Having Output Current Feedback Patents (Class 363/21.09)
  • Patent number: 8064230
    Abstract: A system and method for operating power supplies. A method comprises altering a current sense (CS) signal, turning off a switch of the converter in response to a determining that the CS signal is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and leaving on the switch of the converter in response to a determining that the CS signal is less than the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Xiaowu Gong, Kok Kee Lim, Yong Siang Teo, Yi He, Winson Siew Teng Wong
  • Patent number: 8059431
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a switching power supply which can stably determine whether an overcurrent occurs or not on the secondary side. A sample voltage corresponding to a load current value detected by detection resistors R7 and R8 is compared with a reference voltage by an input-side transistor Q4 and an output-side transistor Q3 which compose a first current mirror circuit 14, so that it is possible to determine whether an overcurrent occurs or not. Moreover, a current passing through the output circuit of the transistor Q3 is temperature-compensated by a second current mirror circuit 17 made up of transistors Q6 and Q5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Nishihara, Akeyuki Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20110273913
    Abstract: The present invention includes: a main switch Tr1 connected to two ends of a DC power supply Vi via a first primary winding 1a and a second primary winding 1b, connected to the first primary winding in series, of a transformer T1; a series circuit connected to the two ends of the main switch, and including a reactor L1, a diode D1, a smoothing capacitor Co and a hoist winding 1c connected to the second primary winding in series; a series circuit connected to the two ends of the main switch, and including a diode D2, a diode D3 and the smoothing capacitor; a control circuit 10 to turn on and off the main switch; a soft-switching circuit Da1, Tra1, La1, Ca1 to cause the main switch to perform a soft-switching operation each time the main switch turns on; and a switching control circuit 20 to switch the soft-switching circuit between operating and non-operating modes in accordance with the state of a load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicants: National University Corporation Shimane University, Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki ASUKE, Hideharu Takano, Masayoshi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20110273912
    Abstract: A switching mode power supply (SMPS) including: a first state transform unit, including: a second photo diode; and a second photo transistor included between an AC power input unit and the pulse width modulation control unit to form a photo coupler with the second photo diode, and a second state transform unit, including: a comparator connected to a secondary winding of the main transformer to apply the output voltage and reference voltage to an inverting terminal and a noninverting terminal, and compare the output voltage with the reference voltage and output the voltage through an output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: SMART POWER SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Hyun June Kim, Dae Young Youn, Hyun Soo Park, Sang Min Kim, Hyo Nam Kim
  • Publication number: 20110248655
    Abstract: A switched-mode power supply comprises a first rectifier circuit configured to generate a first rectified voltage from an AC input voltage. An inverter generates a second AC voltage from the first rectified voltage. A transformer includes a primary coil coupled to the second AC voltage and a secondary coil. A second rectifier circuit is connected with the secondary coil and generates a second rectified voltage from a third AC voltage present at the secondary coil. The second rectified voltage is coupled to a node of the switched-mode power supply and represents or correlates to an output voltage thereof. A monitoring circuit shuts off the inverter when the second rectified voltage or the output voltage exceeds a predetermined first threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventor: Peter Buchmann
  • Publication number: 20110216557
    Abstract: This inverter circuit includes first and second switching elements and an output transformer which is provided with a first primary winding connected in series between said first and second switching elements, and also with a secondary winding for obtaining an output voltage. The inverter circuit is further provided with a first voltage supply, a second voltage supply, and a control unit. The first voltage supply applies voltage to said first switching element via said first primary winding. And the second voltage supply applies voltage to said second switching element via said second primary winding. The control unit turns said first switching element and said second switching element alternatingly ON and OFF. This inverter circuit also includes first and second regeneration snubber circuits for regenerating the charge charged into snubber capacitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Toshikazu Fujiyoshi, Hajime Katsushima, Kenji Morimoto, Satoshi Yamamura
