Patents Examined by Afework Demisse
  • Patent number: 9973077
    Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide an AC-DC rectifier comprising an input configured to receive input AC power from an AC power source having an input AC voltage waveform, an output configured to provide output DC power to a load, an active power filter coupled to the input, an inverter coupled to the input and configured to convert the input AC voltage waveform into an output AC voltage waveform at a desired magnitude, a rectifier portion coupled between the inverter and the output and configured to convert the output AC voltage waveform into the output DC power, and a controller coupled to the active power filter and the inverter and configured to operate the active power filter to provide Power Factor Correction (PFC) at the input and to operate the inverter to provide the output AC voltage waveform at the desired magnitude to the rectifier portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hui Jung Chen
  • Patent number: 9966941
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for generating relatively low regulated power supply voltages over a relatively wide range of input voltages. The techniques for generating the regulated voltages may include using at least two different pass transistors to regulate an output voltage of a voltage regulator. Both the turn-on threshold voltage and the maximum drain-to-source voltage rating of the first pass transistor may be greater than the corresponding characteristics of the second pass transistor. Using two different pass transistors with two different turn-on threshold voltages and two different maximum drain-to-source voltage ratings may increase the range of voltages over which a voltage regulator can generate a relatively low output voltage relative to the range of voltages that would be allowable if a single type of pass transistor were used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Vikrant Dhamdhere, Md Abidur Rahman
  • Patent number: 9960698
    Abstract: An AC to DC converter system is provided. The system includes a bidirectional boost converter circuit coupled to an AC input, a high voltage DC link capacitor circuit coupled to the bidirectional boost converter and comprising at least one capacitor, and a DC to DC converter circuit coupled to the high voltage DC link capacitor circuit and a DC input, wherein the at least one capacitor may include a film capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Flex Power Control, Inc.
    Inventors: James Michio Nagashima, Gregory Scott Smith
  • Patent number: 9960723
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include power conversion systems, computer readable mediums and methods for mitigating input filter resonance, in which a controller operates an active front end (AFE) rectifier in a first mode to turn a single rectifier switching device on and off and measures a filter voltage or current signal while all of the rectifier switches are off. The controller determines a resonant frequency based on a transient response of the measured voltage or current signal, and selectively adjusts a rectifier control parameter to mitigate filter resonance based on the resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shaofeng Zhang, Haihui Lu, Yogesh P. Patel, Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Ahmed, Lixiang Wei, Richard Lukaszewski
  • Patent number: 9960705
    Abstract: A rectifier device is described herein. In accordance with one example, the rectifier includes a first MOS transistor, which has a load current path and a diode connected parallel to the load current path, wherein an alternating input voltage is operably applied across the load current path and the diode. The rectifier device further includes a control circuit that is configured to switch on the first MOS transistor for an on-time period, during which the diode is forward biased. A stand-by detection circuit includes a cycle detection circuit configured to detect cycles of the alternating input voltage and a timer that is coupled to the cycle detection circuit. The timer is configured to be reset by the cycle detection circuit upon detection of a cycle of the alternating input voltage, and to disconnect a supply line of the control circuit unless reset before a maximum time span has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Albino Pidutti, Damiano Gadler
  • Patent number: 9960702
    Abstract: A switch device in a power conversion device is located between a power supply and a load, wherein the power conversion device includes a shunt resistance and a switching element and is capable of executing stable control, the switch device includes a switching element that includes a gate terminal, a gate drive circuit that applies a drive voltage Vcc to a gate terminal of the switching element, and a control unit that generates a drive signal to the gate drive circuit, wherein a value obtained by subtracting a threshold voltage Vth of the switching element from the drive voltage Vcc to be applied to the gate terminal of the switching element is greater than a product of a resistance value Rsh+Rdc from an emitter of the switching element to a negative electrode of the gate drive circuit and a maximum current value Ipeak that flows through the switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Uemura, Takuya Shimomugi, Koichi Arisawa, Yosuke Shinomoto, Shigeo Umehara, Shinichiro Ura, Makoto Tanikawa
  • Patent number: 9954438
