Patents Examined by Peter M Novak
  • Patent number: 11502597
    Abstract: A power supply system comprises: a switched-capacitor converter, a monitor, and a controller. The switched-capacitor converter includes an input node to receive an input voltage and an output voltage to output an output voltage. Switching of multiple switches in the switched-capacitor converter converts the input voltage into the output voltage. As its name suggests, the monitor monitors a magnitude of the output voltage. The controller receives input indicating the magnitude of the output voltage. Depending on the magnitude of the output voltage, the controller controls states of the multiple switches during startup of the switched-capacitor converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Christian Rainer, Roberto Rizzolatti
  • Patent number: 11502506
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that in one embodiment includes a circuit configured to selectively activate a transistor. The circuit is further configured to assert a signal when the circuit detects an electrical short between terminals of the transistor or when the circuit detects the transistor does not conduct current while the transistor is activated by the circuit. The circuit is further configured to output another signal, which is set to a first state or a second state. The other signal is set to the first state when the circuit detects the electrical short. The other signal is set to the second state when the circuit detects the transistor does not conduct current while activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Patrick Rince, Jean-Philippe Meunier, Erik Santiago, Antoine Fabien Dubois, Maxime Clairet
  • Patent number: 11496059
    Abstract: A variable voltage generator circuit is described for generating, from a substantially constant supply voltage VS, a variable high-voltage control voltage VC for a variable power capacitor (1) having a variable-permittivity dielectric. The control voltage generator circuit comprises a top-up circuit (10) for maintaining the voltage VCin on an input capacitor (12) at least at supply voltage VS, and a bidirectional DC-DC converter circuit (20) having a variable voltage conversion factor G controlled by control input signal (27). The bidirectional DC-DC converter (20) is arranged to convert voltage, at the voltage conversion factor G, between the input capacitor voltage VCin and the output voltage VC. When VC<G×VCin, the DC-DC converter circuit (20) uses charge stored in the input capacitor (12) to charge the capacitive load (1). When VC>G×VCin, the DC-DC converter circuit (20) uses charge stored in the load capacitance (1) to charge the input capacitor (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: COMET AG
    Inventors: Thomas Fink, Ralf Negele
  • Patent number: 11496044
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a control method of a DC/DC converter and a related DC/DC converter. The control method allows for: detecting a difference between a first voltage and a second voltage; if an absolute value of the difference between the first voltage and the second voltage is greater than or equal to a preset value, reselecting desired operating states of respective switches in a 1-level state according to the difference between the first voltage and the second voltage and a direction of an average current from a fourth node to a first passive network in the 1-level state; and thus outputting a control signal to enable the voltage difference between the first capacitor and the second capacitor to be reduced, thereby effectively adjusting the neutral-point voltage balance of the DC/DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng Lu, Wenfei Hu
  • Patent number: 11489433
    Abstract: A method for driving an electronic switch in a power converter and a power converter are disclosed. The method includes: driving an electronic switch (1) coupled to an inductor (2) in the power converter, wherein driving the electronic switch (1) includes driving the electronic switch (1) in a plurality of drive cycles by a drive signal (SDRV), Driving the electronic switch (1) in at least one of the plurality of drive cycles includes: determining a desired duration (TON_DES) of a current (I1) through the switch (1); and adjusting a duration (TDRV) of an on-level of the drive signal (SDRV) dependent on the desired duration (TON_DES) and a delay time (TDEL) obtained in a preceding drive cycle. The delay time (TDEL) is a time duration, in the preceding drive cycle, between a first time instance (t1) when the drive signal (SDRV) changes from the on-level to an off-level and a second time instance (t2) when a current through the electronic switch (1) falls below a predefined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Martin Feldtkeller
  • Patent number: 11477213
    Abstract: Technologies for providing secure emergency power control of a high voltage direct current transmission (HVDC) system include a controller. The controller includes circuitry configured to receive status data indicative of a present physical status of a power system. The circuitry is also configured to obtain an emergency power control command triggered by a remote source. The emergency power control command is to be executed by an HVDC transmission system of the power system. Further, the circuitry is configured to determine, as a function of the status data, whether the emergency power control command is consistent with the present physical status of the power system and block, in response to a determination that the emergency power control command is not consistent with the present physical status of the power system, execution of the emergency power control command by the HVDC transmission system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Jiuping Pan, Reynaldo Nuqui, Anil Kondabathini
