Sensing and control for improving switched power supplies

1. A power converter comprising:

an input configured to receive an input power waveform from an input power source;

an output configured to generate a converted power;

a sensor unit configured to sense at least one indication of an operating condition; and

a switched power converter configured to:

select one or more portions of the input power waveform to satisfy a target operating condition, wherein the selected one or more portions are selected based on the at least one indication of an operating condition; and

avoid selecting one or more other portions of the input power waveform to satisfy the target operating condition; and

convert the one or more portions of the input power waveform to the output.

2. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one indication of an operating condition includes an indication of at least one of power conversion efficiency, harmonics, temperature, expected output voltage, stored energy level, inductance-based energy storage, storage capacitor voltage, start-up energy storage levels, output ripple, voltage and current draw of a load, rate of discharge of a storage capacitor, voltage and current of the input power source, frequency of the input power source, a rate of change or slope of the input power source, a resonant frequency of an LLC converter, a change in the resonant frequency of the LLC converter, a temperature of an LLC converter, a present position along an input A/C waveform, a fluctuation profile of power consumption of the load, power factor, information or commands provided by the load or a user, over-voltage and/or over-current conditions of the input, over-voltage and/or over-current conditions of the output, mechanical noise or vibrations, characteristics of the mechanical noise or vibrations, a noise profile of the input power source, and electromagnetic interference (EMI).

3. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the switched power converter is further configured to convert the one or more portions of the input power waveform to the output based on the at least one indication of an operating condition.

4. The power converter of claim 3 , wherein the switched power converter is further configured to charge at least one energy storage device based on the at least one indication of an operating condition.

5. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit is further configured to sense a change in the at least one indication of an operating condition, and wherein the switched power converter is further configured to select one or more different portions of the input power waveform responsive to the sensed change in the at least one indication of an operating condition.

6. The power converter of claim 1 , further comprising:

a processing module configured to:

determine a position and size of the one or more portions of the input power waveform; and

set a plurality of operating parameters based on the determined position and size of the one or more portions of the input power waveform;

wherein the switched power converter is further configured to select the one or more portions of the input power waveform based on the plurality of operating parameters.

7. The power converter of claim 6 , wherein the processing module is further configured to:

calculate an efficiency based on real-time measurements of the input power waveform and the converted power; and

set the plurality of operating parameters based on the real-time measurements.

8. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the switched power converter is further configured to harvest energy of the one or more portions of the input power waveform and deliver the harvested energy of the one or more portions of the input power waveform to the output.

9. A method for converting power in a power converter, the method comprising:

receiving an input power waveform from an input power source;

generating a converted power at an output;

sensing at least one indication of an operating condition;

selecting one or more portions of the input power waveform to satisfy a target operating condition, wherein the selected one or more portions are selected based on the at least one indication of an operating condition;

avoiding selecting one or more other portions of the input power waveform to satisfy the target operating condition; and

converting the one or more portions of the input power waveform to the output.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one indication of an operating condition includes an indication of at least one of power conversion efficiency, harmonics, temperature, expected output voltage, stored energy level, inductance-based energy storage, storage capacitor voltage, start-up energy storage levels, output ripple, voltage and current draw of a load, rate of discharge of a storage capacitor, voltage and current of the input power source, frequency of the input power source, a rate of change or slope of the input power source, a resonant frequency of an LLC converter, a change in the resonant frequency of the LLC converter, a temperature of an LLC converter, a present position along an input A/C waveform, a fluctuation profile of power consumption of the load, power factor, information or commands provided by the load or a user, over-voltage and/or over-current conditions of the input, over-voltage and/or over-current conditions of the output, mechanical noise or vibrations, characteristics of the mechanical noise or vibrations, a noise profile of the input power source, and electromagnetic interference (EMI).

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the converting further includes converting the one or more portions of the input power waveform to the output based on the at least one indication of an operating condition.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising charging at least one energy storage device based on the at least one indication of an operating condition.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising sensing a change in the at least one indication of an operating condition, and selecting one or more different portions of the input power waveform responsive to the sensed change in the at least one indication of an operating condition.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining a position and size of the one or more portions of the input power waveform;

setting a plurality of operating parameters based on the determined position and size of the one or more portions of the input power waveform; and

selecting the one or more portions of the input power waveform based on the plurality of operating parameters.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

calculating an efficiency based on real-time measurements of the input power waveform and the converted power; and

setting the plurality of operating parameters based on the real-time measurements.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

harvesting energy of the one or more portions of the input power waveform; and

delivering the harvested energy of the one or more portions of the input power waveform to the output.

17. A power converter comprising:

an input configured to receive an input power waveform from an input power source;

an output configured to generate a converted power;

a sensor unit configured to sense at least one indication of an operating condition;

a processing module configured to:

determine a position and size of one or more portions of the input power waveforms based on the at least one indication of an operating condition and based on the plurality of operating parameters; and

set a plurality of operating parameters based on the determined position and size of the one or more portions; and

a switched power converter configured to convert the one or more portions of the input power waveform to the output.

18. The power converter of claim 17 , wherein the processing module is further configured to:

calculate an efficiency based on real-time measurements of the input power waveform and the converted power; and

set the plurality of operating parameters based on the real-time measurements.