Patents Examined by Jeffrey A Gblende
  • Patent number: 11671032
    Abstract: A control method of controlling a resonance type power conversion device including a voltage resonance circuit is provided. The voltage resonance circuit comprising, a choke coil connected to input power supply, a first switching element connected to the choke coil, a capacitor connected in parallel to the first switching element, and a resonance circuit connected between a connection point and an output terminal, the connection point being a point at which the choke coil and the first switching element are connected. The control method comprising, detecting a polarity of current flowing through parallel circuit connected in parallel to the first switching element by using a sensor included in the voltage resonance circuit; and controlling an operating condition of the first switching element depending on a polarity of the current detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kousuke Saito, Toshihiro Kai, Shigeharu Yamagami, Keisuke Inoue
  • Patent number: 11671021
    Abstract: Controller and method for a power converter. For example, the controller includes: a first terminal configured to receive a first voltage; a second terminal connected to a capacitor and biased to a second voltage; a voltage detector configured to receive the second voltage from the second terminal and generate a detection signal based at least in part on the second voltage; a charging controller configured to receive the detection signal and generate a first control signal based at least in part on the detection signal; and a charging current generator configured to receive the first voltage from the first terminal and receive the first control signal from the charging controller; wherein the voltage detector is further configured to: detect that the second voltage has decreased to a first predetermined threshold; and generate the detection signal indicating that the second voltage has decreased to the first predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Penglin Yang, Xiaomin Huang, Yuan Lin, Yun Sun
  • Patent number: 11664734
    Abstract: A flyback converter to control conduction time in AC/DC conversion technology. The flyback converter includes a primary side and a secondary side. The primary side includes a main switch connecting a primary coil to the input of the flyback converter in series. The secondary side includes a secondary coil coupling with the output terminal of the flyback converter. When a switching frequency of the main switch is at a preset first on time in the range between the off frequency and the second switching frequency, the on-time of the main switch continuously changes corresponding to output load changes. When the switching frequency of the main switch is higher than the first switching frequency, the on time of the main switch is constant. The on time is controlled to change linearly, so as to avoid excessive changes in the output voltage ripples, thereby improving circuit efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: ALPHA AND OMEGA SEMICONDUCTOR INTERNATIONAL LP
    Inventors: Jung-Pei Cheng, Hung-Ta Hsu
  • Patent number: 11664731
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a multi-phase DC/DC switching converter in which each of the phases are controlled using a common comparator for comparing an output voltage of the switching converter and a reference voltage, with in some embodiments each of the phases including a bypass switch for coupling ends of an output inductor of the switching converter. Some embodiments provide a multi-phase DC/DC switching converter in which some of the phases are operated with clock signals having frequencies different than clock signals used for operating others of the phases. Some embodiments provide a multi-phase DC/DC switching converter in which some of the phases include inductors having inductances different than inductances for inductors of others of the phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: CHAOYANG SEMICONDUCTOR (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Anatoly Gelman, Taner Dosluoglu, Bertrand Diotte
  • Patent number: 11664735
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a control circuit of an isolated power supply including a first transformer and a primary-side transistor connected to a primary winding of the first transformer. The control circuit includes a timing generator that generates a timing signal with reference to an edge of a switching signal generated on a secondary side of the isolated power supply, a sampling circuit that, in response to the timing signal, samples an electric signal to be monitored, the electric signal to be monitored being an electric signal on the secondary side of the isolated power supply, and a feedback controller that, based on an output of the sampling circuit, generates a primary-side pulse signal to be supplied to the primary-side transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinya Karasawa
  • Patent number: 11658582
    Abstract: Techniques to send digital information from the secondary side to the primary side of a power converter, such as a flyback power converter, without the need for a separate, isolated communication channel. The power converter of this disclosure may send digital information from secondary side to the primary side through a power transformer while the power converter operates in a mixed mode scenario, e.g. critical conduction mode (CRCM) and discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). In CRCM, a controller circuit for the power converter may encode digital information by modulating the diode conduction time in a switching cycle. In DCM, the controller circuit may encode digital information by modulating the period of time for each switching cycle, e.g. increased period, decreased period or no change to the period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Renato Bessegato, Andrey Malinin, Yong Siang Teo
  • Patent number: 11658579