    Abstract: Methods, devices, techniques, and circuits are disclosed for current control of a buck converter. In one example, a device is configured to receive a selected average current value for a current driver. The device is further configured to determine a set of parameters for the current driver. The device is further configured to generate an output to the current driver to cause the current driver to output a switching signal with an average current that corresponds to the selected average current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Attila Tomasovics, Muhammad Nur Syafii Mohamed Saat
  • Patent number: 9954446
    Abstract: System and method for regulating a power converter. The system includes a first signal processing component configured to receive at least a sensed signal and generate a first signal. The sensed signal is associated with a primary current flowing through a primary winding coupled to a secondary winding for a power converter. Additionally, the system includes a second signal processing component configured to generate a second signal, an integrator component configured to receive the first signal and the second signal and generate a third signal, and a comparator configured to process information associated with the third signal and the sensed signal and generate a comparison signal based on at least information associated with the third signal and the sensed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Guangzhou On-Bright Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lieyi Fang, Guo Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 9954456
    Abstract: A converter circuit is disclosed. The converter circuit includes a transformer and a primary circuit connected to the primary side of the transformer, where the primary circuit includes a first switch connected to a ground. The converter circuit also includes a second switch connected to the first switch, and a clamping capacitor connected to the second switch and to the input. The converter circuit also includes a secondary circuit connected to the secondary side of the transformer, where the secondary circuit includes a rectifying element, and an output capacitor connected to the rectifying element. In addition, the output capacitor has a substantial effect on resonance of the converter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Navitas Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Lingxiao Xue, Ju Zhang
  • Patent number: 9948183
    Abstract: A synchronous regulator controller, including a synchronous switch that is coupled between a first node and a second node. The controller also includes a first voltage divider that includes a first resistive device that is coupled between the first node and a third node, and a second resistive device that is coupled between the third node and a second node. The controller also includes a comparator having a first input that is coupled to the first node, and a second input that is coupled to a forth node. The controller also includes a current source that is arranged to provide a current to the fourth node. The controller also includes a third resistive device that is coupled between the third node and the fourth node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Daniele Vacca Cavalotto, Enrico Orietti
  • Patent number: 9948204
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling power conversion. In one embodiment, the method comprises computing a voltage ratio based on a voltage conversion in a resonant converter; comparing the voltage ratio to a threshold; and controlling, independent of switching frequency of the resonant converter, power output from the resonant converter based on whether the voltage ratio satisfies the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Fornage, Donald Richard Zimmanck
  • Patent number: 9939835
    Abstract: A reference potential generation circuit is provided. The reference potential generation circuit includes first to third input terminals, first and second output terminals, a low-pass filter including first to third terminals, and a linear regulator including first to fourth terminals. In the reference potential generation circuit, the first terminal of the low-pass filter is electrically connected to the second input terminal. The second terminal of the low-pass filter is electrically connected to the first input terminal or the third input terminal. The third terminal of the low-pass filter is electrically connected to the first terminal of the linear regulator. The second terminal of the linear regulator is electrically connected to the first input terminal and the first output terminal. The third terminal of the linear regulator is electrically connected to the second output terminal. The fourth terminal of the linear regulator is electrically connected to the third input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9941800
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that operates switched-mode power supplies, such as flyback converters. The power supplies may comprise isolated or non-isolated power converters. During operation, the system senses an on-time of a primary switch in the power converter. Upon detecting that the on-time does not exceed an on-time threshold within a first pre-specified period that spans one or more switching cycles, the system extends the on-time during a subsequent switching cycle to at least meet the on-time threshold. The system may then measure the voltage on one or more reference windings of the power converter during the on-time of the subsequent switching cycle, wherein the reference winding may comprise, e.g., an auxiliary winding of the primary winding of the power converter or a secondary winding of the power converter (e.g., in the case of isolated power converters utilizing a transformer).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Pastrana, Manisha P. Pandya, Sameer G. Kelkar, Nicholas A. Sims
