Having Feedback Winding Inductively Coupled To Inverter Inductive Device (e.g., Tertiary Winding, Etc.) Patents (Class 363/21.16)
  • Patent number: 9787134
    Abstract: A micro power outages compensation module for at least one server includes one or more capacitive storage element for storing electrical energy which is releasable for compensating the outages, the module further including a controller for the charging and/or the discharge of the capacitive storage element(s), limiting the charging and/or discharge current of the capacitive storage element(s) sufficiently to enable hot plugging and/or unplugging of the module even during operation of the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: BULL SAS
    Inventor: Georges Lecourtier
  • Patent number: 9780673
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a switching power supply adapted to convert an input voltage into an output voltage according to a switching rate of a switching element. The control device includes first control means for switching the switching element in a first working mode at a constant frequency and second control means for switching the switching element in a second working mode at a variable frequency, under a maximum frequency, in response to the detection of a predefined operative condition of the switching power supply. The control device further includes means for selecting the first working mode or the second working mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giovanni Lombardo, Claudio Adragna, Salvatore Tumminaro
  • Patent number: 9774259
    Abstract: A multiple-output DC-DC converter has a first and a second DC-DC sub-converter, each DC-DC subconverter may be a buck, boost, or buck-boost converter having a primary energy-storage inductor. Each DC-DC subconverter drives a separate output of the multiple-output converter and typically has a separate feedback control circuit for controlling output voltage and/or current. The converter has a common timing circuit to maintain a phase offset between the first and DC-DC subconverters. The primary energy storage inductors of the first and second DC-DC converter are magnetically coupled to raise an effective ripple frequency of the converter and simplify output filtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Volterra Semiconductor LLC
    Inventors: Alexandr Ikriannikov, Ognjen Djekic
  • Patent number: 9704641
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a transmitter and power supply which suffers little EMI deviation and provides adequate margin even in volume production, and which can cut the unit price of transformers and economize on the costs of EMI filters, by cancelling out and eliminating the conducted noise or the conducted noise and radiated noise caused by capacitive coupling between the windings of a transformer, the transformer being of an uncomplicated construction which is good in terms of production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventor: Chan-Woong Park
  • Patent number: 9698695
    Abstract: A method of cycle-by-cycle operation of a switched-mode power converter includes converting an input voltage at the primary side to an output voltage at the secondary side by switching a transistor connected to the primary side from an on-state to an off-state during the present cycle, detecting valleys in a voltage across the transistor in the off-state, determining which valley at which the transistor is to be switched from the off-state to the on-state in the next switching cycle, and determining a maximum peak current limit for the primary side above which the transistor is switched from the on-state to the off-state in the next switching cycle. The maximum peak current limit is determined as a function of the input voltage and the valley at which the transistor is to be switched from the off-state to the on-state in the next switching cycle. Forced valley switching techniques are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Marc Fahlenkamp, Torsten Hinz, Martin Krueger, Josef Neulinger
  • Patent number: 9584030
    Abstract: A controller for eliminating acoustic noise of a power converter includes a control unit and a gate signal generation unit. The control unit is used for detecting a frequency corresponding to a gate control signal in a burst mode of the power converter. When the frequency is greater than a predetermined frequency, the control unit increases a resistance of a compensation resistor coupled to a compensation pin of the power converter; and when the frequency is less than the predetermined frequency, the control unit decreases the resistance of the compensation resistor. The gate signal generation unit is coupled to the control unit for generating the gate control signal to a power switch of a primary side of the power converter according to the resistance of the compensation resistor. The power switch is turned on according to the gate control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Leadtrend Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Ming-Chang Tsou, Meng-Jen Tsai
  • Patent number: 9559600
    Abstract: An error amplifier outputs an error voltage to the primary side as a feedback signal indicating a state of the load. An oscillator controls a switching frequency of the switching operation such that the switching frequency is reduced from a highest normal frequency to a lowest normal frequency based on the feedback signal in a load range from a heavily-loaded state to a lightly-loaded state in a normal oscillating operation that continuously performs the switching operation. An intermittent oscillation control circuit intermittently performs the switching operation by stopping the switching operation based on the feedback signal when the load is lighter than a previously set reference. The oscillator increases the switching frequency from an intermittent-operation frequency lower than the lowest normal frequency in an intermittent oscillation duration in which the switching operation is performed in the intermittent oscillating operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Hayakawa, Masaaki Shimada, Tatsuhiko Koga
  • Patent number: 9520769
