Digitally Controlled Patents (Class 323/283)
  • Patent number: 11012119
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a near field communication, NFC, arrangement (100) which comprises an antenna (10) and a controller (20), wherein the controller (20) is connected to the antenna (10) for receiving and/or transmitting data and controlling the operation of the NFC arrangement (100). The NFC arrangement (100) further comprises a booster (30) operatively connected to the antenna (10), and an activation circuit (40) connected to the NFC arrangement (100), wherein the activation circuit (40) is configured to detect an electromagnetic field and in response thereto power up and activate the NFC arrangement (100). In one embodiment, the activation circuit (40) is configured to generate said enabling signal by converting said electromagnetic field into said enabling signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: FESTINA LOTUS SA
    Inventors: Jian Liu, Daniel Nilsson
  • Patent number: 10992230
    Abstract: A multi-phase switching mode power supply (SMPS) with adaptive synchronous drivers is provided. A pulse width modulator creates n periodic interleaved modulation pulses having a pulse width responsive to a load voltage. Modulation pulses are converted into selectively enabled driver pulses having a duty cycle responsive to the modulation pulse. The polarity of the voltage is detected at a completion of each driver pulse duty cycle. A comparator signal is supplied in response to comparing detected voltages to a reference voltage, and in turn, driver gating signals are supplied to selectively enable driver pulses in response to analyzing comparator signals. The comparator signals are summed and integrated. Driver pulses are enabled or disabled in response to the integrated sum. Energy is stored from each driver pulse into a corresponding inductor, and supplied as current to a load, creating the load voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: WAVIOUS, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth Arcudia
  • Patent number: 10983545
    Abstract: A voltage control circuit for controlling an operating voltage of a target circuit, including: a speed detecting circuit, configured to detect an operating speed of the target circuit; and a control circuit, coupled to the speed detecting circuit, configured to generate a voltage control signal according to a difference between the operating speed and a predetermined speed, to a power supply circuit which generates the operating voltage, to control the operating voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Chung-Chang Lin
  • Patent number: 10957692
    Abstract: A transient voltage suppression (TVS) device, may include: a substrate base formed in a substrate, the substrate base comprising a semiconductor of a first conductivity type; and an epitaxial layer, disposed on the substrate base, on a first side of the substrate, and comprising a semiconductor of a second conductivity type. The epitaxial layer may include: a first portion, the first portion having a first layer thickness; and a second portion, the second portion having a second layer thickness, less than the first layer thickness, wherein the first portion and the second portion are disposed on a first side of the substrate, and wherein the first portion is electrically isolated from the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventor: James Allan Peters
  • Patent number: 10951116
    Abstract: A voltage regulator has a switching circuit and a control circuit. The switching circuit provides an output voltage and an output current. The control circuit provides a switching control signal to the switching circuit to adjust the output voltage, such that the output voltage decreases with a first slope as the output current increases when the output current is less than a predetermined current, the output voltage decreases with a second slope as the output current increases when the output current is larger than the predetermined current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chao Liu, Daocheng Huang, Cong Deng
  • Patent number: 10924020
    Abstract: The present invention provides a prestart control circuit that measures a reflected voltage on the primary side of a switching power converter. The prestart control circuit pulses the synchronous rectifier switch OPEN and CLOSED, which allows a measurement of the reflected voltage on the primary side of the switching power converter. The reflected voltage is proportionate to the output voltage of the switching power converter. The prestart control circuit uses the reflected voltage to establish the initial duty cycle of the switching power converter. The switching power converter may be any converter that includes a synchronous rectifier, such as a flyback converter or a forward converter, in a single-ended, double-ended and/or multi-phased configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Marty Perry, Robert J. Schaller
  • Patent number: 10910136
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an output driving circuit configured to output an output current to an output terminal; a detection resistor connected between the output terminal and the output driving circuit; an amplification unit configured to output an analog detection signal generated by amplifying a voltage between both ends of the detection resistor; a current generation circuit configured to output a reference current; a reference resistor connected between the current generation circuit and a ground and configured to output a reference voltage according to the reference current; an A/D converter configured to convert the analog detection signal into a digital detection signal using the reference voltage as a reference; and a control circuit configured to control the output current output from the output driving circuit according to the digital detection signal. The detection resistor has a same temperature characteristics as the reference resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Kondo, Kazuaki Kubo, Noriyuki Itano
  • Patent number: 10910949
