Abstract: A method for determining if an inductor coupled to a switching network has been electrically shorted may include applying a voltage across the inductor for a predetermined period of time, controlling an impedance in an electrical path of a voltage source generating the voltage and the inductor, sensing an inductor current through the inductor, comparing the inductor current with a predetermined current threshold, and determining whether the inductor has been electrically shorted based on the inductor current, the predetermined current threshold, and the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: This application relates to methods and apparatus for power limiting for amplifiers. An amplifier is configured to receive an input supply voltage and to draw, in use, an amplifier input current resulting in an amplifier input power. A power limiter is configured to monitor an indication of the amplifier input power, determine a first signal limit based on said indication of the amplifier input power and a pre-set limit and apply regulation to the input signal to provide a regulated input signal for input to the amplifier that does not exceed the first signal limit.

Abstract: A system for controlling a current in a power converter may include an outer control loop configured to use an outer set of output voltage thresholds for an output voltage generated by the power converter in order to provide hysteretic control of the current, an inner control loop configured to use an inner set of output voltage thresholds for the output voltage in order to provide continuous control of the current, the inner control loop further configured to measure a time duration required for the output voltage to cross a single pair of two output voltage thresholds of the inner set of output voltage thresholds in order to determine an input-referred estimate of a current load of the power converter and set a peak current threshold and a valley current threshold for the current based on the input-referred estimate of the current load.

Abstract: A system for controlling a current in a power converter may include an outer control loop configured to use an outer set of output voltage thresholds for an output voltage generated by the power converter in order to provide hysteretic control of the current, an inner control loop configured to use an inner set of output voltage thresholds for the output voltage in order to provide continuous control of the current, the inner control loop further configured to measure a time duration required for the output voltage to cross a single pair of two output voltage thresholds of the inner set of output voltage thresholds in order to determine an input-referred estimate of a current load of the power converter and set a peak current threshold and a valley current threshold for the current based on the input-referred estimate of the current load.

Abstract: A method for determining if an inductor coupled to a switching network has been electrically shorted may include applying a voltage across the inductor for a predetermined period of time, controlling an impedance in an electrical path of a voltage source generating the voltage and the inductor, sensing an inductor current through the inductor, comparing the inductor current with a predetermined current threshold, and determining whether the inductor has been electrically shorted based on the inductor current, the predetermined current threshold, and the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A method may include monitoring an input power supply, monitoring an inductance of an inductor of a boost converter, monitoring one or more other characteristics of the boost converter, and calculating a target peak inductor current based on the input power supply voltage, the inductance, the one or more other characteristics of the boost converter, and a target average current of the inductor during a switching cycle of the boost converter. A method may include monitoring an input power supply voltage, monitoring an inductance of an inductor of a boost converter, monitoring one or more other characteristics of the boost converter, and calculating an average current of the inductor during a switching cycle of the boost converter based on the input power supply voltage, the inductance, the one or more other characteristics of the boost converter, and a peak inductor current of the inductor.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a power conversion system may include a power converter configured to receive an input voltage and generate an output voltage, a bypass switch arranged in parallel with the power converter and arranged to couple the input voltage to the output voltage when the bypass switch is activated, and a control circuit configured to control the power converter and the bypass switch based on the output voltage.

