Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a power converter of a device are described. A controller of the power converter may determine a battery voltage of a battery of the device and determine whether the battery voltage meets a threshold voltage. Responsive to determining that the battery voltage meets the threshold voltage, the controller may cause the power converter to operate in a pass-through mode where the power converter provides a load voltage to a load that is equal to the battery voltage. Alternatively, responsive to determining that that battery voltage does not meet the threshold voltage, the controller may cause the power converter to operate in a switching mode where the power converter provides the load voltage that is equal to the threshold voltage. By using the pass-through mode when the battery voltage meets the threshold voltage, a battery life of the device may be conserved.

Abstract: Apparatuses, devices, and methods for operating a battery charger are described. A semiconductor device can include a controller that can monitor at least one battery parameter of a battery connected to a secondary stage of a two-stage battery charger. The controller can determine a threshold voltage based on the at least one battery parameter. The controller can regulate a midpoint voltage at the threshold voltage. The midpoint voltage can be provided by a primary stage of the two-stage battery charger to the secondary stage of the two-stage battery charger. The controller can operate the secondary stage in a non-switching mode to directly provide the midpoint voltage regulated at the threshold voltage to the battery.

Abstract: Systems and methods for method for operating a switching converter are described. A controller can sense a load current associated with an output voltage of a power stage. The controller can, based on the sensed load current, define a gate voltage at one of a default voltage level and a modified voltage level. The gate voltage can be for driving the power stage.

Abstract: Apparatuses, devices, and methods for operating a voltage converter are described. A semiconductor device can include a first switching circuit comprising four switches and a flying capacitor. The semiconductor device can further include a second switching circuit comprising two switches. The semiconductor device can further include an inductor connected between a first phase node of the first switching circuit to a second phase node of the second switching converter. The first switching circuit and the second switching circuit can be combined to implement a buck-boost voltage converter that performs voltage conversion in a first direction from the first phase node to the second phase node and in a second direction from the second phase node to the first phase node.

Abstract: Apparatuses, devices, and methods for operating a voltage converter are described. A semiconductor device can include a switching circuit and a controller. The switching circuit can include a plurality of switching elements. The controller can determine an operation mode of the switching circuit. In response to the operation mode indicating a two-level operation mode, the controller can program the switching circuit to operate as a two-level voltage converter. In response to the operation mode indicating a three-level operation mode, the controller can program the switching circuit to operate as a three-level converter.

Abstract: A battery charger is described that can support multiple battery applications with a single USB type-C port. An architecture can include a single charger transferring power to multiple battery stacks. The architecture can include a plurality of battery stacks each respectively housed in a distinct electronic device. The architecture is expandable from one charger with one USB type-C port coupled to a plurality of battery stacks, to a plurality of chargers with respective USB type-C ports all coupled to a plurality of battery stacks respectively housed in distinct electronic devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a battery charger are described. A controller can operate a battery charger under a charging mode to use an adapter power to support a system power of the battery charger. The controller can detect the adapter power reaches a maximum, transition the battery charger into a discharging mode to decrease a battery charging current in the battery charger to support the system power and decrease a system voltage at the output of the battery charger. The controller can detect the system voltage is less than a battery voltage of the battery by an offset and transition the battery charger from the discharging mode to a pass-through mode that continues to discharge the battery, where the PTM can cause the battery charger to discharge the battery without performing switching.

Abstract: A computing device and a computing system are provided. The computing device comprises: a plurality of computing modules; and serial communication paths between/among the plurality of computing modules. Each computing module comprises: an internal circuit for performing an operation on a signal received from a corresponding serial communication path; and an extension circuit for receiving a signal from the internal circuit as an input signal. The extension circuit comprises: a delay module for delaying the input signal, the delay module comprising one or more delay units; one or more extension select modules for selectively performing a level extension on the input signal through the signal delayed by corresponding one or more delay units to generate one or more respective level-extended signals; and an output module for outputting one or more of the one or more level-extended signals.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and non-transitory computer-readable medium of regulating current within a battery charging circuit. The apparatus including a first current sense resistor configured to sense a first current value at a first port, a second current sensor resistor configured to sense a battery discharge current value output from a battery, and a processor configured to, in response to a short circuit or malfunction at the first current sense resistor, use the battery discharge current value to determine an output current limit and to limit the current at the first port according to the output current limit.

Abstract: Battery charger systems and apparatuses are described. In an example, an apparatus may include a first controller, a first port connected to the first controller, a first charger module connected to the first controller, a second controller, a second port connected to the second controller, and a second charger module connected to the second controller. The first controller may be configured to form a first connection path between the first charger module and the second port via the second controller. The first controller may be further configured to form a second connection path between the second charger module and the first port via the first controller.

