Patents Examined by Rajnikant B. Patel
  • Patent number: 10355614
    Abstract: An apparatus, such as a motor drive or other power converter, includes a first controller circuit coupled to at least one serial communications channel and configured to transmit at least one serial communications signal including drive signals and at least one second controller circuit configured to receive the transmitted at least one serial communications, to recover the drive signals therefrom and to transmit the recovered drive signals on respective ones of a plurality of parallel channels to at least one driver circuit that drives semiconductor switches of a power converter. The first controller circuit may be included in a first module, the at least one second controller circuit may be included in at least one second module, and the at least one serial communications channel may include at least one cable (e.g. a fiber optic cable) connecting the first module to the at least one second module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Hanning Tang, Benjamin Stewart Wells
  • Patent number: 10348205
    Abstract: A cascaded buck converter for receiving input voltage from an input voltage source and for delivering output voltage to a load. The converter includes a first inductor, a second inductor, a coupled inductor having a first winding connected in series with the first inductor and a second winding connected in series with the second inductor, an intermediate decoupling capacitor for receiving energy from the first inductor and the first winding and for supplying energy to the second inductor and the second winding, and an output decoupling capacitor for smoothening the output voltage at the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventor: Alexander Mednik
  • Patent number: 10338621
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) comprises an output and a voltage regulator. The voltage regulator comprises an amplifier having a first input coupled to a reference voltage source and a second input coupled to the output, a first resistor coupled to the output and coupled to a ground terminal, a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) having a gate coupled to an output of the amplifier and a drain coupled to the output, and a second resistor coupled to a source of the MOSFET and coupled to the ground terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Nghia Trong Tang, Byungchul Brandon Jang, Timothy Bryan Merkin
  • Patent number: 10333427
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an equivalent transistor and a three-level inverter, and pertains to the field of power electronics technologies. The equivalent transistor includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and a diode. A source electrode of the first transistor is electrically connected to a source electrode of the second transistor; a gate electrode of the first transistor is electrically connected to a gate electrode of the second transistor; and one end of the diode is electrically connected to a drain electrode of the first transistor, and the other end of the diode is electrically connected to a drain electrode of the second transistor. According to this disclosure, a reverse recovery time can be reduced, and a switching speed of the equivalent transistor can increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhaoxue Cui, Chuntao Zhang
  • Patent number: 10326361
    Abstract: A low dropout regulator that produces an output includes a comparison circuit, configured to compare a signal representative of the output and a reference signal to produce a comparison result. The low dropout regulator also includes a loop controller, coupled to the comparison circuit, configured to generate an output circuit control signal based at least in part on the comparison result. The low dropout regulator also includes an output circuit, comprising two or more output stages, configured to adjust a number of active output stages of the two or more output stages based on the output circuit control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: MediaTek Inc.
    Inventors: Nien-Hui Kung, Chia-Hua Chou, Yen-Hsun Hsu
  • Patent number: 10325714
    Abstract: The invention related to an integrated magnetic component for a switched mode power converter. The integrated magnetic component comprises a single magnetic core structure formed by magnetic core elements, wherein at least one of the magnetic core elements is a leg-core-element with a flange and one or more legs are arranged on one side of the flange. The magnetic core elements of the single magnetic core structure are linearly stacked. The integrated magnetic component further comprises an isolating transformer with a higher current transformer winding arranged on at least one leg of the magnetic core elements, a lower current transformer winding arranged on at least one leg of the magnetic core elements and a first filter inductor comprising a first filter winding, arranged on at least one leg of the magnetic core elements. Herein the higher current transformer winding and the filter winding comprise at least an edgewise wound winding part. The invention further relates to a switched mode power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (THAILAND) PUBLIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hugues Njiende, Sergey Tikhonov
  • Patent number: 10326275
    Abstract: Provided is a method for controlling a zero sequence voltage of a voltage source converter. When an alternating current system ground fault occurs, a zero sequence voltage at an alternating current (AC) side or a zero sequence voltage at a direct current (DC) side of a converter is detected. If the detected zero sequence voltage is greater than a set value V0ref, a DC side voltage of the converter can be increased to a set value Udc0, thereby generating an appropriate reference wave at the AC side of the converter to match an AC voltage, and accordingly controlling overmodulation of a reference wave at a faulty station to suppress fluctuation of a DC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignees: NR ELECTRIC CO., LTD, NR ENGINEERING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Ke Wang, Gang Li, Yu Lu, Yunlong Dong, Jiang Lu, Zhaoqing Hu, Tiangui Jiang
  • Patent number: 10326338
    Abstract: An active rectifier of a rotary electric machine, in particular an active rectifier for alternators, for example for rectifying alternating currents (AC) to direct currents (DC) for charging batteries on vehicles, is disclosed. The active rectifier may include a plurality of power MOSFET transistors and a detecting and driving circuitry all mounted on a single substrate to form a half-bridge module. A number of at least two and up to N modules may be connected together to serve as a two and up to N-phase rectifier. Each module is connected in a way to rectify currents from one phase of the electric machine and has an individual power supply for the detecting and driving circuitry. The power supply may receive the power from the phase which is being rectified and operates independently of the alternator's voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: SIEVA, PODJETJE ZA RAZVOJ IN TRZENJE V AVTOMOBILSKI INDUSTRIJI, D.O.O.
