Patents Examined by Shahzeb K Ahmad
  • Patent number: 12387872
    Abstract: An isolation transformer boost system configured to be electrically connected to a shore power supply. The system including an isolation transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding; and an electronic processor configured to operate in a static mode, wherein in the static mode the electronic processor is configured to activate an electrical characteristic boost when the system is initially powered by the shore power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Steve Liscinsky, Jean-Yves Schneider, Joseph DiMaria, Jack Brunier
  • Patent number: 12381475
    Abstract: A power filtration system filters out a common mode signal from a DC conductor of a power system. The power filtration system comprises a first filter and at least one of a load or a power circuit. The first filter is connected to the DC conductor and configured to pass the common mode signal. The load is configured to dissipate the energy of the common mode signal. The power circuit is configured to conduct the common mode signal to an energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: Blue Origin Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Johnny Ryan Kean
  • Patent number: 12368367
    Abstract: A startup method of a semiconductor transformer, according to the present invention, comprises: a link capacitor initiating step in which a control unit controls a link capacitor voltage of a link capacitor between an AC/DC converter and a DC/DC converter connected thereto in series to reach an initial reference value, and stores link power; an output capacitor initiating step in which the control unit controls an output capacitor voltage of an output capacitor configured in an output of the DC/DC converter to reach an initial reference value, and stores output power; a link capacitor stabilizing step in which the control unit controls the link capacitor such that the link capacitor voltage of the link capacitor reaches a stable reference value; and an output capacitor stabilizing step in which the control unit controls the output capacitor such that the output capacitor voltage of the output capacitor reaches a stable reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: HYOSUNG HEAVY INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hae Won Seo, Byeng Joo Byen, Jae Hyuk Kim, Sung Joo Kim
  • Patent number: 12368381
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a buck-boost converter controller configured to control a buck-boost controller, wherein the buck-boost converter has a buck mode of operation, a boost mode of operation, and a buck-boost mode of operation, including: a phase controller configured to produce phase control signals to control switching in the buck-boost converter, wherein the phase control signals are based on a mode of operation of the buck-boost converter; and an automatic mode selector configured to indicate to the phase controller the mode of operation of the buck-boost controller based upon a buck on-time TON_bk or a buck off-time TOFF_bk, a boost on-time TON_bst or a boost off-time TOFF_bst, and a control configuration on-time TPI3, where TON_bk is the on-time during the buck mode of operation, TOFF_bk is the off-time during the buck mode operation, TON_bst is the on-time during the boost mode of operation, TOFF_bk is the off-time during the boost mode operation, and TPI3 is the time where a second high-side
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Jin Hui Lee
  • Patent number: 12362648
    Abstract: An apparatus such as a power converter includes a first flying capacitor operative to store a first flying capacitor voltage; a second flying capacitor operative to store a second flying capacitor voltage; an inductor providing coupling between the first flying capacitor and the second flying capacitor; and a network of switches operative to, in accordance with control signals, produce an output voltage via the first flying capacitor voltage and the second flying capacitor voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Roberto Rizzolatti, Cheng-Wei Chen, Christian Rainer, Mario Ursino
  • Patent number: 12360545
    Abstract: A regulator circuit includes an operational amplifier that generates a differential voltage representing a difference between a voltage obtained by dividing an output voltage and a reference voltage. The regulator circuit further includes a first current path that allows through a first current corresponding to the differential voltage, a current mirror circuit that is connected to the first current path and that sends to an output terminal an output current that is a copy of the first current, and an overcurrent protection circuit that limits a current value of the output current to a prescribed value or lower. The overcurrent protection circuit includes a first transistor that is connected to the first current path and that receives a current corresponding to the prescribed value as an upper limit current at a gate thereof while applying the first current between source and drain thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: LAPIS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takayoshi Fujino
  • Patent number: 12353231
    Abstract: A low-dropout (LDO) regulator circuit with dynamic transitioning between first and second operation modes. The LDO regulator circuit includes an operational amplifier with a first input connected to a reference voltage, a feedback circuit connected between a second input of the operational amplifier and an output of the LDO regulator circuit, and a pass transistor selectively coupled to the feedback circuit and an output of the operational amplifier via a set switches controlled by a switch mode enable signal. The LDO regulator circuit transitions between the first and second operation modes responsive to one or more changes of the switch mode enable signal. In the first operation mode, a load voltage at the output of the LDO regulator circuit has a first voltage value that depends on the reference voltage. In the second operation mode, the load voltage has a second voltage value independent from the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Gaurav Sharma, Nathan F. Hanagami, Mahir Uka, Benedikt Wolf
