Patents Examined by Demetries A. Gibson
  • Patent number: 9755536
    Abstract: A contactless inductively coupled power transfer system includes a power supply device and a power receiving device. The power supply device includes a primary winding for generating an electromagnetic field (EMF) in response to an AC current flow having an operating frequency. The power receiving device includes a resonant circuit outputting an output voltage to a load and including a secondary winding and a reactance element. The reactance element is capable of forming a parallel resonant LC circuit with the secondary winding that resonates at the operating frequency, and forming a series resonant LC circuit that resonates at the operating frequency, and that is to be connected in series to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: PowerWow Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Jr-Uei Hsu
  • Patent number: 9755551
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes: a plurality of 3-level converters (31 to 35) that are multiple-connected in series to an AC power supply; and a control device (10) controlling operations of the plurality of 3-level converters (31 to 35). The control device (10) includes: a calculation unit calculating an output voltage command for the plurality of 3-level converters (31 to 35); a carrier signal generation unit generating a carrier signal; a correction unit correcting a phase of the carrier signal based on a potential variation on a DC neutral point bus (7); and a pulse width modulation control. unit delaying the phase by a prescribed amount based on the carrier signal having the phase corrected by the correction unit as a reference phase, to generate a plurality of carrier signals, and comparing the output voltage command with each of the plurality of carrier signals to generate a control command for each of the plurality of 3-level converters (31 to 35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Sugiyama, Naoki Morishima
  • Patent number: 9755514
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method receives a shed comparison signal that is based on a comparison of a voltage detected from a voltage converter to a reference voltage and receives a zero cross signal that indicates whether a current from the voltage converter has crossed zero. The shed comparison signal is sampled for a first number of clock cycles to generate shed comparison sampled values. Also, the zero cross signal is sampled for a second number of clock cycles to generate zero cross sampled values where the second number of clock cycles are less than the first number of clock cycles. The method determines a change between a shed state and an unshed state based on the shed comparison sampled values for the first number of clock cycles or the zero cross sampled values for the second number of clock cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Stuart Pullen, William Rader
  • Patent number: 9748857
    Abstract: A high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission system includes an alternating current (AC) electrical source and a power converter channel that includes an AC-DC converter electrically coupled to the electrical source and a DC-AC inverter electrically coupled to the AC-DC converter. The AC-DC converter and the DC-AC inverter each include a plurality of legs that includes at least one switching device. The power converter channel further includes a commutating circuit communicatively coupled to one or more switching devices. The commutating circuit is configured to “switch on” one of the switching devices during a first portion of a cycle of the H-bridge switching circuits and “switch off” the switching device during a second portion of the cycle of the first and second H-bridge switching circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xu She, Rahul Shantilal Chokhawala, James William Bray, Timothy John Sommerer, Rui Zhou, Di Zhang
  • Patent number: 9735699
    Abstract: Discussed is an integral inverter usable with a solar cell module including a solar cell panel. The integral inverter includes a terminal connected to the solar cell panel, a bypass diode electrically connected to the terminal, an inverter member including a direct current (DC)-alternating current (AC) inverter electrically connected to the bypass diode and a case configured to integrate at least one of the terminal and the bypass diode with the DC-AC inverter located therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyukjin Nam, Joonho Jeon, Myonghwan Kim, Jinyoung Cho, Daehyun Shin, Byoungsu Yoon, Giyob Park, Byungwook Woo, Jungguen Kim, Hyunrok Mun
  • Patent number: 9729078
    Abstract: A method for actuating an AC/DC voltage converter is specified, which has a DC voltage output between which at least one series circuit of at least two capacitors and at least one series circuit of n switching elements-is arranged, where n?4. A connecting point of the switching elements is connected to a connection of an AC voltage input between n/2 switching elements. Two diodes are connected in an antiparallel arrangement to the two switching elements lying closest to the connecting point. In addition, a connecting point of the capacitors is connected to a connecting point of the diodes. An output voltage at the DC voltage output and a potential of the connecting point of the capacitors or diodes are provided as controlled variables, an input current at the AC voltage input is provided as a manipulated variable and the switching elements are provided as an actuating element of a control loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Achleitner, Gernot Trauner, Andreas Pamer
  • Patent number: 9712062
