Patents Examined by Matthew Grubb
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Patent number: 9099919Abstract: A single-inductor-multiple-output (SIMO) DC-DC switching regulator with a current-mode hysteretic control technique having an ultra-fast transient response to suppress cross-regulation is provided. The DC-DC switching regulator includes: at least one power source for providing electrical energy; an inductive energy storage element for accumulating and transferring the electrical energy from the input power source to a plurality of outputs; a main switch for controlling energy accumulation at the inductive energy storage element; a plurality of output switches for controlling energy transfer to each of the plurality of outputs; a freewheel switch coupled in parallel with the inductive energy storage element; and a controller, configured to coordinate the plurality of output switches and the main switch.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2012Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYInventors: Xiaocheng Jing, Kwok Tai Philip Mok
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Patent number: 9083245Abstract: A switching power supply comprising a switching circuit and a controller. The controller comprises a preprocessing circuit, a first multiplier, a first comparing circuit and a logic circuit. The controller comprises a preprocessing circuit, a first multiplier, a first comparing circuit and a logic circuit. The preprocessing circuit generates a first multiplication input signal based on the input voltage and output voltage of the switching circuit. The first multiplier multiplies the first multiplication input signal by a second multiplication input signal and generates a first product signal. The first comparing circuit compares a current sensing signal representative of the input current with the first product signal and generates a first comparison signal. The logic circuit turns off a main switch in the switching circuit when the current sensing signal is larger than the first product signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2012Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Qiming Zhao, Fei Xiong, Jianyu Xie, Xue Jiang, Yimin Liang
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Patent number: 9083261Abstract: A control system includes a fundamental control unit, first and second compensation control units, a switch control unit, and a switch implementation unit. The fundamental control unit generates fundamental commands to implement fundamental power conversion operation for a converter. The first compensation control unit generates a first compensation signal for injection into the fundamental command to balance neutral point voltage when the converter is in operation in a first state. The second compensation control unit generates a second compensation signal for injection into the fundamental command to balance neutral point voltage when the converter is in operation in a second state. The switch control unit detects first and second states of the converter and provides first and second switch signals respectively.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2012Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Wenqiang Yang, Ling Luo, Yunfeng Liu, Anthony Michael Klodowski, Robert Gregory Wagoner, Robert Allen Seymour
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Patent number: 9077247Abstract: A control circuit for controlling a power supply is revealed. The control circuit is used to generate a switching signal for switching the power supply. The control circuit has a detection terminal for detecting a status of the power supply. A first protection circuit is coupled to the detection terminal and to receive a first detection signal via the detection terminal, and the first protection generates a limit signal in response to the first detection signal, for limiting output of the power supply. A second protection circuit is coupled to the detection terminal and to receive a detection signal via thereto, and the second protection generates a protecting signal, for cutting off the output of the power supply, in response to the first detection signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2012Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: Infinno Technology Corp.Inventor: Ren-Huei Tzeng
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Patent number: 9046911Abstract: A variable voltage generation circuit includes an amplifier, a P-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, at least one variable resistor, and a lower resistor. Each variable resistor includes M resistors and M switches. An ith switch of the M switches has a first terminal coupled to a first terminal of the variable resistor, and a second terminal. An ith resistor has a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the ith switch, and a second terminal coupled to a first terminal of an (i+1)th resistor, where 2?M, 1?i?M, and i and M are natural numbers. Therefore, the variable voltage generation circuit outputs at least one variable voltage according to a reference voltage, the at least one variable resistor, and the lower resistor.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2012Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Etron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Yen-An Chang
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Patent number: 9025352Abstract: A transformer tap-changing circuit comprises an apparatus that includes a transformer comprising a secondary winding configured to inductively couple to a primary winding when a current is passed through the primary winding from an energy source, a first rectifier coupled to the secondary winding and configured to rectify a first AC voltage from the secondary winding into a first DC voltage, and a second rectifier coupled to the secondary winding and configured to rectify a second AC voltage from the secondary winding into a second DC voltage. The apparatus also includes a DC bus coupled to the first and second rectifiers and configured to receive the first and second DC voltages therefrom, wherein the first AC voltage is higher than the second AC voltage, and wherein the first DC voltage is higher than the second DC voltage.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Louis Steigerwald, Robert Dean King, Manoj Ramprasad Shah
