| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
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| 20080211473 | SYNCHRONOUS RECTIFIER HAVING PRECISE ON/OFF SWITCHING TIME - A synchronous rectifier, including an energy storage element having a terminal; a power supply input, connected to the terminal of the storage element in a first time interval; a reference line connected to the terminal of the storage element in a second time interval; and a zero comparator, coupled to the terminal of the storage element to detect a current flowing in the energy storage element and disconnect the terminal of the storage element from the reference line upon detecting a zero current, the zero comparator having an offset and a propagation time; the zero comparator further having an offset control input and an output. An offset regulating loop is coupled between the output of the zero comparator and the offset control input and regulates the offset of the zero comparator to compensate the propagation time. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080224678 | SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY CONTROLLER WITH HIGH FREQUENCY CURRENT BALANCE - A controller for a multi-phase switching power supply shuffles the sequence of the phases in response to a load transient to prevent synchronization of one or more phases with high-frequency load transients. The sequence may be shuffled by varying the frequency and/or sequence of the switching control signals to introduce a random variation in the phases. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080238390 | Dynamically adjusted multi-phase regulator - In some embodiments, a multi-phase converter with dynamic phase adjustment is provided. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080238391 | Current drive circuit and method - One embodiment relates to a control system. In one embodiment, a control system is configured to drive a load based on a set-point of the load, a measured load characteristic and a supply voltage of the load. The controller is configured to determine a duty cycle based on the load characteristic, the set-point, and the supply voltage. The controller is further configured to drive the load in response to the duty cycle. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080238392 | CONTROLLER AND DRIVER COMMUNICATION FOR SWITCHING REGULATORS - Pulse width modulation (PWM) controllers and output stage driver circuits and related methods of communicating switching regulator mode information. The controller includes circuitry that recognizes intervals when the load driven by the regulator is in a low power mode. Responsive to recognizing the low power mode, the controller generates a PWM mode signal having at least three (3) different levels including at least one intermediate level that is coupled to at least one driver. Based on the PWM mode signal, the regulator is switched into a power saving low power operational mode. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080238393 | Centralized controller and power manager for on-board power systems - A controller for controlling a plurality of DC-DC switching cells each configured to generate an output voltage in response to receiving a PWM control signal from the controller. The controller includes a plurality of output ports for outputting a plurality of PWM control signals, and at least one input port for receiving a plurality of output voltages from the plurality of switching cells. The controller is configured to sample the plurality of output voltages one at a time via a multiplexer and to regulate the output voltages in response to the sampling. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080238394 | DC-DC CONVERTER, POWER SUPPLY VOLTAGE SUPPLYING METHOD, AND POWER SUPPLY VOLTAGE SUPPLYING SYSTEM - According to one aspect of the invention, a DC-DC converter including a soft-start function of a soft start in response to a soft-start signal, comprises: a detection circuit that detects whether the soft-start signal is active at an end of a soft-start operation; and an output voltage control circuit that controls an output voltage based on detection result of the detection circuit. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080238395 | DC-DC Converter, Power Supply System, and Power Supply Method - According to an embodiment, a DC-DC converter comprises: an error amplifier that receives a soft start signal and amplifies a difference between an output voltage signal and a reference voltage signal; a PWM control circuit that controls ON and OFF states of a first switching transistor and a second switching transistor based on the output of the error amplifier; a frequency divider that divides a frequency signal and outputting a divided frequency signal; an accumulator that performs an adding operation based on the divided frequency signal and a control signal; and a DA converter that generates the soft start signal based on an output of the accumulator. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080246455 | Adaptive zero current sense apparatus and method for a switching regulator - A switching regulator includes a low-side switch having a body diode. During the low-side switch is on, a zero-current sense circuit monitors the inductor current of the switching regulator and triggers a signal to turn off the low-side switch when the inductor current falls down to a zero-current threshold, to prevent reverse inductor current from the output terminal of the switching regulator. A body-diode turn-on time controller monitors the turn-on time of the body diode and adjusts the zero-current threshold according thereto, and the turn-on time of the body diode can be reduced to an optimal interval subsequently. The self-adjustable zero-current threshold is adaptive according to the application conditions, such as the inductor size, input voltage and output voltage of the switching regulator. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080252277 | DIGITAL CONTROL SWITCHING POWER-SUPPLY DEVICE AND INFORMATION PROCESSING EQUIPMENT - To provide a digital control switching power-supply device capable of suitably achieving fast transient response at the time of a sudden load change. In parallel with normal digital signal processing means that outputs a PWM pulse signal having a desired duty, transient variation detection means composed of a CR filter provided across an output inductor and a window comparator is provided in preparation for a sudden load change. If a sudden decrease in load is detected, a PWM pulse signal having a duty of 0% is forcedly output, and if a sudden increase in load is detected, a PWM pulse signal having a duty of 100% is forcedly output. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080252278 | System and Method for Controlling a Hysteretic Mode Converter - A system and method for controlling a conversion frequency of a hysteretic mode voltage converter. A digital control loop comprises a timing measure unit having a first input coupled to a reference clock and a second input coupled to a clock based on a switching of the switching of the converter, and an on time adjust unit coupled to the timing measure unit. The timing measure unit counts a number of clock ticks of a clock signal provided by the clock occurring during a period of time specified by a number of clock ticks of a reference clock signal provided by the reference clock. The on time adjust unit adjusts an on time control signal based on the count of the number of clock ticks of the clock signal to alter a frequency of the switching. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080252279 | CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR DC CONVERTER - A method of controlling at least one transistor of a DC voltage converter to regulate an output voltage of the DC converter, the method including determining whether the output voltage of the DC converter is within a first or second voltage range, the second voltage range including a desired value of the output voltage; if the output voltage is in the first voltage range, generating a control signal using a first control method performed by a first controller, the first controller receiving the output voltage and determining the control signal based on the value of the output voltage in the first voltage range; and if the output voltage is in the second range, generating a control signal using a second control method performed by a second controller, the second controller receiving the output voltage and determining the control signal based on the value of the output voltage in the second voltage range. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080252280 | CONTINUOUS-TIME DIGITAL CONTROLLER FOR HIGH-FREQUENCY DC-DC CONVERTERS - The present invention is a voltage mode digital controller for low-power high-frequency dc-dc converters that has recovery time approaching physical limitations of a given power stage. It consists of a digital controller with load transient response approaching physical limitations of a given power stage that is suitable for low-power SMPS. In one aspect the invention is a method of utilizing a continuous-time digital signal processor (CT-DSP) for regulation of the operation of switch-mode power supplies. A CT-DSP can be used to instantaneously detect changes of voltage or current during transition periods and immediately perform control action that results in the fastest possible response. The invention may include current program mode controllers for SMPS where the input current is sensed as well as power factor correction rectifiers (PFC), where often input voltage, input current and output voltage are sensed. Upon sensing a deviation in the input voltage the CT-DSP is utilized to apply a switch-mode power operation whereby the controller switches between continuous-time and digital function. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080258697 | DYNAMIC GATE DRIVE VOLTAGE ADJUSTMENT - A DC-DC buck converter comprises a high-side power FET having a current path connected in series between an input terminal and an inductor connected to an output terminal supplying an output current to a load. The converter further comprises a low-side power FET having a current path connected between a reference terminal and an interconnection node of the high-side power FET with the inductor. The converter has a pulse width modulation controller receiving a feedback signal from the output terminal and providing pulse width modulated signals, and a gate driver circuit that receives the pulse width modulated signals from the pulse width modulation controller and applies pulse width modulated drive signals to the gates of the power FETs. The gate driver circuit supplies the drive signals to the gates of the power FETs at a variable voltage level adjusted in response to at least the output current, minimizing the power dissipation of the gate driver circuit. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080272758 | Switching Power Converter with Switch Control Pulse Width Variability at Low Power Demand Levels - A power control system includes a switch mode controller to control the switching mode of a switching power converter. The switch mode controller generates a switch control signal that controls conductivity of a switch of the switching power converter. Controlling conductivity of the switch controls the switch mode of the switching power converter. The switch mode controller includes a period generator to determine a period of the switch control signal and to vary the determined period to generate a broad frequency spectrum of the switch control signal when the determined period corresponds with a frequency in at least a portion of an audible frequency band. Generating a switch control signal with a broad frequency spectrum in the audible frequency band allows the system to utilize switching frequencies in the audible frequency band. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080272759 | DC converter with halt mode setting means - A DC converter with a halt mode setting is disclosed for preventing the occurrence of over-current while alleviating the increase in the size of circuits, along with a method for setting up such a halt mode. The DC converter includes a semiconductor switch, a clock generator for outputting a clock signal to a gate of the semiconductor switch to be utilized for controlling an on/off time of the semiconductor switch such that a predetermined power is output from the generator, and a drive circuit for switching the semiconductor switch to the continuous-on state according to a halt mode setting requirement regardless of the clock signal, when the semiconductor switch, normally repeating on/off operations responsive to the clock signal, is in its off-state. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080278132 | Digital Compensation For Cable Drop In A Primary Side Control Power Supply Controller - The present invention is a system and a method that uses primary side sensing to regulate the output voltage at a cable end without any remote sensing of cable connections back from the load. This is accomplished by approximating the current from the control voltage in the control loop through the relationship that defines the Ton time in terms of the control voltage Vc. Once the approximation of the output current is known, it is multiplied by a known fixed cable resistance, and this value is subtracted from the feedback sensor output before it is subtracted from the digital reference. This forces the regulator to raise the output voltage by the amount of drop across the cable, causing the output of the cable to be maintained at the targeted regulation point. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080284397 | Digital voltage converter and control method thereof - In a digital boost or buck-boost converter, a pulse width modulation signal has an on-time and an off-time. A constant off-time period is provided to set the off-time to be constant, and an on-time period to determine the on-time is derived by monitoring the output voltage of the converter. With the constant off-time, the output voltage and the on-time period will have a linear relation, thereby reducing the output ripple when the converter operates with a high duty-ratio. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080284398 | Controller having comp node voltage shift cancellation for improved discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) regulator performance and related methods - A modulation controller includes an error amplifier which receives a reference voltage and an output voltage (V | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080284399 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A DIGITAL POWER SUPPLY - Methods and apparatus for controlling a digital power supply are disclosed. An example method includes storing a first set of coefficients for controlling a digital power supply in a memory of the digital power supply, associating the first set of coefficients with a first set of characteristics of an input voltage for the digital power supply, storing a second set of coefficients for controlling the digital power supply in the memory of the digital power supply, associating the second set of coefficients with a second set of characteristics of the input voltage, receiving a first voltage from a voltage source at the digital power supply, determining that the first voltage has the first set of characteristics, and, in response to determining that the first voltage has the first set of characteristics, applying the first set of coefficients to the digital power supply. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080284400 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MONITOR A DIGITAL POWER SUPPLY - Methods and apparatus to monitor a digital power supply are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a voltage from a voltage source at a digital power supply, controlling the voltage using a power factor controller and a direct current (DC) to DC converter to generate an output voltage, controlling the output voltage using a signal processor to generate control signals based on receiving instructions, controlling the power factor controller and the DC to DC converter with a digital signal processor using the control signals, and copying an operating parameter from a register or a memory location of the digital signal processor to a memory buffer of the digital power supply. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080284401 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO CONTROL A DIGITAL POWER SUPPLY - Methods and apparatus to control a digital power supply are disclosed. An example method includes calculating a duty cycle of a pulse width modulated signal to control an output of a digital power supply, initializing an output of a counter that forms a pulse width modulator to increment by a first increment up to a counter maximum value for a first period and to decrement by the first increment for a second period, dividing the duty cycle by a constant to determine a multiple of the duty cycle to apply to each power stage of the power supply, calculating a first threshold percent by subtracting the multiple of the duty cycle from one hundred percent, setting a first threshold to be the first threshold percent multiplied by the counter maximum value, and controlling the power factor controller based on the first threshold. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080290851 | POWER SUPPLY - A power supply has a soft-start function capable of raising its output DC voltage without generating overshoot even when its load condition is set light at the start-up. The power supply comprises an error amplifier for outputting an error signal corresponding to the error between the output DC voltage and the target value thereof, a control section for adjusting power to be supplied to the load on the basis of this error signal, and a limiting circuit for limiting the voltage of the error signal to a predetermined level for a predetermined time after the output DC voltage at the start-up exceeds a predetermined value being set less than the target value. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080290852 | POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT AND SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY - A power supply circuit that outputs a set voltage from an output terminal, has a boosting circuit that boosts a voltage supplied from a power supply and outputs the voltage to the output terminal; a voltage detecting circuit that outputs a first detecting signal when the voltage outputted from the boosting circuit is not lower than a first detection voltage set lower than the set voltage, and outputs a second detecting signal when the voltage outputted from the boosting circuit is not lower than the set voltage; and a clock signal generating circuit that outputs, based on a reference clock signal, a clock signal and an inverted clock signal obtained by inverting the clock signal, and stops outputs of the clock signal and the inverted clock signal in response to the second detecting signal. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080290853 | Semiconductor element drive circuit - A drive circuit for driving a semiconductor element according to an input signal includes an output stage, a clamp circuit, a comparator, and a clamp control circuit. The output stage includes a series circuit of two transistors. A node between the transistors is coupled to a control terminal of the semiconductor element. One of the transistors is turned on when the input signal indicates that the semiconductor element is driven. The clamp circuit clamps a potential of the control terminal to a level enough to drive the semiconductor element when the one of the transistors is turned on. The comparator compares a power supply voltage of the drive circuit with a threshold voltage. The clamp control circuit disables the clamp circuit when the power supply voltage is less than the threshold voltage. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080303501 | Digital Controller for Dc-Dc Switching Converters for Operation at Ultra-High Constant Switching Frequencies - A digital controller for low-power DC-DC switch mode power supplies (SMPS) suitable for on-chip implementation and use in portable battery-powered systems is provided. The digital controller allows operation at ultra high constant switching frequencies and can be implemented with a simple low-power digital hardware. The digital controller includes a digital pulse width modulator (DPWM), based on a multibit 2 | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080303502 | Buck-boost converter - A controller ( | 12-11-2008 |
| 20090015225 | METHOD FOR REGULATING A VOLTAGE AND CIRCUIT THEREFOR - A voltage regulator ( | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090015226 | Method for implementing radiation hardened, power efficient, non isolated low output voltage DC/DC converters with non-radiation hardened components - A method of producing an economical DC/DC converter that efficiently produces a relatively low output voltage and operates in a high ionizing radiation dose environment such as found in spacecraft and particle accelerator applications. That is, the converter comprises two P-channel FETs, a switching means for switching conductivity between the two P-channel FETs, and output means for outputting an output voltage. The output voltage being a step-down voltage that is unaffected by high-ionizing radiation such that is found in space or particle accelerators. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090015227 | Load-Induced Voltage Overshoot Detection And Correction In Switching Power Supplies - One embodiment of the invention includes a switching power supply system. The system includes a switch network comprising at least one switch configured to provide an output voltage based on switching activity thereof. The system also includes a switching controller configured to control the switch network to maintain the output voltage provided at an output based on a feedback signal associated with the output voltage. A converter pulse detector is configured to detect an output voltage overshoot condition based on the switching activity of the switch network corresponding to a transition in an output load to which the output voltage is provided. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090015228 | SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT - A switching power supply circuit uses a magnetic material that is harder to be magnetically saturated than ferrite as a core of a transformer or a choke coil and suitably protects a switching element. The circuit includes a transformer having a core made of a magnetic material of amorphous metal, a primary-side winding and a secondary-side winding. The circuit further includes a switching element for flowing current through the primary-side winding of the transformer according to a pulsive drive signal, and a primary-side current detection circuit for detecting the current flowing through the primary-side winding. The circuit further includes plural circuit elements for rectifying and smoothing a voltage generated in the secondary-side winding of the transformer to generate an output voltage, and a control circuit for generating the drive signal based on at least a detection result of the primary-side current detection circuit, and limiting a period for flowing the current in the primary-side winding. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090027024 | LOAD CURRENT COMPENSATION IN SYNCHRONOUS POWER CONVERTERS - A method of operating a synchronous power converter generates a control signal in a load current compensation circuit based on a light load condition at the converter, where the control signal controls a gate driver for at least one power switch of the converter. When the gate driver is turned off via the control signal, the method monitors one or more comparison signals in a reference voltage adjustment module of the compensation circuit, a first comparison signal of the one or more comparison signals indicative of a voltage level at a phase node of the converter. Based on a remaining body diode conduction level associated a body diode with the at least one power switch as detected by at least a second comparison signal, the method adjusts a reference voltage for the at least one power switch with the adjustment module until the body diode is no longer conducting. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090027025 | NON-LINEAR PWM CONTROLLER - In one embodiment, the controller of these teachings includes a nonlinear controller component capable of providing an amplitude determining input signal to a control signal providing component, the control signal providing component providing output having a predetermined amplitude substantially over one time interval from a number of time intervals or output having a predetermined average amplitude substantially over one time interval from a number of time intervals, the amplitude determining input signal corresponding to at least one predetermined system state variable. The nonlinear controller component is operatively connected to receive as inputs at least one predetermined system state variable. A relationship between the amplitude determining input signal and at least one predetermined system state variable is obtained by a predetermined method. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090033302 | Voltage conversion device - When a voltage conversion operation is started, a control circuit ( | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090033303 | PIEZOELECTRIC TRANSFORMER TYPE HIGH-VOLTAGE POWER APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A piezoelectric transformer type high-voltage power source apparatus to control an output voltage from a piezoelectric transformer to a load, and an image forming apparatus including the same, the piezoelectric transformer type high-voltage power source apparatus including: an output voltage detection unit to compare the output voltage with an output control voltage, and to output a digital value according to the comparison; and a driving control unit to control a driving frequency and a duty rate of the piezoelectric transformer according to the digital value. Accordingly, the piezoelectric transformer type high-voltage power source apparatus can stably perform frequency and duty rate control without experiencing an abnormal oscillation or uncontrollable state due to a manufacturing irregularity of particular components and/or a change in temperature, and a high voltage can be output within a short rise time. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090039850 | CONTROL DEVICE OF A SWITCHING CONVERTER AND RELATIVE SWITCHING CONVERTER - A control device for a switching converter having an input terminal and an output terminal, a half-bridge of a first and a second transistor coupled between the input terminal and a reference voltage the control device including a first circuit structured to detect signal on the output terminal of the converter and to integrate the detected signal and regulate on the average value of the detected signal by comparison with a further reference signal, and then drive the first and second transistor as a function of the regulation. The control device further includes a switching circuit for turning off the first circuit so that the control device carries out a regulation on the detected signal by comparison with a further reference signal and drives the first and second transistors when current passing between the output terminal of the converter and the half-bridge crosses zero. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090039851 | Switching Control Circuit - A switching control circuit comprises: an error amplifying circuit configured to output an error voltage obtained by amplifying an error between a feedback voltage corresponding to an output voltage and a lower voltage selected out of a first reference voltage increasing with time passage and a second reference voltage used as a reference for a target level; a comparison circuit configured to output a comparison signal obtained by comparing the feedback voltage with the error voltage output from the error amplifying circuit; and a drive circuit configured to output first and second control signals for controlling first and second transistors, respectively, in order to turn the output voltage to the target level by complementarily turning on and off the first and second transistors, after the error voltage exceeds the feedback voltage, based on the comparison signal output from the comparison circuit. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090039852 | DIGITAL AVERAGE INPUT CURRENT CONTROL IN POWER CONVERTER - A digital average-input current-mode control loop for a DC/DC power converter. The power converter may be, for example, a buck converter, boost converter, or cascaded buck-boost converter. The purpose of the proposed control loop is to set the average converter input current to the requested current. Controlling the average input current can be relevant for various applications such as power factor correction (PFC), photovoltaic converters, and more. The method is based on predicting the inductor current based on measuring the input voltage, the output voltage, and the inductor current. A fast cycle-by-cycle control loop may be implemented. The conversion method is described for three different modes. For each mode a different control loop is used to control the average input current, and the control loop for each of the different modes is described. Finally, the algorithm for switching between the modes is disclosed. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090051337 | BIDIRECTIONAL POWER SUPPLY DEVICE - In a bidirectional power supply device, a DC-DC converter is connected such that the longer an ON time of the first switch becomes, the higher a voltage of a second positive terminal and a second negative terminal becomes. When stopping the supply of power from a first positive terminal and a first negative terminal to a second positive terminal and a second negative terminal, a control circuit turns OFF a third switch, and then operates a switching signal generation circuit so that the ON time of the first switch becomes a maximum. The switching signal generation circuit is operated so that the ON time of the first switch becomes a maximum with the third switch turned OFF in start-up when supplying power from the second positive terminal and the second negative terminal to the first positive terminal and the first negative terminal. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090066307 | Efficient voltage converter methods and structures - Voltage converter are provided for efficient generation of voltage signals in a load. The converters are formed with a group of inductors and at least two sets of buck and sync transistors that are arranged with the group so that conducted currents through each of the sets are directed through a respective one of the inductors and further directed to magnetically couple induced currents in the respective inductor of at least an associated one of the sets. Efficiency is particularly enhanced with an operational mode that is directed to light load conditions. In this mode and in at least a selected one of the sets, the buck transistor is turned off throughout the operational mode and the sync transistor is turned off for at least the time that an associated buck transistor is turned on in an associated set which couples induced currents in the respective inductor of the selected set. Preferably, the sync transistor is turned off at the end of a selected time span that begins when the associated buck transistor is turned off. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090072805 | SWITCHING REGULATOR AND METHOD OF ADJUSTING PULSE WIDTH - A switching regulator switches according to an input signal and performs PWM control with a PWM pulse signal. The switching regulator includes a pulse width limiting circuit that includes a reference current source, a constant current source, a capacitor, an inverting block including a first switch circuit to supply a constant current to the capacitor and a second switch circuit to discharge a voltage across the capacitor to a ground, a determination circuit to determine whether the voltage across the capacitor becomes a given value or greater, and a limiting circuit to limit a pulse width of the PWM pulse signal. The inverting block further includes either a third switch circuit configured to pass the given constant current or a switching control circuit configured to cause the first and second switch circuits to pass the given constant current regardless of the PWM pulse signal. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090072806 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING MULTI-POWER SOURCE INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - An electronic device includes: an integrated circuit having a first circuit part, a second circuit part, a first power source line of the first circuit part, a second power source line of the second circuit part, and a coupling switch coupling the first power source line and the second power source line; a power source supply part which generates a power source to be supplied to the first and second circuit parts and which has a power source supply control circuit controlling the supply of power source to the second circuit part; and a power source control part that controls the power source supply control circuit and the coupling switch, wherein the power source control part controls the power source supply control circuit so as to supply a power source in accordance with the operating state of the second circuit part and closes the coupling switch. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090079408 | VOLTAGE MODE PWMFF-PFM/SKIP COMBO CONTROLLER - A voltage controller and method providing multiple modes of operation. Embodiments include pulse-width modulation (PWM), feed-forward (FF), pulse-frequency modulation (PFM) and skip operation (PWM-FF-PFM/SKIP). Controller embodiments have integrated MOSFET components, comparator hysteresis, oscillator feed-forward, fixed gain, and error amplifier (EA) limits thereby providing improved efficiency and noise immunity. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090085544 | Current regulator and method for regulating current - A regulator and a method for regulating a current through a load. The regulator may include, for example, a first circuit portion configured to alternately apply and remove a voltage across the load in accordance with a first signal, the voltage causing a current to flow, and a second circuit portion configured to generate the first signal so as to have a duty cycle that depends upon an amount of the current and a second signal when the amount of current is below a threshold amount, and to generate the first signal so as to have a duty cycle that depends upon the amount of the current but not the second signal when the amount of current exceeds the threshold amount. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090085545 | VOLTAGE REGULATOR - In some implementations, a system includes a low-power voltage regulator that can switch between three power modes: a power shutdown mode, a low power mode, and a higher power mode. The system includes a selector coupled to the voltage regulator to switch between the low power mode and the higher power mode, and a switch to switch between the power shutdown mode and the low or higher power mode. The system also has a control circuit to control the switch and the selector to control operation of the voltage regulator in any of the three power modes. A total current used in the voltage regulator in the low power mode is on the order of microamps or nanoamps. The voltage regulator in the low power mode has two to more orders of magnitude of lower current use than the voltage regulator in the higher power mode. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090102445 | SWITCHING DC-DC CONVERTER AND OSCILLATOR - A switching DC-DC converter includes: an output voltage detecting unit configured to detect a DC output voltage; an error amplifying unit configured to compare the detected output voltage and a reference voltage and configured to supply an amplified error signal between the detected output voltage and the reference voltage to the pulse width modulating unit; and a single oscillating unit connected to an output of the output voltage detecting unit and an output of the error amplifying unit and operable on a first oscillating mode and a second oscillation mode. The oscillating unit on the first oscillating mode controls a switching frequency of the power switch based on the detected output voltage. The oscillating unit on the second oscillating mode controls the switching frequency of the power switch based on the amplified error signal. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090102446 | Digital Controlled Power Supply - In a digital controlled power supply including a digital controller for generating a PWM signal which is used to turn on and off a switching element to obtain an output voltage for a load based on an input voltage, the digital controller includes an AD converter for receiving an analog output current from the power supply and converting the current into a digital value to produce a digital output current value, an arithmetic processing unit for conducting an arithmetic operation of a pulse width for each period of a sampling frequency of the AD converter or a frequency of carrier wave as a criterion to obtain the PWM signal, and a frequency controller for variably controlling the frequency of carrier wave and the sampling frequency on the basis of the digital output current value from the AD converter. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090115390 | POWER CONVERTER WITH PROTECTION MECHANISM FOR DIODE IN OPEN-CIRCUIT CONDITION AND PULSE-WIDTH-MODULATION CONTROLLER THEREOF - A power converter with a protection mechanism for a diode in an open-circuit condition includes a DC to Dc (DC/DC) conversion circuit, a detection and protection circuit, a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) signal generator, and a logic gate. The detection and protection circuit is used for detecting an open-circuit condition of the diode of the DC/DC conversion circuit. The logic gate receives an output signal of the detection and protection circuit and a PWM signal outputted by the PWM signal generator. When the diode is in an open-circuit condition, the PWM signal cannot be transmitted to a power switch of the DC/DC conversion circuit due to the output signal of the detection and protection circuit. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090115391 | Load-Dependent Frequency Jittering Circuit and Load-Dependent Frequency Jittering Method - The present invention discloses a load-dependent frequency jittering circuit, comprising: a load condition detection circuit for receiving a switching signal and generating an output according to a load condition; a number generator for receiving the output of the load condition detection circuit and generating a number; a digital to analog converter for converting the output of the number generator to an analog signal; and an oscillator for generating a jittered frequency according to the output of the digital to analog converter. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090115392 | SWITCHING REGULATOR - A switching regulator includes a step-down-and-step-up unit to convert an input voltage to a low voltage or to a high voltage in accordance with a control signal, and a controller including a low-pass filter to receive a reference voltage generated in accordance with an external control signal. The controller causes the step-down-and-step-up unit to perform a step-down operation or a step-up operation in accordance with a voltage difference between a proportional voltage proportional to an output voltage of the step-down-and-step-up unit and the reference voltage. The controller further causes the step-down-and-step-up unit to perform a step-down operation or a step-up operation in accordance with a voltage difference between an output voltage of the low-pass filter and the proportional voltage, and changes a time constant of the low-pass filter in accordance with the operation being performed. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090121695 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR A MULTIPHASE POWER REGULATOR - Methods and apparatus for a multiphase power regulator according various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with an active transient response (ATR) system for applying a correction signal to a multiphase pulse width modulator. In the event of a transient, the ATR system may adjust the output of the pulse width modulator to quickly respond to load requirements. The output may be modified by adding pulses, blanking pulses, advancing pulses, and scaling pulses to one or more phases. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090128113 | POWER CONVERTER HAVING AUTO CONVERSION FUNCTION FOR PULSE SKIP MODE AND CONTROL METHOD - A power converter having an auto conversion function for a pulse skip mode (PSM) and a related control method are provided. The power converter having an auto conversion function for a PSM and a control method thereof can provide a PSM capable of preventing unnecessary switching operations and, thus, improving the efficiency of the power converter by automatically switching to the PSM even when a load is small. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090128114 | POWER SUPPLY OUTPUT VOLTAGE TRIMMING - A power supply trim control signal is produced by integrating differences between monitored and target values of the output voltage of a power supply. Register storage requirements are reduced by producing the target value from a nominal voltage value and one of a plurality of margin offsets selected in accordance with control data. The control data also selects between open and closed loop trim control. Stability is enhanced by changing the target value slowly in response to any change in the control data. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090140709 | CURRENT-LIMITING VOLTAGE CONVERSION DEVICE - The present invention relates to a current-limiting voltage conversion device, comprising a voltage conversion unit, a voltage signal unit, a sensor unit and a DC power loop. The voltage conversion unit and the sensor unit are electrically connected in series in the DC power loop. The voltage signal unit outputs a corresponding voltage signal to the voltage conversion unit based on the electric signal output by the sensor unit, and the voltage conversion unit controls the voltage conversion of the voltage conversion unit based on said voltage signal. The voltage signal unit includes outputting a voltage signal corresponding to the power state within a first preset range as detected by the sensor unit and outputting another voltage signal corresponding to the power state within a second preset range as detected by the sensor unit until the power state detected by the sensor unit returns to the first preset range | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090146630 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A semiconductor device includes: a digital control circuit configured to supply two semiconductor switching elements connected in series in a switching power supply circuit with a pulse signal for turning on/off the semiconductor switching elements; and a dead time setting circuit configured to set a dead time in which the two semiconductor switching elements are both turned off. The dead time setting circuit includes: a delay generation circuit including a plurality of delay elements connected in series and having mutually different delay values; and a delay adjustment circuit configured to adjust the delay values of the delay generation circuit so that a setting value of the dead time is determined on basis of correlation between the dead time and the duty cycle of the pulse signal. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090153120 | Phase doubling for switching power supply - A switching power supply control system may include logic to generate a greater number of second switching control signals in response to a first number of original switching control signals. For example, the logic may increase the number of phases that may be controlled by an existing switching power supply controller. The logic may be configured to steer feedback signals from the increased number of phases back to original feedback inputs on the controller. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090153121 | Voltage supply interface with improved current sensitivity and reduced series resistance - A voltage supply interface provides both coarse and fine current control with reduced series resistance. The voltage supply interface has a segmented switch having N component switches that are digitally controlled. The voltage supply interface replaces a conventional sense resistor with a calibration circuit that has a replica switch that is a replica of the N component switches. The calibration circuit includes a reference current I | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090160414 | COMPARATOR-SYSTEM DC-DC CONVERTER - The comparator-system DC-DC converter | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090167270 | SUPPLY VOLTAGE CONTROL BASED AT LEAST IN PART ON POWER STATE OF INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - For one disclosed embodiment, switching voltage regulator circuitry may be controlled to supply a voltage to at least a portion of an integrated circuit. Information corresponding to a current load for a different power state of at least a portion of the integrated circuit may be received. The switching voltage regulator circuitry may be controlled to adjust the voltage to a different value based at least in part on the received information. For another disclosed embodiment, a voltage may be received for a power state of at least a portion of an integrated circuit having first logic to perform one or more functions and second logic integrated with the first logic. Information corresponding to a current load for a different power state of at least a portion of the integrated circuit may be sent from the second logic to voltage regulator control logic to adjust the voltage to a different value. Other embodiments are also disclosed. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090167271 | ACTIVE TRANSIENT RESPONSE CIRCUITS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIGITAL MULTIPHASE PULSE WIDTH MODULATED REGULATORS - Disclosed is a multi-phase pulse width modulated voltage regulator and method in which transient voltage excursions or deviations that exceed the load line voltage by more than a predetermined amount are detected by an ATR circuit and a correction signal is applied. The correction signal is in the form of asynchronous pulses and the number of such pulses is a function of the magnitude of the voltage excursion as determined by the number of thresholds that are exceeded. Also disclosed is an adaptive voltage positioning (AVP) circuit and method for early detection of a transient event by sensing voltage changes at the load and adjusting the target voltage with pre-determined current values prior to the time that ATR event changes in the current at the load are detected. The AVP load line is pre-positioned for more precise current control. Also disclosed is an adaptive filter with adjustable frequency characteristics in response to an ATR event. Also disclosed is a pulse limiting circuit. Also disclosed is a tri-state implementation. Response to transient events is further improved with an external ATR circuit coupled to the load. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090184701 | SWITCHING VOLTAGE REGULATOR, CONTROL CIRCUIT AND METHOD THEREOF - A control circuit comprises a PWM control circuit and a PWM skip control circuit. The PWM control circuit controls a switching circuit. The switching circuit acts as a current source for an output circuit and a load circuit. The PWM skip control circuit controls the operation of the PWM control circuit. When the output current of the switching circuit is below a predetermined threshold, the PWM skip control circuit stops the operation of the PWM control circuit. When the output voltage of the switching circuit is below a predetermined threshold, the PWM skip control circuit resumes the operation of the PWM control circuit. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090219003 | OFFLINE SYNCHRONOUS SWITCHING REGULATOR - An offline synchronous switching regulator is proposed for improving the efficiency thereof. Switches are coupled to switch a transformer and generate a switching signal at a secondary side of the transformer. A switching circuit is coupled to an output of the regulator to generate pulse signals in response to the switching signal and a feedback signal. Pulse signals are utilized to control a synchronous switch for rectifying and regulating the regulator. The synchronous switch includes a power-switch set and a control circuit. The control circuit receives pulse signals for turning on/off the power-switch set. The power-switch set is connected in between the transformer and the output of the regulator. A flyback switch freewheels an inductor current and can be turned on in response to the off state of the power-switch set whose on-time is correlated to the on-time of the power-switch set. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090230937 | POWER FACTOR CORRECTION CIRCUIT AND POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS THEREOF - A power factor correction circuit including a boost converter, a first capacitor, a first resistor, and a boost control unit is provided. The boost control unit includes a signal generator and a frequency controller. The boost converter transforms a rectified voltage to a correction voltage according to a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. The first capacitor and the first resistor are coupled between an input terminal and a ground terminal of the boost converter. The boost control unit is adapted to generate the PWM signal, and adjust a duty cycle and a frequency of the PWM signal according to a current flowing through the first resistance, the rectified voltage and the correction voltage. Wherein, the signal generator is adapted to generate a ramp signal and adjust a slope of the ramp signal according to a charging current. The frequency controller adjusts the charging current according to the rectified voltage. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090237053 | High efficiency voltage regulator with auto power-save mode - A DC-to-DC converter comprises an error amplifier, a comparator, a PWM controller, a power switch unit, and a control signal monitoring circuit. The PWM controller receives a comparison signal from the comparator and generates a digital control signal that controls the power switch unit such that the DC-to-DC converter supplies a regulated voltage onto a load. The control signal monitoring circuit monitors the digital control signal and detects either a heavy load or a light load condition based on characteristics of the digital control signal. Under the light load condition, the monitoring circuit generates a first enabling signal such that the DC-to-DC controller operates in a power-save mode. Under the heavy load condition, the monitoring circuit generates a second enabling signal such that the DC-to-DC controller operates in a normal operation mode. The DC-to-DC converter consumes substantially less power in the power-save mode than in the normal operation mode. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090237054 | Digital Control of Power Converters - A system and method for controlling a power converter is presented. An embodiment comprises an analog differential circuit connected to an analog-to-digital converter, and comparing the digital error signal to at least a first threshold value. If the digital error signal is less than the first threshold value, a pulse is generated to control the power converter. Another embodiment includes multiple thresholds that may be compared against the digital error signal. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090243577 | REVERSE CURRENT REDUCTION TECHNIQUE FOR DCDC SYSTEMS - The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for switching devices that enables the prediction of when a reverse current condition will occur regardless of voltage-mode or current-mode switching regulator. According to the present invention, the reverse current reduction technique is realized by implementing a circuit which takes in the PWM signal, switching regulator's output signal and the Supply Voltage, before outputting a logic signal to indicate the start of reverse current flow; an OR gate, which outputs a logic signal to control the turning ON/OFF of the PMOS buffer at the output. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090243578 | Power Supply with Digital Control Loop - One embodiment of a power supply apparatus includes a switching regulator generating an output voltage VOUT at an output node from an input voltage VIN at an input node in accordance with a pulse width modulated signal having a nominal frequency of f | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090256541 | POWER SEQUENCE TECHNIQUE - Methods, systems, and devices are described for a power-on sequence for a circuit. A sequence generator for an electronic system may control various power domains to enter known states and prevent unwanted states as other domains of the system power-up. Regulator modules may be controlled to remain in an inoperable state until a reference voltage stabilizes at a predetermined reference level. The regulator modules regulate a received voltage supply to output a regulated voltage at the reference level, the regulated voltage set via a comparison to the reference voltage. Various analog and digital modules may be controlled to remain in an known state until the regulated voltage stabilizes at substantially the reference level. Additional sequencing is described for other dependencies, as well. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090261794 | DC-DC CONVERTER CONTROLLER HAVING OPTIMIZED LOAD TRANSIENT RESPONSE AND METHOD - A power supply controller ( | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090261795 | MULTI-THRESHOLD MULTI-GAIN ACTIVE TRANSIENT RESPONSE CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR DIGITAL MULTIPHASE PULSE WIDTH MODULATED REGULATORS - Disclosed is a multi-phase pulse width modulated voltage regulator and method in which transient voltage excursions or deviations that exceed the load line voltage by more than a pre-determined amount are detected by an ATR circuit and a correction signal is applied. The correction signal is in the form of asynchronous pulses and the number of such pulses is a function of the magnitude of the voltage excursion as determined by the number of thresholds that are exceeded. Also disclosed is an adaptive voltage positioning (AVP) circuit and method for early detection of a transient event by sensing voltage changes at the load and adjusting the target voltage with pre-determined current values prior to the time that ATR event changes in the current at the load are detected. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090267582 | SELF-TUNING DIGITAL CURRENT ESTIMATOR FOR LOW-POWER SWITCHING CONVERTERS - A switched mode power can use a digital controller to control the switching of the at least one switch of the switched mode power supply. The current through the power inductor can be estimated using a self-tuning digital current estimator. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090289611 | CIRCUIT COMBINING A SWITCHING REGULATOR AND AN OVERVOLTAGE DETECTION CIRCUIT - An electronic circuit combines a synchronous switching regulator circuit with an overvoltage detection circuit. The overvoltage detection circuit is configured to generate an overvoltage signal capable of an overvoltage state indicative of a power supply voltage being above a predetermined threshold voltage. The switching regulator circuit is coupled to receive the overvoltage signal. The switching regulator is also configured, in response to the overvoltage signal being in the overvoltage state, to generate a first control signal resulting in at least one of two series coupled transistors being in an off condition. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090295352 | Power Supply Unit and Image Forming Apparatus Including the Same - A power supply unit is provided. An output generation circuit generates an output corresponding to an supplied drive signal and supplies the output to a load. A detection circuit receives the output and generates a detection signal in response to the output. A control circuit generates a digital control signal for controlling a value of the output toward a target value in response to the detection signal. A first D/A conversion circuit receives the digital control signal and converts the digital control signal into an analog control signal, the first D/A conversion circuit being capable of setting a reference range for defining a voltage range of the analog control signal. A driving circuit generates the drive signal in response to the analog control signal and supplies the drive signal to the output generation circuit. A range switching circuit switches the reference voltage range of the first D/A conversion circuit between a wide range and a narrow range narrower than the wide range. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090309566 | DC/DC converter circuit and controller thereof - The present invention uses a multi-phase oscillator or a mono-stable circuit in order to charge the output instantly or within an acceptable time period when a charge pump circuit is in a PFM mode and an output voltage is below a preset voltage level. Therefore, the present invention avoids the problem of charging the output in an unacceptable time delay thereby achieving the advantage of reducing the voltage ripple at the output. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090309567 | MONITORING AND CONTROL OF POWER CONVERTERS - A digital controller configured to inject a signal into a digital feedback path that facilitates regulation of a power converter and measure the corresponding phase, gain, or frequency. The digital controller may also include an adaptive tuning controller for adjusting power converter operating attributes based in part on the measurements. In an exemplary embodiment, the adaptive tuning controller uses the phase, gain, and/or frequency measurements to adjust the digital feedback signal. In an exemplary embodiment, the adaptive tuning controller compares the operating measurements with desired values and generates adjusted operating attributes. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the monitoring and adjusting of the digital feedback signal occurs while the digital controller is regulating a power signal in the power converter. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20100001703 | Programmable Step-Up Switching Voltage Regulators with Adaptive Power MOSFETs - A step-up switching voltage regulator includes an inductor connected between an input voltage and a node Vx, M low-side switches connected between the node Vx and a ground voltage and N synchronous rectifiers connected between the node Vx and an output node. An interface circuit that decodes a control signal to identify: 1) a subset (m) of the low-side switches, 2) a subset (n) of the synchronous rectifiers, and 3) a reference voltage V | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100001704 | Programmable Step-Down Switching Voltage Regulators with Adaptive Power MOSFETs - A step-down switching voltage regulator includes M high-side switches connected between an input voltage and a node; N synchronous rectifiers connected between the node Vx and a ground voltage and an inductor connected between an input voltage and a node Vx and an inductor connected between the node Vx and an output node. An interface circuit decodes a control signal to identify: 1) a subset (m) of the high-side switches, 2) a subset (n) of the synchronous rectifiers. A control circuit drives the high-side switches and synchronous rectifiers in a repeating sequence that includes an inductor charging phase where the high-side switches in the subset m are activated to connect the node Vx to the input voltage; and an inductor discharging phase where the synchronous rectifiers in the subset n are activated to connect the node Vx to the ground voltage. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100001705 | Power controller for supplying power voltage to functional block - A power controller includes a digital control circuit which performs a digital control on a basis of a difference between an output voltage supplied to a power control target device and a voltage reference, so that the output voltage is equal to the voltage reference, and a processor control circuit which conducts an operation of a processor in the digital control circuit, in response to a change of a control signal supplied by the power control target device and indicating a state of a load in the power control target device, which monitors an output from the digital control circuit, and which stops the operation of the processor when the load is judged to have no change. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100007318 | Buck converter threshold detection for automatic pulse skipping mode - Circuits and methods to detect a threshold for entering and leaving a discontinuous current mode of a buck converter have been disclosed. A buck converter is switched to continuous mode if the filtered battery current has reached a defined threshold current Ithccm. In order to expedite the transition from DCM mode to CCM mode the time delay between two or more pulses of a current through an inductor is monitored and the buck converter is switched to CCM mode if this time delay is smaller than a defined threshold. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100026260 | SWITCHING REGULATOR CIRCUIT FOR OPERATION AS A SWITCHING DEVICE IN A SWITCHING MODE AND A PASSIVE DEVICE IN A PASSIVE MODE - A switching regulator circuit is provided for operation as a switching device in a switching mode and as a passive device in a passive mode. A controller is provided for operating the circuit in a switching mode and a passive mode. Additionally, a single transistor is provided for operating as a switching device in the switching mode and for further operating as a passive device in the passive mode. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100026261 | MULTI-LEVEL SIGNALING - A control circuit generates an output based on the first signal and the second signal by encoding the output to be a multi-state signal having at least three states. A magnitude of the multi-state signal generated by the controller varies depending on binary states of the first signal and the second signal. The controller utilizes the output (i.e., the multi-state signal) to control a switching circuit. A driver circuit receives the output generated by the control circuit. In one embodiment, the multi-state signal has more than two different logic states. The driver decodes the multi-state signal for generating signals to control switches in the switching circuit. One signal generated by the driver circuit is a pulse width modulation signal; another signal generated by the driver circuit is an enable/disable signal. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100026262 | Power Supplying Apparatus - A first-order feedback control power supply apparatus being arranged in such a manner that when the apparatus is driven under light load condition, a current flowing through an inductor is detected by employing a second CR smoothing filter; when the present load condition is judged as a light load condition based upon the detected inductor current, both upper-sided/lower-sided power MOSFETs and a PWM oscillator are turned OFF so as to be brought into sleep states; when an output voltage of the power supply apparatus is lowered and the lowered output voltage reaches a lower limit threshold of a transient variation detecting circuit, the upper-sided power MOSFET is turned ON to recover the output voltage; and when the output voltage of the power supply voltage reaches a predetermined voltage, the upper-sided power MOSFET is turned OFF so as to be again brought into the sleep state. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100026263 | BUCK CONTROLLER HAVING INTEGRATED BOOST CONTROL AND DRIVER - An integrated circuit controller for controlling the operation of a voltage converter which includes a first comparator for comparing a voltage associated with an input of a boost converter with a threshold voltage and generating a control signal in response thereto. A second comparator compares a second voltage associated with an output of the boost converter with the threshold voltage and generates a second control signal in response thereto. Driver circuitry generates a first switching transistor drive signal and a second switching transistor drive signal. The first switching transistor drive signal is used for driving an upper gate switching transistor of a buck converter. The second switching transistor drive signal may be configured in a first mode of operation to drive a lower gate switching transistor of the buck converter and may be configured in a second mode of operation to drive a switching transistor of the boost converter. Control logic enables/disables at least a portion of the driver circuitry responsive to the control signal and the second control signal. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100026264 | SELF-ADJUSTING SWITCHED-CAPACITOR CONVERTER WITH MULTIPLE TARGET VOLTAGES AND TARGET VOLTAGE RATIOS - A method for constructing a direct-current to direct current (DC-DC) converter from an input voltage to an output voltage. The DC-DC converter has multiple capacitors and multiple switches connectible the capacitors. A target voltage ratio is obtained based on the input voltage and the output voltage. The target voltage is expressed as a radix number. The radix number is spawned into a code of the target voltage ratio. The code is translated into a switched-capacitor converter (SCC) configuration including the switches and the capacitors. The code may be an extended binary representation code or a Generic Fractional Numbers code. The switched-capacitor converter (SCC) configuration is preferably modified to obtain charge balance. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100033149 | DIGITALLY CONTROLLED CURRENT-MODE SWITCHED POWER SUPPLY - Disclosed is a current mode switched power supply. The current mode switched power supply includes a switching element and a power stage coupled to the switching element and configured to provide, in response to the switching of the switching element, an output voltage and a feedback voltage related to the output voltage. The current mode switched power supply also includes a digital control circuit connected to the switching element to digitally control the switching of the switching element. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100045254 | Average current mode controlled converter having a buck mode, a boost mode, and a partial four-switch mode - An average current-mode controlled converter has a buck mode, a boost mode, and a four-switch mode. In one example, the converter operates in one of the three modes, depending on the difference between the converter output voltage VOUT and the converter input voltage VIN. Whether the four-switch mode is a full-time four-switch mode or a partial four-switch mode is user programmable. The novel converter can also be programmed to operate in other ways. For example, the converter can be programmed so that there is no intervening four-switch mode, but rather the converter operates either in a buck or a boost mode depending on VOUT-VIN. The converter can also be programmed so that the converter always operates in a conventional full-time four-switch mode. In one embodiment, the converter is programmed by setting an offset between two internally generated ramp signals and by setting associated limiting and inverting circuits. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100052639 | Power supply controller having analog to digital converter - A power supply controller includes an analog to digital (A/D) converter that performs analog-digital conversion of an output voltage and outputs a digital signal, a deviation signal generator unit that generates a deviation signal from the digital signal and a standard voltage value serving as an output voltage target value, and a power controller unit that controls the output voltage based on the deviation signal. The power supply controller includes a conversion range setting unit that sets a range of the reference voltage into the A/D converter based on a first signal as the digital signal in a power supply startup period, and sets the reference voltage range into the A/D converter based on a second signal as the deviation signal or as a signal corresponding to the deviation signal in a steady state period. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100066334 | Softstart controller - According to the invention, a DC-DC converter with a digital softstart controller comprises a feedback voltage; a reference voltage; an error amplifier; and a PWM comparator. The error amplifier compares the reference voltage with the feedback voltage. The error amplifier is coupled to the digital softstart controller. The PWM comparator compares signal from the error amplifier. Wherein, the digital softstart controller contains a mapping table, which has information regarding voltage step and time step so as to provide an arbitrary voltage. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100066335 | POWER CONVERSION REGULATOR WITH PREDICTIVE ENERGY BALANCING - A power-conversion regulator comprising an inductive reactor, an output filter reactor, and a switch for admitting energy to the inductive reactor, additionally comprises computation circuitry responsive to the flux in the inductive reactor, to a reference signal, to an output voltage, and sometimes to an output load current, for computing the quantity of energy that must be supplied to a load and to the output filter reactor to regulate the output voltage or current to a desired relationship with the reference signal during each chopping waveform cycle driving the switch. As the inductive reactor is charged from an input energy source, the computation circuitry predicts whether the energy in the inductive reactor has become adequate for the regulation. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100079124 | Adjustable Constant Current Source with Continuous Conduction Mode ("CCM") and Discontinuous Conduction Mode ("DCM") Operation - A converter system and method of operating a converter system are disclosed. The converter system comprises a converter power stage that can operate in a Discontinuous Conduction Mode (DCM) in a range of output currents and a Continuous Conduction Mode (CCM) in another range of output currents. The converter power stage includes at least an inductor with an inductor value and a control switch. The converter power stage provides an average current. A current controller is coupled to the converter power stage. When the converter power stage operates in DCM, the converter power stage provides the average current and the current controller is configured to measure the inductor value of the inductor. Furthermore, the current controller can also be configured to measure an input-to-output conversion ratio from the converter power stage. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100090670 | MULTIPHASE SWITCHING CONVERTER - A method of passive current balancing for digital control of multiphase DC-DC converters is provided based upon the duty-cycle matching principle. Current balance is achieved by inserting a digital filter into the control path. Being sensorless, it is insensitive to current measurement inaccuracies caused by noise, component value tolerance or variation. It will be shown that effective current balancing can be achieved via some simple modifications to standard voltage mode control laws, allowing current balancing to be achieved with minor additional complexity. The current share scheme has been shown to perform well dynamically, matching currents cycle by cycle during load steps, and clearly benefiting from the absence of the slow current share loop popular in traditional methods. The current share filter proposed, blends well with existing digital controllers. Given the very low complexity in implementing the filter, the degree of matching achieved is exceptional. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100090671 | Intelligent Switching Controller and Power Conversion Circuits and Methods - In one embodiment, the present invention includes a circuit comprising a voltage estimation circuit to receive a first voltage and generate an estimation of an output voltage of a power conversion circuit based on the first voltage. The first voltage is from a circuit node between a first terminal of a switch and a first terminal of an inductor. The circuit further comprises a current estimation circuit to receive a first current and generate an estimation of an output current of the power conversion circuit based on the first current. The first current is a current through the switch. The circuit further comprises a pulse width modulation circuit to produce a pulse width modulated signal based on the estimation of an output voltage and the estimation of an output current. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100090672 | DC gain improvement of a digitally controlled DC-DC converter by LSB tuning - An easy LSB tuning method is proposed for a digitally controlled DC-DC converter to increase the DC gain of the digitally controlled DC-DC converter under conditions of no-limit-cycle and a finite bit number to reduce steady-state error of the digitally controlled DC-DC converter. The LSB of one or more of the coefficients in the denominator of the discrete-time domain transfer function of the digital compensator in the digitally controlled DC-DC converter is so tuned that the sum of all coefficients in the denominator of the discrete-time domain transfer function becomes zero. Therefore, the influence of round-off effect on the coefficients of the digital compensator is mitigated. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100102790 | Optimizing delivery of regulated power from a voltage regulator to an electrical component - Methods, apparatus, and products for optimizing delivery of regulated power from a voltage regulator to an electrical component, operation of the voltage regulator controlled by a service processor, the voltage regulator including a number of phases, each phase rated to deliver a different maximum power to the electrical component, where optimizing delivery of regulated power includes determining, by the service processor, the present power requirements of the electrical component, and enabling, by the service processor, one or more phases of the voltage regulator in dependence upon the present power requirements of the electrical component. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100109632 | POWER SUPPLY REGULATOR WITH DIGITAL CONTROL - An integrated circuit and method in an integrated circuit for providing electrical power utilizing digital power regulation. Various aspects of the present invention provide an integrated circuit comprising a power supply module that outputs electrical power at an output voltage level. An error determination module may receive a power supply reference signal and a signal indicative of the output voltage level and output a power supply error signal. A digital controller module may receive the power supply error signal, digitally process the power supply error signal, and output a power supply control signal. A power output-monitoring module may monitor the electrical power output from the power supply module and output the signal indicative of the output voltage level. The power supply module may receive the power supply control signal and output the electrical power based, at least in part, on the power supply control signal. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100117614 | Tuning A Switching Power Supply - Tuning a switching power supply, the power supply including a switching transistor; a filter circuit; a pulse generator that drives the switching transistor; a programmable filter connected to the output of the filter circuit; a digital signal processor (‘DSP’) connected to the output of the filter circuit, the DSP configured to program the programmable filter; and a tuning control circuit connected to the output of the filter circuit, to the pulse generator, and to the DSP; including calculating by the DSP, from sampled voltage values of a tuning pulse driven through the filter circuit by the pulse generator, the actual impedance of the filter circuit; and programming, by the DSP, the programmable filter, setting the combined impedance of the filter circuit and the programmable filter to the design impedance of the filter circuit. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100117615 | ESR ZERO ESTIMATION AND AUTO-COMPENSATION IN DIGITALLY CONTROLLED BUCK CONVERTERS - One embodiment of the present invention is a digitally controlled DC-DC converter comprising of a power stage including at least one switch and an output capacitor. A digital controller can control the switching of the at least one switch. The digital controller can include logic to produce an indication related to a zero resulting from the equivalent series resistance (ESR) of the output capacitor and to update the control of the switching of the switch in the power stage based on the estimate. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100117616 | ADAPTIVE CONTROLLER WITH MODE TRACKING AND PARAMETRIC ESTIMATION FOR DIGITAL POWER CONVERTERS - A controller for a power stage may adaptively control power switches to improve the efficiency of power consumption by the power stage and detect continuous conduction mode (“CCM”) and discontinuous conduction mode (“DCM”) operations of the power stage without instantaneous or cycle by cycle sensing and sampling of the output inductor current. Additionally, the controller may be used to facilitate the estimation of output inductor value, the peak inductor current value, and other information on converter operations. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100134083 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A/D CONVERSION - In one embodiment, a method of performing an A/D conversion includes comparing a reference signal to a ramp signal, comparing an input signal to the ramp signal and causing a signal to propagate through a delay line when the ramp signal crosses a first of the reference signal or the input signal. The state of the delay line is stored when the ramp signal crosses a second of the reference signal or the input signal after the ramp signal crosses the first of the reference signal or the input signal. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100134084 | OUTPUT VOLTAGE CONTROLLER, ELECTRONIC DEVICE, AND OUTPUT VOLTAGE CONTROL METHOD - An output voltage controller includes a first controller which controls current supply to a inductor based on an output voltage, and a second controller which controls current supply to the inductor by controlling a period when an input end to which an input voltage is inputted, the inductor, and an output end from which the output voltage is outputted are coupled based on the input voltage. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100141230 | SELF-TUNING SENSORLESS DIGITAL CURRENT-MODE CONTROLLER WITH ACCURATE CURRENT SHARING FOR MULTIPHASE DC-DC CONVERTERS - Embodiments of the present invention concern a multiphase switch-mode power supply. The multiple phase switch-mode power supply can have at least one switch and a digital controller to control the switching of the at least one switch. During a calibration period, the digital controller can freeze the current of all of the multiple phases except for a phase being calibrated. This can be done by fixing the current reference of the phases except for the phase being calibrated. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100148739 | DIGITAL CONTROL OF POWER CONVERTERS - A method of controlling a DC/DC converter to regulate an output voltage from an input voltage source that varies from a fully-charged voltage to a discharged voltage. The method introduced improves the dynamic response of the converter during transients by switching between different converter topologies to spread out voltage spikes, which are an inevitable result of transients. The invention also can improve the efficiency of the DC/DC converter by replacing higher loss modes with combination modes. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100148740 | VOLTAGE BUCK-BOOST SWITCHING REGULATOR - A stable, high-speed, high-efficiency constant voltage is provided without a complicated, large-scale, high-cost phase compensation circuit over a wide range of operating conditions. This voltage buck-boost switching regulator consists of a pair of voltage reducing transistors, a pair of voltage boosting transistors, inductance coil, output capacitor and controller. The controller has the following parts for performing PWM control of constant voltage for voltage reducing transistors and voltage boosting transistors: an output voltage feedback circuit, an inductor current sense circuit, a variable sawtooth wave signal generator, switching controllers, and a voltage boosting driver. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100156375 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR A SWITCHING CONVERTER - A control device for a switching converter, the converter having at least one transistor supplied by an input voltage and adapted to supply a load by means of an output voltage. The converter also including a circuit adapted to turn on and off the at least one transistor. The control device includes an operation circuit adapted to change the state of the at least one transistor from turned on to turned off or vice versa, respectively when the output voltage goes down or goes up by a first voltage of a given value by defining a first state; the operation circuit including a further circuit adapted to generate a ramp signal and to change the first state of the at least one transistor from turned on to turned off or vice versa when the ramp voltage is equal to the output voltage of the converter. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100156376 | Control circuit and method for a digital synchronous switching converter - In addition to an output voltage control loop, a dead-time optimization loop is provided for a digital synchronous switching converter to dynamically adjust the dead-time for the power switches of the converter. It is extracted a minimal feedback signal at a steady state while the output voltage remains under a specification, and a maximal efficiency of the digital synchronous switching converter is thus obtained. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100164455 | ADAPTIVE MULTI-MODE DIGITAL CONTROL IMPROVING LIGHT-LOAD EFFICIENCY IN SWITCHING POWER CONVERTERS - Adaptive multi-mode digital control schemes that improve the light-load efficiency (and thus the overall average efficiency) in switch-mode power converters without causing performance issues such as audible noises or excessive voltage ripples. Embodiments include a switch-mode power converter that reduces current in the power converter using a second pulse-width-modulation (PWM) mode before reaching switching frequencies that generate audible noises. As the load across the output of the power converter is reduced, the power converter transitions from a first PWM mode in high load conditions to a first pulse-frequency-modulation (PFM) mode, then to a second PWM mode, and finally to a second PFM mode. During the second PFM mode, the switching frequency is dropped to audible frequency levels. Current in the power converter, however, is reduced in the second PWM mode before transitioning to the second PFM mode. Therefore, the power converter produces less or no audible noise in light load conditions where the switching frequency drops to audible frequency levels, while achieving high efficiency across varying load conditions. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100164456 | CONTROL CIRCUIT AND CONTROL METHOD FOR SWITCHING REGULATOR - A first comparator compares a feedback voltage that corresponds to the output voltage of a switching regulator with a threshold voltage having hysteresis. The first comparator outputs a voltage comparison signal which is asserted when the feedback voltage is smaller than the threshold voltage. A second comparator generates a current comparison signal which is asserted when an electric current that flows through a switching transistor reaches a reference current. During a period in which the voltage comparison signal is asserted, a logic unit performs an operation in which, when the current comparison signal is asserted, a control signal is set to a second level at which the switching transistor is turned off, following which, after the passage of a predetermined OFF time, the control signal is set to a first level at which the switching transistor is turned on. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100171480 | METHOD AND APPARATUS OF A UNIFIED CONTROL SOLUTION FOR BRIDGELESS POWER FACTOR CONTROLLERS AND GRID CONNECTED INVERTERS - A unified control solution for both bridgeless power factor controllers and grid connected inverters is disclosed. Conventionally, the bridgeless power factor controllers and the grid connected inverters are controlled with different approaches. In the present invention, it is disclosed that the two kinds of applications can be controlled with one unified approach. With the disclosed method, one single integrated circuit can be made and be used in both applications. Firstly, a sample based controller is disclosed to derive the ac current reference from the ac voltage and the dc voltage. The ac current reference is forced to be proportional to the ac voltage. The proportion coefficient is derived from the dc voltage in such a way to keep the dc voltage constant. Furthermore, the coefficient is updated only once every half ac line cycle. So as long as the ac current follows the current reference, the dc voltage will be regulated to a constant, and the ac current will be pure sinusoidal. Secondly, a new current mode switching pattern is disclosed based on an improved hysteretic switching pattern. The disclosed switching pattern minimizes the number of switching event and removes the deadtime requirement without the risk of shoot through. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100171481 | DIGITAL POWER CONTROL DEVICE - A digital power control device includes a power input terminal, power converter, regulator, power output terminal, feedback voltage detecting unit, feedback voltage encoder, PWM control unit, and a digital PWM output module | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100181982 | VOLTAGE GENERATING APPARATUS FOR HEADPHONE - A voltage generating apparatus for a headphone is provided, which includes a voltage generator, a charge pump circuit, an operating amplifier and a controller. The voltage generator generates a first operating voltage. The charge pump circuit receives the first operating voltage and an adjusting signal, and generates a second operating voltage according to the first operating voltage and the adjusting signal. The operating amplifier receives the first operating voltage and the second operating voltage serving as the operating voltages thereof and receives an input signal so as to generate an output signal. The controller receives the second operating voltage and a control signal, and generates the adjusting signal according to the second operating voltage and the control signal. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100181983 | CONSTANT ON-TIME CONVERTER AND THE METHOD OF OPERATION - The present invention discloses a control circuit for constant on-time converter and a control method thereof. The proposed constant on-time DC/DC converter stabilizes the system and improves the performance of the load transient response without large equivalent series resistance of the output capacitor. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100188063 | DIGITALLY CONTROLLED SWITCHED-MODE POWER SUPPLY - The present invention relates to a digitally controlled switched-mode power supply, wherein a switched-mode power supply is provided with a control circuit, which comprises a signal amplifier unit able to receive digital signals or analog signals and a switching controller able to receive the signals. The switching controller uses the signals to produce a clock signal, after which the clock signal is output, whereupon the signal amplifier unit feeds a signal back to control the switching controller. The signal amplifier unit is provided with at least one amplifier element, and when the amplifier element receives a digital signal or analog signal, then the signal is transmitted to the switching controller. Accordingly, the control circuit achieves the effectiveness to not only receive and transmit digital signals, but also receive and transmit analog signals, and is thus provided with the advantage of enormous flexibility. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100194366 | DC/DC Converter and Method for Controlling a DC/DC Converter - A DC/DC converter comprises an inductive element (L) having a first terminal connected to an input connection ( | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100207594 | Auto-Tuning Power Supply - An apparatus for and method of automatically tuning a voltage regulation control loop for a digitally controlled switch mode power supply is provided. The method includes determining a frequency response of the power stage and calculating an open loop transfer function from the frequency response. A correlated metric is defined based at least in part on the open loop transfer function, wherein the correlated metric is correlated to an expected disturbance in regulated output voltage from the digitally controlled switch mode power supply due to a change in load. New values for the open loop transfer function are calculated for a range of controller compensation parameters to minimize the correlated metric. These values are then applied to the digital controller for use in controlling the power supply. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100207595 | OUTPUT BUFFER CIRCUIT - Provided is an output buffer circuit capable of reducing output noise, and increasing a response speed. In a case where an output voltage changes from a ground voltage to an inversion voltage of NOR, and a case where the output voltage changes from a power supply voltage to an inversion voltage of NAND, both of two MOS transistors control the output voltage, and hence, a slew rate of the output voltage becomes steep. Thus, a response speed of the output buffer circuit becomes high. Further, in such a case where the output voltage changes in the vicinity of a voltage (VDD/2) other than the above-mentioned cases, only one MOS transistor controls the output voltage, and hence, the slew rate of the output voltage becomes gentle. Thus, a response speed of the output buffer circuit becomes low, which reduces output noise. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100213911 | SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT AND POWER SUPPLY DEVICE - A semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a first switching element and a second switching element that are provided in series between a first power line and a second power line; a power supply circuit that outputs a given output voltage by on/off controlling the first switching element and the second switch element; a current detection circuit that detects a current corresponding to an output load current of the power supply circuit; a switching time control circuit that controls a switching time defined by a power supply voltage and the output voltage based on a current value detected by the current detection circuit; and a switching element control circuit that controls the first switching element and the second switching element based on an output signal of the switching time control circuit. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100225291 | DC-DC CONVERTER CIRCUIT, ELECTRO-OPTIC DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A DC-DC converter circuit includes a boosting circuit having at least part of a DC-DC converter; a control signal circuit that controls the boosting circuit; and a power supply unit being electrically connected to both of the boosting circuit and the control signal circuit and supplying at least the control signal circuit with electric power. The DC-DC converter includes a plurality of capacitors and switching units enabling each of the plurality of capacitors to be electrically independent, and the control signal circuit transmits a signal to the switching units when the DC-DC converter is not operating in intermittent operation thereof, the signal indicating each of the plurality of capacitors being made to be electrically independent. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100244799 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PHASE DROPPING AND ADDING - A multi-phase voltage regulator comprisies a plurality of current supplying stages, each current supplying stage configured to supply a local output current equaling at least a portion of a load current output from the multi-phase voltage regulator; and a plurality of control circuits, each control circuit coupled to a respective one of the plurality of current supplying stages, wherein each control circuit calculates a control signal based, at least in part, on a sampled current representative of the respective local output current and a sampled current representative of a master output current. The control signal from each control circuit causes the respective current supplying stage to be disabled gradually over a first time interval if the sum of the local output current and the master output current is detected as being below a respective first predetermined level. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100253307 | PFC CONVERTER HAVING TWO-LEVEL OUTPUT VOLTAGE WITHOUT VOLTAGE UNDERSHOOTING - A switching controller for a PFC converter is provided. The switching controller comprises a switching-control circuit, a current-command circuit, a programmable feedback circuit, a modulator, an over-voltage detection circuit, and a light-load detection circuit. The switching controller is capable of regulating a bulk voltage of the PFC converter at different levels in response to load conditions of the PFC converter. A turbo current eliminates a first voltage undershooting of the bulk voltage at the transient that the bulk voltage decreases to arrive at a second level from a first level. A voltage-loop error signal is maximized to eliminate a second voltage undershooting of the bulk voltage at the transient that the bulk voltage starts to increase toward the first level from the second level. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100253308 | Constant Current Driving System with Stable Output Current - Constant current driving circuit includes a latch, an ON timer, and an OFF timer. The latch outputs a switch control signal according to an ON signal and an OFF signal for controlling a power switch. The power switch is coupled between an input voltage source and an inductor. When the switch control signal controls the power switch to turn on/off, the input voltage source is able/unable to couple to the inductor through the power switch. The inductor provides an output current and an output voltage. The ON timer detects if the output current reaches a peak value for accordingly outputting the OFF signal. The OFF timer outputs the ON signal according to the output voltage and the switch control signal for control the interval of the switch control signal representing “OFF”. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100264894 | SWITCH DRIVING CIRCUIT - A switch driving circuit includes a buffer module, a capacitor module, a first switch module, a second switch module, and a control module. The buffer module generates a driving voltage according to a control voltage. The first switch module is turned on when the control voltage is at a low voltage level to provide a supply voltage to the buffer module and charge the capacitor module by the supply voltage to generate a compensation voltage. The second switch module is turned on when the control voltage is at a high voltage level to provide the compensation voltage to the buffer module. When the supply voltage is higher than a reference voltage, the control module turns on the first switch module and turns off the second module to provide the supply voltage to the buffer module. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100277151 | Systems and methods for intelligently optimizing operating efficiency using variable gate drive voltage - Systems and methods for intelligently optimizing voltage regulation efficiency for information handling systems by varying gate drive voltage value based on measured operating efficiency and/or other voltage regulation operating parameters. Different voltage regulation operating parameters may be dynamically monitored and recorded during a power conversion process, and these operating parameters may then be used to dynamically and variably control gate drive voltage level to improve/optimize voltage regulation operating efficiency performance. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100283442 | DC-DC CONVERTER AND SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT FOR CONTROLLING POWER SOURCE - A control technology which eliminates the need for changing the switching frequency even under light load where the on-time of a drive switching element becomes shorter than a minimum on-time dependent on the characteristics of the circuit in a synchronous rectification switching regulator. The synchronous rectification switching regulator includes a drive switching element for storing energy in a coil by applying a DC input voltage from a DC power supply to an inductor and permitting a current to flow, and a rectification switching element for rectifying the current of the inductor during an energy discharge period where the drive switching element is turned off. The timing for turning off the rectification switching element under light load is delayed so as to store energy in the inductor from the output, and the on-time is controlled to become longer as the load becomes lighter by the output from an error amplifier. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100301821 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INPUT CHARGE CONTROL OF A POWER SUPPLY - An example controller includes a constant current control circuit and an integrator included in the constant current control circuit. The constant current control circuit is to be coupled to receive an input current sense signal, an input voltage sense signal, and an output voltage sense signal. The control circuit is adapted to regulate an output current of a power supply by generating a control signal to control switching of a switch. The integrator is coupled to integrate the input current sense signal during a switching period of the control signal to generate an integrated signal representative of a charge taken from an input voltage source of the power supply. The constant current control circuit is adapted to control the switching of the switch such that the integrated signal is proportional to a ratio of the output voltage sense signal to the input voltage sense signal. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100301822 | Switching regulator and control circuit thereof, and method for determining on-time in switchng regulator - The present invention discloses a switching regulator and control method thereof, and a method for determining On-time in switching regulator. The switching regulator comprises: a power switch circuit including at least one power transistor switch which operates to convert an input voltage to an output voltage; a PWM generation circuit for generating a duty signal in a normal operation mode according to a feedback signal relating to the output voltage; a pulse skipping circuit for determining On-time in a pulse skipping mode according to a node with non-constant voltage level, the node being connected with the power transistor switch; and a driver circuit for driving the at least one power transistor switch according to one of the outputs from the PWM generation circuit and the pulse skipping circuit. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100301823 | POWER SUPPLY UNIT AND CONTROL CIRCUIT OF POWER SUPPLY UNIT - An ADC, a comparator, a calculator and a DPWM for applying a feedback control to a power supply main circuit are provided on a control circuit. The comparator compares digital output voltage information obtained by analog to digital conversion of the ADC and target voltage information, and outputs its difference to an error adjuster. The error adjuster performs control by reference to the difference (error value information) so that an output voltage of the power supply main circuit is not included in a predetermined range adjacent to the resolution boundary of the power supply control signal, thereby preventing the occurrence of distortion (limit cycle oscillation) of the output voltage caused by the accumulation of errors. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100301824 | STEP-UP DC/DC SWITCHING CONVERTER AND SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICE - A step-up DC/DC converter having a step-up circuit which can performs a stable control without depending on a logic threshold of a semiconductor switching device and a semiconductor integrated circuit device having the step-up DC/DC converter are provided. The step-up DC/DC converter includes: a control logic which generates a driving voltage to be supplied to a semiconductor switching device; a power supply circuit which steps-up a battery voltage to perform a level shift of the driving voltage output by the control logic; and an amplifier operated with using a voltage generated by the semiconductor switching device as a power supply. Since the level-shifted semiconductor switching device control signal is higher than a logic threshold voltage of the semiconductor switching device, the ON/OFF of the semiconductor switching device can be controlled. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100315054 | High efficiency voltage regulator with auto power-save mode - A DC-to-DC converter comprises an error amplifier, a comparator, a PWM controller, a power switch unit, and a control signal monitoring circuit. The PWM controller receives a comparison signal from the comparator and generates a digital control signal that controls the power switch unit such that the DC-to-DC converter supplies a regulated voltage onto a load. The control signal monitoring circuit monitors the digital control signal and detects either a heavy load or a light load condition based on characteristics of the digital control signal. Under the light load condition, the monitoring circuit generates a first enabling signal such that the DC-to-DC controller operates in a power-save mode. Under the heavy load condition, the monitoring circuit generates a second enabling signal such that the DC-to-DC controller operates in a normal operation mode. The DC-to-DC converter consumes substantially less power in the power-save mode than in the normal operation mode. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100315055 | BUCK CONVERTER - A buck converter and a switching regulator capable of suppressing a ripple voltage under light load conditions. The buck converter has NMOS transistors QN | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100320983 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PFM/PWM MODE TRANSITION WITHIN A MULTI-PHASE BUCK CONVERTER - A multi-phase voltage regulator comprises a plurality of DC/DC voltage regulators. Each of the DC/DC voltage regulators is associated with a particular phase of the multi-phase regulator. Each of the regulators comprises a first switching transistor connected between an input voltage node and a phase node responsive to switching control signals. A second switching transistor is connected between the phase node and a ground node and is responsive to the switching control signals. An inductor is connected between the phase node and an output voltage node. Control logic generates the switching control signals responsive to a pulse control signal. PFM/PWM transition logic generates the pulse control signal. The pulse control signal transitions between a PWM signal and a PFM signal responsive to an error voltage, a feedback voltage from the output voltage node and an inductor current through the inductor. An error amplifier generates the error voltage responsive to the feedback voltage and a reference voltage. The output of each error amplifier in each of the plurality of phases are connected to each other. A capacitor is connected between the output voltage node and a ground node. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100320984 | APPARATUS INCLUDING POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT - An apparatus which has a load that consumes a predetermined amount of electric power per unit time includes a power source circuit configured to generate a voltage for driving the load, a capacitor which is connected to a supply line for supplying electric power to the load from the power source circuit and configured to stabilize a potential of the load, a first supply circuit which can supply electric power smaller than the predetermined amount to the capacitor and can discharge a charge from the capacitor, a second supply circuit which can supply electric power larger than the predetermined amount to the capacitor, a switch circuit configured to operate each of the first supply circuit and the second supply circuit, and a holding circuit configured to hold information based on the operation of the first supply circuit. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100320985 | DRIVER CIRCUIT - A drive control signal is effectively obtained. An offset control circuit ( | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100327836 | CONTROLLERS FOR DC TO DC CONVERTERS - A controller includes a ramp signal generator and control circuitry coupled to the ramp signal generator. The ramp signal generator provides a control current through a resistive component to control energy stored in a first energy storage component. The ramp signal generator further generates a ramp signal based on the energy stored in the first energy storage component. The control circuitry adjusts a voltage at one end of the resistive component thereby controlling the control current to indicate a voltage across a second energy storage component. The control circuitry further controls a current through the second energy storage component within a predetermined range based on the ramp signal. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110001460 | LOWER POWER CONTROLLER FOR DC TO DC CONVERTERS - The present invention relates to a DC to DC converter system ( | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110001461 | Buck-boost switching regulator and control circuit and method therefor - The present invention discloses a buck-boost switching regulator, and a control circuit and a method therefor, to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. The control method comprises: obtaining a feedback signal relating to the output voltage; comparing the feedback signal with a reference voltage to generate an error amplified signal; when the error amplified signal is between a first voltage (V | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110012577 | Power converting system with function of reducing dead-time - A driving circuit includes a dead-time detecting circuit, a duty-cycle controlling circuit, and a switch controlling circuit. The dead-time detecting circuit is coupled to an output of a power switch set for detecting a switching voltage on the output of the power switch set and accordingly outputting a dead-time detecting signal. The output of the power switch set is coupled to the first end of an inductive load, and the second end of the inductive load provides an output voltage. The duty-cycle controlling circuit is coupled to the second end of the inductive load for generating a set/reset signal according to the output voltage. The switch controlling circuit controls the power switch set to be away from a dead state according to the set/reset signal and the dead-time detecting signal. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110012578 | DC-DC CONVERTER CONTROLLER HAVING OPTIMIZED LOAD TRANSIENT RESPONSE - In one embodiment, a power supply controller is configured to turn off a first output transistor but inhibit turning off a second output transistor. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110018514 | Dual-mode buck switching regulator and control circuit therefor - The present invention discloses a dual-mode buck switching regulator, comprising: a first power transistor having an end coupled to an input voltage and another end coupled to a common node; an inductor having an end coupled to the common node and another end coupled to the input voltage; a second power transistor having an end coupled to ground; a diode having an end coupled to ground; and a control circuit generating a first and a second switch control signals for controlling operations of the first and the second power transistors according to a feedback signal, and generating a mode selection signal according a mode control signal to select a synchronous or an asynchronous mode, wherein the second power transistor has another end which is coupled to the common node in the synchronous mode, and the diode has another end which is coupled to the common node in the asynchronous mode, and in the asynchronous mode: the another end of the second power transistor is not coupled to the common mode, or the second power transistor maintains off. The present invention also relates to a control circuit of the dual-mode buck switching regulator. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110043177 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR AN INTERLEAVING POWER FACTOR CORRECTOR - In an interleaving power factor corrector, a control device interleavingly drives first and second converting circuits such that the power factor corrector generates a voltage output (Vo), and includes first and second control modules generating respectively first and second driving signals (Q_master, Q_slave) that correspond respectively to first and second control signals for controlling operations of power switches of the first and second converting circuits. A phase modulating module generates a reset signal (S_PTCL) based on an inverted first driving signal (Qn_master) and a feedback compensation signal (Vcomp) outputted by the first control module, and a reset signal (S_syn) outputted by the second control module. When one of the reset signals (S_syn, S_PTCL) has a predetermined level, the second driving signal (Q_slave) has a level for switching the power switch of the second converting circuit to an OFF-mode. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110043178 | Electronic Device with Power Switch Capable of Regulating Power Dissipation - An electronic device with a power switch capable of regulating power dissipation includes a power supply device; a power switch, for providing an output voltage; and a current regulating circuit, which includes an adaptive control unit, for outputting a regulating signal, according to the voltage difference between the power supply device and the output voltage; and a switch control unit, for outputting a switch control signal to control the magnitude of the current through the power switch, according to the regulating signal. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110043179 | DC-DC Converter - A DC-DC converter providing a DC output voltage at an output node. The DC-DC converter comprises an output stage, a digital controller, and a controller. The output stage comprises a pull-up circuit having a control terminal and coupled between a first fixed voltage and a internal node, a pull-down circuit coupled between the internal node and a second fixed voltage, and a low pass filter coupled between the internal node and the output node. The digital controller is powered by the DC output voltage and adjusts the DC output voltage by controlling the output stage. The controller controls a connection of a feedback path, comprising the digital controller, between the output node and the control terminal according to the DC output voltage. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110043180 | POWER SUPPLY CONTROLLER - A power supply controller includes: a controlling section that, upon determination that no anomaly has occurred, causes a semiconductor switch to execute turning on and, upon determination that the anomaly has occurred, causes the semiconductor switch to maintain an off state; a monitoring section that monitors which condition the controlling section is in, the condition being normal or anormal; and a switching section that, upon monitoring result by the monitoring section indicating the normal condition, causes turning on and off of the semiconductor switch by the controlling section and, upon the monitoring result indicating the anormal condition, causes turning on and off of the semiconductor switch with an external on-off command signals. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110062928 | SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY CONTROLLER WITH HIGH FREQUENCY CURRENT BALANCE - A controller for a multi-phase switching power supply shuffles the sequence of the phases in response to a load transient to prevent synchronization of one or more phases with high-frequency load transients. The sequence may be shuffled by varying the frequency and/or sequence of the switching control signals to introduce a random variation in the phases. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110074376 | Output Driving Circuit Capable of Reducing EMI Effect - An output driving circuit capable of reducing EMI effect includes a non-overlapping signal generation unit for generating a first non-overlapping signal and a second non-overlapping signal according to an input signal, a pre-driver for generating a first pre-driving signal and a second pre-driving signal according to the first non-overlapping signal and the second non-overlapping signal, a high-side switch, a low-side switch, and a control unit for controlling the high-side switch or the low-side switch to be switched into a weak on state to reduce load inductive current effect for a load. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110080148 | Soft starting driver for piezoelectric device - A driver includes a boost converter, a pulse width modulator controlling the boost converter, and a timer controlling the pulse width modulator. The timer, such as a digital counter, causes the pulse width modulator to produce narrow pulses unless or until the end of a period is reached, at which point the pulse width modulator is not controlled by the timer. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110084676 | CONTROL CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR A POWER CONVERTER CONTROLLING ADAPTIVE VOLTAGE POSITION - A control circuit and method for a power converter controlling adaptive voltage position comprises an adder acquiring an output voltage difference between the output voltage and the reference output voltage, a digital compensator with an Z-domain transfer function to reference to the output voltage difference to generate a pulse width control signal, regulating the least significant bits of a denominator coefficient in the Z-domain transfer function such that a load line function of the power converter is performed via control of the pulse width control signal, and a pulse modulation circuit being controlled by the pulse width control signal to generate the pulse width modulation signal to control ON/OFF of power switch of the power converter. Thus, functions of controlling the negative or positive load lines and function of variable load line required by the operation of multiphase converter can be performed easily without complicated operations. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110089920 | ARCHITECTURE OF CONTROLLING A DUAL POLARITY, SINGLE INDUCTOR BOOST REGULATOR USES AS A DUAL POLARITY SUPPLIES IN A HARDDISK DRIVE DUAL STAGE ACTUATOR (DSA) DEVICE - A dual supply circuit uses a dual feedback control, single inductor, dual polarity boost architecture with a low side power FET for end of current recirculation sensing. A dual feedback system tracks the output voltage variations and a low side power FET end of current recirculation sensing utilizes the internal current limit sensing system. Logic defining the state of operations allows the regulator to operate in both single and dual mode to cater to wide application ranges. The positive boost regulator can be operated in a buck mode making the output voltage constant with high input supply. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110095741 | Control Device for DC-DC Converter and Related DC-DC Converter - A control device for a DC-DC converter includes a PWM controller for generating a PWM signal to a switch module of the DC-DC converter according to a feedback signal of the DC-DC converter, a logic circuit for generating a selection signal according to a magnitude of an output current of the DC-DC converter, and a multiplexer coupled to a plurality of voltages for selecting one of the plurality of voltages to be a supply voltage according to the selection signal. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110095742 | Power Converter with Controller Operable in Selected Modes of Operation - A power converter and method of controlling the same for selected modes of operation. In one embodiment, the power converter includes a first power switch coupled to a source of electrical power and a second power switch coupled to the first power switch and to an output terminal of the power converter. The power converter also includes a controller configured to control an operation of the first and second power switches during selected modes of operation. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110101947 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITH DC-DC CONVERTER - An integrated circuit ( | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110101948 | Power Converter with Controller Operable in Selected Modes of Operation - A power converter and method of controlling the same for selected modes of operation. In one embodiment, the power converter includes a first power switch coupled to a source of electrical power and a second power switch coupled to the first power switch and to an output terminal of the power converter. The power converter also includes a controller configured to control an operation of the first and second power switches during selected modes of operation. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110115456 | DC-DC CONVERTER AND SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - A DC-DC converter according to the present invention includes a monitoring circuit which monitors an output signal of a mode comparator and which outputs a mode change detection signal when the output of the mode comparator has output a light load mode signal, and a clamp circuit which is connected between power supply and ground and which changes a voltage at a first end of a filter circuit toward a preset prescribed voltage according to the mode change detection signal. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110127983 | DIGITAL CONTROL OF PWM CONVERTERS WITH NONLINEAR GAIN SCHEDULING - A system and method for controlling a digital pulse-width modulated power converter achieves a fast large-signal transient response while maintaining a slow response near the steady-state operating point in order to assure stability and to reduce the system's susceptibility to noise. Digital output error samples are processed through a gain scheduling block that applies a non-linear gain function to produce a weak loop response when the system is near its steady-state equilibrium point and a strong loop response when large transients are encountered. The resulting system maintains a fast transient response to large error signals while reducing noise and loop jittering and assuring loop stability. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110133712 | DIGITAL CONTROL SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY UNIT - A digital control switching power supply unit includes an A/D converter circuit having a delay line circuit that has a delay element array whose delay time is controlled by a bias current, and that converts a current value into a digital signal using a signal transmission delay time, a phase difference detector circuit that detects a phase difference between a switching cycle and an A/D conversion cycle, a charge pump circuit that generates a control voltage in accordance with the phase difference, and a bias current indicator circuit that determines a bias current in accordance with an output voltage of the charge pump circuit and a result of a comparison of a detected value of the output voltage and a reference voltage, wherein the digital control switching power supply unit controls in such a way that the A/D conversion cycle is synchronized with the switching cycle. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110133713 | DC-TO-DC CONVERTER WITH INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION LOGIC - An apparatus comprises a direct current (“DC”) to DC converter comprising a first compensation logic and other DC to DC converter logic. The first compensation logic compensates for phase shifts in an output of the DC to DC converter. The first compensation logic is disabled independently of the other DC to DC converter logic based on a first communication sent to the DC to DC converter. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110133714 | POWER CONVERTER WITH PROTECTION MECHANISM FOR DIODE IN OPEN-CIRCUIT CONDITION AND PULSE-WIDTH-MODULATION CONTROLLER THEREOF - A power converter with a protection mechanism for a diode in an open-circuit condition includes a DC to Dc (DC/DC) conversion circuit, a detection and protection circuit, a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) signal generator, and a logic gate. The detection and protection circuit is used for detecting an open-circuit condition of the diode of the DC/DC conversion circuit. The logic gate receives an output signal of the detection and protection circuit and a PWM signal outputted by the PWM signal generator. When the diode is in an open-circuit condition, the PWM signal cannot be transmitted to a power switch of the DC/DC conversion circuit due to the output signal of the detection and protection circuit. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110148377 | POWER SUPPLY CONVERTER AND METHOD - A power supply converter and a method for adjusting a threshold voltage in the power supply converter. The circuit includes first and second switches having current conducting terminals commonly connected together to form a node. An energy storage element may be connected to the node and a zero current detection comparator may be connected to the node. A first voltage may be provided at the control terminal of the first switch that turns it off. After the first switch is off, determining whether the first switch turned off before or after the current in the energy storage element has reached zero. This may be accomplished by determining whether the voltage at the first node is positive or negative. If the voltage at the first node is negative, the threshold voltage is increased and if the voltage at the first node is positive the threshold voltage is decreased. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110148378 | ALGORITHMIC APPROACH TO PWM SMPS CURRENT SENSING AND SYSTEM VALIDATION - A power supply current monitor comprising a processor operable to monitor a pulsed voltage signal generated by a power supply and generate an alert when a pulse width for the pulsed voltage signal is outside an expected pulse width range; wherein the pulse width is dependent on an amount of current being supplied to a load by the power supply. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110156681 | SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY CONTROL APPARATUS - According to embodiments, a switching power supply control apparatus causes a switching element to perform an ON/OFF once in each period of a clock signal, when an output voltage of a switching power supply formed by charging a capacitor with a current of a choke coil that stores/releases current energy in conjunction with the ON/OFF operation of the switching element is adjusted by exercising ON/OFF control of the switching element based on comparator output that compares the output voltage with a reference voltage. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110156682 | VOLTAGE CONVERTER WITH INTEGRATED SCHOTTKY DEVICE AND SYSTEMS INCLUDING SAME - A semiconductor device such as a voltage converter includes a circuit stage such as an output stage having a high side device and a low side device which can be formed on a single die (i.e., a “PowerDie”) and connected to each other through a semiconductor substrate, and further includes a Schottky diode integrated with at least one of the low side device and the high side device. Both the high side device and the low side device can include lateral diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistors. Because both output transistors include the same type of transistors, the two devices can be formed simultaneously, thereby reducing the number of photomasks over other voltage converter designs. The voltage converter can further include a controller circuit on a different die which can be electrically coupled to, and co-packaged with, the PowerDie. Various embodiments of the Schottky diode can provide Schottky protection and, additionally JFET protection for the Schottky device. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110156683 | Current mode buck-boost DC-DC controller - A current mode DC-DC controller operates with high efficiency even when the input and output voltages are close. Switches selectively connecting an input, ground and an output to inductor terminals are controlled in a buck/boost region to alternate between operation as a buck converter and operation as a boost converter. The number of switches repeatedly changing state is thus reduced, lowering switching losses and improving conversion efficiency. Current through the inductor during operation is sensed and compared to an error value to control switching from buck mode operation to boost mode operation and back. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110169471 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND POWER SOURCE DEVICE - A multi-phase power source device capable of easily changing the number of phases is realized. For example, a plurality of drive units POL[ | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110175587 | SWITCHING CONTROL CIRCUIT AND SWITCHING POWER-SUPPLY APPARATUS - A switching power-supply apparatus and a switching power supply circuit in which a feedback signal is input from a feedback circuit to a feedback terminal of a switching control IC includes a capacitor and a Zener diode connected between the feedback terminal and a ground terminal. The Zener diode is a selectively connected external circuit. A voltage of the feedback terminal during an overcurrent operation changes depending on whether or not the external circuit is present. A return/latch determination circuit detects the voltage of the feedback terminal to switch between an automatic return system and a latch system in an overcurrent operation state. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110175588 | CONTROL CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR SWITCHING SUPPLY - A control circuit for a switching supply, include: a first control circuit that selects one of a first signal to switch a boost mode and a step-down mode and a second signal to control an on-period of a switch based on an input voltage, the switch provided between a terminal to which the input voltage is applied and an inductor; and a second control circuit that controls the switching supply based on an output voltage and the selected one of the first signal and the second signal. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110187339 | Voltage-Converter Arrangement and Method for Voltage Conversion - A voltage-converter arrangement comprises an arrangement input ( | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110204864 | COEFFICIENT SCALING DEPENDING ON NUMBER OF ACTIVE PHASES - According to example configurations herein, a controller receives a value indicative of a number of phases in a power supply to be activated for producing an output voltage to power a load. The controller utilizes the value to adjust a magnitude of at least one control coefficient associated with the power supply. The control can also use the value of the input voltage to adjust the magnitude of at least one control coefficient. For example, according to one example configuration, the controller digitally computes values for the one or more control coefficients based on the received value indicating the number of phases in the power supply to be activated for producing the output voltage. Based on the adjusted magnitude of the at least one control coefficient, the controller produces control signals to control the number of phases in the power supply as specified by the value to produce the output voltage. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110204865 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADAPTIVE SWITCHING FREQUENCY CONTROL - System and method for providing frequency control to a power converter. The system includes a controller configured to receive a load signal and generate a first control signal. The load signal indicates an output load for a power converter. Additionally, the system includes a signal generator configured to receive the first control signal and generates at least a first output signal. The first output signal is associated with a first signal strength and a first frequency. The first frequency is inversely proportional to a sum of a first time period, a second time period, and a third time period. The first signal strength increases with the time during the first time period, the first signal strength decreases with the time during the second time period, and the first signal strength is constant with respect to the time during the third time period. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110210711 | Apparatus for Detecting a State of Operation of a Power Semiconductor Device - An embodiment of the invention relates to an apparatus including a power semiconductor device and a processor coupled thereto. The processor is configured to provide a control signal to the power semiconductor device to regulate an output characteristic of the apparatus. The processor models an internal characteristic of the power semiconductor device and alters the control signal if the modeled internal characteristic crosses a threshold value. In an exemplary embodiment, the internal characteristic is a channel temperature of a MOSFET. A sensor such as a thermistor is coupled to or included within the processor to sense a parameter separate from the power semiconductor device, such as a processor temperature, and the processor is configured to adapt the modeled internal characteristic to the sensed parameter. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110215781 | DIGITAL CONTROL SWITCHING REGULATOR HAVING AN INPUT VOLTAGE DETECTION CIRCUIT - A digital control switching regulator of the invention ON/OFF-controls switching elements by digital-controlled pulse width modulation signals and converts an input voltage to a desired output voltage. The switching regulator includes an input voltage detection circuit that includes: a voltage dividing circuit outputting a divided voltage of the input voltage; a comparator section comparing the divided voltage of the input voltage with a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage and outputting a first comparison signal and a second comparison signal indicating comparison results; and a control section controlling a dividing ratio of the voltage dividing circuit based on the first comparison signal and the second comparison signal to obtain the predetermined divided voltage, thereby outputting an input voltage digital signal corresponding to the input voltage. The input voltage digital signal controls controller coefficients for use in the digital control. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110221412 | VOLTAGE CONVERTER AND LED DRIVER CIRCUITS - A voltage converter circuit can include a boost converter having a switching transistor and configured to receive an input voltage, produce an output voltage and selectively operate in one of a boost mode, a skip mode and a linear mode. In the boost and skip modes, the boost converter can switch on and off the switching transistor at a switching frequency to produce an output voltage at magnitudes greater than input voltage magnitudes. In the linear mode, the boost converter can turn off the switching transistor at all times to pass the input voltage unboosted to produce an output voltage at magnitudes less than input voltage magnitudes. The boost converter can be configured to operate in the boost mode for input voltage magnitudes less than a first predetermined input voltage magnitude, in the skip mode for input voltage magnitudes between the first predetermined magnitude and a second predetermined input voltage magnitude greater than the first predetermined input voltage magnitude, and in the linear mode for input voltage magnitudes greater than the second predetermined input voltage magnitude. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110221413 | DC TO DC CONVERTER HAVING SWITCH CONTROL AND METHOD OF OPERATION - In a D.C. to D.C. converter, an input voltage is received via an inductor at an input terminal and stored onto a capacitor of an integrator. A first switch is coupled between the input terminal and a reference terminal such as ground and thereby fluxes the inductor. The input voltage stored on the capacitor falls at a rate determined by the integrator circuit and an initial value of the input voltage. After a time duration, the first switch becomes nonconductive. Current flows from the inductor through a diode to an output terminal until a second switch across the diode is made conductive. Stored voltage on the capacitor of the integrator increases in response to the second switch being conductive. The stored voltage on the capacitor is continuously compared with a reference voltage. The second switch is made nonconductive when the stored voltage on the capacitor exceeds the reference voltage. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110221414 | DC to DC CONVERTER HAVING ABILITY OF SWITCHING BETWEEN CONTINUOUS AND DISCONTINUOUS MODES AND METHOD OF OPERATION - A DC to DC converter has first and second transistor coupled at a first node and coupled between first and second power supply terminals. An inductor has a first terminal coupled to the first node and a second terminal coupled to an output terminal for receiving a variable load. Transistor drive circuitry controls conduction of the first and second transistor in a non-overlapping conduction operation. A duty cycle controller controls a duty cycle for the first transistor and the second transistor. Control circuitry determines a mode of operation by monitoring cycles of operation and detecting a predetermined pattern of cycles in which inductor current becomes negative. A first mode of operation permits both the first transistor and the second transistor to alternately conduct and a second mode of operation does not permit the second transistor to conduct during each cycle when the inductor current is reduced to substantially zero. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110221415 | DC/DC CONVERTER - According to one embodiment, a switching transistor changes, based on ON/OFF operations, the direction of an electric current flowing to an inductor. A gate driving unit applies a driving voltage to a gate of the switching transistor. A power-supply switching unit switches, based on a result of comparison of the input voltage and the output voltage, the voltage of a power supply that generates the driving voltage. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110227550 | MODULATION SCHEME USING A SINGLE COMPARATOR FOR CONSTANT FREQUENCY BUCK BOOST CONVERTER - A buck boost converter generates an output voltage responsive to an input voltage and at least one switching control signal in a buck mode of operation, a boost mode of operation and a buck-boost mode of operation. Control logic generates the at least one switching control signal responsive to the output voltage, a reference voltage, and a sensed voltage associated with an inductor current of the buck boost converter. The sensed voltage associated with the inductor current enables the control logic to generate the at least one switching control signal in a selected one of the buck mode of operation, the boost mode of operation and the buck-boost mode of operation. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110234190 | METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR CONDUCTION MODE CONTROL - Methods for selecting between the two modes (states) of operation, continuous conduction and discontinuous conduction, are disclosed. Systems that are capable of selecting the operating mode and operating in the continuous conduction mode or the discontinuous conduction mode are also disclosed. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110241640 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF INTERMITTENT DIODE BRAKING FOR MULTIPLE PHASE VOLTAGE REGULATOR - A method of operating a regulator controller IC for performing intermittent diode braking for controlling a multiple phase voltage regulator. The method includes receiving at least one signal for detecting repetitive load transients, determining a rate of the repetitive load transients, generating diode braking control signals, each for applying diode braking to a corresponding one of multiple phases for at least one load transient when the repetitive load transients are below a first rate, and controlling the diode braking control signals to drop application of diode braking of at least one phase for at least one load transient when the repetitive load transients are at least the first rate. The method may include rotating the application of diode braking among the phases during successive applications of diode braking. The method may include dropping an increased number of phases for diode braking as the rate of repetitive load transients is increased. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110254525 | DIMMING CONTROL FOR A SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY - A controller for dimming control of a switching power supply includes a phase angle measurement block and a drive logic block. The phase angle measurement block is to be coupled to receive an input sense signal. The phase angle measurement block generates a phase angle signal representative of a phase angle of an input voltage of the power supply in response to the input sense signal. The drive logic block is to be coupled to control switching of a switch included in the power supply. The drive logic block controls the switch in a closed loop dimming control when the phase angle is less than or equal to a phase threshold and in a open loop dimming control when the phase angle is greater than the phase threshold. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110267019 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO DIGITALLY BALANCE CURRENTS OF A MULTI-PHASE VOLTAGE REGULATOR - Methods and systems to generate a digital error indication of an input signal relative to a reference signal, using resistors, comparators, and latches. The digital error indication may indicate that the input signal is within a range of the reference signal, above the range, or below the range. The methods and systems may be implemented within a multi-phase digital voltage regulator to generate a digital error indication for each of a plurality of phase currents relative to an instantaneous average of the phase currents. The digital voltage regulator may be fabricated on an integrated circuit die with a corresponding load, such as a processor. The digital voltage regulator may include a plurality of multiplier or look-up based gain modules, each to receive a corresponding one of the digital error signals and to output one of three values. Outputs of each gain module may be integrated over time. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110273155 | Hybrid Rectifier - A hybrid voltage rectifier enables a switch mode DC-DC power converter to safely power an external dynamic load by way of a substantially lossless conductive coupling between an output filter of the converter and the load. The rectifier is controlled so as to permit net average current through an inductor of the output filter to be approximately equal to, but not less than, zero by permitting very low loss conduction in the first quadrant and, selectively, cycle by cycle, in the third quadrant during load operation. The converter has a first switch, an output filter, a second switch, and a controller. The output filter is conductively coupled with the first switch, and has an inductor in series with the load. The controller sets state conditions of the second switch, such that the inductor operates in a continuous current mode. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110285372 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND DISPLAY DEVICE - An object is to reduce power consumption of a semiconductor device including a DC-DC converter circuit. The semiconductor device includes a DC-DC converter circuit and a microprocessor. The DC-DC converter circuit includes a conversion circuit including an inductor and a transistor, and a control circuit including a comparison circuit and a logic circuit. A hysteresis comparator is used as the comparison circuit. In the control circuit, the comparison circuit compares an output signal of the conversion circuit with a first reference potential or a second reference potential, and the logic circuit performs arithmetic operation between an output signal of the comparison circuit and a clock signal of the microprocessor. In the conversion circuit, the transistor controls current flowing through the inductor in accordance with an output signal of the logic circuit, and the output signal of the conversion circuit is generated in accordance with the current flowing through the inductor. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110285373 | PULSE GENERATING CIRCUIT AND PULSE WIDTH MODULATOR - A pulse generating unit receives a clock at a predetermined frequency, and generates a pulse signal which transits synchronously with the positive edge of the clock. A flip-flop acquires the pulse signal every time a positive edge occurs in an inverted clock output from the inverter. A logic gate multiplexes the pulse signal and the output of the flip-flop. A selector selects either the output of the logic gate or the pulse signal. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110291630 | MICROPROCESSOR PERFORMANCE AND POWER OPTIMIZATION THROUGH SELF CALIBRATED INDUCTIVE VOLTAGE DROOP MONITORING AND CORRECTION - Disclosed is a digital voltage regulator system and method for mitigating voltage droop in an integrated circuit. If an unacceptable voltage droop is detected, the digital voltage regulator may take action to allow the power supply voltage to recover. A digital voltage regulator in accordance with embodiments discussed herein detects voltage droop by comparing a power supply voltage measurement with a threshold voltage. The threshold voltage may be calibrated based on power supply voltage measurements taken while the integrated circuit is operating. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110291631 | POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT - This invention offers a power supply circuit that is capable of improving a power factor as well as reducing a ripple current of an input/output of the power supply circuit due to switching of a switching device. The power supply circuit is provided with a first power supply circuit including first and second switching devices, a second power supply circuit including third and fourth switching devices and a switching control circuit. The switching control circuit controls the switching devices so that the first switching device and the third switching device are turned on and off at timings different from each other when an alternating current voltage from an alternating current power supply is positive, and the second switching device and the fourth switching device are turned on and off at timings different from each other when the alternating current voltage is negative. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110291632 | Power Converters Including Zero-Current Detectors And Methods Of Power Conversion - A power converter includes a zero-current detector having an adjustable offset voltage. The power converter includes a power converting unit and a switch driving circuit. The power converting unit generates a DC output voltage based on a pull-up driving signal, a pull-down driving signal and a DC input voltage. The switch driving circuit generates a first detection voltage signal based on the DC output voltage. The switch driving circuit includes a zero-current detector configured to adjust an offset voltage based on the first detection voltage signal and generate a zero-current detecting signal based on the offset voltage. The offset voltage and the zero-current detecting signal are associated with a current in the power converting unit. The switch driving circuit also includes a pulse-frequency modulating circuit configured to perform a pulse-frequency modulation (PFM) to generate the pull-up driving signal and the pull-down driving signal based on the zero-current detecting signal | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110298439 | DIGITALLY CONTROLLED INTEGRATED DC-DC CONVERTER WITH TRANSIENT SUPPRESSION - A fully integrated DC-DC converter utilizes digitally controlled dual output stages to achieve fast load transient recovery is presented. The DC-DC converter includes a main converter output stage connected in parallel with an auxiliary output stage. The main output stage is responsible for steady-state operation and is designed to achieve high conversion efficiency using large inductor and power transistors with low on-resistance. The auxiliary stage is responsible for transient suppression and is only active when a load transient occurs. The auxiliary output stage performs well with inductor and power transistors much smaller than those of the main switching stage and thus achieves well balanced power conversion efficiency and dynamic performance with a much smaller area penalty than previously described dual-output-stage converters. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20120013322 | BUCK SWITCH-MODE POWER CONVERTER LARGE SIGNAL TRANSIENT RESPONSE OPTIMIZER - A switch mode power supply (SMPS) response to a disturbance is improved by using a hysteretic control in combination with a fixed frequency, pulse-width modulated (PWM) controller for providing robust control and optimizing the response to disturbances in buck or buck derived switch mode power supply (SMPS) system topologies. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120025797 | CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR POWER SUPPLY - A control circuit for controlling a power supply including a first switch and a second switch coupled in series between a first potential and a second potential. The control circuit includes a detection circuit that detects a magnitude relation of a voltage value at a node between the first and second switches and a reference value during a period in which the first switch and the second switch are inactivated. The detection circuit generates a control signal corresponding to the magnitude relation. A regulation circuit regulates a switching timing of the second switch in response to the control signal to decrease a difference between the voltage value at the node and the reference value. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120043953 | POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT - In the case where the duty cycle of the PWM signal exists and the duty cycle of the PWM signal is constant for a certain period, a feedback control circuit is operated intermittently with the duty cycle fixed. Specifically, a power supply circuit includes an A/D converter circuit for forming a digital value based on an analog value obtained by monitoring an output voltage based on a reference voltage, a digital filter circuit for smoothing the digital value, a PWM signal generator circuit for generating a PWM signal based on an output value of the digital filter circuit, and an operation mode control circuit for controlling a circuit operation mode based on the duty cycle of the PWM signal. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120062200 | VOLTAGE REGULATION DEVICE AND SYSTEM EMPLOYING THE SAME - A voltage regulation device employed in a voltage regulation system is for a motherboard power supply. The voltage regulation device includes a first sampling module, a voltage regulation module, a second sampling module, and a main controller. The first sampling module samples current and voltage signals from a power source through the motherboard power supply. The voltage regulation module outputs adjustable drive voltages for the motherboard power supply controlled by the main controller. The second sampling module samples current and voltage signals of the drive voltages from the motherboard power supply. The main controller receives the current and voltage signals, and converts the current and voltage signals from the first sampling module and the second sampling module to corresponding input power and output power, respectively, and the input power and the output power are calculated to generate conversion efficiencies of each drive voltage. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120062201 | COMPARATOR TYPE DC-DC CONVERTER USING SYNCHRONOUS RECTIFICATION METHOD - A DC-DC converter | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120068679 | REGULATED POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM WITH HIGH INPUT VOLTAGE DYNAMICS - This regulated power supply system with high input voltage dynamics, of the type having a shared inductance buck/boost transformer and having at least two controllable semiconductor switching members, one associated with the buck function of the transformer and the other with the boost function of the transformer, is characterized in that one of the controllable semiconductor switching members is driven by control means as a function of the system's input voltage, and the other is driven continuously by enslavement means on the output voltage. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120081093 | Switching regulator - A switching regulator includes: a switching element that controlling supply of power supply voltage according to a control signal; a smoothing circuit smoothing the power supply voltage supplied via the switching element and supplying the smoothed power supply voltage as an output voltage to an output terminal; an error amplifier outputting an error signal according to a difference between the output voltage supplied to the output terminal and a reference voltage; a delta sigma modulation circuit generating a delta sigma modulation signal according to the error signal; and a power supply abnormality detection circuit outputting the delta sigma modulation signal as the control signal and detecting an abnormality in the power supply voltage based on the delta sigma modulation signal. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120086421 | SINGLE-STAGE POWER SUPPLY WITH POWER FACTOR CORRECTION AND CONSTANT CURRENT OUTPUT - An example controller includes a delayed ramp generator, an integrator, an arithmetic operator, and a drive signal generator. The integrator integrates an input current sense signal representative of an input current of the power supply to generate an input charge signal. The input current has a pulsating waveform with a period that is a switching period of a switch of the power supply. The arithmetic operator circuit generates an input charge control signal responsive to the input charge signal and a ratio of a rectified input voltage to a dc output voltage of the power supply. The drive signal generator produces a drive signal responsive to the input charge control signal and a delayed ramp signal generated by the drive signal generator to control the switch. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120098511 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTELLIGENTLY OPTIMIZING OPERATING EFFICIENCY USING VARIABLE GATE DRIVE VOLTAGE - Systems and methods for intelligently optimizing voltage regulation efficiency for information handling systems by varying gate drive voltage value based on measured operating efficiency and/or other voltage regulation operating parameters. Different voltage regulation operating parameters may be dynamically monitored and recorded during a power conversion process, and these operating parameters may then be used to dynamically and variably control gate drive voltage level to improve/optimize voltage regulation operating efficiency performance. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120105038 | CLOCK PHASE SHIFTER FOR USE WITH BUCK-BOOST CONVERTER - A buck boost converter generates a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage and switching control signals. Switching control circuitry generates the switching control signals responsive to the regulated output voltage, a maximum duty cycle signal and a mode signal. Mode control circuitry generates the maximum duty cycle signal and the mode signal responsive to a buck PWM signal and a boost PWM signal, a first clock signal and a second clock signal phase shifted from the first clock signal by a fixed, programmable amount. A phase shifter generates the first clock signal and the second clock signal responsive to a reference voltage and a synchronization signal. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120105039 | Delay Block for Controlling a Dead Time of a Switching Voltage Regulator - Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus for controlling timing of switch control signals of a switching voltage regulator disclosed. One method includes generating a regulated output voltage based upon a switching voltage, generating the switching voltage through controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and a shunt switch element, and controlling, by a delay block, the closing and opening of the series switch element and a shunt switch element. The delay block control includes receiving, by the delay block, a timing signal, generating a one of a series switch control signal and a shunt switch control signal by controllably delaying the timing signal with a first delay, and generating one other of the series switch control signal and the shunt switch control signal by inverting, and controllably delaying the timing signal with a second delay. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120112720 | SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY WITH SELF-OPTIMIZING EFFICIENCY - A switching power supply is provided that includes: input terminals for the uptake of an input power, output terminals for providing an output power, a circuit disposed between the input and output terminals for transforming the input power and having at least one controllable switch, a control unit for controlling the at least one controllable switch by means of at least one pulse-width modulation signal having variable frequency and variable duty cycle, and having measuring instruments connected to control unit, designed for at least measuring the input current intensity, the input voltage, the output current intensity, and the output voltage, wherein control unit is designed for the purpose of monitoring the efficiency of switching power supply by means of measurement values of the connected measuring instruments, and of optimizing the efficiency by controlling the at least one controllable switch by means of a first digital control loop. Also provided is a method for operating a switching power supply. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120126765 | CIRCUIT AND SYSTEM WITH SOFT-START FUNCTIONALITY - A circuit includes a first control output adapted to couple to a control terminal of a first transistor and a second control output adapted to couple to a control terminal of a second transistor. The circuit further includes a feedback input for receiving a signal and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to independently control first and second on-times of control signals applied to the first and second control outputs, respectively, in response to receiving the signal to limit a current at an output node. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120126766 | Control circuit and bulk DC/DC converter in constant on-time mode - Constant on-time control circuit includes a comparing circuit including a comparator including a positive input end for receiving a control voltage; a negative input end for receiving a feedback voltage from the output voltage of the DC/DC converter; and an output end for outputting a comparing signal; and a voltage adjusting circuit coupled to the output end of the comparator for adjusting the control voltage; and a pulse generator coupled to the output end of the comparator for generating a pulse signal to control a switch set of the DC/DC converter according to the comparing signal. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120126767 | BUCK CONVERTER - A buck converter includes a first electrical switch and a second electrical switch connected in series, a PWM module coupled to the gate of the first electrical switch through a first adjustable resistance module and coupled to the gate of the second electrical switch through a second adjustable resistance module, a filter circuit coupled between the connecting node of the two different electrical switches and an output node, and a control module for adjusting values of the first adjustable resistance module and the second adjustable resistance module and acquiring a voltage value from the connecting node. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120126768 | CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY - An error amplifier generates an error signal V | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120126769 | VOLTAGE BOOSTING/LOWERING CIRCUIT AND VOLTAGE BOOSTING/LOWERING CIRCUIT CONTROL METHOD - A voltage boosting/lowering circuit according to an aspect of the present invention includes an output voltage generation circuit | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120133347 | EFFICIENCY-OPTIMIZING, CALIBRATED SENSORLESS POWER/ENERGY CONVERSION IN A SWITCH-MODE POWER SUPPLY - An intelligent pulse width modulation (PWM) controller adapts a switch mode power supply (SMPS) system's operating parameters to optimize efficiency, remove hot spots and isolate faults by integrating a microcontroller, PWM digital circuits and analog circuits into a single integrated circuit, e.g., a mixed signal device, thereby reducing the number of external connections, silicon die area and integrated circuit packages. A lossless inductor current sense technique integrates a matched, tunable complimentary filter with the intelligent SMPS controller for accurately measuring current through the power inductor of the SMPS without introducing losses in the power circuit. The complimentary filter is adjusted by the microcontroller to significantly reduce the effects of component tolerances, accurately measuring the power inductor current for precise closed loop control and over current protection. The frequency pole and gain of the complimentary integrated filter can be adjusted on the fly in order to adapt to dynamically changing operating conditions of the SMPS system. | 05-31-2012 |
| 20120139517 | USER-CONFIGURABLE, EFFICIENCY-OPTIMIZING, CALIBRATED SENSORLESS POWER/ENERGY CONVERSION SWITCH-MODE POWER SUPPLY WITH A SERIAL COMMUNICATIONS INTERFACE - An intelligent pulse width modulation (PWM) controller adapts a switch mode power supply (SMPS) system's operating parameters to optimize efficiency, remove hot spots and isolate faults by integrating a microcontroller, PWM digital circuits and analog circuits into a single integrated circuit, thereby reducing the number of external connections, silicon die area and integrated circuit packages. A lossless inductor current sense technique integrates a matched, tunable complimentary filter with the intelligent SMPS controller for accurately measuring current through the power inductor of the SMPS without introducing losses in the power circuit. The complimentary filter is adjusted by the microcontroller to significantly reduce the effects of component tolerances, accurately measuring the power inductor current for precise closed loop control and over current protection. The frequency pole and gain of the complimentary integrated filter can be adjusted on the fly in order to adapt to dynamically changing operating conditions of the SMPS system. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120139518 | USER-CONFIGURABLE, EFFICIENCY-OPTIMIZING, POWER/ENERGY CONVERSION SWITCH-MODE POWER SUPPLY WITH A SERIAL COMMUNICATIONS INTERFACE - An intelligent pulse width modulation (PWM) controller adapts a switch mode power supply (SMPS) system's operating parameters to optimize efficiency, remove hot spots and isolate faults by integrating a microcontroller, PWM digital circuits and analog circuits into a single integrated circuit, thereby reducing the number of external connections, silicon die area and integrated circuit packages. A communications interface is used to communicate with a host system for monitoring operating parameters of the SMPS, e.g., current, voltage, efficiency, operating temperature, diagnostics, etc. In addition, the communications interface may be used to alter the operating parameters (objectives) of the SMPS during operation thereof. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120146606 | Constant On-Time Converter with Stabilizing Operation and Method Thereof - The embodiments of the present invention disclose a constant on-time converter with stabilizing operation and a control method thereof. The converter may comprise an input terminal, an output terminal, a feedback circuit, an operating circuit, a comparison circuit, a timer, a driving circuit and a switching circuit. The operating circuit may be coupled to a compensation signal adjusted by a digital controller. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120146607 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INPUT CHARGE CONTROL OF A POWER SUPPLY - An example power supply includes an energy transfer element, a switch and a controller. The controller includes a logic circuit and a constant current control circuit. The logic circuit generates a drive signal to control the switch in response to a control signal. The constant current control circuit generates the control signal in response to a received input current sense signal, input voltage sense signal, and output voltage sense signal. An integrator included in the constant current control circuit integrates the input current sense signal to generate an integrated signal representative of a charge taken from the input voltage source. The constant current control circuit is adapted to generate the control signal to provide a constant current at the output of the power supply such that the integrated signal is proportional to a ratio of the output voltage sense signal to the input voltage sense signal. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120153915 | BUCK OR BOOST DC-DC CONVERTER - A control circuit for controlling a DC-DC converter, with the converter including an inductor and associated switching circuitry, with the switching circuitry including a first transistor switch connected intermediate an input voltage terminal and a first terminal of the inductor, a second transistor switch connected intermediate the first terminal of the inductor and a circuit reference, a third transistor switch connected intermediate a second terminal of the inductor and an output voltage terminal and a fourth transistor switch connected intermediate the second terminal of the inductor and the circuit reference. Mode control circuitry responsive to separate buck and boost comparators and configured to cause the switching circuitry to switch among a pass phase where the first and second transistor switches are ON, a boost phase where the first and third transistors are ON and a buck phase where the second and third transistors are ON, with first selected switching periods beginning operation in the pass phase followed, in response to an output of the buck comparator, with operation in the buck phase and with second selected switching periods beginning operation in the pass phase followed, in response to an output of the boost comparator, to operation in the boost phase. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120153916 | DIGITAL BOOST FEEDBACK VOLTAGE CONTROLLER FOR SWITCH-MODE POWER SUPPLIES USING PULSE-FREQUENCY MODULATION - A controller produces high-side and low-side control signals. The high and low-side signals are used to switch high-side and low-side transistors in the power stage to control the voltage across the power stage output capacitor of the power stage. A boost feedback charge pump receives the low or high-side signal to increase the charge on a charge pump output capacitor. The controller is configured to send Pulse Frequency Modulation (PFM) high and low-side signals that control the voltage on the power stage output capacitor and charge the charge pump output capacitor. The controller is also configured to send boost feedback (BFB) high and low-side signals that charge the boost feedback capacitor, but are designed to not significantly change the charge on the power stage output capacitor. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120153917 | LOW-TO-MEDIUM POWER SINGLE CHIP DIGITAL CONTROLLED DC-DC REGULATOR FOR POINT-OF-LOAD APPLICATIONS - A DC-DC converter for generating a DC output voltage includes: a digitally controlled pulse width modulator (DPWM) for controlling a switching power stage to supply a varying voltage to an inductor; and a digital voltage feedback circuit for controlling the DPWM in accordance with a feedback voltage corresponding to the DC output voltage, the digital voltage feedback circuit including: a first voltage controlled oscillator for converting the feedback voltage into a first frequency signal and to supply the first frequency signal to a first frequency discriminator; a second voltage controlled oscillator for converting a reference voltage into a second frequency signal and to supply the second frequency signal to a second frequency discriminator; a digital comparator for comparing digital outputs of the first and second frequency discriminators and for outputting a digital feedback signal; and a controller for controlling the DPWM in accordance with the digital feedback signal. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120153918 | Protection Circuit for Protecting a Half-Bridge Circuit - The present invention relates to a protection circuit for protecting a half-bridge circuit. The protection circuit detects an incorrect response of the half-bridge by monitoring the current of a first switch at a series resistor of a second switch. The protection circuit has a detector for detecting the voltage across the resistor and an evaluation circuit which is designed in such a manner that it evaluates an output signal from the detector after the first switch has been switched on and provides a fault signal at an output when the voltage across the resistor is greater than the threshold voltage. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120161735 | PEAK CURRENT CONTROLLED SWITCHING VOLTAGE REGULATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A SELF POWER DOWN MODE - A peak current controlled switching voltage regulator system and method for providing a self-power down mode. An on-chip voltage regulator integrated into an on-chip digital logic circuit provides a core supply voltage to the on-chip digital logic circuit along with an off-chip inductor. An off-chip regulator connected to the on-chip digital logic circuit provides an external core supply voltage with respect to the on-chip digital logic circuit. A start-up circuit operates the on-chip voltage regulator in a self-power down mode for a predetermined time period when the on-chip regulator is not connected to the off-chip inductor in order to maintain an equilibrium voltage supply with respect to the on-chip digital logic circuit. | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120169314 | BUCK CONVERTER - A buck converter includes a first MOSFET and a second MOSFET connected in series, a PWM module coupled to gates of the first MOSFET and the second MOSFET, and a control unit being coupled to the input current acquired unit, the input voltage acquired unit, the output current acquired unit, the output voltage acquired unit and the PWM module respectively, wherein the control unit controls a switch frequency of the PWM module and acquires the input current, the input voltage, the output current and the output voltage from the input current acquired unit, the input voltage acquired unit, the output current acquired unit and the output voltage acquired unit respectively. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120169315 | POWER SUPPLIES AND CONTROL METHODS FOR OPERATING IN QUADRATURE-RESONANCE-SIMILAR MODE - Control method and power controller suitable for a switched mode power supply with a power switch are provided. An ON time of the power switch is recorded. An estimated OFF time is provided based on the ON time. The estimated OFF time is in positive correlation with the ON time. The power switch is turned ON after the elapse of the estimated OFF time. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120182001 | LOW INPUT VOLTAGE BOOST CONVERTER OPERABLE AT LOW TEMPERATURES AND BOOST CONTROLLER THEREOF - A low input voltage boost converter operable at low temperatures, comprising a boost controller and an NMOS transistor. The boost controller has a driver unit, a first inverter circuit, a second inverter circuit, and a comparator circuit, wherein the first inverter circuit is used to enhance the high level of a switching signal during a startup period. | 07-19-2012 |
| 20120182002 | POWER SUPPLY CONTROLLER HAVING ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERTER - A power supply controller includes a switching circuit which, in response to a control signal, transfers an analog signal to an output node as an outputted analog signal, the output node being coupled to an inductor and a capacitor, an analog to digital (A/D) converter which converts an outputted analog signal to a digital signal, a pulse width modulation (PWM) generator circuit which produces a PWM signal based on the digital signal, a driver which produces the control signal in response to the PWM signal, and a conversion range setting unit which sets a range data for the A/D converter based on the digital signal during a first period, and which sets the range data based on the PWM signal during a second period. | 07-19-2012 |
