POWER CONVERTER WITH CURRENT MATCHING
Granted: February 25, 2021
Application Number:
20210059028
A current matching circuit includes a plurality of LED driver circuits. A current to voltage converter circuit is coupled to the plurality of LED driver circuits to generate a plurality of voltage signals. Each one of the plurality of voltage signals is representative of a respective output current through a corresponding one of the plurality of LED driver circuits. A comparison circuit is coupled to the current to voltage converter circuit to compare the plurality of voltage signals. An…
MAGNETICALLY COUPLED GALVANICALLY ISOLATED COMMUNICATION USING LEAD FRAME
Granted: January 7, 2021
Application Number:
20210006167
An integrated circuit package includes a lead frame and an encapsulation that substantially encloses the lead frame. The lead frame further includes a first conductor comprising a first conductive loop and a second conductor galvanically isolated from the first conductor, proximate to and magnetically coupled to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductor. The second conductor includes a first conductive portion, a second conductive…
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR BIASING A MAGNETIC CIRCUIT TO REDUCE AUDIBLE NOISE FROM A SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY
Granted: December 3, 2020
Application Number:
20200381165
Presented herein are methods and apparatus for biasing magnetic circuits to reduce audible noise from a switching power supply. A magnetic component (e.g., a magnet) is constructed and provided to a core (e.g., a ferromagnetic core) to offset (i.e., bias) an applied magnetomotive force. By selecting and/or manufacturing the magnetic component based on a circuit operating condition, the offset may be tailored to advantageously shift a frequency of mechanical deformation outside the…
SIGNAL AMPLIFIER WITH CALIBRATED REFERENCE
Granted: November 12, 2020
Application Number:
20200358413
A signal amplifier for use in a power converter includes a variable reference generator coupled to generate a reference signal in response to a dimming control signal. A variable gain circuit is coupled to receive the reference signal, the gain signal, and a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter. The variable gain circuit is coupled to output a first adjusted signal in response to the reference signal and the gain signal. The variable gain circuit is coupled…
CLOSED LOOP FOLDBACK CONTROL
Granted: November 12, 2020
Application Number:
20200358361
A controller for use in a power converter comprising a comparator, request control, and foldback control. The comparator configured to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter and a first regulation reference representative of a target value for the output, and in response to the comparison of the feedback signal and the first regulation reference, generate a first regulation signal. Request control configured to receive the first regulation reference,…
LOW COMMON MODE NOISE TRANSFORMER STRUCTURE WITH EXTERNAL FLOAT WIRE MOUNT
Granted: November 12, 2020
Application Number:
20200357571
A transformer structure is disclosed to reduce common mode noise on an output load. The transformer structure includes a bobbin mounted on a magnetic core, a plurality of windings wound around the bobbin. The plurality of windings include a primary winding coupled to receive an input voltage, a secondary winding coupled to an output load; and a floating auxiliary winding located between the primary and secondary winding. The floating auxiliary winding includes a first terminal and a…
CLAMP FOR A HYBRID SWITCH
Granted: November 5, 2020
Application Number:
20200350908
A switch having a drain, a source, and a control. The switch comprising a depletion-mode transistor including a first, a second, and a control terminal and an enhancement-mode transistor including a first, a second, and a control terminal. The first terminal of the depletion-mode transistor is the drain of the switch and the control of the depletion-mode transistor is coupled to the source of the switch. The control of the enhancement-mode transistor is coupled to the control of the…
APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR SENSING RESONANT CIRCUIT SIGNALS TO ENHANCE CONTROL IN A RESONANT CONVERTER
Granted: October 22, 2020
Application Number:
20200336075
Apparatus and methods for sensing resonant circuit signals to enhance control in a resonant converter are described herein. A buffer circuit coupled in parallel with or across a resonant component (e.g., a transformer) input port avails a buffered primary port signal for use in resonant conversion. The buffered primary port signal is a comprehensive signal including information relating to both input voltage and input power; and it may be used to advantageously enhance switching and…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS CONDUCTION MODE OPERATION OF A MULTI-OUTPUT POWER CONVERTER
Granted: October 1, 2020
Application Number:
20200313561
Methods and apparatus for continuous conduction mode operation in multi-output power converters are described herein. During a switching cycle, secondary current may be delivered via a diode to a secondary output. Prior to beginning a subsequent switching cycle, a diverting current may be provided to a lower voltage secondary output on a parallel path. In this way diode current may be reduced to substantially zero prior to the subsequent switching cycle.