    Abstract: A switching regulator including a first converting stage and a second converting stage may be provided. The first converting stage may include a first output capacitor connected between a first output node and ground, the first converting stage configured to receive a first input voltage and provide an output voltage by adjusting a level of the output voltage based on a first dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) rate relating to a first load condition of a processing circuit. The second converting stage may include a second output capacitor connected between a second output node and the ground, the second converting stage configured to receive a second input voltage and provide the output voltage by adjusting the level of the output voltage based on a second DVS rate relating to a second load condition of the processing circuit, which is heavier than the first load condition of the processing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nomiyama Takahiro, Ik-hwan Kim, Ji-seon Paek
  • Patent number: 10903022
    Abstract: A low-voltage circuit breaker device includes: a first outer conductor line and at least one first bypass line, the first outer conductor line being arranged in the circuit in parallel to the at least one first bypass line; a first mechanical bypass switch arranged in the first outer conductor line; first semiconductor circuit assembly connected in parallel to the first bypass switch; a second semiconductor circuit assembly arranged in the circuit in series with the first bypass switch and parallel to the first semiconductor circuit assembly in the first outer conductor line; a first current measuring assembly, which is connected to a first electronic control unit, arranged in the first outer conductor line, the first electronic control unit being arranged to actuate the first bypass switch, the first semiconductor circuit assembly, and the second semiconductor circuit assembly; and a second mechanical bypass switch arranged in the first bypass line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Kenan Askan, Michael Bartonek
  • Patent number: 10897202
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a power source circuit includes a switching element that is connected between an input terminal and an output terminal, a driving circuit that supplies a PWM driving signal to the switching element, a first control path that integrates a differential voltage between an output voltage and a reference voltage to output a first control signal, a second control path that converts the differential voltage into a digital signal to output a second control signal, and a PWM signal generation circuit that generates a PWM signal dependent on the first and second control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventor: Chen Kong Teh
  • Patent number: 10892684
    Abstract: An output transistor is made to perform switching operation synchronous with a clock signal in a current mode based on an error voltage, which is commensurate with the difference between a feedback voltage commensurate with an output voltage and a reference voltage, and a slope voltage, which is commensurate with a current that passes through the output transistor. Based on the result of comparison of the error voltage with a skip threshold voltage, a skip signal is generated. When the skip signal turns to high level in response to a light load, the switching operation is stopped. Thereafter, when the skip signal turns back to low level, the output transistor is turned on asynchronously with the clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takatsugu Wachi, George G. Tan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10886899
    Abstract: Provided is a low-power-consumption Constant-On-Time (COT) timing circuit design method and a timing circuit. A Resistor-Capacitor (RC) circuit is adopted for timing, to eliminate static power consumption of a timer. A specific structure includes a fourth P-channel Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) transistor M4 of which a source is connected to an input voltage VIN, a gate is connected to a COT control terminal TON_CONTROL and a drain is connected with one end of a fourth resistor R4. The other end of the fourth resistor R4 is connected with one end of a fourth capacitor C4. The other end of the fourth capacitor C4 is grounded. A negative input of a comparator VCMP is connected with a reference voltage, and a positive input is connected between the fourth capacitor C4 and the fourth resistor R4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Sichuan Energy Internet Research Institute, Tsinghua University
    Inventor: Yike Li
  • Patent number: 10852756
    Abstract: Described is an apparatus which comprises: a first power supply node to supply input power supply; a power transistor coupled to the first power supply node; a multiplexer to selectively control gate terminal of the power transistor according to whether the power transistor is to operate as part of a low dropout voltage regulator (LDO-VR) or is to operate as a digital switch; and a second power supply node coupled to the power transistor, the second power supply node to provide power supply to a load from the power transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Kosta Luria, Alexander Lyakhov, Joseph Shor, Michael Zelikson
  • Patent number: 10855270
    Abstract: An improved circuit or method generates first and second initial pulses that do not overlap. First and second drive pulses are generated based on the first and second initial pulses, respectively. A first transistor is turned on with the first drive pulses. A second transistor is turned on with the second drive pulses. A current flows in response to an on-time state of the first transistor overlapping with an on-time state of the second transistor. A delay of the second drive pulses is decreased based on a time of the current flow overlapping with one of the first initial pulses; and the delay of the second drive pulses is increased based on the time of the current flow overlapping with one of the second initial pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Silanna Asia Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Joseph H. Colles, Steven E. Rosenbaum, Stuart B. Molin
  • Patent number: 10848066
