Abstract: A system and method includes a controller that alternately enables at least two different current paths for a current flowing through a dimmer when the dimmer is in an OFF mode. In at least one embodiment, enabling and disabling the current paths allows a power supply of the dimmer to continue functioning and provides the controller sufficient voltage to continue functioning. One of the current paths is a low impedance path and another current path is a path to a voltage supply node of a switching power converter controller. In at least one embodiment, the controller generates an impedance control signal to enable a low impedance current path for a current in the dimmer and alternately provide a current path to the voltage supply node for the controller.

Abstract: A power train may have a power train input and a power train output, wherein the power train is configured to transfer electrical energy from the power train input to a load coupled to the power train output in conformity with one or more power train control signals. A scheduler may be configured to receive events from the power train and, responsive to each particular event, schedule execution of a thread of control instructions responsive to the particular event, wherein the thread is selected from a plurality of threads. A processor may be configured to execute the threads of control instructions scheduled by the scheduler, such that for each particular event the processor generates one or more power train control signals responsive to the particular event within a first switching cycle of receipt of the particular event or within a second switching cycle immediately subsequent to the first switching cycle.

Abstract: An electronic system includes controller to control a switching power converter to provide power to a load. To control the amount of power provided to the load, in at least one embodiment, the controller senses a current value representing a current in the switching power converter and detects when the current value reaches a target peak value. However, due to delays in the controller and/or the switching power converter, the detected target peak value will not be the actual current peak value generated by the switching power converter. In at least one embodiment, the controller adjusts the detected target peak value with a post-detection delay compensation factor to generate a delay compensated current value that more accurately represents an actual peak current value associated with the current in the switching power converter.

Abstract: A power system includes a controller to control a switching power converter, and the controller is configured to automatically transition operation of the switching power converter, during each cycle of an input voltage to the switching power converter, between operating in discontinuous conduction mode and critical conduction mode.

Abstract: A power distribution system includes controller of a switching power converter to control the switching power converter and determine one or more switching power converter control parameters. In at least one embodiment, the controller determines the one or more switching power converter control parameters using a resonant period factor from a reflected secondary-side voltage and an occurrence of an approximate zero voltage crossing of the secondary-side voltage during a resonant period of the secondary-side voltage. In at least one embodiment, the switching power converter control parameters include (i) an estimated time of a minimum value of the secondary-side voltage during the resonant period and (ii) an estimated time at which a current in the secondary-side of the transformer decayed to approximately zero.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a lighting system receives an input signal, such as a supply voltage, that can be affected by a dimmer. The supply voltage can be affected by a dimmer when, for example, a dimmer phase cut (i.e. chopped) the supply voltage. A dimmer detection system of the lighting system determines if a dimmer is affecting the supply voltage. In at least one embodiment, the dimmer detection system also determines a type of the dimmer, such as detecting if the dimmer is a leading edge or trailing edge dimmer. In at least one embodiment, the dimmer detection system provides dimmer type data to one or more other circuits such as a switching power converter controller. The one or more other circuits utilize the dimmer type data to affect their operation.

Abstract: A system and method includes a controller that alternately enables at least two different current paths for a current flowing through a dimmer when the dimmer is in an OFF mode. In at least one embodiment, enabling and disabling the current paths allows a power supply of the dimmer to continue functioning and provides the controller sufficient voltage to continue functioning. One of the current paths is a low impedance path and another current path is a path to a voltage supply node of a switching power converter controller. In at least one embodiment, the controller generates an impedance control signal to enable a low impedance current path for a current in the dimmer and alternately provide a current path to the voltage supply node for the controller.

Abstract: A controller is configured to generate one or more power control signals for a lamp to supply power to the lamp from a supply voltage. The controller is further configured to receive customization data encoded in the supply voltage. Thus, in at least one embodiment, the controller receives the customization data via one or more power terminals of the lamp. Phase cut angles in the supply voltage provided to the controller encode the customization data, and each phase cut angle encodes N symbols of data. N is an integer greater than or equal to one (1). In at least one embodiment, the customization data alters the controller from one state to another state in accordance with data represented by phase cuts in the supply voltage that encode the customization data. Examples of customization data include calibration data and configuration data.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a lighting system receives an input signal, such as a supply voltage, that can be affected by a dimmer. The supply voltage can be affected by a dimmer when, for example, a dimmer phase cut (i.e. chopped) the supply voltage. A dimmer detection system of the lighting system determines if a dimmer is affecting the supply voltage. In at least one embodiment, the dimmer detection system also determines a type of the dimmer, such as detecting if the dimmer is a leading edge or trailing edge dimmer. In at least one embodiment, the dimmer detection system provides dimmer type data to one or more other circuits such as a switching power converter controller. The one or more other circuits utilize the dimmer type data to affect their operation.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a lamp includes a controller configured to generate power control signals for a lamp is also configured to receive lamp calibration data received via one or more power terminals of the lamp. The controller is configured to process the calibration data to calibrate the lamp. In at least one embodiment, the lamp includes one or more light emitting diodes.

Abstract: An electronic system includes controller to control a switching power converter to provide power to a load. To control the amount of power provided to the load, in at least one embodiment, the controller senses a current value representing a current in the switching power converter and detects when the current value reaches a target peak value. However, due to delays in the controller and/or the switching power converter, the detected target peak value will not be the actual current peak value generated by the switching power converter. In at least one embodiment, the controller adjusts the detected target peak value with a post-detection delay compensation factor to generate a delay compensated current value that more accurately represents an actual peak current value associated with the current in the switching power converter.

Abstract: A power distribution system includes controller of a switching power converter to control the switching power converter and determine one or more switching power converter control parameters. In at least one embodiment, the controller determines the one or more switching power converter control parameters using a resonant period factor from a reflected secondary-side voltage and an occurrence of an approximate zero voltage crossing of the secondary-side voltage during a resonant period of the secondary-side voltage. In at least one embodiment, the switching power converter control parameters include (i) an estimated time of a minimum value of the secondary-side voltage during the resonant period and (ii) an estimated time at which a current in the secondary-side of the transformer decayed to approximately zero.

Abstract: A controller is configured to generate one or more power control signals for a lamp to supply power to the lamp from a supply voltage. The controller is further configured to receive customization data encoded in the supply voltage. Thus, in at least one embodiment, the controller receives the customization data via one or more power terminals of the lamp. Phase cut angles in the supply voltage provided to the controller encode the customization data, and each phase cut angle encodes N symbols of data. N is an integer greater than or equal to one (1). In at least one embodiment, the customization data alters the controller from one state to another state in accordance with data represented by phase cuts in the supply voltage that encode the customization data. Examples of customization data include calibration data and configuration data.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a lamp includes a controller configured to generate power control signals for a lamp is also configured to receive lamp calibration data received via one or more power terminals of the lamp. The controller is configured to process the calibration data to calibrate the lamp. In at least one embodiment, the lamp includes one or more light emitting diodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a fast multiply accumulation circuit includes processing that begins by determining number of current partial products for a multiplication of a first multiplicand and a second multiplicand. The processing then continues by determining size of the current partial products. The processing then continues by identifying one of a plurality of reduction patterns based on the size of the current partial products. The processing then continues by determining number of, and configuration of, full adders and half adders required for a reduction function of the current partial products based on the one of the plurality of reduction patterns and the size of the current partial products, wherein the multiply-accumulator performs the reduction function.