Abstract: To start a switching power supply in an energy saving manner, the method and device according to the invention transmits the energy that is collected by the Y-capacitors through a diode to a capacitor that is located on the secondary side. Once the voltage in the capacitor reaches a first predefinable minimum value, the voltage is applied to an impulse generator as an input voltage and the generator starts the switching power supply. Once the voltage in an additional capacitor on the secondary side reaches a second predefinable minimum value, the voltage in the capacitor is also applied as an input voltage to a control unit, preferably, a microprocessor, that controls the impulse generator.

Abstract: A filter system and a method for filtering an analog signal includes an analog-to-digital converter with an input to which an analog filter input signal is supplied, and an output at which an impulse signal is available that includes a sequence of impulses, the number of the impulses per time unit depending on the magnitude of the filter input signal. The filter system is further provided with a counter system to which the impulse signal is supplied and that contains at least one counter. At least once during an interval of evaluation, a counter reading of the at least one counter is supplied to a digital-to-analog converter to produce an analog filter output signal, the amplitude of the filter output signal depending on the value of the counter reading. The filter system can be placed in a power factor controller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and to a drive circuit for driving a switch in a switch-mode converter that has input terminals for supplying an input voltage and output terminals for providing an output voltage. The method includes a step of providing a threshold signal, which is dependent on a quotient of a first signal (which is dependent on an input current to the switch-mode converter) and a second signal (which is dependent on the output voltage Uout). The method also includes a step of providing a ramp signal synchronous in time with a clock signal. The slope of the ramp signal is dependent on the output voltage. The method also includes a step of comparing the threshold signal with the ramp signal and driving the switch as a function of the comparison result.

Abstract: A switched mode power supply includes a primary coil, a switch element, a secondary circuit, and a control circuit. The switch element is wired in series with the primary coil, for applying a DC voltage to the primary coil according to a control signal. The secondary circuit is coupled to the primary coil with output terminals providing an output voltage. The control circuit prepares the control signal with a feedback signal dependent on the output voltage supplied to the control circuit. The control circuit includes a signal generation circuit to create the control signal and a protection circuit. The protection circuit has the effect that no control signal is delivered to the switch element, if the feedback signal reaches the value of a first reference signal after a first period after starting the control circuit.

Abstract: A method for operating a switch, which is connected in series with a primary coil of a transformer in a free-running switch mode power supply, includes the provision of a modulation signal and the provision of a drive signal for the switch. The drive signal includes a recurrent pulse sequence which has at least one first switching-on pulse with a first pulse duration and at least one second switching-on pulse with a second pulse duration, and with the pulse duration of at least one of the switching-on pulses being modulated by the modulation signal within a range of valves which is predetermined by the control signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and to a drive circuit for driving a switch in a switch-mode converter that has input terminals for supplying an input voltage and output terminals for providing an output voltage. The method includes a step of providing a threshold signal, which is dependent on a quotient of a first signal (which is dependent on an input current to the switch-mode converter) and a second signal (which is dependent on the output voltage Uout). The method also includes a step of providing a ramp signal synchronous in time with a clock signal. The slope of the ramp signal is dependent on the output voltage. The method also includes a step of comparing the threshold signal with the ramp signal and driving the switch as a function of the comparison result.

Abstract: A circuit configuration for supplying switchable voltage and/or current to an electrical consumer, includes a switching device, a voltage source for tapping high and low supply potentials, a driver circuit for the switching device, a lead between the voltage source and the switching device, a leakage inductance distributed to the lead, a measuring and evaluating circuit for detecting voltage deviations at input terminals of the driver circuit arising from current deviations in the leakage inductance of the lead and for evaluating the current deviations, and a feedback circuit for controlling feedback of the driver circuit to slow switching processes of the switching device whenever a value of a voltage change at the input terminals of the switching device exceeds a defined threshold value. A method for limiting a time deviation of a switching current of a consumer is also provided.

Abstract: A circuit configuration for pulsed application of a first supply voltage to a load includes a first switch, connected in series with the load, a first control connector, a control circuit for control of the first switch and having a first output terminal connected to the control connector of the first switch and first and second voltage supply terminals, a second switch connected between the load and the first voltage supply terminal of the control circuit and having a second control connector to which a control signal is supplied. The invention also includes a method for actuating the first and second switches and use of the inventive circuit configuration in a switched-mode power supply or a power factor controller.

Abstract: A circuit configuration for the switch-on/off control of a DMOS power transistor has at least one first gate electrode and, separate from the latter, a second gate electrode, which are capacitively coupled to one another by a capacitance distributed over the field-effect transistor and which can be driven via separate external gate electrode terminals. The circuit configuration has two individual driver circuits and a generating circuit in order to feed a first drive signal to the first gate electrode and a second drive signal to the second gate electrode, the second drive signal being delayed with respect to the first drive signal.

Abstract: A filter system and a method for filtering an analog signal includes an analog-to-digital converter with an input to which an analog filter input signal is supplied, and an output at which an impulse signal is available that includes a sequence of impulses, the number of the impulses per time unit depending on the magnitude of the filter input signal. The filter system is further provided with a counter system to which the impulse signal is supplied and that contains at least one counter. At least once during an interval of evaluation, a counter reading of the at least one counter is supplied to a digital-to-analog converter to produce an analog filter output signal, the amplitude of the filter output signal depending on the value of the counter reading. The filter system can be placed in a power factor controller.

