Power Integrations Inc

Presented herein are a flux detection circuit for sensing magnetic flux via a magnetic flux probe and method therein. A magnetic flux probe comprising circuit elements and forming a loop around a magnetic core avails interconnection of a flux-sensitive trace across a winding window. The flux detection circuit is configured to measure an electromotive force (emf) of one or more elements of the loop; and at least one of the circuit elements may be adjustable (e.g., may comprise a variable resistance). In this manner the magnetic flux probe and flux detection circuit may be calibrated to accurately detect a signal proportional to the time-varying magnetic flux and to provide the signal across a winding window.

An ac switch configured to couple and decouple an ac input to a load, the ac switch comprising a first transistor, a second transistor, and a switch controller configured to control the turn ON and turn OFF of the first transistor and the second transistor in response to a request signal. The ac switch comprises an off-state regulator to provide supply regulation to the switch controller in response to the request signal indicating to decouple the ac input to the load and an on-state regulator to provide supply regulation to the switch controller in response to the request signal indicating to couple the ac input to the load. The off-state regulator is configured to provide supply regulation for the switch controller at an extremum of the ac input and the on-state regulator is configured to provide supply regulation for the switch controller at a zero-crossing of the ac input.

Zero voltage switching with a secondary switch (e.g., a synchronous rectifier) is described herein. The method allows a secondary side controller to dynamically calculate during a switching period a required secondary switch hold time to effectuate ZVS of a primary switch. By measuring a charge time and a discharge time during a switching period, the required secondary switch hold time may be determined without the need for primary to secondary communication.

A switch mode power converter with selectable power paths is described herein. The switch mode power converter comprises a plurality of stacked secondary windings and secondary side circuitry. The plurality of stacked secondary windings comprises a first winding and a second winding. Additionally, the secondary side circuitry comprises a first power path, a second power path, and a power multiplexer (MUX). The first power path is electrically coupled to the first winding; and the second power path is electrically coupled to the second winding. The power MUX is configured to select and transition between the first power path and the second power path to provide a single output power path to a load.

Systems, devices, and methods for active discharge of an electric drive system for a vehicle includes an inverter having at least one phase leg, wherein a first of the phase legs includes a first power switch, a dc/dc converter configured to generate an internal supply voltage that is regulated with respect to a voltage on a rail, and a gate drive channel configured to drive the first power switch into conductance by applying a relatively high voltage difference during operation of the vehicle and to continue the driving of the first power switch with a relatively lower voltage difference after a signal indicating shut-down or fault. The dc/dc converter is configured to generate the internal supply voltage to have either a relatively high voltage difference with respect to the voltage on the rail or a relatively lower voltage difference with respect to the voltage on the rail.

A controller for a power converter can generate a drive signal to control a secondary switch coupled to an output winding of the power converter. The power converter also includes an input winding, to which a primary switch is coupled, and is operable in a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) in which current flow through the input winding and current flow through the output winding become substantially zero by the end of a switching cycle. The controller can prevent the secondary switch from being turned ON in a next switching cycle in response to the controller determining that the voltage of the output winding dropped below a threshold voltage at least N times after DCM operation began. This can prevent cross-conduction, which is a condition in which the primary switch and the secondary switch conduct current simultaneously as a result of both switches being ON at the same time.

A switch controller coupled to control a transistor. The switch controller comprising an interface coupled to receive a command signal in response to an event sensed in a control system. The command signal is representative of a first command to control the transistor with a first drive strength or a second command to control the transistor with a second drive strength. The switch controller is coupled to adjust a fall time or a rise time, or to adjust both the fall time and the rise time, of a voltage across the transistor in response to the command signal. The fall time or the rise time, or both the fall time and the rise time in response to the second command is shorter than the fall time or the rise time, or both the fall time and the rise time in response to the first command.

A power switching system includes a plurality of power switching units each including a respective power switch, a communication system configured to convey a system-wide switching command to the power switching units along a communication channel, and circuitry, included in each of the power switching units, that is configured to delay execution of the system-wide switching command by a delay.

Aspects of the present disclosure describe power converters. A power converter in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure may comprise a first stage, a second stage electrically coupled to the first stage, the second stage including an energy transfer element, and a sensor. The sensor may include a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit and the second circuit may respond differently to an output of the energy transfer element. The sensor may be configured to selectively provide power to the first stage based on a difference in response of the first circuit and the second circuit.

A charging device, comprising a first power converter configured to provide a first output current, a second power converter configured to provide a second output current, a switch coupled to an output of the first power converter and an output of the second power converter, a first socket coupled to the output of the first power converter, a second socket coupled to the output of the second power converter, and a power delivery (PD) controller configured to control a turn ON of the switch in response to a coupling of the first socket to a first powered device and an absence of coupling of the second socket to a second powered device.