Techniques for controlling a power converter using multiple controllers
Granted: March 12, 2019
Patent Number:
10230305
A power converter controller includes a primary controller configured to operate in a first mode to control a power switch with a primary switching pattern. A communication link is coupled to the primary controller. A secondary controller coupled to the communication link. The secondary controller is galvanically isolated from the primary controller. The secondary controller is configured to initiate a transition operation with the primary controller to take control of the power switch…
Soft shutdown modular circuitry for power semiconductor switches
Granted: March 5, 2019
Patent Number:
10224920
Circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch and a power converters that includes circuitry for soft shutdown are described. In one aspect, circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch includes a sense input to be coupled to a power switch receive a signal representative of current passing through the power switch, a comparator to compare the signal with an overcurrent threshold indicative of an overcurrent condition of the power switch and to output a triggering signal in response to…
Method and apparatus for digital control of a switching regulator
Granted: March 5, 2019
Patent Number:
10224820
A circuit for regulating an output level of a power converter includes an adjustment circuit to be coupled to a receive a feedback signal representative of an output level of the power converter. The adjustment circuit is coupled to generate a comparison result signal. A control circuit is coupled to receive the comparison result signal and an oscillating signal. A switch including a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal is coupled to the control circuit. The control…
Noise cancellation for a magnetically coupled communication link utilizing a lead frame
Granted: March 5, 2019
Patent Number:
10224292
An integrated circuit package includes a portion of a lead frame disposed within an encapsulation. The lead frame includes a first conductor including a first conductive loop and a third conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation. A second conductor formed in the lead frame is galvanically isolated from the first conductor and includes a second conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation proximate to the first conductive loop to provide a…
Communicating across galvanic isolation, for example, in a power converter
Granted: February 26, 2019
Patent Number:
10218354
A signal transmission system for communicating across galvanic isolation includes a magnetic coupling having a transmitter-side inductor and a receiver-side inductor. The transmitter is coupled to the transmitter-side inductor, is referenced to a first potential, and includes a pulse generator coupled to output to the transmitter-side inductor a first state representation that represents a first logic state with multiple transitions, and a second state representation that represents a…
Multiple stage gate drive for cascode current sensing
Granted: February 26, 2019
Patent Number:
10218286
A power converter includes an energy transfer element, a cascode circuit including a low voltage switch and a normally-on switch coupled to the energy transfer element, and a controller coupled to control switching of the cascode circuit. The controller includes a current sense circuit to generate a current limit signal and an overcurrent signal in response to a source signal and first and second sense finger signals from the cascode circuit, a control circuit to generate a control…
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…
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…
