Patent ID: 8519688

Claim:
A method for controlling burst mode operation of a switched mode power supply (SMPS), in which a burst period comprises a burst of operation of the SMPS during which the SMPS is generating power at a first, higher level, the SMPS generating power at a second, lower level during the remainder of the burst period, the method comprising: a) receiving a control input signal indicating start of a current burst period; b) starting a burst of operation of the SMPS and measuring an elapsed time during the current burst period; c) calculating a desired duration of the burst of operation of the SMPS in the current burst period from: i) the duration of a burst of operation of the SMPS in a preceding burst period; ii) the duration of the preceding burst period; and iii) the desired duration of the current burst period; and d) comparing the elapsed time during the current burst period with the desired duration calculated in step (c) and ceasing the burst of operation of the SMPS if the elapsed time during the current burst period is greater than or equal to the desired duration calculated in step (c).