Including A Transformer Or An Inductor Patents (Class 323/355)
  • Patent number: 7969265
    Abstract: A transformer includes a zigzag transformer comprising first, second and third magnetic cores. The transformer further includes an auxiliary winding set comprising respective pairs of series-connected windings on respective pairs of the first, second and third magnetic cores, the pairs of series-connected windings having respective first terminals connected to respective AC phases of the zigzag autotransformer and respective second terminals configured to provide respective AC output phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Robert William Johnson, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110139771
    Abstract: A series-parallel resonant inverter inductively couples a switchable DC power source, which has a positive reference voltage node, a negative voltage reference node and a common reference node to a load. The load comprises a parallel resonator that is inductively coupled to the work piece and a series resonator. The series and parallel resonators each preferably has impedance, where the series circuit's impedance is greater than the impedance of the parallel circuit. The series resonator could include a high impedance inductor and a DC blocking capacitor in series with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Honeywell ASCa Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Dohmeier, Keith McCormick
  • Publication number: 20110133706
    Abstract: A DC converter circuit having high reliability is provided. The DC converter circuit includes: an inductor configured to generate electromotive force in accordance with a change in flowing current; a transistor including a gate, a source, and a drain, which is configured to control generation of the electromotive force in the inductor by being on or off; a rectifier in a conducting state when the transistor is off; and a control circuit configured to control on and off of the transistor. The transistor includes an oxide semiconductor layer whose hydrogen concentration is less than or equal to 5×1019 atoms/cm3 as a channel formation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kei Takahashi, Yoshiaki Ito, Hiroki Inoue, Tatsuji Nishijima
  • Publication number: 20110037405
    Abstract: A transformer in this invention comprises substrates constructing a primary winding, substrates constructing the secondary winding, and a core member disposed around the substrates. The substrates defining the primary winding are provided with insertion holes for passing a middle leg portion of the core member, and patterned conductors having one turn. The transformer further comprises an interlayer connection member. The interlayer connection member is located inwardly of the patterned conductors of the substrates defining the primary winding. The interlayer connection member is located on the same side of the patterned conductors defining the primary winding. The interlayer connection member is configured to establish the electrical connection of the patterned conductors defining the primary winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Suganuma, Tomoyuki Nakano, Toshiaki Nakamura, Toshifumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7884592
    Abstract: A system and method of use for a DC-DC conversion wherein a DC supply at one voltage is converted to a DC supply at another voltage. The DC-DC converter uses a switching circuit with a broadband transmission line transformer to change the impedance level between a square-wave generator and a [square-wave]-to-DC converter. The transformer transforms generator characteristic impedance into load characteristic impedance. The method also transforms a DC source voltage into another DC load voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Donald H. Steinbrecher
  • Publication number: 20110012583
    Abstract: A smart link in a power delivery system includes an insulator, which electrically isolates a power line, and a switchable conductance placed in parallel with the insulator. The switchable conductance includes switchgear for sourcing, sinking, and/or dispatching real and/or reactive power on the power line to dynamically in response to dynamic loading, transient voltages and/or currents, and phase conditions or other conditions on the power line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Victoria Y.H. Wood
  • Patent number: 7859376
    Abstract: A zigzag autotransformer includes a zigzag transformer including first, second and third magnetic cores and an auxiliary winding set including respective pairs of series-connected windings on respective pairs of the first, second and third magnetic cores, the pairs of series-connected windings having respective first terminals connected to respective AC input phase terminals of the zigzag autotransformer and respective second terminals configured to provide respective AC output phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Robert William Johnson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7844841
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed herein. An embodiment of the electronic device comprises an electronic component, wherein the electronic component is operated by a DC voltage. The electronic component comprises an AC to DC converter that converts an AC voltage to the DC voltage, wherein the RMS value of the AC voltage is greater than the DC voltage. The electronic device further comprises a power supply comprising an input and an output. The input is connectable to a line voltage and the output is connected to the AC to DC converter of electronic component. The AC voltage is output by the output of the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert J. Blakely, Samuel M. Babb, Bradley D. Winick, Robert B. Smith
  • Publication number: 20100277960
    Abstract: An aircraft power supply for providing DC power with improved power quality characteristics. The aircraft power supply includes a transformer control system that can use closed-loop feedback from a DC power output to control switches that can short primary windings turns of a step-down transformer. By shorting turns in the primary, the transformer control system can control or manipulate the turns ratio in the transformer and compensate for decreases in the DC power output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: CHAMPION AEROSPACE, INC.