  • Patent number: 11474546
    Abstract: A method is for operating an electronic device formed by a low dropout regulator (LDO) having an output coupled to a first conduction terminal of a transistor, with a second conduction terminal of the transistor being coupled to an output node. The electronic device is turned on by turning on the LDO, removing a DC bias from the second conduction terminal of the transistor by opening a first switch that selectively couples the second conduction terminal of the transistor to a supply node through a first diode coupled transistor and by opening a second switch that selectively couples the second conduction terminal of the transistor to a ground node through a second diode coupled transistor, and turning on the transistor. The electronic device is turned off by turning off the transistor, forming the DC bias at the second conduction terminal of the transistor, and turning off the LDO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventors: Kapil Kumar Tyagi, Nitin Gupta
  • Patent number: 11476770
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter has a configuration in which a first full-bridge circuit and a second full-bridge circuit are connected via a transformer and an inductor. A control circuit performs soft switching of each switching element in the first full-bridge circuit and the second full-bridge circuit. An inductor current flowing through an equivalent inductor at a time of switching of turning on or off each switching element is greater than or equal to a threshold current, the equivalent inductor being equivalent to the transformer and the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: DIAMOND & ZEBRA ELECTRIC MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shogo Nakahara, Hiroyoshi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11476757
    Abstract: An output voltage of a plurality of chopper circuits is controlled by the average value of ON duties of their respective semiconductor switching elements so that there are provided a shunt controller which detects respective reactor currents of the plurality of chopper circuits and carries out shunt control based on the detected reactor currents and a voltage controller which carries out voltage control based on the detected output voltage, wherein a configuration is such that a control device controls the output voltage so that the reactor currents of the plurality of chopper circuits are equal to each other so as to prevent the average value of the ON duties of the semiconductor switching elements from changing due to the shunt control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuya Tanaka, Mai Nakada, Shingo Kato, Matahiko Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11462998
    Abstract: A structure for detecting feedback on a supply voltage when an electronic device supplies a power source to an external device connected to a connector and an operating method thereof are provided. The electronic device includes a power supply device, at least one connector for a connection with an external device, a power line wired between the power supply device and the connector, a feedback line brought into contact with the power line at a location adjacent to the connector between the power supply device and the connector, a voltage compensation circuit detecting feedback on a supply voltage supplied to an external device at the location adjacent to the connector using the feedback line, and a control circuit configured to control a compensation related to the supply voltage based on the detected feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myunghoon Kwak, Yongsang Yun
  • Patent number: 11463015
    Abstract: A submodule includes a bridge circuit including two main power semiconductors connected in series for performing power conversion by on/off control and an electric energy storage element connected in parallel with a path of the two main power semiconductors connected in series, a bypass unit including a bypass power semiconductor), a bypass unit drive device to drive the bypass unit, a first external terminal, and a second external terminal. The first external terminal is connected to a node between the two main power semiconductors. The power conversion apparatus further includes an optical power-feed system for feeding power to the bypass unit drive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryoji Tsuruta, Takushi Jimichi, Kimiyuki Koyanagi
  • Patent number: 11456665
    Abstract: An electronic system device includes a semiconductor device and a power generating device for generating a power supply voltage. The semiconductor device includes a control circuit coupled with the power generating device via a power supply node, and a substrate-biased control circuit coupled with the control circuit. The electronic system device includes a DC-DC converter, and a switch arranged between the power supply nodes and the DC-DC converter. The control circuit sets the switch to an ON state after receiving the power supply voltage. The DC-DC converter receives the power supply voltage after the switch is controlled to the ON state. The substrate bias control circuit supplies a substrate bias voltage to the control circuit before the DC-DC converter receives the power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Hashimoto, Kazuya Uejima