  • Patent number: 12348119
    Abstract: Provided is a controller circuit for a series capacitor step-down converter that drives the series capacitor step-down converter at a switching frequency fsw higher than a frequency f0 represented by the following Equation [ Math . 1 ] ? f 0 = 1 2 ? ? ? L C r ( L 2 - M 2 ) ( 1 ) wherein L is a design value for an inductance value of at least two inductors constituting a coupled inductor of the series capacitor step-down converter, M is a design value for a mutual inductance of the at least two inductors, and Cr is a design value of a capacitance of a series capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: ROHM Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Hashimoto, Akihiro Kawano
  • Patent number: 12340729
    Abstract: A switch device includes: a switch circuit; a control signal input terminal configured to input a control signal to the switch circuit; a voltage input terminal configured to input an initial voltage to the switch circuit; and a voltage output terminal configured to output an output voltage to a light-emitting device. The switch circuit includes: a first input terminal and a second input terminal electrically connected to the control signal input terminal and the voltage input terminal, respectively; and a first output terminal electrically connected to the voltage output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: TCL CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yongfeng Wu, Wenfang Li, Haoran Li
  • Patent number: 12334829
    Abstract: A control circuit includes a first mode for thinning out pulses of a drive signal according to an input current, a hybrid mode combining pulse width control that controls a pulse width of the drive signal and intermittent control that thins out pulses of the drive signal, and a second mode for thinning out the pulses according to an output voltage. The control circuit selects the second mode when a duty ratio of the drive signal is a predetermined threshold or less, selects the hybrid mode when the duty ratio of the drive signal exceeds the predetermined threshold and the input voltage is a predetermined specified value or more, and selects the first mode when the duty ratio of the drive signal exceeds the predetermined threshold and the input voltage is less than the predetermined specified value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Tsuno, Toshio Inoue, Ryo Oshima
  • Patent number: 12316228
    Abstract: A power switching apparatus (P100) for a switching-mode power supply is provided. The switching apparatus (P100) comprises a power switch (M100), a switching controller (SC100), a voltage converter (Ra100) and a power capacitor (Csc100). The power switch (M100) is configured for connection with a power input device to form a power supply circuit to receive power from a power source. The switching controller (SC100) is operable to turn on or turn off the power switch (M100). When the power switch (M100) is turned on, power is to flow from the power source into the power input device. When the power switch (M100) is turned off, power is to stop flowing from the power source into the power input device. The voltage converter (Ra100) is configured to receive power from the power source when the power switch (M100) is turned on and to output a regulated voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: Empower Electronic Limited
    Inventor: Ngai Kit Franki Poon
  • Patent number: 12315691
    Abstract: A contactor apparatus and method for operating the contactor apparatus can include a contactor assembly with a contactor coil operably coupled to a contactor switch. One or more sensors can be provided in the contactor assembly adapted to measure one or more aspects of the contactor assembly. Based upon the measured aspects, a controller can initiate operation of the contactor switch to effectively toggle the contactor switch at a zero-crossing point along an alternating current waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Peter Roy Payne, John Houghton, Robert Henry Keith Miles Bullock
  • Patent number: 12301111
    Abstract: A supply node receives supply voltage and an output node provides a regulated output voltage to a load. A switching transistor is coupled between the supply and output nodes. The switching transistor is controlled by a drive signal generated by a control circuit to control switching activity. The control circuit includes circuitry to sense a feedback voltage indicative of the regulated output voltage and a comparator generating a comparison logic signal dependent on a comparison of the feedback voltage to a reference. A logic circuit generates a skip signal in response to the comparison logic signal. A counter generates a termination signal. Signal processing circuitry controls the switching activity by asserting the drive signal as a function of the skip signal and the termination signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alessandro Bertolini, Alberto Cattani, Alessandro Gasparini
  • Patent number: 12301134