    Abstract: A switched-capacitor circuit has two capacitors and two MOSFETs that cross-couple the capacitors, connecting the anode of one to the cathode of the other, and vice-versa. When either MOSFET is on, the capacitors are in series; the order alternates as the MOSFETs alternate. A reversing cyclical voltage suitable as a primary drive for a transformer is generated. If the MOSFETs alternate with no dead-time, a square-wave excitation is generated. With off-time, a pwm excitation is generate. Charge is maintained on the switched-capacitors using a symmetrical common-mode inductor. A bifilar winding is center-tap as its input, and the ends of the bifilar winding are connected to the capacitors. The capacitors are effectively in parallel. Because the charging current flows and returns through each leg of the inductor equally, it cannot magnetize the inductor core or cause any flux change. Because any voltages induced in the windings are common-mode, flux change in the core does not affect the charging current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Inventor: Edward Herbert
  • Patent number: 9685872
    Abstract: A single-stage switched-mode power supply comprises: a dual-source ac rectifying unit (501), for converting an alternating current input by an alternating current power source into at least two direct current sources, namely, a first direct current source (606) and a second direct current source (607); a combination switch unit, at least comprising a first switch circuit (603) and a second switch circuit (605), used for respectively performing power conversion on the first direct current source (606) and the second direct current source (607), to output a direct current, wherein the first direct current source (606) is connected to the first switch circuit (603) through an energy-storage capacitor (604), the first switch circuit (603) is any circuit capable of functioning as a switch circuit, and the second switch circuit (605) is a circuit capable of functioning as a flyback switch circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Inventor: Weilun Chen
  • Patent number: 9680394
    Abstract: A control method for an energy voltage regulator includes: detecting an output AC signal of a current cycle to generate a reference current command; comparing the reference current command with a reference upper power limit; and if the reference current command is lower than the reference upper power limit, generating a first current command based on the reference current command, to perform a discontinuous conduct control and to operate the energy voltage regulator under a discontinuous conduct state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Ming-Hung Yu, Po-Li Chen
  • Patent number: 9680384
    Abstract: Energy in a power converter is regulated by receiving a first signal representative of an output voltage and a second signal representative of a current of the power converter. An output current of the power converter is determined in response to at least one of the first and second signals. An inner maximum output power point corresponding to a first value of output voltage and a first value of output current is determined. An outer maximum output power point corresponding to a second value of output voltage and a second value of output current is determined. A maximum capability boundary between the inner maximum output power point and the outer maximum output power point is determined. A power switch is switched to regulate the output voltage and the output current of the power converter such that the maximum output power is lower than the maximum capability boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Patent number: 9667158
    Abstract: A power supply device includes: a power factor correction circuit which includes a capacitor and which corrects a power factor of power; a DC-DC converter which includes a switching element and which steps up or down an output voltage of the power factor correction circuit; a control unit; and a voltage detection unit which detects a voltage of an input side of the power factor correction circuit. The control unit controls the switching element such that an output voltage of the DC-DC converter is gradually reduced when stopping an operation of the DC-DC converter in a normal state in which the voltage detection unit does not detect a voltage lower than a predetermined value. When the voltage detection unit detects a voltage lower than the predetermined value, the control unit immediately turns off the switching element to stop the operation of the DC-DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: OMRON AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Ando, Yasumichi Omoto
  • Patent number: 9660519
    Abstract: A switching power supply circuit including a phase angle detector circuit detecting a phase angle specified in advance based on a peak hold signal, a continuous conduction control setting circuit holding a voltage value corresponding to a peak current value of an inductor current detection voltage in every switching cycle and during a one-shot pulse when the peak is held and outputting a signal at the point of detection to determine to enable or disable a second set pulse set by the continuous conduction control setting circuit. When the second set pulse is disabled, a selector circuit carries out control using critical conduction control to turn on a switching element using a ZCD comparator detecting that the inductor current has reached zero, because of which the peak current does not increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 9647529
    Abstract: Electric power is transferred between an AC voltage grid and a DC voltage grid in the high-voltage range. Phase modules have at least one common DC voltage connection and separate AC voltage connections. A phase module branch between the DC voltage connection and each AC voltage connection has a series circuit of two-pole sub-modules, each with an energy storage device and a power semiconductor circuit in parallel with the energy storage device. The power semiconductor circuit is driven to generate either the voltage drop across the energy storage device or else a zero voltage at the two sub-module connection terminals. A converter transformer has a primary side on an AC voltage grid and a secondary side connected to the AC voltage connections. Improved protection against overloading is provided by at least one surge arrester between the or one of the common DC voltage connections and the inverter neutral point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mike Dommaschk, Guenter Ebner, Klaus Wuerflinger
