Patents by Inventor Michael Roy VOLKMAN

Michael Roy VOLKMAN 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: 11831237
    Abstract: A power supply includes a power factor correction (PFC) circuit, a PFC bypass circuit, and a decision circuit. The PFC circuit is configured to receive an input current from a power source and, when enabled, reduce current harmonics in the input current by shaping an input sinusoidal current waveform to match a phase and shape of a sinusoidal input voltage waveform. The PFC bypass circuit is configured to bypass the PFC circuit when the PFC circuit is disabled. The decision circuit includes a detection circuit configured to detect an output load of the power supply and is configured to output a PFC enable command based at least in part on the detected output load being greater than or equal to a threshold value and a determination that an input voltage of the power source is greater than or equal to a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Chee Kiong Fong, Michael Roy Volkman, Geoffrey Jason Shew, Suet Fong Tin, Marshall T Depue
  • Publication number: 20230188031
    Abstract: A power supply includes a power factor correction (PFC) circuit, a PFC bypass circuit, and a decision circuit. The PFC circuit is configured to receive an input current from a power source and, when enabled, reduce current harmonics in the input current by shaping an input sinusoidal current waveform to match a phase and shape of a sinusoidal input voltage waveform. The PFC bypass circuit is configured to bypass the PFC circuit when the PFC circuit is disabled. The decision circuit includes a detection circuit configured to detect an output load of the power supply and is configured to output a PFC enable command based at least in part on the detected output load being greater than or equal to a threshold value and a determination that an input voltage of the power source is greater than or equal to a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Chee Kiong FONG, Michael Roy VOLKMAN, Geoffrey Jason SHEW, Suet Fong TIN, Marshall T. DEPUE
  • Publication number: 20230043117
    Abstract: A power supply unit (PSU) configured to provide electrical power to an electronic device. The PSU may include a PSU control circuit configured to, via a power meter, detect that electrical power conveyed to the electronic device is above a timer starting threshold. In a first charging mode with a first predetermined charging duration, the PSU control circuit may control the PSU to convey electrical power to the electronic device with a first power ceiling. Subsequently to the first predetermined charging duration elapsing, in a second charging mode with a second predetermined charging duration, the PSU control circuit may control the PSU to convey electrical power to the electronic device with a second power ceiling that is lower than the first power ceiling. Subsequently to the second predetermined charging duration elapsing, the PSU control circuit may control the PSU to return to the first charging mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Chee Kiong FONG, Michael Roy VOLKMAN, Suet Fong TIN, Geoffrey Jason SHEW, Edward Charles GIAIMO, III, Cindy-Kay FORSYTH-MARTINEZ
  • Publication number: 20220329149
    Abstract: A power supply may include multiple converters connected in parallel. The power supply may detect a signal that indicates how much power a device uses. Based on the signal, a converter controller may determine which of the multiple converters to activate or deactivate to supply enough power to meet the power load of the device and to operate the highest efficiency possible. The amount of power output from the power supply may be the sum of the power output by each of the converters that is activated. The power supply may use the multiple converters to operate at high efficiency throughout a wide range of power load levels. Such a power supply may achieve a haystack (i.e., near flat) power efficiency curve throughout a large part of its operating range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Chee Kiong FONG, Geoffrey Jason SHEW, Michael Roy VOLKMAN, Aaron David BUERMAN, Andres Felipe HERNANDEZ, Richard Frederick JOHNSON