Patents Examined by Kyle J Moody
  • Patent number: 11831232
    Abstract: A power converter apparatus comprises a set of switching elements communicatively coupled with a set of gate drive circuits. Each gate drive circuit is configured to provide a respective drive signal to a corresponding switching element, each switching element being switchably responsive to the respective drive signal. The apparatus includes a controller module configured to control an output state of the power converter, and selectively change one of a respective gate resistance and a respective gate current of a corresponding subset of the gate drive circuits based on the output state of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Di Pan, Yichao Zhang, Yuntao Xu, Yukai Wang
  • Patent number: 11831245
    Abstract: A direct-current voltage is applied to a series circuit composed of a switching transistor, a sense resistor, and a coil. A control circuit is configured to be capable of performing current control in which the control circuit, after turning on the switching transistor, determines a turn-off time point of the switching transistor based on a sense voltage appearing across the sense resistor, and to turn off the switching transistor during the current control if, despite a predetermined time having passed after the switching transistor being turned on, the sense voltage does not reach a predetermined threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Hara
  • Patent number: 11817790
    Abstract: A flyback converter is provided that includes a high-side synchronous rectifier switch transistor. A secondary-side synchronous rectifier controller powered by a power supply voltage controls a cycling on and off of the high-side synchronous rectifier switch transistor. An active control of the charging of the power supply voltage uses an auxiliary capacitor that is charged from a charge source while a power switch transistor in a first switching state. When the power switch transistor is in a second switching state that is the complement of the first switching state, the active control coupes the auxiliary capacitor to a power supply capacitor that stores the power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Guang Feng, Pengju Kong, Xiyuan Liu, Qingqing Zong
  • Patent number: 11817792
    Abstract: A switching-type regulation driver includes a transformer, a controller, a synchronous rectifier and a drive control module. The drive control module is connected to the synchronous rectifier and the non-dotted terminal of the secondary winding respectively, and is used to detect a target parameter of a voltage across both power ends of the synchronous rectifier when the synchronous rectifier disconnects the conductive path between the non-dotted terminal of the secondary winding and the reference ground. When it is detected that the target parameter of the voltage across both power ends of the synchronous rectifier meets a preset condition, the controller controls a switching action of the first transistor so that the primary winding transmits power to the secondary winding. According to the present disclosure, the pre-stage chip may be matched with to realize a function of dynamic acceleration, and the dependence on the output pin may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: JOULWATT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhiyong Su, Xiangyong Xu
  • Patent number: 11804770
    Abstract: An example a circuit for controlling a power converter comprises a first power domain circuit including a first control circuit and a first driver circuit, wherein the first control circuit controls the first driver circuit to drive a first semiconductor device, wherein a second power domain circuit includes a second control circuit and a second driver circuit. The first control circuit is configured to receive a control signal for controlling the second driver circuit to drive a second semiconductor device; and identify, based on the control signal, a future electrical characteristic of a second power domain output of the power converter. Additionally, the first control circuit is configured to determine, based on the future electrical characteristic of the second power domain output of the power converter, whether to adjust one or more control parameters for controlling the first driver circuit to drive the first semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Markus Winkler, Marco Bachhuber, Marcus Nuebling, Matthias Weinmann
  • Patent number: 11804774
    Abstract: Voltage converter systems and methods are described. One aspect includes extracting energy from one or more data lines. A feedback voltage is derived from the extracted energy. Responsive to the value of the feedback voltage being less than a reference voltage value, a waveform modulation controller is switched to a pulse-frequency modulation (PFM) mode. Subsequent to switching the waveform modulation controller to the PFM mode, additional energy is extracted from the one or more digital data lines. Another feedback voltage is derived from the additional extracted energy. Responsive to the value of other feedback voltage being greater than the reference voltage value, the waveform modulation controller is further switched from the PFM mode to a pulse-skipping modulation (PSM) mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: WINGCOMM Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuang Sun, Yun Bai, Wei Mao, Zuodong Wang
  • Patent number: 11804778
