Patents by Inventor Guang-Nan Tzeng

Guang-Nan Tzeng 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: 11699964
    Abstract: A motor controller comprises a switch circuit and a control unit. The switch circuit is coupled to a motor for driving the motor. The control unit is configured to generate a plurality of control signals to control the switch circuit. The motor controller sequentially determines a first phase, a second phase, a third phase, and a fourth phase based on a rotation direction. When the motor controller is in the first phase and the motor controller is unable to detect a phase switching time point within a starting time, the motor controller switches from the first phase to the second phase, the third phase, or the fourth phase. The motor controller is configured to increase a success rate of starting the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Global Mixed-mode Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Guang-Nan Tzeng
  • Publication number: 20230058267
    Abstract: A motor controller comprises a switch circuit and a control unit. The switch circuit is coupled to a motor for driving the motor. The control unit is configured to generate a plurality of control signals to control the switch circuit. The motor controller sequentially determines a first phase, a second phase, a third phase, and a fourth phase based on a rotation direction. When the motor controller is in the first phase and the motor controller is unable to detect a phase switching time point within a starting time, the motor controller switches from the first phase to the second phase, the third phase, or the fourth phase. The motor controller is configured to increase a success rate of starting the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: Global Mixed-mode Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Guang-Nan Tzeng
  • Publication number: 20220263438
    Abstract: A motor controller is used for driving a motor, where the motor has a motor coil. The motor controller comprises a switch circuit, a control unit, and a phase detecting unit. The switch circuit is configured to supply a coil current to the motor coil. The control unit generates a plurality of control signals to control the switch circuit. The phase detecting unit generates a phase signal to the control unit. When the phase signal is changed from a first level to a second level, the motor controller starts a phase delay mechanism to reduce the risk of reverse flow of the coil current. The phase delay mechanism lasts a time. The motor controller may utilize the phase delay mechanism in a start mode or a normal operation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventor: Guang-Nan Tzeng
  • Patent number: 11362607
    Abstract: A motor unit comprises a motor controller, a motor, and a Hall sensor, where the motor controller is used for driving the motor. The motor controller comprises a switch circuit, a control unit, a phase signal generating unit, and an operational amplifier. The control unit generates a plurality of control signals to control the switch circuit. The motor comprises a rotor, a silicon steel plate, and a coil. To increase a success rate of starting a forward rotation, the silicon steel plate may have an asymmetrical structure, such that a fan blade is inclined to a forward rotation direction in a still state. When a Hall voltage is zero, the motor controller may start the motor and switch phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Global Mixed-mode Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Guang-Nan Tzeng
  • Patent number: 11336218
    Abstract: A motor controller comprises a switch circuit, a driving circuit, and a pulse width modulation circuit. The switch circuit is coupled to a three-phase motor for driving the three-phase motor. The driving circuit generates a plurality of control signals to control the switch circuit. When the three-phase motor is operated in a start state, the motor controller may enable an electric period to be divided into more floating phase time intervals for switching phases, so as to increase the success rate of phase switching. When the three-phase motor is operated in a stable state, the motor controller may enable the electric period to be divided into less floating phase time intervals for switching phases, so as to reduce the noise and vibration of the three-phase motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Global Mixed-mode Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Guang-Nan Tzeng
  • Patent number: 11171585
    Abstract: A motor controller used for driving a motor is provided. The motor controller includes a driving circuit, a control unit, an operational amplifier, a comparator, an inverter, a multiplexer, a first resistor, and a second resistor. The first and second resistors are mounted on a printed circuit board. By changing the resistance of the first resistor and the resistance of the second resistor, it is capable of changing the driving direction of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Global Mixed-mode Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Guang-Nan Tzeng
  • Publication number: 20210305922
    Abstract: A motor controller used for driving a motor is provided. The motor controller includes a driving circuit, a control unit, an operational amplifier, a comparator, an inverter, a multiplexer, a first resistor, and a second resistor. The first and second resistors are mounted on a printed circuit board. By changing the resistance of the first resistor and the resistance of the second resistor, it is capable of changing the driving direction of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventor: Guang-Nan Tzeng
  • Patent number: 11101647
