Patents Examined by Carlos O Rivera-Perez
  • Patent number: 11469686
    Abstract: A semiconductor circuitry includes a plurality of diodes and a first resister. The semiconductor circuitry is arranged in a circuit in which a first transistor and a second transistor are connected to a power supply in series, and the circuit outputs a voltage applied to an external load. The plurality of diodes which are connected in parallel with a first transistor and a second transistor, are diodes to which a reverse bias is applied by the power supply, and are connected in series with each other, and in which each breakdown voltage is lower than a voltage of the power supply and the sum of breakdown voltage of all these diodes is higher than the voltage of the power supply. The first resistor which connects a connection node between the plurality of diodes and a connection node between the first transistor and the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eiji Shimada
  • Patent number: 11456736
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement includes a plurality of switch assemblies connected in series, each provided with a parallel circuit of three assembly components, in which a first assembly component is a semiconductor switch, a second assembly component is a freewheeling diode, and a third assembly component is a surge arrester. The assembly components are disposed one above the other or next to one another as an assembly component stack, the three assembly components of each switch assembly are disposed in the assembly component stack in a consecutive manner. Each two adjacent assembly components are electrically connected to one another by a direct connection. A power converter module and a method for operating a power converter module are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: David Doering, Gerald Franz Giering, Klaus Wuerflinger
  • Patent number: 11442482
    Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit is provided. The voltage regulator circuit includes a voltage regulator configured to provide an output voltage at an output terminal. A plurality of macros are connectable at a plurality of connection nodes of a connector connected to the output terminal of the voltage regulator. A feedback circuit having a plurality of feedback loops is connectable to the plurality of connection nodes. The feedback loop of the plurality of feedback loops, when connected to a connection node of the plurality of connection nodes, is configured to provide an instantaneous voltage of the connection node as a feedback to the voltage regulator. The voltage regulator is configured, in response to the instantaneous voltage, regulate the output voltage to maintain the instantaneous voltage of the connection node approximately equal to a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Zheng-Jun Lin, Chung-Cheng Chou, Yu-Der Chih, Chin-I Su
  • Patent number: 11437909
    Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter includes a first capacitor, first to fourth switches connected in series between first and second electrodes of the first capacitor, a second capacitor connected to a connection node of the first switch and the second switch and a connection node of the third switch and the fourth switch, an inductor connected to a connection node of the second switch and the third switch, and a controller that performs PWM control. In a case where a failure occurs in the second capacitor, the DC-to-DC converter performs PWM control such that the first switch and the second switch enter the same state and the third switch and the fourth switch enter the same state on the basis of a result of comparison between a first detection voltage that is a measured output voltage and a target output voltage of the DC-to-DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jung Hwi Kim, Jung Mo Yu, Yong Jae Lee, Jae Ho Hwang, Joo Young Park, Jae Hyeon Park
  • Patent number: 11424150
    Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus member in which an insulating electrostatic chuck having a wafer placement surface and provided with a narrow hole and a conductive cooling plate provided with a gas supply hole are bonded together, the member includes a plug chamber composed of at least one of an electrostatic chuck side recess and a cooling plate side recess, a porous insulating air permeable plug disposed in the plug chamber, an annular dense layer provided on the surface of the air permeable plug so as to separate the surface of the air permeable plug into a narrow hole side surface and a gas supply hole side surface and an adhesive layer filled between the dense layer and the wall surface of the plug chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Takasaki
  • Patent number: 11418123
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus (10) suppressing a transient voltage is applied to an input voltage (50). The power supply apparatus (10) includes a power supply circuit (20), a feedback signal generation circuit (30) and a feedback signal control circuit (40). If the power supply circuit (20) stops receiving the input voltage (50), the feedback signal control circuit (40) controls the feedback signal generation circuit (30) to discharge so that the feedback signal generation circuit (30) controls the power supply circuit (20) to decrease an output voltage (60), so that when the power supply circuit (20) receives the input voltage (50) again, the power supply circuit (20) avoids generating an output overvoltage condition for the output voltage (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: P-DUKE TECHNOLOGY CO, LTD.
