Abstract: A communication system for use in a switching module includes a low-side control block coupled to control switching of a low-side switch of the switching module. The low-side control block is further coupled to be referenced with a low-side reference system ground. A high-side control block is coupled to control switching of a high-side switch of the switching module. The high-side control block is further coupled to be referenced with a floating node of the switching module. During steady state operation, the low-side control block is coupled to send signals during each switching cycle to the high-side control block to turn the high-side switch on and off. A status update is communicated from the high-side control block to the low-side control block through a first single-wire communication link.

Abstract: A controller to regulate an output voltage of a power converter comprising a feedback reference circuit to generate a drive signal to control a power switch in response to the feedback signal and an output power control circuit configured to generate an adjust signal in response to an output current of the power converter and a desired value of an output power of the power converter, the adjust signal adjusts the feedback signal such that the controller regulates the output voltage to achieve the desired value of the output power. The output power control circuit further comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a calculator circuit, and an update circuit. The ADC provides a measure signal which is a digital representation of the output current, the calculator circuit determines a calculated value of the output voltage, and the update circuit further outputs an update signal to update the adjust signal.

Abstract: A controller to regulate an output voltage of a power converter comprising a feedback reference circuit to generate a drive signal to control a power switch in response to the feedback signal and an output power control circuit configured to generate an adjust signal in response to an output current of the power converter and a desired value of an output power of the power converter, the adjust signal adjusts the feedback signal such that the controller regulates the output voltage to achieve the desired value of the output power. The output power control circuit further comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a calculator circuit, and an update circuit. The ADC provides a measure signal which is a digital representation of the output current, the calculator circuit determines a calculated value of the output voltage, and the update circuit further outputs an update signal to update the adjust signal.

Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter comprising a feedback reference circuit coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of an output voltage of the power converter. A feedback reference circuit generates a drive signal in response to the feedback signal and the drive signal is used to control switching of a power switch of the power converter to regulate the output voltage. The controller further comprises an output power control circuit coupled to receive a current sense signal representative of an output current of the power converter and a power signal representative of a desired value of an output power of the power converter. The output power control circuit generates an adjust signal to adjust the feedback signal such that the controller modifies the output voltage to regulate to the desired value of the output power.

Abstract: A communication system for use in a switching module includes a low-side control block coupled to control switching of a low-side switch of the switching module. The low-side control block is further coupled to be referenced with a low-side reference system ground. A high-side control block is coupled to control switching of a high-side switch of the switching module. The high-side control block is further coupled to be referenced with a floating node of the switching module. During steady state operation, the low-side control block is coupled to send signals during each switching cycle to the high-side control block to turn the high-side switch on and off. A status update is communicated from the high-side control block to the low-side control block through a first single-wire communication link.

Abstract: A switching circuit with reverse current prevention for use in a Buck converter includes a power switch coupled to a coupling node, which is an interconnection point of a power switch, an inductor and a freewheeling diode of the Buck converter. The inductor is coupled between the coupling node and an output of the Buck converter, and the freewheeling diode is coupled between coupling node and an output return of the Buck converter. A controller is coupled to receive a feedback signal to control switching of the power switch to regulate a transfer of energy from the input to the output of the Buck converter. A reverse current prevention circuit is coupled to detect a reverse current condition of the power switch to generate an inhibit signal to inhibit the power switch from receiving a drive signal to prevent a reverse current through the power switch.

Abstract: A communication system for use in a switching module includes a low-side control block coupled to control switching of a low-side switch of the switching module. The low-side control block is further coupled to be referenced with a low-side reference system ground. A high-side control block is coupled to control switching of a high-side switch of the switching module. The high-side control block is further coupled to be referenced with a floating node of the switching module. During steady state operation, the low-side control block is coupled to send signals during each switching cycle to the high-side control block to turn the high-side switch on and off. A status update is communicated from the high-side control block to the low-side control block through a first single-wire communication link.

Abstract: A system for use with a motor includes a system controller and a device coupled to the system controller. The device includes a switching element and a current sense output terminal coupled to the system controller. The current sense terminal is coupled to provide a current signal representative of the current of the switching element.

Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter comprising a feedback reference circuit coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of an output voltage of the power converter. A feedback reference circuit generates a drive signal in response to the feedback signal and the drive signal is used to control switching of a power switch of the power converter to regulate the output voltage. The controller further comprises an output power control circuit coupled to receive a current sense signal representative of an output current of the power converter and a power signal representative of a desired value of an output power of the power converter. The output power control circuit generates an adjust signal to adjust the feedback signal such that the controller modifies the output voltage to regulate to the desired value of the output power.

Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a sense circuit coupled to generate a feedback signal representative of an output voltage of the power converter. A feedback reference circuit coupled to generate a drive signal in response to the feedback signal. An output power control circuit coupled to receive a current sense signal representative of an output current of the power converter and a power signal representative of a desired value of an output power of the power converter via an interface. The controller modifies the output voltage to regulate to the output power to the desired value.

Abstract: A lateral semiconductor field-effect transistor (FET) device fabricated on a substrate includes a high-voltage main FET having interdigitated, elongated source and drain electrode fingers each of which is electrically connected to a respective interdigitated, elongated source and drain region disposed in the substrate. The FET device further includes first and second sense FETs each having a drain region in common with the high-voltage main FET. The sense FETS also include respective first and second elongated source electrode fingers each of which is electrically connected to respective first and second elongated source regions of the first and second sense FETs, respectively. The first and second elongated source electrode fingers are disposed length-wise adjacent to one of the elongated drain electrode fingers. The first elongated source finger has a first length, and the second elongated source finger has a second length, the second length being less than the first length.

