In Rectifier Systems Patents (Class 363/125)
  • Patent number: 10097027
    Abstract: A power bank device has an input connector, an output connector, a DC-to-DC switching converter, a plurality of battery cells coupled together in series, and novel light load detection circuitry. The power bank device is operable in a discharging mode in which the battery cells power the DC-to-DC converter, and the converter drives a regulated DC voltage onto the output connector. The detection circuitry detects whether a light load condition exists in which only a small amount of current is being output onto the output connector. If the condition is detected, then the converter is disabled so that current flow out of the output connector is stopped. In one example, the condition is detected by supplying a constant current onto the output connector and detecting whether the voltage on the output connector rises and stays above a predetermined voltage for a predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc.
    Inventor: Hong Mao
  • Patent number: 10008955
    Abstract: A synchronous rectification converter circuit is provided, including three transformer secondary-windings, three current transformers, a synchronous rectification switching circuit, a diode rectification circuit, and a control circuit. Each of three current transformers includes a primary-winding and secondary-winding. The three transformer secondary-windings and the three current transformer primary-windings are alternately connected in series to form a first triangular structure circuit. Three vertices of the first triangular structure circuit are connected to the synchronous rectification switching circuit. The three current transformer secondary-windings are connected in series to form a second triangular structure circuit. Three vertices of the second triangular structure circuit are connected to the diode rectification circuit. The diode rectification circuit is connected to the control circuit and the synchronous rectification switching circuit is connected to the control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenbin Chen, Kui Zhou
  • Patent number: 9997941
    Abstract: A charging and discharging system, a charging and discharging method, and a photovoltaic power generation system are provided. The charging and discharging system includes: a unidirectional converter, a unidirectional switch, an energy storage device and a controller; where an input terminal of the unidirectional converter is connected to an output terminal of a photovoltaic device of a photovoltaic power generation system to which the charging and discharging system is applied, and an output terminal of the unidirectional converter is connected to an input terminal of the energy storage device; the unidirectional switch is connected between an output terminal of the energy storage device and an input terminal of a bidirectional inverter of the photovoltaic power generation system to which the charging and discharging system is applied; the controller is connected to the unidirectional converter, the unidirectional switch, the energy storage device and the bidirectional inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SUNGROW POWER SUPPLY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lei Tao, Nianan Pan, Jigui Feng, Haiyan Zou
  • Patent number: 9973104
    Abstract: A power module includes a substrate, a first sub-module, a second sub-module and a circuit board. The semiconductor switches and the diodes of the first sub-module and the second sub-module are embedded within insulation layers. Consequently, the first sub-module and the second sub-module are formed as a high-voltage-side switching element and a low-voltage-side switching element of a bridge circuit. The first sub-module and the second sub-module are disposed on a first surface of the substrate. An electrode of the first sub-module and some electrodes of the second sub-module are electrically connected with corresponding conducting parts of a circuit board. A heat sink is disposed on a second surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INT'L (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
    Inventors: Yiu-Wai Lai, Da-Jung Chen
  • Patent number: 9894719
    Abstract: A driver includes a semiconductor chip, a bridge rectifier, and a current driver. The semiconductor chip includes a rectifying diode and a constant current source formed thereon. The bridge rectifier includes the rectifying diode. The current driver includes the first constant current source to provide a constant current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Epistar Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Shu Huang, Chang-Hseih Wu, Min-Hsun Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9868358
    Abstract: A power conversion system includes a DC-DC converter, a voltage detector, a current detector and a controller. The controller controls the DC-DC converter such that the DC-DC converter starts outputting power when the output voltage detected by the voltage detector is below a predetermined voltage and stops outputting the power when the output current detected by the current detector is below a reference current that corresponds to the conversion efficiency being larger than or equal to a predetermined conversion efficiency. The reference current is determined as a current value at which the conversion efficiency is decreased to be lower than the predetermined conversion efficiency when the output current exceeds the current value. The controller includes a limiting means that limits the output current not to exceed the reference current while the DC-DC converter is outputting the power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Kono
  • Patent number: 9837828
