Abstract: A pulse charging for a battery includes multi-stage voltage conversion. At first stage, an input voltage from a power supply is divided into a plurality of intermediate voltages. At second stage, one or more of the plurality of intermediate voltage are further down converted to generate one or more portions of a charging pulse to be applied to the battery. The down conversion of the input voltage to the output voltage is accompanied by increase in charging current that is applied to the battery. The higher charging current applied to the battery results in fast charging of the battery. Also, the described multi-stage voltage conversion circuitry has high efficiency which alleviates problem of heat dissipation associated with the voltage conversion for charging of the battery.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter of a synchronous rectification type includes a synchronous rectification transistor and a backflow detection circuit which detects a reverse current based on a voltage across the synchronous rectification transistor. The backflow detection circuit includes a first-stage differential input circuit including a first transistor, a first resistor, a second transistor, a second resistor and a fifth transistor, and a second-stage differential input circuit including a third transistor and a fourth transistor. The fifth transistor is of a same conductive type as the synchronous rectification transistor and contains a drain connected to the other end of the first resistor with respect to an end connected to the first transistor.

Abstract: A control system for a wireless power transfer (WPT) system includes current sampling modules, voltage sampling modules, a logic conversion circuit, and a controller area network (CAN) communication module that are all connected to a microprocessor module; the current sampling module is connected to the logic conversion circuit through a signal isolation circuit, the logic conversion circuit is connected to a pulse-width modulation (PWM) module, the PWM module is connected to an inverter circuit or a DC/DC converter, and the current sampling module and the voltage sampling module are connected to a primary side or a secondary side of the WPT system; transmitter coils on the primary side are spaced apart on the road, a receiver coil on the secondary side is disposed on a chassis of an electric vehicle, and the transmitter coil includes a double rectangular coil, a ferrite core surface, and a shielding aluminum plate.

Abstract: A control device of a power supply system includes a processor configured to set a sampling period, at which measurement values of a reactor current flowing through a reactor of a DC-DC converter and measured by an ammeter are sampled, so as to minimize a sum of differences between the length of a first period in a switching cycle of a switching element of the DC-DC converter and an integer multiple of the sampling period and between the length of a second period in the switching cycle and an integer multiple of the sampling period, the reactor current increasing during the first period and decreasing during the second period; sample, at intervals of the sampling period, measurement values of the reactor current measured by the ammeter; and average measurement values sampled in the switching cycle, thereby measuring an average of the reactor current in the switching cycle.

Abstract: In a power converter that includes a switched-capacitor circuit connected to a switched-inductor circuit, reconfiguration logic causes the switched-capacitor circuit to transition between first and second switched-capacitor configurations with different voltage-transformation ratios. A compensator compensates for a change in the power converter's forward-transfer function that would otherwise result from the transition between the two switched-capacitor configurations.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes a high-side switch coupled between a first power supply and an output terminal, a low-side switch coupled between a second power supply and the output terminal, an inductor coupled to the output terminal, and a reverse current monitoring circuit that determines that a reverse current from the inductor to the output terminal occurs when the output terminal becomes a high voltage during a state in which the high-side switch and the low-side switch are in a dead time.

Abstract: A system includes: 1) a battery configured to provide an input voltage (VIN); 2) switching converter circuitry coupled to the battery, wherein the switching converter circuitry includes a power switch; 3) a load coupled to an output of the switching converter circuitry; and 4) a control circuit coupled to the power switch. The control circuit includes: 1) a switch driver circuit coupled to the power switch; 2) a summing comparator circuit configured to output a first control signal that indicates when to turn the power switch on; and 3) an analog on-time extension circuit configured to extend an on-time of the power switch by gating a second control signal with the first control signal, wherein the second control signal indicates when to turn the power switch off.

Abstract: A converter circuit. In one aspect, the converter circuit includes an input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal, and first, second, third and fourth capacitors coupled to a plurality of switches, where the plurality of switches are arranged to repetitively cycle the first, second, third and fourth capacitors between a first state and a second state to generate first and a second output voltages, where in the first state, the first and second capacitors are connected in parallel with each other and in series with a third capacitor to apply a first fraction of an input voltage at the first output terminal, and in the second state, the first and second capacitors are connected in series with each other and in parallel with the fourth capacitor to apply a second fraction of the input voltage at the second output terminal.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a control system of a buck converter, relating to the field of Internet of Things. The control system of a buck converter provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first control module, a second control module, and a mode selector. The first control module is turned on and the second control module is turned off through an analog current sensor in the mode selector when an IoT device switches from a transmission mode to a sleep mode or a standby mode, so that the first control module outputs a first voltage pulse to the driving and level shifter module, wherein a frequency of the first voltage pulse is determined by a frequency of a first clock in the first control module, and a width of the first voltage pulse is determined by a frequency of a second clock in the first control module.

