Patents Examined by Kyle J Moody
  • Patent number: 11686748
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a current detecting circuit includes: a normally-OFF type second switching element that is cascode-connected to a normally-ON type first switching element that includes a drain for outputting an output current; a normally-OFF type third switching element that is connected in parallel to the second switching element and whose drain is connected to a variable current source; and a comparison circuit that outputs a detection signal in accordance with a comparison result between a drain voltage of the second switching element and a drain voltage of the third switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideaki Majima
  • Patent number: 11689113
    Abstract: A control circuit is configured to control a flyback circuit comprising a primary-side switch, a secondary-side rectifier and a transformer. The control circuit comprises a feedback control circuit configured to generate a secondary-side control signal based on a current ripple signal of the transformer, and at least one of a direct-current component of an output voltage signal and a direct-current component of an output current signal of a secondary side of the flyback circuit, wherein the secondary-side control signal is configured to control a turn-off of the secondary-side rectifier, an isolated transmission circuit coupled to the feedback control circuit and configured to generate a first primary-side control signal based on the secondary-side control signal, and a primary control circuit coupled to the isolated transmission circuit and configured to control a turn-on of the primary-side switch in response to receiving the first primary-side control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Halo Microelectronics International
    Inventors: Hai Tao, Chih-Hsien Hsieh, Kai-Fang Wei, Zhibo Tao
  • Patent number: 11689095
    Abstract: A gate drive control circuit is provided that charges a gate voltage of a power switch transistor during a power switch transistor on-time period. During a first portion of the on-time period, the gate drive control circuit charges the gate voltage through a relatively-low resistance. During a second portion of the on-time period, the gate drive control circuit charges the gate voltage through a relatively-high resistance. Finally, during a third portion of the on-time period, the gate drive control circuit charges the gate voltage through another relatively-low resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Wenduo Liu, Huangxuan Gong, Vijay Kanagala, Hien Bui
  • Patent number: 11682962
    Abstract: This disclosure includes systems, methods, and techniques for controlling a semiconductor device of a power converter. For example, a circuit includes first control circuitry configured to receive an indication of a first voltage which represents a voltage output from a power source to the power converter. Additionally, the first control circuitry is configured to output a control signal to second control circuitry in order to control, based on the first voltage and the second voltage, the semiconductor device so that a second voltage is lower than the first voltage, wherein the second voltage represents a voltage output from the power converter to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Alberto Arpino, Michele Bergo, Cristian Garbossa, Luca Scandola
  • Patent number: 11682977
    Abstract: This application provides a controller and control system for a DC/DC converter. The DC/DC converter includes a first switching transistor, a second switching transistor, a first capacitor, and a transformer. The transformer includes an excitation inductor and a transformer leakage inductor. The controller controls the first switching transistor to turn on to form a first closed circuit, where a current in the excitation inductor increases in a first direction; when a preset time period expires, the controller controls the first switching transistor to turn off, so that a voltage at two ends of the second switching transistor decreases; and when the voltage at the two ends of the second switching transistor is a first preset voltage threshold, the controller controls the second switching transistor to turn on to form a second closed circuit. When embodiments of this application are implemented, a turn-on loss in the DC/DC converter can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lei Wang, Liang Wu, Gun Yang
  • Patent number: 11677326
    Abstract: An LLC resonant converter includes a transformer and a primary-side circuit coupled to the transformer. The primary-side circuit includes a first bridge arm, a second bridge arm, and a control unit. The first bridge arm includes a first switch and a second switch, and the second bridge arm includes a third switch and a fourth switch. The control unit provides a first control signal to control the first switch and provides a fourth control signal to control the fourth switch. The control unit adjusts a switching frequency of the first control signal and the fourth control signal according to an output voltage. When the switching frequency increases to a frequency threshold value, the switching frequency is controlled to be fixed at the frequency threshold, and the first control signal and the fourth control signal are controlled to have a variable phase difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Shang-Kay Yang, Hsien-Kai Wang, Yen-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 11677323