    Abstract: A wireless power supply system includes: a wireless power transmitting device configured to include a variable resonant circuit having a variable-controllable resonant frequency characteristic, and to transmit electric power wirelessly via the variable resonant circuit; a power transmission control unit configured to variably control the resonant frequency characteristic of the variable resonant circuit; and a plurality of wireless power receiving devices configured to include respective unique resonant circuits having respective unique resonant frequency characteristics which are different to each other, and to wirelessly receive power from the wireless power transmitting device by a magnetic field resonance mode arising as a result of the unique resonant circuit tuning to a resonant frequency of the variable resonant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Akiyoshi Uchida
  • Patent number: 9793261
    Abstract: A power semiconductor device includes: a first MOSFET having a first conductivity type including a first source, a first drain, and a first gate; a second MOSFET having a first conductivity type including a second drain, a second source electrically coupled to the first source, and a second gate electrically coupled the first gate; and a diode being coupled between the first and second drains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaaki Takiguchi, Katsuhisa Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 9712047
    Abstract: A power factor controller is disclosed, in which error feedback is provided my means of a parallel combination of at least two error feedback channels. By providing at least two error feedback channels, the stability associated with, for instance, a continuously integrated feedback loop with relatively long time constant, may be combined with a fast transient response associated with, for instance, a sample-and-hold error feedback. A method of operating such a power factor controller is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Cheng Zhang, Frans Pansier, Peter Theodorus Johannes Degen
  • Patent number: 9705417
    Abstract: A rectifier includes a larger Field Effect Transistor (FET1) and a smaller FET (FET2). A sense resistor is in series with FET2's body diode between a cathode terminal and an anode terminal. If the cathode terminal voltage is greater than the voltage on the anode terminal, then body diodes of FETs are reverse biased, the FETs are controlled to be off, and there is no current flow through the rectifier. If, however, the voltage on the anode terminal becomes positive with respect to the cathode terminal, then the body diode of FET2 starts to conduct and there is a voltage drop across the sense resistor. A comparator detects this condition and turns both FETs on. The rectifier is then conductive, so current can flow from the anode terminal, through the larger FET1, and to the cathode terminal, with a small forward voltage drop and without passing across the sense resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: IXYS Corporation
    Inventors: Anatoliy V. Tsyrganovich, Leonid A. Neyman
  • Patent number: 9692318
    Abstract: A synchronous rectifier, which rectifies an alternating voltage signal as an input signal and/or forwards a dc voltage signal as an input signal for use as an output signal. Included is a rectifying unit composed of at least one controllable switch element; a smoothing unit, which is connected to the rectifying unit and smooths the signal rectified or forwarded by the rectifying unit, in order to provide a smoothed signal for use as output signal; a control logic, which controls the rectifying unit based on the input signal and the output signal coming from the smoothing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Tobias Paul, Niels Donkers, Juan Angel Alonso-Schonlau, Klaus Ruf
  • Patent number: 9692312
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes a rectifier, a converter including a reactor, a switching element, and a reverse current prevention element, a smoothing capacitor configured to smooth the output voltage, a current detector configured to detect a reactor current, a voltage detector configured to detect the output voltage, and a converter control unit configured to control operation of the switching element of the converter. The converter-control unit includes a switching command calculation unit configured to calculate a switching command value responsive to a ratio of the rectified voltage to the output voltage in accordance with the output voltage and the reactor current, a switching control unit configured to control operation of the switching element in accordance with the switching command value, and a supply abnormality determination unit configured to determine occurrence of a momentary power failure or voltage sag in accordance with the switching command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenta Yuasa, Shinsaku Kusube, Akihiro Tsumura, Takuya Shimomugi
  • Patent number: 9692246
    Abstract: A power bank device has an input connector, an output connector, a DC-to-DC switching converter, a plurality of battery cells coupled together in series, and novel light load detection circuitry. The power bank device is operable in a discharging mode in which the battery cells power the DC-to-DC converter, and the converter drives a regulated DC voltage onto the output connector. The detection circuitry detects whether a light load condition exists in which only a small amount of current is being output onto the output connector. If the condition is detected, then the converter is disabled so that current flow out of the output connector is stopped. In one example, the condition is detected by supplying a constant current onto the output connector and detecting whether the voltage on the output connector rises and stays above a predetermined voltage for a predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc.
