Patents by Inventor Alex B. Djenguerian

Alex B. Djenguerian has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Apparatus and method for sensing of isolated output
    Patent number: 8355266
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a control circuit to be coupled to a current controller coupled to an energy transfer element. A first, second or third current is enabled in the current controller in response to the control circuit. The first current is substantially zero, the second current is greater than the third current, and the third current is greater than the first current. The third current only partially discharges a capacitance coupled to a terminal coupled between the energy transfer element and the current controller. A first feedback circuit coupled to the control circuit generates a first feedback signal after a full discharge pulse of current through the current controller. A second feedback circuit coupled to the control circuit generates a second feedback signal after a partial discharge pulse of current through the current controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Arthur B. Odell, Henson Wu
  • Apparatus and method for detecting a change in output voltage of an isolated power converter
    Patent number: 8339811
    Abstract: An output voltage sensor for use in a power converter controller includes a first pulse sampler circuit coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of a power converter. The first pulse sampler circuit is coupled to capture a first peak voltage representative of a second peak of a ringing voltage of the feedback signal at a first time in the feedback signal. A second pulse sampler circuit is coupled to receive the feedback signal representative of the output of the power converter. The second pulse sampler circuit is coupled to capture a second peak voltage representative of the second peak of the ringing voltage of the feedback signal at a second time in the feedback signal. The output voltage sensor is coupled to output a change signal to a drive circuit of the power converter controller in response to the first and second peak voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Arthur B. Odell, Henson Wu
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS TO SELECT A PARAMETER/MODE BASED ON A MEASUREMENT DURING AN INITIALIZATION PERIOD
    Publication number: 20120320639
    Abstract: A power supply includes an energy transfer element coupled between an input and an output. A switch is coupled to an input of the energy transfer element. A threshold detection circuit includes in an integrated circuit coupled to measure a signal from a resistive external circuit coupled between fourth and first external terminals of the integrated circuit during an initialization period after the fourth external terminal has been charged to a supply threshold value. A regulator circuit is coupled between second and fourth external terminals of the integrated circuit. The regulator circuit is coupled to charge the fourth external terminal to the supply threshold value during the initialization period. A selection circuit is coupled to the threshold detection circuit to select a parameter/mode of the integrated circuit in response to the measured signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Robert J. Mayell, Kent Wong
  • Method and apparatus to limit maximum switch current in a switching power supply
    Patent number: 8325498
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for use in a power supply includes a drive signal generator, a short on time detector, and an oscillator. The drive signal generator generates a drive signal in response to a clock signal. The short on time detector provides an output indicating that consecutive on times of the drive signal are short on times. An on time of the drive signal is a short on time if a switch current of the switch exceeds a current limit after a leading edge blanking period and if the on time of the switch is less than or equal to a sum of the leading edge blanking period and a current limit delay time period. The oscillator generates the clock signal and changes a frequency of the clock signal from a first frequency to a lower second frequency in response to the output of the short on time detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Andrew J. Morrish
  • OFF-LINE CONVERTER WITH DIGITAL CONTROL
    Publication number: 20120280670
    Abstract: A power converter includes an input and an output. A regulation circuit is coupled between the power converter input and the power converter output. The regulation circuit is coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of the power converter output. The feedback signal has a first feedback state that represents a level at the power converter output that is above a threshold level and a second feedback state that represents a level at the power converter output that is below the threshold level. An oscillator is included in the regulation circuit that provides an oscillation signal that cycles between two states. The regulation circuit is coupled to be responsive to the oscillation signal and to a change between the first and second feedback states to enable or disable a flow of energy from the power converter input to the power converter output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian, Leif O. Lund
  • POWER SUPPLY CONTROLLER WITH INPUT VOLTAGE COMPENSATION FOR EFFICIENCY AND MAXIMUM POWER OUTPUT
    Publication number: 20120250368
    Abstract: A controller for regulating an output of a power supply includes a logic block and an oscillator. The logic block generates the drive signal to control switching of a power switch in response to a clock signal. The clock signal has a frequency that decreases responsive to a time period of the drive signal, where a decrease in the time period of the drive signal represents an increase in an input voltage of the power supply. The oscillator is coupled to generate the clock signal in response to a waveform having an amplitude swing. The oscillator alters the waveform in response to the time period of the drive signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian, Leif Lund
  • Method and apparatus to select a parameter/mode based on a measurement during an initialization period
    Patent number: 8279643