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Patent number: 9001533Abstract: Disclosed are a feedback circuit and a power supply device including the same. The power supply device converts input voltage into output voltage suitable for load condition according to a switching operation of a power switch. The feedback circuit includes a first diode connected to a first sensing voltage corresponding to output voltage and a second diode connected to the output voltage. The feedback circuit generates feedback voltage by using voltage passing through a conducted diode of the first and the second diodes. The power supply device controls a switching operation of the power switch depending on the feedback voltage.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: In-Ki Park, Won-Seok Kang, Gye-Hyun Cho
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Patent number: 8982585Abstract: Switching-mode power conversion system and method thereof. The system includes a primary winding configured to receive an input voltage, and a secondary winding coupled to the primary winding and configured to, with one or more first components, generate, at an output terminal, an output voltage and an output current. Additionally, the system includes an auxiliary winding coupled to the secondary winding and configured to, with one or more second components, generate, at a first terminal, a detected voltage. Moreover, the system includes an error amplifier configured to receive the detected voltage and a first reference voltage and generate an amplified voltage based on at least information associated with a difference between the detected voltage and the first reference voltage. Also, the system includes a compensation component configured to receive the amplified voltage and generate a second reference voltage based on at least information associated with the amplified voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.Inventor: Lieyi Fang
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Patent number: 8981737Abstract: A buck/boost voltage regulator generates a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage and a plurality of control signals. The buck/boost voltage regulator includes a plurality of switching transistors responsive to the plurality of control signals. Control circuitry monitors the regulated output voltage and generates the plurality of control signals responsive thereto. The control circuitry controls the operation of the plurality of switching transistors to enable a charging phase in a first mode of operation, a pass through phase in a second mode of operation and a discharge phase in a third mode of operation within the buck/boost voltage regulator to eliminate occurrence of a four switch switching condition.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2011Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Intersil Americas LLCInventors: Congzhong Huang, Shea Petricek
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Patent number: 8981743Abstract: A switching voltage regulator including a comparison module configured to receive a reference voltage and a feedback voltage and to generate a comparison signal corresponding to a difference between the reference voltage and the feedback voltage, an offset module configured to generate an offset signal based on a number of active phases of the voltage regulator, an adder configured to generate a control signal based on the comparison signal and the offset signal, a plurality of pulse-width-modulated (PWM) power stages, and a control module configured to control the plurality of PWM power stages based at least in part on the control signal generated by the adder.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Osvaldo Enrico Zambetti, Daniele Giorgetti
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Patent number: 8975883Abstract: A soft start circuit includes an error amplifier for generating a control signal according to an input voltage, a feedback voltage and a reference voltage, a feedback circuit for generating the feedback voltage according to an output voltage, an internal voltage source for generating a soft start voltage, and a sink circuit including a first transformation module for generating a first transformation current according to the soft start voltage, a second transformation module for generating a second transformation current according to the feedback voltage, a comparison module coupled to the first transformation module and the second transformation module for generating a comparison result according to the first transformation current and the second transformation current, and an output module coupled to the comparison module for generating a sink current according to the comparison result, so as to control the control signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2012Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Anpec Electronics CorporationInventors: Chih-Ning Chen, Yen-Ming Chen
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Patent number: 8970199Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device and a method for DC-DC conversion using a comparator for generating an output signal for driving a power switch of a switch mode DC-DC converter. The electronic device is configured to reduce a bias current of the comparator with a first slope in response to a decreasing load and to increase the bias current of the comparator with a second slope in response to an increasing load, wherein the second slope is steeper than the first slope.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2010Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbHInventors: Kevin Scoones, Gerhard Thiele, Neil Gibson
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Patent number: 8964438Abstract: A power converter providing required hold up for a primary converter, particularly a cycloconverter, without the required hold up capacity by an auxiliary converter including storage capacitors having the requisite capacity. The auxiliary converter may be isolated from the primary converter during normal operation and switched in during power supply discontinuities. The storage capacitors may be charged via a voltage step up circuit to achieve improved charge utilization. The storage capacitors may be charged via a charge path independent of the auxiliary converter output path so that the storage capacitor charging rate may be set independently.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2010Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Eaton Industries CompanyInventor: Michael John Harrison
