Using A Transformer Or Inductor As The Final Control Device Patents (Class 323/247)
  • Patent number: 7977917
    Abstract: An electric power supply control system has a battery, a vehicular alternator, large electric power systems, operation limitation target systems, and a battery condition management device. Each large electric power system generates a rush current when initiating its operation by electric power supplied. Each operation limitation target system is capable of limiting its operation for a demand during the operation of the large electric power systems. The large electric power systems and the operation limitation target systems change their operation conditions based on an allowable electric power (or an allowable electric current) supplied from the battery condition management device in order to maintain a terminal voltage of the battery which is not less than a limitation voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Tadatoshi Asada
  • Patent number: 7973520
    Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer type high-voltage power source apparatus to control an output voltage from a piezoelectric transformer to a load, and an image forming apparatus including the same, the piezoelectric transformer type high-voltage power source apparatus including: an output voltage detection unit to compare the output voltage with an output control voltage, and to output a digital value according to the comparison; and a driving control unit to control a driving frequency and a duty rate of the piezoelectric transformer according to the digital value. Accordingly, the piezoelectric transformer type high-voltage power source apparatus can stably perform frequency and duty rate control without experiencing an abnormal oscillation or uncontrollable state due to a manufacturing irregularity of particular components and/or a change in temperature, and a high voltage can be output within a short rise time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Kondo
  • Patent number: 7915987
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus that reduces an audible noise produced in a power supply. The apparatus includes: (1) a housing; (2) an inductor coil formed from a coil of wire enclosed in the housing; (3) a set of wires that are coupled from the inductor coil to the outside of the housing through corresponding apertures in the housing, comprising electrical leads for the inductor coil; and (4) a predetermined amount of adhesive in the apertures that bonds the wires to the housing to reduce an audible noise produced when the current through the inductor coil is cycled quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Dayu Qu
  • Publication number: 20100289463
    Abstract: A primary-side feedback control device for a power converter includes a control unit, a comparator and a sample-and-hold unit. The control unit is utilized for generating a pulse signal according to a feedback signal for controlling on and off states of a switching transistor of the power converter. The comparator is coupled to an auxiliary winding of a primary side of the power converter, and is utilized for generating at least one control signal according to a voltage on the auxiliary winding. The sample-and-hold unit is coupled to the auxiliary winding, the comparator and the control unit, and is utilized for generating the feedback signal according to the voltage on the auxiliary winding and the at least one control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Yen-Hui Wang, Chin-Yen Lin, Chia-Chieh Hung, Chi-Hao Wu
  • Patent number: 7816894
    Abstract: An AC voltage regulator able to provide a desired voltage to any type of a given load within a predetermined range without any output power interruptions during any transition time, without distortion of the AC sine wave and without high current circulating through the circuit components during the voltage switching. The voltage regulator uses a single regulator transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. The secondary winding of the regulator transformer is connected in series between a power source and the load, while the primary winding of the regulator transformer is connected with the power source so that the primary and secondary windings have opposite polarities. The position of a plurality of switches can be variably set by the control circuit to control current flow through the primary winding and to provide a normal mode, a step-down mode, or a step-up mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Electro-Chance, LLC
    Inventors: Lev Z. Feigin, Petr L. Kosoy, Dmitriy A. Klavsuts, Suleyman V. Levinzon
  • Patent number: 7768243
    Abstract: A switched-mode power converter, including, between a first end of a main inductive element and a switch, a two-value inductive element automatically switching between its two values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Francis Cuellar, Bertrand Rivet
  • Publication number: 20100188061
    Abstract: A synchronous buck converter operates in a PWM mode of operation and switches to light-load mode of operation under a light-load condition. When operating in the light-load mode, the synchronous buck converter transitions between a burst mode and an idle mode of operation. In the burst mode of operation, the converter operates with a fixed but increased duty ratio, with respect to the PWM mode of operation, that installs additional energy in an output capacitor. In the idle mode of operation, the high-side and low-side transistors are each turned off. To maximize energy savings and to quickly transition back to the PWM mode of operation if the load increases, a limit as to the number of allowed switching cycles when bursting is imposed and a minimum ratio of the number of clock cycles when idling to the number of switching cycles when bursting is set. Additionally, a comparator is provided to detect a sudden step-increase in the load to quickly switch the converter back to the PWM mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Fei Ma, Jin-Biao Huang, Brian Thomas Lynch