    Inventors: John DeWitte Cottingham, James R. Berliner
  • Publication number: 20100237849
    Abstract: A fast current generating element in a current generating unit, used by the present invention, provides a large current for accelerating the switching of transistor switches when the transistor switches are switched. The fast current generating element includes a capacitor to provide a large differential current when a voltage level transiently changes during the switching of the transistor switches. Therefore, a transient response time of a signal transformer is shortened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: GREEN SOLUTION TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Ji-Ming Chen, Huan-Wen Chien
  • Publication number: 20100207599
    Abstract: A motor drive cabinet in an on-load tap-changer, including an electric motor drive unit and a control unit. The electric motor drive unit includes an electric motor, a gearbox and a position transmitter. The control unit is arranged to control an outgoing axis outgoing from the motor drive cabinet by feeding the electric motor through direct connection to drive the outgoing axis through the gearbox. The position transmitter is arranged to detect movement and position of the outgoing axis and to provide indications thereof to the control unit. The motor drive cabinet is sealed during use with the electric motor drive unit and control unit within the sealing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Håkan Blomquist, Martin Perols, Jan Ekengren, Jean Mathae, Lahan Konov, Lars G. Eriksson, Tommy Fräsén, Helge Österholm, Per Eriksson
  • Publication number: 20100194344
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a voltage converter including a control circuit, a converter sub-circuit, and a single coil, where when the voltage converter can perform bi-directional voltage conversion using the single coil. In other words, the voltage converter can generate one or more regulated output voltages in both directions from one or more input voltages using the same coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Abraham Carl Greyling
  • Publication number: 20100188068
    Abstract: Disclosed is high efficiency power multiplying piezo transformer architecture having at least one piezo transformer assembly, the at least one piezo transformer assembly including of a plurality of piezo transformers circuits including a first outer and last outer piezo transformer circuits, each of the piezo transformer circuits having a primary side having a positive and negative electrode or terminal and a secondary side having a positive and a negative electrode or terminal. Each of the plurality of piezo transformer circuits forming the piezo transformer assembly is coupled to an adjacent piezo transformer circuit wherein the positive electrode of the primary side of each the piezo transformer circuit is coupled to a first node and each negative electrode of the primary side of each piezo transformer circuit is coupled to a second node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: QORTEK, INC.
    Inventors: Gareth J. Knowles, Ross Bird
  • Patent number: 7755299
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transformer (10) for balancing the current in an AC circuit, comprising a primary winding (12), a secondary winding (14) and a main inductance (16). The transformer is characterized in that a capacitive component is connected in parallel to the primary winding (12) or to the secondary winding (14), whose capacitance value is determined such that the reactive current IL brought about by the main inductance (16) is substantially compensated. A transformer of this kind can preferably be employed in current balancing circuits as used, for example, in systems for backlighting LCD displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert Weger
  • Publication number: 20100141235
    Abstract: To suppress the magnetizing inrush current occurring when supplying power of three phases of the transformer are performed simultaneously using three single-phase circuit breakers or a non-phase segregated operation-type circuit breaker, without providing a circuit breaker with a resistor or other equipment. A magnetizing inrush current suppression method for transformer suppresses a magnetizing inrush current occurring at the start of energizing of a three-phase transformer 300, when a three-phase power supply 100 is input to a terminal of each phase by means of a three-phase circuit breaker 200.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tadashi Koshiduka, Minoru Saito, Susumu Nishiwaki, Nobuyuki Takahashi, Koichi Futagami, Yoshimasa Sato, Tsuyoshi Kokumai, Hiroshi Kusuyama
  • Publication number: 20100141234
    Abstract: A high-voltage isolation transformer utilizing balun cores for transferring an alternating current signal from a first circuit to an output circuit, and a high voltage generator, such as a Cockcroft-Walton multiplier to apply a high direct current voltage bias with a high degree of voltage isolation between the first circuit and the output circuit. Multiple balun core transformers can be used in order to reduce the voltage rise between each individual transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: MOXTEK, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Thomas Dinsmore, David J. Caruso
  • Publication number: 20100134088
