With Inductor In Control Circuit Patents (Class 323/290)
  • Patent number: 11916485
    Abstract: A power supply system includes a plurality of power conversion circuits, each including an inductor and switching elements. A load distribution controller amplifies an inductor current signal input to a current signal terminal, outputs the amplified signal to a common node terminal, and generates an individual feedback signal to be output to a feedback signal adjustment terminal according to an inductor current signal and a voltage of the common node terminal. A switching control circuit controls the switching elements according to the individual feedback signal input to a feedback terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Hosotani
  • Patent number: 11916484
    Abstract: Each of a plurality of power conversion units includes an inductor, a switching circuit, and an individual analog controller. An MPU is capable of performing programmable arithmetic processing and outputs oscillation control signals to the plurality of power conversion circuits. Output parts of the plurality of power conversion units are connected to a common output terminal in a parallel manner, and the common output terminal is connected to a load. The individual analog controller is formed of an analog electronic circuit and includes a feedback signal generating part and a driving part. The feedback signal generating part detects the state of the output part of the power conversion unit and generates a feedback signal to be fed back to the power conversion unit. The driving part drives a switching element of the switching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Hosotani
  • Patent number: 11837955
    Abstract: A power converter circuit included in a computer system may employ a compensation loop to adjust the durations of active times during which the power converter circuit sources energy to a load circuit via an inductor. The compensation loop includes an error signal whose value is based on a difference in the output voltage of the power converter circuit from a desired voltage level. During output transients, the error signal is adjusted using an injection current that tracks current flowing through the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nikola Jovanovic, Michael Couleur, Bhanupriya Suresh
  • Patent number: 11764666
    Abstract: This DC pulse power supply device comprises a voltage clamper including a capacitor that is connected in parallel to a DC reactor in a chopper circuit provided in a pulsing unit in order to suppress increases in the surge voltage resulting from the leakage inductance of the DC reactor. During the start-up of pulsing operation, which is the initial stage of the pulse mode, the frequency of the pulsing operation of the chopper circuit is controlled over the period until the capacitor voltage is charged to a sufficient voltage to reset the magnetic saturation of the DC reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: KYOSAN ELECTRIC MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Itsuo Yuzurihara, Toshiyuki Adachi, Tomohiro Yoneyama, Koichi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 11552563
    Abstract: A power converter is disclosed. The power converter is configured to provide a regulated output voltage. The power converter includes a first control loop configured to generate a first voltage based on a rate of change of the regulated output voltage. A second control loop is configured to generate a second voltage based on an output current provided by the power converter. An amplifier is configured to generate a third voltage based on the first and second voltages. A control circuit is configured to control the regulated output voltage based on the third voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nikola Jovanovic, Michael Couleur, Siarhei Meliukh
  • Patent number: 11329557
    Abstract: A single-inductor multiple-output (SIMO) converter includes a converter configured to provide respective voltages of a plurality of channels with a single inductor and a control logic configured to control switches of the converter based on clocks corresponding to the plurality of channels, wherein the control logic is configured to compare an output voltage of a selected channel of the plurality of channels that corresponds to a control target to a reference voltage of the selected channel based on a clock of the selected channel and operate in one of a first mode that adaptively adjusts a number of times that a pulse triggering a power transfer to the channel is generated, and a second mode that blocks a generation of the pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Seungchul Jung, Kye-Seok Yoon, Gyu-Hyeong Cho, Sang Joon Kim, Sang Jin Lim
  • Patent number: 10811982
    Abstract: A power converter includes an input circuit, an output circuit and a controller. The output circuit may include a plurality of output terminals configured to be connected to a plurality of loads. The input circuit may include a plurality of input terminals configured to be connected to one or more power sources. An inductive element may be coupled between the input circuit and the output circuit. The output circuit may feature one or more voltage compensation circuits connected between two output terminals, the voltage compensation circuits activated to compensate an output voltage at one of the two output terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ofir Bieber, Yaniv Hachamo, Meir Gazit
  • Patent number: 10483838
    Abstract: System and method for protecting a power converter. An example system controller for protecting a power converter includes a signal generator, a comparator, and a modulation and drive component. The signal generator is configured to generate a threshold signal. The comparator is configured to receive the threshold signal and a current sensing signal and generate a comparison signal based on at least information associated with the threshold signal and the current sensing signal, the current sensing signal indicating a magnitude of a primary current flowing through a primary winding of a power converter. The modulation and drive component is coupled to the signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao Yao, Yunchao Zhang, Yuan Lin, Zhiqiang Sun, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 10389225
