Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a converter cell (4) for a power converter. The cell comprises a plurality of semiconductor devices (T) forming a half-bridge or full-bridge topology in the cell. The cell also comprises an energy storage (5) connected across the at least one switch leg (6). The cell also comprises a crowbar leg (7) connected across the at least one switch leg, comprising a plurality of series connected semiconductor crowbar switches (C) arranged to short-circuit the energy storage (5). The cell also comprises first and second AC terminals (A, B), wherein at least one of said AC terminals is connected to one of the at least one switch leg, between two of the plurality of series connected semiconductor devices of said switch leg, and connected to the crowbar leg, between two of the plurality of series connected crowbar switches of said crowbar leg.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 28, 2019
Date of Patent:
August 16, 2022
Assignee:
Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG
Inventors:
Aravind Mohanaveeramani, Jan Svensson, Alireza Nami
Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for a circuit. In some examples, the circuit includes a timing circuit and a state machine circuit. The timing circuit determines a relationship between a duty cycle of a power converter and a threshold value. The state machine circuit is coupled to the timing circuit and includes a plurality of states including a buck state, a boost state, and a buck-boost state. The state machine circuit transitions among the plurality of states according to time domain control and voltage domain control, based at least partially on the determined relationship between the duty cycle and the threshold value, transitions among the states according to the time domain control when the time domain control indicates an exit from the buck-boost state, and transitions among the states according to the voltage domain control when the voltage domain control indicates the exit from a buck-boost state.
Abstract: One or more embodiments relate to a regulation loop control circuit for regulation of a parameter such as an input voltage or output voltage for a buck-boost converter. In these and other embodiments, the regulation loop control circuit is configured to select between an input voltage loop for regulation of the input voltage or an output voltage loop for regulation of the output voltage in response to an input voltage error, an output voltage error, and a threshold detector to protect the converter without sacrificing output voltage regulation and transient response.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 7, 2020
Date of Patent:
August 16, 2022
Assignee:
RENESAS ELECTRONICS AMERICA INC.
Inventors:
Michael Jason Houston, Allan Warrington
Abstract: A direct current-to-direct current (DC-DC) converter providing multiple operation modes includes a buck power stage configured to lower an input voltage, a boost power stage configured to increase the input voltage, and a multi-mode controller configured to control the buck power stage and the boost power stage, wherein the multi-mode controller is configured to generate a signal to control the buck power stage and the boost power stage according to the input voltage and an output voltage, and control the buck power stage and the boost power stage using the signal.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 16, 2020
Date of Patent:
July 26, 2022
Assignee:
ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Inventors:
Young Kyun Cho, Heon Kook Kwon, Kwang Seon Kim, Tae Joong Kim, Kwangchun Lee, Jung Nam Lee, Jae Ho Jung
Abstract: A flyback converter is provided that compares a drain-to-source voltage of a synchronous rectifier switch transistor to a negative threshold voltage to detect whether the synchronous rectifier switch transistor has a partially-open or an open fault condition. The flyback converter also compares a gate terminal voltage of a gate driver to the synchronous rectifier switch transistor to a positive threshold voltage to detect whether the synchronous rectifier switch transistor has a gate open or a gate short-circuit fault condition.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 29, 2020
Date of Patent:
July 19, 2022
Assignee:
Dialog Semiconductor, Inc.
Inventors:
Yimin Chen, Juyoung Yoon, Jiandong Zhang, David Nguyen, Jianming Yao
Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes N semiconductor modules respectively including a switch part including first and second semiconductor switches coupled in series, and an output terminal coupled to a node that connects the first and second semiconductor switches, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 3, wherein the N semiconductor modules are arranged so that the output terminals thereof are adjacent to each other. The power conversion apparatus further includes an output bar to couple the output terminals of the N semiconductor modules so that a parasitic inductance of a current path coupling the output terminals of first and second semiconductor modules among the N semiconductor modules, and a parasitic inductance of a current path coupling the output terminals of the first and third semiconductor modules among the N semiconductor modules, are approximately balanced.
