A microchip for control of a switch mode power supply (SMPS), with said microchip also having the ability to measure
capacitance of an
electrode or sense plate structure or structures, and use of a low power, power supply structure to supply said microchip, said power supply structure distinct from the main energy path via said SMPS to a load. The microchip may control said SMPS to transition between an
active state and an inactive state, with the measured
capacitance used to determine a condition for state transition. In said SMPS inactive state, only the microchip draws power to operate its
capacitive sensing circuitry, leading to a significant SMPS standby losses decrease compared to prior art. Further teachings by the present invention include
capacitive sensing based data transfer, universal charging platforms for mobile devices,
noise immunity enhancements, various lighting embodiments as well as SMPS operation improvements.