    Inventors: Stojan Markic, Gorazd Modrijan, Robert Rescic, Tomaz Curk
  • Patent number: 10312816
    Abstract: A primary controller of a switching power supply and the switching power supply are provided. The primary controller includes an input voltage detection module which receives a detected signal and generates a detection signal; a controller module which receives a feedback signal and a current sampling signal of the switching power supply, and generates a control signal according to the feedback signal and the current sampling signal; a PWM signal generation module, receive the detection signal and the control signal, generate a PWM signal according to the control signal when the detection signal is the second level, and stop generating the PWM signal when the detection signal is the first level; and a power switch transistor, having a control terminal coupled with an output terminal of the PWM signal generation module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: SUZHOU POWERON IC DESIGN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Changshen Zhao, Haisong Li, Wenliang Liu, Yangbo Yi
  • Patent number: 10312849
    Abstract: An aircraft starting and generating system includes a starter/generator and an inverter/converter/controller (200) that is connected to the starter/generator and that generates AC power to drive the starter/generator in a start mode for starting a prime mover of the aircraft, and that converts AC power, obtained from the starter/generator after the prime mover have been started, to DC power in a generate mode of the starter/generator. A four leg inverter is coupled with a DC power output (452) of the starter/generator and has an inverter/converter/controller (ICC) (580) with a four leg MOSFET-based bridge configuration that drives the starter/generator in a start mode for starting a prime mover of the aircraft, and converts DC power to AC power in a generate mode of the starter/generator. A four leg bridge gate driver (560) is configured to drive the four leg MOSFET-based bridge (580) during start and generate mode using bi-polar pulse width modulation (PWM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventor: Hao Huang
  • Patent number: 10298141
    Abstract: A motor drive device that inputs AC power from a power supply to drive a motor includes: a converter that converts the AC power from the power supply into DC power; a DC/DC converter that generates DC power produced by stepping-up, stepping-down, or stepping-up and stepping-down the DC power from the converter; an inverter that converts the DC power from the DC/DC converter into AC power and supplies to the motor; and an electrical storage capacitor that is provided between the DC/DC converter and the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi Horikoshi, Yuuya Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10297657
    Abstract: A device includes an insulating layer disposed over a silicon substrate. The insulating layer includes a core insulating area and a peripheral insulating area. A trench laterally encloses the core insulating area and separates the core insulating area from the peripheral insulating area. A magnetic winding coil is disposed within the trench and separates the core insulating area from the peripheral insulating area. A conductive inner core is disposed within the core insulating area and is surrounded by the magnetic winding coil. The conductive inner core is made of a first material that is electrically conductive, and the magnetic winding coil is made of a second material that is magnetic and differs from the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Shiang Liao
  • Patent number: 10291116
    Abstract: An output control method for a controller includes the following steps. At each of detection time points, the controller detects a detection voltage value and a detection current value of a load. In a voltage control mode, the controller generates a setting parameter to control the power amplifier according to part of the detection voltage values. In a current control mode, the controller generates the setting parameter to control the power amplifier according to part of the detection current values. When the controller switches to the voltage control mode or the current control mode, the controller determines a ratio between the detection current value and the detection voltage value at one of the detection time points and the setting parameter is generated according to the ratio. Therefore, the bandwidth is substantially the same no matter if the controller operates in the voltage control mode or the current control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: CHROMA ATE INC.
