Patents Examined by Thienvu V. Tran
  • Patent number: 11979025
    Abstract: A dual-mode combined control method for a multi-inverter system based on a double split transformer is provided. For an extremely-weak grid, the method provides the dual-mode combined control method for a multi-inverter system based on a double split transformer. According to the method, the equivalent grid impedance at a point of common coupling (PCC) of one grid-connected inverter (GCI) in the multi-inverter system based on the double split transformer is obtained with a grid impedance identification algorithm, and the system sequentially operates in a full current source mode, a hybrid mode, and a full voltage source mode according to a gradually increasing equivalent grid impedance, thereby effectively improving the stability of the multi-inverter system based on the double split transformer during variation of the strength of the grid. The method ensures that the system can still operate stably in the extremely-weak grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: HEFEI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Xing Zhang, Ming Li, Zixuan Guo, Jilei Wang, Hailong Pan, Yang Wang, Qian Gao, Fei Li
  • Patent number: 11979084
    Abstract: An isolated DC/DC converter includes a primary stage, a transformer circuit, a secondary stage, an active clamp, a first current sense node, and a second current sense node. The primary stage includes a primary switching inverter configured to invert the source DC voltage into a high-frequency alternating current (AC) voltage. The transformer circuit adjusts an AC voltage level of the high-frequency AC voltage and outputs an adjusted AC voltage. The secondary stage includes a secondary switching converter to convert the adjusted AC voltage into a secondary voltage, and the active clamp is configured to clamp the secondary voltage to provide an output DC voltage. The first current sense node is included in the primary stage conducts a source current having a first current level, and the second current sense node is included in the secondary stage and conducts a clamp current having a second current level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Sriram Chandrasekaran, Bruce Stoltz, Marty Perry, Noel Delgado
  • Patent number: 11979094
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of operating a power electronic converter device for an electrical power converter system is provided. The power electronic converter device includes a converter circuit, a first converter, and a second converter. The first converter and the second converter are switch with a switching pattern such that the first converter and the second converter generate voltages with stepwise voltages changes and an output voltage of the power electronic converter device results from a superposition of the voltages of the first converter and the second converter. The switching pattern includes switching instants for the second converter such that the voltage of the second converter leaves the fundamental voltage component of the voltage of the first converter unchanged, such that the second converter does not generate a fundamental component of the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Ralph Mario Burkart, Ioannis Tsoumas, Frederick Kieferndorf, Tobias Geyer
  • Patent number: 11977404
    Abstract: An example circuit includes a first source follower input stage having a reference voltage input and a first output. A second source follower input stage has a feedback voltage input and a second output, in which second source follower input stage is configured to receive a feedback voltage at the feedback voltage input. The feedback voltage is representative of an output voltage at an output terminal of the circuit. A common gate differential gain stage has first and second differential inputs and first and second drive outputs. The first differential input is coupled to the first output, and the second differential input is coupled to the second output. The common gate differential gain stage is configured to control the output voltage at the output terminal by controlling at least one of the first or second drive outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Ramesh Mosur Chandrasekaran
  • Patent number: 11970072
    Abstract: An example of a vehicle electrical system includes a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) having a first voltage and a power inverter electrically connected to the RESS. The system further includes an electric motor having a plurality of machine windings with each of the machine windings including a polyphase terminal electrically connected to the power inverter. The electric motor further includes a neutral terminal separate from the polyphase terminals. The system further includes an accessory load electrically connected to the power inverter and the neutral terminal of the electric motor, with the accessory load requiring a second voltage that is below the first voltage. A current flows through the machine windings to step down the first voltage to the second voltage. The power inverter is configured to cycle between first and second operational states, such that the power inverter steps down the first voltage to the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Rashmi Prasad, Chandra S. Namuduri
  • Patent number: 11973417
