Patents by Inventor Frank WARNES

Frank WARNES 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: 12658354
    Abstract: An embedded magnetic component transformer device includes primary, secondary, and auxiliary windings that are defined by conductive vias connected by conductive traces. The conductive traces and vias of the auxiliary winding are arranged between the conductive traces and vias of respective first and second portions of the primary winding, so that the auxiliary winding is provided substantially in the center of the width of the PCB. Power connections are provided at respective opposing edges of the device, and surface mounted transistors are provided close to the primary winding portions between the auxiliary winding and the edge of the device. The device provides an efficient utilization of the surface conductive traces such that large areas of the surface remain for other functions, such as ground plates. The thermal properties of the device are balanced by distributing the transistors and the power connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Neil Stephenson, Frank Warnes
  • Patent number: 12603583
    Abstract: An isolated DC-DC converter includes a non-isolated DC-DC converter as a primary side. The non-isolated DC-DC converter includes a first inductor, a switch controller, and first and second switches. The non-isolated DC-DC converter is configured to receive an input voltage. The non-isolated DC-DC converter also includes a secondary side including a second inductor, a full wave rectifying circuit, and a filter circuit. The second inductor in the secondary side is coupled with the first inductor in the primary side to define a transformer. The secondary side is electrically isolated from the primary side by the transformer and is configured to output a DC voltage based on a voltage induced in the second inductor via the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Tange, Frank Warnes
  • Patent number: 12580483
    Abstract: A power supply circuit for providing a positive, intermediate, and negative voltage supply includes positive and negative DC voltage buses that connect to a power source; a first voltage divider that is connected between the positive and the negative DC voltage buses, that includes a first transistor connected to the negative DC voltage bus, and that provides the intermediate voltage supply; a second voltage divider that is connected between the positive and the negative DC voltage buses and that is connected to the first transistor; and a short circuit protection module that includes a second transistor connected between outputs of the first and second voltage dividers and connected to the first transistor and that includes a current limiting element connected to the first transistor and configured to limit power dissipated by the first transistor in the case of a short circuit to the intermediate voltage supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Frank Warnes
  • Publication number: 20250311250
    Abstract: An electronic module including a substrate or a lead frame including a conductive pattern; a magnetic core located on or above the substrate or the lead frame; first and second block coils connected by a bridge to define a single unitary component, each of the first and the second block coils including a resin body that is located on or above the substrate or the lead frame and that extends over the magnetic core and a first terminal that is on or embedded in the resin body and that is connected to the conductive pattern; an electronic component located on the substrate or the lead frame; and an insulating material covering the substrate or the lead frame, the magnetic core, and the block coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2025
    Publication date: October 2, 2025
    Inventors: Lee FRANCIS, Frank WARNES, Takayuki TANGE
  • Publication number: 20250293610
    Abstract: A flyback converter includes a transformer, a switching circuit, and a regulating circuitry coupled with a primary winding circuit of the transformer. The switching circuit includes a primary switch which is switchable between an ON state and an OFF state and a switch coupled to the primary switch of the primary winding circuit. The switch is configured to change the state of the primary switch in response to a current change in the primary winding circuit under normal operation. The regulating circuit includes a regulator coupled between the switch and the primary winding. The regulator is configured to feed an additional current to the switch in response to a voltage applied from the primary winding to the regulator. In response to the additional current fed by the regulator, the switch is urged to change the state of the primary switch earlier than under normal operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2025
    Publication date: September 18, 2025
    Inventor: Frank WARNES
  • Patent number: 12143013
    Abstract: A power supply output device converts an input from a DC-DC converter into a bipolar voltage output of a gate driver circuit driving a power switch. The power output supply device includes an adjusting circuit to measure an output of the gate driver circuit at the gate of the power switch, and to adjust the bipolar voltage output in order to maintain the output of the gate driver circuit at a predetermined voltage. The power supply output device provides a cost-effective technique to regulate the peak positive voltage input into the gate of the power switch at a required voltage, regardless of any fluctuations or losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Frank Warnes
  • Patent number: 12136809
    Abstract: A three-output DC voltage supply for providing a positive, an intermediate, and a negative voltage supply is provided which includes a positive DC voltage bus and a negative DC voltage bus configured to be connected to a DC power source, a first voltage divider connected between the positive DC voltage bus and the negative DC voltage bus, wherein the first voltage divider includes a voltage-setting component and a resistive component, and a short-circuit protection component including first and second transistors of opposite types connected between the voltage-setting component and the resistive component, wherein a base of the first transistor is connected to a collector of the second transistor to define a first base/collector node, a base of the second transistor is connected to a collector of the first transistor to define a second base/collector node, and the intermediate voltage supply is provided by either the first or second gate/collector nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Frank Warnes
