Patents Assigned to Astec
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Patent number: 11333691Abstract: According to some aspects of the present disclosure, power modules having current sensing circuits, and corresponding sensing methods, are disclosed. Example power modules include a printed circuit board (PCB) having a PCB trace, a first sense terminal coupled to the PCB trace at a first location, and a second sense terminal coupled to the PCB trace at a second location such that a resistance between the first and second sense terminals is defined by a resistance of the PCB trace between the first location and the second location. The power module further comprises a control coupled to the first sense terminal and the second sense terminal, the control adapted to measure a voltage between the first sense terminal and the second sense terminal and determine a current through the PCB trace based on the measured voltage and the resistance between the first sense terminal and the second sense terminal.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Astec International LimitedInventors: Mao Xi Xiang, Jian Feng Lv, Chen Chen Zheng, Qian Feng
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Patent number: 11316711Abstract: A system for automatically addressing serially connected slave devices includes a master device and multiple slave devices each including a serial communication transceiver, an address input port, an address output port, and a controller. The system also includes a serial communication wiring bus connected between the serial communication transceivers of the master and slave devices, and at least one digital address line connected between the address input ports and the address output ports. Each controller is configured to receive a PWM or PFM signal from a previous one of the multiple slave devices, determine an address for the slave device including the controller according to the received PWM or PFM signal, and transmit a PWM or PFM signal indicative of the determined address to a subsequent one of the multiple slave devices.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: Astec International LimitedInventors: Vincent Vicente Vivar, James Larin David, Francis Xavier Sicat De Rama
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Publication number: 20220123648Abstract: A power conversion device is provided. The power conversion device includes a bulk capacitor, a current limiting resistor in series with the bulk capacitor, and an inrush current control device configured to bypass the current limiting resistor when activated. The power conversion device also includes a bypass device in parallel with the current limiting resistor, configured to provide a low-resistance path to the bulk capacitor during a power surge.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2020Publication date: April 21, 2022Applicant: Astec International LimitedInventors: Yongtao Xie, Pengfei Cai, Wenchao Que
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Patent number: 11309732Abstract: A power system includes first and second power supplies, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to control the first power supply to regulate its output voltage at a first value, enable the second power supply, increase the output voltage of the first power supply to a second value in response to the second power supply being enabled, increase an output voltage of the second power supply to a third value, and decrease an output current of the first power supply and increase an output current of the second power supply to transition between electrically powering the load with the first power supply and electrically powering the load with the second power supply. Other example power system and methods for controlling a power transition between power supplies are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2019Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: Astec International LimitedInventors: John Faustino Boqueo Begino, III, Nathaniel Franco Neri, Jeremy Coronel David, Ricardo Bernardo Roldan, Jr., Louie Concepcion Cuevas
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Patent number: 11296595Abstract: A multiphase interleaved forward power converter includes an inductor and first and second subconverter comprising respective transformers. The converter also includes first and second drives configured to respectively operate the first and second subconverters with cycling periods comprising a conduction period, a reset period, and an idle period. The first and second drives are also configured to phase shift the cycling periods in each subconverter such that the conduction period of the subconverter is at least partially complementary to the idle period of the other subconverter. The second drive also clamps a voltage across a winding of the transformer of the first subconverter to substantially prevent a first resonance voltage from propagating in the first subconverter during the idle period of the first subconverter.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Astec International LimitedInventors: John Faustino Boqueo Begino, III, Nathaniel Franco Neri
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Publication number: 20220103071Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to a DC input power supply unit with an auxiliary boost control circuit (or controller) that facilitates continuous supply of power to a standby output load of the power supply unit in a bootloader mode. More specifically, the auxiliary boost circuit (or controller) is configured to assume control of a primary power boost stage from a primary controller in a bootloader mode so that the power supply unit can continue to supply power to the standby output with a protection function regardless of the state of the power supply unit or primary controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2020Publication date: March 31, 2022Applicant: Astec International LimitedInventors: Chih-hao HSU, Chang-Chieh YU, Carl Walker, Chun-Wei Chang, Po-Tso Chen
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Publication number: 20220093325Abstract: A three-phase magnetics assembly comprising a plurality of windings, and a unified core body is provided. The core body includes core legs which extend along central axes of the plurality of windings and around which the plurality of windings are wound such that magnetic fluxes are produced in the plurality of core legs when current flows through the plurality of windings. The plurality of windings comprise first, second, and third phase inductors, and first, second, and third phase transformers, which are positioned about the unified core body such that the core legs of the first phase inductor and second phase transformer share a central axis, the core legs of the second phase inductor and third phase transformer share a central axis, and the core legs of the third phase inductor and first phase transformer share a central axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2020Publication date: March 24, 2022Applicant: Astec International LimitedInventors: Lei Shi, Yuk Man Shing
