Patents Examined by Kyle J Moody
  • Patent number: 11722054
    Abstract: A power delivery system may include a power converter configured to electrically couple to a power source and further configured to supply electrical energy to one or more loads electrically coupled to an output of the power converter and control circuitry configured to control the power converter in accordance with a control variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic Inc.
    Inventors: Ajit Sharma, Jason W. Lawrence, Graeme G. Mackay
  • Patent number: 11722049
    Abstract: In the parallel operation of power supply units, a high line ripple current may be observed in output when the power supply units (PSUs) are supplied with different inputs. For example, a high line ripple current may be observed when PSUs were supplied with different line frequency inputs and/or when PSUs were supplied with different phase angle input lines. A low pass filter is in a control loop which is capable of filtering the line frequency to get an average current reference signal. The average current reference signal is compared with the real time output current to generate an error signal. This error signal is fed back to a voltage control loop to adjust the output in order to compensate the line ripple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: AES Global Holdings PTE Ltd.
    Inventor: Brendan Barry
  • Patent number: 11716030
    Abstract: Described is a hybrid electronic and magnetic structure that enables a transformer with fractional and reconfigurable effective turns ratios (e.g. 12:0.5, 12:?, 12:1, and 12:2) and hereinafter referred to as a Variable-Inverter-Rectifier-Transformer (VIRT). A VIRT is valuable in converters having wide operating voltage ranges and high step-up/down, as it offers a means to reduce turns count and copper loss within a transformer while facilitating voltage doubling and quadrupling. Such characteristics are beneficial for reducing the size of a transformer stage in many power electronics applications, such as USB wall chargers. In embodiments, a VIRT comprises a plurality of switching cells distributed around a magnetic core and coupled to half-turns wound through that core. By controlling operating modes of the switching cells, it is possible to gain control over flux paths and current paths in the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David J. Perreault, Mike Kavian Ranjram, Intae Moon
  • Patent number: 11716031
    Abstract: A neutral point clamped inverter with an upper half-bridge and a lower half-bridge, wherein each half-bridge has an inner transistor and an outer transistor, where the inner transistor of the upper half-bridge is configured to interact with the outer transistor of the upper half-bridge such that a signal that reproduces the switch state of the inner transistor is coupled into an actuation circuit for switching the outer transistor and influences the switch state of the outer transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Benno Weis
  • Patent number: 11711010
    Abstract: A drive circuit includes a first driver to control on/off of an upper arm, a second driver to control on/off of a lower arm, a first switching device including a first terminal connected with a power supply for the first driver, a second terminal connected with a power supply for the second driver and a control terminal, a booster circuit to turn on the first switching device by boosting a control signal which is at a high level when the lower arm is in an on state, a second switching device to cause continuity between the control terminal and the booster circuit when the control signal is at the high level, and first switch unit to short-circuit the control terminal and the terminal for grounding when the control signal is at the low level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shohei Sano, Akihisa Yamamoto, Mitsutaka Hano
  • Patent number: 11711007
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for harvesting ringing energy. In an example aspect, the apparatus includes a bootstrap circuit. The bootstrap circuit includes a bootstrap capacitor and a bootstrap switch. The bootstrap switch includes a first terminal configured to accept an input voltage. The bootstrap switch also includes a second terminal coupled to the bootstrap capacitor. The bootstrap switch additionally includes a body diode comprising an anode coupled to the first terminal and a cathode coupled to the second terminal. The bootstrap switch is configured to be in an open state to charge the bootstrap capacitor via the body diode. The bootstrap switch is also configured to provide a voltage at the second terminal of the bootstrap switch. The voltage is greater than an average of the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Troy Lynn Stockstad, Yi-Cheng Wan, Marko Koski, Ajay Kumar Kosaraju
  • Patent number: 11711012
    Abstract: A converter to convert an input voltage into a regulated output current for supplying a load includes a reverse current protection diode having an anode coupled to the input voltage and a cathode, an energy storage element coupled to the cathode of the reverse current protection diode, a high side transistor coupled to the energy storage element and responsive to a high side control signal, and a low side transistor coupled to the energy storage element and responsive to a low side control signal. A controller is configured to generate the high side control signal and the low side control signal such that the low side transistor is enabled and the high side transistor is disabled during a pre-regulation interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Vishal Ghorband, George P. Humphrey
  • Patent number: 11709516
    Abstract: A power supply circuit in an embodiment includes a series circuit of a first resistor and a second transistor, the series circuit being connected in parallel to a first transistor between an input terminal and an output terminal, a third transistor configured to output an electric current corresponding to an electric current flowing to the first resistor, a third resistor configured to generate a voltage corresponding to the electric current, and a second operational amplifier configured to output a signal corresponding to a voltage difference between the voltage and a reference voltage to a gate of the first transistor and a gate of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chen kong Teh
  • Patent number: 11705817
    Abstract: An LLC resonant converter including a transformer, a switching full-bridge circuit, a resonant circuit, and a bridge rectifier. The switching full-bridge circuit has a first pair of switches and a second pair of switches, with the first pair of switches being connected between a DC input voltage and a second end of a secondary winding of the transformer, the second pair of switches being connected between a DC input voltage and a first end of the secondary winding of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Dianbo Fu, Daocheng Huang, Junjie Feng
  • Patent number: 11705819
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for a power supply circuit configured to generate an output voltage at a target level. The power supply circuit includes a transistor configured to control an inductor current flowing through an inductor. The integrated circuit includes a load detection circuit outputting a detection voltage corresponding to a power consumption of a load and corresponding to an operation mode of the power supply circuit, based on the inductor current, a driver circuit driving the transistor according to the operation mode of the power supply circuit, and a control circuit configured to control the driver circuit to switch the power supply circuit to a second mode upon the detection voltage reaching a first level with a decrease in the power consumption of the load, and to a first mode upon the detection voltage reaching a second level with an increase in the power consumption of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 11705814
    Abstract: A switching control circuit for controlling an LLC converter that includes a first switching device, a first free-wheeling diode connected in parallel with the first switching device, a second switching device connected in series with the first switching device and the first free-wheeling diode, and a second free-wheeling diode connected in parallel with the second switching device. The switching control circuit controls switching of the first and second switching devices. The switching control circuit includes a determination circuit determining whether an operation mode of the LLC converter is a first mode or a second mode based on the resonant current of the LLC converter, and a drive signal output circuit outputting first and second drive signals for respectively switching the first and second switching devices based on the determined operation mode, to thereby prevent a shoot-through current from flowing through the first switching device or the second switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuunosuke Araumi, Ryuji Yamada
  • Patent number: 11699952
    Abstract: A power supply control device controls power supply to a load through a power supply switch. A driving circuit switches on or off the power supply switch. When the driving circuit switches the power supply switch from off to on, a waveform value regarding the current waveform of a current that flows through the load is output by a waveform value detection unit to a microcomputer. The microcomputer determines power supply control conditions regarding control of power supply to the load based on the waveform value that is input from the waveform detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunichi Sawano, Masayuki Kato
  • Patent number: 11699958
    Abstract: Disclosed are a voltage switching circuit and a power adapter having the same. The voltage switching circuit comprises a first switching circuit having a first terminal receiving a first voltage from a first converter, and a second switching circuit having a first terminal receiving a second voltage from a second converter. Second terminals of the first and second switching circuits are electrically connected to form a switching terminal for outputting an output voltage. When the output voltage is required to be switched from the first voltage to the second voltage, the first switching circuit is controlled to be turned off and then the second switching circuit is controlled to be turned on, and when a voltage at the first terminal of the second switching circuit is higher than a preset voltage, the second converter is shut down or kept off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haibin Song, Jian Zhou, Hairui Xu, Daofei Xu, Jinfa Zhang
  • Patent number: 11699945
    Abstract: A drive circuit driving a first switching element, including: a first diode with a cathode terminal connected to a first switching element gate terminal; a second switching element with a first terminal connected to a first diode anode terminal, a second terminal connected to a first switching element gate terminal, a third terminal connected to a first switching element source terminal; a third switching element with a drain terminal connected to the first diode anode terminal, and a source terminal connected to the first switching element source terminal; a parallel circuit; and a drive transformer having a coil, one end connected to the drain terminal, the other end connected to the third switching element gate terminal, and connected to the third switching element source terminal, one end of the parallel circuit connected to one coil end, the second diode cathode terminal connected to the other end of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sheng Hao Que, Lian Wen Zou, Qing Lu Qin
