Patents Examined by LaKaisha Jackson
  • Patent number: 10998828
    Abstract: The task of the present invention is to enhance safety of an insulation-type DC/DC converter. The present invention relates to an insulation-type DC/DC converter, an AC/DC converter, a power adapter and an electronic device. A switch transistor is disposed on a primary side of a transformer, and a synchronous rectification transistor is disposed on a secondary side of the transformer. A primary-side control portion performs switch-driving of the switch transistor, and a secondary-side control portion controls turn-on and turn-off of the synchronous rectification transistor. A pulse transformer portion for implementing bi-directional communication between the primary-side control portion and the secondary-side control portion is disposed between the primary side and the secondary side. For example, signals associated with turn-on and turn-off of the switch transistor are transceived between the primary-side control portion and the secondary-side control portion by a pulse transformer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Hara
  • Patent number: 10998713
    Abstract: Provided is a relay device that can switch conduction of a current flow path between power storage units on and off, and can suppress a decrease in the output of the power storage units if an abnormality occurs. A relay device includes: a conductive path between a first power storage unit and a second power storage unit, the conductive path serving as a path through which a current flows; a switch unit that is switched between an ON state in which a current can flow through the conductive path, and an OFF state in which the conductive path is in a predetermined no current flow state; a coil that is connected in series to MOSFETs constituting the switch unit, and has an inductance component; and a control unit configured to switch off the switch unit if a value detected by a current detection unit is a predetermined abnormal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Yasunori, Kosei Maekawa
  • Patent number: 10969808
    Abstract: A switching converter controller includes an on-time timer circuit coupled to a switch driver circuit. The on-time timer circuit includes an up/down counter with a clock input node. The on-time timer circuit also includes a latch with an input coupled to an external clock signal and with an output coupled to the clock input node. The on-time timer circuit also includes an on-time capacitor array with a control terminal coupled an output of the up/down counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Zejing Wang, Zhujun Li
  • Patent number: 10963000
    Abstract: A bandgap reference circuit and a method for providing a reference voltage are disclosed. In an embodiment a bandgap reference circuit includes a voltage generator including a first branch and a second branch and being configured to produce a reference voltage with a temperature coefficient lower than a given threshold, a supply circuit configured to provide a first current to the first branch and a second current to the second branch, and a control loop including a transconductance amplifier configured to provide an output signal representative of a difference between a first voltage of the first branch and a second voltage of the second branch and a filter coupled to an output of the transconductance amplifier, the filter configured to provide an output signal for controlling the first current and second current of the supply circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lei Zou, Gino Rocca
  • Patent number: 10965210
    Abstract: A power controller for use in a PFC power converter is capable being immune from audible noise during the test of load transient response. A transconductor with a transconductance compares an output voltage of the PFC power converter with a target voltage to provide a compensation current, which builds up a compensation voltage. An ON-time controller is configured to end an ON time of a power switch in response to the compensation voltage. An OFF-time controller is configured to end an OFF time of the power switch. A compensation-voltage designator presets the compensation voltage. A status detector controls the transconductor, the ON-time controller, the OFF-time controller, and the compensation-voltage designator, in response to the output voltage, a top-boundary voltage and a bottom-boundary voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: LEADTREND TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yao-Tsung Chen, Kuan-Hsien Chou
  • Patent number: 10965218
    Abstract: A power converter, comprising an energy transfer element, an output of the power converter, a power switch, an active clamp circuit, and a first controller. The active clamp circuit comprising a capacitance, a steering diode network coupled to the capacitance and configured to transfer a charge to the capacitance, a clamp switch coupled to the capacitance and configured to transfer the charge stored in the capacitance to the energy transfer element, and an offset element coupled to the clamp switch and configured to provide a path to discharge a capacitance associated with the clamp switch. The first controller configured to output a clamp drive signal to control the turn on and turn off of the clamp switch and a primary drive signal to control the turn on and turn off of the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur B. Odell
  • Patent number: 10958087
    Abstract: A battery protection system with a voltage sensing circuit for sensing the voltage of a battery and disconnecting all loads from the battery, including the voltage sensing circuit itself, when the voltage of the battery drops below a preset limit or when a battery charger is connected to the battery. The battery protection system reconnects the voltage sensing circuit upon disconnection of the battery charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventor: Orest Fedan
  • Patent number: 10957574
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a base having a support surface configured to retain a retaining target by electrostatic retention, and a thermocouple configured to detect a temperature of the base. The thermocouple includes first and second metal parts provided inside the base and having ends connected to each other to form a measuring junction, a first wire part having one end connected to the other end of the first metal part inside the base, and another end extending outside the base, and a second wire part having one end connected to the other end of the second metal part inside the base, and another end extending outside the base. The first metal part and the first wire part are formed from a first material, and the second metal part and the second wire part are formed from a second material different from the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: SHINKO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomotake Minemura
  • Patent number: 10942536
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a voltage regulator circuit having a power NFET coupled between an upper supply voltage and a pre-regulator output node and a current source coupled in series with a diode element between the upper supply voltage and a lower supply voltage. A gate of the power NFET is coupled to a first node between the current source and a diode element. A bypass circuit includes a power PFET coupled between the upper supply voltage and the pre-regulator output node. A comparison circuit is coupled to turn the bypass circuit off when the upper supply voltage is greater than a regulation threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Mehedi Hassan, Grant Evan Falkenburg
  • Patent number: 10944258
