Patents Examined by Adolf D. Berhane
  • Patent number: 12249911
    Abstract: Apparatuses, devices, and methods for operating a multi-level voltage converter are described. A semiconductor device can include a circuit, where the circuit can include a plurality of current sources. The circuit can be configured to measure a flying capacitor voltage across a flying capacitor of a multi-level voltage converter. The circuit can be further configured to compare the flying capacitor voltage with a voltage level equivalent to an intermediate voltage that is between ground and an input voltage being provided to the multi-level voltage converter. The circuit can be further configured to, based on a result of the comparison, switch a current source among the plurality of current sources to maintain the flying capacitor voltage at the intermediate voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.
    Inventor: Barry John Concklin
  • Patent number: 12249919
    Abstract: A control circuit, system and method for switched-mode power supply are disclosed, the control circuit is for driving a first switch to convert an input voltage into an output voltage. The control circuit includes an on-time control unit, which receives a first signal characterizing switching frequency of first switch and a second signal characterizing current flowing through first switch and responsively generates a signal indicative of a turn-off instant for first switch. When a peak value of the current flowing through the first switch drops below a predefined value, the on-time control unit determines the turn-off instant for the first switch based on the first signal so that the switching frequency of the first switch is maintained at a target frequency. This design can effectively avoid the generation of audible noise, stabilize the output voltage against load changes while maintaining desirable efficiency, and ensure operational safety of the switched-mode power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: SHANGHAI BRIGHT POWER SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yanmei Guo, Yihui Chen, Haifeng Miao, Yuehui Li, Xiaoru Gao, Zhen Zhu
  • Patent number: 12249916
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a hybrid DC-DC, Hybrid Variable Switched Capacitor (HVSC) power converter. The converter may include one or more power switching networks supporting a plurality of power conversion modes and characterised in that: an input terminal connected to an input power source and an associated input capacitance, an output terminal connected to a load and an associated output capacitance to obtain a desired output voltage or output load current regulation; and at least six switches, one or more inductors and one or more flying capacitors. The converter addresses the problems faced by inductor-based and inductor-less DC-DC power converters while providing higher power conversion efficiencies alike the inductor-less switched capacitor converters and voltage/current regulation alike the inductor-based power converters in a single power conversion unit and enable a duty cycle-based output voltage/current regulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: SILICONCH SYSTEMS PVT LTD
    Inventors: Kaustubh Kumar, Burle Naga Satyanarayana, Rakesh Kumar Polasa, Satish Anand Verkila
  • Patent number: 12245524
    Abstract: An example electric circuit includes a superconductor component having a first terminal at a first end and a second terminal at a second end. The superconductor component includes a first portion coupled to the first terminal, a second portion coupled to the second terminal, and a third portion coupling the first portion and the second portion. The third portion has a curved shape such that the first portion of the superconductor component is proximate to, and thermally coupled to, the second portion of the superconductor component. The example electric circuit further includes a coupling component coupled to the third portion of the superconductor component, and a gate component configured to generate a resistive heat that exceeds a superconducting threshold temperature of the superconductor component, where the gate component is separated from the superconductor component by the coupling component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignees: PsiQuantum Corp., Government of the United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventors: Faraz Najafi, Qiaodan Jin Stone, Adam Nykoruk McDaughan
  • Patent number: 12242290
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first die with voltage regulator circuitry and a second die with logic circuitry. The apparatus further includes an inductor, a capacitor, and a conformal power delivery structure on the top side of the apparatus, where the voltage regulator circuitry is connected to the logic circuitry through the inductor, the capacitor, and the conformal power delivery structure. The conformal power delivery structure includes a first electrically conductive layer defining one or more recesses, a second electrically conductive layer at least partially within the recesses of the first electrically conductive layer and having a lower surface that generally conforms with the upper surface of the first electrically conductive layer, and a dielectric material between the surfaces of the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer that conform with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Beomseok Choi, William J. Lambert, Krishna Bharath, Kaladhar Radhakrishnan, Adel Elsherbini, Henning Braunisch, Stephen Morein, Aleksandar Aleksov, Feras Eid
