A power stage includes a power transistor and a driver, the power transistor comprising a collector, a gate and an emitter and being configured to change over from a saturated state to an off state and vice versa in accordance with a control from the driver, the power stage comprising a resistor Rg positioned between the driver and the gate, the power stage comprising a circuit for compensating for delays that is positioned in parallel with the resistor Rg, comprising: a circuit for compensating for turn-on initialization delays, which is configured to divert the current from the resistor Rg when a saturation of the power transistor is initialized, a circuit for compensating for turn-off initialization delays, which is configured to divert the current from the resistor Rg when a switching-off of the power transistor is initialized, a circuit for compensating for delays that is configured to divert the current from the resistor Rg when the power transistor is close to the saturated state.

A controller for use in a power converter includes a first terminal to provide a turn on signal to initiate turning on of a power switch and a second terminal to provide a turn off signal to initiate turning off the power switch. A detection circuit is coupled to detect a turn off time delay. The turn off time delay is the duration of time between an initiating of a turn off of the power switch by the turn off signal and an actual turn off of the power switch. A control circuit is coupled to control the turn on signal to regulate the turn off delay time to a target time value. The control circuit controls the turn on signal by controlling an amount of charge delivered to turn on the power switch.

In one embodiment, a method of controlling a switching power supply, can include: (i) generating a driving current signal that follows a waveform of a sense voltage signal, where the sense voltage signal is related to a current through a collector of a transistor that is configured as a power switch of the switching power supply, where the collector is coupled to an inductive element of the switching power supply; (ii) providing the driving current signal to a base of the transistor, where the transistor is in a saturated conduction state when a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal is active; and (iii) releasing charge accumulated on the base when the PWM signal is inactive to turn off the transistor.

A trailing edge phase control dimmer circuit for controlling alternating current (AC) power to a load, the circuit including: a switching circuit for controlling delivery of AC power to the load by conducting power to the load in an ON state and not conducting power to the load in an OFF state; and a switching control circuit for controlling turn-OFF and turn-ON of the switching circuit at each cycle of the AC to control switching of the ON and OFF states of the switching circuit, wherein the switching control circuit controlling turn-OFF of the switching circuit includes controlling a turn-OFF transition of the switching circuit between the ON state and the OFF state of the switching circuit extending for a selected turn-OFF transition time, and wherein the switching control circuit further includes a dv/dt feedback circuit for controlling a turn-OFF transition profile indicative of a drain voltage of the switching circuit of the turn-OFF transition and the selected turn-OFF transition time by returning at least some dv/dt feedback current generated by the switching circuit back to the switching circuit, whereby the dv/dt feedback circuit is configured to control said at least some dv/dt feedback current over the turn-OFF transition so as to reduce a rate of change of at least an initial region of the turn-OFF transition profile to minimize harmonics generation by the switching circuit.

A controller comprising a driver interface referenced to a first reference potential, a drive circuit referenced to a second reference potential, and an inductive coupling. The driver interface comprises a first receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a first polarity on the first terminal of the inductive coupling with a first threshold, and a second receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a second polarity on the second terminal of the inductive coupling with a third threshold. The drive circuit comprises a first transmitter configured to drive current in a first direction in the second winding to transmit first signals, and a second transmitter configured to drive current in a second direction in the second winding to transmit second signals, the second direction opposite the first direction.

A solid-state multi-channel protection circuit includes a microcontroller, a current sensor, a plurality of temperature sensors, and first and second multiplexers selectively connecting the current sensor to one of a plurality of solid-state devices and each of the plurality of temperature sensors to the microcontroller. The microcontroller selectively controls the second multiplexer to receive a temperature output associated with one of the plurality of solid-state devices, and selectively controls the first multiplexer to receiver a current output related to the measured current associated with the same solid-state device, wherein the microcontroller provide over-current protection and over-temperature protection based on the received temperature output and the received current output.

A controller for use in a power converter includes a first terminal to provide a turn on signal to initiate turning on of a power switch and a second terminal to provide a turn off signal to initiate turning off the power switch. A detection circuit is coupled to detect a turn off time delay. The turn off time delay is the duration of time between an initiating of a turn off of the power switch by the turn off signal and an actual turn off of the power switch. A control circuit is coupled to control the turn on signal to regulate the turn off delay time to a target time value. The control circuit controls the turn on signal by controlling an amount of charge delivered to turn on the power switch.

In one embodiment, a method of controlling a switching power supply, can include: (i) generating a driving current signal that follows a waveform of a sense voltage signal, where the sense voltage signal is related to a current through a collector of a transistor that is configured as a power switch of the switching power supply, where the collector is coupled to an inductive element of the switching power supply; (ii) providing the driving current signal to a base of the transistor, where the transistor is in a saturated conduction state when a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal is active; and (iii) releasing charge accumulated on the base when the PWM signal is inactive to turn off the transistor.

In one embodiment, a method of controlling a switching power supply, can include: (i) generating a driving current signal that follows a waveform of a sense voltage signal, where the sense voltage signal is related to a current through a collector of a transistor that is configured as a power switch of the switching power supply, where the collector is coupled to an inductive element of the switching power supply; (ii) providing the driving current signal to a base of the transistor, where the transistor is in a saturated conduction state when a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal is active; and (iii) releasing charge accumulated on the base when the PWM signal is inactive to turn off the transistor.

A switch mode power converter (SMPC) includes a switching control system to control the turn off time delay of a switching device. The SMPC also has an inductive component including an input winding to receive power from an input and a switching device to conduct input winding current. The switching control system applies turn on and turn off signals to the switching device. The turn off signal initiates turning off of the switching device and a sensing signal from a further winding inductively coupled to the input winding is detected to indicate an end of a turn off time delay or duration. The turn on signal for a subsequent switching cycle of the SMPC device is controlled to regulate the turn off delay time.