Patents Examined by Gary L. Laxton
  • Patent number: 11964577
    Abstract: A low voltage DC-DC converter of an environmentally friendly vehicle includes a first DC-DC converter configured to drop a second voltage lower than a first voltage supplied to a drive motor of the environmentally friendly vehicle to a third voltage, a voltage regulator configured to regulate the third voltage to output a fourth voltage lower than the third voltage, a controller configured to operate in response to the fourth voltage, and a second DC-DC converter configured to convert and output the first voltage into the third voltage in response to an output signal of the controller, in which an output voltage of the second DC-DC converter is supplied to the voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: KwangKyu Park, Ui Jung Jung, Seungchan Lee
  • Patent number: 11955881
    Abstract: A secondary-side protection and sense circuit for a power converter has a sensing component, an adder amplifying circuit, an electronic switch, and a charge/discharge circuit. The sensing component is connected to an output connecting terminal of the power converter. The adder amplifying circuit has an operational amplifier, a first resistor, and a second resistor. The operational amplifier has an input terminal connected to the sensing component, an output terminal connected to a primary-side control component, and a power terminal. The first resistor and the second resistor are connected in series and between the input terminal and the power terminal of the operational amplifier. The electronic switch is connected between a ground terminal and a connection node between the first resistor and the second resistor. The charge/discharge circuit is connected to the electronic switch and the power terminal of the operational amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MINMAX TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Ching-Hung Wang, Yu-Hsuan Chen
  • Patent number: 11955898
    Abstract: A charging and discharging device includes a transformer consisting of a primary winding and multiple secondary windings including at least a first secondary winding and a second secondary winding; multiple ports electrically connected to the primary winding and the multiple secondary windings of the transformer, respectively, wherein the multiple ports at least include a first port electrically connected to the primary winding via a first conversion circuit; a second port electrically connected to the first secondary winding via a second conversion circuit; and a third port electrically connected to the second secondary winding via a third conversion circuit; and a first controllable switch connected between the first conversion circuit and the primary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Minli Jia, Hao Sun, Jinfa Zhang
  • Patent number: 11949406
    Abstract: A driver can be configured to provide sensed phase currents as feedback to a controller to indicate the output currents from each phase of a switch mode power supply (SMPS). The driver can be configured to temperature compensate the sensed currents in one of two ways. If a temperature sensor is directly coupled to the driver, then the driver may be configured to temperature compensate the sensed currents from each phase based on a temperature measurement made by the temperature sensor. If a temperature sensor is not directly coupled to the driver, then the driver may be configured to temperature compensate the sensed current from each phase based on a temperature signal received from a bus coupled to the driver. The bus can communicate the temperature signal so that multiple drivers can utilize one temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Paul J. Harriman, Thomas Patrick Duffy, James George Hill, Michael Scott Lay, Margaret Spillane
  • Patent number: 11949323
    Abstract: A power source switch circuit include a switch, a switch control circuit configured to control the switch to be turned on/off, and a negative feedback circuit configured to feedback an output voltage of the switch. An input end of switch is connected to the switch control circuit, an output end of the switch is connected to a load circuit and the negative feedback circuit, and a control end of the switch is connected to the switch control circuit and the negative feedback circuit. The switch control circuit includes a bipolar transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, a first resistor connected between the base and a control signal, a second resistor connected between the collector and the input end of the switch, and a third resistor connected between the collector and the control end of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Shenzhen TCL Digital Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong Wen
  • Patent number: 11942870
    Abstract: A power supply receives AC power and generates a DC output voltage. The power supply may be divided into a primary section that converts AC power to a relatively high DC voltage. A secondary section converts this relatively high DC voltage into a well-regulated lower DC voltage. In an embodiment, the current and/or power supplied by the primary to the secondary side is used by the secondary side in a closed-loop feedback system to limit the current drawn by the secondary side to a configurable value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Astec International Limited
    Inventors: Donald Cedrick Ongyanco, Joey De Guzman, Vincent Vicente Vivar, Ricardo Bernado Roldan, Jr., Arvin San Juan
  • Patent number: 11936305
    Abstract: An object is to provide a technique capable of improving the power efficiency of a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes first to sixth parallel connection bodies, each including a semiconductor switching element and a diode connected in antiparallel to the semiconductor switching element. At least one of the voltage drops of the second parallel connection body and the third parallel connection body is smaller than a voltage drop of at least one of the first parallel connection body, the fourth parallel connection body, the fifth parallel connection body, and the sixth parallel connection body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Masuda
  • Patent number: 11929687
