Abstract: In an embodiment, a system may support a “coast mode” in which the power management unit (PMU) that supplies the supply voltage to an integrated circuit is disabled temporarily for certain modes of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may continue to operate, consuming the energy stored in capacitance in and/or around the integrated circuit. When coast mode is initiated, a time interval for coasting may be determined. When the time interval expires, the PMU may re-enable the power supply voltage.

Abstract: A buck converter includes a power switch having a first end to receive an input voltage, a synchronous switch connected between a second end of the power switch and the ground, an inductor having a first end connected to the other end of the power switch, and a switch control circuit configured to turn off the synchronous switch when a zero voltage delay time passes after an inductor current flowing through the inductor reaches a predetermined reference value, calculate a dead time based on the input voltage and the zero voltage delay time, and turn on the power switch when the dead time passes following the turn-off time of the synchronous switch.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for current sensing and error correction, or at least adjustment, for a switching regulator. One example current-sensing circuit generally includes a first amplifier, a buffer, a low-pass filter, a first switch coupled between an output of the first amplifier and an input of the buffer, a second switch coupled between the output of the first amplifier and an input of the low-pass filter, a third switch coupled between an output of the buffer and the input of the low-pass filter, and a fourth switch coupled between the input of the low-pass filter and a reference node for the circuit.

Abstract: A circuit includes a current sensor to sense a switching current flowing at input side of a switching DC-DC converter. An output capacitor filters an output voltage at an output side of the switching DC-DC converter. A feed-forward circuit passes a portion of the sensed switching current to a feedback path on the output side of the switching DC-DC converter simulating a changing effective series resistance (ESR) of the output capacitor to facilitate operating stability in the switching DC-DC converter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a voltage boosting circuit capable of modulating duty cycle automatically, which comprises an inductor, a switching module, and a control circuit. The inductor is coupled to an input for receiving an input power. The switching module is coupled among the inductor, a ground, and an output for switching so that the input power can charge the inductor and produce charged energy, or for switching so that the charged energy of the inductor can discharge to the output and produce an output voltage. The control circuit outputs at least a control signal according to the charged energy and the output voltage for controlling the switching module to switch the inductor and provide the input power to the output, to switch the charged energy of the inductor to discharge to the output, or to switch the input power to charge the inductor.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a power controller. A method may include comparing a summation voltage comprising a sum of an amplified error voltage and a reference voltage with an estimated voltage to generate a comparator output signal. The method may also include generating a gate drive signal from the comparator output signal and filtering a signal coupled to a power stage to generate the estimated voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a low voltage direct current (DC)-DC converter (LDC) for an eco-friendly vehicle includes a reference current receiver for receiving a reference current, a ramp signal generator for generating a ramp signal by overlapping an input current of the LDC, and a DC offset and a sawtooth wave for adjusting a gradient of the ramp signal, and a comparator for generating a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal using the reference current received by the reference current receiver and the ramp signal generated by the ramp signal generator.

Abstract: A method and a device for monitoring the output current from a DC static converter. The monitoring device has a switching device for switching a switch on the DC static converter, in accordance with a hysteresis regulation of the output current from a DC static converter within a hysteresis range defined by a lower limit value and an upper limit value. A switch on the DC static converter is switched by the switching device when the value passes out of the hysteresis range and at least one limit value is modified to compensate for switching delays by way of a compensating circuit connected to the switching device.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes receiving an enable signal. After the enable signal is asserted, it is determined whether a soft-start capacitor is electrically connected to an input of a ramp generator circuit while keeping an output of the ramp generator circuit low. If the soft-start capacitor is electrically connected to the input of the ramp generator circuit, a first current is injected into the input of the ramp generator circuit to generate a first voltage ramp at the output of the ramp generator circuit. If the soft-start capacitor is not electrically connected to the input of the ramp generator circuit, a second current is injected to the input of the ramp generator circuit to generate a second voltage ramp at the output of the ramp generator circuit. The second current is smaller than the first current.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a high current control strategy and a low current control strategy using fixed threshold values and variable threshold values. An electrical quantity related to an electrical current which is to be switched is received on an input. The electrical quantity related to the electrical current is compared with a predefined first fixed threshold value in a first comparator for determining a first logical state. The electrical quantity is compared with a first variable threshold value in a second comparator for determining a second logical state. The electrical current is switched between an ON state and an OFF state in response to a switching signal on an output terminal when the electrical quantity of the electrical current meets the first variable threshold value. The first logical state, the second logical state and the switching signal provided at the output terminal vary the first variable threshold value.