| 20120194157 | SWITCHING REGULATOR PERFORMING OUTPUT VOLTAGE CHANGING FUNCTION - A switching regulator can convert an input voltage to a desired output voltage by ON-OFF controlling switching elements with PWM signals. The switching regulator can include a communication interface circuit that receives external operation instructions, an output voltage setting section that changes an output voltage to an output voltage setting value upon receiving an output voltage changing instruction from the outside, a voltage divider and an ADC that converts an error voltage into a digital error signal e[n], the error voltage being a difference between a reference voltage Vref and a detected output voltage value Vfb. The switching regulator can also include a controller that includes an operation control section for calculating a duty factor signal d[n] to determine an ON time proportion of the switching elements and an output voltage changing control section for controlling operation to change the output voltage. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20120194158 | CONTROLLERS FOR CONTROLLING CURRENTS TO PREDETERMINED CURRENT REFERENCES - A high-side switch is coupled to a power supply terminal and selectively coupled to ground via a conduction path. During an on state duration, the high-side switch can be enabled and the conduction path can be disabled. During an off state duration, the high-side switch can be disabled and the conduction path can be enabled. During a skip state duration, the high-side switch and the conduction path both can be disabled. A controller coupled to the high-side switch can control the on state duration and the skip state duration based on a current reference. The controller can further generate a control signal for controlling the high-side switch and the conduction path according to the on state duration and the skip state duration, and adjust an output current to the current reference according to the control signal. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20120200276 | POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT WITH SCALABLE PERFORMANCE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT - A power supply circuit and a method for operating the power supply circuit are described. In one embodiment, a power supply circuit includes multiple power elements configured to convert an input voltage to an output voltage, a driver circuit coupled to the power elements and configured to drive the power elements, a regulator controller coupled to the power elements and configured to control the power elements for the conversion of the input voltage to the output voltage, and at least one bypass switch coupled to the power elements. The at least one bypass switch is used to bypass at least one of the power elements. Other embodiments are also described. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20120212202 | FEEDBACK TERMINAL OF POWER CONVERTER HAVING PROGRAMMING FUNCTION FOR PARAMETER SETTING - A control circuit of a power converter according to the present invention comprises a switching circuit, a sample-and-hold circuit and a current source. The switching circuit generates a switching signal in response to a feedback signal. The sample-and-hold circuit samples the feedback signal. The current source is coupled to a feedback terminal for generating a programming voltage. A programmable signal is generated in accordance with the programming voltage and the feedback signal, and the programmable signal is coupled to set a parameter. | 08-23-2012 |
| 20120212203 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A DC/DC CONVERTER - A method of operating a DC/DC converter in a continuous-conduction mode (CCM) or in a discontinuous-conduction mode (DCM) to produce an output voltage, the DC/DC converter setting a pulse width modulation in CCM based on a COMP signal that varies as a function of the output voltage, the method including capturing the COMP signal utilizing a digital-to-analog converter at a transition between CCM and DCM, and varying a frequency of operation of the DC/DC converter in DCM based on the captured COMP signal. | 08-23-2012 |
| 20120223691 | DIGITAL PULSE-FREQUENCY MODULATION CONTROLLER FOR SWITCH-MODE POWER SUPPLIES WITH FREQUENCY TARGETING AND ULTRASONIC MODES - A digital pulse controller uses digital logic to send pulses to a high side and low side switches of a switch-mode power supply converter. The digital logic uses a pulse frequency mode which includes a frequency targeting mode and an ultrasonic mode. The frequency targeting mode dynamically adjusts the size of the pulses in order to achieve a switching frequency within a desired band. The ultrasonic mode is switched into when the frequency of the pulses are at or below a threshold and the time of the pulses reaches a minimum threshold. | 09-06-2012 |
| 20120223692 | SENSORLESS SELF-TUNING DIGITAL CURRENT PROGRAMMED MODE (CPM) CONTROLLER WITH MULTIPLE PARAMETER ESTIMATION AND THERMAL STRESS EQUALIZATION - A multiphase controller for a DC-to-DC power supply includes logic to estimate parameters for multiple phases that provide a combined output at a load. The estimated parameters include a current estimate and an effective resistance estimates for each phase so that a power estimate for each phase can be produced. The logic adjusts the operation of the phases using the power estimate for each phase. | 09-06-2012 |
| 20120223693 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DC-DC CONVERSION USING DIGITALLY CONTROLLED ADAPTIVE PULSE FREQUENCY MODULATION - A method and apparatus for regulating voltage comprising calculating a first PFM on time and a second PFM on time and selecting one the PFM on times according to a selection criteria. Then activating and deactivating at least one switch according to the selected PFM on time. | 09-06-2012 |
| 20120223694 | Operating a Semiconductor Component Having a Breakthrough Voltage - Methods and apparatuses are provided for operating a semiconductor component using a DC/DC-converter. The DC/DC-converter has its duty cycle controlled. | 09-06-2012 |
| 20120242314 | DC-DC CONVERTER AND DIGITAL PULSE WIDTH MODULATOR - A DC-DC converter has a switching element, a lowpass filter, an oscillator, an AD converter, an error signal generator, a counter, a comparator, a selector configured to select one of the plurality of clock signals in accordance with a value of a lower side bit of the error signal in sync with a timing when the comparator detects coincidence, and a switching controller configured to control ON/OFF of the switching element in accordance with the clock signal selected by the selector. The selector selects one among the plurality of clock signals and a new clock signal generated by combining two or more clock signals comprising neighboring phases among the plurality of clock signals. | 09-27-2012 |
| 20120249105 | POWER CONVERTER USING ORTHOGONAL SECONDARY WINDINGS - A power conversion device includes a magnetic core; and a plurality of windings surrounding portions of the magnetic core, including a first set of windings defining a first magnetic flux path, a second set of windings defining a second magnetic flux path magnetically orthogonal to the first magnetic flux path, and a third set of windings. Each winding of the third set of windings is configured to be excitable via both the first flux path and the second flux path. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120268093 | DC-DC CONVERTER CONTROL METHOD AND DC-DC CONVERTER CONTROL CIRCUIT - The transient response of an output voltage to a load fluctuation is improved, in a switching power source that carries out a PWM control. In a DC-DC converter wherein a switching element of an output stage is controlled by a drive signal, whose pulse width is set at a minimum value, output from a PWM signal generating circuit based on an output voltage output from an error amplifier in accordance with the difference between a feedback voltage in accordance with an output voltage of the output stage and a reference voltage, there is provided a minimum pulse width detector circuit that supplies a current to a phase compensation capacitor when the pulse width of the drive signal is at the minimum value, thus preventing the output voltage from dropping below a value corresponding to the minimum value when the load fluctuates, and improving transient response characteristics of the output voltage. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20120274299 | Switching Regulator and Control Circuit Thereof - The present invention discloses a switching regulator, including: a power stage including at least one power transistor which switches according to a switch control signal to convert an input voltage to an output voltage; a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generator generating a PWM signal according to the output voltage; an over current detection circuit comparing a current sensing signal with a reference signal to generate an over current signal indicating whether an over current is occurring; and a signal adjustment circuit adjusting the PWM signal or a clock signal to generate the switch control signal for controlling an ON time of the power transistor of the power stage. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120299569 | Constant On-Time Switching Regulator Implementing Light Load Control - A control circuit for a switching regulator implements constant on-time control scheme with synchronous rectification and applies an integrated standard and light load control loop to improve light load efficiency and enhance transient response. In one embodiment, the control circuit includes a reference voltage selection circuit configured to select, based on a low-side current signal, a first reference voltage for standard load condition and a second reference voltage for light load condition as a selected reference voltage. The second reference voltage is greater than the first reference voltage. The control circuit further includes a control loop configured to generate a control signal to turn on the main switch when the feedback voltage is below the selected reference voltage and the minimum off-time duration has expired. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120306467 | DC-DC CONVERTER, POWER SOURCE CIRCUIT, AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A DC-DC converter includes a control circuit, a switching element, and a constant-voltage generation portion which generates an output voltage on the basis of an input voltage supplied through the switching element. The control circuit includes AD converters which convert the input voltage and the output voltage, a signal processing circuit, a pulse modulation circuit, and a power supply control circuit which controls supply of a power supply voltage to the signal processing circuit in accordance with digital values of the input voltage and the output voltage. The signal processing circuit determines the duty ratio in accordance with the digital value of the output voltage, and the pulse modulation circuit controls the switching element. The signal processing circuit includes a memory device including a memory element, a capacitor for storing data of the memory element, and a transistor for controlling charge in the capacitor. The transistor includes an oxide semiconductor. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120313606 | METHOD FOR OPERATING SOFT START CIRCUIT AND DEVICES USING THE METHOD - A soft start circuit is disclosed. The soft start circuit includes a reference voltage generator configured to generate a reference voltage, a switch connected between an output node of the reference voltage generator and an output node of the soft start circuit and configured to selectively provide an output signal in response to a switch control signal, a capacitor connected between the switch and a ground, and a current source configured to generate a current having a different level in each of a plurality of intervals to charge the capacitor. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20120313607 | HIGH EFFICIENCY BUCK-BOOST POWER CONVERTER - A buck-boost power converter switches the switches thereof with a novel sequence and extends the switching periods of the switches to reduce the switching loss and conduction loss when the input voltage thereof approaches the output voltage thereof. The influence of the load current of the power converter on the duty thereof is taken into account to switch the power converter between modes at correct time points, so as to prevent the output voltage from being affected by the mode switching. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20120313608 | HIGH EFFICIENCY BUCK-BOOST POWER CONVERTER - A buck-boost power converter switches the switches thereof with a novel sequence and extends the switching periods of the switches to reduce the switching loss and conduction loss when the input voltage thereof approaches the output voltage thereof. The influence of the load current of the power converter on the duty thereof is taken into account to switch the power converter between modes at correct time points, so as to prevent the output voltage from being affected by the mode switching. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20120319668 | POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT WITH PROTECTION CIRCUIT - A power supply circuit includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller, a plurality of phase circuits connected to the PWM controller, and a protection circuit connected to the PWM controller and each of the phase circuits. The PWM controller controls all of the phase circuits alternately outputting power supply voltages according to a predetermined sequence, and the protection circuit operates to detect whether the phase circuits work normally. When any one of the phase circuits does not work normally, the protection circuit turns off the PWM controller and all of the phase circuits. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120319669 | HIGH EFFICIENCY BUCK-BOOST POWER CONVERTER - A buck-boost power converter switches the switches thereof with a novel sequence and extends the switching periods of the switches to reduce the switching loss and conduction loss when the input voltage thereof approaches the output voltage thereof. The influence of the load current of the power converter on the duty thereof is taken into account to switch the power converter between modes at correct time points, so as to prevent the output voltage from being affected by the mode switching. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120326686 | POWER SUPPLY GENERATOR WITH NOISE CANCELLATION - Techniques for performing noise cancellation/attenuation are disclosed. In one design, an apparatus includes a power supply generator having a switcher, a coupling circuit, an envelope amplifier, and a feedback circuit. The switcher generates DC and low frequency components and the envelope amplifier generates high frequency components of a supply voltage for a load, e.g., a power amplifier. The switcher receives a first supply voltage and provides a switcher output signal having switcher noise. The coupling circuit receives the switcher output signal and provides a first output signal having a first version of the switcher noise. The feedback circuit receives the switcher output signal and provides a feedback signal. The envelope amplifier receives an envelope signal and the feedback signal and provides a second output signal having a second version of the switcher noise, which is used to attenuate the first version of the switcher noise at the load. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20120326687 | CHOPPER CIRCUIT, DC/DC CONVERTER, AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A chopper circuit includes an input unit that inputs a main turn-on signal for turning on a main switching element and an auxiliary turn-on signal for turning on an auxiliary switching element; and a prohibiting unit that prohibits the main switching element from turning on unless the auxiliary turn-on signal is input. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20120326688 | SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY WITH QUICK TRANSIENT RESPONSE - A switching power supply with a quick transient response is provided. A hysteretic control loop which comprises a hysteretic controller ( | 12-27-2012 |
| 20130002221 | PSEUDO CONSTANT ON TIME CONTROL CIRCUIT AND STEP-DOWN REGULATOR - A step-down regulator comprising a pseudo constant on time control circuit is disclosed, comprising an on-time generator configured to receive a switching signal provided by the step-down regulator and a control signal provided by the pseudo constant on time control circuit, and generates an on-time signal; a feedback control circuit configured to receive a feedback signal representative of the output voltage of the step-down regulator and generate an output signal; and a logic control circuit coupled to the on-time generator and the feedback control circuit to receive the on-time signal and the output signal and generating the control signal, and a power stage configured to receive an input voltage and the control signal and generate the switching signal. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130002222 | POWER SUPPLY CONTROLLER HAVING ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERTER - A power supply control method of performing a feedback control of an output voltage based on a deviation signal for a standard voltage value serving as a target value for the output voltage and a digital signal generated by analog/digital (A/D) conversion of the output voltage, the method includes selecting a range of the reference voltage for the A/D conversion based on the digital signal in a power supply startup period, and selecting a range of the reference voltage for the A/D conversion based on the deviation signal or a signal corresponding to the deviation signal in a steady state period. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130021013 | SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS - Switching power supply apparatus, which allows steady-state power consumption due to starting current supply circuit to be cut is provided. Comprising a starting current supply circuit which, at turn-on of an input power supply, from a high-voltage power supply provided by input power supply or a high-voltage positive electrode of a switching device, supplies an operating current to a switching control circuit through a switch element comprised of a depression mode FET; and a steady-state current supply circuit which supplies the operating current to the switching control circuit, using a low-voltage power supply provided by a secondary electromotive force of a transformer after start of the switching operation, the apparatus uses the low-voltage power supply to supply a bias voltage to a path of a leakage current flowing from the high-voltage power supply to a grounding terminal through the switch element in the off-state, thereby blocking the leakage current. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130027012 | DC-DC CONVERTER AND VOLTAGE CONVERSION METHOD THEREOF - A DC-DC converter is provided. When a load of the DC-DC converter is too light, the DC-DC converter can raise a frequency of its PWM signal, and reduce a pulse width of the PWM signal, so as to avoid the frequency of the PWM signal falling into a frequency range that can heard by human's ear and maintain high conversion efficiency of the DC-DC converter. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130027013 | ERROR VOLTAGE GENERATION CIRCUIT, SWITCH CONTROL CIRCUIT COMPRISING THE SAME, AND POWER FACTOR CORRECTOR COMPRISING THE SWITCH CONTROL CIRCUIT - The present invention relates to an error voltage generation circuit, a switch control circuit, and a power factor corrector. The error voltage generation circuit generates an error voltage using an error input voltage corresponding to an output voltage of a power factor corrector and a soft start voltage. The error voltage generation circuit samples an error input voltage at an AC input supply time point of the power factor corrector and holes a sampling voltage according to the sampled error input voltage during a soft start period. The error voltage generation circuit generates a soft start voltage increasing from a start voltage corresponding to the sampling voltage. The switch control circuit controls a duty of a power switch of the power factor corrector using the error voltage. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130027014 | POWER SUPPLY CONTROLLER WITH AN INPUT VOLTAGE COMPENSATION CIRCUIT - An example controller for a power supply includes a drive signal generator and a compensation circuit. The drive signal generator is to be coupled to control switching of a switch included in the power supply to regulate an output voltage of the power supply in response to a sensed output voltage such that the output voltage of the power supply is greater than an input voltage of the power supply. The compensation circuit is coupled to the drive signal generator and is also coupled to output an offset current to adjust the sensed output voltage in response to the input voltage of the power supply. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130038306 | METHOD OF DETERMINING DC-DC CONVERTER LOSSES AND A DC-DC CONVERTER EMPLOYING SAME - The present application provides a method of calculating DC-DC converter power losses without the requirement for a measurement of input current. The application also describes the use of such a calculation to determine the optimum point for switchover between a single phase mode or dual phase mode in a two phase DC-DC power supply. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130038307 | SWITCHING CIRCUIT AND DC-TO-DC CONVERTER - According to one embodiment, a switching circuit includes a high-side switch, a rectifier, and a driver. The high-side switch is connected between a high potential terminal and an output terminal. The rectifier is connected between the output terminal and a low potential terminal, and forward direction of the rectifier is the direction from the low potential terminal to the output terminal. The driver supplies a first voltage to a control terminal of the high-side switch in accordance with a high-side control signal and turns the high-side switch on. The driver supplies a second voltage being higher than the first voltage to the control terminal of the high-side switch when the voltage of the output terminal increases to not less than a predetermined value. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130038308 | SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS - A switching power supply apparatus includes: an output transistor to generate an output voltage from an input voltage based on an ON/OFF control of the output transistor; a reference voltage generating unit to generate a reference voltage; a ripple injection unit to inject a ripple component into the reference voltage to generate a ripple reference voltage; a comparator to compare a feedback voltage with the ripple reference voltage to generate a comparison signal; and a switching controller to perform the ON/OFF control of the output transistor based on the comparison signal. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130043852 | Digital Controller for DC/DC Converters - An embodiment switching converter includes a power stage that receives an input voltage for converting it into an output voltage and provides a load current to a load operably coupled to the power stage. The power stage includes an inductor carrying an inductor current and a digital controller configured to regulate the output voltage to a level close to a reference voltage using a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal supplied to the power stage. | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130043853 | POWER MATCHING SYSTEM - A power matching system is applied to a central processing unit (CPU) power supply, which includes a power control chip to regulate the frequency of the signal applied to the CPU power supply. The power control chip includes a detecting pin. The power matching system includes a control unit and a control circuit. The control unit includes a platform controller hub (PCH) to obtain information concerning a CPU, a basic input output system (BIOS) to obtain a power rating of the CPU, and an integrated baseboard management controller (IBMC) to output a required signal to the control circuit according to the power rating established. The power control chip receives the required signal from the control circuit and regulates the frequency of the signal applied to the CPU power supply. | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130063114 | CIRCUITS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING PWM INPUT OF DRIVER CIRCUIT - Circuits and methods for controlling Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) input of a driver circuit during transition of states are provided. The driver circuit is operative in one of a high state, a low state and a tri-state based on the PWM input. The method includes receiving a tri-state command for transition from the high state to the tri-state. A PWM output signal is enabled to transition from a high logic value to a low logic value for driving the driver circuit from the high state to the low state upon receipt of the tri-state command. The PWM output signal is enabled to transition from the low logic value to a tri-state logic value for driving the driver circuit from the low state to the tri-state upon elapse of a threshold time delay. The PWM input to the driver circuit is based on the PWM output signal. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20130082674 | OPTIMIZING ISOLATED POWER SUPPLY LOOP GAINS FOR OPTO-COUPLER CURRENT TRANSFER RATIO VARIATIONS - A method of optimizing a gain adjustment value Kadj for a digital controller in an isolated switched mode power supply. The power supply includes an opto-coupler having a current transfer ratio (CTR | 04-04-2013 |
| 20130082675 | Digital Switching Converter Control - A control circuit can control the operation of a switching converter to provide a regulated load current to a load. The switching converter includes an inductor and a high-side and a low side-transistor for switching the load current provided via the inductor. A digital modulator is configured to provide a modulated signal having a duty cycle determined by a digital duty cycle value. A current sense circuit is coupled to at least one of the transistors and is configured to regularly sample a load current value. A comparator is coupled to the current sense circuit and is configured to compare the sampled load current value with a first threshold and to provide a respective comparator output signal. A regulator is configured to receive the comparator output signal and to calculate an updated digital duty cycle value. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20130093406 | POWER REGULATOR AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF - Methods and circuits related to power regulation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a power regulator for converting an input electrical signal to an output electrical signal to supply power to a load, can include: (i) a power stage having switching devices and a filter; (ii) a regulation signal generator for the switching devices that includes a feedback circuit and a PWM, the feedback circuit receiving an output signal from the power stage, the PWM receiving an output from the feedback circuit, and generating a PWM control signal; (iii) a constant time generator receiving the PWM control signal and generating a constant time signal based on the PWM control signal duty cycle; and (iv) a logic/driving circuit receiving the PWM control signal and the constant time signal, and controlling operation of the switching devices to modulate the output signal from the power stage, and maintaining a pseudo constant operation frequency. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20130106380 | DIGITAL SLOPE CONTROL FOR SWITCHED CAPACITOR DC-DC CONVERTER | 05-02-2013 |
| 20130106381 | PULSE FREQUENCY MODULATION CONTROL FOR SWITCHED CAPACITOR DC-DC CONVERTER | 05-02-2013 |
| 20130106382 | DIGITAL CONTROLLER FOR SWITCHED CAPACITOR DC-DC CONVERTER | 05-02-2013 |
| 20130113449 | Testing a Switched Mode Supply with Waveform Generator and Capture Channel - A test method and system are provided for testing a switched mode power supply in open loop on an automated test equipment device by applying a low frequency waveform signal ( | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130113450 | MIXED MODE COMPENSATION CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR A POWER CONVERTER - A mixed mode compensation circuit and method for a power converter generate a digital signal according to a reference value and a feedback signal which is related to the output voltage of the power converter, convert the digital signal into a first analog signal, offset the first analog signal with a variable offset value to generate a second analog signal, and filter out high-frequency components of the second analog signal to generate a third analog signal for stable output voltage of the power converter. The mixed mode compensation does not require large capacitors, and thus the circuit can be integrated into an integrated circuit. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130119956 | CONTROL IC HAVING AUTO RECOVERY CIRCUIT, AUTO RECOVERY CIRCUIT OF CONTROL IC, POWER CONVERTER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTO RECOVERING CONTROL IC - The present invention relates to a control IC, an auto recovery circuit, a power converter system and a method for an auto recovering. In one embodiment, there is proposed to a control IC including: an abnormal state detection unit; a protection unit changing into a protection mode in an abnormal state and changing the protection mode into an operation mode by receiving an auto recovery signal; an IC power unit receiving the power from an input power when an IC power drops until a preset low voltage under the protection mode, blocking a power supply from the input power when the IC power reaches a preset high voltage and repeating a power supplying and blocking; and an auto restart unit counting clocks alternatively repeating a power supply signal and a supply block signal and supplying the auto recovery signal when the number of counts reaches a preset value. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130127434 | Coupled Inductor Arrays And Associated Methods - A coupled inductor array includes a magnetic core and N windings, where N is an integer greater than one. The magnetic core has opposing first and second sides, and a linear separation distance between the first and second sides defines a length of the magnetic core. The N windings pass at least partially through the magnetic core in the lengthwise direction, and each of the N windings forms a loop in the magnetic core around a respective winding axis. Each winding axis is generally perpendicular to the lengthwise direction and parallel to but offset from each other winding axis. Each winding has opposing first and second ends extending towards at least the first and second sides of the magnetic core, respectively. One possible application of the coupled inductor array is in a multi-phase switching power converter. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130141069 | SWITCH MODE POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM, ASSOCIATED CONTROLLER AND METHOD - A switch mode power supply system has a constant on-time signal generator, a logic circuit, a feedback circuit, a first ramp signal generator, a second ramp signal generator, a switch circuit having a power switch, and a comparator. A feedback signal from the feedback circuit is compensated by the first ramp signal generator, and a reference signal is compensated by the second ramp signal generator. The comparator compares the compensated feedback signal with the compensated reference signal to indicate an off time of the power switch while the constant on-time signal generator decides the on-time of the power switch. | 06-06-2013 |
| 20130147454 | SWITCHING REGULATOR WITH ERROR CORRECTION AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A switching regulator configured to provide an output voltage comprises a power stage, an error correction circuit, a comparator, an ON-time generator and a logic circuit. The error correction circuit generates an error correction voltage based on a reference voltage and a feedback voltage representative of the output voltage. The comparator compares the feedback voltage with the difference between the reference voltage and the error correction voltage, and generates a comparison signal. The ON-time generator is configured to provide an ON-time signal. The logic circuit generates a logic control signal to control the power stage based on the comparison signal and the ON-time signal. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20130162235 | Power Supply Circuit - A power supply circuit that includes a voltage conversion circuit (CONY) for outputting an output voltage to an output voltage terminal, the output voltage being stepped up or stepped down from an input voltage (V | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130169254 | CONTROLLERS FOR DC/DC CONVERTERS - A controller for a DC/DC converter includes multiple signal generators and a control circuit. The signal generators generate multiple pulse signals, each signal generator generating a corresponding pulse signal of the pulse signals and controlling the corresponding pulse signal to have a predetermined pulse width by counting a same preset number of cycles of a same oscillating signal. The control circuit selectively activates the signal generators according to an output of the DC/DC converter to generate the pulse signals. | 07-04-2013 |
| 20130176011 | DCDC CONVERTER WITH CONVERTER MODULES THAT CAN BE DYNAMICALLY ENABLED OR DISABLED - Provided is an apparatus comprising a DCDC converter having a plurality of converter modules each configured to convert current from a first voltage level to another voltage form. In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, the converter modules are configured to be dynamically enabled or disabled such that only each converter module that has been enabled converts current for an output of the DCDC converter. Any inefficiency that would have been introduced by converter modules that are not needed are mitigated or eliminated altogether. The effect is that efficiency can be improved during low load conditions when there is no need to enable all of the converter modules. | 07-11-2013 |
| 20130200870 | LOW-DROPOUT VOLTAGE REGULATOR HAVING FAST TRANSIENT RESPONSE TO SUDDEN LOAD CHANGE - An apparatus comprising a regulator and a control circuit. The regulator may be configured to generate a regulated voltage in response to (i) a reference input signal, (ii) a pull down signal and (iii) a control signal. The control circuit may be configured to generate the control signal in response to a digital complement of the pull down signal. The regulator and the control circuit have a common supply voltage and ground. The regulator may comprise a pass through device and a protection device. The protection device may respond to the control signal to limit a load voltage that passes through the pass through device. | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130200871 | DIRECT DRIVE WAVEFORM AMPLIFIER - A high voltage waveform is generated that is similar to a low voltage input waveform. The high voltage waveform is a series of pulses that are applied directly to the device. An error signal controls the frequency, magnitude, and duration of the pulses. A feedback signal derived from the high voltage waveform is compared with the input waveform to produce the error signal. | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130207630 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DYNAMIC MANAGEMENT OF SWITCHING FREQUENCY FOR VOLTAGE REGULATION - Systems and methods are provided that may be implemented to dynamically manage voltage regulator switching frequency. In one embodiment, the disclosed systems and methods may be implemented to dynamically find the optimal voltage regulator switching frequency based on the load current (I | 08-15-2013 |
