Abstract: The present document describes a control circuit for controlling a buck-boost power converter, which is configured to provide at an output node of the power converter an output current at an output voltage based on electrical power at an input voltage which is provided at an input node of the power converter. The control circuit is configured to determine an operation mode that the power converter is operated in; to determine an error voltage signal based on the output voltage, based on a reference voltage for the output voltage and based on the determined operation mode of the power converter; and to determine a control signal for controlling one or more power switches of the power converter in dependence of the error voltage signal.

Abstract: A power converter and method to detect a light load condition at an output of the power converter are presented. The power converter may have an inductor and a resistive element connected between an input of the power converter and an input of the inductor. The power converter may have a first chopping unit to generate a chopped voltage signal at an output of said first chopping unit, wherein the chopped voltage signal is generated by chopping an inductor voltage at the input of said inductor based on a duty cycle of the power converter. The power converter may have a reference current source, wherein the reference current source and a replica resistive element are arranged in series. The power converter may have a comparator unit to generate, based on the reference potential and based on the chopped voltage signal, a signal indicative of said light load condition.

Abstract: A system and method of wireless power transfer using a power converter with a bypass mode includes a power converter. The power converter includes a pulsed switch, a capacitor configured to supply a drive voltage to the pulsed switch, a first circuit configured to charge the capacitor when the power converter operates in a switched mode of operation, and, a second circuit configured to charge the capacitor when the power converter operates in a bypass mode of operation.

Abstract: A system and method of wireless power transfer using a power converter with a bypass mode includes a power converter. The power converter includes a pulsed switch, a capacitor configured to supply a drive voltage to the pulsed switch, a first circuit configured to charge the capacitor when the power converter operates in a switched mode of operation, and, a second circuit configured to charge the capacitor when the power converter operates in a bypass mode of operation.

Abstract: A system and method of over-voltage protection includes a switch coupled between a power source and a load, a detection circuit configured to detect an onset of an over-voltage event at the load; and a driver circuit coupled to the switch and the detection circuit. The driver circuit includes a boost sub-circuit that provides a low-resistance path for opening the switch in a boost mode, the boost mode being triggered by the onset of the over-voltage event and having a predetermined duration and a steady state sub-circuit that provides a high-resistance path for holding the switch open during steady state operation when the boost mode.

Abstract: A system and method of wireless power transfer using a power converter with a bypass mode includes a power converter. The power converter includes a pulsed switch, a capacitor configured to supply a drive voltage to the pulsed switch, a first circuit configured to charge the capacitor when the power converter operates in a switched mode of operation, and, a second circuit configured to charge the capacitor when the power converter operates in a bypass mode of operation.

Abstract: A system and method of wireless power transfer using a power converter with a bypass mode includes a power converter. The power converter includes a pulsed switch, a capacitor configured to supply a drive voltage to the pulsed switch, a first circuit configured to charge the capacitor when the power converter operates in a switched mode of operation, and, a second circuit configured to charge the capacitor when the power converter operates in a bypass mode of operation.

Abstract: A system and method of wireless power transfer using a power converter with a bypass mode includes a power converter. The power converter includes a pulsed switch, a capacitor configured to supply a drive voltage to the pulsed switch, a first circuit configured to charge the capacitor when the power converter operates in a switched mode of operation, and, a second circuit configured to charge the capacitor when the power converter operates in a bypass mode of operation.

Abstract: A peak current protection circuit includes a current sensing circuit configured to sense an operating current of a DC-DC converter, and an over-current detector operably coupled with the current sensing circuit. The over-current detector is configured to generate an over-current detect signal at a peak current limit that is that is independent of a voltage level of an output signal of the DC-DC converter. A method for providing over-current protection for a DC-DC converter includes sensing an operating current of a DC-DC converter at a first input of a comparator, sensing a reference current at a second input of the comparator, comparing the first input with the second input, and generating an over-current detect signal in response to the comparison such that a peak current limit for the DC-DC converter is independent of a voltage level of an output signal of the DC-DC converter.