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an inverter circuit and a method for supplying an inverted voltage. The method for supplying an inverted voltage comprises: providing a power switch and an inductor electrically connected with each other; driving the gate of the power switch by a driver gate, such that an input voltage is converted to a negative voltage supplied to a load; and providing a low operation voltage to the driver gate according to the negative voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Tsan-Huei Wu, Chun-Hsiung Chang, Chih-Hua Hou, Chiu-Yi Chi
  • Publication number: 20100123450
    Abstract: A system is provided having a first LLC power converter and a second LLC power converter. The first LLC power converter comprises a first LLC voltage source. The second LLC power converter also comprises a second LLC voltage source. The first LLC power converter also comprises a first resonant inductor, a first magnetic inductor, and a first resonant capacitor coupled to the first voltage source of the first LLC power converter. The second LLC power converter comprises a second resonant inductor, a second magnetic inductor, and a second resonant capacitor coupled to the second voltage source of the second LLC power converter. The first LLC power converter and the second LLC power converter are both magnetically couplable to a common load. A resonance of the first LLC power converter substantially matches a resonance of the second LLC power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: Lineage Power Corporation
    Inventors: Raghothama Reddy, Robert Catalano, Roger Grandchampt
  • Publication number: 20100109634
    Abstract: ELECTRO-Ageeb Electrical Safety Device is a new invention that changes the dangerous electricity into a safe one. The new invention allows any human being, animal or any living body to touch live electrical terminals without feeling shock or exposed to any harm that usually happens in the ordinary electricity that is used everywhere nowadays. The invention is based on the principal of energy conversion. It converts the electric supplied by normal electric sources into a magnetic energy then indirectly converts the magnetic energy into a safe electric energy. The invented device can be installed in the main source of houses, public buildings, factories, schools, etc. to provide them with a safe current that protect people, machineries and all the building from any harm that could be happen from the normal electricity including fire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventor: Mahmoud Ajib
  • Patent number: 7707444
    Abstract: A switching mode power supply includes a transformer which includes a primary winding and two secondary windings. One secondary winding and the primary winding constitute a forward circuit. The other secondary winding and the primary winding constitute a flyback circuit. The switching mode power supply also includes a power storing circuit and an output terminal. The power storing circuit is interposed between the forward circuit, the flyback circuit, and the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin-Hong Chung, Kuan-Hong Hsieh, Han-Che Wang
  • Publication number: 20100091521
    Abstract: An electric power supply system includes a transformer having two primary windings for receiving input power and a secondary winding for delivering output power, in which the primary windings are galvanically isolated from each other. A method for supplying electrical power to a load includes magnetically coupling a first primary voltage to a secondary power output; and magnetically coupling a second primary voltage to the secondary power output so that the second primary voltage is kept galvanically isolated from the first primary voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Andy Hinds, Marian Gregg, Mark Baril
  • Publication number: 20100061028
    Abstract: A system for managing electrical consumption includes a connection to an incoming power supply of a facility, for connection in parallel, including a hot line and a neutral line, and at least one ground. The following components are connected between the hot line and the neutral line. They are connected in the order of at least one front capacitor, at least one front arc suppressor, at least one front metal oxide varistor line transient voltage surge suppressor having a predetermined number of joules capability to suppress undesired power spikes, at least two inductor/metal oxide varistor iterative transformers, at least a second capacitor, at least one metal oxide varistor having a predetermined number of joules capability and at least two capacitors, each having predetermined capacitance different from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventor: Guy J. Lestician
  • Publication number: 20100060255
    Abstract: A transformer for reducing the electromagnetic interference (EMI) effect is disclosed. The transformer includes a bobbin; a magnetic core assembly partially sleeved by the bobbin; a first primary winding coiled around the bobbin; a secondary winding coiled on the first primary winding; and a first shielded element disposed between the first primary winding and the secondary winding for disconnecting the EMI transmission from the first primary winding to the secondary winding. The first primary winding includes a first winding portion and a second winding portion, and the first winding portion has larger EMI comparing to the second winding portion. The first winding portion of the first primary winding is adjacently disposed to the magnetic core assembly for shielding the EMI of the first primary winding by using the magnetic core assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Jr-Hong Ouyang, Chih-Hsun Hsu, Jui-Ling Lin
