Patents Examined by Ivan Laboy Andino
  • Patent number: 9496828
    Abstract: An envelope tracking power supply has a multiple-output DC/DC converter, having an alternating current generating portion and a full rectifying portion. The alternating current generating portion to receive an input voltage and operate at zero voltage switching. A full rectifying portion includes at least one secondary winding and one voltage doubler output. each having a first transistor, and a second transistor, used as rectifier devices to allow currents to flow bi-directionally and sink and source the currents from and to output capacitors to keep their voltage balance. A switch bank selects a desired voltage from series connected capacitors and connects it to an output filter. The switch bank receives an envelope tracking command from the voltage selector and provides a step voltage to the output. The output voltage is changed at switching speed to track a high bandwidth envelope signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Zhong Ye
  • Patent number: 9484835
    Abstract: The invention concerns a voltage source converter (26) comprising a group of phase legs, at least three connection terminals (AC1, AC2, AC3, DC+, DC?) for connecting the phase legs to power transmission elements, a first group of cells (C1p1, C2p1, C1n1, C2n1, C1p2, C2p2, C1n2, C2n2, C1p3, C2p3, C1n3, C2n3) in each phase leg and a second group of cells (C3p1, C3n1, C3p2, C3n2 C3p3, C3n3). The cells (C1p1, C2p1, C1n1, C2n1, C1p2, C2p2, C1n2, C2n2, C1p3, C2p3, C1n3, C2n3) in the first group are only capable of providing unipolar voltage contributions to the converter and connected for only being capable of such unipolar voltage contributions, while the cells (C3p1, C3n1, C3p2, C3n2 C3p3, C3n3) in the second group are connected to the corresponding cells of the first group and arranged to have bipolar voltage contribution capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: ABB RESEARCH LTD
    Inventor: Staffan Norrga
  • Patent number: 9484830
    Abstract: A five-level rectifier includes at least one phase bridge arm that includes an upper-half and a lower-half bridge arm circuit modules. The upper-half bridge arm circuit module includes a first power semiconductor switch unit, a second power semiconductor switch unit, a first diode unit, a second diode unit, a first connecting busbar, a first insulated wire and a first transfer busbar; the lower-half bridge arm circuit module includes a third power semiconductor switch unit, a fourth power semiconductor switch unit, a third diode unit, a fourth diode unit, a second connecting busbar, a second insulated wire and a second transfer busbar. The two modules are disposed side by side and facing each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bing Zhang, Li-Feng Qiao, Jian-Ping Ying
  • Patent number: 9479082
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing multi-phase power. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a cycloconverter controller for determining a charge ratio based on a reference waveform; and a cycloconverter, coupled to the cycloconverter controller and to a multi-phase AC line, for selectively coupling an alternating current to each line of the multi-phase AC line based on the charge ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Fornage, Donald Richard Zimmanck
  • Patent number: 9479061
    Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter assembly includes an inverter having first and second terminals connectable to a power transmission network. The inverter has a modular multilevel converter including a first inverter limb extending between the first and second terminals with first and second inverter limb portions separated by a third terminal. Each inverter limb portion includes at least one rationalized module having first and second sets of series-connected current flow control elements connected in parallel with an energy storage device. The current flow control elements include an active switching element directing current through the energy storage device and a passive current check element limiting current flow to one direction. The current flow control elements and energy storage device provide a voltage source to synthesize an AC voltage at the third terminal. A rectifier is electrically connected to the third terminal and connectable to a second power transmission network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: David Reginald Trainer, Nnamdi Okaeme
  • Patent number: 9479076
    Abstract: It is presented a converter cell (10a; 10b) arranged to be used in a high voltage multilevel converter. The converter cell comprises: an energy storage element (16a; 16b) and a plurality of switching elements (S1, . . . , S8). The plurality of switching elements comprises at least one thyristor (S3; S8) and a plurality of transistors (S1, S2, S4; S5, S6, S7). Each one of the at least one thyristor (S3; S8) is provided in a position for a switching element in the converter cell where, during normal operation of the converter cell, the at least one thyristor is in a continuous conducting state. This reduces the power losses of the converter cell. A corresponding multilevel converter and a method are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Alireza Nami, Liwei Wang
  • Patent number: 9472943
    Abstract: An offline power converter provides low EMI and quick reaction by slowly turning off a power switch at normal operation, and fast turning off the power switch when surge event happens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Urienza, Peng Liu
  • Patent number: 9459636
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transition control in a hybrid Switched-Mode Power Supply (SMPS). In some embodiments, a hybrid SMPS may include linear circuitry configured to produce an output voltage proportional to a variable duty cycle when the SMPS operates in linear mode and hysteretic circuitry coupled to the linear circuitry, the hysteretic circuitry configured to cause the duty cycle to assume one of two predetermined values when the SMPS operates in hysteretic mode. The hybrid SMPS may also include transition circuitry coupled to the linear circuitry and to the hysteretic circuitry, the transition circuitry configured to bypass at least a portion of the linear circuitry in response to the hybrid SMPS transitioning from the hysteretic mode to the linear mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Ivan Carlos Ribeiro Nascimento, Edevaldo Pereira Silva, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9461557
    Abstract: A multilevel converter cell includes a first section with a first group of series connected switching units in parallel with a first energy storage element, where a junction between a first and second switching units of the first group of series connected switching units forms one cell connection terminal, a second section with a second group of series connected switching units in parallel with a second energy storage element, where a junction between a third and fourth switching units of the second group of series connected switching units forms another cell connection terminal, and an interconnecting section with a third group of series-connected switching units comprising a fifth, sixth and seventh switching unit, with the fifth and sixth switching units connected in parallel with the first energy storage element and the sixth and seventh switching units connected in parallel with the second energy storage element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventor: Kalle Ilves
  • Patent number: 9444367
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing AC power. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a cycloconverter controller for determining a DC value based on a reference waveform and a three-phase cycloconverter, coupled to the cycloconverter controller, for selectively coupling, based on the DC value, an alternating current to an AC line to generate a single-phase AC output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Fornage, Donald Richard Zimmanck
  • Patent number: 9425688
    Abstract: A converter control circuit for converting an input voltage to an output voltage comprises: an error amplifier, coupled to an output voltage or a feedback output signal from the output voltage, and a reference signal, operable to generate an error signal accordingly; a ramp signal generator, generating a first ramp signal and a second ramp signal; a first comparator, coupled to the error signal and the first ramp signal, operable to generate a first comparing signal accordingly; a second comparator, coupled to the error signal and the second ramp signal, operable to generate a second comparing signal accordingly; and a control signal generator, coupled to the first comparing signal and the second comparing signal, operable to generate a control signal to turn switches in the converter circuit ON and OFF accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Powers Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qian Ouyang, Wei Yuan
  • Patent number: 9413268
    Abstract: An embodiment multilevel inverter comprises a first boost apparatus having an input coupled to a positive dc bus and a second boost apparatus having an input coupled to a negative dc bus. The multilevel inverter further comprise a first switch coupled to an input of an L-C filter and the first boost apparatus, a second switch coupled to the input of the L-C filter and the second boost apparatus, a third switch coupled between the positive dc bus and the first switch and a fourth switch coupled between the negative dc bus and the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dianbo Fu, Bo He, Quan Li
  • Patent number: 9391506
    Abstract: There are provided a power factor correction circuit and a power supply including the same, the power factor correction circuit including a main switch adjusting a phase difference between a current and a voltage of input power, a main inductor storing or discharging the power according to switching of the main switch, a snubber circuit unit including a snubber switch forming a transfer path for surplus power present before the main switch is turned on and a snubber inductor adjusting an amount of a current applied to the snubber switch, and a reduction circuit unit reducing excessive power imposed on the snubber switch by varying inductance of the snubber inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANCIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: In Wha Jeong, Bum Seok Suh, Hyo Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 9391529
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method for controlling a circuit includes controlling pulse width modulation on a primary side of a quasi-resonant controller to achieve continuous current mode operation from a synchronous rectification controller on a secondary side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Louvel
  • Patent number: 9372491
    Abstract: Circuits and methods to maintain a resistive voltage divider ratio during start-up of an electronic circuit comprising a feed-forward capacitor across a feedback resistor using a dynamic start-up circuit are disclosed as e.g. a LDO or an amplifier. In a preferred embodiment of the disclosure is applied to an LDO. Modification of the resistive voltage divider ratio caused by the feed-forward capacitor during start-up is prevented while the voltage level of a voltage access point of the voltage divider on the feed-forward capacitor is maintained. A start-up circuit comprises a start-up capacitor and a start-up comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignees: Dialog Semiconductor GmbH, Dialog Semiconductor B. V.