Abstract: A switched mode power supply includes a primary coil, a switch element, a secondary circuit, and a control circuit. The switch element is wired in series with the primary coil, for applying a DC voltage to the primary coil according to a control signal. The secondary circuit is coupled to the primary coil with output terminals providing an output voltage. The control circuit prepares the control signal with a feedback signal dependent on the output voltage supplied to the control circuit. The control circuit includes a signal generation circuit to create the control signal and a protection circuit. The protection circuit has the effect that no control signal is delivered to the switch element, if the feedback signal reaches the value of a first reference signal after a first period after starting the control circuit.

Abstract: A half-bridge circuit has first and second semiconductor switches, which have load paths connected in series and which are driven in dependence on an input signal that is applied to an input terminal. At least one first drive circuit is provided, which is connected to the control connection of the first semiconductor switch and which makes a first drive signal available. The first drive signal is dependent on the input signal and on a current from or to the control connection of the second semiconductor switch.

Abstract: The integrable control circuit drives a semiconductor switch in a switched-mode power supply. The control circuit has a control unit for producing control pulses for the semiconductor switch based on a variable oscillator signal. A duration of the individual control pulses depends on a first control signal and on a second control signal. In addition, a measurement system produces the second control signal in dependence on a load current of the semiconductor switch. A power regulation system that receives the oscillator signal produces a third control signal and supplies the signal to the control unit. The third control signal is inversely proportional to the square root of the oscillator frequency. In this way, it is possible for the power output of the switched-mode power supply to remain constant independent of the oscillator frequency.

Abstract: To start a switching power supply in an energy saving manner, the method and device according to the invention transmits the energy that is collected by the Y-capacitors through a diode to a capacitor that is located on the secondary side. Once the voltage in the capacitor reaches a first predefinable minimum value, the voltage is applied to an impulse generator as an input voltage and the generator starts the switching power supply. Once the voltage in an additional capacitor on the secondary side reaches a second predefinable minimum value, the voltage in the capacitor is also applied as an input voltage to a control unit, preferably, a microprocessor, that controls the impulse generator.

Abstract: A circuit configuration for pulsed application of a first supply voltage to a load includes a first switch, connected in series with the load, a first control connector, a control circuit for control of the first switch and having a first output terminal connected to the control connector of the first switch and first and second voltage supply terminals, a second switch connected between the load and the first voltage supply terminal of the control circuit and having a second control connector to which a control signal is supplied. The invention also includes a method for actuating the first and second switches and use of the inventive circuit configuration in a switched-mode power supply or a power factor controller.

Abstract: The integrable control circuit drives a semiconductor switch in a switched-mode power supply. The control circuit has a control unit for producing control pulses for the semiconductor switch based on a variable oscillator signal. A duration of the individual control pulses depends on a first control signal and on a second control signal. In addition, a measurement system produces the second control signal in dependence on a load current of the semiconductor switch. A power regulation system that receives the oscillator signal produces a third control signal and supplies the signal to the control unit. The third control signal is inversely proportional to the square root of the oscillator frequency. In this way, it is possible for the power output of the switched-mode power supply to remain constant independent of the oscillator frequency.

Abstract: A half-bridge circuit includes: a vertically designed n-conducting first MOS transistor that is integrated in a first semiconductor body having a front side and a rear side; and a vertically designed p-conducting second MOS transistor that is integrated in a second semiconductor body having a front side and a rear side. The first and second transistors are connected in series between a first connection terminal and a second connection terminal. The half-bridge circuit also includes a drive circuit for driving the first and second transistors. The first and second transistors are applied to a common connection plate.

Abstract: A switched-mode power supply has a switch for a pulsed application of a variable supply voltage to a primary coil of a transformer. The power supply has a first current measuring configuration for providing a current measurement signal that is dependent on a current through the primary coil. An evaluation circuit, which is connected to the first current measuring configuration, evaluates a time characteristic of the current and/or of the current measurement signal and is provided for the purpose of determining a value of the supply voltage. A method for determining the value of the supply voltage in the switched-mode power supply by evaluating the time characteristic of the current through the primary coil is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pulse-width modulator for controlling a semiconductor circuit-breaker in a switched-mode power supply has a comparator circuit for generating control pulses determined by an oscillator signal. Whereby a duration of the individual control pulses depends on a first control signal and a second control signal. A measuring configuration is provided for generating a load-current signal that is dependent on a load current of the circuit-breaker. Furthermore, the modulator has a feedback branch for feeding back the load-current signal to the comparator circuit whereby the feedback branch has a low-pass configuration. The low-pass configuration has an input which receives the load-current signal and an output at which the second control signal can be picked off.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a current limiting circuit for controlled semiconductor power components, in particular to a current limiting circuit for power transistors which is independent of its voltage supply. A current limiting circuit for controlled semiconductor power components, in particular for power transistors, with a sense resistor, which is connected in series with the main current path of the controlled semiconductor power component, generating a voltage drop proportional to the current through the controlled semiconductor power component. A current mirror circuit device has a first current source device for generating a first current between a first and a second reference-ground potential. A second current source device generates a second current between the control potential of the control terminal of the semiconductor power component and a third reference-ground potential.