    Abstract: A switching converter converts an input signal to a regulated output signal using a switch and a transformer with a primary winding and a secondary winding. A wake up management circuit receives a transformer demagnetization signal and forces by wake up pulses the switch on when the switching converter operates in a burst mode. Sampled values of the transformer demagnetization signal are received. A setting circuit sets a first peak value of the current of the primary winding. A comparison circuit compare the sampled values with a voltage threshold and the preceding sampled value. In response thereto, the first peak value of the primary winding current is either maintained or a new peak value is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alfio Pasqua, Salvatore Tumminaro, Andrea Rapisarda
  • Patent number: 9515547
    Abstract: In a DC power supply circuit (1), when an instantaneous value (Vin) of a voltage from a rectifier circuit (2) is higher than or equal to a voltage (VC2) across terminals of a capacitor (C2), in an ON period of a switching element (Q1), current flows along a first current path, from a high-potential output terminal of the rectifier, through a load (11), an inductor (L2), and the switching element in the stated order, and into a low-potential output terminal of the rectifier, and in an OFF period of the switching element, current flows along a second current path, from the high-potential output terminal of the rectifier, through the load, the inductor, a diode (D1), and the capacitor in the stated order, and into the low-potential output terminal of the rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanobu Murakami, Kazushige Sugita, Kazuhiko Itoh
  • Patent number: 9502982
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for controlling an adaptive power converter. The method comprises: generating an output-sense signal by sampling a reflected voltage of a transformer; receiving a feedback signal related to an output power of the adaptive power converter; generating a clock signal in response to the feedback signal and the output-sense signal; generating a switching signal for switching the transformer and regulating an output voltage of the adaptive power converter. The reflected voltage is correlated to the output voltage of the adaptive power converter. The switching signal is generated in response to the feedback signal. The frequency of the switching signal is determined by the clock signal. The frequency of the switching signal is decreased in response to a decrement of the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: FAIRCHILD (TAIWAN) CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Jung-Sheng Chen, Li Lin
  • Patent number: 9484812
    Abstract: The present invention includes: a converter configured to convert the direct-current voltage of the rectifier to another direct-current voltage and supply to a load; a peak hold unit configured to hold a peak value of a current detected by a current detecting unit configured to detect a current flowing in the switching element; an averaging unit configured to convert, to a current, an output of an n/2 output unit, and then integrate and output the converted current, the n/2 output unit configured to output n/2 (n is an integer of 1 or more) of the held peak value only in a regeneration current period of the reactor; a control unit configured to turn the switching element on and off based on an output signal of the averaging unit in such a way that an average current value of a current flowing in the reactor is equal to a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsutomo Yoshinaga
  • Patent number: 9450496
    Abstract: A multi-stage power converter includes a pre-regulator circuit configured to provide a regulated output voltage, at least one DC/DC converter, and a control circuit coupled to the pre-regulator circuit and the DC/DC converter. The DC/DC converter is configured to provide an output voltage and an output current to a load. The DC/DC converter includes an input, an output, and at least one power switch. The input of the DC/DC converter is coupled to the pre-regulator circuit. The control circuit is configured to regulate the output voltage of the DC/DC converter and vary the regulated output voltage of the pre-regulator circuit as a function of the output current of the DC/DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: ASTEC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: James Sigamani, Antonio Remetio SoleƱo
  • Patent number: 9444357
    Abstract: A controller includes a primary controller and a secondary controller to control switching of a power switch and a secondary switch, respectively, coupled to an energy transfer element of a power converter. A first drive circuit is coupled to generate a first drive signal to enable a first ON section of the secondary drive signal after an ON section of the primary drive signal. A second drive circuit is coupled to generate a second drive signal to enable a second ON section of the secondary drive signal to store energy in the energy transfer element. The energy stored in the energy transfer element during the second ON section is coupled to reduce a switch voltage across the power switch prior to a next ON section of the primary drive signal. The secondary drive signal is generated in response to the first drive signal and the second drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: David Michael Hugh Matthews, Balu Balakrishnan, Rajko Duvnjak, Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre
  • Patent number: 9391509
    Abstract: A switching regulator having fast start-up time and low standby power is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a transistor that generates a charging current at a first current level from a base current received at a base terminal. The apparatus also includes a capacitor that charges in response to the charging current at the first current level to generate a voltage signal that increases at a first rate. The apparatus also includes a charge pump having an output coupled to the base terminal. The charge pump outputs a charge pump current when the voltage signal exceeds a first voltage level. The base current is increased by charge pump current to cause the transistor to generate the charging current at a second current level, and the capacitor charges in response to the charging current at the second current level to generate the voltage signal that increases at a second rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Chung Wu, Degang Xia, Rulong Jiang
