Patents Examined by Alex Torres-Rivera
  • Patent number: 12206253
    Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless power transfer systems are described. A controller can be coupled to a power rectifier configured to rectify alternating current power into direct current power. The power rectifier can include a first high side transistor, a second high side transistor, a first low side transistor, and a second low side transistor. The controller can be configured to selectively switch on one or more of the first high side transistor, the second high side transistor, the first low side transistor, and the second low side transistor to operate a wireless power receiver under one of a full bridge rectifier mode and a voltage doubler mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Sautto, Sercan Ipek, Turev Acar
  • Patent number: 12199495
    Abstract: A method of measuring a load current provided to a load of a switching converter includes obtaining a first reference voltage defining a peak of an inductor current passing through an inductor of the switching converter, generating a pulse based on the first reference voltage and an on-time of at least one power switch of the switching converter, generating an output signal by filtering the pulse, and setting a second mode from a first mode when a value of the load current is less than a first threshold value based on the output signal. The generating of the pulse further includes generating the pulse having a width extended in proportion to the on-time in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min Sang Park, Kyungrae Kim
  • Patent number: 12189408
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus includes: an amplifier to compare a reference voltage to a feedback voltage and to output a comparison signal based on the comparison; a first loop circuit coupled to the amplifier to receive the comparison signal and output a first feedback voltage for the amplifier to use as the feedback voltage in a first mode of operation; and a second loop circuit coupled to the amplifier. The second loop circuit may be configured to receive the comparison signal and output a second feedback voltage for the amplifier to use as the feedback voltage in a second mode of operation. The second feedback voltage may be greater than the first feedback voltage, and the second loop circuit may output a regulated voltage based on the comparison signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Ricky Setiawan, Hua Beng Chan, Rex Tak Ying Wong
  • Patent number: 12184178
    Abstract: A system has an input and an output. The system includes a voltage converter, including first transistor coupled to the input and to a first switching node, second transistor coupled to the first switching node and to ground, third transistor coupled to a second switching node and to the output, fourth transistor coupled to the second switching node and to ground, and an inductor having a first terminal coupled to the first switching node and a second terminal coupled to the second switching node. The system also includes a controller coupled to the voltage converter, the controller including a state machine and a plurality of drivers to control the transistors of the voltage converter. The state machine is adaptable to cause the second and fourth transistors to conduct and the first and third transistors not to conduct, in response to current through the inductor being less than a current threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Johann Erich Bayer, Rüdiger Ganz, Ivan Shumkov
  • Patent number: 12170478
    Abstract: A power delivery sub-system included in a computer system employs a primary voltage regulator circuit that generates a primary supply voltage on a primary power supply node. The power delivery sub-system also includes multiple bypass voltage regulator circuits that source corresponding bypass currents to a local power supply nodes in an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes multiple circuit blocks coupled to corresponding ones of the local power supply nodes, and multiple local voltage regulator circuits coupled to the primary power supply node. When a voltage level of a given local power supply node drops below a threshold value, a corresponding local voltage regulator circuit sources a supply current to the given local power supply node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander B. Uan-Zo-li, Shuai Jiang, Jamie L Langlinais, Per H. Hammarlund, Hans L Yeager, Victor Zyuban, Sung J. Kim, Wei Xu, Rohan U. Mandrekar, Sambasivan Narayan, Mohamed H. Abu-Rahma, Jaroslav Raszka, Robert O. Bruckner
  • Patent number: 12166413
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for a power supply circuit, including: a first command value output circuit outputting a first command value to turn on a transistor of the power supply circuit for a first time period; an on signal output circuit outputting an on signal to turn on the transistor; a delay circuit delaying the on signal by a predetermined time period; a correction circuit correcting the first command value, to output a second command value to turn on the transistor for a second time period; and a driver circuit turning on and off the transistor based respectively on the delayed on-signal and the second command value. The correction circuit corrects the first command value based on the predetermined time period and a ratio between the second time period and another time period from when the transistor is turned off to when an inductor current of the power supply circuit reaches a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuunosuke Araumi, Ryuji Yamada
  • Patent number: 12166418
