Multi-mode flyback control for a switching power converter

An apparatus comprising:

• a switching power converter;
• a controller coupled to the switching power converter, wherein the controller is configured to:
• detect whether a dimmer is phase cutting an input voltage to a switching power converter;
• operate the switching power converter in a first mode if the dimmer is detected;
• operate the switching power converter in a second mode if phase cutting of the input voltage is not detected;
• transition between operating the switching power converter in the first mode and the second mode if a status of detection of the dimmer changes
• operate the switching power converter in both the first and second mode to meet a power demand of a load coupled to the switching power converter, wherein to operate the switching power converter in both the first and second modes to meet the power demand of a load coupled to the switching power converter comprises:
• to set an average input current target value for an input current to the switching power converter for operation of the switching power converter in the first mode, wherein the average input current target is insufficient to allow the switching power converter to provide a sufficient charge to meet a charge demand by the load coupled to the switching power converter;
• and
• to operate the switching power converter in the second mode to allow the switching power converter to provide the sufficient charge to meet the charge demand by the load coupled to the switching power converter.

An apparatus comprising:

• a switching power converter;
• and
• a controller coupled to the switching power converter, wherein the controller includes a dimmer detector and the dimmer detector generates a dimmer detection output that controls operational characteristics of the switching power converter in one of at least two different operational modes depending on whether the detector detects a dimmer.
• wherein the controller is configured to:
• operate the switching power converter in both the first and second modes to meet a power demand of a load coupled to the switching power converter, wherein to operate the switching power converter in both the first and second mode to meet the power demand of a load coupled to the switching power converter comprises:
• to set an average input current target value for an input current to the switching power converter for operation of the switching power converter in the first mode, wherein the average input current target is insufficient to allow the switching power converter to provide a sufficient charge to meet a charge demand by the load coupled to the switching power converter;
• and
• to also operate the switching power converter in the second mode to allow the switching power converter to provide the sufficient charge to meet the charge demand by the load coupled to the switching power converter.

An apparatus comprising:

• a controller to control a switching power converter, wherein the controller is configured to:
• detect whether a dimmer is phase cutting an input voltage to the switching power converter;
• operate the switching power converter in a first mode if the dimmer is detected;
• operate the switching power converter in a second mode if phase cutting of the input voltage is not detected;
• transition between operating the switching power converter in the first mode and the second mode if a status of detection of the dimmer changes;
• and
• operate the switching power converter in both the first mode and the second mode to meet a power demand of a load coupled to the switching power converter, wherein to operate the switching power converter in both the first mode and the second mode to meet power the power demand of the load coupled to the switching power converter, the controller is further configured to:
• set an average input current target value for an input current to the switching power converter for operation of the switching power converter in the first mode, wherein the average input current target is insufficient to allow the switching power converter to provide a sufficient charge to meet a charge demand by the load coupled to the switching power converter;
• and
• also operate the switching power converter in the second mode to allow the switching power converter to provide the sufficient charge to meet the charge demand by the load coupled to the switching power converter.