  • Patent number: 9369049
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated switch mode power supply controller can include: a multiplexing pin that receives a detection voltage signal; a switch mode power supply that receives a DC input voltage, and operates in a switching cycle having first, second, and third time intervals; during the first time interval, the detection voltage signal is proportional to the DC input voltage, and a current compensation signal is generated according to the detection voltage signal to obtain a peak inductor current; during the second time interval, the detection voltage signal is proportional to an output voltage of the switch mode power supply, and a discharging duration of current through the inductor is determined based on the detection voltage signal; and during the third time interval, the detection voltage signal is proportional to a voltage across a power transistor of the switch mode power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventor: Xiaoru Xu
  • Patent number: 9370057
    Abstract: An interface circuit for a lighting device is described, the interface circuit comprising a single input terminal for receiving a input signal from a user interface; an output terminal for providing a control signal for controlling the lighting device, a detection circuit for receiving the input signal and identifying whether the input signal is either an analog 0-10V signal, a DALI protocol signal or a mains signal and a converter circuit for converting the input signal to the control signal based on the identification, and provide the control signal to the output terminal. The interface as described facilitates retrofitting existing lighting applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: ELDOLAB HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Marc Saes, Petrus Johannes Maria Welten
  • Patent number: 9350249
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods disclosed herein are associated with a primary side voltage and/or current regulator (PSR) in a flyback power converter. Apparatus and methods sense characteristics of a waveform generated in an auxiliary primary winding of a flyback transformer at a single terminal of the PSR. The waveform is analyzed, and error signals derived therefrom are used to maintain constant voltage and/or constant current regulation and to generate a peak current stabilization signal that is independent of line input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Richard L. Valley
  • Patent number: 9337728
    Abstract: Devices and methods provide a protection device for maintaining a steady output on a gate driver terminal despite fluctuations in a power supply, the protection device including low voltage detection circuitry configured to monitor the power supply and detect fluctuations in the power supply; and gate isolation circuitry configured to isolate the gate driver terminal from the power supply if the low voltage detection circuitry detects a fluctuation in the power supply, wherein a voltage of the gate driver terminal is maintained within a preselected range when the gate is isolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Gillberg, Juergen Pianka
  • Patent number: 9293982
    Abstract: In some aspects of the invention, a switching power supply can include a control circuit that conducts feedback control of a pulse width of a driving signal for switching the switching element according to an output voltage and settle the output voltage to a specified voltage level; a frequency reducing circuit that is disposed in the control circuit and reduces a frequency of the driving signal for switching the switching element upon detection of an overload state and limits an output current; and an initial state setting circuit that sets the control circuit to an overload detecting state for a predetermined period of time in a startup period of the control circuit. The initial state setting circuit can pull down a control voltage for a soft start signal for soft starting to the ground potential to inhibit generation of the driving signal and pulls up a feedback voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 9280164
    Abstract: A switching power-supply device includes a switching element; an output circuit; a feedback signal generation circuit; a control circuit that drives the switching element, based on the feedback signal, and controls the voltage of the power-supply output; a correction circuit that corrects a signal level of the feedback signal, wherein the control circuit comprises: an oscillation circuit that generates an on-trigger signal; a current detection circuit that generates a current detection signal; a difference detection circuit that generates a difference detection signal; a comparison circuit that generates an off-trigger signal, based on the current detection signal and the difference detection signal; and a first load detection circuit that controls an operation of the correction circuit, based on the current detection signal, and wherein the control circuit changes a setting voltage of the power-supply output, according to the signal level of the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung Soo Lee, Satoshi Nakamoto, Chie Isshi, Masaru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9263954
    Abstract: A power supply having over power protection based on the same signal as used by the feedback path for controlling the switching of the power supply is disclosed. This means that no additional signal needs to be supplied to the control circuit to implement mains over protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Joan Wichard Strijker
  • Patent number: 9225230