  • Patent number: 11693440
    Abstract: A voltage regulator is provided. The voltage regulator includes a main error amplifier, a first buffer, a second buffer, and multiple main zero compensation loops. The main error amplifier generates a first voltage signal according to a reference voltage signal and a feedback voltage signal. The first buffer provides a second voltage signal according to the first voltage signal. The second buffer provides an output voltage signal according to the second voltage signal. The main zero compensation loops are respectively coupled between an output terminal of the main error amplifier and an output terminal of the first buffer. The main zero compensation loops provide different zero compensations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: GUTSCHSEMI LIMITED
    Inventor: Kuo-Wei Chang
  • Patent number: 11695336
    Abstract: A power management circuit included in a computer system regulates a voltage level of a power supply node used by other circuits in the computer system. The power management circuit includes a control circuit and multiple phase circuits coupled to the regulated power supply node via corresponding inductors. The control circuit selectively activates particular ones of the multiple phase circuits allowing them source respective currents to the regulated power supply node. The control circuit also selectively activates particular ones of other phase circuits that are external to the power management circuit and coupled to the regulated power supply node via their own corresponding inductors. Once activated, the external phase circuits source respective currents to the regulated power supply node via their corresponding inductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hao Zhou, Sarfraz Shaikh, Jay B. Fletcher, Sanjay Pant, Mark A. Yoshimoto, Vincenzo Bisogno, Shawn Searles
  • Patent number: 11695340
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic device, which includes a direct voltage to direct voltage converter, and a controller that receives first current information, second current information, an input voltage, and a feedback voltage from the direct voltage to direct voltage converter, controls the direct voltage to direct voltage converter based on the input voltage in one of a first mode, a second mode, or a third mode, controls the direct voltage to direct voltage converter based on the first current information and an output voltage such that buck conversion is performed in the first mode and the second mode, and controls the direct voltage to direct voltage converter based on the second current information and the output voltage such that boost conversion is performed in the second mode and the third mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang Chan Lee, Dongho Shin, Chang Seok Chae
  • Patent number: 11695342
    Abstract: An active pull-up circuit which is operated between an upper voltage and a lower voltage and which pulls up an intermediate node to the upper voltage in reaction to an input voltage of the pull-up circuit falling from the upper voltage to an intermediate voltage is described. The pull-up circuit comprises a first transistor having a source terminal coupled to the upper voltage, a drain terminal coupled to the intermediate node and a gate terminal coupled to the input voltage. The pull-up circuit comprises a second transistor having a source terminal coupled to the upper voltage, a drain terminal coupled to the intermediate node and a gate terminal coupled to a control node. In addition, the pull-up circuit comprises control circuitry configured to pull the control node to a voltage level of the intermediate node, subject to the input voltage falling from the upper voltage to the intermediate voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Eduardas Jodka
  • Patent number: 11688549
    Abstract: An electromagnetic connector is disclosed that is configured to form a first magnetic circuit portion comprising a first core member and a first coil disposed of the first core member. The electromagnetic connector is configured to mate with a second electromagnetic connector, where the second electromagnetic connector is configured to form a second magnetic circuit portion comprising a second core member and a second coil disposed of the second core member. The first core member and the second core member are configured to couple the first coil to the second coil with a magnetic circuit formed from the first magnetic circuit portion and the second magnetic circuit portion when the electromagnetic connector is mated with the second electromagnetic connector. The magnetic circuit is configured to induce a signal in the first coil when the second coil is energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Bedrock Automation Platforms Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Rooyakkers, James G. Calvin
  • Patent number: 11689110
    Abstract: An AC voltage regulating circuit, method and transformer are disclosed in the present application. The AC voltage regulating circuit includes an AC/DC converter, a switch converter, and a switch controller. The AC/DC converter includes an AC power supply input end and a DC conversion output end. The switch converter includes a switch AC input end, a switch DC input end, a regulated voltage output end, an AC controllable switch assembly, a positive voltage DC controllable switch assembly and a negative voltage DC controllable switch assembly. The switch controller includes a power sampling end, a reference sampling end, an AC control end, a DC positive voltage control end and a DC negative voltage control end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventors: Yongsong Zhang, Shaohui Feng