    Inventor: Hong Mao
  • Patent number: 9673728
    Abstract: A converter arrangement can include a first rectifier having an AC input and a DC output with two DC output poles, a capacitance (C) connected between the DC output poles of the first rectifier, a second rectifier having an AC input with two AC input poles and a DC output with two DC output poles, wherein the DC output of the second rectifier is connected between the DC output poles of the first rectifier. A magnetic amplifier includes at least one control winding (L2) and at least one AC winding (L11, L12), wherein the at least one control winding is connected between the DC output poles of the first rectifier, and wherein the at least one AC winding (L2) of the magnetic amplifier is connected in series with the AC input of the second rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Technology Oy
    Inventors: Markku Talja, Veikko Hakala
  • Patent number: 9634514
    Abstract: A rectification and regulation circuit for a wireless power receiver includes a coil, a full-wave rectifier circuit and a control unit. The full-wave rectifier has a first pair of controllable rectifiers including a first transistor connected to a first terminal of the coil and a second transistor connected to a second terminal of the coil. The control unit is operable to control switching of the transistors of the full-wave rectifier so that the full-wave rectifier (a) generates a rectified output for charging a battery of the wireless power receiver by rectifying current through the coil or voltage across the coil and (b) regulates the rectified output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Darryl Tschirhart
  • Patent number: 9595835
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing and operating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a first capacitor node, a second capacitor node, a first capacitor electrode, a second capacitor electrode, a first switch and a second switch. The first switch is coupled between the first capacitor electrode and the first and second capacitor nodes such that the first switch has a first position that couples the first capacitor electrode to the first capacitor node and a second position that couples the first capacitor electrode to the second capacitor node. The second switch is coupled between the second capacitor electrode and the first and second capacitor nodes such that the second switch has a first position that couples the second capacitor electrode to the first capacitor node and a second position that couples the second capacitor electrode to the second capacitor node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Allers, Reiner Schwab
  • Patent number: 9577546
    Abstract: An AC-DC power converter is provided with two pairs of self-driven synchronous rectifier switches in addition to, or in place of, diode bridge rectifiers for boosting efficiency and reducing cost. An AC sensing circuit is coupled to AC input terminals, and a DC level shifting circuit applies a DC offset to an AC input signal received via the sensing circuit. A comparator circuit determines positive and negative half waves of the AC input signal relative to the DC offset value. Gate drive signals are provided for driving a first set of parallel rectifier switches during a positive half cycle of the AC input signal, and for driving a second and opposing pair of parallel rectifier switches during a negative half cycle of the AC input signal. In an embodiment, high side gate drive signals may be electrically isolated from the active rectifier control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: PAI CAPITAL LLC
    Inventors: Andrej Teren, Marian Vranka, Martin Pietka, Lee Tai Keung
  • Patent number: 9577542
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a constant on-time isolated converter comprising a transformer with a primary side and a secondary side. The primary side is connected to an electronic switch and secondary-side is connected to a load and a processor. The processor is connected to a driver on primary side through at least one coupling element and to the electronic switch. The processor receives an output voltage or an output current across the load generating a control signal accordingly. The driver receives the control signal through the coupling element and accordingly changes the ON/OFF state of the electronic switch, regulating the output voltage and the output current via the transformer, where the duration of the ON/OFF state of the electronic switch is determined between the moment control signal changes from negative to positive and the moment it changes from positive to negative to achieve a high-speed load transient response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Alpha & Omega Semiconductor (Cayman), Ltd.
    Inventors: Tien-Chi Lin, Chih-Yuan Liu, Yung-Chuan Hsu, Pei-Lun Huang
  • Patent number: 9520777
    Abstract: A time signal generator and a time generating method used in a power converter are provided. The time generating method includes following steps. An error delay signal is generated according to an error signal, wherein the error signal is related to an output voltage of the power converter. A time signal is generated according to the error signal and the error delay signal. The time signal may serve to improve a response speed of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: uPI Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Ya-Ping Chen
  • Patent number: 9444247
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of protecting a power receiver of a wireless power transmission system are provided. A wireless power receiver includes a rectifier comprising an input and an output, and configured to receive a signal through the input, to rectify the signal to produce a rectified signal, and to output the rectified signal through the output, and a capacitor connected to the output of the rectifier and to ground. The wireless power receiver further includes a direct current-to-direct current (DC/DC) converter connected to the output of the rectifier and to a load, and configured to convert the rectified signal to a power, and to provide the power to the load, and a device configured to create a short circuit to protect the rectifier and/or the capacitor when a voltage greater than a threshold voltage is applied to the input of the rectifier and/or the output of the rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Zo Kim, Sang Wook Kwon, Ki Young Kim, Nam Yun Kim, Yun Kwon Park, Eun Seok Park, Young Ho Ryu, Chang Wook Yoon, Jin Sung Choi, Young Tack Hong