  • Publication number: 20100039092
    Abstract: An inductor assembly includes a first inductor, a second inductor being magnetically coupled to the first inductor, and a third inductor being magnetically coupled to said first and second inductors. The third inductor may be connected to a variable resistor adapted for adjusting the magnetic coupling between the first and the second inductors by varying a resistance value of said variable resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: ST-ERICSSON SA
    Inventors: Christophe Cordier, Sebastien Jacquet
  • Publication number: 20100026275
    Abstract: A flux control system for a three-phase active voltage conditioner that utilizes an injection transformer to apply calculated compensation voltage to a mains supply. The flux control system is configured to modify the compensation voltage to be applied to at least one primary terminal of the injection transformer so as to avoid magnetic saturation of the injection transformer. The flux control system includes magnetic flux model modules that are configured to calculate a core flux level of the injection transformer, flux offset modules that are configured to apply a first modification to the compensation voltage to gradually reduce any flux offset in the injection transformer, and peak flux modules that are configured to apply a second modification to the compensation voltage to prevent the core flux level from exceeding a preset range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: ABB LIMITED
    Inventor: Simon James WALTON
  • Publication number: 20090322307
    Abstract: A power transfer device includes: a transformer that couples a primary circuit and a secondary circuit and has a coupling constant of less than 1; and capacitances that are respectively provided in the primary circuit and the secondary circuit, and connected in series with coils that form the transformer. Circuit constants of the primary circuit and the secondary circuit are set so that the primary circuit and the secondary circuit resonate at the same frequency and a product of the square of the coupling constant, a Q value of the primary circuit and a Q value of the secondary circuit is 1. The primary circuit transfers power to the secondary circuit by means of the transformer, using a carrier wave having the resonance frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventor: Naoki Ide
  • Patent number: 7638988
    Abstract: Ceramic inductors are made from stacked sheets of co-fired ceramic. At least one of the ceramic sheets has a slot with a conductor disposed in the slot. The conductor has a thickness equal to a thickness of the ceramic sheet containing the slot. The conductor has a large thickness (compared to prior art co-fired ceramic inductors) and therefore can carry large currents. The present ceramic inductor can be used in power electronics applications due to the ability to carry large currents. The present ceramic inductor preferably has an inductance that decreases with increasing current. A decreasing inductance characteristic tends to increase energy efficiency in a voltage regulator when the inductor is used as an output inductor. Specifically, the variable inductance tends to substantially increase energy efficiency at low current loads without adversely affecting efficiency at high loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Michele H. Lim, Jacobus Daniel van Wyk
  • Publication number: 20090251125
    Abstract: A digital radiography detector has a two-dimensional array of photosensors disposed in rows and columns. Multiple signal traces connect to the photosensors and extend in a first direction along the two-dimensional array. A switching power supply is connected to a power source and has first and second storage inductors that are substantially matched, are electrically connected in series, include flux fields that are opposite in phase, and are aligned along the first direction of the signal traces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Jeffery Richard Hawver, Ivan Petrov Mollov
  • Publication number: 20090251124
    Abstract: Circuit for the generation of two symmetrical buses of tension with respect to the negative of the feeding tension, comprising supply means able to supply a power step-up circuit comprising an inductor, a switch, a diode and a condenser, an LC filter being arranged in cascade to said power step-up circuit, a pair of switches with relevant re-circulation diodes being connected in cascade to said LC filter, whose peculiar aspect is that said supply means comprise a single supply source, and a circuit branch consisting of a condenser and a diode connected in series the one to the other and in parallel to said switch and said condenser of said power step-up circuit, a further inductor with diode in series being connected between the anode end of said circuit branch diode and a condenser connected symmetrically with respect to the condenser of said power step-up circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventor: Cesare Lasagni
  • Publication number: 20090219275
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter is provided including a switch unit, a coil, and a controller. The switch unit is coupled to an input power supply and is configured to transmit or not to transmit input power from the input power supply in accordance with a switching signal. The coil has a first terminal for receiving current output from the switch unit and a second terminal. The controller is coupled to the coil and is configured to operate or not to operate in accordance with an enable signal. The controller is configured to change a flow of current through the coil such that the second terminal of the coil is at a higher voltage than the first terminal of the coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventor: Sang-Bong Jeon
