Patents Assigned to Power Integration, Inc.
  • Isolation testing of semiconductor devices
    Patent number: 9188634
    Abstract: One example apparatus for isolation testing of semiconductor devices may include an interface portion for making electrical contact with packaged semiconductor devices under test. The interface portion may include an insulating support configured and dimensioned to support multiple semiconductor device packages, each semiconductor device package having a plurality of electrical contacts. The interface portion may further include a first electrically conductive surface to electrically contact a first proper subset of the plurality of electrical contacts of each of the semiconductor device packages supported by the interface portion and a second electrically conductive surface to electrically contact a second proper subset of the plurality of electrical contacts of each of the semiconductor device packages supported by the insulating support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew W. Bruno
  • FAULT PROTECTION CIRCUIT
    Publication number: 20150326008
    Abstract: A fault detection circuit for use with a power converter includes an initiate fault check circuit coupled to generate an enable signal in response to a first sense signal coupled to be received from an output socket. A threshold detection circuit is coupled to generate a threshold detection output signal in response to a second sense signal coupled to be received from the power converter and a second reference signal. A logic circuit is coupled to generate a fault signal that is coupled to be received by the power converter in response to the threshold detection output signal and the enable signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Bäurle, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Charging circuit for a power converter controller
    Patent number: 9178411
    Abstract: A controller includes a first controller terminal, a second controller terminal, a first p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor, and a second pMOS transistor. The first controller terminal is to be coupled to a bypass capacitor coupled to a secondary side of an isolated power converter. The second controller terminal to be coupled to an output node of the secondary side. The first pMOS transistor includes a first source terminal coupled to the second controller terminal, a first drain terminal, and a first body diode. The second pMOS transistor includes a second source terminal coupled to the first controller terminal, a second drain terminal coupled to the first drain terminal, and a second body diode. A cathode of the second body diode is coupled to the second source terminal. An anode of the second body diode is coupled to the second drain terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, David Kung, Sheng Liu
  • Phase angle measurement of a dimming circuit for a switching power supply
    Patent number: 9178432
    Abstract: An example switched mode power supply includes a timer, a threshold adjust circuitry, a comparator, and a control circuitry. The timer times a duration between crossings of a phase-dimmed signal across a first threshold. The threshold adjust circuitry adjusts a second threshold representative of a desired output of the switched mode power supply, where the second threshold is adjusted responsive to the timed duration between crossings. The comparator compares a feedback signal with the second threshold and generates a comparison result. The control circuitry controls switching of a power switch responsive to the comparison result to regulate the output of the switched mode power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Yury Gaknoki, Mingming Mao, Tiziano Pastore
  • Transverse shield wire for energy transfer element
    Patent number: 9177714
    Abstract: Energy transfer elements having a shield to reduce EMI while maintaining a low profile are disclosed. In one example, the transformer may include a transverse shield wire that may be utilized to keep displacement current within the energy transfer element. While windings of the energy transfer element are generally wound axially around the axis of a bobbin in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the bobbin, the transverse shield wire may be placed on the bobbin extending over multiple power windings of the energy transfer element in a transverse direction. The transverse shield wire may be situated outside all other windings wound around the bobbin. In some examples, one end of the transverse shield wire may be coupled to a switching node of the energy transfer element while the other end of the transverse shield wire may be coupled to a winding of the energy transfer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Marvin Cruz Espino
  • DIMMING EDGE DETECTION FOR POWER CONVERTER
    Publication number: 20150303812
    Abstract: A controller for a power converter includes an edge detection circuit and a drive circuit. The edge detection circuit includes a comparator, a count module, and an edge checking module. The comparator is coupled to output a compare signal in response to comparing an input sense signal and a count signal. The input sense signal is representative of an input voltage of the power converter. The count module is coupled to adjust the count signal to track the input sense signal in response to receiving the compare signal. The edge checking module is coupled to output at least one edge signal in response to the compare signal. The drive circuit is coupled to output a drive signal in response to the at least one edge signal. The drive signal is for controlling a switch coupled to regulate an output of the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mingming Mao, Ricardo Luis Janezic Pregitzer, Tiziano Pastore, Michael Yue Zhang
  • Switched averaging error amplifier
    Patent number: 9164133
    Abstract: A signal averaging circuit includes a plurality of switched weighted current sources to generate a total amount of charge. The total amount of charge is representative of a weighted sum of a plurality of input signal samples during an active period of a read enable signal. A timing control signal generator is coupled to receive an input signal and the read enable signal and sequentially switch the plurality of switched weighted current sources to adjust the total amount of charge in response to the input signal during the active period of the read enable signal. A storage circuit is coupled to the plurality of switched weighted current sources to convert the total amount of charge into a voltage representative of an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Polivka
