Zero Switching Patents (Class 323/235)
  • Patent number: 11824702
    Abstract: A receiver includes a sampling circuit configured to sample a comparison result between an input signal and a plurality of threshold voltages according to a sampling clock signal; a clock controller configured to generate the sampling clock signal according to a clock control signal; and a control circuit configure to generate the clock control signal and the plurality of threshold voltages according to a target value and an output of the sampling circuit. The control circuit operates to control a ratio of a magnitude of a main cursor of the input signal and a magnitude of a pre-cursor intersymbol interference to be the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: SK hynix Inc., Seoul National University R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Kwangho Lee, Jinhyung Lee, Deog-Kyoon Jeong
  • Patent number: 11784552
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a power converter and a related system. The power converter includes a controller and a power conversion circuit. The power conversion circuit is configured to convert an input power of an input power supply into an output power of a load, where the input power supply is an external power supply connected to the power converter. The controller is configured to control on/off of the first switch element, to implement connection/disconnection between the input power supply and the inductive element; and control the unidirectional conduction circuit to be turned on before the first switch element is turned on in the power conversion cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhengyan He, Jiebin Cheng, Qinghai Wang, Yuliang Lu
  • Patent number: 11764677
    Abstract: A control circuit for a switching converter having a main power switch, the control circuit including: a voltage generation circuit configured to be connected with a common connection terminal of the main power switch and an inductor to receive a drain-source voltage of the main power switch, and to generate a first voltage according to the drain-source voltage; a valley detection circuit configured to generate a valley detection signal according to the first voltage when the drain-source voltage resonates to a valley; and where the control circuit is configured to turn on the main power switch according to the valley detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Jian Deng, Jin Jin
  • Patent number: 11650233
    Abstract: A fast load current sensing apparatus and scheme provides instantaneous detection of peak current excursions using low silicon area and power efficient techniques. The response time for detecting signal excursions and measuring a signal (e.g., load current) is independent of resolution or precision and can be applied to high resolution telemetry. The apparatus sends out maximum current limit (FHC_limit) code at any instant the load current is detected to be more than a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) code. If the load current is less than the FHC_limit the scheme restores to a next DAC code as per a counter's next value. In case load current is more than FHC_limit, the scheme updates the DAC code to FHC_limit code and starts the counter from the FHC_limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Neha Bhargava, Arvindh Rajasekaran, Anup Deka
  • Patent number: 11557978
    Abstract: A converter module is provided with a first power delivery circuit, a second power delivery circuit, and a controller. The first power delivery circuit supplies current from a first direct current (DC) source to a resonant stage in a first direction. The first power delivery circuit comprises at least two first switches. The second power delivery circuit supplies the current from the first DC source to the resonant stage in a second direction, opposite the first direction. The controller includes memory, and a processor that is programmed to: enable the first power delivery circuit and the second power delivery circuit alternately to provide power as a periodic waveform to the resonant stage; and disable the at least two first switches individually in a sequence to generate a phase shift in the periodic waveform and to disable the first power delivery circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Adria Marcos Pastor, Victor Saborido Rodriguez, Antonio Martinez Perez, Josep Maria Bosque Moncusi, Luis Roda Cornejo
  • Patent number: 11493970
    Abstract: Dynamic power supply voltage adjustment in a computing device may involve two stages. In a first stage, a first method for adjusting a power supply voltage may be disabled. While the first method remains disabled, a request to adjust the power supply voltage from an initial value to a target value using a second method may be received. The second method may be initiated in response to the request if a time interval has elapsed since a previous request to adjust the power supply voltage. In a second stage, the first method may be enabled when it has been determined that the power supply voltage has reached the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher Kong Yee Chun, Chandan Agarwalla, Dipti Ranjan Pal, Kumar Kanti Ghosh, Matthew Severson, Nilanjan Banerjee, Joshua Stubbs
  • Patent number: 11437904