  • Patent number: 8014175
    Abstract: A switching power conversion circuit includes a power circuit, a feedback circuit and a control circuit. The power circuit includes a switching circuit and a first magnetic element. The first magnetic element generates a magnetic flux change by alternately conducting or shutting off the switching circuit, so that an input voltage is converted into the output voltage by the power circuit. The feedback circuit generates a feedback signal according to the output voltage. The control circuit is used for controlling an on duration and an off duration of the switching circuit, thereby maintaining the output voltage at a rated voltage. The off duration of the switching circuit is maintained at a constant interval under control of the control circuit. The on duration of the switching circuit is adjusted to be a specified interval smaller than a maximum on duration according to the magnitude of the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Shih-Hsien Chang, Chih-Hsuan Lee
  • Patent number: 8009448
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a forward-flyback converter with active-clamp circuit. The secondary side of the proposed converter is of center-tapped configuration to integrate a forward circuit and a flyback circuit. The flyback sub-circuit operating continuous conduction mode is employed to directly transfer the reset energy of the transformer to the output load. The forward sub-circuit operating discontinuous conduction mode can correspondingly adjust the duty ratio with the output load change. Under the heavy load condition, the mechanism of active-clamp flyback sub-circuit can provide sufficient resonant current to facilitate the parasitic capacitance of the switches to be discharged to zero. Under the light load condition, the time interval in which the resonant current turns from negative into positive is prolonged to ensure zero voltage switching function. Meanwhile, the flyback sub-circuit wherein the rectifier diode is reverse biased is inactive in order to further reduce the power losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Yen-Ming Liu
  • Patent number: 8008870
    Abstract: A voltage supplied from a power supply is boosted by a boosting circuit unit to generate a direct-current voltage, and the pulse-shape direct-current voltage is applied to LED while a constant-voltage control unit controls the direct-current voltage. The operation of LED is controlled by a control unit and a PWM unit. When the current is passed through LED, the constant-voltage control unit obtains information on the current passed through LED from a potential difference between both ends of a resistor, and on-and-off control of the voltage applied to LED from the boosting circuit unit is performed at a high frequency based on the information. Therefore, the voltage applied to LED can be controlled to keep the current passed through LED constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tarou Kimura
  • Publication number: 20110205764
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to a switching control system for controlling an isolated power supply. The system includes a pulse-width modulation (PWM) switching controller configured to generate at least one primary switching signal having a first duty-cycle for activating at least one primary-side switch of the isolated power supply. A synchronous rectifier (SR) switching controller is configured to generate at least one SR switching signal having a second duty-cycle for activating at least one SR switch of the isolated power supply to conduct an output current through a secondary winding of a transformer and an output inductor to generate an output voltage, the second duty-cycle being independent of the first duty-cycle in a soft-start mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: LIN SHENG, Xiaojun Xu
  • Patent number: 7990739
    Abstract: A resonant power converter is provided and includes a capacitor, an inductive device, a first transistor, a second transistor, and a control circuit. The capacitor and the inductive device develop a resonant tank. The first transistor and the second transistor are coupled to switch the resonant tank. The control circuit generates a first signal and a second signal to control the first transistor and the second transistor respectively. Frequencies of the first signal and the second signal are changed for regulating output of the resonant power converter. The control circuit is further coupled to detect an input voltage of the resonant power converter. A pulse width of the second signal is modulated in response to change of the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: System General Corporation
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Ying-Chieh Su, Tien-Chi Lin, Shih-Hung Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20110164439
