Patents Examined by Adolf Berhane
  • Patent number: 10222819
    Abstract: A reference voltage generator circuit includes a circuit that generates a complementary to absolute temperature (CTAT) voltage and a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current. An output current circuit generates, from the PTAT current, a sink PTAT current sunk from a first node and a source PTAT current sourced to a second node, wherein the sink and source PTAT currents are equal. A resistor is directly connected between the first node and the second node. A divider circuit divides the CTAT voltage to generate a divided CTAT voltage applied to the first node. A voltage at the second node is a fractional bandgap reference voltage equal to a sum of the divided CTAT voltage and a voltage drop across the resistor that is proportional to a resistor current equal to the sink and source PTAT currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventor: Abhirup Lahiri
  • Patent number: 10218269
    Abstract: Provided is a switching regulator in which a MOS transistor Q1 (first switch) and a MOS transistor Q2 (second switch) are complementarily turned on/off according to an output voltage VOUT, and in which a MOS transistor Q3 (third switch) and a MOS transistor Q4 (fourth switch) are complementarily turned on/off by fixing an on-duty D of the MOS transistor Q3 (third switch) in a step up/down mode. The switching regulator performs current mode control according to information of current flowing in the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuhei Yamaguchi, Tetsuo Tateishi
  • Patent number: 10218287
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a single phase full-bridge rectification circuit, a reactor being connected to a power source in series between one of input terminals of the single phase full-bridge rectification circuit and the power source, capacitors being connected to each other in series via a connection point between output terminals of the single phase full-bridge rectification circuit, a first switch connected between the input terminal and the connection point, and a second switch connected between the input terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Satou, Junya Mitsui
  • Patent number: 10218282
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for sequencing outputs in a multi-output power converter system are disclosed herein. During start-up multiple CC/CV outputs may be sequenced so that energy is first provided to a highest voltage secondary output and subsequently provided to a lowest voltage secondary output. Additionally, control may be exerted so as to concurrently and monotonically increase voltages during at least part of the start-up transient; and concurrent control may be further implemented using control circuitry and a variable reference generator. In some embodiments a variable reference may be generated from a capacitor voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Moore, Matthew David Waterson, Antonius Jacobus Johannes Werner
  • Patent number: 10218264
    Abstract: A power system having a controller coupled to a power converter and configured to sense a pulsed load current and a load voltage, and configured to control the power converter such that the power converter draws a constant power from a power source to avoid disturbances in the power source while delivering the pulsed load current. The controller is configured to determine an average value of the pulsed load current and an average value of the load voltage to determine an average power delivered to the load. The controller is configured to dynamically establish the charge current to a capacitor bank as a function of the sensed instantaneous load voltage such that the power converter draws a constant power from the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: John Mcginty, Stephen R. Reid, Alan Cuerden
  • Patent number: 10211729
    Abstract: A control circuit in a switching regulator, the switching regulator including an inductor and a switching circuit configured to control a current passing through the inductor in response to a control signal, the control circuit configured to receive a feedback voltage of an output voltage of the switching regulator and receive the current passing through the inductor as a current sensing signal. The control circuit includes a first internal signal generator configured to generate a first internal signal based on the feedback voltage and a reference voltage, a second internal signal generator configured to generate a second internal signal based on the current sensing signal such that a base level of the second internal signal varies according to the feedback voltage and the reference voltage, and a comparator configured to output the control signal based on the first and second internal signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Quoc hoang Duong, Yus Ko, Pan-jong Kim, Hyun-seok Shin, Jeong-woon Kong
  • Patent number: 10211625
    Abstract: Arc flash mitigation devices are employed to protect personnel during maintenance of photovoltaic inverters. During normal operation, an alternating current (AC) output of a photovoltaic inverter is coupled to a low voltage winding of a step up transformer through a bus-bar (e.g., an electrically conductive interconnect), which has higher current rating than a fuse. During maintenance, the bus-bar is replaced with the fuse. The fuse may be employed in conjunction with a switch. The switch may be a disconnect switch that places the bus-bar in parallel with the fuse during normal operation, and decouples the bus-bar from the fuse during maintenance. The switch may also be a transfer switch that places either the bus-bar or the fuse in series with the AC output of the photovoltaic inverter and the low voltage winding of the step up transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Seshadri Sivakumar, Jiyong Lian, Venkat Reddy Konala, David Barr, Priyantha Sirisooriya, Jacqueline Ahmad, Jason Spokes
