Patents Examined by Peter M Novak
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Patent number: 11855531Abstract: A power converter for converting an input voltage at an input of the power converter into an output voltage at an output of the power converter may include a switching node, a power inductor coupled between the switching node and the output, a flying capacitor having a first flying capacitor terminal and a second flying capacitor terminal, a pump capacitor having a first pump capacitor terminal and a second pump capacitor terminal, the second pump capacitor terminal coupled to ground, a first switch coupled between the input and the first flying capacitor terminal, a second switch coupled between the first flying capacitor terminal and the switching node, a third switch coupled between the second flying capacitor terminal and the switching node, a fourth switch coupled between the second flying capacitor terminal and a ground voltage, a fifth switch coupled between the second flying capacitor terminal and the first pump capacitor terminal, and a sixth switch coupled between the output and the first pump capacType: GrantFiled: January 24, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Cirrus Logic Inc.Inventor: Changjong Lim
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Patent number: 11848600Abstract: A three-phase multilevel inverter is connected to a first direct-current voltage source having a first voltage. Single-phase inverters are each connected in series to a corresponding phase of the three-phase multilevel inverter, and include a second direct-current voltage source, respectively, each having a second voltage. Combined output voltages, which are combinations of boost voltages generated by the three single-phase inverters and output voltages of the three-phase multilevel inverter, are supplied to a load. The control device adjusts a common mode voltage of the combined output voltages to be within a predetermined allowable range, and variation ranges of the line voltages in the combined output voltages to satisfy a specified condition established with the second voltage as a reference.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2019Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Masahiro Sugahara, Kenji Fujiwara, Akihiko Iwata, Hisatoshi Fukumoto
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Patent number: 11848619Abstract: Apparatus and methods for supplying DC power to control circuitry of a matrix converter is provided. In certain embodiments, a matrix converter includes an array of switches having AC inputs for receiving a multi-phase AC input voltage and AC outputs for providing a multi-phase AC output voltage to a load, such as an electric motor. The matrix converter further includes control circuitry for opening or closing individual switches of the array, and a clamp circuit connected between the AC inputs and AC outputs of the array and operable to dissipate energy of the load in response to an overvoltage condition, such as an overvoltage condition arising during shutdown. The clamp circuit includes a switched mode power supply operable to generate a DC supply voltage for the control circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises LLCInventor: Dean P. Williams
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Patent number: 11831148Abstract: A method for operating an electronic switch is described hereinafter. According to one exemplary embodiment, the method (for an electronic switch in the switched on state) comprises detecting whether there is an undervoltage condition at a supply voltage node and providing an undervoltage signal which indicates an undervoltage condition. The method further comprises switching off the electronic switch if the undervoltage signal indicates an undervoltage condition and switching (back) on the electronic switch if the undervoltage signal no longer indicates an undervoltage condition. If the undervoltage signal indicates an undervoltage condition during a switch-on process of the electronic switch, the electronic switch is switched off again and switching back on is prevented for a defined period of time, irrespective of the undervoltage signal. Moreover, a corresponding circuit is described.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventor: Michael Asam
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Patent number: 11831234Abstract: Disclosed is a power supply. In an example, the power supply comprises a switched mode power converter. The switched mode power converter comprises an input terminal for receiving an input voltage, and an output terminal for supplying a power to a load. A control unit of the power supply controls a switch of the switched mode power converter. A current-limited power supply powers the control unit, and is connected to the input voltage, whereby the control unit is configured to control an input current to the switched mode power converter.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2020Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: eldoLAB Holding B.V.Inventors: Frank van Horck, Marc Saes
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Patent number: 11831240Abstract: A power converter can include: positive and negative input terminals configured to receive an input voltage; positive and negative output terminals configured to generate an output voltage; first and second power switches sequentially coupled in series between the positive input terminal and a first node; third and fourth power switches sequentially coupled in series between a second node and the negative input terminal, where there is no physical connection between the first node and the second node; a first energy storage element coupled between a common terminal of the first and second power switches and a common terminal of the third and fourth power switches; a first multi-level power conversion circuit coupled between the first node and the positive output terminal; and a second multi-level power conversion circuit coupled between the first node and the positive output terminal.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTDInventors: Junyan Sun, Wang Zhang, Chen Zhao
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Patent number: 11824450Abstract: A power converter can include: N switching power stage circuits, where output terminals of the N switching power stage circuits are connected in parallel, and N is a positive integer; an energy storage element coupled between an input terminal and the output terminal of the power converter, where the energy storage element is configured to periodically store energy for delivery to the output terminal of the power converter; and where after a main transistor of an M-th switching power stage circuit is turned off, a main transistor of the (M+1)-th switching power stage circuit is turned on, in order to realize zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) of the main transistor of (M+1)-th switching power stage circuit, where M is a positive integer less than N.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTDInventors: Kaiwei Yao, Wang Zhang, Chen Zhao
