Abstract: In one implementation, a power converter with over-voltage protection includes a power switch coupled to a power supply through a tank circuit, and a control circuit coupled to a gate of the power switch. The control circuit is configured to turn the power switch OFF based on a current from the tank circuit, thereby providing the over-voltage protection to the power converter. In one implementation, the power converter is a class-E power converter. In one implementation, the control circuit is configured to sense the current from the tank circuit based on a voltage drop across a sense resistor coupled to the power switch.

Abstract: In one implementation, a voltage converter includes a driver providing a gate drive for a power switch and a sense circuit coupled across the power switch. The gate drive provides power to the sense circuit, and the sense circuit provides a sense output to the driver corresponding to a current through the power switch. In one implementation, the sense circuit includes a high voltage (HV) sense transistor coupled between a first sense input and a sense output, a delay circuit configured to be coupled to the gate drive to provide power to the HV sense transistor when the gate drive is high, and a pull-down transistor configured to couple the sense output to a second sense input when the gate drive is low.

Abstract: A power converter is disclosed. The power converter includes a resonant half-bridge having a first power switch and a second power switch for driving a resonant circuit of the resonant half-bridge. The power converter further includes a charge pump coupled to the resonant half-bridge, where the charge pump is configured to selectively provide a positive current from the resonant circuit to an output stage of the power converter, and to selectively shunt to ground a negative current from the resonant circuit, based on an output stage feedback signal. In one implementation, the resonant circuit includes a series L-C circuit. The power converter is configured to provide a constant output current and/or a constant output voltage.

Abstract: In one implementation, a power converter with over-voltage protection includes a power switch coupled to a power supply through a tank circuit, and a control circuit coupled to a gate of the power switch. The control circuit is configured to turn the power switch OFF based on a current from the tank circuit, thereby providing the over-voltage protection to the power converter. In one implementation, the power converter is a class-E power converter. In one implementation, the control circuit is configured to sense the current from the tank circuit based on a voltage drop across a sense resistor coupled to the power switch.

Abstract: In one implementation, a power converter with over-voltage protection includes a power switch coupled to a power supply through a tank circuit, and a control circuit coupled to a gate of the power switch. The control circuit is configured to turn the power switch OFF based on a current from the tank circuit, thereby providing the over-voltage protection to the power converter. In one implementation, the power converter is a class-E power converter. In one implementation, the control circuit is configured to sense the current from the tank circuit based on a voltage drop across a sense resistor coupled to the power switch.

Abstract: In one implementation, a voltage converter includes a driver providing a gate drive for a power switch and a sense circuit coupled across the power switch. The gate drive provides power to the sense circuit, and the sense circuit provides a sense output to the driver corresponding to a current through the power switch. In one implementation, the sense circuit includes a high voltage (HV) sense transistor coupled between a first sense input and a sense output, a delay circuit configured to be coupled to the gate drive to provide power to the HV sense transistor when the gate drive is high, and a pull-down transistor configured to couple the sense output to a second sense input when the gate drive is low.

Abstract: In one implementation, a voltage converter includes a driver providing a gate drive for a power switch and a sense circuit coupled across the power switch. The gate drive provides power to the sense circuit, and the sense circuit provides a sense output to the driver corresponding to a current through the power switch. In one implementation, the sense circuit includes a high voltage (HV) sense transistor coupled between a first sense input and a sense output, a delay circuit configured to be coupled to the gate drive to provide power to the HV sense transistor when the gate drive is high, and a pull-down transistor configured to couple the sense output to a second sense input when the gate drive is low.

Abstract: In an exemplary implementation, a detection circuit for regulating a power converter is configured to receive a combined sense signal comprising a first sense signal from the power converter superimposed with a second sense signal from the power converter. The detection circuit is further configured to generate a first detect signal from the combined sense signal and generate a second detect signal from the combined sense signal. The first detect signal can correspond to the first sense signal and the second detect signal can correspond to the second sense signal. The detection circuit can generate a filtered signal corresponding to the first sense signal from the combined sense signal to generate the first detect signal from the combined sense signal. Also, the detection circuit can generate an offset signal based on the combined sense signal to generate the second detect signal from the combined sense signal.

Abstract: In one implementation, a power unit for plugging into a mother board includes a power module situated on a substrate. The substrate is situated on conductive slats, each having an extended end away from the power module. Each of the conductive slats provides a mounting contact of the power unit. Each mounting contact is electrically coupled to the power module by electrical routing in the substrate. The mounting contacts are configured to provide electrical connection between the power module and the mother board.

Abstract: In one implementation, an insertable power unit for plugging into a mother board includes a power module situated on a substrate, and a mounting contact on an extended side of the substrate away from the power module. The mounting contact is electrically coupled to the power module by electrical routing in the substrate. The mounting contact is configured to provide electrical connection between the power module and the mother board.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment, a shunt circuit includes a floating shunt switch configured to bypass at least one load, for example at least one LED, among a plurality of series-connected loads, such as a plurality of series-connected LEDs in a lighting system, responsive to a high-side control signal. The at least one load has terminals connected across the shunt circuit. The shunt circuit further includes a high-voltage level-shift up circuit configured to shift a low-side control signal up to the high-side control signal using a voltage of at least one of the terminals of the at least one load. The floating shunt switch can be configured to bypass the at least one load responsive to a failure of the at least one load.

