Patents Examined by Demetries A. Gibson
-
Patent number: 9621071Abstract: A high powered current generator for electromagnetic inspection of hydrocarbon pipelines from an AC stabilized with rectangular waveform and whose measurements and interpretation are used for evaluating the condition of the lining of the pipelines of five main modules: self-programmable regulated voltage power source module; power source reference decoupling module; H Bridge inverter module; feedback module, and control and processing module. The generator was specifically designed as part of the instrumentation of (TIEMS); which supplies an electric current in the pipeline to produce electromagnetic radiation along the hydrocarbon pipeline. This energy is detected by antennas for obtaining the location of the pipeline and the electric current flowing therein. The generator produces an alternating current at a frequency that can be set within the range of 0.1 Hz to 1 KHz. However, to simplify the job of the operating personnel, default values of 0.1, 0.2, 0.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: INSTITUTO MEXICANO DEL PETROLEOInventors: Edgar Kiyoshi Nakamura Labastida, Aleksandr Mousatov, Alberto Flores Roa
-
Patent number: 9614430Abstract: An inverting apparatus and an AC power system are provided. The inverting apparatus includes an inverting circuit, a detection circuit, and a control circuit. The inverting circuit receives a DC input voltage and converts the DC input voltage into an AC output voltage. The detection circuit samples the AC output voltage and compares the sampled AC output voltage respectively with a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage so as to generate a first indication signal and a second indication signal. The control circuit controls the operation of the inverting circuit. The control circuit determines whether the amplitude of the AC output voltage is located within an operating voltage range during each driving cycles according to the first and the second indication signals, and decides whether to enable an overvoltage protection or an undervoltage protection to control the power conversion of the inverting circuit according to the determination results.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2015Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: FSP TECHNOLOGY INC.Inventors: Han-Wei Chen, Chun-Hao Yu, Chia-Hua Liu
-
Patent number: 9588540Abstract: A voltage regulator generates an output voltage that is a designed voltage level below the supply voltage. A reference voltage generator generates a reference voltage between ground and supply voltages. A voltage divider generates a feedback voltage between the supply and output voltages. An amplifier generates an amplifier output voltage based on a difference between the reference and feedback voltages. A buffer buffers the amplifier output voltage. A pass transistor receives the buffered voltage at its control node to sink an average load current appearing at the output node. A capacitor is connected between the supply and output voltages to provide a peak load current. A load-current-detecting transistor receives the buffered voltage at its control node to sense the load current. A compensation transistor compensates for leakage current. An internal load converts the sensed load current into a voltage control signal applied to the compensation transistor.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2015Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.Inventors: Zhengxiang Wang, Jie Jin
-
Patent number: 9584010Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a transformer which has a primary coil and a secondary coil, a primary side semiconductor component which configures a primary side circuit connected to a side of the primary coil of the transformer, a secondary side semiconductor component which configures a secondary side circuit connected to a side of the secondary coil of the transformer, a choke coil which is connected to the secondary side semiconductor component, and a base plate on which the transformer, the primary side semiconductor component, the secondary side semiconductor component, and the choke coil are mounted.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2015Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Kenta Hatakenaka, Katsutoyo Misawa, Yuuichi Handa, Yuuki Takemoto
-
Patent number: 9581656Abstract: An inverter and a method for detecting a phase failure in an energy supply grid during operation of an inverter, which is connected to the energy supply grid for feeding electrical energy via a YNd transformer is disclosed. The method includes transforming the values of the output currents into a symmetrical positive-sequence current value and into a symmetrical negative-sequence current value of a coordinate system rotating at a fundamental frequency of the energy supply grid. The method further includes determining a ratio of the negative-sequence current value to the positive-sequence current value, and signalling a phase failure in the energy supply grid if the determined ratio is greater than a preset threshold value for longer than a preset time period. The disclosure furthermore relates to an inverter designed for implementing the method.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: SMA SOLAR TECHNOLOGY AGInventors: Christian Halt, Christian Hardt, Christoph Jordaan
-
Patent number: 9570998Abstract: The disclosure relates to a capacitor arrangement for an input circuit or intermediate circuit of a voltage transformer comprising at least two capacitors and two connection nodes. Switching elements are provided, by means of which the at least two capacitors are connected in parallel with each other in a first operating state and are connected in series with each other in a second operating state. The disclosure also relates to a voltage transformer arrangement comprising such a capacitor arrangement and an operating method for a capacitor arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2013Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Burkard Mueller, Jens Friebe
-