Abstract: An alternating current power supply configured to provide a high-voltage alternating current power output from two or more low-voltage alternating current power sources is provided. The alternating current power supply comprises a first alternating current power input, a second alternating current power input, and an alternating current power output having a first output conductor and a second output conductor. The alternating current power supply includes a first switch means for coupling the first alternating current input to the first output connector and the second alternating current input to the second output connector. The first switch means is sequentially responsive to the first current flow followed by the second current flow. The alternating current power supply further comprises an isolation means connected between the first switch means and the alternating current power output, wherein the isolation means is configured to isolate the first current flow from the second current flow.
Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for a circuit. In some examples, the circuit includes an amplifier having a first input configured to receive a signal representative of a condition related to a power converter, a second input configured to receive a reference signal, and an output, a PWM regulation circuit having an input coupled to the output of the amplifier, a first output configured to provide a first control signal for a high-side transistor of the power converter, and a second output configured to output a first control signal for a low-side transistor of the power converter, and a PFM regulation circuit having an input coupled to the output of the first amplifier, a first output configured to output a second control signal for the high-side transistor of the power converter, and a second output configured to output a second control signal for the low-side transistor of the power converter.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 10, 2019
Date of Patent:
July 19, 2022
Assignee:
Texas Instruments Incorporated
Inventors:
Orlando Lazaro, Reza Sharifi, Benjamin Matthew McCue, Ryan Erik Lind
Abstract: A drive circuit includes a voltage input circuit, a first surge protection device, and a second surge protection device. The voltage input circuit includes a first line terminal and a second line terminal, and supplies an input voltage to the first and second line terminals. The first surge protection device is connected between the first line terminal and ground to connect the first line terminal to ground when the input voltage is supplied, and to disconnect the first line terminal from ground when the input voltage is not supplied. The second surge protection device is connected between the second line terminal and ground to connect the second line terminal to ground when the input voltage is supplied, and to disconnect the second line terminal from ground when the input voltage is not supplied.
Abstract: An electrical AC/DC converter arrangement includes: an AC circuit breaker; a rectifier; at least one smoothing capacitor; at least one first isolating relay for electrical isolation; at least one first current sensor; and a control and monitoring unit. An input of the AC circuit breaker forms an AC input of the arrangement. An output of the AC circuit breaker is connected, at least indirectly by a circuit, to an input of the rectifier. The at least one smoothing capacitor connects a first output of the rectifier to a second output of the rectifier. The first output of the rectifier is connected, at least indirectly by a circuit, to an input of the at least one first isolating relay. An output of the at least one first isolating relay forms a first DC output of the arrangement and connects a DC network to at least one first DC load.
Abstract: A power supply comprises an output stage configured to provide a supply current, in order to obtain a supply voltage. The power supply also comprises a digital regulator configured to receive a reference voltage information and a measured voltage information and to provide a control signal. The power supply further comprises an inner analog control loop, wherein the inner analog control loop is configured to provide an analog feedback signal, which is based on the supply voltage, to the output stage, to make an analog regulation contribution to a regulation of the supply voltage. A method for supplying power to a load is also disclosed.
Abstract: A simultaneous low quiescent current and high performance low dropout (LDO) voltage regulator is disclosed. In some implementations, the LDO voltage regulator includes a first and a second pass transistors configured to receive an input voltage (Vin). The LDO voltage regulator further includes an error amplifying module having a first output, a second output, a first input, and a second input. The error amplifying module can further include a first output stage configured to drive the gate of the first pass transistor during a high performance (HP) mode, and a second output stage configured to drive the gate of the second pass transistor during the HP mode and during a low power (LP) mode.
Abstract: In described examples of methods and control circuitry to control a multi-level power conversion system, the control circuitry generates PWM signals having a duty cycle to control an output signal. The duty cycle is adjustable in different switching cycles. States of the system's switches are adjustable in one or more intervals within the switching cycles. In response to a voltage across a capacitor of the system being outside a non-zero voltage range, the control circuitry adjusts states of the switches in two intervals to discharge or charge the capacitor in a given switching cycle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 29, 2017
Date of Patent:
June 14, 2022
Assignee:
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
Inventors:
Orlando Lazaro, Kevin Scoones, Alvaro Aguilar, Jeffrey Anthony Morroni, Sombuddha Chakraborty
Abstract: A control unit for a switching converter has an inductor element coupled to an input and a switch element coupled to the inductor element and generates a command signal having a switching period to switch the switch element and determine a first time period in which an inductor current is flowing in the inductor element for storing energy and a second time period in which energy is transferred to a load. An input current is distorted relative to a sinusoid by a distortion factor caused by current ripple on the inductor current. The duration of the first time period is determined based on a comparison between a peak value of the inductor current and a current reference that is a function of an output voltage of said voltage converter. A reference modification stage modifies one of the current reference and sensed value of the inductor current to compensate for distortion introduced by the distortion factor on the input current.