    Abstract: A method and device to discharge a filter capacitance at the output of an inverter for feeding electrical power from a generation unit into a grid via a grid connect switch is disclosed. The grid connect switch has a generation unit side and a grid side, and via AC grid terminals on the grid side of the grid connect switch, the filter capacitance is connected to at least one of the AC grid terminals. A voltage applied across the filter capacitance is rectified independent of a polarity thereof, and a rectified voltage of a fixed polarity is provided, and a DC voltage link of a power supply unit for supplying power to circuitry of the inverter is charged with this rectified voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Benedikt Kuenzel, Carsten Ewig, Henrik Wolf, Sven Bremicker
  • Patent number: 9204506
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) driving apparatus includes a power converting unit and a driving controlling unit. The power converting unit switches input power to supply driving power to at least one LED. In one example, the driving controlling unit controls the supplying of the power based on a switching period of the power converting unit and a demagnetization time in the switching period. In another example, the driving controlling unit controls the supplying of the power based on the input power, a switching period of the power converting unit, and a drain voltage by the switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Hyun Cha, Yun Joong Lee, Je Hyeon Yu
  • Patent number: 9203319
    Abstract: A switching power converting apparatus includes a voltage conversion module, a detecting unit, and a switching signal generating unit. The voltage conversion module converts an input voltage into an output voltage associated with a secondary side current, which flows through a secondary winding of a transformer and is generated based on a switching signal. The detecting unit generates a detecting signal based on the output voltage and a predetermined reference voltage. The switching signal generating unit generates the switching signal based on the detecting signal and an adjusting signal so that the secondary side current is gradually increased during a start period of the switching power converting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Jyun-Che Ho, Jiun-Hung Pan, Chien-Fu Tang, Isaac Y. Chen
  • Patent number: 9160239
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flyback switching power supply circuit and a backlight driving device using the same, the circuit includes: a transformer, including a primary winding, a secondary winding and an auxiliary winding arranged on one side of the primary winding; an output rectifier, connected to the output end of the flyback switching power supply circuit from the secondary winding of the transformer; a switching transistor, configured to control the voltage on the primary winding; a controller, configured to provide a pulse width modulation signal for driving the gate of the switching transistor; and a clamping delay circuit, configured to clamp the potential of the gate of the switching transistor to a low potential, so that the switching transistor is turned on at the wave trough of drain potential damped vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhao Wang, Dan Cao
  • Patent number: 9160185
    Abstract: An active balancing and battery charging system for a battery including a plurality of packs made up of cells. An H-bridge circuit having a nominal system voltage as an input generates a square wave output to a plurality of step-down transformers each associated with a pack, where the plurality of step-down transformers provide an active balancing voltage of about the nominal pack voltage. Each pack may include a balancing transformer including a common primary coil receiving the active balancing voltage from the associated step-down transformer or the pack itself. The balancing transformer also includes a plurality of secondary coils each associated with the respective plurality of cells of the pack. A voltage induced in the secondary coils causes a discrete charge current to flow to any cells in the pack that are undercharged relative to other cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Eetrex, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis L. Potts
  • Patent number: 9143047
    Abstract: The improved DC-DC converter apparatus includes a primary side circuit and a secondary side circuit that is galvanically isolated from the primary. The primary side induces a voltage in the secondary side that provides an output voltage for driving POLs. A flux-control device measures the transformer primary side flux to control the primary side duty cycle, thereby loosely regulating the output voltage of the secondary side circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: TDK-LAMBDA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Carl Wildrick
  • Patent number: 9130469
    Abstract: An error amplifier, a controller using the error amplifier, and a primary-side feedback controlled AC/DC converter using the controller are discussed. When the output voltage of the primary-side feedback controlled AC/DC converter according to present invention changes, the alternating current path enjoys a fast response and adjusts the output voltage quickly with a lower precision, avoiding large voltage fluctuate, then the direct current path functions slowly to reduce equivalent output error. In such a way, the output voltage precision is enhanced while the stability of the primary-side feedback controlled AC/DC converter is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: FREMONT MICRO DEVICES (SZ) LIMITED
    Inventor: Jianpei Zhu
  • Patent number: 9114281
    Abstract: Active AC snubbers for AC/AC converters are provided. The active snubbers are actively-controlled AC snubbers that may be used in AC/AC power converters including direct AC converters. The active snubbers provide a free-wheeling path for AC/AC converters, ensuring that the converters are tolerant of errors in measurements and timings and of faults. The desired safe commutation of the switching devices when accurate measurements of voltage and current polarities become difficult or under fault contingencies when trapped energy needs to be dispatched safely is ensured. In addition, the active AC snubber may provide equal voltage sharing among the series-connected devices and clamp output voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Deepakraj M. Divan, Anish Prasai
