Switching circuits for extracting power from an electric power source and associated methods

摘要

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.

主权项

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.