    Abstract: A high voltage controller configured to drive a high voltage generator. The high voltage controller includes a voltage select input and a current select input, an actual voltage input and an actual current input. First circuitry is configured to generate an alternating current (AC) drive signal. Second circuitry configured to generate a direct current (DC) drive signal. Closed loop control circuitry is configured to adjust the DC drive signal based on at least one of the voltage select and current select inputs and at least one of the actual voltage and actual current inputs. The first circuitry may include a push-pull circuit. The second circuitry may include a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller. A high voltage generator may be coupled to the AC and DC drive signals. The high voltage generator may include a high voltage transformer having a pair of primary windings and center tap. The AC drive signal may be coupled to the primary windings and the DC drive signal may be coupled to the center tap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: Vishay Electronic GmbH
    Inventors: Farhad Berton, Josef Braun
  • Publication number: 20110149612
    Abstract: Control method and related controller, applicable to a power supply with a switch and an inductive device. The inductive current through the inductive device is sensed. An operating frequency of the switch is controlled to make an average of the inductive current substantially equal to a predetermined portion of the peak of the inductive current and to make the inductive device operated in continuous conduction mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventor: Wen-Chung Yeh
  • Patent number: 7902767
    Abstract: An AC inverter circuit supplies power to multiple lamps in an LCD backlight. Conventional AC power is used as direct input into a full wave rectifier that converts the input from AC to a DC reference voltage. A transformer driver, including a chopper, converts the DC reference voltage to a higher voltage AC which drives a step up transformer to produce a voltage sufficient to drive as many as six fluorescent lamps. The components/circuitry associated with the transformer's primary windings is optically isolated from the rest of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Westinghouse Digital, LLC
    Inventors: Hing S. Tong, Shikuang Tan
  • Patent number: 7893630
    Abstract: The field of the invention is mainly that of light boxes used for the illumination of display screens using optical valves, notably for liquid crystal matrix displays also known as LCD screens. The light sources used are generally fluorescent tubes powered with a high voltage by devices comprising Royer electronic oscillators. These electronic oscillators do not allow wide dynamic ranges of luminance, which can be necessary for certain applications, to be easily attained. The oscillator according to the invention comprises an electronic device for discharging the stored electrical energy, said discharge device being controlled by an electronic control device using chopping modulation, thus enabling wide dynamic ranges of luminance to be attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Guy Schou, Frederic Renaud
  • Publication number: 20110037416
    Abstract: Power conversion apparatus includes a converter circuit, a control circuit, a simulation circuit and a sense circuit. The converter circuit includes a magnetic device for power conversion and a switching device, and is configured to convert power from a power supply into direct current power. The control circuit is configured to supply the converter circuit with a high frequency signal for turning the switching device on and off. The simulation circuit is configured to produce a simulation signal that simulates state or change of magnetic flux of the magnetic device. The sense circuit is configured to produce a signal which corresponds to at least one of the input and output of the converter circuit and is superposed on the simulation signal to form a superposed signal. The control circuit defines an on-period of the high frequency signal based on the superposed signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventor: Toshiaki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20100328971
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for using coupled inductor boost circuits to operate in a zero current switching (ZCS) and/or a zero voltage switching (ZVS) boundary mode. Some embodiments include a coupled inductor boost circuit that can substantially eliminate rectifier reverse recovery effects without using a high side primary switch and a high side primary switch driver. Other embodiments include a coupled inductor boost circuit that can achieve substantially zero voltage switching. ZCS and ZVS modes may be effectuated using control techniques. For example, a magnetizing current may be sensed or otherwise represented, and a signal may be generated accordingly for controlling switching of the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: ASIC Advantage Inc.
