Abstract: An output stage configuration with four configurable input/output terminals and four switches is specified. Each switch has a first main terminal, a second main terminal and a control terminal, which receives a control signal for controlling the open or closed state of the switch. The output stage is included in a circuit together with a first control apparatus and a second control apparatus. When a control stage of the first control apparatus is connected to the output stage, a control stage of the second control apparatus is electrically disconnected from the output stage, and the output stage operates in a first operating state. When the control stage of the second control apparatus is connected to the output stage, the control stage of the first control apparatus is electrically disconnected from the output stage, the output stage then operating in a second operating state.

Abstract: A driver device is for switching on and off a transistor for supplying a load by driving a control electrode of the transistor. The driver device includes a first terminal connected to the control electrode of the transistor, a second terminal connected between the transistor and the load, and a current-discharge path coupled to the first terminal. The current-discharge path includes a diode and is activated when the transistor is switched off. The diode becomes non-conductive to interrupt the current-discharge path when the voltage on the second terminal reaches a threshold value.

Abstract: A power management circuit including, between a first terminal intended to be connected to an electric power generation source and a second terminal intended to be connected to a load to be powered, a linear regulator and a circuit capable of activating the linear regulator when the power supplied by said source is greater than a first threshold.

Abstract: A multiphase buck converter (10) is disclosed, comprising: —a first buck converter branch (SD1, L1) comprising a first core section (COR1), a first power section (PWR1) having a first output node (LX1), a first coil (11) having a first end connected to the first output node (LX1), the first power section (PWR1) being adapted to be controlled by the first core section (COR1) for providing to the coil (L1) a coil current (I1), the first core section (COR1) and the first power section (PWR1) being integrated in a chip (IC); —a second buck converter branch (SD2, L2) comprising a second core section (COR2), a second power section (PWR2) having a second output node (LX2), a second coil (L2) having a first end connected to the second output node (LX2), the second power section (PWR2) being adapted to be controlled by the second core section (COR2) for providing to the second coil (L2) a second coil current (I2), the second core section (COR2) and the second power section (PWR2) being integrated in said chip (IC); —a

Abstract: A circuit comprising: —an output stage according to the invention; —a first control apparatus comprising a control stage of the first control apparatus is connected to the output stage; and, —a second control apparatus comprising a control stage of the second control apparatus is connected to the output stage; wherein, —when the control stage of the first control apparatus is connected to the output stage, the control stage of the second control apparatus is electrically disconnected from the output stage, the output stage being configured to operate in a first operating state; and, —when the control stage of the second control apparatus is connected to the output stage, the control stage of the first control apparatus is electrically disconnected from the output stage, the output stage being configured to operate in a second operating state. The output stage and the use of the output stage are also claimed.

Abstract: A driver device is for switching on and off a transistor for supplying a load by driving a control electrode of the transistor. The driver device includes a first terminal connected to the control electrode of the transistor, a second terminal connected between the transistor and the load, and a current-discharge path coupled to the first terminal. The current-discharge path includes a diode and is activated when the transistor is switched off. The diode becomes non-conductive to interrupt the current-discharge path when the voltage on the second terminal reaches a threshold value.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter controls a supply current (IIN) provided to a rechargeable battery. The converter comprises an electrical input terminal that receives supply current (IIN). An electrical output terminal is connected to the battery through a coil with a resistor in series therebetween. A controllable selector connects the input terminal to the output terminal during a first time interval in order to supply the battery and to connect the input terminal to a ground potential during a successive second time interval. Also, a feedback module generates a control signal for the selector from a resistor feedback signal, indicative of a variation of a battery charge current (IOUT). The feedback module has an electronic block that receives the feedback signal. The electronic block processes the feedback signal to measure a variation of the supply current (IIN) and provide the control signal to adjust the duration of the first time interval.

Abstract: A Power Management Circuit for a portable electronic device comprising an internal battery to be charged either through a first interface or through an AC_DC conversion circuit. The circuit comprises a first buck/boost converter having a Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS) mode which can be controlled either in a buck or a boost mode, said first buck/boost controller being associated with a first external coil for the purpose of embodying a battery charging circuit through a first interface (USB). The circuit further comprises a second buck/boost converter which can also be controlled either in a buck or a boost mode. Bypass circuits are used for performing, under control of a control circuit, the bypass of either the voltage of the battery or the voltage generated by said buck/boost controllers when in boost mode to a second interface (SIM/MMC).

Abstract: A multiphase buck converter (10) is disclosed, comprising: —a first buck converter branch (SD1, L1) comprising a first core section (COR1), a first power section (PWR1) having a first output node (LX1), a first coil (11) having a first end connected to the first output node (LX1), the first power section (PWR1) being adapted to be controlled by the first core section (COR1) for providing to the coil (L1) a coil current (I1), the first core section (COR1) and the first power section (PWR1) being integrated in a chip (IC); -a second buck converter branch (SD2, L2) comprising a second core section (COR2), a second power section (PWR2) having a second output node (LX2), a second coil (L2) having a first end connected to the second output node (LX2), the second power section (PWR2) being adapted to be controlled by the second core section (COR2) for providing to the second coil (L2) a second coil current (I2), the second core section (COR2) and the second power section (PWR2) being integrated in said chip (IC); -a

Abstract: A power management circuit including, between a first terminal intended to be connected to an electric power generation source and a second terminal intended to be connected to a load to be powered, a linear regulator and a circuit capable of activating the linear regulator when the power supplied by said source is greater than a first threshold.

Abstract: A DC-DC voltage down-converter for an electronic device supplied by a battery and having a bus interface for the interconnection with another electronic device capable of supplying electric power is provided. The DC-DC voltage down-converter includes a terminal coupled to a voltage supply line of the bus interface and operable to receive a input current from the another electronic device. The DC-DC voltage down-converter further includes an electric energy storage element coupled between the battery and the terminal, the electric energy storage element being operable to storage/release electric energy and a drive circuit arranged to control the storage/release of the electric energy storage element, so as to cause an electric power generated by the input current supplied by the another electronic device through the voltage supply line to re-charge the battery.

Abstract: A Power Management Circuit for a portable electronic device comprising an internal battery to be charged either through a first interface or through an AC_DC conversion circuit. The circuit comprises a first buck/boost converter having a Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS) mode which can be controlled either in a buck or a boost mode, said first buck/boost controller being associated with a first external coil for the purpose of embodying a battery charging circuit through a first interface (USB). The circuit further comprises a second buck/boost converter which can also be controlled either in a buck or a boost mode. Bypass circuits are used for performing, under control of a control circuit, the bypass of either the voltage of the battery or the voltage generated by said buck/boost controllers when in boost mode to a second interface (SIM/MMC).

Abstract: An electronic power supply circuit for a load composed of at least two independent circuit branches connected in parallel to each other, where a first branch requires a different power supply voltage from the power supply voltage of a second branch. The circuit includes a step-up converter, a timer circuit connected to the step-up converter so that the converter generates, alternately, at least a first output voltage able to power the first circuit branch and a second output voltage able to power a second circuit branch, a regulation circuit able to regulate the overvoltages at the ends of an output capacitor of the converter during commutations between the different output voltages; and a commutation circuit able to activate the step-up converter, according to the timer signals coming from the timer circuit, when the output voltage at the ends of the output capacitor has reached the level needed to power the activated branch and regulate the current flowing thereto.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter controls a supply current (IIN) provided to a rechargeable battery. The converter comprises an electrical input terminal that receives supply current (IIN). An electrical output terminal is connected to the battery through a coil with a resistor in series therebetween. A controllable selector connects the input terminal to the output terminal during a first time interval in order to supply the battery and to connect the input terminal to a ground potential during a successive second time interval. Also, a feedback module generates a control signal for the selector from a resistor feedback signal, indicative of a variation of a battery charge current (IOUT). The feedback module has an electronic block that receives the feedback signal. The electronic block processes the feedback signal to measure a variation of the supply current (IIN) and provide the control signal to adjust the duration of the first time interval.

Abstract: A power management unit for a battery-operated electronic device having a bus interface for the interconnection with another electronic device, the power management unit including an electric energy storage element coupled between a battery of the battery-operated electronic device and a voltage supply line of the bus interface, the electric energy storage element being operable to charge/discharge electric energy; a drive circuitry arranged to control a charge/discharge of the electric energy storage element. The drive circuitry is operable to cause an electric power supplied by the other electronic device through the voltage supply line to re-charge the battery; or, in case the other electronic device does not supply electric power, cause the battery supply electric power to the other electronic device through the voltage supply line. The power management unit is particularly adapted for battery-operated, mobile USB OTG devices.

Abstract: An electronic power supply circuit for a load composed of at least two independent circuit branches connected in parallel to each other, where a first branch requires a different power supply voltage from the power supply voltage of a second branch. The circuit includes a step-up converter, a timer circuit connected to the step-up converter so that the converter generates, alternately, at least a first output voltage able to power the first circuit branch and a second output voltage able to power a second circuit branch, a regulation circuit able to regulate the overvoltages at the ends of an output capacitor of the converter during commutations between the different output voltages; and a commutation circuit able to activate the step-up converter, according to the timer signals coming from the timer circuit, when the output voltage at the ends of the output capacitor has reached the level needed to power the activated branch and regulate the current flowing thereto.

Abstract: A device includes at least two circuit branches, each of said at least two circuit branches comprising at least one LED diode. The device comprises a supply circuit that provides an electric supply of said at least two circuit branches and includes a variable resistance. The device comprises a controller coupled to said at least two circuit branches and suitable for varying said resistance in reply to a variation of the current that flows in one of said at least two circuit branches to vary the electric supply of said at least two circuit branches.

Abstract: A device includes at least two circuit branches, each of said at least two circuit branches comprising at least one LED diode. The device comprises a supply circuit that provides an electric supply of said at least two circuit branches and includes a variable resistance. The device comprises a controller coupled to said at least two circuit branches and suitable for varying said resistance in reply to a variation of the current that flows in one of said at least two circuit branches to vary the electric supply of said at least two circuit branches.

Abstract: A circuit is provided for controlling a battery-charger device with a closed-loop architecture. The circuit includes sensing means for sensing an operative quantity of the device, control means, and driving means. The control means alternately controls the sensing means to track the operative quantity during a tracking phase and to hold the operative quantity during a holding phase. The driving means provides a regulation signal that regulates the operative quantity based on a comparison between the operative quantity sensed by the sensing means and a reference value. The control means causes the driving means to hold the regulation signal during at least part of each of the holding phases. Also provided is a method of controlling a battery-charger device with a closed-loop architecture.

Abstract: A circuit apparatus with LED diodes includes a plurality of circuit branches in which each circuit branch comprises at least one LED diode. The apparatus comprises a device for the supply of said plurality of circuit branches and each circuit branch is connected singularly to the supply device. The supply device comprises a controller suitable for commanding the supply of each circuit branch of the plurality of circuit branches independently from the other circuit branches of the plurality.