A motor starter and a method for starting an electric motor are disclosed. In an embodiment, the motor starter includes a phase gating unit and a control unit. The phase gating unit is configured to be deactivated via the control unit after an activity period of the phase gating unit has elapsed and is configured to be deactivated during operation after the activity period has elapsed.

In a normal state in which a main power supply supplies an input voltage having a first level, a step-down converter is enabled. In this state, the step-down converter steps down the input voltage and supplies a power supply voltage having a second level to a load. In the normal state, a step-up converter is operated in a forward direction. In this state, the step-up converter steps up the power supply voltage so as to charge a backup capacitor using a voltage having a third level. In a power supply disconnection state in which a disconnection of the input voltage occurs, the step-up converter is operated in a reverse direction. In this state, the step-up converter steps down a capacitor voltage across the backup capacitor, and supplies the power supply voltage having the second voltage level to the load.

A method of controlling a power supply in a multi-input power supply system includes retrieving a prior input state flag from a memory of the multi-input power supply system, determining a first dimmer input of the multi-input power supply system based on the prior input state flag, determining whether the first dimmer input is currently valid, and in response to determining that the first dimmer input is not valid, determining whether a second dimmer input of the multi-input power supply system is currently valid, and in response to determining that the second dimmer input is valid, controlling the power supply based on a second input signal received through the second dimmer input.

In a power storage system, a first switch is connected between a first node and a second node. The first node is connected to a positive terminal of a power storage unit, and the second node is connected to a positive terminal of a load. A second switch is connected between a third node and a fourth node. The third node is connected to a negative terminal of the power storage unit, and the fourth node is connected to a negative terminal of the load. A first comparator circuit compares a first voltage based on a voltage between the first and fourth nodes with a first reference voltage. A second comparator circuit compares a second voltage based on a voltage between the second and third nodes with a second reference voltage.

Voltage converter controllers, voltage converter systems and corresponding methods are provided. In normal operation, a voltage converter stage of the system is controlled based on a feedback voltage from an output. In a low power mode, the system is controlled based on a supply voltage provided to a controller of the system.

A semiconductor device includes a power semiconductor switch; a logic circuit connected to an input terminal; an overheat detection circuit that outputs to the logic circuit an overheat detection signal when a temperature of the power semiconductor switch exceeds an overheat detection threshold; and an overcurrent detection circuit that monitors a current that flows through the power semiconductor switch and that outputs to the logic circuit and to the overheat detection circuit an overcurrent detection signal when the current that flows through the power semiconductor switch exceeds a prescribed threshold, wherein in the overheat detection circuit, the overheat detection threshold values is changed from a first threshold value to a second threshold value that is lower than the first threshold value when the overheat detection circuit receives the overcurrent detection signal from the overcurrent detection circuit.

A light emitting diode (LED) lighting system for an automobile includes a switch block, a capacitor, a charge pump, and a capacitor detector. The charge pump includes an output to provide power to a gate driver of the switch block at a nominal voltage level. The capacitor detector circuit includes a detector input and a detector output. The detector input is connected to the charge pump output and to the charge pump capacitor to detect a voltage level on the charge pump capacitor. The capacitor detector circuit provides a first indication on the detector output that the charge pump capacitor is present and undamaged when the voltage level is greater than the nominal voltage level. The capacitor detector circuit further provides a second indication on the detector output that the charge pump capacitor is not present or is damaged when the voltage level is less than the nominal voltage level.

A method of controlling a multi-phase power converter having a plurality of power stage circuits coupled in parallel, can include: obtaining a load current of the multi-phase power converter; enabling corresponding power stage circuits to operate in accordance with the load current, such that a switching frequency is maintained within a predetermined range when the load current changes; and controlling the power stage circuits to operate under different modes in accordance with the load current, such that the switching frequency is maintained within the predetermined range when the load current changes.

An electronic fuse for a power supply includes at least two switching elements and a regulation unit, wherein a first switching element is arranged in a main branch, where the regulation unit is switches off the first switching element when a predetermined threshold value is exceeded by a prevailing current value, and a second switching element that is also actuated by the regulation unit, which is arranged in an auxiliary branch parallel to the first switching element and assumes a substantial proportion of a resulting power loss when an overload occurs, and the second switching element, which is arranged in at least one auxiliary branch, is configured or optimized for linear operation, and where the at least two switching elements are configured such that the line resistance of the second switching element is at least twice the line resistance of the first switching element.

A subtracting unit calculates a voltage deviation of an output voltage of a DC-to-DC converter from a target voltage. A feedback control variable calculator calculates a feedback control variable in each control cycle. In a control cycle in which a crossing of the output voltage and the target voltage is detected by a feedforward control determination unit, a feedforward control variable calculator calculates a feedforward control variable so that a change in the output voltage is prevented. A switching control signal generator generates a control signal for the DC-to-DC converter for controlling the output voltage, according to a summation of the feedforward control variable and the feedback control variable.