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Patent number: 11283365Abstract: A switch-mode power supply includes a pair of input terminals for receiving an alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) voltage input from an input power source, a pair of output terminals for supplying a direct current (DC) voltage output to a load, and a three-level LLC circuit coupled between the pair of input terminals and the pair of output terminals. The circuit includes a first switch coupled with a first diode to define a first half-bridge and a second switch coupled with a second diode to define a second half-bridge. The power supply further includes a third switch coupled across the first diode and the second diode to short circuit the first diode and the second diode when the third switch is closed, and a control circuit including a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), at least one flip-flop and multiple logic gates to operate the three switches with zero-voltage switching (ZVS).Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2020Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Astec International LimitedInventor: James Sigamani
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Patent number: 11277025Abstract: An electric power supply comprises first and second input circuits for receiving first and second input DC voltages and a control circuit coupled to the first and second input circuits. The control circuit is configured to sense the first input DC voltage and the second input DC voltage and to enable the first input circuit and disable the second input circuit in response to the first input circuit having the highest input DC voltage to substantially prevent current from back feeding to the first input circuit from the second input circuit. The control circuit is also configured to enable the second input circuit and disable the first input circuit in response to the second input circuit having the highest input DC voltage to substantially prevent current from back feeding to the second input circuit from the first input circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2020Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: Astec International LimitedInventors: Rochie Ligaya Sedillo Libby, Neil Maderas Reyes, Khanderao Madhav Gaikwad
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Patent number: 11264908Abstract: A multi-phase switched-mode power supply includes first and second interleaved phase circuits coupled between input and output terminals. The first phase circuit includes a first inductor coupled with a first switch, and the second phase circuit includes a second inductor coupled with a second switch. A control circuit is configured to output first and second PWM signals to the first and second switches. An on time of the second PWM signal is equal to an on time of the first PWM signal plus a fixed offset time period. The control circuit is configured to determine a period between rising edges of the first PWM signal in order to determine an off trigger PWM signal, and change the second PWM signal to a logical low value when a falling edge of the off trigger PWM signal occurs while the second PWM signal has a logical high value.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2020Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: Astec International LimitedInventors: Israel Gomez Beltran, Zhizhi Li, Siu Lun Wu
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Patent number: 11248788Abstract: A burner assembly including a housing and an airflow restrictor plate for selectively restricting an amount of airflow passing out of the housing in order to reduce a heat output of the burner assembly. The housing has an air inlet and an air outlet and is configured to guide an airflow from the air inlet and out of the housing via the air outlet. The airflow restrictor plate has a single opening through which all airflow flowing through the housing from the air inlet must pass in order to exit the housing via the air outlet.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2019Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Astec, Inc.Inventors: Shannon Putman, Joseph Unjakoti, Eric Wattenbarger, Chris McAllister, Casey Dillon
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Patent number: 11251705Abstract: A switched mode power supply includes a multilevel buck power converter and a control circuit. The power converter includes a first buck circuit and a second buck circuit each having a power switch, a rectifier, and an inductor. The power supply may further include a resonant power converter coupled to the multilevel buck power converter. In some examples, the control circuit is configured to generate control signals for the first buck circuit's power switch and the second buck circuit's power switch to control the power converter, and adjust a switching frequency of the control signals to control the amount of reverse current flowing in the first buck circuit and the second buck circuit to achieve zero voltage switching of the first buck circuit's power switch and the second buck circuit's power switch. Other example multilevel buck power converters and power supplies are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Astec International LimitedInventors: James Sigamani, Jonathan Ross Bernardo Fauni
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Publication number: 20220008957Abstract: A vibratory screen assembly includes a rigid frame having a pair of parallel side members that are spaced apart such that a space is provided between them. A tappet assembly extending horizontally across the space between the side members includes a horizontal member having opposing ends secured to the frame. A screen placed over the tappet assembly provides a screening medium having a mesh size. A vibrator motor is located at each of the opposing ends of the horizontal member to form a cooperative pair of vibrator motors that induce vibrations in the horizontal member and in the screen. As the screen vibrates, aggregate material that is smaller than the mesh size passes through the screening medium and aggregate material that is larger than the mesh size does not pass through the screening medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2021Publication date: January 13, 2022Applicant: Astec Mobile Screens, Inc.Inventors: Chad D. Abell, Gary W. Eisenhower, JR.