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Patent number: 8963518Abstract: A system for providing power from solar cells whereby each cell or cell array is allowed to produce its maximum available power and converted by an operatively connected DC/DC converter. Each cell or cell array has its own DC/DC converter. In one form the system includes one or more solar generators wherein each solar generator has one to nine solar cells; a maximum power tracker operatively associated with each solar generator, each maximum power tracker including a buck type DC/DC converter without an output inductor, each maximum power tracker being operatively connected in series with each other; an inductor operatively connected to the series connected maximum power trackers; and means for providing electrical power from the inductor to load means, wherein each maximum power tracker is controlled so that the operatively associated solar generator operates at its maximum power point to extract maximum available power.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc.Inventor: Peter Wolfs
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Patent number: 8952667Abstract: A master transistor and a slave transistor are both insulated gate bipolar transistors. A slave diode is connected in anti-parallel to the slave transistor. The master transistor is brought into conduction if a current flowing in a master reactor becomes zero, and is brought into nonconduction after elapse of a first period. The slave transistor is brought into conduction subject to elapse of a certain period after the master transistor is brought into conduction that is one of conditions for conduction of the slave transistor, and is brought into nonconduction after elapse of a second period shorter than the first period. The certain period is shorter than a period from when the master transistor is brought into conduction until when the master transistor is brought into conduction again.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiro Ohshita, Toshio Yabuki, Norio Sakae
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Patent number: 8942012Abstract: At least one embodiment is directed to a semiconductor voltage controller comprising: a start-mode circuit associated with a start-mode; and an off-mode circuit associated with an off-mode, where the voltage controller can be configured to receive a feedback signal and an off-mode signal from a single input and provide an output voltage, where the voltage controller can be configured to be in the off-mode when the feedback signal is less than a skip level and the feedback signal is less than a HV control level, and where the voltage controller can be configured to be in start mode when the feedback signal is greater than HV control level and Vcc is below a Vcc-start.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2012Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLCInventor: Jean-Paul Louvel
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Patent number: 8934275Abstract: The invention relates to converters for converting a DC input voltage a DC or an AC output voltage. The converters have a parasitic inductance. The converters comprise at least one switching element connected to an input terminal for providing a first voltage at an output terminal. In order to allow temporarily storing, in a capacitor, energy induced by the parasitic inductance when switching OFF the switching element, a first series circuit of a diode and a capacitor is provided in the converter, wherein the diode is coupled to the one input terminal. An active circuit coupled in parallel with the diode enables controlling the release of temporarily stored energy from the capacitor of the first series circuit.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2012Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Vincotech GmbHInventors: Ernö Temesi, Michael Frisch
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Patent number: 8928301Abstract: A control circuit adjusts the duty cycle of a PWM control signal. An analog processing component within the control circuit receives an analog feedback input signal and compares it to an analog reference signal to generate a pre-processed signal. A sigma-delta modulator within the analog processing component generates a quantized signal based on the pre-processed signal. A digital processing component stores a value. The controller then adjusts the duty cycle of the PWM signal to correspond to the value. A clock keeps the system synchronized.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2012Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventor: Andreas Schubert
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Patent number: 8923022Abstract: A method for reducing thermal cycling of a semiconductor power switch includes obtaining a value indicative of a junction temperature of the power switch. The method also includes selecting one of several pre-determined gate drive voltages, based on the obtained value, and providing the selected gate drive voltage to a gate of the power switch. This reduces thermal cycling of a power switch relative to the thermal cycling that would be present during operation at a single gate voltage.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Alois Zoels, Henry Todd Young, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo
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Patent number: 8923019Abstract: A DC/DC converter, a power converter and a control method thereof are disclosed, wherein the DC/DC converter includes an output circuit, a rectangular wave generator, a resonant tank, a detection unit and a control unit. The output circuit has a load. The rectangular wave generator converts an input voltage into driving pulses. The resonant tank provides a first voltage based on the driving pulses for the output circuit. The detection unit detects a signal related to a state of the load. When the state of the load is a light-load or a no-load, the control unit controls the rectangular wave generator in a hiccup mode to reduce a ratio of a work period to a stop period, or makes that number of the driving pulses within the current work period is less than the number of the driving pulses when a duty ratio is 50%.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.Inventors: Pei-Qing Hu, Hong-Yuan Jin, Hong-Jian Gan, Jian-Ping Ying