    Inventors: George Rasko, Ernest H. Wittenbreder, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100302815
    Abstract: A switching mode power supply with a multi-mode controller is provided. The switching mode power supply may include a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding to supply power to a load. A feedback circuit may be included to generate a feedback signal that varies in relation to the load on the secondary winding. The multi-mode controller may include a switching circuit, a frequency control circuit and a current limiting circuit. The switching circuit may be coupled to the primary winding to control current flow through the primary winding. The frequency control circuit may control a switching frequency of the switching circuit based on the feedback signal. The current limiting circuit may limit current flow through the primary winding by causing the switching circuit to suspend current flow through the primary winding when the current reaches a peak current limit that is set based on the feedback signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: En Li, Junming Zhang, Yuancheng Ren
  • Patent number: 7821800
    Abstract: Disclosed is a power adapter having a voltage limiting circuit for limiting an output voltage of the power adapter at a predetermined voltage level when an output current of the power adapter is smaller than a threshold current, and a power limiting circuit for limiting an output power of the power adapter at a predetermined power level when an output current of the power adapter reaches the threshold current, in which the voltage limiting circuit can be configured to receive a current control signal from a load and in response thereto issue a load current regulation signal to a switching control circuit of the power adapter, thereby regulating the output voltage of the power adapter based on the load current regulation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Chin-Tsai Chiang
  • Publication number: 20100149840
    Abstract: The power supply apparatus for obtaining a direct current from an alternating voltage source includes a first DC/DC converter for outputting a first direct current and a second DC/DC converter for a second direct current lower than the first direct current from the first DC/DC converter, and the output voltage of the first DC/DC converter is changed to a lower direct current and the second DC/DC converter is driven in a continuously-conducting state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minoru Hayasaki, Keisuke Samejima
  • Patent number: 7733672
    Abstract: A control system that controls a switching circuit having a switching element and an inductive element coupled to an output of the switching element. The control system includes a switching control circuit that controls the switching element to operate the switching circuit in a first conduction mode of operation, such as a boundary conduction mode (BCM), in which current in the inductive element is maintained at a non-zero level during a first time period within each switching cycle. A conduction mode control circuit is configured for switching the switching circuit into a second conduction mode of operation, such as a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM), in which current in the inductive element is maintained at a non-zero level during a second time period within each switching cycle. The first time period differs from the second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Xigen Zhou
  • Publication number: 20100118566
    Abstract: A multi-voltage power supply includes a transformer, a first output circuit to generate a first output voltage using a voltage transferred to a secondary winding of the transformer, and a first output voltage controller to control a voltage supplied to the primary winding of the transformer according to the first output voltage. The multi-voltage power supply includes second through Nth output circuits to generate second through Nth output voltages using the voltage transferred to the secondary winding of the transformer, and second through Nth output voltage controllers performing control in order to linearly output the second through Nth output voltages by feeding back the second through Nth output voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Bong-hwan KWON
  • Patent number: 7696737
    Abstract: A power supply control circuit is disclosed. In one aspect, a power supply control circuit includes a controller to be coupled to a switch to regulate an output of a power supply in response to a feedback signal and a parameter change signal. A parameter response circuit is coupled to generate the parameter change signal in response to a difference between a first value of a parameter measured before an event and a second value of the parameter measured after the event. The difference between the first value of the parameter and the second value of the parameter is representative of the relative efficiency of the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Power Intergrations, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Polivka
  • Publication number: 20100039834
    Abstract: In a power converter, a primary coil of a transformer receives an input voltage, and a first terminal of a switch is coupled to the primary coil. An output unit includes a secondary coil of the transformer, and outputs an output voltage to which the input voltage is converted by the transformer. A switching controller receives a feedback voltage corresponding to the output voltage and a sensing voltage corresponding to a current flowing between the first terminal and a second terminal of the switch. The switching controller determines whether to perform an operation of a burst mode based on the feedback voltage. The switching controller generates a control signal by comparing the sensing voltage with a comparison voltage during a first period of the burst mode, generates the control signal by comparing the sensing voltage with a voltage corresponding to the feedback voltage during a second period of the burst mode, and transmits the control signal to a control terminal of the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Sang-Cheol MOON, Hang-Seok CHOI, Young-Bae PARK
  • Patent number: 7649280
