Patents Examined by Yusef A Ahmed
  • Patent number: 11722089
    Abstract: A controller includes a first processor for a first power inverter. Computer-readable media is configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the first processor to: generate a first clock signal and a second clock signal; identify a pulse width modulation method of the first power inverter and a pulse width modulation method of a second power inverter; identify and compare a switching frequency of the first power inverter and a switching frequency of the second power inverter; determine an optimized phase shift between the first power inverter and the second power inverter responsive to the pulse width modulation method of the first power inverter and the pulse width modulation method of the second power inverter and the switching frequency of the first power inverter and the switching frequency of the second power inverter; and synchronize the optimized phase shift between the first power inverter and the second power inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Steven E. Schulz, David Tang, Daniel L. Kowalewski, Silva Hiti
  • Patent number: 11722052
    Abstract: A control method, a controller, and a control system including a converter and the controller are provided to improve load responsiveness of control by the converter. The converter has a primary circuit that includes a voltage generation circuit for generating a square wave and a resonant circuit for converting a waveform of the generated square wave, and a secondary circuit that is electromagnetically coupled to the primary circuit and that generates an induced electromotive force. The controller controls the voltage generation circuit by a control target power factor. To implement power factor-based control, the controller controls the voltage generation circuit, based on a derived power factor derived from an active power and an apparent power relevant to the resonant circuit in the primary circuit or a derived power factor derived from a phase of the primary circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION OKAYAMA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Eiji Hiraki, Kazuhiro Umetani, Kouta Shimomura
  • Patent number: 11722055
    Abstract: The voltage stress is limited across switches in multi-level flying capacitor step-down dc-dc converters during a start-up sequence by a circuit. In one embodiment, the circuit includes a diode that is adapted to prevent reverse current flow during steady state operation, a pull-down switch and a commutation cell, which includes a start-up capacitor and a flying capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Würth Elektronik eiSos GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Aleksandar Prodic, Michael Halamicek, Tom Moiannou, Nenad Vukadinovic, Alexander Gerfer, Mahmoud Shousha, Martin Haug
  • Patent number: 11716014
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an inverter module includes a motor control module configured to determine operating characteristics of the inverter module. The operating characteristics include of at least one of a voltage, a current, and a switching frequency associated with operation of the inverter module. A diagnostic module is configured to receive the operating characteristics of the inverter module, estimate at least one junction temperature of a component of the inverter module based on the operating characteristics, calculate a health indicator of the inverter module based on the estimated junction temperature, and selectively output an alert based on the calculated health indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jiyu Zhang, Nomar S. Gonzalez Santini
  • Patent number: 11716029
    Abstract: A power supply circuit for a switching mode power supply, having: a charging capacitor coupled to an auxiliary winding; a power supply diode coupled to a power supply capacitor, wherein the charging capacitor has a connecting terminal coupled to the power supply diode, and the charging capacitor and the power supply diode are serially coupled between the auxiliary winding of the switching mode power supply and the power supply capacitor; and a power supply switch coupled between the connecting terminal and a primary ground of the switching mode power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xuefeng Chen
  • Patent number: 11711023
    Abstract: A control circuit for an isolated power converter includes a first sensing circuit that senses a secondary side output voltage and produces a pulse wave modulation (PWM) signal having a duty cycle that is proportional to a value of the secondary side output voltage. The PWM is transferred across the converter isolation barrier to the primary side, and a primary side circuit receives the PWM signal and outputs a control signal. A controller determines the value of the secondary side output voltage from the control signal and uses the value to control primary side power switching devices of the isolated power converter to regulate the secondary side output voltage at a selected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Queen's University at Kingston
    Inventors: Yan-Fei Liu, Yang Chen, Binghui He, Wenbo Liu, Bo Sheng
  • Patent number: 11711029
