Patents Examined by Harry R Behm
  • Patent number: 11977664
    Abstract: A System-on-Chip (SoC) includes first and second voltage supply pins configured to receive first and second supply voltages, respectively, a first supply path beginning at the first supply pin, and a supply proportion checker. The first supply path includes a first plurality of voltage supply nodes and a supply switch coupled between adjacent voltage supply nodes, wherein each node is configured to provide a corresponding internal voltage supply to a corresponding portion of the SoC. The supply proportion checker is coupled to receive the corresponding internal voltage supply from each voltage supply node, and configured to determine whether a first internal voltage supply supplied by a first supply node of the first plurality of nodes has a legitimate proportion to a second internal voltage supply supplied by a second supply node of the first plurality of nodes, wherein the legitimacy is checked using only resistors which do not require trimming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Regner, Hubert Martin Bode, Stefan Doll
  • Patent number: 11979091
    Abstract: A forward converter includes an input voltage source divided into multiple divided input voltage sources, each of which provides a portion of a total input voltage of the input voltage source. The forward converter includes an output circuit with an output capacitor, a transformer having multiple primary windings, a secondary winding, and a relaxation winding. Each primary winding is connected in series with a corresponding primary side switching device. A combination of the primary winding and the corresponding primary side switching device is in parallel with a corresponding divided voltage source. The secondary winding outputs a voltage via the output circuit. The relaxation winding is connected across the divided input voltage sources or the output capacitor. A controller circuit controls the primary side switching devices to control power flow from the input voltage source to the output capacitor based on an indication of a voltage across the output capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Appulse Power Inc.
    Inventors: Seyed-Behzad Mahdavikhah-Mehrabad, Nenad Vukadinovic
  • Patent number: 11961720
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multi-channel device for detecting plasma at an ultra-fast speed, including: a first antenna module connected to a first output terminal in contact with a substrate on a chuck of a process chamber and extending to ground, and receiving a first leakage current leaking through the substrate to increase reception sensitivity of the leakage current; a first current detection module detecting the first leakage current; a current measurement module receiving the first leakage current output from the first current detection module, and extracting the received first leakage current for each predetermined period to generate a first leakage current measurement information; and a control module comparing the first leakage current measurement information with a reference value to generate first arcing occurrence information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: T.O.S Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong Kyu Kim, Bum Ho Choi, Yong Sik Kim, Kwang Ki Kang, Hong Jong Jung, Seok Ho Lee, Seung Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 11955879
    Abstract: In described examples, a controller includes a converter. The converter generates a first signal responsive to an input signal. A summing block is coupled to the converter. The summing block receives the first signal and generates a second signal. A limiter is coupled to the summing block and generates a third signal responsive to the second signal and a code signal. A logic block generates a target signal responsive to the third signal. The third signal transitions to an intermediate level at a first slew rate and the third signal transitions from the intermediate level to the target signal at a second slew rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Venkatesh Wadeyar, Vikas Lakhanpal, Preetam Charan Anand Tadeparthy
  • Patent number: 11955273
    Abstract: A low-voltage DC-DC converter includes a switch configured to convert a high voltage supplied from a high-voltage battery to an alternating current (AC) voltage, a transformer including an air gap in a core region and configured to lower the AC voltage to a low voltage using an adjusted turns ratio, and a power supply configured to rectify the low voltage and supply the rectified low voltage to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Won Gon Kim
  • Patent number: 11955302
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay includes a fixed terminal, a movable contact piece, a first contact, and a second contact. The fixed terminal includes a first surface. The movable contact piece includes a second surface disposed to face the first surface. The first contact is embedded in one of the fixed terminal or the movable contact piece to be flush with one of the first surface or the second surface. The second contact is disposed on the other of the fixed terminal or the movable contact piece to face the first contact. The second contact protrudes from the other of the first surface or the second surface toward the first contact and include a contact surface smaller than the first contact when viewed from a direction facing the first contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohei Otsuka, Ryota Minowa, Hiroyuki Iwasaka, Yasuo Hayashida, Shingo Mori, Naoki Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 11947374