    Abstract: A power equalization circuit in a transformer-based device having a plurality of isolated voltage outputs is provided. The circuit comprises: a threshold detection circuit configured to receive an error signal derived from a selected voltage at one of the isolated voltage outputs, and to determine whether the selected voltage is above a voltage threshold based on the error signal; a timer circuit configured to activate a wait signal after a maximum voltage drift time has expired since the selected voltage rose above the voltage threshold, and to activate a wink signal coincident with the wait signal; an overdrive current source configured to drive an error current to an overdriven value in response to the wait signal; and a commutator circuit connected to a transistor winding associated with the selected isolated voltage output, the commutator being configured to connect a transformer secondary winding to ground in response to the wink signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Michael Thomas Madigan
  • Patent number: 7639517
    Abstract: System and methodology for controlling output current of switching circuitry having an input circuit and an output circuit electrically isolated from each other. A value of the output current may be determined based on input voltage, input current and reflected output voltage representing the voltage in the input circuit which corresponds to the output voltage. A switching element in the input circuit is controlled to produce the determined value of output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Xigen Zhou, David Roy Ng, Steven M. Pietkiewicz, Robert C. Dobkin
  • Patent number: 7636246
    Abstract: A start-up time accelerator is described for a switch controller that controls turning on or off a switch in a switching regulator. The start-up time accelerator uses the switch as a current amplifier and provides the amplified current to a capacitor using a current amplification path. In one example, the capacitor provides the bias voltage to a switch controller for the switch. Providing an amplified current to the capacitor accelerates the rate at which the bias voltage increases and reduces the time until the bias voltage reaches the turn-on threshold voltage of the switch controller. After the turn-on threshold voltage of the switch controller is reached, a second path is enabled for current to and from the capacitor and the capacitor provides the bias voltage to the switch controller until a voltage from an output voltage terminal is sufficiently high to provide the bias voltage for the switch controller through an auxiliary winding of a transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Huynh, Zhibo Tao, David Kunst
  • Patent number: 7589985
    Abstract: A switching regulator is configured as a fixed-voltage regulator and contains a voltage divider. The voltage divider is supplied with a voltage signal available from a regulator output via a first connection. The voltage divider feds an output signal to the driver circuit functioning as a regulating variable that is compared to a reference voltage. The switching regulator further contains a monitoring device which impinges the driver circuit with a voltage signal exceeding the reference voltage as a new regulating variable depending on the voltage signal applied to the first connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellshaft
    Inventors: Helmuth Orlogi, Reinhart Weber
  • Patent number: 7570498
    Abstract: A switching power supply apparatus has a switching device control circuit for performing overcurrent protection by controlling switching-on/off of a switching device, connected serially to a primary winding of a transformer, so as to make a voltage output from a rectifying and smoothing circuit, connected to a secondary winding of the transformer, have a specific value, and switching off the switching device when the electric current flowing through the switching device exceeds a value as an overcurrent detection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Niijima
  • Patent number: 7570497
    Abstract: A discontinuous resonant forward power converter including a controller having an output coupled to a controllable switch and which is configured to control the switch such that a voltage waveform on a secondary winding of a transformer of the converter has a first portion during which the switch is on and current flows into an output node of the converter which is coupled to the output rectifier and to a smoothing capacitor, and which has a second substantially resonant portion during which the switch and an output rectifier are both off. Substantially no current flows into the output node during the second portion of said voltage waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Cambridge Semiconductor
    Inventors: Russell Jacques, David Robert Coulson
  • Patent number: 7548437
    Abstract: A switching mode power supply (SMPS) is presented to compensate for variations of maximum output power caused by variations of input power. The output power varies according to variations of input power because of a propagation delay of the SMPS. To compensate for the propagation delay, a reference voltage for turning off a switching MOS transistor is differently established depending on the input voltage. The variation of maximum output power according to the input voltage is prevented by differentiating the turned-off time of the reference voltage for turning off a main switch, such as a switching MOS transistor according to the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Ho Choi, Dong-Young Huh, Yong-Chul Ryu
  • Patent number: 7535121
    Abstract: A high voltage power supply apparatus and a method of correcting current output from the high voltage power supply apparatus. The high voltage power supply apparatus includes a switching unit; a transformer; a pulse width modulation signal processing unit, which receives a pulse width modulation signal changed for environmental conditions, converts the received pulse width modulation signal into a direct current (DC) voltage, and outputs the converted signal as a reference signal; a drive control signal generating unit, which compares an output current signal output from the transformer with the reference signal, and outputs a drive control signal to drive the switching unit; and an output current detecting unit, which detects the output current signal. Accordingly, the magnitude of current output from the high voltage power supply apparatus can vary according to environmental conditions and the current can be uniformly output without an output error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-min Chae, Jong-hwa Cho