    Abstract: An inverter-based comparator, powered between a first supply voltage and a second supply voltage being lower than the first supply voltage, includes a first inverter branch composed of at least one first P-type transistor and at least one first N-type transistor; and a second inverter branch composed of at least one second P-type transistor, at least one second N-type transistor and at least two tuning switches. The first inverter branch and the second inverter branch are configured to compare an input voltage with an internal trigger point, thereby generating a compare voltage at an interconnected node. One of the at least two tuning switches is controlled to isolate the first supply voltage and another is controlled to isolate the second supply voltage to compensate for trigger point shifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignees: NCKU Research and Development Foundation, Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Philex Ming-Yan Fan, Yi-Fu Chen, Bo-Rui Chen
  • Patent number: 12294294
    Abstract: A power conversion system including a triple active bridge (TAB) is provided. The system includes a power factor correction (PFC) module and a three port converter (TPC) module, with no post-regulation or additional stages required. The TPC module includes an OBC full-bridge and an APM full-bridge, each being inductively coupled to the output of the PFC full-bridge, thereby forming the TAB. The OBC full-bridge is adapted to convert an AC input into a high-voltage DC output for a high-voltage battery, and the APM full-bridge is adapted to convert an AC input into a low-voltage DC output for a low-voltage battery. The power conversion system can accept a single-phase AC input and a three-phase AC input, has a lower current stress as compared to prior art TPCs, and freely transfers power from among any ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignees: Hella Corporate Center USA, Inc., University of Tennessee Research Foundation
    Inventors: Liyan Zhu, Alan W. Brown, Hua Bai, Lukas Michael Keuck
  • Patent number: 12282350
    Abstract: A bandgap reference circuit includes a complimentary to absolute temperature (CTAT) current generator providing a CTAT current with a source degeneration resistor, and a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current generator providing a PTAT current. The PTAT current generator includes a first branch with a source degeneration resistor, a first p-type metal-oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor, and a first n-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor, a resistor, and a diode-connected transistor. A second branch includes a source degeneration resistor, a second PMOS transistor, a second NMOS transistor, and a diode-connected transistor. The second branch coupled to the first branch in a current mirror configuration. A chopper circuit alternately couples drain terminals of the first and second PMOS transistors in series to the remainder of their respective branches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Moez Kanoun
  • Patent number: 12283889
    Abstract: A buck voltage converter is disclosed. The buck voltage generator includes a controller configured to generate one or more pulse width modulation (PWM) signals, and a plurality of serially connected switches configured to receive the PWM signals and to generate an output voltage signal at an output terminal based on the received PWM signals. The output voltage signal has an average voltage corresponding with a duty cycle of the PWM signals, a first switch of the plurality of serially connected switches has a first breakdown voltage and a second switch of the plurality of serially connected switches has a second breakdown voltage, and the first breakdown voltage is less than the second breakdown voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Alan Phillips
  • Patent number: 12278557
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a power conversion device and a control method thereof and, more specifically, to a power conversion device which may protect a switching element when performing stopping of driving, and a control method thereof. A power conversion device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller for outputting, to a gate driver, a first pulse width modulation signal for controlling a first switching element, a second pulse width modulation signal for controlling a second switching element, a third pulse width modulation signal for controlling a third switching element, and a fourth pulse width modulation signal for controlling a fourth switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: LS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sun Jae Yoon, Ki Woo Park, Jung Won Seo
  • Patent number: 12276996
    Abstract: A power on/off circuit includes: a sensor for generating a corresponding first control signal based on a user operation; a first switch element, a first end of the first switch element being connected to a voltage input end, a second end of the first switch element being connected to a voltage output end, the voltage input end being connected to a power supply voltage; and a capacitor connected between a third end of the first switch element and the sensor, the capacitor controlling an on-off of the first switch element based on the first control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Shenzhen Moore Vaporization Health & Medical Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xitian Xie, Zhonghua Tan
  • Patent number: 12261530
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a synchronous DC-DC power converter which may include a conversion cell including a number of switches and a single inductor, and a controller. The controller is configured to control a cycle of conversion of the conversion cell of the converter with multiple phases by controlling each of the switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: REDARC TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD [AU/AU]
    Inventors: Donald Murray Terrace, Jordan Michael Hao-Jin Kilmartin, Igor Abramov, Luke Woolcock