A DC-DC converter providing adaptive peak current control is disclosed. A DC-DC converter includes an inductor having first and second terminals coupled to a voltage source and a transistor, respectively. The DC-DC circuit further includes a control circuit configured to control activation of the transistor. A first control block of the control circuit controls the transistor (and thus the inductor peak current) using pulse frequency modulation (PFM). A second control block controls the transistor using pulse width modulation (PWM) and PFM. In a first mode of operation, the control circuit activates the transistor, using PFM, such that the peak-to-peak current through the inductor has a fixed value. In a second mode of operation, the control circuit activates the transistor such that the peak-to-peak current through the inductor is modulated, using both PWM and PFM.

A power conversion device includes an inverter, a smoothing capacitor, Y capacitors, and a power supply wiring that electrically connects a DC power supply and the inverter. The power supply wiring includes power terminal portions to which the DC power supply is connected, power terminal portions to which the inverter is connected, and capacitor terminal portions to which the Y capacitors are connected. In the power supply wiring, a parasitic inductance L1 between the power terminal portions and the capacitor terminal portions are made smaller than a parasitic inductance L2 between the power supply terminal portions and the capacitor terminal portions.

Provided is an electric control unit which is configured to switch the functions of an LCC, an HSD, and an LSD depending on a load to be connected. A power-supply-side switching element 102 is provided in a path L1 between a power supply 401 and a connector terminal 301. A ground-side switching element 106 is provided in a path L2 between a ground 402 and a connector terminal 302. A freewheeling diode 105 is provided in a path L3 connected to a connection point P1 between the power-supply-side switching element 102 and the connector terminal 301 and a connection point P2 between the ground-side switching element 106 and the connector terminal 302. A switching element 104 is provided in the path L3.

A method includes switching a switching circuit of the switched-mode power supply in a synchronous mode by turning on and off switches of the switching circuit in synchrony with a clock signal, wherein the switching circuit is coupled to an inductive element, and wherein the synchronous mode comprises a charging phase and a discharging phase; switching the switching circuit in an asynchronous mode by turning on and off switches of the switching circuit without being synchronized with the clock signal, wherein the asynchronous mode comprises a charging phase and a discharging phase; charging the inductive element during the charging phase of the synchronous mode; discharging the inductive element during the discharging phase of the synchronous mode; charging the inductive element during the charging phase of the asynchronous mode; and discharging the inductive element during the discharging phase of the asynchronous mode.

A latch system includes a releasably secured latch or keeper and a solenoid assembly. The solenoid assembly has a solenoid driver coupled to a power supply, a switching circuit connected with the solenoid driver, and a function generator to selectively adjust a frequency of a pick current output from the power supply and provided to the solenoid driver. The frequency is adjusted until the pick current induces a resulting vibration of said latch system sufficient to free a preloaded latch or keeper. The adjusted frequency may be a target frequency or a range of frequencies. Also included may be a preload sensor. When a preload is sensed, the frequency may be adjusted by the function generator until the pick current induces a resulting vibration of said latch system sufficient to free a preloaded latch or keeper.

A DC-DC converter providing adaptive peak current control is disclosed. A DC-DC converter includes an inductor having first and second terminals coupled to a voltage source and a transistor, respectively. The DC-DC circuit further includes a control circuit configured to control activation of the transistor. A first control block of the control circuit controls the transistor (and thus the inductor peak current) using pulse frequency modulation (PFM). A second control block controls the transistor using pulse width modulation (PWM) and PFM. In a first mode of operation, the control circuit activates the transistor, using PFM, such that the peak-to-peak current through the inductor has a fixed value. In a second mode of operation, the control circuit activates the transistor such that the peak-to-peak current through the inductor is modulated, using both PWM and PFM.

A plurality of inductive loads (105) are connectable in parallel with one another between first and second terminals (120, 125), to which a controllable voltage (205) is applied. A method (300, 400) for operating the loads (105) includes the steps of detecting (305, 405) the connection of a previously non-energized load (105) between the terminals (120, 125); setting (310, 410, 435) the voltage (205) to a predetermined first value (210), and, after the lapse of a predetermined time interval (315, 415), adjusting the voltage (205) to a predetermined second value (215), with the second value (215) being lower than the first value (210).

A PWM signal generator to provide a supply current to an electrical load generates PWM signals at a first frequency, the PWM signals having a duty cycle. Operating the generator involves receiving a set point signal indicative of a target average value for the supply current, sensing a sensing signal indicative of a current actual value of the supply current, performing a closed-loop control of the supply current targeting the target value for the supply current via a controller such as a PID Controller which controls the duty cycle of the PWM signals generated by the PWM signal generator as a function of the offset of the sensing signal with respect to the set point signal.

A load drive circuit includes a power source terminal (PST), a power source and a load terminal connecting a load to the power source. A semiconductor switch connects the PST to the load terminal. A control circuit includes an output terminal for opening/closing the semiconductor switch. A freewheeling circuit includes a freewheeling diode and a protection switch blocks a current from the power source to the semiconductor switch when the power source is connected in a reverse manner. A first terminal connects the control circuit to a first fixed potential and a second terminal connects an anode of the freewheeling diode to a second fixed potential. A connection circuit includes a connection switch connecting the output terminal and the first terminal. The connection circuit connects the output terminal to the first terminal when a rise in a potential difference between the first terminal and the second terminal is detected.

Apparatus for generating high pulse voltage comprises a high DC voltage source, a low DC voltage source, an inductive load, two controllable gates, a controllable switch and, connected in series, a capacitor, a booster diode and an additional controllable switch, as well as a controllable pulse duration converter for pulses from a rectangular pulse generator. The preceding connection of the booster diode anode with the negative terminal of the low DC voltage source ensured by the pulse duration converter and second controllable switch correlates the booster diode switching time with the moment of closing the both controllable gates. Thus, the pulse noise present in the prior art designs is eliminated, and the level of interference emitted into the surroundings is decreased.