  • Patent number: 7755334
    Abstract: A voltage regulation device adapted for connection to a varying electrical supply and to regulate the voltage supplied to certain selected circuits whose loads benefit from voltage regulation. The device comprises a PWM or phase angle switched autotransformer which is sufficiently compact and lightweight to be incorporated into a standard electrical consumer unit which has separated circuits, ie, those whose loads benefit from voltage regulation and those whose loads do not, such that the former may be controlled by the device to operate at a constant and reduced voltage thus ensuring a reduction in energy consumption and the life enhancement of the appliances connected to the device. The operating temperature of the autotransformer is controlled by temporarily increasing the output voltage of the autotransformer in the event of overheating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Energetix Voltage Control Limited
    Inventors: Simon James Redford, Lee Juby, James William Derby, Stephen James Mangan
  • Publication number: 20100164443
    Abstract: An embodiment of a power-supply controller comprises a switching-control circuit, an error amplifier, and a signal generator. The switching-control circuit is operable to control a switch coupled to a primary winding of a transformer, and the error amplifier has a first input node operable to receive a feedback signal, a second input node operable to receive a comparison signal, and an output node operable to provide a control signal to the switching-control circuit. The signal generator is operable to generate either the feedback signal or the comparison signal in response to a compensation signal that is isolated from a secondary winding of the transformer and that is proportional to a load current through a conductor disposed between the secondary winding and a load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Salvatore TUMMINARO, Salvatore GIOMBANCO, Alfio PASQUA, Claudio ADRAGNA
  • Publication number: 20100052630
    Abstract: A transformer-based power conversion system includes a primary coil is provided in a current path that includes a single energy switch. An oscillator is coupled to a control input of the energy switch. The design conserves switch-based losses as compared to prior designs because a single switch is provided in a current path occupied by the primary coil. The design also provides improved conversion efficiency because parasitic capacitances associated with the energy switch cooperate with charge transfers generated by the oscillator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Baoxing CHEN
  • Publication number: 20100033143
    Abstract: A switching power converter includes an input for receiving an input voltage, an output for providing an output voltage, a controller, and a power circuit coupled between the input and the output and including at least one switch. The controller is configured to determine a duty cycle for the switch to regulate the output voltage and control the switch with a PWM drive signal having an on-time and an off-time. The PWM drive signal has a constant frequency and a duty cycle equal to the determined duty cycle when the determined duty cycle is greater than or equal to a minimum duty cycle. The PWM drive signal has a variable frequency and a duty cycle equal to the minimum duty cycle when the determined duty cycle is less than the minimum duty cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Arlaindo V. Asuncion, Evan M. Espina
  • Publication number: 20100019743
    Abstract: The present invention provides a DC-DC converter including a first series circuit connected to both ends of a first switch and formed of a winding of a first transformer, a first reactor, a first diode, and a smoothing capacitor, a second diode connected to a connection point of a primary winding of the first transformer, the winding of the first transformer and the first switch, and to one end of the smoothing capacitor, a second series circuit connected to both ends of a second switch and formed of a winding of a second transformer, a second reactor, a third diode, and the smoothing capacitor, a fourth diode connected to a connection point of a primary winding of the second transformer, the winding of the second transformer and the second switch, and to the one end of the smoothing capacitor, a third reactor connected to both ends of a series circuit of a secondary winding of the first transformer and a secondary winding of the second transformer, and a control circuit which alternately turns on the first s
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicants: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd., Shimane University
    Inventors: Hideki Asuke, Hideharu Takano, Namoru Tsuruya, Masashi Ochiai, Masayoshi Yamamoto, Takahiro Kawashima, Shigeyuki Funabiki
  • Patent number: 7629786
