Patents Examined by Matthew Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9692300
    Abstract: A regulated voltage system with digital control to maintain a regulated voltage supply and protection against overcurrents is disclosed. A regulated supply voltage circuit including a voltage output and a charging capacitor is coupled to a direct current power source. The regulated supply voltage output supplies power to an electrical load. A shunt transistor is coupled between the direct current power source and the regulated supply voltage circuit and ground. A shunt control circuit operates the shunt transistor between an open and closed state. The shunt control circuit includes a cross-coupled bias circuit coupled to a controller. The controller operates the shunt transistor according to a state machine having a first state to close the shunt transistor when the regulated supply voltage exceeds a maximum hysteresis voltage and a second state to open the shunt transistor when the regulated supply voltage is less than a minimum hysteresis voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin M. Jefferies
  • Patent number: 9685858
    Abstract: A control circuit of a DC/DC converter is disclosed. The control circuit includes a pulse modulator generating a comparison pulse, which is transitioned to an on level when a feedback voltage depending on an output voltage of the converter is lowered to a threshold voltage and then transitioned to an off level; a peak current detector asserting a detection signal when a coil current of the converter reaches a predetermined peak current; a logic part generating a control pulse which is transitioned to an on level when the comparison pulse is transitioned to the on level, and is transitioned to an off level at a time which is later among the time when the comparison pulse is transitioned to the off level and the time when the peak current detection signal is asserted; and a driver switching a switching transistor of the converter based on the control pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shun Fukushima, Osamu Yanagida
  • Patent number: 9685903
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of controlling a power output of an inverter. The method comprises measuring an output current of the inverter, determining a difference between the output current and a reference current, and controlling a reference input voltage of the inverter as a function of the determined difference. In a second aspect of the disclosure, there is described a system for controlling a power output of an inverter. The system comprises an inverter arranged to output a current as a function of a reference input voltage. The system further comprises a controller arranged to determine a difference between the output current and a reference current. The controller is further arranged to control the reference input voltage as a function of the determined difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: NIDEC CONTROL TECHNIQUES LIMITED
    Inventor: Colin Hargis
  • Patent number: 9679710
    Abstract: A voltage regulator comprising a tap selector switch, a switching module and a switching module controller. The tap selector can comprise stationary contacts and movable contacts which can be adjusted for regulating the voltage between a source and a load. The switching module can comprise first and second bypass switches controlled by a bypass actuator and a non-arcing switch, such as a vacuum interrupter, controlled by an interrupter actuator. The switching module controller can be configured to perform a tap change operation through a series of steps that involve actuating a bypass switch and the non-arcing switch. In one example, the switching module controller can wait a predetermined amount of time before proceeding with each step of the tap change operation. In other examples, the switching module controller can receive signals or measurements from the system before proceeding with each step of the tap change operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: COOPER TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Jonathan Michael Schaar
  • Patent number: 9680387
    Abstract: A switched mode power supply comprising a switched mode converter and a controller for controlling the switched mode converter, the switched mode converter being provided for converting an input voltage to an output voltage and including, on a primary side, a primary winding and a controllable switch based circuitry connecting the input voltage over the primary winding; and, on a secondary side, a secondary winding coupled to the primary winding and a capacitive element connected over the secondary winding, wherein the output voltage is obtained as the voltage over the capacitive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Magnus Karlsson, Oscar Persson, Fredrik Wahledow
  • Patent number: 9681568
    Abstract: A compact stacked power module including a positive direct-current-bus-voltage plate having a positive-plate surface and a negative direct-current-bus-voltage plate having a negative-plate surface. The compact stacked power module also includes an alternating-current output plate having opposing first and second output-plate surfaces, a first semiconductor switch contacting the negative-plate surface and the first output-plate surface, and a second semiconductor switch contacting the positive-plate surface and the second output-plate surface. The compact stacked power module further includes a capacitor contacting the negative-plate surface and the positive-plate surface, wherein the capacitor is electrically in parallel with the first and second semiconductor switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, Allen Michael Ritter
  • Patent number: 9679700
    Abstract: Provided is a capacitor module (10) for connection to a plurality of power conversion circuits, which includes: a dielectric part (11) that has a plurality of flat-film dielectric layers (18A, 18B) laminated; a capacitance formation part (12) that has conductors opposed to each other with the dielectric layers (18A, 18B) interposed therebetween within the dielectric part (11); and multiple pairs of output terminals (13A, 13B, 13C) that are connected respectively to the multiple power conversion circuits, where the multiple pairs of output terminals (13A, 13B, 13C) are connected to each other with the capacitance formation part (12) interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shigeki Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 9673711
    Abstract: A digital average-input current-mode control loop for a DC/DC power converter. The power converter may be, for example, a buck converter, boost converter, or cascaded buck-boost converter. The purpose of the proposed control loop is to set the average converter input current to the requested current. Controlling the average input current can be relevant for various applications such as power factor correction (PFC), photovoltaic converters, and more. The method is based on predicting the inductor current based on measuring the input voltage, the output voltage, and the inductor current. A fast cycle-by-cycle control loop may be implemented. The conversion method is described for three different modes. For each mode a different control loop is used to control the average input current, and the control loop for each of the different modes is described. Finally, the algorithm for switching between the modes is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies LTD.
