input voltage.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein describe a method of a controller of a switching power converter that provides a configurable power factor control method for the switching power converter. In one embodiment, the controller combines power regulation control methods of constant on-time control and constant power control to adjust the power factor of the switching power converter.

Abstract: A switching power converter provides regulated voltage to a load according to a desired regulation voltage. The switching power converter includes a transformer coupled to a switch and a switch controller for generating a control signal to control switching. The switch controller monitors a sensed voltage representing the output voltage of the switching power converter. The switch controller controls switching of the switch to operate the switching power converter in a continuous conduction mode while the sensed output voltage indicates that the output voltage is less than a first threshold voltage. The switch controller controls switching of the switch to operate the switching power converter in a discontinuous conduction mode while the sensed output voltage is above the first threshold voltage.

Abstract: A switching power converter comprises a transformer (110), a switch (108) coupled to the transformer (110), and a switch controller (200) coupled to the switch (108) for generating a switch drive signal (207) to turn on or off the switch (108). The drive current of the switch drive signal (207) is adjusted dynamically according to line or load conditions within a switching cycle and/or over a plurality of switching cycles. The magnitude of the drive current can be dynamically adjusted within a switching cycle and/or over a plurality of switching cycles, in addition to the pulse widths or pulse frequencies of the drive current.

Abstract: The drive current of the switch in a switching power converter is adjusted dynamically according to line or load conditions within a switching cycle and/or over a plurality of switching cycles. The magnitude of the switch drive current can be dynamically adjusted within a switching cycle and/or over a plurality of switching cycles, in addition to the pulse widths or pulse frequencies of the switch drive current.

Abstract: A power converter that controls a collector current of a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) by controlling the base current to the BJT after having determined the gain of the BJT. A gain detection block determines a gain of the BJT during a first mode. A current calculation block generates a current setting for the base current based on the gain of the BJT determined by the gain detection block during a second mode distinct from the first mode. In some embodiments, the power converter may be included in a LED lamp system.

Abstract: A switching power converter provides regulated voltage to a load according to a desired regulation voltage. The switching power converter includes a transformer coupled to a switch and a switch controller for generating a control signal to control switching. The switch controller monitors a sensed voltage representing the output voltage of the switching power converter. The switch controller controls switching of the switch to operate the switching power converter in a continuous conduction mode while the sensed output voltage indicates that the output voltage is less than a first threshold voltage. The switch controller controls switching of the switch to operate the switching power converter in a discontinuous conduction mode while the sensed output voltage is above the first threshold voltage.