    Abstract: The invention is a harmonics reduction device for three-phase poly-wire power lines, which can more reliably eradiate harmonics current applied to an electric power system via a neutral line. The invention comprises an electric power system having three-phase poly-wire power lines in order to supply alternating-current (AC) power voltage to a load; a zigzag transformer in which windings connected with three-phase lines in the electric power system are wound through first and second legs, second and third legs, and third and first legs of a core having three legs, respectively, while varying direction of each magnetic flux, and an intermediate point of each winding is commonly connected with a neutral line of the electric power system and that of the load; and an open delta connection portion in which an winding connected with the neutral line of a load side is wound through the three legs so as to be connected with a neutral line of the electric power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Inventor: Sung Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 7547353
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pulse generating system for generating high voltage pulses to energize an electrostatic precipitator (10), the system including: a first power supply (1) and a second power supply (2), where said second power supply (2) is arranged to pre-charge said electrostatic precipitator (10) to a DC voltage; a storage capacitor (7) and a series inductance; a switching device (5) coupled in parallel with an anti-parallel rectifier device (6); and wherein the system is arranged to be coupled to the electrostatic precipitator. The invention relates to provide such a pulse generating system with enhanced efficiency compared to present pulse generating systems and with enhanced protection of the components of the system in case of sparks in the electrostatic precipitator (10). This is achieved, when the switching device (5) of the system has turn-off capability and when the system includes a clamping circuit (11-13; 60-67).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: F.L. Smidth Airtech A/S
    Inventors: Victor Reyes, Claus Taarning
  • Publication number: 20090140704
    Abstract: A method for the operation of a wind energy plant, with control of a reactive electric variable which is to be provided, wherein a desired value for the reactive electric variable is determined as follows: a first upper and/or a first lower limit value of the grid voltage is defined for the grid voltage, when the real value of the grid voltage exceeds the first upper limit value and/or the real value of the grid voltage falls below the first lower limit value, the desired value of the reactive electric variable is increased or diminished such that the deviation of the real value of the grid voltage from its desired value is counter-acted, wherein the desired value of the reactive electric variable is continuously increased or diminished further over the time, as long as the real value of the grid voltage exceeds the first upper limit value or falls below the first lower limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventors: Mark Jurkat, Kay Richter, Ralf Harder
  • Publication number: 20090128103
    Abstract: An AC high voltage power supply device includes a comparison circuit configured to compare a first signal of a sinusoidal waveform and a second signal of a triangular waveform; a switching amplifier circuit configured to perform a switching operation based on a comparison result signal output from the comparison circuit to perform signal amplification; a conversion circuit configured to convert a waveform of a switch signal output from the switching amplifier circuit into a sinusoidal waveform; a transformer configured to boost a voltage of a converted signal output from the conversion circuit; and a control circuit configured to perform feedback control on the first signal input to the comparison circuit based on a monitoring signal including an input signal or an output signal of the transformer, so that a peak level of the output signal of the transformer becomes a desired peak level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventor: Hiroo NODA
  • Patent number: 7535207
    Abstract: A converter having a tapped inductor to facilitate controlling operating characteristics of the converter. The converter may be configured as a boost converter with tapping of the inductor at the voltage output and the converter may be configured as a buck converter with tapping of the inductor at the voltage input. The converter may also be configured as a bi-direction dual voltage converter having capabilities to switch between boost and buck modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Yann Darroman
  • Publication number: 20090106564
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus that reduces an audible noise produced in a power supply. The apparatus includes: (1) a housing; (2) an inductor coil formed from a coil of wire enclosed in the housing; (3) a set of wires that are coupled from the inductor coil to the outside of the housing through corresponding apertures in the housing, comprising electrical leads for the inductor coil; and (4) a predetermined amount of adhesive in the apertures that bonds the wires to the housing to reduce an audible noise produced when the current through the inductor coil is cycled quickly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Dayu Qu
  • Publication number: 20090072798
