Using Converter Patents (Class 323/207)
  • Patent number: 9660520
    Abstract: A power converter circuit rectifies a line voltage and applies the rectified voltage to a stack of capacitors. Voltages on the capacitors are coupled to a plurality of regulating converters to be converted to regulated output signals. The regulated output signals are combined and converted to a desired DC output voltage of the power converter. Input currents of the regulating converters are modulated in a manner that enhances the power factor of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David J. Perreault, Seungbum Lim, David M. Otten
  • Patent number: 9661711
    Abstract: Techniques are described for a multi-function pin of a light emitting diode (LED) driver. The techniques utilize this multi-function pin for switching current that flows through one or more LEDs, as well as for charging the power supply of the LED driver. The techniques further utilize this multi-function pin to determine whether the voltage at an external transistor is beginning to oscillate, and utilize this multi-function pin to determine whether the current through the one or more LEDs has fully dissipated to an amplitude of zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Xiaowu Gong
  • Patent number: 9647571
    Abstract: Inverter internal communication features are disclosed. A multiple-stage inverter includes DC to DC and DC to AC converter switches in different power domains, which share no common return path connection. Operating parameters for converter switches in both power domains are determined by a single controller, located in one of the power domains. Converter control signals are communicated from the controller across an interface between the power domains. Respective, separate controllers in each power domain are not required. Components on each side of the interface could be integrated into respective integrated circuits. A planar transformer implemented in wiring levels of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) that carries components of the inverter could be provided to enable communications between the power domains while reducing component count and physical space requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Solantro Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Raymond Kenneth Orr, Tudor Lipan, Alexandru Dorin Nicolescu
  • Patent number: 9647527
    Abstract: A power supply circuit includes a switching element and a control section. The control section converts back electromotive force generated at the time of the operation of the switching element to optical energy and converts the optical energy to an electrical signal. Furthermore, the control section drives the switching element on the basis of the electrical signal obtained by converting the optical energy. Accordingly, unlike a case where surge energy is regenerated by resonance, there is no need to use a resonant element such as an inductor. As a result, circuit scale is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Tadahiro Imada, Tatsuya Hirose
  • Patent number: 9641113
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method for controlling a power generation system may generally include determining a phase angle error associated with the power generation system, determining a scaling factor based on the phase angle error, generating a current command for controlling the operation of a power convertor of the power generation system and applying the scaling factor to the current command such that the current command is reduced when the phase angle error exceeds a predetermined error threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Einar Vaughn Larsen, Wei Ren, Sidney Allen Barker
  • Patent number: 9641008
    Abstract: A rapid charging device for a battery includes a filtering stage of resistive-inductive-capacitive type to be connected to a three-phase network, a buck stage, a boost stage to be connected to the battery, an induction winding interposed between the buck stage and the boost stage, and a regulating unit capable of imposing chopping duty cycles on the buck stage and on the boost stage. The regulating unit compensates the phase shift induced by the filtering stage between the currents and the voltages taken from each phase of the three-phase network and also maintains the value of the current amplitude passing through the winding above a non-zero predefined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Mehdi Gati, Ahmed Ketfi-Cherif
  • Patent number: 9639104
    Abstract: Methods and systems of network voltage regulating transformers are provided. A network voltage regulating transformer (NVRT) may provide voltage transformation, isolation, and regulation. A NVRT may further provide power factor corrections. Multiple NVRTs may operate autonomously and collectively thereby achieving an edge of network voltage control when installed to a power system. A NVRT comprises a transformer, a VAR source, and a control module. The input current (i.e., the current through the primary side of the transformer), the output current (i.e., the current through the secondary side of the transformer), and/or the output voltage (i.e., the voltage across the secondary side of the transformer) may be monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: VARENTEC, INC.
