Abstract: A high power-factor buck-boost converter having a rectified low-frequency AC line voltage input and a DC output is provided. The converter may include a magnetic element, a controlled switch having a gate terminal and a drain terminal that is coupled to the magnetic element, a rectifier diode coupled to the magnetic element, an output smoothing capacitor coupled to the rectifier diode, and a control circuit having an output coupled to the gate terminal of the controlled switch for repeatedly turning the controlled switch off for a first time duration and on for a second time duration. The second time duration may be determined as a function of the first time duration immediately preceding the second time duration.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for supplying current to an auxiliary power supply for the control circuit of a switching regulator. The auxiliary power supply is connected in parallel to a first switch of the switching regulator. The auxiliary power supply comprises a second switch. During the nonswitching stage of the switching regulator, the second switch has significant impedance so as to power up the auxiliary power supply gradually and to suppress the flow of large or oscillatory currents which may cause damage or create interference. During the switching stage of the switching regulator, the second switch has negligible impedance so as to avoid undue dissipation within the path for the supply of current.

Abstract: A high power-factor buck-boost converter having a rectified low-frequency AC line voltage input and a DC output is provided. The converter may include a magnetic element, a controlled switch having a gate terminal and a drain terminal that is coupled to the magnetic element, a rectifier diode coupled to the magnetic element, an output smoothing capacitor coupled to the rectifier diode, and a control circuit having an output coupled to the gate terminal of the controlled switch for repeatedly turning the controlled switch off for a first time duration and on for a second time duration. The second time duration may be determined as a function of the first time duration immediately preceding the second time duration.

Abstract: A circuit and method are provided detecting a persistent short circuit in a power MOSFET for the purpose of protecting a load from over-current.

Abstract: The invention relates to the control of auxiliary power supply connected in parallel with a switch of a switching regulator. A switch and a diode are included within the connection to the auxiliary supply. The auxiliary supply switch enables a flow of current to the auxiliary supply when the auxiliary supply switch is on and the switch in parallel is off. The auxiliary diode prevents a reverse flow of current when the switch in parallel is on. The auxiliary power supply is suitable to supply of current in both stages of switching regulator operation, to configurations with a common node carrying either type of potential, steady or switching, provides supply of current at high efficiency in the switching stage of switching regulator operation, and provides high efficiency over a wide range of operating conditions of the switching regulator.

Abstract: A comparator sense input is disconnected from a current sense resistor for the duration of a switching transition in an adjacent channel(s). Instead, the sense input receives a signal of the magnitude and the slew rate sampled prior to the transition.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to the field of power factor correction and specifically to generation of a reference waveform which is proportional to line voltage and is controllable in amplitude.

Abstract: A switching power converter has an input voltage source. An output load is coupled to the input voltage source. An inductive element is coupled to the load. A switch is coupled to the inductive element. A control circuit is coupled to the switch and the inductive element for activating and deactivating the switch, the control circuit activating and deactivating the switch based on a negative voltage drop across a resistive element of the control circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for supplying current to an auxiliary power supply, where the auxiliary supply is connected in parallel to a first switch of a switching regulator and the parallel connection of the auxiliary supply comprises a diode and a second switch.

Abstract: A comparator sense input is disconnected from a current sense resistor for the duration of a switching transition in an adjacent channel(s). Instead, the sense input receives a signal of the magnitude and the slew rate sampled prior to the transition.

Abstract: A switching power converter has an input voltage source. An output load is coupled to the input voltage source. An inductive element is coupled to the load. A switch is coupled to the inductive element. A control circuit is coupled to the switch and the inductive element for activating and deactivating the switch, the control circuit activating and deactivating the switch based on a negative voltage drop across a resistive element of the control circuit.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to the field of power factor correction and specifically to generation of a reference waveform which is proportional to line voltage and is controllable in amplitude.

Abstract: The invention relates to auxiliary power supplies.

Abstract: An electronic circuit and method for sampling negative coil current in a power converter includes a zero crossing detector and a sample-and-hold circuit. A switch determines whether a charging or discharging current is flowing through a coil.

Abstract: A method of controlling an output current of a power supply circuit comprising a first converter stage for receiving an input voltage, a second converter stage delivering a regulated output current, a controlled switch for conducting the input current and the output current, the method comprising: detecting a portion of the input current conducted by the controlled switch; detecting a current in the controlled switch; deriving a difference between the current in the controlled switch and the portion of the input current conducted by the controlled switch; and maintaining the difference at a reference level.

Abstract: The present inventions relate to a control circuit for controlling a plurality of serially connected groups of LEDs. A control unit is connected in parallel to each group of a plurality of serially connected groups of LEDs. Each LED group is connected to the adjacent group of LEDs. The control unit is connected to a group of LEDs. The control unit performs the functions of voltage regulating/current regulating/bypass for the associated group of LEDs. The control unit can act as a by-pass unit permitting current to flow through the control unit rather than through the associated group of LEDs.

Abstract: A power supply circuit for powering a load at constant current has a rectifier stage for receiving an AC voltage input and for producing a first substantially DC voltage. A first capacitor is attached to the load. A charge-pump is attached to an output of the rectifier stage and to the load for providing power factor correction and for converting the first substantially DC voltage to a second substantially DC voltage at the first capacitor. The charge pump is prevented from conducting energy back into the output of the rectifier stage. The charge pump delivers energy to a charge pump output, the energy being delivered directly instead of being stored. A converter stage is attached to the load and the first capacitor. The converter stage is used for converting voltages at the first capacitor and the charge pump to an output DC current. The converter stage has a switch for periodically connecting a first series-coupled circuit of the charge pump to the output of the rectifier stage.

Abstract: A method of controlling an output current of a power supply circuit comprising a first converter stage for receiving an input voltage, a second converter stage delivering a regulated output current, a controlled switch for conducting the input current and the output current, the method comprising: detecting a portion of the input current conducted by the controlled switch; detecting a current in the controlled switch; deriving a difference between the current in the controlled switch and the portion of the input current conducted by the controlled switch; and maintaining the difference at a reference level.

Abstract: A switching power converter has an input voltage source. An output load is coupled to the input voltage source. An inductive element is coupled to the load. A switch is coupled to the inductive element. A current reference input is provided. A control circuit is coupled to the switch and the current reference input for activating and deactivating the switch. The inductive element receives power from the input voltage source when the switch is activated and conducting continuous current. The control circuit deactivates the switch after a controlled delay time when the current in the inductive element and the switch exceeds the current reference input so that an average current in the inductive element is determined by a magnitude of the current reference input.

Abstract: A power supply circuit for powering a load at constant current has a rectifier stage for receiving an AC voltage input and for producing a first substantially DC voltage. A first capacitor is attached to the load. A charge-pump is attached to an output of the rectifier stage and to the load for providing power factor correction and for converting the first substantially DC voltage to a second substantially DC voltage at the first capacitor. The charge pump is prevented from conducting energy back into the output of the rectifier stage. The charge pump delivers energy to a charge pump output, the energy being delivered directly instead of being stored. A converter stage is attached to the load and the first capacitor. The converter stage is used for converting voltages at the first capacitor and the charge pump to an output DC current. The converter stage has a switch for periodically connecting a first series-coupled circuit of the charge pump to the output of the rectifier stage.