    Abstract: A direct-current (DC)-DC converter includes a converting circuit including an inductor element. The converting circuit is configured to generate an output voltage from an input voltage based on a switching operation. An inductor current emulator is configured to adjust at least one parameter for changing a current peak value of the inductor element in response to a change in a level of the input voltage and is configured to generate an internal voltage based on the at least one parameter, which is adjusted. The inductor current emulator is configured to generate a control signal for controlling the switching operation such that current of the inductor element has a pattern corresponding to a pattern of the internal voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Korea University Research and Business Foundation
    Inventors: Sungmin Yoo, Taehwang Kong, Sangho Kim, Junhyeok Yang, Hyungmin Lee, Yunho Lee, Woojoong Jung
  • Patent number: 11804784
    Abstract: A circuit for use in an LLC converter comprises a first primary side switch, a first secondary side switch assembly, and a controller. The controller is configured to measure, on the primary side of the LLC converter, a first voltage and determine, based on the first voltage, a delay due to the first voltage. The controller is also configured to apply a first gate voltage to the first primary side switch to transition the first primary side switch from an off state to an on state and apply a second gate voltage to the first secondary side switch assembly to transition the first secondary side switch assembly from an off state to an on state. The application of the first gate voltage and the application of the second gate voltage are separated by a synchronous rectifier delay based at least on the delay due to the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: AES Global Holdings PTE Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Ross Bernardo Fauni, Jessica Magsino
  • Patent number: 11791729
    Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to a DC input power supply unit with an auxiliary boost control circuit (or controller) that facilitates continuous supply of power to a standby output load of the power supply unit in a bootloader mode. More specifically, the auxiliary boost circuit (or controller) is configured to assume control of a primary power boost stage from a primary controller in a bootloader mode so that the power supply unit can continue to supply power to the standby output with a protection function regardless of the state of the power supply unit or primary controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Astec International Limited
    Inventors: Chih-hao Hsu, Chang-Chieh Yu, Carl Walker, Chun-Wei Chang, Po-Tso Chen
  • Patent number: 11791708
    Abstract: A power converter includes a switch control circuit for driving a high side switch of the power converter comprising the high side switch and a low side switch connected in series. The switch control circuit may have a first terminal for receiving a low side switch driving signal of the low side switch, a second terminal used as a reference ground terminal of the switch control circuit, and a third terminal used as an output terminal to provide a high side switch driving signal, the switch control circuit can draw power from the low side switch driving signal and may not require internal regulators that should sustain high voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Yan-Cun Li
  • Patent number: 11791706
    Abstract: The present invention relates a low power control device using a sleep timer, and more particularly, to a low power control device using a controllable sleep timer which disables each component of a circuit while discharging an output voltage Vo using a control signal of a sleep timer in which a width of an OFF signal is larger than a width of an ON signal in a light load state and sequentially enables each component of the circuit while charging the output voltage in a predetermined order to minimize power consumption according to a loading level of a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: POWER LSI CO.LTD
    Inventors: Won Tae Lee, Won Ji Lee, Chang Sik Shin, Chuen Sik Jung, Gyu Won Lee
  • Patent number: 11791707
    Abstract: In a power converter having a regulator and charge pump, both of which operate in plural modes, a controller receives information indicative of the power converter's operation and, based at least in part on said information, causes transitions between regulator modes and transitions between charge-pump modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventors: Aichen Low, Gregory Szczeszynski, David M. Giuliano
  • Patent number: 11791611
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing (e.g., a housing having a form factor of a molded case circuit breaker) and at least two phase terminals supported by the housing and configured to be connected to respective ones of at least two phase buses in an electrical panelboard. The apparatus further includes at least one fault generation device supported by the housing and including an arc containment chamber and first and second spaced-apart electrodes in the arc containment chamber and electrically coupled to respective ones of the at least two phase terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Joe W. Kirstein, William Michael Crooks
  • Patent number: 11791746
