Patents Examined by Timothy J. Dole
  • Patent number: 10075059
    Abstract: A current detection apparatus is provided which detects a current flowing through a detection part in an electrical circuit. The current detection apparatus includes a first coil connected in series with the detection part, a second coil magnetically coupled with the first coil, a full-wave rectifier circuit connected to both ends of the second coil, a switching element having a first end connected to a positive electrode side output part of the full-wave rectifier circuit and a second end connected to a first resistor, and a second resistor that forms a closed circuit with the second coil regardless of an open or closed state of the switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji Iyasu, Yuji Hayashi, Kimikazu Nakamura, Yuichi Handa
  • Patent number: 10075091
    Abstract: In a multilevel converter, three circuit breakers are respectively connected between three arms and three reactors. One circuit breaker is a DC circuit breaker configured to interrupt direct current when a short circuit accident occurs between two DC power transmission lines. Each of the two circuit breakers is an AC circuit breaker configured to interrupt alternating current when the short circuit accident occurs. When the short circuit accident occurs, the two AC circuit breakers are brought into the non-conductive state and then the DC circuit breaker is brought into the non-conductive state, thereby interrupting the short circuit current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Kuroda, Ryosuke Uda, Masashi Kitayama
  • Patent number: 10075054
    Abstract: A power supply includes a DC to DC converter, a storage capacitor, a voltage detector, a bypass unit, and a voltage-multiplying unit. The DC to DC converter receives a capacitor voltage from the storage capacitor and generates an output voltage; the voltage detector is configured to detect an input voltage. The bypass unit electrically connected to the storage capacitor turns on when the input voltage is equal to or greater than the capacitor voltage and turns off when the input voltage is lower than the capacitor voltage. The voltage-multiplying unit electrically connected to the storage capacitor and the voltage detector includes a first winding and a second winding and performs a voltage-multiplying procedure by coupling the first winding to the second winding while the input voltage is lower than a threshold voltage to ensure that the DC to DC converter can generate the output voltage for a specific period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Chicony Power Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsien-Yi Tsai
  • Patent number: 10073476
    Abstract: A circuit with Miller compensation effect includes a first stage and a second stage, with a first terminal for receiving a bias current and a second terminal that can be coupled to ground, wherein the first stage includes a differential stage coupled via a coupling line to the second stage. The second stage includes a transistor with a Miller compensation network, which is set between the first terminal of the second stage and the control terminal of the aforesaid transistor. A compensation-control transistor, which is coupled to the second terminal of said differential stage, can be activated for coupling the aforesaid second terminal to ground, the compensation-control transistor having its control terminal coupled to the aforesaid coupling line between the first and second stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Nicola Rogledi
  • Patent number: 10075081
    Abstract: An external circuit element RSET is connected in use to an SET terminal. A synchronous rectification controller generates a pulse signal S1 based on a control time determined according to the state of the SET terminal. A driver switches on and off the synchronous rectification transistor according to the pulse signal S1. An abnormal state detection circuit is capable of detecting an open-circuit state and/or a short-circuit state that can occur in the SET terminal. When the abnormal state detection circuit detects such an open-circuit state and/or short-circuit state, the abnormal state detection circuit asserts a detection signal S11. When the detection signal S11 is asserted, a primary-side controller arranged on the primary side of the DC/DC converter is instructed to suspend the switching operation of a switching transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Kikuchi, Ryo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10073477
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for providing a current independent of temperature are described. An example apparatus includes a current generator that includes two components that are configured to respond equally and opposite to changes in temperature. The responses of the two components may allow a current provided by the current generator to remain independent of temperature. One of the two components in the current generator may mirror a component included in a voltage source that is configured to provide a voltage to the current generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei Lu Chu
  • Patent number: 10069430
