Patents Examined by Gary L. Laxton
  • Patent number: 12212234
    Abstract: A controller for a switching regulator incorporates a protection circuit to limit the negative current to a negative current threshold while operating the switching regulator to sink current from the load without damage to the power switches. In some embodiments, in response to the negative current reaching the negative current threshold, the protection circuit turns off the low-side power switch and turns on the high-side power switch for a maximum time period. In the event the negative current has not recovered, the high-side power switch and the low-side power switch are both turned off while the high-side power switch conducts the negative current through the high-side power switch body diode. When the negative current recovers to a recovery level, the low-side power switch can then be turned on. The protection circuit repeats the process each time the negative current is detected to have reached the negative current threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor International LP
    Inventors: Zhiye Zhang, Gilbert S. Z. Lee
  • Patent number: 12206329
    Abstract: A direct current (DC)/DC converter is provided. The DC/DC converter includes multiple switches, a capacitor, an inductor, and at least one processor, wherein, when the output voltage of the DC/DC converter is less than a first threshold voltage, the at least one processor is configured to control an on/off state of the multiple switches so as to increase the current output from the inductor based on the current, which is output from the inductor, being less than a first threshold current, and control a second switch and a fourth switch to be in an on state or control a first switch and a third switch be in the on state to allow one end or the other end of the capacitor to be connected to one end of the inductor, based on the current, which is output from the inductor, being increased to be greater than or equal to the first threshold current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyusik Choi
  • Patent number: 12204483
    Abstract: A voltage mode transmitter circuit includes a low-dropout (LDO) regulator and an output circuit. The LDO regulator generates a driving voltage. The output circuit generates an output signal, and includes: a termination resistor, transmitting the output signal; a data processing circuit, driven by the driving voltage and adjusting a level of a node according to first and second data signals; a pre-emphasis circuit, transmitting a supply voltage to the node according to a control signal to adjust a transition edge of the output signal; a voltage protection circuit, providing an overvoltage protection according to a bias voltage, and coupling the node to the termination resistor. The data processing circuit, the pre-emphasis circuit, and the voltage protection circuit include at least one transistor, and a highest level of the output signal is higher than a withstand voltage of the at least one transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: SIGMASTAR TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Zhen-Yang Pang, Si-Xin Hong, Tian-Li Qu
  • Patent number: 12194877
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for calibrating an AC/DC converter with power factor correction, including the following steps: —connecting the input connector of the converter to a predetermined DC voltage power supply, such that this predetermined DC voltage is applied between the terminals of the input connector; —measuring, with a voltage measuring unit, the resulting calibration DC voltage which is delivered by the switching module when the predetermined DC voltage is applied between the terminals of the input connector; and —calibrating the voltage measuring unit by performing a calibration bringing the resulting calibration voltage back to the level of the predetermined DC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: Philippe Boissiere
  • Patent number: 12199505
    Abstract: An LLC resonant converter with variable resonant tank includes a switching circuit for converting a DC voltage into switching signal, a variable resonant tank coupled to the switching circuit for receiving the switching signal to provide a primary current, a transformer circuit having a primary and a secondary side winding, and a rectifying/filtering circuit to rectifying and filtering a secondary current. The variable resonant tank is coupled between the switching circuit and the transformer circuit, which includes a variable resonant inductor, a magnetizing inductance and a resonant capacitor coupled in series for dynamically adjusting the gain curve of the LLC resonant converter according to the demand of the output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: PHIHONG TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Chen Chen, Jian-Hsieng Lee, Yao-Chun Tung
  • Patent number: 12191769
    Abstract: A current mode controller includes: an error amplifier configured to generate an error signal that corresponds to the difference between a reference voltage and a voltage indicative of an output voltage of a power converter; a first current measurement circuit configured to measure current flowing in a high-side switch device of the power converter; a second current measurement circuit configured to measure current flowing in a low-side switch device of the power converter; a comparator configured to indicate when a voltage derived by the first current measurement circuit exceeds the error signal in a peak current control mode, and when a voltage derived by the second current measurement circuit drops below the error signal in a valley current control mode; and circuitry configured to configure the comparator in either the peak current control mode or the valley current control mode for each switching cycle of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Percy Neyra
  • Patent number: 12191782
