Patent ID: 8077486

Claim:
An integrated circuit controller for a power converter, the controller comprising: a control coupled to control switching of a power switch to regulate an output of the power converter; a sensor coupled to receive a signal from a terminal of the integrated circuit controller, the signal from the terminal to represent an input voltage of the power converter during at least a portion of an ON state of the power switch, the signal from the terminal to represent an output voltage of the power converter during at least a portion of an OFF state of the power switch, wherein the sensor is coupled to sample the signal from the terminal during the portion of the ON state of the power switch; and a fault detector coupled between the sensor and the control, wherein the fault detector is coupled to detect a fault condition of the power converter in response to the sampled signal, wherein the control is coupled to inhibit the switching of the power switch to reduce a power output level of the power converter in response to the fault detector detecting the fault condition.