Patents Examined by William Hernandez
  • Patent number: 11962299
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fractional frequency divider, a radio frequency transceiver, and a method of configuring a phase delay in the fractional frequency divider. The fractional frequency divider comprises a counter, a multiplexer, and a delay module. The method is applicable to the fractional frequency divider. The radio frequency transceiver comprises the fractional frequency divider, and the fractional frequency divider adopts the method. According to the aforesaid technical solution, the present disclosure has advantages as follows: the embodiments of the present disclosure can minimize the timing inaccuracy and suppress the output jitter and output spurs; and the embodiments of the present disclosure can effectively extend the operating frequency range of the fractional frequency divider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Hangzhou Geo-chip Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yanping Zhou, Ruili Wu, Chun Geik Tan
  • Patent number: 11962323
    Abstract: A batteryless wireless sensor system includes a data acquisition system, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, and a batteryless wireless sensor device. The RF transceiver is in communication with the data acquisition system, transmits a RF signal, and receives sensor data and provide the sensor data to the data acquisition system. The batteryless wireless sensor device includes a RF transmitter, an analog to digital converter (ADC), and a sensor. The batteryless wireless sensor harvests energy from the RF signal and generates a DC signal based on the energy harvested from the RF signal, powers up and operates the ADC and the sensor based on the DC signal, and generates sensor data. The batteryless wireless sensor then transmits the sensor data via the RF transmitter to the RF transceiver. In certain examples, the ADC is implemented as a current mode ADC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventor: Phuong Huynh
  • Patent number: 11956876
    Abstract: An LED based lighting device capable of Radio Frequency communication, said LED based lighting device comprising a driver board comprising a mains input connector, an LED output connector and an LED driver, wherein said LED driver is arranged for receiving a mains power supply, via said mains input connector, and for providing an LED current to an at least one LED, via said LED output connector, an LED board comprising an LED input connector, an antenna and said at least one LED, an interconnect cable connecting said driver board to said LED board via said LED output connector and said LED input connector, wherein said driver board further comprises an RF module arranged for generating an RF signal and for superimposing said generated RF signal on said LED current such that said RF signal is conveyed over said interconnect cable to said antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Remco Rudolf Wilhelmus De Jager, Johannes Adrianus Cornelis Misdom, Jaco Van Der Merwe, Johannes Petrus Wernars
  • Patent number: 11949412
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a galvanic isolator; a transmitting circuit that transmits a transmission signal via the galvanic isolator; a receiving circuit that receives a received signal corresponding to the transmission signal via the galvanic isolator; an encoding circuit that encodes two input signals and generates the transmission signal; and a decoding circuit that decodes the two input signals from the received signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunichi Kaeriyama
  • Patent number: 11949335
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to a converter are disclosed. An apparatus includes a converter and a controller. The converter converts an input voltage potential to an output voltage potential. The input voltage potential and the output voltage potential include direct current (DC) voltage potentials. The controller generates pulse width modulation (PWM) signals responsive to a duty cycle control signal, controls the converter via the PWM signals in a buck mode when the duty cycle control signal is less than a predetermined maximum buck value, and controls the converter via the PWM signals in a cascaded buck-boost mode (CBB mode) when the duty cycle control signal is greater than the predetermined maximum buck value. A duty cycle of at least a portion of the PWM signals transitions linearly with the duty cycle control signal from the buck mode to the CBB mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Santosh Bhandarkar, Alex Dumais
  • Patent number: 11936212
    Abstract: A power transmission unit includes a switching unit configured to switch alternating-current (AC) power at a timing based on a first clock signal and wirelessly transmit the switched AC power, and a clock transmission unit configured to wirelessly transmit the first clock signal. A power reception unit includes a clock reception unit configured to receive the first clock signal, a detection unit configured to detect an amount of electric power and a switching timing of the AC power, a clock generation unit configured to generate a second clock signal based on the switching timing, a clock selection unit configured to select the first or second clock signal in accordance with the amount of electric power, and a rectifying unit configured to switch the AC power wirelessly transmitted by the switching unit at a timing based on the clock signal selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Ide
  • Patent number: 11916617
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission system includes a transmitter antenna, transmission controller, and an amplifier. The transmitter controller is configured to provide a driving signal for driving the transmitter antenna based on, at least, an operating mode for transmission of AC wireless signals and determine the operating mode for transmission of the AC wireless signals, wherein the operating mode includes a power level for the wireless power signals and a data rate for the wireless data signals, the power level chosen from a series of available power levels and the data rate chosen from a series of available data rates, each of the series of available power levels corresponding to one of the series of available data rates, wherein corresponding pairs of available power levels and available data rates are inversely related.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: NuCurrent, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Kapolnek, Alberto Peralta, Jason Luzinski
  • Patent number: 11910499
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junhyun Won, Jiwon Lee, Sungyong Joo, Taejun You
  • Patent number: 11910503
    Abstract: An LED power supply (100) configured to detect a characteristic of an input signal, includes a Buck power factor control circuit (D1, U1, Q1, D2, L1, C1) being configured to receive an input signal, the input signal (VAC) being referenced to a power ground, and to output an output signal, the output signal (Vout) being referenced to an output ground, wherein the output ground is level shifted with respect to the power ground; and a controller (106) configured to output an LED drive signal, the controller referenced to the output ground, wherein the controller is configured to determine the characteristic of the input signal according to a switching time of the Buck power factor control circuit, the switching time of the Buck power factor control circuit being determined by the controller according to a switching signal referenced to the output ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Poh Keong Ng
  • Patent number: 11909386
    Abstract: A gate drive device drives a gate of each of two semiconductor switching elements constituting upper and lower arms of a half bridge circuit. The gate drive device detects a peak value of an element voltage that is a voltage of a main terminal of one of the two semiconductor switching elements, as one semiconductor switching element, or a change rate of the element voltage during a change period in which the element voltage changes. The gate drive device determines whether an energization to the one semiconductor switching element during the change period is a forward energization in which a current flows in a forward direction or a reverse energization in which the current flows in a reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironori Akiyama, Tetsuya Dewa
  • Patent number: 11909384
    Abstract: A protected direct-drive depletion-mode (D-mode) GaN semiconductor half-bridge power module is disclosed. Applications include high power inverter applications, such as 100 kW to 200 kW electric vehicle traction inverters, and other motor drives. The high-side switch is a normally-on D-mode GaN semiconductor power switch Q1 in series with a normally-off LV Si MOSFET power switch M1 and the low-side switch is a normally on D-mode GaN semiconductor power switch Q2. The gates of both Q1 and Q2 are directly driven. M1 in series with Q1 provides a high-side switch which is a normally-off device for start-up and fail-safe protection. M1 may also be used for current sensing and overcurrent protection. For example, a control circuit determines an operational mode of M1 responsive to a UVLO signal and a voltage sense signal indicative of an overcurrent event. Examples of single phase and three-phase half-bridge modules and driver circuits are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Di Chen
  • Patent number: 11901881
    Abstract: An electronic circuit for controlling a power switch having a gate input, includes a signal generator configured to generate a gate driver input signal. The gate driver input signal has a first voltage during a first period of time, a second voltage during a second period of time, and toggles between the first voltage and the second voltage during a third period of time. The electronic circuit also includes a gate driver configured to receive the gate driver input signal and to provide a gate driver output signal based on the gate driver input signal. The signal generator is configured to cause the gate driver input signal to toggle during the third period of time such that the gate driver output signal has a third voltage during the second period of time, and an intermediate voltage that is less than the third voltage during the third period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Navaneeth Kumar Narayanasamy
  • Patent number: 11901889
    Abstract: A gate drive device drives a gate of a semiconductor switching element constituting an upper or lower arm of a half bridge circuit which supplies an output current, which is alternating current, to a load. The gate drive device detects a peak value of an element voltage which is a voltage of a main terminal of the semiconductor switching element or a change rate of the element voltage when the semiconductor switching element is switching. The gate drive device acquires a maximum value among a plurality of peak values or a plurality of change rates during a predetermined detection period including a period in which the semiconductor switching element performs switching multiple number of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironori Akiyama, Tetsuya Dewa
  • Patent number: 11898743
    Abstract: A lighting system has at least one light fixture and a control device. The at least one light fixture has light parameters. The control device is in communication with the at least one light fixture. The control device has a plurality of one-dimensional user setting, a predetermined sequence of light parameters as a function of time, and an adjustment to the predetermined sequence as a function of a selected one-dimensional user setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: LEDVANCE GMBH
    Inventors: Dieter Lang, Enzo Peres, Timo Weinert
  • Patent number: 11901971
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission system includes a transmitter antenna, a transmission controller, an amplifier, and a variable resistor. The transmission controller is configured to (i) provide a driving signal for driving the transmitter antenna based on an operating frequency for the wireless power transfer system and (ii) perform one or more of encoding the wireless data signals, decoding the wireless data signals, receiving the wireless data signals, or transmitting the wireless data signals. The variable resistor is in electrical connection with the transmitter antenna and configured to alter a quality factor (Q) of the transmitter antenna, wherein alterations in the Q by the variable resistor change an operating mode of the wireless power transmission system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: NuCurrent, Inc.
