Horler, Philip John

Apparatus and methods for compact transmission lines are disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, a transmission line includes a pair of coupled lines including a first conductive line that is electromagnetically coupled to a second conductive line. A first port is electrically connected to a first end of the first conductive line, while a second end of the first conductive line is electrically connected to a first end of the second conductive line. Additionally, a second port is electrically connected to a second end of the second conductive line such that the transmission line is provided between the first port and the second port.

A power disconnect switch may include a first terminal configured to couple to a boost converter output and a second terminal configured to couple to a load. A comparator may include a first input terminal configured to couple to a source input, a second input terminal configured to couple to the boost converter output, and a first output terminal configured to output a signal indicating a condition of the boost converter output being less than or equal to the source input. A control circuit may include an input terminal coupled to the first output terminal of the comparator and a second output terminal coupled to the power disconnect switch. The control circuit may be configured to open the power disconnect switch in response to receiving the signal indicating the condition.

A method and circuit arrangement for a solid state switch device is disclosed. In certain embodiment, a solid state switch device comprising a controllable switch comprising a control terminal, a first channel terminal, and a second channel terminal, and arranged to be switched between an off-state and an on-state, wherein in the on-state the switch allows a current to flow between the first channel terminal and the second channel terminal. The solid state switch device further comprising: a first compensation circuit configured to: generate a first boost current based on a voltage difference between the first channel terminal and the second channel terminal; and apply the first boost current to the control terminal to charge a switch capacitance of the controllable switch.

The present disclosure relates to a DC-DC power converter and method of operation. The converter comprises a first converter circuit for controlling a first output current and a second converter circuit for controlling a second output current. The first converter comprises a first plurality of switches coupled to a first terminal of the DC-DC power converter and a first inductive impedance coupled to the first plurality of switches and a second terminal of the DC-DC power converter. The second converter circuit comprises a second plurality of switches coupled to the first terminal of the DC-DC power converter and a second inductive impedance coupled to the second plurality of switches the second terminal of the DC-DC power converter. The DC-DC power converter also comprises first and second capacitors, each cross-coupled between the first converter circuit and the second converter circuit.

A method and circuit arrangement for voltage protection is disclosed. In certain embodiments, a controllable switch comprises a control terminal, a first channel terminal, and a second channel terminal, and arranged to be switched between an off-state and an on-state. In the on-state the controllable switch allows a current to flow between the first channel terminal and the second channel terminal. An overvoltage protection circuit is configured to determine a voltage difference between a first voltage of the first channel terminal and a second voltage of the second channel terminal. The overvoltage protection circuit also sets a control signal to a protection value to operate the controllable switch in the off-state in response to determining that the voltage difference is greater than or equal to a switch threshold.

Power modules with enhanced thermal conductivity are disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, a power module includes a circuit board, an inductor component attached to a first or top side of the circuit board, and a semiconductor die attached to a second or bottom side of the circuit board opposite the first side. The power module further includes a thermally conductive wrap at least partially around a dielectric body of the inductor component. The thermally conductive wrap serves to transfer heat from the semiconductor die to a cold plate or heat sink that can be attached to the inductor component opposite the circuit board.

Surface temperatures for battery cells in a battery pack can be inferred or estimated using internal or core temperatures of the battery cell and a thermal model. The internal temperature may be generated using electrochemical impedance spectrometry (EIS). Delta values from the EIS estimations to the cell surface temperature may be generated based on a thermal model of the battery. The thermal model of the battery may be created using probe points on the surface of a test battery, such as thermocouples.

Apparatus and methods for nonlinearity cancellation in electronic systems are disclosed. In certain embodiments, an electronic system includes two or more circuit channels that process a common input signal in parallel and that each include at least one instantiation of a circuit that behaves nonlinearly. Thus, the nonlinear circuit is replicated and included at least once in each circuit channel. Each of the circuit channels has an input scaling factor and an output scaling factor that can vary from one circuit channel to another. The output signals from the circuit channels after scaling are combined to generate a combined output signal. The input and output scaling factors are selected to cancel or reduce nonlinearities.

A full-wave active rectifier system, comprising: a full-wave active rectifier for generating a DC voltage output signal based on an AC voltage input signal. The full-wave active rectifier comprising first and second transistors which are controllable by a controller, and, third and fourth transistors which are controlled by the AC voltage input signal. The full-wave active rectifier system comprising: the controller coupled to the first transistor. The full-wave active rectifier system is configured to: when the first transistor is in an off-state, monitor a first voltage at a node shared by the AC voltage input signal and a first terminal of the first transistor; and sense a voltage transient in the first voltage caused by switching the first transistor between an on-state and the off-state. The controller is configured to: control, in response to sensing the voltage transient, a phase-angle at which the first transistor switches between the on-state and the off-state.

A current sensor system is provided where the self-resonant frequency of a current measurement coil, such as a Rogowski coil, may be modified. The current sensor system comprises a current measurement coil and a resonant frequency modification circuit. The resonant frequency modification circuit is configured to modify a resonant frequency of the current sensor system such that a combined resonant frequency of the current measurement coil and the resonant frequency modification circuit is different from a self-resonant frequency of the current measurement coil.