Patents by Inventor Chih-Hsien HSIEH

Chih-Hsien HSIEH has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10027165
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for a power supply includes a primary-side controller integrated circuit (IC) that outputs a drive signal on a switch pin to control a switching operation of a switch that is coupled to a primary winding of a transformer. The primary-side controller IC places the switch pin at high impedance during a sense window and turns on the switch in response to sensing a dynamic detection signal on the switch pin during the sense window. The dynamic detection signal is induced by a secondary-side controller IC by controlling switching of a switch that is coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer when the output voltage drops below a predetermined threshold during standby or other low load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhibo Tao, Zhao-Jun Wang, Chih-Hsien Hsieh, Li Lin
  • Publication number: 20180166993
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of an alternating valley switching controller is provided. The alternating valley switching controller includes a valley detection circuit and an alternating circuit. The valley detection circuit is coupled to an auxiliary winding of a transformer to generate a valley-detection signal. The alternating circuit alternates a plurality of switching periods of a switching signal according to a blanking-window signal and the valley-detection signal. The blanking-window signal switches between a first voltage level and a second voltage level in the plurality of switching periods. The plurality of switching periods includes at least two first periods and at least two second periods which occur alternately in response to the first voltage level and the second voltage of the blanking-window signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Chien-Tsun HSU, Hang-Seok CHOI, Chih-Hsien HSIEH
  • Patent number: 9985548
    Abstract: A method for communicating with a power converter comprises initiating a communication sequence by sensing a first distortion of a sensed waveform during a discharge period of a first power transfer cycle of the power converter. The sensed waveform is proportional to a secondary current of the power converter. At a primary side of the power converter, a data bit is received from a secondary side of the power converter, by sensing a second distortion to represent one state of the data bit and sending an absence of the second distortion to represent another state of the data bit. The secondary distortion is applied to the secondary current during the discharge period of a subsequent power transfer cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Li Lin, Zhibo Tao, Chih Hsien Hsieh, Yue-Hong Tang, Ching Wen Fu, Ju-Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 9929657
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of an alternating valley switching controller is provided. The alternating valley switching controller includes a valley detection circuit and an alternating circuit. The valley detection circuit is coupled to an auxiliary winding of a transformer to generate a valley-detection signal. The alternating circuit alternates a plurality of switching periods of a switching signal according to a blanking-window signal and the valley-detection signal. The blanking-window signal switches between a first voltage level and a second voltage level in the plurality of switching periods. The plurality of switching periods includes at least two first periods and at least two second periods which occur alternately in response to the first voltage level and the second voltage of the blanking-window signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Chien-Tsun Hsu, Hang-Seok Choi, Chih-Hsien Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20170373606
    Abstract: A method for communicating with a power converter comprises initiating a communication sequence by sensing a first distortion of a sensed waveform during a discharge period of a first power transfer cycle of the power converter. The sensed waveform is proportional to a secondary current of the power converter. At a primary side of the power converter, a data bit is received from a secondary side of the power converter, by sensing a second distortion to represent one state of the data bit and sending an absence of the second distortion to represent another state of the data bit. The secondary distortion is applied to the secondary current during the discharge period of a subsequent power transfer cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Li LIN, Zhibo TAO, Chih Hsien HSIEH, Yue-Hong TANG, Ching Wen FU, Ju-Hyun KIM
  • Publication number: 20170366044
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for a power supply includes a primary-side controller integrated circuit (IC) that outputs a drive signal on a switch pin to control a switching operation of a switch that is coupled to a primary winding of a transformer. The primary-side controller IC places the switch pin at high impedance during a sense window and turns on the switch in response to sensing a dynamic detection signal on the switch pin during the sense window. The dynamic detection signal is induced by a secondary-side controller IC by controlling switching of a switch that is coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer when the output voltage drops below a predetermined threshold during standby or other low load conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhibo TAO, Zhao-Jun WANG, Chih-Hsien HSIEH, Li LIN
  • Publication number: 20170302184
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a power supply controller, or alternately a semiconductor device having a power supply controller, may have a circuit configured configuring the PWM circuit to form a first signal having a value formed to be representative of a peak value of a primary current through the power switch and having a duration that is representative of a time interval that a secondary current is flowing through a secondary winding wherein the peak value is the peak value during an on-time of the power switch, and configured to form a current having a value that is representative of an average value of the secondary current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lei CHEN, Chih-Hsien HSIEH, Yue-Hong TANG
  • Publication number: 20170302185
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a power supply controller, or alternately a semiconductor device having a power supply controller, may have a first circuit configured to form a sense signal that is representative of a signal from an auxiliary winding of a transformer. A feedback circuit may be configured to allow the sense signal to increase in response to a turn-off of the power switch, to subsequently detect a second increase of the sense signal prior to subsequently turning on the power switch, and to form a feedback signal as a value of the sense signal responsively to the second increase of the sense signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhibo TAO, Chih-Hsien HSIEH, Yue-Hong TANG