    Inventors: Deepakraj M Divan, Anish Prasai
  • Patent number: 9641091
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is apparatus for increasing efficiency in transmitting direct electric (DC) energy. The apparatus includes a voltage stabilizer that includes, a wire connected to a power line for transmitting the DC electric energy; an electrical substance encircling the wire, an electromagnetic-field generating coil encircling the electrical substance at regular intervals in a direction perpendicular to the wire, the electromagnetic-field generating coil being connected to the wire, a voltage-stabilization circuit unit stabilizing voltage of the DC electric energy input into the apparatus before outputting the DC electric energy, and a connector connecting the power line to the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventor: Bon Hun Ku
  • Patent number: 9621025
    Abstract: A backflow preventing device includes a backflow preventing element that is connected between a power supply and a load and that prevents electric current from flowing backward from the load side toward the power supply side, a commutating device that performs a commutation operation for causing the electric current to flow to a commutation path connected in parallel with the backflow preventing element, and a controller that sets a time for performing the commutation operation and causes the commutating device to perform the commutation operation based on the set time. The backflow preventing device has a plurality of the commutation paths and has, for example, elements with small current-carrying capacities disposed in the commutation paths to achieve cost reduction and to cope with, for example, failures, thereby allowing for enhanced reliability for reducing recovery electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Shimomugi, Koichi Arisawa, Takashi Yamakawa, Keisuke Uemura, Noriyuki Matsubara, Shinsaku Kusube, Kenta Yuasa, Akihiro Tsumura
  • Patent number: 9600046
    Abstract: In a multiphase electrical power construction and assignment, a processor: determines a phase and voltage configuration for bi-directional power device pairs; determines a given bi-directional power device pair is to be coupled to a given phase connection based on the configuration; determines whether the given bi-directional power devices in the given bi-directional power device pair are to be coupled to each other; confirms that the given bi-directional power device pair is not coupled to any of the plurality of phase connections; couples the given bi-directional power device pair to the given phase connections, where power signals of the given bi-directional power device pair are synchronized with a power signal of the given phase connection; and in response to determining that the given bi-directional power devices are to be coupled to each other, couples each of the bi-directional power devices to a short bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: STEM, INC.
    Inventors: Lynn Smith, Stacey Reineccius
  • Patent number: 9603219
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a driving power supply apparatus for OLED. Wherein it comprises a power board connecting to a motherboard and a OLED screen, the motherboard comprises a standby circuit, a timing control module, a first and second transformer modules and a PFC circuit, the standby circuit connects to the timing control module and the motherboard, the timing control module connects to the PFC circuit, the motherboard and the first and second transformer modules, which connect to the motherboard and the PFC circuit. The isolation of two voltages, fulfills stability requirements of the power supplied to OLED, improves its picture quality; the timing control module will not light up the OLED screen until both switch and enable signals are stable simultaneously. This has changed the traditional power switch sequence, and made the power supply adapt to OLED's fast response characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventors: Qifeng Dai, Tieniu Chao, Shengping Cai, Hui Xu, Zongwang Wei
  • Patent number: 9601991
    Abstract: In a switching regulator control circuit according to aspects of the invention, a drain current is converted to a voltage Vis with a resistance. The voltage is delivered to a multiplication circuit. The multiplication circuit generates and outputs a voltage that is a product signal of the voltage and a voltage that is proportional to a duty factor. A comparator circuit compares the voltage with an error signal delivered to the other comparison input terminal of the comparator. When the voltage has reached the error voltage, the comparator delivers a turn-off instruction through an OR circuit to a terminal of a flip-flop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jian Chen
  • Patent number: 9590613
    Abstract: A comparator sense input is disconnected from a current sense resistor for the duration of a switching transition in an adjacent channel(s). Instead, the sense input receives a signal of the magnitude and the slew rate sampled prior to the transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Mednik, Rohit Tirumala, Marc Tan, Simon Krugly
  • Patent number: 9577512
    Abstract: Disclosed are a current zero-cross detection device, zero-cross current signal acquisition circuit and totem pole bridgeless circuit system. The current zero-cross detection device includes a current transformer, first sampling switch, second sampling switch, sampling resister, comparator. The current transformer includes a primary winding and a secondary winding; the primary winding is connected to a circuit to be detected; two ends of the secondary winding are connected respectively to drain electrodes of the first and second sampling switches; source electrodes of first and second sampling switches are connected to ground; two ends of the sampling resistor are connected respectively to the drain electrode and source electrode of the second sampling switch; the negative input end of the comparator is connected to the drain electrode of the second sampling switch, its positive input end is connected to a reference voltage; the first and second sampling switches are in ON or OFF state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventors: Jing Wang, Junming Zhang, Jie Fan, Jianping Zhou
