Champion Microelectronic Corporation

Micro Linear Corporation

Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation

Champion Microelectronics Corporation

Other

Teledyne Industries, Inc.

Jeffrey H Hwang

Alland Chee

Calvin Hsu

Thomas Li

Wing-Hung Ki

Kartik Bhatt

Wen H Yu

Peter Reischl

Donald Yu

Gary J Lin

George C Chen

A switching power supply comprises a power converter having a transformer, a low side switch configured to draw current from a supply voltage through a primary winding of the transformer and a high side switch configured to couple the primary winding of the transformer to a snubber capacitor. A controller is configured to synchronously control the opening and closing of the low side switch and the high side switch so as to form a regulated output voltage. A first voltage is generated at a node between the low side switch and the high side switch. The controller is further configured to open the high side switch during each switching cycle when the first voltage reaches a determined level. The determined level is higher than the supply voltage by an amount that is adjusted dependent on a monitored level of the supply voltage.

Switching power converter and controller for a switching power converter

Asynchronous bridge rectifier comprises a monolithic die comprising plurality of planar switching elements, each having a control terminal and two controlled terminals. The bridge rectifier further comprises a plurality of controller integrated circuits mechanically attached to the monolithic die, wherein the controller integrated circuits are configured to sense voltage across the controlled terminals of the planar switching elements and to generate a drive signal at the control terminal of the planar switching elements to control opening and closing of the planar switching elements so as to be capable of rectifying an alternating current input signal to form a rectified direct current output signal.

Synchronous bridge rectifier using planar switching elements

A power supply comprises a controller configured to control a power converter by generating drive signals that control the opening and closing of a high side switch and a low side switch. The controller is configured to selectively control the high side switch according to various modes of operation depending on operating conditions such as input voltage and load power consumption. The modes of operation can include, for example, a mode in which the high side switch is closed and then opened once during each of the series of switching cycles and a mode of operation in which the high side switch is closed and then opened two times during each of the series of switching cycles.

Power converter and controller for a power converter and manners of operation thereof

A power supply comprises a power converter having a transformer, a low side switch configured to draw current from a supply voltage through a primary winding of the transformer and a high side switch configured to couple the primary winding of the transformer to a snubber capacitor. A controller is configured to control the power converter by generating drive signals that control the opening and closing of the high side switch and the low side switch. The controller is configured to selectively control the high side switch according to various modes of operation depending on operating conditions such as input voltage and load power consumption. The modes of operation can include, for example, a mode in which the high side switch is closed and then opened once during each of the series of switching cycles and a mode of operation in which the high side switch is closed and then opened two times during each of the series of switching cycles.

A switching power supply comprises a power converter having a transformer, a low side switch configured to draw current from a supply voltage through a primary winding of the transformer and a high side switch configured to couple the primary winding of the transformer to a snubber capacitor. A controller is configured to synchronously control the opening and closing of the low side switch to form a regulated output voltage. A first voltage is generated at a node between the low side switch and the high side switch. The controller is further configured to open the high side switch during each switching cycle when the first voltage reaches a determined level. The determined level is higher than the supply voltage by an amount that is adjusted dependent on a monitored level of the supply voltage.

The present invention is directed toward a switching power supply and improvements thereof. In accordance with an embodiment, a switching power supply is provided. The switching power supply comprises: a first power supply stage that forms an intermediate regulated voltage; and a second power supply stage configured to accept the intermediate regulated voltage and configured to form a regulated output voltage, wherein the intermediate voltage is set to an initial target level upon start-up of the power supply and wherein the intermediate regulated voltage is set to a second target level during steady-state operation of the power supply.

Switching power supply and start-up improvements thereof

Systems for and methods of synchronous rectification in a flyback power converter are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment, a switching power supply comprises a power converter and a controller. The power converter has an inductor, a capacitor and a switching element. The switching element is configured to rectify a current in the inductor for charging the capacitor to form a voltage for powering a load. The switching element comprises a switch and a diode. The controller is configured to control the switching element and to detect a load condition. When the load condition is detected, the controller controls the switching element to actively rectify the current in the inductor for charging the capacitor. When the load condition is not detected, the controller holds the switching the element open such that the current is passively rectified by the diode.

Systems for and methods of synchronous rectification in a switching power converter

The present invention is directed toward a switching power supply and improvements thereof. In accordance with an embodiment, a switching power supply is provided. The switching power supply comprises: a first power supply stage that forms an intermediate regulated voltage; and a second power supply stage configured to accept the intermediate regulated voltage and configured to form a regulated output voltage, wherein the first power supply stage monitors an error signal that is representative of a difference between the intermediate regulated voltage and a desired level for the intermediate regulated voltage to detect a light load condition and wherein the first power supply stage enters a first power-saving mode when the error signal falls below a first threshold, a switching frequency in the first power supply stage being reduced in the first power-saving mode, and wherein the first power supply stage enters a second power-saving mode when the error signal falls below a second threshold, switching in the first power supply stage being performed in bursts in the second power-saving mode.

Switching power converter and light load condition improvements thereof

A synchronous bridge rectifier comprises a plurality of synchronously switched elements and a plurality of controller circuits, one for each of the synchronously switched elements. The synchronously switched elements may be field-effect transistors. Each controller circuit is configured to sense voltage across the corresponding synchronously switched element to control opening and closing of the synchronously switched element so as to rectify the alternating current input signal to form a direct current output signal.

Synchronous bridge rectifier, methods of operation thereof and components thereof

A switching power supply comprises a power converter that includes a transformer, a low side switch and a high side switch. The low side switch draws current from a supply voltage through a primary winding of the transformer. The high side switch discharges current from the primary winding of the transformer to a snubber capacitor. The controller synchronously controls the opening and closing of the low side switch and the high side switch. The power converter can be included in a flyback converter. The power converter can generate a regulated output voltage.

Power converter for a switching power supply and manner of operation thereof

Switching power supply and improvements thereof

A switching power supply comprises one or more power supply stages configured to receive power from an input power source and to generate an output voltage for powering a load by alternately opening and closing a set of switches. An output current sensor is configured to monitor a level of an output current of the switching power supply. The opening and closing of the set of switches is controlled so as to maintain the output voltage at a desired level when the level of the output current is below the threshold and so as to limit the output current when the level of the output current exceeds the threshold.

System and method for limiting output current in a switching power supply

A switching power supply comprises one or more power supply stages that receive power from an input power source and that generate a regulated output voltage for powering a load by alternately opening and closing a set of switches. Controller circuitry monitors the input power source for loss of power as well as a state of the load. When loss of power is detected, the controller circuitry saves a state of the load.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Jeffrey H Hwang