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Patent number: 11824344Abstract: In preferred embodiments, a short circuit protection system for a wide-band gap power electronics converter composed of multiple half-bridge legs is presented. The main approaches of the system are a single point of monitoring (SPM) for multiple switching legs, and non-invasive implementation and fast speed of the short circuit current detection. Ultra-high frequency (UHF) AC current, tens or hundreds of MHz, flowing through the DC-link capacitors represents the short circuit current occurred at the multiple switching legs. To capture the UHF AC current, a non-invasive MHz bandwidth magnetic current sensor is applied to the PCB conduction path of the converter. In this digest, simulation results of the short circuit current representation through the DC-link network and the magnetic field distribution in PCB layout for the selection of the proper location of the detection, and experimental results showing the UHF AC current sensing performance are presented.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: The University Of North Carolina At CharlotteInventors: Babak Parkhideh, Chondon Roy
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Patent number: 11817767Abstract: Proposed is a submodule of an MMC converter configured to stably supply power to a submodule controller controlling the submodule of an MMC converter. The submodule includes: an energy storage part storing electric energy therein; a plurality of switching elements connected in parallel to the energy storage part to have a shape of a bridge; a plurality of serially-connected resistors connected in parallel to the energy storage part; a plurality of DC-DC converters connected in parallel to a resistor of the plurality of resistors; a power switching part operating to select and output one voltage of voltages output from the plurality of DC-DC converters and a plurality of voltages input from outside; and a submodule controller operating with the voltage output by the power switching part so as to control switching operations of the plurality of switching elements.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2019Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: HYOSUNG HEAVY INDUSTRIES CORPORATIONInventors: Yong Hee Park, Sung Min Oh, Doo Young Lee, Hong Ju Jung
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Patent number: 11815561Abstract: A power conversion device of an embodiment includes a rectifier that full-wave rectifies alternating current of a plurality of phases supplied from a power supply side, a capacitor that smoothes an output voltage of the rectifier, a voltage detection unit that detects the smoothed voltage, and an open phase detection unit that detects that an open phase has occurred in the alternating current of the plurality of phases based on a component having a frequency that is twice as high as a fundamental frequency of the alternating current of the plurality of phases included in frequency components of the smoothed voltage.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2019Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventor: Kyota Aikawa
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Patent number: 11811307Abstract: An example controller includes: an absolute value circuit having a voltage output and first and second power inputs, the first and second power inputs adapted to be coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source, and a comparator having a comparator output and first and second comparator inputs, the first comparator input coupled to the voltage output, the second comparator input adapted to be coupled to an output terminal of a power factor correction (PFC) circuit, and the comparator output adapted to be coupled to a control input of the PFC circuit.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2020Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventor: Isaac Cohen
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Patent number: 11811319Abstract: A power conversion circuit includes an N-level PWM power converter and a switching capacitor power converter. The N-level PWM power converter includes shared switches shared with the switching capacitor power converter, and PWM switches. In an N-level PWM mode, the shared switches and the PWM switches periodically switch an inductor and a capacitor, to execute power conversion between a first power and a second power by N-level PWM switching operation. The switching capacitor power converter includes the shared switches and auxiliary switches. In a capacitive conversion mode, the shared switches and the auxiliary switches periodically switch the capacitor, to execute power conversion between the first power and the second power by capacitive power conversion operation. In the capacitive conversion mode, a portion of the plural PWM switches are always OFF such that one end of the inductor is floating.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Tsung-Wei Huang, Shui-Mu Lin
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Patent number: 11811317Abstract: A controller for controlling a DC-DC converter in a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) includes an output module configured to provide a switch control signal to the DC-DC converter having an on-time and a switching frequency. The controller includes an on-time-control-module configured to receive a first compensation signal based on the output voltage of the DC-DC converter; and set the on-time of the switch control signal based on the first compensation signal. The controller also includes a frequency-control-module configured to receive a second compensation signal, wherein the second compensation signal is based on the output voltage of the DC-DC converter, and regulate the second compensation signal to a target range by setting the switching frequency of the switch control signal to one of a plurality of pre-defined discrete switching frequencies.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventors: Ravichandra Karadi, Matthias Rose, Hendrik Johannes Bergveld, Marcel Dijkstra