    Abstract: In at least some examples, an apparatus includes a logic circuit, first transistor, and second transistor. The logic circuit has a first logic circuit output, and a second logic circuit output. The first transistor has a first transistor gate, a first transistor source, and a first transistor drain, the first transistor gate coupled to the first logic circuit output, the first transistor drain adapted to couple to a voltage source, and the first transistor source coupled to a switching terminal. The second transistor has a second transistor gate, a second transistor source, and a second transistor drain, the second transistor gate coupled to the second logic circuit output, the second transistor drain adapted to couple to the voltage source, and the second transistor source coupled to the switching terminal, wherein a transistor width of the second transistor is larger than a transistor width of the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert Allan Neidorff, Robert Kenneth Oppen
  • Patent number: 11677316
    Abstract: A variable duty cycle switching signal at a switching frequency is applied to a switching current regulation circuit arrangement energizing a current storage circuit assembly. Switching of the variable duty cycle switching signal is controlled by an upper and a lower threshold current level. The upper and lower threshold current levels vary with time following an average current value time variation. Additionally, frequency jitter is introduced in the variable duty cycle switching signal by: defining at least a frequency modulation window around a limit frequency identifying a limit value for an acceptable EMI; and applying an amplitude modulation of the upper and/or lower threshold current levels varying with time, wherein the amplitude modulation is applied in a time interval between times when the switching frequency enters and exit the frequency window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Sebastiano Messina, Marco Torrisi
  • Patent number: 11672054
    Abstract: Circuitry for an induction element for an aerosol generating device. The induction element is for inductive heating of a susceptor for heating an aerosol generating material in use. The circuitry includes a driver arrangement arranged to provide, from an input direct current, an alternating current for driving the induction element in use. The driver arrangement includes a plurality of transistors arranged in a H-bridge configuration. The H-bridge configuration includes a high side pair of transistors and a low side pair of transistors, the high side pair being for connection to a first electric potential higher than a second electric potential to which the low side pair is for connection is use. At least one of the high side pair of transistors is a p-channel field effect transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Nicoventures Trading Limited
    Inventors: Julian White, Martin Horrod
  • Patent number: 11671024
    Abstract: A switched mode power supply includes a power circuit and a control circuit coupled to the power circuit for regulating its output voltage. The control circuit is configured to generate a control signal for at least one power switch of the power circuit using a reference voltage, determine if a duty cycle of the control signal is within a defined range, sense one or more output parameters of the power circuit including the output voltage of the power circuit, and in response to determining the duty cycle of the control signal is outside the defined range, adjust the reference voltage to adjust the duty cycle of the control signal. The reference voltage is adjustable over time to thereby linearly adjust the output voltage of the power circuit. Other example switched mode power supplies, control circuits, and methods for regulating output voltages of switched mode power supplies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Astec International Limited
    Inventors: Lian Liang, Bing Zhang, Mei Qin, Wenyong Liu, Zhishuo Li
  • Patent number: 11664736
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a high-pass filter circuit configured to receive a drain-source voltage from a drain node of a synchronous rectifier switch at a secondary-side of a power converter and to generate a filtered drain-source voltage using the received drain-source voltage. A current comparison circuit of the apparatus is configured to receive a current indicative of a current through the synchronous rectifier switch and to generate a current comparison signal using the received current. An auto-tuning controller of the apparatus is configured to turn the synchronous rectifier switch on upon determining a body diode conduction of the synchronous rectifier switch, commence an auto-tuned delay upon determining that the current through the synchronous rectifier switch has changed direction, turn the synchronous rectifier switch off upon expiration of the auto-tuned delay, and update, during a detection window of time, a duration of the auto-tuned delay based on the filtered drain-source voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Silanna Asia Pte Ltd
    Inventor: Aleksandar Radic
  • Patent number: 11662754
    Abstract: A reference voltage circuit (1) includes a PTAT voltage generation circuit (20) that generates a voltage with a positive temperature coefficient, a CTAT voltage generation circuit (10) that generates a voltage with a negative temperature coefficient, and a temperature characteristic adjustment circuit (30) that generates a voltage for adjusting temperature characteristics. The reference voltage circuit outputs a reference voltage (VOUT) formed by calculation based on the output of the PTAT voltage generation circuit, output of the CTAT voltage generation circuit, and output of the temperature characteristic adjustment circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11664749
    Abstract: A power supply circuit that outputs an electric power input from a vibration-driven energy harvesting element to an external load includes a rectifying circuit that rectifies an alternating current power input from the vibration-driven energy harvesting element; a first capacitor that accumulates a power output from the rectifying circuit; a chopper circuit that has a switching element controlling a chopper timing and has an input terminal connected to the first capacitor; and a control signal generation unit that supplies a control signal to the switching element, wherein: the control signal generation unit generates the control signal without referring to a voltage of the first capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignees: The University of Tokyo, Saginomiya Seisakusho, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toshiyoshi, Hisayuki Ashizawa, Masahiro Morita
  • Patent number: 11658519
    Abstract: An electromagnetic connector is disclosed that is configured to form a first magnetic circuit portion comprising multiple coils disposed about a first core member. The electromagnetic connector is configured to mate with a second electromagnetic connector that is configured to form a second magnetic circuit portion comprising a coil disposed about a second core member. When the electromagnetic connector is mated with the second electromagnetic connector, the first core member and the second core member are configured to couple the multiple coils of the electromagnetic connector to the coil of the second electromagnetic connector with a magnetic circuit formed from the first magnetic circuit portion and the second magnetic circuit portion. The magnetic circuit is configured to induce a signal in a first coil of the multiple coils and the coil of the second electromagnetic connector when a second coil of the multiple coils is energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Bedrock Automation Platforms Inc.
    Inventors: James G. Calvin, Albert Rooyakkers, Michael Koran
  • Patent number: 11658576
    Abstract: An embodiment DC to DC conversion circuit comprises a DC to DC converter and a regulation circuit. The regulation circuit comprises a comparator configured to detect, during a discharge phase of the DC to DC converter, an overshoot period during which an output voltage of the DC to DC converter exceeds a target voltage, and a timer configured to measure a duration of the overshoot period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Grand Ouest) SAS
    Inventor: Lionel Cimaz
  • Patent number: 11644855
    Abstract: Disclosed is a voltage regulator, which makes a low dropout regulator stop working by controlling a sampling circuit of the low dropout regulator to break in a sleep mode, and makes an output voltage of the low dropout regulator follow an output voltage of a first bias voltage generating circuit by using a first MOS transistor connected between an voltage input end and an voltage output end of the low dropout regulator in a source follower structure, and is capable of controlling an output voltage of the whole voltage regulator by a generated bias voltage applied to the first bias voltage generating circuit by a first bias current source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: HANGZHOU VANGO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Ling Lin, Nick Nianxiong Tan, Xiangyang Jiang, Zhong Tang
  • Patent number: 11641165
    Abstract: The subject application provides a zero-voltage switching flyback converter comprising: a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding; a primary switch and a secondary switch for conducting the currents flowing in the primary winding and secondary winding respectively. A timing control method for operating the flyback converter are provided to accomplish zero-voltage switch by turning on the secondary switch twice within one switching power cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: INNOSCIENCE (SUZHOU) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tao Zhang, Jihua Li, Yulin Chen
  • Patent number: 11637501
    Abstract: A fully isolated drive circuit to be used for regulating an output voltage across a load. The isolated drive circuit may charge, discharge, or preserve the load charge using a controller that controls one or more switches. The controller may operate a switch according to an internal/external clock or an external control signal received by the controller. The isolated drive circuit may be an effective solution to simplify the drive design and decrease the amount of energy dissipated by the drive, especially when the load, associated with the drive, requires a high input voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ofir Bieber, Shay Avner, Tomer Bar-On
  • Patent number: 11632058
    Abstract: A multi-level inverter having one or more banks, each bank containing a plurality of low voltage MOSFET transistors. A processor configured to switch the plurality of low voltage MOSFET transistors in each bank to switch at multiple times during each cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ilan Yoscovich, Tzachi Glovinsky, Guy Sella, Yoav Galin
  • Patent number: 11632061
    Abstract: A power supply includes an inverter configured to direct current (DC) power into alternating current (AC) power, an impedance matching circuit configured to supply the AC power to a load; and a controller configured to adjust disposition of a powering period, in which the AC power is output, and a freewheeling period, in which the AC power is not output, to adjust a power amount of the power supplied to the load through the impedance matching circuit by the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: EN2CORE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Yeong-Hoon Sohn, Se-Hong Park, Sae-Hoon Uhm