With Plural Condition Sensing Patents (Class 323/285)
  • Patent number: 10461732
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of driving a switching transistor includes driving the switching transistor with a gate drive signal; measuring at least one of a derivative of a load path voltage and a derivative of a load path current of the switching transistor; measuring a derivative of the gate drive signal; forming an error signal based on a reference signal, a measured derivative of the gate drive signal, and at least one of the measured derivative of the load path voltage of the switching transistor or the measured derivative of the load path current of the switching transistor; and forming the gate drive signal, where forming the gate drive signal includes processing the error signal using a dynamic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Karl Norling, Johannes Groeger, Alexander Schreiber, Bernhard Wicht
  • Patent number: 10453830
    Abstract: Integrated circuits, wafer level integrated III-V device and CMOS driver device packages, and methods for fabricating products with integrated III-V devices and silicon-based driver devices are provided. In an embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of transistors in and/or overlying the semiconductor substrate. The plurality of transistors form a gate driver circuit. The integrated circuit further includes a gate driver electrode coupled to the gate driver circuit. Also, the integrated circuit includes a III-V device electrode overlying and coupled to the gate driver electrode. The integrated circuit includes a III-V device overlying and coupled to the III-V device electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: Donald Ray Disney
  • Patent number: 10447027
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to methods and apparatuses for providing fault protection in a power controller such as a voltage regulator, and particularly protection against reverse over current fault conditions. Some embodiments are capable of distinguishing between different types of reverse over current conditions, such as a high-side short or a normal over voltage condition. In these and other embodiments, fault protection is performed in favor of a load connected to the voltage regulator, rather than components of the voltage regulator itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Intersil Americas LLC
    Inventors: Chun Cheung, Mir Mahin, Paul Dackow
  • Patent number: 10438978
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring energy harvested from at least one energy source for use in an access control system. The method comprises charging a capacitive storage device to a voltage high threshold, where the capacitive storage device is for storing energy harvested from at least one sensor receiving energy from at least one energy source and the capacitive storage device is coupled to an energy harvesting manager adapted for managing the amount of energy received by the at least one sensor, and applying a reference load to the capacitive storage device until the capacitive storage device discharges to a predetermined voltage value, the reference load having a predetermined resistance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: SARGENT MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark Bryla, Michael Lorello, John C. Wren
  • Patent number: 10432091
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a first feedback circuit, a second feedback circuit, and a feedback signal adaptive circuit. The first voltage feedback circuit includes an amplifier that is configured to generate a compensation signal according to a feedback signal from an output of the voltage regulator and a reference voltage, while the second voltage feedback circuit includes a comparator that is configured to generate a PWM signal to drive a switch circuit in which the comparator initiates the PWM pulse when the feedback voltage goes lower than the compensation signal and ends the PWM pulse when the sum of the feedback signal and a ramp signal exceeds the sum of the compensation signal and a threshold signal. The feedback signal adaptive circuit modifies the feedback signal according to changes in an input voltage of the voltage regulator and a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Gang Chen
  • Patent number: 10404218
    Abstract: One example includes a differential amplifier, a voltage weighting element, coupled to a voltage source which provides an input voltage, to provide a reference voltage with a constant power limit when the input voltage varies, an error amplifier configured to receive and compare the reference voltage provided from the voltage weighting element and a feedback sensed voltage provided from the differential amplifier to identify whether the sensed voltage exceeds the reference voltage, and a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller, coupled to a power transformer and the error amplifier, that reduces a transformer input current provided to the power transformer based on the comparison of the reference voltage from the voltage weighting element and the feedback sensed voltage from the differential amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: David F. Baretich, Simon J. Broadley
  • Patent number: 10396771
    Abstract: A voltage supply circuit is provided. The voltage supply circuit is capable of generating a loading current at an output node. The voltage supply circuit includes a plurality of inductors and a plurality of driver circuits. The plurality of inductors are coupled to the output node. Each inductor has an inductance value. The plurality of driver circuits are coupled to the plurality of inductors, respectively. The inductance values of at least two inductors among the plurality of inductors are greater than the inductance value of another inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: MediaTek Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Chen Li, Kuan-Yu Fang, Kuan-Yu Chu, Yen-Hsun Hsu
  • Patent number: 10389344
    Abstract: A voltage supply circuit is provided. The voltage supply circuit is capable of operating at a first mode and generates a loading current at an output node. The voltage supply circuit includes a plurality of inductors and a plurality of drier circuits. The plurality of inductors are coupled to the output node. Each inductor has an inductance value. The plurality driver circuits are coupled to the plurality of inductors respectively. The inductance value of a first inductor among the plurality of inductors is greater than the inductance values of the other inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: MediaTek Inc.
