Patents by Inventor Andrew John Skinner

Andrew John Skinner 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).

  • Patent number: 11264913
    Abstract: An apparatus (21) is described for facilitating emulated current-mode control of a resonant converter (1). The apparatus (21) comprises: an input (21) a for a first signal suitable for use in determining a phase of a resonant current, wherein the resonant current corresponds to a current in a resonant network (3) of the converter (1); an input (21b) for a second signal suitable for use in determining a target phase difference between the resonant current and a driving voltage, wherein the driving voltage corresponds to a voltage provided by a switch network (2) of the converter (1) to the resonant network (3); one or more outputs (21c, 21d) for one or more control signals for controlling operation of the switch network (2); and circuitry (21e-i).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: TDK-LAMBDA UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew John Skinner, Carlos Toyos Bada
  • Publication number: 20200412260
    Abstract: An apparatus (21) is described for facilitating emulated current-mode control of a resonant converter (1). The apparatus (21) comprises: an input (21) a for a first signal suitable for use in determining a phase of a resonant current, wherein the resonant current corresponds to a current in a resonant network (3) of the converter (1); an input (21b) for a second signal suitable for use in determining a target phase difference between the resonant current and a driving voltage, wherein the driving voltage corresponds to a voltage provided by a switch network (2) of the converter (1) to the resonant network (3); one or more outputs (21c, 21d) for one or more control signals for controlling operation of the switch network (2); and circuitry (21e-i).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Andrew John SKINNER, Carlos Toyos BADA
  • Patent number: 9780642
    Abstract: An energy recovery snubber circuit for a power converter which includes a flyback transformer driven by a converter switch is disclosed. The snubber circuit includes two capacitors which are connected such that, when the snubber circuit is connected to a primary winding of the flyback transformer, the capacitors are charged in series by current flowing in a first direction in the primary winding when the converted switch is turned OFF, to recover energy stored in the leakage inductance of the transformer, and discharged in parallel to cause current flow in a second direction in the primary winding of the transformer, to thereby transfer the recovered energy to the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: TDK-Lambda UK Limited
    Inventors: Andrew John Skinner, Atul Abhyankar
  • Patent number: 9444326
    Abstract: A SEPIC-type voltage converter for converting an input voltage supplied by a power supply into an output voltage comprises an inductive component comprising primary and secondary windings, an output capacitor for delivering power to a load by way of an output node, an AC coupling capacitor, a first rectifier for rectifying the output voltage, and a switch for periodically switching between an ON state in which the primary winding is energized by the power supply and in which the secondary winding is energized by the coupling capacitor, and an OFF state in which the output capacitor is charged by both the primary winding and the secondary winding. A second rectifier is connected in series with the secondary winding and the secondary winding is inductively coupled to the primary winding such that the secondary winding is influenced by changes in the voltage applied across the primary winding by the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: TDK-LAMBDA UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew John Skinner, Atul Shriram Abhyankar, Carlos Toyos Bada
  • Patent number: 9362831
    Abstract: A converter for transferring energy from a voltage supply to an output includes transformer T1, coupled inductor L1, switch S1, energy recovery capacitor C, and energy recovery winding T1b. Secondary winding T1c transfers energy from the supply to the output when primary winding T1a is connected to the voltage supply. Secondary winding L1b stores energy from the supply when primary winding L1a is connected to the supply, and transfers energy to the output when the primary winding is disconnected from the supply. Switch S1 switches between an on-state with windings T1a, L1a connected to the supply, and an off-state with windings T1a, L1a disconnected from the supply. Capacitor Cs provides a current path between the supply and windings T1a, L1a such that, in the off-state, energy associated with demagnetization and leakage inductance of transformer T1 is transferred to and stored in capacitor Cs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: TDK-Lambda UK Limited
    Inventor: Andrew John Skinner
  • Publication number: 20150244254
    Abstract: An energy recovery snubber circuit for a power converter which includes a flyback transformer driven by a converter switch is disclosed. The snubber circuit includes two capacitors which are connected such that, when the snubber circuit is connected to a primary winding of the flyback transformer, the capacitors are charged in series by current flowing in a first direction in the primary winding when the converted switch is turned OFF, to recover energy stored in the leakage inductance of the transformer, and discharged in parallel to cause current flow in a second direction in the primary winding of the transformer, to thereby transfer the recovered energy to the transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew John Skinner, Atul Abhyankar
  • Publication number: 20150222178
    Abstract: A SEPIC-type voltage converter for converting an input voltage supplied by a power supply into an output voltage comprises an inductive component comprising primary and secondary windings, an output capacitor for delivering power to a load by way of an output node, an AC coupling capacitor, a first rectifier for rectifying the output voltage, and a switch for periodically switching between an ON state in which the primary winding is energised by the power supply and in which the secondary winding is energised by the coupling capacitor, and an OFF state in which the output capacitor is charged by both the primary winding and the secondary winding. A second rectifier is connected in series with the secondary winding and the secondary winding is inductively coupled to the primary winding such that the secondary winding is influenced by changes in the voltage applied across the primary winding by the power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew John SKINNER, Atul Shriram ABHYANKAR, Carlos Toyos BADA