  • Patent number: 9564840
    Abstract: A power source device includes a power source body including first and second secondary batteries and an inverter. When the power source connection status is switched from parallel to serial statuses, the motor generator is operated as a motor and the power source connection status is switched to a single second power source status, after switching to the first connection status in which the power source body and the first inverter are connected, the first motor generator operates as a motor, and power source connection status is switched to a single second power source status, and the inverter connection status is switched to a second connection status in which the power source body in the single second power source status and the inverter are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tadanobu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9547351
    Abstract: There is provided a power supply apparatus including: a first power supply unit including a transformer switching and transforming an input power, and converting the input power into a first power and providing the first power to a main output terminal and a standby output terminal; a second power supply unit converting the input power into a second power and provide the second power as an operating power of the first power supply unit; and a main switching unit intermitting supplying of the first power from the first power supply unit to the main output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD., SOLUM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Kuk Kim, Don Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 9531182
    Abstract: An energizing system for energizing an electric power transmission cable (60) is provided. The electric power transmission cable (60) has an input side (65) coupled to an electric power source (61) and an output side (66) coupled to a load (621). The energizing system includes a first switch (10) connected between the power source (61) and the input side (65) of the power transmission cable (60) to connect and disconnect the power source (61) from the power transmission cable (60). A reactive power compensation unit (50) is further provided for compensating reactive power generated by at least one of the power transmission cable (60) or the load (62). A second switch and a third switch are provided for connecting the reactive power compensation unit (50) in parallel to the first switch (10) or the load (62).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ove Boe
  • Patent number: 9531257
    Abstract: A power factor corrector raises power factor at low loads or high mains voltages by modifying the switch timing or the current received by the power converter. It achieves this by increasing the switch-on time of a control switch during the falling time so that the majority of the switch-on time during a mains period occurs during the falling time, to thereby control the current received by the converter to compensate for current received by the intermediate filter. Some embodiments may employ a feedback system to produce one or more error signals that modify the control signal used to control the operation of the converter. Various embodiments may also include additional stages that limit the compensation range of the error signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Cheng Zhang, Hans Halberstadt
  • Patent number: 9515487
    Abstract: A power flow control apparatus comprising a current distribution circuit arranged to distribute an input current into a plurality of branches such that the input current is distributed into a plurality of individual branch currents; wherein each of the plurality of branches includes an inductive arrangement arranged to form an inductive coupling with an associated inductive arrangement of at least one other associated branch, and a plurality of compensator units in electrical communication with the plurality of branches, wherein each compensator unit is arranged to deliver a branch compensating voltage relative to the branch current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: City University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Shu Hung Henry Chung, Sui Pung Cheung
  • Patent number: 9509207
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for compensating for a ripple and offset of an inverter and an apparatus and method for compensating for a ripple and offset of an inverter which removes a ripple component by compensating for an offset component included in a signal input to the inverter from an inverter controller. A method that senses a direct current (DC) input to an inverter from an inverter controller and an alternating current (AC) output from the inverter and removes a ripple component included in the DC based on the sensed currents, a method that removes a ripple component included in a reference voltage that is output from an inverter controller and is input to an inverter, and a method that compensates for an offset component of an AC voltage/AC used for inverter control and reduces a ripple component corresponding to an output frequency of an inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: POSCO ENERGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jeong Heum Lee, Sang Ho Moon, Ju Young Chang, Jae Sig Kim
  • Patent number: 9509138
    Abstract: An active damping switching system includes an active damping switching apparatus, including a damping capacitor, a damping resistor coupled to the damping capacitor, an input switch coupled to the damping capacitor, an oscillator coupled to the input switch and configured to open and close the input switch at a frequency, a direct current power source coupled to the active damping switching apparatus, a constant power load and an input filter disposed between the constant power load and the active damping switching apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Steven J. Moss
  • Patent number: 9490698
