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…
Controller for a semiconductor switch can include a transmitter and receiver that communicate across galvanic isolation using an inductive coupling
Granted: January 11, 2022
Patent Number:
11223391
A controller comprising a driver interface referenced to a first reference potential, a drive circuit referenced to a second reference potential, and an inductive coupling. The driver interface comprises a first receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a first polarity on the first terminal of the inductive coupling with a first threshold, and a second receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a second polarity on the second terminal of the inductive…
Method and apparatus for sequencing outputs in a multi-output power converter system
Granted: December 28, 2021
Patent Number:
11211870
Apparatus and methods for sequencing outputs in a multi-output power converter system are disclosed herein. During start-up multiple CC/CV outputs may be sequenced so that energy is first provided to a highest voltage secondary output and subsequently provided to a lowest voltage secondary output. Additionally, control may be exerted so as to concurrently and monotonically increase voltages during at least part of the start-up transient; and concurrent control may be further implemented…
Apparatus and methods for controlling a switch drive signal following mode transitions in a switching power converter
Granted: December 7, 2021
Patent Number:
11196347
A controller for use in a power converter that is configured to operate in a plurality of modes including a first mode and a second mode includes a frequency monitor module coupled to measure a signal characteristic of a switch drive signal coupled to control switching of a switches block of the power converter. The frequency monitor module includes a memory coupled to store a measured signal characteristic of the switch drive signal measured during the first mode. The frequency monitor…
Low common mode noise transformer structure with external float wire mount
Granted: November 2, 2021
Patent Number:
11164696
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…
Gate stack for heterostructure device
Granted: September 7, 2021
Patent Number:
11114539
A heterostructure semiconductor device includes a first active layer and a second active layer disposed on the first active layer. A two-dimensional electron gas layer is formed between the first and second active layers. A sandwich gate dielectric layer structure is disposed on the second active layer. A passivation layer is disposed over the sandwich gate dielectric layer structure. A gate extends through the passivation layer to the sandwich gate dielectric layer structure. First and…
Method and apparatus for continuous conduction mode operation of a multi-output power converter
Granted: August 31, 2021
Patent Number:
11108331
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.
Signal amplifier with calibrated reference
Granted: August 17, 2021
Patent Number:
11095263
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…
