Abstract: A switching mode power converter circuit and a method are presented. The circuit comprises a first transistor switch and a second transistor switch coupled in series between an input voltage level and ground. There is a control circuit for controlling switching operation of the first transistor switch and the second transistor switch. There is a detection circuit for sensing a voltage at an intermediate node arranged between the first transistor switch and the second transistor switch, for deriving an indication of a slope of the sensed voltage, and for generating a switching control signal for the control circuit on the basis of the derived indication of the slope of the sensed voltage. The control circuit sets a first timing for activating the first transistor switch and/or a second timing for activating the second transistor switch on the basis of the switching control signal.

Abstract: A current sense circuit for a pass transistor is described. The current sense circuit comprises a sense transistor, a differential amplifier comprising a differential input and a differential output, and a differential difference amplifier, referred to as DD amplifier, comprising a main differential input, an auxiliary differential input and an output; wherein the differential output of the differential amplifier is coupled to the auxiliary differential input of the DD amplifier; wherein the output port of the pass transistor is coupled to a first port of the main differential input and wherein the output port of the sense transistor is coupled to a second port of the main differential input. The output of the DD amplifier is used to control a voltage drop across the sense transistor and the pass transistor.

Abstract: A switching mode power converter circuit and a method are presented. The circuit comprises a first transistor switch and a second transistor switch coupled in series between an input voltage level and ground. There is a control circuit for controlling switching operation of the first transistor switch and the second transistor switch. There is a detection circuit for sensing a voltage at an intermediate node arranged between the first transistor switch and the second transistor switch, for deriving an indication of a slope of the sensed voltage, and for generating a switching control signal for the control circuit on the basis of the derived indication of the slope of the sensed voltage. The control circuit sets a first timing for activating the first transistor switch and/or a second timing for activating the second transistor switch on the basis of the switching control signal.

Abstract: A method for determining the temperature of an electronic component in an electronic device comprises supplying a current to the electronic component via a power converter device, measuring an input current supplied to the power converter device, determining a power dissipation of the electronic component based on the measured input current, a value for an efficiency of the power converter device and an output voltage of the power converter device, and determining the temperature of the electronic component based on the determined power dissipation and a thermal resistance value for the electronic component.

Abstract: The present document relates to DC/DC converters with a modular structure for providing different levels of output currents. A power converter configured to convert electrical power at an input voltage into electrical power at an output voltage is described. The power converter comprises inverter stages with half bridges comprising a high side switches and low side switches which are arranged in series between the input voltage and a reference voltage; and with high side drivers for providing drive signals for the high side switches, subject to a high side control signals at a drive voltage level. In addition, the power converter comprises a level shifting unit configured to convert a high side control signal at a logic voltage level into the high side control signal at the drive voltage level for driving the high side switches.

Abstract: A current sense circuit for a pass transistor is described. The current sense circuit comprises a sense transistor, a differential amplifier comprising a differential input and a differential output, and a differential difference amplifier, referred to as DD amplifier, comprising a main differential input, an auxiliary differential input and an output; wherein the differential output of the differential amplifier is coupled to the auxiliary differential input of the DD amplifier; wherein the output port of the pass transistor is coupled to a first port of the main differential input and wherein the output port of the sense transistor is coupled to a second port of the main differential input. The output of the DD amplifier is used to control a voltage drop across the sense transistor and the pass transistor.

Abstract: The present document relates to efficient DC/DC converters with a modular structure for providing different levels of output currents. A controller for controlling a power converter which is configured to convert electrical power at an input voltage into electrical power at an output voltage is described. The power converter comprises first and second inverter stages comprising high side switches and low side switches which are arranged in series between the input voltage and a reference voltage. The midpoints between the high side switches and the low side switches are coupled. The electrical power at the output voltage is drawn from the midpoint. The controller is configured to determine an indication of a requested level of the electrical power at the output voltage, and to activate or deactivate the second inverter stage based on the indication of the requested level of the electrical power at the output voltage.

Abstract: The present document relates to efficient DC/DC converters with a modular structure for providing different levels of output currents. A controller for controlling a power converter which is configured to convert electrical power at an input voltage into electrical power at an output voltage is described. The power converter comprises first and second inverter stages comprising high side switches and low side switches which are arranged in series between the input voltage and -a reference voltage. The midpoints between the high side switches and the low side switches are coupled. The electrical power at the output voltage is drawn from the midpoint. The controller is configured to determine an indication of a requested level of the electrical power at the output voltage, and to activate or deactivate the second inverter stage based on the indication of the requested level of the electrical power at the output voltage.

Abstract: The present document relates to DC/DC converters with a modular structure for providing different levels of output currents. A power converter configured to convert electrical power at an input voltage into electrical power at an output voltage is described. The power converter comprises inverter stages with half bridges comprising a high side switches and low side switches which are arranged in series between the input voltage and a reference voltage; and with high side drivers for providing drive signals for the high side switches, subject to a high side control signals at a drive voltage level. In addition, the power converter comprises a level shifting unit configured to convert a high side control signal at a logic voltage level into the high side control signal at the drive voltage level for driving the high side switches.

Abstract: Circuits and methods for current limited DC-to-DC converters having multiple power sources have been disclosed. One of multiple power sources is activated by a multiplexer. A current sensing unit, deployed close to the multiplexer, detects if an input current to the DC-to-DC converter has reached a current limit. In case the current limit is reached a signal is sent to the DC-to-DC converter to reduce the current drawn the DC-to-DC converter.

