Switching circuits for extracting power from an electric power source and associated methods
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit chip, comprising:
- a first input port and a first output port;
first and second transistors electrically coupled in series across the first input port, the second transistor also electrically coupled across the first output port and adapted to provide a path for current flowing through the first output port when the first transistor is in its non-conductive state;
first driver circuitry for driving gates of the first and second transistors to cause the transistors to switch between their conductive and non-conductive states; and
first controller circuitry for controlling the first driver circuitry such that the first and second transistors switch between their conductive and non-conductive states to at least substantially maximize an amount of electric power extracted from an electric power source electrically coupled to the first input port;
wherein the first controller circuitry is adapted to;
control the first driver circuitry such that the first and second transistors cooperate to transfer power from the first input port to the first output port during a first operating mode of the first controller circuitry,control the first driver circuitry such that the second transistor shunts the first output port during a second operating mode of the first controller circuitry, andoperate the first controller circuitry in its second operating mode upon occurrence of an event selected from the group consisting of (1) voltage across the first input port being below a threshold value, (2) voltage across the first input port being above a threshold value, (3) power transferred from the first input port to the first output port being below a threshold value, (4) a magnitude of current flowing through the first input port being below a threshold value, (5) a magnitude of current flowing through the first output port exceeding a threshold value, and (6) a temperature of one or more components of the integrated circuit chip exceeding a threshold value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated circuit chip includes a first input port, a first output port, and first and second transistors electrically coupled in series across the first input port. The second transistor is also electrically coupled across the first output port and is adapted to provide a path for current flowing through the first output port when the first transistor is in its non-conductive state. The integrated circuit chip additionally includes first driver circuitry for driving gates of the first and second transistors to cause the transistors to switch between their conductive and non-conductive states. The integrated circuit chip further includes first controller circuitry for controlling the first driver circuitry such that the first and second transistors switch between their conductive and non-conductive states to at least substantially maximize an amount of electric power extracted from an electric power source electrically coupled to the first input port.
78 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit chip, comprising:
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a first input port and a first output port; first and second transistors electrically coupled in series across the first input port, the second transistor also electrically coupled across the first output port and adapted to provide a path for current flowing through the first output port when the first transistor is in its non-conductive state; first driver circuitry for driving gates of the first and second transistors to cause the transistors to switch between their conductive and non-conductive states; and first controller circuitry for controlling the first driver circuitry such that the first and second transistors switch between their conductive and non-conductive states to at least substantially maximize an amount of electric power extracted from an electric power source electrically coupled to the first input port; wherein the first controller circuitry is adapted to; control the first driver circuitry such that the first and second transistors cooperate to transfer power from the first input port to the first output port during a first operating mode of the first controller circuitry, control the first driver circuitry such that the second transistor shunts the first output port during a second operating mode of the first controller circuitry, and operate the first controller circuitry in its second operating mode upon occurrence of an event selected from the group consisting of (1) voltage across the first input port being below a threshold value, (2) voltage across the first input port being above a threshold value, (3) power transferred from the first input port to the first output port being below a threshold value, (4) a magnitude of current flowing through the first input port being below a threshold value, (5) a magnitude of current flowing through the first output port exceeding a threshold value, and (6) a temperature of one or more components of the integrated circuit chip exceeding a threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An integrated circuit chip, comprising:
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a first input port and a first output port; first and second transistors electrically coupled in series across the first input port, the second transistor also electrically coupled across the first output port and adapted to provide a path for current flowing through the first output port when the first transistor is in its non-conductive state; first driver circuitry for driving gates of the first and second transistors to cause the transistors to switch between their conductive and non-conductive states; first controller circuitry for controlling the first driver circuitry such that the first and second transistors switch between their conductive and non-conductive states to at least substantially maximize an amount of electric power extracted from an electric power source electrically coupled to the first input port; a second input port and a second output port; third and fourth transistors electrically coupled in series across the second input port, the fourth transistor also electrically coupled across the second output port and adapted to provide a path for current flowing through the second output port when the third transistor is in its non-conductive state; second driver circuitry for driving gates of the third and fourth transistors to cause the transistors to switch between their conductive and non-conductive states; and second controller circuitry for controlling the second driver circuitry such that the third and fourth transistors switch between their conductive and non-conductive states to at least substantially maximize an amount of electric power extracted from an electric power source electrically coupled to the second input port. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A photovoltaic system, comprising:
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a photovoltaic cell; and an integrated circuit chip, including; an output port for electrically coupling to a load, first and second transistors electrically coupled in series across the photovoltaic cell, the second transistor also electrically coupled across the output port and adapted to provide a path for current flowing through the output port when the first transistor is in its non-conductive state, driver circuitry for driving gates of the first and second transistors to cause the transistors to switch between their conductive and non-conductive states, and controller circuitry for controlling the driver circuitry such that the first and second transistors switch between their conductive and non-conductive states to at least substantially maximize an amount of electric power extracted from the photovoltaic cell, wherein the controller circuitry is adapted to; control the driver circuitry such that the first and second transistors cooperate to transfer power from the photovoltaic cell to the output port during a first operating mode of the controller circuitry, control the driver circuitry such that the second transistor shunts the output port during a second operating mode of the controller circuitry, and operate the controller circuitry in its second operating mode upon occurrence of an event selected from the group consisting of (1) voltage across the photovoltaic cell being below a threshold value, (2) voltage across the photovoltaic cell being above a threshold value, (3) power transferred from the photovoltaic cell to the output port being below a threshold value, (4) a magnitude of current flowing through the photovoltaic cell being below a threshold value, (5) a magnitude of current flowing through the output port exceeding a threshold value, and (6) a temperature of one or more components of the integrated circuit chip exceeding a threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification