Patents Examined by Matthew Nguyen
-
Patent number: 9946284Abstract: A single event effects (SEE) immune linear voltage regulator includes an input node, an output node, a first transistor control logic, a second transistor control logic, a first transistor, and a second transistor. The regulator is configured such that when the first transistor is operating in linear regulation mode, the second transistor automatically operates in saturation mode, and the voltage at the output node is controlled by the first transistor and the first transistor control logic to be substantially equal to the first reference voltage. Conversely, when the second transistor is operating in linear regulation mode, the first transistor automatically operates in saturation mode, and the voltage at the output node is controlled by the second transistor and the second transistor control logic to be substantially equal to the second reference voltage.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2017Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventor: Lance LeRoy Sundstrom
-
Patent number: 9947456Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods of manufacture relating to PCB embedded inductors are described in the present disclosure. Namely, an example device includes a substrate having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface. The device also includes a plurality of upper conductors disposed along the upper surface and a plurality of lower conductors disposed along the lower surface. The upper conductors and the lower conductors are radially disposed about a central axis. Each of the upper conductors and the lower conductors includes a petal shape. A distance between adjacent upper conductors is less than a width of each upper conductor and a distance between adjacent lower conductors is less than a width of each lower conductor. The device also includes a plurality of through-substrate conductors connecting respective upper conductors to respective lower conductors so as to form a series electrical connection. The series electrical connection includes a toroid configuration.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2016Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: The University of North Carolina at CharlotteInventors: Mehrdad Biglarbegian, Neel Mayur Shah, Babak Parkhideh
-
Patent number: 9941790Abstract: A method and an apparatus for DC-to-DC conversion are provided. The apparatus is a DC-to-DC converter including a first feedback current control circuit coupled to a first voltage output of the DC-to-DC converter. The first feedback current control circuit is configured to generate a first control current based on a voltage difference between a first reference voltage and the first voltage output of the DC-to-DC converter. The apparatus further includes a constant charge comparator coupled to the first feedback current control circuit and configured to compare an integrated error signal to a threshold to generate a comparison result, the integrated error signal comprising an integration of a first error signal over time, the first error signal based on the first control current.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2015Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventor: Vijayakumar Dhanasekaran
-
Patent number: 9935552Abstract: A control system for controlling operational modes of a DC-DC voltage converter is provided. The DC-DC voltage converter initially has an idle operational mode. The microcontroller having first and second operational mode applications. The first operational mode application determines a first encoded value based on the first operational mode value, and further determines first and second values based on the first encoded value. The second operational mode application determines a second encoded value based on the first operational mode value, and further determines third and fourth values based on the second encoded value. The first operational mode application induces the DC-DC voltage converter to transition to the first operational mode if the second value is equal to the third value.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2017Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.Inventor: Kerfegar K. Katrak
-
Patent number: 9923465Abstract: A power conversion circuit includes an input terminal, a first switching element, a second switching element, a third switching element, a fourth switching element, a capacitor; an inductor; and a controller configured to control the switching elements to be switched ON/OFF, such that a voltage at the load is regulated by repetitively (1) charging the inductor with a first current before charging the capacitor causing a second current to flow in the inductor and (2) charging the inductor with a third current before discharging the capacitor causing a fourth current to flow in the inductor.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2017Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.Inventors: Tso-Min Chen, Chien-Wei Kuan, Yen-Hsun Hsu
-
Patent number: 9923475Abstract: Disclosed is a method to control the synchronous rectification in a power converter including a primary winding and a secondary winding, including detecting a peak current in a secondary winding, determining a blanking threshold based on the peak current, and blanking a turning off of a synchronous rectifier (SR) switch for a blanking time based on the blanking threshold.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventors: Jeroen Kleinpenning, Jan Dikken
-
Patent number: 9917524Abstract: Energy channelling AC-DC converters, methods, and control systems are provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2015Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Queens' University at KingstonInventors: Peng Fang, Yan-Fei Liu
-
Patent number: 9917501Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of transistors, each having a gate electrode including extending portions having a length obtained by dividing the gate electrode causing interruption to switching at a desired frequency, wherein current inflow terminals of the plurality of transistors are connected to each other and current outflow terminals of the plurality of transistors are connected to each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2016Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventor: Keisuke Kadowaki
-
Patent number: 9912232Abstract: A combination of inductor current thresholds and circuitry for controlling the inductor based on the thresholds may be implemented in a power converter. One or more of the inductor current thresholds may be variable. An inductor current threshold may be varied as part of a search algorithm for identifying a value resulting in full scale operation of the inductor without exceeding a safe limit. After each cycle of the power converter, circuitry may determine which current thresholds have been exceeded and which have not been exceeded and then generate indication signals for each of the thresholds. Control logic may receive the indication signals and adjust one of the inductor current thresholds used to determine timing for disconnecting and reconnecting current through the inductor of the power converter.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2016Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Umar J. Lyles, Ullas Pazhayaveetil, Jeffrey May
-
Patent number: 9906156Abstract: A control device includes a charge controller. The charge controller includes an amplitude determining unit, a charge command generating unit, and a charging operation controller. The amplitude determining unit determines an amplitude of a current to be input to a converter by performing at least proportional-integral control on a deviation between a voltage across the buffer capacitor and an average voltage command value that is a command value of an average of the voltage across the buffer capacitor. The charge command generating unit determines a charge command by multiplying by the amplitude a function determined according to a discharge duty, a rectifying duty, and a distribution factor of power. The charging operation controller controls a charging operation of the buffer capacitor on the basis of the charge command.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2015Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventor: Kenichi Sakakibara