  • Method and apparatus for sensing multiple voltage values from a single terminal of a power converter controller
    Patent number: 9166479
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a switching control and a sensor. The switching control generates a first signal to control switching of a power switch between a first state and a second state. The sensor receives a second signal from a single terminal of the controller during at least a portion of the time that the power switch is in the first state and during at least a portion of the time that the power switch is in the second state. The second signal is representative of a line input voltage during at least the portion of time that the power switch is in the first state and is representative of an output voltage during at least the portion of time that the power switch is in the second state. The sensor is coupled to be responsive to the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Balu Balakrishnan
  • Low threshold voltage comparator
    Patent number: 9166575
    Abstract: A voltage comparator includes an amplifier coupled to receive an input signal at an amplifier input and generate an output signal at an amplifier output in response to the input signal. The amplifier includes a current generation circuit coupled to generate a first current flowing through a first branch and a second current flowing through a second branch. A first transistor has a first terminal coupled to the amplifier input and a second terminal coupled to the first branch. A second transistor has a third terminal coupled to the second branch, a fourth terminal coupled to a reference voltage. A second control terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the first control terminal. An output circuit is coupled to the amplifier output to generate a comparator output signal in response to the output signal. The amplifier output is coupled to the second branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian, Leif Lund
  • Power converter using multiple controllers
    Patent number: 9166486
    Abstract: A power converter controller includes a primary controller and a secondary controller. The primary controller is coupled to receive one or more request signals from the secondary controller and transition a power switch from an OFF state to an ON state in response to each of the received request signals. The primary controller is coupled to detect a turn-off condition when the power switch is in the ON state and transition the power switch from the ON state to the OFF state in response to detection of the turn-off condition. The secondary controller is galvanically isolated from the primary controller. The secondary controller is coupled to transmit the request signals to the primary controller and control the amount of time between the transmission of each of the request signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: David Michael Hugh Matthews, Balu Balakrishnan, David Kung
  • Latching comparator
    Patent number: 9154119
    Abstract: A latching comparator includes a switching logic circuit coupled to receive a latching signal, a first signal and a second signal. An output circuit having an input terminal is coupled to the switching logic circuit. The input terminal of the output circuit is coupled to receive both the first and second signals through the switching logic circuit in response to the latching signal being in a first state. The input terminal of the output circuit is coupled to receive only one of the first and second signals through the switching logic circuit in response to a signal representative of an output terminal of the output circuit and in response to the latching signal being in a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhao-Jun Wang, Giao Minh Pham
  • LED dimming circuit for switched dimming
    Patent number: 9155151
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) dimming module includes an energy storage circuit, a load interface circuit, and a switch circuit. The energy storage circuit provides a substantially continuous current in response to a converter current. The load interface circuit provides a modulated load current in response to the continuous current. The switch circuit, which is operatively coupled to the load interface circuit, switches in accordance with a duty cycle. The modulated load current is based on the duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Pura Angeles
  • Method and apparatus for implementing an unregulated dormant mode in a power converter
    Patent number: 9154041
    Abstract: A power converter controller includes a drive signal generator coupled to generate a drive signal to control switching of a power switch to regulate a flow of energy to a power converter output in response to an energy requirement of a load. A voltage supply rail is coupled to supply a voltage to the drive signal generator. The supplied voltage is used by the drive signal generator to generate the drive signal. A control circuit is coupled to generate a power down signal that stops the supply of the voltage to the drive signal generator to stop the generation of the drive signal and the control of the switching of the power switch for a period of time. Timer circuitry determines a duration of the period of time and triggers the control circuit to restart the supply of the voltage by the supply rail to the drive signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Reset voltage circuit for a forward power converter
    Patent number: 9148063