    Inventors: Lien-Hsing Chen, Ta-Wen Chang, Liang-Jhou Dai, Chien-Hsiung Huang
  • Patent number: 11398771
    Abstract: A switching regulator control circuit is used in a switching regulator that converts an input voltage into an output voltage by the switching of a switching device, and generates a switching signal for controlling the ON/OFF operation of the switching device. The switching regulator control circuit has a fault detector and a fault protector. The fault detector detects, based on the duty ratio of the switching signal or a variable correlated to it and included in a control signal used to generate the switching signal, a fault state where the duty ratio falls outside the normal modulation range. The fault protector stops the switching of the switching device when the fault detector detects a fault state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuhei Yamaguchi, Tetsuo Tateishi
  • Patent number: 11387642
    Abstract: A control device includes a current detecting section that detects a sense current for a current flowing through a semiconductor element; a transient sensing period detecting section that detects a transient sensing period from a transient rising to a transient falling of a detection signal of the sense current, in response to the semiconductor element being turned ON; and a control section that controls the semiconductor element according to a detection result of the transient sensing period, based on the sense current detection signal. By detecting the transient sensing period with the transient sensing period detecting section and controlling the semiconductor element with the control section according to the transient sensing period detection result, based on the sense current detection signal, it is possible to identify overcurrent according to the transient response detection result of the sense current during the transient sensing period, and to actively protect the semiconductor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masashi Akahane
  • Patent number: 11381175
    Abstract: An AC-DC power conversion system provides extended voltage gain characteristic by virtue of controlling a duty cycle of operation associated with the desired input-to-output gain. The AC-DC power conversion system includes an AC-stage, first and second inductors, first and second voltage-doubler stages, a totem-pole rectifier stage, and a DC-stage coupled across the totem-pole rectifier stage. Each voltage-doubler stage includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal, wherein a first terminal of the AC-stage is coupled by the first inductor to the first terminal of each voltage-doubler stage and by the second inductor to the third terminal of each voltage-doubler stage. The totem-pole rectifier stage includes first and second terminals coupled, respectively, to the second terminal of the first voltage-doubler stage and the second terminal of the second voltage-doubler stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Yungtaek Jang, Tomas Sadilek, Peter Barbosa
  • Patent number: 11349303
    Abstract: One or more embodiments provide a power module that includes a high-side power transistor; a low-side power transistor coupled to the high-side power transistor, the low-side power transistor including a first load path terminal through which a load current enters the low-side power transistor and a second load path terminal through which the load current exits the low-side power transistor; a gate driver integrated circuit (IC) configured to drive the high-side power transistor and/or the low-side power transistor; a leadframe having a low-side voltage pin configured to be coupled to a low-side voltage source; a surge voltage limiting element coupled between the second load path terminal of the low-side power transistor and the low-side voltage pin; and a module package, where the high-side power transistor, the low-side power transistor, the gate driver IC, the leadframe, and the surge voltage limiting element are encapsulated in the module package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventors: Minsub Lee, Byoungho Choo, Junbae Lee, Khai Yen Charles Low
  • Patent number: 11342775
    Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for supplementing power delivery with a battery. In an embodiment, a voltage is provided at a first node with the battery to power a load circuit. A charger is coupled between the first node and a second node, wherein a capacitor is coupled to provide charge to the charger via the second node. In response to detecting a transition of the voltage below a threshold voltage level, controller logic operates switch circuitry of the charger to provide charge from the capacitor. Such operation maintains the voltage in a range of voltage levels which are each above a minimum voltage level required by the load. At least a portion of the range is below the threshold voltage level. In some embodiments, another voltage at the second node provides a basis for generating a control signal to throttle an operation of the load circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Tod Schiff, Teal Hand, Alexander Uan-Zo-Li
  • Patent number: 11336193
    Abstract: In described examples, an isolated DC-DC converter includes: an input node for receiving an input voltage; a transformer including a primary side having first and second terminals and a primary side ground; and first and second low-side switches. The first low-side switch is coupled between the first terminal and the primary side ground. The second low-side switch is coupled between the second terminal and the primary side ground. A first voltage is across the first low-side switch, and a second voltage is across the second low-side switch. Also, the isolated DC-DC converter includes first and second high-side switches. The first high-side switch is coupled between the first terminal and the input node. The second high-side switch is coupled between the second terminal and the input node. Further, the isolated DC-DC converter includes a switch controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Texas Instmments Incorporated
    Inventors: Maurizio Granato, Giovanni Frattini, Shailendra Kumar Baranwal
  • Patent number: 11316478