Abstract: Systems and methods for individual phase temperature monitoring and balance control in a multi-phase voltage regulator may include a plurality of smart power stages including a first smart power stage and a second smart power stage and a voltage regulator controller. The voltage regulator controller may send a first control signal to the first smart power stage to enable the first smart power stage to send a first temperature of the first smart power stage to the voltage regulator controller during a first phase of a switching cycle. The voltage regulator controller may also determine that the first temperature received by the voltage regulator controller corresponds to the first smart power stage based on the first control signal. The voltage regulator controller may further send a second control signal to the second smart power stage to enable the second smart power stage to send a second temperature to the voltage regulator controller during a second phase.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter for a vehicle includes a controller programmed to, in response to changes in an output voltage of the converter, adjust a control signal that controls an output voltage of the DC-DC converter to drive a ratio of a first error between a reference current and a current through the inductor to a second error between a voltage reference and the output voltage to a predetermined value.

Abstract: Circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch and a power converters that includes circuitry for soft shutdown are described. In one aspect, circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch includes a sense input to be coupled to a power switch receive a signal representative of current passing through the power switch, a comparator to compare the signal with an overcurrent threshold indicative of an overcurrent condition of the power switch and to output a triggering signal in response to the comparison indicating the overcurrent condition, and a gating transistor to be coupled to a control terminal of the power switch, the gating transistor configured to divert a portion of a drive signal away from the control terminal of the power switch in response to the triggering signal.

Abstract: Described are apparatuses and methods of current balancing, current sensing and phase balancing, offset cancellation, digital to analog current converter with monotonic output using binary coded input (without binary to thermometer decoder), compensator for a voltage regulator (VR), etc. In one example, apparatus comprises: a plurality of inductors coupled to a capacitor and a load; a plurality of bridges, each of which is coupled to a corresponding inductor from the plurality of inductors; and a plurality of current sensors, each of which is coupled to a bridge to sense current through a transistor of the bridge.

Abstract: A resonant converter adopts adaptive on-time control to provide better transient response. When the output voltage of the resonant converter varies, the on-time length of a power switch in power stages is adjusted, so that the switching frequency and the gain are regulated and optimized.

Abstract: At least some aspects of the present disclosure provide for a circuit. In one example, the circuit includes a logic circuit having multiple inputs and multiple outputs, a calculated discontinuous conduction (DCM) (TDCM) timer having an input coupled to one of the logic circuit outputs and an output coupled to one of the logic circuit inputs, an on-time (TON) timer having an input coupled to one of the logic circuit outputs and an output coupled to one of the logic circuit inputs, and a hysteresis timer having an input coupled to one of the logic circuit outputs and multiple outputs coupled to multiple of the logic circuit inputs.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a method comprises comparing an output voltage for a multi-phase DC-DC switching power converter to a reference voltage to produce an error voltage. The method further comprises, for a first inductor, generating a first dual-ramp voltage signal having a first DC voltage level, and level-shifting the first dual-ramp voltage signal to form a second dual-ramp voltage signal having a second DC voltage level different from the first DC voltage level. Further, the method comprises switching on a first power switch coupled to the first inductor according to a duty cycle determined responsive to a comparison of the second dual-ramp voltage signal to the error voltage, where the level-shifting of the first dual-ramp voltage signal adjusts the duty cycle of the first power switch to balance a current in the first inductor with a current in a second inductor for the multi-phase DC-DC switching power converter.

Abstract: A circuit device includes a comparator and a flag signal generation circuit. The comparator includes a first voltage-time conversion circuit to which at least a first input signal is input and which outputs a first time information signal, a second voltage-time conversion circuit to which at least a second input signal is input and which outputs a second time information signal, and a determination circuit that determines magnitude relation of the first input signal and the second input signal, based on the first time information signal and the second time information signal. The flag signal generation circuit generates a flag signal indicating that a voltage difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is a predetermined voltage or less, based on the first time information signal and the second time information signal.

Abstract: An electric power conversion device which performs conversion to desired voltage using charge and discharge of a DC capacitor includes: a reactor connected to a rectification circuit; a leg part in which diodes and first and second switching elements are connected in series between positive and negative terminals of a smoothing capacitor, and to which the reactor is connected; and the DC capacitor. A control circuit performs high-frequency PWM control for the first and second switching elements using the same drive cycle, with their reference phases shifted from each other by a half cycle, and controls a sum and a ratio of ON periods of the first and second switching elements in one cycle, thereby allowing both high-power-factor control for input AC current and voltage control for the DC capacitor.