  • Publication number: 20090212758
    Abstract: A power conversion system includes an input terminal that is arranged to be connected to a voltage source; a transformer having a first winding connected to the input terminal and a second winding connected to an output terminal of the power conversion system, either the first winding or the second winding is provided with at least three taps that are arranged to divide the first winding or the second winding into at least two sub-windings; at least one tap switch connected to the at least two sub-windings; a control circuit connected to the at least one tap switch; and at least one switch connected to the at least one tap switch. The control circuit is arranged to control the at least one tap switch to control the turn ratio of the transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: MURATA POWER SOLUTIONS
    Inventors: Alexander ASINOVSKI, John WANES, Isaac OZKAYNAK, Milan DRAGOJEVIC
  • Publication number: 20090180305
    Abstract: A multi-parallel magnetic-filed cancellation type transformer includes a plurality of coils which generate magnetic flux during energization and a core having a plurality of magnetic leg portions on which the coils are wound, and bases for fixing the magnetic leg portions. The plurality of coils are wound on the magnetic leg portions in such a manner that the magnetic flux generated from the coils are formed in the directions opposite to each other. A plurality of closed magnetic circuits of the magnetic flux are formed at the magnetic leg portions and the bases. The magnetic resistance of the closed magnetic circuits is homogeneous. Accordingly, the transformer can reduce the size thereof, and prevent the deterioration of electric power conversion efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Satoshi Hashino, Masao Nagano, Mitsuaki Hirakawa
  • Publication number: 20090174339
    Abstract: An electronic circuit topology (1) for driving a predominantly capacitive load (2) with a primary circuit with several components, a secondary circuit with a predominantly capacitive load (2), and a transformer device (4) with a primary side (TX 1a) and a secondary side (TX 1b), connecting the primary circuit with the secondary circuit, the primary circuit components comprise: a source device (3), a drain device (5), and a switching device (6), the transformer device (4) is for transforming an input voltage-current-signal to a suitable output voltage-current signal for supplying the predominantly capacitive load (2), wherein the source device (3) is in serial connection with the transformer device (4), the drain device (5), and the switching device (6), whereby the transformer device (4) comprises means for functioning as a resonant tank circuit, as a transformer device (4) in forward mode, and as a transformer device (4) in flyback mode, so that an single-ended forward-flyback circuit is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Marc Maria Alex Bleukx, Wolfgang Schiene, Heinrich Von Busch, Stefan Schwan
  • Publication number: 20090167284
    Abstract: In some embodiments an inductor is external to a tightly coupled transformer. The inductor is coupled in series with at least one input of the tightly coupled transformer, and the inductor does not rely on any leakage inductances of the tightly coupled transformer. The tightly coupled transformer and the inductor are included in the same package. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: Robert D. Wickersham
  • Patent number: 7554316
    Abstract: An inductive power transfer system comprises a primary unit (10), having a primary coil (12) and an electrical drive unit (14) which applies electrical drive signals to the primary coil so as to generate an electromagnetic field. The system also comprises at least one secondary device (30), separable from the primary unit and having a secondary coil (32) which couples with the field when the secondary device is in proximity to the primary unit. A control unit (16) causes a circuit including said primary coil to operate, during a measurement period, in an undriven resonating condition. In this condition the application of the drive signals to the primary coil by the electrical drive unit is suspended so that energy stored in the circuit decays over the course of the period. A decay measurement unit (18) takes one or more measures of such energy decay during the measurement period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    Inventors: Michael Craig Stevens, Alexander Charles Knill, John Robert Dunton
  • Publication number: 20090160424
    Abstract: A high-voltage power supply device includes a circuit board having a piezoelectric transformer; a frequency-controlled oscillator for generating a frequency signal that drives the piezoelectric transformer in accordance with a control signal; a switching element connected to a primary side of the piezoelectric transformer for performing a switching operation in accordance with the frequency signal; a capacitor and inductor forming a parallel resonance circuit for performing a resonating operation owing to switching by the switching element; and a capacitance element connected across ground and the power-supply side of the inductor. The capacitance element and the inductor are arranged on the circuit board in such a manner that when the circuit board undergoes solder-mounting, the capacitance element and the inductor are immersed in a solder bath before the piezoelectric transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7550951
    Abstract: A two-step charger includes an AC/DC power supply, a transformer, a compensator, a controller, a comparator and an isolating controller. The comparator detects whether a battery is connected to the transformer. If so, a command voltage of the charger is set at a high level. Since the battery voltage is lower than the command voltage, the controller orders the compensator to send out a compensating current. The current entering the primary side of the transformer is increased to promote the output current from the secondary side of the transformer. Once the comparator detects that the battery reaches as high as the charger, the command voltage is adjusted to a low level. The controller orders the compensator to stop outputting the compensating current. Therefore, a larger current can speed up battery charging. Once the battery is fully charged, the charging voltage is lowered to avoid high temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Asian Power Devices Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Chi Lai, Ji-Shun Liao
  • Patent number: 7548708
    Abstract: A power supply unit in an image forming apparatus is provided. The power supply unit includes a piezoelectric transformer, an output voltage detecting circuit which detects the output voltage of the piezoelectric transformer, an output voltage control circuit which controls an output voltage from the piezoelectric transformer, and includes a comparator which receives an output voltage setting signal, together with an output voltage detecting signal fed back from the output voltage detecting circuit, to compare the output voltage setting signal and the output voltage detecting signal. The power supply unit also includes a driving frequency supplying circuit which generates a driving frequency signal of the piezoelectric transformer in accordance with a comparison result by the comparator, and supplies the driving frequency signal to the piezoelectric transformer. The time constant of the output voltage control circuit is longer than the time constant of the output voltage detecting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Nagasaki, Atsuhiko Yamaguchi, Tomohiro Nakamori, Takehiro Uchiyama, Kouji Yasukawa, Teruhiko Namiki, Hiroki Murata
  • Publication number: 20090146638
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a micro power converter of a step-up and step-down type without requiring more than two semiconductor switches, without increasing the size of a semiconductor chip, and without degrading efficiency. A micro power converter comprises a micro transformer composed of a planar transformer having a structure including a conductor wound on and through a planar magnetic core, and a semiconductor chip including semiconductor switches S1, S2, and a control circuit for controlling the switches. By constructing a flyback transformer using a micro transformer composed of a planar transformer, a micro power converter of a step-up and step-down type is provided having two semiconductor switches and an overall size comparable to a conventional micro power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Fuji Electric Device Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Satoshi Sugahara
  • Publication number: 20090128121
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a capacitor isolated electronic power converter having a direct current power source in series with a first inductor; and a first switch for switching contact with a second inductor in series with the power source return; an output load in series with a third inductor which connects to a second switch for switching contact to a fourth inductor in series with the output load return; said third inductor and second switch for switching connect through a first capacitive coupling to the second inductor; and said fourth inductor and second switch for switching connect through a second capacitive coupling to the first inductor; wherein the first and second capacitive coupling isolate the power source from the output load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventor: Stanley M. Granat
  • Publication number: 20090039145
    Abstract: The invention provides a power module for a stock prodder and a stock prodder including the power module. The power module includes an input section coupleable to a power source, an output section operatively coupled to the input section and configured to output power to discharge electrodes of a stock prodder, and a control circuit. In use, the control circuit is configured to automatically vary the output power, preferably by increasing the output power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventor: Per Ib Rosendal Andersen
  • Publication number: 20090015234
    Abstract: A power supply arrangement for an electricity meter includes an input, a full wave rectifier, and a voltage doubler circuit. The input is configured to receive a periodical input signal. The full wave rectifier is coupled to the input and has a first output. The first output is coupled to a first load of the electricity meter. The voltage doubler circuit is coupled to the input and has a second output coupled to a second load of the electricity meter. The voltage doubler is configured to prevent the flow of current from the second output to the input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: Landis+Gyr, Inc.