    Abstract: An overvoltage protection circuit which can be applied to a motor controller is provided. The overvoltage protection circuit comprises a voltage controller, a comparator, and a switching circuit so as to prevent damage to a driving circuit. The driving circuit is configured to supply a driving current to a motor coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Global Mixed-mode Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Yu Chen, Guang-Nan Tzeng
  • Publication number: 20200244219
    Abstract: An oscillation circuit that is robust and more accurate is provided. The oscillation circuit includes a reference voltage generator, a voltage-to-current converter, a capacitor, a pull-low circuit, and a single-ended input comparator. The reference voltage generator is used for generating a voltage signal. The voltage-to-current converter receives the voltage signal for generating a reference current. The capacitor is coupled to the voltage-to-current converter for generating a ramp signal. The single-ended input comparator receives the ramp signal for generating a clock signal. The pull-low circuit receives the clock signal for pulling the ramp signal low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Guang-Nan Tzeng, Chung-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 7279869
    Abstract: A PFM control circuit generates a pulse control signal for controlling a switching regulator to convert an input voltage into an output voltage. The pulse control signal has a plurality of switch cycles, each of which consists of an ON-time and an OFF-time. The ON-time is applied to turn on a switching circuit of the switching regulator while the OFF-time is applied to turn off the switching circuit. A current detection signal is representative of a current flowing through an inductive device of the switching regulator. The ON-time is prolonged in accordance with an increase of a maximum of the current detection signal. A voltage detection signal is representative of the output voltage. The OFF-time is prolonged in accordance with a reduction of a falling rate of the voltage detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Aimtron Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Guang-Nan Tzeng, Yung-Chih Chen, Ya-Der Tain
  • Patent number: 7180274
    Abstract: A switching circuit operates with a first operating state and a second operating state. During the first operating state, the switching circuit allows a switching current to linearly increase. During the second operating state, the switching circuit allows the switching current to linearly decrease. A control circuit is coupled to the switching circuit for controlling the switching circuit to operate with the first operating state or the second operating state. A setting circuit generates a threshold signal for the control circuit to ensure that during the first operating state the switching current linearly increases to become higher than or equal to a current value set by the threshold signal. Thereby, the switching current is prevented from linearly decreasing to reverse polarity during the second operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Aimtron Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Tien-Tzu Chen, Guang-Nan Tzeng
  • Patent number: 7176667
    Abstract: An input switching unit selectively couples a first terminal of an inductor with an input voltage and a ground potential. An output switching unit selectively couples a second terminal of the inductor with an output voltage and the ground potential. A first pulse generating circuit generates a first pulse signal with a first duty ratio, which is modulated in response to the output voltage. A second pulse generating circuit generates a second pulse signal with a second pulse signal with a second duty ratio, which is a constant larger than zero and smaller than one. When the first duty ratio is larger than a predetermined threshold duty ratio, a mode control circuit applies the first pulse signal to control one of the input switching unit and the output switching unit and applies the second pulse signal to control another of the input switching unit and the output switching unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Aimtron Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Tien-Tzu Chen, Guang-Nan Tzeng, Yu-Ming Tsai
  • Publication number: 20060284606
    Abstract: An input switching unit selectively couples a first terminal of an inductor with an input voltage and a ground potential. An output switching unit selectively couples a second terminal of the inductor with an output voltage and the ground potential. A first pulse generating circuit generates a first pulse signal with a first duty ratio, which is modulated in response to the output voltage. A second pulse generating circuit generates a second pulse signal with a second pulse signal with a second duty ratio, which is a constant larger than zero and smaller than one. When the first duty ratio is larger than a predetermined threshold duty ratio, a mode control circuit applies the first pulse signal to control one of the input switching unit and the output switching unit and applies the second pulse signal to control another of the input switching unit and the output switching unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: Tien-Tzu CHEN, Guang-Nan TZENG, Yu-Ming TSAI
  • Publication number: 20060250121
    Abstract: A PFM control circuit generates a pulse control signal for controlling a switching regulator to convert an input voltage into an output voltage. The pulse control signal has a plurality of switch cycles, each of which consists of an ON-time and an OFF-time. The ON-time is applied to turn on a switching circuit of the switching regulator while the OFF-time is applied to turn off the switching circuit. A current detection signal is representative of a current flowing through an inductive device of the switching regulator. The ON-time is prolonged in accordance with an increase of a maximum of the current detection signal. A voltage detection signal is representative of the output voltage. The OFF-time is prolonged in accordance with a reduction of a falling rate of the voltage detection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Inventors: Guang-Nan TZENG, Yung-Chih CHEN, Ya-Der TAIN