  • Patent number: 9431895
    Abstract: An SMPS received a rectified periodic input line voltage and is configure to provide a regulated output. A power switch has a constant turn-on time in a given cycle of the rectified periodic input line voltage. A maximum value of the envelope of peak currents through the power switch is determined and is compared with a reference value, and the power switch turn-on time in the next cycle is adjusted accordingly. The output of the power supply is regulated to a target output value, and the current is in phase with the periodic input line voltage, resulting in a high power factor. No sampling of the line voltage is needed to maintain the high power factor. A controller chip can have as few as five pins. Alternatively, a seven-pin controller chip can have two external resistors for selecting operations in either Boundary Conduction Mode (BCM) or Discontinuous Conduction Mode (DCM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Shanghai SIM-BCD Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Na Liu, Zeqiang Chen, Yajiang Zhu, Jianhua Duan, Chao Deng, Zhimin Hu, Siyuan Xu
  • Patent number: 9389659
    Abstract: A power supply system for an information handling system is provided. The information processing system is electrically coupled to an AC power source and includes at least one computer unit. The power supply system includes: at least one AC power supply unit electrically coupled to the at least one computer unit and the AC power source; at least one DC power supply unit electrically coupled to the at least one computer unit; and a backup power unit electrically coupled to the at least one DC power supply unit. In response to the at least one AC power supply unit not supplying power, the at least one DC power supply unit supplies power to the at least one computer unit. A data center having the power supply system is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jung-Tai Chen, Wei-Tien Chen, George Cheng, Chih-Chiang Chiu, Chin-Yu Huang, JunHom Lin, W. J. Tseng
  • Patent number: 9306464
    Abstract: A synchronous rectifying control circuit of a power converter is provided. The synchronous rectifying control circuit comprises a synchronous rectifying driver, a charge pump capacitor, and a capacitor. The synchronous rectifying driver is coupled to a transformer for generating a control signal to switch a transistor. The charge pump capacitor is coupled to a power source for generating a charge pump voltage. The capacitor is coupled to store the charge pump voltage. The transistor is coupled to the transformer and operated as a synchronous rectifier. The charge pump voltage is coupled to guarantee a sufficient driving capability for the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SYSTEM GENERAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Chou-Sheng Wang
  • Patent number: 9274491
    Abstract: The discharge circuit includes plural resistors connected in parallel to a capacitor and connected between input lines. When input of an alternative voltage has stopped, the plural resistors form plural discharge paths to remove charges accumulated in the capacitor, thereby removing the charges in the capacitor connected between the input lines of the alternative voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinichiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9257901
    Abstract: In a DC power supply circuit, a first period and a second period are alternately repeated a plurality of times during each half cycle of AC supplied to the DC power supply circuit. The first period is a period during which current flows along a first current path extending from an output terminal at a high-potential side of a rectifier circuit to an output terminal at a low-potential side of the rectifier circuit, via an inductor and a switching element. The second period is a period during which current flows along a second current path extending from the output terminal at the high-potential side of the rectifier circuit to the output terminal at the low-potential side of the rectifier circuit, via the inductor, a charging current supply path, and a capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazushige Sugita, Kazuhiko Itoh, Masanobu Murakami
  • Patent number: 9190847
    Abstract: A power distribution system includes a DC-DC converter which outputs a DC power after converting the DC power outputted from a DC power source to a desired voltage level. In the power distribution system, the DC-DC converter is controlled so as to operate only when the input voltage falls in a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Tamura, Takuya Kagawa, Hiroaki Koshin
  • Publication number: 20150145453
    Abstract: A power conversion circuit for supplying power to an inductive load, includes a switching circuit and an energy saving circuit. The inductive load is supplied with electrical power and the energy saving circuit is charged when the switching circuit is conductive, and the inductive load is disconnected from the electrical power supply and the energy stored in the energy saving circuit is discharged to the inductive load when the switching circuit is nonconductive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Chi Ping SUN, Fei XIN, Xiu Wen YANG, Shing Hin YEUNG, Yun Long JIANG, Yan Yun CUI
  • Publication number: 20150145452
    Abstract: A power converting circuit for supplying power to an inductive load, includes an inductance, a switching circuit and an energy saving circuit. The inductance is charged when the switching circuit is conductive and discharges energy to the energy saving circuit and the inductive load when the switching circuit is nonconductive. The energy saving circuit discharges energy to the inductive load when the switching circuit is conductive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Chi Ping SUN, Fei XIN, Xiu Wen YANG, Shing Hin YEUNG, Yun Long JIANG, Yan Yun CUI
