Abstract: A method of determining a current in a switched mode power supply. The method comprises: storing values representing at least one pre-calculated matrix A; receiving measured current values; and using the stored values representing the matrix A and the received current values to calculate a respective initial value for each of the coefficients of the line and for each measured current value: calculating an estimated current using the equation of the line and the calculated initial values of the coefficients; determining a difference between the measured current value and the estimated current value to generate a difference value, and comparing the difference value against a threshold and, if the difference value is greater than the threshold, calculating updated values of the coefficients using stored values representing matrix A and difference value.

Abstract: A voltage controller is operable to generate control signals for controlling an intermediate bus voltage (VIB) in an intermediate bus architecture power system, the intermediate bus voltage comprising a voltage output from a first stage DC-to-DC power converter to at least one second stage DC-to-DC power converter via the intermediate voltage bus in the intermediate bus architecture power system. The voltage controller comprises a receiver operable to receive values of the current input to the first stage DC-to-DC power converter, or the current and voltage output by the first stage DC-to-DC power converter. The voltage controller further comprises an efficiency measuring unit operable to determine a measure of an efficiency of the intermediate bus architecture power system in accordance with the received values.

Abstract: A method of determining a measure of a total capacitance of one or more capacitive elements connected to an output of a switched mode power supply is described. The method includes generating a voltage control signal to cause an output voltage control signal age controller to sweep a voltage at the output of the switched mode power supply from an initial voltage value to a final voltage value. Sample values of a current at the output measured by a current sampler during the sweep of the output voltage are received, and an integrated current value representing a measure of the total capacitance using the received sample values is calculated.

Abstract: A voltage controller (700) operable to generate control signals for controlling an intermediate bus voltage (VIB) in an intermediate bus architecture power system (100), the intermediate bus voltage comprising a voltage output from a first stage DC/DC power converter (200) to at least one second stage DC/DC power converter (500-1 to 500-K). The voltage controller (700) comprises a receiver operable to receive at least one of voltage and current values input to the first stage DC/DC power converter (200). The voltage controller (700) further comprises a efficiency measuring unit operable to determine a measure of the efficiency of the intermediate bus architecture power system in accordance with the received values, and a control signal generator operable to generate control signals in dependence upon the determined efficiency measure to cause the first stage DC/DC converter (200) to set the intermediate bus voltage (VIB).

Abstract: A method of determining a current in a switched mode power supply. The method comprises: storing values representing at least one pre-calculated matrix A; receiving measured current values; and using the stored values representing the matrix A and the received current values to calculate a respective initial value for each of the coefficients of the line and for each measured current value: calculating an estimated current using the equation of the line and the calculated initial values of the coefficients; determining a difference between the measured current value and the estimated current value to generate a difference value, and comparing the difference value against a threshold and, if the difference value is greater than the threshold, calculating updated values of the coefficients using stored values representing matrix A and difference value.