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for applying high voltage with high frequency. The apparatus includes a power generator for generating electric power with predetermined frequency, a voltage transformer receiving the electric power generated by the power generator, amplifying voltage of the electric power received, and applying the amplified voltage to a load, and an impedance matcher connected between the power generator and the voltage transformer to match impedances of the power generator and the voltage transformer to thereby transmit the electric power to the voltage transformer. High voltage with high frequency is obtained by transmitting the electric power generated from the power generator to the load without reflecting loss while conducting an impedance matching, and amplifying the voltage applied to the load using the coupled inductor and LC resonance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeongje PARK, Kyungil CHO, Jaechan PARK, WANTAEK Han
  • Publication number: 20090066300
    Abstract: A power converter including a power train, a controller and a driver. In one embodiment, the power train includes a switch that conducts for a duty cycle and provides a regulated output characteristic for the power converter, and a micromagnetic device. The micromagnetic device includes a first conductive winding layer selectively formed above a first seed layer, and first and second magnetic core layers formed thereabove. The micromagnetic device also includes a second seed layer formed above the second magnetic core layer, and a second conductive winding layer formed above the second seed layer and in vias to the first conductive winding layer. The first and second conductive winding layers form a winding for the micromagnetic device. The controller provides a signal to control the duty cycle of the switch, and the driver provides a drive signal to the switch as a function of the signal from the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Ashraf W. Lotfi, Trifon M. Liakopoulos, Robert W. Filas, Amrit Panda
  • Publication number: 20090051334
    Abstract: A droop circuit of a DC-DC converter is provided, wherein the DC-DC converter includes an output inductor coupled between an output of the DC-DC converter and a phase node for providing an output voltage. A current sense device is coupled between the phase node and the output of the DC-DC converter, includes an inductor coupled to the phase node and senses a current from the phase node. A first resistor is coupled to the current sense device. An amplifier circuit includes an amplifier having an inverting input, a non-inverting input coupled to the first resistor and an output directly connected to the inverting input, and a second resistor coupled between the inverting input and the output of the DC-DC converter. The amplifier circuit provides a droop current according to the second resistor and a voltage difference between the non-inverting input and the output of the DC-DC converter, and the voltage difference is related to the current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventor: Hua-Chiang Huang
  • Patent number: 7495421
    Abstract: A multi-phase buck converter comprising a first switch set, a second switch set, a capacitor, a first power storing and coupling unit, and a second power storing and coupling unit is provided. The first and the second switch sets are for providing an input voltage and a low voltage. One end of the capacitor is coupled to the low voltage, and the other end generates an output voltage. The first and the second power storing and coupling units are respectively coupled between the capacitor and the first switch set and between the capacitor and the second switch set. The first power storing and coupling unit comprises a primary coil and a first inductance. The second power storing and coupling unit comprises a secondary coil and a second inductance. During a first, a second and a third period, the first inductance and the second inductance respectively store, release, and store power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Asustek Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Hsiang-Chung Weng, Sun-Chen Yang
  • Publication number: 20080309299
    Abstract: An embodiment of an inductor assembly includes a core, a first conductor, and a second conductor. The core includes first and second members, a first group of one or more forms extending between the members, a second group of one or more forms extending between the members, and an isolating region that magnetically isolates the first group of forms from the second group of forms. The first conductor is wound about a first one of the forms in the first group, and the second conductor is wound about a second one of the forms in the second group. Such an inductor assembly may allow both coupled and uncoupled inductors to be disposed on a common core, thus potentially reducing the cost and size of the inductors as compared to the coupled inductors being disposed on one core and the uncoupled inductors being disposed on another core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Jia WEI, Jason HOUSTON
  • Patent number: 7463500
    Abstract: An electrical DC-to-AC power conversion apparatus is disclosed that is primarily intended for use with solar photovoltaic sources in electric utility grid-interactive applications. The invention improves the conversion efficiency and lowers the cost of DC-to-AC inverters. The enabling technology is a novel inverter circuit topology, where throughput power, from DC source to AC utility, is processed a maximum of 1½ times instead of 2 times as in prior-art inverters. The AC inverter output configuration can be either single-phase, split-phase or poly-phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Xantrex Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rick West
