Patents Examined by Afework Demisse
  • Energy harvester open-circuit voltage sensing for MPPT
    Patent number: 9800170
    Abstract: Apparatus and techniques described herein can include using an electronic circuit comprising a rectifier circuit, an open-circuit voltage (OCV) sampling circuit coupled to the output of the rectifier circuit, and a regulator circuit coupled to the output of the rectifier circuit. In an example, an isolation switch can be located between the regulator circuit and the rectifier circuit, the isolation switch configured to isolate the regulator circuit from the rectifier circuit for sampling of the open-circuit voltage by the open-circuit voltage sampling circuit. In another example, a buffer circuit can be used, such as placed in-line with a divider circuit between a divider circuit and an open-circuit voltage sampling capacitor. In this manner, the buffer circuit can provide a low output impedance, isolating the voltage sampling capacitor from the divider circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventor: Bin Shao
  • Power supply for an inverter and method for operating power supply for an inverter
    Patent number: 9800174
    Abstract: Power supply for an inverter and method for operating power supply. Power supply includes a throttle arranged to connect an output end of the inverter to an electric power supply network; a secondary-side auxiliary winding that is arranged on the throttle to transmit an output voltage (UA) of the inverter to a secondary side of the throttle; and a comparator unit. The comparator unit compares a voltage (U1) of the electric supply network with the voltage (U2) of the secondary side of the throttle, to supply, depending upon a result of the comparison of the electric supply network voltage (U1) to the secondary side voltage (U2) of the throttle, electric power to the power supply either from the electric supply network or via the secondary-side auxiliary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: FRONIUS INTERNATIONAL GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Danmayr, Stefan Bloechl, Andreas Luger, Dietmar Striegl, Martin Moertenhuber
  • Converter
    Patent number: 9800151
    Abstract: In a converter, the source of a first FET and the drain of a second FET are connected to one end of an inductor while the source of a third FET and the drain of a fourth FET are connected to the other end of the inductor. The sources of the first FET and the second FET are connected to each other. The cathode and the anode of a diode are connected respectively to the drain and the source of the third FET. Then, the first FET, the second FET, the third FET and the fourth FET are turned ON/OFF individually so that a voltage applied by a battery is converted. When voltage conversion is to be terminated, OFF-state of the third FET is maintained. Then, during the time that the OFF-state of the third FET is maintained, an electric current is reduced that flows from the drain of the third FET through a storage battery to the source of the fourth FET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tsuguo Nishimura
  • Digitally controllable power source
    Patent number: 9798338
    Abstract: Embodiments of power source circuits and methods for operating a power source circuit are described. In one embodiment, a method for operating a power source circuit involves receiving at the power source circuit at least one digital signal from a feedback loop and increasing or decreasing an output power signal of the power source circuit in response to the at least one digital signal. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Remco Van de Beek
  • Method for operating an inverter with reactive power capability having a polarity reverser, and inverter with reactive power capability having a polarity reverser
    Patent number: 9793812
    Abstract: A method for operating an inverter with reactive power capability that includes a voltage link circuit and an unfolding bridge, wherein poles of the voltage link circuit are configured to be selectively connected to terminals of an AC output in different configurations by means of the unfolding bridge, in order to change a polarity of the AC output relative to the voltage link circuit. The method includes in the case of a phase shift between an AC current (I) and an AC voltage (U) at the AC output reversing the direction of a current flowing via the voltage link circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Jens Friebe, Oliver Prior
  • Full-wave rectifier
    Patent number: 9787216
    Abstract: A full-wave rectifier is disclosed. In one embodiment the full-wave rectifier includes two input paths configured to receive an alternating input voltage, two output paths configured to provide a direct output voltage, and four switched-mode rectifying paths that are connected between each of the input paths and each of the output paths, wherein the switched mode rectifying paths are configured to connect a first input path to a first output path and a second input path to a second output path during a first half wave of the input voltage, and to connect the first input path to the second output path and the second input path to the first output path during a second half wave of the input voltage, and wherein the switched-mode rectifying paths include cascode circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Anton Mauder
  • Power conversion device and in-vehicle power supply device equipped with same
    Patent number: 9787190
    Abstract: In a DC/DC converter that performs zero-voltage switching, capacitors are connected respectively in parallel to first and second MOSFETs that are included in an inverter unit in the primary-side of a transformer, and an inductor is connected to an AC output line. In a range of a current being more than a predetermined value, a control circuit controls the inverter unit using a PWM control with a fixed dead time, and in a light load range where the current is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the control unit changes the control to a PFM control and decreases a frequency so that the dead time becomes longer as the current decreases, to thereby keep a duty ratio without change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Takeshima, Masaki Yamada, Takuto Yano