    Abstract: The invention discloses a switching power supply, a primary control chip and a loop compensation device thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Wenqing Wang, Yongjun Hou
  • Patent number: 10256024
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a power converter having an inductor electrically disposed between a traction battery and an electric machine. The vehicle includes a controller configured to reduce a power limit of the power converter. The reduction is responsive to an increase of a ratio of voltage across the inductor to a rate of change of current through the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Craig Brian Rogers
  • Patent number: 10243448
    Abstract: System and method for protecting a power converter. An example system controller for protecting a power converter includes a signal generator, a comparator, and a modulation and drive component. The signal generator is configured to generate a threshold signal. The comparator is configured to receive the threshold signal and a current sensing signal and generate a comparison signal based on at least information associated with the threshold signal and the current sensing signal, the current sensing signal indicating a magnitude of a primary current flowing through a primary winding of a power converter. The modulation and drive component is coupled to the signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao Yao, Yunchao Zhang, Yuan Lin, Zhiqiang Sun, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 10164535
    Abstract: An SMPS current mode control loop with an adjusted cycle-by-cycle peak current limit for buck and boost (and bidirectional buck/boost) regulators. An SMPS regulator can include a PWM driver to drive switching control signals with a PWM duty cycle to an output terminal OUT, and a PWM controller to control the PWM duty cycle based on a current mode control loop that includes slope compensation to provide a signal VPK corresponding to a current sense signal from a current sense terminal CS, based on sensed peak current through the energy storage element, superimposed with an injected slope compensation current corresponding to a predefined slope compensation based on PWM duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Youhao Xi, Eric Wayne Tisinger
  • Patent number: 10128737
    Abstract: A constant on-time switching converter and a clock synchronization circuit are provided, which generate a synchronization signal according to a clock signal, an input voltage, and an output voltage. The synchronization signal will be synchronized with a period length of the clock signal, thereby acquiring the duty cycle of the constant on-time switching converter. People in the business can accordingly avoid the interference with the synchronization signal and other major clock signals, to prevent electromagnetic interference (BMI) generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chih-Yuan Chen, Zhan-Zhe Huang
  • Patent number: 9543825
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus and control method thereof are provided. The power conversion apparatus includes an output capacitor, an AC-to-DC conversion circuit, a transformer-based auxiliary circuit, an inrush suppression component and a switching circuit. The AC-to-DC conversion circuit is configured to convert an AC power into a DC power. The auxiliary circuit provides a leakage inductance energy. The inrush suppression component provides a first conduction path, and the switching circuit provides a second conduction path. When the switching circuit cuts off the second conduction path in response to the leakage inductance energy, the AC-to-DC conversion circuit conducts the DC power to the output capacitor via the first conduction path. When the switching circuit turns on the second conduction path in response to the leakage inductance energy, the AC-to-DC conversion circuit conducts the DC power to the output capacitor via the second conduction path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: FSP TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Yung-Hsiang Shih, Chang-Hsun Chiang
  • Patent number: 9419518
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are related to generating an error correction voltage and/or a compensation voltage based upon pulse-width modulation information. A device may include a pulse-width modulator configured to receive a first input voltage and convey a modulated output voltage. The device may also include a filtering unit including at least one filter configured to receive the modulated output voltage, generate at least one of an error correction voltage and a compensation voltage, and convey a second input voltage to the pulse-width modulator based on at least one of the error correction voltage and a compensation voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Charles Derrick Tuten, Joseph Duncan, Marko H Koski
  • Patent number: 9337738
    Abstract: A transformer-coupled gate-drive power regulator system is provided that includes a feedback stage that generates a PWM signal having a duty-cycle that is based on a magnitude of an output voltage in an output stage. A switch driver stage configured to provide each of a first control signal and a second control signal based on the PWM signal. A switching stage comprising a first transformer input stage, a second transformer input stage, and a control switch. The first transformer input stage activates the control switch via the first control signal while the second transformer input stage is deactivated, and the second transformer input stage activates the control switch via the second control signal while the first transformer input stage is deactivated. The control switch can be configured to provide current through an output inductor in the output stage to generate the output voltage in response to being activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Colin Gillmor, George Young