Abstract: A communication system for use in a switching module includes a low-side control block coupled to control switching of a low-side switch of the switching module. The low-side control block is further coupled to be referenced with a low-side reference system ground. A high-side control block is coupled to control switching of a high-side switch of the switching module. The high-side control block is further coupled to be referenced with a floating node of the switching module. During steady state operation, the low-side control block is coupled to send signals during each switching cycle to the high-side control block to turn the high-side switch on and off. A status update is communicated from the high-side control block to the low-side control block through a first single-wire communication link.

Abstract: A transient event detector includes a first reference generator, an adjustable low-pass filter, and a comparator. The first reference generator coupled to scale the input current signal to generate a first reference current signal that tracks the input current signal. The adjustable low-pass filter circuit is coupled to receive the input current signal and to generate a filtered input current signal such that a magnitude of a slope of the filtered input current signal is less than the magnitude of the slope of the input current signal during a transient event. The first comparator is coupled to generate an event detection signal that indicates the presence of the transient event in response to a value of the filtered input current signal reaching a value of the first reference current signal. The adjustable low-pass filter circuit is configured to increase the cutoff frequency in response to the event detection signal.

Abstract: A lateral semiconductor field-effect transistor (FET) device fabricated on a substrate includes a high-voltage main FET having interdigitated, elongated source and drain electrode fingers each of which is electrically connected to a respective interdigitated, elongated source and drain region disposed in the substrate. The FET device further includes first and second sense FETs each having a drain region in common with the high-voltage main FET. The sense FETS also include respective first and second elongated source electrode fingers each of which is electrically connected to respective first and second elongated source regions of the first and second sense FETs, respectively. The first and second elongated source electrode fingers are disposed length-wise adjacent to one of the elongated drain electrode fingers. The first elongated source finger has a first length, and the second elongated source finger has a second length, the second length being less than the first length.

Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a gate drive circuit coupled to generate a control signal to switch a power switch of the power converter. A zero current detection circuit is coupled to a multifunction pin coupled to receive a multifunction signal that is representative of an input voltage of the power converter when the power switch is on, and representative of an output voltage of the power converter when the power switch is off. The zero current detection circuit is coupled to generate a zero current detection signal. An overvoltage detection circuit is coupled to receive the multifunction signal and a state signal representative of a state of the power switch to generate in response to the state signal and the multifunction signal a line overvoltage signal and an output over voltage signal coupled to be received by the gate drive circuit.

Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a gate drive circuit coupled to generate a control signal to switch a power switch of the power converter. A zero current detection circuit is coupled to a multifunction pin coupled to receive a multifunction signal that is representative of an input voltage of the power converter when the power switch is on, and representative of an output voltage of the power converter when the power switch is off. The zero current detection circuit is coupled to generate a zero current detection signal. An overvoltage detection circuit is coupled to receive the multifunction signal and a state signal representative of a state of the power switch to generate in response to the state signal and the multifunction signal a line overvoltage signal and an output over voltage signal coupled to be received by the gate drive circuit.

Abstract: Thermally protected bleeder circuits for maintaining an input current of a power converter above a dimmer circuit holding current are disclosed. In one example, a bleeder control circuit may generate a bleeder control signal to control a bleeder current of the bleeder circuit based on an input current signal and a temperature signal. The bleeder control circuit may cause the bleeder current to be substantially equal to zero in response to the input current signal being greater than or equal to a reference signal, and may cause the bleeder current to be proportional to a difference between the input current signal and the reference signal in response to the input current signal being less than the reference signal. The reference signal may be constant for temperatures less than a threshold temperature, but may decrease with respect to increases in temperature for temperatures greater than the threshold temperature.

Abstract: A switching circuit with reverse current prevention for use in a Buck converter includes a power switch coupled to a coupling node, which is an interconnection point of a power switch, an inductor and a freewheeling diode of the Buck converter. The inductor is coupled between the coupling node and an output of the Buck converter, and the freewheeling diode is coupled between coupling node and an output return of the Buck converter. A controller is coupled to receive a feedback signal to control switching of the power switch to regulate a transfer of energy from the input to the output of the Buck converter. A reverse current prevention circuit is coupled to detect a reverse current condition of the power switch to generate an inhibit signal to inhibit the power switch from receiving a drive signal to prevent a reverse current through the power switch.

Abstract: A bleeder controller for controlling a magnitude of a variable current conducted by bleeder circuitry between input terminals of a device is disclosed. The magnitude of the variable current is controllable in response to a control signal. The bleeder controller includes a dimming detector to classify a half line cycle as leading-edge-dimmed or a trailing-edge-dimmed in response to at least one of an input current sense signal and an input voltage sense signal.

Abstract: A power conversion device includes a power switch a first main terminal coupled to a higher potential portion, a second main terminal coupled to a lower potential portion, and a tap coupled to the first main terminal to provide a current for charging a supply terminal capacitor. A controller is coupled to a control terminal of the power switch to control switching of the power switch to produce a regulated output. A supply terminal is to be coupled to a supply terminal capacitor to store a charge for supplying power to at least some of the components of the controller. A voltage regulator is coupled to regulate the charge stored and a potential on the supply terminal capacitor. The current for charging the supply terminal capacitor is selectively drawn from the tap of the power switch in response to the supply terminal capacitor being below a threshold.