  • Patent number: 7453239
    Abstract: A charging device that may perform charging with larger current is provided. The charging device comprises a switching element for increasing or decreasing charging power, a PWM controlling circuit for intermittently turning the switching element on or off, a current detecting circuit for detecting current flowing through the switching element, and a rectifying circuit for rectifying output voltage of the current detecting circuit in response to power supply voltage. The PWM controlling circuit has a limiter terminal for turning off the switching element when voltage equal to or above a determined value is input, and rectified voltage from the rectifying circuit is input to the limiter terminal. In this charging device, an amount of temperature increase of the switching element is suppressed so as to remain within a fixed range, and the charging power is not restricted unnecessarily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7449867
    Abstract: A multi-phase converter comprising 2N+1 inductors; and 2N+1 switching converters parallel connected and each including a switched node; wherein N is an even integer, a pair of said inductors are coupled and wound about a common core and each said coupled inductor is connected at one pole thereof to a respective switched node and at another pole thereof to an output node, and at least one of said inductors is uncoupled from the other inductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Wenkai Wu, Nai-chi Lee, George Schuellein
  • Publication number: 20080122414
    Abstract: The present invention relates to voltage stabilization of electrical power networks, and in particular to a method for voltage stabilization of an electrical power network system comprising a producing power network system side and a consuming power network side to maintain voltage, wherein the power transfer YLD, wherein YLD is power load impedance, is dynamically maintained below the loci for maximum power transfer, n2YLDZLN=1, wherein YLD is power load impedance, ZLN is transmission line impedance and n is transformer ratio, preferably YLD is maintained at a stable equilibrium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Stefan Solyom, Bo Lincoln, Anders Rantzer
  • Patent number: 7378828
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter suitable for multiple converter circuit topologies is disclosed. The DC-DC converter utilizes magnetic feedback of the output load current to provide broad inductance control of a magnetic element, while inhibiting saturation of the switched winding or windings of the magnetic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Randy L. Brandt
  • Publication number: 20070279035
    Abstract: An RF impedance-matching transformer for matching the output impedance of an RF amplifier to the discharge of a gas-discharge laser includes upper and lower dielectric plates arranged face-to-face and bonded together. A primary U-shaped strip winding is embedded in the bonded surface of one of the dielectric plates. A secondary strip-winding is formed on an exposed surface of the upper dielectric plates. A ground-plane electrode formed on an exposed surface of the lower dielectric plate. An electrical connector connects one end of the secondary strip-winding to the ground-plane electrode via a via-hole extending through the dielectric plates. The other end of the secondary strip-winding can be connected to the laser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: W. Shef Robotham, Frederick W. Hauer, Leon A. Newman
  • Publication number: 20070268007
    Abstract: An integrated tunable resonance circuit is provided for providing a high-frequency output signal with a frequency dependent on a control signal, comprising a parallel resonance circuit with a first inductive element and an output for providing the high-frequency output signal, a switching unit with a controlled path, and a control terminal for switching between states, whereby the switching unit is designed to exhibit a predominantly capacitive behavior in a first state and a predominantly resistive behavior in a second state, whereby the resonance circuit is designed to drive the control terminal of the switching unit as a function of the control signal. According to the invention, the resonance circuit has a second inductive element which can be mutually coupled to the first inductive element, whereby the controlled path is connected parallel to the second inductive element. The invention relates furthermore to a voltage-controlled oscillator and to an integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventor: Samir El Rai
  • Patent number: 7136724
    Abstract: The invention comprises an electric power distribution system for providing power to a plurality of loads. An energy reduction device receives high voltage electrical power from a utility. A processor controls three variable transformer windings to produce electrical power at three phases at three independent reduced voltages. The energy reduction device thereby controls the output voltage on each phase to provide an individualized regulated voltage for each phase. The regulated voltage provided includes a sufficient voltage required to power the loads connected to that phase, plus an additional voltage which compensates for the voltage drop caused by the length of wire run in that phase. The electrical distribution system eliminates the need for low voltage step-down transformers at the point of the load. The energy reduction device can regulate the voltage provided to lighting loads as a function of the time of day or the ambient light levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Electric City Corporation
