Patents Examined by Harry Behm
  • Patent number: 9722483
    Abstract: A voltage regulator has an input terminal and a ground terminal. The voltage regulator includes a high-side device, a low side device, and a controller. The high-side device is coupled between the input terminal and an intermediate terminal. The high-side device includes first and second transistors each coupled between the input terminal and the intermediate terminal, such that the first transistor controls a drain-source switching voltage of the second transistor. The low-side device is coupled between the intermediate terminal and the ground terminal. The controller drives the high-side and low-side devices to alternately couple the intermediate terminal to the input terminal and the ground terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Volterra Semiconductor LLC
    Inventors: Marco A. Zuniga, Chiteh Chiang, Yang Lu, Badredin Fatemizadeh, Amit Paul, Jun Ruan, Craig Cassella
  • Patent number: 9722491
    Abstract: A method and apparatus operate a switchmode power supply. The apparatus can include a pulse width modulation controller that can produce a first pulse width modulation signal at a first frequency. The apparatus can include a switchmode power supply switching element including a control terminal. The apparatus can include a harmonic filter coupled between the pulse width modulation controller and the control terminal of the switching element. The harmonic filter can provide a second pulse width modulation signal at a second frequency to the control terminal of the switching element. The second frequency can be higher than the first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: Daniel H. Wagner
  • Patent number: 9721717
    Abstract: A coil arrangement has at least four coil cores around which in each case a coil winding is disposed, wherein the coil cores project over the coil windings in each case with a first coil core end region and a second coil core end region, wherein the coil arrangement furthermore has a first yoke part and a second yoke part. The first and second coil core end regions of the first and second coil core are in each case disposed opposite a first yoke side face of the first or second yoke part respectively, and the first and second coil core end regions of the first and second coil core are in each case disposed opposite a second yoke side face of the first or second yoke part respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: EGSTON System Electronics Eggenburg GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Petzuch, Ernst Prand-Stritzko
  • Patent number: 9722503
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a power converter includes: a plurality of power amplifier units, each having: a plurality of slice each with a power conversion module including an AC/DC/AC converter; a mains controller to control the plurality of slices; and a feedback conditioning system coupled to the mains controller; a plurality of input contactors and a plurality of output contactors via which each of the plurality of power amplifier units is to couple between a transformer and a load; and a master controller coupled to the plurality of power amplifier units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TECO-Westinghouse Motor Company
    Inventors: Enrique Ledezma, Thomas Keister, Kaiyu Wang, Ryan Edwards, Randall Pipho, Bhaskara Palle, Alex Skorcz
  • Patent number: 9711990
    Abstract: The power regulation control circuit is implemented during two modes. A first mode is a sleep mode and a second mode is a wake-up mode. During the sleep mode, the power supply detects a no-load presence and artificially increases the output voltage Vout to its maximum allowable value. In some embodiments, this is accomplished by pulling up an output of a error amplifier that feeds a PWM module. During the wake-up mode when the power supply wakes up from the sleep mode under maximum load, the output voltage Vout sinks from the artificially higher voltage, but still stays above a minimum operational voltage level. A slew rate compensation can be implemented to control a rate at which the output voltage drops when a load is applied. The artificially high output voltage during no-load condition and the slew rate compensation provide open loop voltage adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Telefus
  • Patent number: 9712064
    Abstract: A power conversion method of a power conversion device including a primary-side port disposed in a primary-side circuit and a secondary-side port disposed in a secondary-side circuit magnetically coupled to the primary-side circuit with a transformer is provided, in which transmission power transmitted between the primary-side circuit and the secondary-side circuit is adjusted by changing a phase difference between switching of the primary-side circuit and switching of the secondary-side circuit. The power conversion method includes: determining whether the phase difference is zero; stopping transmission of electric power from the secondary-side circuit to the primary-side circuit when the phase difference is zero, the voltage of the primary-side port is equal to or greater than the first specified value, and the voltage of the secondary-side port is greater than the second specified value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Hirano
  • Patent number: 9712076
    Abstract: A plurality of capacitors are interposed between ones of a plurality of input lines. The clamp capacitor is connected between two DC power supply lines. A current-source converter includes a plurality of switch devices, where x represents r, s and t. The switch device selects conduction/non-conduction through a first diode between corresponding one of the input lines and the first DC power supply line and conduction/non-conduction through a second diode between said corresponding one of input lines and the second DC power supply line based on external signals and brings corresponding one of the input lines with the first and second DC power supply lines in a state of not receiving the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenichi Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 9712061
