Patents Examined by Peter M Novak
  • 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 12046986
    Abstract: A system may include a power converter configured to receive an input voltage and generate an output voltage and a controller configured to control operation of the power converter based on a comparison of the output voltage with at least one output voltage threshold and set the at least one output voltage threshold based on the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Lawrence, Graeme G. Mackay
  • 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
  • Patent number: 12040618
    Abstract: A power conversion system according to the present disclosure includes a first circuit, a second circuit, and a third circuit. The first circuit has a first external terminal thereof electrically connected to either an AC power supply or an AC load. In the power conversion system, a first internal terminal, a second internal terminal, and a third internal terminal are electrically connected to the same connection unit. The second circuit controls a current or power being input to, or output from, the second circuit itself such that the current or the power is synchronized with power ripples caused by the AC power supply or the AC load. Either the AC power supply or the AC load is electrically connected to the first circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takaaki Norisada, Fumito Kusama
  • Patent number: 12027843
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for high-speed falling conductor protection in electric distribution systems. An example method may include calculating, by a processor, at a first time, and for each phase, one or more first impedance values associated with one or more terminals of a transmission line. The example method may also include calculating, by the processor, at a second time, and for each phase, one or more second impedance values associated with the one or more terminals. The example method may also include determining, by the processor, that a rate of change of an impedance of the one or more terminals is greater than a threshold rate of change. The example method may also include determining, by the processor and based on the determination that the rate of change of the one or more terminals is greater than the threshold rate of change, that the transmission line has broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology LLC
    Inventors: Hasan Bayat, Johannes Kruger, Yujie Yin, Mohammad Amin Zamani, Stéphan D. Picard
  • Patent number: 12027962
    Abstract: A device includes an operational amplifier having a first input, a second input and an output, the operational amplifier configured to generate a first signal at the output. The device includes a reference resistor divider having a first and second resistor, a first terminal of the first resistor coupled to the second input of the operational amplifier. A second terminal of the first resistor is coupled to a first terminal of the second resistor and a second terminal of the second resistor coupled to an electrically neutral terminal. The device includes a voltage to current (V2I) converter having an input and an output, the input coupled to the output of the operational amplifier, and the V2I converter configured to generate a second signal at the output of the V2I converter. The device includes a switch coupled to the output of the V2I converter and to the reference resistor divider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Weibing Jing, Qi Yang, Dan Li, Guoyang Wu
  • Patent number: 12015334
    Abstract: A power electronic device includes an input which is connected to an over-current-protection device arrangement and a DC-link, wherein the DC-link includes a series connection of at least two DC-link capacitors. In such a power electronic device the risk of a fire hazard should be minimized. To this end fault detecting element(s) are provided detecting an imbalance between the DC-link capacitors or an overload of at least one of the DC-link capacitors, wherein the fault detecting element(s) control maximum current inducing element(s) connected to the DC-link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: DANFOSS POWER ELECTRONICS A/S
    Inventors: Ansgar Nielsen, Henrik Rosendal Andersen, Steen Hornsleth
  • Patent number: 12015347
    Abstract: A control circuit for a power converter apparatus includes a reference voltage source that generates a predetermined reference voltage; an output voltage detection circuit having a capacitor that charges the output voltage or a corresponding voltage, the output voltage detection circuit detecting a drop in the output voltage based on a voltage across the capacitor; a feedback voltage output circuit including two voltage-divider resistors connected in series with each other with a voltage divider ratio set according to the reference voltage and the output voltage, the feedback voltage output circuit outputting a feedback voltage obtained by dividing the output voltage; a voltage comparison circuit that compares the reference voltage with the feedback voltage, and outputs a comparison result signal; and a drive control circuit configured to control intermittent operation in accordance with the comparison result signal and a detection signal of the output voltage detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: NISSHINBO MICRO DEVICES INC.
    Inventor: Masayuki Imura
  • Patent number: 12003114
    Abstract: Aspects of an efficient compensation network for reducing reactive power in a wireless power transfer (WPT) system are disclosed. The compensation network comprises a series/series (S/S) constant current (CC) source, a reactive power compensation capacitor, and a constant current (CC)-to-constant voltage (CV) network. In an example, the S/S CC source comprises a first capacitor connected in series with a first inductor on a primary side of a transformer and a second inductor on a secondary side of the transformer. The S/S CC source converts an input voltage signal of the WPT system into a constant alternating current (AC) current signal. In an example, the CC-to-CV network comprises at least a third capacitor and a third inductor. The CC-to-CV network converts the constant AC current signal into a constant AC voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Keyao Sun, Jun Wang, Rolando Burgos, Dushan Boroyevich
  • Patent number: 12003194
    Abstract: The present invention relates, without being limited thereto, to the field of power electronics and non-linear control, and in particular to a topology structure of a multilevel power converter of the type of a cascaded bridge. The present invention provides a new configuration of power converter comprising a functional block and is composed of a low number of devices; five sources of DC voltage, nine semiconductor switches, and two semiconductor diodes. Where switches S1, S1 and S2, S2 are devices complementary to each other. On the other hand, switch S3 corresponds to a bidirectional switch. The present invention, in addition, presents a plurality of functional blocks connected in series, each of said functional blocks having the configuration of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: UNIVERSIDAD DE TALCA
    Inventors: Marco Esteban Rivera Abarca, Mohammad Ali Hosseinzadeh, Maryam Sarbanzadeh