Patents Examined by Timothy J. Dole
  • Patent number: 10312798
    Abstract: A PFC circuit is provided. A bridge rectification circuit receives an AC voltage and generates a rectified AC voltage. A power converter converts the rectified AC voltage to a first DC voltage, where the power converter includes a switch and supplies the first DC voltage to a DC bus to power a compressor. A current sensor detects an amount of current. A control module, while operating in a correction mode: based on the rectified AC voltage, a phase angle of the rectified AC voltage, a second DC voltage of the DC bus, or the detected amount of current, control operation of the switch to transition between operating in a high activity mode and an inactive or low activity mode; transition the switch between open and closed states while in the high and low activity modes; and maintain the power converter in an OFF state while in the inactive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Charles E. Green, Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz, Kraig Bockhorst
  • Patent number: 10312794
    Abstract: A chopper assembly including at least two chopper units, and a controlling unit configured to generate a control signal for controlling an activation of the corresponding chopper unit in cycle. The activations of the at least two chopper units are controlled by the controlling unit to be either initially offset by a phase shift or adjusted to have a phase shift after a predefined time duration, the phase shift indicating a time difference between rising edges or between falling edges of respective pulses of different signals. The chopper assembly according to the present disclosure effectively mitigates the negative impact to various components within the circuit. Moreover, by controlling the duty cycles of the control signals, loads of each of the resistors will be equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Beijing Drive Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Simo Poyhonen
  • Patent number: 10305364
    Abstract: A power conversion system includes: a plurality of power modules connected in parallel to each other; a plurality of drive circuits driving the plurality of power modules based on input signals respectively; a plurality of correction sections correcting the input signals inputted to the plurality of drive circuits based on a plurality of correction values respectively; a temperature detection section detecting operating temperatures of the plurality of power modules; and a calculation section estimating current switching characteristics of the plurality of power modules based on the measured operating temperatures and temperature dependency of switching characteristics of the plurality of power modules, and calculating the plurality of correction values based on the estimated current switching characteristics so as to reduce variations of currents flowing through the plurality of power modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Akiko Goto
  • Patent number: 10305393
    Abstract: This invention relates to current-fed resonant inverters for electrical power applications to change direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC). One application of the invention is to power supplies for inductive power transfer (IPT) systems. There is provided a resonant inverter including an input for supply of current from a DC power source, a resonant circuit including two coupled inductive elements and a tuning capacitance, the inductive elements being arranged to split current from the power source; a first switching means comprising two switching devices operable in substantially opposite phase to alternately switch current from the power source into the inductive elements; and a second switching means to selectively switch one or more control capacitances into or out of the resonant circuit dependent on a power factor of the resonant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Auckland Uniservices Limited
    Inventors: John Talbot Boys, Grant Anthony Covic
  • Patent number: 10305381
    Abstract: A device includes a digital switch regulator to supply an output voltage and a first current to a load based on a reference voltage. The device also includes an analog circuit to supply a second current to the load in addition to the first current based on a duty cycle of the digital switch regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Feng Pan
  • Patent number: 10305472
    Abstract: GaN-based half bridge power conversion circuits employ control, support and logic functions that are monolithically integrated on the same devices as the power transistors. In some embodiments, a low side GaN device communicates through one or more level shift circuits with a high side GaN device. Both the high side and the low side devices may have one or more integrated control, support and logic functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Navitas Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Marvin Kinzer, Santosh Sharma, Ju Zhang
  • Patent number: 10298136
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a flyback converter, a control circuit and a control method therefor. In the control method, a power stage circuit is controlled at a light load to operate alternatively in a pulse width modulation mode (i.e. a constant switching frequency mode) and in a constant on time mode, in accordance with a voltage compensation signal. Thus, output energy may decrease rapidly and smoothly, without need for the control circuit to stop working. The flyback converter has increased efficiency at the light load and decreased output voltage ripple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SILERGY SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY (HANGZHOU) LTD.
