Patents Examined by Shawn Riley
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Patent number: 8350551Abstract: An embodiment of a power-supply controller includes a signal combiner and a control circuit. The signal combiner is operable to generate a combined feedback signal from sense and output feedback signals that are respectively derived from a sense signal and a regulated output signal, and the signal combiner is operable to receive the sense signal from a sense circuit that is operable to generate the sense signal while a current is flowing through an inductor and while a switch that is disposed between the inductor and an input voltage has a first state. The sense signal generated by the sense circuit is related to the current, and the switch and the inductor are operable to generate the regulated output signal. The control circuit is coupled to the signal combiner and is operable to cause the switch to have a second state for a predetermined time in response to the combined feedback signal having a predetermined relationship to a reference signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2010Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Intersil Americas LLCInventors: Da Feng Weng, Jinrong Qian, Tamas Szepesi
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Patent number: 8350552Abstract: A highly accurate voltage reference and temperature sensor circuit requires only several low-cost components in addition to a general-purpose microcontroller with an analog-to-digital converter. Unlike known circuits, the circuit disclosed does not rely on matching between a pair of semiconductor devices, as only a single semiconductor junction is used. All of the signal processing may be performed digitally.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2011Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Sendyne CorporationInventor: Victor Marten
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Patent number: 8350539Abstract: A control circuit and method are proposed to generate a control signal to operate a buck-boost power stage of a buck-boost power converter to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. The control circuit and method detect the output voltage to generate an error signal, control the frequency of two ramp signals according to the error signal, generate two pulse width modulation signals according to the error signal and the two ramp signals, and generate the control signal according to the two pulse width modulation signals. When the loading of the buck-boost power converter transits from heavy to light, the frequency of the two ramp signals is decreased to improve the efficiency of the buck-boost power converter. The peaks and valleys of the two ramp signals may be adjusted by signals related to the input voltage and the output voltage.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2010Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.Inventors: Wen-Wei Chen, Kuo-Chi Liu
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Patent number: 8344711Abstract: A power supply device including a converter having a switch circuit to which an input voltage is supplied and a coil coupled between the switch circuit and an output end from which an output voltage is output; and a control circuit comparing between a feedback voltage and a reference voltage, and on/off controls the switch circuit according to a comparison result; wherein, the control circuit includes a current gradient detection circuit performs detection of a gradient of a coil current flows thorough the coil during an off period of the switch circuit and generates a slope voltage according to a result of the detection; and an adder circuit performs one of generating the feedback voltage by adding the slope voltage to a voltage according to the output voltage and generating the reference voltage by adding the slope voltage to a standard voltage that is set according to the output voltage.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2010Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor LimitedInventor: Kazuyoshi Futamura
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Patent number: 8344720Abstract: A reference voltage generator includes a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current source and a voltage divider. The PTAT current source is capable of providing a first current that is proportional to a temperature. The voltage divider is capable of receiving a second current that is proportional to the first current. The voltage divider is capable of outputting a reference voltage. The reference voltage is substantially independent from a change of the temperature.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2010Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Dipankar Nag, Chewn-Pu Jou
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Patent number: 8344547Abstract: A system and method for operating a photovoltaic element at or near a maximum power point. A maximum power point tracker changes a voltage or current set point of a photovoltaic element in sequential discrete steps, measuring an output power at each step after a predetermined settling time. A slope of a power-voltage curve is then estimated and the slope is corrected for irradiance changes. Finally, an operating voltage or current of the photovoltaic element is adjusted based on the slope of the power-voltage curve and other factors, causing the photovoltaic element to operate at or near its maximum power.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2011Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.Inventors: John M. Fife, Michael A. Mills-Price, Steven G. Hummel