    Abstract: Power converters their methods of operation are described. An example method includes regulating an output using a switching circuit that responds to a control signal. The method includes comparing a feedback voltage from the output to a reference voltage using an error amplifier to create an error voltage, and comparing the error voltage to a ramp voltage from a periodic ramp signal using a comparator to create a PWM signal. The PWM signal is used in combination with the switching circuit to regulate the output. The method includes: clamping the error voltage, using a clamping circuit, if the error voltage drops below a lowest value for the periodic ramp signal while the power converter is regulating a load; and unclamping the error voltage, using the clamping circuit, if the error voltage rises above the lowest value for the periodic ramp signal while the power converter is regulating the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Silanna Asia Pte Ltd
    Inventor: Trevor M. Newlin
  • Patent number: 9712037
    Abstract: An insulated power supply apparatus is for a power conversion circuit including at least one series connection of an upper arm switching element and a lower arm switching element connected in series to each other. The insulated power supply apparatus includes an upper arm and lower arm transformers for supplying a driving voltage to the upper arm and lower arm switching elements, respectively, and performs control such that the output voltage of a specific one of the secondary coils of the upper arm and lower arm transformers is kept at a target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Syun Miyauchi, Tsuneo Maebara, Yousuke Asako
  • Patent number: 9710008
    Abstract: A current mirror circuit comprising an input driver connected to a plurality of output driver circuits through a current mirror network. The current mirror network is separated into two parts, wherein the first part comprises the input driver circuit and the second part comprises capacitive loads including a filter capacitor. A switch separates the two parts where an amplifier senses the first part and controls the second part to track the first part when the current mirror circuit is activated. The low source resistance of the output of the amplifier facilitates a fast charging of the capacitance of the second part of the current mirror network dramatically improving signal delay and transition time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Jindrich Svorc
  • Patent number: 9711436
    Abstract: A multi chip module having a current sensing circuit and a semiconductor half bridge configuration having two vertically stacked field effect transistor dies that are connected by horizontally extending tap clips at respective opposite sides of their channels, wherein the current sensing circuit is coupled to two checkpoints, at least one being located on one of the tap clips so as to measure a voltage drop over a predetermined portion of the tap clip acting as a shunt resistor for sensing a current that is provided to a switching node of the half bridge configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Dirk Gehrke
  • Patent number: 9705409
    Abstract: A power converter includes a transformer including a transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding magnetically coupled to the primary winding, a bridge circuit including a switching element, and an inductor. A direct current voltage is converted into an alternating current voltage by turning on and off the switching element in the bridge circuit. An output voltage in the secondary winding is induced by supplying the alternating current voltage to the primary winding. The inductor is disposed on a path connecting the switching element and the primary winding. A resonance inductance value Lr including a leakage inductance value of the transformer and an inductance value of the inductor satisfies Formula 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Yamaoka, Takehiko Yamakawa, Akira Kato
  • Patent number: 9705395
    Abstract: A fault tolerant power supply system includes at least one load switch configured to connect an input voltage to an output node of the load switch when the load switch is turned on and at least one power channel coupled to the load switch to receive the input voltage. The power channel is configured as a buck converter and includes at least a high-side power switch and a low-side power switch. The fault tolerant power supply system is configured to measure a current flowing through the low-side power switch, to determine that the current flowing through the low-side power switch has exceeded a current limit threshold, and to disable the low-side power switch and the load switch in response to the determination that the current flowing in the low-side power switch has exceeded the current limit threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark Tomas, Zhiye Zhang, Allen Chang, Kuang Ming Chang, Gilbert Lee
  • Patent number: 9705422