    Abstract: A control circuit for a switched-mode power converter to generate a control signal for controlling switching transistors in the power converter is disclosed. The control circuit includes: a comparator; a ramp compensation circuit for producing and applying a ramp compensation signal to a first or second input of the comparator; an on-time generation circuit to generate an on-time timer signal; and a control signal generation circuit to generate, based on the comparison signal and the on-time timer signal, the control signal for controlling the switching transistors in the power converter. The ramp compensation signal output from the ramp compensation circuit is configured with: a first slope during an inductor demagnetization interval in operation of the power converter in CCM and a second slope during an inductor demagnetization interval and a zero-current interval in operation of the power converter in DCM, the first slope is greater than the second slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: SHANGHAI BRIGHT POWER SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shungen Sun, Hanfei Yang
  • Patent number: 12166408
    Abstract: A method of DC-DC power conversion includes converting a DC link voltage to a DC output voltage for a load that is lower than the DC link voltage using a buck converter. The method includes controlling the buck converter in a normal switching mode in response to the DC link voltage, the DC output voltage, and the current of the load being within respective predetermined thresholds. The method includes controlling the buck converter in a light load switching mode in response the DC link voltage, the DC output voltage, and/or the current of the load being at or beyond the respective predetermined thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: John Duward Sagona
  • Patent number: 12166420
    Abstract: An output feedback control circuit includes, for example, a first amplifier configured to generate a first error signal commensurate with a difference between an output voltage, which is fed to a load, or a feedback voltage commensurate therewith and a reference voltage, a second amplifier configured to be faster than the first amplifier and to generate a second error signal commensurate with a difference between the output voltage or the feedback voltage and the first error signal (or the reference voltage), a calculator configured to superimpose a remote sense signal, which is derived from a grounded terminal of the load, on the reference voltage, which is fed to the first amplifier, and a capacitor connected between an application terminal for the first error signal and an application terminal for the remote sense signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Inventors: Isao Takobe, Shingo Hashiguchi
  • Patent number: 12155197
    Abstract: A transformer assembly includes: a first switching apparatus configured to be electrically connected to a first segment of a transformer loop; a second switching apparatus configured to be electrically connected to a second segment of the transformer loop; and a transformer including: a first coil electrically connected to the first switching apparatus and the second switching apparatus; and a second coil electrically connected to an output configured to electrically connect to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Samuel T. Reed, Steven Howard Buehler, Eduardo Muñoz Sampedro
  • Patent number: 12149155
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to measure a load current provided to a load of a switching converter includes a pulse generation circuit configured to generate a control pulse based on a power switch driving signal of the switching converter, a reference current generation circuit configured to generate a reference current based on the control pulse, a clock generation circuit configured to generate a clock signal based on the control pulse and the reference current, and a clock counter configured to count the number of cycles of the clock signal during a switching period of the switching converter. The reference current generation circuit is configured to adjust the reference current to compensate for a leakage current generated in the clock generation circuit during the switching period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min Sang Park, Dongjin Keum, Byoungmook Kim
  • Patent number: 12149160
    Abstract: A power converter having a multi-stage high-side driving mechanism is provided. A control circuit outputs a first high-side control signal. A high-side driving circuit, according to the first high-side control signal and a first input voltage signal, outputs a first stage high-side driving signal to a control terminal of a high-side switch. As a result, a voltage of the control terminal of the high-side switch is pulled up to a first stage voltage from zero. Then, the control circuit outputs a second high-side control signal. A charge pump outputs a charging signal. The high-side driving circuit, according to the second high-side control signal and the charging signal, outputs a second stage high-side driving signal to the control terminal of the high-side switch. As a result, the voltage of the control terminal of the high-side switch is pulled up from the first stage voltage to a target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kun-Min Chen, Ke-Tsung Chen
  • Patent number: 12140985
    Abstract: A low dropout regulator is provided. The low dropout regulator includes a gain-stage module, an output setting stage, and a detection circuit. The gain-stage module generates a gain-stage signal. The output setting stage is electrically connected to the gain stage module. The output setting stage outputs a load current to an output terminal in response to the gain-stage signal. The detection circuit is electrically connected to the gain stage module and the output setting stage. The detection circuit includes a monitor circuit and a compensation circuit. The monitor circuit is electrically connected to the output terminal. The monitor circuit compares a charge-up duration of the signal at the output terminal with a pre-defined threshold duration, and generates a comparison signal accordingly. The compensation circuit is electrically connected to the gain-stage module and the output terminal. The compensation circuit selectively performs frequency compensation in response to the comparison signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: KEY ASIC INC.