    Abstract: The low input voltage boost converter with peak inductor current control and offset compensated zero detection provide a boost converter scheme to harvest energy from sources with small output voltages. Some embodiments described herein includes a thermoelectric boost converter that combines an IPEAK control scheme with offset compensation and duty cycled comparators to enable energy harvesting from TEG inputs as low as 5 mV to 10 mV, and the peak inductor current is independent to first order of the input voltage and output voltage. A control circuit can be configured to sample the input voltage (VIN) and then generate a pulse with a duration inversely proportional to VIN so as to control the boost converter switches such that a substantially constant peak inductor current is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PATENT FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Benton Calhoun, Aatmesh Shrivastava
  • Patent number: 9473042
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for active power filtering utilizing cascaded multilevel inverters. In one example, among others, a grid active power filter includes a multilevel inverter including a plurality of series connected H-bridges and processing circuitry configured to control switching of the plurality of H-bridges. The multilevel inverter can be coupled to a point of common coupling between a grid and a load. The switching can be controlled based at least in part upon a number of individual harmonic currents drawn by the load. In another example, a method includes determining firing angles for each of a series of single phase H-bridges coupled to a PCC between a grid and a load, and adjusting firing of switches of the single phase H-bridges based upon the firing angles. The firing angles can be based at least in part upon a number of individual harmonic currents drawn by the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Yongbin Chu, Shuo Wang
  • Patent number: 9473255
    Abstract: A wireless communication device includes: a wireless communication unit that handles a plurality of communication modes; a power supply circuit that transforms a power supply voltage and supply the power supply voltage to the wireless communication unit; a control unit that controls an output voltage of the power supply circuit in accordance with a communication mode; a current fluctuation suppression circuit that suppresses current fluctuation when the wireless communication unit executes burst communication; and a bypass circuit that disconnects a path to bypass the current fluctuation suppression circuit. The control unit controls the bypass circuit in accordance with a communication mode, and provides the bypass path when executing a communication mode without adopting burst communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuu Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 9467055
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of forming a power supply controller includes forming the power supply controller to receive an input signal that is representative of an ac signal, and forming the power supply controller to form an average value of an output current over a period of a drive signal that is formed by the power supply controller to have a waveshape of substantially one of a squared version of the input signal or a waveshape of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stephanie Conseil, Joel Turchi
  • Patent number: 9462644
    Abstract: A power supply device may include an insulating DC/DC converter unit including a primary winding and a secondary winding magnetically coupled to the primary winding, and inducing a voltage in the secondary winding in a first direction or a second direction, and a boosting unit. The boosting unit may comprise a first booster boosting the voltage induced in the secondary winding to supply power to a first light emitting diode module, in a first mode in which the voltage is induced in the secondary winding in the first direction, and a second booster boosting the voltage induced in the secondary winding to supply power to a second light emitting diode module, in a second mode in which the voltage is induced in the secondary winding in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD., SOLUM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Kuk Kim, Hong Sun Park
  • Patent number: 9455624
    Abstract: A power supply with power factor correction circuit, comprises three rectifier modules, receiving a first phase voltage, a second phase voltage and a third phase voltage, and further including a filter, a single power factor correction circuit, and a working voltage convertor, wherein the filter receives one voltage and produces a filtering voltage to the single power factor correction circuit, the single power factor correction circuit then produces correction voltage to the working voltage convertor, and the working voltage convertor produces direct voltage; wherein the working voltage convertor can be the full-bridge phase-shifted convertor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: MEAN WELL ENTERPRISES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Peng-Hui Chien
  • Patent number: 9455623
    Abstract: A power factor correction (PFC) circuit includes a first inductor, which is operably supplied with an input voltage and an input current. The input voltage is a rectified AC line voltage. A semiconductor switch has a load current path coupled in series with the first inductor. An output terminal is coupled to the inductor and operably providing an output voltage and an output current. A controller circuit controls the cyclic switching operation of the semiconductor switch. The controller circuit is configured to monitor a feedback signal representing the voltage drop across the load current path of the semiconductor switch, to detect at least one local minimum in the feedback signal while the semiconductor switch is off, and to switch on the semiconductor switch in response to detecting the N-th local minimum in the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Lim Shu Fan, Martin Krueger
  • Patent number: 9455644