    Abstract: A bidirectional power conversion system includes an isolated power converter having a first input connected to an output of a diode rectifier and a second input connected to an output of a power factor correction device. The power conversion system further comprises a plurality of switches and a plurality of diodes configured such that the plurality of switches and the plurality of diodes form the diode rectifier and the power factor correction device when the system is configured to deliver power from an AC power source to a DC load and the plurality of switches forms an inverter when the system is configured to deliver power from a DC power source to an AC load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dianbo Fu, Heping Dai, Liming Ye
  • Patent number: 12184074
    Abstract: Systems and methods relating to the conversion of DC power to AC power suitable for an AC power grid. DC power is received from one or more PV panels and is converted into DC power useful for charging an energy storage subsystem. The energy storage subsystem feeds into a DC/DC converter that converts the low voltage DC power into high voltage DC power suitable for a DC/AC inverter. The DC/AC inverter then converts the high voltage DC power into AC power suitable for an AC grid. A low voltage DC/DC converter can be used that is based on a differential geometry approach such that adjustable parameter values for components within the converter converge to nominal values as system parameters evolve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: SPARQ SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Majid Pahlevaninezhad, Praveen Jain
  • Patent number: 12184194
    Abstract: The invention provides an AC/DC conversion device for intelligent green-power operation and maintenance in power transmission and transformation projects, including a cabinet, an assembling panel, an inverter, a driving mechanism and a controller. A door is mounted at the front portion of the cabinet in a fixed and sealed manner, and the assembling panel is fixedly mounted on the back wall of the cabinet inside the cabinet. The assembling panel, the inverter, the driving mechanism and the controller are all provided inside the cabinet, which provides desirable dust-proof effects, preventing the case where the inverter, the driving mechanism and the controller are interfered by the dust, so that this device is suitable for outdoor usage. The driving mechanism and the controller work in coordination, so that the inverter can be switched off in time when it burns out and smokes, thereby substantially reducing the risk of fire hazards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignees: STATE GRID GANSU ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY LANZHOU POWER SUPPLY COMPANY, STATE GRID GANSU ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Chengjia Bao, Long Zhao, Ru Liu, Xushan Han, Yanhong Ma, Chen Liang, Qiang Zhou, Hailong Guo, Tianyi Zhang, Wei Niu, Weicheng Shen, Hui Yuan, Wenyuan Bai, Kequan Liu, Qingzhao Hu, Ziqiang Guo, Guohan Ma, Da Chang, Bo Wu, Li Wang, Yanhua Dou, Yechang Gao, Qin Liang, Shuzhen Ren
  • Patent number: 12176816
    Abstract: Provided are a charger and a control method. The charger includes: a transformer; at least one primary-side switch tube for carrying out chopping modulation on a voltage input into the transformer; a first control unit; a second control unit for generating feedback information on the basis of a voltage and/or current information output from an output end of the charger; and a first microwave unit respectively connected to the first control unit and the second control unit, and used for transmitting the feedback information to the first control unit. The first control unit is used for outputting a first control signal according to the feedback information, so as to control the turning on or the turning off of the at least one primary-side switch tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Zhang, Jialiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 12170485
    Abstract: Embodiments of a switching regulator include a single inductor or two inductors connecting an input circuit and a multi-output end circuit that may drive different loads at different respective voltage levels. The input circuit may include a plurality of input switches, and may boost an input voltage or a ground voltage via operation in one of a plurality of selected modes such as a buck mode, a boost mode and a boost-buck mode, to thereby provide an applied voltage to the one or more inductors. Each selected mode may be based on a target voltage for one of a plurality of unit output ends (output load driving sections) in the multi-output end circuit. Output voltages may be monitored and on-times of switches controlled in the multi-output end circuit to maintain the output voltages in respective target ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Nomiyama, Jong Beom Baek
  • Patent number: 12160174
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a USB interface includes a transformer, a primary winding of the transformer, and a first switch in series between a first and a second node, a secondary winding of the transformer and a component in series between a third and a fourth node, the fourth node configured to be set a first reference potential, a second switch connected between the third node and a first terminal, the first terminal configured to provide an output voltage of the USB interface; wherein the component is configured to avoid a current circulation in the secondary winding when the first switch is closed and a control circuit configured to compare a first voltage of an interconnection node between the secondary winding and the component to a first threshold and compare the first voltage to a second threshold when the first voltage is, in absolute values, above the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Jean Camiolo, Francesco Ferrazza, Nathalie Ballot
  • Patent number: 12160180