    Inventors: Ambreesh Bhattad, Ludmil Nikolov, Marinus Wilhelmus Kruiskamp
  • Patent number: 9374010
    Abstract: A power adaptor is provided. The power adaptor includes a voltage converter, a connecting port, a first transformer and a controller. The voltage converter receives an input voltage and determines whether to convert the input voltage to an output voltage according to an indicating signal. The first transformer includes a primary side and a secondary side. The primary side and the secondary side are coupled to each other, and a first end and a second end of the secondary side are coupled to the connecting port, respectively. The controller generates the indicating signal according to a voltage at the primary side of the first transformer. The connecting port is used to connect to an electrical device, and when the connecting port is electrically connected to the electrical device, a first end and a second end of the secondary side are short to a reference ground end of the secondary side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Yu-Cheng Shen, Yu Hung
  • Patent number: 9362848
    Abstract: A power electronic converter, for connecting AC and DC networks and transferring power therebetween, comprises: first and second DC terminals for connection in use to a DC network; at least one primary converter limb extending between the first and second DC terminals and having first and second primary limb portions separated by a primary AC terminal for connection in use to a respective phase of a multi-phase AC network, at least one of the first and second primary limb portions including at least one primary active switching module to selectively allow current to flow through the corresponding primary converter limb in a first direction from the corresponding primary AC terminal to the DC terminals and in a second direction from the DC terminals to the corresponding primary AC terminal; and at least one secondary converter limb extending between the first and second DC terminals and having first and second secondary limb portions separated by a secondary AC terminal for connection in use to a further respe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: David Reginald Trainer
  • Patent number: 9344010
    Abstract: A power electronic converter (30), for connecting AC and DC networks (46,44) and transferring power therebetween, comprises: first and second DC terminals (32,34) defining a DC link for connection to a DC network (44); wherein, in use, the DC link has a reversible DC link voltage applied thereacross; at least one converter limb (36) extending between the first and second DC terminals (32,34) and having first and second limb portions (38,40) separated by an AC terminal (42) for connection to an AC network (46), each limb portion (38,40) including at least one rationalized module (52) having first and second sets of series-connected current flow control elements (54) connected in parallel with at least one energy storage device (56), each set of current flow control elements (54) including a primary active switching element to selectively direct current through the energy storage device (56) and a primary passive current check element to limit current flow through the rationalized module (52) to a single direct
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: David Reginald Trainer, Nnamdi Okaeme
  • Patent number: 9337716
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a power supply circuit with power factor correction (PFC) function, and an automatic gain control circuit therefor and a control method thereof. The power supply circuit includes the automatic gain control circuit and a load driver circuit. The automatic gain control circuit converts an input voltage to a regulation voltage, and the load driver circuit generates an output current according to the regulation voltage. The automatic gain control circuit automatically adjust the regulation voltage such that the regulation voltage has a substantially fixed amplitude or fixed average value under different input voltages of different specifications, and the output current provided by the load driver circuit varies in phase with the input voltage to provide a PFC function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Chia-Wei Liao, Jing-Meng Liu
  • Patent number: 9337645
    Abstract: A method in a controller for protection of a voltage source converter including one or more phases, each phase including one or more series-connected converter cells. Each converter cell has a by-pass switch for enabling by-pass thereof. The method includes the steps of detecting an over-voltage condition, and controlling simultaneously the by-pass switches of each converter cell, so as to bypass the converter cells upon detection of such over-voltage condition. The invention also encompasses a controller, computer programs and computer program products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Hasler, Mauro Monge, Marcio De Oliveira