  • Patent number: 9042136
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a magnetic flux conversion device (MFCD) that may produce a regulated output signal with a target value (e.g., target voltage and/or target current) from a source signal on a power line. The MFCD may include a secondary stage configured to be inductively coupled with the power line. The source signal may cause a secondary electrical signal to flow in the secondary stage. A regulator module may be coupled to the secondary stage and configured to produce the output signal with the target value across output nodes by sensing the output signal and shunting the secondary stage if a value of the output signal is above the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: EnGen Technologies LLC
    Inventors: George N. Osgood, Lee V. Gassaway
  • Patent number: 9035634
    Abstract: A power supply for a load control device generates a DC voltage and provides an asymmetrical output current, while drawing a substantially symmetrical input current. The power supply comprises a controllably conductive switching circuit for controllably charging an energy storage capacitor across which the DC voltage is produced. The energy storage capacitor begins charging at the beginning of a half-cycle and stops charging after a charging time in response to the magnitude of the DC voltage and the amount of time that the energy storage capacitor has been charging during the present half-cycle. The charging time is maintained substantially constant from one half-cycle to the next. The power supply is particularly beneficial for preventing asymmetrical current from flowing in a multiple location load control system having a master load control device supplying power to a plurality of remote load control devices all located on either the line-side or the load-side of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel F. Carmen
  • Patent number: 9013904
    Abstract: A power transmission system is provided. The power transmission system includes a power source for providing power. The system also includes a power conversion system comprising power converters coupled to receive the power and convert the power to DC power, wherein the power conversion system comprises a plurality of legs each configured for pulse width modulation. The system further includes a controller comprising an analysis module programmed for determining a number of legs for switching for minimizing a cost function based on operating conditions of the power conversion system. The controller also includes a switch control module programmed for using the number of legs determined by the analysis module for generating switching commands for the power conversion system. The system also includes a DC transmission bus coupled to receive the DC power and transmit the DC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Di Zhang, Luis Jose Garces
  • Patent number: 9003826
    Abstract: The motor (1) of the present invention is fed by the mains voltage (Vac), and comprises a main winding (MW), an auxiliary winding (AW), a first triac (2) connected in series to the auxiliary winding (AW) which provides to start up the motor (1) by being actuated at the moment of start up in order to operate the motor (1), a second triac (3) connected in series to the main winding (MW) which provides the motor (1) to continue operating and a control unit (4) which controls the start up and operation of the motor (1) by actuating the triacs (2 and 3) when required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
    Inventors: Oner Hatipoglu, Ahmet Ihsan Yuce, Mustafa Yuksel, Mucahit Bacaksiz
  • Patent number: 9001539
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide an AC/DC power converter that converts an AC input voltage into a DC output voltage. This AC/DC power converter includes an input rectifier stage which rectifies an AC input voltage into a first rectified voltage of a first constant polarity and a first amplitude. The AC/DC power converter also includes a switching resonant stage which is directly coupled to the output of the input rectifier stage. This switching resonant stage converts the rectified voltage into a second rectified voltage of a second constant polarity and a second amplitude. The AC/DC power converter additionally includes an output rectifier stage coupled to the output of the switching resonant stage, wherein the output rectifier stage rectifies the second rectified voltage into a DC voltage output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: InHwan Oh
  • Patent number: 9001543
    Abstract: Described is a rectification circuit to generate a direct current at an output of the rectification circuit subject to an alternating voltage at an input of the rectification circuit. The rectification circuit comprises: coupling means at the input to receive the alternating voltage from a galvanically decoupled electronic subsystem; a first switch arranged between the coupling means and the output to block current in a first direction and to conduct current in a second direction, wherein a resistance of the first switch is adjustable; a first modulation unit to receive encoded information; mapping the encoded information to a first modulation state, wherein each modulation state specifies a resistance value and/or a temporal evolution of the resistance value; adjusting the resistance of the first switch, thereby modulating the current conducted by the first switch according to the first modulation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventor: Horst Knoedgen
  • Publication number: 20150092465
    Abstract: One embodiment describes an AC/DC converter system. The system includes a flux-shuttle loop that is inductively coupled with an AC input signal. The system also includes a plurality of Josephson junctions spaced about the flux shuttle loop that are configured to sequentially trigger in response to the AC input signal and to provide a single-flux quantum (SFQ) pulse that moves sequentially around the flux-shuttle loop that results in a DC output signal being provided through an output inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Quentin P. Herr, Anna Y. Herr