    Abstract: The present disclosure uses a capacitive voltage divider to supply a voltage that can be more readily handled by mainstream semiconductor and magnetic components (generally less than 1000 volts). The divided system voltage, expected to be between 500 and 1000 volts, is then converted to a power supply voltage to be used by the measuring equipment. For safety reasons, this voltage is frequently required to be less than approximately 50 volts if it is delivered via a connectorized cable with exposed contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Sentient Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis Allen Saxby
  • Patent number: 11947401
    Abstract: A system on chip includes a core configured to maintain a clock gating state; a plurality of header switch circuits configured to deliver a supply voltage, which is reduced from an external supply voltage, to the core in response to a plurality of control signals; and a voltage regulator configured to monitor the supply voltage, change logic levels of the plurality of control signals according to a difference level corresponding to a difference between the supply voltage and a preset target voltage, and output the plurality of control signals of which the logic levels have been changed to the plurality of header switch circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jaegon Lee, Yohan Kwon, Sangho Kim, Seki Kim, Joonseok Kim, Yooseok Shon, Dooseok Yoon, Iksu Lee, Jongpil Lee, Hyongmin Lee, Wookyeong Jeong
  • Patent number: 11942859
    Abstract: A level shifter causes a switch to open or close by selecting one of two stored logical values to generate a gate-drive voltage to cause a transition in the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory Szczeszynski
  • Patent number: 11936282
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for adjusting AC-DC converter output voltage, the apparatus includes a plurality of ports, an AC-DC converter circuit, a plurality of DC-DC converters coupled to a plurality of controllers, where the plurality of controllers coupled to corresponding plurality of ports to operate the one or more loads, wherein at least one controller is a master controller and the other plurality of controllers are slave controllers. The master controller configured to determine, from the slave controllers power levels for each port, calculate an optimal input voltage value for the DC-DC converters and communicate the calculated value to the AC-DC converter circuit through a constant current source to regulate the amount of DC voltage that is being supplied to the DC-DC converters to operate the one or more loads, thereby leading to improved system efficiency of multiport USB based power adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: SILICONCH SYSTEMS PVT LTD
    Inventors: Burle Naga Satyanarayana, Shubham Kumar Paliwal, Rakesh Kumar Polasa
  • Patent number: 11929675
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques in which a software-controlled load is embedded at an output of a point of load (POL) in parallel to a load that receives power from the POL. A small incremental load is applied to the POL using the software-controlled load. A transient response of the POL to the applied small incremental load is measured using an embedded analysis functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Spencer A. Beery, Caleb Xavier Berger, Jerrold Mark Pianin, Shuang Liang, Vedant Jain
  • Patent number: 11923778
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high efficiency, high density GaN-based power converter comprising: a transformer; a magnetic coupler; a primary switch; a secondary switch; a primary controller; a secondary controller; a multi-layered print circuit board (PCB) comprising: one or more planar coils respectively formed on one or more PCB layers and aligned with each other for constructing the transformer and the coupler; and a plurality of conducting traces and vias for providing electrical connection among the transformer, the coupler, a primary switch, a secondary switch, a primary controller and a secondary controller. The power converter further comprises a pair of ferrite cores being fixed to a top surface and a bottom surface of the PCB respectively and commonly shared by the transformer and the coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: INNOSCIENCE (SUZHOU) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yanbo Zou, Fada Du, Chao Tang, Wenjie Lin
  • Patent number: 11916488
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high efficiency, high density GaN-based power converter comprising: a transformer; a magnetic coupler; a primary switch; a secondary switch; a primary controller; a secondary controller; a multi-layered print circuit board (PCB) comprising: one or more planar coils respectively formed on one or more PCB layers and aligned with each other for constructing the transformer and the coupler; and a plurality of conducting traces and vias for providing electrical connection among the transformer, the coupler, a primary switch, a secondary switch, a primary controller and a secondary controller. The power converter further comprises a pair of ferrite cores being fixed to a top surface and a bottom surface of the PCB respectively and commonly shared by the transformer and the coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: INNOSCIENCE (SUZHOU) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yanbo Zou, Fada Du, Chao Tang, Wenjie Lin
  • Patent number: 11916490
