Abstract: Timing circuitry causes: a first closed signal on a first switch control output before a signal on a second switch control output changes from a second closed signal to a first open signal; the first switch control output to provide a second open signal after a first selected time after the second switch control output changes from the second closed signal to the first open signal; and a third switch control output to provide a third closed signal a second selected time after the first switch control output changes from the first closed signal to a third open signal. A beginning of the first closed signal to a beginning of the first open signal is based on a later of: a current through a switch connected to the second switch control output exceeding a threshold current; and a clocked time after the beginning of the first closed signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new method of power converter regulation, in particular regulation of very high frequency (VHF) power converters operating at frequencies in the MHz range, wherein accurate output regulation utilizes inherent delays in the regulation loop, whereby, contrary to hysteresis on/off control, the new method does not require immediate responses to comparisons of a sense voltage to two reference voltages; rather, according to the new method, only one reference voltage is used, and delays in the feedback loop are allowed to cause some variation of an output of the power converter.

Abstract: The invention proposes a system and method for extending the maximum duty cycle of a step-down switching converter to nearly 100% while maintaining a constant switching frequency. The system includes a voltage mode or current mode step-down converter driven by a leading edge blanking (LEB) signal, which operates at the desired switching frequency. More particularly, the LEB signal is connected to a slope generator and/or a current sense network. In each switching cycle, the LEB signal forces the slope signal and/or current sense signal to reset, thereby achieving a constant switching frequency. Corresponding methods for how to extend the maximum duty cycle of a step-down switching converter while maintaining a constant frequency are also disclosed.

Abstract: A PFC module is disclosed and contains an actively clocked PFC circuit (104) comprising at least one controlled switch (S1), and an integrated circuit (103) as a control unit which controls during a half-wave of the input voltage(Vin)of the actively clocked PFC circuit (104) the at least one switch(S1) of the actively clocked PFC circuit (104) with a fixed operating frequency in discontinuous current mode(DCM) The integrated circuit (103) sets the switch-on time (ton) of the at least, one switch (S1)dependent on the amplitude of the input voltage (VIN) of the actively clocked. PFC circuit (104), and keeps constant the switch-on time (ton) for at least two consecutive switching cycles within the half-wave of the input voltage (VIN), Also disclosed are a system containing the PFC module and a method for operating the PFC module.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing inductor ringing of a voltage converter are provided. In certain configurations, a voltage converter includes an inductor connected between a first node and a second node, a plurality of switches, and a bypass circuit having an activated state and a deactivated state. The switches includes a first switch connected between a battery voltage and the first node, a second switch connected between the first node and a ground voltage, a third switch connected between the second node and the ground voltage, and a fourth switch connected between the second node and the output. The bypass circuit includes a first pair of transistors connected between the first node and the second node and configured to turn on to bypass the inductor in the activated state and to turn off in the deactivated state.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for gate boosted drivers for integrated power stages. In one example, a gate driver includes an output stage comprising an n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) pull-up transistor and an NMOS pull-down transistor, where the NMOS pull-up transistor and the NMOS pull-down transistor are coupled at an output node. The gate driver further includes a bootstrap circuit comprising a main bootstrap capacitor, where the bootstrap capacitor provides a supply voltage for driving the NMOS pull-up transistor. The gate driver further includes a high voltage generator coupled with the main bootstrap capacitor via a transistor switch and a replica bootstrap circuit comprising a replica bootstrap capacitor. The replica bootstrap circuit generates a reference voltage that regulates a drain current of the transistor switch, and the regulated drain current of the transistor switch charges the main bootstrap capacitor from the high voltage generator.

Abstract: A current sensor for biomedical measurements includes: a first amplifier; a first capacitor; a second capacitor; a first switch connected in parallel with the first capacitor; a second switch connected in parallel with the second capacitor; a second amplifier; a third capacitor; a resistor; and a switched capacitor network. The first capacitor and the second capacitor are connected in series and across a first input and output of the first amplifier. The third capacitor and the resistor are respectively connected across a first input and output of the second amplifier. The switched capacitor network is connected between the output of the first amplifier and the first input of the second amplifier.

Abstract: Method and system for maintaining output voltage regulation of a non-synchronous switching regulator providing a voltage supply to a main load. The method includes determining, using an electronic processor, that the main load is transitioning from a first load state to a second load state. The method also includes connecting, using the electronic processor, a switchable load to the non-synchronous switching regulator in response to determining that the main load is transitioning from the first load state to the second load state.

