Patents Examined by Harry R Behm
  • Patent number: 12294218
    Abstract: A fully-distributed reactive voltage control method, includes: establishing a power grid reactive voltage optimization model of a power grid; parting the power grid reactive voltage optimization model into a plurality of area reactive voltage optimization models of a plurality of areas of the power grid; converting a power flow equation constraint in each of the plurality of area reactive voltage optimization models to a linear regression model; solving the linear regression model by using a robust recursive regression algorithm to obtain a solution result of the linear regression model; solving each of the plurality of area reactive voltage optimization models by using the solution result of the linear regression model, a gradient projection algorithm, and an alternating direction multiplier algorithm, so as to realize a reactive voltage optimization control of each of the plurality of areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Wenchuan Wu, Siyun Li, Bin Wang, Hongbin Sun, Qinglai Guo
  • Patent number: 12289051
    Abstract: A switching regulator may include; an inductor connected to a switch node, a power switch connected to the switch node and configured to apply a first voltage to the switch node in response to a first control signal and to apply a second voltage to the switch node in response to a second control signal, and a controller configured to generate the first control signal and the second control signal. The second control signal transitions from low to high following a first dead time after the first control signal transitions from low to high, the first control signal transitions from high to low following a second dead time after the second control signal transitions from high to low level, and an inductor current flowing through the inductor flows in a first direction during the first dead time and in a second direction, different from the first direction, during the second dead time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jaekwan Kim, Gwangyol Noh, Hwayeal Yu, Gil Won Yoon
  • Patent number: 12289055
    Abstract: A flyback circuit and a control method of a clamping switch of the flyback circuit are provided. The flyback circuit includes a transformer, a main switch, a clamping capacitor, a clamping switch, and a secondary rectifier unit. The transformer includes primary and secondary windings with a turns ratio of K. The main switch and the primary winding are connected in series to receive an input voltage. The clamping switch and the clamping capacitor are connected in series and then connected to the primary winding in parallel. The secondary rectifier unit and the secondary winding are connected in series to provide an output voltage to a load. The control method includes: when a product of K and the output voltage is greater than or equal to the input voltage, controlling the clamping switch to turn on M times during N consecutive switching cycles of the main switch, where I?M<N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qiangqiang Wang, Daofei Xu, Jinfa Zhang
  • Patent number: 12289042
    Abstract: A system includes a voltage booster circuit to receive an input voltage and provide an output voltage. A first device that is coupled to the voltage booster circuit to receive a digitized input voltage and a digitized output voltage and to determine, based on the digitized input voltage and the digitized output voltage, a first threshold level for the voltage booster circuit to operate in a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) mode. A second device that is coupled to the voltage booster circuit to receive the input voltage and the output voltage and to determine a second threshold level for the voltage booster circuit to operate in the PFM mode. A selector device that is coupled to the first device and the second device to select one of the first threshold level or the second threshold level for the voltage booster circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited
    Inventors: Shengyuan Li, Xicheng Jiang
  • Patent number: 12273030
    Abstract: A power switch current sensing circuit includes matching first and second transistors having sources connected to first and second terminals, respectively, of the power switch. A current mirror has a first node coupled to a drain of the first transistor and a second node coupled to a drain of the second transistor. The current mirror sinks a current from the first node equal to a current flowing through the second transistor. A biasing circuit provides a same biasing voltage to the control terminals of the first and second transistors. An output resistance is coupled between the first node and a reference voltage node. A difference between a current flowing through the first transistor and the current sunk by the current mirror circuit from the first node flows through the output resistance. An output voltage produced at the first node is indicative of the current flowing through the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Stefano Ramorini
  • Patent number: 12273034
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for sequentially turning on a plurality of power conversion modules according to the magnitude of load power at the time of driving the power conversion modules, operating power conversion modules which have already been turned on in an optimum efficiency interval, and providing increased load power through a power conversion module which has been newly turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: LX SEMICON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Won Suk Jang, Tae Kyu Nam, Young Kook Ahn, Sang Woo Kim, Jung Woong Park, Tae Heon Lee, In Ho Jeon
  • Patent number: 12273032
