A power converter which converts electrical power at an input voltage into electrical power at an output voltage is presented. It has a power stage with a high side switching element, a low side switching element and an inductor. The power converter has a voltage-to-current converter coupled to the power stage to convert a voltage indicative of a current flowing into the inductor into an indicator current. A peak current detector receives the indicator current to determine a pedestal component of the indicator current in a first time interval during which the high side switching element is open, and to generate a calibrated indicator current by subtracting the pedestal component from the indicator current. The peak current detector compares the calibrated indicator current with a threshold value for detecting a more precise peak current flowing into the inductor, taking into account the effects of temperature or circuit aging.

An apparatus to monitor and control a switching rate in a switch includes a differentiator circuit including a capacitor and a configurable resistor. The differentiator circuit further includes an input terminal of the capacitors configured to receive a first voltage from a switch and a differentiator node configured to receive a differentiated voltage based on the first voltage. The apparatus includes a peak detector circuit coupled to the differentiator node and configured to detect a peak value of the differentiated voltage. The apparatus further includes a driver circuit coupled to the peak detector circuit and configured to adjust a control signal to the switch responsive to the detected peak value of the differentiated voltage.

An apparatus to monitor and control a switching rate in a switch includes a differentiator circuit including a capacitor and a configurable resistor. The differentiator circuit further includes an input terminal of the capacitors configured to receive a first voltage from a switch and a differentiator node configured to receive a differentiated voltage based on the first voltage. The apparatus includes a peak detector circuit coupled to the differentiator node and configured to detect a peak value of the differentiated voltage. The apparatus further includes a driver circuit coupled to the peak detector circuit and configured to adjust a control signal to the switch responsive to the detected peak value of the differentiated voltage.

The invention relates to a pulse shaper (18). The pulse shaper (18) comprises an integrator (19) for generating a pulse having a peak amplitude indicative of the energy of a detected photon, a feedback resistor (22), switchable discharge circuitry (23) for discharging the integrator (19), and a peak detector (24) for detecting the peak of the pulse. The pulse shaper is adapted to start the discharge of the integrator by the switchable discharge circuitry based on the detection of the peak and to connect the feedback resistor in parallel to the integrator during a period of the pulse generation and to disconnect the feedback resistor during another period of the pulse generation. The pulse shaper can be such that the generation of the pulse is substantially unhindered by any noticeable concurrent discharging mechanism while, at the same time, the occurrence of energy pedestals can be efficiently avoided.

The invention relates to a pulse shaper (18). The pulse shaper (18) comprises an integrator (19) for generating a pulse having a peak amplitude indicative of the energy of a detected photon, a feedback resistor (22), switchable discharge circuitry (23) for discharging the integrator (19), and a peak detector (24) for detecting the peak of the pulse. The pulse shaper is adapted to start the discharge of the integrator by the switchable discharge circuitry based on the detection of the peak and to connect the feedback resistor in parallel to the integrator during a period of the pulse generation and to disconnect the feedback resistor during another period of the pulse generation. The pulse shaper can be such that the generation of the pulse is substantially unhindered by any noticeable concurrent discharging mechanism while, at the same time, the occurrence of energy pedestals can be efficiently avoided.

Peak detection methods, apparatus, and circuits are disclosed. An example peak detector includes a first peak-hold circuit having a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first peak-hold circuit to determine a first peak of a rectified input voltage at the first input terminal during a first time interval, and to track a second peak of the rectified input voltage during a second time interval, the second time interval distinct from the first time interval, and a second peak-hold circuit having a second input terminal and a second output terminal, the second peak-hold circuit to determine, during the second time interval, a greater of the first peak and the second peak, the first output terminal coupled to the second input terminal, the greater of the first peak and the second peak output at the second output terminal.

Peak detection methods, apparatus, and circuits are disclosed. An example peak detector includes a first peak-hold circuit having a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first peak-hold circuit to determine a first peak of a rectified input voltage at the first input terminal during a first time interval, and to track a second peak of the rectified input voltage during a second time interval, the second time interval distinct from the first time interval, and a second peak-hold circuit having a second input terminal and a second output terminal, the second peak-hold circuit to determine, during the second time interval, a greater of the first peak and the second peak, the first output terminal coupled to the second input terminal, the greater of the first peak and the second peak output at the second output terminal.

Peak detection methods, apparatus, and circuits are disclosed. An example peak detector includes a first peak-hold circuit having a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first peak-hold circuit to determine a first peak of a rectified input voltage at the first input terminal during a first time interval, and to track a second peak of the rectified input voltage during a second time interval, the second time interval distinct from the first time interval, and a second peak-hold circuit having a second input terminal and a second output terminal, the second peak-hold circuit to determine, during the second time interval, a greater of the first peak and the second peak, the first output terminal coupled to the second input terminal, the greater of the first peak and the second peak output at the second output terminal.

Peak detection methods, apparatus, and circuits are disclosed. An example peak detector includes a first peak-hold circuit having a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first peak-hold circuit to determine a first peak of a rectified input voltage at the first input terminal during a first time interval, and to track a second peak of the rectified input voltage during a second time interval, the second time interval distinct from the first time interval, and a second peak-hold circuit having a second input terminal and a second output terminal, the second peak-hold circuit to determine, during the second time interval, a greater of the first peak and the second peak, the first output terminal coupled to the second input terminal, the greater of the first peak and the second peak output at the second output terminal.

A ringing peak detector circuit includes an input buffer receives a pair of differential feedback signals indicating a drain-source voltage of the at least one low side electronic switch. The input buffer generates shifted differential feedback signals having a common mode voltage that is equal to approximately one half of the supply voltage. A peak detector circuit is coupled to the input buffer to receive the shifted differential voltage signals. The peak detector circuit detects a peak value of an oscillation on the inductive electric load and to generate an output signal indicating the detected peak value. A circuit generates a control signal based on the detected peak value and a maximum value, with the control signal being applied to the inductive electrical load driver to control switching of the at least one low side switch.