    Abstract: Described is a controller for a DC/DC converter of a type having N power stages, where N is a natural number greater or equal to 2. The controller comprises a decision maker module, a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) or proportional-integral (PI) control module and a transient compression control module. The decision maker module determines a first steady state mode of operation and a second transient mode of operation and is configured to switch control between said first steady state mode of operation to said second transient mode of operation when an operating parameter of one of the N power stages exhibits a predetermined operating condition relative to a predetermined operating limit and/or a predetermined, calculated or selected threshold. The PID or PI module regulates the operating parameter during said first steady state mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Wai To Yan, Kuen Fuat Yuen, Sui Pung Cheung, Tin Ho Li
  • Patent number: 10848144
    Abstract: A switching control circuit that controls on/off of a switching element is provided to efficiently disperse EMI noise due to high-speed switching, the switching control circuit includes a gate driver, a variable capacitance element connected to a gate of the switching element, and a capacitance changing circuit that randomly changes a capacitance of the variable capacitance element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiro Nishigaki, Koichiro Fujita, Kenichi Tanaka, Tsuyoshi Nakahira
  • Patent number: 10838478
    Abstract: A power system includes a power controller, an input power module for receiving AC power from a wall mains, a power driver electrically connected to the input power module to receive the AC power from the input power module, convert the AC power to low and medium voltage DC power, and selectively output the low or medium DC power under the control of power controller, and an output power module for providing DC power to a charging track with exposed electrical contacts along an upper surface. The power controller includes a microcontroller unit having software embedded therein to implement a control application that includes a main function loop, including a state machine operable to cycle through dither task states and drive states to test conditions of the power system and the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Bretford Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Shankar Eswaran, Senthilkumar Vaiyapuri
  • Patent number: 10840804
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and circuitries are provided to generate a regulated supply voltage based on a target voltage. In one example, a method includes converting the target voltage to a first digital time-based signal and converting the regulated supply voltage to a second digital time-based signal. A difference signal is generated based at least on a difference between the first digital time-based signal and the second digital time-based signal. Regulator circuitry is controlled to generate the regulated supply voltage based at least on the difference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Franesco Brandonisio
  • Patent number: 10811969
    Abstract: An improved power converter produces power through a power switch in response to an activation signal that has an on-time and a switching frequency. An on-time signal has a constant on-time and controls the on-time of the activation signal. An error signal indicates that the switching frequency is not equal to a reference frequency. A step up signal and a step down signal are based on the error signal. A count signal is increased in response to the step up signal and decreased in response to the step down signal. An on-time pulse has a duration that is related to a value of the count signal. The on-time pulse controls the constant on-time of the on-time signal and maintains the switching frequency at about the reference frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Silanna Asia Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Rawinder Dharmalinggam, Tiong Lim
  • Patent number: 10803961
    Abstract: A comparator (13) compares a pad voltage with a reference voltage (Vref1) to output a voltage (VCCOK), and a comparator (23) compares a low voltage with a reference voltage (Vref2) to output a voltage (VDDOK). A power-on circuit (2) includes a timer circuit (11) and starts a reference voltage generation circuit (12) after the power switch control circuit is started, and then starts the comparator (13). After the comparator (13) is started, a controller (30) starts a voltage down converter (4) when the voltage (VCCOK) is at the H level, and turns on a MOS transistor (Q1) when the voltage (VCCOK) is at the L level. A power-on circuit (3) includes a timer circuit (21) and starts a reference voltage generation circuit (22) after the voltage down converter (4) is started, and then starts a comparator (23). After the comparator (23) is started, the controller (30) enters the standby state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Tomofumi Kitani
  • Patent number: 10803141
    Abstract: An associative processor includes a memory array and a controller. The memory array stores a multiplicity of N bit stochastic numbers in separate rows of a stochastic section of the memory array and each stochastic number has a same probability distribution P. The controller includes a probability calculator which receives a desired probability distribution Pdesired, determines a Boolean function of a set of the N bit stochastic numbers which produces the probability distribution Pdesired and activates associated rows of the stochastic numbers to implement the function on the rows to produce a resultant stochastic number having the probability distribution Pdesired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: GSI Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel Lifsches
  • Patent number: 10797596
