Abstract: A connection device for connecting a load to a power supply, comprising at least first and second current control devices arranged in parallel between the power supply and the load, and a controller arranged to switch the current control devices on in sequence for temporally overlapping on periods.

Abstract: A two-stage multi-phase switching power converter operates its first stage during nominal operation responsive to a nominal clocking frequency and operates its second stage during the nominal operation responsive to a second-stage clocking frequency that is greater than the nominal clocking frequency. In response to an application of a load, the first stage temporarily increases its clocking frequency from the nominal clocking frequency and implements a fixed duty cycle.

Abstract: A voltage supply device for an aircraft control device having a first and a second main channel arrangement for redundancy and reliability, wherein the voltage supply device has a first and a second output transformer, wherein a first output inductor of the first main channel arrangement is designed as a primary winding of the first output transformer, and the second output inductor of the second main channel arrangement is designed as a primary winding of the second output transformer; and wherein the voltage supply device has at least a first secondary channel arrangement, wherein the first secondary channel arrangement has a first secondary voltage output and a first secondary winding of the first output transformer and a first secondary winding of the second output transformer, wherein the first secondary voltage output is connected to the first secondary windings which are connected in parallel.

Abstract: An apparatus for voltage regulation device adjustment includes a configuration module that determines a configuration of an electronic device, where determining the configuration includes determining which components are installed and information about the installed components. The electronic device includes a voltage regulator device (“VRD”) providing power to one or more of the components. The apparatus includes an environment module that measures one or more environmental variables relating to an operating environment of the electronic device. The apparatus includes a firmware selection module that selects new firmware for the VRD of the electronic device in response to the determined configuration and measured environmental variables, and a firmware update module that replaces previously installed firmware on the VRD with the new firmware. The new firmware includes control settings for the VRD.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for efficiently generating a stable output for a transient load for one or more components are described. In various embodiments, a power converter includes two feedback loops to separate the stability and the equivalent output resistance, which allows the bandwidth to increase. The first loop includes a compensator receiving an output current of an amplifier. Additionally, a first converter and a first current mirror generate a target current based on the output current of the amplifier. Based on the target current, multiple step-down converters generate an output voltage, which is returned to the amplifier through a resistor. The second loop includes a second converter with a first order series RC filter to reduce the second loop's response time. A second current mirror receives current from the second converter and generates a dynamically adapting feedback current, which flows through the resistor in the first loop.

Abstract: Circuits and methods for controlling a transistor that has first, second and third terminals, wherein a voltage level at said first terminal controls in part a current flow from said second terminal to said third terminal. A controller receives an voltage existing across the second and third terminals of the transistor, generates an isolated voltage and uses that voltage to power components of the controller. The controller provides a voltage to the first terminal of the transistor, whereby the controller regulates the voltage across the second and third terminals of the transistor by regulating the voltage provided to the first terminal.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a multi-phase voltage converter. The multi-phase voltage converter generally includes at least two converter stages coupled to an output node of the multi-phase voltage converter. Each of the at least two converter stages generally includes a switch disposed between an input node of the multi-phase voltage converter and the output node, the switch having a first resistance, and an inductive element coupled between the switch and the output node, the inductive element having a second resistance. In certain aspects, the first resistances of the at least two converter stages match and/or the second resistances of the at least two converter stages match.

Abstract: In a switching power-supply apparatus that controls magnitudes of output voltages of respective converters connected in parallel to be equal to a target voltage value, only a selected one of the converters is made to operate. In this state, correction values generated by the respective converters are received and stored in memory. Droop characteristics generated for the respective converters are corrected using the correction values. Accordingly, a switching power-supply apparatus and a droop characteristic correction method capable of correcting variations in droop characteristics generated for respective power converters are provided.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter with a high transformer ratio includes two DC-DC converter bodies with inputs connected in parallel and outputs connected in series so as to ensure the high safe reliability and the high energy conversion efficiency of the DC-DC converter, while increase the boost ratio of the DC-DC converter.

Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter employs peak current mode control and includes a cycle skipping prevent circuit. If a latch is set, then a high side switch is turned on. A comparator receives a signal indicative of current flow and a compensated error signal. The prevent circuit supplies a delayed version of a low duty cycle, fixed frequency, oscillator signal onto the set input lead of the latch. The prevent circuit gates a high signal as output by the comparator onto the reset input lead of the latch. If the output of the comparator has, however, not transitioned high by a predetermined time, then the prevent circuit gates a high pulse onto the reset input lead. Accordingly, the prevent circuit ensures that the latch is reset once every period of the signal SET. A cycle skipping prevent circuit is also disclosed for use in a converter that employs valley current mode control.

Abstract: A servo block in a Buck, Boost, or switching converter allows a positive offset to be applied to the DAC voltage. In a typical switching converter application, the load will have a positive current, sourced from the switching converter to ground through the load. This will cause the output voltage of the switching converter to fall with the output impedance. The servo block corrects the output voltage by adjusting the DAC voltage upwards. In the case where current is forced back into the switching converter, causing the output voltage to rise, the servo block will have affect. The behavior of the servo block is desirable as it reduces the negative affect the servo block may have on load transients occurring when the switching converter is in over voltage. In particular, the idea of shifting the DAC voltage for several different loops with a single servo block is disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a power conversion device configured to convert electric power from a power source to a load, including: a boosting device including a boost rectification unit configured to prevent backflow of a current from the load side to the power source side, the boosting device being configured to change a voltage of power from the power source to a predetermined voltage based on a drive signal; a commutation device configured to perform commutation operation in which a current flowing through the boosting device is caused to flow into an other path based on a commutation signal; and a signal generating module device configured as a module to generate and send an output signal based on an input signal that is input thereto. The input signal has an on-pulse width greater than a length of time where the output signal generated by the signal generating module device is turned on.

Abstract: A regulator circuit comprises: a regulator output node; at least (N+1) regulator control circuits, N being an integer greater than 1; N drivers, each one of the N drivers including: a multiplexer having an input port and an output port, the input port of the multiplexer being coupled with output nodes of the at least (N+1) regulator control circuits; an adjuster circuit configured to adjust a level of a current supplied by the driver to the regulator output node; and a task controller. The task controller is configured to: set a first one of the N+1 regulator control circuits to be idle during a first cycle of a clock signal; and set a second one of the N+1 regulator control circuits to be idle during a second cycle of the clock signal.

Abstract: A multiphase power converter has a plurality of phase circuits, each of which provides a phase current when being active. During single-phase operation of the multiphase power converter, an enhanced phase control circuit and method monitor the summation of the phase currents, and when the summation becomes higher than a threshold, switch the multiphase power converter to a higher power zone to increase the number of active phases. A high efficiency and high reliability multiphase power converter is thus accomplished.

Abstract: A load control device for regulating an average magnitude of a load current conducted through an electrical load may operate in different modes. The load control device may comprise a control circuit configured to activate an inverter circuit during an active state period and deactivate the inverter circuit during an inactive state period. In one mode, the control circuit may adjust the average magnitude of the load current by adjusting the inactive state period while keeping the active state period constant. In another mode, the control circuit may adjust the average magnitude of the load current by adjusting the active state period while keeping the inactive state period constant. In yet another mode, the control circuit may keep a duty cycle of the inverter circuit constant and regulate the average magnitude of the load current by adjusting a target load current conducted through the electrical load.

Abstract: A regulator circuit that employs coupled inductors with on-time modulation is disclosed. The regulator circuit includes a driver circuit coupled via first and second inductors to a power supply node of a load circuit, and may charge the power supply node via the first inductor for a first charging period, and charge the power supply node via the second inductor for a second charging period. A control circuit may determine durations of the first and second charging periods using respective pluralities of currents.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes a substrate having opposing first and second sides, a power stage attached to the first side of the substrate and having active semiconductor components operable to provide an output phase of the DC-DC converter, an inductor attached to the first side of the substrate and electrically connected to the power stage through a first metal trace at the first side of the substrate, and a plurality of electrically conductive vias extending through the substrate from the first side to the second side. The vias are electrically connected to the first metal trace. At least some of the vias are disposed at least partly under the power stage. A corresponding method of assembling such a DC-DC converter also is disclosed.

Abstract: Switched-mode power supply with switch resizing. A power converter can include an inductor coupled between an input node and an intermediate node, a semiconductor device coupled between the intermediate node and an output node, and a plurality of drive transistors. Each one of the plurality of drive transistors can have a drain coupled to the intermediate node and a source coupled to a ground potential.

Abstract: A resonant converter (100) includes at least two transistor switches (S1-S8), out of which at least two are connected in parallel, and out of which a number of available transistor switches (S1-S8) is available for performing a current switching of the resonant converter (100). A controlling module (101) is configured to determine whether an output power of the resonant converter (100) is below an output power threshold value. A switching module (102) is configured to employ a reduced number of transistor switches out of the number of available transistor switches (S1-S8), if the output power of the resonant converter (100) is below the output power threshold value. The reduced number is at least declined by one compared to the number of available transistor switches (S1-S8). The switching module (102) is configured to permute the employed reduced number of transistor switches over the available transistor switches (S1-S8).

Abstract: A method and a circuit of operating a multi-phase switching converter is presented. The circuit contains a plurality of phase circuits. The method includes setting an adaptive voltage positioning parameter of an adaptive voltage positioning controller and controlling an output voltage of the multi-phase switching converter using the adaptive voltage positioning controller. The method further includes generating a threshold voltage value based on the adaptive voltage positioning parameter, comparing the output voltage of the multi-phase switching converter with the threshold voltage value and performing at least one of enabling and disabling a phase circuit based on the comparison.

Abstract: According to some aspects of the present disclosure, example interleaved power supplies and corresponding control methods are disclosed. Example interleaved power supplies include an input terminal, an output terminal, and a first phase circuit coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal. The first phase circuit includes a first inductor and a first switch. The power supply also includes a second phase circuit coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal. The second phase circuit includes a second inductor and a second switch. The power supply further includes at least one current sensor, and a controller operable to control the first phase circuit and the second phase circuit in an interleaved mode when the sensed output current is below a current threshold and to control the first phase circuit and the second phase circuit in an in-phase mode when the output current is above the current threshold.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided with an MCU, which is configured to generate a PWM control signal that is free of switching pattern information therein. A current-estimating gate driver is provided, which is responsive to the PWM signal. This gate driver is configured to drive first and second gate terminals of first and second parallel switching devices (within a hybrid switch) with gate signals that establish a second switching pattern within the hybrid switch. These gate driving operations are performed in response to measuring a first voltage associated with a terminal of the hybrid switch when being driven by gate signals that establish a first switching pattern within the hybrid switch that is different from the second switching pattern. The duty cycles of the gate signals associated with the second switching pattern are unequal and the duty cycles of the gate signals associated with the first switching pattern are unequal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a resonant DC-DC power converter assembly comprising a first resonant DC-DC power converter and a second resonant DC-DC power converter having identical circuit topologies. A first inductor of the first resonant DC-DC power converter and a second inductor of the second resonant DC-DC power converter are configured for magnetically coupling the first and second resonant DC-DC power converters to each other to forcing substantially 180 degrees phase shift, or forcing substantially 0 degree phase shift, between corresponding resonant voltage waveforms of the first and second resonant DC-DC power converters. The first and second inductors are corresponding components of the first and second resonant DC-DC power converters.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes a substrate having opposing first and second sides, a power stage attached to the first side of the substrate and having active semiconductor components operable to provide an output phase of the DC-DC converter, an inductor attached to the first side of the substrate and electrically connected to the power stage through a first metal trace at the first side of the substrate, and a plurality of electrically conductive vias extending through the substrate from the first side to the second side. The vias are electrically connected to the first metal trace. At least some of the vias are disposed at least partly under the power stage. A corresponding method of assembling such a DC-DC converter also is disclosed.

Abstract: A multiphase switching converter with a plurality of phase circuits coupled with a common output node is presented. Each phase circuit has a drive signal generator to generate a separate drive signal for a switching element of the respective phase based on a feedback signal from the common output node. Multiple voltage loops with different bandwidths or hysteresis are suggested for a multiphase power converter. In embodiments, this allows a slow phase (‘Master’) with a big inductor and low switching frequency and one or multiple fast phases (‘Slaves’) with small inductors and high switching frequency. The Master phase will allow the system to have high efficiency at low output load, while the Slave phase(s) will deliver extra current during load transient and for higher loads.

