Abstract: A system for estimating power dissipation in an integrated circuit comprising a power converter and an amplifier, the system comprising processing circuitry configured to: receive a signal indicative of an output voltage to a load which, in use of the integrated circuit, is driven by the amplifier; receive a signal indicative of an output current to the load; determine an output power value based on the received signal indicative of the output voltage to the load and the received signal indicative of the output current to the load; receive a signal indicative of an input voltage to the power converter; receive a signal indicative of an average current input to the power converter; determine an input power value based on the received signal indicative of the input voltage to the power converter and the received signal indicative of the average current input to the power converter; and determine a power dissipation value based on the determined output power value and the determined input power value.

Abstract: This application relates to methods and apparatus for current monitoring in switched mode drivers. A switching driver has an output stage with a network of switches for switching an output node between different switching voltages and a modulator for controlling a duty-cycle of the switching output stage based on the input signal, where the modulator generates a modulator signal based on the input signal. A current monitor is configured to receive a first current signal indicative of a sensed first driver current and to determine and/or limit a second driver current using the first current signal and the modulator signal. One of the first driver current and the second driver current is an output current to the load and the other of the first driver current and the second driver current is an input current from a power supply.

Abstract: A switching converter system comprising a first converter phase and a second converter phase, the switching converter system being operable in: a power conversion mode in which the first and second converter phases are operative to generate a multi-phase output voltage at an output of the switching converter circuit; and a calibration mode in which the first converter phase is operative as a reference supply for the second converter phase to cause a flow of current between the first and second converter phases to enable detection of a characteristic of each of the first and second converter phases.

Abstract: A current sensing system for sensing current through first and second circuit elements of a circuit in which the first and second circuit elements are active in respective first and second phases of an operational cycle of the circuit, the current sensing system comprising: first current sensing circuitry for sensing a current through the first circuit element; second current sensing circuitry for sensing a current through the second circuit element; and summation circuitry coupled to an output of the first current sensing circuitry and an output of the second current sensing circuitry, wherein the summation circuitry is configured to output a summation signal indicative of a sum of the sensed current through the first circuit element and the sensed current through the second circuit element so as to provide an indication of a total current drawn over an operational cycle of the circuit.

Abstract: Current detection circuitry for generating an average inductor current signal indicative of an average inductor current during an operational cycle of power converter circuitry, the current detection circuitry comprising: circuitry for generating a peak inductor current signal indicative of a peak inductor current during the operational cycle; and circuitry for applying a ripple current estimate signal, indicative of an estimate of half of a ripple current in the power converter circuitry, to the peak inductor current signal to generate the average inductor current signal, wherein the ripple current is equal to a difference between the average inductor current and the peak inductor current.

Abstract: This application relates to methods and apparatus for current monitoring in switched mode drivers. A switching driver has an output stage with a network of switches for switching an output node between different switching voltages and a modulator for controlling a duty-cycle of the switching output stage based on the input signal, where the modulator generates a modulator signal based on the input signal. A current monitor is configured to receive a first current signal indicative of a sensed first driver current and to determine and/or limit a second driver current using the first current signal and the modulator signal. One of the first driver current and the second driver current is an output current to the load and the other of the first driver current and the second driver current is an input current from a power supply.

Abstract: Current detection circuitry for generating an average inductor current signal indicative of an average inductor current during an operational cycle of power converter circuitry, the current detection circuitry comprising: circuitry for generating a peak inductor current signal indicative of a peak inductor current during the operational cycle; and circuitry for applying a ripple current estimate signal, indicative of an estimate of half of a ripple current in the power converter circuitry, to the peak inductor current signal to generate the average inductor current signal, wherein the ripple current is equal to a difference between the average inductor current and the peak inductor current.

Abstract: Current detection circuitry for generating an average inductor current signal indicative of an average inductor current during an operational cycle of power converter circuitry, the current detection circuitry comprising: circuitry for generating a peak inductor current signal indicative of a peak inductor current during the operational cycle; and circuitry for applying a ripple current estimate signal, indicative of an estimate of half of a ripple current in the power converter circuitry, to the peak inductor current signal to generate the average inductor current signal, wherein the ripple current is equal to a difference between the average inductor current and the peak inductor current.

Abstract: A system for estimating power dissipation in an integrated circuit comprising a power converter and an amplifier, the system comprising processing circuitry configured to: receive a signal indicative of an output voltage to a load which, in use of the integrated circuit, is driven by the amplifier; receive a signal indicative of an output current to the load; determine an output power value based on the received signal indicative of the output voltage to the load and the received signal indicative of the output current to the load; receive a signal indicative of an input voltage to the power converter; receive a signal indicative of an average current input to the power converter; determine an input power value based on the received signal indicative of the input voltage to the power converter and the received signal indicative of the average current input to the power converter; and determine a power dissipation value based on the determined output power value and the determined input power value.

Abstract: Control circuitry for controlling a current through an inductor of a power converter, the control circuitry comprising: comparison circuitry configured to compare a measurement signal, indicative of a current through the inductor during a charging phase of the power converter, to a signal indicative of a target average current through the inductor for the charging phase and to output a comparison signal based on said comparison; detection circuitry configured to detect, based on the comparison signal, a crossing time indicative of a time at which the current through the inductor during the charging phase is equal to the target average current for the charging phase; and current control circuitry configured to control a current through the inductor during a subsequent charging phase based on the crossing time.