  • Patent number: 10211723
    Abstract: The invention provides a regulator for DC-DC hybrid-mode power regulation of an output voltage and a load current. The regulator may include a controller and a back-end circuit. The controller controls the output voltage and the load current by charging a connection node when a driving signal is at an on-level, and stopping charging the connection node when the driving signal is at an off-level. The back-end circuit is coupled to the controller, capable of switching between a first mode and a second mode to control transition of the driving signal by different schemes. The back-end circuit switches from the second mode to the first mode when a mode-switch criterion is satisfied, and whether the mode-switch criterion is satisfied is independent of a measurement of the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Shan-Fong Hong, Chih-Chen Li, Kuan-Yu Chu, Chien-Wei Kuan, Yen-Hsun Hsu
  • Patent number: 10211744
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for secondary side current mode control of a converter are provided. In the method and apparatus, an output voltage of the converter is detected, where the converter has primary and secondary windings that are galvanically isolated in respective primary and secondary sides. A secondary control signal is generated in the secondary side based at least in part on the output voltage and a reference voltage. The secondary control signal is converted to a primary control signal provided in the primary side. The converter is driven in the primary side based at least in part on the primary control signal and a current sense signal indicative of a current flowing through the primary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Giuseppe Scappatura
  • Patent number: 10211747
    Abstract: A direct current (DC) to DC power converter includes a first bus converter for converting a first DC bus voltage into a first high frequency AC voltage and a second bus converter for converting a second high frequency alternating current (AC) voltage into a second DC bus voltage. The DC to DC converter also includes a resonant circuit for coupling the first bus converter and the second bus converter and a controller for providing switching signals to the first bus converter and the second bus converter to operate the power converter in a soft switching mode. The controller includes a switching frequency controller for determining a switching frequency signal for the power converter based on a reference output current and a phase shift controller for determining a phase shift signal for the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Mohammed Agamy, Dong Dong, Yan Pan, Luis Jose Garces
  • Patent number: 10209724
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes an operational amplifier that compares a feedback voltage that is proportional to an output voltage and a predetermined reference voltage that corresponds to a desired output voltage. The operational amplifier controls the conduction state of an output transistor according to the comparison. A detecting circuit monitors the operating state of the operational amplifier, and in the case that the operational amplifier is not operating, outputs a signal which causes the output transistor to be placed in a non-conductive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayuki Usuda
  • Patent number: 10205393
    Abstract: A comparator circuit includes a first comparator, a second comparator, and a logic portion. The logic portion adjust a variable reference voltage input to the second comparator to become close to a reference voltage input to the first comparator, during a period from a time point when reverse current of current flowing in a coil disposed in a switching power supply device is detected in a state where a first comparison signal is output as a comparison signal while the first comparator and the second comparator are operated, until a first predetermined period of time elapses in a state where switching operation of the switching power supply device is stopped (excluding a period from a time point when the reverse current is detected until a second predetermined period of time shorter than the first predetermined period of time elapses).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Genki Tsuruyama, Tetsuo Tateishi
  • Patent number: 10205377
    Abstract: A method and controller for controlling a converter are provided. The converter is operated in a first phase in which controller logic asserts a first gate drive signal to cause a first transistor of the converter to be conductive and deasserts a second gate drive signal to cause a second transistor of the converter to be non-conductive. In a first deadtime phase and a second phase, the controller logic deasserts both the first and second gate drive signals to cause leakage energy from a leakage inductance of a primary winding of the converter to be transferred to a clamp capacitance of the converter. After the leakage energy is transferred, the converter is operated in a third phase in which the logic asserts the second gate drive signal and deasserts the first gate drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Claudio Adragna
  • Patent number: 10205380
    Abstract: In one implementation, a power converter with over-voltage protection includes a power switch coupled to a power supply through a tank circuit, and a control circuit coupled to a gate of the power switch. The control circuit is configured to turn the power switch OFF based on a current from the tank circuit, thereby providing the over-voltage protection to the power converter. In one implementation, the power converter is a class-E power converter. In one implementation, the control circuit is configured to sense the current from the tank circuit based on a voltage drop across a sense resistor coupled to the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Americas Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Ribarich, Jorge Cerezo, Ajit Dubhashi