  • Patent number: 7531970
    Abstract: A controller for a driving circuit of power source comprises a frequency generator, a pulse width modulator, and a driving device. The frequency generator comprises a latch circuit. The frequency generator provides a pulse signal at a first frequency after the controller is started. After the frequency generator receives an indicating signal, the frequency generator changes the frequency of pulse signal from the first frequency to a second frequency and locks the frequency of pulse signal at the second frequency. The pulse width modulator provides a PWM signal according to the pulse signal and a feedback signal which indicates a status of electric power supply of the driving circuit. The driving device controls semiconductor switches according to the PWM signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Beyond Innovation Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Che Yu, Chien-Pang Hung, Chih-Shun Lee, Chin-Fa Kao
  • Publication number: 20090027924
    Abstract: A feedback control device is provided. The feedback control device includes a controlled-system which outputs and output in correspondence with a control signal; a feedback signal generating member which generates a feedback signal as the output of the controlled-system; a reference signal unit which outputs a reference control signal to the controlled-system; and a determination unit which determines a version of the controlled-system on the basis of the feedback signal generated by the feedback signal generating member when the reference signal unit outputs the reference control signal to the controlled-system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsumi INUKAI, Masahito HAMAYA
  • Patent number: 7440295
    Abstract: A switching mode power supply (SMPS) with an active load detection function which supplies AC power input to a primary coil of a transforming element, then to a secondary coil of the transforming element, and then rectifies and outputs the AC power is provided. The SMPS comprises a controlling unit for controlling switching frequency by changing the time constant of a switching unit depending on the current and reducing the amount of power supplied to the primary coil of the transforming element. The current at a terminal of a resistor can be controlled under a cross condition, and the current flowing to the resistor can be controlled when in a normal state, thereby preventing energy loss which always occur in the resistor. The switching frequency during a standby state can be reduced to reduce switching loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Tae-Kwon Na
  • Publication number: 20080158916
    Abstract: An inventive inverter has a semiconductor switch circuit connected to the primary winding of a transformer. The semiconductor switch circuit is respectively controlled by PWM to supply a constant current to the load connected to a secondary winding of the transformer. The inverter is capable of deliberately regulating its ac power output to the load and lowering the lower limit of the output power through control of the intermittent operation, in which an error signal for carrying out the PWM control is reduced to zero during each off-duty period. In addition, the error signal for the PWM control is slowly decreased or increased in each shift from an off-duty period to on-duty period, and vise versa, by charging or discharging the capacitor in a feedback circuit, thereby allowing slow start or slow end of the respective on-off operations for the constant current control through the PWM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi FUKUMOTO
  • Patent number: 7394668
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to lower the voltage applied to the starting resistor of the starting circuit in a switching power supply circuit to reduce the power loss especially when the receiving voltage is high and thereby provide a small and inexpensive switching power supply circuit. According to the present invention, a switching power supply circuit comprises: a DC voltage section having two or more capacitors connected in series; and a PWM control circuit for receiving DC power supply from the DC voltage section and performing switching control on a primary side of a transformer in order for the switching power supply circuit to output a DC voltage of different voltage specifications; wherein the starting resistor for the PWM control circuit is connected to a connection point of the capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tooru Nakajima, Masahiro Hiraga, Tetsuya Kimura, Satoshi Ibori, Masayuki Hirota
  • Patent number: 7385831
    Abstract: A power supply device includes: a regulator transformer; a primary switch for selectively supplying a current to the regulator transformer; a control circuit for reducing to 0, following each election made at the primary switch, the minimum value of a current output by the secondary side of the regulator transformer; and a coupling transformer for magnetically coupling routes along which a plurality of loads are connected in parallel to the secondary side of the regulator translator in a direction in which magnetic flux along each of the routes is offset by a current change. In this case, the control circuit increases the maximum value of the output current on the secondary side larger than twice of the target value of the current supplied to the loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayasu Ito, Kentarou Murakami, Hitoshi Takeda
  • Patent number: 7382062
    Abstract: The invention finds application in the field of power supplies for valve actuators, and particularly relates to a wide voltage range stabilized switching power supply for valve actuators, of the type that comprises a filter 2, a diode bridge 3, an array of capacitors 5, an auxiliary power supply stage 6, formed by a switch mode circuit, having an operating range of 21 to 380 VDC, which generates the supply voltages required for the internal operation of the power supply, a full-bridge power stage 7, which receives an input voltage in the range of 120 VDC to 373 VDC, and generates the three stabilized output voltages required for supplying the load, and a boost stage 4, located upstream from the power stage 7, which allows to increase the voltage to a value in the range of 120 VDC to 373 VCC, whenever it is below such range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Biffi Italia S.R.L.