  • Patent number: 8995153
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a passive power factor correction circuit. The passive power factor correction circuit comprises: a filtering device being used for decreasing high order harmonic of an input current; a resonance device being coupled to the filtering device for controlling operation time of the input current; and a suppression device being coupled to the resonance device for suppressing ripple of the input current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Po-Yen Chen, Ching-Tsai Pan
  • Patent number: 8976548
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention reduces electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by a capacitive dropper power supply by synchronizing the openings and closings of a shunt switched used for regulation control of the DC output voltage generated by the power supply, to zero crossings of AC current from the current-limiting resistor disposed in series at the AC input of the power supply. In one or more other embodiments, the capacitive dropper power supply includes disconnect circuitry that senses a loss of the input AC voltage source and in response wholly or partly disconnects internal regulation control circuitry from the supply's output filter capacitor to reduce the current drawn from the filter capacitor, thereby reducing the decay rate of the DC output voltage from the filter capacitor. The contemplated power supply may also be implemented in a Bipolar, BiCMOS or CMOS process, for realization in a compact integrated circuit device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Sensus USA, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Laletin, Robert Rouquette, H. Britton Sanderford, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8975941
    Abstract: A signal processing circuit includes an input inverter and an output inverter. Each inverter has a signal input for receiving an input rectangular signal, a signal output for providing an inverted output rectangular signal, and a pair of voltage outputs for developing a rectified dc output voltage. A first circuit input terminal is connected to the output of the input inverter and the input of the output inverter. A second circuit input terminal is connected to the input of the input inverter and the output of the output inverter, wherein the signal input terminals receive an input signal having a data component. A pair of supply voltage output terminals is connected to the voltage output terminals of the inverters for providing a rectified dc supply voltage output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
    Inventor: Clemens M. Zierhofer
  • Patent number: 8957630
    Abstract: Provided is a reflected energy management apparatus for resonance power transmission. The reflected energy management apparatus for resonance power transmission may include a source resonator configured to transmit a power to a target resonator, and a reflected power management unit configured to: detect a reflected wave corresponding to the power transmitted to the target resonator, and to generate a power using the detected reflected wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Tack Hong, Nam Yun Kim, Sang Wook Kwon, Eun Seok Park, Young Ho Ryu
  • Patent number: 8937471
    Abstract: A discharging circuit includes a filter unit connected between the input lines of a commercial AC power supply, a switch whose operations are controlled by the filter unit; and a discharging unit which discharges voltage of the capacitance element when the switch unit is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junya Kobayashi, Minoru Hayasaki
  • Patent number: 8937821
    Abstract: A DC power supply apparatus comprising: a rectifying circuit including, a first rectifying portion, a second rectifying portion, a third rectifying portion and a fourth rectifying portion; a current detection portion; a first switching portion; and a second switching portion; wherein each of the first rectifying portion cooperatively operating with the first switching portion and the second rectifying portion cooperatively operating with the second switching portion is a semiconductor element which is formed by using a Schottky junction formed between silicon carbide or gallium nitride and metal and has a withstanding voltage property with respect to a voltage of an AC power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Amano, Daisuke Suzuki, Katsuhiko Saito
  • Publication number: 20150016167
    Abstract: A multilevel converter for performing a DC to AC or an AC to DC voltage conversion as provided. The multilevel converter has a first DC terminal and a second DC terminal, a first converter arm and a second converter arm, wherein each converter arm comprises at least one converter cell, at least one AC terminal and an electric component. The first converter arm, the electric component and the second converter arm are connected in series between the first DC terminal and the second DC terminal. The electric component is connected between the first converter arm and the second converter arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Anandarup Das, Hamed Nademi, Lars Norum
  • Patent number: 8928260
    Abstract: A traction motor system calculates motor flux by generating a real time effective resistance of a resistance grid calculated from motor torque and measured voltage on a DC link. Calculating effective resistance avoids solely relying on DC link voltage, which can be influenced by conditions such as wheel slip and drop out of one or more resistance grids. The effective resistance calculation is based on nominal motor values using known power levels and conditions. From these nominal values and the effective resistance, various scaling factors based on actual motor power can be generated and used to adjust a nominal flux reference to more accurately reflect actual motor flux. The scaling factors include power and torque scaling factors and a resistance scaling factor that is active during conditions such as wheel slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Cameron Crosman, III, Joshua M. Williams
