Abstract: A gate driver includes a variable strength driver circuit that provides an output signal to drive a high power device. The gate driver receives an update request from a host controller during an operating mode in which switching operations occur and updates one or more operating parameters associated with driving the high power device. The operating parameters including turn-on parameters, turn-off parameters, and soft shutdown parameters. The variable strength driver circuit uses the turn-on parameters for turn-on phases for the output signal, uses the turn-off parameters for turn-off phases for the output signal, and uses the soft shutdown parameters for soft shutdown phases for the output signal. The update request adjusts current, voltage, and/or time for one or more phases of the turn-on, turn-off and/or soft shutdown parameters.

Abstract: A method for controlling a high-power drive device includes providing a current having a first predetermined current level to an output node during a first phase of a multi-phase turn-on process for the high-power drive device coupled to the output node. The method includes transitioning from the first phase to a second phase of the multi-phase turn-on process based on a first indication of a sensed voltage level on the output node during the first phase and a second indication of a time elapsed from a start of the first phase during the first phase. The method includes providing the current having a second predetermined current level to the output node during the second phase.

Abstract: A method for validating operation of a driver integrated circuit includes providing a signal using an output node. The signal is provided using multiple set points in response to a change in state of an input signal. Each set point corresponds to a different phase of a multi-phase transition of the signal. The method includes providing a timer value at an end of a phase of the multi-phase transition and determining whether the signal is in a target signal range of the phase based on the timer value at the end of the phase, a predetermined value defining the target signal range of the phase, and a predetermined time limit for the phase. A current through the output node may be provided using the multiple set points, and a voltage on the output node may have the multi-phase transition.

Abstract: A method for controlling a high-power drive device includes providing a current having a first predetermined current level to an output node during a first phase of a multi-phase turn-on process for the high-power drive device coupled to the output node. The method includes transitioning from the first phase to a second phase of the multi-phase turn-on process based on a first indication of a sensed voltage level on the output node during the first phase and a second indication of a time elapsed from a start of the first phase during the first phase. The method includes providing the current having a second predetermined current level to the output node during the second phase.

Abstract: A method for validating operation of a driver integrated circuit includes providing a signal using an output node. The signal is provided using multiple set points in response to a change in state of an input signal. Each set point corresponds to a different phase of a multi-phase transition of the signal. The method includes providing a timer value at an end of a phase of the multi-phase transition and determining whether the signal is in a target signal range of the phase based on the timer value at the end of the phase, a predetermined value defining the target signal range of the phase, and a predetermined time limit for the phase. A current through the output node may be provided using the multiple set points, and a voltage on the output node may have the multi-phase transition.

Abstract: A method for controlling a high-power drive device includes providing a current having a first predetermined current level to an output node during a first phase of a multi-phase turn-on process for the high-power drive device coupled to the output node. The method includes transitioning from the first phase to a second phase of the multi-phase turn-on process based on a first indication of a sensed voltage level on the output node during the first phase and a second indication of a time elapsed from a start of the first phase during the first phase. The method includes providing the current having a second predetermined current level to the output node during the second phase.

Abstract: A method for driving a high-power drive device includes providing a signal having a first predetermined signal level to an output node during a first phase of a multi-phase transition process. The method includes generating a first indication of a first parameter associated with the signal provided to the output node. The method includes generating a second indication of a second parameter associated with the signal provided to the output node. The method includes providing the signal having a second predetermined signal level to the output node during a second phase of the multi-phase transition process. The method includes transitioning from the first phase to the second phase based on the first indication and the second indication. A multi-die, distributed package technique addresses power dissipation requirements for a driver product based on size and associated power dissipation needs of the high-power drive device in a target application.

Abstract: A method for validating operation of a driver integrated circuit includes providing a signal using an output node. The signal is provided using multiple set points in response to a change in state of an input signal. Each set point corresponds to a different phase of a multi-phase transition of the signal. The method includes providing a timer value at an end of a phase of the multi-phase transition and determining whether the signal is in a target signal range of the phase based on the timer value at the end of the phase, a predetermined value defining the target signal range of the phase, and a predetermined time limit for the phase. A current through the output node may be provided using the multiple set points, and a voltage on the output node may have the multi-phase transition.

Abstract: A method for driving a high-power drive device includes providing a signal having a first predetermined signal level to an output node during a first phase of a multi-phase transition process. The method includes generating a first indication of a first parameter associated with the signal provided to the output node. The method includes generating a second indication of a second parameter associated with the signal provided to the output node. The method includes providing the signal having a second predetermined signal level to the output node during a second phase of the multi-phase transition process. The method includes transitioning from the first phase to the second phase based on the first indication and the second indication. A multi-die, distributed package technique addresses power dissipation requirements for a driver product based on size and associated power dissipation needs of the high-power drive device in a target application.

Abstract: A gate driver includes a variable strength driver circuit that provides an output signal to drive a high power device. The gate driver receives an update request from a host controller during an operating mode in which switching operations occur and updates one or more operating parameters associated with driving the high power device. The operating parameters including turn-on parameters, turn-off parameters, and soft shutdown parameters. The variable strength driver circuit uses the turn-on parameters for turn-on phases for the output signal, uses the turn-off parameters for turn-off phases for the output signal, and uses the soft shutdown parameters for soft shutdown phases for the output signal. The update request adjusts current, voltage, and/or time for one or more phases of the turn-on, turn-off and/or soft shutdown parameters.

