Abstract: A power management system includes a first switch, a second switch, and a controller coupled to the first and second switches. The first switch has a first transfer terminal. The second switch has a second transfer terminal. The controller controls power conversion by turning on a third switch periodically. The first and second transfer terminals and a third transfer terminal of the third switch are coupled to a common node. The resistance between the first transfer terminal and the common node, the resistance between the second transfer terminal and the common node, and the resistance between the third transfer terminal and the common node are substantially equal to zero.

Abstract: A controller for a DC/DC converter controls a first, second, third, and fourth switches according to pulse signals generated alternately. The controller turns off the third switch on detection of a first edge of a first pulse signal, turns on the first switch after a delay from the detection of the first edge, turns off the fourth switch on detection of a second edge of the first pulse signal, turns on the second switch after a delay from the detection of the second edge, turns off the first switch on detection of a third edge of a second pulse signal, turns on the third switch after a delay from the detection of the third edge, turns off the second switch on detection of a fourth edge of the second pulse signal, and turns on the fourth switch after a delay from the detection of the fourth edge.

Abstract: A transistor and a method of fabricating a transistor, including a metal oxide deposited on an epitaxial layer, a photo resist deposited and patterned over the metal oxide and the metal oxide and epitaxial layer are etched to form at least one circular trench, wherein the trench surfaces are defined by the epitaxial layer. An oxide layer is grown on the trench surfaces of each trench, and a gate conductor is formed within the at least one trench.

Abstract: In a controller for a power converter, a control terminal can provide a control signal to control a power converter. A cycle of the control signal includes a first time interval and a second time interval. The control circuitry can increase a primary current flowing through a primary winding of transformer circuitry and a secondary current flowing through a secondary winding of the transformer circuitry in the first time interval, and can terminate the increasing of the primary current in the second time interval. The control circuitry can also control the first time interval to be inversely proportional to an input voltage provided to the primary winding.

Abstract: A controller includes an input selector, multiple cores and a multiplexer. The multiplexer is operable for multiplexing control signals to multiple output channels to provide multiple output signals. Each output channel can output a respective output signal, and each output signal represents a cyclic rotation of the control signals. The input selector is operable for enabling the cores to operate in a standby state alternately to control a multiplexing sequence of the control signals.

Abstract: A state-of-charge (SOC) indicator for a battery pack is provided. The operation of the indicator is changed from a first mode to a second mode if a mechanism is activated, and is changed to a third mode if the mechanism remains activated after a timer expires. The indicator consumes a first amount of power in the second mode, and consumes a second amount of power which is less than the first amount in the third mode. The indicator blinks with a regular frequency when the SOC is less than a threshold. A comparator compares a divided signal and a reference signal during a first time interval, and the indicator displays the SOC based upon the comparison result during a second time interval separated from the first time interval.

Abstract: A controller for a power converter includes a first amplification stage and a second amplification stage coupled to the first amplification stage. The first amplification stage generates a first amplified signal at a first terminal of an energy storage element according to an output signal the power converter. The second amplification stage generates a second amplified signal at a second terminal of the energy storage element and varies the second amplified signal in response to a change in the output signal. The second amplification stage further decreases the variation of the second amplified signal based on the first amplified signal.

Abstract: A power regulator for converting an input voltage to an output voltage includes an error amplifier, a start-up circuit, and a pass device. The error amplifier is powered by the output voltage and provides a control current according to a difference between a reference signal and a feedback signal indicative of the output voltage. The start-up circuit is powered by the input voltage and provides a start-up current. The pass device receives the input voltage, provides the output voltage at an output terminal of the power regulator, generates an output current flowing through the output terminal according to the start-up current during a start-up duration of the power regulator, and generates the output current through the output terminal according to the control current during a normal operation of the power regulator.

Abstract: Generally, a system includes a control circuitry configured to detect a current wherein the detected current is one of a battery discharge current or a battery charging current; a first transistor configured to disconnect a load from at least one of a battery and a DC/DC converter if the battery discharge current exceeds a maximum battery discharge current setting; and a second transistor configured to adjust the charging current to maintain the charging current at or near a charge current setting.

Abstract: In a controller for a power converter, a control terminal can provide a control signal to control a power converter. A cycle of the control signal includes a first time interval and a second time interval. The control circuitry can increase a primary current flowing through a primary winding of transformer circuitry and a secondary current flowing through a secondary winding of the transformer circuitry in the first time interval, and can terminate the increasing of the primary current in the second time interval. The control circuitry can also control the first time interval to be inversely proportional to an input voltage provided to the primary winding.