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a power converter and a related system. The power converter includes a controller and a power conversion circuit. The power conversion circuit is configured to convert an input power of an input power supply into an output power of a load, where the input power supply is an external power supply connected to the power converter. The controller is configured to control on/off of the first switch element, to implement connection/disconnection between the input power supply and the inductive element; and control the unidirectional conduction circuit to be turned on before the first switch element is turned on in the power conversion cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhengyan He, Jiebin Cheng, Qinghai Wang, Yuliang Lu
  • Patent number: 11404951
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a power converter and a related system. The power converter includes a controller and a power conversion circuit. The power conversion circuit is configured to convert an input power of an input power supply into an output power of a load, where the input power supply is an external power supply connected to the power converter. The controller is configured to control on/off of the first switch element, to implement connection/disconnection between the input power supply and the inductive element; and control the unidirectional conduction circuit to be turned on before the first switch element is turned on in the power conversion cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhengyan He, Jiebin Cheng, Qinghai Wang, Yuliang Lu
  • Patent number: 11209855
    Abstract: A load control device may control the amount of power provided to an electrical load utilizing a phase control signal that operates in a reverse phase control mode, a center phase control mode, and a forward phase control mode. A load control device may be configured to determine that the electrical load should be operated via a phase control signal operating in a forward phase-control mode. After determining to operate the electrical load via the phase control signal in the forward phase-control mode, the load control device may provide the phase control signal in a reverse phase-control mode for a predetermined period of time to the electrical load, for example, to charge a bus capacitor of the electrical load. Subsequently, the load control device may be configured to switch the phase control signal to the forward phase-control mode and provide the phase control signal in the forward phase-control mode to the electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Newman, Jr., Christopher J. Salvestrini
  • Patent number: 11190015
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling one or more switched high power loads (or heating elements). The apparatus including: one or more switched high power loads (or heating elements), each high power load being powered from a common alternating current power source, and wherein each load is independently switched using a switching signal for zero crossing switching to achieve a desired average power output; the switching signal is generated that comprises a repeated switching sequence; the switching sequence indicates a respective selecting activation for each of the switched high power load over a sequence of half or full cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: BREVILLE PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Ashley Marsh-Croft, Tibor Hegedis, Brendan John Foxlee, Emma Craig, Lichan Meng
  • Patent number: 11143713
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit for leak current detection which outputs an interruption signal to cut off electrical power supplied by a power supply to an electric line if a leakage current occurs including a leakage current processing unit and an output unit configured to output the interruption signal. The leakage current processing unit includes: a zero-power supply voltage detector; a counter when the power supply voltage pulse signal is input; a zero-input induction voltage detector configured to output a leakage current pulse signal whenever the input induction voltage becomes 0 V; a counter latch configured to latch a count value supplied by the counter and output the latched count value; an output induction voltage setting unit configured to calculate an output induction voltage; and a comparator configured to compare the output induction voltage with a predetermined trip level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: SUNNYIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sun-Jung Kim
  • Patent number: 11031812
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to powering distributed sensors used to monitor electrical and/or environmental conditions and to powering other equipment associated with electric power systems. In one embodiment, a system may be used to mount a sensor in proximity to a reference conductor. An electric field power conversion subsystem may generate a usable electric potential from an electric field created by the electric power system and existing between the reference conductor and another conductor (e.g., another phase conductor, a ground conductor). The sensor powered by the usable electric potential may provide a measurement of a condition associated with the electric power system. A communication subsystem powered by the usable electric potential may communicate the measurement of the condition to a monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, Joe Baylon, Timothy M. Minteer, David Kenny, James Mobley, Johnny J. Moore, Raymond W. Rice, Naiden K. Spasov, Eric M. Sawyer
  • Patent number: 11018585
    Abstract: A power stage output node stabilizer may be used to reduce ringing of a power stage output node of a switching DC-DC power converter. The power stage output node stabilizer may be a network of resistors and switches coupling the power stage output node to a higher voltage level and a lower voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Chaoyang Semiconductor Jiangyin Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bertrand Diotte, Mykhaylo Teplechuk
  • Patent number: 10966304
    Abstract: A lighting device, such as a two-wire lighting control device, may include a controllably conductive device and a control circuit. The controllably conductive device may supply an AC line voltage to a load in response to a dive signal such that the controllable conductive device is non-conductive for a first duration of time and conductive for a second duration of time within a half-cycle of the AC line voltage. The control circuit may receive a signal from the controllably conductive device that represents a voltage developed across the controllable conductive device during the first duration of time. The control circuit may generate a sine-wave-shaped signal that complements the voltage developed across the controllably conductive device during the second duration of time. The control circuit may also filter the signal from the controllably conductive device during the first duration of time and the sine-wave-shaped signal during the second duration of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: William Zotter, Bingrui Yang, Henry Kite
  • Patent number: 10915134
    Abstract: A load control device may control the amount of power provided to an electrical load utilizing a phase control signal that operates in a reverse phase control mode, a center phase control mode, and a forward phase control mode. A load control device may be configured to determine that the electrical load should be operated via a phase control signal operating in a forward phase-control mode. After determining to operate the electrical load via the phase control signal in the forward phase-control mode, the load control device may provide the phase control signal in a reverse phase-control mode for a predetermined period of time to the electrical load, for example, to charge a bus capacitor of the electrical load. Subsequently, the load control device may be configured to switch the phase control signal to the forward phase-control mode and provide the phase control signal in the forward phase-control mode to the electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Newman, Jr., Christopher J. Salvestrini
  • Patent number: 10879807
    Abstract: A conversion device includes a primary side circuit, a secondary side circuit, a transformer, and a control circuit. The primary side circuit includes a primary side switch and is configured to receive an input voltage. The secondary side circuit outputs an output voltage to a load. The transformer comprises a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding is electrically coupled to the primary side circuit and the secondary winding electrically coupled to the secondary side circuit. The control circuit is configured to control a peak value of the current flowing through the primary side switch, to be limited in a band range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Hai-Bin Song, Qi Fu, Jian Zhou, Dao-Fei Xu, Jin-Fa Zhang
  • Patent number: 10855164
    Abstract: A switch-mode power supply and a zero current detector for use therein. A zero current detector includes an input stage and an output stage. The output stage is coupled to the input stage. The output stage includes a detector output terminal, a first transistor, and a second transistor. The first transistor includes an input terminal and a control terminal. The input terminal is coupled to the detector output terminal. The control terminal is coupled to the input stage. The second transistor includes an input terminal, a control terminal, and an output terminal. The input terminal is coupled to the control terminal of the first transistor. The control terminal is coupled to the input terminal of the second transistor. The output terminal is coupled to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Srinivas Venkata Veeramreddi, Subhash Sahni
  • Patent number: 10788523
    Abstract: A circuit having a power converter configured to convert an input voltage to an output voltage; a controller having an inner loop configured to regulate a peak inductor current of an inductor of the power converter to a reference peak inductor current value; and an inductor value measurement circuit configured to determine a value of the inductor based on the output voltage of the power converter and the reference peak inductor current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Vratislav Michal, Nicolo Zilio
  • Patent number: 10700626
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes: a power generating unit that generates drive power for driving the air conditioner; an output unit that drives a motor; a detecting unit that detects a DC voltage applied to the output unit; a motor drive control unit that controls the output unit based on a detection result from the detecting unit; a drive power supply unit that supplies an operating power source to the output unit and the motor drive control unit; a main body control unit that outputs a motor drive command or a motor drive stop command to the supply unit; a power circuit unit that supplies operating power to the main body control unit and the supply unit; and an input changeover switch that inputs the detection result to the motor drive control unit as the motor is driven, and cuts off input of the detection result as the motor stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihito Ono
  • Patent number: 10602593
    Abstract: A lighting device, such as a two-wire lighting control device, may include a controllably conductive device and a control circuit. The controllably conductive device may supply an AC line voltage to a load in response to a dive signal such that the controllable conductive device is non-conductive for a first duration of time and conductive for a second duration of time within a half-cycle of the AC line voltage. The control circuit may receive a signal from the controllably conductive device that represents a voltage developed across the controllable conductive device during the first duration of time. The control circuit may generate a sine-wave-shaped signal that complements the voltage developed across the controllably conductive device during the second duration of time. The control circuit may also filter the signal from the controllably conductive device during the first duration of time and the sine-wave-shaped signal during the second duration of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: William Zotter, Bingrui Yang, Henry Kite
  • Patent number: 10551865
    Abstract: A load control device may control the amount of power provided to an electrical load utilizing a phase control signal that operates in a reverse phase control mode, a center phase control mode, and a forward phase control mode. A load control device may be configured to determine that the electrical load should be operated via a phase control signal operating in a forward phase-control mode. After determining to operate the electrical load via the phase control signal in the forward phase-control mode, the load control device may provide the phase control signal in a reverse phase-control mode for a predetermined period of time to the electrical load, for example, to charge a bus capacitor of the electrical load. Subsequently, the load control device may be configured to switch the phase control signal to the forward phase-control mode and provide the phase control signal in the forward phase-control mode to the electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Newman, Jr., Christopher J. Salvestrini
  • Patent number: 10554129
    Abstract: A buck converter includes a power switch having one end to which an input voltage is transferred, a synchronous switch connected between the other end of the power switch and the ground, an inductor having an end connected to the other end of the power switch, and a switch control circuit configured to calculate a zero voltage delay time based on at least an ON time of the power switch and a delay time. The delay time is determined based on the inductor and parasitic capacitors of the power switch and the synchronous switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: SangCheol Moon, Gwanbon Koo, Chenghao Jin, Bonggeun Chung
  • Patent number: 10439509
    Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit for generating a control voltage depending on voltage phase of an input signal. The circuit comprises a first transistor; a second transistor, a diode, a Zener diode and a capacitor. Base and collector of first transistor along with collector of second transistor are connected to a DC voltage source. Anode of the diode is connected to base of the first transistor and cathode of the diode receives the input signal. Anode of the Zener diode is connected to the base of the second transistor and cathode of the Zener diode connected to the collector of the first transistor. The capacitor is connected between cathode of the Zener diode and ground terminal. During positive half cycle and negative half of input signal, the circuit outputs a high control voltage and a low control voltage respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: VARROC ENGINEERING LIMITED
    Inventors: Anupam Sharma, Nafish Jalal
  • Patent number: 10362656
    Abstract: A load control device for controlling power delivered from an alternating-current power source to an electrical load may comprise a controllably conductive device, a control circuit, and an overcurrent protection circuit that is configured to be disabled when the controllably conductive device is non-conductive. The control circuit may be configured to control the controllably conductive device to be non-conductive at the beginning of each half-cycle of the AC power source and to render the controllably conductive device conductive at a firing time during each half-cycle (e.g., using a forward phase-control dimming technique). The overcurrent protection circuit may be configured to render the controllably conductive device non-conductive in the event of an overcurrent condition in the controllably conductive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Dinesh Sundara Moorthy, James P. Steiner
  • Patent number: 10348182
    Abstract: A switching converter with quasi-resonant control having a switch and an energy storage component, comprising a peak current regulating circuit configured to provide a peak current regulating signal to regulate a peak current signal or a current sense signal, wherein the peak current regulating signal is adjusted when non-CCM (Current Continuous Mode) and non-valley-switching are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Siran Wang
  • Patent number: 10234890
    Abstract: A load control device may control the amount of power provided to an electrical load utilizing a phase control signal that operates in a reverse phase control mode, a center phase control mode, and a forward phase control mode. A load control device may be configured to determine that the electrical load should be operated via a phase control signal operating in a forward phase-control mode. After determining to operate the electrical load via the phase control signal in the forward phase-control mode, the load control device may provide the phase control signal in a reverse phase-control mode for a predetermined period of time to the electrical load, for example, to charge a bus capacitor of the electrical load. Subsequently, the load control device may be configured to switch the phase control signal to the forward phase-control mode and provide the phase control signal in the forward phase-control mode to the electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Newman, Jr., Christopher J. Salvestrini
  • Patent number: 10222847
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device that can follow a fast voltage change such as a large voltage drop occurring at the time of rapid load fluctuation. The semiconductor device includes a voltage sensor which monitors a power supply voltage at a sampling speed higher than the assumed frequency of power supply voltage fluctuation and outputs a voltage code value, a voltage drop determination circuit which determines, from the voltage code value, that a voltage drop causing a malfunction of a system occurs, and outputs a clock stop signal, and a clock control circuit which controls clock stop, restart, and frequency change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuko Kitaji, Kazuki Fukuoka, Ryo Mori, Toshifumi Uemura
  • Patent number: 10211828
    Abstract: A driving device includes: a driving circuit operating with a single power supply in accordance with a driving signal; a first parallel circuit formed of a first capacitor and a first zener diode connected together in parallel, and having a first end connected to an output terminal of the driving circuit; a series circuit connected between a second end of the first parallel circuit and a ground of the driving circuit, and formed of a diode and a second parallel circuit (of a second capacitor and a second zener diode) connected to each other in series; and a resistor is connected between the second end of the first parallel circuit and the ground of the driving circuit. A voltage across the resistor is used as an output voltage for driving the insulated gate semiconductor element. A voltage across the first capacitor is superimposed negative-wise on the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takaaki Gyoten
  • Patent number: 10180711
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device that can follow a fast voltage change such as a large voltage drop occurring at the time of rapid load fluctuation. The semiconductor device includes a voltage sensor which monitors a power supply voltage at a sampling speed higher than the assumed frequency of power supply voltage fluctuation and outputs a voltage code value, a voltage drop determination circuit which determines, from the voltage code value, that a voltage drop causing a malfunction of a system occurs, and outputs a clock stop signal, and a clock control circuit which controls clock stop, restart, and frequency change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuko Kitaji, Kazuki Fukuoka, Ryo Mori, Toshifumi Uemura
  • Patent number: 10177651
    Abstract: A system for eliminating inrush current to electrical equipment while providing a user increased control is proposed. The user of the device is able to control the speed of the ramp up of alternating current (AC) to the electrical equipment, regardless of the load. When the ramp up meets its full power, the device of the present system will disable itself while allowing power to flow directly to the electrical equipment. The present system allows for user controlled delay time as well as microcontroller controlled current sensing. Further, the device shuts off power to the electrical equipment if an overdraw of current (e.g. a short circuit in an amplifier) is detected. This feature may be an early warning, indicating a need for technical repair before irrevocable damage is done to the components of the electrical equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: MERCURY MAGNETICS, INC.
    Inventor: Sergio H. Hamernik
  • Patent number: 10177670
    Abstract: A flyback power converter circuit includes: a transformer including a primary winding coupled to an input power and a secondary winding coupled to an output node, a primary side switch controlling the primary side winding to convert the input power to an output power on the output node through the secondary side winding, a clamping circuit including an auxiliary switch and an auxiliary capacitor connected in series to form an auxiliary branch which is connected with the primary side winding in parallel, and a conversion control circuit for adjusting an auxiliary ON time of the auxiliary switch during an OFF time of the primary side switch according to an estimated parasitic diode conduction time of a parasitic diode of the auxiliary switch; the auxiliary ON time is controlled to be substantially equal to and coincides with the estimated parasitic diode conduction time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tzu-Chen Lin, Kun-Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 10033265