  • Energy recovery snubber
    Patent number: 9780642
    Abstract: An energy recovery snubber circuit for a power converter which includes a flyback transformer driven by a converter switch is disclosed. The snubber circuit includes two capacitors which are connected such that, when the snubber circuit is connected to a primary winding of the flyback transformer, the capacitors are charged in series by current flowing in a first direction in the primary winding when the converted switch is turned OFF, to recover energy stored in the leakage inductance of the transformer, and discharged in parallel to cause current flow in a second direction in the primary winding of the transformer, to thereby transfer the recovered energy to the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: TDK-Lambda UK Limited
    Inventors: Andrew John Skinner, Atul Abhyankar
  • DC-DC converter
    Patent number: 9780653
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter having a coupling network is provided, in which the coupling network is so configured as to forcibly add a noise source to a feedback output voltage of the DC-DC converter. The coupling network includes one coupling resistor and two coupling capacitors to include the switching voltage of a power switch and inductor output voltage into the output voltage, and transmit the result together with the feedback output voltage to the comparator. Accordingly, it is easier to compare the reference voltage and the feedback voltage, and stably maintain the output voltage of the DC-DC converter operating in constant on-time (COT).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tim Yu, Greg Wardle
  • Power supplying apparatus and method
    Patent number: 9780686
    Abstract: A power supplying apparatus includes a voltage outputting module and a voltage selecting module. The voltage selecting module is electrically connected to the voltage outputting module. The voltage selecting module includes a returning unit. The voltage selecting module receives a voltage identification signal when the voltage outputting module is electrically connected to an electronic device. When the voltage identification signal is larger than a voltage level, the returning unit notifies the electronic device, such that the electronic device returns a voltage request signal. The power supplying apparatus selectively sends out one of a plurality of DC voltage signals to the electronic device according to the voltage request signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: CHICONY POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yang Wang, Hsuan-Yu Lai
  • Control circuit and control method for switching power supply operating in quasi resonant mode
    Patent number: 9774264
    Abstract: A control circuit can include: an output current sampling circuit configured to sample a current through a power switch of a switching power supply operating in a quasi-resonant mode, and to generate an output current feedback signal that represents an output current of the switching power supply; and a valley locking circuit configured to receive the output current feedback signal and a plurality of valley switching threshold voltages, where the valley locking circuit is switched to a corresponding valley from a valley currently being locked when the output current feedback signal is increased or reduced to one of the plurality of valley switching threshold voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Xiaoyu Yang, Yongjiang Bai
  • Secondary side control of resonant DC/DC converters
    Patent number: 9762135
    Abstract: A secondary-side rectification and regulation circuit includes a secondary-side transformer winding, a full-wave rectifier circuit and a control unit. The full-wave rectifier has a first pair of controllable rectifiers including a first transistor connected to a first terminal of the secondary-side transformer winding and a second transistor connected to a second terminal of the secondary-side transformer winding. The control unit is operable to control switching of the transistors of the full-wave rectifier so that the full-wave rectifier (a) generates a rectified output for supplying a load by rectifying current through the secondary-side transformer winding or voltage across the secondary-side transformer winding and (b) regulates the rectified output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Darryl Tschirhart
  • Overvoltage protection for a synchronous power rectifier
    Patent number: 9755423
    Abstract: A circuit is described that includes a rectifier configured to rectify a DC output from an AC input, a sensing unit configured to detect a voltage level of the DC output, and a control unit configured to control the rectifier based on the voltage level of the DC output. The control unit is configured to control the rectifier output by at least controlling the rectifier to rectify the DC output from the AC input if the voltage level of the DC output does not indicate an overvoltage condition at the circuit. In addition, the control unit is configured to control the rectifier based on the voltage level of the DC output by at least controlling the rectifier to shunt current from the AC input if the voltage level of the DC output does indicate the overvoltage condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Christoph Sandner, Matteo Agostinelli
  • NMOS regulated voltage reference
    Patent number: 9753481
    Abstract: A method and system for generating a reference voltage are disclosed. The reference voltage is generated by generating a voltage VRIGHT using a first transistor and generating a voltage VBIAS using a second transistor. The gates of the two transistors are connected to a common node VREF, but the loads of the transistors have different resistances. At least one differential pair is used to detect a difference between voltages VRIGHT and VBIAS. VREF is forced to a value at which the source-drain currents in each of the transistors is equal. The transistors sued are NMOS transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: HGST, INC.