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a threshold detection circuit that is coupled to measure a signal from a first resistive external circuit coupled between a fourth external terminal of the integrated circuit and a first external terminal of the integrated circuit during a duration of an initialization period after the fourth external terminal has been charged to a supply threshold value. A regulator circuit is coupled to charge the fourth external terminal to the supply threshold value during the initialization period of the integrated circuit. A selection circuit is coupled to the threshold detection circuit to select a parameter/mode of the integrated circuit in response to the signal measured from the first resistive external circuit during the duration of the initialization period after the fourth external terminal has been charged to the supply threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Robert J. Mayell, Kent Wong
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTING AN UNREGULATED DORMANT MODE WITH AN EVENT COUNTER IN A POWER CONVERTER
    Publication number: 20120218786
    Abstract: An example power converter includes an energy transfer element, a switch, and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a drive signal generator and an unregulated dormant mode control circuit. The unregulated dormant mode control circuit renders dormant the drive signal generator thereby ceasing the regulation of the output by the drive signal generator when the energy requirement of the one or more loads falls below a threshold for more than a first period of time. The drive signal generator is unresponsive to changes in the energy requirements of the one or more loads when dormant. The unregulated dormant mode control circuit powers up the drive signal generator after a second period of time has elapsed, such that the drive signal generator is again responsive to changes in the energy requirement of the one or more loads after the second period of time has elapsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Leif Lund
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIGITAL CONTROL OF A SWITCHING REGULATOR
    Publication number: 20120218788
    Abstract: In one aspect, a power supply includes an energy transfer element, a switch, a feedback circuit, a comparator, a state machine, and a control circuit. The feedback circuit generates a feedback signal representative of an output level of the power supply. The comparator provides a feedback state signal having a first feedback state that represents the output level of the power supply being above a threshold level and a second feedback state that represents the output level being below the threshold level. The state machine selectively modulates a first signal in response to the feedback state signal, where the first signal is the feedback signal or the threshold value signal. The control circuit is coupled to control switching of the switch to regulate the output level of the power supply in response to the feedback state signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Andrew J. Morrish, Arthur B. Odell, Kent Wong
  • Off-line converter with digital control
    Patent number: 8248053
    Abstract: A circuit for regulating the level at a power converter output is disclosed. An example circuit includes an input for receiving a feedback signal. The feedback signal has a first feedback state that represents a level that is above a threshold level and a second feedback state that represents a level that is below the threshold level. An oscillator is included that provides an oscillation signal that cycles between two states. A switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal are also included. The switch is operable to couple or decouple the first terminal and the second terminal in response to a control signal received at the control terminal. The control signal is responsive to the oscillation signal and to the first and second feedback states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian, Leif O. Lund
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE POWER CAPABILITY OF A POWER SUPPLY
    Publication number: 20120188799
    Abstract: One example controller for a power supply includes an oscillator, a drive signal generator, and a restart circuit. The oscillator generates a clock signal and the drive signal generator controls switching of a switch to regulate an output of the power supply in response to the clock signal. The restart circuit generates a restart signal in response to a current through the switch and in response to an absolute maximum on time period. The oscillator generates the clock signal to have a fixed maximum frequency in response to the restart signal indicating that the current through the switch reaches a current limit threshold within the absolute maximum on time period. The oscillator also generates the clock signal to have a variable minimum frequency in response to the restart signal indicating that the current through the switch has not reached the current limit threshold within the maximum on time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Chan Woong Park, Alex B. Djenguerian, Kent Wong
  • Power supply controller with input voltage compensation for efficiency and maximum power output
    Patent number: 8222882
    Abstract: A controller for a power supply includes a logic block and a time-to-frequency converter. The logic block is to generate a drive signal in response to a clock signal. The drive signal is to be coupled to control switching of a power switch of the power supply to regulate an output of the power supply. The time-to-frequency converter is coupled to the logic block and generates the clock signal having a frequency responsive to a time period of the drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian, Leif Lund
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A CHANGE IN OUTPUT VOLTAGE OF AN ISOLATED POWER CONVERTER
    Publication number: 20120170327
    Abstract: An output voltage sensor for use in a power converter controller includes a first pulse sampler circuit coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of a power converter. The first pulse sampler circuit is coupled to capture a first peak voltage representative of a second peak of a ringing voltage of the feedback signal at a first time in the feedback signal. A second pulse sampler circuit is coupled to receive the feedback signal representative of the output of the power converter. The second pulse sampler circuit is coupled to capture a second peak voltage representative of the second peak of the ringing voltage of the feedback signal at a second time in the feedback signal. The output voltage sensor is coupled to output a change signal to a drive circuit of the power converter controller in response to the first and second peak voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Arthur B. Odell, Henson Wu
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS TO REGULATE AN OUTPUT VOLTAGE OF A POWER CONVERTER AT LIGHT/NO LOAD CONDITIONS
    Publication number: 20120163043