    Abstract: A controller including a switch, a first module, a second module, and a control module. The switch receives current from an inductor and bypasses a portion of the current from being received by a load. The switch is cycled between a first state and a second state at a frequency. The first module, for a first cycle of the switch, determines a first amount of time the switch is in the first state. The second module, based on the first amount of time, determines a second amount of time for a level of the current to decrease to a predetermined level. The second amount of time begins during the first cycle and when the switch transitions from the first state to the second state. The control module, based on the second amount of time and prior to the current decreasing to the predetermined level, changes the frequency of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Sehat Sutardja, Jianqing Lin
  • Patent number: 9450509
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus comprises a first converter connected to a second converter. The first converter includes a first capacitor and the second converter includes a second capacitor connected in series to a third capacitor. The capacitors are each connected in parallel with a respective resistor. The power conversion apparatus also includes a bypass switch connected in parallel to the first converter and in series to the second converter. A control module is configured to control a single-phase output voltage by operation of the first converter, the second converter, and the bypass switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yuusuke Kouno, Yosuke Nakazawa, Kentaro Suzuki, Ryuta Hasegawa, Tomoyuki Makino
  • Patent number: 9438143
    Abstract: A PWM signal generator section for generating a plurality of PWM signals with different phases to be respectively fed to a plurality of loads, and a phase difference setting section for setting phase differences among the PWM signals are provided. The phase difference setting section sets phase differences ?t_shift(n,n+1) calculated based on an effective current Ia(n) flowing to each of the loads, where the number of the loads is N, according to the equations below: Ia_all = ? n = 1 N ? Ia ? ( n ) ? t_shift ? ( n , n + 1 ) = t_pwn × Ia ? ( n ) / Ia_all where n=1 to N (where N is an integer of two or more, and n+1=1 when n+1>N), and t_pwm is a cycle of the PWM signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9431894
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to method, circuits, and apparatuses for power conversion. In an example embodiment, an apparatus includes a boost converter having a current loop affected by at least one compensation correction parameter and variation in an inductance of the current loop. The apparatus also includes a power factor correction means, including a circuit, configured and arranged to adaptively modify the compensation correction parameter based on variation in the inductance of the current loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Dong Li, Chan Yoke Cheong
  • Patent number: 9419539
    Abstract: An electrical system includes an AC power source and a power converter including at least one first terminal and at least one second terminal. The first terminal is configured to receive voltages with a DC component and the second terminal is configured to receive voltages that have a non-zero time average value including AC and DC components. The electrical system also includes an AC power transmission subsystem coupled to and extending between the AC power source and the power converter. The electrical system further includes a current diversion system including a plurality of first switching devices coupled to the AC power transmission subsystem. The current diversion system also includes a second switching device including a third terminal coupled to the first terminal and a fourth terminal coupled to the second terminal. The second switching device is configured to transmit current only from the third terminal to the fourth terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Pierluigi Tenca
  • Patent number: 9413173
    Abstract: A command system of a power conditioning system of the present invention receives return pattern information including a time instance and an upper output limit, and issues a command with respect to the upper output limit of the power conditioning system, the return pattern information being for preventing the frequency of an isolated power system, which is calculated by a planning server, from causing a sharp change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisuke Kuroda, Yasuo Sato, Masahiro Watanabe, Taichiro Kawahara
  • Patent number: 9413259
    Abstract: Power from an AC source at a source voltage is converted for delivery to a load at a DC load voltage, where the source voltage may vary between a high line voltage and a low line voltage in a normal operating range. DC-DC voltage transformation and isolation are provided in a first power conversion stage, the first stage having a CA input for receiving power from the source and a CA output for delivering a galvanically isolated unregulated AC adapter module (UAAM) voltage. First stage circuitry for performing the first power conversion stage is provided in a self-contained adapter module having input terminals for connection to the AC source and an output connected to the CA output for providing power to a second power conversion stage wherein the second power conversion stage is external to the adapter module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: VLT, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrizio Vinciarelli
  • Patent number: 9413245
    Abstract: A power supply includes two or more input waveforms being shaped or selected so that after being separately level-shifted and rectified, their additive combination results in a DC output waveform with substantially no ripple. The power supply may comprise a waveform generator, a level conversion stage for step up or down conversion, a rectification stage, and a combiner. The waveform generator may generate complementary waveforms, preferably identical but phase offset from each other, such that after the complementary waveforms are level-converted, rectified and additively combined their sum will be constant, thus requiring no or minimal smoothing for generation of a DC output waveform. The level conversion may be carried out using transformers or switched capacitor circuits. Feedback from the DC output waveform may be used to adjust the characteristics of the input waveforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: THX Ltd.
