Patents Examined by Demetries A. Gibson
  • Patent number: 10320280
    Abstract: An LC filter circuit reduces an output voltage ripple of a switching power supply using coupled inductors in combination with a capacitor to form a notch filter, and aligning the notch region of the notch filter with a ripple frequency of the switching power supply to attenuate the frequency region of the fundamental ripple frequency by a larger amount than other frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Aldrick S. Limjoco, Jefferson Albo Eco
  • Patent number: 10305379
    Abstract: A control circuit for compensating output loss of a power converter includes a sampling voltage generator, a time-to-voltage converter, and a compensation signal generator. The sampling voltage generator generates a sampling voltage corresponding to a detection voltage according to a first reference current, a second reference current, and the detection voltage. The time-to-voltage converter generates a corresponding voltage according to a period of a gate control signal controlling a power switch of a primary side of the power converter and a discharge time of a secondary side of the power converter. The compensation signal generator generates a compensation signal compensating the output loss according to the sampling voltage and the corresponding voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Leadtrend Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Hsin-Hung Lu, San-Yi Li
  • Patent number: 10298140
    Abstract: A method of controlling a full-scale converter system in which both the grid-side inverter unit and the generator-side inverter unit have a series-connection of parallel inverters and form a generator-side and grid-side voltage-center-point at a voltage level between the inverters connected in series. The voltage-center-points are electrically connected by a center-line conductor. Conversion operation with a de-rated maximum active power-output is performed in response to at least one of (i) the grid-side inverter and (ii) the generator-side inverter of the first converter-string being disabled, by disabling active power production of at least one of (i) the grid-side inverter and (ii) the generator-side inverter of the second converter-string, or correspondingly reducing active power production of the second converter-string, thereby preventing a compensation current along the center-line conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: John Godsk Nielsen, Søren Andersen, Lars Helle, Duy Duc Doan
  • Patent number: 10296031
    Abstract: A reference voltage generator may include a voltage division unit configured to receive an external voltage, and divide the external voltage into a plurality of divided voltages. The reference voltage generator may include reference voltage output units configured to trim the divided voltages received from the voltage division unit according to a division control signal, and output supply reference voltages. The reference voltage output units may be symmetrically arranged at both sides of the voltage division unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Young Koung Kim
  • Patent number: 10298144
    Abstract: A power conversion system and a method for voltage change detection, specifically, relates to a detection circuit implemented in the AC-DC power converter, detect the voltage change. The AC input voltage is rectified to convert into a DC input voltage transmitted to a detection unit generating a detection voltage signal at different logical states corresponding to the input voltage changes. A charge current source unit is used for charging the capacitor when the detection voltage signal is in a second state and a discharge current source unit is used for discharging the capacitor when the detection voltage signal is in a first state. A primary comparator compares the voltage changes of the capacitor in the alternating charge and discharge processes with a critical zero potential and outputs a detection signal identifying the changing trend of the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: ALPHA AND OMEGA SEMICONDUCTOR (CAYMAN) LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Ming Chen, Chih-Yuan Liu, Pei-Lun Huang
  • Patent number: 10277134
    Abstract: A switching power supply device includes a first converter of boost type to which a full-wave rectified AC power supply is input, and a second converter of current resonant type to which an output of the first converter is supplied as an input voltage. The second converter has a normal mode for performing power supply control by continuously outputting an output of an oscillator to a switching element of the second converter and a standby mode for performing power supply control by intermittently outputting the output of the oscillator thereto under light load by comparing a feedback voltage from a secondary side of an isolation transformer with a threshold voltage. The second converter corrects the threshold voltage according to an output voltage of the first converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Sonobe
  • Patent number: 10277128
    Abstract: A buck converter includes a power switch having a first end to receive an input voltage, a synchronous switch connected between a second end of the power switch and the ground, an inductor having a first end connected to the other end of the power switch, and a switch control circuit configured to turn off the synchronous switch when a zero voltage delay time passes after an inductor current flowing through the inductor reaches a predetermined reference value, calculate a dead time based on the input voltage and the zero voltage delay time, and turn on the power switch when the dead time passes following the turn-off time of the synchronous switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: SangCheol Moon, Gwanbon Koo, Chenghao Jin, Bonggeun Chung
  • Patent number: 10270331