Abstract: A power management circuit operable with low battery is provided. The power management circuit is configured to generate a time-variant average power tracking (APT) voltage based on a battery voltage supplied by a voltage source (e.g., battery). In examples disclosed herein, the power management circuit can be configured to remain operable when the battery voltage drops below a low battery threshold. Specifically, the power management circuit maintains the time-variant APT voltage at a constant level in response to the battery voltage dropping below the low battery threshold to thereby avoid drawing a rush current from the voltage source. As a result, a wireless device employing the power management circuit can remain operable with low battery to continue to support critical applications.

Abstract: An electronic switch includes a current sensor and a semiconductor switch having two semiconductors configured to carry and disconnect a current in both directions, and a control circuit configured to operate the semiconductor switch by pulse-width modulation and to determine a phase control factor of the pulse-width modulation as a function of measurement values of the current sensor such that in fault-free operation, the electronic switch remains in the ON state and that two limit values exist for protection. The electronic switch is operated by pulse-width modulation when a first one of the two limit values is exceeded, and the electronic switch is switched off when a second one of the two limit values, which is greater than the first limit value, is exceeded. The electronic switch is configured to reduce an edge steepness of a switching edge as the phase control factor decreases.

Abstract: A circuit includes a reference voltage generator circuit and a regulation loop circuit having an output voltage terminal. The regulator circuit further includes a fault detection circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the output voltage regulator terminal of the regulation loop circuit. The fault detection circuit asserts, on an output terminal of the fault detection circuit, a fault flag signal responsive to a voltage on the first input terminal falling below a first threshold. A programmable filter is coupled between the reference voltage generator circuit and the regulation loop circuit and is coupled to the fault detection circuit. The programmable filter has a programmable time constant. The programmable filter responds to an assertion of the fault flag signal by decreasing the time constant.

Abstract: An apparatus for electric power conversion includes a converter having a regulating circuit and switching network. The regulating circuit has magnetic storage elements, and switches connected to the magnetic storage elements and controllable to switch between switching configurations. The regulating circuit maintains an average DC current through a magnetic storage element. The switching network includes charge storage elements connected to switches that are controllable to switch between plural switch configurations. In one configuration, the switches forms an arrangement of charge storage elements in which at least one charge storage element is charged using the magnetic storage element through the network input or output port. In another, the switches form an arrangement of charge storage elements in which an element discharges using the magnetic storage element through one of the input port and output port of the switching network.

Abstract: A wireless power receiver according to some embodiments includes an integrated circuit which includes: a full-bridge rectifier coupled to receive wireless power from a receiver coil; a wireless receiver controller coupled to control the full-bridge rectifier; a pass device coupled between the full-bridge rectifier and an output; and a configurable controller coupled to the switch, the configurable controller configurable as a LDO controller or a Buck controller. A second controller can be coupled to the configurable controller that interfaces to an external Buck low-side transistor if the configurable controller is the Buck controller and provides GPIO if the configurable controller is the LDO controller. A third controller can be coupled to the full-bridge rectifier, which operates as a full-bridge sync rectifier driver multiplexer to select an external driver for one or more of the rectifier transistors. Other features are also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a bias voltage calibration circuit adapted for a signal receiving device. The bias voltage calibration circuit includes a reference voltage generator, a voltage-current converter, and a bias current generator. The reference voltage generator receives a voltage adjustment signal, and adjusts a voltage value of a generated reference voltage according to the voltage adjustment signal. The voltage-current converter is coupled to the reference voltage generator, and converts the reference voltage to generate a reference current. The bias current generator generates a plurality of bias currents according to the reference current, and provides the bias current to an equalization circuit of the signal receiving device in a calibration mode.

