Patents Examined by Afework S Demisse
  • Digital nonlinear transformation for voltage-mode control of a power converter
    Patent number: 11502609
    Abstract: A power converter controller includes an analog to digital converter (ADC) to generate a digital representation of a feedback signal of a power converter, the feedback signal being received from a compensator of the power converter and being based on an output voltage of the power converter. A nonlinear gain block of the power converter controller receives the digital representation of the feedback signal and generates a transformed digital representation of the feedback signal using a nonlinear function. A switch control block of the power converter controller controls an on-time of a primary-side switch of the power converter based on the transformed digital representation of the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Appulse Power Inc.
    Inventor: Aleksandar Radic
  • Method and apparatus for mitigating performance degradation in digital low-dropout voltage regulators (DLDOs)
    Patent number: 11493945
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for mitigating performance degradation in digital low-dropout voltage regulators (DLDOs) caused by the effects of aging on the power transistors of the DLDO, such as by the effects of negative bias temperature instability (NBTI)-induced aging, for example. The apparatus comprises a shift register for use in a DLDO that is configured to activate and deactivate power transistors of the DLDO to evenly distribute electrical stress among the transistors in a way that mitigates performance degradation of the DLDO under various load current conditions. In addition, the shift register and methodology can be implemented in such a way that nearly no extra power and area overhead are consumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
    Inventors: Longfei Wang, S. Karen Khatamifard, Ulya R. Karpuzcu, Selçuk Köse
  • Single-phase equipotential self-powered low-cost easy-to-install recloser
    Patent number: 11495957
    Abstract: The invention relates to a single-phase, equipotential, self-powered recloser with a load life of more than 20 years, for installing in 15 KV medium-voltage networks, directly on Matthews-type fuse bases, using hooksticks, and without requiring the interruption of the energy supply. Said recloser uses a bistable electromagnetic actuator that controls a vacuum bulb for interrupting the current in the event of a fault. It stores energy in ultracapacitor banks which receive the first charge by means of an induction coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: ENERGISA S/A
    Inventors: Celso Garcia Lellis Junior, Ayres Antonio Paes De Oliveira
  • Power conversion apparatus and synchronous rectification controller thereof
    Patent number: 11489451
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus and a synchronous rectification (SR) controller thereof are provided. An open-loop control circuit outputs a clamp voltage as a driving voltage when a drain voltage of a synchronous rectification transistor rises to a second voltage, so as to quickly pull down the driving voltage and maintain the driving voltage at a clamp voltage. Therefore, a second control circuit may quickly turn off the synchronous rectification transistor when the drain voltage is greater than a third voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Power Forest Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Chia-Hsien Liu
  • Switching element, switching device and method for the operation of the switching device
    Patent number: 11488795
    Abstract: A switching element (100) that comprises a switching unit (30), a first and a second coil unit (10, 20) for closing and opening the switching unit (30), wherein the first coil unit (10) comprises a first coil (12) and wherein the second coil unit (20) comprises a second coil (22). According to the invention, the first coil unit (10) comprises a first controllable delay circuit (14) that is connected in series with the first coil (12). The invention further relates to a switching device (200) that comprises a switching element (100) according to the invention. The invention further relates to a first and a second method for the operation of the switching device (200) according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Chrysanthos Tzivanopoulos, Keonyeol Hwang
  • Devices, systems, and methods for power supplies
    Patent number: 11489450
    Abstract: At least one example embodiment is directed to a method for controlling a rectifier. The method includes applying a first control signal to a first switch of the rectifier to cause a first current to flow through a first inductor of the rectifier, applying a second control signal to a second switch of the rectifier to cause a second current to flow through a second inductor. The second control signal and the first control signal have a phase difference. The method includes detecting that the first current falls to a first minimum value at a first time, detecting that the second current falls to a second minimum value at a second time, determining a first difference between the first time and the second time, and determining whether to adjust the second control signal based on the first difference to bring the phase difference closer to a target phase difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Flex Ltd.