Abstract: A method for controlling a power converter includes generating a load detection signal in response to a conduction signal and a driver input signal, and generating a gate control signal in response to the load detection signal. The gate control signal is delayed by a delay amount in response to the load detection signal. An apparatus for controlling a power converter includes a gate signal control circuit generating a load detection signal in response to a conduction signal and a driver input signal, and a synchronous rectifier (SR) driver generating a gate control signal in response to the load detection signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nonlinear and time-variant signal processing, and, in particular, to methods, systems, and apparatus for adaptive filtering and control applicable to switching power supplies.

Abstract: A multi-phase power converter includes a plurality of power channels arranged in parallel to drive an output of the power converter, and a channel selection circuit. Each of the power channels includes a driver, a feedback control circuit coupled to an output of the driver, and a comparator coupled to the feedback control circuit. The channel selection circuit is coupled to the feedback control circuit of each of the power channels. The channel control circuit is configured to: select a different specific one of the power channels to activate in each of a plurality of phases, and introduce an offset voltage into each of the feedback control circuits, except the feedback control circuit of the specific one of the power channels. The feedback control circuit is configured to apply the offset to bias driver output feedback voltage away from a threshold voltage at which the power channel is activated.

Abstract: A dimmer interface circuit for reducing ringing on a drive signal to a lighting device. The dimmer interface circuit controls brightness of the lighting device and receives a brightness control voltage from a dimmer circuit. The dimmer interface includes a voltage converter and a charge store, which is coupled to receive charge from an inductive component to convert the brightness control voltage to the converter output voltage. The dimmer interface circuit also includes control circuitry to control the voltage converter such that a difference between the brightness control voltage and the converter output voltage at a time of transition of the brightness control voltage is closer to a target voltage difference.

Abstract: A load communication device and method is provided, that identifies and transmits to a PSU the load requirement to operate a load device that is powered by the PSU, by analyzing the characteristics of current applied to the load device by a given input voltage generated by the PSU. The load communication device is configured to transmit between the PSU and the load device solely over the 2 wire cable that extends between the PSU and the load device.

Abstract: A switching device and a power semiconductor module are configured with a substrate, a power semiconductor component arranged thereupon and with a load connection device. The substrate incorporates mutually electrically-insulated printed conductors and wherein the load connection device, preferably for an AC potential, comprises at least two partial connection devices, having mutually corresponding contact surfaces and being interconnected in an force-fitted or materially-bonded manner and, on the contact surfaces, an electrically conductive manner, wherein a first partial connection device has a first contact device, which is force-fitted or materially-bonded to the printed conductor of the substrate, and wherein a second partial connection device has a second contact device for the further, preferably external, connection of a load connection device.

Abstract: A multi-phase switch mode, voltage regulator has a transient mode portion in which a phase control output is coupled to one or more control inputs of one or more switch circuits that conduct inductor current through one or more transient phase inductors, from amongst a number of phase inductors. A slew mode control circuit detects a high slope and then a low slope in the feedback voltage and, in between detection of the high slope and the low slope, pulses the phase control output of the transient mode portion so that the switch circuit that conducts transient phase inductor current adds power to, or sinks power from, the power supply output. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus system is provided which comprises: a first component to receive a first signal via a first delay circuit; a second component to receive a second signal via a second delay circuit; and one or more circuitries to tune a first delay of the first delay circuit and a second delay of the second delay circuit, based at least in part on monitoring of a voltage level.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided which comprises: at least two switches in series between an input voltage node and a ground terminal; an inductor coupled between a mid-point of the at least two switches and an output terminal; a first circuitry to compare a current through the inductor with a threshold current, and to control one or both of the at least two switches, based at least in part on the comparison; and a second circuitry to randomly vary the threshold current over consecutive cycles of switching of the at least two switches.

Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatuses, systems and methods for regulating the currents provided by a DCDC buck converters to an LED unit are provided. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a regulating element operable to instruct and regulate the periods during which a first switch of a driver module, used to control the operation of a buck converter module, is configured into at least one of a first operating state and a second operating state such that the maximum and minimum currents provided by the buck converter module to a load, such as an LED unit, over a given duty cycle are symmetrically disposed about an average current provided to the LED unit during the duty cycle, where the average current provided is substantially equal to a target current for the LED unit.