    Abstract: A power inversion system includes an input and output coupleable to a DC power and an AC load, respectively, and a power inverter including a plurality of phase legs each having two bridge legs coupled in parallel with at least two switch and antiparallel diode pairs coupled in series. The system also includes a plurality of inductors, with at least one inductor coupled between a midpoint of each bridge leg and an LCL filter, the inductors in each phase leg being magnetically coupled. The system further includes a control system to drive the power inverter in a soft switching configuration, the control system programmed to output a switching signal to the power inverter according to a duty cycle and a phase shift angle, determine a value of the duty cycle, and optimize the phase shift angle of the power inverter based on the value of the duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaohu Liu, Luis Jose Garces, Maja Harfman Todorovic, Mohammed Agamy
  • Patent number: 9705418
    Abstract: It is provided a power converter for transferring power between a high voltage DC connection and a high voltage AC connection. The power converter includes a power converter assembly including: a first converter arm, a first reactor, a second reactor and a second converter arm, connected serially between the positive and negative terminals of the DC connection. The high voltage AC connection is provided between the first reactor and the second reactor. Each one of the converter arms includes a plurality of converter cells and each one of the converter cells includes a switching element and an energy storage element. Both the first reactor and the second reactor are oil filled reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventor: Mats Hyttinen
  • Patent number: 9698678
    Abstract: A circuitry for regulating a current for an electromechanical load comprises a first connection and a second connection for the electromechanical load. The first connection can be coupled to a first supply potential thereby, and a potential of the second connection can be modified by means of a pulse width modulation. The circuitry also comprises a measurement assembly having a first measurement signal input, which is coupled to the first connection and a second measurement signal input, which is coupled to the second connection. The measurement assembly is designed thereby to determine a measurement signal that is proportional to a potential difference between the first and second connection, in order to regulate the current for the electromechanical load on the basis of the measurement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Matthias Schunk, Matthias Gnan
  • Patent number: 9685871
    Abstract: A switching power supply apparatus includes a PFM control circuit that outputs a clock signal Set such that a switching frequency of a switching element varies in accordance with a load state. The clock signal Set determines a turn-on timing of the switching element. A reference value of a current flowing through the switching element determines a turn-off timing of the switching element. A modulation signal is applied to the turn-off timing of the switching element to modulate one of a peak value of a drain current flowing through the switching element and an on-time of the switching element. Input control is performed separately on the clock signal Set and the modulation signal. Accordingly, even when the clock signal Set and the modulation signal contribute to each other to offset each other, modulation effects are not cancelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kensuke Takahashi, Takashi Saji
  • Patent number: 9685868
    Abstract: A switch mode power supply, which functions in a continuous current mode and a discontinuous mode employing a zero crossing control circuit for determining a polarity of an inductor current and from the polarity of the inductor current, controlling an operational state of a switching section of the switch mode power supply such that the inductor current becomes approximately zero amperes at the end of each demagnetization phase of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Guillaume de Cremoux, Nicolas Borfigat
  • Patent number: 9685860
    Abstract: A buck-boost converter includes a buck-boost voltage converter circuit, an error controller and a buck-boost mode controller. The buck-boost voltage converter includes switches. The error controller is configured to provide a control signal based on a difference between an output voltage of the buck-boost voltage converter circuit and a reference voltage. The buck-boost mode controller determines switching duty cycles based on the control signal having at least three conditions: when DC is beyond a threshold value, apply one of buck regulation control and boost regulation control, where DC is a value of the control signal; when DC is not beyond and not substantially equal to the threshold value, apply the other of the buck regulation control and the boost regulation control; and when DC is substantially equal to the threshold value, apply buck-boost regulation control. The output voltage is regulated by the switching duty cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lanlan Yin, Yifeng Sun, Xing Tong, Gang Wang
  • Patent number: 9680374
    Abstract: A high frequency inductive emf circuit charges storage capacitors, one at a time, from a DC source to a voltage that is higher than the DC output voltage. After each storage capacitor is charged, it is disconnected from the charging circuit and then connected to an output device/regulator that uses the energy in each storage capacitor to provide the desired DC output voltage to a load. While one storage capacitor is being charged, a previously charged storage capacitor is being discharged through an output device/regulator. After being discharged, each storage capacitor is disconnected from its output device/regulator and reconnected to the charging circuit and is charged again. While being charged, the storage capacitors are in a parallel circuit to the inductor in the charging circuit. The inductor in the charging circuit and the DC source are never in a current loop with the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Inventor: Marcus Allen Smith