Patents Examined by Gary L. Laxton
  • Patent number: 12088210
    Abstract: A switched mode power converter is provided herein and comprises a cycloconverter comprising a plurality of switches, wherein each switch of the plurality of switches is a native four quadrant bi-directional switch with a common drift region configured to allow current flow in a first direction from a first source terminal to second source terminal and in a second direction from the second source terminal to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Harrison
  • Patent number: 12081116
    Abstract: A switching control circuit for a power supply circuit, including: a first command value output circuit outputting a first command value; a correction circuit correcting the first command value, to output a second command value; a first timer circuit measuring a first time period starting from a first timing at which a transistor of the power supply circuit is turned on; and a driving signal output circuit outputting a driving signal to turn on the transistor in response to an inductor current of the power supply circuit reaching a predetermined value and the first time period having elapsed since the first timing, and outputting the driving signal to turn off the transistor based on the second command value. The correction circuit causes an on time period of the transistor to increase, when the first time period has elapsed since the first timing, after the inductor current reaches the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuji Yamada, Ryuunosuke Araumi
  • Patent number: 12068684
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include inductor arrays. In an embodiment, an inductor array comprises a first inductor with a first inductance. In an embodiment, the first inductor is switched at a first frequency. In an embodiment, the inductor array further comprises a second inductor with a second inductance that is different than the first inductance. In an embodiment, the second inductor is switched at a second frequency that is different than the first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Krishna Bharath, Christopher Schaef, William J. Lambert, Kaladhar Radhakrishnan
  • Patent number: 12062975
    Abstract: An output short-circuit protection method, a power management chip and a switched-mode power supply are disclosed. When current accumulation has occurred in a power transistor, the number of consecutive current pulses during which the current accumulation occurred is counted. Upon the number of consecutive current pulses reaches a preset value, a regulation interval spanning switching periods is triggered, for at least some of the switching periods, the leading-edge blanking time is shortened or cancelled. In this way, an excessively large current flowing through the power transistor is prevented. Compared with existing fault response measures for power management chips, restart of the power supply and adjustment of the system timing are not needed, allowing easier implementation. Further, the automatic restart during chip start up due to false triggering as found in the existing measures for power management chips is circumvented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: SHANGHAI BRIGHT POWER SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yanmei Guo, Zhen Zhu, Yuehui Li, Xiaoru Gao, Yihui Chen, Haifeng Miao, Rulong Jiang
  • Patent number: 12057785
    Abstract: A three-level converter includes a first power switch, which has a first end connected to a first DC input end and a first end of a third power switch. A second end of a second power switch is connected to a second DC input end and a second end of a fourth power switch. A connection point between a second end of the first power switch and a first end of the second power switch is a first AC output end. A connection point between a second end of the third power switch and a first end of the fourth power switch is a second AC output end. Fifth and sixth power switches are connected in series between the first AC output end and a neutral end. A seventh power switch is connected between the second AC output end and a connection point between the fifth and sixth power switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Foxess Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Cong Yin, Jian Peng
  • Patent number: 12057782
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and devices related to a smart transformer devices. A device may receive a power input, wherein the power input includes a voltage input and a phase input. The device may then determine whether the phase input is single-phase or three-phase, wherein the power input is converted into three-phase responsive to a determination that the phase input is single-phase. The device may further determine whether the voltage input is between a first voltage and a second voltage. Responsive to a determination that the voltage input is between the first voltage and the second voltage, the device may route the power input through a plurality of transformer coils to produce a power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Sisu Devices LLC
    Inventors: Marc Christenson, Austin Christensen, Mark Frye, Jason Dearden, Mathius Jules, Savan Patel
  • Patent number: 12057778
    Abstract: Examples provide a system and method for driving a DC-DC voltage with a primary-side full bridge and a transformer arranged between the primary-side full bridge and a secondary side of the DC-DC voltage converter. A first diagonal branch and a second diagonal branch are driven alternately. In a first switching sequence between driving the first diagonal branch and driving the second diagonal branch, the connecting elements of a primary side of the transformer are electrically connected to one another using the upper switching elements of the primary-side full bridge. In a second switching sequence between driving the first diagonal branch and driving the second diagonal branch, the connecting elements of the primary side of the transformer are electrically connected to one another using the lower switching elements of the primary-side full bridge. The primary-side full bridge is driven alternately according to the first switching sequence and the second switching sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Winter, Jan Riedel
  • Patent number: 12040717
    Abstract: An electrical power conversion device, a function triggering circuit for the electrical power conversion device, and a function triggering method for the electrical power conversion device are provided. The function triggering circuit is coupled between the secondary side of the transformer and the control module and includes a current detection circuit, a delay circuit and a switching circuit. The current detection circuit senses the secondary side of the transformer to generate a detection signal of delay. Before steady-state duty of the transformer, the delay circuit causes an initial level to be higher than an internal level. After steady-state duty of the transformer, the switching circuit selectively generates a function triggering signal according to the detection signal. The function triggering signal is for triggering the control module to carry out an overcurrent protection operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: FSP TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Lung-Chi Wei, Ching-Hung Kuo, Cheng-Han Tsai
  • Patent number: 12034374
    Abstract: A method of switching operational modes of a power converter includes starting up a primary controller applied to the power converter to make the power converter operate in a normal mode; a secondary controller applied to the power converter detecting an output voltage of a secondary side of the power converter and the primary controller detecting an operational frequency of the power converter; if the operational frequency of the power converter is lower than a predetermined frequency and satisfies a first frequency condition, the primary controller controlling the power converter to enter a sleep mode; and when the power converter enters the sleep mode and the output voltage is lower than a trigger voltage, the secondary controller making the primary controller to control the power converter turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Leadtrend Technology Corp.
