Switched (e.g., On-off Control) Patents (Class 323/271)
  • Patent number: 11967895
    Abstract: A system includes a first coil configured to be magnetically coupled to a second coil, a rectifier coupled to the first coil through a capacitor, a first power stage connected between an output of the rectifier and an output voltage node, and a second power stage coupled between the output voltage node and a battery, wherein the first power stage is configured to charge the battery, and the second power stage is configured to provide isolation between the first power stage and the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: NuVolta Technologies (Hefei) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zeng Li, Jinbiao Huang, Xintao Wang
  • Patent number: 11955574
    Abstract: A multi-level photovoltaic cell comprises a substrate layer and a plurality of photovoltaic cells positioned above the substrate layer. Each photovoltaic cell has a top contact layer and a bottom contact layer connected in series such that the top contact layer of the first photovoltaic cell is connected to the bottom contact layer of a next photovoltaic cell until the last photovoltaic cell is connected. A different voltage is output between the substrate layer and the top contact layer of each photovoltaic cell. Another multi-level photovoltaic cell comprises a substrate layer and a plurality of photovoltaic cells stacked vertically above the substrate layer. Each photovoltaic cell comprises an active layer separated from the next photovoltaic cell by an etch stop layer until a last photovoltaic cell is reached. A different voltage is output between the substrate layer and the active layer of each photovoltaic cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ning Li, Devendra Sadana, Ghavam G. Shahidi, Chitra K. Subramanian
  • Patent number: 11949332
    Abstract: A power converter for converting an input voltage at an input of the power converter into an output voltage at an output of the power converter may include a first power converter branch comprising a first capacitor, a first switch network, and a first inductor, the first switch network arranged to selectably couple the first capacitor between an input voltage, a first reference voltage, and a first terminal of the first inductor, wherein a second terminal of the first inductor is coupled to an output node; a second power converter branch comprising a second capacitor, a second switch network, and a second inductor, the second switch network arranged to selectably couple the second capacitor between the input voltage, a second reference voltage, and a first terminal of the second inductor, wherein a second terminal of the second inductor is coupled to the output node; and a third switch network between the first power converter branch and the second power converter branch, wherein the third switch network is
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic Inc.
    Inventor: Changjong Lim
  • Patent number: 11949328
    Abstract: A power factor correction converter that outputs a DC output voltage from an AC input voltage, includes two channels each including a high-side switch and a low-side switch connected in cascade between a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal of the power factor correction converter and with a node between the high-side switch and the low-side switch; an inductor connected to a first terminal of the AC input voltage and the first node; a gate driver connected to the second high-side switch and the second low-side switch; a bootstrap circuit connected to the second node and the gate driver; wherein the second node is connected to a second terminal of the AC input voltage; and the bootstrap circuit is pre-charged at beginnings of negative half-cycles of the AC input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Rubinic Jaksa, Anil Yaramasu, Bing Gong
  • Patent number: 11936284
    Abstract: A ripple voltage detector circuit comprises a pulse generator, a direct current-to-direct current (DC-DC) converter coupled to the pulse generator, and a first control loop coupled to the pulse generator and the DC-DC converter. The first control loop is configured to measure an output voltage of the DC-DC converter, determine an output ripple voltage of the output voltage, determine a ripple coefficient based on the output ripple voltage, determine a reference peak inductor current based on the ripple coefficient, and determine a peak value of an inductor current during a switching cycle, and transition a switching state of the DC-DC converter based on the reference peak inductor current and the peak value of the inductor current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Asif Qaiyum, Ruediger Kuhn, Martin Schneider
  • Patent number: 11923765
    Abstract: Circuits and methods for protecting a multi-level power converter using no more than two high-voltage FET switches while allowing all or most other power switches to be low-voltage FET switches. Some embodiments provide protective high-voltage top and bottom FETs designed to saturate before the remaining low-power FET switches saturate. Other embodiments may use only low-power FETs for the power switches but provide protective circuits configured to be in an always-ON (conducting) state when in normal power conversion operation, and to quickly switch to an OFF (non-conducting) state in the event of transients or a fault condition. Optionally, one or more of the protective circuits may be used in a controlled manner to limit or block current flow during certain types of fault conditions and/or to limit in-rush current during startup of a power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory Szczeszynski
  • Patent number: 11916475
    Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein may relate to semiconductor devices, and may more particularly relate to power semiconductor packages, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: PSEMI CORPORATION
    Inventor: David Giuliano
  • Patent number: 11909316
    Abstract: Circuits and methods for protecting the switches of charge pump-based power converters from damage if a VOUT short circuit event occurs and/or if VIN falls rapidly with respect to VX or VOUT. A general embodiment includes a VX Detection Block coupled to the core block of a power converter. The VX Detection Block is coupled to VX and to a control circuit that disables operations of an associated converter circuit upon detection of large, rapid falls in VX during the dead time between clock phase signals, thereby prevent damaging current spikes. Some embodiments include a VIN Detection Block configured to detect and prevent excessive in-rush current due to rapidly falling values of VIN to the power converter. The VIN Detection Block is coupled to VIN, and to VX or VOUT in some embodiments, and to a control circuit to that disables operation of an associated converter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventor: Antony Christopher Routledge
  • Patent number: 11886264
    Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus (USB)-Power Delivery (PD) integrated circuit (IC) controller is described. The controller includes: a driver circuit configured to control operation of a buck-boost converter electrically coupled to a USB voltage bus power line; a gate driver controller configured to control the driver circuit in a first mode, wherein changes in duty cycle are limited to a predetermined number of cycles in the first mode; a sense circuit configured to generate a sense signal proportional to current flowing in the USB voltage bus power line; and an analog detection circuit configured to detect whether a slew rate of the sense signal exceeds a reference slew rate. The gate driver controller is configured to override the limit placed on the changes in duty cycle in the first mode responsive to the analog detection circuit indicating that the slew rate of the sense signal exceeds the reference slew rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Ravi Konduru
  • Patent number: 11881525
    Abstract: Bi-directional trench power switches. At least one example is a semiconductor device comprising: an upper base region associated with a first side of a substrate of semiconductor material; an upper-CE trench defined on the first side, the upper-CE trench defines a proximal opening at the first side and a distal end within the substrate; an upper collector-emitter region disposed at the distal end of the upper-CE trench; a lower base region associated with a second side of substrate; and a lower collector-emitter region associated with the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: IDEAL POWER INC.
    Inventors: Jiankang Bu, Constantin Bulucea, Alireza Mojab, Jeffrey Knapp, Robert Daniel Brdar
  • Patent number: 11881861
    Abstract: Some examples relate to a system including a pulse modulation (PM) circuit having a PM input and a PM output. The system also includes a load circuit having a load circuit input, and an I/O pad coupling the PM output to the load circuit input. An asymmetry detection circuit has a first asymmetry detection (AD) input coupled to the PM output via a first feedback path, a second AD input coupled to an output node of the I/O pad via a second feedback path, and an AD output coupled to the PM input of the pulse modulation circuit via a control path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Sunanda Manjunath, Ketan Dewan, Juergen Schaefer
  • Patent number: 11876453
    Abstract: A switching converter circuit, which switches one terminal of an inductor to different voltages, includes a high side MOSFET, a low side MOSFET, and a driver circuit which includes a high side driver, a low side driver, and a dead time control circuit. According to an output current, The dead time control circuit adaptively delays a low side driving signal to generate a high side enable signal for enabling the high side driver to generate a high side driving signal according to a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal; and/or adaptively delays the high side driving signal to generate a low side enable signal for enabling the low side driver to generate the low side driving signal according to the PWM signal, so as to adaptively control a dead time in which the high side MOSFET and the low side MOSFET are both not conductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ting-Wei Liao, Chien-Yu Chen, Kun-Huang Yu, Chien-Wei Chiu, Ta-Yung Yang
  • Patent number: 11870332
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a power conversion circuit including input positive and negative terminals, output positive and negative terminals, an input inductor, two bridge arms, a transformer, an output capacitor and an auxiliary capacitor. The input and output negative terminals are connected. A first terminal of the input inductor is coupled to the input positive terminal. Each bridge arm includes three switches connected in series and two connection points between the switches. The winding of the transformer is coupled in series between the connection points of the two bridge arms, and two windings of the transformer are connected and form a connection point coupled to the output positive terminal. Two terminals of the output capacitor are electrically connected to the output positive and negative terminals respectively. Two terminals of the auxiliary capacitor are electrically connected to a second terminal of the input inductor and the output terminal respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Zhengyu Ye, Xueliang Chang, Shengli Lu
  • Patent number: 11863056
