Patents Examined by Emily Pham
  • Patent number: 7863872
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a buck-boost switching regulator, comprising: (1) a first loop including: a first and a second switch electrically connected with each other, the first switch having an end electrically connected with an input voltage, and the second switch having an end electrically connected with ground; and a first control circuit controlling the operation of the first and the second switch; (2) a second loop including: a third and a fourth switch electrically connected with each other, the third switch having an end electrically connected with ground, and the fourth switch having an end electrically connected with an output voltage; and a second control circuit controlling the operation of the third and the fourth switch; and (3) an inductor electrically connected between a node between the first and the second switch, and a node between the third and the fourth switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Wei-Che Chiu
  • Patent number: 7855900
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement are provided for controlling phase-specific thyristors of a half-controlled network bridge. The method includes identifying continuously a thyristor to be controlled on the basis of magnitudes of supplying phase voltages, controlling the thyristor by enabling a current flow to its gate current circuit through an inductive component of a constant current regulator, which is common to all the gate current circuits. The thyristor control includes determining a magnitude of the gate current at the potential of the gate conductor in the constant current regulator, alternately switching off the voltage producing the gate current from the gate current circuit when the gate current is higher than a first predetermined limit, and switching on the voltage producing the gate current in the gate current circuit when the gate current is lower than a second predetermined limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventor: Alpo Kaulio
  • Patent number: 7855535
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes a power supply system. The power supply system comprises a variable voltage source configured to provide and incrementally increase a control voltage associated with a pass-transistor. The power supply system also comprises an inrush current monitor configured to monitor a current-flow through the pass-transistor. The power supply system further comprises a voltage control circuit configured to halt the incremental increase of the control voltage in response to the current-flow exceeding a predetermined current limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kee-Chee Tiew, H. Pooya Forghani-zadeh, William Aubrey Mayfield
  • Patent number: 7848121
    Abstract: A matrix converter may be provided with AC switches that comprise bi-directional sets of semiconductor switches that are gated with a common gating link. A low loss diode-bridge based snubber may facilitate introduction of time delay between sequential operations of the bi-directional set of semiconductor switches. The matrix converter may be operated in a three-phase mode with only one gating signals for each AC switch, in contrast to prior-art matrix converters which may require use multiple gating signals for each AC switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Hassan Ali Kojori
  • Patent number: 7843713
    Abstract: When the three U-, V-, W-phase arms of a DC/DC converter are turned on, they are alternately turned on by gate drive signals. When the U-, V-, W-phase arms are alternately turned on, an upper arm switching device of the U-phase arm, for example, is turned on, and thereafter a lower arm switching device of the U-phase arm is turned on. Thereafter, an upper arm switching device of the V-phase arm which is next to the U-phase arm is turned on, and thereafter a lower arm switching device of the V-phase arm is turned on. The upper and lower arm switching devices are thus turned on in a rotation switching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Takenaka, Toshihiro Sone
  • Patent number: 7839132
    Abstract: A power converter comprising an inductor for receiving energy from a power supply, and connected to the inductor an output capacitor for providing an output voltage. In order to ensure a quick compensation of a reduction of load at the voltage output using few output capacitors, an additional current path is arranged in parallel either to the inductor or to the capacitor, which additional current path can be opened and closed. A current flowing through the additional current path reaches basically immediately a desired value, when the additional current path is opened. Feedback means are moreover provided for opening the additional current path, when the output voltage reaches a predetermined maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Dürbaum, Reinhold Elferich, Tobias G. Tolle, Jeffery Olsen
  • Patent number: 7830677
    Abstract: This invention discloses a switching power converter controlled by a winding voltage sampler, including an input circuit with an input end, an output circuit with an output end, one or more switches, a controller to regulate on/off of the switch, a winding voltage sampler, and a transformer including a primary-side coil assembly connecting the switch and the winding voltage sampler, and a secondary-side coil assembly. The output circuit connects the secondary-side coil assembly; the winding voltage sampler detects preset reference voltage of the primary-side coil assembly for the controller to regulate output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Inventor: Chung Fu Chou
  • Patent number: 7826237
    Abstract: Method and system for efficient power control with multiple modes. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a power system with selectable power modes. The power system includes a first terminal for outputting energy, and the first terminal is electrically coupled to a load. The system also includes a pulse-frequency modulation (PFM) component that is configured to adjust a pulse frequency based on the load. The system additionally includes a pulse-width modulation (PWM) component that is configured to adjust a pulse width based on the load. The system further includes a switch that is electrically coupled to the first terminal. Also, the system includes a control component, the control component being configured to provide a control signal that is capable of causing the switch to be turned on or off. The control signal is associated with an output of the PWM component and the pulse width if an output is greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiuhong Zhang, Zhen Zhu, Yaming Cao, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 7817450
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for resetting at least one Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) in an H-bridge. The apparatus comprises a current interruption device for controlling current flow through the H-bridge, and a negative voltage detector for detecting a negative voltage at the H-bridge and driving the current interruption device to control the current flow through the H-bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Fornage
  • Patent number: 7808221
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a current regulation module for providing a predetermined current. The current regulation module comprises a linear power conversion circuit, a switching power conversion circuit, a current detector, and a controller. The current detector is used to detect the output current of the current regulation module and output a detected current value. The controller control the switches in the linear power conversion circuit and the switching power conversion circuit in accordance with the detected current value, to strengthen the dynamic response ability to the sudden change in the output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: National Cheng Kung University
    Inventor: Ray-Lee Lin
  • Patent number: 7808222