  • Patent number: 9647535
    Abstract: A power-supply apparatus is provided which includes a transformer, a primary semiconductor unit, a secondary semiconductor unit, and a secondary electronic device. Each of the primary semiconductor unit and the secondary semiconductor units has a plurality of semiconductor devices installed therein. The transformer, the primary semiconductor unit, the secondary semiconductor unit, and the secondary electronic device are electrically joined through connecting conductors. The transformer is laid on the primary semiconductor unit to make a first stack. Similarly, the secondary electronic device is laid on the secondary semiconductor unit. This permits the power-supply apparatus to be reduced in overall size thereof and minimizes adverse effects of electromagnetic noise to ensure the high efficiency in power supply operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuichi Handa, Katsutoyo Misawa, Yuuki Takemoto, Shotaro Yamasaki, Shuji Kurauchi
  • Patent number: 9647541
    Abstract: In a hysteretic control DC/DC converter apparatus having a coupling circuit that couples a voltage input to a voltage output, a control signal is generated based on a node voltage at a node in the coupling circuit. The node is alternately connected to a fixed potential and disconnected from the fixed potential in accordance with a frequency of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Haifeng Fan
  • Patent number: 9634555
    Abstract: A power factor correction (PFC) boost circuit. The PFC boost circuit can include a first switching device, a second switching device, a first gate driver coupled to the first switching device, a second gate driver coupled to the second switching device, and a PFC controller configured to control the first and second gate drivers. The PFC controller will utilize a new technique, referred to herein as “predictive diode emulation” to control the switching devices in a desired manner and to overcome inefficiencies and other problems that might arise using traditional diode emulation. The PFC controller is configured to operate in synchronous and non-synchronous modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Efficient Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. De Rooij, Johan Strydom
  • Patent number: 9627984
    Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated power supply circuit with a programmable function and a control method thereof. The isolated power supply circuit includes: a transformer circuit, a power switch circuit, a control circuit, and a discharge circuit. The control circuit generates an operation signal and a bleeding signal according to a setting signal. The discharge circuit is coupled to an output node, for generating a discharging current. When the programmable output voltage at the output node switches between different predetermined levels, in a transition period, the bleeding signal adjusts the discharging current to discharge the output node, such that the transition period is shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuang-Fu Chang, Tzu-Chen Lin, Chih-Wei Chi
  • Patent number: 9627956
    Abstract: A ride-through and recovery method for DC short circuit faults of a hybrid modular multilevel converter based high-voltage direct current transmission (MMC-HVDC) system, the hybrid MMC including multiple full-bridge sub-modules and half-bridge sub-modules, and the method including: 1) detecting whether a DC short circuit fault occurs, and proceeding to step (2) if yes and continuing detecting if no; 2) realizing ride-through of the DC short circuit fault; 3) detecting whether a DC residual voltage increases, and proceeding to step (4) if yes and continuing detecting if no; and 4) realizing DC short circuit fault recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: HUAZHONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jiabing Hu, Kecheng Xu, Maozeng Lu, Wanning Zheng
  • Patent number: 9621038
    Abstract: A switch control circuit for controlling an average current flowing into a load through a current control switch that is series-coupled to an input power and the load includes a sensing unit configured to measure a current flowing into the load, a folder unit configured to fold a sensing signal related to the measured current based on a first reference voltage to generate first and second folder output signals based on an initialization voltage, the first and second folder output signals being symmetric to each other, a comparison unit configured to compare the generated first and second folder output signals and a control unit configured to control an operation of the current control switch according to a comparison result in the comparison unit. Such a switch control circuit integrates and compares a sensing signal and a reference signal to effectively perform an average current control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhi Yuan Cui, Youn Ggi Ryu, Doo Soo Shin, In Ho Hwang
  • Patent number: 9621019
    Abstract: A controller includes a multiplier block that is coupled to receive an input voltage signal, an input current signal, and an output voltage signal that are representative of a power conversion system. The multiplier block outputs a multiplier block output signal responsive to a product of the input voltage signal and the input current signal divided by the output voltage signal. A signal discriminator outputs a error signal responsive to the multiplier block output signal. The error signal is representative of a difference between a portion of the multiplier block output signal that is greater than a reference signal and a portion of the multiplier block output signal that is less than or equal to the reference signal. A switch controller generates a drive signal responsive to the error signal to control switching of a power switch to regulate an average output current of the power conversion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Power Intergrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Yue Zhang, Ricardo Luis Janezic Pregitzer, Mingming Mao, Tiziano Pastore