Marvell International Limited

O2 Micro, Incorporated

O2micro International Limited

02 Micro International Limited

Luyang Luo

Chun Lu

Sofjan Goenawan

Wei Lu

Jianping Xu

Lin Tang

Jian Ming Liu

Ching-Chuan Kuo

Xinhe Su

Stefan Maireanu

Feng Shi

Gareth Seng Thai Yeo

Lianping Chen

Mingzhi He

The present disclosure describes apparatuses and techniques of fast transient response for switching power regulators. In some aspects, an output voltage of a switching regulator operating in a discontinuous mode is monitored via a comparator coupled directly to an output of the switching regulator. In response to the output voltage falling below a predefined threshold, a high-side switch is activated to provide current to a load connected to the output of the switching regulator. The switching regulator is then transitioned from the discontinuous mode of operation to a continuous mode of operation to control subsequent operation of the high-side switch. This can be effective to mitigate a drop in the output voltage of the switching regulator when an amount of current consumed by the load increases (e.g., a load step).

Fast transient response for switching regulators

The present disclosure describes apparatuses and techniques of fast transient response for switching power regulators. In some aspects, a capacitor is disconnected from an output of a feedback amplifier of a switching power regulator that is operating in a discontinuous mode. This can be effective to prevent a voltage of the capacitor from discharging while the switching power regulator operates in the discontinuous mode. Responsive to the switching power regulator transitioning from the discontinuous mode to a continuous mode to provide an increased amount of current, the capacitor is connected to the output of the feedback amplifier. Connecting the non-discharged capacitor can be effective to enable the switching power regulator to provide the increased amount of current to the load more quickly.

The present disclosure describes apparatuses and techniques of fast transient response for switching power regulators. In some aspects, a transconductance load is connected to a feedback amplifier of a switching power regulator that is operating in a discontinuous mode. This can be effective to dampen an indication, provided by the feedback amplifier, of voltage at an output of the switching power regulator while the regulator provides current to a load. Based on the dampened indication of the voltage, a current draw of the load is detected that exceeds the current provided to the load. Responsive to detecting the excessive current of the load, the switching regulator is transitioned to a continuous mode to provide an increased amount of the current to the load. Alternately or additionally, the increased amount of current can be allowed to exceed a nominal current limit protection threshold by a predefined amount of current, for a predefined number of switching cycles, or for a predefined amount of time.

The present disclosure describes apparatuses and techniques of fast transient response for switching power regulators. In some aspects, a detection is made of a switching regulator's transition to a continuous mode of operation to provide current to a load. In response to the transition, a predefined current limit of the switching regulator's current-limit circuitry is increased effective to enable the switching regulator to draw an amount of input current that exceeds the predefined current limit. The switching regulator is then permitted to operate with the increased current limit for a predetermined number of cycles, which can be effective to enable the switching regulator to provide the current to the load more quickly.

A controller for controlling dimming of a light source includes a detector, a dimming signal generator coupled to the detector, and a pulse generator coupled to the dimming signal generator. The detector can detect a startup phase of a burst dimming cycle of the light source and can generate a triggering signal when the startup phase ends. The burst dimming cycle includes an ON period and an OFF period. The dimming signal generator can trigger the ON period of the burst dimming cycle for a predetermined duration in response to the triggering signal. The pulse generator operable for generating a pulse signal to control a current through the light source can be enabled during the ON period and disabled during the OFF period.

Controller for controlling dimming of a light source

A current control system includes a first switch, a second switch, and a controller. The second switch is coupled in parallel with the first switch and operable for providing a feedback signal indicative of a current flowing through the first switch. The feedback signal is determined by a width-to-length ratio of the first switch and a width-to-length ratio of the second switch. In addition, the controller is coupled to the first and second switches and operable for adjusting the current according to the feedback signal.

Current control systems with current feedbacks

A system includes a power bus and a circuit. The power bus delivers power from a first power source to an output node. The circuit monitors a current flowing through the power bus and provides power from a second power source to the output node based on an amount of the current, and maintains a voltage level of the output node in a predetermined range.

System for managing power based on current monitoring

A power system for managing charging, discharging and protection of rechargeable batteries is disclosed. The power system mainly includes a power system. The power system includes a switching circuit coupled to the rechargeable batteries to charge and discharge the rechargeable batteries. The power system includes a power management unit to control the switching circuit. The power system includes a temperature sensing circuit to monitor a temperature of the batteries, voltage detectors to monitor voltages of the batteries, and current detectors to monitor a current of the batteries. If an abnormal condition is sensed by the power management unit when the power system is in an operating mode, the power management unit will terminate the operating mode by switching off the switching circuit to protect the batteries and the power system.

Power management circuit for battery pack

A power management device for enabling multiply power sources to supply power to a load. The power management device includes a plurality of switches and a control logic. The plurality of switches are coupled to a plurality of power sources respectively and each switch coupled to each power source. The control logic is capable of selecting a set of switches among the plurality of switches to cooperate in a time-divided fashion to allow the power sources to provide power to the load. The set of switches is selected based on an electrical requirement of the load and an electrical condition of each switch.

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Chengdu, China

Luyang Luo