Abstract: Switching power converters for regulating voltage at an output of a load include digital control circuitry for sensing an output voltage feedback signal, comparing the sensed feedback signal to a reference at a determined time during a cycling of the switch; and regulating the output voltage by either enabling or inhibiting cycling of a switch by a cycle of a drive signal produced by pulse generation circuitry in response to the comparison.

Abstract: A power supply having a plurality of switches coupled in parallel between an input and an output regulates the output voltage by altering the number of conducting switches in response to power demands at the output.

Abstract: A power converter for delivering power from a source to a load includes a switch, pulse generation circuitry producing one or more drive signals for cycling the switch ON and OFF, wherein if the switch is cycled ON and OFF according to a cycle of a drive signal, power is transferred from the source to the load, a comparator for comparing a feedback signal approximating an output voltage at the load to a reference, and a controller coupled to the pulse generation circuitry for controlling which, if any, cycle of a drive signal cycles the switch in response to an output of the comparator.

Abstract: A method of regulating voltage at an output of a switching power converter, the converter comprising a switch and pulse generation circuitry, the pulse generation circuitry producing one or more drive signals for cycling the switch ON and OFF, wherein if the switch is cycled ON and OFF according to a cycle of a drive signal, power is transferred from a source to a load. The method includes sensing an output voltage feedback signal, comparing the sensed feedback signal to a reference at a determined time during a cycling of the switch, and regulating an output voltage at the load by controlling whether a cycle of one of the drive signals cycles the switch in response to the comparison.

Abstract: A high-impedance-insertion system suppresses load-produced electromagnetic noise from interfering into a power source by coupling the load to the power source through a switch. If the power source is an AC power source, the switch couples to the power source through a storage element and a rectifier, such that the switch is OFF (in the high impedance state) when the rectifier is reversed biased (or in a low impedance state). If the power source is a DC power source, the switch couples to the power source through a storage element and a second switch, such that the switch is OFF (in the high impedance state) when the second switch is ON (in the low impedance state).

Abstract: A power supply having a plurality of bi-directional switches coupled in parallel between an input and an output regulates the output voltage by altering the number of conducting bi-directional switches in response to power demands at the output.

Abstract: An AC to DC power converter, comprising an input, an output, a plurality of pass elements connected in parallel between the input and output, and a controller for switching ON a subset of the plurality of pass elements. The controller sets an ON time for at least one pass element in the subset based on a load at the output and a phase angle of an input voltage at the input. The input voltage may comprise a single or multiphase signal. The number of pass elements in the subset is based on the load. In one embodiment, each pass element comprising a pair of series-connected field effect transistors coupled source to source and operated in fully enhanced mode.

Abstract: Various three, four and five terminal power supply control packages for controlling delivery of power from a source to a load in both single and dual switch transformer coupled power converters are disclosed. By way of example, a three-terminal control package has a first terminal for coupling to a primary winding of a transformer, a second terminal for coupling to a ground reference and a third terminal for coupling to a source of operating power. An internal power switch has an input coupled to the first terminal, an output coupled to the second terminal, and an activation gate. The package includes pulse train control circuitry coupled to the power switch activation gate and responsive to an error signal for driving the power switch, the error signal derived from an internally generated compensation signal corresponding to an expected voltage loss between the source and the load.

Abstract: A power supply having a plurality of bi-directional switches coupled in parallel between an input and an output regulates the output voltage by altering the number of conducting bi-directional switches in response to power demands at the output.

Abstract: A digitally controlled, transformer-coupled switching power supply for conversion of power between a source and a load includes a power switch that, when coupled to the source and cycled ON and OFF by a controller, supplies a pulse of power to the load. Control circuitry for the power converter includes a pulse generator for generating switch activation pulses to cycle the power switch, each switch activation pulse produced by the pulse generator defining a new switching cycle. A pulse rate controller is coupled to the pulse generator for regulating an output voltage at the load by selectively allowing, on a pulse by pulse basis, switch activation pulses to cycle the power switch.