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Patent number: 11804777Abstract: A power supply includes a storage component to store an output current value representative of a magnitude of output current supplied by an output voltage of a power converter to power a load. The power supply further includes an offset reference generator and a controller. The offset reference generator produces an offset reference signal, the output current value being offset by the offset reference signal. The controller controls generation of the output voltage of the power converter as a function of the offset output current value with respect to a threshold signal (value). Additionally, the controller is configured to detect a startup mode of a power converter operative to convert an input voltage into an output voltage. During the startup mode, the controller: i) produces a threshold signal having a magnitude that varies over time, and ii) controls operation of switches in the power converter as a function of the threshold signal while the power converter is operated in a diode emulation mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AGInventors: Keng Chen, James R. Garrett
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Patent number: 11804773Abstract: A dead time controller includes a phase detector, a filter circuit and an amplifying circuit. The phase detector generates a detection signal by detecting a phase difference between a first driving control signal applied to a first power transistor and a second driving control signal applied to a second power transistor, the detection signal being associated with a dead time corresponding to an overlapped deactivation interval between the first and second driving control signals. The filter circuit generates a DC voltage signal by filtering and averaging the detection signal based on a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal. The PWM signal is generated by performing a PWM on an output voltage provided at an output node coupled to a second terminal of the inductor. The amplifying circuit generates an amplified voltage signal having a voltage level proportional to the dead time by amplifying the DC voltage signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventor: Hyunseok Nam
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Patent number: 11799375Abstract: A circuit comprises a controller configured to receive an input voltage and control a power converter to provide an output voltage based on the input voltage. The controller is also configured to receive a feedback voltage from a split feedback divider, the feedback voltage based on the output voltage and control the power converter to provide the output voltage based on the input voltage and the feedback voltage.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2020Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Juergen Neuhaeusler, Tanvee Shailesh Pandya
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Patent number: 11799391Abstract: An assembly comprises a mounting ring for a rotating rectifier assembly (RRA) having a pin bore defined in the mounting ring oriented in an axial direction and at least one contact band seated in a the pin bore of the mounting ring for mounting a direct current (DC) pin to the mounting ring. A method comprises forming a mounting ring for a rotating rectifier assembly (RRA), including forming a pin bore in the mounting ring oriented in an axial direction, and installing at least one contact band into a the pin bore of the mounting ring.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2021Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Kyle S. Sirbasku, Dhaval Patel, Andrew R. Wilkinson, Mary Christelle Ann Calacal, Yaser J. Isa, Edward C. Allen, Duane C. Johnson
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Patent number: 11799384Abstract: A power converter with co-packaged secondary field effect transistors (FETs) are described. The power converter can include a first circuit, a transformer connected to an output of the first circuit, and a second circuit connected to an output of the transformer. The second circuit can include an inductor, a first FET coupled between the transformer and the inductor, and a second FET coupled between the first FET and ground. The first FET and the second FET can be co-packaged as a single package.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2020Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Todd Edward Takken, Xin Zhang, Andrew Ferencz
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Patent number: 11791734Abstract: A bidirectional power converter includes flyback converter units connected in parallel, each having a controller and adapted to accumulate power from a primary side during an ON time and to deliver the accumulated power to a secondary side during an OFF time, the primary and secondary sides being interchangeable as to the direction of power conversion, the controller operating at a boundary between discontinuous and continuous conduction modes and performing valley switching when switching from OFF to ON, one converter unit operating as a master wherein the controller is adapted to control the length of ON time in order to feedback-control an overall current output of the converter, and each other converter unit operating as a slave wherein the controller controls the length of ON time in order to feedback-control a phase delay of ON time of the slave relative to ON time of another converter unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2020Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Power Research Electronics B.V.Inventors: Mike Van Den Heuvel, Jacobes Harmen Schijffelen, Gautham Ram Chandra Mouli, Dolf Henricus Jozef Van Casteren
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Patent number: 11777402Abstract: A precharge system and method are provided. The precharge system comprises a load circuit, a precharge circuit and a control circuit. The load circuit comprises an input terminal, an input switch and a bus capacitor. The precharge circuit comprises a precharge resistor and a precharge switch. The precharge method comprises: during the load circuit being in a precharge mode, controlling the input switch to be in an off state, and controlling the precharge switch to switch between the on and off state for multiple times; and during the load circuit being in a work mode, controlling the input switch to be in an on state. During the load circuit being in the precharge mode, when the precharge switch is in the on state, a consuming power of the precharge resistor is larger than a threshold power and is smaller than or equal to a limit power of the precharge resistor.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.Inventors: Zhichao Li, Shouyan Wang, Jian Jiang, Yunfeng Zhang