Abstract: Adaptive-on-time techniques to improve the frequency variations inherent in constant-on-time COT converters are presented. A switching converter contains a power switch; a pulse generator adapted to generate a pulsed signal to switch the power switch on with a switching frequency; a ramp generator adapted to generate a ramp signal; and a controller adapted to detect a parameter of the ramp signal, compare the parameter with a reference value, and to generate a control signal based on the comparison to control the switching frequency. This allows controlling a switching frequency of the converter without increasing a noise level of the converter.

Abstract: Provided is a light-emitting element drive device including a transistor control unit arranged to drive and control a transistor connected to a light-emitting element, an output ground fault detection unit arranged to output an output ground fault detection signal corresponding to the voltage level at a connection node between the light-emitting element and the transistor, a stop control unit arranged to stop driving the transistor when the output ground fault detection signal indicates an output ground fault, and a mask signal generation unit arranged to generate a mask signal that masks the output ground fault detection signal on device startup.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for implementing a voltage regulator. The voltage regulator includes a power field effect transistor (FET) comprising a gate terminal. The voltage regulator further includes a charge pump, the charge pump comprising a capacitor switchably coupled to the gate terminal. The voltage regulator further includes a current outputting amplifier switchably coupled to the capacitor.

Abstract: The present invention introduces a new compact Voltage Regulator Module (VRM) solution that hybrids a buck converter with a resonant switched-capacitor auxiliary circuit that is connected at the load side. By using a new control concept of the present invention, the auxiliary circuit effectively mimics increased capacitance during loading and unloading transient events, reducing the burden on both the input and output filters, and reduces the current stress.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter including digital circuitry for determining load current supplied to a load. In some embodiments the digital circuitry determines the load current differently based on whether the DC-DC converter is operating in pulse frequency modulation mode or pulse width modulation mode. In some embodiments the DC-DC converter includes circuitry for determining if a short circuit or over current condition exists.

Abstract: A method includes generating a first feedback signal in response to a tracking signal indicating an output signal of the power converter. The method further includes detecting an overshoot of the tracking signal or an undershoot of the tracking signal, generating a second feedback signal in response to the detection result and the first feedback signal, and generating a modulation signal in response to the second feedback signal. A circuit includes an overshoot-and-undershoot (OU) signal generator detecting an overshoot of a tracking signal or an undershoot of the tracking signal. The circuit further includes a feedback signal modulator receiving a first feedback signal and generating a second feedback signal in response to the detection result and the first feedback signal and a modulation controller generating a modulation signal in response to the second feedback signal.

Abstract: In described examples, a switch has: a first current handling terminal coupled to a supply source terminal; and a second current handling terminal coupled to an output terminal. A comparator has: a first input coupled to the second current handling terminal; and a second input. A voltage reference source has: a first terminal coupled to the first current handling terminal; and a second terminal coupled to the second input of the comparator. A slew rate detector has an input coupled to the second current handling terminal. A switch controller has: a first input coupled to the comparator output; and a second input coupled to an output of the slew rate detector. The switch controller is coupled to output a signal to cause the switch to open when the comparator detects an over-current condition through the switch while the slew rate detector detects a negative slew rate.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed, including a monitoring circuit, a translation circuit, a first filter circuit, a second filter circuit, and an interface. The monitoring circuit may be configured to receive a plurality of code values indicative of a voltage level of a power supply signal. The translation circuit may be configured to translate a particular code value to a corresponding voltage value of a plurality of voltage values. The first filter circuit may be configured to filter one or more of the plurality of voltage values to generate a plurality of filtered voltage values. The second filter circuit may be configured to generate a plurality of current values using one or more of the plurality of filtered voltage values and based on an impulse response of the power supply signal. The interface may be configured to send one or more of the plurality of current values to a functional circuit.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a flyback converter, a control circuit and a control method therefor. In the control method, a power stage circuit is controlled at a light load to operate alternatively in a pulse width modulation mode (i.e. a constant switching frequency mode) and in a constant on time mode, in accordance with a voltage compensation signal. Thus, output energy may decrease rapidly and smoothly, without need for the control circuit to stop working. The flyback converter has increased efficiency at the light load and decreased output voltage ripple.