  • Patent number: 9102146
    Abstract: A printhead substrate, comprising a plurality of printing elements which are assigned to a plurality of groups, a plurality of driving circuits which are arranged in correspondence with the respective groups and drive the printing elements, a first current source configured to generate currents of a plurality of current amounts corresponding to the respective groups, second current sources which are arranged in correspondence with the respective driving circuits and configured to generate currents to be supplied to the printing elements, and setting units configured to generate voltages in accordance with currents generated by the first current source and set currents to be generated by the second current sources based on the voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidenori Yamato, Nobuyuki Hirayama
  • Patent number: 9093906
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for providing improved feedback sampling in a primary-side regulated power converter. A test sample may be taken prior to the default feedback sample. The voltage of the test sample may be compared to the voltage of the default feedback sample to determine if the voltage difference between the two samples exceeds a threshold. If the default sample is lower than the test sample by more than the threshold, the default sample may be flagged as being a potential false sample. If more than a set number of potentially false samples are obtained, the power converter may enter an auto-restart mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Guangchao (Darson) Zhang, Yury Gaknoki
  • Patent number: 9084318
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a primary-side controlled switch-mode power supply controller for driving LED with constant current and method thereof as well as an apparatus for controlling switch-mode power supply having the switch-mode power supply controller. The switch-mode power supply controller includes an input dimming phase detection circuit, a multiplier, a turn-on signal control circuit, a zero-crossing detection circuit, a comparator, a trigger and a driving circuit. The circuit controls to drive LED with constant current by means of a primary-side controlled method. The circuit realizes the triac dimming function, ensures a constant output current regardless of a high voltage or a low voltage, and obtains a high power factor. The direct use of the isolation transformer improves the safety of the circuit, and simplifies the peripheral circuit, thereby reducing the cost of the circuit and minimizing the size of the PCB layout, which is favorable in minimizing the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: HANGZHOU SILAN MICROELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yunlong Yao, Jianxing Wu
  • Patent number: 9084322
    Abstract: A bi-level current configurable driver is provided. The driver includes a feedback circuit, a driver circuit providing a driver signal to a half bridge inverter, and a step-dim interface coupled to a first alternating current input line, a second alternating current input line, and a neutral line, providing voltage to the driver circuit. The driver also includes a first feedforward circuit coupled to the step-dim interface, where the first feedforward circuit receives a first signal from the step-dim interface based on the states of the first alternating current input line, the second alternating current input line, and the neutral line. In a first state, the driver provides full current to a load, and in a second state, the driver provides less than full current to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin Kumar, Markus Ziegler
  • Patent number: 9083248
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a PWM control circuit, a flyback converter, and a PWM control method. The PWM control circuit includes: a peak storing and reference signal generating unit storing a peak value of one period of a feedback signal from a secondary side output and inverting the peak signal and outputting the inverted peak signal as a reference signal; and a PWM control signal generating unit generating a PWM control signal by using an output obtained by comparing the reference signal with a reference waveform from the peak storing and reference signal generating unit. In addition, the flyback converter including the same and the method for controlling PWM are proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Deuk Hee Park, Yun Joong Lee, Sang Hyun Cha, Jae Shin Lee, Chang Seok Lee
  • Patent number: 9077250
    Abstract: Herein is disclosed a constant current control unit and a control method, for a switched mode power supply with primary side control. The switched mode power supply comprises a power switch and an inductive device. A reflective voltage of the inductive device is detected to generate a feedback voltage signal. By delaying the feedback voltage signal, a delayed signal is generated. According to the feedback voltage and the delayed signal, a discharge time of the inductive device is determined when the power switch is OFF. According to the discharge time and a current-sense signal, a maximum average output current of the switched mode power supply is stabilized. The current-sense signal represents a current flowing through the inductive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: LEADTREND TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu-Yun Huang, Yi-Lun Shen
  • Patent number: 9065347
    Abstract: A controller for a switched mode power supply, the switched mode power supply comprising one or more windings. The controller comprising a fixed speed timer; a threshold setter configured to set a threshold for the timer in accordance with a peak value of a current through one of the one or more windings; a secondary stroke detector configured to start the fixed speed timer upon detection of the start of a secondary stroke of the switched mode power supply; a sampler configured to sample a voltage across one of the one or more windings when a count of the fixed speed timer reaches the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Frank Paul Behagel, Jeroen Kleinpenning, Hans Halberstadt
