Linear Technology Corporation

Other

Jeffrey Schenkel

Albert M Wu

Robert C Dobkin

Steven M Pietkiewicz

The present invention provides a capacitor charging circuit that efficiently charges capacitive loads. In particular, circuits and techniques are preferably provided for using current from both the primary and secondary windings of a transformer to control ON-time and OFF-time of a switch. This arrangement preferably yields an adaptable ON-time and adaptable OFF-time switch that is capable of rapidly charging capacitor loads ranging from as low as zero volts to several hundred volts. The output voltage is preferably measured indirectly to prevent unnecessary power consumption. In addition, control circuitry can be provided to conserve power by ceasing the delivery of power to the capacitor load once the desired output voltage is reached. Control circuitry preferably operates an interrogation timer that periodically activates the power delivery cycle to maintain the capacitor output load in a constant state of readiness.

Circuits and techniques for capacitor charging circuits

The invention provides buck switching regulator circuits that include voltage slew rate limiting circuitry and current slew rate limiting circuitry. The specification describes current-mode and voltage-mode control implementations that provide efficient low-noise switching regulator circuits.

Low noise step-down switching regulator circuits with programmable slew

The present invention relates to circuits and methods for improving the efficiency of step down switching regulators converting a high input voltage to a low output voltage. Furthermore, the present invention relates to circuits and methods to achieve such efficiency improvements while maintaining controllability during light output load conditions. In a preferred embodiment, the current mode switching regulator circuit includes a logic section, an output switch section controlled by the logic section, an oscillator for providing periodic timing signals to the logic section to turn the output switch ON, a feedback amplifier for developing an integrated error signal based on the output voltage, and a current comparator including an output, the current comparator for comparing the integrated error signal to the instantaneous value of the current in the output switch, the output of the comparator producing a signal which causes the logic section to turn the output switch OFF. Additionally, the output switch section is capable of delivering relatively faster voltage transitions under higher load conditions to minimize AC switching losses, and delivering relatively slower voltage transitions under lower load conditions to maintain controllability. A comparator circuit monitors load conditions via the current mode setpoint to determine proper output switch section operating mode.

High efficiency step-down switching regulators

Control circuits for a flyback switching voltage regulator that uses magnetic flux sensing are provided. These circuits include a flyback error amplifier circuit, a logic circuit, and a load compensation circuit. The flyback error amplifier circuit allows a flyback voltage pulse from a primary transformer winding to be employed for output voltage regulation. The logic circuit provides appropriate timing and control signals for the flyback error amplifier circuit. The load compensation circuit compensates for parasitic impedance contributions to the flyback voltage pulse without altering the stability of the flyback regulator.

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Burlington, MA, United States of America

Jeffrey Schenkel