    Inventor: Huiqiang Chen
  • Patent number: 10296028
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a low dropout regulator, a method for improving stability of the low dropout regulator, and a phase-locked loop. The low dropout regulator includes: a reference voltage source, an error amplifier, a regulating circuit, a load, a first compensation circuit, and a second compensation circuit. The first compensation circuit is coupled to the regulating circuit, and is configured to regulate a dominant pole and a secondary dominant pole of the low dropout regulator, to regulate a phase margin. The second compensation circuit is configured to: decrease the dominant pole of the low dropout regulator and further increase the secondary dominant pole on the basis that the first compensation circuit has regulated the dominant pole and the secondary dominant pole of the low dropout regulator, so as to regulate the phase margin; and regulate a gain-bandwidth product of the low dropout regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinhai Zhang, Fei Cai, Shenghua Zhou
  • Patent number: 10295581
    Abstract: A controller including a memory having computer-readable instructions stored therein; and a processor configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to: estimate a synthesized grid voltage vector angle at a terminal of an alternating current (AC) grid based on at least an adjusted angle, to generate Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signals to control power switches of the AFE inverter based on at least the synthesized grid voltage vector angle, and to control the AFE inverter to exchange power between the AC grid and a load based on the PWM signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Tianjun Fu, Long Wu, Kent Wanner, Jason Dickherber, Chris J. Tremel
  • Patent number: 10298128
    Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, a 5-switch power conversion circuit that improves the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of a DC-DC converter with a double chopper topology is provided. The power conversion circuit adds minimal complexity through an additional switch, while preserving the benefits of a 3-level boost converter topology. The disclosed power conversion circuit uses four switches that are arranged in a 3-level boost converter arrangement, and a fifth switch that is connected in parallel with two of the other switches. The fifth switch helps to reduce the conduction power losses through the DC-DC converter by providing a one-switch ON-state conduction path instead of a two-switch path during part of the DC-DC power conversion cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Toshiba International Corporation
    Inventor: David Martin Westmoreland
  • Patent number: 10291139
    Abstract: A transformer circuit includes a first transformer, a second transformer and an inductor, where a first terminal of the first transformer is coupled to a first terminal of the second transformer. The inductor is coupled between a second terminal of the first transformer and a second terminal of the second transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Grover Victor Torrico-Bascopé
  • Patent number: 10291130
    Abstract: A method includes generating a first gain control signal and a second gain control signal in response to a gain transition signal indicating a transition of a power converter from a first gain mode to a second gain mode. The method further includes causing the power converter to enter the first gain mode in response to the first gain control signal, and causing the power converter to enter the second gain mode in response to the second gain control signal. A circuit includes a gain transition controller generating a first gain control signal and a second gain control signal in response to a gain transition signal, and a gain control circuit causing the power converter to enter the first gain mode in response to the first gain control signal and causing the power converter to enter the second gain mode in response to the second gain control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hyun-Chul Eum, Tae-Sung Kim, Young-Mo Yang, Sung-Won Yun, Woo-Kang Jin
  • Patent number: 10291137
    Abstract: A flyback power converter includes a transformer having an auxiliary winding for generating an auxiliary voltage and providing a supply voltage on a supply node; a primary side controller circuit which is powered by the supply voltage from the supply node; and a high voltage (HV) start-up circuit. The HV start-up circuit is coupled to an high voltage signal through a HV input terminal and generates the supply voltage through a supply output terminal, wherein when the supply voltage does not exceed a start-up voltage threshold, a HV start-up switch conducts the HV input terminal and the supply output terminal to provide the supply voltage, and when the supply voltage exceeds a start-up voltage threshold, the HV start-up switch is OFF. The HV start-up circuit and the primary side controller circuit are packaged in two separate integrated circuit packages respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chien-Fu Tang, Isaac Y. Chen, Tzu-Chen Lin, Kun-Yu Lin, Li-Yang Hsiao, Yung-Chih Lai
  • Patent number: 10291146
