An optical switch with a plurality of actuators includes a controller configured to control the operation of a plurality of channels, where each channel has at least one electrical driver and at least one actuator, by interleaving periods of voltage switching output with periods of no voltage switching output for one or more drivers whilst the output voltage is switching from one level to another level. Alternatively, an optical switch with a plurality of actuators comprises a controller configured to control the operation of a plurality of channels, where each channel has at least one electrical driver and at least one actuator, by switching the output voltage from one level to another level for at least one driver of a first channel whilst at least one oilier driver of at least one other channel is in a relatively high impedance mode.

A power supply circuit comprises an input for receiving a power supply from a battery and a DC/DC converter for supplying a converted voltage to a load. A regulator is used for controlling the DC/DC converter such that the current drawn from the converter is smoothed. A charge storage device at the output of the DC/DC converter enables delivery of a non-constant current to the load.

An optical switch with a plurality of actuators includes a controller configured to control the operation of a plurality of channels, where each channel has at least one electrical driver and at least one actuator, by interleaving periods of voltage switching output with periods of no voltage switching output for one or more drivers whilst the output voltage is switching from one level to another level. Alternatively, an optical switch with a plurality of actuators comprises a controller configured to control the operation of a plurality of channels, where each channel has at least one electrical driver and at least one actuator, by switching the output voltage from one level to another level for at least one driver of a first channel whilst at least one oilier driver of at least one other channel is in a relatively high impedance mode.

A multiphase power converter has a plurality of phase circuits, each of which provides a phase current when being active. During single-phase operation of the multiphase power converter, an enhanced phase control circuit and method monitor the summation of the phase currents, and when the summation becomes higher than a threshold, switch the multiphase power converter to a higher power zone to increase the number of active phases. A high efficiency and high reliability multiphase power converter is thus accomplished.

A multiphase power converter has a plurality of phase circuits, each of which provides a phase current when being active. During single-phase operation of the multiphase power converter, an enhanced phase control circuit and method monitor the summation of the phase currents, and when the summation becomes higher than a threshold, switch the multiphase power converter to a higher power zone to increase the number of active phases. A high efficiency and high reliability multiphase power converter is thus accomplished.