Abstract: A power supply device coupled to a load includes a first switch that switches a current input from an input terminal, a second switch that switches between a ground potential and an output of the first switch, an inductor that establishes a connection between an output terminal and the output of the first switch, a current sensing circuit that senses a peak current value serving as a peak value of a current flowing through the inductor, and a control circuit that controls a first control terminal of the first switch and a second control terminal of the second switch and that calculates a value of an output current flowing through the load, based on an output value of a temporal coefficient circuit coupled to one of a first control signal.

Abstract: A method for performing phase shedding for a voltage converter having a multi-phase output stage circuit includes: sensing an input current of the voltage converter to generate a first digital signal when enabling at least one first output stage within the multi-phase output stage circuit; sensing the input current of the voltage converter to generate a second digital signal when further enabling a second output stage within the multi-phase output stage circuit; comparing the first digital signal with the second digital signal to generate a comparison resultant signal; dynamically adjusting the phase shedding threshold according to the comparison resultant signal, to automatically search/determine an optimal phase shedding threshold; and, performing the phase shedding when an operation of the voltage converter exceeds the optimal phase shedding threshold.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a processor having a plurality of cores and a control logic to control provision of a voltage/frequency to a first core of the plurality of cores independently of provision of a voltage/frequency to at least a second core of the plurality of cores. In some embodiments, the voltages may be provided from one or more internal voltage regulators of the processor. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: An interleaved DC-DC converter according to one or more embodiments includes a control circuit and N boost converters that are connected in parallel. The control circuit includes: an output voltage detection circuit that compares a detected voltage with a reference voltage, and outputs a comparison result as an error signal; N PWM generators that respectively generate pulses that on/off drive switching elements of the N converters; N current error amplifiers that compare current signals detected by respective current detectors with the error signal, and that outputs comparison results as feedback signals to the respective PWM generators; a differential detector that detects a difference between one feedback signal and another feedback signal for each of the feedback signals; and a latch circuit that stops all switching operations of the N converters when the differential detector detects that any one of the differences is a predetermined threshold value or more.

Abstract: A circuit can include a pair of switching devices that are coupled to an intermediate switching node and another pair of switching devices that are coupled to an output node. The circuit can further include a magnetic element that can help to store energy when the circuit transitions from a low state to a high state and release the energy when the circuit transitions from a high state to a low state. The circuit can include a control device to allow synchronous operation between the different pairs of switching devices. The magnetic element can help to reduce voltage swings at the output switching node. Thus, switching devices within each of the pairs can be optimized to allow for better performance of the circuit.

Abstract: A power supply system includes multiple power converters, each having an input and an output. The outputs of the power converters are connected together in parallel to produce a single system output. There is a shared command bus that is coupled to each one of the power converters. A control loop in (associated with) a designated one of the power converters is operable to generate a current command signal to be output onto the shared command bus. All of the parallel connected power converters in the power supply system are configured to receive the current command signal from the shared command bus and to adjust an amount of electrical current being supplied by that power converter in response to the current command signal.

Abstract: An overvoltage protection circuit adapted for a switching power supply is provided. The overvoltage protection circuit can use the time difference of the start of the overvoltage protection to distinguish that the overvoltage of the output voltage of the switching power supply is caused by the failure of the internal feedback or by the internal power supply, thereby avoiding a short and harmless external power supply to affect the normal operation of the switching power supply but can immediately stop the switching power supply to achieve protection when the switching power supply has an internal feedback failure.

