Patents Examined by Gary L. Laxton
  • Patent number: 11489458
    Abstract: This multi-phase converter control device performs PWM control on driving of a multi-phase converter. The multi-phase converter is configured such that a plurality of converters connected to each other in parallel have reactors, and the reactors are magnetically coupled with each other and step up an input voltage to generate a step-up voltage. This multi-phase converter control device includes a feedback control unit configured to perform feedback control such that the step-up voltage is a target voltage, a PWM control unit configured to generate a PWM signal on the basis of a voltage command value output from the feedback control unit, and a drive unit configured to drive the multi-phase converter on the basis of the PWM signal. The feedback control unit calculates a step-up ratio of the multi-phase converter and changes a control gain in the feedback control on the basis of the step-up ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventor: Takami Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11482944
    Abstract: An apparatus having an AC rectifier configured to generate one or more rectified signals from an alternating current (AC) signal, bus having a positive line and a negative line, parallel converter connected between the positive line and the negative line, and bulk capacitor coupled to the parallel converter. The bus is connected to the AC rectifier to receive a first of the rectified signals between the positive line and the negative line. The apparatus has a controller configured to operate the parallel converter in a first mode in which energy from a second of the rectified signals from the AC rectifier is stored in the bulk capacitor and a second mode in which the energy stored in the bulk capacitor is discharged to the bus to increase a voltage on the bus during at least an initial portion of the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Heping Dai
  • Patent number: 11476753
    Abstract: A phase-shifted full bridge (PSFB) switching converter includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding; an input capacitor coupled to the primary winding via a first transistor full bridge; an output inductor coupled to the secondary winding via a synchronous rectifier circuit including at least one first transistor and at least one second transistor; and a controller circuit for generating switching signals for the rectifier circuit to operate the PSFB switching converter in reverse direction. During a startup phase, at the beginning of which the input capacitor is substantially discharged, the at least one first transistor is switched on in each switching cycle to allow an inductor current to pass from an output node, via the output inductor and the secondary winding, to a ground node, the at least one first transistor is again switched off when the inductor current reaches a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Manuel Escudero Rodriguez, Matteo-Alessandro Kutschak, David Meneses Herrera
  • Patent number: 11469681
    Abstract: A power supply device includes a first output unit that outputs a first alternating current, a second output unit that outputs a second alternating current, and a current combining unit that combines the first alternating current and the second alternating current. The current combining unit includes a first bus bar, a second bus bar, a first conductive member welded to a first surface of the first bus bar and connected to the first output unit, a second conductive member that is welded to a second surface of the first bus bar, penetrates the second bus bar, and is connected to the second output unit, a third conductive member welded to a first surface of the second bus bar and connected to the second output unit, and a fourth conductive member that is welded to a second surface of the second bus bar, penetrates the first bus bar, and is connected to the first output unit. The second surface of the first bus bar faces the second surface of the second bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Neturen Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiko Kanai, Haruki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11469682
    Abstract: This semiconductor device is provided with: a substrate which has, on a principal surface thereof, an input unit for inputting an alternating current power from the exterior, a ground connection unit for connecting to ground formed on the exterior, an output unit for outputting a post-adjustment direct current power to the exterior, and a semiconductor layer; a first Schottky barrier diode formed in a first region of the semiconductor layer so that a cathode electrode is connected to the input unit and so that an anode electrode is connected to the ground connection unit; a second Schottky barrier diode formed in a second region of the semiconductor layer so that a cathode electrode is connected to the output unit and so that an anode electrode is connected to the input unit; and a third Schottky barrier diode formed in a third region of the semiconductor layer so that a cathode electrode is connected to the output unit and so that an anode electrode is connected to the ground connection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: LASER SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Yasuo Ohno, Hiroko Itoh
  • Patent number: 11469667
    Abstract: An improved power converter produces power through a power switch in response to an activation signal that has an on-time and a switching frequency. An on-time signal has a constant on-time and controls the on-time of the activation signal. An error signal indicates that the switching frequency is not equal to a reference frequency. A step up signal and a step down signal are based on the error signal. A count signal is increased in response to the step up signal and decreased in response to the step down signal. An on-time pulse has a duration that is related to a value of the count signal. The on-time pulse controls the constant on-time of the on-time signal and maintains the switching frequency at about the reference frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Silanna Asia Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Rawinder Dharmalinggam, Tiong Lim