Abstract: A power management system includes a first switch, a second switch, and a controller coupled to the first and second switches. The first switch has a first transfer terminal. The second switch has a second transfer terminal. The controller controls power conversion by turning on a third switch periodically. The first and second transfer terminals and a third transfer terminal of the third switch are coupled to a common node. The resistance between the first transfer terminal and the common node, the resistance between the second transfer terminal and the common node, and the resistance between the third transfer terminal and the common node are substantially equal to zero.

Abstract: A high-side switch is coupled to a power supply terminal and selectively coupled to ground via a conduction path. During an on state duration, the high-side switch can be enabled and the conduction path can be disabled. During an off state duration, the high-side switch can be disabled and the conduction path can be enabled. During a skip state duration, the high-side switch and the conduction path both can be disabled. A controller coupled to the high-side switch can control the on state duration and the skip state duration based on a current reference. The controller can further generate a control signal for controlling the high-side switch and the conduction path according to the on state duration and the skip state duration, and adjust an output current to the current reference according to the control signal.

Abstract: A transistor and a method of fabricating a transistor, including a metal oxide deposited on an epitaxial layer, a photo resist deposited and patterned over the metal oxide and the metal oxide and epitaxial layer are etched to form at least one circular trench, wherein the trench surfaces are defined by the epitaxial layer. An oxide layer is grown on the trench surfaces of each trench, and a gate conductor is formed within the at least one trench.

Abstract: A power regulator for converting an input voltage to an output voltage includes an error amplifier, a start-up circuit, and a pass device. The error amplifier is powered by the output voltage and provides a control current according to a difference between a reference signal and a feedback signal indicative of the output voltage. The start-up circuit is powered by the input voltage and provides a start-up current. The pass device receives the input voltage, provides the output voltage at an output terminal of the power regulator, generates an output current flowing through the output terminal according to the start-up current during a start-up duration of the power regulator, and generates the output current through the output terminal according to the control current during a normal operation of the power regulator.

Abstract: A high-side switch is coupled to a power supply terminal and selectively coupled to ground via a conduction path. During an on state duration, the high-side switch can be enabled and the conduction path can be disabled. During an off state duration, the high-side switch can be disabled and the conduction path can be enabled. During a skip state duration, the high-side switch and the conduction path both can be disabled. A controller coupled to the high-side switch can control the on state duration and the skip state duration based on a current reference. The controller can further generate a control signal for controlling the high-side switch and the conduction path according to the on state duration and the skip state duration, and adjust an output current to the current reference according to the control signal.

Abstract: A power conversion circuit includes a solar panel and a power converter. The solar panel is operable for providing electric power having an output voltage. The power converter coupled to the solar panel is capable of selectively operating in a charging mode and a powering mode. The power converter transfers the electric power from the solar panel to a power source and maintains the output voltage at a threshold voltage in the charging mode. The power converter delivers power from the power source to a load in the powering mode.

Abstract: A power converter can include a high-side switch coupled to a power supply terminal and selectively coupled to ground via a conduction path. During an on state duration, the high-side switch can be enabled and the conduction path can be disabled. During an off state duration, the high-side switch can be disabled and the conduction path can be enabled. During a skip state duration, the high-side switch and the conduction path both can be disabled. A controller coupled to the high-side switch can control the on state duration and the skip state duration based on a current reference. The controller can further generate a first control signal for controlling the high-side switch and the conduction path according to the on state duration and the skip state duration, and adjust an output current of the power converter to the current reference according to the first control signal.

Abstract: Generally, a system includes a control circuitry configured to detect a current wherein the detected current is one of a battery discharge current or a battery charging current; a first transistor configured to disconnect a load from at least one of a battery and a DC/DC converter if the battery discharge current exceeds a maximum battery discharge current setting; and a second transistor configured to adjust the charging current to maintain the charging current at or near a charge current setting.

Abstract: A power regulator for converting an input voltage to an output voltage includes a pass device, a reference signal circuit and an error amplifier. The pass device receives the input voltage and provides the output voltage at an output terminal of the power regulator. The reference signal circuit coupled to the output terminal is powered by the output voltage to provide a reference signal. The error amplifier coupled to the pass device is powered by the output voltage to compare the reference signal with a feedback signal indicative of the output voltage. The error amplifier can generate a control signal according to a result of the comparison to drive the pass device.

Abstract: A trench metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) can be fabricated in an upward direction. A trench bottom doping (TBD) process and/or a trench bottom oxide (TBO) process can be performed after formation of a substrate and a first epitaxial (epi) layer. Poly seal can be performed after the formation of TBO layers and before a merged epitaxial lateral overgrowth (MELO) step to improve quality and purity of a second epi layer formed in the MELO step. Plasma dry etching with an end point mode can be performed according to the locations of TBO layers to improve the uniformity of trench depth.