    Inventors: Archimede Affaticati, Giuseppe Riboli
  • Patent number: 7345431
    Abstract: A DC/AC converter circuit structure for driving a plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps is described. A common-mode choke is used between the cold cathode fluorescent lamps. The common-mode choke balances the currents respectively flowing through the cold cathode fluorescent lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: O2Micro International Limited
    Inventor: Sheng Tai Lee
  • Patent number: 7339802
    Abstract: An inventive inverter has a semiconductor switch circuit connected to the primary winding of a transformer. The semiconductor switch circuit is respectively controlled by PWM to supply a constant current to the load connected to a secondary winding of the transformer. The inverter is capable of deliberately regulating its ac power output to the load and lowering the lower limit of the output power through control of the intermittent operation, in which an error signal for carrying out the PWM control is reduced to zero during each off-duty period. In addition, the error signal for the PWM control is slowly decreased or increased in each shift from an off-duty period to on-duty period, and vise versa, by charging or discharging the capacitor in a feedback circuit, thereby allowing slow start or slow end of the respective on-off operations for the constant current control through the PWM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 7327586
    Abstract: A power supply unit comprises: a voltage output section for supplying a voltage to a plurality of loads connected in parallel with each other; and a plurality of output side coils provided respectively corresponding to the plurality of loads, the plurality of output side coils being trans-connected with each other, the plurality of output side coils being connected with the corresponding loads in series. An electric current to be supplied from the voltage output section to the corresponding load flow in each output side coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentarou Murakami, Masayasu Ito
  • Patent number: 7298632
    Abstract: Techniques for correcting for internal resistance losses in the secondary windings of a transformer to reduce errors in output voltage from a high voltage power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: William Ross Harris, Jerry Floyd Adams
  • Patent number: 7274574
    Abstract: A circuit with a magnetically variable transformer having primary and secondary windings wound on a magnetic core wherein the transformer core with associated windings is placed in close proximity to an independently wound control coil. The transformer core is placed within the bore of the control coil and an optional focusing armature concentrates the magnetic field at the poles. Application of a control current forms poles at the control coil extremities and causes a change in permeability of the transformer core thereby altering the power output of the transformer inversely to the magnitude of the control current. The control current from the output of the secondary coil of a current transformer in series with the load and conditioned by a feedback conditioning circuit modulates the level of the control current. The magnetically variable transformer controls a D.C. to A.C. inverter circuit, which is useful in supplying power to a fluorescent lamp and other A.C. receptive loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Inventor: George E. Biegel
  • Patent number: 7262562
    Abstract: A method for driving a fluorescent lamp and an inverter circuit for performing the same are used to reduce an amount of electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by a transformer and an instantaneous loading of a DC voltage source. The inverter circuit comprises a DC square wave voltage source, a bridge DC/AC converter, a transformer, a feedback control unit and a voltage control circuit wherein the voltage control circuit is coupled to the DC voltage source, the bridge DC/AC converter and the feedback control unit. The voltage control circuit is used to convert DC voltage provided by the DC voltage source into a two-level DC square wave, which in turn converts the two-level DC square wave into an AC quasi-sine wave to drive the fluorescent lamp through the bridge DC/AC converter and the transformer. The feedback control unit generates signals to control the voltage control circuit and the bridge DC/AC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Himax Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shwang-Shi Bai, Yu-Pei Huang
