Patents Examined by Peter M Novak
  • Patent number: 12126267
    Abstract: A detector compares a drain voltage with a first threshold voltage and outputs a first detection signal. An ON counter detects a period of time during which a current flows in a switching, counts the period of time based on a predetermined clock cycle. An OFF counter detects a period of time during which a current flow through the body diode in a state where no current flows in the switching circuit, counts the period of time. An off-time setting circuit sets the time to turn off the switching circuit. A first comparison circuit compares the cycle count value with turn off time. A second comparison circuit compares a cycle count value output by the ON counter with a comparison result output by the first comparison circuit and outputs a signal to stop transmitting a PWM signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignees: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD., SANKEN ELECTRIC KOREA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eunsuk Lee, Jungyul Kim, Masaaki Shimada, Shinji Aso, Mitsutomo Yoshinaga, Hanju Kang
  • Patent number: 12126162
    Abstract: An electrical conversion system includes an inverter arranged according to a multilevel type topology with k arms and a command device for cut-off against an electrical overload, connected to a set of first intermediate lines to measure a first intermediate continuous voltage. The cut-off command device is configured to determine a fault by detecting if the first measured intermediate continuous voltage is outside of a nominal voltage variation range [Vmax1, Vmin1] of the first intermediate voltage and to transmit a generalised opening command signal for an opening of the electronic commutation switches of each arm when the fault is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE
    Inventor: Louis Grimaud
  • Patent number: 12126248
    Abstract: There is described a method of controlling a single inductor multiple output, SIMO, switching converter, the method comprising (a) counting, for each output of the multiple outputs of the SIMO switching converter, a period of time during which an output voltage at the respective output is below a corresponding individual threshold value, (b) identifying that output among the multiple outputs of the SIMO switching converter for which the counted period of time is longest, and (c) connecting the identified output to the single inductor of the SIMO switching converter to supply current from the single inductor of the SIMO switching converter to the identified output. Furthermore, a corresponding controller is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Christian Vincent Sorace, Nicolas Patrick Vantalon, Ludovic Oddoart, Fabien Boitard
  • Patent number: 12119748
    Abstract: A circuit portion comprises a DCDC converter that provides current from an output to a plurality of loads. Channel logic circuitry is configured to provide current from the output of the converter to each load according to a cyclical sequence, wherein each cycle has a duration that is divided equally into a plurality of time slots. The channel logic circuitry is configured to provide current to each load for one or more discrete time slots. The number of time slots is greater than the number of loads so that at least two output loads receive current for different numbers of time slots in a cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Nordic Semiconductor ASA
    Inventor: Samuli Hallikainen
  • Patent number: 12113436
    Abstract: A method may include detecting an output voltage of the output smoothing capacitor in the bridgeless interleaved power factor correction circuit of a critical mode, comparing the detected output voltage with a reference voltage, controlling the first and the second half-bridge circuits included in the bridgeless interleaved power factor correction circuit of the critical mode to be on and off based on an error signal between the output voltage and the predetermined reference voltage, measuring ON time of a synchronous rectification switch operation of the first half-bridge circuit by measuring a time period between OFF timing of an active switch of the first half-bridge circuit and output of a differentiation signal generated by a differentiation circuit included in the bridgeless interleaved power factor correction circuit of the critical mode; and assigning the measured time to next ON time of the synchronous rectification switch operation of the second half-bridge circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Ohtake, Ryuichi Furukoshi
  • Patent number: 12095257
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating an inverter of an inverter-based power resource providing electric power to a grid through one or more transformers. The method includes measuring voltages associated with terminals on a selected primary winding and/or measuring voltages associated with terminals on a selected secondary winding; and injecting currents into the primary terminals of the selected primary winding during a fault condition based on the measured voltages being indicative of the type of fault occurring. Preferably the inverter is operated to emulate at least some characteristics of fault currents provided by a generator having rotating magnets or electrical windings. An apparatus is configured to operate in accordance with the method and includes an electrical switching device circuit having input terminals for an inverter-based power resource and output terminals for providing AC electric power to an electric power grid. An inverter controller operates the electrical switching device circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Pratap Gopal Mysore, Daniel Kelly, Ned Mohan
  • Patent number: 12093066
    Abstract: Provided is a highly versatile and reliable power supply device (power supply ASIC) that can support electronic devices with a wide range of drive currents while suppressing a cost increase, and an electronic control device using the same. An electronic control device includes: a first power supply circuit that outputs a first voltage; a second power supply circuit that generates a second voltage from the first voltage; and a first MOSFET arranged independently of the first power supply circuit and the second power supply circuit. The second power supply circuit includes: a reference power supply that outputs a reference voltage; an amplifier that amplifies the reference voltage; a second MOSFET connected in parallel with the first MOSFET; a voltage detection unit that detects a voltage value of a gate terminal of the first MOSFET; and a switching unit that connects an output from the amplifier to either the gate terminal of the first MOSFET or a gate terminal of the second MOSFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Doi, Yuri Ohara, Takeo Yamashita
  • Patent number: 12095375
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a transformer including a primary coil and a secondary coil, a switching element connected in series to the primary coil, a first generation unit configured to generate a first voltage to be output to a first load from a voltage generated in the primary coil by turning on and off the switching element, and a second generation unit configured to generate a second voltage to be output to a second load from a voltage generated in the secondary coil by turning on and off the switching element. The first voltage has an absolute value smaller than an absolute value of the second voltage. The first voltage has a polarity different from a polarity of the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroki Asano
  • Patent number: 12081127
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes: a switching circuit; a signal generator to generate a switching signal of a switching element based on a first instruction value; a current controller to generate a second instruction value based on a deviation between a current target value and the current flowing through the switching circuit such that the current flowing through the switching circuit approaches the current target value; an operation mode detector to detect an operation mode based on the first instruction value; and a compensator to adjust the second instruction value so as to compensate a gain between the deviation and an amount of a change in the current of the switching circuit. The compensator adjusts the second instruction value so as to suppress a change in the gain based on the operation mode, and outputs the first instruction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu Kawai, Hirokazu Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 12081110
    Abstract: A power conversion module can include: an i-th level structure comprising 2i-1 basic units, a second terminal of each basic unit in each level structure respectively connected to first terminals of two basic units in a next level structure, where a first terminal of a first basic unit in a first-level structure is used as a first terminal of the power conversion module; an N-th level structure comprising 2N-1 balance units, where second terminals of each balance unit are connected as a second terminal of the power conversion module, and second terminals of each basic unit in an (N?1)th level structure are respectively connected to first terminals of two balance units in the N-th level structure; and where each basic unit comprises a switched capacitor circuit, N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2, i is a positive integer, and 1?i?N?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Nanjing Silergy Micro Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhen Zhang, Wang Zhang, Junyan Sun
  • Patent number: 12081117
    Abstract: A high-frequency current source with a symmetric bipolar output stage piloted by an active bias network with an extended temperature range. The source is configured to provide a high impedance at 1 MHz and above. The invention includes such active EMI filters with such a high-frequency current source, for example in the current-sense current-inject feedback configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Schaffner EMV AG
    Inventors: Alessandro Amaducci, Enrico Mazzola
  • Patent number: 12081118
    Abstract: A system includes a switching power converter, including a first transistor having a first gate, a first drain, and a first source, the first drain adapted to be coupled to a power supply. The switching power converter also includes a second transistor having a second gate, a second drain, and a second source, the second gate coupled to a second gate driver, the second source adapted to be coupled to ground, and the second drain coupled to the first source. The switching power converter also includes a third transistor having a third gate, a third drain, and a third source, the third gate adapted to be coupled to a current source, the third source coupled to a resistor, and the third drain coupled to the first gate. The switching power converter includes a capacitor coupled to the first drain and adapted to be coupled to the current source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Pavol Balaz
  • Patent number: 12074523
    Abstract: A power circuit is disclosed. The power circuit includes an input node, a plurality of inductors each connected to an output node, a plurality of phases each configured to provide current to one of the inductors, and a control circuit configured to trigger the phases. The phases are configured to provide current to one of the inductors in response to being triggered by the control circuit, the control circuit is configured to determine a variable time difference between a first phase being triggered and a second phase being triggered, and the time difference is based at least in part on a voltage difference between an input voltage at the input node and an output voltage at the output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: EMPOWER SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Alan Phillips, Parag Oak, Shrinivasan Jaganathan
  • Patent number: 12068595
    Abstract: The present disclosure envisages an apparatus for providing protection against an insulation failure in an electrical appliance. A first isolating means is connected in phase line of the AC power source. A second isolating means is connected in the neutral line. At least one TRIAC, having two main terminals and one gate terminal, is connected in parallel to appliance. First main terminal is connected to the phase line between first isolating means and electrical appliance, and second main terminal is connected to the neutral line between second isolating means and electrical appliance. The gate terminal is connected to the body of electrical appliance. In the event of insulation failure, the TRIAC, upon being triggered, blows out the first and second isolating means and thereby electrically isolates the appliance from the AC power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: BALA INDUSTRIES AND ENTERTAINMENT PRIVATE LIMITED
    Inventors: Nitin Langer, Mirza Mohammad Idrees Ul Haq Beigh
  • Patent number: 12068679
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a voltage-type power converter and a current-type power converter each of which performs power conversion between AC and DC, and a controlling circuitry, and power is transmitted/received between AC sides via a DC circuit. In first starting control for starting the voltage-type power converter and the current-type power converter, the controlling circuitry controls a semiconductor element of at least one of the voltage-type power converter and the current-type power converter, to adjust DC voltage at DC terminals of the voltage-type converter to a set first voltage value, thereby controlling current flowing through the DC circuit to be first current not greater than a rated current value of the semiconductor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kaho Mukunoki, Toshiyuki Fujii
  • Patent number: 12062908
    Abstract: This electrical protection system for a DC-current medium-voltage electrical circuit, comprising a disconnection module, for generating a counter-voltage greater than the voltage of the source for a current flowing therethrough that is equal to at most a few percent of the nominal current of the device, a resistive limitation module connected between a first terminal and a second terminal and configured so as to reduce the intensity of the output current of the protection system in order to limit the current between a value and upon a low impedance fault downstream of the device, and a primary switching module coupled in parallel across the disconnection module and the resistive module. The primary switching module is configured so as to switch between a first state in which the primary switching module is conductive and a second state in which the primary switching module forms a short circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventor: Nicolas Lapassat
  • Patent number: 12057764
    Abstract: Controller and method for a power converter. For example, a controller for a power converter includes: a first terminal configured to receive a first terminal voltage; a second terminal configured to receive a second terminal voltage; a comparator configured to receive a first threshold voltage and the second terminal voltage and to generate a comparison signal based at least in part on the first threshold voltage and the second terminal voltage; and a switch configured to receive the first terminal voltage and the comparison signal, the switch being further configured to be closed to allow a current to flow out of the second terminal through the switch if the comparison signal is at a first logic level; wherein the comparator is further configured to: receive a first reference voltage as the first threshold voltage if the first terminal voltage is smaller than a second threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tuofu Liu, Xiangkun Zhai, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 12051963
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling a switch of a power converter. The circuit includes loop control circuitry configured to generate a control signal based on a feedback signal for the power converter and undervoltage circuitry. The undervoltage circuitry is configured to compare a voltage for a capacitor of the power converter with a voltage threshold. The undervoltage circuitry is further configured to, in response to the voltage for the capacitor of the power converter being greater than the voltage threshold, generate a switching signal to drive a switch of the power converter based on the control signal. The undervoltage circuitry is further configured to, in response to the voltage for the capacitor of the power converter being less than the voltage threshold, generate the switching signal to drive the switch of the power converter to the switched-in state until an inductor current is greater than an electrical current threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Davide Dal Bianco, Tommaso Pieretti, Peter Lang, Stefano Orlandi, Florian Regvar
  • Patent number: 12051974
    Abstract: A controller for a power converter includes: an estimator configured to estimate or calculate a slew rate of an output voltage of the power converter or a slew rate of an error voltage which corresponds to a difference between the output voltage and a target voltage, during a load transient; and a modulator configured to modify regulation of the output voltage based on the estimated or calculated slew rate. A corresponding voltage regulation method and an electronic system that includes the power converter are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Zhiqing You, Tim Ng, Sue Perranoski, Benjamim Tang
  • Patent number: 12047003
    Abstract: A power converter can include: a plurality of circuit modules coupled in parallel between a first port and a second port, where each of the plurality of circuit modules includes a switching power stage circuit having a first magnetic element coupled between a switch node of the switching power stage circuit and a first terminal of the second port, at least one switch group having first and second transistors and being coupled between a first terminal of the first port and a first terminal of the switching power stage circuit, and at least one first energy storage capacitor for providing energy to a load of the power converter; and a plurality of second energy storage capacitors configured to periodically store energy and release energy to corresponding first energy storage capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Wang Zhang, Chen Zhao