    Inventors: Chien-Wei Kuan, Yen-Hsun Hsu, Tun-Shih Chen
  • Patent number: 10362645
    Abstract: A supply circuit comprises a regulated positive supply circuit and an unregulated negative supply circuit. The regulated positive supply circuit includes an inductor arranged to receive input energy from an input circuit node, a switch circuit coupled to the inductor at a switch circuit node, and a control circuit coupled to the switch circuit. The control circuit is configured to control activation of the switch circuit to regulate a voltage at a regulated circuit node and generate a positive output voltage at a positive output circuit node. The unregulated negative supply circuit is operatively coupled to the switch circuit node and is configured to generate a negative supply voltage at a negative output circuit node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Linear Technology Holding, LLC
    Inventors: Xugang Ke, Yaojie Xu, Min Chen, Keith Szolusha
  • Patent number: 10356868
    Abstract: A load control device for an electrical load operates in a normal mode and a burst mode to adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The load control device comprises a control circuit that operates in the normal mode to regulate an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the load between a maximum rated current and a minimum rated current. During the normal mode, the control circuit controls the operating period of a load regulation circuit between a high-end operating period and a low-end operating period. The control circuit operates in the burst mode to regulate the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current. During the burst mode, the control circuit adjusts the low-end operating period to be less than or equal to a minimum on time of the load regulation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert D. Stevens, Jr., Matthew R. Zartman
  • Patent number: 10348207
    Abstract: A control system for a DC-DC voltage converter includes a microcontroller having first and second applications. The first application commands the microcontroller to generate a first signal that is received at a first pin on a high side integrated circuit to transition a first plurality of FET switches to an open operational state, and that is received at a first pin on the low side integrated circuit to transition a second plurality of FET switches to the open operational state. The second application commands the microcontroller to generate a second signal that is received at a second pin on the high side integrated circuit to transition the first plurality of FET switches to the open operational state, and that is received at a second pin on the low side integrated circuit to transition the second plurality of FET switches to the open operational state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kerfegar K. Katrak
  • Patent number: 10348111
    Abstract: A charging circuit adopts a plurality of feedback control circuits, a constant time signal generator and a logic circuit to control the operation of a power switch. The charge circuit needs no oscillator with high frequency, error amplifier with high speed and high accuracy, or compensation circuit with complicated structure, so the system portability is highly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Min Xu, Xiaoqing Li, Qiming Zhao
  • Patent number: 10308092
    Abstract: A roll stabilization system (1) for a motor vehicle which has a DC voltage converter (6) associated with an electric roll stabilizer (2). By way of the DC voltage converter, a feed voltage can be transformed into a supply voltage for the roll stabilizer (2). To produce as compact a structure as possible, the DC voltage converter (6) is integrated in the electric roll stabilizer (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Triebel, Achim Thomae, Helmut Baalmann, Stefan Rappelt, Ernst Oswald
  • Patent number: 10284088
    Abstract: A time signal generator includes a time signal circuit and a timing circuit. The time signal circuit includes a current source and a current source circuit, and has a first mode and a second mode. The time signal generator provides a first on-time signal according to the current source in the first mode. The timing circuit is connected to the time signal circuit, and includes a first timing circuit. When the timing circuit counts to a first predetermined time, the first timing circuit provides a first control signal to the current source circuit, such that the time signal generator provides a second on-time signal according to the current source and the current source circuit in the second mode. A width of the second on-time signal is less than a width of the first on-time signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: uPI Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Kun-Min Huang, Chang-Yu Hung
  • Patent number: 10254327
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided, which detect a short circuit condition related to a semiconductor switch. A short circuit condition may be determined when a control signal of the switch exceeds a first reference, and a change of load current of the switch exceeds a second reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Anton Mauder, Stefan Hain, Mark-Matthias Bakran
  • Patent number: 10236720
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention transmits power from a primary side to a secondary side, and includes: a secondary coil provided at the secondary side; a capacitor and a control switch electrically coupled in series between lateral ends of the secondary coil; and a regulation controller controlling a switching operation of the control switch according to a result of comparison between a control signal synchronized by a frequency at the primary side and a feedback signal corresponding to an output of the wireless power transmission system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: SangCheol Moon, Gwanbon Koo
  • Patent number: 10231307