Abstract: A fault-tolerant controller for a lighting system comprising: a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) circuits and a controllable power source to power the plurality of LED circuits. The controller comprising a minimum voltage selector to determine a minimum voltage from a plurality of feedback voltages, one feedback voltage for each of the plurality of LED circuits. A control logic to regulate the drive voltage for the LEDs; and an overvoltage warning mechanism to determine an overvoltage of the drive voltage. The controller identifies one or more open-circuit conditions, one for each LED circuit, for which the respective feedback voltage is below an open-circuit threshold, and which causes the minimum voltage selector to exclude one or more respective feedback voltages associated with the LED circuits which have an open-circuit condition.

Abstract: A method for determining the temperature of an electronic component in an electronic device comprises supplying a current to the electronic component via a power converter device, measuring an input current supplied to the power converter device, determining a power dissipation of the electronic component based on the measured input current, a value for an efficiency of the power converter device and an output voltage of the power converter device, and determining the temperature of the electronic component based on the determined power dissipation and a thermal resistance value for the electronic component.

Abstract: Method and circuits for sensing a bidirectional current without requiring an external sense resistor are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the invention is applied for fuel gauging of one or more batteries and comprises a charger/active diode, which can source current into the battery and sink current from the battery to supply a mobile electronic device. The invention can be applied to any other application requiring sensing of bidirectional currents. A regulated cascode forces a voltage drop over a power transistor and a sense transistor to be the same. A feedback current is measured by an ADC. The integration of these current measurements over time is equal to the actual charge of the battery.

Abstract: Circuits and methods for dynamic adjustment of the current limit of a power management unit to avoid unwanted automatic interruption of the power flow have been disclosed. The invention can be applied to switched and linear DC-to-DC converters. The power management unit is automatically adjusted to the output resistance of a power source (including interconnect resistance). The invention maximizes the time and hence the power transferred from a power management unit to the system (including the battery, in case of battery operated systems). The input current is reduced, thus increasing the input voltage in case of a high voltage drop across the internal resistance including interconnections between power source and power management unit.

Abstract: Circuits and methods for a switched power converter providing charge power for at least one battery and at the same time delivering current to operate an electronic device, wherein the converter is enabled to operate out of current limit mode, for the maximum possible range of system load requirements, have been achieved. The input current of the power converter is measured within each cycle-by-cycle, i.e. within each cycle of an external clock reference and the charge current is reduced if the input current exceeds a defined portion, e.g. 80% of the maximum allowable input current. The power converter may only enter current limited operation after the charge current has been already reduced to zero. Operating out of current limit mode ensures a maximum efficiency of the converter, maximize the current deliverable to a given load and minimizes subharmonics in the output current and voltage, thereby minimizing interference with other system component.

Abstract: A fault-tolerant controller for a lighting system comprising: a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) circuits and a controllable power source to power the plurality of LED circuits. The controller comprising a minimum voltage selector to determine a minimum voltage from a plurality of feedback voltages, one feedback voltage for each of the plurality of LED circuits. A control logic to regulate the drive voltage for the LEDs; and an overvoltage warning mechanism to determine an overvoltage of the drive voltage. The controller identifies one or more open-circuit conditions, one for each LED circuit, for which the respective feedback voltage is below an open-circuit threshold, and which causes the minimum voltage selector to exclude one or more respective feedback voltages associated with the LED circuits which have an open-circuit condition.

Abstract: Circuits and methods for dynamic adjustment of the current limit of a power management unit to avoid unwanted automatic interruption of the power flow have been disclosed. The power management unit is automatically adjusted to the output resistance of a power source (including interconnect resistance). The invention maximizes the time and hence the power transferred from a power management unit to the system (including the battery, in case of battery operated systems). The input current is reduced thus increasing the input voltage in case of a high voltage drop across the internal resistance including interconnections between power source and power management unit.

Abstract: Circuits and methods for current limited DC-to-DC converters having multiple power sources have been disclosed. One of multiple power sources is activated by a multiplexer. A current sensing unit, deployed close to the multiplexer, detects if an input current to the DC-to-DC converter has reached a current limit. In case the current limit is reached a signal is sent to the DC-to-DC converter to reduce the current drawn the DC-to-DC converter.

Abstract: Method and circuits for sensing a bidirectional current without requiring an external sense resistor are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the invention is applied for fuel gauging of one or more batteries and comprises a charger/active diode, which can source current into the battery and sink current from the battery to supply a mobile electronic device. The invention can be applied to any other application requiring sensing of bidirectional currents. A regulated cascode forces a voltage drop over a power transistor and a sense transistor to be the same. A feedback current is measured by an ADC. The integration of these current measurements over time is equal to the actual charge of the battery.

Abstract: Circuits and methods for dynamic adjustment of the current limit of a power management unit to avoid unwanted automatic interruption of the power flow have been disclosed. The invention can be applied to switched and linear DC-to-DC converters. The power management unit is automatically adjusted to the output resistance of a power source (including interconnect resistance). The invention maximizes the time and hence the power transferred from a power management unit to the system (including the battery, in case of battery operated systems). The input current is reduced, thus increasing the input voltage in case of a high voltage drop across the internal resistance including interconnections between power source and power management unit.