Abstract: A voltage-regulating circuit comprising: a voltage regulator, a switch, a first comparing circuit for comparing the amplitude deviation between the input voltage and the output voltage to a first threshold, a second comparing circuit for comparing the amplitude of the output voltage to a second threshold, and a control circuit for commanding the switch to open or close depending on the comparisons made by the first comparing circuit and by the second comparing circuit. Also disclosed is a regulated power-supply module comprising such a voltage-regulating circuit.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an isolated multi-phase DC/DC converter with a reduced quantity of blocking capacitors. In one aspect, the converter includes a multi-phase transformer having a primary circuit and a secondary circuit magnetically coupled to the primary circuit, the primary circuit having a first quantity of terminals, and the secondary circuit having a second quantity of terminals; a third quantity of blocking capacitors, each being electrically connected in series to a respective one of the terminals of the primary circuit; and a fourth quantity of blocking capacitors, each being electrically connected in series to a respective one of the terminals of the secondary circuit. The third quantity is one less than the first quantity. The fourth quantity is one less than the second quantity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a current detection circuit, semiconductor device, and a semiconductor system suitable for improving a current sensing accuracy. According to one embodiment, the current detection circuit 12 comprises a sense transistor Tr11 through which a first sense current proportional to the current flowing through the drive transistor MN1 flows, an operational amplifier AMP1 for amplifying the potential difference of the voltage of the external output terminal OUT and the source voltage of the sense transistor Tr11 for outputting the first sense current, a transistor Tr12 provided in series with the sense transistor Tr11 and to which the output voltage of the operational amplifier AMP1 is applied to the gate, and a switch SW3 provided between the external output terminal OUT and the source of the sense transistor Tr11 and turned on when the drive transistor MN1 is turned off.

Abstract: A converter system includes a first switch, a sample-and-hold unit configured to provide a comparison signal based on a feedback signal when the first switch is switched off, and hold the comparison signal independent from the feedback signal when the first switch is switched on, and a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) generator, coupled between the sample-and-hold unit and first switch, configured to generate a PWM signal based on the comparison signal, wherein the first switch is configured to be switched on and off based on the PWM signal.

Abstract: A PFM control circuit includes a switching circuit, a slope-decision circuit, a flip-flop, a first and a second comparison circuits. The first comparison circuit outputs a first signal according to an output voltage of a power conversion circuit. The switching circuit outputs a switching signal according to an output current of the power conversion circuit. The slope-decision circuit outputs a slope modulation voltage, and determines a slope modulation voltage with a first or a second slope according to the switching signal. The second comparison circuit outputs the second signal according to the slope modulation voltage. The flip-flop outputs a control signal to the power conversion circuit according to the first and the second signals. When the slope modulation voltage has the first or the second slope, the control signal has a first or a second frequency accordingly. The first frequency is higher than the second frequency.

Abstract: A power supply system includes: a first power storage device; a second power storage device having a lower voltage than the first power storage device; a DC-DC converter including a choke coil, a first switching element, a diode connected in parallel with the first switching element, and a second switching element; a semiconductor relay configured to switch a connection state between a second end of the choke coil and the second power storage device; and a controller configured to perform PWM control of the first switching element and the second switching element to control ON and OFF of the semiconductor relay. When an ON time of the second switching element is controlled to become zero and a current flowing out from the second power storage device exceeds a first reference current, the controller reduces a duty ratio of an ON time of the first switching element.

Abstract: A switching power converter circuit may include output voltage overshoot mitigation circuitry that can modify operation of the converter responsive to an overvoltage condition by switching from a pulse width modulation (PWM) mode to a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) mode. A clamp may be provided to clamp a control voltage or a compensating capacitor voltage of the main output voltage control loop (e.g., a PWM control loop) to a control voltage of the PFM loop. An output pull down circuit may be provided to temporarily apply a load to the converter output.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for operating a bidirectional voltage converter with an input-side half-bridge, an output-side half-bridge, and a bridge branch having a bridge inductance, comprising: determining an actual mean bridge current value flowing through the bridge branch during a respective subsequent switching cycle T1 of the transistor switches in a respective current switching cycle T0; determining switch-on time points and switch-on durations of the respective transistor switches for the respective subsequent switching cycle T1; and switching on the respective transistor switches at the respective ascertained switch-on time points and for the respective ascertained switch-on durations in the respective subsequent switching cycle T1.