Patent number: 9564832Abstract: A circuit includes first and second electronic switches, first and second excitation circuits, and first and second inductors. The first and second electronic switches are electrically coupled in series. The first and second excitation circuits are used for respectively controlling the first and second electronic switches to be turned on and turned off and are configured to synchronously switch the first and second electronic switches. The first inductor is electrically coupled between the first excitation circuit and the first electronic switch, for transmitting the switch control signal of the first excitation circuit to the first electronic switch. The second inductor is electrically coupled between the second excitation circuit and the second electronic switch, for transmitting the switch control signal of the second excitation circuit to the second electronic switch.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2013Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Tao Wu, Yingqi Zhang, Fan Zhang, Kunlun Chen, Xin Hao
-
Patent number: 9564802Abstract: An electric power conversion device of an embodiment includes the electric power conversion device expressed as an equivalent circuit including, a power supply, a first parasitic inductance, a first diode; a second parasitic inductance connected to the first diode in series, a second diode connected to the first diode in parallel, a third parasitic inductance connected to the second diode in series, a switching element, a gate circuit, and a load. The equivalent circuit includes a first circuit loop and a second circuit loop. The first circuit loop includes the power supply, the first parasitic inductance, the first diode, the second parasitic inductance, the switching element, and the gate circuit. The second circuit loop includes the power supply, the first parasitic inductance, the second diode, the third parasitic inductance, the switching element, and the gate circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2014Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Kazuto Takao, Takashi Shinohe
-
Patent number: 9564835Abstract: Technologies for communicating information from an inverter configured for the conversion of direct current (DC) power generated from an alternative source to alternating current (AC) power are disclosed. The technologies include determining information to be transmitted from the inverter over a power line cable connected to the inverter and controlling the operation of an output converter of the inverter as a function of the information to be transmitted to cause the output converter to generate an output waveform having the information modulated thereon.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2013Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventor: Patrick L. Chapman
-
Patent number: 9559593Abstract: A synchronous rectification converter includes: a first switching element coupled between a inductor and an input terminal; a second switching element coupled between the inductor and the input terminal; a capacitive element coupled between the other end of the inductor and the other end of the input terminal; a control circuit detects voltages of the inductor and the capacitive element; a current inversion detection circuit detects inversion of a direction in which a current supplied from the second switching element to the inductor flows and outputs an inversion signal; a delay circuit delays the inversion signal and outputs a delay inversion signal; a synchronous rectification reset circuit that changes the control signal; a load detector detects reduction of an output current supplied from a connection node of the inductor and the capacitive element; and a delay control circuit generates a delay control signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2014Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventors: Yu Yonezawa, Yoshiyasu Nakashima
-
Patent number: 9559583Abstract: A power converter includes a wave generator, a low pass filter, a first control circuit, and a second control circuit. The wave generator receives an input voltage, and converts the input signal into a wave signal according to a first control signal and a second control signal. The low pass filter filters the wave signal to generate an output voltage. The first control circuit generates the first control signal according to the wave signal and the output voltage. The second control circuit generates the second control signal according to the wave signal and the output voltage.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2014Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.Inventors: Hung-chih Lin, Hung-I Wang, Hao-Ping Hong, Chien-Wei Kuan, Yung-Chih Yen
-
Patent number: 9559683Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a circuit includes a first driver having a first output configured to be coupled to a control node of a normally-off transistor. The first driver is configured to drive a first switching signal at the first output in a cascode mode and configured to drive a first constant voltage at the first output in a direct drive mode. The circuit further includes a second driver having a second output configured to be coupled to a control node of a normally-on transistor that has a second load path terminal coupled to a first load path terminal of the normally-off transistor. The second driver is configured to drive a second switching signal at the second output in the direct drive mode.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2014Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AGInventor: Bernhard Zojer
-
Patent number: 9548794Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques for power factor correction on a constant current system and also provides power line communications on the same power factor correction circuit. In one example embodiment, through controlled charging and draining of an input capacitor, the power factor correction circuit generates an input voltage which is in phase with the input current. Communication data is also embedded in the input voltage and/or input current by further charging and draining of the input capacitor according to a controlled switching scheme which includes both input current phase data and corresponding communication signals.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2013Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Cooper Technologies CompanyInventor: Traver Gumaer