    Abstract: A zero static loadline switching regulator can include a controller having an integrating outer control loop that receives a first feedback signal corresponding regulator load and a reference signal and generates an intermediate feedback signal therefrom. The control circuit can also include an inner control loop that receives the intermediate feedback signal and a second feedback signal corresponding to a load on the regulator and generates an error signal used to control switching devices of the regulator. The control circuit can also include a transient response circuit configured to boost the error signal, for a predetermined time period after and responsive to a load transient. The error signal may be boosted to an intermediate value between its saturation level and its full scale level. The intermediate value may be predetermined or may be determined responsive to the magnitude of the load transient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yang Li, Adrian K. Ong
  • Patent number: 10797579
    Abstract: An automotive system includes a first regulator configured to provide a first output voltage based on a first input voltage level. The system also includes a second regulator configured to provide a second output voltage based on a second input voltage level. The system also includes a driver controller coupled to a first driver circuit and a second driver circuit, wherein the driver controller is configured to select one of the first driver circuit and the second driver circuit to drive a switch based on a control signal. The system also includes a switch node coupled to the switch, wherein a switch node voltage at the switch node is a function of the switch being turned on and off. The system also includes a load coupled to the switch node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Ahmed Essam Hashim
  • Patent number: 10795391
    Abstract: A system includes a voltage regulator having an output voltage; a power management system, coupled to the voltage regulator, operable to continuously monitor the output voltage to determine whether the output voltage is within a range; and the power management system is operable to set the range to a normal range during normal operation, and is operable to increase the range beyond the normal range during a low power mode and during a wake-up period from a low power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Ruchi Shankar, Somshubhra Paul, Gaurang Helekar
  • Patent number: 10790751
    Abstract: System and method for regulating a power conversion system. An example system controller includes a signal processing component and a driving component. The signal processing component is configured to receive a feedback signal associated with an output signal of a power conversion system and generate a processed signal based on at least information associated with the feedback signal. The driving component is configured to generate a drive signal based on at least information associated with the processed signal and output the drive signal to a switch in order to affect a primary current flowing through a primary winding, the drive signal being associated with a demagnetization period corresponding to a demagnetization process of the power conversion system. The signal processing component is further configured to, sample and hold the feedback signal a plurality of times during the demagnetization period to generate a plurality of sampled and held signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yunchao Zhang, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 10770973
    Abstract: A fast transient current mode control circuit and a method thereof are provided. The circuit includes a slope detector circuit and a switch controller circuit. The slope detector circuit detects an output voltage signal of a power convertor. When a voltage of the output voltage signal drops sharply and a slope of the output voltage signal is larger than a slope threshold, the slope detector circuit outputs a transient enhanced signal. The switch controller circuit outputs a switch control signal to an upper bridge switch of the power convertor according to the transient enhanced signal to turn on the upper bridge switch during a duty cycle of a pulse wave of the transient enhanced signal, such that a current flowing through an inductor of the power convertor increases to be equal to a current flowing through a load of a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fu-Chuan Chen
  • Patent number: 10770961
    Abstract: A power converter comprises a first switch and a second switch connected in series between an input power source and ground, an inductor connected between a common node of the first switch and the second switch, and an output capacitor, a control apparatus comprising a feedback control apparatus and an ramp generator, wherein the ramp generator is configured to dynamically adjust an amplitude of a ramp based upon different operating conditions, an on-time control generator and a latch having a set input configured to receive an output signal of the control apparatus and a reset input configured to receive an output signal of the on-time control generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: M3 Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Yang, Xiaoyu Xi, David Meng
  • Patent number: 10756627
    Abstract: A switch mode power supply (voltage converter) is adapted as a current-mode control buck regulator for different loading conditions. The voltage converter operates in a continuous conduction mode (CCM) during heavy load conditions using pulse width modulation (PWM). When a zero-current detector determines no inductor current during light load conditions (discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) region), the controller initiates adaptive duty control using pulse frequency modulation (PFM). Adaptive duty estimation circuitry provides controllable energy to charge the power inductor to maintain voltage accuracy and maximize efficiency when in the PFM mode. Using clock synchronization and a single control-loop, smooth transition between PFM, PWM, and bypass modes is automatically performed. Clock synchronization from a master oscillator provides a base for frequency division in different operation modes which gives controllable evenly distributed switching harmonics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Alex Hsu, Sam Tsui, Paolo Nora, Tsz Yin Man
  • Patent number: 10756849