    Inventors: San-Yi Li, Hung-Ting Hsu, Jun-Hao Huang, Hsin-Hung Lu
  • Patent number: 12034382
    Abstract: A three-phase single-stage isolated bidirectional converter and a method of controlling same are provided. The bidirectional converter includes a three-phase AC voltage port, a DC voltage port, full-bridge circuit units, half-bridge circuit units, phase-shift inductor units, transformers, and filter capacitors. The first full-bridge circuit unit is connected to the first half-bridge circuit unit. The third full-bridge circuit unit is connected to the second half-bridge circuit unit. The fifth full-bridge circuit unit is connected to the third half-bridge circuit unit. The first half-bridge circuit unit is connected to the first filter capacitor. A midpoint of a bridge arm of the first half-bridge circuit unit is connected to a second port. A midpoint of a bridge arm of the second half-bridge circuit unit is connected to a fourth port. A midpoint of a bridge arm of the third half-bridge circuit unit is connected to a sixth port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Guochuang Innovation Center of Mobile Energy (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutan Zhang, Guoce Li, Wendi Song, Yangyang Qian, Hsien-Yi Tsai
  • Patent number: 12019462
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a constant voltage circuit includes: a first gain stage configured to output a first voltage amplified based on an output voltage and a reference voltage; a first transistor configured to control the output voltage based on the first voltage; a second transistor configured to control a current that flows through the first gain stage; a first circuit configured to convert an amount of fluctuation in the output voltage into a first current; and a second circuit configured to control a gate voltage of the second transistor based on the first current. A third current or a fourth current greater than the third current flows through the first gain stage based on the gate voltage of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Hashimoto, Akio Ogura
  • Patent number: 12021454
    Abstract: A control circuit for a multiphase buck converter includes a regulator circuit and a plurality of phase control circuits. The regulator circuit generates a regulation signal based on a feedback signal and a reference signal, and each phase control circuit receives a current sense signal and generates a respective PWM signal based on the respective current sense signal and the regulation signal. The control circuit includes a first selector circuit and a second selector circuit configured to receive a selection signal and selectively connect each phase control circuit of a subset of the phase control circuits to a PWM signal for driving a respective stage of the multiphase buck converter, and to a current sense signal provided by the respective stage of the multiphase buck converter. A selection control circuit generates the selection signal in order to connect the phase control circuits to different stages of the multiphase buck converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Gerardo Castellano, Leonardo Pedone, Filippo Minnella, Marcello Raimondi
  • Patent number: 12015356
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a power converter having switches coupled to input voltage rails and to opposing terminals of a coil to be energized. The switches are configured to be turned ON or OFF to conduct or block current, respectively, responsive to switch control signals. The apparatus also includes a controller to generate the switch control signals to compel the power converter to selectively operate (i) in a normal mode in which the switches are periodically turned ON and OFF to supply current from the input voltage rails to the coil to energize the coil, and (ii) in a protection mode in which first switches are continuously turned ON, and second switches are continuously turned OFF, to interrupt the current, and to circulate an initial current, flowing in the coil when the protection mode is entered, through the power converter and the coil so that the initial current decays toward zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Constantin Stancu, Joaquin Gabriels
  • Patent number: 12009748
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a voltage regulation apparatus, a chip and an electronic device. The apparatus comprises: a voltage output module; a first voltage generation module; a second voltage generation module; a voltage regulation module used for regulating a first comparison voltage according to an input voltage so that the first voltage generation module outputs a regulated first comparison voltage, or regulating a second comparison voltage according to the input voltage so that the second voltage generation module outputs a regulated second comparison voltage; and a control signal generation module used for outputting a control signal according to the regulated first comparison voltage or the regulated second comparison voltage, so that the voltage output module obtains an output voltage according to the control signal and the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Chipone Technology (Beijing) Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Maoxu Li, Dong Li
  • Patent number: 12003193
