Abstract: An apparatus comprises a power source connected to a buffer capacitor. The apparatus comprises a first switch connected between the buffer capacitor and a driven switch. The buffer capacitor is charged by the power source when the first switch is turned off. The apparatus comprises a comparator. The comparator monitors the charging of the buffer capacitor. In response to the buffer capacitor reaching a threshold amount of charge, the comparator turns on the first switch to initiate a charge redistribution of charge from the buffer capacitor to the driven switch.

Abstract: A device includes: first and second electronic sides; an isolation barrier galvanically isolating the electronic sides from one another and including a signal coupler configured to enable signaling between the electronic sides over the isolation barrier via electromagnetic coupling; and transceiver circuitry included in both electronic sides and configured to implement, based on a frequency response profile of the isolation barrier, full-duplex communication between the electronic sides using the same signal coupler.

Abstract: The present application relates to a gate driver including a zero-crossing detection circuit and a control signal generation circuit. The zero-crossing detection circuit receives a load current signal indicative of a load current of a power switch, detects a zero crossing of the load current, and generates a zero-crossing detection signal based on the detected zero-crossing. The control signal generation circuit receives an input control signal indicative of one of a turn-on and a turn-off of the power switch. If the input control signal is indicative of the turn-off of the power switch, the control signal generation circuit generates a turn-off signal based on the zero-crossing detection signal, determines if a time-out interval subsequent to the indication of the turn-off has expired, generates the turn-off signal regardless of the zero-crossing detection signal if the turn-off time interval has expired, and provides the turn-off signal to the power switch.

Abstract: A power converter is provided. The power converter includes a transformer having a primary side winding and a secondary side winding, an oscillator circuit coupled to the primary side winding forming a resonant oscillator with the primary side winding and an output circuit coupled to the secondary side winding and configured to generate an output signal based on energy received from the secondary side winding. A secondary side controller is configured to transmit a control signal based on a controlled variable related to the output signal via the transformer to the primary side controller, and the primary side controller is configured to start or stop and oscillation of the resonant oscillator based on the control signal.

Abstract: A power switch assembly includes a power switch, a driving circuit configured to control the power switch, a protection device associated with a first current duration and a first current value and arranged between the driving circuit and the power switch, the protection device being configured to decouple the driving circuit from the power switch based on the first current duration and the first current value, and a clamping device associated with a second current duration and a second current value and arranged between the driving circuit, the protection device and the power switch, the clamping device being configured to couple the power switch to a second assembly load terminal of the power switch assembly based on the second current duration and the second current value. The first current duration is longer than the second current duration. The first current value is lower than the second current value.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a power source connected to a buffer capacitor. The apparatus comprises a first switch connected between the buffer capacitor and a driven switch. The buffer capacitor is charged by the power source when the first switch is turned off. The apparatus comprises a comparator. The comparator monitors the charging of the buffer capacitor. In response to the buffer capacitor reaching a threshold amount of charge, the comparator turns on the first switch to initiate a charge redistribution of charge from the buffer capacitor to the driven switch.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an energy transfer device configured to supply power from a primary side of an isolation barrier through the isolation barrier to a secondary side of the of the isolation barrier for driving a gate of a switch for controlling output of the switch at the secondary side. The apparatus comprises a monitoring component. The monitoring component is configured to monitor an operating state of the switch. The monitoring component is configured to evaluate the operating state to determine whether a fault has occurred, perform a countermeasure, and/or provide a signal of the fault.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a power source connected to a buffer capacitor. The apparatus comprises a first switch connected between the buffer capacitor and a driven switch. The buffer capacitor is charged by the power source when the first switch is turned off. The apparatus comprises a comparator. The comparator monitors the charging of the buffer capacitor. In response to the buffer capacitor reaching a threshold amount of charge, the comparator turns on the first switch to initiate a charge redistribution of charge from the buffer capacitor to the driven switch.