    Abstract: A system and method for efficiently transporting data in a computing system are contemplated. In various embodiments, a computing system includes a source, a destination and multiple lanes between them for transporting data. Multiple receivers in the destination has a respective termination resistor connected to a single integrating capacitor, which provides a reference voltage to the multiple receivers. The receivers reconstruct the received data by comparing the corresponding input signals to the reference voltage. The source includes a table storing code words. The source maps a generated data word to a code word, which is sent to the destination. The destination maps the received code word to the data word. The values of the code words are selected to maintain a nearly same number of Boolean ones on the multiple lanes over time as a number of Boolean zeroes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jafar Savoj, Praveen R. Singh, Brian S. Leibowitz, Emerson S. Fang
  • Patent number: 10756545
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods include a solar array having one or more string buses of series-connected solar modules. The current outputs from the solar modules on each string bus can be balanced along with the voltage output from the string buses. Local management units coupled between the solar modules and the string buses are configured to control the voltage output from each solar module. When the solar modules on each string are balanced, and when the string buses are balanced (or before the solar modules and string buses are balanced), an inverter or other device connected to the solar array can find the array's maximum power point via a maximum power point tracking algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Arditi, Maxym Makhota
  • Patent number: 10749433
    Abstract: A solution is provided for a current balance feedback method to improve stability in a multi-phase DC-DC switching converter, where the current balance feedback signal is added to the PWM duty signal, after the PWM comparator. Using this feedback method, current balance oscillation issues caused by the non-linearity of the main control loop can be solved, and provide better current balance stability in the switching converter. Advantages include improving the stability of the current balance feedback loop by introducing the correction post PW modulation in the time domain, effectively bypassing interaction with the PW modulator. The current balance feedback loop stability improvement reduces PCB design effort and iteration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Hidenori Kobayashi, Seiichi Ozawa, Daisuke Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10749515
    Abstract: A filtering circuit for filtering a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal includes a D flip-flop having an input terminal configured to be coupled to a logic high signal and having an output terminal coupled to an output terminal of the filtering circuit; and a circuit coupled between an input terminal of the filtering circuit and the D flip-flop, the circuit configured to, for a first pulse of the PWM signal having a duty cycle within a pre-determined range: generate a positive pulse at a clock terminal of the D flip-flop as a clock signal of the D flip-flop; and generate a negative pulse at a reset terminal of the D flip-flop as a reset signal of the D flip-flop, wherein a duration between a rising edge of the positive pulse and a falling edge of the negative pulse is equal to a duration of the first pulse of the PWM signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) R&D CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Hong Wu Lin
  • Patent number: 10749445
    Abstract: A method for regulating an AC output current of a converter having a DC voltage intermediate circuit and a semiconductor switch in a bridge circuit for converting a DC voltage of the DC voltage intermediate circuit into an AC output current. The AC output current is regulated by way of a direct hysteresis current regulation, in which an actual value of the AC output current is maintained within a hysteresis window around a set point value. Furthermore, a hysteresis width of the hysteresis window is modulated in order to adjust a frequency spectrum of the AC output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Norbert Benesch, Bernd Dressel, Maximilian Schmitt, Harald Wiessmann
  • Patent number: 10749438
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a power supply voltage stabilizing method that can suppress the performance of switching power supply from being deteriorated even when a battery voltage varies and/or load conditions change. In a power supply voltage stabilizing method of a switching power supply including an output power MOS to which a battery voltage is supplied and a PWM feedback control unit that controls the output power MOS, the PWM feedback control unit includes a voltage feedback controller that controls on the basis of a power supply voltage output from the switching power supply and a current feedback controller that controls on the basis of a current output from the switching power supply. A variation in the battery voltage and/or a change in the load condition of the switching power supply are/is detected, and the bandwidth of the PWM feedback control unit is dynamically changed in accordance with the result of the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayuki Ida
  • Patent number: 10749442
    Abstract: A power supply device includes: a power supply; a conversion module including a plurality of conversion units configured to perform voltage conversion of power supplied by the power supply, the plurality of conversion units being electrically connected in parallel to each other; and a change unit that an operation number, which is the number of the conversion units performing the voltage conversion. The change unit prohibits a change to an operation number in which current imbalance occurs between the conversion units performing the voltage conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryota Kitamoto
  • Patent number: 10742017