    Abstract: An ESD circuit is connected to a power pad and a first node. The ESD circuit includes a RC circuit and a first ESD current path. The RC circuit is connected between the power pad and the first node. The RC circuit is capable of providing a first control voltage and a second control voltage. The first ESD current path is connected between the power pad and the first node. When the power pad receives a positive ESD zap, the first ESD current path is turned on in response to the first control voltage and the second control voltages provided by the RC circuit, so that an ESD current flows from the power pad to the first node through the first ESD current path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: EMEMORY TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Wei Lai, Yun-Jen Ting, Yi-Han Wu, Kun-Hsin Lin, Hsin-Kun Hsu
  • Patent number: 10942535
    Abstract: A method for current limiting an operational amplifier includes sensing a first current through a first branch of the operational amplifier. The first branch conducts the first current from a limited current supply connected to an operational amplifier output. The first current is compared to a reference current to generate a regulation signal. A variable current source is controlled with the regulation signal. An output current of a transconductance amplifier is limited with the variable current source to limit the first current in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahraj Sivaraj, John Pigott
  • Patent number: 10938297
    Abstract: An AC-DC conversion device that includes a major circuit portion and a control circuit. The major circuit portion includes a converter in which multiple switch portions in a bridge connection include separately-excited switching elements and snubber circuits connected in parallel with the switching elements; and the major circuit portion is connected to an alternating current power supply and a direct current circuit and applies, to the direct current circuit, an alternating current voltage applied from the alternating current power supply by an ON of the multiple switch portions. The control circuit controls the voltage applied to the direct current circuit by controlling the ON timing of the multiple switch portions by inputting a control pulse to each of the multiple switch portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Hattori, Teruo Yoshino, Tomohisa Okami
  • Patent number: 10931207
    Abstract: An inverter circuit (120) is configured so as to perform synchronous rectification by six switching elements (130). The switching element (130) is formed of an unipolar device (SiC MOSFET in this case) using a wideband gap semiconductor. The inverter circuit (120) uses the body diode (131) of SiC MOSFET (130) as a freewheeling diode during synchronous rectification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Maeda, Morimitsu Sekimoto, Hiroshi Hibino
  • Patent number: 10930457
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay deicing system includes an electromagnetic relay that includes a common terminal, a normally open terminal, and a normally closed terminal and that supplies electric power from an electric power supplier to an electrical apparatus when the common terminal and the normally open terminal are connected, and a control circuit that controls an on-state and an off-state of the electromagnetic relay. During the on-state of the electromagnetic relay, the common terminal and the normally open terminal are connected by a movable piece. During the off-state of the electromagnetic relay, the common terminal and the normally closed terminal are connected by the movable piece. The control circuit deices the electromagnetic relay by causing, during the off-state of the electromagnetic relay, electric conduction between the common terminal and the normally closed terminal connected by the movable piece so that ice on a surface of the normally open terminal melts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Kato
  • Patent number: 10923893
    Abstract: A tubing structure includes a first unit, a second unit movably connected to the first unit, and a controller. The first unit includes a first body and at least one first magnetic component disposed inside the first body. The second unit includes a second body movably engaging with the first body and at least one second magnetic component disposed inside the second body and located at a position corresponding to the at least one first magnetic component. The controller is electrically connected to at least one of the at least one first magnetic component and the at least one second magnetic component. The controller selectively controls the at least one first magnetic component and the at least one second magnetic component to magnetically attract or repulse each other to drive the second body to move relative to the first body for inclining the second unit relative to the first unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Tien-Chung Tseng
  • Patent number: 10916936
    Abstract: A method for circuit breaker failure (CBF) protection in a power substation is disclosed. The power substation includes a first circuit breaker (CB), a second CB coupled to the first CB, a feeder coupled to the first CB and the second CB, a power plant coupled to the feeder, a first plurality of CBs coupled to the first CB, and a second plurality of CBs coupled to the second CB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventors: Mohammad Rezaei Jegarluei, Sina Moatar Rashkhari, Nader Kayvan, Mohammad Nabi Faraji
  • Patent number: 10897207
    Abstract: The anti-windup circuit generally has a voltage clamping device in series with a current limiting device operatively connectable to the output current path of a feedback compensator; the feedback compensator being part of a switch-mode power supply (SMPS) having an input voltage source and a load and generating constrained control values required to generate control on-off actions for tight power regulation. The inclusion of the disclosed anti-windup circuit in an SMPS may lead to hardware based overvoltage protection, reduced overall size and faster response to load changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Appulse Power Inc.
    Inventor: Aleksandar Radic
  • Patent number: 10892504
    Abstract: A power supply device includes a power supply, a conversion unit performing voltage conversion on electric power to be supplied from the power supply, and a control unit generating a first control signal for inputting or outputting a target voltage or a target current to and from the conversion unit by a feedback loop, and controlling the conversion unit based on the first control signal and a second control signal for detecting a state of the power supply, generated outside the feedback loop. The control unit sets a specific parameter of the second control signal based on a feedforward term based on the output of the power supply and a feedback term in which the specific parameter included in at least one of electric power output from the power supply and input into the conversion unit and electric power output from the conversion unit, is a feedback component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryota Kitamoto
  • Patent number: 10886832
    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: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ilan Yoscovich, Tzachi Glovinsky, Guy Sella, Yoav Galin
  • Patent number: 10884444
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for distributing the total power of an energy conversion device between at least two converters in said energy conversion device, the sum of the conversion powers of the converters being the total power of the conversion device, the energy conversion device converting energy between a first electrical entity and a second electrical entity, characterised in that: said at least two converters correspond to at least two portions of a ring (29), the portions being proportional to a predetermined power value of the respective converters (1) thereof, the combination of the at least two portions forming the whole ring; and in that the total power of the conversion device corresponds to an arc of the ring between the positions of a first slider and a second slider that are movable around the ring, and the distribution of power between the converters is determined by the positions of the first slider and the second slider that are movable around the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes de Controle Moteur
    Inventors: Boris Bouchez, Luis De Sousa