Abstract: A bidirectional charging and discharging circuit is coupled between a voltage source and a capacitive load and configured to drive the capacitive load. The bidirectional charging and discharging circuit includes a first switch, comprising a first terminal coupled to the voltage source; a second switch, comprising a first terminal coupled to a second terminal of the first switch, and a second terminal coupled to a ground; an inductor, comprising a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first switch and the first terminal of the second switch; a third switch, comprising a first terminal coupled to a second terminal of the inductor, and a second terminal coupled to a first terminal of the capacitive load; and a fourth switch, comprising a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the inductor and the first terminal of the third switch, and a second terminal coupled to a ground.

Abstract: A bus bar arrangement including two or more bus bars arranged for conducting currents, wherein the two or more busbars are arranged parallel and at a distance from each other, the arrangement including a magnetic structure which is arranged between two bus bars which are next to each other.

Abstract: A simulation current signal generation circuit applied to a power conversion circuit is disclosed. The power conversion circuit has an output terminal and includes an output stage, a PWM circuit and an impedance component. One terminal of impedance component is coupled to the output terminal. The generation circuit includes a first current signal circuit, a second current signal circuit and a switching circuit. The first current signal circuit, coupled to another terminal of impedance component, provides a first current signal. The second current signal circuit, coupled to the output stage, senses a current of a power switch in the output stage to provide a second current signal. The switching circuit, coupled to the first current signal circuit, second current signal circuit and PWM circuit respectively, selectively outputs the first current signal or second current signal according to a PWM signal provided by the PWM circuit.

Abstract: A power supply adjusting system, method and apparatus, a chip, and an electronic device. The system includes: a power supply, a power storage circuit and a control circuit the control circuit is connected to the power supply and the load when in use; and the control circuit is configured to obtain a workload change condition of the load and to control, in a case where the workload change condition is that the load increases, the power supply to decrease the supply voltage so that the power storage circuit outputs power to supply power to the load.

Abstract: Circuits, devices and methods related to mode-switching of amplifiers. In some embodiments, an audio controller can include a mode state engine configured to receive an enable signal and generate a control signal for controlling a mode transition of an amplifier between a current source mode and a voltage source mode, with the mode transition of the amplifier resulting in an artifact sound. The audio controller can further include an enable component configured to provide the enable signal to the mode state engine based on a masking sound in an audio signal, such that the artifact sound is substantially masked by the masking sound during the mode transition of the amplifier.

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: Existing modular multi-level converters can be bulky because their submodule capacitors are comparatively large. To address this shortcoming in the state of the art, the present disclosure provides electronic power circuits and their use in power converters and in modular multi-level converters. The disclosed power circuits include connection terminals connected to electrically controllable bidirectional two-quadrant switches and to capacitors, as well as inductors that are magnetically coupled and operate to equalize voltages of the capacitors.

Abstract: This present invention is an invented high-performance error amplifier concept and unique circuitry architecture for controller of switching mode power supply (SMPS). The invented error amplifier comprises a front-end buffer circuit, an embedded differential amplifier, an N-MOSFET based output driving stage and coupled passive RC network. The embedded error amplifier is constructed with two differential pair inputs and an output amplification stage. N-MOSFET output stage coupled to the output of the embedded differential amplifier enhances the load driving capability of proposed error amplifier. The clamp voltage can be configured by another passive network and an output stage with two current sources. This invention allows user to arbitrarily configure the clamp voltage level regardless of the error amplifier's bias voltage. In addition, the highly accurate clamp voltage level can be achieved without temperature drift issue.

Abstract: A power converter and methods with an input terminal, a capacitor, a first output terminal, a second output terminal, an output switch between the first output terminal and the second output terminal, and an inductor are presented. A first terminal of the inductor is connected to the first output terminal. An input switch is connected between the input terminal and a first terminal of the capacitor. A first capacitive charging switch is connected between the first terminal of the capacitor and the second output terminal. A second capacitive charging switch is connected between the second output terminal and a second terminal of the capacitor. A ground switch is connected between the second terminal of the capacitor and a reference potential. The power converter can convert electrical power into electrical power for powering an external device d or into electrical power for charging an external energy storage device.

Abstract: A control method and a control circuit for a switching power supply circuit and the switching power supply circuit. The switching power supply circuit includes a main switching transistor, a synchronous rectifier and an inductive element. When a switching signal indicates that the synchronous rectifier is turned from on to off, and the main switching transistor is turned from off to on, a gate voltage of the synchronous rectifier is pulled down to be lower than a threshold voltage of the synchronous rectifier and higher than a zero voltage by using a resistor-capacitor delay effect and timing is started. When a gate voltage of the main switching transistor is detected to rise to a first voltage or the timing reaches a first time, the gate voltage of the synchronous rectifier is pulled down to the zero voltage.

