Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of operating a switched-mode power converter includes defining at least one of a minimum switching frequency threshold and a maximum switching frequency threshold; detecting valleys occurring in a voltage over the switching element when the switching element is in an off-state; and either in a quasi-resonant mode, switching the switching element on when an nth consecutive valley occurs, n being an integer equal to or greater than one, so that the actual switching frequency is at least one of: below the maximum switching frequency threshold and above the minimum switching frequency threshold, or in a forced switching frequency mode, switching the switching element on so that the actual switching frequency is the maximum or the minimum switching frequency.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes driving an electronic switch in a switched-mode power converter in successive drive cycles, wherein driving the switch in each of the drive cycles comprises switching on the electronic for an on-period and subsequently switching off the electronic switch for an off-period, and measuring an operation parameter of the switched-mode power converter during the on-periods of the drive cycles, and storing the operation parameter measured in an on-period if a duration of the on-period met a predefined criteria. The method further includes forcing the on-period of a drive cycle to meet the predefined criteria if the operation parameter has not been stored for a predefined number of drive cycles, or for a pre-defined time duration.

Abstract: A switched mode power supply circuit includes a switching converter receiving an input voltage and generating an output voltage from the input voltage in accordance with a switching signal. A switching controller unit is configured to generate the switching signal in accordance with a control parameter set such that the output voltage matches a set-point.

Abstract: In various embodiments a method for determining a demagnetization zero current time, at which a transformer is substantially demagnetized, for a switched mode power supply comprising a transformer is provided, wherein the method may include: applying a first current through a winding of one side of the transformer; interrupting the current flow of the first current; measuring a time at which a voltage across a winding of another side of the transformer becomes substantially zero; and determining the demagnetization zero current time using the measured time.

Abstract: A converter may include a transformer; a first circuit arrangement coupled to a first transformer side; a second circuit arrangement coupled to a second transformer side, wherein the second circuit arrangement is configured to provide an output voltage; a first coupler configured to provide information about the output voltage to the first circuit arrangement; wherein the first circuit arrangement is configured to determine a state of the secondary side based on the received information about the output voltage, and to generate a switch control signal dependent on the determined state; a switch circuit arranged on the second side; and a second coupler configured to provide a switch control signal from the first circuit arrangement to the switch circuit; wherein the switch circuit is coupled to the first circuit arrangement to provide a first circuit arrangement control signal to the first circuit arrangement depending on the switch control signal.

Abstract: A converter may include a transformer; a first circuit arrangement coupled to a first transformer side; a second circuit arrangement coupled to a second transformer side, wherein the second circuit arrangement is configured to provide an output voltage; a first coupler configured to provide information about the output voltage to the first circuit arrangement; wherein the first circuit arrangement is configured to determine a state of the secondary side based on the received information about the output voltage, and to generate a switch control signal dependent on the determined state; a switch circuit arranged on the second side; and a second coupler configured to provide a switch control signal from the first circuit arrangement to the switch circuit; wherein the switch circuit is coupled to the first circuit arrangement to provide a first circuit arrangement control signal to the first circuit arrangement depending on the switch control signal.

Abstract: A converter is suggested comprising a transformer providing a galvanic isolation between a primary side and a secondary side of the converter; at least one switching element; a converter control unit comprising a first pin for controlling the at least one switching element and a second pin for detecting a current signal in the at least one switching element during a first phase; and for detecting an output voltage signal of the secondary side of the converter and an information regarding a current in a secondary winding of the transformer during a second phase.

Abstract: In various embodiments a method for determining a demagnetization zero current time, at which a transformer is substantially demagnetized, for a switched mode power supply comprising a transformer is provided, wherein the method may include: applying a first current through a winding of one side of the transformer; interrupting the current flow of the first current; measuring a time at which a voltage across a winding of another side of the transformer becomes substantially zero; and determining the demagnetization zero current time using the measured time.

Abstract: In various embodiments a method is provided for determining a demagnetization zero current time for a switched mode power supply having a transformer, a first side and a second side being galvanically separated from each other and a switched mode power supply controller, the method including: determining a first voltage being applied to one side of the transformer; determining a second voltage provided at the other side of the transformer; determining a time the first voltage is provided to a winding of the transformer; and determining, by a circuit located on the same side of the transformer as the switched mode power supply controller, the demagnetization zero current time using the determined first voltage, the determined second voltage and the determined time.

Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement includes a semiconductor body with a first active region, a second active region and an isolation region arranged between the first and the second active regions. At least one source region and at least one body region of a first transistor are integrated in the first active region. At least one source region and at least one body region of a second transistor are integrated in the second active region. Source and body regions of a third transistor are integrated in the second active region. The second transistor and the third transistor have a common source electrode. The first transistor, the second transistor and the third transistor have a common drain electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic circuit with a first load terminal, a second load terminal, a supply terminal configured for having a charge storage arrangement connected thereto, and a load transistor, a current sense circuit with a sense transistor, and a start-up circuit with a start-up transistor.

Abstract: A converter may include a start-up circuit having a switch circuit coupled to a reference potential terminal and an input circuit coupled to an input voltage, wherein the input circuit is coupled to the start-up circuit such that in case that at least one of the input voltage is lower than a predetermined threshold and that the input voltage is substantially constant for a predefined time period, electrical charges stored in the input circuit are flowing through the switch circuit to the reference potential terminal.

Abstract: A converter may include a transformer; a first circuit arrangement coupled to a first transformer side; a second circuit arrangement coupled to a second transformer side, wherein the second circuit arrangement is configured to provide an output voltage; a first coupler configured to provide information about the output voltage to the first circuit arrangement; wherein the first circuit arrangement is configured to determine a state of the secondary side based on the received information about the output voltage, and to generate a switch control signal dependent on the determined state; a switch circuit arranged on the second side; and a second coupler configured to provide a switch control signal from the first circuit arrangement to the switch circuit; wherein the switch circuit is coupled to the first circuit arrangement to provide a first circuit arrangement control signal to the first circuit arrangement depending on the switch control signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic circuit with a first load terminal, a second load terminal, a supply terminal configured for having a charge storage arrangement connected thereto, and a load transistor, a current sense circuit with a sense transistor, and a start-up circuit with a start-up transistor.

Abstract: An apparatus, comprising a transformer comprising a first winding and a second winding; a first switch coupled to the first winding and configured to alternate between an off state and an on state in response to a pulsed first signal; a rectifier coupled to the second winding and configured to alternate between an off state and an on state in response to a pulsed second signal; and a drive circuit configured to generate the first and second signals such that the first switch and the rectifier are switched to the on state in a temporally offset relation with each other.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement comprises at least one power component and a drive circuit for the power component, which are integrated in a first and a second semiconductor chip. Only CMOS components of the drive circuit or CMOS components, capacitive components and resistance components of the drive circuit are integrated in the first semiconductor chip, and the at least one power component and further components of the drive circuit are integrated in the second semiconductor chip.

Abstract: In a switching mode power supply, an input received from the secondary side of the transformer 7 and indicative of the power being drawn by the loads is used to control the timing of bursts. The input is compared with two threshold different threshold values V2, V3, and switching is enabled if the input rises above a first higher threshold value V2, and disabled if it falls below a second lower threshold value V3. A memory device FF1 controls a current limitation circuit which limits currents in the primary of the transformer when the switching mode power supply is operating in the burst mode.

Abstract: An actuation circuit is provided for a switch controlling the power consumption in a switch-mode converter which has input terminals for applying an input voltage and output terminals for providing an output voltage. The actuation circuit comprises a first input for supplying a voltage measurement signal which is dependent on the output voltage, an error signal generation circuit which generates an error signal by comparing the voltage measurement signal with a reference signal, a filter arrangement which is supplied with the error signal and which generates a first control signal, and an actuation signal generation circuit which is supplied with the first control signal and which provides an actuation signal for the switch on the basis of the first control signal.

Abstract: A method drives a semiconductor switch, which is connected in series with a first coil of a transformer in a switched-mode converter. The method includes driving the switch continuously using a first pulse-width-modulated drive signal. The method further includes driving the switch intermittently using a second pulse-width-modulated signal, responsive to whether a maximum value of a current through the first coil exceeds a predetermined current threshold value during at least one drive period of the first pulse-width-modulated drive signal. Typically, the change from continuous to intermittent drive occurs when the maximum value of a current does not exceed a predetermined current threshold value during at least one drive period or cycle.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement comprises at least one power component and a drive circuit for the power component, which are integrated in a first and a second semiconductor chip. Only CMOS components of the drive circuit or CMOS components, capacitive components and resistance components of the drive circuit are integrated in the first semiconductor chip, and the at least one power component and further components of the drive circuit are integrated in the second semiconductor chip.