    Abstract: Provided is a power converter that allows a reduction in EMC noise current flowing through a control circuit board. A power converter 1 includes a semiconductor module 52, a capacitor 51, a control circuit board 45a, positive and negative-side bus bars 41, 42 connecting the semiconductor module 52 and the capacitor 51, a base 33 electrically connected to a ground of the control circuit board 45a, the control circuit board 45a being placed on the base 33, and an electrical conductor 35 electrically connected to the base 33 and extending in a stacking direction in which the base 33 and the control circuit board 45a are stacked. The positive and negative-side bus bars 41, 42 extend around the electrical conductor 35 and are connected to the semiconductor module 52.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Youhei Nishizawa, Akihiro Goto, Yusaku Katsube
  • Patent number: 11929688
    Abstract: A power converter for converting a DC input voltage into an AC output voltage, the power converter having a structure of Phi-2 type, and includes an input terminal for the DC input voltage, an output terminal for the AC output voltage, a power switch equipped with a control electrode, a first electrode and a second electrode linked to a reference potential, the power switch being configured to receive a drive signal at the control electrode, the converter further comprising a self-oscillating circuit, connected between the output terminal and the control electrode, and configured to supply and maintain a sinusoidal drive signal to the power switch from the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignees: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, INSTITUT POLYTECHNIQUE DE GRENOBLE
    Inventors: Rawad Makhoul, Pierre Perichon, Xavier Maynard, Jia Zhuang, Yves Lembeye
  • Patent number: 11923763
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first winding and a first switch connected in series between an input terminal and ground, a second winding magnetically coupled to the first winding and coupled to an output terminal through a second switch, a third winding magnetically coupled to the first winding and connected in series with a fourth switch, a fourth winding magnetically coupled to the first winding and connected in series with a third switch, and an energy storage device connected between a common node of the third winding and the fourth winding, and ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Halo Microelectronics International
    Inventor: Milind Chandra Gupta
  • Patent number: 11901813
    Abstract: Controller and method for a quasi-resonant switching power supply. For example, a controller for a quasi-resonant switching power supply includes: a valley detector configured to receive a voltage signal, detect one or more voltage valleys of the voltage signal in magnitude, and generate a detection signal representing the detected one or more voltage valleys; a valley-locking controller configured to receive one or more signals, generate a mode control signal that indicates a selected valley-locking mode based at least in part on the one or more signals, select from the detected one or more voltage valleys, one or more valleys that correspond to the selected valley-locking mode, and generate a valley control signal indicating the one or more selected valleys; and a gate driver configured to generate a drive signal based on at least information associated with the valley control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Penglin Yang, Yuan Lin
  • Patent number: 11901721
    Abstract: A first AC terminal, a first positive DC terminal, and a first negative DC terminal protrude from a first end portion in the length direction of a flat plate portion of a laminated bus bar. The first AC terminal, the first positive DC terminal, and the first negative DC terminal are arranged in alignment in this order from a third end portion toward a fourth end portion in a width direction of the flat plate portion. A second AC terminal, a second positive DC terminal, and a second negative DC terminal protrude from a second end portion of the flat plate portion in the length direction. The second AC terminal, the second negative DC terminal, and the second positive DC terminal are arranged in alignment in this order from the third end portion toward the fourth end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI—ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidetaka Ishitobi, Kenji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11901840
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a field of chip technology, and discloses a three-phase inverter power chip and a preparation method therefor. The preparation method includes: forming active areas on a substrate and an isolation area located outside the active areas; forming a source electrode, a drain electrode and a gate electrode of a transistor in each active area; forming a first bond pad, second bond pads, third bond pads and fourth bond pads in the isolation area; the source electrode, the drain electrode and the gate electrode of the chip being extended to the first bond pad, the second bond pads, the third bond pads or the fourth bond pads corresponding thereto; and electrically connecting the source electrode, the drain electrode and the gate electrode of the transistor to the first bond pad, the second bond pads, the third bond pads or the fourth bond pads corresponding thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC. OF ZHUHAI
    Inventors: Daokun Chen, Libo Ao, Bo Shi, Dan Zeng, Jun Cao
  • Patent number: 11901829
    Abstract: A power converter includes an alternating-current-side circuit, a direct-current-side inductor, an alternating-current-side inductor, a direct-current-side circuit, a controlling unit, a transformer, a direct-current-side capacitor, and an alternating-current-side capacitor. The alternating-current-side circuit includes an alternating-current-side buffer circuit and a bridge circuit, and is connected to an alternating-current-side winding of the transformer via the alternating-current-side capacitor. The direct-current-side circuit includes a direct-current-side buffer circuit and a rectification switching element, and is connected to a direct-current-side winding of the transformer via the direct-current-side capacitor. The controlling unit controls switching of the switching elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventor: Sadanori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11894762