  • Publication number: 20160261201
    Abstract: A switched-mode power supply with near valley switching includes a quasi-resonant converter. The converter includes a switch element that is turned on not only at the valley, but also in a window range of ?tNVW close to the valley, where the voltage across the switch element is at its minimum. This advantageously reduces switching loss and maintains a balance between efficiency and frequency variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhibo TAO, Jung-Sheng CHEN, Li LIN, Kai-Fang WEI, Chih-Hsien HSIEH, Hangseok CHOI, Yue-Hong TANG
  • Publication number: 20160241150
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of an alternating valley switching controller is provided. The alternating valley switching controller includes a valley detection circuit and an alternating circuit. The valley detection circuit is coupled to an auxiliary winding of a transformer to generate a valley-detection signal. The alternating circuit alternates a plurality of switching periods of a switching signal according to a blanking-window signal and the valley-detection signal. The blanking-window signal switches between a first voltage level and a second voltage level in the plurality of switching periods. The plurality of switching periods includes at least two first periods and at least two second periods which occur alternately in response to the first voltage level and the second voltage of the blanking-window signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Chien-Tsun HSU, Hang-Seok CHOI, Chih-Hsien HSIEH
  • Publication number: 20160241016
    Abstract: A power adapter includes a protocol integrated circuit (IC) on a secondary side of a transformer and a controller IC on a primary side of the transformer. The power adapter has an output voltage that changes depending on the charging voltage requirement of an electronic device (e.g., mobile device) connected to receive power from the power adapter. The power adapter includes an adaptive overvoltage protection mode that sets an overvoltage protection threshold to a low level during startup and thereafter sets the overvoltage protection threshold to a higher level after detecting proper operation of the protocol IC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dibyendu RANA, Chih-Hsien HSIEH, Demon HSU, Hangseok CHOI
  • Patent number: 9344002
    Abstract: An adaptive sampling circuit of the power converter according to the present invention comprises a sample-and-hold unit and a signal-generation circuit. The sample-and-hold unit is coupled to a transformer to generate a feedback signal by sampling a demagnetized voltage of the transformer in response to a sample signal. The signal-generation circuit generates the sample signal in response to a magnetized voltage of the transformer, the demagnetized voltage of the transformer, a switching signal and a code. The sample signal is used for sampling the demagnetized voltage. The feedback signal is correlated to an output voltage of the power converter. The switching signal is generated in response to the feedback signal for switching the transformer and regulating the output of the power converter. The adaptive sampling circuit is used to precisely measure the demagnetized voltage of the transformer without the limitation of the transformer design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Li Lin, Jung-Sheng Chen, Chih-Hsien Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9252676
    Abstract: A control circuit of a flyback power converter according to the present invention comprises a low-side transistor, an active-clamper, a high-side drive circuit, and a controller. The low-side transistor is coupled to switch a transformer. The active-clamper is coupled in parallel with the transformer. The high-side drive circuit is coupled to drive the active-clamper. The controller generates a switching signal and an active-clamp signal. The switching signal is coupled to drive the low-side transistor. The switching signal is generated in accordance with a feedback signal for regulating an output of the flyback power converter. The active-clamp signal is coupled to control the high-side drive circuit and the active-clamper. The active-clamp signal is generated in response to a demagnetizing time of the transformer. The pulse number of the active-clamp signal is less than the pulse number of the switching signal in a light load condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventors: Ta-yung Yang, Chih-hsien Hsieh, Kai-fang Wei, Jung-sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 9093918
    Abstract: The present invention provides a control circuit for a power converter. The control circuit includes a switching circuit, an input-voltage detection circuit and a current-limit threshold. The switching circuit generates a switching signal coupled to switch a transformer of the power converter for regulating an output of the power converter in response to a feedback signal. The input-voltage detection circuit generates a control signal when an input voltage of the power converter is lower than a low-input threshold. The feedback signal is generated in response to the output of the power converter. A maximum duty of the switching signal is increased in response to the control signal. The current-limit threshold is for limiting a maximum value of a switching current flowing through the transformer. The current-limit threshold is increased in response to the control signal. An input of the power converter doesn't connect with electrolytic bulk capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: SYSTEM GENERAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Chih-Hsien Hsieh, Jung-Sheng Chen
  • Publication number: 20140233275
    Abstract: A control circuit of a flyback power converter according to the present invention comprises a low-side transistor, an active-damper, a high-side drive circuit, and a controller. The low-side transistor is coupled to switch a transformer. The active-damper is coupled in parallel with the transformer. The high-side drive circuit is coupled to drive the active-clamper. The controller generates a switching signal and an active-clamp signal. The switching signal is coupled to drive the low-side transistor. The switching signal is generated in accordance with a feedback signal for regulating an output of the flyback power converter. The active-clamp signal is coupled to control the high-side drive circuit and the active-damper. The active-clamp signal is generated in response to a demagnetizing time of the transformer. The pulse number of the active-clamp signal is less than the pulse number of the switching signal in a light load condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: System General Corp.