    Abstract: A voltage drop Vzs is calculated based on an output current detection value Iac and a virtual synchronous impedance Zs or a corrected virtual synchronous impedance Zs?, and a value obtained by subtracting the voltage drop Vzs from an internal induced voltage Ef is output as a grid voltage command value Vac*. Zs calculation unit 7 limits an output current phase ? so that the output current phase ? is within an effective range by a phase limiter 12a, and calculates the corrected virtual synchronous impedance Zs? based on a limited output current phase ?, the internal induced voltage Ef, a grid voltage detection value Vac and a current limit value Ilim. Accordingly, in grid interconnection power conversion device that controls a virtual synchronous generator, it is possible to continue operation while suppressing an overcurrent and possess a synchronizing power generated by action or working of a virtual synchronous impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: TOKYO ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY HOLDINGS, INCORPORATED, MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Jun Takami, Ryota Samejima, Hideki Noda, Naoto Maeda, Toshiya Inoue, Kazu Shoji
  • Patent number: 11973440
    Abstract: A voltage converter for direct current includes a power converter circuit having a transformer, a switch converter bridge on a primary-side of the transformer, and a full-bridge rectifier on a secondary side of the transformer. The full-bridge rectifier has first and second rectifier branches. A capacitor is asymmetrically connected to the second rectifier branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: KOSTAL Automobil Elektrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ulrich Lukas
  • Patent number: 11973339
    Abstract: A T-breaker is an all-in-one solution for dc microgrid fault protection, power flow control, and power quality improvement. A T-breaker features a modular multilevel “T” structure with integrated energy storage devices. The two horizontal arms of the T-breaker realize fault current breaking, load voltage compensation, and power flow control; and the vertical arm of the T-breaker realizes shunt compensation. The configuration provides excellent voltage scalability and relaxes the requirements on the switching signal synchronization during fault transients. The local energy storage in sub-modules eases the fault energy dissipation requirement placed on the traditionally-adopted surge arrestors. The modular multilevel structure also offers immense control flexibility for all types of targeted functions of the provided T-breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ohio State Innovation Foundation
    Inventors: Jin Wang, Risha Na, Yue Zhang
  • Patent number: 11973409
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a heating system comprising: a heating element for heating a process medium; a DC power converter configured to receive an input direct-current voltage from a power supply and to deliver an output direct-current voltage to the heating element; a sensor arrangement configured to generate a first sensor output signal indicative of a thermodynamic parameter of the process medium or the heating element; and a controller configured to control the DC power converter based on the first sensor output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Chromalox, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Mark Trussler, Walter Thomas Robinson, Jie Chen
  • Patent number: 11970273
    Abstract: Examples provide a seat assembly, a system including the seat assembly and a method for reducing electromagnetic interference in an aircraft. A seat assembly for an aircraft includes a frame having a base and a support member operatively coupled to the base. A seat is coupled to the base and a first side of the support member. The seat includes a conductive substrate layer configured to absorb electrical charges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Murat Saylik, Joseph A. Bolton
  • Patent number: 11962247
    Abstract: A resonant half-bridge flyback power converter includes: a first transistor and a second transistor which form a half-bridge circuit; a transformer and a resonant capacitor connected in series and coupled to the half-bridge circuit; and a switching control circuit configured to generate a first driving signal and a second driving signal to control the first transistor and the second transistor respectively for switching the transformer to generate an output voltage. The first driving signal is configured to magnetize the transformer. The second driving signal includes at most one pulse between two consecutive pulses of the first driving signal. The switching control circuit generates a skipping cycle period when an output power is lower than a predetermined threshold. A resonant pulse of the second driving signal is skipped during the skipping cycle period. The skipping cycle period is increased in response to the decrease of the output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Ying-Chieh Su, Yu-Chang Chen
  • Patent number: 11960310
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a power management device configured to supply a plurality of input voltages; a power module configured to generate an output voltage using at least one of the plurality of input voltages, and to output the generated output voltage; and a system load configured to operate by receiving the output voltage, wherein the power module includes: a first power module configured to receive a first input voltage from the power management device, and to generate a first output current using the first input voltage; and a second power module configured to receive a second input voltage from the power management device, and to generate a second output current using the second input voltage based on the first input voltage being lower than a first reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dongyeol Lee, Dongwook Suh
  • Patent number: 11960311
    Abstract: A linear voltage regulator with isolated supply current is disclosed. The voltage regulator is configured and controlled such that its output current closely matches its input current (any quiescent current consumed by the regulator is negligible relative to the amount of current passed by the regulator). In certain implementations, the voltage regulator is implemented as an analog component. In other implementations, the voltage regulator includes or cooperates with digital elements, such as an analog-to-digital converter, a digital processing core, or a digital-to-analog converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth N. Kazarians, Adam S. Trock, Jalal Elidrissi, Fatemeh Delijani
