Patents Examined by Yusef A Ahmed
  • Patent number: 10714928
    Abstract: A diagnostic system is provided. A first monitoring application sets a first voltage regulator status flag equal to a first fault value when a first voltage value is greater than a first maximum voltage value. A first diagnostic handler application transitions each of a high voltage switch and a low voltage switch to an open operational state when the first voltage regulator status flag is equal to the first fault value. A second monitoring application sets a second voltage regulator status flag equal to a second fault value when the second voltage value is less than a first minimum voltage value. A second diagnostic handler application transitions the high voltage switch and the low voltage switch to the open operational state when the second voltage regulator status flag is equal to the second fault value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kerfegar K. Katrak
  • Patent number: 10715049
    Abstract: The power supply apparatus includes a notification unit configured to notify, according to an input first signal, a control unit that a target voltage is switched from a first voltage to a second voltage higher than the first voltage; and a switching unit configured to switch the target voltage to the first voltage or the second voltage. The switching unit switches the target voltage from the first voltage to the second voltage after the notification unit notifies the control unit that the target voltage is switched from the first voltage to the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Asano
  • Patent number: 10707770
    Abstract: An on-board fluid machine includes a housing configured to allow fluid to flow into the housing, an electric motor accommodated in the housing, and a driver that is supplied with DC power and drives the electric motor. The driver includes a low-pass filter circuit and an inverter circuit. The low-pass filter circuit includes a common mode choke coil and a capacitor. The driver further includes a damping unit located at a position where magnetic field lines produced by the common mode choke coil generate eddy current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Shunsuke Ambo, Fumihiro Kagawa, Yoshiki Nagata
  • Patent number: 10700610
    Abstract: Communicating information stored at a secondary controller to a primary controller in a secondary-controlled flyback converter is described. In one embodiment, a method includes storing, by a secondary-side controller of a power converter, calibration information associated with a primary-side controller of the power converter. The power converter is a secondary-controlled alternating current to direct current (AC-DC) flyback converter comprising a galvanic isolation barrier. The method further includes sending, by the secondary-side controller, the calibration information to the primary-side controller across the galvanic isolation barrier in response to power-up of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Hariom Rai
  • Patent number: 10700616
    Abstract: A power conversion device that converts electric power by having a power semiconductor element perform a switching operation includes a voltage detector detecting a common mode voltage generated in the switching operation of the power semiconductor element, a voltage control power supply that generates a voltage opposite in polarity to and as high as the common mode voltage with a circuit that amplifies power of the common mode voltage detected by the voltage detector, and a voltage superimposition structure canceling the common mode voltage not lower than a switching frequency generated in the switching operation of the power semiconductor element, by superimposing the voltage generated by the voltage control power supply on an output from the power conversion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignees: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY, TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Ogasawara, Shunsuke Ohara, Masatsugu Takemoto, Yushin Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10686378
    Abstract: A regulated partial power controlled converter is presented, with the partial power controlled converter containing a DC/DC converter receiving an input signal. The regulated partial power converter providing a first converted signal from a first terminal, and providing a second converted signal from a second terminal. The regulated partial power converter also contains a first capacitor connected between an output node and an intermediate node, a second capacitor connected between the intermediate node and a ground, and a charge balance circuit connected to the output node, the intermediate node, and the ground. An output power of the partial power controlled converter is based on a first partial power provided by the DC/DC converter and a second partial power provided by a charge balance circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Heping Dai, Liming Ye, Dianbo Fu
  • Patent number: 10678289
    Abstract: A circuit for generating a bandgap voltage includes a circuit module for generation of a base-emitter voltage difference formed by a pair of PNP bipolar substrate transistors which identify a first current path and a second current path. A first current mirror of an n type is connected between the first and second branches and is further connected via a resistance for adjustment of the bandgap voltage to the second bipolar transistor. A second current mirror of a p type is connected between the first and second branches, and connected so that the current mirrors repeat current of each other. In operation to generate the bandgap voltage, current flows from the supply voltage to ground only through said the first and second bipolar substrate transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Calogero Marco Ippolito, Mario Chiricosta