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Patent number: 8345450Abstract: The configurations of a DC/DC resonant converter and a controlling method thereof are provided. The proposed converter includes an over-current protection apparatus including a first switch element having a first and a second terminals, and a first voltage element having a negative terminal coupled to a positive terminal of a DC input voltage source and a positive terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first switch element.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2010Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Chao Yan, Jianhong Zeng, Wenxin Zhang, Yiqing Ye, Jianping Ying, Peter Barbosa, Wen-Chang Lee
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Patent number: 8339809Abstract: A switching power supply device includes a transformer, a switching unit which is connected with a primary winding of the transformer and configured to switch a current flowing to the primary winding, a start unit configured to start the switching unit, a voltage drop unit configured to lower output voltage from a secondary winding of the transform, and a current control unit configured to control an amount of a current flowing in the start unit when the switching unit is in an off state by lowering output voltage by the voltage drop unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2010Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yasuhiro Nakata
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Patent number: 8339114Abstract: A high-side switch is coupled to a power supply terminal and selectively coupled to ground via a conduction path. During an on state duration, the high-side switch can be enabled and the conduction path can be disabled. During an off state duration, the high-side switch can be disabled and the conduction path can be enabled. During a skip state duration, the high-side switch and the conduction path both can be disabled. A controller coupled to the high-side switch can control the on state duration and the skip state duration based on a current reference. The controller can further generate a control signal for controlling the high-side switch and the conduction path according to the on state duration and the skip state duration, and adjust an output current to the current reference according to the control signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2012Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: O2Micro IncInventor: Laszlo Lipcsei
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Patent number: 8339115Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of controlling a bypass resistance of a voltage regulator are disclosed. One method includes generating a regulated output voltage based upon a switching voltage. The switching voltage is generated through controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and a shunt switch element, the series switch element and the shunt switch element being connected between voltages based on an input voltage. Control of a duty cycle of the switching voltage is provided by sensing and feeding back the regulated output voltage. The bypass resistance is controlled based on an integration of a difference between the duty cycle and a maximum duty cycle.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2012Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: R2 Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: James E. C. Brown, Bret Rothenberg, Lawrence M. Burns
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Patent number: 8339823Abstract: A Voltage Source Converter having at least one phase leg connected to opposite poles of a direct voltage side of the converter and comprising a series connection of switching elements including at least one energy storing capacitor and configured to obtain two switching states, namely a first switching state and a second switching state, in which the voltage across said at least one energy storing capacitor and a zero voltage, respectively, is applied across the terminals of the switching element, has semiconductor chips of said switching elements arranged in stacks comprising each at least two semiconductor chips. The converter comprises an arrangement configured to apply a pressure to opposite ends of each stack.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2008Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: ABB Technology AGInventors: Björn Jacobson, Gunnar Asplund
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Patent number: 8335091Abstract: Disclosed are full-bridge power converters providing DC output power at increased conversion efficiencies, and methods of operating full-bridge power converters providing DC output power at increased conversion efficiencies. In disclosed embodiments, the switches of the full-bridge are operated to reduce conduction losses and to provide for zero-voltage switching.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: Intersil CorporationInventor: Fred Greenfeld
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Patent number: 8331115Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a power system for providing power to a load.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2010Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Ameritherm, Inc.Inventors: David L. Fenton, Ian A. Paull, Leslie L. Thompson, Kenneth J. Westveer
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Patent number: 8330435Abstract: An apparatus includes a buck boost converter for generating a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage. The buck boost converter includes an inductor, a first pair of switching transistors responsive to a first PWM signal and a second pair of switching transistors responsive to a second PWM signal. An error amplifier generates an error voltage responsive to the regulated output voltage and a reference voltage. A control circuit generates the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal responsive to the error voltage and a sensed current voltage responsive to a sensed current through the inductor. The control circuit controls switching of the first pair of switching transistors and the second pair of switching transistors using the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal responsive to the sensed current through the inductor and a plurality of offset error voltages based on the error voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2010Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.Inventors: Weihong Qiu, Zaki Moussaoui, Jun Liu