    Abstract: An example method includes controlling a duty ratio of a switch to regulate an output of a forward power converter and storing a first voltage. The first voltage is equal to an input voltage of the forward power converter when the input voltage is at a steady-state value. The method also includes resetting a transformer of the forward power converter when the switch is in an OFF state by setting a voltage across a primary winding of the transformer to the stored first voltage in response to a drop in the input voltage to below the steady-state value. Further included in the method is increasing the duty cycle of the switch to greater than fifty (50) percent in response to the drop in the input voltage to maintain regulation at the output of the forward power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Ionut A. Nania, Arthur B. Odell
  • Method of supplying power on a circuit board assembly
    Patent number: 9148959
    Abstract: Power is supplied on a circuit board assembly by attaching a drum core inductor to a circuit board. The drum core inductor has a first winding wound around the drum core inductor. The first winding has first and second ends coupled to the drum core inductor. A bobbin is attached to the circuit board. The bobbin has a second winding wound around the bobbin. The second winding has first and second ends coupled to the bobbin. The drum core inductor and the bobbin are attached to the circuit board. The drum core inductor is inside an opening of the bobbin. The drum core inductor and the bobbin are detached from each other. A power switch coupled to the first winding is switched to control a transfer of energy from an input power source through the first and second windings to a load coupled to the second winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Eng Hwee Quek
  • High quality GaN high-voltage HFETs on silicon
    Patent number: 9147734
    Abstract: Substrates of GaN over silicon suitable for forming electronics devices such as heterostructure field effect transistors (HFETs), and methods of making the substrates, are disclosed. Voids in a crystalline Al2O3 film on a top surface of a silicon wafer are formed. The top surface of the silicon wafer is along the <111> silicon crystal orientation. A plurality of laminate layers is deposited over the voids and the Al2O3 film. Each laminate layer includes an AlN film and a GaN film. A transistor or other device may be formed in the top GaN film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamal Ramdani, John P. Edwards, Linlin Liu
  • Techniques for controlling a power converter using multiple controllers
    Patent number: 9136765
    Abstract: A power converter controller includes a primary controller that is galvanically isolated from a secondary controller. The primary controller controls a state of a power switch during a first mode of operation according to a switching pattern defined by the primary controller. During a second mode of operation, the primary controller controls the state of the power switch in response to control signals received via a communication link. The secondary controller operates in a powered down state during the first mode of operation. The secondary controller initiates a transition operation with the primary controller that transitions the primary controller and the secondary controller from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation. In the second mode of operation, the secondary controller transmit the control signals to the primary controller via the communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian, Sheng Liu
  • Field effect transistor with access region recharge
    Patent number: 9136364
    Abstract: The current invention provides the design of the field effect transistor with lateral channel suitable for high voltage switching. In such a transistor, the electrical charge stored in the high electric field region has to vary as the transistor switches from ON to OFF state and back. The invention provides the method of calculating the necessary recharging path parameters based on the material parameters of the FET and desired blocking voltage, ON state resistance and switching speed. The invention can be used in power electronics by providing circuits and parts, for example, for electrical power distribution between power plant customers, for automotive, craft and space applications and many other applications where high voltage in excess of 400-600 V is involved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexey Kudymov
  • Varying switching frequency and period of a power supply controller
    Patent number: 9124186
    Abstract: A controller includes a PWM circuit and a timing circuit. The PWM circuit controls a switch in response to a clock signal. A switching period of the clock signal is based on a charging and discharging time of a capacitor included in the timing circuit. Both first and second current sinks discharge the capacitor while the timing circuit is in a normal discharging mode that is when an on time of the switch is less than a threshold time. The second current sink is prevented from discharging the capacitor such that the capacitor is discharged with the first current sink and not the second current sink while the timing circuit is in an alternative discharging mode that is when the on time of the switch exceeds the threshold time. The discharging of the capacitor in the alternative discharging mode increases the switching period of the clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Baurle, Guangchao Darson Zhang, Arthur B. Odell, Mingming Mao, Michael Yue Zhang, Edward Deng
  • Method and apparatus to increase efficiency in a power factor correction circuit
    Patent number: 9116538
    Abstract: A power factor correction (PFC) controller includes a capacitor, an error amplifier, a switching frequency adjuster, a comparator, and a drive signal generator. The current source generates a current that is representative of an instantaneous input voltage of a PFC converter to charge the capacitor when a power switch of the PFC converter is off. The switching frequency adjuster generates an adjusted error signal in response to an error signal generated by the error amplifier. The comparator compares a voltage on the capacitor with the adjusted error signal to generate a first signal to end an off time of the power switch. The drive signal generator controls switching of the power switch in response to the first signal. The switching frequency adjuster changes the adjusted error signal in response to changes in the error signal to adjust an average switching frequency of the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre