Patents Examined by Ishrat Jamali
  • Patent number: 9866099
    Abstract: A power converter includes a high side device, a low side device connected to the high side device at a switch node, an inductor connected to the high side device and the low side device at the switch node, and a high side driver. The high side driver is configured to drive a gate of the high side device at a first current for a first period of time. In response to the first period of time ending, the high side driver is configured to step down the first current for a second period of time. In response to the second period of time ending, the high side driver is configured to drive the gate of the high side device at the first current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Rida Shawky Assaad, Ming Sun, Jeffrey Morroni
  • Patent number: 9847709
    Abstract: A switched-mode power supply device that rectifies and smoothes a direct input voltage to obtain a predetermined output voltage is disclosed. A series circuit includes a reactor and a switching element and the circuit switches the direct input voltage. An OFF time calculator calculates an OFF time of the switching element based on the direct input voltage, the output voltage, and an ON time of the switching element calculated based on the output voltage and a reference value. A frequency calculator calculates at least one of a period and a frequency based on the OFF time calculated by the OFF time calculator and the ON time. A controller that controls switching of the switching element based on a result of comparison between one of the period and the frequency, and a corresponding one of a reference period and the reference frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Nakano
  • Patent number: 9847733
    Abstract: Power conversion systems and methods are provided for ride through of abnormal grid conditions or disturbances, in which a system rectifier is operated in a first mode to regulate a DC voltage of an intermediate DC circuit, an inverter is operated in the first mode to convert DC power from the intermediate DC circuit to provide AC output power to drive a load. In response to detecting an abnormal grid condition, the system changes to a second mode in which the rectifier is turned off and the inverter regulates the DC voltage of the intermediate DC circuit using power from the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Ahmed, Prathamesh R. Vadhavkar, Brian J. Seibel
  • Patent number: 9837903
    Abstract: A method of controlling a switching voltage regulator includes detecting current-limit events indicating a maximum inductor current threshold has been exceeded. A compensation voltage that determines a duty cycle and thereby an inductor current is controlled to reduce the inductor current and eliminate the occurrence of current-limit events. The method detects whether a time for which no current-limit events have been detected exceeds a time step threshold. The compensation voltage is controlled to increase the duty cycle and thereby the inductor current in response to the time exceeding the time step threshold. The time step threshold may be an integer number of switching cycles of the voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Andrea Villot, Enrico Papa, Silvio Pepino
  • Patent number: 9831768
    Abstract: Systems and methods that provide control circuits having multiple sub-control inputs that control operation of a power electronics device (e.g., a power converter). Each of the multiple sub-control inputs are output from a separate sub-control circuit that includes a feedback circuit having an input tied to a common control node. The common control node is coupled to an input of a controller (e.g., a PWM controller). Outputs of each of the sub-control circuits are coupled to the common control node by a respective switch (e.g., diode, transistor, etc.) so that each of the sub-control circuits may be selectively coupled to the common control node to provide a control signal to a controller. Since components of each of the feedback compensations circuits are biased at a regulation voltage instead of a higher power supply voltage, the control circuit may switch between control modes with minimal delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: CRANE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Cuon Lam, Sovann Song, Khoa Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9823675
    Abstract: A tunable DC voltage generating circuit includes: a resonance circuit including an inductor and an input capacitor connected in series configuration, and arranged to operably receive an input signal and generating a resonance signal at an output node between the inductor and the input capacitor; a rectifying circuit coupled with the output node and arranged to operably rectify the resonance signal; a current control unit connected with the resonance circuit in series configuration; a stabilizing capacitor coupled with an output terminal of the rectifying circuit and arranged to operably provide a DC output signal having a voltage level greater than that of the input signal; and a control circuit coupled with the output terminal of the rectifying circuit and the current control unit, and arranged to operably adjust a current passing through the current control unit to thereby change the DC output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kuo-Chi Liu, Wei-Hsin Wei
  • Patent number: 9825537
    Abstract: A Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) controlling apparatus includes a valley detector configured to detect a valley of an auxiliary winding voltage of a flyback converter, an output voltage controller configured to output a first PWM control signal by performing averaging and sampling of the auxiliary winding voltage, an output current controller configured to output a second PWM control signal by performing an average current mode method on a current signal (CS) voltage, a latch configured to output a gate control signal after being supplied with the result of a logical OR operation of the first PWM control signal output by the output voltage controller and the second PWM control signal output by the output current controller, or an output signal of the valley detector, and a gate controller configured to perform a turning-on or turning-off operation of a first switch based on the gate control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung Woo Hong
  • Patent number: 9825525
    Abstract: A tunable DC voltage generating circuit includes: a resonance circuit including an inductor and an input capacitor coupled in a series connection, and arranged to operably receive an input signal and to operably generate a resonance signal at an output node between the inductor and the input capacitor; a rectifying circuit coupled with the output node and arranged to operably rectify the resonance signal; a current control unit coupled with an input of the rectifying circuit and coupled with the inductor or the input capacitor in a parallel connection; a stabilizing capacitor coupled with an output of the rectifying circuit and arranged to operably provide a DC output signal having a voltage level greater than that of the input signal; and a control circuit arranged to operably adjust a current passing through the current control unit according to a setting signal to thereby manipulate the DC output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kuo-Chi Liu, Wei-Hsin Wei
  • Patent number: 9819267
    Abstract: A switched mode power supply (100) comprises a reactive element (10) and a control signal generator (30) is arranged to generate a first control signal at a first output (31) of the control signal generator (30) and a second control signal at a second output (32) of the control signal generator (30). The first output (31) of the control signal generator (30) is coupled to a first input (21) of a switching stage (20) by means of a first control signal path (40) and the second output (32) of the control signal generator (30) is coupled to a second input (22) of the switching stage (20) by means of a second control signal path (50). The switching stage (20) is arranged to, responsive to the first and second control signals, alternately charge and discharge the reactive element (10) by coupling it alternately to first and second supply voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Kimmo Koli, Janne Peltonen, Sami Vilhonen
  • Patent number: 9817426
    Abstract: Embodiments of voltage regulators and methods for operating a voltage regulator are described. In one embodiment, a voltage regulator includes a set of current mirror circuits configured to convert an input voltage into an output voltage and a voltage buffer circuit configured to buffer a reference voltage for the set of current mirror circuits. The set of current mirror circuits form a positive feedback loop. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Ananthasayanam Chellappa
  • Patent number: 9811106
    Abstract: A reference circuit arrangement comprises a branched current path connecting a first and second terminal via an intermediate terminal. The intermediate terminal is connected to a reference terminal. A current path is coupled between the first and second terminal via the reference terminal. A feedback loop is connected to the first and second terminal and designed to control, at the first and second terminal, a virtual ground potential. A reference path is connected to the feedback loop having a reference input for receiving from the feedback loop a reference current and reference output to provide a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Lorenzo Paglino, Simone Verri
  • Patent number: 9811101
    Abstract: A power converter includes an input and an output with an energy storage circuit and a power switching circuit coupled between the input and the output. A feedback circuit generates a feedback voltage which is differentially compared to a reference in an error amplifier circuit to generate an error amplification signal. A comparator circuit generates a control signal for controlling on/off of the power switching circuit based on a first comparison signal related to the error amplification signal and a second comparison signal related to a charging current of the energy storage circuit. A regulating circuit is coupled between an output of the error amplifier circuit and an input of the comparator circuit for receiving the first comparison signal, the regulating circuit is configured to couple a voltage compensation signal related to an input voltage received by the input to an output of the error amplifier, so as to reduce a variation amount of the error amplification signal when the input voltage varies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Shenzhen) R&D Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Hai Bo Zhang, Zi Yu Zeng, Jerry Huang
  • Patent number: 9812992