    Inventors: R. Jacob Baker, Ward Parkinson
  • Overvoltage snubber for grid tie inverter
    Patent number: 9755501
    Abstract: An overvoltage snubber circuit configured to receive an alternating current (AC) overvoltage includes a first rectifier configured to convert the AC overvoltage to a direct current (DC) overvoltage, a chopper circuit electrically connected to the first rectifier and configured to break up the DC overvoltage and to output a variable DC voltage, and a resistor electrically connected to the chopper circuit and configured to dissipate energy of the variable DC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rajesh Gopinath, Arne Ballantine, Carl Cottuli
  • Three level neutral point clamped converter with improved voltage balancing
    Patent number: 9755549
    Abstract: An NPC converter is controlled by estimating current flow during the short vector periods of a space vector modulation drive signal. The current estimation is used to close a first order inner current regulator loop that steers current to either the upper capacitor or the lower capacitor of a DC link. An outer voltage regulator measures the voltage imbalance across the capacitors and drives the inner current loop. By managing the associated duty cycle of each vector a bias current is formed that balances the capacitor voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: David C. Lewis
  • Switching power converter control
    Patent number: 9755519
    Abstract: A switching power converter with good stability and transient response is presented. There is provided a controller for a switching power converter of the type comprising one or more power switches. The controller contains a pulse width modulation comparator arranged to output a digital control signal to control the power switches of the switching power converter. A first input of the pulse width modulation comparator is derived from an output voltage of the switching power converter via a first feedback path. A second input of the pulse width modulation comparator is derived from the output voltage of the switching power converter via a second feedback path. One of the feedback paths has a signal extractor and a differential amplifier arranged to filter the output voltage and to provide good ground noise rejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: PowerVenture Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Chi-Chia Huang
  • Three-level converter arrangement and connecting arrangement for same
    Patent number: 9735524
    Abstract: A connecting arrangement for a three-level converter arrangement includes a first to third connection rail which are each in the form of a shaped metal body. The respective connection rail has a line section and a connection section which has a connection means. The respective connecting rail has a line section and a connecting section which, for its part, has an associated respective connecting means. The respective connection means forms, with the connecting means, a force-fitting, electrically conductive connection. The connection rails are connected to the connecting rails with the correct polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: SEMIKRON ELEKTRONIK GmbH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Ingo Rabl
  • Boost regulator having adaptive dead time
    Patent number: 9729061
    Abstract: A boost regulator that selectively operates in an asynchronous mode, a synchronous mode, or an adaptive mode. In the adaptive mode, the boost mode regulator controls a high side switch according to an adaptive dead time. Adaptive mode allows the boost regulator to operate more efficiently than in asynchronous mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Jiwei Chen
  • Interleaved resonant converter
    Patent number: 9729070
    Abstract: Provided are methods and circuits for a resonant converter comprising at least one switch-controlled capacitor, wherein the at least one switch-controlled capacitor controls a resonant frequency of the resonant tank circuit. Provided are constant and variable switching frequency embodiments, and full-wave and half-wave switch-controlled capacitor embodiments. Also provided are interleaved resonant converters based on constant and variable switching frequency, and full-wave and half-wave switch-controlled capacitor resonant converter embodiments. Interleaved embodiments overcome load sharing problems associated with prior interleaved resonant converters and enable phase shedding to improve light load efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: GANPOWER INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Yan-Fei Liu, Zhiyuan Hu