    Inventor: Denis Enberg
  • Patent number: 6930472
    Abstract: A switching regulator circuit for supplying two input potentials to a passive device that is driven by a potential difference between the two input potentials irrespective of potential differences between the two input potentials and a ground potential, includes: a low-voltage input terminal for receiving a lower input potential that is lower one of the two input potentials; a coil provided between the low-voltage input terminal and the passive device in series; and a switching device, provided between the low-voltage input terminal and the passive device to be in series with the coil, for making the coil generate a potential higher than the lower input voltage by repeatedly switching whether or not a current is allowed to flow in the coil, so as to supply the generated potential to the passive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayasu Ito, Hitoshi Takeda, Kentaro Murakami
  • Patent number: 6917225
    Abstract: The driver circuit for driving a switching transistor comprises a driver transformer for driving the switching transistor and an output stage for driving the driver transformer, and an output of the driver circuit is used for providing also said switching voltage. The switching voltage is derived advantageously from the primary winding of the driver transformer. Preferably a terminal of the primary winding of the driver transformer is directly wired to the gate electrode of the MOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventors: Daniel Lopez, Jean-Paul Louvel
  • Patent number: 6882125
    Abstract: A motor controller includes a motor-position detector, a motor driver and a power cable having a pair of electric lines (two lines) which feeds power from the driver to the detector. The detector superimposes serial information about the motor-position to the power cable via windings of a transformer or a coupling capacitor. The serial information is obtained by converting parallel information about the motor-position. The serial information superimposed travels to the driver via the power cable. The driver receives the serial information via windings of the transformer or a coupling capacitor, and converts it to parallel information. The driver drives the motor according to this parallel information. The information necessary for driving the motor is superimposed to the power cable and transmitted through the power cable, so that a number of electric lines between the detector and the driver can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kameda, Hirokazu Yamasaki, Hiromi Tanoue, Taro Kishibe
  • Publication number: 20040263135
    Abstract: A converter includes a transformer circuit, a filter, and a controller. The transformer circuit is coupled to the filter, and the controller is coupled to the transformer circuit and the filter. The transformer circuit includes an input port and an autotransformer coupled to the input port. The converter receives an input signal at the input port and the filter generates an output signal at an output port. The controller receives the output signal from the filter and provides one or more control signals to the transformer circuit to control the output signal. A method includes receiving a first input signal at a transformer circuit including a first coil and a second coil, activating a first switch to serially connect the first coil to the second coil, activating a second switch to connect the second coil to a second input signal, deactivating the first switch and the second switch, and activating a third switch to connect the first switch to the second input signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: James S. Dinh, Robert D. Wickersham
  • Publication number: 20040245969
    Abstract: A power converter unit comprises a transformer (10) mounted on one side of a PCB (11), with the control circuitry on the other side of the PCB. The circuitry excludes any components which require scaling for different power ratings, or which are excessively radiation emitting or sensitive; such components must be added externally to the unit. The transformer is mounted with its aperture perpendicular to the PCB, so that the unit has a fixed footprint regardless of its rating; only its heights varies with rating. The transformer is wound with the high voltage/high frequency windings inside the other windings, which act as a shield for radiation from the former windings. The PCB also incorporates a Faraday shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventor: Joseph McClean
  • Publication number: 20040217743
    Abstract: A power supply controller has two control units for coupling to primary and secondary sides of controlled power supplies, the units being coupled via a transformer which couples signals between the units, a power supply voltage for the secondary-side unit being derived from signals coupled from the primary-side unit. Initially signals are coupled from the primary unit with an increasing duty cycle to charge a secondary-side power supply capacitor. Subsequently signals are coupled in signal frames in alternating directions between the units, each signal frame from each unit indicating whether or not signal frames are correctly received from the other control unit. The signal frames also provide for downloading information for the control units, and other status signals and commands and acknowledgements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: David Alan Brown, Mircea Cristian Boros