Abstract: A power converter with adaptive zero-crossing current detection is provided. The power converter includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) controller, a low-pass filter, and a delay controller. The first transistor is coupled between a supply voltage and a common node. The second transistor is coupled between the common node and a ground voltage. The common node has a reactive voltage. A reactive current flows through the common node. The PWM controller selectively enables and disables the first transistor and the second transistor according to a second control signal and a first transistor control signal. The low-pass filter is coupled between the common node and an output node. The delay controller generates the second control signal according to the reactive voltage.

Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods having a power switching unit to receive a first voltage and provide a second voltage having a value based on a value of the first voltage, a first loop to provide digital control information to control a switching of the power switching unit in order to maintain a relationship between the value of the second voltage and a value of a reference voltage, and a second loop coupled to the power switching unit and the first loop to calculate a value of energy consumption of at least a portion of the apparatus based at least on the digital control information.

Abstract: A fast switching time is highly desired in the design of mobile handsets. The limiting factor in the switching time is the resistor through which bias is applied to amplifiers used within such handsets. Bypassing the bias resistor when amplifiers are transitioning is a way to improve switching time without compromising the RF performance. Methods and devices to generate short pulses without relying on a continuously running clock and used to bypass bias resistors are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a busbar current control circuit, a constant current drive controller and an LED light source, wherein the busbar current control circuit comprises a branch resistor, a branch capacitor and a branch current source, the branch resistor and the branch capacitor are connected in parallel to form a branch, one end of the branch is connected a position between the busbar resistor and the load, and the other end is connect to the branch current source; the branch current source outputs to the branch a current of adjustable magnitude, the sum of the voltage on the busbar resistor and the voltage on the branch resistor remains constant.

Abstract: In the dither current power supply control method, in order to prevent occurrence of a difference between the target average current and the detected average current, which is caused when a medium current (I0) between a dither large current (I2) and a dither small current (I1) and a waveform average (Ia) of the dither current are different from each other depending on a response time difference (a?b) between a rise time (b) and a fall time (a) of the dither current, negative feedback control is carried out by using a command medium current corresponding to the target average current corrected by a correction parameter based on experimentally measured data, thereby suppressing occurrence of a transient fluctuation error by the negative feedback control, so that a highly precise and stable load current is acquired.

Abstract: One embodiment pertains to a method including determining the duty cycle of a PWM signal, operating in valley current control mode when the duty cycle is greater than fifty percent, operating in peak current control mode when the duty cycle is less than fifty percent, and including, commencing a PWM pulse upon the occurrence of a pulse of a first clock signal pulse, and terminating the PWM pulse upon a level of a signal exceeding a positive window threshold.

Abstract: At least one method, apparatus and system disclosed involves performing a dynamic voltage compensation in an integrated circuit. A first voltage on a first portion of an integrated circuit is received. A second voltage on a second portion of the integrated circuit is monitored. A determination is made as to whether the second voltage fell below the first voltage by a predetermined margin. A feedback adjustment of the of the second voltage is performed in response to a determination that the second voltage fell below the first voltage by the predetermined margin; the feedback adjustment comprises performing a step up of the second voltage.

Abstract: A multi-phase switching voltage regulator includes a controller and a plurality of power stages each configured to deliver output current to a load through an inductor. At least one of the inductors has a higher open circuit inductance than the other inductors so that at least one of the power stages has a different output inductance compared to the other power stages. The controller is configured to control switching of the power stages so as to regulate an output voltage of the multi-phase switching voltage regulator, including allowing all of the power stages to provide current to the load through the respective inductors during a full power event at the load and preventing all of the power stages except for the at least one power stage having the higher open circuit inductance from providing current to the load during a low power event at the load.

Abstract: A system configured to provide galvanic isolation of data or power signals between primary and secondary sides.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe a SMPS system, comprising a SMPS and an inductor current sensing device. The SMPS comprise a high-side (HS) switch and a low-side (LS) switch coupled in series and an output filter including an inductor and a capacitor coupled to a switch node formed by the HS and LS switches. An inductor current is supplied by the inductor to a load. The inductor current sensing device coupled across the LS switch has a first input configured to receive a node signal indicating a voltage level at the switch node, a second input configured to receive an input voltage of the system and a third input configured to receive an output voltage of the system.

Abstract: Controller circuitry controls power supply circuitry to produce an output voltage. During operation of the power supply circuitry to produce the output voltage, the controller circuitry calculates a magnitude of capacitance of output capacitor circuitry in the power supply. According to one configuration, the controller circuitry utilizes a calculated magnitude of capacitance as a basis to adjust settings of the power supply circuitry.

Abstract: An operational parameter is accessed at a data storage device. The operational parameter is encoded using a serial data protocol. The encoded operational parameter is superimposed on an activity indicator signal outputted by the data storage device. The activity indicator signal is configured to be coupled to a light emitting diode.