    Abstract: A multi-level inverter topology is disclosed. A power converter circuit converts a DC source at its input to provide an alternating current (AC) at its output. The power converter circuit may have a controller operably attached to multiple series connections of switches. The controller may control one or more of the multiple series connections of switches to convert a DC input to provide multi-level AC voltages with DC offset across two terminals of the power converter circuit. The multi-level AC voltages with DC offset may then be converted by use of a plurality of series connections of switches to provide a single-phase AC voltage at a first output terminal with respect to at least one of a neutral potential, an earth potential, or a terminal of the power converter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel Zmood, Ohad Fried, Omer Szlafsztein
  • Patent number: 12003188
    Abstract: A modular parallel half-bridge integrated assembly with an annular layout is provided. The assembly includes a plurality of parallel sub-modules to improve a current capacity of the assembly. The sub-modules adopt an annular layout and are connected in parallel to balance currents of the sub-modules. The half-bridge integrated assembly includes a plurality of sub-modules, a plurality of heat sinks, a drive board, a direct current (DC) positive collecting busbar, a DC negative collecting busbar, and an alternating current (AC) collecting busbar. According to the assembly, since each insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is tightly bound to a capacitor, parasitic inductance of a commutation loop is small, realizing a small voltage overshoot and a fast switching speed for the IGBT module, so as to balance the currents of the sub-modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING PESIT POWER INTEGRATION TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Haijun Zhao, Guangfeng Xie
  • Patent number: 11996789
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus employs multi-level techniques and wide band-gap semiconductor switching devices to achieve high efficiency in a converter system having high power density. The apparatus may be configured as a bi-directional conversion system capable of operating as both an inverter, configured to receive DC power and produce AC power, and as a rectifier configured to receive AC power and produce DC power. The apparatus is especially suitable for electric vehicle (EV) applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: HUAWEI DIGITAL POWER TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Grover Victor Torrico-Bascopé
  • Patent number: 11996785
    Abstract: A method of optimizing the efficiency of an AC-DC converter, wherein the energy extraction time from the AC line is increased and as result the size of the bulk capacitor can be decreased and in applications wherein the size of the bulk capacitor is maintained constant the ripple across the bulk capacitor is decreased. The methods presented also increase the power factor in AC-DC converters. Extending the energy extraction from the AC line also lowers the RMS current through the input bridge and the input bulk capacitor. The reduction of the ripple across the bulk capacitor also increases the efficiency of the DC-DC converter, increasing in this way the overall efficiency of the AC-DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Rompower Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Ionel Jitaru, Andrei Stefan Savu, Lucian Budica
  • Patent number: 11994892
    Abstract: Provided is a shunt regulator including: multiple resistors, connected in series between an output terminal and a ground terminal and constituting a voltage divider circuit; an output transistor, connected between the output terminal and the ground terminal; a first drive circuit, including a first reference voltage circuit which outputs a first reference voltage and an error amplifier, and controlling the output transistor based on a voltage of a first output terminal of the voltage divider circuit; a second drive circuit, controlling the output transistor based on a voltage of a second output terminal of the voltage divider circuit; and an activation control circuit, switching operation of the first drive circuit and the second drive circuit based on the first reference voltage. The second drive circuit has a shorter activation time than the first drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: ABLIC Inc.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tomioka, Hideyuki Sawai
  • Patent number: 11990845
    Abstract: A secondary controller applied to a secondary side of a power converter includes a control signal generation circuit and a gate control signal generation circuit. The gate control signal generation circuit generates a gate control signal, and generates an injection signal according to the gate control signal. When a superposition voltage is less than a reference voltage, the control signal generation circuit generates a gate pulse control signal, wherein the gate pulse control signal corresponds to an output voltage of the power converter and the injection signal, the gate control signal generation circuit is further used for generating a gate pulse signal according to the gate pulse control signal, and the gate pulse signal is used for making a primary side of the power converter turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Leadtrend Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chung-Wei Lin, Hung-Ching Lee, Hong-Wei Lin, Tsung-Chien Wu