  • Patent number: 8922148
    Abstract: A motor includes a rotor, a sensor unit, an offset unit, a rectification unit and a modulating unit. The sensor unit outputs a first signal in accordance with a magnetic field variation of the rotor. The offset unit is coupled to the sensor unit, and outputs a second signal in accordance with the first signal. The rectification unit is coupled to the offset unit, and outputs a third signal in accordance with the second signal. The modulating unit is coupled to the rectification unit, and outputs a control signal in accordance with a result by comparing the third signal with a periodic signal. The modulating unit controls a reverse rotation of the rotor smoothly in accordance with the control signal. A control method of the motor is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Liang Lin, Kun-Fu Chuang, Cheng-Chieh Liu
  • Publication number: 20140369100
    Abstract: A rectifier circuit includes an inductor connected to AC inputs of a diode bridge circuit, a capacitor series circuit connected to a DC output, and bi-directional switches that are connected between the series connection point of the capacitors and the AC inputs of the diode bridge circuit. In order to reduce the loss that would occur if both bi-directional switches were driven at high frequency, one of the bi-directional switches is driven at the frequency of the AC input voltage and the other bi-directional switch is driven at a high frequency, and also general rectifying diodes are used as the diodes connected to the bi-directional switch that is driven at the frequency of the AC input voltage and fast recovery diodes are used as the diodes connected to the bi-directional switch that is driven at high frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryuji YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20140355308
    Abstract: Techniques and devices related to power adapters for mobile devices and, in particular, small form factor power adapters that allow a voltage droop during a power pulse exceeding a maximum output of the power adapter are discussed. For example, a small form factor and low voltage power adapter may include an adapter output power protection control that limits an output of the power adapter in response to a power pulse exceeding a maximum output of the power adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: ALEXANDER UAN-ZO-LI, CHRISTINE KIM, THYAGARAJAN SRINIVASAN, GEORGE DASKALAKIS
  • Patent number: 8897043
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, power conversion apparatus includes a converter and a controller. A converter receives an AC power as an input, and outputs a DC voltage by turning on and off a first switching element which operates when the AC power is positive, and a second switching element which operates when the AC power is negative. A controller receives an AC input voltage and alternating input current to the converter, and a DC output voltage from the converter, as an input, determines a pulse width of a first pulse signal to turn on the first switching element and a pulse width of a second pulse signal to turn on the second switching element, and outputs the first pulse signal and second pulse signal to the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yutaka Usami
  • Patent number: 8896260
    Abstract: A power supply unit for a press machine having a converter (converter circuit) connected to a commercial AC power supply, and an inverter (inverter circuit) connected to a press motor, includes an electrical energy bank, an inrush prevention circuit, an inrush prevention instruction signal generation section, and a contactor switch section, wherein contactors of the inrush prevention circuit are switched from on ON state to an OFF state and inrush prevention resistors of the inrush prevention circuit are connected to AC phase current paths on condition that the inrush prevention instruction signal generation section has generated and output an inrush prevention instruction signal (Sres) during press operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Aida Engineering, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Kuboe
  • Patent number: 8897037
    Abstract: Power conversion system and method. The system includes a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a plurality of diodes including a first diode, a second diode, a third diode, and a fourth diode. Additionally, the system includes a fifth diode including a first anode and a first cathode and a sixth diode including a second anode and a second cathode. Moreover, the system includes a primary winding, and a secondary winding coupled to the primary winding. The first anode is connected to a first input terminal, and the second anode is connected to a second input terminal. The first input terminal and the second input terminal are configured to receive an input voltage. The secondary winding is configured to generate an output voltage based on at least information associated with the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yingchieh Lin, Bo Li, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 8890463
    Abstract: A direct current bus management system can include a power management and distribution unit, having a source management section, a bus management section coupled to the source management section, a load management section coupled to the bus management section, a DC bus coupled to the power management and distribution unit, a plurality of DC sources coupled to the source management section and a plurality of loads coupled to the load management section, wherein the bus management section is configured to reconfigure excess DC power on the DC bus from the DC inputs from the plurality of DC sources based on a plurality of priorities, a plurality of feedback signals and a plurality of system parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Steven J. Moss