Abstract: A control unit for a switching converter has an inductor element coupled to an input and a switch element coupled to the inductor element. The control unit generates a command signal with a switching period to control the switching of the switch element and to determine a first time period where an inductor current is flowing in the inductor element for storing energy and a second time period where energy is transferred to a load. The second time period has an end portion where the inductor current drops to zero. The control unit determines the duration of the first time period based on a comparison between a sensing voltage, indicative of the peak value of the inductor current, and a reference voltage. A pre-distortion stage pre-distorts the reference voltage in order to compensate for a corresponding distortion on an input current of the converter compared to a desired sinusoidal characteristic.

Abstract: A method includes generating a first gain control signal and a second gain control signal in response to a gain transition signal indicating a transition of a power converter from a first gain mode to a second gain mode. The method further includes causing the power converter to enter the first gain mode in response to the first gain control signal, and causing the power converter to enter the second gain mode in response to the second gain control signal. A circuit includes a gain transition controller generating a first gain control signal and a second gain control signal in response to a gain transition signal, and a gain control circuit causing the power converter to enter the first gain mode in response to the first gain control signal and causing the power converter to enter the second gain mode in response to the second gain control signal.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a light emitting diode (LED) fade-in method. The method can include increasing an output current of an LED lighting system from an initial current level to an intermediate current level during a first phase of a fade-in process via a first set of current steps, and decreasing the output current of the LED lighting system from the intermediate current level to a target current level during a second phase of the fade-in process via a second set of current steps. The LED lighting system has a brightness resolution, and each of the first and second sets of current steps corresponds to a finest adjustable brightness value of the brightness resolution.

Abstract: Systems and methods for phase angle balancing and voltage balancing in multi-phase systems are described herein. The system can include a multi-phase control system coupled to a plurality of voltage regulators. The multi-phase control system can receive sense signals from the plurality of voltage regulators. The multi-phase control system can use the sense signals to determine phase angles between the multiple phases and adjust an output voltage of a phase. The multi-phase control system can also use the sense signals to determine voltage deltas between the multiple phases and adjust an output voltage of a phase.

Abstract: A controller controls a bi-directional converter which includes: a first input/output terminal and a second input/output terminal for receiving and outputting a voltage stepped up by a step-up operation and a voltage stepped down by a step-down operation; a first switching element; a second switching element; and an inductor. The controller includes: a first driver which controls the first switching element via a first resistance circuit; a second driver which controls the second switching element via a second resistance circuit; and an operation mode setter which selects one of the step-up operation and the step-down operation, wherein at least one of the first resistance circuit and the second resistance circuit is a variable resistance circuit which has a resistance value that varies for the step-up operation and the step-down operation, in accordance with selection made by the operation mode setter.

Abstract: An energy storage device includes: a number of cells; and a dual-active-bridge converter connected to the cells, wherein the cells are floating relative to the system and are galvanically isolated therefrom. The energy storage device can be included in an energy storage system that includes: a grid tie unit comprising at least one DC/AC converter; and multiple pods connected to the grid tie unit, each pod including: a number of cells; and a power electronics unit, wherein the cells are floating relative to the system and are galvanically isolated therefrom.

Abstract: A sensing device includes a MEMS sensor and an adjustable amplifier. The MEMS sensor is configured to generate an input signal according to environmental changes. The adjustable amplifier has a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a third input terminal, a fourth input terminal and a first output terminal. The first input terminal is electrically connected to the MEMS sensor for receiving the input signal. The second input terminal is electrically connected to a first signal terminal for receiving a first common-mode signal. The third input terminal is electrically connected to the first output terminal. The fourth input terminal is electrically connected to a second signal terminal. An electric potential of a first output signal output by the first output terminal of the adjustable amplifier is related to electric potentials of the input signal, the first signal terminal and the second signal terminal.

Abstract: A power conversion arrangement includes first and an optional second power conversion stages. The first stage has an input configured to receive an input voltage, an output having a first output voltage, a controller, a variable resistance, and a feedback node having a feedback voltage. The feedback node is coupled to the output by a first impedance. The controller receives the feedback voltage, and drives the output such that the feedback voltage is substantially at a predetermined value. The variable resistance is coupled between the feedback node and a reference voltage (e.g., ground). The variable resistance has a resistance value that varies as a function of the input voltage. The second stage has an input operably coupled to receive the first output voltage. The second stage is configured to generate an output voltage having a level that is substantially constant independent of the level of the first output voltage.

Abstract: A controller includes a sampling module that samples a signal indicative of the output voltage, a filter module that filters out a ripple component of a sampled signal to generate a filtered signal, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller that generates a duty cycle control signal. The PID controller includes a first component that scales sample values of the filtered signal to generate a first component signal, a down-sampling module that generates a down-sampled signal, and a storage module that stores a value of the down-sampled signal. The PID controller also includes a second component that generates a second component signal as a product of a factor and a difference signal between each sample value in the filtered signal and stored value, a third component that scales and accumulates the down-sampled signal to generate a third component signal, and a summing module that sums the first, second and third component signals.