    Inventors: Owen Jones, Lawrence R. Fincham
  • Patent number: 9407157
    Abstract: A fraction rated conversion system for coupling a plurality of high voltage direct current (HVDC) power strings in parallel to an HVDC transmission system includes at least one fraction rated power converter coupled to the plurality of HVDC power strings and at least one capacitive device coupled to the at least one fraction rated power converter. The at least one fraction rated power converter and the at least one capacitive device regulate a differential voltage across each HVDC power string of the plurality of HVDC power strings to be substantially similar to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ranjan Kumar Gupta, Rui Zhou
  • Patent number: 9407133
    Abstract: Methods and systems for active power conditioner topologies including semiconductor input and output switches, an inductor, a capacitor in parallel with the inductor, and input and output filter capacitors. The present power conditioners can convert power from an input to an output, can supply or absorb reactive power, and can regulate voltage and current waveforms for improving power factor. Additionally, the present power conditioners can act as a variable frequency drive for regulating voltages and frequencies in power converters. The present power conditioners can also correct harmonic oscillations that can damage power conversion equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: IDEAL POWER, INC.
    Inventor: William C. Alexander
  • Patent number: 9401635
    Abstract: A switching power supply includes power factor correction circuitry and a standby output converter. One or more loads may be coupled to one or more outputs of the switching power supply. The switching power supply is configured to disable the power factor correction circuitry under some load conditions and to enable the power factor correction circuitry under other load conditions. As a consequence, power that would have been drawn by the power factor correction circuitry is conserved when the power factor correction circuitry is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Daniel Humphrey, Mohamed Amin Bemat, David Paul Mohr
  • Patent number: 9391505
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a power factor correction (PFC) circuit can include: (i) a rectifier bridge and a PFC converter coupled to an input capacitor; (ii) a harmonic wave compensation circuit configured to shift a phase of a DC input voltage provided from the rectifier bridge, where the harmonic wave compensation circuit comprises a phase of about ?45° when a corner frequency is about 50 Hz; and (iii) a PFC control circuit configured to control the PFC converter, where the PFC control circuit comprises a first sampling voltage, and the harmonic wave compensation circuit is configured to control a phase of the first sampling voltage to lag a phase of the DC input voltage by about 45°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Yunlong Han, Huiqiang Chen
  • Patent number: 9385601
    Abstract: A SMPS has a switch, an inductor, a zero current detection circuit for detecting the current flowing through the inductor, a load judgment circuit and a control signal generating circuit. The load judgment circuit is coupled to the zero current detection circuit and provides a plurality of status signals based on a zero current duration of the inductor current. The control signal generating circuit generates a control signal which transits from a first state to a second state when a feedback signal satisfies a preset condition, and the control signal transits from the second state to the first state after an on time of the switch, and wherein the on time is controlled based on the plurality of status signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: James Nguyen, Scott Yi
  • Patent number: 9369064
    Abstract: A current source inverter includes a controller, an input unit, a buffer unit, a modulating unit, and a commutator. The controller generates a switch control signal, an inverse switch control signal, a first pulse width modulation control signal, and a second pulse width modulation control signal. The input unit stores and transmits input power of a direct current power supply according to the first pulse width modulation control signal. The buffer unit is coupled to the input unit for receiving and transmitting the input power. The modulating unit generates and outputs a full-wave rectified sinusoidal current according to the second pulse width modulation control signal and the input power. The commutator converts the full-wave rectified sinusoidal current into an alternating current according to the switch control signal and the inverse switch control signal and outputs the alternating current to a load or a utility line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignees: DARFON ELECTRONICS (SUZHOU) CO., LTD., DARFON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Yaow-Ming Chen, Chien-Yao Liao, Cheng-Yen Chou
  • Patent number: 9350237
    Abstract: A control circuit includes an auxiliary pin for receiving an auxiliary voltage of an auxiliary winding of a power converter; a first detection unit for detecting a first time point when the auxiliary voltage begins resonance, and outputting a first detection signal according to the first time point; a second detection unit for detecting a second time point when the auxiliary voltage reaches a predetermined voltage, and outputting a second detection signal according to the second time point; a delay time controller for obtaining a delay time according to a output time difference between the first detection signal and the second detection signal, and outputting a driving signal with delay of the delay time when receiving the second detection signal; and a gate control signal generator for generating a gate control signal to a power switch of the power converter according to the driving signal of the delay time controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Leadtrend Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Yu-Bin Wang
