METHOD AND APPARATUS TO SELECT A PARAMETER/MODE BASED ON A TIME MEASUREMENT
Granted: January 22, 2009
Application Number:
20090021298
Techniques are disclosed to select functional parameters and/or operating modes of a circuit based on a time measurement are disclosed. One example integrated circuit includes a threshold detection and timing circuit that is coupled to measure a signal during an initialization period of the integrated circuit from a multifunction capacitor that is to be coupled to a first terminal of the integrated circuit. A selection circuit is coupled to the threshold detection and timing circuit to…
FAULT CONDITION PROTECTION
Granted: December 11, 2008
Application Number:
20080304187
A power converter controller circuit is disclosed. In one aspect, a power converter controller circuit includes a control circuit to generate a switching signal to be coupled to a power switch to control power delivered to an output of a power converter. A timing circuit is to be coupled to the power switch and coupled to receive a feedback signal and the switching signal. The timing circuit is to disable the power switch from receiving the switching signal in response to the feedback…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A VOLTAGE TRIGGERED CURRENT SINK CIRCUIT
Granted: November 27, 2008
Application Number:
20080290910
A current sink circuit is disclosed. An apparatus according to aspects of the present invention includes a sensing element, a pass element coupled to the sensing element and a setting element coupled to the pass element. The setting element provides both a voltage threshold level and a current regulation reference. The pass element is to pass current conducted through the current sink circuit in response to the setting element. The current conducted through the current sink circuit is…
TRANSFORMER DATA COUPLER WITH HIGH COMMON MODE IMMUNITY
Granted: November 20, 2008
Application Number:
20080285662
A data coupler includes a transformer having primary and secondary windings, a data transmitter coupled to the primary winding of the transformer, and a data receiver coupled to the secondary winding. The data transmitter includes a first driver and a second driver having outputs coupled to respective ends of the primary winding. The first driver is responsive to a data signal and the second driver is responsive to a delayed version of the data signal, such that the primary winding is…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AN OUTPUT CURRENT FROM A POWER CONVERTER
Granted: October 30, 2008
Application Number:
20080266906
Techniques are disclosed to control a current through a load to be coupled to an output of a power converter. In one aspect, a power converter includes an energy transfer element coupled between an input of the power converter and an output of the power converter. A power converter controller is coupled to the energy transfer element to control a transfer of energy from an input of the power converter to the output of the power converter. A current source is coupled to the output of the…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONAL RESPONSE TO A FAULT CONDITION IN A SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY
Granted: October 23, 2008
Application Number:
20080259653
Techniques are disclosed to regulate an output of a power converter. One example power converter controller circuit includes a line sense input to be coupled to receive a signal representative of an input voltage of a power converter. A feedback input to be coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter is also included. A drive signal generator is also included to generate a drive signal coupled to control switching of a switch to provide a…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SENSING MULTIPLE VOLTAGE VALUES FROM A SINGLE TERMINAL OF A POWER CONVERTER CONTROLLER
Granted: October 9, 2008
Application Number:
20080247202
An example controller for a power converter according to aspects of the present invention includes a switching control that switches a power switch to regulate an output of a power converter. The controller also includes a sensor coupled to receive a signal from a single terminal of the controller. The signal from the single terminal is representative of a line input voltage of the power converter during at least a portion of an on time of the power switch. The signal from the single…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POWER CONVERTER FAULT CONDITION DETECTION
Granted: October 9, 2008
Application Number:
20080247199
An example controller includes a fault detector and a control. The fault detector is to be coupled to a feedback circuit of a power converter to detect a fault condition in the power converter in response to an input voltage of the power converter. The control is coupled to the fault detector and is to be coupled to control the switching of a power switch to regulate an output of the power converter. The control is coupled to inhibit the switching of the power switch in response to the…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE MAXIMUM OUTPUT POWER OF A POWER CONVERTER
Granted: October 9, 2008
Application Number:
20080246456
A controller for a power converter is disclosed. An example circuit controller according to aspects of the present invention includes an input voltage sensor to be coupled to receive an input signal representative of an input voltage of the power converter. A current sensor is also included and is to be coupled to sense a current flowing in a power switch. A drive signal generator is to be coupled to drive the power switch into an on state for an on time period and an off state for an…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATED CABLE DROP COMPENSATION OF A POWER CONVERTER
Granted: October 9, 2008
Application Number:
20080246447
An integrated circuit controller for a power converter to be coupled to a distribution network is disclosed. An example integrated circuit controller according to aspects of the present invention includes a switching control circuit that outputs a drive signal to control switching of a switch to regulate an output of the power converter. The integrated circuit controller also includes a cable drop compensator that outputs a compensated reference voltage signal to the switching control…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ON/OFF CONTROL OF A POWER CONVERTER
Granted: October 9, 2008
Application Number:
20080246446
A power converter control method and apparatus is disclosed. An example power converter controller according to aspects of the present invention includes feedback sampling circuitry to be coupled to an output of a power converter. The feedback sampling circuitry is to generate feedback signal samples after a conduction of a power switch is terminated during enabled switching cycles. Switch conduction control circuitry is coupled to the feedback sampling circuitry. The switch conduction…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING A REFERENCE
Granted: October 2, 2008
Application Number:
20080238401
A circuit includes a current divider to divide a current from a current source into a first current and a reference current. The circuit also includes a current mirror coupled to the current divider to receive the first current from the current divider and to receive an adjustment current. The adjustment current is to set the reference current.
