Aspects of the invention relate to a high-power switching module for the direct pulse energy feeding of a consumer with a plurality of switching stages connected in series. A coupling element and an energy buffer store are provided, the coupling element coupling a primary circuit comprising a balancing capacitance and a semiconductor switch to a secondary circuit comprising the energy buffer store, the coupling element being provided and embodied for obtaining energy of the balancing capacitance and delivering this energy to the energy buffer store during the on phase of the semiconductor switch, and the energy buffer store being provided and embodied for delivering the obtained energy to an energy store of the driver assembly when the semiconductor switch is in the switched-off state.

Aspects of the invention relate to a high-power switching module for the direct pulse energy feeding of a consumer with a plurality of switching stages connected in series. A coupling element and an energy buffer store are provided, the coupling element coupling a primary circuit comprising a balancing capacitance and a semiconductor switch to a secondary circuit comprising the energy buffer store, the coupling element being provided and embodied for obtaining energy of the balancing capacitance and delivering this energy to the energy buffer store during the on phase of the semiconductor switch, and the energy buffer store being provided and embodied for delivering the obtained energy to an energy store of the driver assembly when the semiconductor switch is in the switched-off state.

An apparatus attachable to a luminaire includes circuitry for converting alternating current power into direct current (DC) power and providing a digitally stable ground for operation of a processor-based device. The circuitry includes a transformer isolating a primary side from a secondary side of the circuitry. A switching controller (e.g., a pulse width modulation controller) on the primary side directs a switching circuit to selectively permit current flow through a primary side of the transformer to a first ground node. A secondary winding of the transformer sources a rectified DC output relative to a second ground node that is isolated from the first ground node. In some cases, compensation on the secondary winding side provides isolated feedback to the controller, such as via an optical isolator. The controller directs the switching circuit based at least partially on the feedback and input from an auxiliary winding of the transformer.

An apparatus attachable to a luminaire includes circuitry for converting alternating current power into direct current (DC) power and providing a digitally stable ground for operation of a processor-based device. The circuitry includes a transformer isolating a primary side from a secondary side of the circuitry. A switching controller (e.g., a pulse width modulation controller) on the primary side directs a switching circuit to selectively permit current flow through a primary side of the transformer to a first ground node. A secondary winding of the transformer sources a rectified DC output relative to a second ground node that is isolated from the first ground node. In some cases, compensation on the secondary winding side provides isolated feedback to the controller, such as via an optical isolator. The controller directs the switching circuit based at least partially on the feedback and input from an auxiliary winding of the transformer.

The electro-magnetic coupler uses a coil to induce voltage onto a transistor. By controlling the amount of the current that flows through the coil, one is able to control the strength of the magnetic field emmitted by the inductor. And by controlling the q-point of the transistor, the amount voltage and current induced, the transistor can then be used as a switch or an amplifier without any electrical/electronic connection to the internal coil. The use of a transistor enables high speed switching and potentail amplification of communication signals.

A small cell networking device mountable to a streetlight fixture includes circuitry for converting alternating current power into direct current (DC) power and providing a digitally stable ground for operation of the small cell device. The circuitry includes a transformer isolating a primary side from a secondary side of the circuitry. A switching controller on the primary side directs a switching circuit to selectively permit current flow through a primary side of the transformer to a first ground node on the primary side. A secondary winding of the transformer sources a rectified DC output relative to a second ground node that is isolated from the first ground node. In some cases, compensation on the secondary winding side provides isolated feedback to the controller, such as via an optical isolator. The controller directs the switching circuit based at least on the feedback and input from an auxiliary winding of the transformer.

A small cell networking device mountable to a streetlight fixture includes circuitry for converting alternating current power into direct current (DC) power and providing a digitally stable ground for operation of the small cell device. The circuitry includes a transformer isolating a primary side from a secondary side of the circuitry. A switching controller on the primary side directs a switching circuit to selectively permit current flow through a primary side of the transformer to a first ground node on the primary side. A secondary winding of the transformer sources a rectified DC output relative to a second ground node that is isolated from the first ground node. In some cases, compensation on the secondary winding side provides isolated feedback to the controller, such as via an optical isolator. The controller directs the switching circuit based at least on the feedback and input from an auxiliary winding of the transformer.

A signal transmission device includes a signal transmission chip, and a first lead frame supporting the signal transmission chip. A first inductor spiral ring is on a surface of the signal transmission chip, a second inductor spiral ring is inside the signal transmission chip, a first bonding pad is electrically coupled between the first and second inductor spiral rings, a guard ring covers the first and second inductor spiral rings in a plan view, and bonding pads are outside of the guard ring. A direction of rotation between the first and second inductor spiral rings are different from each other. The signal transmission device further includes a semiconductor chip and a second lead frame supporting the semiconductor chip, wherein the signal transmission chip and the semiconductor chip face each other.

A signal transmission device includes a signal transmission chip, and a first lead frame supporting the signal transmission chip. A first inductor spiral ring is on a surface of the signal transmission chip, a second inductor spiral ring is inside the signal transmission chip, a first bonding pad is electrically coupled between the first and second inductor spiral rings, a guard ring covers the first and second inductor spiral rings in a plan view, and bonding pads are outside of the guard ring. A direction of rotation between the first and second inductor spiral rings are different from each other. The signal transmission device further includes a semiconductor chip and a second lead frame supporting the semiconductor chip, wherein the signal transmission chip and the semiconductor chip face each other.

A multi-voltage domain device includes a semiconductor layer including a first voltage domain, a second voltage domain, and an isolation region that electrically isolates the first voltage domain and the second voltage domain in a lateral direction. The isolation region includes at least one deep trench isolation barrier. A layer stack is arranged on the semiconductor layer and includes a stack insulator layer, a first coil arranged in the stack insulator layer, and a second coil arranged in the stack insulator layer and laterally separated from the first coil in the lateral direction. The first and second coils are magnetically coupled to each other in the lateral direction. The first coil includes terminals arranged vertically over the first region and are electrically coupled to the first voltage domain, and the second coil includes terminals arranged vertically over the second region and are electrically coupled to the second voltage domain.