  • Patent number: 11962246
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a power supply control device and a flyback converter. The power supply control device includes: a comparator, comparing a current sensing signal generated by IN conversion of a primary side current flowing in the primary winding with a threshold voltage; a switching controller, turning off a switching element according to a comparing result of the current sensing signal and the threshold voltage by the comparator; an external terminal, connectable to a connection node of an external resistor connected in series between one end of the auxiliary winding and an application end of a ground potential; a current detector, detecting a terminal current flowing through the external terminal; and a threshold voltage corrector, correcting the threshold voltage based on a current detection signal of the current detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11962242
    Abstract: A buck voltage converter is disclosed. The buck voltage generator includes a controller configured to generate one or more pulse width modulation (PWM) signals, and a plurality of serially connected switches configured to receive the PWM signals and to generate an output voltage signal at an output terminal based on the received PWM signals. The output voltage signal has an average voltage corresponding with a duty cycle of the PWM signals, a first switch of the plurality of serially connected switches has a first breakdown voltage and a second switch of the plurality of serially connected switches has a second breakdown voltage, and the first breakdown voltage is less than the second breakdown voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: EMPOWER SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy Alan Phillips
  • Patent number: 11953927
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bias generating device and a method for generating bias. A bias generating device includes a first diode-connected transistor pair connected to receive a first voltage; a second diode-connected transistor pair connected to receive a second voltage; and a first transistor pair connected to the first diode-connected transistor pair and the second diode-connected transistor pair. The first transistor pair is configured to generate a third voltage in response to the first voltage and the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Perng-Fei Yuh, Yoshitaka Yamauchi, Yih Wang
  • Patent number: 11953926
    Abstract: Voltage regulation schemes for powering multiple circuit blocks are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a front end system includes a reference voltage circuit that receives power from a power supply voltage and generates a reference voltage, a group of circuit blocks each selectively enabled by a corresponding one of a group of enable signals, and a programmable voltage regulator that generates a programmable regulated voltage based on the reference voltage and provides the programmable regulated voltage to the circuit blocks. The programmable regulated voltage has a voltage level that changes based on a selection of the circuit blocks that are enabled by the enable signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Bang Li Liang, Guillaume Alexandre Blin, Thomas Obkircher
  • Patent number: 11955897
    Abstract: Resonant DC-DC converter control circuitry includes a feedback input, a differential integrator, a resonant voltage input, a first comparator, and a second comparator. The differential integrator includes a first input, a second input, a first output, and a second output. The first input is coupled to the feedback input. The second input is coupled to a ground terminal. The first comparator includes a first input coupled to the resonant voltage input, and a second input coupled to the first output of the differential integrator. The second comparator includes a first input coupled to the resonant voltage input, and a second input coupled to the second output of the differential integrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Rosario Stracquadaini, Salvatore Giombanco
  • Patent number: 11955904
    Abstract: In first power transmission in which power is transmitted from a first DC power source to a second DC power source, a control circuit performs on/off drive control of a positive electrode-side switching element and a negative electrode-side switching element in a first bridge circuit and a second bridge circuit and stops on/off drive of a positive electrode-side switching element and a negative electrode-side switching element in a third bridge. For a positive electrode-side switching element and a negative electrode-side switching element of a fourth bridge circuit, when a first power transmission amount by the first power transmission is greater than a predetermined first reference value, the control circuit performs on/off drive control, whereas when the first power transmission amount is smaller than the first reference value, the control circuit stops on/off drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Itogawa, Yusuke Higaki
  • Patent number: 11955953
    Abstract: The invention relates to a protection for a semi-conductor switch against over voltages. A capacitive element is provided on an inlet connection of the semi-conductor switch. The load amount, which flows into said capacitive element, is integrated in order to trigger a protection function when a threshold value is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Sinn, Tim Bruckhaus, Tobias Richter