    Inventor: Shahbaz Abbasi
  • Patent number: 12132397
    Abstract: A system for reducing common-mode noise includes a switch mode power supply having primary and secondary sides, primary and secondary side grounds, an input voltage source, a primary switch, a transformer, a core, and a power output. The primary and secondary sides each have a quiet termination. The transformer includes a primary winding, a secondary winding, and an active shield winding between the primary and secondary windings. The active shield winding has two terminations, is wound in a same direction as the secondary winding, and occupies a same axial position on the core as the secondary winding. One of the terminations of the active shield winding is connected to the quiet termination of the primary side, so that the terminations of the secondary winding and the active shield winding that are adjacent each other carry alternating voltages of a same polarity and a same amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Inventors: Ionel Jitaru, Mihai Bogdan Jitariu, Andrei Stefan Savu
  • Patent number: 12126257
    Abstract: A power factor correction (PFC) stage, controller, and control method are described. The PFC stage includes: a totem-pole converter having an input inductor for coupling to ac mains, first and second pairs of power switches, and an output capacitor for coupling to a bus; an auxiliary capacitor having a lower capacitance than the output capacitor; and a circuit configured to couple the auxiliary capacitor in parallel with the output capacitor in a first state and to the input inductor in a second state; and a controller. If a line drop out (LDO) condition is detected on the bus, the controller sets the circuit in the second state and operate the first pair of power switches as a DC-DC boost converter under peak current control. If no LDO condition is detected on the bus, the controller sets the circuit in the first state and operate the totem-pole converter under average current control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Osama Abdel-Rahman, Noureldeen Elsayad, Yalcin Haksoz
  • Patent number: 12126250
    Abstract: A dual-input power conversion system includes a first primary side power network comprising a first hold-up capacitor, wherein the first primary side power network has inputs configured to be coupled to a first power source, and outputs coupled to a transformer, a second primary side power network comprising a second hold-up capacitor, wherein the second primary side power network has inputs configured to be coupled to a second power source, and outputs coupled to the transformer, and a secondary side power network having inputs coupled to a secondary side of the transformer, and outputs coupled to a load, wherein the first primary side power network and the second primary side power network are configured such that a voltage across one of the first hold-up capacitor and the second hold-up capacitor is maintained by a voltage reflected from the secondary side to a corresponding primary side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: AA Power Inc.
    Inventor: Qun Lu
  • Patent number: 12126278
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling an inverter are disclosed. A method, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, receives an operation command for an inverter, outputs a first PWM control signal, to an inverter unit, such that the inverter unit outputs at least one among a plurality of valid vectors for the diagnosis of a short circuit of the output of the inverter, and blocks the output of the inverter if a short circuit current of the inverter is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: LS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chengde Xu
  • Patent number: 12126262
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a ramp generator configured to produce a set signal for determining a phase shift between a first phase and a second phase of a power converter, a first phase on-timer configured to produce a first reset signal for determining a turn-on time of a high-side switch of the first phase of the power converter, a second phase on-timer configured to produce a second reset signal for determining a turn-on time of a high-side switch of the second phase of the power converter, and a control logic block configured to generate gate drive signals for the first phase and the second phase of the power converter based on the set signal, the first reset signal and the second reset signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: M3 Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Yang, Xiaoyu Xi, David Meng
  • Patent number: 12119735
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wireless power reception system that utilizes a switched capacitor DC-DC voltage converter to charge a load. Current sensing circuits described herein enable the measurement of the input current to the switched capacitor DC-DC voltage converter while being relatively insensitive to temperature variation. Voltage/current sensing circuits described herein enable the selective measurement of load voltage, high side load current, and low side load current. One of the current sensing circuits may be used together with one of the voltage/current sensing circuits in a single device, or the current sensing circuits and voltage/current sensing circuits may be used separately in different devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Yannick Guedon, Teerasak Lee
  • Patent number: 12113432
    Abstract: A trans-inductor voltage regulator with fault detection has a plurality of transformers. Each transformer of the plurality of the transformers has a primary winding coupled to a switching circuit, and a secondary winding. Each secondary winding of each transformer of the plurality of transformers are coupled in series with a compensation inductor. The trans-inductor further has a controller operable to detect a) a short condition in a secondary side of each transformer of the plurality of transformers, b) a short condition between a primary side and the secondary side of each transformer of the plurality of transformers; c) an open condition in the primary side of each transformer of the plurality of transformers; and d) an open condition in the secondary side of each transformer of the plurality of transformers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Hang Shao, Tao Zhao