Abstract: A system and method of wireless power transfer using a power converter with a bypass mode includes a power converter. The power converter includes a pulsed switch, a capacitor configured to supply a drive voltage to the pulsed switch, a first circuit configured to charge the capacitor when the power converter operates in a switched mode of operation, and, a second circuit configured to charge the capacitor when the power converter operates in a bypass mode of operation.

Abstract: A system and method of over-voltage protection includes a switch coupled between a power source and a load, a detection circuit configured to detect an onset of an over-voltage event at the load; and a driver circuit coupled to the switch and the detection circuit. The driver circuit includes a boost sub-circuit that provides a low-resistance path for opening the switch in a boost mode, the boost mode being triggered by the onset of the over-voltage event and having a predetermined duration and a steady state sub-circuit that provides a high-resistance path for holding the switch open during steady state operation when the boost mode.

Abstract: A peak current protection circuit includes a current sensing circuit configured to sense an operating current of a DC-DC converter, and an over-current detector operably coupled with the current sensing circuit. The over-current detector is configured to generate an over-current detect signal at a peak current limit that is that is independent of a voltage level of an output signal of the DC-DC converter. A method for providing over-current protection for a DC-DC converter includes sensing an operating current of a DC-DC converter at a first input of a comparator, sensing a reference current at a second input of the comparator, comparing the first input with the second input, and generating an over-current detect signal in response to the comparison such that a peak current limit for the DC-DC converter is independent of a voltage level of an output signal of the DC-DC converter.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a voltage converter comprises a switching regulator, a driver, and a power stage receiving an input voltage and producing a converted output voltage. The switching regulator is configured to utilize a voltage control path and a current control path to provide feedback to the driver corresponding to a load condition of a load in the power stage, allowing the driver to adjust the converted output voltage in response to the feedback. In one embodiment, the switching regulator utilizes the voltage control path and the current control path to transition control of the voltage converter between a fixed frequency mode control, such as a current-programmed mode (CPM) control, and a variable frequency mode control, such as a hysteretic mode control.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to restore or recharge one or more cells of a battery. A switching module sources an element charging current from a first input voltage to the battery when a charging control signal is at a first logical level or sinks an element discharging current from the battery to a second input voltage when the charging control signal is at a second logical level. A controller module provides the charging control signal based upon a comparison of a reference voltage and a control voltage pulse, the control voltage pulse being generated by the controller module in response to a replica current, the replica current being proportional to the element charging current. A feedback module compares a voltage of the battery to a reference voltage to provide a charging error signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to regulate an input voltage to provide a regulated output power. The regulated output power may include a smooth direct current (DC) component and an undesired alternating current (AC) component, the smooth DC component being an average of the regulated output power. A buck regulator module of the present invention regulates the smooth DC component to approximate a reference voltage. The buck regulator module additionally replicates the undesired AC component embedded within the regulated output power. A replicated undesired AC component is combined with the regulated output power to reduce the undesired AC component embedded within the output power.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to restore or recharge one or more cells of a battery. A switching module sources an element charging current from a first input voltage to the battery when a charging control signal is at a first logical level or sinks an element discharging current from the battery to a second input voltage when the charging control signal is at a second logical level. A controller module provides the charging control signal based upon a comparison of a reference voltage and a control voltage pulse, the control voltage pulse being generated by the controller module in response to a replica current, the replica current being proportional to the element charging current. A feedback module compares a voltage of the battery to a reference voltage to provide a charging error signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to regulate an input voltage to provide a regulated output power. The regulated output power may include a smooth direct current (DC) component and an undesired alternating current (AC) component, the smooth DC component being an average of the regulated output power. A buck regulator module of the present invention regulates the smooth DC component to approximate a reference voltage. The buck regulator module additionally replicates the undesired AC component embedded within the regulated output power. A replicated undesired AC component is combined with the regulated output power to reduce the undesired AC component embedded within the output power.

Abstract: A protection circuit for a control terminal of a power device of the type comprising at least one resistive element connected between at least one output terminal of a driver and the control terminal of the power device includes at least one turning-off transistor having its conduction terminals connected to the control terminal of the power device and to at least one output terminal of the driver, respectively. A control terminal is coupled to the control terminal of the power device through a second resistive element.