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a boosting converter, an inrush current limiting element, a detection circuit, a switch element, and a control circuit. The inrush current limiting element is configured to limit an inrush current to the boosting converter. The detection circuit is configured to detect whether an output voltage of the boosting converter has reached a set voltage. The switch element is configured to short-circuit the inrush current limiting element. The control circuit is configured to operate the switch element according to the detection to short-circuit the inrush current limiting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shohta Andoh
  • Patent number: 10254777
    Abstract: A regulator circuit includes an OP-amp, buffer, power transistor, voltage divider, load, and feedback current generator. The OP-amp generates a first voltage signal by amplifying a difference between input and feedback voltage signals, and drives a first node as the first voltage signal. The buffer drives a second node as a second voltage signal based on the first voltage signal. The power transistor includes drain, gate and source terminals respectively connected to a supply voltage, the second node, and a third node. The voltage divider generates the feedback voltage signal by dividing an output voltage signal of the third node. The load includes a terminal connected to the third node and another terminal receiving a ground voltage. The feedback current generator provides a first feedback current corresponding to a ripple of the output voltage signal to the first node for enhancing a speed at which the ripple reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Quoc Hoang Duong
  • Patent number: 10256744
    Abstract: In an example, a controller device for a resonant converter includes processing circuitry configured to output a first switching signal and a second switching signal. A switching module is configured to electrically couple a primary side winding of a transformer to a voltage source during an activated state of the first switching signal and to electrically couple the primary side winding to a reference node during an activated state of the second switching signal. The processing circuitry is further configured to determine a first synchronous rectification signal and a second synchronous rectification signal. A synchronous rectification module is configured to generate a first channel for a first secondary side winding of the transformer during an activated state of the first synchronous rectification signal and to generate a second channel for a second secondary side winding of the transformer during an activated state of the second synchronous rectification signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Weifu Yu, Tong Bao, Ming Ping Mao, Yaw Hann Thian
  • Patent number: 10243460
    Abstract: A voltage converter includes a power stage coupled to a power source, a passive circuit coupling the power stage to an output capacitor, a synchronous rectification (SR) switch operable to couple the passive circuit to ground when the SR switch is conducting, a linear controller and an adaptive voltage positioning (AVP) circuit. The linear controller is operable to control switching of the SR switch and switch devices included in the power stage, to regulate an output voltage of the voltage converter based on a reference voltage. The AVP circuit operable to generate an offset voltage applied to the reference voltage based on a first signal representing output current of the voltage converter, and to subtract a second signal from the first signal. The second signal approximates a surge current applied to the output capacitor via the passive circuit for charging the output capacitor during transitions in the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Amir Babazadeh
  • Patent number: 10243459
    Abstract: System controller and method for a power converter. For example, a system controller for a power converter includes a logic controller configured to generate a modulation signal, and a driver configured to receive the modulation signal, generate a drive signal based at least in part on the modulation signal, and output the drive signal to a switch to affect a current flowing through an inductive winding for a power converter. Additionally, the system controller includes a voltage-to-voltage converter configured to receive a first voltage signal, the modulation signal, and a demagnetization signal, and to generate a second voltage signal based at least in part on the first voltage signal, the modulation signal, and the demagnetization signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhuoyan Li, Liqiang Zhu, Jiqing Yang, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 10236774
    Abstract: A control module controls a switching converter including at least one inductor element and one switching element. The module includes: a driver circuit that generates a control signal which controls the on and off cycles of the switching element; a first modulation circuit which sends a command to the driver circuit in such a manner as to generate edges of a first type of the control signal, as a function of the input electrical quantity and of a reference electrical quantity; and a second modulation circuit which sends a command to the driver circuit in such a manner as to generate edges of a second type of the control signal, as a function of a first and a second internal electrical quantity, which are functions respectively of the charges on a first and a second capacitor, which are charged and discharged as a function of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giovanni Gritti
  • Patent number: 10230285