    Abstract: A direct current-direct current conversion circuit includes: an input inductor, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, a flying capacitor, a first switch, a second switch, a first inductor, a first diode, a first buffer circuit, a third switch, a fourth switch, a second inductor, a second diode, and a second buffer circuit. A power supply, the input inductor, the first diode, the second diode, the first capacitor, and the second capacitor are sequentially connected in series. A first terminal of the flying capacitor is connected between the first diode and the second diode. A second terminal of the flying capacitor is connected between the first switch and the third switch, and the second terminal of the flying capacitor is further connected between the second switch and the second inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: HUAWEI DIGITAL POWER TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Wang, Houjian Xu, Tiansan Lin, Fangpo Zhang
  • Patent number: 11894775
    Abstract: A power conversion method is disclosed. The method includes operating a PFC converter configured to receive three input voltages and provide a DC link voltage between DC link nodes in one of at least two different operating modes, and operating an SR converter coupled to the PFC converter via the DC link nodes in one of at least two different operating modes dependent on an output voltage of the SR converter. Operating the SR converter includes regulating a voltage level of the DC link voltage dependent on a DC link voltage reference, and the at least two different operating modes of the SR converter include a buck mode and a series resonant mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Johann Walter Kolar, Yunni Li, Jannik Robin Schaefer
  • Patent number: 11888400
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an USB interface includes a transformer, a primary winding of the transformer and a first switch connected in series between a first node and a second node, a secondary winding of the transformer and a component connected in series between a third node and a fourth node, the fourth node configured to be set a first reference potential, a second switch connected between the third node and a first terminal, the first terminal configured to provide an output voltage of the USB interface; wherein the component is configured to avoid a current circulation in the secondary winding when the first switch is closed and a control circuit configured to compare a first voltage of an interconnection node between the secondary winding and the component to a first threshold and compare the first voltage to a second threshold when the first voltage is, in absolute values, above the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLE 2) SAS, STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Jean Camiolo, Francesco Ferrazza, Nathalie Ballot
  • Patent number: 11884171
    Abstract: A low-voltage DC-DC converter (LDC) includes: an N-phase power circuit configured by connection of N DC-DC converters in parallel between a high-voltage (HV) battery and a low-voltage (LV) battery; and one output capacitor commonly connected to an output of each phase DC-DC converter. Each phase of the N-phase power circuit is controlled in an interleaving manner which delays a phase by 360°/N. Here, each N-phase power circuit is controlled by switching at a frequency of [(a frequency at which the parasitic resistance (equivalent series resistance (ESR)) of the output capacitor is minimized)/N]. The parasitic resistance of the output capacitor of the LDC can be minimized. Accordingly, a lifespan of a battery can be improved and efficiency of the DC-DC converter can be increased through the reduction of the equivalent series resistance (ESR) of the output capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji Hoon Park, Deok Kwan Choi, Won Gon Kim, Kang Min Kim, Min Heo, Tae Ho Bang, Du Ho Kim, Hyun Woo Shim, Soo Min Jeon, A Ra Lee
  • Patent number: 11888389
    Abstract: A power converter incudes a power factor correction circuit and a controller. The power factor correction circuit is configured to convert an input single-phase electrical power to a first DC electrical power. An active phase of the input single-phase electrical power is received in parallel through two of four conductors. A return phase of the input single-phase electrical power is received in parallel through two others of the four conductors. The power factor correction circuit is also configured to convert an input three-phase electrical power to the first DC electrical power. Three active phases of the input three-phase electrical power are received through three of the four conductors. The return phase is received through a fourth of the four conductors. The controller is configured to control the power factor correction circuit to operate in the single-phase input mode and the three-phase input mode in response to a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fiona E. Meyer-Teruel, Julien Payan, Kai Zhuang, Tao Wang
  • Patent number: 11881777
    Abstract: This DC-pulse power supply device is provided with: a DC power supply; a pulse unit (20) for generating a pulse output using a step-up chopper circuit connected to the DC power supply; and a voltage superimposing unit (30A, 30B) connected to a DC reactor of the step-up chopper circuit. The voltage superimposing unit (30A, 30B) superimposes an amount (Vc, VDCL2) corresponding to a superimposed voltage on the output voltage of the step-up chopper circuit. The pulse unit (20) outputs, in a pulse form, the output voltage (Vo) on which the amount (Vc, VDCL2) corresponding to the superimposed voltage is superimposed by the voltage superimposing unit (30A, 30B). The amount corresponding to the superimposed voltage is superimposed on the pulse output of the step-up chopper circuit, thereby raising the output voltage of the pulse output of the step-up chopper circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: KYOSAN ELECTRIC MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Itsuo Yuzurihara, Toshiyuki Adachi, Tomohiro Yoneyama, Koichi Miyazaki