Method and apparatus for sequencing outputs in a multi-output power converter system
Granted: February 26, 2019
Patent Number:
10218282
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…
Introducing jitter to a switching frequency by way of modulating current limit
Granted: February 26, 2019
Patent Number:
10218263
A controller includes a switch controller 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 drain current through the power switch. The switch controller is coupled to generate a drive signal to control switching of the power switch in response to the current sense signal and a modulated current limit signal to control a transfer of energy from an input to an output of the power…
Method and apparatus for a control circuit with multiple operating modes
Granted: February 19, 2019
Patent Number:
10211743
A method for controlling a power converter switch includes operating the power converter switch in first, second, and third duty cycle control modes in response to a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter. The first duty cycle control mode includes modulating a peak switch current of the power converter switch in response to the feedback signal, and switching the power converter switch at a substantially fixed first switching frequency value. The second duty…
Switched mode power converter controller with ramp time modulation with jitter frequency
Granted: February 12, 2019
Patent Number:
10205394
A controller for use in a power converter includes a drive circuit coupled to generate a drive signal to control switching of a power switch to control a transfer of energy from a power converter input to a power converter output. An input is also included to receive an enable signal including enable events responsive to the power converter output. The drive circuit is coupled to turn ON the power switch in response to the enable events, and turn OFF the power switch in response to a…
Contact plug for high-voltage devices
Granted: February 12, 2019
Patent Number:
10204791
A high-voltage field effect transistor (HFET) includes a first active layer, a second active layer, and a layer of electrical charge disposed proximate to the first active layer and the second active layer. A gate dielectric is disposed proximate to the second active layer. A contact region in the HFET includes a contact coupled to supply or withdraw charge from the HFET, and a passivation layer disposed proximate to the contact and the gate dielectric. An interconnect extends through…
Shield wrap for a heterostructure field effect transistor
Granted: February 5, 2019
Patent Number:
10199488
A semiconductor device includes a heterostructure field effect transistor (HFET) having an active region in a semiconductor film between a source electrode and a drain electrode, where a gate electrode is over a portion of the active region and is configured to modulate a conduction channel in the active region. The semiconductor device also includes a first passivation film over the active region and an encapsulation film over the first passivation film. A first metal pattern is…
Overvoltage protection circuit
Granted: January 29, 2019
Patent Number:
10193454
An overvoltage detection circuit for a power converter a current augmentation circuit coupled to receive a sense signal representative of an output voltage of the power converter only during a portion of an off time of a power switch of the power converter. The current augmentation circuit is further coupled to output an augmented signal. A detection circuit is coupled to receive the augmented signal from the augmentation circuit and a power signal representative of a rectified version…
High side signal interface in a power converter
Granted: January 29, 2019
Patent Number:
10193453
A power converter controller includes a high side signal interface circuit that includes a common mode cancellation circuit that is coupled to generate a fourth current signal representative of an OFF signal referenced to a bypass voltage during an initial state, and a first current signal in response to an ON signal being pulled to a lower value relative to the OFF signal to turn ON a high side switch. The common mode cancellation circuit generates a common mode rejection signal in…
Switching device with charge distribution structure
Granted: January 29, 2019
Patent Number:
10192981
A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a first active layer disposed over the substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a second active layer disposed on the first active layer such that a lateral conductive channel arises between the first active layer and the second active layer. a source, gate and drain contact are disposed over the second active layer. A conductive charge distribution structure is disposed over the second active layer between the gate and drain…
Clamp for a hybrid switch
Granted: January 22, 2019
Patent Number:
10187054
A switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal. The switch includes a normally-on device with a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of the normally-on device is the first terminal of the switch. The control terminal of the normally-on device is coupled to the second terminal of the switch. A normally-off device includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The control terminal of the…
Peak switching and optimal SR drive timing control
Granted: January 22, 2019
Patent Number:
10186976
A controller includes a first control circuit coupled to an input side of a power converter. The first control circuit includes a timing and delay circuit and a switch selection circuit. A second control circuit is coupled to an output side of the power converter. The second control circuit includes a valley detection circuit and a synchronous rectifier control circuit. A third control circuit is coupled to the input side of the power converter. The third control circuit is coupled to…
Half-bridge inverter modules with advanced protection through high-side to low-side control block communication
Granted: January 15, 2019
Patent Number:
10181813
A communication system for use in a switching module includes a low-side control block coupled to control switching of a low-side switch of the switching module. The low-side control block is further coupled to be referenced with a low-side reference system ground. A high-side control block is coupled to control switching of a high-side switch of the switching module. The high-side control block is further coupled to be referenced with a floating node of the switching module. During…
Method and apparatus for sensing multiple voltage values from a single terminal of a power converter controller
Granted: January 8, 2019
Patent Number:
10177666
A method for regulating an output of a power converter includes receiving a signal from an auxiliary winding of an energy transfer element of the power converter. The energy transfer element includes an input winding coupled to an input of the power converter, an output winding coupled to the output of the power converter, and the auxiliary winding. The signal represents a line input voltage of the power converter during at least a portion of an on time of a power switch coupled to the…
Receiver circuit
Granted: January 1, 2019
Patent Number:
10171130
An analog receiver frontend includes a first amplification circuit coupled to receive an input signal. The first amplification stage is coupled to amplify a difference between the input signal and a threshold to generate the first signal. A second amplification circuit is coupled to receive the first signal from the first amplification circuit. The second amplification circuit is coupled to amplify the first signal to generate a second signal. An output circuit is coupled to receive the…
Device and method for producing a dynamic reference signal for a driver circuit for a semiconductor power switch
Granted: January 1, 2019
Patent Number:
10171071
A device (442) for producing a dynamic reference signal (UREF) for a control circuit for a power semiconductor switch comprises a reference signal generator (442) for providing a dynamic reference signal (UREF), which has a stationary signal level after elapse of a predefined time following a switching process of the power semiconductor switch, a passive charging circuit (450) which is configured to increase a signal level of the dynamic reference signal in reaction to a switching of a…
Reduction of audible noise in a power converter
Granted: January 1, 2019
Patent Number:
10171000
A power converter controller includes a drive circuit to generate a drive signal to control switching of a power switch. The drive circuit generates the drive signal in response to a current sense signal, a current limit signal, a frequency skip signal, and a hold signal. A current limit generator generates the current limit signal in response to a load. A frequency detection circuit generates the frequency skip signal in response to the drive signal to indicate when an intended…
Static discharge system
Granted: January 1, 2019
Patent Number:
10170438
A semiconductor circuit includes a three-terminal high voltage semiconductor device, a charge distribution structure and a static discharge system. The charge distribution structure has a plurality of conductors with a floating potential. The charge distribution structure is capacitively coupled to a first terminal of the semiconductor device. The static discharge system removes charge that accumulates on at least a subset of the conductors. The static discharge system removes the charge…
Switched mode power converter controller with ramp time modulation
Granted: December 18, 2018
Patent Number:
10158295
A power converter includes an energy transfer element that includes a primary winding and a secondary winding, and is coupled to transfer energy between the primary winding and the secondary winding. An enable circuit is coupled to generate an enable signal in response to a feedback signal falling below a threshold. A controller is coupled to control switching of a power switch coupled to the primary winding to regulate an output of the power converter. The controller includes a drive…
Method and apparatus for implementing a power converter input terminal voltage discharge circuit
Granted: December 11, 2018
Patent Number:
10153687
A power converter includes an energy transfer element and a circuit coupled to the input of the power converter. The circuit includes a switch and a control circuit capable of detecting whether an AC voltage source is coupled to the input, or uncoupled from the input within a first predetermined time. The control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a first operating mode when the AC voltage source is coupled, drive the switch in a second operating mode when the AC voltage source is…
Pre-distortion of sensed current in a power factor correction circuit
Granted: December 11, 2018
Patent Number:
10153689
A controller for use in a power factor correction converter includes a power factor enhancer that includes a zero-crossing detector coupled to receive an ac line input voltage signal and is coupled to output a zero-crossing signal. A peak detector is coupled to receive the ac line input voltage signal and the zero-crossing signal and is coupled to output a peak signal. A peak modulator is coupled to receive the zero-crossing signal and is coupled to generate a peak modulation function. A…
