Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated controller for use with a power supply employing a pulse width modulator and a method of operation thereof. In one embodiment, the integrated controller includes a primary control circuit configured to provide a control signal to the pulse width modulator. Additionally, the integrated controller includes a feedback circuit configured to monitor an output signal of the pulse width modulator and to modify the control signal thereby enabling a substantially monotonic increase in an output voltage of the power supply output voltage during a non-steady state period of operation thereof.

Abstract: A method for determining the effect of load impedance on the magnitude and phase of loop gain of a power converter apparatus to aid in predicting stability of the converter apparatus under various operating conditions. The converter apparatus has an open-loop output impedance and provides an output signal to an output locus.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing a DC magnetic flux bias in a transformer and a power converter employing the system or the method. The power converter has a full bridge switching circuit coupled across a primary winding of a transformer and a hybridge rectifier circuit coupled across a secondary winding of the transformer. The transformer is subject to the DC magnetic flux bias as a result of an imbalance in the hybridge rectifier circuit. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a sensor configured to develop a signal representing the DC magnetic flux bias in the transformer; and (2) a controller, coupled to the sensor, configured to operate the full bridge switching circuit as a function of the signal thereby to reduce the DC magnetic flux bias.

Abstract: A method of mounting a power semiconductor die on a substrate, a package for the die and a power supply including the package. The die has a first power terminal on a first surface thereof and a second power terminal on an opposing second surface thereof. The method including the steps of: (1) forming an electrically-conductive, mechanical bond between the first surface and a first location on the substrate, the mechanical bond electrically coupling the first power terminal to the substrate and (2) soldering an elongated electrically conductive strap to the second surface and a second location on the substrate, the conductive strap composed of a material having an electrical resistivity at most about 5.0.times.10.sup.-8 ohm-meters (.OMEGA.-m) and forming a low impedance path between the second power terminal and the second location.

Abstract: A power converter having an input and output and a method of operating the power converter. In one embodiment, the power converter includes a power transformer having primary and secondary windings and a power switch coupled to the input and configured to impress an input voltage across the primary winding. The power converter further includes a hybridge synchronous rectifier coupled to the secondary winding and including first and second synchronous rectifier switches. The power converter still further includes a separate drive winding wound on the power transformer and coupled between the first and second synchronous rectifier switches. The separate drive winding is configured to alternately energize the first and second synchronous rectifier switches.

Abstract: For use with a power supply including first and second parallel-coupled converters having interleaved first and second switches, respectively, the first and second switches limited to a duty cycle of less than about 50 percent, a current mode control circuit and a method of current-mode controlling the power supply. In one embodiment, the current mode control circuit, includes: (1) an interconverter current transformer, coupled to an input of the power supply, that senses an input current of the power supply and (2) a controller, coupled to the current transformer, that moderates the duty cycle of the first and second switches as a function of the input current to cause the first and second converters to share an output current of the power supply.

Abstract: A method of mounting a power semiconductor die on a substrate, a package for the die and a power supply including the package. The die has a first power terminal on a first surface thereof and a second power terminal on an opposing second surface thereof. The method including the steps of: (1) forming an electrically-conductive, mechanical bond between the first surface and a first location on the substrate, the mechanical bond electrically coupling the first power terminal to the substrate and (2) soldering an elongated electrically conductive strap to the second surface and a second location on the substrate, the conductive strap composed of a material having an electrical resistivity at most about 5.0.times.10-.sup.8 ohm-meters (.OMEGA.-m) and forming a low impedance path between the second power terminal and the second location.

Abstract: A drive circuit for a converter and a method of driving a converter. The converter includes an inverter and a synchronous rectifier. The drive circuit includes: (1) a modulation circuit for generating a drive waveform for controlling the inverter and the synchronous rectifier employing a negative feedback loop, (2) a modification circuit, coupled to the modulation circuit, for sensing an operating condition of the converter and shifting a portion of the drive waveform as a function of the operating condition, the modification circuit thereby creating a variable drive waveform from the drive waveform without employing negative feedback and (3) a transmission circuit, coupled to the modification circuit, for applying the variable drive waveform to the converter, thereby allowing a variable nonconcurrent change in state of the inverter and the synchronous rectifier according to the function of the operating condition.