    Abstract: An example controller for a primary side control power converter includes a feedback circuit, a driver circuit, and an adjustable voltage reference circuit. The feedback circuit is coupled to compare a feedback signal representative of a bias winding voltage of the power converter with a voltage reference. The driver circuit is coupled to output a switching signal to control a switch of the power converter to regulate an output of the power converter in response the feedback circuit. The adjustable voltage reference circuit is coupled to adjust the voltage reference such that the bias winding voltage is adjusted nonlinearly in response to a load condition at the output of the power converter. The adjustable voltage reference circuit is further coupled to detect the load condition in response to the switching signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Leif Lund, Alex B. Djenguerian, William M. Polivka
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS TO LIMIT OUTPUT POWER IN A SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY
    Publication number: 20120155129
    Abstract: An example power supply includes an energy transfer element, a switch, and a controller. The controller includes a modulator, a drive signal generator, a comparator, and a variable current limit generator. The modulator generates an enable signal having logic states responsive to a feedback signal. The drive signal generator either enables or skips enabling a switch of the power supply during a switching period in response to the logic state of the enable signal. The comparator asserts an over current signal to disable the switch if the switch current exceeds a variable current limit. The variable current limit generator sets the variable current limit to a first current limit in response to one logic state of the enable signal and sets the variable current limit to a second current limit if the enable signal transitions logic states and the over current signal is asserted during the switching period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Stefan Bäurle, Kent Wong
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SENSING OF ISOLATED OUTPUT
    Publication number: 20120147632
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a control circuit to be coupled to a current controller coupled to an energy transfer element. A first, second or third current is enabled in the current controller in response to the control circuit. The first current is substantially zero, the second current is greater than the third current, and the third current is greater than the first current. The third current only partially discharges a capacitance coupled to a terminal coupled between the energy transfer element and the current controller. A first feedback circuit coupled to the control circuit generates a first feedback signal after a full discharge pulse of current through the current controller. A second feedback circuit coupled to the control circuit generates a second feedback signal after a partial discharge pulse of current through the current controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Arthur B. Odell, Henson Wu
  • Method and apparatus for digital control of a switching regulator
    Patent number: 8194422
    Abstract: In one aspect, a power supply regulator includes a feedback terminal, a node, a control circuit, a first current source, and a second current source. The node is coupled to the feedback terminal to provide a feedback state signal in response to a feedback current through the feedback terminal. The feedback state signal has feedback states that represent an output of the power supply. The control circuit is to be coupled to a power switch and to receive the feedback state signal to regulate the output of the power supply. The first current source is coupled to the node to provide a first current to the node. The second current source is coupled to the node to selectively remove a second current from the node to modulate the feedback current and to alter the feedback state of the feedback state signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Andrew J. Morrish, Arthur B. Odell, Kent Wong
  • Method and apparatus for implementing an unregulated dormant mode with an event counter in a power converter
    Patent number: 8194421
    Abstract: A method for controlling an output of a power converter includes generating a drive signal with a control circuit, entering a dormant mode of operation that includes powering down the control circuit if a flow of energy to an output of the power converter is less than a threshold value for more than a first period of time, and powering up the control circuit after it is in the dormant mode of operation for a second period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Leif Lund
  • Fault condition protection
    Patent number: 8184413
    Abstract: A regulator for a switched mode power supply includes switching regulator logic, a counter and a switching transistor. The switching regulator logic is coupled to receive a feedback signal and to generate a switching signal in response. The feedback signal periodically cycles between a first state and a second state when the power supply operates normally. The counter is coupled to receive the feedback signal and an output of the counter indicates an auto-restart mode of the regulator in response to the feedback signal remaining in the first state for a predetermined count. The switching transistor is turned on and off in response to the switching signal when the output of the counter does not indicate the auto-restart mode and is disabled when the output of the counter indicates the auto-restart mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian, Leif O. Lund
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS TO SELECT A PARAMETER/MODE BASED ON A MEASUREMENT DURING AN INITIALIZATION PERIOD
    Publication number: 20120099350
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a threshold detection circuit that is coupled to measure a signal from a first resistive external circuit coupled between a fourth external terminal of the integrated circuit and a first external terminal of the integrated circuit during a duration of an initialization period after the fourth external terminal has been charged to a supply threshold value. A regulator circuit is coupled to charge the fourth external terminal to the supply threshold value during the initialization period of the integrated circuit. A selection circuit is coupled to the threshold detection circuit to select a parameter/mode of the integrated circuit in response to the signal measured from the first resistive external circuit during the duration of the initialization period after the fourth external terminal has been charged to the supply threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Robert J. Mayell, Kent Wong