    Inventors: Tsz-Lang Chen, Ming-Chieh Lin, Wen-Min Yang
  • Patent number: 10277137
    Abstract: A power conversion control circuit, which is applied to a flyback converter having a main switch, includes at least one bypass switch, a half-bridge power control unit, and an active-clamp control unit. The half-bridge power control unit is coupled to the main switch. The active-clamp control unit is coupled to the half-bridge power control unit and the main switch. When the flyback converter is operated in light-load condition, the active-clamp control unit turns on the at least one bypass switch, the half-bridge power control unit is coupled to the ground through the at least one bypass switch, the active-clamp control unit is coupled to the ground through the main switch, and the active-clamp control unit provides a low-side control signal to switch the main switch. Accordingly, it is to make the flyback converter have considerable power saving and energy saving in light-load condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: CHICONY POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shu-Hao Wu, Fa-Ping Wang, Chung-Shu Lee
  • Patent number: 10277142
    Abstract: Electric power devices and control methods are provided which automatically select a line voltage or phase voltage of an AC voltage supply. The electric power device includes a switchable circuit, a sensor and a switch control. The switchable circuit connects to the AC voltage supply, and includes multiple switchable elements. The sensor ascertains a voltage level of the AC voltage supply, and the switch control automatically establishes a configuration of the switchable circuit through control of the multiple switchable elements. The switch control couples the electric power device in a line-line (delta) configuration to the AC voltage supply when the voltage level is in a first voltage range, and a line-neutral (wye) configuration when the voltage level is in a second voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven J. Ahladas, Kevin R. Covi, Luke L. Jenkins, Robert B. Schlak
  • Patent number: 10270354
    Abstract: A synchronous rectifier controller integrated circuit. The synchronous rectifier controller integrated circuit comprises a continuous current mode (CCM) detection circuit configured to detect CCM operation based on sensing a voltage at a pre-defined point in a rectification cycle; a multiplexer having a first reference voltage signal input, a second reference voltage signal input, an output, and a selector input coupled to the CCM detection circuit; and a gate voltage driver circuit coupled to the output of the multiplexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Bing Lu, Bharath Balaji Kannan
  • Patent number: 10270353
    Abstract: A constant on-time isolated converter comprising a transformer is disclosed. The transformer primary side connects to an electronic switch and secondary-side connects to a load and a processor. The processor connects to a driver on primary side through at least one coupling element and to the electronic switch. The processor receives an output voltage or an output current across the load generating a control signal. The driver receives control signal through the coupling element and accordingly changes the electronic switch ON/OFF state, regulating output voltage and current via the transformer, where the electronic switch ON/OFF duration is determined between the moment control signal changes from negative to positive and the moment it changes from positive to negative to achieve a high-speed response to load transient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: ALPHA AND OMEGA SEMICONDUCTOR (CAYMAN) LTD.
    Inventors: Tien-Chi Lin, Chih-Yuan Liu, Yung-Chuan Hsu, Pei-Lun Huang
  • Patent number: 10270355
    Abstract: An AC-AC conversion circuit with AC-AC conversion control and AC voltage conversion including a voltage feedback circuit, a voltage detection circuit, a first drive circuit, a current detection circuit, a second drive circuit and a main control circuit. By using the main control circuit as the main control center, which has strong reliability and good circuit stability, the defects of complicated circuit structure and low reliability, and poor stability of the supply circuit in the existing AC-AC conversion circuit may be overcome. Also disclosed is an AC-AC conversion device which has good stability due to the highly reliable AC-AC conversion circuit thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Shenzhen Segre Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wanglong Xiong
  • Patent number: 10263514
    Abstract: A single integrated circuit DC-to-DC conversion solution that can be used in conjunction with product designs requiring at least two different DC-to-DC conversion ratios, and in particular both divide-by-2 and divide-by-3 DC-to-DC buck conversion ratios or both multiply-by-2 and multiply-by-3 DC-to-DC boost conversion ratios. Embodiments are reconfigurable between a first Dickson converter configuration that includes at least two non-parallel capacitors (any of which may be off-chip) and associated controlled multi-phase switching to achieve a first conversion ratio, and a second Dickson converter configuration that includes a lesser equivalent number of capacitors than the first circuit configuration (which may be accomplished by parallelizing at least two non-parallel capacitors of the first configuration) and associated controlled multi-phase switching to achieve a second conversion ratio different from the first conversion ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventor: Walid Fouad Mohamed Aboueldahab
  • Patent number: 10261563
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a power switch are disclosed. A power switch may be coupled between a power supply signal and a virtual power supply signal coupled to a circuit block. The power switch may be configured to couple the power supply signal to the virtual power supply signal based on a first control signal, and reduce a voltage level of the virtual power supply signal to a voltage level less than a voltage level of the power supply signal based on a second control signal. The power switch may be further configured to change a current flowing from the power supply signal to the virtual power supply signal based on a third control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vivekanandan Venugopal, Ajay Kumar Bhatia