Power Integrations, Inc.

Stefan Bäurle

Kent Wong

Alex B Djenguerian

David Michael Hugh Matthews

Giao Minh Pham

Zhao-Jun Wang

William Michael Polivka

Arthur Brian Odell

Guangchao Zhang

Edward E Deng

Balu Balakrishnan

Mingming M Mao

Michael Yue Zhang

Brad L Hawthorne

Yury Gaknoki

Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre

A communication system for use in a switching module includes a low-side control block coupled to control switching of a low-side switch of the switching module. The low-side control block is further coupled to be referenced with a low-side reference system ground. A high-side control block is coupled to control switching of a high-side switch of the switching module. The high-side control block is further coupled to be referenced with a floating node of the switching module. During steady state operation, the low-side control block is coupled to send signals during each switching cycle to the high-side control block to turn the high-side switch on and off. A status update is communicated from the high-side control block to the low-side control block through a first single-wire communication link.

Half-bridge inverter modules with advanced protection through high-side to low-side control block communication

A controller includes an oscillator coupled to a switch to determine a time at which the switch is turned on. The oscillator includes a capacitor, a charging current source and a discharging current source coupled to charge and discharge the capacitor. A time period for the capacitor to charge and discharge between first and second voltage levels is a time period of a switching cycle. A duty cycle mode control circuit is coupled to operate in a first duty control mode in response to a feedback signal being between first and second feedback signal values, operate in a second duty control mode in response to the feedback signal being a between the second and third feedback signal values, and operate in a third duty control mode in response to the feedback signal being between the third and fourth feedback signal values.

Method and apparatus for a control circuit with multiple operating modes

A method for controlling a power converter switch includes operating the power converter switch in first, second, and third duty cycle control modes in response to a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter. The first duty cycle control mode includes modulating a peak switch current of the power converter switch in response to the feedback signal, and switching the power converter switch at a substantially fixed first switching frequency value. The second duty cycle control mode includes modulating the switching frequency in response to the feedback signal, and maintaining the peak switch current substantially at a peak switch current threshold value. The third duty cycle control mode includes modulating the peak switch current of the power converter switch in response to the feedback signal, and switching the power converter switch at a substantially fixed second switching frequency value.

A method for controlling a power converter switch to regulate power delivered to an output of a power converter includes operating the power converter switch in first, second, and third duty cycle control modes in response to a feedback signal. The first duty cycle control mode includes modulating a peak switch current of the power converter switch in response to the feedback signal, and switching the power converter switch at a substantially fixed first switching frequency value. The second duty cycle control mode includes modulating the switching frequency in response to the feedback signal, and maintaining the peak switch current substantially at a peak switch current threshold value. The third duty cycle control mode includes modulating the peak switch current of the power converter switch in response to the feedback signal, and switching the power converter switch at a substantially fixed second switching frequency value.

An interface module for use in a power conversion system includes a first current circuit coupled to a single external programming terminal to conduct a programming current through an external programming circuitry coupled to the single external programming terminal. A current comparator is coupled to the first current circuit to compare a current representative of the programming current with an internal current. A mode select circuit is coupled to the current comparator to generate a select signal to select one of a plurality of modes in response to a comparison of the current representative of the programming current with the internal current by the current comparator. A second current circuit is coupled to the first current circuit and the mode select circuit to generate a reference current in response to the programming current and the select signal from the mode select circuit.

Programming in a power conversion system with a reference pin

An energy storage circuit for use with a power converter includes a base capacitor coupled between an input bus and a ground potential, and an adjust capacitor. A switching device is coupled in series with the adjust capacitor between the input bus and the ground potential. A voltage regulator coupled between a control terminal of the switching device and ground. The voltage regulator has an input coupled to the second internal node, wherein when the power switch is turned on a signal at the second internal node is representative of a fluctuating input voltage. The voltage regulator is activated when the fluctuating input voltage is in a crest region, thereby turning the switching device off and disengaging the adjust capacitor. The voltage regulator is deactivated when the fluctuating input voltage is in a valley region, thereby turning the switching device on and engaging the adjust capacitor.