  • Patent number: 9024542
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an LED driving circuit can include: (i) a sense circuit configured to sense an inductor voltage, and to generate a sense voltage signal; (ii) a protection control circuit configured to activate a first protection control signal in response to a comparison of the sense voltage signal against a first reference voltage to indicate an LED device is in a first load state; (iii) the protection control circuit being configured to activate a second protection control signal in response to a comparison of the sense voltage signal against a second reference voltage to indicate the LED device is in a second load state; and (iv) a PWM control circuit configured to control a power switch according to the first protection control signal or the second protection control signal, based on the load state of the LED device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) Ltd
    Inventor: Wei Chen
  • Publication number: 20150115926
    Abstract: There is provided a power supply device including: a SEPIC/Zeta converter having an energy storage unit; and a power transmitting unit transmitting the energy stored in the SEPIC/Zeta converter to a load stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Sup SONG, YOUNG DONG SON, CHANGSUNG SEAN KIM, GEUN HONG LEE
  • Publication number: 20150108961
    Abstract: An analog open-loop self-oscillating boost converter is provided including: an output terminal for supplying an output voltage bus; an input terminal for receiving variable input power; a varactor positioned in series with the input terminal; and an oscillating network having an inductor, a resistor and a capacitor in a parallel orientation, the oscillating network connected to a semiconductor device and the varactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Douglas BARLAGE, Lhing Gem Kim SHOUTE
  • Patent number: 9013158
    Abstract: A switched mode power supply provides a reduction of switching losses and increased efficiency. The switched mode power supply includes a first switch coupled to an input terminal configured to receive an input voltage, a second switch, an inductor and an output capacitor. The first switch and the second switch are coupled together at a node, the inductor is coupled between the node and an output terminal, and the output capacitor is coupled to the output terminal. The switched mode power supply further includes a transformer coupled between a control input of the first switch and the node and a pulse generator connected to a control input of the second switch. Further, the transformer includes at most two windings, in particular a primary winding and a secondary winding which are not directly connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Mobile Communications GmbH
    Inventors: Svetozar Broussev, Jani Jaervenhaara, Nikolay Tchamov
  • Patent number: 9007048
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of forming a multi-channel power supply controller includes forming a plurality of channels configured to regulate an output voltage between first and second values, configuring the controller to select a channel that has a lowest current value and initiate forming a drive signal for that channel responsively to the output voltage having a value that is less than the first value, configuring a reset circuit for each channel to terminate the respective drive signal responsively to at least the output voltage having a value greater than the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Gang Chen, Gabor Reizik, Paul J. Harriman, Kisun Lee
  • Publication number: 20150061632
    Abstract: An equivalent series inductance (ESL) cancel circuit for a regulator for adjusting a feedback voltage by attenuating a magnitude of a square wave ripple voltage developed on an output voltage. The regulator includes an output inductor and an output capacitor, in which the capacitor has an ESL which forms an inductive voltage divider with the output inductor causing the square wave voltage ripple. The ESL cancel circuit may include first and second current sources and a resistor device coupled between the output node and an adjust node which is further coupled to a feedback input of the regulator. The first current source applies a current proportional to the output voltage to the adjust node. The second current source selectively applies a current proportional to the input voltage of the regulator based on a state of the pulse control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS LLC
    Inventors: Rhys S.A. Philbrick, Emil Chen, Gwilym Luff, Ruchi J. Parikh
  • Patent number: 8957661
    Abstract: Disclosed is a DC-DC converter, including: a switch unit configured to generate output voltage for driving a load; an output voltage monitoring unit including a reference voltage generator generating reference voltage and a reference voltage capacitor maintaining the reference voltage when power of the reference voltage generator is interrupted and configured to generate a signal for setting the output voltage as the reference voltage; a switch controlling unit configured to control the switch unit by being operated in a pulse width modulation (PWM) mode or a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) mode by using the signal of the output voltage monitoring unit; and a mode determining and power interrupting unit configured to set an operating mode of the switch controlling unit as the PWM mode or the PFM mode according to a magnitude of the load and interrupt power of the reference voltage generator when operated in the PFM mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Sewan Heo, Yil Suk Yang, Jong Kee Kwon
  • Publication number: 20150022176
    Abstract: An improved power converter is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: SUPERTEX, INC.
