Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.

Other

Volterra Semiconductor Corporation

Michael Warren Baker

Brett A Miwa

Alexandr Ikriannikov

Xin Zhou

Justin Michael Burkhart

Jizheng Qiu

Ilija Jergovic

Andrew J Burstein

Aleksandar Prodic

Serhii Mikhailovich Zhak

Nenad Vukadinovic

Cory Brent Arnold

A method for discontinuous conduction mode operation of a multi-phase DC-to-DC converter includes (a) forward biasing a first inductor being magnetically coupled to a second inductor, (b) reverse biasing the first inductor after forward biasing the first inductor, (c) while reverse biasing the first inductor and before magnitude of current through the first inductor falls to zero, forward biasing the second inductor.

DC-to-DC converters capable of discontinuous conduction mode, and associated methods

A low-profile coupled inductor includes a magnetic core and first and second windings. The magnetic core includes first and second end flanges, a winding form element, a first outer plate, and a first leakage post. The winding form element is disposed between and connects the first and second end flanges in a first direction. The first outer plate is disposed over and faces the first and second end flanges in a second direction. The first leakage post is disposed between the winding form element and the first outer plate in the second direction. The first winding is wound around the winding form element, between the first end flange and the first leakage post, and the second winding is wound around the winding form element, between the first leakage post and the second end flange. Each of the windings is wound around a common axis extending in the first direction.

Low-profile coupled inductors with leakage control

In various embodiments described in the present disclosure, various methods and systems are introduced, that may reduce and/or eliminate the voltage spikes on the power switches by avoiding operation at zero-ripple duty ratios. In a first aspect, a method for reducing voltage spikes across switches in a multi-level converter is provided, the method comprising: receiving an error value associated with a difference between a measured output voltage and a reference output voltage; determining a target duty cycle value based at least on a control feedback loop adapted to minimize the error value; if the target duty cycle value is equal or approximately equal to one or more critical duty ratio values, controlling the operation of the multi-level converter to operate the multi-level converter with an averaging sequence, the averaging sequence adapted to, on average, result in, or sufficiently approximate, the one or more critical duty ratio values, but not operate at the one or more critical duty ratio values; and generating one or more pulse-width modulated signals to control the operation of the multi-level converter based on at least one of the target duty cycle and the averaging sequence.

Systems and methods for reducing switch stress in switched mode power supplies

A coupled inductor array has length, width, and height. The coupled inductor array includes a monolithic magnetic core formed of a magnetic material having a distributed gap, and a plurality of windings embedded in the monolithic magnetic core. Each winding forms a respective winding loop of one or more turns around a respective winding axis, and each winding axis extends in the height direction. Areas of the monolithic magnetic core enclosed by the winding loops are greater than areas of the monolithic magnetic core outside of the winding loops, as seen when the coupled inductor array is viewed cross-sectionally in the height direction. One possible application of the coupled inductor array is in a multi-phase switching power converter.

Coupled inductor arrays and associated methods

A hand held telescoping mirror device includes a light bulb situated to provide a broad illumination region. The device includes several useful features such as a telescoping arm that retracts within the handle, a twist type on-off switch, and a mirror that's interchangeable with a magnifying glass. In addition, the handle and telescoping arm are separable from the rest of the device so that they may be reconnected to various accessories such as a brush or magnet.

Moveable hand-held lighted mirror

Growing community of inventors

Arlington, MA, United States of America

Michael Warren Baker