Patents Examined by Y. J. Han
  • Patent number: 5717319
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method to reduce the power consumption of an electronic device comprising at least one voltage regulator. At least one of the regulators (REG1-REG4) is switched off and on according to a predetermined duty cycle during such periods when the electronic device does not require the normal power supply ability of the regulator. This may be realized e.g. in a mobile phone during two successive control channel messages received from a base station when the mobile phone is in a so called power saving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd.
    Inventor: Harri Jokinen
  • Patent number: 5717580
    Abstract: In order to permit an improved operational performance of DC transmission, a method is provided which has an associated control arrangement and control device (11a, 11b) and in which, starting from a common working point (A) with predetermined current and voltage values (UA, IA) the respective control devices (11a, 11b) of converters (5a, 5b) respectively assigned to three-phase systems (3a, 3b) are respectively fed system deviations (.DELTA.Aa, .DELTA.Ab) relative to the working point (A). The respective controlled variable is employed in order to reach the working point (A), minimizing the respective system deviation (.DELTA.Aa, .DELTA.Ab). The control method and the associated devices preferably operate according to the principle of vectorial control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Franz Karlecik-Maier
  • Patent number: 5717320
    Abstract: A buck converter comprises a load or a rechargeable battery (B), a self-inductance (L2), a diode (D2) and a switching transistor (T1). The current through the switching transistor (T1) is measured by means of a current sensor (Rs) which triggers a monostable multivibrator (MMV) when a given peak current is reached. The monostable multivibrator (MMV) turns off the switching transistor (T1) for a fixed time within which the current through the self-inductance (L2) is supplied to the load (B) via the diode (D2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Schelte Heeringa, Oedilius J. Bisschop
  • Patent number: 5715149
    Abstract: A high-voltage power pack includes: a switching circuit for effecting switching control of a low-voltage d.c. signal to generate a low-voltage a.c. signal; a high-voltage transformer for increasing the voltage of the low-voltage a.c. signal outputted from the switching circuit to generate a high-voltage a.c. signal; a combination of a rectifying circuit and a low-pass filter for rectifying and smoothing the high-voltage a.c. signal to generate a high-voltage d.c. signal; resistors dividing the high-voltage d.c. signal obtained from and smoothed through the rectifying circuit and low-pass filter; a feedback circuit for controlling the switching circuit so that the potential at a divided point between the resistors may be kept constant; and an a.c. power source for applying an alternating current to the divided point, the alternating current having a frequency component transmissible through the low-pass filter, whereby an a.c. superimposed voltage made of the high-voltage d.c. signal with an a.c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sumitaka Arikawa, Masahiko Aiba
  • Patent number: 5712773
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus for a gas tube including: a first rectifying portion for bridge-rectifying an alternating current input thereto into a direct current, a second rectifying portion for bridge-rectifying the output voltage of the first rectifying portion into a direct current again, a switching means for receiving stable power from the second rectifying portion and for controlling the operation of a high voltage transformer driving portion, an oscillating frequency and duty cycle ratio controller for controlling the oscillating frequency and duty cycle ratio of the switching means, the high voltage transformer driving portion selectively interrupting a flow of current of the high voltage transformer in accordance with the output of the switching means, and a high voltage output preventing portion for halting the operation of the frequency oscillation and duty cycle ratio controller by being turned on when a secondary side center tap voltage of the high voltage transformer is detected to be beyond a part
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Inventor: Hyung-Kwang Kim
  • Patent number: 5710698
    Abstract: A delta connected, resonant snubber-based, soft switching, inverter circuit achieves lossless switching during dc-to-ac power conversion and power conditioning with minimum component count and size. Current is supplied to the resonant snubber branches solely by the dc supply voltage through the main inverter switches and the auxiliary switches. Component count and size are reduced by use of a single semiconductor switch in the resonant snubber branches. Component count is also reduced by maximizing the use of stray capacitances of the main switches as parallel resonant capacitors. Resonance charging and discharging of the parallel capacitances allows lossless, zero voltage switching. In one embodiment, circuit component size and count are minimized while achieving lossless, zero voltage switching within a three-phase inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jih-Sheng Lai, Fang Zheng Peng, Robert W. Young, Sr., George W. Ott, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5710699