  • Patent number: 12244132
    Abstract: A circuit breaker device protects an electric low-voltage current circuit. A level of a voltage of a low-voltage current circuit is ascertained such that ascertained voltage values are provided. A differential voltage is ascertained from the ascertained voltage values and an expected value of the voltage such that differential voltage values are provided incrementally. Each differential voltage value is compared with a first threshold, and if at least two successive differential voltage values exceed the threshold, an interruption of the low-voltage current circuit is initiated by semiconductor-based switching elements, which are set to a high-ohmic state, in order to protect the low-voltage current circuit from a short-circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Fabian Döbler, Christopher Fromme, Dominic Malane, Marvin Tannhäuser
  • Patent number: 12244222
    Abstract: Embodiments of this application provide a power conversion circuit, a power transmission system, and a photovoltaic device. The power conversion circuit includes: a first bridge arm, where the first bridge arm includes a first upper bridge arm and a first lower bridge arm; the first upper bridge arm includes a switching component connected between an input positive end and an output end; the first lower bridge arm includes a switching component connected between the output end and an input negative end; each of the switching components includes a switching transistor and a first diode anti-parallel connected to the switching transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yongbing Gao, Dong Chen, Lei Shi
  • Patent number: 12235664
    Abstract: A control circuit for a voltage regulator has an energy regulation circuit and a switching control circuit. The energy regulation circuit provides a regulation signal based on an output voltage, an output current, and a maximum energy reference. The maximum energy reference decreases with increasing of an ambient temperature and increases with decreasing of the ambient temperature. The switching control circuit provides a switching control signal based on the regulation signal to turn ON and turn OFF at least one switch of a plurality of switches of the voltage regulator, such that the output voltage and the output current satisfy a first relationship when the ambient temperature equals a first temperature value, and the output voltage and the output current satisfy a second relationship when the ambient temperature equals a second temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wangmiao Hu, Fangyu Zhang, Lijie Jiang, Chao Liu, Chiahsin Chang, Jinghai Zhou
  • Patent number: 12237771
    Abstract: A three-level buck converter circuit configurable to transition between a three-level buck converter mode and a two-level buck converter mode and methods for regulating power using such a circuit. One example power supply circuit generally includes a three-level buck converter circuit and a control circuit coupled to the three-level buck converter circuit and configured to control operation of the three-level buck converter circuit between a three-level buck converter mode and a two-level buck converter mode. The three-level buck converter circuit generally includes a first switch, a second switch coupled to the first switch via a first node, a third switch coupled to the second switch via a second node, a fourth switch coupled to the third switch via a third node, a first capacitive element coupled between the first node and the third node, and an inductive element coupled between the second node and an output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Sanghwa Jung, Chunping Song, Ta-Tung Yen, Yue Jing
  • Patent number: 12237770
    Abstract: A 3-level buck-boost converter includes: an inductor connected in series between a switching node and a ground terminal; an output capacitor connected between an output terminal from which an output voltage is output and a ground terminal; a first switch connected between an input terminal to which an input voltage is input and a top plate node; a second switch connected between the top plate node and the switching node; a third switch connected between the switching node and a bottom plate node; a fourth switch connected between the bottom plate node and the output terminal; a flying capacitor connected between the top plate node and the bottom plate node; balancing switches connected between the switching node and the balancing node; a top balancing capacitor connected between the input terminal and the balancing node; and a bottom balancing capacitor connected between the balancing node and the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: SILICON MITUS, INC.
