A system for controlling DC-to-DC converters connected in parallel can include a first DC-to-DC converter, a second DC-to-DC converter, and a controller. The first DC-to-DC converter can be connected between a first node and a second node. The first DC-to-DC converter can be configured to maintain a voltage level at the second node. The second DC-to-DC converter can be connected between the first node and the second node. The controller can be configured to measure a current through the first DC-to-DC converter. The controller can be configured to cause, in response to a measure of the current being in a specific relationship with respect to a threshold current, a change in electric power being conveyed through the second DC-to-DC converter to cause the second DC-to-DC converter to respond to a subsequent change in electric power being conveyed through the second node.

According to an aspect, a power supply system includes a plurality of power converters configured to deliver a system load current to a load, where the system load current is a combination of individual load currents provided by the plurality of power converters, and a system performance controller configured to detect a value of the system load current. The system performance controller is configured to determine, using power loss information, values for the individual load currents such that a composite efficiency achieves a threshold condition. The system performance controller is configured to generate control signals to operate the plurality of power converters at the determined values.

A power converter can include a magnetic energy storage element, a main switch, a synchronous rectifier switch, and an energy recovery circuit. The energy recovery circuit can include a resonant circuit and an auxiliary switch configured to operate in conjunction with the main and synchronous rectifier switches to store energy in the resonant circuit and deliver energy therefrom to reduce switching losses associated with the main and synchronous rectifier switches. The converter can be a buck, boost, buck-boost, or other converter type. The auxiliary switch may be operated according to a two-pulse control mode or using a conventional buck converter controller with additional delay elements. The resonant circuit inductance may be a discrete inductor or a parasitic inductance, such as a PCB trace, which may be designed to provide a desired inductance value selected to efficiently provide sufficient energy to achieve reduced switching losses of the main and auxiliary switches.

A circuit (100) for use in voltage supply for an electrical device, having a first input (111) configured for connecting with a first voltage source, a second input (121) configured for connecting with a second voltage source, and a common output (133) configured for connecting with an input of the electrical device, comprising a first voltage converter (110) with an input connected to or being the first input (111), and configured to provide DC voltage at a first voltage level (V.sub.1) at an output (113), further comprising a second voltage converter (120) with an input connected to or being the second input (121), and configured to provide DC voltage at a second voltage level (V.sub.2) at an output (123), wherein the second voltage converter (120) is configured not to operate when a voltage level present at its output (123) is higher than a stop threshold, and to operate when a voltage level present at its output (123) is lower than a start threshold, the stop threshold is equal to or higher than the second voltage level (V.sub.2) and lower than the first voltage level (V.sub.1), and the start threshold is equal to or lower than the second voltage level (V.sub.2).

A system includes a first power stage circuit having a first PWM input, a first voltage input and a first power output. The first power stage circuit is configured to provide a first current at the first power output responsive to a PWM signal at the first PWM input, and configured to receive a voltage at the first voltage input. The system includes a second power stage circuit having a second PWM input, a second voltage input and a second power output. The second voltage input is coupled to the first voltage input, and the second power stage circuit is configured to provide a second current at the second power output responsive to the PWM signal at the second PWM input. The second power stage circuit is configured to receive the voltage at the second voltage input, the voltage representing an average of the first current and the second current.

This present invention is an invented synchronous clock generator for the multiphase DC-DC converter system, comprising a front-end buffer circuit, a ramp signal generator circuit, a configurable equally divided reference voltage generator circuit, a set of comparators, a 10-ns pulse generator, multiple 30-ns pulse generators, and a pulse combination circuit. The synchronous clock generator can produce a clock pulse signal SYNC at N (total phase number) times the single-phase switching frequency. Within one synchronous loop period, a 10-ns pulse is first generated and followed by N-1 30-ns pulses. The master power stage chip detects the 10-ns pulse, and all the slave power stages detect and count the 30-ns pulses to determine when to set their output signal PWM. Thus, the invention can produce the new SYNC signal immediately with balanced phase shift while allowing the changing of the total phase number N by the total phase number register.

A power supply module includes a power supply submodule, a plurality of pins, and a second winding unit. The power supply submodule includes a switch, a magnetic core assembly, and a first winding unit including a first winding portion and a second winding portion. The second winding unit includes a third winding portion connected to the first winding portion via some of the plurality of pins to form a first winding, and a fourth winding portion connected to the second winding portion via some of the plurality of pins to form a second winding. The magnetic core assembly, at least the first winding, and the second winding form a magnetic element. The switch is disposed on and electrically connected to the magnetic element. At least one of the plurality of pins is an output pin via which the power supply module powers an intelligent IC load.

An inverter for a photovoltaic system includes a substantially planar baseplate having a front and a rear, wherein the rear forms an outer rear wall of the inverter, and having at least one platform-like elevation that rises in the direction of the front of the baseplate. The inverter also includes a printed circuit board having one or more heat-generating components mounted thereon, wherein the printed circuit board is installed on the baseplate such that the one or more heat-generating components are arranged on the printed circuit board in the region of the platform-like elevation and are in thermal contact with the platform-like elevation. The inverter further includes a potting compound that fills a space on the front of the baseplate and surrounds at least partially the printed circuit board, and a cover arranged on or in the potting compound that adjoins the baseplate, so that the baseplate and the cover surrounding at least part of the potting compound form a housing. The inverter also includes at least four DC connectors that are arranged in pairs on at least one of the lateral end faces of the housing and at least part of which is cast in the potting compound, and an AC connector that is arranged on one of the lateral end faces of the housing, wherein electrical contacts of the AC connector are connected to the printed circuit board.

According to certain aspects, the present embodiments are directed to techniques for providing the ability to monitor one or more operational parameters of a voltage regulator. In embodiments, the voltage regulator is a multiphase voltage regulator having a plurality of power stages corresponding to each respective phase. In these and other embodiments, the operational parameters include one or both of a phase current and a phase temperature. According to certain additional aspects, the present embodiments provide the ability to monitor the respective phase current output and phase temperature of each phase independently. According to further aspects, this ability to monitor the operational parameters is achieved while minimizing circuit complexity.

An intermediate circuit adaptation device for a vehicle. The intermediate circuit adaptation device includes a DC intermediate circuit with at least two phases and a control unit. The control unit is configured to change the intermediate circuit voltage and/or the number of phases of the intermediate circuit on the basis of the current operating point.