International Rectifier

About: International Rectifier is a company organization based out in Wrexham, Wales [Cymru GB-CYM], United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Power semiconductor device & Transistor. The organization has 767 authors who have published 1624 publications receiving 27118 citations.

Ballast control IC with multi-function feedback sense

Abstract: A multi-function feedback sense input in an electronic ballast control indicates a number of lamp faults on the basis of lamp parameters exceeding specified thresholds An end of life detection is achieved by conditioning a lamp feedback with a DC offset to provide a simple threshold comparison to determine if the lamp exceeds specified operational boundaries An open filament, absent lamp or broken cathode is detected on the same feedback sense by detecting an open circuit in the lamp filament and driving the sense feedback to a shutdown state in the event of a filament open circuit The ballast control includes a current sense feedback (70) for detecting overcurrent conditions as well as lamp faults so that the control detects an end of life condition, lamp absence, broken lamp, open filament, broken cathode, overcurrent, hardswitching or failure to ignite fault with a minimum number of feedback sensors The ballast control provides a number of protections with a simplified circuit to reduce cost and improve functionality of the electronic ballast control

Method and apparatus for equalizing phase currents in multiphase switching power converters

Abstract: A method and apparatus for equalizing phase currents in multiphase switching power converters is described in which pairs of stored digital values that directly or indirectly control the values of the currents in the conversion phases are altered in equal and opposite increments. In one embodiment the digital values being controlled are the relative on-times of the power switches in pairs of conversion phase. The method is stepwise and repetitive in the sense that, instead of calculating or inferring offset values that seek to bring all of the currents in the phases toward equality, pairs of phase currents are altered repetitively and iteratively, using equal and opposite steps in the values of their respective control variables, until the phases are all sufficiently close in value. The steps may be of fixed size or the step size may be selectively modified to optimize the convergence time of the algorithm.

Multi-chip module

Abstract: A multi-chip module that includes a conductive element connecting at least two semiconductor devices, the conductive element including enhancements for improving the mechanical coupling between the conductive element and the molded housing of the MCM

High voltage power schottky with aluminum barrier metal spaced from first diffused ring

Abstract: A vertical conduction Schottky device having a reverse voltage rating in excess of 400 volts uses an aluminum barrier metal in contact with an N - epitaxial silicon surface A diffused P + guard ring surrounds the barrier metal contact and is spaced therefrom by a small gap which is fully depleted at a low reverse voltage to connect the ring to the barrier contact under reverse voltage conditions Lifetime killing is used for the body of the diode

Intelligent dead time control

Abstract: A circuit for reducing switching losses in a synchronous rectifier of a switching stage including a high-side control transistor and a low-side synchronous transistor coupled at a switching node, the switching stage receiving an input voltage and providing a controlled output voltage at an output node. The circuit including a first circuit portion for sensing waveshape edges of a first signal at a gate terminal of the low-side synchronous transistor and a first voltage to determine a delay between the waveshape edge of the first signal and the waveshape edge of the first voltage; and a second circuit portion for calibrating the first signal and the first voltage to align the waveshape edge of the first signal and the waveshape edge of the first voltage, with an optional offset to achieve minimal power loss.