Abstract: Current flowing through an inductor on a primary side of a voltage converter is sensed and compared to a threshold peak current value to determine when to end an ON portion of the voltage converter. The secondary side of the voltage converter supplies an indication of output voltage for use in determining the threshold peak current value. On start-up the primary side detects when the indication of output voltage is supplied by the secondary side across on isolation channel. Prior to detecting the indicating is being supplied, the primary side uses an increasing threshold peak current as the threshold peak current value. After detection that the indication of output voltage is being provided by the secondary side, the threshold peak current value is based on the indication of the output voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus controls a high-power drive device external to a package of a gate driver circuit. A first circuit charges the control node over a first length of time in response to a first signal through the first node indicating an absence of a fault condition and a first level of a control signal. A second circuit discharges the control node over a second length of time in response to a second signal through the second node indicating the absence of the fault condition and a second level of a control signal. A third circuit includes a current amplifier and is configured as a soft shutdown path to discharge the control node over a third length of time in response to the first signal through the first node indicating a presence of the fault condition. The third length of time is different from the second length of time.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a voltage converter to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. The voltage converter includes a first set of switches operated during a first switching phase. The voltage converter further includes a second set of switches operated during a second switching phase. The duration of the second switching phase is related to the duration of the first switching phase.

Abstract: Current flowing through an inductor on a primary side of a voltage converter is sensed and compared to a threshold peak current value to determine when to end an ON portion of the voltage converter. The secondary side of the voltage converter supplies an indication of output voltage for use in determining the threshold peak current value. On start-up the primary side detects when the indication of output voltage is supplied by the secondary side across on isolation channel. Prior to detecting the indicating is being supplied, the primary side uses an increasing threshold peak current as the threshold peak current value. After detection that the indication of output voltage is being provided by the secondary side, the threshold peak current value is based on the indication of the output voltage.

Abstract: Current flowing through an inductor on a primary side of a voltage converter is sensed and compared to a threshold peak current value to determine when to end an ON portion of the voltage converter. The secondary side of the voltage converter supplies an indication of output voltage for use in determining the threshold peak current value. On start-up the primary side detects when the indication of output voltage is supplied by the secondary side across on isolation channel. Prior to detecting the indicating is being supplied, the primary side uses an increasing threshold peak current as the threshold peak current value. After detection that the indication of output voltage is being provided by the secondary side, the threshold peak current value is based on the indication of the output voltage.

Abstract: Current flowing through an inductor on a primary side of a voltage converter is sensed and compared to a threshold peak current value to determine when to end an ON portion of the voltage converter. The secondary side of the voltage converter supplies an indication of output voltage for use in determining the threshold peak current value. On start-up the primary side detects when the indication of output voltage is supplied by the secondary side across on isolation channel. Prior to detecting the indicating is being supplied, the primary side uses an increasing threshold peak current as the threshold peak current value. After detection that the indication of output voltage is being provided by the secondary side, the threshold peak current value is based on the indication of the output voltage.

Abstract: One embodiment of a power supply apparatus includes a first switcher coupled to provide VOUT from a VSUPPLY. A cascaded second switcher is coupled to provide a subscriber line interface circuit target VBAT from VOUT, wherein the first switcher is placed in one of an active mode and an inactive mode in accordance with a function of VSUPPLY and VBAT, wherein in the active mode ? VOUT VSUPPLY ? ? 1 , wherein in the inactive mode VOUT?VSUPPLY.

Abstract: A current mirror apparatus includes an input stage receiving an input current, Iin, and no additional bias current. The apparatus includes at least one output stage coupled to mirror the input current as an output current Iout. The input and output stages include insulated gate transistors. A minimum required voltage drop (Vin) across the input stage is approximately 2Von+2Vth, wherein Vth is a threshold voltage of a selected one of the insulated gate transistors, wherein Von is a drain-to-source saturation voltage of the selected transistor. A minimum required voltage drop (Vout) across the output stage is approximately 2Von.

Abstract: A method of calibrating longitudinal balance for a subscriber line interface circuit includes providing a first and a second driver of a differential driver pair for driving a subscriber line. An output of each of the first and second drivers is coupled to a common output. The common output is coupled to an input of the first driver. The gain of at least one of the first and second drivers is adjusted until a calibration signal (V1) present at the input of the first driver is substantially the same as a calibration signal (V2) present at the input of the second driver.

Abstract: A current mirror apparatus includes an input stage receiving an input current, Iin, and no additional bias current. The apparatus includes at least one output stage coupled to mirror the input current as an output current Iout. The input and output stages include insulated gate transistors. A minimum required voltage drop (Vin) across the input stage is approximately 2Von+2Vth, wherein Vth is a threshold voltage of a selected one of the insulated gate transistors, wherein Von is a drain-to-source saturation voltage of the selected transistor. A minimum required voltage drop (Vout) across the output stage is approximately 2Von.