    Abstract: A semiconductor-switch control device includes a controller that detects an analog signal of a load current, converts the detected analog signal into a digital signal, and determines an over-current based on the converted digital signal; a short circuit detector that detects an analog signal of a load voltage, and detects an over-current based on the analog signal without converting the detected analog signal into a digital signal; and a drive unit that drives an FET based on a determination result of the over-current determined by the controller or a detection result of the over-current detected by the short circuit detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuaki Morimoto
  • Patent number: 10727743
    Abstract: System and method for regulating a power conversion system. For example, a system controller for regulating a power conversion system includes an amplifier, a variable-resistance component, a capacitor, and a modulation and drive component. The amplifier is configured to receive a reference signal and a feedback signal associated with an output signal of the power conversion system, the amplifier including an amplifier terminal. The variable-resistance component is associated with a first variable resistance value, the variable-resistance component including a first component terminal and a second component terminal, the first component terminal being coupled with the amplifier terminal. The capacitor includes a first capacitor terminal and a second capacitor terminal, the first capacitor terminal being coupled with the second component terminal. The modulation and drive component includes a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being coupled with the amplifier terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yaming Cao, Dongze Yang, Qiang Luo, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 10727734
    Abstract: A control unit for a switching converter has an inductor element coupled to an input and a switch element coupled to the inductor element and generates a command signal having a switching period to switch the switch element and determine a first time period in which an inductor current is flowing in the inductor element for storing energy and a second time period in which energy is transferred to a load. An input current is distorted relative to a sinusoid by a distortion factor caused by current ripple on the inductor current. The duration of the first time period is determined based on a comparison between a peak value of the inductor current and a current reference that is a function of an output voltage of said voltage converter. A reference modification stage modifies one of the current reference and sensed value of the inductor current to compensate for distortion introduced by the distortion factor on the input current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giovanni Gritti
  • Patent number: 10720840
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter circuit including at least: a first step down converter having a first pair of switching devices in a half bridge configuration. A second step down converter includes a second pair of switching devices in a half bridge configuration. The first and second step down converters are connected in parallel to an output node connected to an output coil and receive command signals. A feedback loop includes a synchronization module receiving the gate control signals of high side switching devices and adjusts as a function of the gate control signals a delay in a signal path from the command signal to each gate control signal of the high side switching device to synchronize the gate control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L., STMICROELECTRONICS DESIGN AND APPLICATION S.R.O.
    Inventors: Matthieu Thomas, Michele Suraci, Massimo Mazzucco
  • Patent number: 10720837
    Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit included in a computer system may include multiple devices and a switch node coupled to a regulated power supply node via an inductor. The voltage regulator circuit may couple the switch node to a capacitor for different periods of time using respective different subsets of the multiple devices. A control circuit may modify active times of control signals coupled to the multiple devices based on voltage samples of the switch node in order to adjust the durations of the different periods of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jitendra K. Agrawal, Dingkun Du
  • Patent number: 10707762
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a power supply voltage stabilizing method that can suppress the performance of switching power supply from being deteriorated even when a battery voltage varies and/or load conditions change. In a power supply voltage stabilizing method of a switching power supply including an output power MOS to which a battery voltage is supplied and a PWM feedback control unit that controls the output power MOS, the PWM feedback control unit includes a voltage feedback controller that controls on the basis of a power supply voltage output from the switching power supply and a current feedback controller that controls on the basis of a current output from the switching power supply. A variation in the battery voltage and/or a change in the load condition of the switching power supply are/is detected, and the bandwidth of the PWM feedback control unit is dynamically changed in accordance with the result of the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayuki Ida
  • Patent number: 10700602
    Abstract: A battery operated portable communication device is provided with improved transmitter current limit stabilization via a current limit stabilization circuit operatively coupled to the battery and a DC-to-DC converter of the transmitter. The current limit stabilization circuit provides a variable stabilizing reference voltage which is directly proportional to the supply voltage. The current limit stabilization circuit generates a voltage limit output voltage that controls both the power to the transmitter (120) and limits current to the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Alonso, David W. Henry, Michael Hand
  • Patent number: 10666144
