Patents Examined by Demetries A. Gibson
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Patent number: 9479048Abstract: A method of driving an isolated converter includes opening a first bi-directional switch on an input side of a transformer, accepting current into a resonant capacitor connected across the first bi-directional switch to reduce voltage across the first bi-directional switch in response to said opening the first bi-directional switch, reversing current out of the resonant capacitor, and closing the first bi-directional switch as voltage across the first bi-directional switch is approximately zero volts.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2014Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.Inventors: Peter Erik Gabrielsson, Nader Michael Lotfy, Alexander Nelson Brooks
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Patent number: 9455640Abstract: A switching power-supply device includes: a transformer including a primary coil and a secondary coil; a rectifying-and-smoothing circuit; a series circuit including a first switching element and a second switching element; a series resonant circuit including a capacitor connected to the second switching element and the primary coil; a controller performing switching control to alternately turn on and off the first switching element and the second switching element with a dead time; and a resonant-current detection unit that detects a resonant current, wherein in a case where the first switching element is in an ON state at a timing when the absolute value level of the resonant current becomes equal to or less than a threshold value, the controller switches the first switching element to an OFF state and makes a subsequent ON period of the first switching element shorter than a last ON period.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2015Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., LTD.Inventor: Osamu Ohtake
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Patent number: 9455626Abstract: A buck switching regulator includes a feedback control circuit using a four-input comparator to regulate the output voltage to a substantially constant level with reduced voltage offset and with fast transient response. In some embodiments, the buck switching regulator uses the four-input comparator to compare a first feedback signal without ripple and a second feedback signal with injected ripple components to a reference level. The four-input comparator generates an output signal to control the switching of the power switches. The buck switching regulator generates an output voltage with increased accuracy and fast transient response. Furthermore, the buck switching regulator can be used with output capacitor having any value of ESR.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2014Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: Micrel, Inc.Inventors: Dashun Xue, William MacLean
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Patent number: 9455568Abstract: Renewable energy power systems, DC to DC converters, and methods for operating energy storage systems are provided. A system includes a power converter having a DC bus, and an energy storage system coupled to the DC bus of the power converter. The energy storage system includes an energy storage device and a switching power supply coupled between the energy storage device and the DC bus of the power converter. The switching power supply includes a plurality of switching elements, and an energy storage device protection circuit coupled between the plurality of switching elements and the energy storage device, the energy storage device protection circuit including a solid state switch. The switching power supply further includes a fuse coupled to the energy storage device protection circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2014Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, Anthony Michael Klodowski, Steven Wade Sutherland, Rafael Ignacio Bedia, Benjamin Arthur Niemoeller
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Patent number: 9454165Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device including: a current generation circuit that generates a current; a voltage generation circuit that, using the current generated by the current generation circuit, generates and outputs a predetermined voltage from a reference voltage, with an internal capacitor element that is connected to output of the voltage generation circuit, the internal capacitor element being provided within an integrated circuit on which the device itself is mounted; a storage section that stores a flag indicating a connection state between the output of the voltage generation circuit and an external capacitor element provided externally to the integrated circuit; and a controller that, based on the flag, controls a current amount of the current used by the voltage generation circuit to generate the predetermined voltage.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2014Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Kikuo Utsuno
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Patent number: 9450499Abstract: There is provided an electric power conversion circuit system having a primary side electric power conversion circuit, a secondary side electric power conversion circuit, and a control circuit. The control circuit sets at least one of a half-bridge phase difference between a lower-left-arm transistor and a lower-right-arm transistor of the primary side electric power conversion circuit and a half-bridge phase difference of the secondary side electric power conversion circuit based on OFF periods of the primary side and secondary side electric power conversion circuits, dead-times of the primary side and secondary side electric power conversion circuits, and an amount of change of a power supply voltage so that a current in a non-transmission period of electric power is zero between the primary side and secondary side electric power conversion circuits.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2015Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenichi Takagi, Masanori Ishigaki, Takahide Sugiyama, Takaji Umeno, Kenichiro Nagashita, Takahiro Hirano, Jun Muto