    Inventors: HuaMin Xu, Weian Chen, Xiao Dong Liu
  • Switching converter and method
    Patent number: 11489444
    Abstract: An embodiment switching converter comprises an input stage; an output stage for providing an output voltage; a capacitive coupling stage for coupling the input stage to the output stage; a first switching stage configured to switch between a first state where an input voltage is provided to the input stage, and a second state where the input voltage is not provided to the input stage; a second switching stage configured to switch between a first state in which a reference voltage is provided to the output stage, and a second state in which the reference voltage is not provided to the output stage; and a voltage regulation stage configured to set, after the second switching stage switches from the first state to the second state and before the first switching stage switches from the second state to the first state, a target voltage across the input stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Edoardo Botti
  • DC voltage detector isolation circuit
    Patent number: 11489447
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a power supply circuit has a power source, an inductor in series with a switching transistor connected to the power source, a pair of isolation capacitors connected across the switching transistor, a load connected to the isolation capacitors such that they isolate the load from low frequency energy from the power source, and a resonance circuit configured to amplify resonant ringing connected at least one of in parallel to the inductor or in parallel to the switching transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Masud Bolouri-Saransar, Walid Balid
  • Method for operating a switched mode power supply of the buck type and corresponding switched mode power supply
    Patent number: 11489446
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for operating a voltage step-down switched mode power supply includes delivering an output voltage with an output stage having a power transistor that is cyclically made conducting by a first control signal. In PWM mode, the method includes generating an error voltage based on the output voltage and a reference voltage, and applying a first delay on a first control signal. The first delay is determined so as to reduce a difference between the error voltage and the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLE 2) SAS
    Inventor: David Chesneau
  • Isolated resonant converter
    Patent number: 11482938
    Abstract: An isolated resonant converter is provided, including a first side circuit, a second side circuit, and a resonant tank circuit. The resonant tank circuit includes a first resonant capacitor, a second resonant capacitor, and an integrated magnetic element. The integrated magnetic element includes a first side winding, a second side winding and a spaced groove provided between the first side winding and the second side winding. And the spaced groove stores leakage inductance energy, thereby forming at least part of resonant inductance required. Therefore, a number and volume of magnetic elements in the resonant converter are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Zengyi Lu, Haijun Yang, Shiwei Liu, Jinfa Zhang
  • Control circuit for a flyback converter, related integrated circuit, electronic flyback converter and method
    Patent number: 11482935
    Abstract: A control circuit for a driving an electronic switch associated with a switching node of a flyback converter includes a comparison circuit configured to generate a switch-off signal by comparing a current measurement signal with a current measurement threshold signal. A valley detection circuit is configured to generate a trigger in a trigger signal when a valley signal indicates a valley in a voltage at the switching node of the flyback converter, and a blanking circuit is configured to generate a switch-on signal by combining the trigger signal with a timer signal provide by a timer circuit. The timer signal indicates whether a blanking time-interval has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Fabio Cacciotto
  • Protection circuit
    Patent number: 11482858
    Abstract: In general, according to one embodiment, a protection circuit includes first and second power lines, first and second controllers, a first transistor, and a detector. The first controller includes a first resistor element, a capacitor, first, second, and third inverters. The second controller includes third transistor. One end of the third transistor is coupled to the second power line. The other end of the third transistor is coupled to each of the output end of the first inverter and the input end of the second inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kentaro Watanabe
  • Power supply controller
    Patent number: 11482929
    Abstract: A power supply controller used in a DC/DC converter includes a feedback control unit that generates a pulse-shaped PWM signal having a first level that is one of a high level and a low level and a second level that is the other of the high level and the low level, on the basis of a feedback voltage based on an output voltage of the DC/DC converter; a low voltage detection unit that detects a low voltage of the feedback voltage; and a selection unit that chooses, as a chosen clock signal, a first clock signal having a high duty when the low voltage is not detected by the low voltage detection unit, and chooses a second clock signal having a low duty when the low voltage is detected by the low voltage detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hidekazu Hayashi
  • Switching mode power supply with adaptive threshold setting
    Patent number: 11476749