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter controller includes a transistor driver, a flip-flop, a comparator, an integrator circuit, a switch, and a pulse generator circuit. The flip-flop includes an output coupled to an input of the transistor driver. The comparator includes an output coupled an input of the flip-flop. The integrator circuit includes an output coupled to an input of the comparator. The switch includes a first terminal coupled to the output of the integrator circuit, and a second terminal coupled to ground. The pulse generator circuit includes an input coupled to an output of the transistor driver, and an output coupled to a third terminal of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Linghan Xie, Jianzhang Xie, Wei Zhao, Weicheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 10652997
    Abstract: The present disclosure reduces parasitic inductances of current paths between components. First conductor path is provided on a surface of insulating layer. One of a power supply voltage and a ground voltage is applied to first conductor path. Second conductor path is provided on the surface of insulating layer. The other of the power supply voltage and the ground voltage is applied to second conductor path. First switching element is connected to output pattern and to first conductor path. Second switching element is connected to output pattern and to second conductor path. At least one of first conductor path and second conductor path has a continuous annular path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akitaka Yoshikawa, Tatehiko Inoue, Hisazumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10651743
    Abstract: A method is provided for configuring a controller for a voltage regulator system having an output filter response set by an inductance (L) and a capacitance (C). The method includes applying one or more pulses of known on-time and off-time to the voltage regulator system, and taking measurements of the voltage regulator system in response to the one or more pulses of known on-time and off-time. The method further includes constructing a model of the output filter response of the voltage regulator system based on the measurements, and setting one or more control loop parameters of the controller based on the model of the output filter response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Zhiqing You, Tim Ng, Benjamim Tang
  • Patent number: 10644600
    Abstract: When a ramp signal intersects a feedback related signal, a constant time switching regulator enters a first state and maintains in the first state for a constant time, and after the constant time ends, when the ramp signal exceeds the feedback related signal, the switching regulator enters a second state, while when the ramp signal does not exceed the feedback related signal, the switching regulator enters a third state. In the first state, the first end of an inductor is connected to input voltage and the second end of the inductor is connected to output voltage; in the second state, the first end is connected to ground and the second end is connected to output voltage; and in the third state, the first end is connected to input voltage and the second end is connected to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuo-Chun Wu, Hung-Yu Cheng
  • Patent number: 10644595
    Abstract: A circuit, comprising a trapezoidal generator that comprises digital logic configured to couple at a first input to a loop controller and at a second input to a buck-boost region detector and a driver coupled to an output of the digital logic and configured to couple to at least one power transistor of a power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Anmol Sharma, Franz Prexl
  • Patent number: 10630179
    Abstract: A voltage converter may include a first voltage sensor and a second voltage sensor both configured to measure an output voltage of a voltage converter circuit and a controller configured to execute a feedback control for the voltage converter circuit such that a voltage difference between a target voltage and a measured value of the first voltage sensor becomes zero and configured to execute a predetermined error process in a case where a measured value of the second voltage sensor exceeds a predetermined voltage upper limit value. The controller may execute the feedback control such that a voltage difference between a correction target voltage and the measured value of the first voltage sensor becomes zero while the measured value of the second voltage sensor exceeds a voltage threshold which is less than the voltage upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Nozawa
  • Patent number: 10615648
    Abstract: A wireless power transmitting device transmits wireless power signals modulated at a given power frequency to a wireless power receiving device using a wireless power transmitting coil. The wireless power receiving device may transmit data signals to the wireless power transmitting device. The wireless power transmitting device may include a data receiver that is coupled to the wireless power transmitting coil and that receives the transmitted data. The data receiver may include an input stage, bandpass filter circuitry, demodulator circuitry, and a data stream combiner. The data receiver may further include a power supply noise cancellation circuit. The power supply noise cancellation circuit may include an input stage, a baseband filter, a window filter, a down-sampler, and a difference filter. The power supply noise cancellation circuit may be coupled to the data stream combiner and is configured to mitigate power supply noise interference in the received data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Moshe H. Malkin, Manu Agarwal, Brandon R. Garbus
  • Patent number: 10594317
    Abstract: A switching regulator sources a power rail and includes a top side or input rail side switch, a bottom side or ground side switch, and an inductor. When the switching regulator is disabled or generally turned off, a bottom side transistor in the bottom side switch is pulsed on and off, or held on, to drain or bleed the power rail to ground. When the bottom side transistor is off and if there is a voltage across the inductor from the power rail at a switching node, current flows through a body diode of the top side switch to the input rail of the switching regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Fast, Jr., Abraham Garcia, Adrian Glover