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Patent number: 9444354Abstract: The present invention relates to a voltage converter circuit for transforming a low voltage applied to its input into a higher output voltage at an output. The voltage converter circuit comprises at least one first to fourth controllable switch of a first type, which are connected to each other in the form of an H-bridge, which is arranged between the input voltage and a reference potential, and a transformer with at least one primary winding arranged in a transversal branch of the H-bridge, and with a secondary winding, at which a transformed voltage can be tapped for generating the output voltage. In parallel to at least one of the controllable switches at least one controllable switch of a second type is arranged, which is conductive without a control potential being applied. The secondary winding of the transformer is furthermore connected with the control inputs of the controllable switches for feeding back the transformed voltage.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2013Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Albert-Ludwigs-Universitat FreiburgInventor: Peter Woias
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Patent number: 9442502Abstract: A voltage regulator includes an operational amplifier, a transistor, a first resistor, a second resistor, an output voltage delaying circuit and a selecting circuit. The output voltage delaying circuit receives an output voltage and generates a delayed output voltage. A first input terminal of the selecting circuit receives a reference voltage. A second input terminal of the selecting circuit receives the delayed output voltage. An output terminal of the selecting circuit generates a control voltage to a first input terminal of the operational amplifier. If the reference voltage is larger than the delayed output voltage, the selecting circuit selects the delayed output voltage as the control voltage. If the reference voltage is smaller than the delayed output voltage, the selecting circuit selects the reference voltage as the control voltage.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2015Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Faraday Technology Corp.Inventor: Chi-Yang Chen
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Patent number: 9442501Abstract: A semiconductor device including a voltage regulator is disclosed. The voltage regulator may include a multipath amplifier stage, a driver stage coupled to the multipath amplifier stage, a dynamic compensation circuit coupled to the multipath amplifier stage, and a current compensation circuit. The dynamic compensation circuit may be operable to provide a varying level of compensation to the multipath amplifier stage, where the varying level of compensation proportional to a current level associated with the load; and the current compensation circuit may be operable to allow a minimum current level at the driver stage.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2014Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Stefano Pietri, Chris C. Dao, Andre Luis Vilas Boas
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Patent number: 9438133Abstract: An AC to DC circuit includes a rectifier circuit, a voltage detecting circuit, the current source and the output circuit. The rectifier circuit converts the AC power to pulsating DC. The constant current source provides current to the voltage detection circuit and to the control port of the output circuit. The current passing throughout the constant current source is the sum of the current flowing to the voltage detection circuit and to the output circuit. The voltage detection circuit increases with the instantaneous value of the output voltage of the rectifier circuit, it absorbs more current from the current provided by the constant current source and less current flows from the constant current source to the control port of the output circuit. The output circuit amplifies the current of the control port and outputs it to power the load.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2012Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: MORNSUN GUANGZHOU SCIENCE&TECHNOLOGY LTD.Inventors: Baojun Wang, Xiangyang Yin
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Patent number: 9419530Abstract: Disclosed is a power estimation device using a coaxial winding transformer which includes: a switching control unit that generates primary current by performing switching control on power source; a coaxial winding transformer that includes a core, and a primary winding, a secondary winding, and an auxiliary winding which are wound on the core and outputs secondary current in accordance with the winding ratio of the secondary winding to the primary winding by receiving the primary current; and a power estimation unit that estimates power outputted to the secondary winding by sensing output of the auxiliary winding in accordance with the winding ratio of the auxiliary winding to the primary winding, in which the coaxial winding transformer is formed by winding a cable, which uses at least inner conductor as the secondary winding and uses one outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor as the auxiliary winding, around the core.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2013Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: SOONGSIL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CONSORTIUM TECHNO-PARKInventor: Joung Hu Park
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Patent number: 9419517Abstract: 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: August 16, 2016Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Kazuto Takao, Takashi Shinohe
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Patent number: 9419524Abstract: A direct current power source includes an electric control unit (ECU101) for converting a portion of input direct current electric energy into alternating polarity electric energy or ripple electric energy. The converted alternating polarity or ripple electric energy is supplied to the primary winding of a transformer, and an alternating polarity or ripple electric energy output by the secondary winding of the transformer is rectified by a full wave rectifier for use as a direct current auxiliary power source. The direct current power source uses voltage accumulation to boost the direct current electric energy, eliminating the need for a full power transformer.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2013Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
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Patent number: 9407144Abstract: A current mode control buck-boost converter with improved performance utilizes separate buck and boost pulses. The buck-boost converter utilizes a buck/boost decision method with continuous control voltage for buck and boost mode, therefore eliminating transients in the control loop between operation modes and preventing voltage overshoots. If switching in Boost mode and the buck duty cycle is smaller than a set duty cycle, then in the next cycle Buck mode switching will occur. It is possible to track a Buck comparator output and the related duty cycle during Boost mode operation. Thus a mode change decision will only be dependent on a single input. A control loop will incorporate a single loop filter and error amplifier, wherein control voltages for Buck comparator and Boost comparator will be related.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2014Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) LimitedInventors: Kemal Ozanoglu, Selcuk Talay, Pier Cavallini, Dieter Graefje, Andrea Acquas
