A controller for use with a power converter including a switch configured to conduct to provide a regulated output characteristic at an output of the power converter, and method of operating the same In one embodiment, the controller includes a linear control circuit, coupled to the output, configured to provide a first control signal for the switch as a function of the output characteristic The controller also includes a nonlinear control circuit, coupled to the output, configured to provide a second control signal for the switch as a function of the output characteristic The controller is configured to select one of the first and second control signals for the switch in response to a change in an operating condition of the power converter

Controller for a power converter and method of operating the same

A method and apparatus are provided for transitioning a power converter between a switched mode of operation and a linear regulator mode of operation. The power converter operates according to one or more intermediate modes of operation in which the switched mode and linear regulator modes cooperate to produce a shared power converter output. The power converter transitions between the various modes of operation in response to changes in circuit parametric conditions as defined by a series of state transition diagrams. Power converter output voltage is maintained in regulation during all modes of operation and transitions therebetween. The method and apparatus includes an integrated device that may be operated as a switch or a variable resistance device.

Power converter mode transistioning method and apparatus

A low-power controller for a discontinuous switched mode power converter. The controller has an inductor current sensing circuit to measure the inductor current flowing through an inductive charge storage element as well as an output voltage sensing circuit to monitor output voltage. The controller monitors both the converter output voltage and the inductor current and uses this information to modulate a peak inductor current trip point and controller switching frequency according to a control law curve in order to regulate converter output voltage. The controller prevents the switching frequency from falling below a predetermined minimum frequency. The control law curve is selectable to specify controller operation according to a desired combination of minimum switching frequency and maximum peak inductor current.

Ultra-low power switching regulator method and apparatus

A supply voltage controlled power amplifier that comprises a power amplifier, a closed power control feedback loop configured to generate a power control signal, and a dual voltage regulator coupled to the power control feedback loop, the dual voltage regulator comprising a first regulator stage and a second regulator stage, wherein the closed power control loop minimizes noise generated by the first regulator stage.

Dual voltage regulator for a supply voltage controlled power amplifier in a closed power control loop

A multi-phase DC-DC converter having redundant DC-DC phases or modules. If a DC-DC phase fails, such as from a short circuit, it is decoupled from the output of the DC-DC converter. In some embodiments, the other DC-DC phases bear the burden of the extra power output. In other embodiments, additional DC-DC phases are coupled in, in response to the failure.

Multi-phase DC-DC converter

The voltage regulator includes two sections, a switching regulator section (12) for regulating a voltage from an input (10) to an intermediate node (14). This voltage on the intermediate node (14) is then regulated with a linear regulator down to a regulated output voltage on an output node (18). The linear regulator includes a pass transistor (16) that is controlled by a linear regulator control (50). Linear regulator control (50) is operable to sense the voltage across the transistor (16) and perform multiple functions. First, it controls the pass element transistor (16) to regulate the voltage from the node (14) to the node (18) in a linear manner. Second, it controls the switching regulator section (12) to provide a regulated voltage on the node (14). Third, it controls the level of the voltage on the intermediate node (14) such that it is at a predetermined voltage level above the voltage on the output node (18), such that the power dissipation through the pass element transistor (16) is minimized.

Alan E. Brown

Papers

High performance dual section voltage regulator