Patent ID: 9537405
Date: 2017-01-03
CPC Classifications: H02M

Claim:
1. A controller for use in a power converter, comprising: a drive circuit coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter, the drive circuit coupled generate a drive signal coupled to control switching of a power switch of the power converter to regulate the output of the power converter in response to the feedback signal; and a limit sense circuit coupled to receive a sense signal representative of a condition of the power converter, wherein the limit sense circuit is to output a limit sense signal in response to the sense signal to indicate a limit condition in the power converter, wherein the drive circuit is to operate in a first operation mode if the limit sense signal indicates a no limit condition, wherein the first operation mode includes a first operation region in which the drive circuit is coupled to regulate the output of the power converter with a regulated output voltage up to a first constant output current, wherein the drive circuit is coupled to operate in a second operation mode if the limit sense signal indicates the limit condition, wherein the second operation mode includes a second operation region in which the drive circuit is coupled to regulate the output of the power converter with the regulated output voltage up to a second constant current that is less than the first constant current, wherein the limit sense circuit is coupled to transition the limit sense signal from indicating the no limit condition to indicating the limit condition when the sense signal indicates that a temperature in the power converter reaches a first threshold temperature, and wherein the limit sense circuit is coupled to transition the limit sense signal from indicating the limit condition to indicating the no limit condition when the sense signal indicates the temperature in the power converter reaches a second threshold temperature, wherein the second threshold temperature is less than the first threshold temperature.