Abstract: Provided is a power supply device comprising a voltage conversion portion configured to convert input voltage to output voltage by pulse width modulation, a frequency reduction circuit configured to reduce a frequency of the pulse width modulation in response to detection of an overload during normal operation of the voltage conversion portion and startup of the voltage conversion portion, and a frequency setting circuit configured to set the frequency of the pulse width modulation used when starting up the voltage conversion portion to a frequency higher than a minimum frequency corresponding to the overload. In addition, provided is a power supply control device and a power supply control method relating to the power supply device.
Abstract: A control method for a DC/DC converter and a DC/DC converter are provided. The method includes: detecting an input voltage and an output voltage, and calculating a voltage gain according to a ratio of the output voltage to the input voltage; determining an operating mode of the DC/DC converter according to a first threshold and the voltage gain, and setting a first duty ratio and a second duty ratio according to the mode; detecting an inductor current to generate a current feedback signal, and then setting a regulation component according to the current feedback signal; regulating the first or second duty ratio according to the regulation component and generating driving signals to control the two groups of switches. The converter could operate in the Buck mode, Boost mode and Buck-Boost mode, and the voltage gain could be linearly continuous around 1.
Abstract: A voltage generating circuit includes an input stage, a control stage, an inductor and an output stage. The input stage includes a plurality of comparators each generating a comparison result according to an input voltage and a reference voltage and a multiplexer configured to output a voltage control signal sequentially carrying the comparison results of the comparators. The control stage is configured to control conduction of a charging path between a power source and a first node in response to the voltage control signal. The inductor is coupled between the first node and a second node. The output stage includes a plurality of output switches coupled to the second node and turned on or off in response to a switch control signal. The switch control signals are generated according to the voltage control signal and rising edges and falling edges of the switch control signals are interleaved.
Abstract: Resonant power converters. Example embodiments are methods of operating a rectification controller including sensing a drain-source voltage of a synchronous rectification (SR) field effect transistor (FET); setting an adaptive delay time corresponding to a time interval between a first state transition and a second state transition, with each of the first and second state transitions corresponding to the drain-source voltage transitioning between being greater than the adaptive delay voltage and being less than the adaptive delay voltage; and driving the SR FET to a conductive state after the drain-source voltage having been less than the on-threshold voltage for longer than the adaptive delay time.
Abstract: Provided is a surge protection circuit, which includes a bidirectional voltage suppressor; and a thyristor surge suppression unit connected in parallel with the bidirectional voltage suppressor. The first end of the bidirectional voltage suppressor is connected to the first end of the thyristor surge suppression unit, and the second end of the bidirectional voltage suppressor is connected to the second end of the thyristor surge suppression unit. The breakover voltage or the breakdown voltage in the direction from the first end to the second end of the thyristor surge suppression unit is greater than the clamping voltage in the direction from the first end to the second end of the bidirectional voltage suppressor. The breakover voltage in the direction from the second end to the first end of the thyristor surge suppression unit is less than the clamping voltage in the direction from the second end to the first end of the bidirectional voltage suppressor.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 14, 2017
Date of Patent:
April 5, 2022
Assignee:
SHENZHEN BENCENT ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Inventors:
Jinbo Cai, Guoyuan Chen, Shenghui Luo, Ming Li
Abstract: A synchronous rectifier controller controls a rectification power switch connected in series with a secondary winding between two power lines. The synchronous rectifier has a gate driver and a slew-rate detector. The gate driver drives the rectification power switch. The slew-rate detector detects a channel voltage of the rectification power switch, checks if a slew rate of the channel voltage exceeds a slope threshold. If the slew rate exceeds the slope threshold, the slew-rate detector turns the rectification power switch ON through the gate driver. If the slew rate is less than the slope threshold, the slew-rate detector reduces the slope threshold.