    Inventors: TA-YUNG YANG, CHIH-HSIEN HSIEH, KAI-FANG WEI, JUNG-SHENG CHEN
  • Patent number: 8664998
    Abstract: An adaptive filter circuit for sampling a reflected voltage of a transformer of a power converter includes a first switch for receiving the reflected voltage, a resistor having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the resistor being coupled to the first switch, a capacitor coupled to the second terminal of the resistor for holding the reflected voltage, and a second switch coupled to the resistor in parallel, wherein the resistor and the capacitor develop a filter for sampling the reflected voltage which is sampled without filtering by the filter in a first period during a disable period of a switching signal and also sampled with filtering by the filter in a second period during the disable period of the switching signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: System General Corporation
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Li Lin, Jung-Sheng Chen, Chih-Hsien Hsieh, Yue-Hong Tang
  • Patent number: 8587964
    Abstract: A control circuit for power converter according to the present invention comprises a PWM circuit generating a switching signal coupled to switch a transformer of the power converter. A feedback input circuit is coupled to an output of the power converter for generating a feedback signal. The feedback signal is coupled to turn off the switching signal. A detection circuit is coupled to the transformer for generating a valley signal in response to a waveform of the transformer. A frequency-variation circuit is coupled to receive the feedback signal and the valley signal for generating a frequency-variation signal. The frequency-variation signal is coupled to turn on the switching signal. A burst circuit is coupled to receive the feedback signal for generating a burst signal to disable the switching signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventors: Ta-yung Yang, Jung-Sheng Chen, Chuh-Ching Li, Chih-Hsien Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8432109
    Abstract: A control circuit of a LED driver according to the present invention comprises an output circuit, an input circuit and an input-voltage detection circuit. The output circuit generates a switching signal to produce an output current for driving at least one LED in response to a feedback signal. The switching signal is coupled to switch a transformer. The input circuit samples an input signal for generating the feedback signal. The input signal is correlated to the output current of the LED driver. The input-voltage detection circuit generates an input-voltage signal in response to an input voltage of the LED driver. The input circuit will not sample the input signal when the input-voltage signal is lower than a threshold. The control circuit can eliminate the need of the input capacitor for improving the reliability of the LED driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Li Lin, Chih-Hsien Hsieh, Chuh-Ching Li, Chi-Yin Lo, Kuo-Hsiem Huang
  • Publication number: 20130094253
    Abstract: The present invention provides a control circuit for a power converter. The control circuit includes a switching circuit, an input-voltage detection circuit and a current-limit threshold. The switching circuit generates a switching signal coupled to switch a transformer of the power converter for regulating an output of the power converter in response to a feedback signal. The input-voltage detection circuit generates a control signal when an input voltage of the power converter is lower than a low-input threshold. The feedback signal is generated in response to the output of the power converter. A maximum duty of the switching signal is increased in response to the control signal. The current-limit threshold is for limiting a maximum value of a switching current flowing through the transformer. The current-limit threshold is increased in response to the control signal. An input of the power converter doesn't connect with electrolytic bulk capacitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: SYSTEM GENERAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ta-Yung YANG, Chih-Hsien HSIEH, Jung-Sheng CHEN
  • Publication number: 20120212287
    Abstract: An adaptive filter circuit for sampling a reflected voltage of a transformer of a power converter includes a first switch for receiving the reflected voltage, a resistor having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the resistor being coupled to the first switch, a capacitor coupled to the second terminal of the resistor for holding the reflected voltage, and a second switch coupled to the resistor in parallel, wherein the resistor and the capacitor develop a filter for sampling the reflected voltage which is sampled without filtering by the filter in a first period during a disable period of a switching signal and also sampled with filtering by the filter in a second period during the disable period of the switching signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: System General Corporation
    Inventors: Ta-Yung YANG, Li Lin, Jung-Sheng Chen, Chih-Hsien Hsieh, Yue-Hong Tang