-
Patent number: 9525364Abstract: A DC-to-AC power converter is disclosed. The power converter has a DC input to receive DC power from a photovoltaic device, an AC output configured for direct connection to an AC mains power supply line, six semiconductor switches, one isolated high-frequency power transformer, two high-frequency inductors, a small resonant capacitor, and a large non-electrolytic (e.g. film) capacitor energy storage component. One of the semiconductor switches located on the primary side of the transformer operates to regulate the voltage across the non-electrolytic capacitor energy storage component. A second semiconductor switch located on the primary side of the transformer provides a resonant reset for the energy stored in the transformer and allows the first semiconductor switch to operate with nearly zero-voltage-switching.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2014Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: Garrity Power Services LLCInventors: Paul Garrity, Aaron Jungreis
-
Patent number: 9519303Abstract: Example current tracking circuits and systems as well as methods for tracking current are described herein. In one example, a current tracking circuit comprises a current mirror that receives a power supply input and a control signal as inputs, wherein the current mirror has a mirror ratio. The current tracking circuit also comprises a programmability sub-circuit coupled to the current mirror that trims a value of the mirror ratio. In another example, a method comprises performing current mirroring using a current mirror comprising a sense device, wherein a mirror ratio of the current mirror is based on a programmable sub-circuit. The method further comprises maintaining, by a voltage regulation loop, a collector potential of the sense device within a threshold difference level of a collector potential of a power device coupled to the sense device, wherein the sense device mirrors a current flowing in the power device.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2014Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Fabio Ballarin, Marco Piselli, Fabio Gini, Stefano Zampieri
-
Patent number: 9515570Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Yu-Ming Chen, Chih-Yuan Liu, Pei-Lun Huang
-
Patent number: 9509157Abstract: A power bank device includes a load node, a power-supply circuit, an output circuit, a detecting unit, and a control circuit. The power-supply circuit provides an output current via the load node. The output circuit generates an output voltage at the load node according to the output current. The detecting unit generates a detecting signal according to the output current. The output circuit includes an impedance circuit. The control circuit, according to the detecting signal, controls the output circuit to switch an impedance of the impedance circuit, thereby down-regulating the output voltage and the output current.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2014Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Getac Technology CorporationInventor: Ta-Sung Hsiung
-
Patent number: 9489002Abstract: Apparatus includes a first connection to a battery; a second connection to a component; a first path between the first and second connections including a non-upconverting voltage regulator and being absent of a voltage upconverter; a second path between the first and second connections including a voltage upconverter; and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a minimum operating voltage of the component; to determine whether a voltage provided at the first connection meets a predetermined relationship with respect to the minimum operating voltage of the component; and on a positive determination, to enable the first path and disable the second path, and on a negative determination, to disable the first path and enable the second path.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2010Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Nokia Technologies OyInventors: Markus Aaltonen, Hannu Olavi Immonen, Rune Lindholm
-
Patent number: 9490706Abstract: An apparatus includes an ON/OFF controller for regulating an output of a switched mode power supply by selectively enabling current conduction by a power switch within enabled switching cycles and disabling current conduction by the power switch within disabled switching cycles. The controller includes a logic block and a time-to-frequency converter. The logic block generates a drive signal that enables the current conduction by the power switch within respective enabled switching cycles and disables the current conduction by the power switch within respective disabled switching cycles. The time-to-frequency converter generates a variable-frequency clock signal that defines durations of the switching cycles, where the time-to-frequency converter increases a duration of a switching cycle in response to a decrease in duration of current conduction by the power switch in a previously enabled switching cycle.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2014Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian, Leif Lund
-
Patent number: 9484815Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a switching voltage regulator circuit. An energy difference between a stored energy of a switching voltage regulator and a target energy is determined. A control variable of the switching voltage regulator is computed based on the energy difference and the control variable is applied to a current control mechanism of the switching voltage regulator. In one embodiment, the control variable is pulse width of a control signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2013Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: NVIDIA CorporationInventor: William J. Dally