    Inventor: James T. Walker
  • Patent number: 8933680
    Abstract: A power supply system and method are disclosed. The system includes a switching stage to provide an output current through an output inductor in response to a switching signal having a substantially fixed duty-cycle. The system also includes a load monitor to monitor a load of the power supply system. The system further includes a gate drive controller to generate the switching signal and to change operation of the switching stage from a normal operating mode to a light-load operating mode in response to the load being less than a predetermined threshold to substantially minimize a voltage across the output inductor in the light-load operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mohamed Amin Bemat, Daniel Humphrey
  • Patent number: 8923017
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power converter (90) and a method of operating same. There are numerous advantages to operating power converters using a series resonant converter (1, 21). This approach is particularly suitable for minimizing switching losses in the power converter when it is operated at high frequency. However, there are problems with the known converters in that they are prone to generate noise in the acoustic spectrum due to the fact that the converter stages are often operating at different frequencies. The present invention relates to a power converter and a method of operating same that enables the operating frequency of the converter to be controlled by a control circuit over a predetermined range of the resonant frequency. This allows reduction in acoustic noise generation and facilitates frequency smearing that will in turn reduce spectral peaks. This is achieved while maintaining output ripple within acceptable ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments (Cork) Limited
    Inventor: George Young
  • Patent number: 8878500
    Abstract: There are provided a power factor correction circuit, and a power supply including the same, the power factor correction circuit including a main switch adjusting a phase difference between a current and a voltage of input power, a main inductor storing or discharging the power according to switching of the main switch, a snubber circuit unit including a snubber switch forming a transfer path for surplus power present before the main switch is turned on and a snubber inductor adjusting an amount of a current applied to the snubber switch, and a reduction circuit unit including an auxiliary inductor inductively coupled to the snubber inductor and an auxiliary resistor consuming power induced from the snubber inductor through the auxiliary inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In Wha Jeong, Bum Seok Suh, Kwang Soo Kim
  • Publication number: 20140320104
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling a switched-mode DC-DC converter. An inductor is connected between a switching node and an output node, and an output capacitor is connected in series with the inductor. An RC circuit is connected in parallel with the inductor to compensate for ripple voltage. In a discontinuous current mode, a pulse is applied to the switching node and then removed. In this mode, an RC time constant for the RC circuit is increased during the falling edge of a difference signal such that the difference signal does not drop below zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Song Guo
  • Patent number: 8866464
    Abstract: Systems and methods for regulating a switching converter are disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a power supply system that includes a switching converter that provides an output voltage by alternately turning on and off a high-side transistor and a low-side transistor both coupled to an output inductor through a switching node. The switching converter includes a drive circuit that regulates the output voltage based on a feedback signal. The power supply system also includes a simulated output generator that generates and provides the drive circuit with a simulated inductor waveform as the feedback signal based on a low-side output waveform of the low-side transistor measured at the switching node during off-times of the switching converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott E. Ragona, Rengang Chen, David Jauregui
  • Patent number: 8866465
    Abstract: A solar cell regulator in a nanosatellite includes a pulse width modulated DC-DC boost converter and a peak power tracking controller for converting solar cell power to bus power for charging of system batteries and powering loads while the controller controls the pulse width modulation operation of the converter for sensing solar cell currents and voltages along a power characteristic curve of the solar cell for peak power tracking, for determining any power data point, including a peak power point, an open circuit voltage point, and a short circuit current point along the power characteristic curve of the solar cell, and for communicating the power data to a satellite processor for monitoring the performance of the solar cell during operational use of the satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Simburger, Daniel L. Rumsey, Peter J. Carian, James S. Swenson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8803769