    Inventors: Alberto Peralta, Jason Luzinski, Dennis Kapolnek
  • Patent number: 11888311
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a non-dissipative snubber circuit configured to boost a voltage applied to a load after the load's impedance rises rapidly. The voltage boost can thereby cause more rapid current ramping after a decrease in power delivery to the load which results from the load impedance rise. In particular, the snubber can comprise a combination of a capacitive element, two inductive elements, and three switches, where a duty cycle of two of the three switches controls the voltage boost. The snubber can be arranged between a DC power supply and a switching circuit configured to generate a pulsed waveform for provision to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Faleh Alskran, John Dorrenbacher
  • Patent number: 11888391
    Abstract: A device includes a charge pump configured to provide a current to a bootstrap capacitor responsive to a charge pump switch being closed. The device also includes a current limiter coupled in series between the charge pump switch and the charge pump. The current limiter is configured to receive a control signal from a controller that indicates whether the device is to operate in a first mode or in a second mode; responsive to the control signal indicating the first mode, allow a first value of current to the charge pump switch; and, responsive to the control signal indicating the second mode, limit the current to the charge pump switch to a second value. The second value is less than the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Shyamsunder Balasubramanian, Kuangyu Chiang, Toshio Yamanaka, Luis Eduardo Ossa
  • Patent number: 11870510
    Abstract: Wireless power transfer systems, disclosed, include one or more circuits to facilitate high power transfer at high frequencies. Such wireless power transfer systems include a damping circuit, configured to dampen a wireless power signal such that communications fidelity is upheld at high power. The damping circuit includes at least a damping transistor that is configured to receive, from the transmitter controller, a damping signal for switching the transistor to control damping during transmission of amplitude shift keying (ASK) wireless data signals. Utilizing such systems enables wireless power transfer at high frequency, such as 13.56 MHz, at voltages over 1 Watt, while maintaining fidelity of in-band communications associated with the higher power wireless power signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: NuCurrent, Inc.
    Inventors: Alberto Peralta, Pavel Shostak
  • Patent number: 11870509
    Abstract: Wireless power transfer systems, disclosed, include one or more circuits to facilitate high power transfer at high frequencies. Such wireless power transfer systems include a damping circuit, configured to dampen a wireless power signal such that communications fidelity is upheld at high power. The damping circuit includes at least a damping transistor that is configured to receive, from the transmitter controller, a damping signal for switching the transistor to control damping during transmission of the wireless data signals. Utilizing such systems enables wireless power transfer at high frequency, such as 13.56 MHz, at voltages over 1 Watt, while maintaining fidelity of in-band communications associated with the higher power wireless power signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: NuCurrent, Inc.
    Inventors: Alberto Peralta, Pavel Shostak
  • Patent number: 11862431
    Abstract: The present invention comprises: a high-frequency power supply; an antenna group having a plurality of antennas connected to the high-frequency power supply; a plurality of reactance variable elements connected to the feeding sides and the grounding sides of the plurality of antennas; a current detection mechanism which detects the current flowing through the feeding sides and the ground sides of the plurality of antennas; a uniformity calculation unit which calculates the uniformity index value of the current flowing through the plurality of antennas, on the basis of the current value detected by the current detection mechanism; and a reactance changing unit which sequentially changes the reactance of the plurality of reactance variable elements such that the uniformity index value calculated by the uniformity calculation unit approaches a predetermined set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: NISSIN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsubasa Iwakoke, Shigeaki Kishida