  • Patent number: 11451156
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises LLC
    Inventor: Dean P. Williams
  • Patent number: 11451154
    Abstract: A flyback power converter circuit includes: a power transformer, a primary side switch and a conversion control circuit. In a DCM, during a dead time, the conversion control circuit calculates an upper limit frequency corresponding to output current according to a frequency upper limit function, and obtains a frequency upper limit masking period according to a reciprocal of the upper limit frequency, wherein the frequency upper limit masking period is a period starting from when the primary side switch is turned ON. During an upper limit selection period, the conversion control circuit selects a valley among one or more valleys in a ringing signal related to a voltage across the primary side switch as an upper limit locked valley, so that the conversion control circuit once again turns ON the primary side switch at a beginning time point of the upper limit locked valley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kun-Yu Lin, Tzu-Chen Lin, Wei-Hsu Chang, Ta-Yung Yang
  • Patent number: 11444527
    Abstract: A switching regulator with improved load regulation is discussed. The switching regulator increases an on time length of a first power switch if the switching regulator operates at discontinuous current mode and a current flowing through the second power switch crosses a zero reference, until the first power switch is turned on again; and the switching regulator maintains the on time length of the first power switch during other time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lei Li
  • Patent number: 11444534
    Abstract: A power converter can include: first and second terminals; N A-type switching power stage circuits, each having a first energy storage element, where N is a positive integer, a first terminal of a first A-type switching power stage circuit in the N A-type switching power stage circuits is coupled to the first terminal of the power converter, and a second terminal of each of the N A-type switching power stage circuits is coupled to the second terminal of the power converter; one B-type switching power stage circuit; and N second energy storage elements, each being coupled to one of the N A-type switching power stage circuits, and the B-type switching power stage circuit is coupled between a terminal of one of the N second energy storage elements corresponding to the B-type switching power stage circuit and the second terminal of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Wang Zhang, Chen Zhao
  • Patent number: 11444547
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes: a converter that includes input terminals and switching elements corresponding to respective phases of a three-phase AC power supply and converts an AC voltage of the three-phase AC power supply into a DC voltage, and a capacitor that smooths the DC voltage converted by the converter. A single-phase AC power supply or a DC power supply is connected to two of the input terminals corresponding to any two of the three phases of the converter while a passive element is provided to connect the remaining one of the input terminals corresponding to the phase to which the single-phase AC power supply or the DC power supply is not connected, with one terminal of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wataru Kuroki
  • Patent number: 11437919
    Abstract: A power supply circuit has a push-pull portion having a transformer; first and second terminals of the primary winding, each connected to ground via first and second switches; an inductor connected between an input voltage and the primary winding centre tap via a third switch; an energy storage portion connected between the primary winding and ground, and to the inductor via a fourth switch; a controller arranged to monitor the input voltage and to apply partially overlapping first and second PWM signals to the first and second switches; when input voltage is between first and second thresholds, the controller closes the third switch and opens the fourth switch; above the second threshold, the controller applies a third PWM signal to the third switch and opens the fourth switch; and below the first threshold, the controller closes the third switch and applies a fourth PWM signal to the fourth switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Andrew Fitzroy McLean
  • Patent number: 11431259
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a transformer circuit formed of a center-tapped isolation transformer, a rectifying circuit formed of a semiconductor switch element connected to the transformer circuit, a smoothing circuit formed of a capacitor connected to the rectifying circuit, a positive terminal and a negative terminal connected to a load, and a grounding surface to which the negative terminal is connected, wherein a current path along which only an AC current flows is shortened by a negative terminal of the isolation transformer and a negative terminal of the capacitor being connected before being connected to the grounding surface, or the negative terminal connected to the load and the negative terminal of the capacitor being connected before being connected to the grounding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Naoya Yabuuchi
  • Patent number: 11431247
    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: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Alan Phillips, Parag Oak, Shrinivasan Jaganathan