Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100164455 | ADAPTIVE MULTI-MODE DIGITAL CONTROL IMPROVING LIGHT-LOAD EFFICIENCY IN SWITCHING POWER CONVERTERS - Adaptive multi-mode digital control schemes that improve the light-load efficiency (and thus the overall average efficiency) in switch-mode power converters without causing performance issues such as audible noises or excessive voltage ripples. Embodiments include a switch-mode power converter that reduces current in the power converter using a second pulse-width-modulation (PWM) mode before reaching switching frequencies that generate audible noises. As the load across the output of the power converter is reduced, the power converter transitions from a first PWM mode in high load conditions to a first pulse-frequency-modulation (PFM) mode, then to a second PWM mode, and finally to a second PFM mode. During the second PFM mode, the switching frequency is dropped to audible frequency levels. Current in the power converter, however, is reduced in the second PWM mode before transitioning to the second PFM mode. Therefore, the power converter produces less or no audible noise in light load conditions where the switching frequency drops to audible frequency levels, while achieving high efficiency across varying load conditions. | 07-01-2010 |
20100208500 | Detecting Light Load Conditions and Improving Light Load Efficiency in a Switching Power Converter - A switching power converter detects low load conditions based on the ratio of a first peak current value for peak current switching in constant voltage regulation mode to a second peak current value for peak current switching in constant current regulation mode. The power supply load is considered to have a low load if the ratio is lower than a predetermined threshold. Once a low load condition is detected, the switching frequency of the switching power converter is reduced to a level that minimizes switching loss in the power converter. In addition, the switching power converter also adjusts the switching frequency according to the sensed input line voltage. An offset is added to the switching period to reduce the switching frequency of the switching power converter, as the input line voltage is increased. | 08-19-2010 |
20100225293 | ADAPTIVE CONTROL FOR TRANSITION BETWEEN MULTIPLE MODULATION MODES IN A SWITCHING POWER CONVERTER - In a switching power converter, PWM mode and PFM mode are separated into two independent control sections with the control voltage range in each control section determined independently. Each of the PWM and PFM modulation modes cannot operate continuously beyond its boundaries, thereby forming a control gap between the two control sections within which no continuous operation is allowed. In order to supply a load condition within the control gap, the power supply operates at the two boundaries of the control gap. Transition between PWM and PFM modes occurs fast, with low output voltage ripple. No limitation needs to be imposed on the control voltage range in each of the PWM and PFM control sections, because the control parameters in the PWM and PFM control sections need not be matched to one another, due to separation of the PWM and PFM modes by the control gap. | 09-09-2010 |
20110286248 | Adaptive Control for Transition Between Multiple Modulation Modes in a Switching Power Converter - In a switching power converter, PWM mode and PFM mode are separated into two independent control sections with the control voltage range in each control section determined independently. Each of the PWM and PFM modulation modes cannot operate continuously beyond its boundaries, thereby forming a control gap between the two control sections within which no continuous operation is allowed. In order to supply a load condition within the control gap, the power supply operates at the two boundaries of the control gap. Transition between PWM and PFM modes occurs fast, with low output voltage ripple. No limitation needs to be imposed on the control voltage range in each of the PWM and PFM control sections, because the control parameters in the PWM and PFM control sections need not be matched to one another, due to separation of the PWM and PFM modes by the control gap. | 11-24-2011 |
20130235621 | REGULATION FOR POWER SUPPLY MODE TRANSITION TO LOW-LOAD OPERATION - A switching power converter includes a controller configured to transition from a first operating mode to a second operating mode by determining the operating conditions at the transition point between the operation modes. The controller uses a point where a switch included in the power converter would have been turned on if operating under the first operating mode as a reference point to determine when to turn on the switch under the second operating mode. Using the reference point, the switching power converter determines a control period for regulating the switching period of the switch in a second operating mode. | 09-12-2013 |
20130241430 | Dynamic Control of Power Switching Bipolar Junction Transistor - The embodiments disclosed herein describe the dynamic control of a switching power converter between different operation modes of the switching power converter. In one embodiment, the operation modes of the switching power converter include a switching mode and a linear mode. The switching power converter may be included in a LED lamp system according to one embodiment. | 09-19-2013 |
20130241441 | Adaptive Compensation for Effects of Cat-Ear Dimmers on Conduction Angle Measurement - A dimmable light emitting lamp configured to interface with cat-ear dimmer switches. The lamp includes one or more light emitting devices. The lamp also includes circuitry configured to receive an input voltage and provide regulated current to the one or more light emitting devices. The input voltage has a first voltage pulse that does not represent a dimming level of a dimmer switch and a second voltage pulse that represents the dimming level of the dimmer switch. The circuitry determines a first duration corresponding to a length of the first voltage pulse and a second duration corresponding to a length of the second voltage pulse responsive to first duration. The circuitry adjusts the regulated current to the light emitting devices according to the second duration to adjust output light intensity of the light emitting devices. | 09-19-2013 |
20130242625 | Adaptive Bipolar Junction Transistor Gain Detection - A power converter that controls a collector current of a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) by controlling the base current to the BJT after having determined the gain of the BJT. A gain detection block determines a gain of the BJT during a first mode. A current calculation block generates a current setting for the base current based on the gain of the BJT determined by the gain detection block during a second mode distinct from the first mode. In some embodiments, the power converter may be included in a LED lamp system. | 09-19-2013 |
