Patents Examined by Gary L. Laxton
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11881786
    Abstract: A polarity-selectable high voltage direct current power supply including a first drive assembly that transforms a first low voltage DC input into a first medium voltage alternating current output; a first HV output assembly that transforms the first LV AC output into a first HV DC output, wherein the first HV output assembly defines a first input stage; a polarity selector coupled between the second output junction of the first drive assembly and the first and second input stages of the first HV output assembly, the polarity selector operable between a first configuration and a second configuration; wherein in the first configuration the first HV DC output has a positive polarity; and wherein in the second configuration the first HV DC output has a negative polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Accion Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Fogel, Mikhail Filippov
  • Patent number: 11881769
    Abstract: A multi-level converter control method is provided that includes: acquiring an inductive current of an LC filter in a driving pulse period; determining a to-be-adjusted first switch tube and a first duty ratio adjustment amount of the to-be-adjusted first switch tube based on a slope of a rising period of the inductive current, and adjusting a duty ratio of the to-be-adjusted first switch tube based on the first duty ratio adjustment amount; and determining a to-be-adjusted second switch tube and a second duty ratio adjustment amount of the to-be-adjusted second switch tube based on a slope of a falling period of the inductive current, and adjusting a duty ratio of the to-be-adjusted second switch tube based on the second duty ratio adjustment amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: The 13th Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation
    Inventors: Zhanbiao Gu, Zhiliang Zhang, Shipeng Cheng, Xiaoyong Ren, Senfeng Xu, Chao Tan
  • Patent number: 11870366
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a power conversion circuit is disclosed. The power conversion circuit includes at least one DC bus. The power conversion circuit further includes a plurality of DC-AC conversion units coupled to the DC bus and configured to convert a DC voltage into an AC voltage. The power conversion circuit also includes a multi-winding transformer comprising a magnetic core and a plurality of windings, where each DC-AC conversion unit is coupled to a corresponding winding of the multi-winding transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Minjie Chen, Robert Pilawa-Podgurski
  • Patent number: 11870334
    Abstract: A load control device for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load includes a thyristor, a gate coupling circuit for conducting a gate current through a gate of the thyristor, and a control circuit for controlling the gate coupling circuit to conduct the gate current through a first current path to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half cycle. The gate coupling circuit is able to conduct the gate current through the first current path again after the firing time, but the gate current is not able to be conducted through the gate from a transition time before the end of the half-cycle until approximately the end of the half-cycle. The load current is able to be conducted through a second current path to the electrical load after the transition time until approximately the end of the half-cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert C Newman, Jr., Daniel F. Carmen, Christopher J. Salvestrini, Matthew V. Harte
  • Patent number: 11870336
    Abstract: An input system includes a first input device and a second input device. Each of the first input device and the second input device includes a main body, a first connecting port, at least two second connecting ports, a power switching circuit and a control unit. When the first connecting port of the first input device is connected with an external power source, the power switching circuit of the first input device receives a first voltage from the external power source. When one of the second connecting ports of the first input device is connected with one of the second connecting ports of the second input device, the first voltage is converted into a second voltage by the power switching circuit of the first input device and the second voltage is transmitted to the second input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventors: Chuan-Tai Hsiao, Chun-Han Huang, Tse-Ping Kuan, Hung-Wei Kuo
  • Patent number: 11863084
    Abstract: A multi-output AC/DC adapter can include a main power stage that receives power from an AC power source and delivers an intermediate output voltage, a plurality of regulator stages each comprising a chopper circuit that receives the intermediate output voltage and produces a regulated output DC voltage for one of the multiple outputs, and a controller. The main power stage can be a flyback converter, and the intermediate output voltage can be derived from a secondary winding of a flyback transformer of the flyback converter. The controller can provide a voltage reference signal and a feedback signal to the feedback loop of the main power stage, and the feedback signal can be an output voltage of one of the regulator stages. The controller can also provide a voltage reference signal to the controller of each of the regulator stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Bogdan T. Bucheru
  • Patent number: 11855527
    Abstract: A PFC correction circuit includes first, second, and third phase inputs coupled to three-phase power mains, with a three-phase full-wave rectifying bridge connected to an input node. First, second, and third boost inductors are respectively connected between first, second, and third phase inputs and first, second, and third taps of the three-phase full-wave rectifying bridge. A boost switch is connected between the input node and ground, and a boost diode is connected between the input node and an output node. A multiplier input driver generates a single-phase input signal as a replica of a signal at the three-phase power mains after rectification. A single-phase power factor controller generates a PWM signal from the single-phase input signal. A gate driver generates a gate drive signal from the PWM signal. The boost switch is operated by the gate drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventors: Ranajay Mallik, Akshat Jain
  • Patent number: 11855550