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to measure a load current provided to a load of a switching converter includes a pulse generation circuit configured to generate a control pulse based on a power switch driving signal of the switching converter, a reference current generation circuit configured to generate a reference current based on the control pulse, a clock generation circuit configured to generate a clock signal based on the control pulse and the reference current, and a clock counter configured to count the number of cycles of the clock signal during a switching period of the switching converter. The reference current generation circuit is configured to adjust the reference current to compensate for a leakage current generated in the clock generation circuit during the switching period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min Sang Park, Dongjin Keum, Byoungmook Kim
  • Patent number: 11855534
    Abstract: A power converter can include first, second, third, and fourth power switches, and a driver for operating the drive switches to modify an input voltage. An AC coupling capacitor can be coupled between the first and fourth power switches. Bootstrap capacitors can be used for driving the first and second power switches, which can be high-side switches. In some embodiments, a current sensing circuit can be used to measure current through the third and/or fourth power switches and for determining the current through the power converter. In some embodiments, the power converter can monitor the voltage across the AC coupling capacitor and can determine the current through the power converter based on the monitored voltages. In some embodiments, the AC coupling capacitor can be pre-charged before the power converter begins normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: FARADAY SEMI, INC.
    Inventors: Seungbeom Kevin Kim, Jack Walter Cornish, III, Saurabh Anil Jayawant, Parviz Parto
  • Patent number: 11855541
    Abstract: A plurality of power conversion units each include an inductor, a switching circuit, and a PWM control IC. An MPU outputs control signals to the plurality of power conversion units. Output parts of the plurality of power conversion units are connected to an output terminal in a parallel manner. Operating number signal generating circuits of feedback signal generating circuits generate an operating number signal Sop on the basis of individual current signals based on inductor currents in the plurality of power conversion units, and output the operating number signal to the MPU. The MPU sets operations of the plurality of power conversion units on the basis of the operating number signal, and outputs the control signals including the settings of the operations of the power conversion units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norikazu Sakamoto, Tatsuya Hosotani
  • Patent number: 11831230
    Abstract: A power supply includes: a converter circuit including boost circuits, the converter circuit boosting a voltage output from a power source; a current detector that detects a first current flowing between the power source and the converter circuit; current detectors that each detect a second current, the second current being a sum current of currents flowing in switching elements of the boost circuits; and overcurrent determiners that determine whether the second currents are overcurrent on the basis of detection values of the second currents. When a result of the determination made by corresponding one of the overcurrent determiners indicates overcurrent, the boost circuits stop operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Ichiki, Yuya Kondo, Koichi Arisawa, Kenji Iwazaki
  • Patent number: 11803901
    Abstract: A method and system for providing secure data communication between two or more user terminals in a communication network is proposed. The method may include receiving, from a first user terminal, a first instruction set configured to request that a private account be converted into a group account, the private account owned by a user of the first user terminal. The method may also include generating the group account jointly owned by at least the user of the first user terminal and a user of a second user terminal. The method may also include controlling a first database to store a second information set relating to the group account, and generating a second virtual database different from the first database. The method may also include copying the second information set stored in the first database and recording the copied second information set in the second virtual database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Kakaobank Corp.
    Inventors: Byeoung Su Lee, Hyung Keun Song, Jin Woo Kim, Eun Hyi Kho, Jung Hee Ko, Jong Hwan Oh, Geun Won Mo, Sung Jun Kim, Jong Sun Yoo, Yong Jun Kim, Tae Wan Kim, Seon Beom Lee, Jin Han
  • Patent number: 11803900
    Abstract: A user terminal including a graphical user interface (GUI) for providing secure data communication with a server in a communication network is proposed. The user terminal may include a GUI configured to receive one or more user inputs and display data received from the server. The GUI may include a first screen configured to display a first instruction set for converting a private account to a group account and a second screen configured to display a group account information set received from the server. The user terminal may cause the server to generate the group account, control a first database of the server to store a second information set relating to the group account, generate a second virtual database of the server different from the first database, and copy the second information set stored in the first database and record the copied second information set in the second virtual database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Kakaobank Corp.