  • Patent number: 9343995
    Abstract: A power converter includes a first arm configured by connecting a diode to a switching element, a second arm configured by connecting a diode to another switching element, a third arm formed of a first bidirectional switch configured by connecting switch elements, and a fourth arm formed of a second bidirectional switch configured by connecting other switch elements. An inverter circuit is configured by connecting the first and second arms in series between terminals of a direct current power source circuit, by connecting the third arm between a terminal of an alternating current power source and an output terminal, and by connecting the fourth arm between the output terminal and another output terminal. The control mode of the inverter circuit is switched between control modes at a timing at which at least one common arm continues a conductible condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seitaro Banno, Satoru Fujita
  • Patent number: 9337715
    Abstract: There is provided a power supply, including, a boost converter unit including a first boost converter having a first inductor, a first diode, and a first switching element, and a second boost converter having a second inductor, a second diode and a second switching element, an input voltage sensing unit sensing an input voltage applied to the boost converter unit, a control unit selecting one of a first boost mode in which current is divided between the first inductor and the second inductor, based on the input voltage, and a second boost mode in which current flows through the first inductor and the second inductor in this order, based on the input voltage, and a switching unit selecting one of the first boost mode and the second boost mode, based on the selection of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chong Eun Kim
  • Patent number: 9337716
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a power supply circuit with power factor correction (PFC) function, and an automatic gain control circuit therefor and a control method thereof. The power supply circuit includes the automatic gain control circuit and a load driver circuit. The automatic gain control circuit converts an input voltage to a regulation voltage, and the load driver circuit generates an output current according to the regulation voltage. The automatic gain control circuit automatically adjust the regulation voltage such that the regulation voltage has a substantially fixed amplitude or fixed average value under different input voltages of different specifications, and the output current provided by the load driver circuit varies in phase with the input voltage to provide a PFC function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Chia-Wei Liao, Jing-Meng Liu
  • Patent number: 9325235
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices which estimate the inductor current in a power factor correction (PFC) converter for use with AC/DC converters. A control system for use with the PFC takes as input the input voltage and the output voltage of the PFC. Control signals for power semiconductor subcircuits in the PFC are then output from the control system. The control system uses an adaptive observer sub-circuit that estimates the inductor current and the bus voltage. The adaptive observer uses an adaptive updater which uses both the estimates and the estimate error to update the adaptive observer's estimates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: CISTEL TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Majid Pahlevaninezhad, Praveen Jain
  • Patent number: 9318947
    Abstract: A system for automatically regulating voltage on a distribution-level AC bus having an actual voltage and a nominal voltage includes an electronic power converter connected to the distribution-level AC bus. The system generates a feedback signal representative of the actual voltage of the distribution-level AC bus and produces an input control signal in response to the feedback signal. The input control signal is representative of a commanded level of reactive power. The electronic power converter is responsive to the input control signal to deliver a commanded reactive power output to the distribution-level AC bus, and the commanded reactive power output pushes the actual voltage towards the nominal voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Perfect Galaxy International Limited
    Inventors: Colin David Schauder, Leo F. Casey
  • Patent number: 9306444
    Abstract: A control system for a harmonic neutralized frequency changer. The control system includes a processor, a narrow band harmonic controller and a fundamental current controller. The narrow band harmonic controller is communicably connected to the processor and is configured to reduce a positive sequence component, a negative sequence component and a zero sequence component of a harmonic generated by a cycloconverter of the harmonic neutralized frequency changer. The fundamental current controller is communicably connected to the processor and is configured to reduce a fundamental frequency component of current flowing in a neutralization inverter of the harmonic neutralized frequency changer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Curtiss-Wright Electro-Mechanical Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Kapinski, David J. Hall
  • Patent number: 9300142
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electric energy sources, such as a single wind power turbine or wind power plant, that are interfaced with the utility grid through power electronic converters. In particular, the present invention relates to specific techniques and methodologies for power electronic converters for stabilizing the utility grid during transient conditions and for providing similar stability mechanisms that are inherently present in electric synchronous generators while maintaining the possibility for fast and decoupled following of set points for generated active and/or reactive powers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Germán Claudio Tarnowski