    Abstract: A method of controlling a power converter is provided. The power converter generates a three-phase output power by switching an input power through a plurality of switches. The method includes steps of: acquiring a three-phase output command corresponding to the three-phase output power; comparing the three-phase output command with a control carrier to acquire a voltage phase angle corresponding to the three-phase output command; acquiring a three-phase current value of the three-phase output power; detecting the voltage phase angle and a positive/negative change of the three-phase current value to decide a zero-sequence voltage; composing the zero-sequence voltage and the three-phase output command to acquire a three-phase output expected value; comparing the three-phase expected values with the control carrier to acquire a turned-on time of each switch; and switching the input power to adjust the three-phase output power according to the turned-on time of each switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Ping-Heng Wu, Kai-Wei Hu, Lei-Chung Hsing
  • Patent number: 11699960
    Abstract: A power converter includes a plurality of switches coupled between an input bus and an output bus, a full bridge coupled between the output bus and ground, and a plurality of capacitors coupled between the plurality of switches and the full bridge, wherein one capacitor of the plurality of capacitors is connected to a midpoint of one leg of the full bridge through a switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: NuVolta Technologies (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fuchun Zhan, Cheng Liu
  • Patent number: 11695330
    Abstract: A switched power circuit to control a common-mode signal. The switched power circuit includes a first switch and a second switch configured to generate switch mode voltage between a first node and a second node. The switched power circuit further includes a feedback circuit that is configured to detect common-mode voltage generated between the first node and the second node by a first signal generated by the first switch and a second signal generated by the second switch, and incrementally adjust a timing parameter of the first signal to adjust the common-mode signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Ciaran Brennan, Brian K. Jadus, Keith W. Bennett
  • Patent number: 11689108
    Abstract: A controller includes a first sensing pin receiving a first sensing signal indicating a level of an input voltage of a resonant converter, a second sensing pin receiving a second sensing signal indicating a level of an input current of the resonant converter, a feedback pin receiving a feedback signal indicating a level of an output voltage of the resonant converter, and a first driving pin and a second driving pin controlling a high side switch and a low side switch of the resonant converter, respectively. The controller generates a compensated signal based on the first sensing signal, compares the compensated signal with a peak value of the second sensing signal to generate a first comparison result, compares the feedback signal with a threshold to generate a second comparison result, and controls the high side low side switches based on the first and the second comparison results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: O2Micro Inc.
    Inventors: Ching-Chuan Kuo, Sin-Yan Wu, Sheng-Tai Lee, Yung-Lin Lin
  • Patent number: 11689111
    Abstract: A circuit includes a solid-state relay, a rectifier, and a current transformer-based power supply. The rectifier is adapted to be coupled to the solid-state relay. The rectifier is configured to provide a voltage to an output terminal responsive to the solid-state relay being in an off state. The current transformer-based power supply is coupled to the rectifier and is adapted to be coupled to a transformer. The current transformer-based power supply is configured to provide a voltage to the output terminal responsive to the solid-state relay being in an on state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Navaneeth Kumar Narayanasamy, Manu Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 11683022
    Abstract: In general, one aspect disclosed features an active choke circuit, including a first three-winding choke; a second three-winding choke; and an amplifier; wherein a first winding of the first three-winding choke is electrically coupled in series with a first winding of the second three-winding choke; wherein a second winding of the first three-winding choke is electrically coupled in series with a second winding of the second three-winding choke; wherein a third winding of the first three-winding choke is electrically coupled to an input of the amplifier; and wherein a third winding of the second three-winding choke is electrically coupled to an output of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Kinetic Technologies International Holdings LP
    Inventors: John Camagna, Jan Nilsson, Damoun Ahmadi
  • Patent number: 11677307
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for efficient operation of a switch arrangement are described. Selectively operating one of a plurality of parallel-connected switches at different times along a period of a periodic waveform may allow for improved efficiency, uniform loss-spreading, and enhanced thermal design of an electronic circuit including use of power switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Shimon Khananashvili, Yakir Loewenstern
  • Patent number: 11671007
    Abstract: A plurality of switching units are provided, and a controller performs control in an antiphase manner to approximately synchronize a rise of a control signal applied to one of the switching units with a fall of a control signal for switching applied to any one of the other switching units and synchronize a fall of the control signal applied to the one of the switching units with a rise of the control signal for switching applied to the any one of the other switching units. When control in an antiphase manner is disabled, control is performed to prevent rises or falls from coinciding with each other between the switching units. Output signals from the switching units are input to rectifiers and are combined by a combiner to become an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Akio Yamamoto, Wen Li, Ryo Kadoi