    Inventors: John Voisine, Raj Sundaram
  • Publication number: 20080303505
    Abstract: A self tuning high voltage power supply comprising a signal generator that emits a variable frequency signal, an amplifier that receives the variable frequency signal and emits an amplified variable frequency signal, and a transformer that receives and steps up the amplified variable frequency signal, creating an output voltage that corresponds to a desired voltage. A measuring unit measures the power consumed by the amplifier and provides a reading to a processing unit, which receives such reading and tunes the signal generator to emit a variable frequency signal that is at the frequency of resonance of the transformer. This causes the transformer to operate at conditions of resonance and to substantially eliminate power losses due to stray capacitance and stray inductance. As a consequence, the self tuning high voltage power supply can deliver the desired voltage with minimum power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Wing, Eliahu Weinstein
  • Publication number: 20080297134
    Abstract: A circuit for transferring amplified resonant power to a load is disclosed. The circuit transfers amplified resonant power, which is generated in an inductor of a conventional transformer when serial or parallel resonance of a conventional power supply is formed, to a load through the conventional transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: Kwang-Jeek Lee
  • Patent number: 7442263
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transductor regulator with a magnetic core which is made up of a nanocrystalline alloy which is almost free of magnetorestriction. The core has as low cyclic magnetization losses as possible and as rectangular a hysterisis cycle as possible. Said alloy has the composition: FeaCobCucM?dSixByM?z, M? representing an element from the group V, Nb, Ta, Ti, Mo, W, Zr, Hf or a combination of these and M? representing an element from the group C, P, Ge, As, Sb, In, O, N or a combination of these and the following conditions applying: a+b+c+d+x+y+z=100%, with a=100%?b?c?d?x?y?z, 0?b?15, 0.5?c?2, 0.1?d?6, 2?x?20, 2?y?18, 0?z?10 and x+y>18. The inventive transductor regulators are particularly advantageously used in motor vehicle voltage supplies, rail power supplies or in aircraft power supplies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Vacuumschmelze GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wulf Günther, Roman Klinger, Werner Loges, Jörg Petzold
  • Publication number: 20080258703
    Abstract: There is provided a power supply for an electrical device operable in active mode and in standby mode. The power supply comprises a transformer having a primary winding on the primary side and a secondary winding on the secondary side. The primary winding is connectable to an AC voltage supply and is arranged to comprise N turns when the electrical device is in active mode and more than N turns when the electrical device is in standby mode. Circuitry on the secondary side is arranged to provide an output voltage for the electrical device during active mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Jun Makino, Boon Ghee Ting
  • Publication number: 20080246459
    Abstract: There is disclosed a filter for reducing electromagnetic interference generated by a power converter. The filter may include a common-mode inductor having first and second windings on a common core. The first and second windings may be connected between first and second power input lines and first and second inputs to the power converter, respectively. A series combination of a resistor and a voltage limiting device may be connected in parallel with the first winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas M. Ingman
  • Publication number: 20080231241
    Abstract: A multi-transformer unit is operative for converting an input AC voltage at a first voltage level to a net output AC voltage at a second voltage level. The multi-transformer unit can be used in place of a conventional transformer or an AC machine and is designed to suppress the transfer of harmonics between the input and output AC voltages. The unit comprises at least two phase-shifting transformers, each transformer being operative to provide a phase shift relative to the first voltage level. On the primary side of the unit the transformers are arranged for independent connection to the first voltage level, whereas on the secondary side of the unit the transformers are linked such that voltage vectors on the secondary side of the unit are added together to at least partially cancel the harmonic pollution and give the net output AC voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventor: Eric Anthony Lewis
  • Publication number: 20080231383
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to coupled circuits and methods of coupling circuits having a power supply wherein a plurality of transistors are inductively coupled directly to the power supply for providing a single DC supply voltage directly to each of the plurality of transistors, and wherein a plurality of transformers have primary and secondary windings, the primary and secondary windings providing, at least in part, inductive loads for inductively coupling the plurality of transistors to the power supply, the plurality of transformers also providing an AC signal path for coupling neighboring ones of the plurality of transistors together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: THE REGENT OF THE UNIVERISTY OF CALIFORINA
    Inventors: Mau-Chung Frank Chang, Daquan Huang, Tim Richard LaRocca
  • Publication number: 20080211478
    Abstract: A resonant converter is provided which may be used for supplying power to the primary conductive path of an inductively coupled power transfer (ICPT) system. The converter includes a variable reactive element in the resonant circuit which may be controlled to vary the effective inductance or capacitance of the reactive element. The frequency of the converter is stabilised to a nominal value by sensing the frequency of the converter resonant circuit, comparing the sensed frequency with a nominal frequency and varying the effective inductance or capacitance of the variable reactive element to adjust the converter frequency toward the nominal frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: AUCKLAND UNISERVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephan H. Hussman, Aiguo Hu