| 20130207631 | SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICE, DC-DC CONVERTER, AND VOLTAGE CONVERSION METHOD - A semiconductor integrated circuit device is employed in a DC-DC converter that switches the voltage fed to the load depending on the PWM signal. The semiconductor integrated circuit device has an error voltage generating part, a mode setting part, an oscillation signal generating part, a pulse generating part, and a control part. The oscillation signal generating part generates an oscillation signal with a prescribed period when in the non-light-load mode, and it turns off the oscillation signal when in the light-load mode. The pulse generating part generates a pulse signal before the oscillation signal generating part generates the oscillation signal when the pulse generating part switches from the light-load to the non-light-load mode. | 08-15-2013 |
| 20130214753 | CONTROL DEVICE, DIGITAL CONTROL POWER SUPPLY, AND CONTROL METHOD - In a digital control power supply, a mode control unit measures a first frequency and a second frequency for a difference between a second digital value and a target value. Based on the measured first frequency and second frequency and a predetermined threshold set to the first and second frequencies, the mode control unit determines whether an amplification factor for use in amplification processing by an amplifier is maintained at a current amplification factor or is changed to an amplification factor which is larger or smaller by 1 than the current amplification factor. This contributes to an improvement in noise resistance of the digital control power supply and prevents an output voltage from being unstable. | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130234691 | DYNAMIC CONTROL PARAMETER ADJUSTMENT IN A POWER SUPPLY - A power supply controller produces a compensation value based at least in part on: an estimated or known output capacitance of the power supply, a specified rate of changing a magnitude of the output voltage as specified by the voltage setting information, and/or a load-line resistance of the power supply. The power supply controller utilizes the compensation value to adjust a magnitude of the output voltage during a voltage transition in which the output voltage is changed from an initial output voltage setting to a target output voltage setting at a pre-specified rate. | 09-12-2013 |
| 20130241511 | SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY WITH FIXED OFF TIME MODE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - The present invention provides a controller used in a switching power supply. The controller comprises an oscillator, a first comparison circuit and a logic circuit. The oscillator generates a slope compensation signal and a clock signal. The first comparison circuit generates a first comparison signal in accordance with a current sensing signal, a feedback signal and the slope compensation signal. The logic circuit generates a control signal to control the main switch based on the clock signal and the first compensation signal. If the on time of the main switch is longer than the predetermined time period, the slope compensation signal will have a first slew rate during the predetermined time period and a second slew rate out of the predetermined time period, wherein the second slew rate is smaller than the first slew rate. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130241512 | STEP-UP SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY - A hysteresis control step-up switching power supply includes a switching element. Current flowing through the switching element does not continue to increase indefinitely. The switching element is turned off when a detected value of an output voltage increases to a reference voltage, or when the output of a current detector circuit that detects that a current flowing through the switching element increases to a reference current value. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130241513 | POWER CONVERTER WITH AVERAGE CURRENT LIMITING - In a control method for a buck power converter, an output voltage is generated according to a pulse width modulation signal and an input voltage; an error signal is generated by sampling the output voltage and differencing the sampled output voltage and an output voltage reference; a duty ratio that defines a duty cycle of a pulse width modulation signal is determined by a control law; the pulse width modulation signal is generated by providing the duty ratio to a digital pulse width modulator; a steady state or a load transient is detected; and an average inductor current is monitored and a difference between the average inductor current and a specific inductor current limit is accumulated in order to generate an offset value which is subtracted from the output voltage reference. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130241514 | FULL-BRIDGE CONVERTER WITH DIGITAL PULSE MODULATION (DPWM) FOR DRIVING A LOAD - A method is described for driving a full-bridge circuit ( | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130249517 | DC-DC CONVERTER AND CONTROL CIRCUIT THEREOF - A control circuit of a DC-DC converter has a voltage difference signal generator configured to generate a digital voltage difference signal depending on a voltage difference between the output voltage and a reference voltage, a PID controller configured to generate a digital PID signal for determining the duty ratio of the pulse-width modulated signal, based on the digital voltage difference signal, a phase controller configured to generate a digital phase control signal for determining a phase of the pulse-width modulated signal, based on the digital voltage difference signal, and a PWM generator configured to generate the pulse-width modulated signal, based on the digital PID signal and the digital phase control signal. | 09-26-2013 |
| 20130257403 | Constant-On-Time Generation Circuit and Buck Converter - A constant-on-time generation circuit for generating a turn-on signal to a buck is disclosed. The constant-on-time generation circuit includes a capacitor, a current source, a second resistor, an inverter, a transistor coupled to the inverter for generating a set turn-on signal according to a first front-end driver signal of the buck converter, a comparator including a negative input terminal coupled to a reference voltage, a positive input terminal coupled to the second resistor and the current source, and an output terminal, for comparing the reference voltage with the set turn-on signal to output a comparison result, and an SR-latch for outputting a turn-on signal to a driver stage circuit of the buck converter according to a trigger signal of the buck converter and the comparison result. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130278237 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO CONTROL A POWER FACTOR CORRECTION CIRCUIT - An example on time control circuit for use in a power factor correction (PFC) controller includes an amplifier, an integrator, and a comparator. The amplifier generates an error signal that is representative of a difference between a feedback signal and a reference value. The integrator integrates a current sense signal that is representative of a current through the power switch to generate an integrator output signal. A gain of the integrator is varied in response to a voltage sense signal that is representative of a value of an input voltage of the PFC converter. The comparator generates a switch power off signal to terminate the on time of the power switch in response to comparing the integrator output signal with the error signal. | 10-24-2013 |
| 20130285634 | CONTROL CIRCUIT WITH HYSTERESIS FOR A SWITCHING VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND RELATED CONTROL METHOD - A control circuit for a switching voltage regulator is configured to receive an error signal representative of a regulator output voltage in relation to a nominal output voltage, and includes a set/reset flip-flop, a hysteresis comparator and a logic circuit. The flip-flop is configured to produce a switching control signal according to logic values at its set and reset terminals. The comparator is configured to produce a set signal at the set terminal when an error signal drops below a first value, and a reset signal when the error signal rises above a second value. The logic circuit is configured to prevent transmission of the reset signal to the reset terminal during a selected minimum time period and to thereafter enable transmission of the reset signal, and further, to produce an alternate reset signal at the reset terminal at the end of the selected maximum time period. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130293212 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF BALANCED SLOPE COMPENSATION FOR SWITCH MODE REGULATORS - A modulator with balanced slope compensation including a control network, a slope compensation network, an offset network and an adjust network. The control network receives a feedback signal indicative of an output voltage and provides a loop control signal. The slope compensation network develops a slope compensation signal. The offset network determines a DC offset of the slope compensation signal. The adjust network combines the DC offset, the slope compensation signal and the loop control signal to provide a balanced slope compensated control signal. The DC offset may be determined as a peak of the slope compensation signal. The slope compensation signal may be developed based on the output voltage and a pulse control signal, in which the pulse control signal is developed using the balanced slope compensated control signal. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20130293213 | START-UP CIRCUIT AND METHOD THEREOF - Methods and circuits related to power regulator start-up are disclosed. In one embodiment, a start-up circuit can include: (i) a delay circuit having a resistor and a capacitor, where the capacitor is coupled between ground and a common node; and (ii) a control chip that receives a reference voltage, and includes an input pin coupled to an input source, an output pin supplying power for a device, and a multiplexed pin coupled to the resistor at the common node to receive an enable signal. The start-up circuit outputs an electrical signal at the output pin based on a comparison of a voltage at the multiplexed pin against the reference voltage, and after a delay time determined by the capacitor and the reference voltage. The voltage at the multiplexed pin can increase continuously with a rising slope determined by input current flowing through the multiplexed pin during a start-up process. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20130300391 | CONTROLLER, CONTROLLING METHOD, AND DIGITAL DC-DC CONVERTER USING THE CONTROLLER AND THE CONTROLLING METHOD - An exemplary embodiment of the present invention generates a plurality of clock signals having a frequency according to an output voltage, a plurality of low clock signals of which frequencies are half of frequencies of the plurality of clock signals, and a phase signal corresponding to the output voltage by subtracting an average phase error from a count signal sampled by being synchronized with a reference clock signal from the count result of a first clock signal having the earliest phase among the plurality of clock signals. The average phase error is generated according to a comparison result of a first low clock signal corresponding to the first clock signal and each of other low clock signals among the plurality of low clock signals by being synchronized with the reference clock signal. | 11-14-2013 |
| 20130307509 | DIGITAL EVENT GENERATOR, COMPARATOR, SWITCHED MODE ENERGY CONVERTER AND METHOD - A digital event generator includes a counter configured to provide at least one count value based on a clock signal, and a comparator configured to evaluate a first portion of a first count value to detect a near occurrence of an event, in response to a detection of a near occurrence of an event, evaluate a second portion of a second count value, and provide the event signal based on the evaluation and digital event time information. A switched mode energy converter uses said digital event generator. | 11-21-2013 |
| 20130320946 | MINIMUM ENERGY POINT TRACKING BUCK CONVERTER - This invention involves with a low power IC (Integrated Circuit) with high energy efficiency. This invention describes a Buck converter that can track the minimum energy point of the load. It works by estimating input energy of every sensing period, taking advantage of energy consumption curve of IC in sub-threshold. Energy estimation is implemented with counting conducted pulses, while maintaining constant input energy of each pulse by regulating output voltage and ON time with digital control circuit. With digital control circuit, minimum energy point can be tracked with a lookup table stored inside. Most of this invention's control circuit is digital, with benefits of low power consumption and small chip area. | 12-05-2013 |
| 20130320947 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SUPPLYING POWER - The present invention relates to a system for supplying power and a method for supplying power using the same. In a system for supplying power including a load device and a power device for supplying power to the load device, the power device includes an output control unit and a power circuit for outputting power with required voltage and current of the load device, and the load device includes an input control unit and a load for receiving the power from the power circuit. | 12-05-2013 |
| 20130335048 | Switched Mode Power Supply and Method of Operating Thereof - A switched mode power supply includes a first switch, a second switch, an inductor, an output capacitor, and a driving circuit for driving the first switch and the second switch. The driving circuit is electrically coupled to a node between the first and second switches. | 12-19-2013 |
| 20130335049 | PULSE WIDTH MODULATION BASED CONTROLLER - A control circuit adjusts the duty cycle of a PWM control signal. An analog processing component within the control circuit receives an analog feedback input signal and compares it to an analog reference signal to generate a pre-processed signal. A sigma-delta modulator within the analog processing component generates a quantized signal based on the pre-processed signal. A digital processing component stores a value. The controller then adjusts the duty cycle of the PWM signal to correspond to the value. A clock keeps the system synchronized. | 12-19-2013 |
| 20130335050 | SWITCHING REGULATOR CONTROL CIRCUIT - In the related art, there is a problem that the condition of a load is monitored in an indirect manner so that an efficiency enhancing effect is not obtained. A switching regulator control circuit includes an oscillator for generating a carrier signal and a transistor drive circuit for driving a switching transistor and a synchronous rectification transistor based on a PWM signal generated based on the carrier signal. The oscillator switches the frequency of the carrier signal based on the direction of a source-drain voltage of the synchronous rectification transistor. | 12-19-2013 |
| 20140002047 | FAST DYNAMIC VOLTAGE RESPONSE FOR VOLTAGE REGULATORS WITH DROOP CONTROL | 01-02-2014 |
| 20140035548 | NOISE RESISTANT REGULATOR - A converter for supplying a regulated voltage from an input to a load is disclosed. The converter supplies a regulated DC voltage from an input to a load using a power switch driven by a gate driver. It also includes a control loop for carrying a load condition signal and a control signal. The converter also includes a controller located on the control loop that generates the control signal based on the load signal. The controller is located on a first integrated circuit. The gate driver is located on a second integrated circuit. The load condition signal is encoded on the first integrated circuit and is decoded on the second integrated circuit. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140043002 | CONTROL CIRCUIT WITH DEEP BURST MODE FOR POWER CONVERTER - A control circuit with deep burst mode for power converter according to the present invention comprises a load detection circuit and a PWM circuit. The load detection circuit generates a switching control signal in response to a feedback signal. The feedback signal is correlated to a load condition of the power converter. The PWM circuit generates a switching signal to regulate an output of the power converter in response to the switching control signal and the feedback signal. The control circuit performs a deep burst mode to switch the switching signal only one time during each deep burst period when the load condition of the power converter is a very light-load. Therefore, switching loss is reduced so that the power consumption of the power converter is also reduced. | 02-13-2014 |
| 20140043003 | Radio Frequency Identification Devices - Radio frequency identification (RFID) devices are provided including a contactless internal voltage generator configured to generate a rectification voltage responsive to a radio frequency (RF) input signal and an internal voltage responsive to the generated rectification voltage and a reference voltage; a clock generator configured to sense an amount of current to a sink path of the contactless internal voltage generator and to generate a clock signal using a variable resistance value, the variable resistance value based on the amount of current sensed; and an internal circuit driven by the internal voltage and the clock signal. | 02-13-2014 |
| 20140043004 | SYNCHRONOUS DC-DC CONVERSION - A synchronous DC-DC converter ( | 02-13-2014 |
| 20140062442 | FULLY INTEGRATED VOLTAGE REGULATOR USING OPEN LOOP DIGITAL CONTROL FOR OPTIMUM POWER STEPPING AND SLEW RATE - Methods and systems are disclosed for an integrated voltage regulator with open loop digital control for power stepping. In one aspect, a method for regulating an output voltage includes receiving data indicative of a power setting associated with an identified state of an electrical circuit, the power setting based on a load current demand of the electrical circuit in the identified state, enabling one or more parallel driver segments based on the received data indicative of the power setting. The method further includes sourcing by the enabled one or more parallel driver segments sufficient current to meet the load current demand of the electrical circuit in the identified state while maintaining the output voltage at a predetermined voltage level, and providing the output voltage to the electrical circuit at the predetermined voltage level. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140070784 | FIXED FREQUENCY DC TO DC CONVERTER CONTROL CIRCUIT WITH IMPROVED LOAD TRANSIENT RESPONSE - Analog pulse width modulation (PWM) control circuits and techniques are presented for improving output voltage load transient response in controlling DC to DC conversion systems in which a transient detector circuit restarts a PWM carrier ramp waveform to initiate asynchronous injection of a pulse between the regular periodic PWM pulses in a fixed frequency pulse stream to mitigate the effect of output inductor energy depletion on output voltage. | 03-13-2014 |
| 20140084887 | DC-DC SWITCHING REGULATOR WITH TRANSCONDUCTANCE BOOSTING - A switching regulator comprising a droop amplifier responsive to a reference voltage and a feedback voltage to generate a droop voltage. The droop amplifier includes a boost circuit configurable to increase a transconductance of the droop amplifier during an upward transition of the reference voltage. The switching regulator further includes a comparator responsive to the droop voltage and a current sense signal. The comparator is configured to initiate switching in the switching regulator. | 03-27-2014 |
| 20140084888 | POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT AND HYSTERESIS BUCK CONVERTER - A power supply unit converting a DC power supply using an inductor includes a feedback circuit dividing an output voltage being output from a first end of the inductor to convert the output voltage into a first feedback voltage; a differentiator differentiating the first feedback voltage to convert the first feedback voltage into a second feedback voltage; a hysteresis comparator comparing a level of the second feedback voltage with a reference voltage band to output a comparison signal; and a switch pulling an input voltage up or pulling the input voltage down to the second end of the inductor with reference to the comparison signal. | 03-27-2014 |
| 20140084889 | POWER SUPPLY DEVICE WITH SHARED INDUCTIVE ELEMENTS UNDER SWITCH CONTROL - A power supply device is responsive to load changes. The power supply device includes a switch control circuit, a charge control circuit, and a discharge control circuit. The switch control circuit controls switches so that electrical power is charged into an inductor, discharged from the inductor, and distributed to first and second capacitors in a time-division manner based on a switching cycle. The charge control circuit controls the amount of electrical power to be charged into the inductor based on a first amount of error between a first output power supply voltage and its target value and a second amount of error between a second output power supply voltage and its target value. The discharge control circuit controls a distribution ratio at which the electrical power discharged from the inductor is distributed to the first and second capacitors based on the ratio between the first and second amounts of error. | 03-27-2014 |
| 20140091778 | CONSTANT TIME CONTROLLER AND CONTROLLING METHOD FOR A SWITCHING REGULATOR - In one embodiment, a controlling method for a switching regulator, can include: (i) detecting an output voltage and an inductor current of the switching regulator; (ii) determining if there is a transient change on a load of the switching regulator by using the output voltage and a first reference voltage; (iii) generating a control signal using the output voltage, the inductor current, and a second reference voltage; (iv) controlling a switch of the switching regulator to maintain the output voltage substantially constant when no transient change is determined on the load; and (v) deactivating the control signal to keep the inductor current changing along with a variation tendency of an output current of the switching regulator when a transient change is determined on the load. | 04-03-2014 |
| 20140097815 | Powering Down Switching Regulator using a Ramped Reference Voltage - Circuits and related methods for energy efficient battery supplied switching DC-to-DC regulators are disclosed. When entering a power-down state the energy in an output capacitor is harvested and charged back to the battery. This is achieved by ramping-down a reference voltage after a power-down sequence is initiated. The output voltage of the regulator is ramped-down accordingly. At the end of the power down sequence the output voltage of the regulator is down to 0V. The disclosure is especially important for regulators, which frequently are started up and switched down. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140097816 | CALIBRATION CIRCUIT FOR VOLTAGE REGULATOR - A voltage regulator calibration circuit including a voltage regulator and a calibration unit is provided. The voltage regulator regulates an output voltage according to a reference voltage and a feedback voltage. The feedback voltage is in direct proportion to the output voltage. The calibration unit is coupled to the voltage regulator. The calibration unit generates a control code through binary search according to the output voltage and a target voltage. The control code determines the proportion of the feedback voltage to the output voltage. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140097817 | MONITORING METHOD WITH FUNCTION OF CORRELATION-BASED SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION - A monitoring method with a function of correlation-based system identification applicable for a digitally controlled DC-DC converter system is revealed. The monitoring method includes a plurality of steps. After the system is operated in a steady state, input a pseudo random binary sequence signal into the system via a pseudo random binary sequence generator and store the pseudo random binary sequence signal and an output signal of a path to be monitored in a memory unit. Then perform a correlation analysis of data stored in the memory unit by a correlation analysis module and output an impulse response. Next obtain a frequency response of the impulse response by a discrete-time Fourier transform module. Finally, smooth the frequency response by an adaptive sliding window smoothing module so that a is monitoring curve of the frequency response becomes smooth. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140097818 | PWM CONTROL APPARATUS FOR AVERAGE OUTPUT CURRENT BALANCING IN MULTI-STAGE DC-DC CONVERTERS - Pulse width modulation controller apparatus and techniques are presented for balancing output currents of DC-DC converter stages in a multi-stage DC-DC conversion system in which a reference current is provided according to an input voltage and the value of a connected resistor, and a correction current output signal is generated that represents the difference between an average converter stage load current and the local load current, with the on-time of the PWM output signal being generated by charging a capacitance using a charging current obtained by offsetting the reference current output signal with the correction current output signal. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140097819 | POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS, POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM AND POWER SUPPLY METHOD - A power supply apparatus comprises a driver, an oscillator, a digital control circuit and a counter. The driver is connected to a power source voltage and performs an ON/OFF operation of supplying power to a load. The oscillator outputs an oscillator signal every constant period. The digital control circuit performs an ON/OFF control of the driver based on the oscillator signal outputted from the oscillator. The counter counts the oscillator signal outputted from the oscillator. The digital control circuit sets a threshold value representing an upper limit of a count value counted by the counter and stops an output operation of the oscillator signal by the oscillator when the count value counted by the counter exceeds the set threshold value. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140097820 | Output Voltage Controller, Electronic Device, and Output Voltage Control Method - An output voltage controller includes a first controller which controls current supply to a inductor based on an output voltage, and a second controller which controls current supply to the inductor by controlling a period when an input end to which an input voltage is inputted, the inductor, and an output end from which the output voltage is outputted are coupled based on the input voltage. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140111177 | DC-DC CONVERTER AND METHOD FOR DRIVING SAME - A voltage conversion circuit includes a first signal generating unit, a signal processing unit, and a voltage converting unit. The first signal generating unit generates a first pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. The signal processing unit includes a second signal generating unit, a first logic unit, and a second logic unit. The second signal generating unit generates a second PWM signal. A frequency of the first PWM signal is different from a frequency of the second PWM signal. The first logic unit performs an AND operation to the first and second PWM signals to obtain a first control signal. The second logic unit performs a NOT operation on the first control signal to obtain a second control signal. The voltage converting unit converts a first direct current (DC) voltage into a second DC voltage under control of the first control signal and the second control signal. | 04-24-2014 |
| 20140117963 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING BIDIRECTIONAL DC-DC CONVERTER - An apparatus and a method for controlling a direct-current (DC)-DC converter used in a vehicle are provided. The apparatus includes a switching control unit checking a difference between voltages of an input unit and an output unit and controlling an operation of at least one switch formed in a converter according to an operation mode of the converter according to the difference of voltages; and the converter controlling the operation of the at least one switch based on a control signal applied from the switching control unit to allow a current to flow from the input unit to the output unit. | 05-01-2014 |
| 20140125305 | DIGITAL ERROR SIGNAL COMPARATOR - A digital error feedback system, method and device adjusts the output voltage of a power converter. The digital error feedback system uses a digital comparator and one or more digital signal generators to generate and compare a digital signal corresponding to the output voltage to a reference digital signal in order to determine the current amount of error in the output voltage. The error is then able to be compensated for using a control signal generated based on the determined error. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140132235 | CIRCUIT BOARD AND POWER SOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF CIRCUIT BOARD - A power source management system of a circuit board that comprises: a processor, comprising a core voltage input terminal; and a core voltage feedback terminal; and a voltage regulating member, comprising a setting terminal with a fixed reference voltage provided thereto; a detecting terminal connected to the core voltage feedback terminal to detect a feedback core voltage from the core voltage feedback terminal; and a core voltage output terminal connected to the core voltage input terminal to provide a core voltage thereto, wherein the core voltage is regulated by the voltage regulating member based on the feedback core voltage, such that the feedback core voltage is equal to the fixed reference voltage, wherein an offset voltage equal to a difference between a desired core voltage of the processor and the fixed reference voltage is provided between the core voltage input terminal and the core voltage feedback terminal by the processor. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140132236 | Slope Compensation Module - A slope compensation module provides slope compensation of a switched-mode power supply using current mode control. The slope control unit comprises a capacitor coupled between an input and an output of the slope control unit, a switch for discharging the capacitor and a constant current source for charging the capacitor. Slope compensation parameters may be changed during operation with a programmable constant current source. The slope compensation module may also function as an analog sawtooth waveform frequency generator, and as an analog pulse width modulation (PWM) generator. Charging the capacitor generates a linearly decreasing (negative slope) ramp voltage for modulating a feedback error voltage into a slope compensated feedback error voltage. Capacitor charging may be controlled from a pulse width modulation signal. Opening of the switch may be programmably delayed, and a minimum closed time thereof may also be programmed during operation of the slope compensation module. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140145696 | Current Control Semiconductor Device and Control Device Using the Same - A current control semiconductor device that can detect a current with high precision within an IC of one chip by dynamically correcting a variation in a gain a and an offset b, and a control device using the semiconductor device are provided. A transistor | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140145697 | POWER SOURCE SYSTEM - The step-up converter includes the plurality of converting units, each having the reactor and the semiconductor element part having electronic parts such as the transistor and the diodes. The ECU performs changeover control of increase or decrease of the number of drive phases of the converting units, based on the output condition from the fuel cell, the temperature condition of the reactor, and the temperature condition of the semiconductor element part. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140152283 | VOLTAGE DETECTING CIRCUIT FOR SWITCHING CONVERTERS AND THE METHOD THEREOF - A voltage detecting circuit used with a switching converter. The switching converter having an energy storage component, a first power switch and a second switch. The voltage detecting circuit has a sample and hold circuit configured to sample and hold the voltage at the connection node of the energy storage component and the first power switch when the first power switch is OFF and the second power switch is ON; and an average circuit configured to average the sampled voltage during a switching period to generate a detecting signal in proportional to the output voltage of the switching converter. | 06-05-2014 |
| 20140159690 | POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS, POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM AND POWER SUPPLY METHOD - A power supply apparatus, comprising: a driver connected to a power source voltage and configured to perform an ON/OFF operation of power supply to a load; a digital control circuit configured to perform an ON/OFF control of the driver; and an oscillator configured to output an oscillator signal for performing the ON/OFF control of the driver every constant period. The digital control circuit operates in a normal control mode in which the output operation of the oscillator signal by the oscillator and the ON/OFF operation of the driver are continuously activated, or in a low power control mode in which the output operation of the oscillator signal by the oscillator and the ON/OFF operation of the driver are intermittently activated. | 06-12-2014 |
| 20140159691 | SWITCHING POWER SOURCE DEVICE - A switching power source device according to the present invention has a control portion that performs, at predetermined cycles, PWM pulse width modulation) driving with respect to an output transistor and a synchronous rectification transistor so that a desired output voltage is generated from an input voltage and a rectification method changeover portion that performs changeover of a rectification method so that, in one cycle, a synchronous rectification operation and a diode rectification operation are performed in a time-shared manner. | 06-12-2014 |