  • Patent number: 8963370
    Abstract: Load sharing apparatus for load sharing between a plurality of power supplies (1, 2). The apparatus comprises one or more load sharing modules (Share1, Share2), each for association with a respective power supply. The or each load sharing module comprises load determining means for generating a signal which represents a load value corresponding to the power or current supplied by the respective power supply, and voltage control means for controlling the output voltage of the respective power supply to vary inversely with said load value at a first rate when the load value is below a threshold value, and for controlling the output voltage of the respective power supply to vary inversely with said load value at a second rate when the load value equals or exceeds said (first) threshold value. Said second rate is greater than said first rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: TDK-Lambda UK Limited
    Inventors: Andrew John Skinner, Martin Coates
  • Patent number: 8797004
    Abstract: Disclosed is a PFC (power factor correction) device for shaping an input current of a power converter. The device includes means for receiving a rectified input voltage derived from an AC input voltage; load determining means for determining a load value L which represents the power drawn by a load supplied by the power converter; current shaping means for shaping the input current of the power converter to follow a reference waveform; and control means for controlling the current shaping means to operate over a conduction interval ? during each positive and negative half cycle of the AC input voltage. The duration of the conduction interval is controlled in accordance with the load value L. The current shaping means may shape the input current to follow the reference waveform which crosses zero at phase angles which substantially correspond to the start and end of the conduction interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: TDK-Lambda UK Limited
    Inventor: Andrew John Skinner
  • Publication number: 20140204620
    Abstract: A converter for transferring energy from a voltage supply to an output includes transformer T1, coupled inductor L1, switch S1, energy recovery capacitor C, and energy recovery winding T1b. Secondary winding T1c transfers energy from the supply to the output when primary winding T1a is connected to the voltage supply. Secondary winding L1b stores energy from the supply when primary winding L1a is connected to the supply, and transfers energy to the output when the primary winding is disconnected from the supply. Switch S1 switches between an on-state with windings T1a, L1a connected to the supply, and an off-state with windings T1a, L1a disconnected from the supply. Capacitor Cs provides a current path between the supply and windings T1a, L1a such that, in the off-state, energy associated with demagnetization and leakage inductance of transformer T1 is transferred to and stored in capacitor Cs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: TDK-Lambda UK Limited
    Inventor: Andrew John Skinner
  • Patent number: 8659276
    Abstract: Disclosed is an interleaved power converter for converting a DC voltage source into a DC voltage output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: TDK-Lambda UK Limited
    Inventor: Andrew John Skinner
  • Publication number: 20120250363
    Abstract: Disclosed is an interleaved power converter for converting a DC voltage source into a DC voltage output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: TDK-Lambda UK Limited
    Inventor: Andrew John Skinner
  • Publication number: 20120176101
    Abstract: Disclosed is a PFC (power factor correction) device for shaping an input current of a power converter. The device includes means for receiving a rectified input voltage derived from an AC input voltage; load determining means for determining a load value L which represents the power drawn by a load supplied by the power converter; current shaping means for shaping the input current of the power converter to follow a reference waveform; and control means for controlling the current shaping means to operate over a conduction interval ? during each positive and negative half cycle of the AC input voltage. The duration of the conduction interval is controlled in accordance with the load value L. The current shaping means may shape the input current to follow the reference waveform which crosses zero at phase angles which substantially correspond to the start and end of the conduction interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: TDK-LAMBDA UK LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew John SKINNER
  • Publication number: 20120056479
    Abstract: Load sharing apparatus for load sharing between a plurality of power supplies (1, 2). The apparatus comprises one or more load sharing modules (Share1, Share2), each for association with a respective power supply. The or each load sharing module comprises load determining means for generating a signal which represents a load value corresponding to the power or current supplied by the respective power supply, and voltage control means for controlling the output voltage of the respective power supply to vary inversely with said load value at a first rate when the load value is below a threshold value, and for controlling the output voltage of the respective power supply to vary inversely with said load value at a second rate when the load value equals or exceeds said (first) threshold value. Said second rate is greater than said first rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: TDK-LAMBDA UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew John Skinner, Martin Coates
  • Publication number: 20090128101
    Abstract: A power conversion circuit comprising an input; an output; an electrical energy storage element having one side connected to the input; and at least two sub-circuits, wherein each respective sub-circuit is connected in series between the output and the other side of said electrical energy storage element; and wherein each said sub-circuit includes an inductive device, a rectifying element, and a controllable switching element connected in circuit therebetween to be capable of connecting the inductive device in parallel across the input; wherein the inductive elements of said at least two sub-circuits are magnetically coupled together. Smaller circuit components can therefore be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: COUTANT LAMBDA LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew John Skinner