    Abstract: Power consumption of a signal processing circuit is reduced. Further, power consumption of a semiconductor device including the signal processing circuit is reduced. The signal processing circuit includes a reference voltage generation circuit, a voltage divider circuit, an operational amplifier, a bias circuit for supplying bias current to the operational amplifier, and first and second holding circuits. The first holding circuit is connected between the reference voltage generation circuit and the bias circuit. The second holding circuit is connected between the voltage divider circuit and a non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier. Reference voltage from the reference voltage generation circuit and reference voltage from the voltage divider circuit can be held in the first and second holding circuits, respectively, so that the reference voltage generation circuit can stop operating. Thus, power consumption of the reference voltage generation circuit can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Takahashi, Yoshifumi Tanada
  • Patent number: 11283348
    Abstract: A voltage regulator can include: N energy storage capacitors, each having first nodes connected together, where N is a positive integer; N input capacitors connected in series between two nodes of an input port; N input switch circuits, each being connected in parallel with a corresponding one of the N input capacitors, where each of the N input switch circuits is configured to selectively couple a second node of a corresponding one of the N energy storage capacitors to a first node or a second node of the corresponding input capacitor; and a first output switch circuit configured to selectively couple the first nodes of the N energy storage capacitors to a first node or a second node of an output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Wang Zhang, Chen Zhao
  • Patent number: 11282666
    Abstract: A circuit protection system including at least one fuse including a fuse element, at least one inductive heating element operable to heat the fuse element, at least one control module in communication with the inductive heating element, and at least one current detection device coupled to said control module. The control module is configured to operate the inductive heating element and cause the fuse element to open in response to a predetermined current condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Robert Stephen Douglass
  • Patent number: 11262776
    Abstract: A system can control, with a positive temperature-voltage correlation, an output of a voltage regulator with a Peltier device. The Peltier device can receive heat from a heat-producing electronic device, and can have a positive terminal and a negative terminal. A voltage regulator circuit can include a driver device electrically coupled to an input voltage and an output terminal electrically coupled to one of the Peltier device terminals. The voltage regulator circuit can also include a differential amplifier electrically coupled to a reference voltage, an input electrically coupled to another Peltier device terminal and an output electrically coupled to the driver device. The differential amplifier can, in response to a voltage produced by the Peltier device, modulate, with a positive temperature-voltage correlation, an output voltage on the output terminal of the driver device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Layne A. Berge, John R. Dangler, Jason J. Bjorgaard, Kyle Schoneck, Matthew Doyle, Thomas W. Liang, Matthew A. Walther
  • Patent number: 11244812
    Abstract: An electromagnet control device includes a current value determining circuit configured to execute a second process for determining, based on a second function, a value of the current, in the case that the magnetic flux density is to be decreased from that in a first magnetization state, and a fourth process for expanding or reducing the second function by use of a first scaling ratio for transforming it to a fourth function, and determining, based on the fourth function obtained after above transformation, a value of the current, in the case that the magnetic flux density is to be decreased from that in a third magnetization state. The current value determining circuit is further configured to determine the first scaling ratio in such a manner that the second function fits measured data that are obtained in advance by decreasing the magnetic flux density from that in the third magnetization state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruka Takeuchi, Tomonori Ohashi, Ichiju Sato
  • Patent number: 11244785
    Abstract: An electronic component includes an upper surface, a lower surface, a side surface, a circuit pattern, and an upper surface shield electrode. The circuit pattern is provided inside the electronic component. The upper surface shield electrode is disposed on the upper surface. In a plan view from a normal direction of the upper surface, a center of gravity of the upper surface shield electrode is spaced from a center of gravity of the upper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Miyahara, Noboru Shiokawa
  • Patent number: 11228239
    Abstract: An AC capacitor is coupled to a totem-pole type PFC circuit. In response to detection of a power input disconnection, the PFC circuit is controlled to discharge the AC capacitor. The PFC circuit includes a resistor and a first MOSFET and a second MOSFET coupled in series between DC output nodes with a common node coupled to the AC capacitor. When the disconnection event is detected, one of the first and second MOSFETs is turned on to discharge the AC capacitor with a current flowing through the resistor and the turned on MOSFET. Furthermore, a thyristor may be simultaneously turned on, with the discharge current flowing through a series coupling of the MOSFET, resistor and thyristor. Disconnection is detected by detecting a zero-crossing failure of an AC power input voltage or lack of input voltage decrease or input current increase in response to MOSFET turn on for a DC input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS, STMicroelectronics LTD
    Inventors: Ghafour Benabdelaziz, Laurent Gonthier
  • Patent number: 11196342
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a multiphase regulator includes a plurality of output phases each of which is operable to deliver a phase current through a separate inductor to a load connected to the output phases via the inductors and an output capacitor. A controller is operable to regulate a voltage delivered to the load by adjusting the phase currents delivered to the load by the output phases, monitor the phase currents delivered to the load by the output phases, test the output phases in a predetermined sequence, and determine if the phase currents respond in a predetermined way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Benjamim Tang, Richard Pierson, Scott Southwell, Tim Ng, Yi-Yuan Liu, Brian Molloy, Kenneth Ostrom, Amir Babazadeh