METHOD AND APPARATUS PROVIDING FINAL TEST AND TRIMMING FOR A POWER SUPPLY CONTROLLER
Granted: October 2, 2008
Application Number:
20080239609
A power supply controller having final test and trim circuitry. In one embodiment, a power supply controller for switched mode power supply includes a selector circuit, a trim circuit, a shutdown circuit and a disable circuit. The trim circuit includes a programmable circuit connection that can be selected by the selector circuit by toggling a voltage on an external terminal such as for example a power supply terminal, a control terminal or a function terminal of the power supply…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MODE SELECTION FOR HIGH VOLTAGE INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
Granted: September 11, 2008
Application Number:
20080218001
A method is disclosed to add functionality to a terminal of a high voltage integrated circuit without the penalty of additional high voltage circuitry. The benefit is that alternative modes of operation can be selected for testing, trimming parameters of the integrated circuit, or any other purpose without the cost of an additional terminal. In one embodiment, ordinary low voltage circuitry monitors the voltage on the terminal that normally is exposed to high voltage. The configuration…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING AUDIO NOISE IN A SWITCHING REGULATOR
Granted: September 11, 2008
Application Number:
20080218138
A switching regulator utilizing on/off control that reduces audio noise at light loads by adjusting the current limit of the switching regulator. In one embodiment, a switching regulator includes a state machine that adjusts the current limit of the switching regulator based on a pattern of feedback signal values from the output of the power supply for a preceding N cycles of the drive signal. The state machine adjusts the current limit lower at light loads such that cycles are not…
METHOD AND APPARATUS TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY PEAK POWER FROM A SWITCHING REGULATOR
Granted: September 11, 2008
Application Number:
20080218143
Various techniques directed to providing temporary peak power from a switching regulator are disclosed. In one aspect, a switching regulator includes a switch that is to be coupled between a power supply input and an energy transfer element of the power supply. A controller is coupled to be responsive to a feedback signal to be received from an output of the power supply. The controller is coupled to switch the switch in response to the feedback signal to regulate the output of the power…
Integrated circuit with multi-length output transistor segments
Granted: September 4, 2008
Application Number:
20080213957
A monolithic integrated circuit fabricated on a semiconductor die includes a control circuit and a first output transistor having segments substantially equal to a first length. A second output transistor has segments substantially equal to a second length. The first and second output transistors occupy an L-shaped area of the semiconductor die, the L-shaped area having first and second inner sides that are respectively disposed adjacent first and second sides of the control circuit. At…
Gate metal routing for transistor with checkerboarded layout
Granted: August 21, 2008
Application Number:
20080197396
In one embodiment, a transistor fabricated on a semiconductor die is arranged into sections of elongated transistor segments. The sections are arranged in rows and columns substantially across the semiconductor die. Adjacent sections in a row or a column are oriented such that the length of the transistor segments in a first one of the adjacent sections extends in a first direction, and the length of the transistor segments in a second one of the adjacent sections extends in a second…
Checkerboarded high-voltage vertical transistor layout
Granted: August 21, 2008
Application Number:
20080197397
In one embodiment, a transistor fabricated on a semiconductor die is arranged into sections of elongated transistor segments. The sections are arranged in rows and columns substantially across the semiconductor die. Adjacent sections in a row or a column are oriented such that the length of the transistor segments in a first one of the adjacent sections extends in a first direction, and the length of the transistor segments in a second one of the adjacent sections extends in a second…
Sensing FET integrated with a high-voltage vertical transistor
Granted: August 21, 2008
Application Number:
20080197406
In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a main vertical field-effect transistor (FET) and a sensing FET. The main vertical FET and the sense FET are both formed on a pillar of semiconductor material. Both share an extended drain region formed in the pillar above the substrate, and first and second gate members formed in a dielectric on opposite sides of the pillar. The source regions of the main vertical FET and the sensing FET are separated and electrically isolated in a…