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a power supply module, including a transformer including magnetic core and winding, and a rectifier circuit electrically connected to the winding, wherein the magnetic core further comprises: a first and a second cover plate opposite to each other; a first magnetic column; and a second magnetic column having a magnetic flux in opposite direction to that of the first magnetic column, the first and second magnetic column connected between the first and the second cover plate; the winding further includes: a first winding wound onto the first magnetic column; and a second winding wound onto the second magnetic column, wherein the first and second winding have a shared winding portion at least partially located between the first and second magnetic column; the rectifier circuit includes a plurality of rectifier components including first to fourth rectifier component electrically connected to form a full bridge rectifier circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pengkai Ji, Yibing Cheng
  • Patent number: 11855543
    Abstract: An energy conversion apparatus includes: an inductor, where a first end of the inductor is connected to an external charging port; a bridge arm converter, connected between an external battery and the external charging port, where the bridge arm converter includes a first phase bridge arm, a second phase bridge arm, and a third phase bridge arm connected in parallel, and a second end of the inductor is connected to the first phase bridge arm; a voltage transformation unit, where an input end of the voltage transformation unit is connected to the second phase bridge arm and the third phase bridge arm; and a first bidirectional H-bridge, connected between an output end of the voltage transformation unit and the external battery. The external battery is connected to and drives an external motor. The external charging port is connected to a power supply and charges the external battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Jingcui Teng, Shulin Liang, Yu Liu, Chao Wang
  • Patent number: 11848604
    Abstract: A single-stage AC-DC converter circuit with a power factor correction function. The single-stage AC-DC converter circuit comprises a primary-side AC-DC converter, a transformer, a secondary-side AC-DC converter and a controller which are connected to each other. The primary-side AC-DC converter is configured to convert an AC power source into DC. The secondary-side AC-DC converter is configured to convert electrical energy into DC and supply power to a load. The controller is configured to control duty ratios of power switches in the primary-side and secondary-side AC-DC converters, and a phase difference between control signals for the power switches, and finally control the amount of electrical energy transfer and correct a power factor. The single-stage AC-DC converter circuit of the present invention reduces the capacity and volume of a filter inductor and a voltage stabilizing capacitor, and has the advantages of simple circuit and low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN VMAX NEW ENERGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Liu, Yingying Feng, Shun Yao, Jinzhu Xu
  • Patent number: 11848602
    Abstract: A circuit assembly includes at least one coil assembly with a first coil and a second coil, the first coil being connected to a DC voltage side of a rectifier of the circuit assembly, and the second coil being connected to a power source of the circuit assembly, the first coil and the second coil being coupled to each other via a coupling component of the coil assembly, the coupling component forming a core of each of the coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Utz
  • Patent number: 11843316
    Abstract: According to one aspect, an apparatus comprising a two stage DC-DC converter is provided. The converter consists of a multilevel DC-DC converter stage cascaded with a fixed voltage ratio DC-DC converter stage. The converter is controlled so that a first stage of the converter provides an optimized output (a regulated bus voltage) which serves as the input to the second stage. The multilevel DC-DC converter may be the first stage and the fixed voltage ratio, unregulated DC-DC converter may be the second stage converter. Alternatively, the fixed voltage ratio, unregulated DC-DC converter may be the first stage and the multilevel DC-DC converter may be the second stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Liming Ye, Heping Dai
  • Patent number: 11843312
    Abstract: An apparatus including direct-current (DC)-alternating-current (AC) inverter circuitry, first and second circuits, and output circuitry. The DC-AC inverter circuitry inverts a DC input signal corresponding to an input voltage to an AC signal. The first circuit and second circuits respectively include inductive isolation circuits driven in response to power from the at least one AC signal, and rectifier circuits that responds to the inductive isolation circuits by outputting first and second rectified signals, where at least one of the first and second rectifier circuits characterized as being limited by a voltage breakdown rating. The output circuitry provides a DC output voltage signal and to cascade a plurality of signals, including the first and second rectified signals, to provide a voltage source that is dependent on the first and second rectified signals and greater than voltage breakdown rating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Juan M. Rivas-Davila, Lei Gu, Luke C. Raymond, Sanghyeon Park
  • Patent number: 11837965
    Abstract: A high-voltage generator may be provided. The high-voltage generator may include a rectifying unit, a grid-controlled unit, and a shielding device. The rectifying unit may be configured to rectify an electric current generated in the high-voltage generator. The grid-controlled unit may be configured to generate a high voltage and electrically connected to the rectifying unit. The grid-controlled unit may have a conductive surface that opposes the rectifying unit. The shielding device may be located between the rectifying unit and the conductive surface of the grid-controlled unit. The shielding device may be spaced apart from the rectifying unit and the conductive surface of the grid-controlled unit. The shielding device may be electrically connected to the rectifying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yufeng Liu, Guoping Zhu
  • Patent number: 11835328
    Abstract: A ground-fixable electronic detonation device for a blasting system and a blasting system using same are proposed. The ground-fixable electronic detonation device includes: an electronic detonator; a wireless communication module; a wire part configured to connect the electronic detonator and the wireless communication module; and a module fixing pin part positioned in the wireless communication module and configured to move upward and downward to be driven into the ground. In the ground-fixable electronic detonation device, the module fixing pin part is driven into the ground to stably fix a position of the wireless communication module, so that stability in wireless communication is secured. Accordingly, blasting accuracy may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: HANWHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ki Won Hwang