    Inventors: Amir Fishelov, Meir Gazit, Nikolay Radimov
  • Patent number: 9671811
    Abstract: A low-power bandgap reference voltage generator using a leakage current may include: a medium voltage generation unit configured to generate a medium voltage based on the absolute temperature, using a leakage current; a low power amplifier configured to amplify the medium voltage and outputting an operational amplification voltage; and a reference voltage output unit configured to output a reference voltage based on the operational amplification voltage at a target level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: POSTECH ACADEMY-INDUSTRY FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jae Yoon Sim, Jong Mi Lee, Young Woo Ji
  • Patent number: 9671802
    Abstract: Provided is a voltage regulator capable of applying an optimal overshoot suppression unit depending on states. The voltage regulator includes: an amplifier for controlling an output transistor based on a voltage obtained by amplifying a difference between a divided voltage and a reference voltage; a first overshoot suppression unit for controlling a gate voltage of the output transistor, to thereby suppress overshoot of the output voltage; a second overshoot suppression unit for controlling an operating current of the amplifier, to thereby suppress the overshoot of the output voltage; and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to turn on the first overshoot suppression unit immediately after the voltage regulator is powered on, and turn off the first overshoot suppression unit under a state in which the output voltage is stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Sugiura, Tsutomu Tomioka
  • Patent number: 9673734
    Abstract: An apparatus for delay angle compensation for flying start function in a medium-voltage inverter is disclosed. The apparatus generates generate a phase angle (?) by converting a three-phase voltage of an inverter output terminal to dq-axis voltages (Vd, Vq), and calculate a compensation phase angle by a predetermined delay time. In addition, the apparatus generates an initial angle for the flying start by aggregating the compensation phase angle with the phase angle (?). The apparatus may drive a high-voltage motor more stably, because an error between a command voltage phase angle and an actual output voltage phase angle may be reduced, when electric power of the medium voltage inverter is restored after a trip or an instantaneous blackout occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Guk Ahn, Seung Cheol Choi
  • Patent number: 9673716
    Abstract: A resonant converter includes: a transformer including a first primary winding, a second primary winding and a secondary winding, each primary winding having a first end terminal and a second end terminal; a first switch coupled to the first end terminal of the first primary winding; a resonant inductor and a resonant capacitor connected in series between the second end terminal of the first primary winding and the first end terminal of the second primary winding; a second switch coupled between the first end terminals of the first and second primary windings; and a third switch coupled between the second end terminals of the first and second primary windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignees: Lite-On Technology Corp., Lite-On Electronics (Guangzhou) Limited
    Inventors: Yu-Chen Liu, Jing-Yuan Lin, Huang-Jen Chiu, Yu-Kang Lo, Po-Jung Tseng
  • Patent number: 9667171
    Abstract: A switching circuit according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a full-bridge circuit including a first leg that includes a first switch and a second switch, and a second leg that includes a third switch and a fourth switch; and a control circuit operative to (a) output a first control signal group that changes the first leg into a state in which the third switch is off and the fourth switch is on after changing the first leg into a state in which the first switch is on and the second switch is off, and (b) output a second control signal group that changes the second leg into a state in which the third switch is off and the fourth switch is on before changing the first leg into a state in which the first switch is on and the second switch is off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shoichi Hara, Kazuyuki Sakiyama
  • Patent number: 9667161
    Abstract: A power converter includes a switching circuit, a power conversion circuit that receives an input voltage via the switching circuit and converts the input voltage into an output voltage, an input voltage sense circuit that detects the input voltage and generates an input voltage sense signal, and a PWM controller that adjusts a duty cycle of the switching circuit based at least in part on the input voltage sense signal. The power converter also includes an output sense circuit that detects the output voltage and generates an output voltage sense signal, wherein the PWM controller adjusts the duty cycle of the switching circuit based at least in part on the input voltage sense signal and the output voltage sense signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Cao, Kezhi Wang