    Inventors: Byeoung Su Lee, Hyung Keun Song, Jin Woo Kim, Eun Hyi Kho, Jung Hee Ko, Jong Hwan Oh, Geun Won Mo, Sung Jun Kim, Jong Sun Yoo, Yong Jun Kim, Tae Wan Kim, Seon Beom Lee, Jin Han
  • Patent number: 11791733
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a control method, in which charge control is combined with input voltage feedforward control and output current feedforward control. It can be shown that the combination of the charge control with the feedforward control performs better than the combination of the direct frequency control (DFC) with the feedforward control. In particular, the combination of the charge control with the feedforward control has much better load transient response with respect to the load transient response of the combined direct frequency control and feedforward control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Yuri Panov, Peter Mantovanelli Barbosa, Yihua Chang, Kai Dong
  • Patent number: 11777405
    Abstract: A power converter, a boost off time adaptive adjustment unit and a boost cycle short circuit protection module for controlling an off time of a boost cycle of the power converter. The boost off time adaptive adjustment unit is adapted to generate an off time control signal based at least on an input voltage and an output voltage of the power converter to regulate the off time of the boost cycle to change in an opposite direction to the output voltage when the power converter is operating normally during the boost cycle, and to regulate the off time of the boost cycle to change in a same direction as the output voltage when a short-circuit fault occurs during the power converter operating in the boost cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jian Zhang
  • Patent number: 11764737
    Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) circuit and related power amplifier apparatus is provided. An ET power amplifier apparatus includes an ET circuit and a number of amplifier circuits. The ET circuit is configured to provide a number of ET modulated voltages to the amplifier circuits for amplifying concurrently a number of radio frequency (RF) signals. The ET circuit includes a target voltage circuit for generating a number of ET target voltages adapted to respective power levels of the RF signals and/or respective impedances seen by the amplifier circuits, a supply voltage circuit for generating a number of constant voltages, and an ET voltage circuit for generating the ET modulated voltages based on the ET target voltages and a selected one of the constant voltages. By employing a single ET circuit, it may be possible to reduce the footprint and improve heat dissipation of the ET power amplifier apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventor: Nadim Khlat
  • Patent number: 11750112
    Abstract: To achieve high density integration of components while securing an insulation distance between a bootstrap capacitor and an intelligent power module. In a printed wiring board, a region where a capacitor is mounted is located in a region where an intelligent power module is mounted. Therefore, the capacitor mounted on the printed wiring board is placed between the printed wiring board and the intelligent power module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahide Fujiwara, Nobuyasu Hiraoka, Keito Kotera, Taku Itou, Masaki Kouno, Reiji Kawashima
  • Patent number: 11742756
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bidirectional hybrid power converter that may include an input circuit consisting of an input power supply and input capacitor, a plurality of switches connected to each other, to input power supply to a set of passive electronic components, to ground and to an output circuit comprising one or more output terminals, each consisting of an output capacitance. The plurality of switches is connected directly or through passive electronic components in an arrangement to obtain a plurality of power converter networks for battery charging as well as other applications by reuse of a set of plurality of switches. The input power supply and the output load are referred to based on the direction of the power conversion flow, forward or reverse. The first terminal can be connected to both a power source as an input and load as an output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SILICONCH SYSTEMS PVT LTD
    Inventors: Kaustubh Kumar, Burle Naga Satyanarayana, Rakesh Kumar Polasa, Satish Anand Verkila
  • Patent number: 11736011
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate generally to power controllers, and more particularly to synthetic current hysteretic control of a buck-boost DC-DC controller. In one or more embodiments, a controller includes PFM-PWM and Buck-Boost transitions with minimal circuitry and power consumption. In these and other embodiments, a window comparator structure is provided that is capable of generating control signals for use in buck, boost and buck-boost modes of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.
    Inventor: Gwilym Francis Luff
  • Patent number: 11728745
    Abstract: An electronic circuit has an output node that outputs a DC signal indicating a temporal change rate of a voltage of a measurement target node, a first capacitor and a first resistor that are connected in series between the measurement target node and a first reference voltage node, a second capacitor that is connected between the output node and a second reference voltage node, a first switch that switches whether or not to short-circuit the first reference voltage node and the output node, and a rectifier circuit that flows a current to a connection node between the first capacitor and the first resistor from the output node, and cuts off a current to the output node from the connection node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kentaro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11705803
    Abstract: A gate driver is configured to drive a normally-on device and a normally-off device coupled in series. The gate driver controls the normally-on device in response to a PWM signal, and to control a normally-off device to maintain ON in normal operations. If an under voltage condition of a negative power supply of a first driver used to drive the normally-on device, or a positive power supply of a second driver used to drive the normally-off device, or an input supply voltage is detected, the normally-off device is controlled to be OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Di Han, Jian Jiang
  • Patent number: 11689105
    Abstract: A multi-mode converter using iterative average current mode pulse width modulation (PWM) control is provided. The converter may include a current sense amplifier configured to output a current sense signal over a present switching cycle based on an inductor current through an inductor, a voltage error amplifier configured to output an error voltage based on a difference between a reference voltage and an output voltage, and a PWM controller. The PWM controller may include an error voltage modifier circuit configured to selectively output the error voltage or a modified error voltage based on a mode signal, and an iterative average current control circuit configured to generate a PWM signal based on the output from the error voltage modifier circuit, the current sense signal over the present switching cycle and a current sense signal over a previous switching cycle that precedes the present switching cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventor: Simon Krugly
  • Patent number: 11680964
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a current detecting circuit includes: a normally-ON type first switching element that includes a drain, a source, and a gate; a normally-OFF type second switching element including a drain that is connected to the source of the first switching element, a source that is connected to the gate of the first switching element, and a gate; and a differential amplification circuit that outputs a voltage according to a voltage between the drain and the source of the second switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideaki Majima
  • Patent number: 11652412
    Abstract: A circuit for modulating a control signal, an inverter and a system for controlling a photovoltaic string. The circuit is based on a DC/DC boost circuit. The DC/DC boost circuit includes a controllable switch circuit, via which a second capacitor charges a first capacitor in the DC/DC boost circuit. A switch state of a first controllable switch in the DC/DC boost circuit is controlled when a voltage of the first capacitor is greater than or equal to a first voltage threshold, so that the first capacitor generates a control signal with a predetermined characteristic waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SUNGROW RENEWABLES DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zongjun Yang, Xiaoguang Li
  • Patent number: 11644878
    Abstract: A discrete VRM card comprises a set of VRM controllers. The set of VRM controllers comprises a VRM controller with two feedback loops. The VRM card comprises a power stage and a power-stage critical-signal multiplexer. The output of the power-stage critical-signal multiplexer determines a feedback loop with which the power stage communicates. The VRM card also comprises a configuration selector. The configuration selector determines a feedback-loop assignment for the power-stage critical-signal multiplexer and provides VRM instructions to the VRM controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Justin Henspeter, Michael Lee Miller, Jordan Keuseman
  • Patent number: 11637495
    Abstract: A voltage converter includes an input voltage line; an inductor coupled to the input voltage line; transistors coupled to the inductor; an output voltage line coupled to at least one of the transistors; a current sensor coupled to at least one of the input voltage line, the inductor, or the output voltage line; and a comparator coupled between the current sensor and the transistors. A DC-DC converter may include a voltage converter having an inductor and a plurality of transistors and configured to convert an input voltage into a power voltage and output the power voltage to an output terminal, an input current sensor configured to sense the input current of the converter, and a controller configured to change the slew rate of an inductor voltage in response to the input current of the converter and a preset reference current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dong Kwan Han
  • Patent number: 11606031
    Abstract: Power supply circuit having low quiescent current for a bypass mode. One example power supply circuit generally includes a transistor; a switching node coupled to a source of the transistor; a power supply rail; a capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the power supply rail and having a second terminal coupled to the switching node; a gate driver having an output coupled to a gate of the transistor, having a first power input coupled to the power supply rail, and having a second power input coupled to the switching node; logic having a first input coupled to the first terminal of the capacitor, having a second input coupled to the second terminal of the capacitor, and having a first output; and a pullup circuit having a control input coupled to a second output of the logic and having an output coupled to the gate of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Hector Ivan Oporta, Daragh MacGabhann, Chunping Song, Yi Wang, Ji Hoon Hyun
  • Patent number: 11594960
    Abstract: A controller includes a phase frequency detection circuit which has a first input coupled to receive a reference clock input, a second input coupled to receive a high-side active output, and an output configured to provide a PFD output. The controller includes a control loop filter which has a first input coupled to receive a slew rate input, a second input coupled to receive the PFD output, and an output configured to provide a high-side length output. The controller includes a pulse generation circuit which has a first input coupled to receive the high-side active output, a second input coupled to receive the high-side length output, and an output configured to provide a fine pulse output. The controller includes a latch configured to provide the high-side active output responsive to a comparison output and the fine pulse output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Janne Matias Pahkala, Juha Olavi Hauru
  • Patent number: 11588391
    Abstract: A power conversion structure, a power conversion system, a power conversion method, an electronic device including the power conversion structure, and a chip unit are provided. By connecting one switched capacitor series branch between a third terminal of a first switch series branch and a ground terminal, when the power conversion structure needs to operate in a switched capacitor converter mode, a direct current part of a current output from the third terminal of the first switch series branch flows to an inductor, and only an alternating current component flows through an on-state first switch, such that the on-state loss of the first switch can be greatly reduced, and the efficiency of the power conversion structure can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: NuVolta Technologies (Hefei) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng Liu, Fuchun Zhan
  • Patent number: 11579646
    Abstract: A power management circuit for fast average power tracking (APT) voltage switching is provided. The power management circuit includes a primary voltage circuit configured to generate an APT voltage based on an APT target voltage. However, the primary voltage circuit may be inherently slow in ramping up the APT voltage to the APT target voltage. As such, a secondary voltage circuit is provided in the power management circuit to help drive the APT voltage to a desired level by a defined temporal limit. Once the APT voltage reaches the desired level, the secondary voltage circuit will automatically shut off, while the primary voltage circuit continues operating at a selected duty cycle to maintain the APT voltage at the APT target voltage. By utilizing the secondary voltage circuit to quickly drive up the APT voltage, the power management circuit is capable of supporting dynamic power control under stringent switching delay budget.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
  • Patent number: 11569730
    Abstract: A power supply device includes a pulse frequency modulation controller circuitry and a cycle controller circuitry. The pulse frequency modulation controller circuitry is configured to adjust a transiting speed of a first signal according to at least one control bit, and to compare the first signal with a first reference voltage to generate a second signal, and to generate a driving signal to a power converter circuit according to an output voltage, a second reference voltage, and the second signal, in which the power converter circuit is configured to generate the output voltage according to the driving signal. The cycle controller circuitry is configured to detect a frequency of the driving signal according to a clock signal having a predetermined frequency, in which the predetermined frequency is set based on a frequency range capable of being heard by humans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shih-Cheng Wang, Hung-Wan Liu, Shih-Chieh Chen, Chun-Fu Chang, Liang-Hui Li
  • Patent number: 11563378
    Abstract: A converter operable to convert an input voltage at an input node to an output voltage at an output node coupled to a load by switching on and off a transistor at a switching frequency, the converter comprising: an error amplifier circuit having a first input coupled to a reference voltage, a second input coupled to the output node through a resistive divider, a first output operable to output a control current and a second output operable to output a current equivalent to the control current; a peak current comparator circuit having a first input coupled to the second output of the error amplifier circuit, a second input and an output, the second input is coupled to the input node through an inductor; an off-time timer circuit having an input coupled to the first output of the error amplifier circuit and an output, the off-time timer circuit operable to set the switching frequency based on the control current; and a control circuit having a first input coupled to the output of the peak current comparator cir