    Abstract: The switching element is turned ON and OFF according to when the current flowing through the inductance element becomes equal to zero and according to an amplified error voltage between the output voltage and a target output voltage. More particularly, the OFF time of the switching element is calculated, and when the OFF time is less than a prescribed value, the ON time of the switching element is increased. Moreover, the amount by which the ON time of the switching element is increased is reduced if the error voltage if greater than a prescribed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takato Sugawara
  • Patent number: 10002699
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a magnet coil drive control device that can efficiently suppress conduction noise while reducing the capacitance of a capacitor. A capacitor and an impedance element are arranged in series on the connecting line connecting the positive electrode line and the negative electrode line of a DC power supply, the connecting line between the capacitor and the impedance element is connected to one end of a magnet coil via a freewheeling diode, and the portion between the freewheeling diode and the one end of the magnet coil is connected to the positive electrode line or the negative electrode line by a switching element. Conduction noise caused by the driving current of the magnet coil can be suppressed by the impedance element, and the capacitance of the capacitor can be further reduced. Accordingly, the magnet coil drive control device can be made smaller in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Aiki, Ayumu Hatanaka, Takuya Mayuzumi, Katsuya Oyama, Ryosuke Ishida, Yasushi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 9960615
    Abstract: An electronic device and method and power supply are disclosed. The electronic device includes comprising a connector for electrically coupling with an external power supply unit, and a processor. The processor implements the method, which includes detecting a connection state with the external power supply unit, and detecting whether power supplied from the external power supply unit is abnormal, and controlling the power when the power supplied has an abnormal value. The power supply may include a connector for electrically coupling with an electronic device, and a processor for detecting a connection state with the electronic device, detecting whether power supplied to the electronic device by the power supply unit has an abnormal value, and controlling the supplied power when the power is abnormal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Geun Yoon, Ju-Nyun Kim, Se-Won Oh, Kisun Lee, Ku-Chul Jung
  • Patent number: 9954439
    Abstract: A control circuit of a switching power-supply device that converts a first DC voltage supplied from an input power source to a second DC voltage, includes: a first A/D converter that converts the second DC voltage into a first digital value, in response to a sampling clock depending on a first sampling clock and a second sampling clock; a control signal generation unit that generates a control signal for controlling on-and-off of the switching element based on of a difference between the first digital value and a target value; a regeneration completion sensing unit that senses completion of regeneration of the inductor and outputs a regeneration completion signal; and a sampling clock generation unit that: generates the first sampling clock, in response to the control signal to turn on the switching element, and generates the second sampling clock, in response to the regeneration completion signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9954432
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus with soft-start function is suitable to a load including a voltage stabilizing unit and a load unit coupled in parallel. The power supply apparatus includes a power unit, a soft-start adjusting unit, a current detecting unit and a controlling unit. The power unit generates a power voltage. The soft-start adjusting unit receives the power voltage, a first controlling signal and a second controlling signal, and transforms the power voltage to a soft-start current accordingly to output the soft-start current to the voltage stabilizing unit or output the power voltage to the voltage stabilizing unit. The current detecting unit measures a current of a loop formed between the power unit and the voltage stabilizing unit to generate a current detecting signal. The controlling unit receives the current detecting signal to generate the first controlling signal and second controlling signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: HAN-WIN TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Han-Jung Kao
  • Patent number: 9927829
    Abstract: A load control device may control the amount of power provided to an electrical load utilizing a phase control signal that operates in a reverse phase control mode, a center phase control mode, and a forward phase control mode. A load control device may be configured to determine that the electrical load should be operated via a phase control signal operating in a forward phase-control mode. After determining to operate the electrical load via the phase control signal in the forward phase-control mode, the load control device may provide the phase control signal in a reverse phase-control mode for a predetermined period of time to the electrical load, for example, to charge a bus capacitor of the electrical load. Subsequently, the load control device may be configured to switch the phase control signal to the forward phase-control mode and provide the phase control signal in the forward phase-control mode to the electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Donald F. Hausman, Jr., Robert C. Newman, Jr., Christopher J. Salvestrini