-
Patent number: 9906117Abstract: A system for controlling power output of a power supply includes power conversion circuitry, output terminals, and a controller. The controller controls the power conversion circuitry to provide a known current to one or more leads, wherein the one or more leads are shorted at the distal end. The controller measures a voltage drop across the one or more leads shorted at the distal end. The controller stores a parameter determined based on the voltage drop, such as a resistance of the one or more leads. The controller controls the power conversion circuitry to provide a target voltage to the load based on the stored parameter when the one or more leads are not shorted at the load.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2017Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: Versatile Power, Inc.Inventor: David Hoffman
-
Patent number: 9906141Abstract: In a DC-DC converter, a voltage at a connection point on the side of connection with a primary winding of a switching transistor is compared to a threshold voltage set within a variation range of the voltage at the connection point while the switching transistor is performing a switching operation, and, when the polarity by which the voltage was compared to the threshold voltage does not change during a detection period longer than the predetermined period of the drive signal for bringing the switching transistor under switching control, the switching transistor is determined as being operating in an active state with a danger of heat generation.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2016Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: SMK CorporationInventor: Toshihiro Amei
-
Patent number: 9899140Abstract: An embedded magnetic component transformer device includes an insulating substrate with a cavity and a magnetic core housed within the cavity. First and second electrical windings pass through the insulating substrate around the magnetic core. The first electrical winding includes a first end terminal and a second end terminal, and a first tap terminal between the first and second end terminals. The device includes circuitry with a first input terminal electrically connected to the first end terminal and a first output terminal. In a first configuration of the circuitry, the first output terminal is electrically connectable to the second end terminal. In a second configuration of the circuitry, the first output terminal is electrically connectable to the first tap terminal.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2017Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Quinn Kneller, Scott Parish, Lee Francis
-
Patent number: 9888592Abstract: A rectifier module comprises a conductive housing made of injection molded aluminum or aluminum alloy. Diodes are inserted into recesses formed in the housing. The housing is placed at an alternating input potential during operation, and transmits alternating current input power to the diode modules for conversion to direct current power. Multiple recesses may be provided for high and low side diodes, of which there may be one or many. Multiple such modules may be provided for converting multiple phases of input power to direct current power.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2016Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventor: Nathan J. Jochman
-
Patent number: 9887630Abstract: This disclosure describes an AC/DC power converter that produces multiple output voltage levels. The AC/DC power converter may include a gain adjustment circuit. The gain adjustment circuit may adjust the gain of a feedback signal of the converter in accordance with the converter's output voltage level. The gain adjustment circuit provides sufficient gain and phase margins to the converter and thus enhances the converter's stability.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2016Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bogdan T. Bucheru, Zaohong Yang
-
Patent number: 9886048Abstract: A voltage regulator control implementation dynamically detects and sets specified headroom for a low dropout (LDO) regulator at different loads to enable the LDO regulator to maintain high performance in conjunction with improved power efficiency. In one instance, an upstream voltage regulator may adaptively adjust an output voltage supplied to an input supply rail of a downstream LDO regulator based on an indication from the LDO regulator. The adaptively adjusted input voltage enables the downstream LDO regulator to achieve high performance and improved power efficiency across the entire range of load conditions.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2016Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Qualcomm IncorporatedInventors: Mengmeng Du, Hua Guan, Ngai Yeung Ho, Chi Fan Yung
-
Patent number: 9887641Abstract: A power converter includes: a plurality of external terminals; a grounded earth terminal; a power conversion circuit; a ground conductor; and a plurality of inductors. A plurality of nodes of the power conversion circuit are connected to the respective plurality of external terminals. The power conversion circuit performs power conversion by switching received power. A plurality of inductors are inserted between the plurality of external terminals and the plurality of nodes. Further, another inductor is inserted between the ground conductor and the earth terminal. In this way, there can be provided a power converter that provides a sufficient noise reduction effect also in a high frequency region.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2017Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroshi Kitada
-
Patent number: 9880574Abstract: A power combining technique includes receiving a first voltage at a first input and a second voltage at a second input. The power combining technique further includes combining, with at least two power converters, power received from the first and second inputs into a single power rail. A power balancing technique further includes controlling the at least two power converters such that a first one of the power converters outputs an amount of current to the single power rail that is proportional to and/or equal to the amount of current output by another of the power converters.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2015Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventor: Jeffrey Anthony Morroni
-
Patent number: 9882480Abstract: A voltage converter includes a power switching unit and an indirect sensing circuit. The power switching unit includes a plurality of power switches and a capacitor. The indirect sensing circuit receives an input voltage, a first voltage at a first node of the capacitor, and a second voltage at a second node of the capacitor, and generates first and second sensing output voltages based on the input voltage and the first and second voltages. A voltage difference between the first and second voltages is equal to a fractional multiple of the input voltage.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2016Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Sungwoo Lee, Minkyu Kwon, Hocheol Chung, Sungkyu Cho
-
Patent number: 9876426Abstract: An ON-period setting circuit is provided in a fixed-ON-period switching power supply device that produces a desired output voltage from an input voltage by driving a coil by turning ON and OFF an output transistor and a synchronous rectification transistor. The ON-period setting circuit shortens the ON period the more the lighter the load is in a discontinuous-current mode. Or, the ON-period setting circuit transiently shortens the ON period on completion of a transition from a discontinuous-current mode to a continuous-current mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2016Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tetsuo Tateishi, Genki Tsuruyama