    Abstract: A circuit configuration for a high power switch-mode voltage regulator circuit is disclosed that includes an array of Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) switching transistors electrically coupled to one another at their drains and sources, and a plurality of gate driver circuits. Each gate driver circuit is coupled substantially close to the gate and dedicated to driving only one MOS switching transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Ueunten
  • Patent number: 7800927
    Abstract: A method and circuit for providing compensation of a power converter is proposed. A current sense circuit is coupled to receive a switching current for generating a current signal. A signal generation circuit is developed to generate a first compensation signal and a second compensation signal for adjusting the current signal. The first compensation signal is coupled to adjust the current signal for the output power limit of the power converter. The second compensation signal is coupled to adjust the current signal for the slope compensation. The slope of the first compensation signal is decreased when the power transistor is turned on. The slope of the second compensation signal is increased in response to the turn on of the power transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventor: Ta-yung Yang
  • Patent number: 7796405
    Abstract: A device including a full bridge, a half bridge, a first inductor, and a second inductor. The full bridge has a first pair of transistors being activated when a load applied to the device is above a predetermined level and deactivated when the load applied to the device is below the predetermined level, and a second pair of transistors being continuously activated. The half bridge has a third pair of transistors that are activated when the load applied to the device is below the predetermined level and deactivated when the load applied to the device is above the predetermined level. The first and second inductors are connected between the outputs of the full and half bridges are adapted to cooperate with each other to provide a zero voltage switching of the device at a light load. The first and third pairs of transistors are activated at different times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Dell Products, LP
    Inventors: Lucian Popescu, Padmanabh Gharpure
  • Patent number: 7796411
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein provide for a universal controller capable of controlling multiple types of three phase, two and three level power converters. The universal controller is capable of controlling the power converter in any quadrant of the PQ domain. The universal controller can include a region selection unit, an input selection unit, a reference signal source unit and a control core. The control core can be implemented using one-cycle control, average current mode control, current mode control or sliding mode control and the like. The controller can be configured to control different types of power converters by adjusting the reference signal source. Also provided are multiple modulation methods for controlling the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Taotao Jin, Keyue Smedley
  • Patent number: 7791913
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a secondary side switch-off timing adjusting method for a switching power conversion, comprising: detecting the falling edge of the voltage across a secondary side transistor according to a first reference voltage to generate a first reset signal; detecting the rising edge of the voltage across the secondary side transistor according to a second reference voltage to generate a first set signal; generating a secondary side discharging end signal from a latch operation in response to the first reset signal and the first set signal; and generating an off-predicting signal according to the cycle period of the secondary side discharging end signal. The present invention also provides a secondary side switch-off timing adjusting apparatus, and a system using the apparatus for a power conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Grenergy Opto, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei-Chuan Su
  • Patent number: 7778050
    Abstract: The present invention includes a turn-off signal modulating circuit that periodically varies a turn-off timing of a switching element 2 at a preset modulation time after a current detection by a drain current detecting circuit 15, and by modulating the peak of a current flowing through the switching element 2, diffuses switching noise while preventing concentration of an oscillating frequency at a constant frequency even under a constant input voltage and a constant load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuji Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7772904
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a mixed signal controller includes a fine controller, a coarse controller and a digital controller. The fine controller is operable to output an analog modulation signal responsive to an analog control signal and a voltage signal input to the fine controller. The coarse controller is operable to output a digital pulse width modulation (PWM) signal responsive to the analog modulation signal and an analog PWM reference signal input to the coarse controller. The digital controller is operable to program the analog control signal and the analog PWM reference signal responsive to the digital PWM signal so that the fine and coarse controllers together regulate the voltage signal at a predetermined voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Philip Cooke
  • Patent number: 7768245
    Abstract: An emulator circuit for forming a signal representative of current flow in an inductor of a switched mode power supply, where the inductor is associated with a switching arrangement operational to connect a first node of the inductor to a first voltage (Vin) or to one of a reference voltage (gnd) or a current flow path, a second node of the inductor to a second voltage (Vout) or to one of a second reference voltage (gnd) or the current flow path, and wherein the emulator circuit forms a emulator output signal representing the integral with respect to time for which the first and second node of the inductor are connected to the first voltage and the second voltage respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Guillaume De Cremoux
  • Patent number: 7759910
    Abstract: A high voltage AC transmission cable system for transmitting power between two points, each connected to one or more power networks, and a method to operate the system. At least one transformer is arranged at each end of the AC transmission cable, wherein at least one of the transformers is arranged to operate the transformer at a voltage whereby losses due to reactive power transport and dielectric losses are minimized. The AC cable is run at a variable voltage regulated such that the voltage is a function of the load for the transmission cable. This operating voltage is not necessarily the same as the nominal voltages in the connection points. A control and communication system and a graphical user interface for carrying out the method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Sture Lindahl, Kenneth Johansson, Udo Fromm, Stefan Johansson
  • Patent number: 7751201
    Abstract: A power converter includes semiconductor device, a driver device, a current sensor, a control device, and a capacitor. The semiconductor device has a plurality of switching elements for converting a direct current to an alternating current, the direct current being supplied from a direct current terminal. The driver device controls an operation of the plurality of switching elements provided in the semiconductor device. The current sensor detects the alternating current. The control device controls an operation of the driver device in accordance with the alternating current that has been detected by the current sensor. The capacitor is connected with the direct current terminal. The driver device and the control device are mounted on the same printed board. The driver device is arranged above the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Fujino, Jun Sato, Sadashi Seto