  • Patent number: 7071665
    Abstract: In a pulse frequency modulated (PFM) voltage regulator, a PFM switching signal is provided for converting a DC voltage source to an output voltage. The output voltage is detected. When the output voltage is lower than a predetermined target voltage, a duty cycle of the PFM switching signal is reduced. For example, a minimum OFF-time of the PFM switching signal may be prolonged or a constant ON-time of the PFM switching signal may be shortened. In other words, a period of delivering energy to a capacitor from an inductor may be prolonged or a period of storing energy in the inductor may be shortened. Therefore, a ripple of the output voltage is effectively reduced when the PFM voltage regulator is operated in a heavy loading condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Aimtron Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Guang-Nan Tzeng, Yung-Chih Chen, Rong-Chin Lee
  • Publication number: 20060125454
    Abstract: A switching circuit operates with a first operating state and a second operating state. During the first operating state, the switching circuit allows a switching current to linearly increase. During the second operating state, the switching circuit allows the switching current to linearly decrease. A control circuit is coupled to the switching circuit for controlling the switching circuit to operate with the first operating state or the second operating state. A setting circuit generates a threshold signal for the control circuit to ensure that during the first operating state the switching current linearly increases to become higher than or equal to a current value set by the threshold signal. Thereby, the switching current is prevented from linearly decreasing to reverse polarity during the second operating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Tien-Tzu Chen, Guang-Nan Tzeng
  • Patent number: 7050914
    Abstract: A voltage detection unit generates a detection voltage signal representative of a potential difference caused by a current to be detected. A reference current generation unit generates a first reference current and a second reference current having a linear relationship therebetween. In response to the detection voltage signal and the first reference current, a transfer unit determines a first operation voltage. Furthermore, the transfer unit determines a second operation voltage and a transfer current in response to the first operation voltage and the second reference current. The second operation voltage is substantially equal to the first operation voltage. A detection current signal having a linear relationship with the current to be detected is generated through subtracting at least the second reference current from the transfer current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Aimtron Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Guang-Nan Tzeng, Tien-Tzu Chen
  • Publication number: 20060089814
    Abstract: A voltage detection unit generates a detection voltage signal representative of a potential difference caused by a current to be detected. A reference current generation unit generates a first reference current and a second reference current having a linear relationship therebetween. In response to the detection voltage signal and the first reference current, a transfer unit determines a first operation voltage. Furthermore, the transfer unit determines a second operation voltage and a transfer current in response to the first operation voltage and the second reference current. The second operation voltage is substantially equal to the first operation voltage. A detection current signal having a linear relationship with the current to be detected is generated through subtracting at least the second reference current from the transfer current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Inventors: Guang-Nan Tzeng, Tien-Tzu CHEN
  • Patent number: 7015663
    Abstract: A Hall sensing circuit generates a positional detection signal representative of a positional relationship between a rotor and a phase coil of a motor. A signal synthesizing circuit transforms the positional detection signal to a driving signal. Based on a comparison of the driving signal and a high-frequency reference signal, a pulse signal is generated for controlling a switching circuit to drive the motor. A current error signal is supplied through feedback to adjust a relative relationship between an amplitude of the drive signal and an amplitude of the high-frequency reference signal, thereby changing a duty ratio of the pulse signal. A duty-ratio limiting circuit is provided to limit the duty ratio of the pulse signal for ensuring a reliable rotation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Aimtron Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Guang-Nan Tzeng, Feng-Rurng Juang, Chi-Yang Chen
  • Publication number: 20060049785
    Abstract: A Hall sensing circuit generates a positional detection signal representative of a positional relationship between a rotor and a phase coil of a motor. A signal synthesizing circuit transforms the positional detection signal to a driving signal. Based on a comparison of the driving signal and a high-frequency reference signal, a pulse signal is generated for controlling a switching circuit to drive the motor. A current error signal is supplied through feedback to adjust a relative relationship between an amplitude of the drive signal and an amplitude of the high-frequency reference signal, thereby changing a duty ratio of the pulse signal. A duty-ratio limiting circuit is provided to limit the duty ratio of the pulse signal for ensuring a reliable rotation of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventors: Guang-Nan Tzeng, Feng-Rurng Juang, Chi-Yang Chen