    Abstract: A resonant control device and a resonant control method thereof is provided. The resonant control device includes a feedback controller and a processor. The feedback controller receives a reference voltage and an output voltage and use the reference voltage to perform voltage compensation on the output voltage to generate a control parameter. The processor generates pulse modulation signals according to the control parameter and a switching parameter and uses the pulse modulation signals to drive the resonant converter to regulate the output voltage. The pulse modulation signal has the maximum frequency and the minimum frequency. The pulse modulation signals control the frequency according to the control parameter and the switching parameter when the control parameter is larger than or equal to the switching parameter. Otherwise, the pulse modulation signals control the resonant converter to operate for a fixed period within each cycle of the pulse modulation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignees: Mean Well (Guangzhou) Electronics Co., Ltd., Mean Well Enterprises Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Hung Lu, Po Han Huang
  • Patent number: 11652413
    Abstract: A boost converter includes an input terminal, an output terminal, a switching terminal, a low-side transistor, and a down-mode detection circuit. The low-side transistor is coupled to the switching terminal. The down-mode detection circuit is coupled to the low-side transistor. The down-mode detection circuit is configured to detect a voltage at the output terminal greater than a voltage at the input terminal, and turn off the low-side transistor based on the voltage at the output terminal being greater than the voltage at the input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Linjue Li, Jian Liang
  • Patent number: 11652411
    Abstract: A boot charge circuit for charging a boot capacitor of a switching power converter with upper and lower switches including pulse circuitry that provides a boot refresh pulse in response to a pulse control signal transitioning to an active state to turn on the lower switch for a duration of the boot refresh pulse, and gate circuitry that prevents activation of the upper switch until after completion of the boot refresh pulse in response to the transitioning of the pulse control signal. The boot refresh pulse has a negligible duration relative to each switching cycle yet sufficient to charge the boot capacitor to enable a driver to turn on the upper switch. A load monitor may be included to disable the pulse circuitry from providing the boot refresh pulse during higher load levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Trevor M. Newlin
  • Patent number: 11646669
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed for adaptive synchronous rectifier control. An example apparatus includes an adaptive off-time control circuit to determine a first voltage and a second voltage when a drain voltage of a switch satisfies a voltage threshold, the first voltage based on a first off-time of the switch, the second voltage based on the first off-time and a first scaling factor, determine a third voltage based on a second scaling factor and a second off-time of the switch, the second off-time after the first off-time, and determine a third off-time of the switch based on at least one of the second voltage or the third voltage. The example apparatus further includes a driver to turn off the switch for at least the third off-time after the second off-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Bharath Balaji Kannan, Bing Lu
  • Patent number: 11646664
    Abstract: Techniques for a sinking and sourcing power stage are provided. In an example, a power stage circuit can include a first power transistor configured to couple to a first input power rail, a second power transistor configured to couple to a second input power rail, an output node configured to couple to a load and to couple the first power transistor in series with the second power transistor between the first and second input power rails, and a controller configured to operate the first and second power transistors in a first mode to source current to the load and to operate the first and second power transistors in a second mode to sink current from the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventor: Hio Leong Chao
  • Patent number: 11632048
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes an output node, a control circuit, and a power stage. The control circuit is configured to receive a power state signal from a load circuit coupled to the output node, and output a control signal based on the power state signal. The power stage includes a plurality of phase circuits coupled to the output node and is configured to enable a phase circuit of the plurality of phase circuits responsive to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD., TSMC NANJING COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Haohua Zhou, Tze-Chiang Huang, Mei Hsu, Yun-Han Lee
  • Patent number: 11632046
    Abstract: A power voltage generator includes a booster, a voltage sensor, a constant voltage controller and a constant current controller. The booster is configured to boost an input voltage to an output voltage based on an on-off operation of a switch. The voltage sensor is configured to generate a sensing voltage by sensing the output voltage. The constant voltage controller is configured to generate a first switching signal to control the switch by comparing the sensing voltage with a reference voltage. The constant current controller is configured to generate a gain based on a ratio of an electrode signal of the switch and a target signal by comparing the electrode signal of the switch with the target signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyun Ho Kim, Jung-taek Kim, Joon Suk Baik, Sang Su Han, Jae Woo Ryu, Myung Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 11632055