  • Patent number: 9935546
    Abstract: Power supplies combining a switching-mode power supply in parallel with a current source can improve maximum load current capability. The current source can be turned on, or the amount of current supplied by the current source increased, when there is a heavy load current demand, for example, when the load current demand is more than the current rating of the switching-mode power supply. The duty cycle of the output stage of the switching-mode power supply can be used to determine the load current demand. The current source may increase the maximum output current of the power supply beyond the maximum output current of the switching-mode power supply. For example, the current source may add 0.5 A to the current capability of a 2.5 A switching-mode power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Srikanth Jatavallabhula, Anand Kudari, Arvindh Rajasekaran
  • Patent number: 9915967
    Abstract: In order to suppress a negative influence on a circuit operation caused by variation in a substrate potential, a circuit device includes a bridge circuit having a high-side transistor and a low-side transistor, a detection circuit configured to detect current flowing in the bridge circuit, a control circuit configured to control switching on and off of the bridge circuit, and a guard region for setting a substrate PSB of the circuit device to a substrate potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Moriya
  • Patent number: 9906144
    Abstract: System and method for protecting a power conversion system. An example system controller includes a protection component and a driving component. The protection component is configured to receive a feedback signal, a reference signal, and a demagnetization signal generated based on at least information associated with the feedback signal, process information associated with the feedback signal, the reference signal, and the demagnetization signal, and generate a protection signal based on at least information associated with the feedback signal, the reference signal, and the demagnetization signal. The demagnetization signal is related to multiple demagnetization periods of the power conversion system, the multiple demagnetization periods including a first demagnetization period and a second demagnetization period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yunchao Zhang, Xiuhong Zhang, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 9906142
    Abstract: A resonant converting apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The resonant converting apparatus includes a resonant converting circuit, a load detector, a control signal generator and a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) signal generator. The resonant converting circuit converts an input voltage into an output voltage to drive a load according to a PFM signal. The load detector detects a load status of the load. The control signal generator generates the control signal according to the load status and a PFM range. When the load status is a light load status, the control signal is divided into a plurality of first time periods and second time periods which are respectively arranged alternatively. The PFM signal is maintained to a reference voltage during the second time periods, and is a periodical signal having frequency substantially equal to a resonant frequency during the first time periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Te-Hong Yang, Ming-Tsung Hsieh, Yu-Kang Lo
  • Patent number: 9899911
    Abstract: A power source circuit includes first and second input terminals; first, second, and third inductors; first and second switching devices; first and second capacitors; and first and second output terminals. A first end of the second inductor is connected to a path that connects the first input terminal and the first node, a second end of the second capacitor is connected to a path that connects the second input terminal and the second node, and the first inductor and the second inductor are magnetically coupled with each other. A first end of the third inductor and a second end of the second inductor are connected to each other. A second end of the third inductor and a first end of the second capacitor are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taiki Nishimoto, Akira Minegishi
  • Patent number: 9893680
    Abstract: A circuit comprises a cascode core circuit and a current adjustor circuit. The cascode core circuit has an output node and a current path (ID). The current adjustor circuit is configured to change a current on the current path in response to a change in a voltage at the output node. The cascode core circuit comprises a first transistor, a second transistor, and a third transistor. A first terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a second terminal of the second transistor and to a third terminal of the third transistor. A first terminal of the second transistor is configured as the output node. A first terminal of the third transistor is coupled to a third terminal of the second transistor. The current path is through the first terminal of the third transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Tsung-Hsien Tsai
  • Patent number: 9891649
    Abstract: A safe and low-cost voltage regulator is provided through simplification of a circuit configuration of a protection circuit. The voltage regulator has a configuration in which current output of the protection circuit, which serves as a signal indicating that the protection circuit has started to operate, is input to a control circuit configured to improve responsiveness of the voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Isobe