  • Patent number: 9660531
    Abstract: A power converter includes a power stage having a switch-node of a switched-mode power supply that is coupled to an input voltage node by a power field-effect transistor (FET) to energize an inductive circuit and is coupled to a ground node by a synchronous rectifier in parallel with the inductive circuit. The power converter also includes a controller coupled to the power stage. The controller controls switching of the power FET and synchronous rectifier in a complimentary manner. The controller switches on the power FET during a first switching cycle. Subsequently, the controller switches on the synchronous rectifier and, in response to a current through the inductive circuit being approximately zero, switches off the synchronous rectifier. Subsequently, the controller switches on the synchronous rectifier again to generate a negative current through the inductive circuit prior to entering a second switching cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Monodeep Kar, Saurav Bandyopadhyay, Jeffrey Morroni
  • Patent number: 9661781
    Abstract: Remote units are mounted in a support structure so that cooling air flow is not impeded by the support structure. The remote units may have RF communications circuitry and other components that generate heat in the provision of wireless services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications Wireless Ltd
    Inventors: Rami Anolik, Ami Hazani
  • Patent number: 9654028
    Abstract: A system and method for operating an inverter to maximize an overall efficiency of a power system is disclosed. A power system includes an inverter having an arrangement of switching devices that are selectively operable in On and Off states to invert a DC output to an AC output having controlled current and voltage. A controller selectively controls operation of the arrangement of switching devices via a discontinuous pulse width modulation (DPWM) scheme, so as to regulate an average voltage of the AC output. In controlling operation of the arrangement of switching devices via the DPWM scheme, the controller is programmed to generate a DPWM reference waveform having an initial phase angle, determine a system efficiency of the power system during operation, calculate an optimal phase angle for the DPWM reference waveform based on the determined system efficiency, and generate a DPWM reference waveform having the calculated optimal phase angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng Luo, Huiting Xin, Xinyu Wang, Xiaxia Hu, Han Li
  • Patent number: 9651960
    Abstract: Multi-stage amplifiers, such as linear regulators, provide a constant output voltage subject to load transients. The multi-stage amplifier includes a first amplification stage which activates or deactivates a first output stage in response to an input voltage at an input node. The first output stage sources a current at an output node of the multi-stage amplifier from a high potential, when activated. Furthermore, the multi-stage amplifier has a second amplification stage to activate or to deactivate a second output stage in response to the input voltage at the input node. The second output stage sinks a current at the output node of the multi-stage amplifier to a low potential, when activated. The first amplification stage and the second amplification stage activate the first output stage and the second output stage in a mutually exclusive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Frank Kronmueller, Ambreesh Bhattad
  • Patent number: 9653202
    Abstract: A device is provided that integrates a plurality of inductors in parallel. The device includes a plurality of windings and a magnetic core structure. A number of the windings corresponds to a number of the inductors. The magnetic core structure includes a plurality of windows, wherein each window includes at least two windings coupled with each other. When a phase difference of the voltage phases is smaller than a predetermined value, voltage phases of two terminals of any two of the windings within the same window are substantially the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Rui Wu, Jian-Hong Zeng, Min Zhou, Yi-Cong Xie
  • Patent number: 9647527
    Abstract: A power supply circuit includes a switching element and a control section. The control section converts back electromotive force generated at the time of the operation of the switching element to optical energy and converts the optical energy to an electrical signal. Furthermore, the control section drives the switching element on the basis of the electrical signal obtained by converting the optical energy. Accordingly, unlike a case where surge energy is regenerated by resonance, there is no need to use a resonant element such as an inductor. As a result, circuit scale is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Tadahiro Imada, Tatsuya Hirose