    Abstract: A charger integrated circuit includes a bidirectional switching converter including first to fourth switching elements connected in series, an inductor connected to a third switching element, and a capacitor connected to a second switching element and the third switching element, and a controller configured to generate, a first PWM signal and a second PWM signal based on sensing signals from the bidirectional switching converter, and a first switching signal controlling first and fourth switching elements based on the first PWM signal in response to an average of an inductor current being positive, a second switching signal controlling second and third switching elements based on the second PWM signal, and generate the first switching signal based on the second PWM signal, and the second switching signal based on the first PWM signal in response to the average value of the inductor current being negative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sungwoo Lee, Hyoungseok Oh, Daewoong Cho, Jungwook Heo
  • Patent number: 12273045
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a power converter including a plurality of arms each having a plurality of converter cells connected to each other in cascade. Each converter cell includes a capacitor electrically connected to input/output terminals through a plurality of switching elements. A control device performs AC current control in accordance with a deviation between a detected AC current and an AC current command value and individual voltage control in accordance with a deviation between a voltage of each individual capacitor and an individual voltage command value. The control device calculates an evaluation value indicating the degree of variations in voltage of the individual capacitors. When the evaluation value is greater than a threshold value, the control device changes control of the power converter such that arm current flowing through each of the arms increases while the AC current control and the individual voltage control are being performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shuhei Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki Kono, Ryosuke Uda, Takuya Kajiyama, Toshiyuki Fujii, Shigeo Hayashi
  • Patent number: 12267014
    Abstract: According to a non-isolated DCDC resonant conversion control circuit provided in embodiments of this application, an inductor and a capacitor that are resonant are connected in series, so that a current flowing through the inductor is a sine waveform. A waveform coefficient of the sine wave is small, and a conduction loss of the sine wave is low. Therefore, the circuit provided in embodiments of this application can significantly reduce a circuit loss. According to the non-isolated DCDC resonant conversion control method provided in embodiments of this application, not only a phase shift angle can be adjusted to enable a switching transistor to implement zero voltage switching (ZVS) on, but switching frequency can also be adjusted. Therefore, ranges in which a voltage and power of an output interface can be adjusted are large, so that non-isolated wide-range DCDC resonant conversion is implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yaqoob Muhammad, Shengyong Dai, Qingzu Hong, Xiao Zhang, Grover Victor Torrico-Bascopé
  • Patent number: 12267013
    Abstract: A power converter circuit is disclosed. In one aspect, the power converter circuit includes a first top buck converter circuit coupled in parallel to a second top buck converter circuit at a first connection node and at a second connection node, and a bottom buck converter circuit coupled in series to each of the first and second top buck converter circuits at the second connection node, a power input terminal coupled to the first and second top buck converter circuits, and a power output terminal coupled to the bottom buck converter circuit and to the first connection node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Nicholson, Xiaogang Feng
  • Patent number: 12261545
    Abstract: Provided is an electric compressor that can ensure necessary stiffness for stacked members including a supporting plate and a control board, without increasing the number of components. An inverter circuit portion of an inverter-equipped electric compressor includes busbars 6a (61, 62, and 63) that are each formed by a thin plate member made of metal and that each constitutes part of the wiring of the inverter circuit portion, and includes a plate-like supporting plate 6b that is formed by a resin member molded integrally with the busbars 6a. Each of the busbars 6a (61, 62, and 63) has an embedded portion (a U-phase embedded portion 611, a V-phase embedded portion 621, or a W-phase embedded portion 631) that is embedded in the supporting plate 6b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: SANDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Ito, Masayuki Shimoda
  • Patent number: 12261529
    Abstract: In a circuit for DC-DC voltage converters, an amplifier has first and second inputs coupled to a reference voltage terminal and an output voltage terminal, respectively. A comparator has first and second inputs coupled to an amplifier output and a switching terminal, respectively. A logic circuit has inputs coupled to the comparator output and a clock terminal. A driver circuit has first and second inputs coupled to first and second logic outputs, respectively. A first transistor having a first control terminal coupled to the first driver output is coupled between a supply voltage terminal and the switching terminal. A second transistor is coupled between the switching terminal and a ground terminal, and has a second control terminal coupled to the second driver output. A threshold detection circuit is configured to provide a threshold signal responsive to a current through the second transistor crossing a current threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Antonio Priego, Gerhard Thiele, Erich-Johann Bayer
  • Patent number: 12255554
    Abstract: A microinverter is provided herein and comprises DC side MOSFETs connected to an input side of the microinverter, AC side MOSFETs connected to an output of the microinverter, and a plurality of gate drivers connected to the AC side MOSFETs and configured to automatically drive the microinverter without a DC voltage being applied to the input side of the microinverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Harrison