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter generates a first power and a second power for driving pixels in an organic light emitting display, such that the voltages of the first power and the second power are substantially independent of the voltage from a power supply or a battery. A voltage detector detects the voltage from the power supply, and a booster circuit and an inverter circuit respectively boost and invert the voltage from the power supply to generate and output the first and the second powers, respectively, for the pixels. A PWM controller controls the booster circuit and the inverter circuit to control voltages of the first power and the second power. The booster circuit is adapted to reduce the voltage from the power supply to be lower than the voltage of the first power when the voltage from the power supply detected by the voltage detector is higher than a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Cheon Park, Su-Yeon Yun
  • Patent number: 8797015
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a switching power supply device including a rectifying circuit and a switching operation conversion circuit. The rectifying circuit receives a phase-controlled alternating voltage to rectify to a direct voltage. The switching operation conversion circuit starts up by being applied with the direct voltage, and includes a normally on type switching element and an off driving circuit. The normally on type switching element passes an input current, and the off driving circuit turns off the switching element when the input current reaches a prescribed value. The switching operation conversion circuit converts the direct voltage to an output voltage different from the direct voltage by repeating a switching operation of turning on and off the switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kitamura, Yuji Takahashi, Koji Takahashi, Toru Ishitaka, Koji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140184188
    Abstract: In some aspects of the invention, a power conversion device includes a semiconductor switch series circuit configured by connecting semiconductor switches in series, a capacitor series circuit configured by connecting capacitors in series, a reactor L connected between the series connection point of the semiconductor switches and the series connection point of the capacitors and a direct current power source connected in parallel to the capacitor. The semiconductor switch series circuit and capacitor series circuit are connected in parallel, a load is connected between the parallel connection points of the two circuits and the semiconductor switches are turned on and off, thereby raising a direct current power source voltage and supplying it to the load. By way of some aspects of the invention, it is possible to reduce the size and cost of a device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD
    Inventors: Akihiro ODAKA, Akio TOBA, Masakazu GEKINOZU
  • Patent number: 8754622
    Abstract: An automatic voltage compensation circuit in a voltage regulator compensates the output voltage for a voltage drop along lines leading to a remote load. A load capacitor is connected across the load for providing a low impedance across the load during a test phase of the regulator. In one embodiment, during the test phase, the load current is changed up or down a small percentage (e.g., 10%). As a result, the regulator voltage changes due only to the line resistance since the load is bypassed by the load capacitor. The voltage drop at full load current is then derived by detecting the change in regulator output voltage (a fractional voltage drop) and multiplying it. The normal mode is resumed, and the derived voltage drop is added to the regulator output by either compensating the feedback loop or by adding the voltage drop to the output of the regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Dobkin, Thomas P. Hack, Yuhui Chen
  • Patent number: 8749152
    Abstract: A switching power supply includes a first switching element, a rectifying element, a first inductor and a second inductor. The first switching element supplies a power supply voltage to the first inductor and al lows a current to flow when the first switching element is on. The rectifying element is connected in series to the first switching element, and allows a current of the first inductor to flow when the first switching element is turned off. The second inductor is electromagnetically coupled to the first inductor, a potential to turn on the first switching element is induced when the current of the first inductor increases, and a potential to turn off the first switching element is induced when the current of the first inductor decreases. The induced potential is supplied to a control terminal of the first switching element. The rectifying element includes a diode and a second switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Takahashi, Noriyuki Kitamura
  • Patent number: 8749288
    Abstract: Disclosed is a proportional controller that utilizes a deflected metal cantilever that provides a progressive change in capacitance for a given deflection that is used to generate a proportional control signal. In addition, a efficient step-up converter 1500 is disclosed, which is capable of operating with a single alkaline cell. Further, a LED drive circuit is disclosed that has high efficiency and is capable of driving an infrared LED with a single alkaline cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Inventor: Mitch Randall
  • Patent number: 8704500