Abstract: A method may include receiving power from a power adapter having a power adapter current limit, providing power from the power adapter to a load having a load current at a first load current level that is less than or equal to the power adapter current limit; generating a first periodic current through an inductor in a forward direction; detecting the load having the load current at a second load current level that may be greater than the adapter power current limit; decreasing the forward current level of the first periodic current; and generating a second periodic current through the inductor in a reverse direction to provide power from the battery module to the load. The second periodic current may be initiated in the reverse direction when the first periodic current in the forward direction reaches the zero current level.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for predicting a travelable lane are described. One example method includes obtaining forward lane line information backward lane line information of a host vehicle. A first lane model is constructed based on the forward lane line information of the host vehicle. A second lane model is constructed based on the backward lane line information of the host vehicle. A first travelable lane is predicted based on the first lane model and the second lane model.

Abstract: A method of controlling a multilevel power converter may include measuring an input voltage at a converter input, determining a half input voltage based on the input voltage; measuring a flying capacitor voltage across the flying capacitor; determining an error voltage based on a difference between the flying capacitor voltage and the half input voltage; generating an inductor current window having an inductor peak current and a valley inductor current; modulating the inductor peak current into an upper inductor peak current and a lower inductor peak current based on the error voltage; and operating the multilevel power converter to produce an output current through an inductor to a converter output, the output current being within the inductor current window and based on a sequence of pulse width modulation states.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a battery charger are described. A controller of a battery charger can measure an input voltage of power being provided to an input port of a battery charger. The controller can, in response to the input voltage being less than a reference voltage, operate an input voltage control loop to regulate a voltage level of the input voltage to a predetermined voltage level. The voltage difference, between the plug voltage of a power source and the receptacle voltage of a power sink, can be regulated below an arcing voltage. The controller can, in response to a lapse of a predetermined amount of time, discharging the input voltage.

Abstract: Systems and methods for bi-directional power flow control using a single battery charger are described. According to one example, a semiconductor device is generally described. The semiconductor device may include a charger configured to supply power from a charging interface to a battery in a forward mode, and supply power from the battery to a load in a reverse mode. The semiconductor device may include a first isolation switch disposed between the charging interface and the charger, a second isolation switch disposed between the charger and the load, and a controller configured to enable the first isolation switch and operate the charger in the forward mode, and enable the second isolation switch and operate the charger in the reverse mode.

Abstract: A method of making photolithography mask plate is provided. The method includes: providing a carbon nanotube layer on a substrate; depositing a chrome layer on the carbon nanotube layer, wherein the chrome layer includes a first patterned chrome layer and a second patterned chrome layer, the first patterned chrome layer is located on the carbon nanotube layer, and the second patterned chrome layer is deposited on the substrate corresponding to holes of the carbon nanotube layer; transferring the carbon nanotube layer with the first patterned chrome layer thereon from the substrate to a base, and the carbon nanotube layer being in contact with the base; and depositing a cover layer on the first patterned chrome layer.

Abstract: A method of making photolithography mask plate is provided. The method includes: providing a carbon nanotube composite structure, wherein the carbon nanotube composite structure comprises a carbon nanotube layer and a chrome layer coated on the carbon nanotube layer; locating the carbon nanotube composite structure on a substrate to expose partial surfaces of the substrate; and depositing a cover layer on the carbon nanotube composite structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptive voltage regulation are described. According to an example, a method for operating a charger may include setting, by a charger controller of the charger, a maximum regulation voltage threshold and a minimum regulation voltage threshold, the minimum regulation voltage threshold being a predetermined percentage of the maximum regulation voltage threshold, the predetermined percentage ranging from between about 90% and about 98%; setting, by the charger controller, a charger regulation voltage to the maximum regulation voltage threshold; determining, by a battery monitor, a state of charge of a battery module; and operating the charger at the maximum regulation voltage threshold until the battery module is maximally charged.

Abstract: A test circuit (300, 300?, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800), including: a test sequence providing module (301), configured to provide a test sequence (PRBS) to a to-be-tested sequential device (303); a clock driving module (307, 407, 507, 607, 707, 807), configured to provide a clock signal (759) to the to-be-tested sequential device (303), which includes a first clock driving circuit (610, 710), wherein the first clock driving circuit (610, 710) includes: a plurality of first clock paths (421, 423) which respectively provide corresponding clock signals (759); and a logic unit (427, 715) which generates, based on at least part of the clock signals (759) provided by the plurality of first clock paths (421, 423), a first clock signal with an adjusted pulse width, for the to-be-tested sequential device (303); and a verification module (305, 405, 805), configured to verify an output of the to-be-tested sequential device (303).

Abstract: Systems and methods for using a battery voltage loop under high-current conditions are described. A method for operating a charger, the method includes setting, by a charger controller, a battery voltage threshold; setting, by the charger controller, an on-the-go (OTG) voltage threshold; computing, by a first comparator, a battery voltage error based on a difference between a battery voltage and the battery voltage threshold; computing, by a second comparator, an OTG voltage error based on a difference between an OTG voltage and the OTG voltage threshold; and selecting, by a loop selector, a battery voltage loop when the battery voltage error is smaller than the OTG voltage error.