Patents by Inventor Vaclav Drda
Vaclav Drda 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).
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Patent number: 11817773Abstract: Adjusting slope compensation. At least one example embodiment is a method including: operating a switching power converter comprising a charge control switch, the charge control switch configured to control power flow through the switching power converter, and the operating by a circuit controller; measuring, by the circuit controller, an attribute of duty cycle of a first period of the charge control switch; measuring, by the circuit controller, an attribute of duty cycle of a second period of the charge control switch; measuring, by the circuit controller, an attribute of duty cycle of a third period of the charge control switch; determining, by the circuit controller, that the switching power converter is experiencing subharmonic oscillation based on the first, second, and third attributes of duty cycle; and changing, by the circuit controller, an attribute of slope compensation responsive to the determining that the switching power supply is experiencing subharmonic oscillation.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2020Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Vaclav Drda, Roman Stuler
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Publication number: 20210328499Abstract: Adjusting slope compensation. At least one example embodiment is a method including: operating a switching power converter comprising a charge control switch, the charge control switch configured to control power flow through the switching power converter, and the operating by a circuit controller; measuring, by the circuit controller, an attribute of duty cycle of a first period of the charge control switch; measuring, by the circuit controller, an attribute of duty cycle of a second period of the charge control switch; measuring, by the circuit controller, an attribute of duty cycle of a third period of the charge control switch; determining, by the circuit controller, that the switching power converter is experiencing subharmonic oscillation based on the first, second, and third attributes of duty cycle; and changing, by the circuit controller, an attribute of slope compensation responsive to the determining that the switching power supply is experiencing subharmonic oscillation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2020Publication date: October 21, 2021Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Vaclav DRDA, Roman STULER
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Patent number: 10978954Abstract: In one embodiment, a resonant converter circuit may be formed to include a light-load control circuit that forms a sequence to control one or more transistors wherein the sequence includes a drive interval having a drive pattern to drive the one or more transistors and a subsequent Off-interval wherein the one or more transistors are switched. A first circuit of the light-load control circuit may be configured to form the drive pattern as a repeated sequence of a pulse set that sequentially enables the one or more transistors with a base set followed by a number of non-switching intervals wherein each non-switching interval is a period of a signal formed in response to driving the one or more transistors with the base set.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2019Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Vaclav Drda, Roman Stuler, Roman Mazgut
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Patent number: 10826402Abstract: Controlling switching frequency of LLC resonant power converters. At least one example embodiment is a method of operating LLC converter, including: measuring values indicative of current through a primary winding of a transformer of an LLC converter, the measuring during a first on-time of a first switching period of an electrically controlled switch coupled to the primary winding, and the measuring creates a current waveform; calculating a slope of the current waveform; and controlling frequency of switching the electrically controlled switch based on the slope.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2019Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Roman Stuler, Vaclav Drda, Roman Mazgut
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Patent number: 10622883Abstract: Resonant power converters. Example embodiments are integrated circuit controllers for a resonant power converter, the controllers including: a frequency controller configured to control frequency of signals driven to a high-side gate terminal and a low-side gate terminal; a fault detector configured to sense an overcurrent condition of a primary winding of the resonant power converter, and to assert an overcurrent signal responsive to the overcurrent condition; a feedback controller that, during periods of time when the overcurrent signal is de-asserted, is configured to sense a signal representative of output voltage by way of the feedback terminal and to create an intermediate signal; and the feedback controller further configured to, during periods when the overcurrent signal is asserted, modify the intermediate signal to increase the frequency of the signals driven to the high-side gate terminal and the low-side gate terminal.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2018Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Vaclav Drda, Roman Stuler
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Publication number: 20200044569Abstract: In one embodiment, a resonant converter circuit may be formed to include a light-load control circuit that forms a sequence to control one or more transistors wherein the sequence includes a drive interval having a drive pattern to drive the one or more transistors and a subsequent Off-interval wherein the one or more transistors are switched. A first circuit of the light-load control circuit may be configured to form the drive pattern as a repeated sequence of a pulse set that sequentially enables the one or more transistors with a base set followed by a number of non-switching intervals wherein each non-switching interval is a period of a signal formed in response to driving the one or more transistors with the base set.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Vaclav DRDA, Roman STULER, Roman MAZGUT
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Publication number: 20190386558Abstract: Resonant power converters. Example embodiments are integrated circuit controllers for a resonant power converter, the controllers including: a frequency controller configured to control frequency of signals driven to a high-side gate terminal and a low-side gate terminal; a fault detector configured to sense an overcurrent condition of a primary winding of the resonant power converter, and to assert an overcurrent signal responsive to the overcurrent condition; a feedback controller that, during periods of time when the overcurrent signal is de-asserted, is configured to sense a signal representative of output voltage by way of the feedback terminal and to create an intermediate signal; and the feedback controller further configured to, during periods when the overcurrent signal is asserted, modify the intermediate signal to increase the frequency of the signals driven to the high-side gate terminal and the low-side gate terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2018Publication date: December 19, 2019Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Vaclav DRDA, Roman STULER
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Patent number: 10483854Abstract: In one embodiment, a resonant converter circuit may be formed to include a light-load control circuit that forms a sequence to control one or more transistors wherein the sequence includes a drive interval having a drive pattern to drive the one or more transistors and a subsequent Off-interval wherein the one or more transistors are switched. A first circuit of the light-load control circuit may be configured to form the drive pattern as a repeated sequence of a pulse set that sequentially enables the one or more transistors with a base set followed by a number of non-switching intervals wherein each non-switching interval is a period of a signal formed in response to driving the one or more transistors with the base set.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Vaclav Drda, Roman Stuler, Roman Mazgut