    Abstract: An embodiment of a power supply includes a supply output node, phase paths, and sensor circuits. The supply output node is operable to carry a regulated output voltage, and each phase path has a respective phase-path non-output node, has a respective phase-path output node coupled to the supply output node, and is operable to carry a respective phase current. And each sensor circuit has a respective sensor node coupled to the phase-path non-output nodes and is operable to generate a respective sense signal that represents the phase current flowing through a respective one of the phase paths. For example, where the phase paths are magnetically coupled to one another, the sensor circuits take into account the portions of the phase currents induced by the magnetic couplings to generate sense signals that more accurately represent the phase currents as compared to conventional sensor circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Intersil Americas LLC
    Inventors: Shangyang Xiao, Weihong Qiu, Jun Liu
  • Patent number: 8698462
    Abstract: The invention provides a power converter and method for controlling same, comprising a plurality of switch elements, an inductive reactor, and at least two ports for the movement of electrical energy. Any energy-moving port may be made unipolar, bidirectional, bipolar, or bidirectionally bipolar. Ports may be equipped with sensing circuitry to allow the converter output to be controlled responsively to an input signal. The invention may be configured to be used in many ways, for example, as a power-supply, as an amplifier, or as a frequency converter. The invention may comprise energy predictive calculating means to obtain excellent transient response to line and load variations. The invention may also include a switch to create a low impedance path around the inductor to allow current to recirculate through the inductor when it is not needed at any of the ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: CogniPower, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas E. Lawson, William H. Morong
  • Publication number: 20140097815
    Abstract: Circuits and related methods for energy efficient battery supplied switching DC-to-DC regulators are disclosed. When entering a power-down state the energy in an output capacitor is harvested and charged back to the battery. This is achieved by ramping-down a reference voltage after a power-down sequence is initiated. The output voltage of the regulator is ramped-down accordingly. At the end of the power down sequence the output voltage of the regulator is down to 0V. The disclosure is especially important for regulators, which frequently are started up and switched down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: DIALOG SEMICONDUCTOR GMBH
    Inventors: Takashi Fujisaki, Hidenori Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8653801
    Abstract: A boost circuit is used for power factor correction (PFC). In a low power application, transition mode control is utilized. However, switching frequency varies with different input voltages, and over a wide input voltage range, the switching frequency can become too high to be practical. To address this issue, a boost circuit is provided whose effective inductance changes as a function of input voltage. By changing the inductance, control is exercised over switching frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianwen Shao, Thomas L. Hopkins
  • Publication number: 20140022149
    Abstract: There are disclosed a DC-DC converter and an organic light emitting display including the same. The DC-DC converter includes a first voltage generator that has an inductor and a plurality of transistors, and converts an input voltage into a first voltage and outputs the first voltage to a first output terminal. The DC-DC converter also includes a controller that controls driving of the first voltage generator by supplying a first driving pulse to each transistor of the first voltage generator. In the DC-DC converter, the amplitude of the first driving pulse is adjustable. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a DC-DC converter and an organic light emitting display including the same, which can achieve high power conversion efficiency by change a driving pulse used in a DC-DC converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Oh-Jo Kwon, Hak-Sun Kim, Joo-Hyung Lee, Won-Tae Choi, Bo-Yeon Kim
  • Publication number: 20130320949
    Abstract: An average current mode buck-boost DC to DC converter has a buck stage coupled between an input voltage source terminal and an output terminal. A boost stage is coupled between the input voltage source terminal and the output terminal. A current ramp control circuit generates a ramp signal for driving the buck and boost stages, the ramp signals being coupled to the buck and boost stages. A constant voltage related to the desired output voltage by a constant is applied directly to both a voltage control feedback loop for adjusting the output voltage and directly to an input to the current ramp control circuit, whereby the output voltage can be shifted from one voltage to another by feedforward control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Prexl, Juergen Neuhaeusler
  • Publication number: 20130272742
