Abstract: An apparatus and computer readable storage medium are disclosed for supplying power to a load such as a plurality of light emitting diodes. A representative apparatus comprises a primary module, a first secondary module couplable to a first load, and a second secondary module couplable to a second load. The primary module comprises a transformer having a transformer primary. The first secondary module comprises a first transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, and the second secondary module comprises a second transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, with the second secondary module couplable through the first or second load to the first secondary module.

Abstract: An apparatus and computer readable storage medium are disclosed for supplying power to a load such as a plurality of light emitting diodes. A representative apparatus comprises a primary module, a first secondary module couplable to a first load, and a second secondary module couplable to a second load. The primary module comprises a transformer having a transformer primary. The first secondary module comprises a first transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, and the second secondary module comprises a second transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, with the second secondary module couplable through the first or second load to the first secondary module.

Abstract: An apparatus and computer readable storage medium are disclosed for supplying power to a load such as a plurality of light emitting diodes. A representative apparatus comprises a primary module, a first secondary module couplable to a first load, and a second secondary module couplable to a second load. The primary module comprises a transformer having a transformer primary. The first secondary module comprises a first transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, and the second secondary module comprises a second transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, with the second secondary module couplable through the first or second load to the first secondary module.

Abstract: An apparatus and computer readable storage medium are disclosed for supplying power to a load such as a plurality of light emitting diodes. A representative apparatus comprises a primary module, a first secondary module couplable to a first load, and a second secondary module couplable to a second load. The primary module comprises a transformer having a transformer primary. The first secondary module comprises a first transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, and the second secondary module comprises a second transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, with the second secondary module couplable through the first or second load to the first secondary module.

Abstract: An apparatus and computer readable storage medium are disclosed for supplying power to a load such as a plurality of light emitting diodes. A representative apparatus comprises a primary module, a first secondary module couplable to a first load, and a second secondary module couplable to a second load. The primary module comprises a transformer having a transformer primary. The first secondary module comprises a first transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, and the second secondary module comprises a second transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, with the second secondary module couplable through the first or second load to the first secondary module.

Abstract: An apparatus and computer readable storage medium are disclosed for supplying power to a load such as a plurality of light emitting diodes. A representative apparatus comprises a primary module, a first secondary module couplable to a first load, and a second secondary module couplable to a second load. The primary module comprises a transformer having a transformer primary. The first secondary module comprises a first transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, and the second secondary module comprises a second transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, with the second secondary module couplable through the first or second load to the first secondary module.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are disclosed for supplying power to a load such as a plurality of light emitting diodes. A representative apparatus comprises a primary module, a first secondary module couplable to a first load, and a second secondary module couplable to a second load. The primary module comprises a transformer having a transformer primary. The first secondary module comprises a first transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, and the second secondary module comprises a second transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, with the second secondary module couplable in series through the first or second load to the first secondary module.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are disclosed for supplying power to a load such as a plurality of light emitting diodes. An exemplary apparatus comprises a primary module, a first secondary module couplable to a first load, and a second secondary module couplable to a second load. The primary module comprises a transformer having a transformer primary. The first secondary module comprises a first transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, and the second secondary module comprises a second transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, with the second secondary module couplable in series through the first or second load to the first secondary module. When energized by a power source, the first secondary module has a first voltage polarity and is couplable in a series with the first load configured to have an opposing, second voltage polarity, which substantially offset each other to provide a comparatively low resultant voltage level.

Abstract: An opto-coupler interface is provided. The opto-coupler interface includes a current mirror and a resistor. The opto-coupler interface is arranged such that a relatively fixed voltage is provided across the photodetector. At one end of the photodetector, the voltage is relatively fixed because the photodetector is coupled to the input of a current mirror. Because the voltage across the opto-coupler is relative fixed, the opto-coupler interface is a current interface rather than a voltage interface. Current from the photodetector is mirrored by the current mirror to provide an output mirror current. The output mirror current is provided to a resistor such that the resistor provides a voltage that is based on the output mirror current.

Abstract: A power converter comprises at least one output inductor having an input and output terminal. At least one first switch circuit is connected to the input terminal of the output inductor to alternately connect the input terminal to at least one voltage source and to ground. A ripple control circuit is coupled to the output terminal and is adapted to clamp output current of the output inductor to an allowable maximum level in response to an output current overshoot condition produced by a step down in load coupled to the output terminal. The ripple control circuit further comprises an inductor conducting the output current to ground upon the output current overshoot condition.

Abstract: An offset peak current mode control circuit is provided for use with a multiple-phase DC-to-DC voltage converter including a plurality of converter modules connected to a common load and having a common input voltage source, a current sensor coupled to a sensing resistor disposed in series between the common input voltage source and the load to derive a current sense signal corresponding to current passing through the sensing resistor, and a voltage error sensor coupled to the load to derive a voltage error signal corresponding to difference between an output voltage of the voltage converter and a reference voltage. When the DC-to-DC voltage converter is operated with a relatively low input voltage or a relatively high duty cycle resulting in an overlap of the current sense signal, the offset peak current mode control circuit utilizes information from the clean (i.e.

