Input voltage estimation for a power converter
Granted: February 21, 2023
Patent Number:
11588411
An input voltage estimate circuit for use in a power converter. The input voltage estimate circuit comprises a timer, which comprises a timer control circuit to generate a control signal in response to a request signal, a winding signal, and an output voltage signal. The control signal is coupled to transition to a first logic level in response to a request event in the request signal, and to transition to a second logic level in response to the winding signal falling below the output…
Inductive charging circuit to provide operating power for a controller
Granted: January 24, 2023
Patent Number:
11563382
An inductive charging circuit coupled to a winding of a power converter and a supply terminal of a controller of the power converter. The inductive charging circuit comprising an input coupled to the winding, the input coupled to receive a switching voltage generated by the power converter, an inductor coupled to the input to provide an inductor current in response to the switching voltage, a first diode coupled to the inductor to enable the inductor current to flow from the input of the…
Inductive charging circuit to provide operating power for a controller
Granted: January 24, 2023
Patent Number:
11563382
An inductive charging circuit coupled to a winding of a power converter and a supply terminal of a controller of the power converter. The inductive charging circuit comprising an input coupled to the winding, the input coupled to receive a switching voltage generated by the power converter, an inductor coupled to the input to provide an inductor current in response to the switching voltage, a first diode coupled to the inductor to enable the inductor current to flow from the input of the…
Controller for multi-output single magnetic component converter with independent regulation of constant current and constant voltage outputs
Granted: December 27, 2022
Patent Number:
11539298
A power converter includes a primary winding and multiple output windings to provide multiple independently controlled and regulated outputs with a common return line. The outputs are coupled to independently regulate constant current, constant voltage, or both constant current and constant voltage outputs. A secondary control block is coupled to control a synchronous rectifier switch coupled to the common return line to synchronize switching with a primary side power switch to provide…
Apparatus and methods for sensing resonant circuit signals to enhance control in a resonant converter
Granted: December 6, 2022
Patent Number:
11522464
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…
Reservoir capacitor for boost converters
Granted: November 22, 2022
Patent Number:
11509219
A power supply comprising a first-stage capacitor configured to provide energy to a second stage power converter. An energy transfer element coupled to the first-stage capacitor. A reservoir capacitor coupled to the energy transfer element. The reservoir capacitor is configured to receive charge from the energy transfer element. A power switch configured to control a transfer of energy from an input of the power supply to the first-stage capacitor. A controller coupled to the power…
Pulse sharing control for enhancing performance in a multiple output power converter system
Granted: November 8, 2022
Patent Number:
11496060
Pulse sharing control to enhance performance in multiple output power converters is described herein. During a switching cycle, an energy pulse is provided to more than one port (i.e., output) using pulse sharing transfer. Pulse sharing transfer may enhance performance by reducing audible noise due to subharmonics and by reducing a root mean square current of one or more secondary currents. A primary switch is closed to energize an energy transfer element via a primary current. Energy…
Modulating jitter frequency as switching frequency approaches jitter frequency
Granted: November 1, 2022
Patent Number:
11487311
A method for providing a jitter signal for modulating a switching frequency of a power switch for a power converter. The method comprising receiving a drive signal representative of the switching frequency of the power switch, detecting the switching frequency from the drive signal, determining if the switching frequency is less than a first threshold frequency, and modulating a frequency of the jitter signal in response to determining if the switching frequency is less than the first…
Multi zone secondary burst modulation for resonant converters
Granted: October 18, 2022
Patent Number:
11476769
A power converter controller includes a control loop clock generator to generate a switching frequency signal responsive to a burst load threshold, a power signal, and a load signal. A switching frequency of the switching frequency signal is above a resonance range of an energy transfer element. A burst control circuit generates a burst on signal and a burst off signal in response to a feedback signal and a burst enable signal to operate the controller in a plurality of burst modes. A…
Multi-stage gate turn-off with dynamic timing
Granted: October 11, 2022
Patent Number:
11469756
A turn-off circuit for a semiconductor switch includes an element having a variable resistance coupled to a control input of the semiconductor switch, a circuit for generating a control-input reference signal, and a control circuit coupled to adjust a resistance of the element having a variable resistance in response to the control-input reference signal in a closed control loop in order to turn off the semiconductor switch.
Active clamp circuit with steering network
Granted: September 20, 2022
Patent Number:
11451152
A power converter, comprising an energy transfer element, an output of the power converter, a power switch, an active clamp circuit, and a first controller. The active clamp circuit comprising a capacitance, a steering diode network coupled to the capacitance and configured to transfer a charge to the capacitance, a clamp switch coupled to the capacitance and configured to transfer the charge stored in the capacitance to the energy transfer element, and an offset element coupled to the…
Power converter with current matching
Granted: September 13, 2022
Patent Number:
11445587
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…
Multiple stage gate drive for cascode current sensing
Granted: September 13, 2022
Patent Number:
11444545
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…
Variable drive strength in response to a power converter operating condition
Granted: September 6, 2022
Patent Number:
11437911
A controller for a power converter comprising a drive signal generator and drive strength control and a variable strength multi-stage gate driver. The drive signal generator and drive strength control outputs a drive signal to control switching of a power switch and a strength signal to control drive strength of the power switch. The variable strength multi-stage gate driver is configured to turn ON the power switch in response to the drive signal with a first drive strength then a…
Process and structure for a superjunction device
Granted: April 26, 2022
Patent Number:
11316042
A superjunction device comprising a drain contact, a substrate layer above the drain contact, an epitaxial layer above the substrate layer, a P+ layer above the epitaxial layer formed by P-type implantation to a bottom of the superjunction device, a trench with a sloped angle formed by use of a hard mask layer. The trench is filled with an insulating material. A first vertical column is formed adjacent to the trench. A second vertical column is formed adjacent to the first vertical…
Techniques for controlling a power converter using multiple controllers
Granted: April 19, 2022
Patent Number:
11309800
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…
Single-wire bus multi-group fault communication for half-bridge inverter modules
Granted: March 22, 2022
Patent Number:
11283392
A half-bridge switching module is one of a plurality of half-bridge switching modules coupled to an input voltage to regulate energy provided to a load in response to a system controller. The half-bridge switching module includes a low-side switch. A low-side control is referenced to ground and is coupled to the low-side switch. A high-side switch is coupled to the low-side switch. A high-side control circuit is coupled to the high-side switch and is referenced to a floating node of the…
Extremum locator with measurement enable circuit
Granted: March 22, 2022
Patent Number:
11283343
A controller for use in a power converter for transferring energy between an input and an output, the controller comprising a second controller to generate a request event and a request signal in response to a feedback signal and a switching window signal, the second controller to transmit the request event during a switching window of the switching window signal. The second controller comprising an extremum locator switching window generator to generate the switching window…
Inductive charging circuit to provide operative power for a controller
Granted: February 22, 2022
Patent Number:
11258369
An inductive charging circuit coupled to a winding of a power converter and a supply terminal of a controller of the power converter. The inductive charging circuit comprising an input coupled to the winding, the input coupled to receive a switching voltage generated by the power converter, an inductor coupled to the input to provide an inductor current in response to the switching voltage, a first diode coupled to the inductor to enable the inductor current to flow from the input of the…
Methods and apparatus for biasing a magnetic circuit to reduce audible noise from a switching power supply
Granted: February 15, 2022
Patent Number:
11250984
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…