Abstract: A regulator circuit includes a multiphase ramp generator circuit, an amplifier circuit configured to receive a plurality of phase sense signals and provide a plurality of respective error signals, and an adder circuit configured to receive the error signals and ramp generator signals. The ramp generator signals are received from the multiphase ramp generator circuit and the adder circuit is configured to provide a plurality of respective adjusted ramp generator signals. The regulator can be a multiphase switching regulator circuit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a processor having a plurality of cores and a control logic to control provision of a voltage/frequency to a first core of the plurality of cores independently of provision of a voltage/frequency to at least a second core of the plurality of cores. In some embodiments, the voltages may be provided from one or more internal voltage regulators of the processor. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a control circuit configured for an interleaved switching power supply having first and second voltage conversion circuits, can include: a feedback compensation signal generation circuit that generates a feedback compensation signal; a first power switch control circuit that activates a first on signal when a first voltage signal that represents an inductor current of the first voltage conversion circuit is less than the feedback compensation signal, a first power switch of the first voltage conversion circuit being turned on based on the first on signal, and turned off after a predetermined time; and a second power switch control circuit that activates a second on signal after half of a switching period from a rising edge of the first on signal, and a second power switch control signal to turn on a second power switch of the second voltage conversion circuit based on the second on signal.

Abstract: A pulse width modulated power converter is presented with load-adaptive power transistor scaling scheme using analog-digital hybrid control. The coarse digital control generates an approximate duty cycle necessary for driving a given load and selects an appropriate width of power transistors to minimize redundant power dissipation. The fine analog control provides the final tuning of the duty cycle to compensate for the error from the coarse digital control. The mode switching between the analog and digital controls is accomplished by a mode arbiter which estimates the average duty cycle for the given load condition from limit cycle oscillations induced by the coarse adjustments.

Abstract: A system and circuit for achieving bidirectional hysteretic current mode control of a converter. The system comprises a summer that provides a constant hysteresis and has added switching noise immunity, a comparator, a lossless inductor current sense means and a converter. A circuit using the inductors internal resistance for sensing the current through an inductor in a lossless manner is described. The circuit preserves both DC and dynamic current information while incorporating the RC time constant, difference amplifier and signal amplification, all using only one amplifier. This circuit provides excellent common mode and differential noise immunity, while still having a high bandwidth and small group delay of the current signal. A method to accomplish stability of a current mode controlled converter when closing the loop to control the output voltage with very high accuracy and gain is described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating a DC-to-DC voltage converter that has a power stage that includes at least one switching transistor. The output voltage of the DC-to-DC voltage converter is monitored. If the output voltage drops below a lower output voltage threshold, a series of drive pulses is provided to the at least one switching transistor to commence switching of the at least one switching transistor. If the output voltage rises above an upper output voltage threshold, a random number of additional drive pulses is provided to the at least one switching transistor and then the provision of drive pulses to the at least one switching transistor is ceased.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter including an input, an output, a conversion circuit, and a switch control circuit. The input inputs input voltage. The output outputs output voltage. The conversion circuit a plurality of semiconductor switches, and converts the input voltage to the output voltage by switching operation of one or more semiconductor switches of the plurality of semiconductor switches. The switch control circuit selects one or more semiconductor switches performing the switching operation from the plurality of semiconductor switches based on the input voltage and a predetermined lookup table, and controls the switching operation of the one or more semiconductor switches.

Abstract: A power supply having a primary side and a secondary side is disclosed. The power supply includes a main transformer having a first side and a second side. The first side is coupled to the primary side and the second side coupled to the secondary side. The power supply further includes a primary switch coupled to the first side and a synchronous rectification switch coupled to the second side. A controller is included for driving the primary switch and the synchronous rectification switch in several operation modes including the operation in continuous conduction mode. The controller is configured to determine and set a time between turning-off of the synchronous rectification switch and turning-on of the primary switch based on sampling of the peak voltage at the drain of the synchronous rectification switch and selecting the time that corresponds with the lowest peak voltage on the drain of the synchronous rectification switch.

Abstract: Control systems for a multi-level diode-clamped inverter and corresponding methods include a processor and a digital logic circuit forming a hybrid controller. The processor identifies sector and region locations based on a sampled reference voltage vector V* and angle ?e*. The processor then selects predefined switching sequences and pre-calculated turn-on time values based on the identified sector and region locations. The digital logic circuit generates PWM switching signals for driving power transistors of a multi-level diode-clamped inverter based on the turn-on time values and the selected switching sequences. The control system takes care of the existing capacitor voltage balancing issues of multi-level diode-clamped inverters while supplying both active and reactive power to an IT load. Using the control system, one can generate a symmetrical PWM signal that fully covers the linear under-modulation region.

Abstract: A voltage regulator control implementation dynamically detects and sets specified headroom for a low dropout (LDO) regulator at different loads to enable the LDO regulator to maintain high performance in conjunction with improved power efficiency. In one instance, an upstream voltage regulator may adaptively adjust an output voltage supplied to an input supply rail of a downstream LDO regulator based on an indication from the LDO regulator. The adaptively adjusted input voltage enables the downstream LDO regulator to achieve high performance and improved power efficiency across the entire range of load conditions.

Abstract: A power supply system. The power system includes a power supply controller for supplying a control signal. The power system also includes a plurality of MOSFET drivers controlled by the control signal. The power system also includes a plurality of power channels. Each of the power channels includes a plurality of MOSFETs that is controlled by a corresponding MOSFET driver. The plurality of power channels is configured to generate a plurality of power signals, wherein the control signal controls delivery of the plurality of power signals through each of the power channels.

Abstract: A two-phase DC/DC converter includes, as an inductor array, a pair of inductors to which a DC input voltage is alternately applied with a phase difference of about 180 degrees through switching control of switching devices. A duty ratio is substantially in a range from 5% to 40%, and a coupling factor between the inductors is substantially in a range from ?0.4 to ?0.1. With this configuration, ripple current in the inductors can be made to be smaller than in the case in which there is no coupling between the inductors even when the duty ratio considerably varies.

Abstract: A method for compensating for alternator to battery voltage drop in charging systems lacking external remote sensing capabilities and utilizing serial communications. A controller utilizes an adaptive variable for determining an alternator output voltage setpoint that compensates for battery cable voltage losses, and adjusting the setpoint to achieve substantially constant battery voltage of the entire range of alternator loads.

Abstract: In a digital power system a digital power receiver is electrically coupled with a power control element to receive electrical current therefrom. The power control element includes (i) a power conditioning circuit electrically coupled with an electrical power source and (ii) element controller circuitry electrically coupled with the power conditioning circuit. The element controller circuitry is configured to control and receive feedback from the power conditioning circuit, to receive a communication/synchronization signal, and to output digital power under packet energy transfer protocol.

Abstract: A circuit and method for providing improved load transient response in a DC-DC converter. A DCM modulator is incorporated into the converter controller to generate a DCM enable signal for the driver circuits for the converter. During normal operation, the DCM enable signal will remain in a first state and the driver circuits will operate in a continuous conduction mode. However, upon a load transient, the DCM enable signal will change to a second state and the driver circuits will operate in a discontinuous conduction mode.

Abstract: A switched mode power supply (100) comprises a reactive element (10) and a control signal generator (30) is arranged to generate a first control signal at a first output (31) of the control signal generator (30) and a second control signal at a second output (32) of the control signal generator (30). The first output (31) of the control signal generator (30) is coupled to a first input (21) of a switching stage (20) by means of a first control signal path (40) and the second output (32) of the control signal generator (30) is coupled to a second input (22) of the switching stage (20) by means of a second control signal path (50). The switching stage (20) is arranged to, responsive to the first and second control signals, alternately charge and discharge the reactive element (10) by coupling it alternately to first and second supply voltages.

Abstract: A multiphase power controller that generates a set of switching control signals to drive a set of power stages. The set of power stages generates an output that drives a load. The multiphase power controller includes a summer to generate an equivalent voltage representative of a sum of inductor currents from each of an inductor in the set of power stages. A threshold generation circuit generates a set of threshold signals in response to a set of control outputs and a reference. A set of comparators generates the set of control outputs, in response to the equivalent voltage and the set of threshold signals. A state machine generates a set of phase control signals in response to the set of control outputs. The set of control outputs changes a number of the set of switching control signals.

Abstract: A DC conversion device including a first DC converter and a second DC converter connected in series, a voltage difference adjusting unit, and a first and a second control unit is provided. The first and the second DC converter respectively receive a first and a second input current to generate a first output current and a first output voltage, a second output current and a second output voltage at a first and a second output end connected to a first and a second energy-storing element, respectively. The voltage difference adjusting unit generates a voltage difference adjusting signal. The first control unit generates a first control signal to control the first converter. The second control unit generates a second control signal according to the voltage difference adjusting signal to control the second converter to balance the first and the second input and output voltages.