Abstract: A method for controlling an input current limit of boost converter circuitry, the method comprising: receiving a power dissipation value for the boost converter circuitry; and controlling an input current limit of the boost converter circuitry based on the power dissipation value.

Abstract: Circuitry for estimating an inductance of an inductor in power converter circuitry, the circuitry comprising: circuitry for generating a peak inductor current signal indicative of a peak inductor current during an operational cycle of the power converter circuitry; circuitry for generating a ripple current estimate signal, indicative of an estimate of a ripple current in the power converter circuitry; and circuitry for applying the ripple current estimate signal to the peak inductor current signal to generate an average inductor current threshold signal indicative of an estimated average inductor current in the power converter circuitry during the operational cycle, wherein the ripple current estimate signal is based on: a duration of a charging phase of operation of the power converter circuitry; a voltage across the inductor; and an inductance value for the inductor; and wherein the circuitry for generating the ripple current estimate signal is operative to select an inductance value for the inductor for wh

Abstract: This application relates to methods and apparatus for driving a transducer with switching drivers. A switching driver has first and second supply node for receiving supply voltages and includes an output bridge stage, a capacitor and a network of switches. The network of switches is operable in different switch states to provide different switching voltages to the output bridge stage. A controller is configured to control the switch state of the network of switches and a duty cycle of output switches of the output bridge stage based on an input signal to generate an output signal for driving the transducer.

Abstract: Control circuitry for controlling a current through an inductor of a power converter, the control circuitry comprising: comparison circuitry configured to compare a measurement signal, indicative of a current through the inductor during a charging phase of the power converter, to a signal indicative of a target average current through the inductor for the charging phase and to output a comparison signal based on said comparison; detection circuitry configured to detect, based on the comparison signal, a crossing time indicative of a time at which the current through the inductor during the charging phase is equal to the target average current for the charging phase; and current control circuitry configured to control a current through the inductor during a subsequent charging phase based on the crossing time.

Abstract: Control circuitry for controlling a current through an inductor of a power converter, the control circuitry comprising: comparison circuitry configured to compare a measurement signal, indicative of a current through the inductor during a charging phase of the power converter, to a signal indicative of a target average current through the inductor for the charging phase and to output a comparison signal based on said comparison; detection circuitry configured to detect, based on the comparison signal, a crossing time indicative of a time at which the current through the inductor during the charging phase is equal to the target average current for the charging phase; and current control circuitry configured to control a current through the inductor during a subsequent charging phase based on the crossing time.

Abstract: Circuitry for estimating an inductance of an inductor in power converter circuitry, the circuitry comprising: circuitry for generating a peak inductor current signal indicative of a peak inductor current during an operational cycle of the power converter circuitry; circuitry for generating a ripple current estimate signal, indicative of an estimate of a ripple current in the power converter circuitry; and circuitry for applying the ripple current estimate signal to the peak inductor current signal to generate an average inductor current threshold signal indicative of an estimated average inductor current in the power converter circuitry during the operational cycle, wherein the ripple current estimate signal is based on: a duration of a charging phase of operation of the power converter circuitry; a voltage across the inductor; and an inductance value for the inductor; and wherein the circuitry for generating the ripple current estimate signal is operative to select an inductance value for the inductor for wh

Abstract: This application relates to methods and apparatus for driving a transducer with switching drivers. A switching driver has first and second supply node for receiving supply voltages and includes an output bridge stage, a capacitor and a network of switches. The network of switches is operable in different switch states to provide different switching voltages to the output bridge stage. A controller is configured to control the switch state of the network of switches and a duty cycle of output switches of the output bridge stage based on an input signal to generate an output signal for driving the transducer.

Abstract: Control circuitry for controlling a current through an inductor of a power converter, the control circuitry comprising: comparison circuitry configured to compare a measurement signal, indicative of a current through the inductor during a charging phase of the power converter, to a signal indicative of a target average current through the inductor for the charging phase and to output a comparison signal based on said comparison; detection circuitry configured to detect, based on the comparison signal, a crossing time indicative of a time at which the current through the inductor during the charging phase is equal to the target average current for the charging phase; and current control circuitry configured to control a current through the inductor during a subsequent charging phase based on the crossing time.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detection and tracking of a signal envelope. The circuit comprises absolute value circuitry configured to receive data samples and output a first value corresponding to the magnitude of said data samples. An envelope tracker maintains an envelope output value and compares the first value to the current envelope output value and modifies the envelope output value based on said comparison to provide the envelope output value with predetermined attack and decay characteristics. The absolute value circuitry has a first input for receiving a first digital signal at a first sample rate and a second input for receiving an interpolated version of the first digital signal at a second sample rate which is higher than the first sample rate and outputs the first value based on the magnitudes of the samples received at the first input and the samples received at the second input.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detection and tracking of a signal envelope. The circuit comprises absolute value circuitry configured to receive data samples and output a first value corresponding to the magnitude of said data samples. An envelope tracker maintains an envelope output value and compares the first value to the current envelope output value and modifies the envelope output value based on said comparison to provide the envelope output value with predetermined attack and decay characteristics. The absolute value circuitry has a first input for receiving a first digital signal at a first sample rate and a second input for receiving an interpolated version of the first digital signal at a second sample rate which is higher than the first sample rate and outputs the first value based on the magnitudes of the samples received at the first input and the samples received at the second input.