Patent ID: 8716948

Claim:
A switching power converter comprising: a magnetic component coupled to an input voltage and to an output of the switching power converter; a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) switch coupled to the magnetic component, current through the magnetic component being generated while the BJT switch is operating in a saturation mode and not being generated while the BJT switch is operating in a cutoff mode; and a controller configured to generate a control signal to operate the BJT switch in the saturation mode, the cutoff mode, or an active mode; wherein the switching power converter operates in a switching mode responsive to the BJT switch continuously switching operation between the saturation mode and the cutoff mode, the switching power converter delivering power to the output of the switching power converter during the switching mode; wherein the switching power converter operates in a linear mode responsive to the BJT switch operating in the active mode, wherein the BJT switch is configured to draw current from a dimmer switch coupled to the switching power converter during the linear mode.