    Abstract: A system and method for operating one or more light emitting devices is disclosed. In one example, the intensity of light provided by the one or more light emitting devices is adjusted responsive to current feedback from the one or more light emitting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Phoseon Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Salvatore Battaglia
  • Patent number: 10211629
    Abstract: Circuits and devices related to overcurrent protection. In some embodiments, a voltage converter can include a voltage converting circuit configured to receive an input voltage and generate an output voltage. The voltage converter can further include an overcurrent protection circuit coupled to the voltage converting circuit and having a detection unit configured to detect an overcurrent condition associated with the voltage converting circuit and generate an overcurrent signal indicative of the overcurrent condition. The overcurrent protection circuit can further include a consumption unit in communication with the detection unit and configured to selectively consume and thereby reduce a current in a path associated with the voltage converting circuit upon receipt of the overcurrent signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Hai-Bo Li, Wei Jia Yu
  • Patent number: 10199841
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for controlling an energy storage system. The energy storage system includes a plurality of battery strings connected in parallel with the battery strings having a plurality of batteries connected in series. The method includes determining, via a controller, one or more operating parameters of the energy storage system. The method also includes determining, via the controller, a maximum current rating of one or more of the battery strings. Another step includes estimating, via the controller, a voltage range for the one or more battery strings as a function of the one or more operating parameters and the maximum current rating. The method also includes dynamically controlling the one or more battery strings based on the voltage range so as to prevent over-current recharge or discharge of the parallel battery strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joshua Paul Webb, David E. James, Kenneth Rush McClellan, Jr., Mark Gotobed
  • Patent number: 10186871
    Abstract: A detector detects a peak of a power value in a current-voltage characteristic curve to DC power output from a solar battery module. A setting device, when a plurality of peaks is detected, when a current value is greater than a threshold value in a first peak having a maximum voltage value of the plurality of peaks, sets an operation point based on the first peak. The setting device, when the current value in the first peak is equal to or less than the threshold value, sets the operation point based on a second peak in which the voltage value is less than that in the first peak and the current value is greater than the threshold value, of the plurality of peaks. A power regulator regulates output of the DC power of the solar battery module in accordance with the operation point set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yousuke Ishii
  • Patent number: 10181787
    Abstract: A PFC device includes at least one main switch, a converter that converts a current to be sensed in the PFC device into a voltage to be sensed, the PFC device generating a switch control signal to control the at least one main switch based on the current to be sensed, and a voltage sensor that receives the voltage to be sensed and an offset voltage, and senses the voltage to be sensed using the offset voltage to output a sense voltage. A method includes sampling the sense voltage, determining a sense value of the offset voltage based on a sampling result, and calculating the current to be sensed based on a difference between the sense voltage and the sense value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chuk Hung Chan
  • Patent number: 10164540
    Abstract: A controller for a power conversion circuit has a first current-reading circuit coupled for receiving a first feedback signal at a first circuit node and generating an internal feedback signal at a second circuit node inversely proportional to the first feedback signal. A second current-reading circuit is coupled for receiving a second feedback signal at the first circuit node and generating the internal feedback signal at the second circuit node inversely proportional to the second feedback signal. The first current-reading circuit generates the internal feedback signal inversely proportional to an electric current injected into the controller at the first circuit node. The second current-reading circuit generates the internal feedback signal inversely proportional to an electric current drawn from the controller at the first circuit node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Christophe Basso, Stephanie Cannenterre
  • Patent number: 10164537
    Abstract: A switching regulator includes a first switch; a second switch coupled between the first switch and ground; an inductor coupled to a common node between the first and second switches; a capacitor coupled between the inductor and ground; a controller receiving a disable signal, and generating first and second control signals respectively for the first and second switches; and a crossing detector comparing an auxiliary voltage at the common node with a negative reference voltage to generate a comparison signal, and generating the disable signal based on the first control signal and the comparison signal. The second control signal switches into an inactive state upon the disable signal indicating a reference-crossing of the auxiliary voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: National Taipei University of Technology
    Inventors: Ting-Wen Su, Yuh-Shyan Hwang
  • Patent number: 10148256
    Abstract: Provided are a signal generating circuit, a voltage conversion device, and a signal generating method configured to make a minimum unit of values that are respectively set in m (where m is a natural number equal to or greater than 2) generating units that periodically generate PWM signals corresponding to the setting values substantially smaller than an actual minimum unit. A CPU specifies, at every n periods of the PWM signals generated by the m generating units SG1, SG2, . . . SGm, a settable value closest to the sum of target values for n periods, determines (m×n) setting values for n periods based on a quotient and a remainder obtained by dividing the specified settable value by the product of m and n, and sets the determined values in the respective generating units SG1, SG2, . . . SGm, using phase-specific interrupt processes that are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Hasegawa, Seiji Takahashi, Takenori Abe
  • Patent number: 10147364
    Abstract: A backlight drive voltage control device, comprising: a detecting unit connected to a controller, which detects the current states of the lamp strings of the divisions of the backlight sources of a liquid crystal screen, sends feedback signals to the controller; the controller which sends a voltage adjustment control signal to an AC to DC converter according to the feedback signals, and acquires the voltage adjustment amount of each lamp string according to the voltage adjustment control signal, selects lamp strings which voltage adjustment amounts are larger than the threshold, and sends the closing feedback control signal to the detecting unit; and the AC to DC converter which outputs corresponding voltages to the lamp strings according to the voltage adjustment control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: HISENSE ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhenhua Pang, Xiaoguang Xin, Aichen Xu, Mingsheng Qiao
  • Patent number: 10148184
    Abstract: A configuration is realized that can subject, when operation of a multiphase conversion unit starts, voltage conversion units to control of gradually increasing a target value for output, and can suppress a reverse flow, more easily and further avoiding a loss. A multiphase converter is provided with a control unit configured to control a multiphase conversion unit, and the control unit sequentially drives, when operation of the multiphase conversion unit is started, a plurality of voltage conversion units by offsetting the points in time at which the driving is started against each other. Also, the control unit determines, each time the driving of a voltage conversion unit is started, whether or not the value detected by the detection unit has reached an individual threshold associated with the number of driven voltage conversion units, and starts to drive the next voltage conversion unit when the value has reached the individual threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takenori Abe
  • Patent number: 10128773
    Abstract: An electric power conversion device includes a first arm and a second arm each including converter cells. The converter cell of the first arm is a first converter cell having a full-bridge configuration including an energy storing element and semiconductor switching elements. The converter cell of the second arm is a second converter cell having a half-bridge configuration including an energy storing element and semiconductor switching elements. Thus, short-circuit current between DC terminals is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takushi Jimichi, Kimiyuki Koyanagi, Takeshi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 10128749
    Abstract: An inductor conducts a first current, which is variable. A first transistor is coupled through the inductor to an output node. The first transistor alternately switches on and off in response to a voltage signal, so that the first current is: enhanced while the first transistor is switched on in response to the voltage signal; and limited while the first transistor is switched off in response to the voltage signal. A second transistor is coupled to the first transistor. The second transistor conducts a second current, which is variable. On/off switching of the second transistor is independent of the voltage signal. Control circuitry senses the second current and adjusts the voltage signal to alternately switch the first transistor on and off in response to: the sensing of the second current; and a voltage of the output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Erick Omar Torres, Harish Venkataraman, Philomena C. Brady
  • Patent number: 10122274
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a multi-function circuit. The circuit comprises a low side circuit that is comprised with a first set of enhancement mode transistors. The half bridge circuit also includes a high side circuit that is comprised of a second set of transistors. Each of the enhancement mode transistors of the first set and second set of enhancement mode transistors are Gallium Nitride (GaN) transistors. In some embodiments, the GaN transistors are High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs). In additional embodiments, the GaN transistors are configured and operated as saturated switches. In further embodiments, the half bridge circuit is designed as a discrete circuit. Additionally, each of the first set and second set of transistors, diodes, resistors, and all passive elements are discrete components arranged to form a half bridge circuit. In fact, the entire half bridge circuit is built from discrete components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Freebird Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony G. P. Marini, James L. Larrauri, Simon P. Wainwright, Max Zafrani
  • Patent number: 10110122
    Abstract: Response of a variable frequency switching constant on-time or adaptive on-time controlled power converter to a large step-up or step-down change in load is improved with a simple circuit that detects magnitude and polarity of a change in output voltage and initiates, extends or terminates conduction of power pulses from an input source through said power converter. Both the amplitude and duration of undershoot or overshoot of the transient response are reduced or, alternatively, the capacitance of an output filter may be significantly reduced and still provide comparable transient performance. The fast adaptive on-time control is applicable to multi-phase power converters using phase managers or one or more phase-locked loops for interleaving of power pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Syed Bari, Fred C. Lee, Qiang Li, Pei-Hsin Liu
  • Patent number: 10110123
    Abstract: In a DC-DC converter, a voltage at a connecting point where a switching transistor is connected to an inductor is compared with a threshold voltage set within a variation range of the voltage at the connecting point during switching operation of the switching transistor. When a polarity in which the voltage at the connecting point and the threshold voltage are compared does not vary in a detection time longer than the predetermined period of a driving circuit, the switching transistor is determined to be operating in an active state with a risk of heat generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: SMK Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiro Amei
  • Patent number: 10103629
    Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter is disclosed. The SMPS driver includes a highside switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a gate. The first terminal is coupled to an input voltage terminal. The SMPS driver further includes a lowside switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a gate. The first terminal of the lowside switch is coupled to the second terminal of the highside switch and the second terminal of the lowside switch is coupled to ground. A diode is coupled to the gate of the lowside switch on one side and to a capacitor on the other side. An integrated circuit (IC) is included to generate control signals for switching the highside switch and the lowside switch. The IC includes a highside supply pin, a highside gate control pin, a half bridge pin, a lowside gate control pin and a ground pin. The gate of the lowside switch is coupled to the lowside gate control pin, the highside supply pin is coupled to the diode and the capacitor is coupled to the half bridge pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Peter Theodorus Johannes Degen
  • Patent number: 10104727
    Abstract: A silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR)-compatible constant-voltage circuit that includes an input undervoltage control module, an overpower protection module, a controllable load module, and a power conversion module is provided. The input undervoltage control module, the overpower protection module, and the controllable load module are connected in parallel between a first sampling point and the power conversion module, and the first sampling point is arranged between an SCR and the power conversion module. The power conversion module is configured to provide a constant voltage to a load module. The input undervoltage control module and the overpower protection module are configured to control the power conversion module to start or stop power conversion based on a voltage at the first sampling point. The controllable load module is configured to maintain the SCR to be on when the power conversion module stops power conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: SENGLED OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhonghua Wang, Haiyang Yu, Junshan Lou, Jinxiang Shen
  • Patent number: 10090701
    Abstract: A solar power generation system includes a plurality of solar cell groups, a plurality of chopper units each of which corresponds to one of the plurality of solar cell groups and raises a DC voltage obtained from the corresponding solar cell group. Each of the plurality of chopper units includes a first operating point control unit that respectively controls an output current of the corresponding chopper unit to optimize an operating point of each of the plurality of solar cell groups so as to obtain maximum power from the respective solar cell groups, and an inverter, which receives the DC voltage obtained from the plurality of chopper units and outputs AC power. The inverter includes a second operating point control unit that controls the DC voltage obtained from the plurality of chopper units to optimize the operating point of each of the plurality of solar cell groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuji Yamada, Koji Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 10090760
    Abstract: In a DC-DC voltage conversion device, overheat of a diode element connected in anti-parallel with a semiconductor switching element is a problem, and in order to resolve this, a temperature of a semiconductor switching element of a main conversion circuit is detected, a temperature of a diode element connected in parallel with the semiconductor switching element is calculated using a correction calculation of the detected semiconductor switching element temperature value in accordance with a step-up ratio of the DC-DC voltage conversion device, and diode element overheat protection is carried out in accordance with the calculated temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Kobayashi, Matahiko Ikeda, Nobuhiro Kihara, Kazuhiko Otsuka, Junichi Abe
  • Patent number: 10076963
    Abstract: A switching power supply device includes a first switch, a second switch, a current sensing portion configured to sense current flowing in the second switch, and a controller configured to control the first and second switches in accordance with the current sensed by the current sensing portion. The controller includes an accumulating portion configured to accumulate information of the current sensed by the current sensing portion during a predetermined period of time while the first switch is in the off state, and reflecting portion configured to start the transmission of the current information accumulated by the accumulating portion before the first switch is changed from the off state to the on state so as to reflect the current information accumulated by the accumulating portion on the slope voltage, and controls the first and second switches in accordance with the slope voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuhei Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10073121
    Abstract: An input-voltage-off detection apparatus includes a voltage adjustment unit, a time delay unit, a voltage clamp unit, an auxiliary voltage discharge switch unit and an isolation notification unit. The voltage adjustment unit receives an input voltage. The time delay unit utilizes the input voltage to generate a direct current voltage. After the input voltage is cut off, the direct current voltage stored in the time delay unit discharges to the voltage adjustment unit. When the direct current voltage reduces to a predetermined voltage, the auxiliary voltage discharge switch unit is turned on, so that an auxiliary voltage winding sends a working voltage to the isolation notification unit. After the isolation notification unit receives the working voltage, the isolation notification unit notifies an electronic apparatus that the input voltage is cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Chicony Power Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Yang Chen, Chi-Tsung Wu
  • Patent number: 10069426
    Abstract: An active clamp flyback converter includes a low-side switch that serves as a power switch and a high-side switch that serves as a clamp switch. The high-side switch is operated in one of two active clamp switching modes, which is selected based on load condition. In a complementary active clamp mode, the switching frequency of the low-side switch is decreased as the load increases. In a modified active clamp mode, the high-side switch is turned on in a same switching cycle first by zero voltage switching (ZVS) and second by quasi-resonant switching (QRS), with a QRS blanking time being increased as the load decreases. A ZVS delay time and dead time between switching are adaptively set based on a duty cycle of the low-side switch. The output voltage of the active clamp flyback converter is sensed from an auxiliary voltage of an auxiliary winding of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dibyendu Rana, Gwanbon Koo
  • Patent number: 10069439
    Abstract: A power conversion system has a first coupling circuit including a wire between a controller and a high-side circuit and a second coupling circuit including a wire between the controller and a low-side circuit. The first coupling circuit has a diode having an anode coupled to a wire from the controller and a cathode coupled to a wire from the high-side circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Yokoi, Yusuke Ojima, Koichi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 10056833
    Abstract: A voltage driver includes a voltage input and a voltage regulation controller with an on/off input. The voltage regulation controller is configured to control a switching converter in a first mode and a second mode. The switching converter is configured to operate as an open pass switch in the first mode and configured to operate as a closed pass switch in the second mode. The switching converter includes an inductive load control switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Derek Thornton
  • Patent number: 10027234
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes switching elements, a reactor, and capacitors in each of which plural capacitor elements are connected in parallel to each other. Then, a carrier frequency used for controlling switching of the switching elements is set so that it is less than series resonance frequencies of all of the capacitor elements in the capacitors, and integer multiples of that frequency are each not equal to a parallel resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuta Komatsu, Ryota Kondo, Masaki Yamada
  • Patent number: 10013003
    Abstract: A switching regulator circuit incorporates an offset circuit, connected in a control loop of the regulator circuit, that, in response to a signal indicating an imminent load current step, adjusts a duty cycle of a power switch for the current step prior to the regulator circuit responding to a change in output voltage due to the current step. In one embodiment, a load controller issues a digital signal shortly before a load current step. The digital signal is decoded and converted to an analog offset signal in a feedback control loop of the regulator to immediately adjust a duty cycle of the switch irrespective of the output voltage level. By proper timing of the offset, output voltage ripple is greatly reduced. The current offset may also be used to rapidly change the output voltage in response to an external signal requesting a voltage step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory Manlove, Yi Ding Gu, Jian Li
  • Patent number: 10008928
    Abstract: A system, DC-DC converter, and compensation method and circuit for a DC-DC converter are disclosed. For example, a compensation circuit for a DC-DC converter is disclosed. The compensation circuit includes an integrator circuit configured to receive and integrate a first voltage signal, a differential difference amplifier circuit coupled to the integrator circuit and configured to generate a first filter transfer function associated with the integrated first voltage signal, and a switched capacitor filter circuit coupled to the differential difference amplifier circuit and configured to generate a second filter transfer function, wherein the differential difference amplifier is further configured to output a second voltage signal responsive to the first filter transfer function and the second filter transfer function. In one implementation, the compensation circuit is a type-III switched capacitor filter (SCF) compensation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: INTERSIL AMERICAS LLC
    Inventor: Gaurav Bawa
  • Patent number: 10007224
    Abstract: A power supply device including: a transformer generating, from an input voltage, low output voltage and high output voltage; an upper limiter circuit receiving the high output voltage and controlling the high output voltage not to exceed a maximum; a power controller performing feedback control on the input voltage so that the low output voltage matches a target voltage; an operation mode acquirer configured to acquire an operation mode of an image forming device; and a target value controller configured to change the target voltage depending upon the acquired operation mode. The target voltage when consumption amount of current with the high output voltage is relatively great ensures that the high output voltage does not fall below a minimum of a rated voltage range of the high output voltage, and is higher than the target voltage when consumption amount of current with the high output voltage is relatively small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Masayuki Watanabe, Yuhei Tatsumoto, Akihiro Hayashi, Makoto Shimazoe
  • Patent number: 9979304
    Abstract: A sample-and-hold circuit includes a first voltage generation unit, a second voltage generation unit, a stabilization capacitor. The first voltage generation unit generates a first voltage according to a first predetermined delay time and a voltage corresponding to an auxiliary winding of a power converter. The second voltage generation unit generates a second voltage according to K multiple of a discharge time of a secondary side of the power converter during a previous period of the power converter and the voltage, wherein K<1. When a sum of the K multiple of the discharge time and a second predetermined delay time leads a first valley of the voltage corresponding to a current period of the power converter, the second voltage generation unit outputs the second voltage. When the sum lags the first valley, the first voltage generation unit outputs the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Leadtrend Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Hsin-Hung Lu, Kuan-Hsien Chou
  • Patent number: 9979285
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing peak current mode control (PCMC) for power converters using discrete analog components. Peak current mode control functionality for latching, set, reset, clocking and slope compensation is provided via available analog components that provide improved performance, design flexibility, reliability, and radiation tolerance. Discrete analog components may include analog comparators, resistors, capacitors, diodes, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Crane Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Cuon Lam, Hach Nguyen, Khoa Nguyen, Peter Odell, Sovann Song
  • Patent number: 9977445
    Abstract: An electronic device disclosed herein includes a linear output stage configured to generate an output voltage to an output node as a function of an input voltage, and a buck output stage configured to generate the output voltage to the output node as a function of the input voltage. Control circuitry is configured to enable the linear output stage and disable the buck output stage if a current demanded by a load to maintain the output voltage at a desired level is less than a limit current, and enable the buck output stage and disable the linear output stage a delay period of time after enabling the buck output stage, if the current demanded by the load to maintain the output voltage at the desired level is greater than the limit current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Beijing) R&D Co. Ltd
    Inventor: Zhenghao Cui
  • Patent number: 9912219
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an output voltage control circuit includes a detection circuit that is connected to an input voltage terminal and configured to detect a voltage level of an input voltage received at the input voltage terminal and output one or more detection signals corresponding to a comparison of the voltage level of the input voltage to a plurality of predetermined voltage ranges. A selection circuit is connected to the detection circuit and configured to select a first voltage from among a plurality of first voltages according the one or more detection signals from the detection circuit. An output circuit is connected to the selection circuit and configured to output a second voltage by boosting the input voltage based on the first voltage selected by the selection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Atsushi Namai
  • Patent number: 9899870
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a power supply system and a method for supplying power. The power supply system includes an isolating circuit and a first converting circuit. The isolating circuit includes an input terminal and an output terminal. The input terminal of the isolating circuit is configured to connect with a second input source and receive the alternating current or direct current outputted from the second input source. The first converting circuit includes an input terminal and an output terminal. The input terminal of the first converting circuit is configured to connect with a first input source and the output terminal of the isolating circuit. The first converting circuit is configured to convert electricity to output the direct current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Qing Ye, Wen-Xin Zhang, Chao Yan
  • Patent number: 9899921
    Abstract: A current mode switching converter includes a transistor switch, an inductor configured to conduct a ramping inductor current as the transistor switch is turned on and off at a particular duty cycle, and an inductor current sensor generating a current sense signal. The current sense signal has an up-slope portion and a down-slope portion. A separate ramp generator generates a ramp voltage for each switching cycle. A slope compensation circuit compensates the ramp voltage, depending on the duty cycle and other factors, to create a compensated ramp voltage. The compensated ramp voltage is then summed with the current sense signal to create a compensated current sense signal for a comparator. The slope compensation circuit forces the compensated current sense signal to have an up-slope greater than an absolute value of its down-slope at least for duty cycles greater than 50% to rapidly dampen perturbations in the duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Vikas V. Paduvalli