    Abstract: In some examples, a rectifier device includes a semiconductor substrate, an anode terminal and a cathode terminal connected by a load current path of a first MOS transistor and a diode connected parallel to the load current path. An alternating input voltage is operably applied between the anode terminal and the cathode terminal. Further, a control circuit is coupled to a gate electrode of the first MOS transistor and configured to switch on the first MOS transistor for an on-time period, during which the diode is forward biased. A gate driver circuit is included in the control circuit and includes a buffer capacitor and a cascade of two or more transistor stages connected between the buffer capacitor and the gate electrode of the first MOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Damiano Gadler, Albino Pidutti
  • Patent number: 10291109
    Abstract: Critical-mode soft-switching techniques for a power converter are described. In one example, a power converter includes a converter electrically coupled between an alternating current (AC) power system and a direct current (DC) power system, where the converter includes a number of phase legs. The power converter can also include a control system configured, during a portion of a whole line cycle of the AC power system, to clamp a first phase leg of the converter from switching and operate second and third phase legs of the converter independently in either critical conduction mode (CRM) or in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Zhengrong Huang, Zhengyang Liu, Fred C. Lee, Qiang Li, Furong Xiao
  • Patent number: 10281941
    Abstract: A voltage generating circuit includes a first resistance voltage dividing circuit, configured by low temperature coefficient resistors being connected in series, that generates a reference voltage by resistance-dividing a predetermined power supply voltage, one or a multiple of a second resistance voltage dividing circuit, configured by a resistor having a positive or negative resistance temperature coefficient and the low temperature coefficient resistor being connected in series, that generates a temperature-dependent divided voltage by resistance-dividing the power supply voltage, and an instrumentation amplifier that generates the comparison reference voltage in accordance with a difference between the reference voltage and the divided voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Mori, Masashi Akahane
  • Patent number: 10284096
    Abstract: A control circuit controls a switch of a switching current converter receiving an input quantity, with a transformer having a primary winding and a sensor element generating a sensing signal correlated to a current in the primary winding. The control circuit has a comparator stage configured to compare a reference signal with a comparison signal correlated to the sensing signal and generate an opening signal for the switch. The comparator stage has a comparator element and a delay-compensation circuit. The delay-compensation circuit is configured to generate a compensation signal correlated to the input quantity and to a propagation delay with respect to the opening signal. The comparator element generates the opening signal with an advanced timing correlated to the input quantity and to the propagation delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Giovanni Gritti
  • Patent number: 10284097
    Abstract: A system comprises an input power stage coupled to a primary side of a transformer, an output power stage coupled to a secondary side of a transformer, a first common node capacitor and a common node resistor connected in series between a midpoint of the secondary side of the transformer and ground and a detector having an input connected to a common node of the first common node capacitor and the common node resistor, and an output connected to a control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to dynamically adjust a switching frequency of the system based upon an output of the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daoshen Chen, Heping Dai, Xujun Liu, Zhihua Liu, Liming Ye, Dianbo Fu, Ce Liu, Bing Cai
  • Patent number: 10273951
    Abstract: A solar pump system comprises a solar module configured to generate DC power from sunlight, a water pump, an inverter configured to convert the DC power into AC power in order to drive the water pump, and a controller configured to generate a control signal for controlling an output frequency of the AC power. The controller compares the DC link voltage with a first reference level, adjusts the output frequency of the AC power, if the DC link voltage is greater than the first reference level, and determines the output frequency to prevent the DC link voltage from being equal to or less than a second reference level, if the DC link voltage is less than the first reference level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chaebong Bae
  • Patent number: 10277145
    Abstract: A power supply device includes a power supply, a conversion module, and an electric current sensor, and circuitry. The power supply is to output a voltage that varies in accordance with an amount of electric power output from the power supply. The conversion module includes voltage converters electrically connected in parallel to convert the voltage to a target voltage. The electric current sensor is to detect current supplied from the power supply to the conversion module. The circuitry is configured to determine a number of operating voltage converters among the voltage converters, which are to actually convert the voltage, based on the current detected by the electric current sensor, the voltage, and a representative voltage representing a target range within which the target voltage is included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryota Kitamoto