Patents by Inventor Balu Balakrishnan

Balu Balakrishnan 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).

  • Publication number: 20230387808
    Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes a lead frame and an encapsulation that substantially encloses the lead frame. The lead frame further includes a first conductor comprising a first conductive loop and a second conductor galvanically isolated from the first conductor, proximate to and magnetically coupled to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductor. The second conductor includes a first conductive portion, a second conductive portion, and a wire coupling together the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Patent number: 11695343
    Abstract: A control circuit comprising an output controller coupled to an output side of a power converter. The output controller comprises a switch control signal generator to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of the power controller and to communicate a control signal to an input controller coupled to an input side to control a turn ON of a power switch. The control signal is generated in response to the feedback signal and is communicated in response to an enable signal. The output controller comprises an extremum locator to generate the enable signal in response to a winding signal representative of an instantaneous voltage on an output terminal of an energy transfer element and the extremum locator enables the switch control signal generator such that the transition of the power switch from the OFF state to the ON state occurs substantially when the winding signal reaches an extremum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: POWER INTEGRATIONS. INC.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, David Michael Hugh Matthews, Vikram Balakrishnan, Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Zhao-Jun Wang, Giao Minh Pham, Qing McIntosh
  • Patent number: 11509219
    Abstract: A power supply comprising a first-stage capacitor configured to provide energy to a second stage power converter. An energy transfer element coupled to the first-stage capacitor. A reservoir capacitor coupled to the energy transfer element. The reservoir capacitor is configured to receive charge from the energy transfer element. A power switch configured to control a transfer of energy from an input of the power supply to the first-stage capacitor. A controller coupled to the power switch, the controller configured to generate a hold-up signal in response to the input of the power supply falling below a threshold voltage. A charge circuit comprising a first switch and a second switch configured to be controlled by the hold-up signal. The first switch couples the reservoir capacitor to an input of the energy transfer element. The second switch is configured to uncouple the reservoir capacitor from receiving charge from the energy transfer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc
    Inventors: David Michael Hugh Matthews, Balu Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 11349398
    Abstract: A controller to regulate a power converter includes a terminal that receives an enable signal including enable events representative of an output of the power converter. A drive circuit generates a drive signal to control switching of a power switch to control an energy transfer from an input to an output of the power converter. The drive circuit turns on the power switch when an enable event is received in the enable signal. A current limit threshold generator is coupled to the drive circuit to generate a threshold signal. The threshold signal increases in response to the power switch turning off and subsequently decreases. The threshold signal and a time between consecutive enable events are used to modulate the drive signal to regulate the output of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Giao Minh Pham, Lance M. Wong
  • Patent number: 11309800
    Abstract: A controller for use with a power converter and a power switch comprising a primary controller and a secondary controller. The primary controller to control the power switch to transfer energy from the input side to the output side of the power converter. The secondary controller to transmit a control signal to the primary controller through a communication link, and to initiate a transition operation with the primary controller through the communication link. The secondary controller comprises a secondary switch control circuit configured to output the control signal in response to an output of the power converter, a charging circuit coupled to an energy storage element for providing power to the secondary control circuit, and a voltage detection circuit coupled to the energy storage element, wherein the voltage detection circuit is configured to indicate to the secondary switch control circuit when to initiate the transition operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian, Sheng Liu
  • Publication number: 20210328516
    Abstract: A control circuit comprising an output controller coupled to an output side of a power converter. The output controller comprises a switch control signal generator to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of the power controller and to communicate a control signal to an input controller coupled to an input side to control a turn ON of a power switch. The control signal is generated in response to the feedback signal and is communicated in response to an enable signal. The output controller comprises an extremum locator to generate the enable signal in response to a winding signal representative of an instantaneous voltage on an output terminal of an energy transfer element and the extremum locator enables the switch control signal generator such that the transition of the power switch from the OFF state to the ON state occurs substantially when the winding signal reaches an extremum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: BALU BALAKRISHNAN, DAVID MICHAEL HUGH MATTHEWS, VIKRAM BALAKRISHNAN, ROLAND SYLVERE SAINT-PIERRE, ZHAO-JUN WANG, GIAO MINH PHAM, QING MCINTOSH
  • Patent number: 11081964
    Abstract: A method of providing an input switching request signal to an input side switch includes determining a switching request window indicative of relaxation ringing during a first switching cycle. It is determined that the input side switch is operating in a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) mode of operation during a second switching cycle. It is determined that the switching request window is open during the second switching cycle. The input switching request signal is enabled in response to determining the switching request window is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, David Michael Hugh Matthews, Vikram Balakrishnan, Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Zhao-Jun Wang, Giao Minh Pham, Qing McIntosh
  • Patent number: 11043890
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a secondary controller coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter to generate d a request signal. A primary controller is coupled to receive the request signal to generate a primary drive signal. The primary drive signal is coupled to control switching of a power switch to control a transfer of energy from the input to the output of the power converter. A frequency to on-time converter included in the primary controller is coupled to receive the request signal. The frequency to on-time converter is coupled to control the duration of on-time pulses included in the primary drive signal in response to a period of the request signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Tiziano Pastore, Sundaresan Sundararaj
  • Publication number: 20210152087
    Abstract: A power supply comprising a first-stage capacitor configured to provide energy to a second stage power converter. An energy transfer element coupled to the first-stage capacitor. A reservoir capacitor coupled to the energy transfer element. The reservoir capacitor is configured to receive charge from the energy transfer element. A power switch configured to control a transfer of energy from an input of the power supply to the first-stage capacitor. A controller coupled to the power switch, the controller configured to generate a hold-up signal in response to the input of the power supply falling below a threshold voltage. A charge circuit comprising a first switch and a second switch configured to be controlled by the hold-up signal. The first switch couples the reservoir capacitor to an input of the energy transfer element. The second switch is configured to uncouple the reservoir capacitor from receiving charge from the energy transfer element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: DAVID MICHAEL HUGH MATHEWS, Balu Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20210028708