    Inventors: Jae Soon Choi, Hak Hee Lee, Seok Mun Choi
  • Patent number: 12237677
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a power electronics device having at least two inverters and a transformer apparatus having a core arrangement, at least one primary winding and at least one secondary winding that wind around the core arrangement at least in sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventor: Sebastian Umlauf
  • Patent number: 12237779
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a first switch leg connected between a first input terminal and an output terminal, the first switch leg comprising a first switch. The apparatus may also include a second switch leg connected between a second input terminal and the output terminal, the second switch leg comprising a second switch. The apparatus may further include a third switch leg connected between an input voltage midpoint node and the output terminal. A control circuit may control the first switch leg, the second switch leg, and the third switch leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel Zmood, Tzachi Glovinsky, Yakir Loewenstern
  • Patent number: 12237769
    Abstract: A power conversion circuit includes a first capacitor coupled between an input terminal and a reference potential, a second capacitor coupled between an output terminal and a reference potential, an inductor coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal, storing magnetic field energy when at least part of an input current and a current output from the first capacitor flows through the inductor as a first current, and inducing a second current for charging the second capacitor by the magnetic field energy, and a switching element that is turned on and off at a substantially constant cycle, has a substantially constant period during which the switching element is ON in one cycle, is turned on to cause the first current to flow through the inductor, and is OFF when the second current flows through the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: JAPAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
    Inventor: Takeaki Yajima
  • Patent number: 12231043
    Abstract: An adaptive direct current (DC) conversion system may include a multi-mode DC converter circuit including two or more power switches, where the multi-mode DC converter circuit is operable in two or more pulse width modulation (PWM) modes based on two or more PWM signal sets provided to the two or more power switches. The system may further include a PWM controller, where the PWM controller controls which of the two or more PWM modes the multi-mode DC converter circuit operates in by providing the multi-mode DC converter circuit with the associated one of the two or more PWM signal sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Vertiv Corporation
    Inventors: Livio Alessandro Tilotta, Stefano Pecorari
  • Patent number: 12231056
    Abstract: Both AC and DC Power supply systems that may be connected directly to. AC mains and are integrated on silicon are described. The AC systems include both simple on/off capabilities as well as phase control capabilities. The DC power supply may be fixed, adjustable as through a potentiometer and programmable. The power supply systems use newly invented components of AC/DC converters and bidirectional MOSFET switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Inventor: Mark Telefus
  • Patent number: 12231048
    Abstract: A transient boost controller for controlling a transient boost circuit of a voltage regulator includes a feedback circuit and a processing circuit. The feedback circuit obtains a first feedback signal and a second feedback signal sensed from an output capacitor of the voltage regulator, wherein the first feedback signal is derived from a voltage signal at a first plate of the output capacitor, and the second feedback signal is derived from a voltage signal at a second plate of the output capacitor. The processing circuit generates a detection result according to the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal, and outputs the detection result for controlling the transient boost circuit of the voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Jin-Yan Syu, Kuan-Yu Fang, Chih-Chen Li
  • Patent number: 12224681
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a DC-to-AC converter comprising a first output terminal and a second output terminal. The apparatus also includes a DC-to-DC converter comprising a third output. The DC-to-AC converter is configured to receive a DC input voltage from a DC power source, and to produce a first alternating output voltage at the first output terminal, and a second alternating output voltage at the second output terminal. The DC-to-DC converter is configured receive a DC input voltage from the DC power source, and to step down the DC input voltage at the third output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzachi Glovinsky, Ilan Yoscovich, Guy Sella, Milan Ilic, Jaya Deepti Dasika
  • Patent number: 12224574
    Abstract: Described are computer implemented methods, a system and a power supply amplifier (PSA) that supports compliance testing of the PSA. The power supplies power to a powered device/information handling system. A voltage of synchronous rectifier (SR) gate is measured and compared to a calculated sense voltage at a sense resistor of the PSA. If the sense voltage is zero, received current of the PSA bypasses a first blocking MOSFET and a second blocking MOSFET for over voltage protection. If the sense voltage is not zero, the received current passes through the first blocking MOSFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Wei Cheng Yu, Merle Jackson Wood, III, Geroncio Ong Tan, Chi Che Wu
  • Patent number: 12224659
    Abstract: A charging device and a safety function control circuit and method thereof are provided. When a charging device is not connected to a load, a converted voltage value of a power connection terminal of the charging device is kept to be lower than a safe voltage value so as to maintain a safe mode. The safety function control circuit includes a first control module and a second control module for constant voltage control. The first control module and the second control module perform matching control on a power conversion circuit of the charging device, and in case of a single fault of one of the control modules, the other module is still capable of keeping the converted voltage value to be less than the safe voltage value. Thus, it is ensured that the safe mode stays functional in case of a concurrency of both a single hardware fault and a single firmware fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: FSP TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Che-Min Lin, Kuo-Chieh Chan, Kuan-Jung Lee, Chi-Chang Lien, Ching-Chia Chu
  • Patent number: 12224672
    Abstract: An asymmetric power converter includes a primary-side rectifying/filtering circuit, a power factor correction circuit, an asymmetric conversion circuit, and a feedback control circuit. The primary-side rectifying/filtering circuit rectifies and filters an input voltage to output a first voltage. The power factor correction circuit converts the first voltage into a power voltage. The asymmetric conversion circuit converts the power voltage into an output voltage to supply power to a load, and an output current is drawn by the load. The feedback control circuit generates a feedback control signal according to a load power demand provided by the load. The feedback control circuit controls the asymmetric conversion circuit to operate in a full-bridge resonant mode, a half-bridge resonant mode, or a hybrid half-bridge resonant mode according to the feedback control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: CHICONY POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Min-Han Lee