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure includes a submodule topology for a modular multilevel converter. The submodule topology includes two electronic switches connected together with a first series connection terminal connecting the electronic switches in series, the series connected switches being connected in parallel with two capacitors connected together with a second series connection terminal connecting the capacitors in series. A bidirectional electronic switch connects the first series connection terminal with the second series connected terminal. An output voltage is obtained across the first series connected terminal and a common terminal formed by the parallel connection of the series connected switches with the series connected capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
    Inventors: Ashish Sahoo, Ned Mohan
  • Patent number: 10069428
    Abstract: A power converter circuit includes a transformer. The transformer includes a primary winding and a secondary winding. A primary circuit is coupled to the primary winding. A secondary circuit is coupled to the secondary winding. The primary circuit and the secondary circuit are referenced to different ground voltage potentials that may vary with respect to each other. During operation, the primary circuit controls input of energy to the primary winding of the transformer. The secondary circuit receives the energy through the secondary winding and uses it to produce an output voltage to power a load. The secondary circuit receives and/or generates state information at one of multiple different levels. The secondary circuit controls a flow of current through the secondary winding to convey the state information as feedback to the primary circuit. The primary circuit analyzes a voltage at a node of the primary winding to receive the feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Kennith K. Leong, Arash Pake Talei, Gerald Deboy, Giuseppe Bernacchia
  • Patent number: 10069397
    Abstract: Generally, this disclosure describes an apparatus. The apparatus includes switch controller circuitry. The switch controller circuitry includes dead time logic circuitry to determine an estimated dead time interval between a turn off of a first switch and a turn on of a second switch. The first switch and the second switch are coupled at a switched node. The estimated dead time interval is determined based, at least in part, on a difference between an input voltage, Vin, and a switched voltage, Vsw, detected at the switched node just prior to turning off the first switch, a parasitic capacitance, Cpar, associated with the switched node and a maximum inductor current, IL,max. The difference between Vin and Vsw represents the maximum inductor current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Vaibhav Vaidya, Pavan Kumar, Krishnan Ravichandran, Vivek K. De
  • Patent number: 10069427
    Abstract: A switching power supply apparatus includes a switching circuit, a resonance circuit, a rectifying circuit, and a control circuit. The switching circuit includes switching elements connected in series between input terminals of a source. The resonance circuit includes an excitation inductor of a primary winding of a transformer, a resonance inductor connected in series with the excitation inductor, and a variable resonance capacitor which is connected in series with the excitation inductor and whose electrostatic capacity changes according to a control voltage. The control circuit generates, on the basis of a feedback voltage, switching signals in which frequency diffusion is given to a switching frequency and the control voltage and outputs the switching signals and the control voltage to simultaneously change the switching frequency and the electrostatic capacity of the variable resonance capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi Nishijima
  • Patent number: 10069424
    Abstract: System and method for regulating a power conversion system. A system controller for regulating a power conversion system includes an operation-mode-selection component and a driving component. The operation-mode-selection component is configured to receive a first signal related to an output load of the power conversion system and a second signal related to an input signal received by the power conversion system and output a mode-selection signal based on at least information associated with the first signal and the second signal. The driving component is configured to receive the mode-selection signal and generate a drive signal based on at least information associated with the mode-selection signal, the driving signal corresponding to a switching frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuan Lin, Xiaomin Huang, Qiang Luo, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 10061340
    Abstract: A bandgap reference voltage generator, comprises: a bias circuit configured to generate a start signal; a startup circuit having at least two serially-connected transistors configured to receive the start signal; a proportional-to-absolute-temperature (“PTAT”) generation circuit having a first current mirror, an amplifier, a resistor, and transistors; and a complementary-to-absolute-temperature (“CTAT”) generation circuit having a second current mirror, a passive network of resistors, and at least one transistor. The at least two serially-connected transistors are connected across a first input of the amplifier and a second input of the amplifier. An output of the amplifier is coupled to the first current mirror and the second current mirror. The passive network of resistors is coupled across outputs of the second current mirror. The CTAT generation circuit has an output node for outputting a bandgap reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Invecas, Inc.