    Abstract: A power converter is provided that includes a reactor that is improved in effect of cooling a core and a winding. The power converter includes: a cooling member having a first cooling surface; and a reactor including a core portion and a winding portion. The core portion is a rectangular parallelepiped and disposed on the first cooling surface that is larger in area than the core portion in a plan view. The winding is wound around the core portion and the cooling member. The power converter further includes a power conversion module connected to one end of the winding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasushige Mukunoki, Takeshi Horiguchi, Kimiyuki Koyanagi
  • Patent number: 11791704
    Abstract: A control method of a switching circuit, a control circuit of the switching circuit and the switching circuit are provided. The control circuit includes a slope buffer and a first operational amplifier. The slope buffer receives a first voltage reference, and controls slopes of a rising edge and a falling edge to generate a second voltage reference. The first operational amplifier receives an output feedback voltage and a reference voltage, and performs an operational amplification to obtain a compensation voltage. When the first voltage reference has the falling edge, the reference voltage is coupled to the first voltage reference through a first switch, and the second voltage reference is coupled to an output voltage through a second switch. When the first voltage reference has the rising edge, the reference voltage is coupled to the second voltage reference through a third switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: JOULWATT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yin Zhou, Aimin Xu
  • Patent number: 11791723
    Abstract: An apparatus for power conversion includes a transformation stage for transforming a first voltage into a second voltage. The transformation stage includes a switching network, a filter, and a controller. The filter is configured to connect the transformation stage to a regulator. The controller controls the switching network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventor: David Giuliano
  • Patent number: 11784575
    Abstract: A synchronous rectification control circuit and method, and a flyback switched-mode power supply (SMPS) are provided. A voltage adjustment circuit is used to adjust a value of a first voltage signal that represents an output voltage, such that a voltage-second product of a difference between the output voltage and a drain-source voltage of a secondary-side synchronous rectifier can be zeroed in time in a transient process, and no false accumulation occurs. In this way, when a primary-side transistor switch is turned on, the secondary-side synchronous rectifier is turned off, to avoid a case in which the primary-side transistor switch and the secondary-side synchronous rectifier are simultaneously turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: JOULWATT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhiyong Su, Mengyi Huang
  • Patent number: 11777401
    Abstract: A converter including a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal configured for connection to a first network, the second terminal configured for connection to a second network; at least one switching module arranged to interconnect the first terminal and the second terminal, the switching module including at least one module switching element and at least one energy storage device, the module switching element and the energy storage device arranged to be combinable to selectively provide a voltage source, the switching module switchable to control a transfer of power between the first and second networks; the switching module including a discharge circuit, the discharge circuit including a discharge switching element and a discharge resistor, the discharge switching element switchable to switch the corresponding discharge resistor into and out of the corresponding switching module; and a controller configured to selectively control the switching of the discharge switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Chandra Mohan Sonnathi, Radnya Anant Mukhedkar, Rajaseker Reddy Ginnareddy
  • Patent number: 11777407
    Abstract: A method for converting voltage is disclosed, including implementing a first DC-DC converter in a power management unit; implementing a second DC-DC converter in the power management unit; implementing a controller communicatively coupled to a first output line of the first DC-DC converter and communicatively coupled to a second output line of the second DC-DC converter; coupling the power management unit to a supply voltage; and providing one or more output voltages on the first output line and the second output line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: David Steven Ripley
  • Patent number: 11764697
    Abstract: System and method for controlling synchronous rectification. For example, the system for controlling synchronous rectification includes: a switch including a first switch terminal configured to receive a first voltage, the switch further including a second switch terminal and being configured to be closed or opened by a control signal; a voltage generator configured to receive a second voltage from the second switch terminal and generate a third voltage based at least in part on the second voltage; a filter circuit including a resistor and a capacitor, the filter circuit being configured to receive the second voltage from the second switch terminal and generate a fourth voltage based at least in part on the second voltage; a first comparator configured to receive the third voltage and the fourth voltage and generate a first comparison signal based at least in part on the third voltage and the four voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chunsheng Zhao, Yaming Cao, Lieyi Fang