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Patent number: 9407153Abstract: A control circuit controlling the driving of a switching device includes an under voltage lock out circuit stopping the operation of the control circuit when a power supply voltage supplied from the auxiliary winding of an insulating transformer becomes lower than a predetermined power supply lower limit voltage, an FB voltage decision circuit stopping the driving of the switching device when a feedback voltage indicating the state of a load becomes lower than the predetermined threshold value, a flip-flop brought into a set state by an output of the FB voltage decision circuit and a reset state when the power supply voltage exceeds the voltage ensuring the normal operation of the control circuit, and a switching circuit to set the power supply lower limit voltage in the under voltage lock out circuit, lower than that of the normal operation when the flip-flop is set.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2013Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventor: Hiroki Yamane
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Patent number: 9397560Abstract: A method for regulating a flow of energy from an input to an output of a power converter includes receiving a first signal representative of an output voltage, and receiving 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. A power switch of the power converter is switched to regulate the output current of the power converter to a substantially constant output current value for a first range of power converter output voltages, to regulate an output power of the power converter to a substantially constant power value for a second range of power converter output voltages, and to regulate the output voltage of the power converter at substantially a highest output voltage value of the second range of power converter output voltages.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2014Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.Inventor: David Michael Hugh Matthews
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Patent number: 9397576Abstract: A control circuit is adapted for controlling a converter. The converter includes a transformer and a power switch. The control circuit includes a current sensing unit, a current emulating unit, and a control unit. The current sensing unit senses a current flowing through the power switch coupled to a primary winding of the transformer. The current emulating unit determines a propagation delay period according to a voltage transient time of an auxiliary winding of the transformer and a turn-off time of the power switch, and retrieves several sampling times in a conduction period of the power switch according to the propagation delay period. The current emulating unit obtains a peak current and a valley current according to the sampling voltages corresponding to the sampling times. The control unit generates a control signal configured to control the power switch according to the peak current and the valley current.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2014Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITYInventors: Yaow-Ming Chen, Cheng-Nan Wu
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Patent number: 9379636Abstract: A method for generating current pulses and a current generator having a plurality of secondary stages. Each secondary stage has a DC voltage source and a switching circuit having four switches, connected together so as to form a line. One secondary stage being designated as a regulator stage has a regulator circuit having a smoothing inductor, a switch arranged between a terminal of the smoothing inductor and the DC voltage source, and a circuit for connecting the terminal of the smoothing inductor to the switching circuit when the switch of the regulator circuit is in a locked state. A control circuit of the current generator controls the switches of the switching circuits and the switch of the regulator circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2013Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: GEO27 S.àr.l.Inventor: Fabrice Cubaines
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Patent number: 9362814Abstract: A high power density switched-capacitor DC-DC converter is disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a high power-density switched-capacitor DC-DC converter that includes: first and second voltage summing circuits, each voltage summing circuit producing an output voltage that is substantially equal to an input voltage; and a switching circuit connected between the first and second voltage summing circuits and configured to provide a DC voltage source as an input to the first and second voltage summing circuits, wherein the converter produces an output voltage that is the sum of the voltage produced by the first voltage summing circuit, the voltage provided by the DC voltage source, and the voltage produced by the second voltage summing circuit.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2012Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: North Carolina State UniversityInventors: Wu Chen, Qin Huang
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Patent number: 9354647Abstract: A current generating circuit includes a reference voltage generating unit, a clock signal generating unit, a reference current generating unit, and a current mirror unit. The reference voltage generating unit generates a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage. The clock signal generating unit generates clock signals. The reference current generating unit generates a reference current corresponding to a selection signal based on the first reference voltage. The current mirror unit supplies a first current and a second current based on the reference current. A capacitor charges voltage based on the second current. A selection signal generating unit counts clock signals during a period in which a voltage charged in the capacitor is less than the second reference voltage, and outputs the selection signal based on the counted result.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2014Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.Inventors: Bo-Yeon Kim, Hee-Sun Ahn