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Julian Becker, Christian Harder, Eduardas Jodka, Stefan Dietrich, Puneet Sareen
  • Patent number: 11552567
    Abstract: A single-inductor multiple output (SIMO) switched-power DC-DC converter for a class-D amplifier provides outputs that are symmetric about a common-mode input voltage of the amplifier, while remaining asymmetric about a return terminal of the amplifier and switching converter. The DC-DC converter includes an inductive element, a switching circuit that energizes the inductive element from an input source, and a control circuit that controls the switching circuit. The control circuit may have multiple switching modes, and in one of the multiple switching modes, the switching circuit may couple the inductive element between outputs of the converter so that stored energy produces a differential change between the voltages of the outputs. The control circuit may implement a first control loop that maintains a common mode voltage of the pair of outputs at a predetermined voltage independent of the individual voltages of the pair of outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: CIRRUS LOGIC, INC
    Inventors: Xin Zhao, Jun Yan, Xiaofan Fei, Mark May, John L. Melanson
  • Patent number: 11549972
    Abstract: A voltage detection circuit including a voltage input terminal, a voltage dividing circuit, a voltage comparison circuit, an output terminal, a detection voltage adjustment terminal, a voltage-current conversion circuit, and a constant current source. A voltage to be monitored is input to the voltage input terminal. The voltage dividing circuit includes series resistors between the voltage input terminal and a constant voltage terminal. The voltage comparison circuit compares a voltage divided by the voltage dividing circuit with a predetermined voltage. The comparison result is output from the output terminal. An external resistor is connected to the detection voltage adjustment terminal. The voltage-current conversion circuit is provided between the detection voltage adjustment terminal and the voltage dividing circuit. The constant current source is connected between an internal power supply voltage terminal and the detection voltage adjustment terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Tabuchi, Masaru Hirai, Tomiyuki Nagai, Kenya Tokuda
  • Patent number: 11527878
    Abstract: A system including an arc flash sensor that detects an arc flash event and an arc flash mitigation device in communication with the sensor. The mitigation device includes a path of least resistance having a path input and a path output. The arc flash sensor is located downstream the output. The mitigation device includes an electro-mechanical switch between the input and the output and an actuator. The mitigation device also includes a bypass power switch device that includes a solid-state circuit interrupter and that conduct current between the input and the output in response to an open-circuit condition of the switch. A system controller is provided to generate a trigger to activate the actuator to generate the open-circuit condition of the switch, which causes the power switch device to interrupt a fault current associated with a fault event in response to detection of the arc flash event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Brian E. Carlson, Brooke E. Lang, Robert P. Griffin
  • Patent number: 11527957
    Abstract: A mode-transition architecture for USB Type-C controllers is described herein. In an example embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) controller includes controller includes a controller coupled to a slope compensation circuit, the controller to cause the slope compensation circuit to apply a first slope compensation to the input current in a first mode in which the buck-boost converter is operating in a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). The controller detects a transition of the buck-boost converter from a first mode having a first duty cycle to a second mode and causes the slope compensation circuit to apply a second slope compensation to the input current. The second slope compensation starts at a maximum offset of the first slope compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Rajesh Karri, Arun Khamesra, Pulkit Shah, Hariom Rai
  • Patent number: 11522485
    Abstract: A three-phase motor driving circuit and a three-phase motor driving method are provided. The three-phase motor driving circuit includes an inverter circuit, a control circuit, a turn-off module, a turn-off confirmation module, and a turn-on logic unit. The inverter circuit includes a plurality of phase circuits, each including an upper bridge switch and a lower bridge switch. The control circuit operates in a feedback mode to output a feedback start signal. The turn-off module includes a feedback detection unit, a voltage adjusting unit, and a turn-off logic unit. The feedback detection unit detects an output current of a designated phase circuit, and if the output current flows out, a voltage regulation signal is output until the output current is 0, and a lower bridge turn-off signal is output. The voltage adjusting unit adjusts the voltage of the output node to be close to a predetermined voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kun-Min Chen
  • Patent number: 11522457
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a buck-boost converter comprising a buck portion and a boost portion connected in cascade, and a controller comprising a first timer and a second timer, wherein the first timer is configured to determine a turn-on time of a high-side switch of the buck portion, and wherein the first timer determines the turn-on time of the high-side switch of the buck portion based on a comparison between a first signal and a second signal, and wherein the first signal is proportional to an output voltage of the buck-boost converter and the second signal is generated based on a signal proportional to an input voltage of the buck-boost converter, and the second timer is configured to determine a turn-on time of a low-side switch of the boost portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: M3 Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Yang, Xiaoyu Xi, David Meng
  • Patent number: 11522337
    Abstract: A driver circuit includes: a current-controlling switching element electrically connected to a light emitting element; a differential amplifier circuit including: an output terminal electrically connected to the current-controlling switching element, a first input terminal configured to receive a reference signal as a reference for radiating light with a desired intensity from the light emitting element, and a second input terminal configured to receive a detection signal corresponding to a detection result of a current flowing in the light emitting element, wherein the differential amplifier circuit is configured to control the current flowing in the light emitting element and the current-controlling switching element based on a voltage of the first input terminal and a voltage of the second input terminal; and an adjustment part configured to adjust an overshoot amount of a rising edge of the current flowing in the light emitting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideki Kondo
  • Patent number: 11510285
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a heating element (210), in particular in a food processor (1) for the at least partially automatic preparation of foodstuffs, wherein the following steps are performed: a) detecting an electrical resistance of the heating element (210) such that at least one resistance value is determined, b) performing a heating operation on the heating element (210) based on the at least one determined resistance value to perform the heating operation depending on a temperature of the heating element (210).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Spitthöver, Torsten Lang
  • Patent number: 11502594
    Abstract: A switched-mode power converter apparatus includes a switching converter to receive an input voltage, to convert the input voltage to an output voltage, and to transmit the output voltage to an output node. The apparatus also includes a ripple attenuation circuit coupled to the output node and a voltage source. The voltage source is adjusted to generate a ripple attenuation signal by the ripple attenuation circuit at the output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Michael Gregory Angell, Eric A. Sagen
  • Patent number: 11489457
    Abstract: A semiconductor module may include a plurality of semiconductor elements; and a first power terminal, a second power terminal and a third power terminal electrically connected to the plurality of semiconductor elements. The plurality of semiconductor elements may include at least one upper arm switching element electrically connected between the first power terminal and the second power terminal; and at least one lower arm switching element electrically connected between the second power terminal and the third power terminal. A number of the at least one upper arm switching element may be different from a number of the at least one lower arm switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shingo Tsuchimochi, Seita Iwahashi
  • Patent number: 11469673
    Abstract: A power conversion unit may include two or more power modules for providing high-voltage direct current power to electrical loads, such as one or more propulsion motors aboard an aerial vehicle. Each of the power modules may be controlled by hysteresis, and may include one or more pairs of transistors that are switched by a gate driver with respect to differences between a reference current and a sensed current passing through a boost inductor. The number, size and shape of the power modules may be selected to accommodate the electrical loads, and may be switched on or off, as necessary. The power conversion unit may feature at least one more power module than is required to meet all anticipated electrical loads, thereby ensuring that the power conversion unit may continue to provide power even in the event that one of the power modules experiences a fault of any kind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Joshua White Traube
  • Patent number: 11456697
    Abstract: A solar pumping system and a method for operating solar pumping system, the system comprises plurality of solar modules, at least one VFD comprising at least one convertor, at least one switching device connected to the solar module and the VFD and at least one AC motor connected to the output supply of the VFD. The switching device controls the supply of DC power transmitted to the VFD based on the input received from a controller of the VFD by varying the output voltage in accordance with the load requirement of the AC motor. The method comprising the steps of controlling the supply of voltage output of solar modules through the switching device as to provide adequate power to the solar pump based on the requirement of the motor in order to avoid tripping by increasing or decreasing the voltage output of the solar modules to a predetermined fraction of voltage for a predetermined fraction of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED
    Inventors: Bhupinder Kumar Bhayana, Sumit Aggarwal