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Publication number: 20180337607Abstract: In one embodiment, a resonant converter circuit may be formed to include a light-load control circuit that forms a sequence to control one or more transistors wherein the sequence includes a drive interval having a drive pattern to drive the one or more transistors and a subsequent Off-interval wherein the one or more transistors are switched. A first circuit of the light-load control circuit may be configured to form the drive pattern as a repeated sequence of a pulse set that sequentially enables the one or more transistors with a base set followed by a number of non-switching intervals wherein each non-switching interval is a period of a signal formed in response to driving the one or more transistors with the base set.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2017Publication date: November 22, 2018Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Vaclav DRDA, Roman STULER, Roman MAZGUT
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Patent number: 10122259Abstract: A power conversion circuit is provided. A power level of the power conversion circuit is determined by taking a first sample of a voltage potential of a resonant capacitor at a first time. A second sample of the voltage potential of the resonant capacitor voltage is taken at a second time. An electric current is determined based on the first sample and second sample.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2016Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Vaclav Drda, Roman Stuler
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Publication number: 20170077798Abstract: A power conversion circuit is provided. A power level of the power conversion circuit is determined by taking a first sample of a voltage potential of a resonant capacitor at a first time. A second sample of the voltage potential of the resonant capacitor voltage is taken at a second time. An electric current is determined based on the first sample and second sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Vaclav DRDA, Roman STULER
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Patent number: 9564817Abstract: A method and semiconductor device for controlling skip mode operation during light load conditions in a resonant power converter includes a skip mode controller circuit that compares a feedback signal corresponding to the secondary output level with a reference voltage to determine when to invoke skip mode. When entering skip mode the skip mode controller ceases switching by turning on the lower switch for a prolonged time to leave the resonant capacitor partially charged. Upon resuming switching, the lower switch is turned on first to drive current through the inductances, and asymmetric switching is used where the upper switch is on, initially for shorter periods to allow zero voltage switching. If the load increases, the on-time of upper and lower switches converge and conventional symmetric switching resumes.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2014Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Roman Stuler, Vaclav Drda, Pavel Latal
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Patent number: 9520795Abstract: In one embodiment, a power supply controller may be configured to form a status signal that is representative of a secondary current by substantially removing a primary magnetization component from a primary current signal and to use the status signal to form a first signal that is representative of a delivered output power, and configured to adjust an on-time of one of a first or second switch responsively to the delivered output power.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2014Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Roman Stuler, Vaclav Drda
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Patent number: 9184655Abstract: A method and semiconductor device for a resonant power converter includes logic circuitry that performs a dedicated startup sequence when power is first provided to the resonant converter. The logic circuitry can discharge the resonant capacitor, then iteratively pulse only an upper switch during a portion of the startup sequence, and measures the dead time between the half bridge signal starting to fall and the next time it finishes rising. If the dead time is greater that a startup exit value, which is based on the most recent upper switch on-time, then the upper switch on-time is incremented and the process is repeated until the dead time is less than the startup exit value, whereupon the startup logic transitions to conventional symmetric switching.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2014Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Vaclav Drda, Roman Stuler, Pavel Latal, Antonin Rozsypal
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Publication number: 20150263629Abstract: A method and semiconductor device for controlling skip mode operation during light load conditions in a resonant power converter includes a skip mode controller circuit that compares a feedback signal corresponding to the secondary output level with a reference voltage to determine when to invoke skip mode. When entering skip mode the skip mode controller ceases switching by turning on the lower switch for a prolonged time to leave the resonant capacitor partially charged. Upon resuming switching, the lower switch is turned on first to drive current through the inductances, and asymmetric switching is used where the upper switch is on, initially for shorter periods to allow zero voltage switching. If the load increases, the on-time of upper and lower switches converge and conventional symmetric switching resumes.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2014Publication date: September 17, 2015Applicant: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLCInventors: ROMAN STULER, VACLAV DRDA, PAVEL LATAL
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Publication number: 20150263602Abstract: A method and semiconductor device for a resonant power converter includes logic circuitry that performs a dedicated startup sequence when power is first provided to the resonant converter. The logic circuitry can discharge the resonant capacitor, then iteratively pulse only an upper switch during a portion of the startup sequence, and measures the dead time between the half bridge signal starting to fall and the next time it finishes rising. If the dead time is greater that a startup exit value, which is based on the most recent upper switch on-time, then the upper switch on-time is incremented and the process is repeated until the dead time is less than the startup exit value, whereupon the startup logic transitions to conventional symmetric switching.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2014Publication date: September 17, 2015Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: VACLAV DRDA, ROMAN STULER, PAVEL LATAL, ANTONIN ROZSYPAL
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Publication number: 20150194896Abstract: In one embodiment, a power supply controller may be configured to form a status signal that is representative of a secondary current by substantially removing a primary magnetization component from a primary current signal and to use the status signal to form a first signal that is representative of a delivered output power, and configured to adjust an on-time of one of a first or second switch responsively to the delivered output power.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2014Publication date: July 9, 2015Applicant: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLCInventors: Roman Stuler, Vaclav Drda