| 20140167723 | Switching Regulator - A switching regulator includes a lower gate switch and a transient help module. The lower gate switch is utilized for turning on and turning off according to a lower gate control signal. The transient help module includes a load detecting unit, for outputting a detecting signal according to a variation of a load, and a logic circuit, for generating the lower gate control signal according to the detecting signal, to turn off the lower gate switch when the load decreases. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140176101 | INTERNAL VOLTAGE GENERATION CIRCUITS - An internal voltage generation circuit utilizing dual comparison signal generators and dual drivers to drive the internal voltage to a selected level. The second driver is responsive to a control signal derived from both of the comparison signal generators. The internal voltage generation circuit overcomes a problem with prior art circuits that may not permit the internal voltage to be driven to the selected level over a range of power supply voltages. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140176102 | MIXED MODE COMPENSATION CIRCUIT - A mixed mode compensation circuit for a power converter generate a digital signal according to a reference signal and a feedback signal which is related to the output voltage of the power converter, convert the digital signal into a first analog signal, offset the first analog signal with a variable offset value to generate a second analog signal, and filter out high-frequency components of the second analog signal to generate a third analog signal for stable output voltage of the power converter. The mixed mode compensation does not require large capacitors, and thus the circuit can be integrated into an integrated circuit. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140176103 | Control Method and Control Apparatus - A control method and a control apparatus are provided. The control method and apparatus are applied to a BUCK-BOOST topology. The method specifically is, processing an output signal of a topology to obtain a pulse width modulation signal, performing an OR operation between the pulse width modulation signal and a first modulation signal to obtain a first control signal so as to control a state of a first transistor on the topology, and performing an AND operation between the pulse width modulation signal and a second modulation signal to obtain a second control signal so as to control a state of a second transistor on the topology. Therefore, the method achieves three topology states and a smooth switchover among the three topology states. In addition, the control circuit is relatively simple, expanding the control scope and improving the control precision. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140184187 | AVERAGE CURRENT CONTROLLER, AVERAGE CURRENT CONTROL METHOD AND BUCK CONVERTER USING THE AVERAGE CURRENT CONTROLLER - The present invention relates to an average current controller, an average current control method and a buck converter using the average current controller. The average current controller includes a first comparator for generating a high H signal, a multivibrator for generating a TAVG pulse signal by receiving a high H signal outputted from the first comparator, a timing generator for generating a signal CH_ON to charge/discharge a capacitor by using at least the TAVG pulse signal, an integrator circuit unit for charging/discharging the capacitor, a second comparator for outputting a corresponding signal, an up/down counter for increasing or decreasing a counting value and a digital/analog converter for outputting by converting an output (digital signal) of the up/down counter into an analog signal. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140191744 | SWITCHING REGULATOR AND COMPARATOR-BASED ZERO CURRENT DETECTION METHOD USED BY THE SWITCHING REGULATOR - Provided are a switching regulator and a comparator-based zero current detection method. The switching regulator comprises: a switch configured to connect to a switching node and control an inductor current flowing through the switching node; and a switch controller configured to control a turn-off time of the switch by detecting a change in a voltage of the switching node after the switch is turned off, wherein the switch controller comprises: a comparator configured to compare a first voltage applied to a first input terminal connected to the switching node with a second voltage applied to a second input terminal connected to a first terminal of the switch; and a control logic configured to receive a comparison signal of the comparator and control an offset of the comparator to adjust the turn-off time of the switch. | 07-10-2014 |
| 20140203793 | POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT FOR MEMORY - A voltage pin of a PWM controller is electrically connected to a power source. First and second gate pins of the PWM controller are electrically connected to gates of first and second MOSFETs, respectively. A phase pin of the PWM controller is electrically connected to a source of the first MOSFET and a drain of the second MOSFET, and also electrically connected to an input pin of the PWM controller through a second inductor and a first resistor in that order. A drain of the first MOSFET is connected to the power source through a first inductor. The input pin of the PWM controller is grounded through a second resistor and connected to a first terminal of an electronic switch through a third resistor. A second terminal of the electronic switch is grounded. A control terminal of the electronic switch is connected to a motherboard. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140210444 | Switching Power-Supply Device - A switching power-supply device includes a main switching element connected between a power-supply and an output terminal; a driving circuit that drives the main switching element; a capacitor that feeds power to the driving circuit; a charging circuit that charges the capacitor when the main switching element is switched from an on-state to an off-state; a switching control circuit that performs switching control of alternately switching the main switching element to the on-state and the off-state via the driving circuit; a voltage detection circuit that detects a voltage between both ends of the capacitor, and a driving control circuit that switches a state of prohibiting driving of the main switching element and a state of permitting driving of the main switching element, based on a difference between an output voltage output from the output terminal and a preset reference voltage and the voltage between both ends of the capacitor. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140247030 | SEMICONDUCTOR MODULE AND BOOST RECTIFIER CIRCUIT - A semiconductor module includes a voltage generator, and a heat dissipating mechanism composed of, for example, an insulating heat dissipating sheet and a heat sink. The voltage generator is capable of generating, by using a built-in linear regulator function, a power source voltage to drive a boost converter based on a voltage boosted by the boost converter. The voltage generator is mounted on the heat dissipating mechanism. | 09-04-2014 |
| 20140253079 | SWITCHING CONVERTER WITH ADAPTIVE OFF TIME CONTROL AND THE METHOD THEREOF - A switching converter having a power stage with a main switch to convert an input voltage to an output voltage; a current sense circuit generating a current sense signal indicative of a current flowing through the main switch; a PWM generator generating a PWM signal; an OFF time controller generating an OFF time control signal relating to the input voltage and the output voltage; and a logic circuit generating a switching signal based on the OFF time control signal and the PWM signal to control the main switch. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140266116 | DIGITALLY CONTROLLED CURRENT MODE POWER CONVERTER - A current mode converter includes a converter stage comprising a first switch, a second switch, an inductor, and a capacitor, and a digital-to-analog converter configured to convert a digital target current signal to an analog current signal. The current mode converter further includes a slope compensation circuit coupled to the digital-to-analog converter and is configured to convert the analog target current signal to a slope compensated analog target signal. A comparator is coupled to the converter stage and the slope compensation stage and is configured to generate and output a signal when a value of an actual analog signal is equal to a value of the slope compensated analog target signal. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140266117 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR 100 PERCENT DUTY CYCLE IN SWITCHING REGULATORS - The present disclosure includes systems and methods for 100% duty cycle in switching regulators. A switching regulator circuit includes a ramp generator to produce a ramp signal having a period and a comparator to receive the ramp signal and an error signal, and in accordance therewith, produce a modulation signal. In a first mode of operation, the ramp signal increases to intersect the error signal, and in accordance therewith, changes a state of a switching transistor during each period of the ramp signal. In a second mode of operation, the error signal increase above a maximum value of the ramp signal, and in accordance therewith, the switching transistor is turned on for one or more full periods of the ramp signal. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140266118 | VOLTAGE REGULATOR - A voltage regulator includes a driving circuit, a feedback circuit, first and second control circuits and a resistor. The driving circuit is coupled to an input node and an output node and generates an output voltage at the output node from an input voltage at the input node. The feedback circuit is coupled to the output node and generates a feedback voltage based on the output voltage. The first control circuit is coupled to the feedback circuit and the driving circuit to control the output voltage based on the feedback voltage. The resistor has opposite first and second terminals. The first terminal of the resistor is coupled to the output node. The second control circuit is coupled to the second terminal of the output stage resistor and the feedback circuit to control the feedback voltage based on a regulated voltage at the second terminal of the resistor. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140266119 | NON-LINEAR CONTROL FOR VOLTAGE REGULATOR - Described is an apparatus having a non-linear control to manage power supply droop at an output of a voltage regulator. The apparatus comprises: a first inductor for coupling to a load; a capacitor, coupled to the first inductor, and for coupling to the load; a first high-side switch couple to the first inductor; a first low-side switch coupled to the first inductor; a bridge controller to control when to turn on and off the first high-side and first low-side switches; and a non-linear control (NLC) unit to monitor output voltage on the load, and to cause the bridge controller to turn on the first high-side switch and turn off the first low-side switch when a voltage droop is detected on the load. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140266120 | INTERNAL COMPENSATION FOR POWER MANAGEMENT INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - A voltage regulator integrated circuit comprises a control circuit driving at least one power switch to provide a regulated voltage at an output of an inductor/capacitor (LC) circuit coupled to the at least one power switch; an error amplifier having a first input coupled to a feedback signal representative of the regulated output voltage and a second input coupled to a reference signal; and a compensation network coupled to an output of the error amplifier and configured to provide a compensation voltage. The compensation network includes at least one digitally programmable resistor array and at least one digitally programmable capacitor array. Each array provides a plurality of user selectable component values. The control circuit includes a pulse modulator configured to modulate an input voltage based on the compensation voltage. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140266121 | DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A SWITCHING MODE POWER SUPPLY - An apparatus for controlling an output voltage of a switching mode power supply (SMPS) by adjusting a switching duty ratio is provided. A comparator outputs a state signal varying depending on a comparison result between an output voltage of the SMPS and a reference voltage. A clock generator generates an internal chip operating frequency and a switching frequency of the SMPS. A digital controller determines on/off of current cells depending on the state signal input from the comparator. A digital pulse width modulator (DPWM) determines a duty ratio of a digital pulse width modulation signal by determining a charging/discharging time of an internal capacitor based on an amount of current of the current cell. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140285170 | EFFICIENT CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR BUCK-BOOST CONVERTERS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A controller used in a buck-boost converter includes a logic control circuit, a pulse width increasing circuit, a pulse width decreasing circuit, a first driving circuit and a second driving circuit. The pulse width increasing circuit generates a sum control signal based on a logic control signal generated by the logic control circuit. The pulse width increasing circuit increases the pulse width of the logic control signal by a first value to generate the pulse width of the sum control signal. The pulse width decreasing circuit generates a difference control signal based on the logic control signal. The pulse width decreasing circuit decreases the pulse width of the logic control signal by a second value to generate the pulse width of the difference control signal. The first and second driving circuit respectively generates driving signals based on the sum control signal and the difference control signal. | 09-25-2014 |
| 20140306678 | CHARGE MODULE, DRIVING CIRCUIT, AND OPERATING METHOD - A charge module is configured to pre-charge a control node to a pre-charged voltage, such that in a case a control module outputs a control voltage, a drive module is activated according to a gate voltage summed by the control voltage and the pre-charged voltage. | 10-16-2014 |
| 20140320101 | Digital Average Input Current Control in Power Converter - A digital average-input current-mode control loop for a DC/DC power converter. The power converter may be, for example, a buck converter, boost converter, or cascaded buck-boost converter. The purpose of the proposed control loop is to set the average converter input current to the requested current. Controlling the average input current can be relevant for various applications such as power factor correction (PFC), photovoltaic converters, and more. The method is based on predicting the inductor current based on measuring the input voltage, the output voltage, and the inductor current. A fast cycle-by-cycle control loop may be implemented. The conversion method is described for three different modes. For each mode a different control loop is used to control the average input current, and the control loop for each of the different modes is described. Finally, the algorithm for switching between the modes is disclosed. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20140327422 | DC-DC CONVERTER WITH ADAPTIVE MINIMUM ON-TIME - A DC-DC converter has a high-side transistor series with a low-side transistor and an inductor connected to a node therebetween, a gate driver circuit has a high-side gate driver circuit coupled to the high-side transistor; a low-side gate driver circuit coupled to the low-side transistor; a minimum pulse with circuit coupled to one of the high-side and low-side gate, the minimum pulse width circuit adaptively controlling a pulse width of a drive signal to the high-side or low-side transistor by the propagation delay of the respective gate driver circuit. | 11-06-2014 |
| 20140340064 | POWER CONVERTER AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF - A power converter is disclosed. The power converter includes a comparator and a timing generator. The comparator compares a first input signal with a second input signal to provide a control signal. The timing generator is coupled to the comparator. The timing generator includes a plurality of timing generating units, a logic unit, and a calculation unit. The timing generator generates a plurality of timing signals through the timing generating units and the logic unit according to the control signal, and the calculation unit forms a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal according to the timing signals. At least a part of the timing signals are overlapped. | 11-20-2014 |
| 20140354256 | SWITCH-MODE POWER SUPPLY, CHARGING CURRENT SOURCE AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - A switch-mode power supply includes a converter, a controller and a charging current. The charging current includes a logic circuit, a first current source and a second current source, to generate a charging current proportional to an input voltage of the switch-mode power supply, and also to generate a logic control signal indicative of either of two operation modes. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20140361758 | POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT - A power supply circuit has: an input terminal; an output terminal; and a digital power supply circuit and an analog power supply circuit connected in parallel between the input terminal and the output terminal. Further desirably, the analog power supply circuit is a circuit that the minimum resistance value of an output equivalent resistance between an input terminal and an output terminal of the analog power supply circuit is an output equivalent resistance equal to or lower than the minimum ON resistance among those of switch circuits configuring the switch array unit of the digital power supply circuit and having a plurality of ON resistances, or a circuit that the minimum resistance value is an output equivalent resistance equal to or lower than the minimum resistance value among those of switch circuits configuring the switch array unit of the digital power supply circuit and having series-connected resistances having resistance values. | 12-11-2014 |
| 20140375292 | DRIVER CIRCUIT - A driver circuit includes normally-on first and second transistors, a first control circuit for controlling the first transistor in response to a first control signal, a second control circuit for controlling the second transistor in response to a second control signal, a capacitor connected between first and second power supply nodes of the first control circuit, a power supply connected between third and fourth power supply nodes of the second control circuit, a switch element connected between first and fourth power supply nodes, and a third control circuit for turning the switch element on when an output voltage becomes about 0V. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20150015227 | BOOST CONVERTER CIRCUIT AND DRIVE CONTROL MODULE THEREOF - A boost converter and a drive control module thereof are provided. The boost converter includes a inductor, a power switch, a PWM control circuit and the drive control module. The inductor is coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal. The power switch is coupled between a inductor and a ground end. The PWM control circuit is provided to provide the PWM control signal to the gate of the power switch to control the conducting state of the power switch, and the conversion output voltage at the second end. Based on the current load state of the boost converter in operation, the drive control module outputs the gate electronic potential signal to the PWM control circuit according to the input voltage or the conversion output voltage, and the PWM control circuit adjusts the voltage amplitude of the PWM control signal correspondingly. | 01-15-2015 |
| 20150015228 | CONTROL DEVICE, DIGITAL CONTROL POWER SUPPLY, AND CONTROL METHOD - In a digital control power supply, a mode control unit measures a first frequency and a second frequency for a difference between a second digital value and a target value. Based on the measured first frequency and second frequency and a predetermined threshold set to the first and second frequencies, the mode control unit determines whether an amplification factor for use in amplification processing by an amplifier is maintained at a current amplification factor or is changed to an amplification factor which is larger or smaller by 1 than the current amplification factor. This contributes to an improvement in noise resistance of the digital control power supply and prevents an output voltage from being unstable. | 01-15-2015 |
| 20150035509 | CONTROL CIRCUIT AND DC-DC CONVERTER - To provide a control circuit in a DC-DC converter, which includes transistors with the same conductivity type. The control circuit generates a pulse signal (GS), and includes a hysteresis comparator, a logic unit, a digital-analog converter circuit, and a comparator. The hysteresis comparator converts a signal (FB) based on an output voltage of the DC-DC converter into a digital signal (comp). The logic unit generates, in accordance with the signal comp, a pulse width modulation signal (pwm) determining a pulse width of the signal GS. The logic unit also divides a reference clock signal to generate an m-bit (m is greater than or equal to 2) second digital signal. The digital-analog converter circuit converts the m-bit second digital signal into an analog signal to generate a 2 | 02-05-2015 |
| 20150035510 | SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY CONTROL CIRCUIT - A switching power supply control circuit has a switching element, a smoothing circuit, and a switching control circuit configured to control the switching element. The switching control circuit includes I-V converter configured to multiply an output current flowing into the switching element by a predetermined conversion coefficient and generating an I-V conversion voltage, an amplifier configured to amplify the sum of the I-V conversion voltage and an offset voltage and generating a current detection signal, a first DAC configured to convert a digital compensation value computed from an output voltage of the smoothing circuit to an analog converted value, a first analog comparator configured to compare the current detection signal with the analog converted value and generating a first comparison result signal, and a driver configured to control the switching element on the basis of the first comparison result signal. | 02-05-2015 |
| 20150054481 | SWITCH CIRCUIT - According to an embodiment, a switch circuit includes an output transistor, a charge pump circuit, and a high pass filter. The output transistor includes a first end to which an input voltage is input, a second end from which an output voltage is output, and a control terminal. The charge pump circuit receives a first clock signal based on both of a reference clock signal and a first signal, and outputs a charge pump voltage to the control terminal of the output transistor, the first signal is based on the charge pump voltage. The high pass filter includes a first end receiving the charge pump voltage and a second end to which a ground voltage is applied, and generates a second signal. | 02-26-2015 |
| 20150054482 | CURRENT CONTROLLING MODE DIRECT CURRENT (DC)-DC CONVERTER - There is provided a current controlling mode DC-DC converter that operates in a PWM mode or a PFM mode by adjusting a turned-on time of a gate depending on power consumption of a load. The DC-DC converter includes a first comparator that receives a first input voltage and a second input voltage and outputs a first output signal, a second comparator that receives a reference voltage for mode switching and the second input voltage and outputs a second output signal, and a first logic element that outputs a reset signal for turning off a gate at a point of time when both the first output signal and the second output signal are applied. Examples may also include additional elements to facilitate mode switching. | 02-26-2015 |
| 20150061630 | SWITCHING CONVERTER WITH CONTROLLABLE RESTART DELAY AND ASSOCIATED CONTROL METHOD - A switching converter providing an output voltage has a first switch and a control circuit. The control circuit provides an auxiliary power supply voltage, and a switching control signal to control the first switch based on the output voltage and a reference signal. The switching converter is shut down by the control circuit when a fault happens, and the switching converter restarts when the auxiliary power supply voltage decreases to a first threshold. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150102794 | DC-DC CONVERTER USING INTERNAL RIPPLE WITH THE DCM FUNCTION - A DC-DC converter, having an input voltage and an output voltage, includes an inductor and a switch switching the input voltage to an input side of the inductor, where a feedback path controlling initiation of closing the switch includes capacitive coupling of the voltage at the input side of the inductor. | 04-16-2015 |
| 20150115923 | LOAD CURRENT READBACK AND AVERAGE ESTIMATION - A switching regulator or other apparatus or techniques can include load current monitoring to provide a digital representation of an estimated load current. Load current monitoring can be performed by a circuit including a counter circuit, a comparator circuit, and a digitally-controlled source coupled to the counter circuit and configured to adjust a bias condition of a sensing device in response to a count provided by the counter circuit in order to establish a proportional relationship between a current conducted by the sensing device and a corresponding current conducted by a power switching device. The counter circuit is configured to increment and decrement the count in response to information provided by the comparator output and the count is generally indicative of the estimated load current, such as an average load current. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150115924 | CONTROL CIRCUIT MODULE FOR POWER FACTOR CORRECTOR - A control circuit module for a power factor corrector is provided to convert the operation mode of the inductor current from the boundary conduction mode (BCM) to the discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) when a transistor element is operated under the valley inductor current, thus reducing the switching frequency and increasing system efficiency, also to maintain the operation mode of the inductor current in the BCM when the transistor element is operated under the peak inductor current, thus maintaining system efficiency. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150115925 | A/D CONVERTER AND SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - According to one embodiment, an A/D converter includes a first delay cell column in which a plurality of delay cells, to which a first bias current corresponding to a difference voltage between an input voltage and a reference voltage is supplied, is connected in series. The converter includes a second delay cell column in which a plurality of delay cells, to which a second bias current corresponding to a negative-phase difference voltage of the difference voltage is supplied, is connected in series. The converter includes an encoder unit configured to encode a difference value, in delay time of signal propagation, between the first delay cell column and the second delay cell column. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150123637 | POWER SUPPLY DEVICE - A power supply device includes an output semiconductor element and a clamp circuit. The output semiconductor element is provided between a power supply line and an output terminal. The output semiconductor element is driven and switched so as to supply electric power to an inductive load connected to the output terminal. The clamp circuit clamps a voltage applied between the power supply line and the output terminal due to a counter electromotive force generated in the inductive load when the output semiconductor element turns OFF, with reference to an operation reference voltage of the output semiconductor element. Thus, it is possible to provide a power supply device including a clamp circuit which can effectively clamp a negative voltage surge derived from a counter electromotive force generated in an inductive load, at a low clamp voltage. | 05-07-2015 |
| 20150137785 | OUTPUT REGULATION WITH NONLINEAR DIGITAL CONTROL LOOP COMPENSATION - A digital compensator combines a version of the input voltage with a version of the output current or voltage in such a way as to eliminate dependence on variations in the input voltage. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150145497 | LOW-LOSS STEP-UP AND STEP-DOWN VOLTAGE CONVERTER - A switch-mode DC-DC voltage converter including a boost stage in the form of a charge pump and a buck stage. Control circuitry is provided that enables the operation of the buck stage while the charge pump stage is also enabled, followed by disabling of the charge pump stage as the input voltage and output voltage increase. The buck converter stage is constructed so that it regulates the output voltage at a voltage above that which disables the charge pump stage. Conduction losses in the main current path, due to the necessity of a power FET or other switching device, are avoided. | 05-28-2015 |
| 20150303798 | BOOST CONVERTER CONTROL APPARATUS - The present invention prevent a shortage of the output when an intermittent boost is executed. A control apparatus for controlling a boost converter that can boost power supply voltage by boost control has: an intermittent controlling device for executing the intermittent boosting in such a manner that output voltage is maintained in a voltage variation allowable range including a target value on the basis of the detected output voltage of the boost converter; an average value calculating device for calculating an average value of the output voltage in an execution period of the intermittent boosting; and a target value correcting device for correcting the set target value to increase it when the calculated average value is less than the target value and is less than a required voltage value of a loading apparatus. | 10-22-2015 |
| 20150318784 | Adaptive Soft Switching Control For Power Converter - Control apparatus for use in controlling a power converter adapted to carry out power conversion between a high-voltage end and a low-voltage end. The control apparatus comprises an input configured for receiving at least one input signal conveying a sensed voltage across the high-voltage end, a sensed voltage across the low-voltage end and a sensed current through the low-voltage end; circuitry configured for determining a target switching frequency, a target dead time and a target duty cycle for the converter based at least in part on the sensed voltages, the sensed current and at least one circuit characteristic of the converter; and an output configured for releasing at least one output signal to cause the converter to carry out soft switching in accordance with the target switching frequency, the target dead time and the target duty cycle. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150349632 | CONTROLLING A PAIR OF SWITCHES - Devices and methods are provided where a feedback is provided from a control terminal of a first switch, and a second switch is controlled based on the feedback. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20160049866 | SOFT START CIRCUIT - A soft start circuit accepts an input of a reference voltage set arbitrarily, and generates a soft start voltage that takes a predetermined sweep time to slowly rise from a predetermined lowest value to a highest value that is higher than the reference voltage and changes in accordance with the reference voltage. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160056719 | POWER CIRCUIT AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - According to an embodiment, provided is a power circuit including: a switching transistor connected between an input terminal and an output terminal; a drive circuit configured to output a drive signal that controls on/off of the switching transistor; an error calculation circuit configured to output an error value between the output voltage and reference voltage; a determination circuit configured to compare a reference value obtained from the error value with a predetermined threshold value and then output a control signal; and a control circuit configured to control a frequency of the drive signal in response to the control signal. | 02-25-2016 |
| 20160065062 | POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - According to an embodiment, a power supply circuit is provided. The power supply circuit includes a switching transistor which is controlled to be ON/OFF by a PWM signal, and a mode switching control circuit configured to switch a control mode between peak current mode control and valley current mode control depending on the length of an ON time of the PWM signal which drives the switching transistor. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160134189 | POWER CONVERTER CONTROLLER WITH INPUT CURRENT SLOPE ADJUSTMENT - A transient event detector includes a first reference generator, an adjustable low-pass filter, and a comparator. The first reference generator coupled to scale the input current signal to generate a first reference current signal that tracks the input current signal. The adjustable low-pass filter circuit is coupled to receive the input current signal and to generate a filtered input current signal such that a magnitude of a slope of the filtered input current signal is less than the magnitude of the slope of the input current signal during a transient event. The first comparator is coupled to generate an event detection signal that indicates the presence of the transient event in response to a value of the filtered input current signal reaching a value of the first reference current signal. The adjustable low-pass filter circuit is configured to increase the cutoff frequency in response to the event detection signal. | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160172971 | CIRCUITRY AND METHOD FOR REGULATING A CURRENT FOR AN ELECTROMECHANICAL LOAD | 06-16-2016 |
| 20190146532 | FEEDBACK CIRCUIT FOR REGULATION LOOPS | 05-16-2019 |