20130242629 | ON-TIME COMPENSATION FOR SWITCHING POWER CONVERTERS - An improved discontinuous current mode (DCM) switching power converter that compensates for the effect of dead time. The dead time of the switching power converter is measured during a switching cycle and a baseline on-time for a switch of the switching power converter is determined. The dead time and baseline on-time are used in calculating the desired on-time of the switch during a subsequent switching cycle of the power converter. The desired switch on-time regulates the output voltage to a desired voltage level. The desired switch on-time also maintains the average input current to the power converter in proportion to the input voltage, thereby improving the power factor of the switching power. | 09-19-2013 |
20130249437 | ADAPTIVE FILTER FOR LED DIMMER - A dimming controller for an LED lamp controls dimming using an adaptive filter to reduce or eliminate perceivable flickering and to provide smooth transitions during active dimming. During stable conditions, the adaptive filter operates with a relatively narrow bandwidth to filter noise that may lead to perceivable flickering. During active or startup conditions, the adaptive mapping filter operates with a high bandwidth to provide a quick response to the dimmer switch. | 09-26-2013 |
20130257280 | Delaying Startup Under Fault Conditions - A LED lamp that includes a LED lamp controller with delayed startup after a fault condition is detected. The type of the fault condition is used in determining a length of the startup delay, such as a number of power cycles during which the LED lamp controller is prevented from completing its configuration. Examples of different types of fault conditions include faults in a supply voltage or faults in a feedback voltage to the LED lamp controller. Fault type information can also be stored in circuitry that retains data and is not reset across the power cycles. | 10-03-2013 |
20130307425 | CONSTANT CURRENT CONTROL BUCK CONVERTER WITHOUT CURRENT SENSE - A light emitting diode (LED) controller provides constant current regulation for a converter circuit providing current to an LED. The LED controller senses an inductor voltage and determines an inductor reset time from the sensed inductor voltage. Based on the determined inductor reset time, a switch on time and a switch period, the LED controller generates a control signal modifying the state of a switch coupling the converter circuit to an input voltage. | 11-21-2013 |
20140021885 | Integrated LED Dimmer Controller - An integrated LED controller drives and reads a passive dimmer and controls a power circuit for the LED. The integrated LED controller detects changes in the position of the passive dimmer and causes the power circuit to brighten or dim the LED accordingly. These functions are normally performed by multiple discrete components. However, the integrated LED controller is implemented as a single integrated circuit, thus reducing the size and cost of the LED dimming system. The integrated LED controller can also include a unified timing controller that coordinates the timing of multiple functions within the controller in a manner that reduces the noise sensitivity of the controller. | 01-23-2014 |
20140153292 | PRIMARY SIDE SENSE OUTPUT CURRENT REGULATION - The embodiments disclosed herein describe a method of a controller to maintain a substantially constant average output current at the output of a switching power converter. In one embodiment, the controller uses a regulation voltage that corresponds to the primary peak current regulation level to regulate the average output current. | 06-05-2014 |
20140159616 | ADAPTIVE HOLDING CURRENT CONTROL FOR LED DIMMER - A TRIAC dimmer controller for an LED lamp dynamically adjusts the amount of additional current supplied to the TRIAC dimmer based on the TRIAC dimmer operating mode. A TRIAC dimmer current controller continually senses the TRIAC dimmer current loading and determines a TRIAC dimmer operating mode based on the detected current. The TRIAC dimmer controller compares the detected current with a threshold current value called a TRIAC holding current, and adjusts the amount of bleeder current based on the difference between the detected current and the threshold current value. By continually sensing the TRIAC dimmer current loading, the LED controller regulates the amount of bleeder current supplied to the TRIAC dimmer using a single sink current path to satisfy the TRIAC dimmer current demands of multiple TRIAC dimmer operating modes. | 06-12-2014 |
20140210357 | Adjusting Color Temperature in a Dimmable LED Lighting System - A LED lighting system, such as a dimmable LED lamp, that may simulate the performance of an incandescent bulb. LED strings of different colors may be connected to the output of a single LED driver that regulates an overall intensity of light produced by the LED lighting system. The color of the LED lighting system may be controlled by circuitry, such as one or more switches, that allocates current between the LED strings to change the color temperature of light emitted by the LED lighting system as the light intensity changes. | 07-31-2014 |
20140233269 | AVERAGE INPUT CURRENT ESTIMATION BASED ON PRIMARY SIDE CURRENT SENSE - The embodiments herein describe a power converter including a controller that estimates input current of the power converter. The controller estimates the input current without explicitly sensing the input current. The estimated input current can be used in various applications such as regulating power factor and total harmonic distortion as well as estimating current required to maintain proper operation of a dimmer switch in light emitting diode lamp systems. | 08-21-2014 |
20140239840 | OUTPUT CURRENT COMPENSATION FOR JITTER IN INPUT VOLTAGE FOR DIMMABLE LED LAMPS - An LED controller reduces jitter of an LED lamp. In one embodiment, the LED controller includes a jitter detection circuit adapted to determine an amount of jitter in an input voltage signal. The input voltage signal includes a plurality of cycles and indicates an amount of dimming for the LED lamp. The LED controller further includes a jitter compensation circuit, which generates a control signal to control regulated in the LED lamp such that an output light intensity of the LED lamp substantially corresponds to the amount of dimming for the LED lamp. The control signal controls current delivery to the LED lamp to compensate for the determined amount of jitter in the input voltage signal. | 08-28-2014 |
20140268913 | Adaptive Peak Power Control - A switching power converter includes a controller configured to transition from a first operating mode to a second operating mode by determining the operating conditions at the transition point between the operation modes. The controller uses the value of the voltage-time product determined at the boundary between the first and second operating modes to predict the voltage to be applied to the primary-side of the transformer. Using the predicted voltage, the controller can adjust the peak-power control threshold on a cycle-by-cycle basis without the transformer reaching saturation. | 09-18-2014 |