  • Patent number: 11664737
    Abstract: According to the present embodiment, a DC transformation system includes a rectifier, a first power conversion device, a second power conversion device, and a control device. The rectifier rectifies AC power supplied from an AC power source and outputs a first DC voltage. The first power conversion device is connected in series to the rectifier and outputs a second DC voltage. The second power conversion device is connected in parallel to the rectifier and converts power supplied from the rectifier to supply the converted power to the first power conversion device. The control device controls the first power conversion device to cause an addition/subtraction voltage of the first DC voltage and the second DC voltage to be a predetermined voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Maki, Masayuki Nogi
  • Patent number: 11658584
    Abstract: An LLC resonance converter includes a switching circuit, a resonance tank, a transformer, a synchronous rectification unit, and a control unit. The switching circuit includes a first switch controlled by a first control signal and a second switch controlled by a second control signal. The synchronous rectification unit includes a first synchronous rectification switch controlled by a first rectification control signal and a second synchronous rectification switch controlled by a second rectification control signal. The first control signal, the first rectification control signal, the second control signal, and the second rectification control signal include an operation frequency and a phase shift amount. When the operating frequency is lower to a specific value or the phase shift amount is higher to a specific value, the control unit fixes one of them to extend a hold-up time of the LLC resonance converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Shang-Kay Yang, Hsien-Kai Wang, Yen-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 11658581
    Abstract: A power converter with an adjustable output voltage has an isolation DC/DC transformer, a primary side circuit connected to a primary coil of the isolation DC/DC transformer for transmitting an input AC power to the primary coil, and a secondary side circuit connected to a secondary coil of the isolation DC/DC transformer. The secondary side circuit includes a first output loop, a second output loop and a mode switch connected in the first output loop. When power consumption of a load is low, the mode switch is turned off to interrupt the first output loop so that the secondary side circuit generates a first output voltage with a low voltage level. When power consumption of a load is high, the mode switch is turned on and the secondary side circuit generates a second output voltage with a high voltage level. Without greatly increasing circuits, the power converter achieves wide-range voltage regulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Acbel Polytech Inc.
    Inventor: Chia-An Yeh
  • Patent number: 11652420
    Abstract: An isolated converter with high boost ration includes a transformer, a first bridge arm, a second bridge arm, and a boost circuit. The transformer includes a secondary side having a secondary side first node and a secondary side second node. The first bridge arm includes a first diode and a second diode. The second bridge arm includes a third diode and a fourth diode. The boost circuit includes at least one fifth diode coupled between the first bridge arm and the secondary side second node, at least one sixth diode coupled between the second bridge arm and the secondary side first node, and at least two capacitors coupled to the secondary side first node and the secondary side second node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Hung-Chieh Lin, Chao-Li Kao, Yi-Ping Hsieh, Jin-Zhong Huang, Chao-Lung Kuo, Hung-Yu Huang, Chih-Hsien Li
  • Patent number: 11637493
    Abstract: Provided are electrical circuits and methods for power factor correction. An example method includes receiving, by converter, an input voltage at a fundamental frequency and generating an output voltage; generating, based on the output voltage, a first measurement signal; subtracting a first reference signal from the first measurement signal to obtain a first error signal; generating an adaptive current sense signal, generating a reference voltage based on the input voltage, subtracting the reference voltage from the current sense signal thus generating a second measurement signal to control the current measurement; subtracting the second measurement signal from the input voltage to obtain a difference signal, wherein the difference signal is largely minimized by removing overtones of the fundamental frequency; generating, based on the difference signal, a second error signal; using a sum of the second error signal as a first order correction to the first error signal to regulate the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Inventor: Robert S. Wrathall
  • Patent number: 11626792
    Abstract: An inverter includes a DC/DC converter which converts a direct current received from a DC voltage source into an intermediate circuit voltage of an intermediate circuit, a DC/AC converter which converts the intermediate circuit voltage into an AC voltage, and a monitoring unit which monitors capacitors of the intermediate circuit for protection against overvoltages. If an overvoltage occurs at one of the capacitors of the intermediate circuit the overvoltage unit decouples the DC voltage source from the intermediate circuit by actuating the DC/DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Friedrich Oberzaucher, Gerhard Wallisch, Joachim Danmayr, Andreas Luger