  • Patent number: 6798675
    Abstract: A resonant switching-type capacitive charging power conditioner circuit includes a trap switch assembly to prevent the energy initially delivered to the circuit by an electrical energy source, from returning to the source. Once trapped, all of the energy is transferred to a capacitive store over a number of cycles. The period for each cycle is a function of the state of charge of the capacitive store, and the period decreases for each successive cycle as the charge on the capacitive store increases to its final value. Switches are turned on and off in response to the absence of certain currents in the circuit, to match the decreasing period of each successive energy transfer cycle throughout the entire energy transfer process. This adaptive clocking prevents energy from returning to the energy source, and eliminates dead time for each cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: James P. O'Loughlin
  • Publication number: 20040174145
    Abstract: A rectifier transformer comprises two secondary windings, preferably with a single turn on each winding. The rectifier diodes form an integral part of each of the secondary windings. Thus, a compact arrangement is realised. In a high voltage application, the rectifier diodes comprise a plurality of relatively low voltage diodes in parallel to one another. The overall capacitance of the rectifier circuit is reduced by this arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Applicant: E2V Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Robert Richardson, Stephen Mark Iskander, Matthew Kevin Hicks
  • Patent number: 6788034
    Abstract: A method is specified for operating a transformer (1) from a drivable voltage source (2), in which the voltage source, (2) produces an output voltage (uA) for feeding active power and/or a reactive component via the transformer (1) into an electrical AC voltage supply network (3), and an output current (iA) from the voltage source (2) is monitored for a maximum permissible value (iAmax) in which the magnetic flux (&phgr;) of the transformer (1) is determined continuously, and, when the maximum permissible value (iAmax) of the output current (iA) is exceeded, the voltage source (2) is disconnected from the transformer (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Claes Hillberg, Peter Daehler
  • Publication number: 20040124814
    Abstract: A closing phase that makes smallest an energization flux error at a connection input point is calculated based upon a residual flux of the first closing phase and the preliminarily given pre-arc characteristic and closing time deviation characteristic of a three-phase circuit breaker, so that the calculated phase value is set as a target closing phase of the first closing phase. A closing phase that makes smallest an energization flux error in the case of 0 of the residual flux is calculated, so that the calculated phase value is set as a target closing phase of the rest two phases. A total time of time required from the reference point to the target closing phases of the rest two phases and a delay time corresponding to an integral multiple of a given cycle of the three-phase power supply is set as a target closing time of the rest two phases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tsutada, Takashi Hirai, Haruhiko Kohyama, Hiroki Ito
  • Publication number: 20040085050
    Abstract: A power converter module includes a power transformer, a first power switch, and an active snubber circuit for recovering surge energy. The power transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding adapted to be coupled electrically to a load. The primary winding has first and second terminals connected electrically and respectively to first and second nodes. The first power switch has a first switch terminal connected electrically to the second node, and a second switch terminal connected electrically to a third node. The first and third nodes are adapted to be coupled electrically to a power source. The active snubber circuit includes a snubber diode, a snubber capacitor, a snubber transformer, and a second power switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: POTRANS ELECTRICAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahito Jinno
  • Patent number: 6713974
    Abstract: A controller for reducing acoustic noise produced during use of a leading edge dimmer, includes a leading edge controller responsive to an input voltage fed thereto for producing a control signal upon detection of a leading edge, and a linear switch coupled to the leading edge controller and responsive to the control signal for linearly switching the input voltage so that a rate of rise of the leading edge is decreased. A trailing-edge controller may be coupled to a leading-trailing edge detector and responsive to detection of a trailing edge dimmer for disabling the leading edge controller and decreasing a rate of decline of the trailing edge of the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Lightech Electronic Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Joshua Patchornik, Shaul Barak
  • Patent number: 6703719
    Abstract: A microturbine power generating system and associated method for managing a battery source associated with a microturbine power generating system is disclosed. The system and methods enable charging the battery source from the utility grid when the turbine is not running and providing load support when the microturbine engine is unable to support a transient load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert W. McConnell
