Pulse sharing control for enhancing performance in a multiple output power converter system
Granted: December 19, 2023
Patent Number:
11848618
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…
Secondary controller for use in synchronous flyback converter
Granted: November 21, 2023
Patent Number:
11824453
A secondary controller for use in a power converter includes a drive circuit coupled to a secondary side of the power converter. The drive circuit is configured to generate a first signal to enable a first switch coupled to a primary side of the primary converter. The first signal is generated in response to a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter. A control circuit is coupled to receive the first signal and an input signal representative of a secondary…
Deadtime adjustment for a power converter
Granted: November 21, 2023
Patent Number:
11824438
A controller includes first and second half bridge sense circuits coupled to a half bridge node. The half bridge node is coupled between a high side switch and a low side switch coupled to an input. A rising slew detection circuit is coupled to the first half bridge sense circuit to output a first slew detection signal in response to a rising slew event at the half bridge node. A falling slew detection circuit is coupled to the second half bridge sense circuit to output a second slew…
Silicon carbide junction field effect transistors
Granted: November 21, 2023
Patent Number:
11824094
Silicon carbide (SiC) junction field effect transistors (JFETs) are presented herein. A deep implant (e.g., a deep p-type implant) forms a JFET gate (106). MET gate and MET source (108) may be implemented with heavily doped n-type (N+) and heavily doped p-type (P+) implants, respectively. Termination regions may be implemented by using equipotential rings formed by deep implants (e.g., deep p-type implants).
Method and apparatus for continuous conduction mode operation of a multi-output power converter
Granted: November 14, 2023
Patent Number:
11817789
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.
Current sharing for multi-output charging device
Granted: October 24, 2023
Patent Number:
11799311
A charging device comprising a first power converter configured to provide a first output power, a second power converter configured to provide a second output power. A switch is coupled to the first power converter and the second power converter. A first socket is configured to deliver the first output power from the first power converter to a first powered device. A second socket is configured to deliver the second output power from the second power converter to a second powered…
Asymmetrical plug technique for GaN devices
Granted: October 3, 2023
Patent Number:
11776815
A method of forming one or more contact regions in a high-voltage field effect transistor (HFET) includes providing a semiconductor material, including a first active layer and a second active layer, with a gate dielectric disposed on a surface of the semiconductor material. A first contact to the semiconductor material is formed that extends through the second active layer into the first active layer, and a passivation layer is deposited, where the gate dielectric is disposed between…
Protecting semiconductor switches in switched mode power converters
Granted: June 20, 2023
Patent Number:
11683030
Driver circuitry for driving a power semiconductor switch having a control input and main terminals is described. The driver circuitry includes control terminal driver circuitry coupled to the control input and configured to provide a drive signal, a sense terminal coupled to the main terminal, a current mirror coupled to the sense terminal to mirror a current input into the sense terminal during turn-off, a first current comparator configured to compare a current signal received from…
External adjustment of a drive control of a switch
Granted: May 9, 2023
Patent Number:
11646689
A control system configured to control a transistor configured to control energy delivery to a load. The control system comprises a system controller to sense an event in the control system and to assert a command signal in response to the sensed event and a switch controller configured to receive the command signal. The switch controller is configured to control the turn on and the turn off of the transistor, wherein the system controller controls the turn on or the turn off, or control…
External adjustment of a drive control of a switch
Granted: May 9, 2023
Patent Number:
11646689
A control system configured to control a transistor configured to control energy delivery to a load. The control system comprises a system controller to sense an event in the control system and to assert a command signal in response to the sensed event and a switch controller configured to receive the command signal. The switch controller is configured to control the turn on and the turn off of the transistor, wherein the system controller controls the turn on or the turn off, or control…
Mode operation detection for control of a power converter with an active clamp switch
Granted: April 18, 2023
Patent Number:
11632054
A primary controller configured for use in a power converter comprising a control circuit configured to determine a mode of operation of the power converter in response to a drive signal of a power switch. The control circuit further configured to generate a control signal in response to a signal representative of the mode of operation of the power converter, wherein the control signal represents a delay time to enable a turn on of the power switch after a turn off of a clamp switch. The…
Control of secondary switches based on secondary winding voltage in a power converter
Granted: April 11, 2023
Patent Number:
11626871
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…
Input line voltage operation for a power converter
Granted: March 21, 2023
Patent Number:
11611279
A controller configured for use in a power converter. The controller includes a control circuit coupled to receive an input line voltage sense signal representative of an input voltage of the power converter. The control circuit is configured to generate a control signal in response to a request signal representative of an output of the power converter. The control signal represents a delay time to turn on a power switch after a turn on of a clamp switch in response to the input line…
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…