  • Patent number: 9042128
    Abstract: A flyback type switching power supply includes between P and N of a direct current output a sudden load change detector circuit, which normally has no power consumption, that detects only a transient fluctuation of a direct current output voltage, and starts the switching of a primary side semiconductor switch when there is no load or a light load, even when the semiconductor switch is in an off state, thereby enabling the detection of the direct current output voltage in a tertiary winding, and suppressing a drop in the direct current output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko Sakurai, Yukihiro Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9042127
    Abstract: A method can be used for controlling the switching operation of a switching power converter that includes a semiconductor switch coupled in series to an inductor. The switching power converter consumes an input current from a power supply and provides an output current to a load. In each switching cycle a switch-on time instant is detected for the semiconductor switch. The semiconductor switch is closed thus enabling, at the detected switch-on time instant, the input current passing through the semiconductor switch. The semiconductor switch is opened after a desired on-time, during which the input current rises from zero to a peak value, has passed. A time interval is detected, in which the instantaneous output current is not zero. A first value that represents the peak of the input current is obtained during the on-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Xiaowu Gong
  • Patent number: 9030850
    Abstract: A switching power supply of certain aspects of the invention includes a minimum dead time generating circuit that generates a minimum dead time from an OFF timing of an ON pulse detected from the voltage across an auxiliary winding of the transformer by a differentiating circuit. An ON width-determining means of a voltage control oscillator is started, after this minimum dead time, into operation to determine the ON width of the semiconductor switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jian Chen
  • Publication number: 20150123565
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing switching operation of a power converter, for example and without limitation, for powering LEDs in an efficient manner. According to one aspect, a system for managing a switching operation of a power converter includes an off time control system for managing operation modes of a power converter. The off time control system includes an active device for transmitting a bias signal, where the bias signal is configured for modulating a zero diode current signal for controlling a trigger signal, and a resistive body for discharging the bias signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Qingcong Hu
  • Publication number: 20150117071
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a flyback converter are presented. The flyback converter includes a transformer, a semiconductor switch coupled to a primary winding of the transformer, a current measurement circuit coupled to the semiconductor switch, a diode coupled in series to a secondary winding of the transformer, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a feedback voltage, a reference signal, and the measured primary current and generate a control signal for the semiconductor switch dependent on the feedback voltage, the reference signal, and the measured primary current. The semiconductor switch switches on and off cyclically in CCM operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Guoxing Zhang, Mingping Mao
  • Patent number: 9019729
    Abstract: A switched mode power converter controller outputs a switch control signal for a switch, receives sensed voltage and primary current input signals, and includes a constant current mode controller to process voltage input signals and generate output control signals for controlling converter peak current and/or switching frequency operational; a constant voltage mode controller processes the voltage input signal and generates output control signals for converter peak current and/or switching frequency operational parameters; a primary peak current adjuster processes primary current input and output control signals from the current and voltage mode controllers to configure the switch control signal to turn off the switch; a switching frequency adjuster processes output control signals from the current and voltage controllers to configure the switch control signal to turn on the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Jeroen Kleinpenning
  • Publication number: 20150103569
    Abstract: An isolated switching converter includes a transformer having a primary winding, a secondary winding and an auxiliary winding, a primary switch coupled to the primary winding, a secondary switch coupled to the secondary winding, and a feedback circuit coupled to the auxiliary winding to generate a feedback signal indicative of the output voltage. Under normal operation, the primary switch is controlled based on the feedback signal and the secondary switch is controlled based on the status of the primary switch. Under light load condition, the secondary switch is controlled based on the output voltage. The secondary switch is turned on to generate a negative secondary current flowing through the secondary winding and turned off when the negative secondary current reaches a secondary current threshold. The primary switch is turned on based on a negative primary current and turned off when the primary current reaches a primary current threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Junming Zhang, Yuancheng Ren
  • Publication number: 20150103568
