Patent ID: 8588992

Claim:
A hybrid driving and controlling circuit in a power supply system having first and second power supplies and at least one load, the circuit comprising: a) a controller coupled to a hybrid switcher that enables energy transfer from said first and second power supplies, wherein said first and second power supplies are connected at a common node, wherein said first power supply comprises a solar panel configured to convert natural light into electrical energy, and wherein said second power supply comprises a battery configured to store energy; b) when a determined energy of said first power supply is sufficient, said controller being configured to control said hybrid switcher to operate in a buck converter mode to transfer energy from said first power supply to said second power supply; c) when said determined energy of said first power supply is insufficient, said controller being configured to control said hybrid switcher to operate in a DC/DC flyback converter mode to transfer energy from said second power supply to said at least one load; and d) an inductive component connected to a first power switch, a second power switch having a parasitic diode that is configured to be used in said buck converter mode, and said second power supply, wherein said second power switch is connected to said common node, and wherein said inductive component and said first and second power switches are shared in both said buck and said DC/DC flyback converter modes of said hybrid switcher.