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for load leveling of a battery in an electrical power system includes a power regulator coupled to transfer power between a load and a DC link, a battery coupled to the DC link through a first DC-to-DC converter and an auxiliary passive energy storage device coupled to the DC link through a second DC-to-DC converter. The battery is coupled to the passive energy storage device through a unidirectional conducting device whereby the battery can supply power to the DC link through each of the first and second converters when battery voltage exceeds voltage on the passive storage device. When the load comprises a motor capable of operating in a regenerative mode, the converters are adapted for transferring power to the battery and passive storage device. In this form, resistance can be coupled in circuit with the second DC-to-DC converter to dissipate excess regenerative power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Dean King, Rik Wivina Anna Adelson DeDoncker
  • Patent number: 5708353
    Abstract: A device for detecting the short circuiting of the switches of a converter circuit arrangement is disclosed. The device is magnetically coupled to the current limiter coil and comprises a conductor loop which is preferably arranged at the end of the current limiter coil. On short circuiting, a voltage is induced in the conductor loop. This voltage is converted in a detection circuit into a voltage pulse and fed to an evaluation logic circuit. In the evaluation logic circuit, the period of the induced voltage pulse is evaluated and, if appropriate, load-relieval actuation is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventor: Robert Schilling
  • Patent number: 5706187
    Abstract: Power source circuitry is disclosed and has a DC power source and a switching circuit positioned at the primary side, a diode and a coil positioned at the secondary side and serially connected to a load, and a capacitor connected in parallel to the load. A current bypass circuit is connected in parallel to the load, and operates when a voltage applied to the load momentarily increases. When a current flowing through a load sharply decreases, the current bypass circuit conducts an abnormal current to be input to the load to the negative side. This suppresses the momentary increase in the voltage applied to the load. In a normal condition, no potential differences occur between the base and the emitter of a transistor, so that the transistor remains in an OFF state and prevents a current from flowing through the bypass circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hidetake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5701237
    Abstract: A switching power supply comprising an inductance device having one electrode connected to an output terminal of a rectifier, the rectifier rectifying an alternating current voltage, a switching device connected between another electrode of the inductance device and a ground voltage source, a capacitive device having one electrode connected to the other electrode of the inductance device, and a transformer having a primary coil connected to the other electrode of the capacitive device. The inductance device may be a choke coil. The switching device may be a field effect transistor. The capacitive device may be a capacitor. The transformer may include one or two secondary coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Hyun Yang
  • Patent number: 5699236
    Abstract: A high-voltage stabilization circuit of a monitor can detect accurately a change of a high voltage of a secondary winding of a high-voltage transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun-Chil Choi
  • Patent number: 5694306
    Abstract: Control equipment (CE1) generates an ordered value (AOL) of a control angle (.alpha.) in dependence on a limiting signal (AMINL, AMAXL), capable of being influenced, for a converter included in a series-compensated converter station. A calculating value (AFIRL) of a control angle is calculated continuously according to a predetermined relationship (H'1, H'2) which at least approximately imitates a relationship according to which, at a firing voltage (Ufir) for the valves of the converter equal to a preselected value (Uvref), said control angle is a function (G'0) of a current (Id1) and a voltage (Un1) in the converter station and the limiting signal is formed in dependence on the calculating value. (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AB
    Inventors: Per-Erik Bjorklund, Tomas Jonsson
  • Patent number: 5689407
    Abstract: In a standby mode, a switched-mode power supply circuit may be operated in a burst mode with reduced secondary voltages (Vo1, Vo2) for supplying a standby voltage (Vo1) at a very high efficiency. In a normal operating mode of the power supply, a control circuit (1) is maintained in its on-state by a power supply voltage (Vcc) generated by the power supply. The control circuit (1) supplies control pulses (Vd) for switching the power supply. The burst mode is obtained by decreasing the power supply voltage (Vcc) generated for the control circuit (1) to such an extent that, without any further provisions, the control circuit (1) reaches an off-state in which no control pulses (Vd) are generated. In the standby mode, the control circuit (1) is supplied with current by a power supply circuit (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Antonius A. M. Marinus, Guy L. P. De Bondt, Patrick E. G. Smeets