    Abstract: A power converter includes an energy transfer element, a power switch, a controller and a leading edge dimming detection circuit. The controller is coupled to control switching of the power switch to regulate the output of the power converter by controlling a transfer of energy through the energy transfer element. The leading edge dimming detection circuit is coupled to generate a control signal in response to detecting leading edge dimming at the input of the power converter. In one aspect, the leading edge dimming detection circuit detects the leading edge dimming and then generates a control signal to engage a compensator which maintains the input current of the power converter to be equal to or greater than a minimum current. In another aspect, the leading edge dimming detection circuit detects and reutilizes the turn-on current spike energy of a leading edge dimmer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Jose Requinton Del Carmen, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150098255
    Abstract: A power source apparatus comprises: a transformer that insulates a primary system and a secondary system and uses primary/secondary windings to transform an input voltage into an output voltage; a switching control device that is disposed in the primary system to drive the primary winding, and an output monitor device that is disposed in the secondary system to monitor the output voltage. The transformer includes a first auxiliary winding disposed in the primary system and a second auxiliary winding disposed in the secondary system. The output monitor device drives the second auxiliary winding to generate an induced voltage in the first auxiliary winding when the output voltage becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold voltage. The switching control device temporarily stops driving of the first winding upon detecting a light load state and resumes the driving of the first winding upon detecting the induced voltage in the first auxiliary winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Satoru Nate
  • Patent number: 9001541
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a switch control circuit, a power factor corrector including the same, and a driving method thereof. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a turn-on time of a power switch is controlled according to a zero crossing voltage to sense a voltage of both terminals of the power switch, and a turn-off time of the power switch is controlled according to a feedback voltage corresponding to the output voltage. At this time, the switching frequency of the power switch is sensed by the zero crossing voltage and the switching frequency is restricted by a predetermined threshold frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Gye-Hyun Cho, Hyun-Chul Eom, Seunguk Yang, Young-Bae Park
  • Patent number: 8995150
    Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein describe a method of a controller to maintain a substantially constant average output current at the output of a switching power converter. In one embodiment, the controller uses a regulation voltage that corresponds to the primary peak current regulation level to regulate the average output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Liang Yan, John William Kesterson, Xiaoyan Wang, Guang Feng, Clarita Poon
  • Publication number: 20150085536
    Abstract: Upper arm connection sections and lower arm connection sections are provided in parallel. An upper arm transformer and a power supply are provided in an area opposed to the lower arm connection sections with respect to the upper arm connection sections. A power supply control section is provided in at least one of an area opposed to the upper arm connection sections with respect to the upper arm transformer, and an area which is sandwiched between at least one of the upper and lower connection sections closest to one side of the substrate positioned in a direction in which the upper arm connection sections are arranged, and the one side. The lower arm transformer is provided in an area opposed to the upper arm connection sections with respect to the lower arm connection sections. The lower arm transformer is common to at least two of the lower arm switching elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Syun MIYAUCHI, Tsuneo MAEBARA, Yusuke SHINDO, Junichi FUKUTA
  • Patent number: 8988904
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power supply for controlling current that uses a flyback converter for electrical insulation between a load line unit and the power supply for controlling current. In a transformer (a flyback converter) having a flyback structure in the present invention, disclosed is a device which expects a current of the second coil by sensing a current of the first coil of the transformer, and controls the current flowing through the load line unit. A level detector is included, which updates a duty time or an on-time of the switch by transferring a reset signal to an integrator and a second sampler in accordance with a cycle of an input power. As a result, it is possible to reduce power loss by increasing a power factor through the adjustment of the phase of the current of the load line unit and an input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hideep Inc.
    Inventor: Bonkee Kim
  • Patent number: 8982585
    Abstract: Switching-mode power conversion system and method thereof. The system includes a primary winding configured to receive an input voltage, and a secondary winding coupled to the primary winding and configured to, with one or more first components, generate, at an output terminal, an output voltage and an output current. Additionally, the system includes an auxiliary winding coupled to the secondary winding and configured to, with one or more second components, generate, at a first terminal, a detected voltage. Moreover, the system includes an error amplifier configured to receive the detected voltage and a first reference voltage and generate an amplified voltage based on at least information associated with a difference between the detected voltage and the first reference voltage. Also, the system includes a compensation component configured to receive the amplified voltage and generate a second reference voltage based on at least information associated with the amplified voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lieyi Fang