  • Patent number: 10673339
    Abstract: Hysteretic control for power converters. In an example arrangement, an apparatus includes a converter for converting an input voltage to an output voltage including a transformer; at least one primary side driver switch coupled to supply current from an input voltage terminal to the primary side of the transformer; at least one inductor coupled between the secondary side of the transformer and the output voltage terminal; at least one secondary side switch coupled between the inductor and a ground potential; and a hysteretic controller coupled to supply a first on-time signal to the at least one primary side switch and a second on-time signal to the at least one secondary side switch, the hysteretic controller configured for sensing the output voltage and having at least one current input coupled for sensing current flowing in the inductor and generating primary side driver switch on-time pulses to control the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Michael D. Seeman
  • Patent number: 10673318
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes an inductor having first and second terminals. The first terminal is configured to be coupled to a power source. The apparatus includes a pair of serially-coupled transistors coupled to the second terminal of the inductor. A transistor intermediate node is positioned between the pair of serially-coupled transistors. The apparatus includes a pair of serially-coupled diodes coupled to the second terminal of the inductor. A diode intermediate node is positioned between the pair of serially-coupled diodes. The apparatus includes a first capacitor coupled in parallel with the serially-coupled transistors and the serially-coupled diodes. The apparatus includes a sub-circuit having a second capacitor serially-coupled with an auxiliary transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dianbo Fu, Fei Ye, Lei Shi
  • Patent number: 10673334
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes converting power by a power converter circuit having a plurality of converter cells coupled to a supply circuit. Converting the power includes a plurality of successive activation sequences and, in each activation sequence, activating at least some of the plurality of converter cells at an activation frequency. The activation frequency is dependent on at least one of an output power and an output current of the power converter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AG
    Inventors: Gerald Deboy, Kennith Kin Leong
  • Patent number: 10673349
    Abstract: To improve reliability of a power conversion device with an efficient cooling structure. A power conversion device according to the present invention includes a power semiconductor module configured to convert power, a first capacitor configured to smooth the power, a conductor section forming a first power path between a power terminal and the first capacitor and a second power path between the first capacitor and the power semiconductor module, a noise filter section including a second capacitor that smooths power having a higher frequency than a frequency of the power smoothed by the first capacitor, and a cooling section forming a cooling surface, and the noise filter section is connected to the conductor section forming the first power path, and the conductor section forming the first power path is arranged in a space between the cooling surface and the noise filter section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Youhei Nishizawa, Ayumu Hatanaka, Takeshi Seki
  • Patent number: 10673337
    Abstract: A switch-node rising edge detection circuit is provided for a switched-mode DC/DC boost converter. A high-side gate-driver couples a gate of the high-side NMOS power transistor to either a first terminal of a bootstrap capacitor or the switch-node. The detection circuit includes an AND gate that receives an activation signal on a first input and provides a switching signal to the high-side gate-driver. A PMOS transistor is coupled in series with an inverter between the first terminal of the bootstrap capacitor and a second input of the AND gate. The inverter receives supply voltages from the first terminal of the bootstrap capacitor and the switch-node. The gate of the PMOS transistor receives the activation signal. An NMOS transistor is coupled between an output voltage and a node between the PMOS transistor and the inverter. A gate of the NMOS transistor is coupled to the bootstrap capacitor's first terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Eduardas Jodka, Julian Becker, Stefan Dietrich
  • Patent number: 10673330
    Abstract: Provided is an switching regulator including: an error amplification circuit configured to output a first error voltage based on an output voltage and a first reference voltage; a PFM comparison circuit configured to compare the first error voltage with a second reference voltage to output a comparison result signal; an oscillation circuit configured to output a clock signal, and to stop output of the clock signal depending on the comparison result signal; a frequency characteristics separation circuit to which the first error voltage is provided, and from which a second error voltage is supplied; a phase compensation circuit connected to the frequency characteristics separation circuit; and a PWM conversion circuit configured to turn the switching element on and off at a desired pulse width, based on the second error voltage and on the output from the oscillation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: ABLIC INC.