    Abstract: A power converting apparatus includes: an inverter configured to convert input DC power into AC power by a switching operation; an output voltage detector configured to detect an output voltage of the inverter; and a controller configured to control the inverter. The controller is configured to perform proportional resonant control based on the output voltage, and output a switching control signal to the inverter based on the proportional resonant control. Accordingly, it is possible to remove harmonics generated due to connection of a nonlinear load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Daejoong Kim, Daihyun Kim, Seungwook Hyun
  • Patent number: 12160169
    Abstract: Circuits and systems include a parallel resistor-capacitor (RC) network coupled between a pin and ground, and first and second transistors coupled in source follower configuration with a common gate coupling. The source of the first transistor is coupled to the pin. A first switch couples a drain of the first transistor to the common gate coupling during soft-start (SS) and decouples that connection during over current limit (OCL) sensing, and a second switch couples a drain of the second transistor to the common gate coupling during OCL sensing and decouples that connection during SS. A first current source is enabled deliver a constant current to the pin during SS. A second current source is enabled to generate a reference voltage at the source of the second transistor during OCL, which reference voltage is transferred to the pin by the source follower configuration. A comparator controls the switches to transition from SS to OCL sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Anandha Ruban Tiruchengode Tirumurugga Bupathi, Suvadip Banerjee, Anant Kamath
  • Patent number: 12157394
    Abstract: A controller disclosed in the specification is implemented in an electrified vehicle in which a motor generator used to drive a wheel is connected to a battery via a DC-DC converter. The controller is configured to be able to execute a process of acquiring a target value of output voltage of the DC-DC converter, a process of acquiring a measured value of the output voltage of the DC-DC converter, a process of acquiring a direction of reactor current flowing through a reactor of the DC-DC converter, and a process of executing feedback control over an operation of the DC-DC converter in accordance with a deviation of the measured value from the target value of the output voltage. The process of executing feedback control may include a process of determining a feedback gain that varies with the direction of the reactor current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshifumi Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 12155312
    Abstract: A controller of a power converter including a first power stage and a second power stage receives an indication of an output voltage of the power converter, where the indication is measured at the primary side of the power converter. Based on the indication, a control related to an intermediate voltage of the power converter is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Alfredo Medina-Garcia
  • Patent number: 12155318
    Abstract: A power converter includes a semiconductor modules, a capacitor, a housing, a shield layer and a collar member. The capacitor is electrically connected to the semiconductor modules. The housing houses at least the semiconductor modules and the capacitor. The shield layer is electrically conductive and provided on and covers at least one of inner and outer surfaces of the housing. The collar member is electrically conductive and integrated with the housing. The collar member is configured to allow a fastener to be inserted through the collar member such that the housing is fixed to a vehicle-side member via the fastener. The collar member is electrically conductively joined to the shield layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya Murakami, Yuuta Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 12149082
    Abstract: This command generation device generates a control command for a power conversion device which converts DC power outputted by a DC power supply device to AC power and supplies the same to a bus, and which converts AC power from the bus to DC power and supplies the same to the DC power supply device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINE & TURBOCHARGER, LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Nakakita, Masayuki Tanaka, Masato Mitsuhashi, Fujio Eguchi
  • Patent number: 12142998
    Abstract: In an example, a current estimating circuit includes a current estimating resistor coupled in series with a current estimating capacitor. The current estimating resistor and the current estimating capacitor are configured to provide a voltage across the current estimating capacitor during a first portion of a switching cycle, in which the voltage across the current estimating capacitor is proportional to an inductor current that flows through an inductor. The current estimating circuit includes a sense resistor configured to provide a sensed voltage across the sense resistor during a second portion of the switching cycle. The current estimating circuit includes a switch configured to apply the sensed voltage to the current estimating capacitor to provide the voltage across the current estimating capacitor during the second portion of the switching cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Isaac Cohen
  • Patent number: 12135573
    Abstract: A low dropout regulator is provided. The low dropout regulator includes a first gain-stage, a second gain-stage, an output setting stage, and a Miller circuit. The first gain-stage generates a signal at a first gain-stage terminal based on a signal at a second gain-stage signal. The second gain-stage receives the signal at the first gain-stage terminal and generates a signal at a sensing terminal. The output setting stage outputs a load current to an output terminal. The signal at the sensing terminal is changed with the load current. The Miller circuit is electrically connected to the first gain-stage, the second gain-stage, and the output setting stage. The Miller circuit provides a capacitance related to a dominant pole of the low dropout regulator. The capacitance is changed with the signal at the sensing terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: KEY ASIC INC.
    Inventor: Shahbaz Abbasi