Abstract: Various methods and devices that involve pulsed signals are disclosed. An example minimum pulse-width (MPW) circuit comprises a first and second logic circuit. A first input of the first logic circuit is connected to an input of the MPW circuit. A first input of the second logic circuit is communicatively coupled to an output of the first logic circuit. The MPW circuit also comprises a MPW filter circuit communicatively coupled to an output of the second logic circuit, a one-shot circuit communicatively coupled to an output of the minimum pulse-width filter circuit and located on a first feedback path, and another one-shot circuit communicatively coupled to the output of the minimum pulse-width filter circuit and located on a second feedback path. A second input of the first logic circuit is on the first feedback path. A second input of the second logic circuit is on the second feedback path.

Abstract: The voltage monitoring circuit includes a first multiplexer, a controller, a resistor-network circuit and a first comparison circuit. The first multiplexer receives a plurality of first subject voltages. The controller controls the first multiplexer to output one of the plurality of first subject voltages and generates a testing signal including a plurality of electric potentials. The controller is configured to output the plurality of electric potentials switching according to a switch command. The resistor-network circuit is configured to sequentially generate a plurality of first reference voltages according to switches of the plurality of potentials. The first comparison circuit is configured to sequentially compare each of the plurality of first reference voltages to the first subject voltage for sequentially outputting a plurality of first comparing results and sending the plurality of first comparing results to the controller so that a voltage value of the first subject voltage is determined.

Abstract: A method (and system) includes receiving, at a computing device including a design tool application, design parameters indicative of a plurality of power supply loads to be powered. The method further includes generating power supply solutions that do not include multi-channel voltage regulators and generating power supply solutions that do include multi-channel voltage regulators. The method also includes ranking all power supply solutions and providing the ranked power supply solutions to a user.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a power stage, a switch and a controller. Power is transferred from an input through the power stage to an output. The switch turns on and off a current provided to the power stage for transferring the power. The controller turns on and off the switch. During a low-load mode, the controller causes the switch to operate with a constant on-time control.

Abstract: A maximum power point tracking method is provided. The method includes the following steps. Perform a power conversion operation by a converter according to a duty cycle signal so as to convert an input power supplied by an energy harvester into an output power, wherein the converter includes an inductor, and a current flowing through the inductor increases in an energy-storing duration and decreases in an energy-releasing duration. Obtain a length of the energy-releasing duration. Adjust the duty cycle signal according to the length of the energy-releasing duration so as to track a maximum power point of the input power or the output power.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a synchronous rectification control method can include: (i) setting or updating a count value when a rectification switch is turned on; (ii) generating an off enable signal after a delay time corresponding to the count value has elapsed; (iii) turning off the rectification switch based on the off enable signal, and comparing a drain-source voltage of the rectification switch against a reference voltage; and (iv) generating a comparison signal for updating the count value based on the drain-source voltage and the reference voltage.

Abstract: A control circuit and a method for a programmable power supply are provided. The control circuit and the method modulate a switching frequency of a switching signal in response to a feedback signal and an output voltage of the programmable power supply. The switching signal is used for switching a transformer and regulating an output of the programmable power supply. The level of the feedback signal is related to the level of an output power of the programmable power supply. The output voltage of the programmable power supply is programmable. Further, the control circuit and the method modulate a maximum switching frequency of the switching signal in response to the output voltage of the programmable power supply for stabilizing the system.

Abstract: A method of controlling the stability of a power converter in a closed-loop control system. The method includes inputting a variable to be controlled such as an output voltage of the power converter to a compensator or mathematical function for processing; determining, using the compensator, an error signal representative of a difference between the output voltage and a reference voltage; evaluating an energy content in a short-time Fourier transform spectrogram of the error signal from the compensator and/or evaluating the sinusoidality shape of the error signal; updating a transfer function of the compensator and other system parameters in accordance with the energy content or sinusoidality.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of operating a switched-mode power converter includes defining at least one of a minimum switching frequency threshold and a maximum switching frequency threshold; detecting valleys occurring in a voltage over the switching element when the switching element is in an off-state; and either in a quasi-resonant mode, switching the switching element on when an nth consecutive valley occurs, n being an integer equal to or greater than one, so that the actual switching frequency is at least one of: below the maximum switching frequency threshold and above the minimum switching frequency threshold, or in a forced switching frequency mode, switching the switching element on so that the actual switching frequency is the maximum or the minimum switching frequency.