Volterra Semiconductor Corporation

Exar Corporation

Telcom Semiconductor, Inc.

Phong T Nguyen

Anthony J Stratakos

David B Lidsky

Kaiwei Yao

William Albert Clark

Ilija Jergovic

Andrew J Burstein

Michael D McJimsey

Xin Zhang

Artin Der Minassians

Vincent W Ng

Ali Tasdighi

Ryan James Ricchiuti

A maximum power point tracking controller includes an input port for electrically coupling to an electric power source, an output port for electrically coupling to a load, a control switching device, and a control subsystem. The control switching device is adapted to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states to transfer power from the input port to the output port. The control subsystem is adapted to control switching of the control switching device to regulate a voltage across the input port, based at least in part on a signal representing current flowing out of the output port, to maximize a signal representing power out of the output port.

Maximum power point tracking controllers and associated systems and methods

A sensor for measuring a current passing through a load. The sensor has a power transistor having a first terminal connected to substantially constant voltage and a second terminal connected to the load. The sensor can sample a voltage difference with a variable capacitor, and a controller can be configured to cause a variable capacitor in the current sensor to have a capacitance inversely proportional to a resistance of the power transistor, whereby a charge stored on the variable capacitor is proportional to the current passing through the power transistor when the sampling switches are opened. A comparator can compare the current through the power transistor to a known reference current to generate a digital output signal. The sensor can include a power transistor, reference transistor and amplifier connected and configured so as to generate a signal on a reference line having a current of known proportion to the current passing through the load.

Current measuring methods

Sensors for measuring current passing through a load

An improved voltage controlled oscillator circuit is based on a multivibrator design with an internal gain stage to permit low voltage operation. An internal gain stage maintains a loop gain of greater than one to ensure oscillation even at power supply voltages as low as 2.7 volts. The added gain allows the use of resistors inserted on either sides of a timing capacitor for improved linearity.

Voltage-controlled oscillator capable of operating at lower power supply

A short-circuit protection circuit senses the output current of an output transistor to provide a control signal to a control transistor. The control transistor, in response to the control signal, varies an input voltage to an internal stage of an amplifier driving the output transistor, so as to cause the output transistor is switched off. A hysteresis resistor is coupled in series with an input terminal of the short circuit protection circuit, so as to prevent transient noise from switching off said output transistor.

Short-circuit protection circuit

Growing community of inventors

Pleasanton, CA, United States of America

Phong T Nguyen