  • Patent number: 11469678
    Abstract: A power supply system comprises: a switched-capacitor converter, a transformer, and a voltage converter. The switched-capacitor converter includes multiple capacitors. The multiple capacitors are controllably switched in a circuit path including a primary winding of the transformer to convert the first voltage into a second voltage. The voltage converter converts the first voltage produced by the switched-capacitor converter into the second voltage that powers a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Christian Rainer, Roberto Rizzolatti, Otto Wiedenbauer
  • Patent number: 11462992
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for operating a power generating asset electrically coupled to a power grid. The power generating asset includes a power converter having a line-side converter operably coupled to the power grid via a converter contactor. Accordingly, a line-side converter of the power converter is decoupled from the power grid and a controller determines the phase angle of the grid voltage. A switching sequence for a plurality switching devices of the line-side converter is then set in order to develop a pre-charge voltage phase angle at a converter-side terminal of the converter contactor which is in phase with the phase angle of the grid voltage. A portion of the charge of the DC link is then discharged through the line-side converter to develop a pre-charge voltage at the converter-side terminal. Once the in-phase, pre-charge voltage is established at the converter-side terminal, the converter contactor is closed to re-couple the line-side converter to the power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Fernando Arturo Ramirez Sanchez, Igor Berroteran, Victor Eduardo Tamez Varela
  • Patent number: 11456597
    Abstract: Voltage clamping and level shifting is provided. A first reverse direction high-electron-mobility transistor includes a source connected to an input pad, and a drain connected to a first reference voltage. A second reverse direction high-electron-mobility transistor includes a source and a gate connected to a second reference voltage, and a drain connected to the input pad. A gate of the first reverse direction high-electron-mobility transistor is connected to the second reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Inventors: David L. Whitney, Manuel M. Del Arroz
  • Patent number: 11451155
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a controller operative to: i) monitor a resonant voltage associated with a primary winding magnetically coupled to a secondary winding; ii) control a flow of current through the primary winding to produce an output voltage at the secondary winding; and iii) control magnetization of the primary winding with respect to a detected a zero crossing event associated with the monitored resonant voltage. The controller further controls a duration of activating a switch coupled to an auxiliary winding (which is magnetically coupled to the primary winding) based on a magnitude of the monitored resonant voltage and/or a magnitude of an input voltage supplied to the primary winding. The controller operates in different modes of magnetizing the primary winding such as at peaks or valleys of the monitored resonant voltage depending on a magnitude of the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Wee Tar Richard Ng, Zan Wang, Xiang Yuan
  • Patent number: 11444546
    Abstract: The power supply device includes a first winding, a second winding, a third winding, a fourth winding, a first AC-DC conversion unit, a second AC-DC conversion unit, a first power supply terminal and a second power supply terminal. The first and second windings are disposed on a secondary side of a multi-pulse transformer, and coupled to an input of the first AC-DC conversion unit. The first power supply terminal is coupled to an output of the first AC-DC conversion unit. The third and fourth windings are disposed on the secondary side of the multi-pulse transformer, and coupled to an input of the second AC-DC conversion unit. The second power supply terminal is coupled to an output of the second AC-DC conversion unit. Phases of output voltages of the first winding, the third winding, the second winding and the fourth winding are successively shifted left or successively shifted right for 15°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao Yan, Hongyang Wu, Liping Sun, Jianjun Ni
  • Patent number: 11437842
    Abstract: A power supply control device includes a charge circuit, a detection circuit, and a charge control circuit. The charge circuit charges a capacitor coupled to a power supply voltage node based on a full-wave rectified voltage. The charge control circuit enables a charge mode of the charge circuit when the detection circuit detects that a power supply voltage is less than a first threshold voltage. The charge control circuit disables the charge mode when the detection circuit detects that the power supply voltage reached a second threshold voltage. The charge control circuit sets a charge capacity of the charge circuit in a second charge mode period according to a length of a first charge mode period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsumi Inoue, Kanji Aoki
  • Patent number: 11437924
    Abstract: A switching power supply circuit can include: a high-frequency switch network configured to generate a high-frequency AC signal by performing high-frequency chopping on a low-frequency AC input signal; a transformer configured to receive the high-frequency AC signal at a primary winding thereof, to perform a voltage conversion on the high-frequency AC signal, and to generate an output signal at a secondary winding of the transformer; and a rectifier module configured to generate a DC signal by rectifying the output signal at the secondary winding of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Jian Deng, Qiukai Huang, Chen Zhao