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Patent number: 11223289Abstract: A switched mode power supply includes a power circuit and a control circuit coupled to the power circuit for regulating its output voltage. The control circuit is configured to generate a control signal for at least one power switch of the power circuit using a reference voltage, determine if a duty cycle of the control signal is within a defined range, sense one or more output parameters of the power circuit including the output voltage of the power circuit, and in response to determining the duty cycle of the control signal is outside the defined range, adjust the reference voltage to adjust the duty cycle of the control signal. The reference voltage is adjustable over time to thereby linearly adjust the output voltage of the power circuit. Other example switched mode power supplies, control circuits, and methods for regulating output voltages of switched mode power supplies are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2020Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: Astec International LimitedInventors: Lian Liang, Bing Zhang, Mei Qin, Wenyong Liu, Zhishuo Li
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Publication number: 20210408919Abstract: A switch-mode DC-DC power converter includes one or more input terminals and output terminals, and a transformer coupled between the input and output terminals. The transformer includes a plurality of winding sets. Each winding set includes a primary winding and a secondary winding magnetically coupled with one another. The primary winding and the secondary winding include the same number of turns. The primary windings of the plurality of winding sets are connected in series and the secondary windings of the plurality of winding sets are connected in parallel. The power converter also includes at least one spacer positioned to separate an adjacent pair of the plurality of winding sets. A magnetic coupling between the adjacent pair of the plurality of winding sets is less than the magnetic coupling between the primary winding and the secondary winding within each winding set.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicant: Astec International LimitedInventor: James Sigamani
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Patent number: 11212941Abstract: An equipment shelf includes at least one power supply unit (PSU) positioned in an upper region of the equipment shelf. The equipment shelf also includes at least one battery backup unit (BBU) positioned in a lower region of the equipment shelf. An airflow path extends through the equipment shelf between the upper region and the lower region. The airflow path separates the upper region of the equipment shelf from the lower region of the equipment shelf and thermally isolates the at least one PSU in the upper region from the at least one BBU in the lower region when air flows through the airflow path. Other example equipment shelves are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2020Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: Astec International LimitedInventors: Angelito Hatol, Benigno Jr. Pasco, Iain Scott
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Patent number: 11210260Abstract: A system for monitoring inter-integrated circuit (I2C) communication includes a power supply, a battery backup unit, an I2C serial clock line (SCL) coupled between the power supply and the battery backup unit, an I2C serial data line (SDA) coupled between the power supply and the battery backup unit, and a controller. A first monitor line is coupled between the controller and the I2C serial clock line, and a second monitor line is coupled between the controller and the I2C serial data line. The controller is configured to monitor a digital communication transmitted on the I2C serial clock and data lines between the power supply and the battery backup unit, interpret a message included in the monitored digital communication, and perform a control function according to the interpreted message.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2020Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: Astec International LimitedInventor: Donald Cedrick Yuchongtian Ongyanco
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Patent number: 11206033Abstract: A switch-mode power supply includes a pair of input terminals, a pair of output terminals, and at least one switch coupled between the input terminals and the output terminals. The power supply further includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for converting a sensed analog current value at the output terminals to an output digital value, an interface for receiving a user configurable current setting, and a control circuit coupled with the interface, the ADC and the at least one switch. The control circuit is configured to determine a raw digital value of the ADC that corresponds to the received current setting by processing an iterative loop, and turn on and turn off the at least one switch according to the determined raw digital value and the output digital value of the ADC, to supply an output current at the pair of output terminals that corresponds to the received current setting.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2020Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: Astec International LimitedInventors: CJ Saguian Mirafuentes, Ranil Margarijo Montaril
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Publication number: 20210381175Abstract: A method for producing an asphalt concrete blend that includes the steps of drying and heating aggregate in a single and only dryer, preferably via direct heating, and without use of a pre-dryer. The aggregate is then combined with asphalt cement, preferably via indirect heating, such that the blend has an asphalt cement components (ACC) percentage of at least 25% percent to form an aggregate mix. Liquid asphalt cement may also be added to the aggregate mix. Preferably, the asphalt cement content of the final asphalt concrete blend is provided by a maximum of 70% ACC. In certain cases, the asphalt cement content of the asphalt concrete blend is comprised of ACC and liquid asphalt cement.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Applicant: Astec, Inc.Inventors: Malcolm Leland Swanson, Greg Renegar, Michael Varner, Earl Edwards, JR.
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Patent number: 11196345Abstract: An interleaved power converter includes a control circuit and multiple phase-shifted subconverters each having at least one power switch. The control circuit is coupled to the subconverters for controlling the power switches to balance currents in the subconverters over multiple periods. The control circuit includes a current compensator configured to determine a first duty cycle multiple times over the multiple periods, generate a PWM control signal having a present value of the first duty cycle for controlling the power switch of one of the subconverters during a period, determine a second duty cycle based on the present value of the first duty cycle and a previous value of the first duty cycle, and generate another PWM control signal having the second duty cycle for controlling the power switch of another one of the subconverters during the period. Other example power converters and control circuits are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2020Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Astec International LimitedInventors: Yancy Fontanilla Boncato, Ronnie Bachiller Gozun