  • Patent number: 10205396
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (300) for controlling a galvanically isolated DC converter (100). The DC converter (100) comprises a full bridge (110) for converting an input DC voltage (UinDC) into an input AC voltage (UinAC), a transformer (120) for converting the input AC voltage (UinAC) into an output AC voltage (UoutAC), and a rectifier (130) for converting the output AC voltage (UoutAC) into an output DC voltage (UoutDC). The method comprises the steps: determining (320) the duty cycle (D) of the full bridge (110); comparing (330) the determined duty cycle (D) with a duty cycle threshold value (Dth); calculating (340) an input DC voltage (UinDCcalc) according to an input current (I_in), the output DC voltage (UoutDC), a transformation ratio (U) of the transformer (120) and an adapted value (D_ad) of the duty cycle of the full bridge (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Gholamabas Esteghlal
  • Patent number: 10203710
    Abstract: A voltage regulator which provides an output current at an output voltage at an output node of the voltage regulator, based on an input voltage at an input node of the voltage regulator is described. The voltage regulator has an output amplification stage for deriving the output current at the output node from the input voltage at the input node in dependence of a drive voltage. Furthermore, the voltage regulator has a differential amplification stage to determine the drive voltage in dependence of the output voltage and in dependence of a reference voltage. In addition, the voltage regulator has an adaption unit to determine a capacitance indication of a capacitor value of an output capacitor coupled to the output node of the voltage regulator. The adaption unit also adapts the differential amplification stage in dependence of the capacitance indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Ambreesh Bhattad, Frank Kronmueller, Hande Kurnaz
  • Patent number: 10205406
    Abstract: A passive boost network configured to boost and output an AC power signal having a predetermined frequency, can include: an input port; an output port configured to provide the AC power signal; first and second passive components coupled in series between first and second terminals of the input port; a third passive component coupled in series with the second passive component between first and second terminals of the output port; and where the first passive component is one of a capacitor and an inductor, and the second and third passive components are each the other of the capacitor and the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Wang Zhang, Chen Zhao
  • Patent number: 10199925
    Abstract: An overcurrent protection apparatus that protects, from overcurrent, a load drive system including a load circuit having an electric load and a semiconductor switch electrically connected to the load circuit so as to control a drive of the load circuit is provided. The overcurrent protection apparatus includes: an energization state acquisition part that is configured to acquire an energization state of load current flowing through the semiconductor switch and the load circuit when the semiconductor switch is ON; a change part that is configured to change an acquisition condition of the energization state at the energization state acquisition part in accordance with a driving state of the load circuit; and a protection operator that is configured to execute overcurrent protective operation of protecting the load drive system from the overcurrent based on the energization state acquired by the energization state acquisition part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: ANDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10199922
    Abstract: A sub-module of a modular braking unit that is connected to a DC transmission network. Each sub-module has an inverse diode, and a storage capacitor connected in parallel with the inverse diode via a free-wheeling diode. An energy-consuming switching unit is connected to the storage capacitor. In order to provide a sub-module of this type such that the braking unit can function with relatively low losses in the stand-by and idle state, the sub-module is provided with an actively switchable semiconductor bypass path in parallel with the inverse diode. A braking unit has a plurality of series-connected sub-modules and we disclose a method for operating a braking unit of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rodrigo Alonso Alvarez Valenzuela, Dominik Schuster, Klaus Wuerflinger
  • Patent number: 10199946
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for regulating a power converter. An example system controller includes: a first controller terminal configured to output a drive signal to a switch to affect a current flowing through a primary winding of a power converter, the drive signal being associated with a switching period corresponding to a switching frequency; and a second controller terminal configured to receive a feedback signal associated with an output voltage related to a secondary winding of the power converter. The first controller terminal is further configured to: output the drive signal to close the switch during the on-time period; and output the drive signal to open the switch during the off-time period. The system controller is configured to set the switching frequency to one or more frequency magnitudes, each of the one or more frequency magnitudes being smaller than or equal to an upper frequency limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaomin Huang, Yuan Lin, Huawei Lyu, Lieyi Fang