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Integrated multi-inductor magnetic member and multi-loop power factor correction circuit having same
Patent number: 8324871Abstract: A multi-loop power factor correction circuit includes a first rectifier circuit, an integrated multi-inductor magnetic member, plural switching circuits, plural rectifying elements, and a power factor correction controlling circuit. The integrated multi-inductor magnetic member includes a first slab, a second slab, a middle post, plural lateral posts, and plural winding coil assemblies. The winding coil assemblies are wound around respective lateral posts to form at least a first inductor and a second inductor. The magnetic flux cross-section area of the middle post is smaller than the sum of the magnetic flux cross-section areas of the lateral posts. The switching circuits are alternately conducted, so that the distribution of an input AC current is similar to the waveform of the input AC voltage.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2010Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Hsin-Wei Tsai, Shih-Hsien Chang -
Patent number: 8324873Abstract: A power supply apparatus is provided which includes: a first switch provided between an inductor and a terminal to which a reference voltage is applied; a second switch provided between the inductor and an output terminal; a first comparator circuit that compares an input voltage with a first comparison voltage; a signal generating circuit that outputs a frequency signal according to an output from the first comparator circuit; and a first control circuit that controls the first and second switches based on an output from the signal generating circuit to control an electrical current flowing into the inductor.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2009Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor LimitedInventors: Shinichi Nakagawa, Masahiro Natsume, Katsuyuki Yasukouchi
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Patent number: 8324870Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus for performing power factor correction is provided. A power factor corrector includes an input configured to sense a current from an input circuit. A reference generator generates a current limit based on an input voltage. The current limit reference is dynamically changed based on the input voltage. A control signal generator controls the current in the input circuit based on a comparison of the current and the generated current limit.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2010Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.Inventors: Sureshkumar Ramalingam, Hong Liang Zhang
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Patent number: 8320142Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a low-output voltage converter, delivering voltage power less than 1 VDC, utilizing distributed secondary circuits. In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a voltage converter comprises a primary circuit for receiving an input voltage, comprising a plurality of primary windings arranged in series, a plurality of secondary circuits, each comprising a secondary winding for aligning with a primary winding to form a transformer, and each of the secondary circuits arranged in parallel, and an output for providing an output voltage down to, or less than 1 VDC.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2010Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Transistor Devices, Inc.Inventors: Gary Mulcahy, John Santini, Joseph Mancuso
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Patent number: 8320138Abstract: A DC converter includes: a transformer (T1) including a primary winding (P1) and a secondary winding (S1); a series resonant circuit in which a current resonant reactor (Lr), the primary winding (P1) of the transformer, and a current resonant capacitor (Cri) are connected in series; conversion circuits (Q1, Q2) for converting a DC voltage of a DC power supply (Vin) into a rectangular-wave voltage, so as to output the rectangular-wave voltage to the series resonant circuit; and a rectifier smoothing circuit (D3, D4, Co) for rectifying and smoothing a voltage generated at the secondary winding (S1) of the transformer, so as to output a DC output voltage to a load, wherein a capacitive element (Cr) including a capacitive component corresponding to a floating capacitance (Cp) equivalently present between the primary winding of the transformer was connected to the current resonant reactor (Lr) in parallel.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2008Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shinji Aso
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Patent number: 8319482Abstract: A power supply includes a first switch and a second switch coupled in series between an input voltage terminal to which an input voltage is applied and a reference voltage terminal to which a reference voltage lower than the input voltage is applied, an inductor disposed between a junction coupling the first and second switches and an output terminal from which an output voltage is output, and a controller controlling the first and second switches to be alternately switched at a given switching cycle depending on an error of the output voltage with respect to a target voltage, wherein the controller changes the switching cycle from a first cycle to a second cycle longer than the first cycle, depending on a voltage at the junction when the second switch is in a turned-on state.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2010Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor LimitedInventors: Yoshihiko Matsuo, Takeshi Kimura, Osamu Takahashi