Abstract: To provide a power converter not to stop a DC power conversion of the power converter, when there is no abnormality in the main circuit of the power converter, and the command signal of output voltage has an abnormality. A power conversion circuit is provided with a voltage command upper limit circuit that upper-limits the voltage signal which is inputted to the switching control circuit by a preliminarily set upper limit voltage, wherein the voltage command upper limit circuit is provided with a Zener diode or a shunt regulator, wherein the Zener diode or the shunt regulator upper-limits the voltage signal by an upper limit voltage corresponding to Zener voltage or shunt voltage, and wherein a voltage command represented by the upper limit voltage is set to a voltage less than the protection determination voltage of the output overvoltage protection circuit.

Abstract: A control module controls a switching converter including at least one inductor element and one switching element. The module includes: a driver circuit that generates a control signal which controls the on and off cycles of the switching element; a first modulation circuit which sends a command to the driver circuit in such a manner as to generate edges of a first type of the control signal, as a function of the input electrical quantity and of a reference electrical quantity; and a second modulation circuit which sends a command to the driver circuit in such a manner as to generate edges of a second type of the control signal, as a function of a first and a second internal electrical quantity, which are functions respectively of the charges on a first and a second capacitor, which are charged and discharged as a function of the control signal.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a modified buck converter circuit. A pull-up switching mechanism that is coupled to an upstream terminal of an inductor within a modified buck converter circuit is enabled. A load current at the output of the modified buck regulator circuit is measured. A capacitor current associated with a capacitor that is coupled to a downstream terminal of the inductor is continuously sensed and the pull-up switching mechanism is disabled when the capacitor current is greater than a sum of the load current and an enabling current value.

Abstract: For controlling a switch power supply, an adjustment module produces a first control voltage by comparing a period of a switch signal with a reference period. A current source module generates a first charging current according to the first control voltage. A pulse signal generating module converts the first charging current into an on time signal or off time signal of a switch transistor. A driving module produces the switch signal according to the on time or off time signal of the switching transistor, so as to control the turn on and turn off signal of a switching transistor. A time measurement module obtains a time parameter according to the switch signal, and generates a periodic adjustment signal according to the time parameter. The adjustment module adjusts the reference period according to the periodic adjustment signal to adjust the period of the switch signal.

Abstract: A multi-level voltage regulator system/method providing discrete regulation of a DC-DC intermediate bus converter (IBC) output voltage (Vout) is disclosed. The disclosed system/method allows IBC Vout to be regulated in discrete steps during periods where IBC input voltage (Vin) falls below nominal operating values. Rather than shutting down or degrading IBC Vout in an unpredictable non-linear fashion based on IBC input/loading, IBC Vout is regulated in fixed discrete steps, allowing IBC-connected point-of-load (POL) converters to obtain stable power input that is well-defined over IBC Vin. IBC operating parameters may define multi-dimensional operational state spaces of IBC Vout regulation that ensure optimum power flow to attached POLs while maintaining operational stability within the IBC regulator. Instabilities in IBC/POL performance across variations in IBC Vin, load transients, POL loading, and environmental variables may be prevented using Vin voltage step hysteresis.

Abstract: A switching element driving device for driving first and second switching elements of a half bridge circuit, the first and second switching elements being respectively formed in upper and lower arm units of the half bridge, and having respectively first and second freewheeling diodes connected thereto in antiparallel. The switching element driving device includes upper and lower arm driving circuits respectively configured to output first and second driving signals for driving the first and second switching elements, and a drive capability decision circuit configured to, responsive to turning on of the first switching element, set drive capability of the first driving signal to a first level and to change the drive capability of the first driving signal to a second level upon detecting a reverse recovery current of the second freewheeling diode of the second switching element, the first level being higher than the second level.

Abstract: A power supply circuit including a DC/DC converter having switching elements and configured to receive an input voltage in an input line and generate an output voltage in an output line; and a linear regulator configured to receive the output voltage and supply a stabilized voltage to a load. The DC/DC converter switches between a switching mode to switch the switching elements and a bypass mode to put a switching element existing on a path from the input line to the output line, of the switching elements, in a full-on state and stop switching of the other switching element.