Abstract: A switching converter having a voltage input, a voltage output and a transistor connected between the voltage input and the voltage output, the switching converter including a control circuit comprising: a gate driver having an input, a first voltage supply input, a second voltage supply input and an output operable to be connected to a control terminal of the transistor; a bootstrap capacitor connected between the first voltage supply input and the second voltage supply input; and a charge pump having an input operable to be connected to the voltage input and an output connected to the first voltage supply input.

Abstract: A gate driver circuit which may include an input; high-side and low-side outputs; a signal conversion circuit configured to generate a high-side drive signal at the high-side output such that a delay time separates a transition of the high-side drive signal and a transition of a low-side drive signal at the low-side output; and a monitoring circuit configured to monitor a voltage at an output of a half-bridge and to pull the low-side output to a level for turning off a low-side switching device of the half-bridge on a condition that the voltage exceeds a voltage threshold. The monitoring circuit may control the low-side drive signal such that the delay time is a minimum delay necessary to prevent shoot-through of the half-bridge. The signal conversion circuit may generate the high-side drive signal such that the delay time is a minimum delay necessary to prevent shoot-through of the half-bridge.

Abstract: There is provided a technique that includes: a first transistor used as an input, which is installed on a path through which a current to be regulated flows; a second transistor used as an output, which is connected to the first transistor to form a current mirror circuit; a resistor installed on a path of a current flowing through the second transistor; a stabilizing circuit configured to match an operating point of the second transistor with an operating point of the first transistor; and a transistor controller configured to regulate a voltage to be supplied to a control terminal of the first transistor according to a current detection signal that corresponds to a voltage drop across the resistor.

Abstract: A power distribution system includes a solid state power controller (SSPC). The SSPC includes a microcontroller having at least one voltage sense input. The microcontroller is configured to selectively allow a current through the SSPC in response to a common mode voltage to ground and/or a SSPC differential voltage meeting or exceeding a respective pre-determined threshold. A method of operating a SSPC includes determining whether at least one of a common mode voltage to ground or a SSPC differential voltage meet or exceed a respective pre-determined threshold. The method includes selectively allowing a current through the SSPC in response to at least one of the common mode voltage to ground or the SSPC differential voltage meeting or exceeding the respective pre-determined threshold.

Abstract: A constant on-time controller (COT) includes: a voltage dividing circuit to generate a feedback voltage according to an output voltage of a buck regulator; a current ripple extracting circuit to sense a current from an inductor of a buck regulator, and generate an extracted ripple current having no DC component according to a sensed current; a one-shot on-timer to output a constant-on time control signal according to a regulator input voltage of the buck regulator and the output voltage; a comparing circuit to output a comparison result according to a reference voltage signal, the feedback voltage and the extracted ripple current; and a logic circuit to generate a control signal to the buck regulator according to the comparison result and the constant-on time control signal. The current ripple extracting circuit detects the DC component in the present cycle, and compares the detected DC component with the next cycle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for power distribution are disclosed. A system includes a first power domain that supplies current to an integrated circuit at a first voltage level, a second power domain that supplies current to the integrated circuit at a second voltage level, and a current distribution component that is connected to the first power domain and connectable to the second power domain and senses a metric comprising a first current level or a first voltage level drawn from the first power domain, determines whether the metric exceeds a first threshold, and in response to determining that the metric exceeds the first threshold, electrically connects the second power domain to the integrated circuit to supply additional current such that an aggregate current level received by the integrated circuit comprises current from the first power domain and the additional current from the second power domain.

Abstract: A DC voltage step-down converter, includes at least one first resistive element in series with a first switch between a first terminal and a second terminal of application of a first DC voltage; and a capacitive element between a third terminal and a fourth terminal for supplying a second DC voltage smaller than the first one, the node between said first resistive element and the first switch being coupled by a diode to said third terminal, said first switch being turned on when the second voltage is greater than a reference voltage of the second voltage.

Abstract: A pulse width modulation output stage incorporates a half bridge output stage, a gate control circuit, a detection circuit, and a control logic. The half bridge output stage has a first transistor and a second transistor connected in series between a power supply node and a ground node. The gate control circuit outputs a pulse width modulation signal to drive the first transistor and the second transistor. The detection circuit detects whether or not a glitch occurs in one of the gate voltages of the first and second transistor so as to generate a control code. The logic circuit varies the delay time of the pulse width modulation signal based on the control code.