Abstract: According to an exemplary implementation, an electronic ballast includes an input filter coupled to a resonant tank. The resonant tank is configured to generate a resonant current. The input filter is configured to receive an AC input voltage and to generate an AC input current from the resonant current by smoothing the resonant current. The electronic ballast also includes a half-bridge configured to feed the resonant tank so as to generate the resonant current and to receive a supply voltage that is in phase with the AC input voltage. The electronic ballast can also include a controller configured to control a power factor of the electronic ballast by switching the half-bridge. The controller can be configured to adjust a shape of the AC input current by adjusting switching of the half-bridge to thereby adjust a power factor of the electronic ballast.

Abstract: A power converter is disclosed. The power converter includes a resonant half-bridge having a first power switch and a second power switch for driving a resonant circuit of the resonant half-bridge. The power converter further includes a charge pump coupled to the resonant half-bridge, where the charge pump is configured to selectively provide a positive current from the resonant circuit to an output stage of the power converter, and to selectively shunt to ground a negative current from the resonant circuit, based on an output stage feedback signal. In one implementation, the resonant circuit includes a series L-C circuit. The power converter is configured to provide a constant output current and/or a constant output voltage.

Abstract: In one implementation, a voltage converter includes a driver providing a gate drive for a power switch and a sense circuit coupled across the power switch. The gate drive provides power to the sense circuit, and the sense circuit provides a sense output to the driver corresponding to a current through the power switch. In one implementation, the sense circuit includes a high voltage (HV) sense transistor coupled between a first sense input and a sense output, a delay circuit configured to be coupled to the gate drive to provide power to the HV sense transistor when the gate drive is high, and a pull-down transistor configured to couple the sense output to a second sense input when the gate drive is low.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, driver circuit coupled between an AC line and a load includes a first semiconductor switch interposed between a bus voltage and a resonant circuit and a second semiconductor switch interposed between the resonant circuit and a ground, where the resonant circuit drives the load. In the driver circuit, the bus voltage has a shape substantially corresponding to a shape of a rectified AC line voltage, thereby increasing a power factor of the driver circuit. The driver circuit can further include a full-bridge rectifier disposed between the resonant circuit and the load. The load can include at least one LED.

Abstract: An integrated start-up circuit for a power supply includes a converter, which in one implementation can be a buck converter. The buck converter includes a gate driver configured to drive a power switch, where the power switch is coupled across a DC bus node and a switching node of the buck converter. The power switch is configured to provide a start-up voltage to the buck converter from the DC bus node during start-up of the buck converter. The buck converter includes a bootstrap switch coupled across the gate driver and a Vcc node and a Schottky diode coupled across the bootstrap switch and the switching node, where the start-up voltage is provided at the Vcc node through the bootstrap switch.

Abstract: In an exemplary implementation, a detection circuit for regulating a power converter is configured to receive a combined sense signal comprising a first sense signal from the power converter superimposed with a second sense signal from the power converter. The detection circuit is further configured to generate a first detect signal from the combined sense signal and generate a second detect signal from the combined sense signal. The first detect signal can correspond to the first sense signal and the second detect signal can correspond to the second sense signal. The detection circuit can generate a filtered signal corresponding to the first sense signal from the combined sense signal to generate the first detect signal from the combined sense signal. Also, the detection circuit can generate an offset signal based on the combined sense signal to generate the second detect signal from the combined sense signal.

Abstract: According to an exemplary implementation, a switching circuit includes a bipolar junction transistor, a base current supply configured to turn-on the bipolar junction transistor, and a base discharge switch configured to selectively draw current away from a base of the bipolar junction transistor so as to turn-off the bipolar junction transistor. The base discharge switch can further be configured to selectively prevent the base current supply from providing current to the base of the bipolar junction transistor. The base discharge switch may be coupled across the base of the bipolar junction transistor and an emitter of the bipolar junction transistor. The base discharge switch can further be configured to selectively cause the base of the bipolar junction transistor to have a base voltage substantially lower than an emitter voltage of the bipolar junction transistor.

Abstract: In one implementation, a power converter with over-voltage protection includes a power switch coupled to a power supply through a tank circuit, and a control circuit coupled to a gate of the power switch. The control circuit is configured to turn the power switch OFF based on a current from the tank circuit, thereby providing the over-voltage protection to the power converter. In one implementation, the power converter is a class-E power converter. In one implementation, the control circuit is configured to sense the current from the tank circuit based on a voltage drop across a sense resistor coupled to the power switch.

Abstract: According to an exemplary implementation, an electronic ballast includes an input filter coupled to a resonant tank. The resonant tank is configured to generate a resonant current. The input filter is configured to receive an AC input voltage and to generate an AC input current from the resonant current by smoothing the resonant current. The electronic ballast also includes a half-bridge configured to feed the resonant tank so as to generate the resonant current and to receive a supply voltage that is in phase with the AC input voltage. The electronic ballast can also include a controller configured to control a power factor of the electronic ballast by switching the half-bridge. The controller can be configured to adjust a shape of the AC input current by adjusting switching of the half-bridge to thereby adjust a power factor of the electronic ballast.