Abstract: A buck switching regulator includes: a power stage, which includes: an upper-gate switch, a lower-gate switch and an inductor, connected with one another at a switching node; and a supply control switch, controlling the power supply form an output terminal to a load. An overvoltage protection method includes the following steps: (A) sensing a voltage of the switching node, to obtain a switching node voltage; (B) determining whether an overvoltage event occurs in the switching node voltage; and (C) if it is determined yes in the step (B), outputting a protection signal. An overvoltage event is determined directly according to the switching node voltage, not directly according to the output voltage.

Abstract: A voltage converter includes a high side power transistor coupled to an input voltage node and a low side power transistor coupled to the high side power transistor at a switch node. The switch node is configured to be coupled to an inductor. A slope detector circuit is configured to receive a signal indicative of a current through the inductor. The inductor current is a triangular waveform comprising a ramp-up phase and a ramp-down phase. The slope detector circuit also is configured to generate an output signal encoding when the inductor current is ramping up and when the inductor current is ramping down.

Abstract: A system is disclosed which allows for a multiphase Buck switching converter, where some phases operate in peak-mode current control, and some phases operate in valley-mode current control, simultaneously with the peak-mode phases. The peak-mode phases of the switching converter operate at lower frequency, and with a higher value inductor than the valley mode phases. The peak-mode phases support discontinuous control mode (DCM) operation and continuous control mode (CCM) operation, and the valley-mode phases only support CCM operation. The peak-mode phases of the switching converter are always enabled, and the valley-mode phases are only enabled at high currents. The peak-mode and valley-mode currents are matched with a peak current servo, for better efficiency.

Abstract: A circuit (100) for protecting a Switching Power Converter (“SPC”) when a short-circuit load condition occurs. The SPC has an output current sensor utilizing at least one current transformer that has a primary winding connected in series with a rectifier and has a magnetic core that should avoid saturation. A pulse-width modulator includes a skip controller providing a series of control pulses to at least one switch. A control pulse is skipped when an abnormally low load resistance causes an input current ramp signal to exceed an input current setpoint signal proximate a start time of a next control pulse of the series and the output current is greater than a predetermined threshold. Operation of the SPC is stopped if more than a predetermined number of consecutive switching cycles are skipped to prevent operation of the SPC while the core of an output current transformer is saturated.

Abstract: A power converter includes an energy transfer element that includes a primary winding and a secondary winding, and is coupled to transfer energy between the primary winding and the secondary winding. An enable circuit is coupled to generate an enable signal in response to a feedback signal falling below a threshold. A controller is coupled to control switching of a power switch coupled to the primary winding to regulate an output of the power converter. The controller includes a drive circuit coupled to output a drive signal in response to the enable signal, and a current limit threshold generator coupled to output a current limit threshold signal to the drive circuit in response to the drive signal. The current limit threshold signal varies in response to a time between events of the enable signal over a range of loads coupled to the output of the power converter.

Abstract: A controller for use in a power factor correction converter includes a power factor enhancer that includes a zero-crossing detector coupled to receive an ac line input voltage signal and is coupled to output a zero-crossing signal. A peak detector is coupled to receive the ac line input voltage signal and the zero-crossing signal and is coupled to output a peak signal. A peak modulator is coupled to receive the zero-crossing signal and is coupled to generate a peak modulation function. A line feed forward function generator is coupled to generate a line feed forward function. A multiplier is coupled to receive the peak modulation function and the line feed forward function, and is coupled to output a pre-distortion signal each half line cycle.