Low voltage, closed loop controlled energy storage circuit

A controller for use in a power converter includes a drive circuit coupled to control switching of a power switch of the power converter to regulate the output of the power converter. A limit sense circuit is coupled to output a limit sense signal in response to a condition of the power converter. The drive circuit is coupled to operate in a first operation mode if there is a no limit condition. The first operation mode includes regulating the output of the power converter with a regulated output voltage and a first maximum output current. The drive circuit is coupled to operate in a second operation mode if there is a limit condition. The second operation mode regulating the output of the power converter with the regulated output voltage and a second maximum output current wherein the second maximum output current is less than the first maximum output current.

Power converter with power foldback

A controller for use in a power converter includes an oscillator that generates a first signal that determines a duration of a switching cycle period of a switch included in the power converter. The controller also includes a logic circuit that generates a second signal to control switching of the switch in response to a feedback signal and in response to the first signal. The logic circuit generates the second signal to control a peak switch current of the switch during each switching cycle period according to either a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation. The peak switch current of the switch is varied in the first mode of operation in response to the feedback signal indicating that an output load is greater than a threshold and the peak switch current of the switch is kept at a constant value in the second mode of operation in response to the feedback signal indicating that the output load is less than the threshold.

A power converter includes an energy transfer element and a power switch coupled the energy transfer element and an input of the power converter. A control circuit is coupled to generate a switching signal to control switching of the power switch in response to a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter. A programming interface circuit is coupled to the control circuit and a coupling switcher coupled to the programming interface circuit. A programming terminal is selectively coupled to the programming interface circuit through the coupling switcher. A programming circuit coupled to the programming terminal is coupled to the programming interface circuit through the coupling switcher during a startup programming condition and during a fault condition of the power converter, and is decoupled from the programming interface circuit by the coupling switcher during a normal operating condition of the power converter.

Method and apparatus for programming a power converter controller with an external programming terminal having multiple functions

An example controller for a power converter to provide power to a load through a distribution network includes a control circuit and a cable drop compensator. The control circuit outputs a drive signal to control switching of a switch to regulate an output of the power converter in response to a feedback signal. The cable drop compensator is coupled to adjust the feedback signal in response to a conduction time of an output diode of the power converter to compensate for a distribution voltage dropped across the distribution network.

Detecting output diode conduction time for cable drop compensation of a power converter

An example controller for use in a power converter includes an oscillator that is to be coupled to a switch of the power converter to determine a switching cycle period of the switch. The controller also includes means for controlling a duty cycle of the switch to regulate an output of the power converter and for maintaining a substantially constant rate of change of the duty cycle with respect to changes in a magnitude of a feedback signal as the controller transitions between duty cycle control modes such that a control loop gain of the power converter is substantially constant during the transition.

A timing circuit of a controller generates a clock signal having a switching period for use by a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit to control a switch of a power supply. The switching period of the clock signal is based on a charging time plus a discharging time of a capacitor included in the timing circuit. A first current source charges the capacitor while the timing circuit is in a normal charging mode. A second current source charges the capacitor while the timing circuit is in an alternative charging mode that is when the on time of the switch exceeds a threshold time. The current provided by the second current source is less than the current provided by the first current source such that the switching period of the clock signal is increased in response to the timing circuit entering the alternative charging mode.

Variable frequency timing circuit for a power supply control circuit

A power converter controller is disclosed. An example controller includes a control circuit coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter. The control circuit coupled to control a switching of a power switch of the power converter in response to the feedback signal to control a transfer of energy from an input of the power converter to the output of the power converter. An internal programming interface circuit is coupled to the control circuit. A coupling switcher is coupled to the internal programming interface circuit. An external programming terminal is selectively coupled to the internal programming interface circuit through the coupling switcher. An external programming circuit coupled to the external programming terminal is coupled to the internal programming interface circuit through the coupling switcher during a startup programming condition and during a fault condition of the power converter. The external programming circuit that is coupled to the external programming terminal is decoupled from the internal programming interface circuit by the coupling switcher during a normal operating condition of the power converter.

An example integrated circuit controller for use in a switching power supply includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit and a timing circuit. The PWM circuit controls a switch to regulate an output of the power supply in response to a switch current flowing through the switch and in response to a clock signal having a switching period. The timing circuit provides the clock signal and increases the switching period in response to an on time of the switch exceeding a threshold time.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Stefan Bäurle