Abstract: A device includes: first and second electronic sides; an isolation barrier galvanically isolating the electronic sides from one another and including a signal coupler configured to enable signaling between the electronic sides over the isolation barrier via electromagnetic coupling; and transceiver circuitry included in both electronic sides and configured to implement, based on a frequency response profile of the isolation barrier, full-duplex communication between the electronic sides using the same signal coupler.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a power source connected to a buffer capacitor. The apparatus comprises a first switch connected between the buffer capacitor and a driven switch. The buffer capacitor is charged by the power source when the first switch is turned off. The apparatus comprises a comparator. The comparator monitors the charging of the buffer capacitor. In response to the buffer capacitor reaching a threshold amount of charge, the comparator turns on the first switch to initiate a charge redistribution of charge from the buffer capacitor to the driven switch.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an energy transfer device configured to supply power from a primary side of an isolation barrier through the isolation barrier to a secondary side of the of the isolation barrier for driving a gate of a switch for controlling output of the switch at the secondary side. The apparatus comprises a monitoring component. The monitoring component is configured to monitor an operating state of the switch. The monitoring component is configured to evaluate the operating state to determine whether a fault has occurred, perform a countermeasure, and/or provide a signal of the fault.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an energy transfer device that operates one or more input switches of an input side of an electrical isolation device to transfer energy through the isolation device to an output side of the electrical isolation device for activating a switch. The apparatus comprises a voltage conversion device that converts the energy from an input voltage of the input side to an output voltage to control the switch when the energy transfer is active. The apparatus comprises a passive turn off device that passively deactivates the switch when the energy transfer is inactive. The passive turn off device is disabled from deactivating the switch when the energy transfer is active.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an energy transfer device that operates one or more input switches of an input side of an electrical isolation device to transfer energy through the isolation device to an output side of the electrical isolation device for activating a switch. The apparatus comprises a voltage conversion device that converts the energy from an input voltage of the input side to an output voltage to control the switch when the energy transfer is active. The apparatus comprises a passive turn off device that passively deactivates the switch when the energy transfer is inactive. The passive turn off device is disabled from deactivating the switch when the energy transfer is active.

Abstract: A multi-output gate driver system comprises a power device having a gate node; a first driver having an input and an output coupled to the gate node; a second driver having an input and an output coupled to the gate node; a first comparator having a first input coupled to the output of the second driver, a second input coupled to a first reference voltage, and an output; a second comparator having a first input coupled to the output of the second driver, a second input coupled to a second reference voltage, and an output; and a logic circuit having an input for receiving a control signal, a first output coupled to the input of the first driver, and a second output coupled to the input of the second driver.

Abstract: A multi-output gate driver system comprises a power device having a gate node; a first driver having an input and an output coupled to the gate node; a second driver having an input and an output coupled to the gate node; a first comparator having a first input coupled to the output of the second driver, a second input coupled to a first reference voltage, and an output; a second comparator having a first input coupled to the output of the second driver, a second input coupled to a second reference voltage, and an output; and a logic circuit having an input for receiving a control signal, a first output coupled to the input of the first driver, and a second output coupled to the input of the second driver.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and integrated circuits are disclosed for controlling a buck-boost converter. In one example, a device is configured to compare an output voltage at a voltage output with a low reference voltage and a high reference voltage. The device may compare a current at an inductor with a low threshold current and a high threshold current. The device may, responsive to the output voltage at the voltage output being lower than the low reference voltage, charge the inductor. The device may, responsive to the current at the inductor reaching the high threshold current, couple the inductor to the voltage output to transfer charge from the inductor to the voltage output. The device may, responsive to either the current at the inductor reaching the low threshold current or the output voltage reaching the high reference voltage, stop transferring charge from the inductor to the voltage output.

Abstract: Circuits that provide an auxiliary power supply on the secondary side of an isolated switched-mode power converter are described. Such an auxiliary supply may be used to provide power to a secondary side controller or to other circuitry in the secondary side of the power converter. During at least a start-up phase of the power converter, the secondary side auxiliary power supply is supplied power by use of a self-starting primary side driver that operates autonomously until the secondary side controller is fully operational. Circuits and methods for such a self-starting primary side driver are provided. The techniques disclosed provide for a secondary side auxiliary power supply that uses minimal additional circuitry.

Abstract: Circuits that provide an auxiliary power supply on the secondary side of an isolated switched-mode power converter are described. Such an auxiliary supply may be used to provide power to a secondary side controller or to other circuitry in the secondary side of the power converter. During at least a start-up phase of the power converter, the secondary side auxiliary power supply is supplied power by use of a self-starting primary side driver that operates autonomously until the secondary side controller is fully operational. Circuits and methods for such a self-starting primary side driver are provided. The techniques disclosed provide for a secondary side auxiliary power supply that uses minimal additional circuitry.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are described where input signals are supplied to a translinear mesh. In some embodiments an output of the translinear mesh is regulated to a desired value.

Abstract: A power stage of a voltage regulator includes a first switch for connecting a load to a supply voltage in a first switching state of the power stage, a second switch for connecting the load to ground in a second switching state of the power stage and driver circuitry for setting the power stage in the first switching state, the second switching state or a non-switching state in which both switches are off responsive to a switching control signal received by the power stage. A power management unit moves the power stage from a nominal power mode to a first low power mode if the power stage is in the non-switching state for a predetermined time period.