  • Patent number: 11424685
    Abstract: A resonance type power supply device includes: a power supply main circuit having a transformer, a resonance element connected on a primary side of the transformer, and a plurality of switching elements connected to the resonance element; and a power supply control circuit switching the plurality of switching elements in the power supply main circuit with a predetermined switching frequency, in which the power supply control circuit includes: a voltage controller outputting a current command value from a reference voltage, an output voltage of the power supply main circuit, and a voltage control gain; a current controller calculating a reference current, a current flowing on a secondary side of the transformer, and a current control gain; a gain calculator outputting the voltage control gain and the current control gain; and a control signal generator controlling the plurality of switching elements based on the switching frequency outputted by the current controller, and the gain calculator outputs the voltag
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Uei, Takuya Ishigaki, Tetsuo Yanada
  • Patent number: 11424691
    Abstract: Disclosed are a switch driving device, in which individual zero voltage switching control of a first switch element and a second switch element forming a bidirectional switch is performed, and a switching power supply including a primary winding to which an alternating-current input voltage is applied, a secondary winding electromagnetically coupled to the primary winding, the bidirectional switch connected in series with the primary winding, a resonance capacitor connected in parallel with at least one of the bidirectional switch and the primary winding, a full-wave rectifier circuit that performs full-wave rectification of an induced voltage occurring in the secondary winding, a smoothing capacitor that smooths output of the full-wave rectifier circuit, and the switch driving device that drives the bidirectional switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: ROHM Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Hamachi, Akeyuki Komatsu
  • Patent number: 11424684
    Abstract: A two-stage power converter can incorporate a buck pre-regulator and a resonant bus converter. Such a converter may be operated to achieve unconditional soft switching operation (zero voltage switching a/k/a ZVS) over a wide input and output range, while delivering excellent power conversion efficiency at lower power levels and in a no load condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vijay G. Phadke, Liang Zhou, Prudhvi Mohan Maddineni
  • Patent number: 11402862
    Abstract: A cascading tap changing regulator has a set of input taps to power both stages of the cascade, each stage having its own series injection transformer to regulate the output. A set of switches are selectively engagable in respective on-off modes to effect a number of regulation steps, and a ratio of the number of steps to the number of switches in the set is greater than 1:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Inventor: David Baretich
  • Patent number: 11398774
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus is disclosed. The electronic apparatus includes: a first power factor correction (PFC) unit comprising circuitry and a second PFC unit comprising circuitry connected to the first PFC unit, a first controller configured to control the first PFC unit, and a second controller configured to control the second PFC unit, wherein the first controller is configured to: detect a voltage output from the first PFC unit, control a driving time of the first PFC unit based on the detected output voltage, and provide information on the driving time to the second PFC unit through the second controller, and wherein the second controller is configured to control a driving time of the second PFC unit based on the information on the driving time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinho Kang, Moonyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 11394291
    Abstract: A ripple voltage control circuit for controlling a switching converter, including: a control circuit configured to superimpose a compensation voltage and a ripple voltage on a feedback voltage that represents an output voltage of the switching converter, in order to generate a ripple signal; the control circuit being configured to superimpose a bias voltage on a reference voltage that represents a desired output voltage of the switching converter as a reference signal, and to compare the ripple signal against the reference signal in order to generate a turn-on signal for a main power switch of the switching converter; and where the compensation voltage adaptively varies with a duty cycle of the main power switch, such that the ripple signal is independent of the duty cycle, in order to maintain the feedback voltage as equal to the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventor: Guowang Li
  • Patent number: 11394295
    Abstract: In this uninterruptible power supply apparatus, respective phase differences between first to third carrier wave signals (CS1 to CS3) for a converter (1) and fourth to sixth carrier wave signals (CS4 to CS6) for an inverter (2) are set to 180 degrees in an inverter power feed mode and a bypass power feed mode, and respective phase differences between the first to third carrier wave signals and the fourth to sixth carrier wave signals are set to 0 degree in an overlap power feed mode. Zero-phase current (I01, I02) and circulating current (ICL) therefore can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yousuke Hayashi