Patents Examined by Matthew V. Nguyen
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Patent number: 11870345Abstract: A power converter circuit included in a computer system may include multiple devices and a switch node coupled to a regulated power supply node via an inductor. During a first time period, the power converter charges a capacitor, and the couples the capacitor to the switch node during a second time period. During a third time period the power converter couples the switch node to an input power supply node. To maintain constant charge delivered to the load during each time the switch node is coupled to the input power supply node, the duration of the third time period is adjusted based on a voltage level of the input power supply node, a voltage level of the regulated power supply node, a value of the inductor, and the durations of first and second time periods.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Chongli Cai, Dingkun Du, Michael B. Nussbaum
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Patent number: 11824460Abstract: A power converter includes a power module, a terminal block, a housing that houses the power module and the terminal block, and a bus bar that electrically connects the power module and a conductive member connected to an electric component outside the housing. The terminal block is a member that electrically connects the bus bar and the conductive member, has a first surface, a second surface facing the first surface, and a connection surface that connects the first surface and the second surface, and includes a fastening member provided on the second surface to be movable with respect to the terminal block. The bus bar is formed between the power module and the conductive member to surround the first surface, the connection surface, and the second surface of the terminal block, and is connected to the conductive member on the second surface via the fastening member.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2020Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Taizo Tanibuchi, Kazuhiro Hayakawa, Rei Takahashi, Hironobu Sugihara
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Patent number: 11791725Abstract: The present invention provides a voltage regulator including a voltage control circuit and a current control circuit. The voltage control circuit is configured to receive an output voltage of the voltage regulator to generate a first current to an output terminal of the voltage regulator; and the current control circuit is configured to generate a second current to the output terminal of the voltage regulator according to an output current of the voltage regulator, wherein the output current is generated according to the first current and the second current.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.Inventors: Chien-Lung Lee, Jin-Yan Syu
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Patent number: 11784564Abstract: A switched-mode power supply includes a voltage ramp generation circuit that generates a voltage ramp signal. The voltage ramp generation circuit includes, selectively connected in parallel, at least three capacitors. The selective connection of the capacitors is made according to a value of an internal power supply voltage of the switched-mode power supply.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2020Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SASInventors: Michel Cuenca, Sebastien Ortet
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Patent number: 11777398Abstract: Circuitry for bootstrapping and precharging a gate of a field-effect transistor (FET) is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first transistor coupled to a switching node and further coupled to receive a supply voltage from a supply voltage node, and a second transistor coupled between the switching node and a ground node, wherein the first and second transistors are of a same type. A precharge circuit is configured to precharge a gate terminal of the first transistor to a voltage that is less than a supply voltage on the voltage supply node. The apparatus also includes a bootstrap circuit. Subsequent to precharging the gate terminal of the first transistor, the bootstrap circuit is configured to cause activation of the first transistor by charging the gate terminal to a voltage greater than the supply voltage.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Giulio Maria Iadicicco, Michael Couleur, Siarhei Meliukh
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Patent number: 11769636Abstract: A capacitor bank that includes at least two capacitors wherein the capacitor bank is configured to change the quantity of phases of the input voltage within the capacitor bank. The capacitor bank of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor. The first capacitor and second capacitor are three phase capacitors each having three terminals configured to couple to an input voltage. The capacitor bank is wired so as to have a first source of an input voltage coupled to two terminals of the first capacitor and one terminal of the second capacitor. A second source of the input voltage is electrically coupled to one terminal of the first capacitor and two terminals of the second capacitor. The capacitor bank is operable to change the double phase input voltage into three phases within the capacitor bank.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: NU-WAVE TECHNOLOGIES CORP.Inventor: Oscar Robichaud
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Patent number: 11769653Abstract: Energy conversion systems that may employ control grid electrodes, acceleration grid electrodes, inductive elements, multi-stage anodes, and emissive carbon coatings on the cathode and anode are described. These and other characteristics may allow for advantageous thermal energy to electrical energy conversion.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Space Charge, LLCInventors: Daniel Sweeney, Devin Vollmer, John Read
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Patent number: 11762405Abstract: A power combining technique includes receiving a first voltage at a first input and a second voltage at a second input. The power combining technique further includes combining, with at least two power converters, power received from the first and second inputs into a single power rail. A power balancing technique further includes controlling the at least two power converters such that a first one of the power converters outputs an amount of current to the single power rail that is proportional to and/or equal to the amount of current output by another of the power converters.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventor: Jeffrey Anthony Morroni
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Patent number: 11757373Abstract: In a power converter for converting DC power from a DC power source into AC power and supplying the AC power to a single-phase winding or multi-phase windings, a controller controls first and second inverter circuits and performs first power conversion control to lock open/closed states of switching elements in the second inverter circuit and switch open/closed states of switching elements in the first inverter circuit, and second power conversion control to lock open/closed states of the switching elements in the first inverter circuit and switch open/closed states of the switching elements in the second inverter circuit. The controller is configured to perform either the first power conversion control or the second power conversion control when an effective value of drive current through each winding is less than a threshold, and otherwise switch between the first power conversion control and the second power conversion control.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshimitsu Takahashi, Makoto Taniguchi
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Patent number: 11750095Abstract: In an embodiment, a voltage converter includes: a first transistor coupled between a first rail configured to receive a supply voltage and a first node; and an inductance coupled between the first node and a second node configured to deliver an output voltage, wherein, at each operating cycle of the converter, the first transistor is maintained in the on state for a first time period proportional to the inverse of a voltage difference between the supply voltage and the output voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2020Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SASInventors: Helene Esch, Mathilde Sie, David Chesneau, Eric Feltrin
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Patent number: 11750099Abstract: Quasi-Constant On-Time Controller. At least one example embodiment is a method of operating a power converter, comprising: charging an inductor of a switching power converter, each charging has an on-time; and then discharging the inductor while providing current to the load; and repeating the charging and the discharging at a switching frequency. During the repeating, the example method may comprise: adjusting the switching frequency proportional to a voltage difference between an output voltage and a setpoint voltage; generating an on-time reference proportional to a frequency difference between the switching frequency and a setpoint frequency, the on-time of each charging of the inductor is based on the on-time reference; and modifying the on-time proportional to the voltage difference.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventor: Alessandro Zafarana
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Patent number: 11750097Abstract: A switch-mode AC-DC power converter includes a pair of input terminals, a pair of output terminals, and four switches coupled in a bridgeless totem-pole circuit arrangement between the pair of input terminals and the pair of output terminals. A control circuit is coupled to the four switches and configured to, during a cycle of an AC voltage input, turn on the first switch, turn off the second switch, and apply pulse-width modulation (PWM) control signals to the third and fourth switches. The control circuit is also configured to, during a zero crossing of the AC voltage input, supply a PWM control signal to the fourth switch to reduce a rate of voltage change across the second switch at the zero crossing to reduce common mode noise of the power converter.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Astec International LimitedInventors: Zhihua Gu, Siu Chik Wong, Kim Ly Kha
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Patent number: 11736030Abstract: A synchronous rectification control circuit for controlling a switching circuit comprising a synchronous rectifier switch, can include: a drive circuit configured to generate a drive signal to control switching states of the synchronous rectifier switch; and a voltage regulation circuit configured to control the drive circuit to adjust an amplitude of the drive signal to decrease to a preset threshold in an adjustment state when a drain-source voltage of the synchronous rectifier switch is greater than an adjustment threshold before the synchronous rectifier switch is turned off, where a time that the voltage regulation circuit is in the adjustment state is an adjustment time.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2021Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTDInventors: Qiao Zhang, Xinlei Li
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Patent number: 11736002Abstract: The present invention relates to an adaptive soft start and soft stop device for a converter, and more particularly, provides an adaptive soft start and soft stop device for a converter which controls a final output voltage to be increased or decreased with a predetermined gradient by increasing a duty at a predetermined rate or increases a frequency during a start period using an input voltage Vin and an output voltage Vo and decreasing the duty at a predetermined rate or decreases a frequency during a stop period.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2021Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Power LSI Co. ltdInventors: Won Tae Lee, Won Ji Lee, Chang Sik Shin, Chuen Sik Jung, Gyu Won Lee
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Patent number: 11728726Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a frequency modulation device, a switching power supply and a frequency modulation method thereof. The device includes: a waveform generation unit (10) configured to generate a periodic signal required for performing frequency modulation on a clock signal of a switching power supply to be controlled; a frequency modulation unit (20) configured to perform voltage-current conversion and arithmetic processing based on the periodic signal to obtain a frequency modulation current required for performing the frequency modulation on the clock signal of the switching power supply to be controlled; and an RC oscillation unit (30) configured to perform RC oscillation processing based on the frequency modulation current to obtain a frequency oscillation signal as the clock signal of the switching power supply to be controlled.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC. OF ZHUHAIInventors: Yuming Feng, Huiping Yin, Yuhua Xie, Liang Zhang, Suibiao Huang, Xinchao Peng, Yijun Xu, Jing Wang
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Patent number: 11722061Abstract: A switching regulator includes a first transistor having a control input and the first transistor is coupled to an input voltage terminal. The regulator includes a second transistor having a control input. The second transistor is coupled to the first transistor at a switch terminal and to a ground terminal. The regulator also includes a controller coupled to the control inputs of the first and second transistor. The controller configured is configured to cause both the first and second transistors to be off concurrently during each of multiple switching cycles for an adaptive high impedance state. The length of time of the adaptive high impedance state is inversely related to current output by the switching regulator.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Hakan Oner, Tawen Mei
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Patent number: 11716023Abstract: A power converter including a piezoelectric resonator. The power converter includes a first transistor coupled between an input terminal and a first plate of the piezoelectric resonator, and a second transistor coupled between the first plate of the piezoelectric resonator and an output terminal. A load may be coupled at the output terminal. Controller circuitry has inputs coupled to the input node, the output node, and to the first plate of the piezoelectric resonator, and outputs coupled to control terminals of the first and second transistors. The controller circuitry operates to turn on the first transistor responsive to a comparison of voltages at the first plate and the input terminal, turn on the second transistor responsive to a comparison of voltages at the first plate and the output terminal, and turn off one of the first and second transistors responsive to an output level at the output terminal.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Yinglai Xia, Yogesh Ramadass, Jessica Danielle Boles
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Patent number: 11716009Abstract: A three-level converter includes a switch circuit including first to fourth switch groups with n switches. A boot diode connected to a drive circuit to drive a switch on a lowest voltage side of a second switch group includes a cathode to which an anode of another boot diode of the second switch group is connected. A boot diode connected to a drive circuit to drive a switch element on a lowest voltage side of a third switch group includes a cathode to which an anode of another boot diode of the third switch group is connected. A boot diode connected to a drive circuit to drive a switch on a lowest voltage side of a fourth switch group includes a cathode to which an anode of another boot diode of the fourth switch group is connected.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventor: Yuki Ishikura
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Patent number: 11699954Abstract: A multi-phase switching regulator and a switching regulating method using the multi-phase switching regulator employ an interleaving circuit. The multi-phase switching regulator includes: a first regulating circuit configured to receive an input voltage and generate a first sub-output voltage with a first phase by transforming the input voltage in response to a first set signal; a second regulating circuit configured to receive the input voltage and generate a second sub-output voltage with a second phase by transforming the input voltage in response to a second set signal; and the interleaving circuit configured to repeatedly and sequentially generate the first set signal and the second set signal by comparing a reference voltage with an output voltage generated based on the first sub-output voltage and the second sub-output voltage.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2021Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Sun-Kyu Lee, Nguyen Huyhieu, Dong-Jin Keum, Je-Hyung Yoon, Hee-Seok Han
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Patent number: 11695339Abstract: A circuit includes an output node and an amplifier and first and second branches coupled between power supply and reference nodes. The first branch includes a first switching device coupled between a first amplifier input and the reference node, the second branch includes a second switching device coupled between the output node and a second amplifier input, and a third switching device is coupled between the power supply and output nodes. Responsive to a first voltage level on the power supply node, each of the first and second switching devices is switched off and the third switching device is switched on, and responsive to a second voltage level on the power supply node greater than the first voltage level, each of the first and second switching devices is switched on and the third switching device is switched off.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2022Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD., TSMC CHINA COMPANY, LIMITEDInventors: Wei Li, Yongliang Jin, Yaqi Ma