    Abstract: A controller to regulate a power converter includes a terminal that receives an enable signal including enable events representative of an output of the power converter. A drive circuit generates a drive signal to control switching of a power switch to control an energy transfer from an input to an output of the power converter. The drive circuit turns on the power switch when an enable event is received in the enable signal. A current limit threshold generator is coupled to the drive circuit to generate a threshold signal. The threshold signal increases in response to the power switch turning off and subsequently decreases. The threshold signal and a time between consecutive enable events are used to modulate the drive signal to regulate the output of the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Giao Minh Pham, Lance M. Wong
  • Publication number: 20210006167
    Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes a lead frame and an encapsulation that substantially encloses the lead frame. The lead frame further includes a first conductor comprising a first conductive loop and a second conductor galvanically isolated from the first conductor, proximate to and magnetically coupled to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductor. The second conductor includes a first conductive portion, a second conductive portion, and a wire coupling together the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Patent number: 10833590
    Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes a lead frame and an encapsulation that substantially encloses the lead frame. The lead frame further includes a first conductor comprising a first conductive loop and a second conductor galvanically isolated from the first conductor, proximate to and magnetically coupled to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductor. The second conductor includes a first conductive portion, a second conductive portion, and a wire coupling together the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Patent number: 10811977
    Abstract: A controller to regulate a power converter includes a terminal coupled to receive an enable signal including enable events representative of an output of the power converter. A drive circuit is coupled to generate a drive signal to control switching of a power switch to control a transfer of energy from an input of the power converter to the output of the power converter. The drive circuit is coupled to turn on the power switch when an enable event is received in the enable signal. A current limit threshold generator is coupled to the drive circuit to generate a current limit threshold signal. The current limit threshold signal varies each switching cycle of the power switch. A time between consecutive enable events in the enable signal is the switching cycle of the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Giao Minh Pham, Lance M. Wong
  • Publication number: 20200274453
    Abstract: A controller for use with a power converter and a power switch comprising a primary controller and a secondary controller. The primary controller to control the power switch to transfer energy from the input side to the output side of the power converter. The secondary controller to transmit a control signal to the primary controller through a communication link, and to initiate a transition operation with the primary controller through the communication link. The secondary controller comprises a secondary switch control circuit configured to output the control signal in response to an output of the power converter, a charging circuit coupled to an energy storage element for providing power to the secondary control circuit, and a voltage detection circuit coupled to the energy storage element, wherein the voltage detection circuit is configured to indicate to the secondary switch control circuit when to initiate the transition operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian, Sheng Liu
  • Patent number: 10693380
    Abstract: A controller configured for use with a power converter and a power switch comprising a primary controller coupled to the power converter and configured to provide a switch drive signal to control switching of the power switch to transfer energy from a primary side to a secondary side of the power converter. A primary switching pattern circuit is configured to provide a primary switching pattern to operate the primary controller in a first mode of operation and a primary switch control circuit is coupled to the primary switching pattern circuit and configured to receive a control signal representative of turn-on of the power switch, to receive the primary switching pattern, and to output the switch drive signal. The primary switch control circuit operates in a first mode, a second mode, and a transition, wherein the primary switch control circuit operates in the second mode after the transition has been completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian, Sheng Liu
  • Patent number: 10608525
    Abstract: A circuit for use in a power converter includes a control circuit capable of detecting whether an AC voltage source is coupled to an input of the power converter, and whether the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the input within a first period of time. A control circuit is coupled to drive a switch in a first operating mode when the control circuit detects that the AC voltage source is coupled to the input, and drive the switch in a second operating mode when the control circuit detects that the AC voltage source is uncoupled from the input. The control circuit is capable of discharging a capacitance coupled between input terminals of the power converter to a SELV level through a discharge path and the switch within a second period of time. An RC time constant of the discharge path is less than or equal to one second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, David Kung, Raymond Kenneth Orr, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Patent number: 10432095
    Abstract: A controller for a power converter includes a switching control coupled to switch a power switch to regulate an output of the power converter. A sensor is coupled to receive a signal from a terminal of the controller that represents a line input voltage during at least a portion of an on time of the power switch, and an output voltage of the power converter during at least a portion of an off time of the power switch. The sensor is coupled to sample the signal from the terminal during the portion of the on time of the power switch and to generate a sample input line voltage signal. An output regulator is coupled between the sensor and the switching control to output an output regulation signal to the switching control. The switching control is coupled to switch the power switch in response to the output regulation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Balu Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20190288604
    Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes a lead frame and an encapsulation that substantially encloses the lead frame. The lead frame further includes a first conductor comprising a first conductive loop and a second conductor galvanically isolated from the first conductor, proximate to and magnetically coupled to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductor. The second conductor includes a first conductive portion, a second conductive portion, and a wire coupling together the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Patent number: 10361632
    Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes an encapsulation and a lead frame. A portion of the lead frame is disposed within the encapsulation. The lead frame includes a first conductor having an inner conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation and a second conductor galvanically isolated from the first conductor. The second conductor includes an outer conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation proximate to and magnetically coupled to the inner conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Publication number: 20190157966
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a secondary controller coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter to generate d a request signal. A primary controller is coupled to receive the request signal to generate a primary drive signal. The primary drive signal is coupled to control switching of a power switch to control a transfer of energy from the input to the output of the power converter. A frequency to on-time converter included in the primary controller is coupled to receive the request signal. The frequency to on-time converter is coupled to control the duration of on-time pulses included in the primary drive signal in response to a period of the request signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Tiziano Pastore, Sundaresan Sundararaj