  • Patent number: 9872349
    Abstract: A phase-cut dimming control system according to the embodiment includes a phase angle detector configured to detect a phase angle of an input voltage generated by phase-cut dimming, a feedback signal generator configured to generate a first reference signal corresponding to the detected phase angle, and generate an initial feedback signal based on a detection signal corresponding to power supplied to a load and the first reference signal, a feedback signal modulator configured to modulate the initial feedback signal and generate a feedback signal, a power transmission controller configured to generate a control signal which controls power transmission according to the feedback signal, and a power transmission circuit configured to transmit power to the load according to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyunchul Eum, Youngjong Kim, Kuo-Hsien Huang, Chih-Chun Chuang, Young Mo Yang, Young Je Lee, Moon Ho Choi, Moon Sik Song
  • Patent number: 9847721
    Abstract: A voltage converter includes a switching driver, a controller, a low-pass filter and a pulse width modulation signal generator. The switching driver includes a pull-up switching circuit connecting an input voltage to a switching node in response to a pull-up signal and a pull-down switching circuit connecting a ground voltage to the switching node in response to a pull-down signal. The controller generates the pull-up signal and the pull-down signal in response to a pulse width modulation signal and measures pull-up and pull-down turn-on times of the pull-up and pull-down switching circuits in real time to control a dead time. The low-pass filter filters a switching voltage signal on the switching node to generate an output voltage. The pulse width modulation signal generator generates the pulse width modulation signal based on a reference signal and the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Je-Kook Kim
  • Patent number: 9843270
    Abstract: A multilevel rectifier includes an input lead, a switching module, and a multilevel direct current (DC) link. The switching module includes a plurality of switch devices connected to the input lead. The multilevel DC link includes a positive lead, a midpoint lead, and a negative lead. each connected to the switching module. The plurality of switching module switch devices are operatively connected between the input lead and the DC link to provide a greater number of output voltage levels than the number of leads in the DC link with unidirectional power flow capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Suman Dwari
  • Patent number: 9831793
    Abstract: A control apparatus configured to control a chain link voltage source converter, the control apparatus comprising; two converter controllers, each converter controller configured to receive a measure of the output voltage and/or current from the converter and determine a control signal therefrom for controlling the voltage source converter, each converter controller including at least one integrator element configured to perform an integration operation and output an integrator term in said determination of the control signal, a selector configured to select which one of the converter controllers provides its control signal to the converter; wherein each integrator element is configured to have two modes, a first mode in which the integrator element determines the integrator term and a second mode in which the integrator term is provided by a corresponding integrator element in the other converter controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventor: Colin Donald Murray Oates
  • Patent number: 9800162
    Abstract: A power control system is electrically connected to a power function circuit including a power circuit, a coil module, a switch, and a load circuit, and includes at least one timer, a zero-current trigger unit, a status control unit, and a driver unit. The status control unit has a first status interval, a second status interval, a third status interval and a fourth status. The power control method triggers the status control unit to change the status interval when a counting time reaches one specific time interval corresponding one status interval. When a coil voltage of the coil module drops to zero from a voltage larger than a positive threshold voltage in the third status interval or the fourth status interval, the status control unit triggers to change the status interval, re-enters the first status interval, resets the timer, and triggers the driver unit to open the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Joint Power Exponent, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuan Kuan, Jyh-Ting Lai
  • Patent number: 9787360
    Abstract: An alternating current (AC) zero-crossing indicator apparatus including a current adjusting circuit for adjusting a DC signal current for a duration of time the same as the duration of a received zero-crossing detection signal. The zero-crossing indicator apparatus additionally includes a voltage retainer for maintaining a constant DC voltage applied to a connected load during the adjusting of the DC signal current. Also included is a zero-crossing sensor for generating a zero-crossing indication signal responsive to sensing of the adjusting of the DC signal current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Sigma Designs Israel S.D.I. Ltd.