Abstract: A magnetic device, a method of manufacturing the magnetic device and a DC/DC converter employing the magnetic device.

Abstract: A power converter with a self synchronized synchronous rectifier includes one or two drive windings to provide positive drive to the control electrodes of the controlled switches (FETs) of a self synchronized synchronous rectifier. The polarities of these windings are selected so that the switched devices are driven appropriately to rectify the periodic signal output of the secondary winding of the power transformer of the converter. In some arrangements one or two drive windings are included as extra windings in the power transformer and connected to provide the proper polarity drive signals. The turn ratios of the drive windings to the other windings are selected to provide the proper gate drive signal levels. In an alternative arrangement a separate drive transformer may be provided to supply the gate drive signals.

Abstract: A power inverter efficiency is optimized at high frequency in a fully resonant inverter operating with a range of load impedance that takes into consideration switching loss and conducting loss as a combined overall effect. Within this range of load impedance the inverter is constrained to operate with switching loss which is generally considered unacceptable in a conventional high frequency high efficiency power inverter, but the overall combined high efficiency of the disclosed power inverter has a wider range of load impedances than has been previously achieved in such a resonant power inverter. Non-linear capacitance across switching the device is positively utilized in achieving this goal.

Abstract: A self-oscillating power converter utilizes a MOSFET power transistor switch with its output electrode coupled to a tuned network that operatively limits the voltage waveform across the power switch to periodic unipolar pulses. The transistor switch may be operated at a high radio frequency so that its drain to gate interelectrode capacitance is sufficient to comprise the sole oscillatory sustaining feedback path of the converter. A reactive network which is inductive at the operating frequency couples the gate to source electrodes of the transistor switch and includes a variable capacitance as a means of adjusting the overall reactance, and hence the converter's switching frequency in order to provide voltage regulation. A resonant rectifier includes a tuned circuit to shape the voltage waveform across the rectifying diodes as a time inverse of the power switch waveform.

Abstract: A self-oscillating power converter utilizes a MOSFET power transistor switch with its output electrode coupled to a tuned network that operatively limits the voltage waveform across the power switch to periodic unipolar pulses. The transistor switch may be operated at a high radio frequency so that its drain to gate interelectrode capacitance is sufficient to comprise the sole oscillatory sustaining feedback path of the converter. A reactive network which is inductive at the operating frequency couples the gate to source electrodes of the transistor switch and includes a variable capacitance as a means of adjusting the overall reactance, and hence the converter's switching frequency in order to provide voltage regulation. A resonant rectifier includes a tuned circuit to shape the voltage waveform across the rectifying diodes as a time inverse of the power switch waveform.

Abstract: A drive circuit for a converter and a method of driving a converter. The converter includes an inverter and a synchronous rectifier. The drive circuit includes: (1) a modulation circuit for generating a drive waveform for controlling the inverter and the synchronous rectifier employing a negative feedback loop, (2) a modification circuit, coupled to the modulation circuit, for sensing an operating condition of the converter and shifting a portion of the drive waveform as a function of the operating condition, the modification circuit thereby creating a variable drive waveform from the drive waveform without employing negative feedback and (3) a transmission circuit, coupled to the modification circuit, for applying the variable drive waveform to the converter, thereby allowing a variable nonconcurrent change in state of the inverter and the synchronous rectifier according to the function of the operating condition.

Abstract: A power converter with a self synchronized synchronous rectifier includes one or two drive windings to provide positive drive to the control electrodes of the controlled switches (FETs) of a self synchronized synchronous rectifier. The polarities of these windings am selected so that the switched devices are driven appropriately to rectify the periodic signal output of the secondary winding of the power transformer of the converter. In some arrangements one or two drive windings are included as extra windings in the power transformer and connected to provide the proper polarity drive signals. The turn ratios of the drive windings to the other windings are selected to provide the proper gate drive signal levels. In an alternative arrangement a separate drive transformer may be provided to supply the gate drive signals.