    Inventor: Kosuke Takada
  • Patent number: 10658922
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a control circuit, including a power input terminal, an energy storage part, a switch part, and a trigger part, an input terminal of the energy storage part is coupled to the power input terminal, the energy storage part is configured to supply power to the control circuit after storing electric energy, an input terminal of the switch part is coupled to the power input terminal, an output terminal of the switch part is coupled to the power component, a control terminal of the switch part is coupled to an output terminal of the trigger part, and the switch part is configured to control the input terminal of the switch part to be coupled to the output terminal of the switch part based on the trigger signal from the trigger part received by the control terminal of the switch part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: K-TRONICS (SUZHOU) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kaitao Wei
  • Patent number: 10658944
    Abstract: A power converting apparatus and a home appliance having the same according to the present invention includes: an input unit including an AC connection unit which receives an alternating current (AC) power from an external and a DC connection unit which receives a direct current (DC) power; a DC terminal voltage detection unit which detects a voltage of a DC terminal; a heater which is driven based on a voltage of the DC terminal; and a heater power supply unit supplies a voltage having a different magnitude to the heater according to a voltage detected by the DC terminal voltage detection unit, so that the home appliance and the heater can be commonly used for both the DC power and the AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Youngho Hong
  • Patent number: 10658959
    Abstract: A power supply has first and second ac voltage generators. Both of the first and second ac voltage generators are connected to one or more loads and a respective 6-pulse rectifier unit for rectifying ac voltage from each of the first and second power generators to a dc voltage output for the loads, Both of the first and second ac voltage generators includes two 3-phase voltage sources separated by a phase shift. The voltage output from each rectifier unit is coupled to the loads via a respective interphase inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Lando, Pierre Valin-Saunal
  • Patent number: 10658945
    Abstract: An apparatus utilizing additive interleaved switchmode (PWM) power conversion stages, having minimal or no output filter, to achieve high bandwidth or even ideally instantaneous power conversion. The additive process may involve voltage stacking of isolated PWM converters, which are interleaved in time, or may involve a single input power supply and inductively combining output currents of PWM power converters interleaved in time, with either additive circuit having minimal or no output filtering. This circuit may overcome limitations for the frequency of feedback control loops once thought to be physical limitations, such as, fundamental switching frequency, output filter delay and the Nyquist criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Porter, Jr., John Dorrenbacher
  • Patent number: 10651735
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to technology for providing power, voltage, and/or current from a combination of DC sources. The DC sources may be photovoltaic panels. One aspect includes a stack of DC power sources (e.g., photovoltaic modules) with a DC to DC converter (e.g., power optimizer) associated with each DC power source. An output capacitor of a DC to DC converter is connected in series with its DC power source. Thus, there is a string of DC power sources and output capacitors connected in electrical series. The DC output of the system is a series connection of the DC power sources and the output capacitors. This reduces stress on the output capacitors, while allowing for efficient power generation by the DC power sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Heping Dai
  • Patent number: 10651771
    Abstract: This invention discloses a controller and method to operate a power electronic converter as a virtual synchronous machine with bounded frequency and virtual flux. The controller includes a real power-frequency channel to regulate the frequency, a reactive power-flux channel to regulate the virtual flux (equivalently, the voltage), an interconnection block that takes the frequency, the virtual flux, and an input current to generate a voltage, a signal {tilde over (T)}, and a signal {tilde over (?)} that are fed through a conversion block and two passive filters to generate the negative real power and reactive power feedback signals, a virtual damper to generate an output voltage as the control signal for the power electronic converter according to the voltage generated by the interconnection block and a first measured voltage, and a virtual impedance to generate a virtual current according to the difference of the output voltage and a second measured voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventor: Qingchang Zhong
  • Patent number: 10644599
    Abstract: A sensor includes a first transistor including a first terminal and a second terminal defining a current path, and a first gate terminal configured to receive a drive signal. The sensor further includes a sensor circuit configured to generate a measurement signal indicative of a first current flowing through the first transistor. The sensor circuit includes a second transistor including a third terminal, a fourth terminal, and a second gate terminal. The third terminal is connected to the first terminal of the first transistor. The second gate terminal is configured to receive the drive signal. The second transistor is a scaled version of the first transistor. The sensor circuit further includes an operational amplifier, a variable current source, a current mirror, and a measurement circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Roberto Pio Baorda, Stefano Ramorini, Paolo Angelini