Abstract: A controller may control a buck-boost regulator having an input voltage and an output voltage. The controller may include: circuitry that causes the output voltage of the buck-boost regulator to be at the bottom of a pre-determined voltage window when the input voltage goes below the bottom of the pre-determined voltage window: circuitry that causes the output voltage of the buck-boost regulator to be at the top of the pre-determined voltage window when the input voltage goes above the top of the pre-determined voltage window; and circuitry that causes the buck-boost regulator to pass the input voltage through the buck-boost regulator so as to cause the voltage output of the buck-boost regulator to be at the same level as the input voltage when the input voltage is within the pre-determined voltage window.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a DC-DC converter includes a signal generator configured to output a first PWM signal having arbitrary amplitude and a duty cycle established based on an input voltage and an output voltage, a driver configured to output a second PWM signal being in phase with the first PWM signal and having amplitude of the input voltage based on the first PWM signal, a filter configured to extract a DC component from the second PWM signal, and a switch configured to supply an output of the filter to the signal generator in response to a first control signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a primary-controlled high power factor quasi resonant converter. The converter converts an AC power line input to a DC output to power a load, generally a string of LEDs, and may be compatible with phase-cut dimmers. The power input is fed into a transformer being controlled by a power switch. The power switch is driven by a controller having a shaping circuit. The shaping circuit uses a current generator, switched resistor and capacitor to produce a reference voltage signal. The controller drives the power switch based on the voltage reference signal, resulting in a sinusoidal input current in a primary winding of the transformer, resulting in high power factor and low total harmonic distortion for the converter.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes an inductor, a switch module, and a pull-up circuit or a pull-down circuit. The inductor has a first node and a second node, and the second node is coupled to an output node of the DC-DC converter. The switch module is arranged for selectively connecting an input voltage or a ground voltage to the first node of the inductor according to a driving signal. The pull-up circuit is arranged for selectively providing a first current to the output node of the DC-DC converter. The pull-down circuit is arranged for selectively sinking a second current from the output node of the DC-DC converter. In addition, the first current or the second current is determined based on an inductor current flowing through the inductor.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a control circuit operating in a pulse skip mode (PSM) and a voltage converter having the same, which adaptively adjust the related values in PSM through a pulse skip circuit. More specifically, the pulse skip circuit adaptively adjusts a second comparator signal indicating a second signal (related to a feedback signal with a lower gain) and/or indirectly adjusts a first comparator signal indicating a first signal (related to a feedback signal with a higher gain) to adaptively adjust the on-time of a high-side switch and the on-time of a low-side switch during PSM, thereby reducing the output current ripple.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a current comparator to generate an output current based upon a difference between a current flowing in an output branch and a current flowing in an input branch. A pair of transistors is coupled to an output of the current comparator. A first amplifier has inputs coupled to the pair of transistors and to a reference voltage, the first amplifier being configured to subtract the reference voltage from a voltage across the pair of transistors and output a difference voltage. A second amplifier has inputs coupled to the difference voltage and to the reference voltage, the second amplifier being configured to subtract the difference voltage from the reference voltage and output a pulse skipping mode reference signal.

Abstract: A control circuit for controlling a power circuit having a power switch includes a control loop configured to generate a control signal for the power switch of the power circuit based on an error signal determined by comparing a sensed parameter of the power circuit and a reference signal, and a positive offset signal and a negative offset signal each configured to adjust the control signal. The control circuit is configured to detect a change in an output current of the power circuit and selectively apply only one of the offset signals based on the change in the output current to adjust the control signal thereby enhancing a dynamic response to the change in the output current. Additional example control circuits, example power supplies and/or power converters including a control circuit for controlling a power switch, and example control methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: In various embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided an energy harvesting apparatus, including: an energy harvester for generating electric power from an ambient source; a power conditioning circuit coupled to the output of the energy harvester; including: a boost converter module; a buck-boost converter module; and a power modification control module; wherein the power modification control module is configured to initialize the energy harvesting apparatus from inactivity to a normal energy harvesting state by operating the boost converter module, and operating the buck-boost converter when an output voltage of the power conditioning circuit rises to a predetermined value. A corresponding method of operating an energy harvesting apparatus is provided.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices relating to inverters. A control system for use with photovoltaic panel coupled inverters controls the function and operation of the inverter based on the voltage at the point of common coupling. The inverter is operated in either current control mode or in voltage control mode based on whether or not the inverter is coupled to a grid or whether other energy sources are available to control the voltage at the point of common coupling.

Abstract: Circuits, devices and methods for achieving fast changes in voltage regulator outputs are disclosed. In some embodiments, a voltage regulation system can include a voltage regulator configured to receive an input voltage Vin and generate an output voltage Vout at an output node, and a transition circuit coupled to the output node, the transition circuit including one or more voltage sources, each voltage source switchably coupled to the output node and configured to provide a respective voltage.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for DC-DC soft start are disclosed herein, an example DC-DC voltage converter includes at least two transistors to at least charge or discharge an inductor from an input source and to ground respectively, the inductor to output an output voltage. A synchronize and track circuit generates a bias current based on a reference voltage. An amplifier generates an error current based on an output voltage and the reference voltage. An oscillator oscillates at a switching frequency based on the bias current and the error current. A multiplexer selects between (1) a first input signal generated based on the switching frequency, and (2) a second input signal generated based on the switching frequency and the error current, for output as a reset signal. A latch provides a control signal to the at least two transistors based on the reset signal and the switching frequency.