Abstract: A multiple-phase power converter comprises a first inductor and a second inductor having respective input terminals and respective output terminals. The output terminals are connected together to provide a common output terminal of the multiple-phase power converter. At least a first switch circuit is connected to the input terminal of the first inductor and a second switch circuit is connected to the input terminal of the second inductor. At least one voltage source is coupled to the first and second switch circuits. A controller is adapted to control operations of the first and second switch circuits to alternately connect the input terminals of the respective inductors to the respective voltage source and ground. The controller includes an error amplifier providing a signal corresponding to a difference between respective voltage waveforms across the first and second inductors. The error amplifier includes a feedback loop providing filtering of at least one of the voltage waveforms.

Abstract: An offset peak current mode control circuit is provided for use with a multiple-phase DC-to-DC voltage converter including a plurality of converter modules connected to a common load and having a common input voltage source, a current sensor coupled to a sensing resistor disposed in series between the common input voltage source and the load to derive a current sense signal corresponding to current passing through the sensing resistor, and a voltage error sensor coupled to the load to derive a voltage error signal corresponding to difference between an output voltage of the voltage converter and a reference voltage. When the DC-to-DC voltage converter is operated with a relatively low input voltage or a relatively high duty cycle resulting in an overlap of the current sense signal, the offset peak current mode control circuit utilizes information from the clean (i.e.

Abstract: A power module for a power system adapted to employ a star link topography. The power module includes a star section having an internal clock connection and a star link connection. The power system includes a plurality of power modules that each have a substantially similar star section. The star section utilizes an oscillating signal to generate an internal clock signal. The star section utilizes a star link signal to determine the phase of the oscillating signal. Either the addition of a power module to a power system or the removal of a power module from a power system including at least three power modules will result in the adjustment of the spread of the phases of each of the power modules to an amount about equal to 360 degrees divided by the number of power modules in the power system.

Abstract: A current sense circuit for a DC-to-DC power converter accurately senses the output inductor current without adversely affecting efficiency of the power converter. The current sense circuit produces a current sense signal having amplitude sufficiently above the noise floor so that accurate load control of the power converter is achieved. Specifically, the DC-to-DC power converter includes at least one power switch connected to an input voltage source. At least one phase sensing switch is connected to the input voltage source in parallel with the at least one power switch. A pulse width modulation circuit provides common control pulses for the at least one power switch and the at least one phase sensing switch responsive to a current sense signal. An output inductor is connected to the at least one power switch and to a load.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for accurately sensing the output current delivered to a load by a buck-type DC-to-DC switched mode power converter corrects for thermal variation of the output inductor. A first current sense signal provides a fast indication of output current of the DC-to-DC converter that is susceptible to thermal variation of the output inductor of the converter, and a second current sense signal provides a slow but accurate indication of output current that is not affected by said thermal variation. The first current sense signal is corrected using the second current sense signal to yield accurate output current sensing information. In an embodiment of the invention, an output current sensing apparatus is provided for use in a multi-phase DC-to-DC voltage converter comprising a plurality of converter modules connected to a common load and having a common input voltage source.

Abstract: A switched mode DC-DC power converter of the flyback type includes a primary circuit and a secondary circuit capacitively coupled to one another. In a first aspect the primary includes circuitry for achieving a 2:1 current transfer gain over the input, in a second aspect the secondary includes circuitry for achieving a 2:1 current transfer gain over an input. Combined, a 4:1 current transfer gain may be realized.

Abstract: A DC--DC power converter circuit for converting relatively high input voltages to relatively low output voltages employs a buck-type circuit topology with a multiple winding inductor. An optional winding is provided to the inductor to clamp a voltage spike appearing on the drain of one of the switching devices. Optionally, two inductor windings may be capacitively coupled for better efficiency.

Abstract: A forward switched mode converter power supply of a resettable type, in which leakage inductance in the input circuit, the parallel inductance of the transformer and the parasitic capacitance of the switching means provides a resonant circuit for recirculating commutation energy, so that the voltage across the switching means is reduced essentially to zero at the beginning of each switching cycle to prevent loss of the commutation energy.

Abstract: A power supply system for segmented loads, and having phantom redundancy, is comprised of multiple sets of power supplies, with each set having an output terminal for furnishing load current at a certain voltage. A respective load is connected to the output terminal of each set, and each set also has a current-sharing circuit by which the load currents furnished from the supplies within a set are equalized. Further, all of the supplies from all the loads combined, minus any one supply, have a total current-furnishing capacity which meets the current requirements of all of the loads, but no set of supplies for any one load includes an extra or redundant supply. Also, switches are provided which selectively interconnect, and disconnect, the respecitve current-sharing circuits of the power supply sets such that the supplies of all connected sets furnish equalized load currents.