  • Patent number: 5689179
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a variable voltage regulator that can be easily adjusted via a jumper, or a signal (provided by another circuit) so that the variable voltage regulator can provide at least one of a plurality of discrete voltages to an integrated circuit, such as a microprocessor. This is useful when a replacement microprocessor requires a different operating voltage than the microprocessor it replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventor: Richard E. Walker
  • Patent number: 5682304
    Abstract: A superconductive system for receiving electromagnetic energy from an outside source, storing electromagnetic energy in two interacting forms of DC and AC electric current, and delivering electromagnetic energy to an outside load wherein the electromagnetic energy is charged into and discharged from the superconductive storing system exclusively via inductive coupling links. The electromagnetic energy is stored in the form of DC current in high-capacity superconductive coils with each coil connected into a superconductive permanent close loop circuit. The energy is then used to support electromagnetic oscillation in a superconductive oscillating circuit wherein it is stored in low capacity superconductive coils in the form of AC current. The superconducting oscillating circuit is then used to provide power to an outside source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Inventor: Mark Shteynberg
  • Patent number: 5680299
    Abstract: A two level inverter having a switching element the switching frequency of which is higher than that of GTO, and providing a continuous control substantially over a full range of output voltages wherein the two level inverter comprises as its pulse modes an asynchronous bipolar modulation mode, a multi-pulse mode of an overmodulation mode, and a one pulse mode, and wherein advantageously the multi-pulse mode and the one pulse mode are arranged to be changed, thereby to enable a continuous control of its output voltage and reduce tone changes in the magnetic noise as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Yasuda, Kiyoshi Nakata, Masato Suzuki, Mutsuhiro Terunuma
  • Patent number: 5673185
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for generating at least a DC output voltage (at 18, 19) from an at least substantially sine-shaped AC input voltage (at 2, 3) of a first frequency by a first rectifier arrangement (1) to which the AC input voltage can be applied (at 2, 3) and which has a DC output (4, 5) from which a rectified voltage is obtainable, a first inductance (6), a second rectifier arrangement (7) and a first filter capacitance (8) which, in this order, constitute a series arrangement connected parallel to the DC output (4, 5), a switched-mode power supply (9) having two input terminals (10, 11) with which it is arranged parallel to the first filter capacitance (8) and between which it includes a series arrangement of a second inductance (12) and a switching device (13) which is alternately switchable in the conducting state and in the blocked state at a second frequency and from which the DC output voltage(s) is (are) obtainable (at 18, 19), as well as a first control capacitance (23) by which the junction poi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Manfred Albach, Thomas Durbaum
  • Patent number: 5670865
    Abstract: A transient response circuit for a step-down DC to DC converter having a DC input and a DC output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics
    Inventor: William D. Farwell
  • Patent number: 5671131
    Abstract: A power switch detection system for a power supply including an operator-accessible power switch coupled to the secondary ground of the power supply and to one side of an isolation capacitor. The other side of the isolation capacitor is coupled to a switch detection circuit referenced to primary ground for detecting the state of the power switch through the isolation capacitor. The switch detection circuit controls a control circuit on the primary side based on the state of the power switch, where the control circuit correspondingly controls the power state of the power supply and a corresponding electronic device. In this manner, the power switch remains isolated by the isolation capacitor but controls the power state of the device. The control circuit controls conversion of AC power from an AC source coupled to the primary side through a transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Dell U.S.A. L.P.
    Inventor: Alan E. Brown
  • Patent number: 5668703
    Abstract: A DC--DC boost converter for directly driving a capacitive load employs four switches for cyclically commuting the connection configuration of an energy storing inductor. First and second switches are driven at a relatively high frequency and provide an impulsive charge path of the inductor by connecting one or the other end to a power supply rail. Third and fourth switches are driven in phase opposition to each other at a relatively low frequency and provide a discharge path from one and the other end of the inductor, respectively, toward an output node of the circuit to which the capacitive load is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico Rossi, Kazuyuki Tanaka