  • Patent number: 12244229
    Abstract: An inductor current reconstruction circuit of a power converter can include: a switching current sampling circuit configured to acquire at least one of a current flowing through a main power transistor and a current flowing through a rectifier transistor to generate a switching current sampling signal; an inductor current generating circuit configured to generate a reconstruction signal representing an inductor current in one complete switching cycle; and where the reconstruction signal comprises the switching current sampling signal and a current analog signal generated according to the switching current sampling signal and an inductor voltage signal representing a voltage across an inductor in the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Chiqing Fang, Zhiwei Xu, Kaiwei Yao, Chen Zhao
  • Patent number: 12243702
    Abstract: A protection system including: a DC power supply; a power converter that converts DC power of the DC power supply into AC power, a circuit breaker that is series-connected to an electrical path located between the DC power supply and the power converter and can open the electrical path; a DC capacitor connected to a circuit located in the power converter; a timer that counts a lapse of a predetermined length of time from turn-on of the circuit breaker; a current detector that detects current flowing in the power converter; and a protection determiner that issues an open operation command to the circuit breaker when the current detector does not detect a decrease in the current after the timer has counted a lapse of the predetermined length of time from turn-on of the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: TMEIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daiki Terashima, Yoshihiro Tawada, Tomoya Katsukura
  • Patent number: 12244134
    Abstract: The embodiments provide an electrical safety protection device and method for detecting faulty electrical circuits with fault identification, fault classification and alert system wherein the device is installed between the incoming power supply and the electrical appliance, receives incoming power supply through the input switch and is provided to the voltage sense, current sense, high frequency current sense and core balanced transformer components, the output of these sensor components are provided to a filter component and further the filtered voltage values are provided to the microcontroller wherein the microcontroller analyses these received voltage signals, makes calculations and outputs signals to solenoid present in the input switch determining whether to isolate the incoming power supply or not. The solenoid that works as a switch, switches the incoming power supply into ON or OFF state depending upon the voltage values and instructions received and processed by the microcontroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Inventor: Tejas Kamlesh Jhaveri
  • Patent number: 12237129
    Abstract: A processing method for preventing electromagnetic induction when a main system and a standby system of a safety drive unit co-drive a relay. The method includes the following steps: periodically acquiring and detecting a drive command; detecting a port state of an output port of a safety drive unit when the drive command changes; performing a corresponding processing operation according to the port state of the output port; and repeating the foregoing steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: CASCO SIGNAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Siyuan Cheng, Tao Zhang, Zhijun Ji, Mingwang Xu, Limin Ning, Chao Li, Mingling Zhu, Lifan Yin
  • Patent number: 12237768
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include multiple DC-DC converters configured to generate multiple voltages based on one or more voltage sources. The DC-DC converters are configured to produce a first voltage and second voltage when a first power source is active, when a second power source is active, or when both the first and second power sources are active. In example embodiments, one voltage is used by a network device to power internal circuitry, and another voltage is coupled to tethered devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: ARISTA NETWORKS, INC.
    Inventors: Willy Tjanaka, Mark Isfeld, Mehran Ataee, Shashi Kumar, Charles Melvin Aden
  • Patent number: 12231047
    Abstract: A mode-transition architecture for USB controllers is described herein. In an example embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) controller includes a controller coupled to a slope compensation circuit, the controller to detect a transition of a buck-boost converter from a first mode having a first duty cycle to a second mode having a second duty cycle that is less or more than the first duty cycle. The controller controls the slope compensation circuit to nullify an error in an output caused by the transition. The controller can cause the slope compensation circuit to apply a charge stored in a capacitor during a first cycle to start a second cycle with a higher voltage than the first cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Rajesh Karri, Arun Khamesra, Pulkit Shah, Hariom Rai
  • Patent number: 12231029
    Abstract: A soft switching sub-circuit forming part of or for use with a circuit. The soft switching sub-circuit comprises a bridge switching circuit. The soft switching sub-circuit is configured and operable to provide a varying current output that tracks output current from the bridge switching circuit to create a substantially zero current through at least one switch component of the bridge switching circuit to enable soft switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: INTDEVICE LIMITED
    Inventors: Li Jun Yu, Hao Hao, Anton Van Vugt