    Abstract: An Active Clamp Flyback (ACF) converter includes a transformer module, a clamping module, and a controller. The controller is configured to: after the transformer module starts secondary side discharging, control the clamping module to start receiving leakage inductance power from the transformer module; and after controlling the clamping module to stop receiving the leakage inductance power from the transformer module, control the clamping module to release the leakage inductance power to the transformer module. The leakage inductance power released by the clamping module to the transformer module is used by the transformer module to restore a soft switching state based on the leakage inductance power. In a process of transferring the leakage inductance power to a clamping capacitor, the clamping module is in an enabled state. This reduces a loss caused by the clamping module to the leakage inductance power, and helps reduce overall loss caused by the ACF converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qinglei Wang, Qinghui Hou, Chenghao Sun, Wei Liu
  • Patent number: 11616437
    Abstract: A constant power control circuit driving an external device receiving an input voltage and generating an output voltage is provided. A first conversion circuit converts the voltage difference between the input voltage and the output voltage to generate a charge current. An energy storage circuit is charged during a charging period by the charge current to provide a stored voltage. The charging period is terminated in response to the stored voltage reaching a predetermined voltage. A control circuit adjusts a control signal according to a length of the charging period. A second conversion circuit generates a counting voltage according to the control signal. The counting voltage is inversely proportional to the voltage difference. A third conversion circuit converts the counting voltage into a limitation current. A driving circuit compares the setting current and the limitation current to generate a driving signal and send it to the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Cheng-Tao Li
  • Patent number: 11616436
    Abstract: A system includes: an input voltage source; a power stage coupled to the input voltage source; a load coupled to an output of the power stage; and an error amplifier circuit coupled to the power stage. The error amplifier circuit includes an error amplifier; a transconductance stage coupled to an output of the error amplifier; an internal compensation switch; an external compensation switch; and control logic coupled to the internal compensation switch and the external compensation switch. The control logic is configured to selectively operate the internal compensation switch and the external compensation switch in one of an internal compensation mode and an external compensation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Tawen Mei, Karen Chan
  • Patent number: 11616446
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a switching circuit, a resonant circuit coupled to an output of the switching circuit, a rectification circuit coupled between the resonant circuit and an output of the apparatus, and a controller coupled to the switching circuit. The controller, during a soft start-up operation of the power supply, is configured to switch a plurality of switches with a variable limited maximum duty cycle at a minimum frequency and after the variable limited maximum duty cycle reaches the limited maximum duty cycle at the minimum frequency, simultaneously switch the frequency to a maximum frequency and switch the duty cycle to a minimum duty cycle at the maximum frequency for a same on-time as the limited maximum duty cycle at the minimum frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Flex Ltd.
    Inventors: Hua Min Xu, Weian Chen, Xiao Dong Liu, Yi Zhang
  • Patent number: 11611284
    Abstract: An isolated switching power converter is presented. The isolated switching converter includes a transformer, a secondary-side switch and a secondary-side controller. The transformer has a primary winding coupled to an input, a first secondary winding coupled to a first output for providing a first output voltage, and a second secondary winding coupled to a second output for providing a second output voltage. The secondary-side switch is coupled to the second secondary winding. The secondary-side controller compares the second output voltage with a first reference voltage and generates a control signal based on the comparison to operate the secondary-side switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Yu-Chin Lin
  • Patent number: 11611280
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes: an transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding magnetically coupled to the primary winding; a power oscillator applying an oscillating signal to the primary to transmit a power signal to the secondary winding; a rectifier connected to the secondary winding of the transformer to obtain an output DC voltage by rectification of the power signal; comparison circuitry to generate an error signal representing a difference between the output DC voltage and a reference voltage; a transmitter connected to the secondary winding of the transformer to apply an amplitude modulation to the power signal at the secondary winding of the transformer in response to the error signal to thereby produce an amplitude modulated signal at the primary winding; and a receiver and control circuit connected to the primary winding to control an amplitude of the oscillating signal as a function of the amplitude modulated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alessandro Parisi, Nunzio Greco, Nunzio Spina, Egidio Ragonese, Giuseppe Palmisano
  • Patent number: 11605955
    Abstract: GaN-based half bridge power conversion circuits employ control, support and logic functions that are monolithically integrated on the same devices as the power transistors. In some embodiments a low side GaN device communicates through one or more level shift circuits with a high side GaN device. Various embodiments of level shift circuits and their inventive aspects are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Navitas Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Daniel M. Kinzer, Santosh Sharma, Ju Jason Zhang