Abstract: A system for controlling a current in a power converter may include an outer control loop configured to use an outer set of output voltage thresholds for an output voltage generated by the power converter in order to provide hysteretic control of the current, an inner control loop configured to use an inner set of output voltage thresholds for the output voltage in order to provide continuous control of the current, the inner control loop further configured to measure a time duration required for the output voltage to cross a single pair of two output voltage thresholds of the inner set of output voltage thresholds in order to determine an input-referred estimate of a current load of the power converter and set a peak current threshold and a valley current threshold for the current based on the input-referred estimate of the current load.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter and a corresponding method for maintaining an output voltage of the DC-DC converter, wherein the DC-DC converter is configured to operate in a discontinuous conduction mode, within a predetermined voltage range. The method comprises adjusting a duty cycle of the DC-DC converter based on the output voltage to maintain the output voltage within a predetermined voltage range; wherein the duty cycle of the DC-DC converter is adjusted by switching between a first switching frequency to a second switching frequency, and the first switching frequency and the second switching frequency are selected such that the first switching frequency and the second switching frequency fall outside of at least one predefined disallowed frequency band.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter and corresponding method for transitioning between a discontinuous conduction mode, DCM, and a continuous conduction mode, CCM, wherein the DC-DC converter is configured to power a signal processing system within an integrated circuit, is provided. The method comprises receiving input data, wherein the input data is for inputting into the signal processing system; determining an amplitude of the input data; and transitioning between DCM and CCM based on the amplitude of the input data. A DC-DC converter and respective method for transitioning from CCM to DCM comprising determining an estimated current representative of an inductor current through an inductor of the DC-DC converter; and transitioning from CCM to DCM based on the estimated current, is provided.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter and corresponding method for transitioning between a discontinuous conduction mode, DCM, and a continuous conduction mode, CCM, wherein the DC-DC converter is configured to power a signal processing system within an integrated circuit, is provided. The method comprises receiving input data, wherein the input data is for inputting into the signal processing system; determining an amplitude of the input data; and transitioning between DCM and CCM based on the amplitude of the input data. A DC-DC converter and respective method for transitioning from CCM to DCM comprising determining an estimated current representative of an inductor current through an inductor of the DC-DC converter; and transitioning from CCM to DCM based on the estimated current, is provided.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter and corresponding method for transitioning between a discontinuous conduction mode, DCM, and a continuous conduction mode, CCM, wherein the DC-DC converter is configured to power a signal processing system within an integrated circuit, is provided. The method comprises receiving input data, wherein the input data is for inputting into the signal processing system; determining an amplitude of the input data; and transitioning between DCM and CCM based on the amplitude of the input data. A DC-DC converter and respective method for transitioning from CCM to DCM comprising determining an estimated current representative of an inductor current through an inductor of the DC-DC converter; and transitioning from CCM to DCM based on the estimated current, is provided.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter and corresponding method for transitioning between a discontinuous conduction mode, DCM, and a continuous conduction mode, CCM, wherein the DC-DC converter is configured to power a signal processing system within an integrated circuit, is provided. The method comprises receiving input data, wherein the input data is for inputting into the signal processing system; determining an amplitude of the input data; and transitioning between DCM and CCM based on the amplitude of the input data. A DC-DC converter and respective method for transitioning from CCM to DCM comprising determining an estimated current representative of an inductor current through an inductor of the DC-DC converter; and transitioning from CCM to DCM based on the estimated current, is provided.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter and corresponding method for transitioning between a discontinuous conduction mode, DCM, and a continuous conduction mode, CCM, wherein the DC-DC converter is configured to power a signal processing system within an integrated circuit, is provided. The method comprises receiving input data, wherein the input data is for inputting into the signal processing system; determining an amplitude of the input data; and transitioning between DCM and CCM based on the amplitude of the input data. A DC-DC converter and respective method for transitioning from CCM to DCM comprising determining an estimated current representative of an inductor current through an inductor of the DC-DC converter; and transitioning from CCM to DCM based on the estimated current, is provided.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter and a corresponding method for maintaining an output voltage of the DC-DC converter, wherein the DC-DC converter is configured to operate in a discontinuous conduction mode, within a predetermined voltage range. The method comprises adjusting a duty cycle of the DC-DC converter based on the output voltage to maintain the output voltage within a predetermined voltage range; wherein the duty cycle of the DC-DC converter is adjusted by switching between a first switching frequency to a second switching frequency, and the first switching frequency and the second switching frequency are selected such that the first switching frequency and the second switching frequency fall outside of at least one predefined disallowed frequency band.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter and corresponding method for transitioning between a discontinuous conduction mode, DCM, and a continuous conduction mode, CCM, wherein the DC-DC converter is configured to power a signal processing system within an integrated circuit, is provided. The method comprises receiving input data, wherein the input data is for inputting into the signal processing system; determining an amplitude of the input data; and transitioning between DCM and CCM based on the amplitude of the input data. A DC-DC converter and respective method for transitioning from CCM to DCM comprising determining an estimated current representative of an inductor current through an inductor of the DC-DC converter; and transitioning from CCM to DCM based on the estimated current, is provided.