  • Patent number: 7259525
    Abstract: The present invention provides a LED driver for control the brightness of the LED. An inductor and a switch are connected in serial with the LED for control the current of the LED. A control circuit is developed to generate a control signal for switching the switch in response the LED current. A diode is parallel coupled to the inductor for freewheeling the energy of the inductor through the LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: System General Corporation
    Inventor: Ta-Yung Yang
  • Patent number: 7248486
    Abstract: A switching converter in which an input voltage can be switched by means of at least one controlled switch to at least one primary winding of a transformer, with a control circuit for controlling the switch, to which control circuit a regulating signal in the sense of regulating at least one output voltage is sent, wherein the power supply of the control circuit takes place via the forward voltage of an auxiliary winding of the transformer, a rectifier, a capacitor and a series regulator, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, starting from the input voltage, via a current path and a storage capacitor, and the off-state voltage of an auxiliary winding, which is rectified by means of a rectifier, is additionally sent to the control circuit for power supply, wherein the rectified off-state voltage is used during the operation for supplying the control circuit as long as it has a sufficient voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens AG Osterreich
    Inventors: Arnold Schönleitner, Jalal Abdulazim Hallak
  • Patent number: 7239533
    Abstract: A DC power source device comprises a MOS-FET 5 which performs the intermittent switching operation for converting DC input from a DC power supply 1 into high frequency electric power; a control circuit 9 for turning MOS-FET 5 on and off; and a rectifying smoother 6 for converting the high frequency electric power through MOS-FET 5 into a DC power output supplied to a load 50. Control circuit 9 comprises an output current controller 11 for controlling the on-off term of MOS-FET 5 to make DC output current IO through load 50 settle toward a rated value IOMAX; a shunt regulator 24 for receiving a drive current ISH supplied from rectifying smoother 6 and producing a reference voltage VR1 to regulate the rated value IOMAX of output current controller 11; and a constant current source 32 for keeping drive current ISH on a substantially constant level under the rated output current value condition and reduced output voltage condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinari Fukumoto, Syohei Osaka, Toshirou Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7236377
    Abstract: An inventive inverter has a semiconductor switch circuit connected to the primary winding of a transformer. The semiconductor switch circuit is respectively controlled by PWM to supply a constant current to the load. connected to a secondary winding of the transformer. The inverter is capable of deliberately regulating its ac power output to the load and lowering the lower limit of the output power through control of the intermittent operation, in which an error signal for carrying out the PWM control is reduced to zero during each off-duty period. In addition, the error signal for the PWM control is slowly decreased or increased in each shift from an off-duty period to on-duty period, and vise versa, by charging or discharging the capacitor in a feedback circuit, thereby allowing slow start or slow end of the respective on-off operations for the constant current control through the PWM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 7233117
    Abstract: The present invention is an inverter controller with feed-forward compensation. The inverter controller includes an error amplifier, a high frequency oscillator (HFOSC) with feed-forward compensation, a comparator, and a driver. The error amplifier can output a signal independent on the variation of a supply voltage. The HFOSC can generate a saw-tooth signal with a constant frequency and an amplitude proportional to the supply voltage. The comparator can compare the signal with the saw-tooth signal and generate a pulse width modulation signal whose duty cycle varies with the variation of the supply voltage. The driver receives the PWM signal and provides a proper pulse width modulation signal to drive an external inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: O2Micro International Limited
    Inventors: Zhao Wang, Ruiqing Xu