A bipolar junction transistor (BJT) may be used to generate a supply voltage for operating a controller, such as a lighting controller for a LED-based light bulb. A base of the BJT may receive current generated from the supply voltage to control operation of the BJT. Although the base of the BJT would be at a lower voltage than the emitter, a base drive circuit may be coupled between the emitter and the base of the BJT to increase the voltage. As one example, the base drive circuit may be a charge pump. In another example, the BJT may function as its own charge pump. In yet another example, a positive and a negative base current of the BJT may be independently controlled to regulate an output supply voltage V.sub.DD from the BJT.

A bipolar junction transistor (BJT) may be used to generate a supply voltage for operating a controller, such as a lighting controller for a LED-based light bulb. A base of the BJT may receive current generated from the supply voltage to control operation of the BJT. Although the base of the BJT would be at a lower voltage than the emitter, a base drive circuit may be coupled between the emitter and the base of the BJT to increase the voltage. As one example, the base drive circuit may be a charge pump. In another example, the BJT may function as its own charge pump. In yet another example, a positive and a negative base current of the BJT may be independently controlled to regulate an output supply voltage V.sub.DD from the BJT.

An electromagnetic actuation system includes an actuator having an electrical coil, a magnetic core, and an armature. The system further includes a controllable bi-directional drive circuit for selectively driving current through the electrical coil in either of two directions. The control module provides an actuator command to the drive circuit effective to drive current through the electrical coil in a first direction to actuate the armature and in a second direction subsequent to armature actuation to oppose residual flux within the actuator. The control module includes a residual flux feedback control module configured to adapt the actuator command to converge residual flux within the actuator to a preferred flux level.

An electromagnetic actuation system includes an actuator having an electrical coil, a magnetic core, and an armature. The system further includes a controllable bi-directional drive circuit for selectively driving current through the electrical coil in either of two directions. The control module provides an actuator command to the drive circuit effective to drive current through the electrical coil in a first direction to actuate the armature and in a second direction subsequent to armature actuation to oppose residual flux within the actuator. The control module includes a residual flux feedback control module configured to adapt the actuator command to converge residual flux within the actuator to a preferred flux level.

A high-speed multiplexor comprises a set of differential input pairs to receive and mix a set of differential input signals at a differential output node pair. The high-speed multiplexer further comprises an active inductive load pair driven by the input stage using the mixed set of differential input signals. Each active inductive load comprises a p-channel field effect transistor (pFET) device connected to one of the differential output node pairs and a resistor connected between a gate node and a drain node of the pFET device. The multiplexer further comprises a first cross-coupling capacitor connected between the gate node of a first inductive load and a second output node of the differential output node pair and a second cross-coupling capacitor connected between the gate node of a second inductive load and a first output node of the differential output node pair.

A high-speed multiplexor comprises a set of differential input pairs to receive and mix a set of differential input signals at a differential output node pair. The high-speed multiplexer further comprises an active inductive load pair driven by the input stage using the mixed set of differential input signals. Each active inductive load comprises a p-channel field effect transistor (pFET) device connected to one of the differential output node pairs and a resistor connected between a gate node and a drain node of the pFET device. The multiplexer further comprises a first cross-coupling capacitor connected between the gate node of a first inductive load and a second output node of the differential output node pair and a second cross-coupling capacitor connected between the gate node of a second inductive load and a first output node of the differential output node pair.

A controller for a power converter having at least a first switch and a second switch. Each switch is a transistor with a collector terminal, an emitter terminal, and a base terminal. The controller is connectable to the base terminals of the first and second switches to provide a base current to the base terminals of the first and second switches, and connectable to the emitter terminals of the first and second switches to provide a short-circuit between the base and emitter terminals of the first and second switches. The controller also comprises a timing circuit for controlling the provision of the base current and the short-circuit in a sequence. An associated method is also provided.

An amplifier system having first and second interleaved half bridge stages and a coupled inductor. The coupled inductor has a primary winding and a secondary winding, a first end of the primary winding is coupled to the first half bridge stage at a first node, a second end of the primary winding is coupled to the load, a first end of the secondary winding is coupled to the load, a second end of the secondary winding is coupled to the second half bridge stage at a second node. An inductor circuit is coupled between the first and second half bridge stages and a first end of a load circuit.

There is a need to provide a semiconductor device and an electronic control system including the same while the semiconductor device is capable of continuing normal operation even when a negative surge voltage is applied. According to an embodiment, a driver IC includes an output transistor, a driver control circuit, a negative potential clamp circuit, and an ESD protection circuit. The output transistor is provided between a battery voltage terminal and an output terminal coupled to a load. The driver control circuit switches on-off state of the output transistor by controlling a gate voltage of the output transistor with reference to a voltage of the output terminal. The negative potential clamp circuit turns on the output transistor regardless of control from the control circuit when a negative voltage lower than a predetermined voltage is applied to the output terminal. The ESD protection circuit is provided between battery the voltage terminal and the reference voltage terminal and enters a conduction state when a surge voltage is applied to the battery voltage terminal.

There is a need to provide a semiconductor device and an electronic control system including the same while the semiconductor device is capable of continuing normal operation even when a negative surge voltage is applied. According to an embodiment, a driver IC includes an output transistor, a driver control circuit, a negative potential clamp circuit, and an ESD protection circuit. The output transistor is provided between a battery voltage terminal and an output terminal coupled to a load. The driver control circuit switches on-off state of the output transistor by controlling a gate voltage of the output transistor with reference to a voltage of the output terminal. The negative potential clamp circuit turns on the output transistor regardless of control from the control circuit when a negative voltage lower than a predetermined voltage is applied to the output terminal. The ESD protection circuit is provided between battery the voltage terminal and the reference voltage terminal and enters a conduction state when a surge voltage is applied to the battery voltage terminal.