    Inventors: Danny Braunshtein, Alex Akselrod
  • Patent number: 9748861
    Abstract: A method for operating an N-level K-phase electrical power converter, wherein N is greater than or equal to 3 and K is greater than or equal to 1. The method includes: providing a plurality of N connection points that each correspond to a definable potential, wherein a first connection point corresponds to a first potential, a second connection point corresponds to a second potential, and at least one further connection point corresponds to a further potential which is lower than the first and greater than the second potential; providing a plurality of K output connections that are each selectively connected to a respective one of the connection points via at least one switching device; and having at least one current flowing into the at least one further connection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Martin Janssen, Niels Weitendorf
  • Patent number: 9709936
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling the fuser heater of an electrophotographic imaging device, including determining an initial temperature of the fuser heater; calculating a plurality of warm-up times for heating the fuser heater to a first predetermined temperature based on the initial temperature and a plurality of previously determined warm-up times taken over a plurality of line voltages and stored in memory of the electrophotographic device; determining an actual warm-up time for heating the fuser to the first predetermined temperature; selecting a first calculated warm-up time and a second calculated warm-up time from the plurality of calculated warm-up times; determining a first line voltage value and a second line voltage value corresponding to the first and second warm-up times, respectively, and calculating a current line voltage based on the actual warm-up time, the first and second calculated warm-up times, and the first and second line voltage values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Brennen Ball, Jichang Cao, Christopher Edward Rhoads
  • Patent number: 9712050
    Abstract: A power converter is disclosed. The power converter includes a resonant half-bridge having a first power switch and a second power switch for driving a resonant circuit of the resonant half-bridge. The power converter further includes a charge pump coupled to the resonant half-bridge, where the charge pump is configured to selectively provide a positive current from the resonant circuit to an output stage of the power converter, and to selectively shunt to ground a negative current from the resonant circuit, based on an output stage feedback signal. In one implementation, the resonant circuit includes a series L-C circuit. The power converter is configured to provide a constant output current and/or a constant output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Americas Corp.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Ribarich
  • Patent number: 9705423
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a phase circuit having an output port, and a high side circuit having a first input port, a high side switching device configured to receive power from a high side power bus and switch power to the output port based on a first input signal received at the first input port, a voltage regulating device having a regulator input port, and a bootstrap capacitor coupled between the voltage regulating device and the output port, wherein the regulating device is configured to receive power from the high side power bus and controllably supply power to the bootstrap capacitor based on a regulator input voltage received at the regulator input port, the regulator input voltage based on a voltage difference between a voltage present on the output port and a voltage present on the high side power bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Dragan Micic
  • Patent number: 9686840
    Abstract: A multi-mode control device is provided for controlling a load device. A high-power interface of the control device can be electrically coupled to a high-power module. An occupancy sensor can receive a first current from the high-power module via the high-power interface, and a trigger detection device can receive a second current that is less than the first current from a low-power module via a low-power interface. The processor can switch the control device from a high-power mode for powering the occupancy sensor to a low-power mode by causing a reduction in the current provided to the occupancy sensor and causing current to be provided to the trigger detection device. The trigger detection device can detect a trigger in the low-power mode. The processor can cause the control device to operate in the high-power mode based on the trigger's detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Haight Lydecker, Glen Andrew Kruse, Richard L. Westrick, Jr., Ryan Alexis Zaveruha
  • Patent number: 9680383
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a state selection circuit coupled to receive an input voltage sense signal representative of an input voltage, a switch current sense signal representative of a switch current of a power switch, and a feedback signal representative of an output quantity of the power converter. The state selection circuit is coupled to generate an input voltage signal in response to the input voltage sense signal, an input current signal in response to the switch current sense signal, and an input threshold signal in response to the feedback signal. A state machine circuit is coupled to the state selection circuit to generate a drive signal in response to the input voltage signal, the input current signal, and the input threshold signal to switch the power switch to control a transfer of energy from an input to an output of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mingming Mao, Ricardo Luis Janezic Pregitzer, Michael Yue Zhang, Tiziano Pastore
  • Patent number: 9674933
    Abstract: A two-wire lighting control device, may include a controllably conductive device, a signal generation circuit, and a filter circuit. The controllably conductive device may apply an AC line voltage to a load, being conductive for a first duration of time and non-conductive for a second duration of time within a half-cycle of the AC line voltage. The signal generation circuit may generate a non-zero-magnitude signal. And, the filter circuit may receive a signal from the controllably conductive device during the first duration of time and the non-zero-magnitude signal from the signal generation circuit during the second duration of time. The non-zero-magnitude signal may, in effect, fill-in or complement the signal from the controllably conductive device, and any delay variation as a function of the firing angle of the controllably conductive device through the filter circuit may be mitigated by the presence of the non-zero-magnitude signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: William Zotter, Bingrui Yang, Henry Kite