    Abstract: A switching mode power supply with an adaptive setting of a threshold valley voltage. The switching mode power supply decreases a reference auxiliary current when a valley value of a primary switching voltage across a primary switch is smaller than a first threshold valley voltage. And in addition, the switching mode power supply can increase the reference auxiliary current when the valley value of the primary switching voltage is larger than a second threshold valley voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuedong Chen
  • Single-input multiple-output (SIMO) converter having a controller with switchable rest states
    Patent number: 11476761
    Abstract: An inductor has first and second terminals. A first switch is coupled between the first terminal and a voltage supply terminal. A second switch is coupled between the first terminal and a negative output supply terminal. A third switch is coupled between the second terminal and a positive output supply terminal. A fourth switch is coupled between the second terminal and a ground terminal. A controller is coupled to the first, second, third and fourth switches. The controller is configured to provide: an inductor charge mode; a positive boost mode; a negative boost mode; a first rest state in which the controller closes the first switch and opens the second, third and fourth switches; and a second rest state in which the controller closes the fourth switch and opens the first, second and third switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Gary Franklin Chard, Ariel Dario Moctezuma, Hasibur Rahman, Alex Kwasi Nyavor Titriku, Srinath Hosur
  • Current control for a boost converter with dual anti-wound inductor
    Patent number: 11476759
    Abstract: A system may include a power converter comprising at least one stage having a dual anti-wound inductor constructed such that its windings generate opposing magnetic fields in its magnetic core and a current control subsystem for controlling an electrical current through the dual anti-wound inductor. The current control subsystem may be configured to minimize a magnitude of a magnetizing electrical current of the dual anti-wound inductor to prevent core saturation of the dual anti-wound inductor and regulate an amount of output electrical current delivered by the power converter to the load in accordance with a reference input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Lawrence, John L. Melanson, Eric J. King
  • Power converter
    Patent number: 11469680
    Abstract: A current sensor is provided on a bus bar via which a reactor is connected to a power module. The reactor is separated from the current sensor by a partition made of metal having a magnetic shielding effect. An output terminal of the reactor is provided on either one of a surface of the reactor on a first side and a surface of the reactor on a second side, the first side being farther from a mounting surface of a power converter across a plane passing through the center of the reactor, the second side being closer to the mounting surface from the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Hayashi, Hiromi Yamasaki, Kazuki Hayashi
  • Magnetic element, power module and power conversion system
    Patent number: 11463013
    Abstract: A magnetic element, a power module and a power conversion system are provided. The magnetic element includes a main body, a plurality of first magnetic posts, a first common magnetic post and a second magnetic post. A first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of the main body are opposite to each other and extended along a first direction. A third lateral edge and a fourth lateral edge of the main body are opposite to each other and extended along a second direction. The plurality of first magnetic posts are disposed on the main body and arranged along the first direction. The first common magnetic post is disposed on the main body and located at the first magnetic posts. The second magnetic post is disposed on the main body and located at the first common magnetic post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Da Jin, Kunpeng Wang, Shuailin Du, Kai Dong
  • Power converter device for a vehicle, and vehicle
    Patent number: 11464141
    Abstract: Power converter device for a vehicle, includes a cooling structure through which a cooling medium can flow and an intermediate circuit capacitor with a busbar arrangement. The busbar arrangement is thermally conductively connected to the cooling structure for the purpose of dissipating heat from the intermediate circuit capacitor at least in sections by means of a heat-conducting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: VALEO SIEMENS EAUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Hoyler
  • Gateway interface for an enhanced circuit breaker disconnect
    Patent number: 11462898
    Abstract: A system includes a solid-state circuit breaker coupling between a power supply and an electrical load. The system also includes a gateway interface device communicatively coupled to the solid-state circuit breaker and includes a plurality of communication interfaces. In an embodiment, the gateway interface device includes a controller configured to perform operations including determining a connection status of at least one communication interface of the plurality of communication interfaces and determining a number of devices connected to the at least one communication interface, receive a signal from at least one device of the number of devices. In the embodiment, the operations may also include in response to receiving the signal, instructing the solid-state circuit breaker to disconnect the electrical load from the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Mazur, Corey A. Peterson, Robert Dilgard, Todd R. Sauve, Peter J. Halpin, Calvin C. Steinweg