Abstract: One example discloses a switched mode power supply device, comprising: an energy storage device; a controller configured to discharge the energy storage device; a voltage drop device having a first pin coupled to the energy storage device, a second pin coupled to the controller, and a third pin coupled to receive a first power-down signal; wherein the first power-down signal indicates that the energy storage device is to be discharged; wherein the voltage drop device is configured to input a first voltage from the energy storage device on the first pin and output a second voltage to the controller on the second pin; and wherein the second voltage is lower than the first voltage.

Abstract: Adaptive enabling and disabling is described for valley switching in a power factor correction boost converter. In one example, a boost converter control system includes an amplitude detector to receive an amplitude signal from a boost converter that is related to ringing of the boost converter output. The amplitude detector determines the ringing amplitude. A valley switching controller compares the ringing amplitude to a first high amplitude threshold when valley switching is enabled and generates a valley switching disable signal if the ringing amplitude is below the first high amplitude threshold. A cycle controller coupled to the boost converter generates a drive signal to control switching of the boost converter and coupled to the valley switching controller receives the valley switching disable signal to generate the drive signal without valley switching in response to the valley switching disable signal.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a power converter including a resonant converter with an controller, the controller configured to control the converter to operate in a normal mode when output power is above a burst mode threshold level, start a timer when the output power falls below the burst mode threshold level, continue operating in the normal mode until the timer reaches a predetermined time and operate in burst mode when the timer reaches the predetermined time.

Abstract: One example discloses a switched mode power supply device, comprising: an energy storage device; a controller configured to discharge the energy storage device; a voltage drop device having a first pin coupled to the energy storage device, a second pin coupled to the controller, and a third pin coupled to receive a first power-down signal; wherein the first power-down signal indicates that the energy storage device is to be discharged; wherein the voltage drop device is configured to input a first voltage from the energy storage device on the first pin and output a second voltage to the controller on the second pin; and wherein the second voltage is lower than the first voltage.

Abstract: One example discloses a power controller for a power device, wherein the power device includes a normal state, the power controller having: an input configured to receive fault detection signals attributable to the power device; an output configured to be coupled to the power device; and wherein the power controller is configured to send a state change signal over the output to change the normal state of the power device to a first fault state for a first time period in response to a first fault detection signal; and wherein the power controller is configured to send a state change signal over the output to change the first fault state of the power device to a second fault state for a second time period in response to a second fault detection signal.

Abstract: A PWM power supply controllers are typically applied for a single output power supply. For specific applications, like LCD TV's, dual outputs are required. As a preference to only regulate one output, the performance of the system suffers when the outputs are unequally loaded. The disclosure describes a way to balance the outputs, such that when the output are unequally loaded, additional outputs are still accurately regulated.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a power converter including a resonant converter with an controller, the controller configured to control the converter to operate in a normal mode when output power is above a burst mode threshold level, start a timer when the output power falls below the burst mode threshold level, continue operating in the normal mode until the timer reaches a predetermined time and operate in burst mode when the timer reaches the predetermined time.

Abstract: A device for measuring voltage and temperature in a power supply is disclosed. The device includes a pin to be coupled to a temperature measuring circuit and power inputs of the power supply. The device is configured to measure a voltage at the power inputs and when the voltage changes are within a predetermined threshold for a predetermined time period, the device is configured to measure the temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to, in respect of an electronic device comprising a battery for powering the electronic device and a charger configured to receive a mains power supply and, when connected to the electronic device, provide a power output to charge the battery, based on a determination of a failure of a request to increase the power output of the charger to the battery of the electronic device, the failure comprising where at least a requested increase of the power output of the charger by a first predetermined amount fails to yield an increase in the power output of the charger equal to the first predetermined amount within a threshold amount, provide an indication to the electronic device that the charger is disconnected from the mains power supply for causing the electronic device to indicate that the charger is disconnected from the mains power supply to a user of the electronic device.

Abstract: A device for measuring voltage and temperature in a power supply is disclosed. The device includes a pin to be coupled to a temperature measuring circuit and power inputs of the power supply. The device is configured to measure a voltage at the power inputs and when the voltage changes are within a predetermined threshold for a predetermined time period, the device is configured to measure the temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control circuit (250) for a power supply unit (200) that has an input (207, 209) for receiving a mains supply (208), the control circuit (250) configured to: sample the input (207, 209) in order to obtain a first sample value; sample the input (207, 209) in order to obtain a second sample value subsequent to obtaining the first sample value; compare the first and second sample values to provide an outcome; set a delay interval in accordance with the outcome of the comparison of the first and second sample values; and sample the input (207, 209) in order to obtain a third sample value after the delay interval has elapsed.

Abstract: One example discloses a power controller for a power device, wherein the power device includes a normal state, the power controller having: an input configured to receive fault detection signals attributable to the power device; an output configured to be coupled to the power device; and wherein the power controller is configured to send a state change signal over the output to change the normal state of the power device to a first fault state for a first time period in response to a first fault detection signal; and wherein the power controller is configured to send a state change signal over the output to change the first fault state of the power device to a second fault state for a second time period in response to a second fault detection signal.

Abstract: A PWM power supply controllers are typically applied for a single output power supply. For specific applications, like LCD TV's, dual outputs are required. As a preference to only regulate one output, the performance of the system suffers when the outputs are unequally loaded. The disclosure describes a way to balance the outputs, such that when the output are unequally loaded, additional outputs are still accurately regulated.

Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter is disclosed. The SMPS driver includes a highside switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a gate. The first terminal is coupled to an input voltage terminal. The SMPS driver further includes a lowside switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a gate. The first terminal of the lowside switch is coupled to the second terminal of the highside switch and the second terminal of the lowside switch is coupled to ground. A diode is coupled to the gate of the lowside switch on one side and to a capacitor on the other side. An integrated circuit (IC) is included to generate control signals for switching the highside switch and the lowside switch. The IC includes a highside supply pin, a highside gate control pin, a half bridge pin, a lowside gate control pin and a ground pin. The gate of the lowside switch is coupled to the lowside gate control pin, the highside supply pin is coupled to the diode and the capacitor is coupled to the half bridge pin.

Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter is disclosed. The SMPS driver includes a highside switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a gate. The first terminal is coupled to an input voltage terminal. The SMPS driver further includes a lowside switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a gate. The first terminal of the lowside switch is coupled to the second terminal of the highside switch and the second terminal of the lowside switch is coupled to ground. A diode is coupled to the gate of the lowside switch on one side and to a capacitor on the other side. An integrated circuit (IC) is included to generate control signals for switching the highside switch and the lowside switch. The IC includes a highside supply pin, a highside gate control pin, a half bridge pin, a lowside gate control pin and a ground pin. The gate of the lowside switch is coupled to the lowside gate control pin, the highside supply pin is coupled to the diode and the capacitor is coupled to the half bridge pin.

Abstract: Embodiments of a controller integrated circuit (IC) device for a switched mode power converter and a method of operating a controller IC device of a switched mode power converter are described. In one embodiment, a controller IC device for a switched mode power converter an input/output unit connected to an input/output node of the controller IC device and a controller unit. The input/output unit is configured to receive an input current from the input/output node and output an output voltage through the input/output node in response to an input voltage received at the input/output unit. The controller unit is configured to control voltage regulation of the switched mode power converter in response to the input current received from the input/output unit and generate the input voltage for the input/output unit. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: There is disclosed a controller for a DC-DC converter comprising a series arrangement of a high-side switch and low-side switch with a half-bridge node therebetween, the controller comprising a high-side part for driving the high-side switch and configured to be powered, when the low-side switch is open, by a rechargeable power supply connected between the half-bridge node and a power supply node, the high-side part comprising a level shifter, driver, latch part comprising a latch having set and reset inputs and configured to latch the driver to either an on-state or an off-state, and a further circuit, wherein the latch part is configured and adapted to prevent the further circuit from drawing current from the power supply unless at least one of the set input is high and the driver is in the on-state. A DC-DC converter having such a controller is also disclosed, as are methods of operating a converter.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to, in respect of an electronic device comprising a battery for powering the electronic device and a charger configured to receive a mains power supply and, when connected to the electronic device, provide a power output to charge the battery, based on a determination of a failure of a request to increase the power output of the charger to the battery of the electronic device, the failure comprising where at least a requested increase of the power output of the charger by a first predetermined amount fails to yield an increase in the power output of the charger equal to the first predetermined amount within a threshold amount, provide an indication to the electronic device that the charger is disconnected from the mains power supply for causing the electronic device to indicate that the charger is disconnected from the mains power supply to a user of the electronic device.

Abstract: A power factor controller is disclosed, in which error feedback is provided my means of a parallel combination of at least two error feedback channels. By providing at least two error feedback channels, the stability associated with, for instance, a continuously integrated feedback loop with relatively long time constant, may be combined with a fast transient response associated with, for instance, a sample-and-hold error feedback. A method of operating such a power factor controller is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a controller for a DC-DC converter comprising a series arrangement of a high-side switch and low-side switch with a half-bridge node therebetween, the controller comprising a high-side part for driving the high-side switch and configured to be powered, when the low-side switch is open, by a rechargeable power supply connected between the half-bridge node and a power supply node, the high-side part comprising a level shifter, driver, latch part comprising a latch having set and reset inputs and configured to latch the driver to either an on-state or an off-state, and a further circuit, wherein the latch part is configured and adapted to prevent the further circuit from drawing current from the power supply unless at least one of the set input is high and the driver is in the on-state. A DC-DC converter having such a controller is also disclosed, as are methods of operating a converter.