    Abstract: A converter includes a switching unit configured to switch a voltage to be input, an inductor connected to the switching unit, a conversion unit configured to convert the voltage switched by the switching unit to be supplied to the inductor into a direct current voltage, a detection unit configured to detect the direct current voltage converted by the conversion unit, and a correction unit configured to correct the detected voltage detected by the detection unit, wherein an operation of the switching unit is controlled based on the voltage corrected by the correction unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichiro Matsumoto, Masahiro Hayakawa, Kenji Nemoto, Toshiki Takajo
  • Patent number: 8547078
    Abstract: Methods are proposed for a buck boost voltage regulator to monitor the output voltage or both the inductor current and the output voltage of the buck boost voltage regulator to control the buck boost voltage regulator to reduce the switching times of the power switches of the buck boost voltage regulator to improve the light load efficiency of the buck boost voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Tzu-Huan Chiu, Kwan-Jen Chu, Chien-Ping Lu, Wei-Hsin Wei
  • Patent number: 8541999
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system that implements a switched-capacitor power converter which is configured to actively control power loss while converting an input voltage to an output voltage. This system includes one or more switched-capacitor blocks (SCBs), wherein each SCB includes a first capacitor and a set of switching devices configured to couple a constant-potential terminal and a time-varying-potential terminal of the first capacitor between the input voltage, the output voltage and a reference voltage. The system also includes a clocking circuit which produces gate drive signals for switching transistors in the one or more SCBs. The system additionally includes a controller configured to actively control the gate drive signals from the clocking circuit to substantially minimize the power loss for the switched-capacitor power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Athas, Thomas C. Greening
  • Patent number: 8508209
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a switching regulator including: a power stage having an upper gate device and a lower gate device coupled with each other, for converting an input voltage to an output voltage and generating a phase voltage at a node between the upper gate device and the lower gate device; and a control circuit including: a switch operation circuit controlling the power stage, the switch operation circuit generating a test signal turning on the upper gate device for a period of time and then turning it off; and a comparator for generating a ready signal indicating that the input voltage is ready according to comparison between the phase voltage and a reference voltage after the upper gate device is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Jo-Yu Wang, Wei-Jhih Wen
  • Patent number: 8508201
    Abstract: In an inductor driving circuit, a DC voltage is applied between a positive terminal and a negative terminal. A series connection of an inductor and a transistor is provided between the positive terminal and the negative terminal. A gate control circuit is configured to turn on the transistor in response to the application of the DC voltage and turn off the transistor in response to the stop of the application of the DC voltage. A diode is connected between a source and a drain of the transistor to have a cathode connected to the positive terminal and an anode connected to the negative terminal. A feedback diode has a cathode connected to the positive terminal and an anode connected to the negative terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 8456879
    Abstract: Provided is a switching power supply apparatus capable of suppressing heat generation from a power supply to improve the efficiency of conversion during a power supply operation and accurately detecting only a current flowing through a load to achieve more stabile control. Since a first closed loop made up of a fourth diode (27d), a third inductor (25c) and a fourth electronic switch (24d) and a second closed loop made up of a second diode (27b), a first inductor (25a) and a second electronic switch (24b) do not include a fourth inductor (25d) and a second inductor (25b) through which an AC output current supplied to a load (28) flows, an unnecessary current does not flow through the first or second closed loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Miyake, Akeyuki Komatsu
  • Patent number: 8454590
    Abstract: A switched inductor system is provided that includes a switching regulator configured to receive an input signal and provide a voltage output, the switching regulator having one or more switches and one or more inductors. The system also includes a sensing circuit in parallel with the inductor. The sensing circuit includes a first RC circuit configured to detect an alternating current component of the voltage output and a second RC circuit configured to detect a direct current component of the voltage output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Robert B. Smith
  • Patent number: 8436593
    Abstract: A boost circuit is used for power factor correction (PFC). In a low power application, transition mode control is utilized. However, switching frequency varies with different input voltages, and over a wide input voltage range, the switching frequency can become too high to be practical. To address this issue, a boost circuit is provided whose effective inductance changes as a function of input voltage. By changing the inductance, control is exercised over switching frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianwen Shao, Thomas Lea R. Hopkins