    Abstract: A rotating electric machine includes a ring-shaped cover. The ring-shaped cover includes an outer peripheral portion, an inner peripheral portion, wall portions, an outer peripheral channel, an inner peripheral channel, and radial channels. A coolant supplied into the ring-shaped cover is to flow through the outer peripheral channel by gravity. The coolant is to flow through the inner peripheral channel by gravity. The radical channels include a first radial channel and a second radial channel. The coolant is to flow from the outer peripheral channel to the inner peripheral channel by gravity through the first radial channel. The coolant is to flow from the inner peripheral channel to the outer peripheral channel by gravity through the second radial channel. The coolant is to flow from the second radical channel by gravity through the outer peripheral channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Ichinoe, Tomotaka Iki
  • Patent number: 10212783
    Abstract: System controller and method for a power converter. For example, a system controller for a power converter includes a logic controller configured to generate a modulation signal, and a driver configured to receive the modulation signal, generate a drive signal based at least in part on the modulation signal, and output the drive signal to a switch to affect a current flowing through an inductive winding for a power converter. Additionally, the system controller includes a voltage-to-voltage converter configured to receive a first voltage signal, the modulation signal, and a demagnetization signal, and to generate a second voltage signal based at least in part on the first voltage signal, the modulation signal, and the demagnetization signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhuoyan Li, Liqiang Zhu, Jiqing Yang, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 10198013
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure pertain to a voltage regulator system having a voltage regulation controller and a transformer assembly. The transformer assembly includes a coil winding, a multi-contact tap arrangement connected to the coil winding, and a multifurcated tap changer system that includes a first tap changer having a contactor element which makes contact with a first contact of the multi-contact tap arrangement when the controller provides a positioning stimulus based on sensing a voltage deviation from a nominal output voltage of the voltage regulator system. The multifurcated tap changer system further includes a second tap changer that is mechanically ganged to the first tap changer and includes another contactor element arranged to automatically make contact with a second contact of the multi-contact tap arrangement when the contactor element of the first tap changer makes contact with the first contact of the multi-contact tap arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Ambrose Dauzat
  • Patent number: 10185339
    Abstract: A voltage regulator that provides feedforward cancellation of power supply noise is disclosed. The voltage regulator includes a process tracking circuit that receives a supply voltage and generates a proportional voltage. A tracking capacitor is coupled to the process tracking circuit and generates an injection voltage based on the proportional voltage. An Ahuja compensated regulator generates a regulated voltage. The injection voltage is provided on a feedback path of the Ahuja compensated regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Shuaeb Fazeel, Eeshan Miglani, Visvesvaraya Pentakota, Shagun Dusad
  • Patent number: 10177681
    Abstract: A power converter circuit includes a chopper circuit configured to receive an input voltage and generate a chopper voltage with an alternating voltage level based on the input voltage, an autotransformer including at least one tap, the autotransformer being coupled to the chopper circuit and configured to generate a tap voltage at the at least one tap, and a selector circuit configured to receive a plurality of voltage levels. At least one of these the voltage levels is based on the at least one tap voltage. The selector circuit is further configured to generate a selector output voltage based on the plurality of voltage levels such that the selector circuit selects two of the plurality of voltage levels and switches at a switching frequency between the two voltage levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Dominik Neumayr, Dominik Bortis, Mattia Guacci, Johann Kolar, Michael Leibl, Gerald Deboy
  • Patent number: 10156860
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein present a new LDO design that eliminates the need for the sleep bias circuitry included in other systems. Further, the new LDO design can be biased with a small fraction of the operating current enabling the LDO to wake up substantially faster than previous LDO designs that include separate sleep circuitry. In some cases, the LDO can instantly (or faster than other LDOs) transition from a sleep mode to an operating mode enabling improved operation compared to prior LDOs. Furthermore, the new LDO design maintains a non-breakdown voltage across the transistors reducing the need to enter sleep mode to prevent transistors of the LDO from entering a breakdown region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Bo Zhou
  • Patent number: 10153702
    Abstract: Circuits and methods within a switched-mode power supply (SMPS) controller are provided. The SMPS controller includes an SMPS power stage which is integrated within the same package, and which has a first power switch. The first power switch is used to supply current to a power supply for the SMPS controller during a start-up phase of the SMPS, thereby charging this power supply prior to normal operational mode of the SMPS. A lead of the SMPS controller is connected to a control terminal of the first power switch during the start-up phase. After the start-up phase, this same lead is instead routed to an input source voltage monitor, and is used for detecting overvoltage or undervoltage conditions at the SMPS input power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Yong Siang Teo, Xiaowu Gong, Kok Kee Lim