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-functional printed circuit board (PCB) for assembling a plurality of components of a power converter in to a single package. The PCB comprises: one or more planar coils respectively formed on one or more PCB layers and aligned with each other for constructing the transformer and the coupler; and a plurality of conducting traces and vias for providing electrical connection among the plurality of components of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: INNOSCIENCE (SUZHOU) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yanbo Zou, Fada Du, Chao Tang, Wenjie Lin
  • Patent number: 11916489
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high efficiency, high density GaN-based power converter comprising: a transformer; a magnetic coupler; a primary switch; a secondary switch; a primary controller; a secondary controller; a multi-layered print circuit board (PCB) comprising: one or more planar coils respectively formed on one or more PCB layers and aligned with each other for constructing the transformer and the coupler; and a plurality of conducting traces and vias for providing electrical connection among the transformer, the coupler, a primary switch, a secondary switch, a primary controller and a secondary controller. The power converter further comprises a pair of ferrite cores being fixed to a top surface and a bottom surface of the PCB respectively and commonly shared by the transformer and the coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: INNOSCIENCE (SUZHOU) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yanbo Zou, Fada Du, Chao Tang, Wenjie Lin
  • Patent number: 11916005
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-functional printed circuit board (PCB) for assembling a plurality of components of a power converter in to a single package. The PCB comprises: one or more planar coils respectively formed on one or more PCB layers and aligned with each other for constructing the transformer and the coupler; and a plurality of conducting traces and vias for providing electrical connection among the plurality of components of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: INNOSCIENCE (SUZHOU) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yanbo Zou, Fada Du, Chao Tang, Wenjie Lin
  • Patent number: 11909304
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a plurality of semiconductors that form a power converter, a protocol for controlling the plurality of semiconductors is transmitted via a signal line between a control unit and the semiconductors. Additionally transmitted via the signal line is a sign-of-life signal, wherein the semiconductors are switched off, when the sign-of-life signal is absent, and the semiconductors of the power converter are switched using optimized pulse patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Meritor Electric Vehicles Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Ditterich, Herbert Eder
  • Patent number: 11892864
    Abstract: A voltage supervisor includes a first transistor coupled between a first supply voltage and a second supply voltage. The voltage supervisor includes a second transistor coupled between the first supply voltage and the second supply voltage. The voltage supervisor is configured to provide a first current proportional to a difference in gate-to-source voltages of the first transistor and the second transistor. The voltage supervisor is also configured to provide a second current proportional to a difference in the first supply voltage and the difference in gate-to-source voltages of the first transistor and the second transistor. The voltage supervisor is configured to compare the first current to the second current to determine a voltage value that changes a state responsive to the first supply voltage crossing a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ramakrishna Ankamreddi, Rohit Phogat, Siddhant Rohela
  • Patent number: 11888403
    Abstract: A galvanic isolator circuit and method provide for galvanically isolating and current limiting a power source from a load. A direct current (DC) input voltage (“vin”) and an input current (“iin”) are received. A full- or half-bridge rectifier is switched to synthesize a first alternating voltage waveform that magnetically couples through a transformer to induce a second alternating voltage waveform with galvanic isolation from the first alternating voltage waveform, preventing potentially-faulted load from a source. The second alternating voltage waveform is rectified to produce a direct current (DC) output voltage (“vo”) having output current (“io”) through more than one drive transistor or diode. The more than one primary-side drive transistor is current limited to reduce or prevent brown-out, black-out, or protective race conditions in the non-faulted portions of DC power generation systems and DC distribution electrical power systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Nathaniel Smith
  • Patent number: 11876458
    Abstract: An electrical system can include an isolated bidirectional converter (having an input couplable to a grid connection and an output couplable to a battery) and an isolated converter (having an input coupled to the input of the isolated bidirectional converter and couplable to the grid connection, with an AC output coupled to a convenience outlet). The electrical system can further include a controller that controls operation of the converters to operate in one of a plurality of modes including a charging mode in which the isolated bidirectional converter operates in a forward direction to charge the battery and the non-isolated converter powers the convenience outlet from the grid connection, and a non-charging mode in which the isolated bidirectional converter operates in a reverse direction to power the non-isolated converter from the battery and the non-isolated converter powers the convenience outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish K. Sahoo, Jie Lu, Brandon Pierquet, Anish Prasai