  • Publication number: 20040027100
    Abstract: A stabilizing DC current interface for an electrodeionization (EDI) water purifying module. Each EDI module comprises anionic/cationic membranes, a center pipe, nets/spacers in concentrate/dilute water chambers and an anode and cathode for coupling to the stabilizing DC current interface. Because a stabilized DC current is provided by the interface, the power to each EDI module is not influenced by water temperature, flow rate, water quality in the module, thereby providing a stabilized quality product water while saving energy. A plurality of EDI modules can be operated in electrical series using a DC current interface resulting in reduced DC power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: Zhejiang Omex Environmental Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Guorong Xu, Guolin Luo
  • Publication number: 20030201759
    Abstract: There is provided a coupling circuit for a full duplex modem having a transmitter and a receiver. The coupling circuit includes (a) a first transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, where the primary winding is coupled to the transmitter, (b) a second transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, where the primary winding of the second transformer is coupled to a communications line, and (c) a resistance between a terminal of the primary winding of the first transformer and a terminal of the primary winding of the second transformer. The secondary windings of the first and second transformers are connected in series, with opposing phase, and coupled to the receiver to minimize a level of a signal from the transmitter from reaching the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: Ambient Corporation
    Inventor: Yehuda Cern
  • Publication number: 20030173939
    Abstract: A method is specified for operating a transformer (1) from a drivable voltage source (2), in which the voltage source (2) produces an output voltage (uA) for feeding active power and/or a reactive component via the transformer (1) into an electrical AC voltage supply network (3), and an output current (iA) from the voltage source (2) is monitored for a maximum permissible value (iAmax), in which the magnetic flux (&phgr;) of the transformer (1) is determined continuously, and, when the maximum permissible value (iAmax) of the output current (iA) is exceeded, the voltage source (2) is disconnected from the transformer (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG,
    Inventors: Claes Hillberg, Peter Daehler
  • Patent number: 6606259
    Abstract: A power converter apparatus, such as a DC—DC converter, includes a switch that controls current transfer between an input port and an inductance. A control circuit is operative, while current is being transferred between the inductance and a clamping circuit, to control the switch responsive to a current in the inductance. For example, the control circuit may include a current sensor configured to be coupled in series with the inductance and a switch control circuit operative to control the first switch responsive to a current sense signal generated by the current sensor. The switch control circuit may be operative to prevent transition of the switch from the first state to the second state until the current sense signal meets a predetermined criterion, e.g., a signal state indicative of a desired current condition, such as a current approximating zero or a current reversal. Related operating methods are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Lambda Electonics, Inc.
    Inventor: Isaac Cohen
  • Patent number: 6604055
    Abstract: A system and method for AC line voltage analysis is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for AC line voltage analysis on an AC line includes a transformer that steps down the AC line voltage, a rectifier that rectifies the stepped down AC line current, a filter that filters the rectified AC line current, a voltage divider that reduces the AC line voltage; and an A/D converter that converts the reduced AC line voltage to digital bits. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for AC line voltage analysis of an AC line includes the steps of (1) calibrating equipment for measuring AC line voltage analysis, (2) adjusting for at least one load, (3) filtering an adjusted measurement; and (4) determining an actual line voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Henny Penny Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas A. Burkett, Tim A. Landwehr
  • Publication number: 20030107904
    Abstract: A converter circuit arrangement for increasing an alternating voltage is specified, which has a converter (2), which is designed as an inverter, a filter circuit (3) being connected to alternating voltage terminals (8.1, 8.2) of the converter (2) and the filter circuit (3) including at least one partial filter circuit (4). Furthermore, the partial filter circuit (4) is designed in such a way that a converter output current (IU) flowing in the partial filter circuit (4) is leading in time with respect to a partial filter output voltage (UF) present at load terminals (5, 6) of the partial filter circuit (4) and a converter output voltage (UU) present at the alternating voltage terminals (8.1, 8.2) is limited to a specifiable value (|UUb|).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Adrian Guggisberg, Jurgen Steinke