PROTECTIVE INSULATOR FOR HFET DEVICES
Granted: September 10, 2020
Application Number:
20200287037
An HFET includes a first and second semiconductor material. A first composite passivation layer includes a first insulation layer and a first passivation layer, and the first passivation layer is disposed between the first insulation layer and the second semiconductor material. The HFET includes a second passivation layer, where the first insulation layer is disposed between the first passivation layer and the second passivation layer. A gate dielectric is disposed between the second…
TECHNIQUES FOR CONTROLLING A POWER CONVERTER USING MULTIPLE CONTROLLERS
Granted: August 27, 2020
Application Number:
20200274453
A controller for use with a power converter and a power switch comprising a primary controller and a secondary controller. The primary controller to control the power switch to transfer energy from the input side to the output side of the power converter. The secondary controller to transmit a control signal to the primary controller through a communication link, and to initiate a transition operation with the primary controller through the communication link. The secondary controller…
MULTIPLE STAGE GATE DRIVE FOR CASCODE CURRENT SENSING
Granted: July 9, 2020
Application Number:
20200220476
A power converter comprising an energy transfer element is coupled between an input of the power converter and an output of the power converter. A cascode circuit generates a first sense signal and a second sense signal. A controller controls the switching of the cascode circuit to transfer energy from the input of the power converter to the output of the power converter. The controller comprising a current sense circuit generates a current limit signal and an overcurrent signal in…
MODULATING JITTER FREQUENCY AS SWITCHING FREQUENCY APPROACHES JITTER FREQUENCY
Granted: July 9, 2020
Application Number:
20200218298
A controller for use in a power converter including a jitter generator circuit coupled to receive a drive signal from a switch controller and generate a jitter signal. The jitter signal is a modulated jitter signal when the drive signal is below a first threshold frequency. The switch controller is coupled to a power switch coupled to an energy transfer element. The switch controller is coupled to receive a current sense signal representative of a current through the power switch. The…
APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR SENSING A VARIABLE AMPLITUDE SWITCHING SIGNAL FROM A SECONDARY WINDING IN A POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM
Granted: June 18, 2020
Application Number:
20200195163
Apparatus and methods for sensing a variable amplitude switching signal from a secondary winding in a power conversion system are disclosed herein. By using a comparator with an adaptable reference, variable amplitude secondary winding signals in phase with primary winding signals may be detected in the presence of ringing. Detection of the in phase secondary winding signals, in turn, allows for secondary side control with power factor correction and discontinuous mode operation.
CLOSED LOOP FOLDBACK CONTROL
Granted: June 18, 2020
Application Number:
20200195152
A controller for use in a power converter comprising a comparator, request control, and foldback control. The comparator configured to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter and a first regulation reference representative of a target value for the output, and in response to the comparison of the feedback signal and the first regulation reference, generate a first regulation signal. Request control configured to receive the first regulation reference,…
FREQUENCY JITTER FOR A POWER CONVERTER
Granted: June 11, 2020
Application Number:
20200186021
A controller for use in a power converter comprising a request control circuit coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter. The request control circuit is coupled to generate a request signal for controlling a power switch. The request signal can include a synchronization signal in response to the feedback signal and a jitter average signal. The synchronization signal is generated by the request transmitter circuit and corresponds to an average…
APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING A SWITCH MODE POWER CONVERTER USING A DUTY CYCLE STATE MACHINE
Granted: April 23, 2020
Application Number:
20200127572
A power conversion system includes a switch mode power converter including a switch coupled to regulate an output voltage to a regulation value in response to a feedback signal. A controller is coupled to deliver a gate drive signal to the switch during an enabled control condition. The controller is further coupled to inhibit the gate drive signal to the switch during an inhibited control condition. A duty cycle state machine included in controller is coupled to adjust a duty cycle of…
CONTROLLER WITH VARIABLE SAMPLING GENERATOR
Granted: April 16, 2020
Application Number:
20200119652
A controller for use in a power converter includes a comparator configured to compare a sense signal representative of an amount of energy delivered to an output of the power converter, to a target value. An update clock generator configured to receive the sense signal and to generate a clock signal having a clock frequency in response to the sense signal. A request control coupled to the comparator and to the update clock generator, the request control configured to generate a request…
IDLE RING DETECTION FOR A MULTI-OUTPUT POWER CONVERTER
Granted: April 2, 2020
Application Number:
20200106365
A controller for use in a power converter with multiple outputs includes a discharge detect circuit coupled to receive a voltage signal from a transformer winding of the power converter to output a discharge signal in response to the voltage signal. A multi-output signal process and interface block is coupled to output request signals to the output selection drive and idle ring visibility logic circuit. An output selection drive and idle ring visibility logic circuit is coupled to…
CONTROL OF SECONDARY SWITCHES BASED ON SECONDARY WINDING VOLTAGE IN A POWER CONVERTER
Granted: April 2, 2020
Application Number:
20200106366
A resonant power converter controller comprising a control circuit configured to turn on a synchronous rectifier (SR) in response to a count of a number of times a drain voltage of the SR crosses below a turn on threshold based on a stored count and turns off the SR when the drain voltage crosses above a turn off threshold. The control circuit comprises a first comparator configured to generate a first detection signal in response to the drain voltage being less than the turn on…