Abstract: Control circuitry for controlling the delivery of power from a source voltage to a load in a transformer coupled power converter. The control circuitry includes a power switch having an input coupled to the source, an output, and an activation gate, the power switch, when cycled ON and OFF, defining a pulses of power at the load. A pulse generator is coupled to the power switch, the pulse generator producing a train of constant frequency, constant ON time switching pulses for driving the power switch activation gate. A pulse rate controller responsive to an error signal is coupled between the pulse generator and the power switch, the pulse rate controller regulating an output voltage at the load by controlling the rate of switching pulses delivered to the power switch activation gate over time. The error signal is derived by estimating the output voltage at each switching cycle from the primary side current, while compensating for the expected loss between the source and the load for each power switch cycle.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an isolated dual power supply having an internal feedback loop. The dual power supply comprises a modulated switched power converter generating an internal regulated voltage output coupled to an alternating current tank. The alternating current tank has a first and a second power switch that are alternately switched ON at a 50% duty cycle. When the first switch is ON, the internal regulated voltage output is coupled to a storage capacitor and a primary winding of a transformer in the alternating current tank wherein the storage capacitor is charged and a current flows in a first direction through the primary winding. Alternatively, when the second switch is ON, the charged storage capacitor discharges and a current flows in a second direction opposite to the first direction through the primary winding. In this fashion, the transformer becomes a linear device, allowing the use of internal feedback to control the external output of the transformer.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an isolated dual power supply having an internal feedback loop. The dual power supply comprises power converter responsive to an error signal for generating a DC internal regulated output voltage coupled to a DC/AC switching power converter having a transformer. The primary winding of the transformer is coupled to the DC internal output voltage and to one or more power switches. A control circuit drives the one or more power switches such that an alternating current having substantially a constant duty cycle flows through the primary winding. An error amplifier produces a control signal proportional to the difference of an output voltage at a load coupled to the secondary winding and a reference voltage equal to the maximum expected voltage losses at the load. The error signal is formed from a combination of the control signal and a signal proportional to the internal voltage output.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an isolated dual power supply having an internal feedback loop. The dual power supply comprises a modulated switched power converter generating an internal regulated voltage output coupled to an alternating current tank. The alternating current tank has a first and a second power switch that are alternately switched ON at a 50% duty cycle. When the first switch is ON, the internal regulated voltage output is coupled to a storage capacitor and a primary winding of a transformer in the alternating current tank wherein the storage capacitor is charged and a current flows in a first direction through the primary winding. Alternatively, when the second switch is ON, the charged storage capacitor discharges and a current flows in a second direction opposite to the first direction through the primary winding. In this fashion, the transformer becomes a linear device, allowing the use of internal feedback to control the external output of the transformer.

Abstract: A switching power converter wherein a controller determines whether cycles of a drive signal to a power switch define pulses of power at a load.

Abstract: A power supply package for pulse-width modulated control of a power converter includes a first terminal for coupling to a primary winding of a transformer; a second terminal for coupling to an activation gate of an external power switch; a third terminal for coupling to a ground reference; and a fourth terminal for coupling to a combined source of operating power and feedback signal, the feedback signal based on an output load voltage across a secondary winding of the transformer. The package includes an internal power switch having an input coupled to the first terminal, an output coupled to the third terminal, and an activation gate. The package further includes control circuitry responsive to the feedback signal, the control circuitry having a first output coupled to the internal switch activation gate and a second output coupled to the second terminal, the control circuitry configured to drive the internal and external power switches.

Abstract: A power converter control system is provided which combines a pulse train regulation control technique with a pulse train optimization technique, to control the output level of the power converter, while maintaining optimal performance for other power converter parameters. The power converter control system describe herein provides versatility not previously available in power converter control systems by providing features such as quasi-resonant mode control, discontinuous mode control, and/or power factor correction. A pulse optimizer adjusts or customizes, for example, the ON time, duty cycle or frequency of pulse train pulses output by a pulse generator. The adjusted pulses are gated by a pulse rate controller to selectively actuate a power switch, thereby regulating the output power level and optimize the overall performance of the power converter.

Abstract: A switching power converter for conversion of power between a source and a load includes a power switch, a free running oscillator for producing a drive signal to cycle the power switch ON and OFF, wherein the power switch, when coupled to the source and cycled ON and OFF, defines a pulse of power at the load, and a controller which regulates an output voltage at the load by varying the number of pulses of power occurring at the load over time.