    Inventors: Venkata N. S. N. Rao, Majid Jalali Far
  • Patent number: 10063058
    Abstract: A power converter includes a plurality of converters which are connected in parallel to a DC power supply in which an operating point is changed in accordance with an output current or an output voltage. The plurality of converters include maximum power point tracking units for performing maximum power point tracking calculations of the DC power supply. Results of the maximum power point tracking calculations of the plurality of converters are unified between the plurality of converters and the plurality of converters are controlled based on the unified calculation result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Information & Telecommunication Engineering, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takae Shimada, Fumikazu Takahashi, Kimiaki Taniguchi, Kosuke Abe
  • Patent number: 10054974
    Abstract: Current mirror devices and methods for operating a current mirror device. The current mirror device includes a first transistor having a gate, a source, a drain, and a back gate. The drain and the gate of the first transistor are coupled to an input node of the current mirror device. The current mirror device further includes a second transistor having a gate, a source, a drain, and a back gate. The drain of the second transistor is coupled to an output node of the current mirror device, and the gate of the second transistor is coupled to the gate of the first transistor and to the input node. A voltage source supplies a bias voltage to the back gate of the first transistor that adjusts a threshold voltage of the first transistor and to the back gate of the second transistor that adjusts a threshold voltage of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventor: Wern Koe
  • Patent number: 10056828
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of operating a switch-mode power supply includes receiving a measurement of a first current of the switch-mode power supply, determining a ripple of the first current based on the received measurement of the first current, determining a maximum current threshold based on a target average current and the determined ripple of the first current, determining an off time of a switch based on a target current ripple and the determined ripple of the first current, turning off the switch when the first current reaches the maximum current threshold, and turning on the switch after the determined off time has elapsed after turning off the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Andrea Morici
  • Patent number: 10056833
    Abstract: A voltage driver includes a voltage input and a voltage regulation controller with an on/off input. The voltage regulation controller is configured to control a switching converter in a first mode and a second mode. The switching converter is configured to operate as an open pass switch in the first mode and configured to operate as a closed pass switch in the second mode. The switching converter includes an inductive load control switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Derek Thornton
  • Patent number: 10054617
    Abstract: This application discusses, among other things, zero current detection. In an example, a circuit for zero current detection can include a compensating circuit and a detecting circuit. The compensating circuit can be configured to feed back a compensating voltage to the detecting circuit according to an output voltage of a DC-DC converting circuit. The detecting circuit can be configured to dynamically adjust an intentional offset voltage according to the compensating voltage, and to perform zero current detection of the DC-DC converting circuit according to the adjusted Voffset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Maoxu Li, Dong Li
  • Patent number: 10050031
    Abstract: A power converter includes a semiconductor element disposed on a substrate, a thermistor element for detecting the temperature of the substrate, the thermistor element being disposed on the substrate, a current detection resistor having one end connected to a ground side node and another end that is grounded, a first voltage detection unit configured to detect a first potential at the other end of the current detection resistor and a second potential at the ground side node, and output a first detection signal, a control unit configured to control the semiconductor element based on the first detection signal, a temperature detection resistor having one end that is connected to a reference potential and another end that is connected to a detection node, and a temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature based on a third potential at the detection node, and output a temperature information signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUAFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10050542
    Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present disclosure may include a method of power regulation. The method may include determining a current level on a primary winding of a transformer. The method may also include selecting a particular coarse current level window based on the determined current level. Wherein the particular coarse current level window is one of a plurality of coarse current level windows. The method may additionally include determining a low window value based on the particular coarse current level window. The method may include generating a reference voltage based on the low window value. The method may also include generating a control signal based on the reference voltage. The method may additionally include transmitting the control signal to a switch circuit coupled to the primary winding of the transformer to adjust the current level on the primary winding of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Advanced Charging Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Randall L. Sandusky, Neaz E. Farooqi
  • Patent number: 10042372
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter device and a sub DC-DC converter unit with parallel structure included in the same are disclosed. The DC-DC converter device includes a main DC-DC converter unit configured to receive a (1-1)th reference voltage, a (1-2)th reference voltage and a (n?1)th output voltage, and output an nth first output current corresponding to an nth output voltage; and a sub DC-DC converter unit configured to receive a second reference voltage and the (n?1)th output voltage, and output an nth second output current corresponding to the nth output voltage. Here, an output current in accordance with the nth output voltage corresponds to sum of the nth first output current and the nth second output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Chung-Ang University Industry-Academy Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Dong Hyun Baek, Jeong-Yun Lee, Sun-Woo Yun, Youngjin Kim