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 converter comprises a first switching element and a second switching element coupled between an input power source and an output capacitor and an inductor coupled to a common node of the first switching element and the second switching element, wherein the second switching element comprises a first diode and a first switch connected in series between a first terminal and a second terminal of the second switching element and a second diode connected between the first terminal and the second terminal of the second switching element.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to adjust a transient response. An example apparatus includes a clamping circuit including a first input, a second input, a third input, and an output, wherein the first input is adapted to be coupled to a selector, a reference voltage generator including an output, wherein the output of the reference voltage generator is coupled to the second input of the clamping circuit, an error amplifying circuit including an output, wherein the output of the error amplifying circuit is coupled to the third input of the clamping circuit, and a pulse width modulator including an input, wherein the input of the pulse width modulator is coupled to the output of the clamping circuit.

Abstract: A power factor improvement circuit that performs, on the basis of an output voltage when a switching power-supply apparatus is in a light-load state or a no-load state, a burst operation for switching between states of the switching operation of a switching element includes: a first circuit that outputs a first voltage that corresponds to the error between a reference voltage and a voltage obtained by dividing the output voltage; and a clamp circuit that, while the burst operation is performed, clamps the lower limit of the first voltage, which decreases when the switching operation of the switching element is disabled, at a lower-limit voltage higher than the ground voltage of the power factor improvement circuit and clamps the upper limit of the first voltage, which increases when the switching operation of the switching element is performed, at an upper-limit voltage.

Abstract: A buck converter is disclosed that may operate in a low power mode or a high power mode based on a power requirements of a load. In the high power mode, modifications to increase frequency response include a higher polling frequency for a comparator, a lower impedance divider in a feedback circuit, a higher biasing current for a comparator, and larger switches for providing current to a reactive step-down circuit of the buck converter. In the low power mode these modifications are reversed. The buck converter may make use of an improved strong arm comparator and a circuit for sensing presence of an inductor in the reactive step-down circuit.

Abstract: A switch mode power supply controller includes a switch terminal adapted to be coupled to an inductor that drives a load, high- and low-side switches a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit, and a current monitor circuit. The PWM circuit is coupled to a feedback terminal for receiving a feedback signal, and alternatively drives the high-side switch and the low-side switch with a duty cycle set using the feedback signal to regulate an output voltage to a desired level in a work mode, and keeps both the high-side switch and the low-side switch non-conductive in a non-work mode. The current monitor circuit provides a current monitor signal representative of a current driven from the inductor to the load, wherein the current monitor circuit forms the current monitor signal by measuring an inductor current during a work mode, and by emulating the inductor current during a non-work mode.

Abstract: A power device driving method and a driving circuit for a switching circuit having a main switching transistor, a synchronous rectifier, and an inductive element. When a switching signal indicates that the synchronous rectifier is turned from on to off and the main switching transistor is turned from off to on, a gate voltage of the synchronous rectifier is pulled down to be lower than a threshold voltage of the synchronous rectifier and higher than zero voltage by a body effect of a MOS transistor, and timing is started. When detecting that a gate voltage of the main switching transistor rises to a first voltage or the timing reaches a first time, the gate voltage of the synchronous rectifier is pulled down to the zero voltage.

Abstract: A controller of a switching voltage regulator estimates a load current based upon a current within the voltage regulator, a change in the output voltage of the voltage regulator, and the capacitance and/or equivalent series resistance (ESR) of an output capacitor. For sharp drops in the output voltage, the output capacitor's ESR provides a better estimate of the load current, whereas the output capacitance provides a better estimate for moderate output voltage drops. These techniques allow the voltage regulator controller to more quickly detect excessive load current, and issue an over current warning to the load with little latency. The fast response afforded by these techniques provides the load, e.g., a CPU or GPU, sufficient time to reduce its current, thereby avoiding a complete shutdown due to excessive load current.

Abstract: A downhole tool and a method for operating the downhole tool are disclosed. A first power signal is supplied to the downhole tool from a power source at a first frequency. A bidirectional chopper at the downhole tool chops the first power signal to generate a second power signal having a second frequency greater than the first frequency. The second power signal is used to operate the downhole tool.