    Abstract: In a power conversion system in which one or more converter cells are connected in series to form an arm for each phase, a control device includes a voltage command generating unit for generating a positive arm voltage command and a negative arm voltage command for each phase. The voltage command generating unit includes an AC current control unit, a circulating current control unit, and a command distributing unit. On the basis of inputted voltage commands, the command distributing unit subtracts voltage drop portions due to inductance values in the arms from respective voltages assigned as outputs of the positive arm and the negative arm, to distribute voltage components, thereby determining the positive arm voltage command and the negative arm voltage command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kaho Mukunoki, Toshiyuki Fujii, Osamu Mori, Shinzo Tamai, Sadao Funahashi, Yasuhiko Hosokawa, Kotaro Higashi
  • Patent number: 9806600
    Abstract: A power system for powering a load including a power converter and a control circuit coupled to the power converter. The power converter includes an input terminal for receiving an input voltage and an input current, and output terminal for outputting an output voltage and an output current to a load. The control circuit is configured to monitor the output voltage and the output current of the power converter and shut down the power converter in response to the output voltage being less than or equal to a defined voltage threshold and the output current being greater than or equal to a defined current threshold for a defined period of time. Other example power systems, control circuits, and methods of controlling power converters are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: VERTIV ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: John H. Leitner
  • Patent number: 9798340
    Abstract: A circuit is provided with inrush current protection through control of the output current at start-up by a current source that does not rely on the output capacitor and which provides a smooth transition from a controlled current mode during a start-up phase to a voltage regulation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventors: Ambreesh Bhattad, Frank Kronmueller
  • Patent number: 9787191
    Abstract: An example relates to a method for operating a converter comprising (i) determining whether a valley for switching the converter in a quasi-resonant mode is available within a predetermined time range; (ii) selecting the valley if it is available within the predetermined time range; and (iii) changing the mode for operating the converter if the valley is not available within the predetermined time range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Jens Barrenscheen, Martin Krueger, Marcus Schaemann, Ali Fawaz
  • Patent number: 9787196
    Abstract: A control method of frequency jittering with a switching mode power supply, comprising: turning on and off a power switch of the switching mode power supply alternatively; updating a peak current signal of the switching mode power supply at a beginning of an on time of the power switch according to a length of a switching period before the beginning of the on time of the power switch, wherein the peak current signal varies as the length of the switching period changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Siran Wang
  • Patent number: 9780645
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting DC input power to DC output power with reactive power control. The apparatus includes a plurality of flyback circuits, coupled in parallel, and a DC-AC inversion circuit coupled across an output of each flyback circuit of the plurality of flyback circuits. The apparatus also including a reactive power control circuit coupled to an output of one flyback circuit of the plurality of flyback circuits, and across an output of the DC-AC inversion circuit; and a controller operative to coordinate timing of switches in each flyback circuit of the plurality of flyback circuits and the reactive power control circuit to generate AC output power of a desired power factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Fornage, Michael Harrison
  • Patent number: 9780661
    Abstract: Switch mode power supplies and integrated circuits are presented to provide a DC output voltage signal using high and low side switches, with a switching control circuit to turn off the high side switch and engage an active shunt circuit to provide a reduced voltage to continue converter operation to accommodate high input voltage transients when the DC input voltage exceeds a threshold voltage without requiring an oversized low side switch for improved efficiency through reduced switching and conduction losses in normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sombuddha Chakraborty, Yogesh Kumar Ramadass
  • Patent number: 9774263
    Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments herein provide an AC-DC converter comprising a rectifier, a capacitor, a DC bus coupled to the capacitor, a plurality of first switches coupled to the DC bus, a plurality of second switches coupled between the rectifier and the first switches, a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding coupled to the plurality of first switches, the plurality of second switches, and the rectifier, and the secondary winding coupled to an output, and a controller configured, in response to a determination that the input AC power is acceptable, to operate the plurality of second switches and the plurality of first switches such that output DC voltage is maintained at a desired output DC voltage level, and operate the plurality of first switches such that a DC bus voltage on the DC bus is maintained at a desired DC bus voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hui-Jung Chen, Damir Klikic, Kuo-Liang Lee, Hsuang-Chang Chiang