  • Patent number: 12021443
    Abstract: A reverse polarity protection circuit of a DC-DC converter includes an inductive component. When the DC-DC converter is connected to a power supply with correct polarity, the inductive component of the converter receives power via a body diode of a protection switch. Once the inductive component begins to charge and discharge under control of a driving switch, the protection switch turns on and allows full power to be provided to the inductive component. When the DC-DC converter is connected with reverse polarity, a clamping switch fed by the power supply turns on and connects a control input of the protection switch to ground, turning off the protection switch. The clamping switch is protected by a switch protection device to lower the voltage difference between a control input of the clamping switch and an input of the clamping switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Frank Warnes
  • Patent number: 11901824
    Abstract: A variable DC-DC converter includes a no-load voltage clamp in which a rectified, filtered, and loaded control signal drives a switch. The switch switches in a load resistance across the output terminals of the converter when the output terminals are unloaded or lightly loaded. Due to a combined rectification, smoothing, and filtering operation of the control signal circuit, the control signal provides a steady voltage of the output voltage selected by a user of the converter based on predetermined output requirements. The control signal is therefore not subject to the voltage spikes that the main output is subject to. The circuit compares the control signal to the output voltage, and switches in the load resistance when the voltage at the output rises above the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Frank Warnes
  • Patent number: 11848607
    Abstract: A circuit for supplying an error signal to a controller in a boost or SEPIC DC-DC converter includes first, second, and third Zener diodes, first, second, and third resistors, and a MOSFET or BJT switch. The circuit includes, connected to a common voltage input source, a first branch including the switch, the first Zener diode and the first resistor, a second branch including the second Zener diode and the second resistor. The first and second branches are mutually connected to the third resistor, and the third resistor is connected to the controller. A third branch includes the third Zener diode and connections to the base or gate of the switch and ground. Each of the first, second, and third Zener diodes are reverse-biased. The second and third Zener voltages are equal and higher than the first Zener voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Frank Warnes
  • Publication number: 20230327554
    Abstract: A power supply circuit for providing a positive, intermediate, and negative voltage supply includes positive and negative DC voltage buses that connect to a power source; a first voltage divider that is connected between the positive and the negative DC voltage buses, that includes a first transistor connected to the negative DC voltage bus, and that provides the intermediate voltage supply; a second voltage divider that is connected between the positive and the negative DC voltage buses and that is connected to the first transistor; and a short circuit protection module that includes a second transistor connected between outputs of the first and second voltage dividers and connected to the first transistor and that includes a current limiting element connected to the first transistor and configured to limit power dissipated by the first transistor in the case of a short circuit to the intermediate voltage supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventor: Frank WARNES
  • Publication number: 20230327540
    Abstract: An adjustable three output DC voltage supply circuit includes positive and negative DC voltage buses that connect to a DC power source; a first voltage divider connected between the positive and negative DC voltage buses and including a shunt regulator that is connected to the positive DC voltage bus and that provides an intermediate voltage supply; a second voltage divider connected between the positive or the negative DC voltage bus and the intermediate voltage supply and including an output that is connected to a reference input of the shunt regulator; and a short circuit protection component connected in series to a low voltage side of the shunt regulator and configured to limit the current through the shunt regulator in the case of a short circuit to the intermediate voltage supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventor: Frank WARNES
  • Patent number: 11750187
    Abstract: A power supply output device converts an input from a DC-DC converter into a bipolar voltage output that is supplied to a gate driver circuit driving a power switch. The power output supply device includes a clamping circuit that sets the voltage values of the bipolar voltage output at a predetermined voltage through switching of one or more switching elements. The power supply output device allows shunting of a high current on the negative side so that the required bipolar voltage output is reached very rapidly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Frank Warnes
  • Publication number: 20230187119
    Abstract: An embedded magnetic component transformer device includes primary, secondary, and auxiliary windings that are defined by conductive vias connected by conductive traces. The conductive traces and vias of the auxiliary winding are arranged between the conductive traces and vias of respective first and second portions of the primary winding, so that the auxiliary winding is provided substantially in the center of the width of the PCB. Power connections are provided at respective opposing edges of the device, and surface mounted transistors are provided close to the primary winding portions between the auxiliary winding and the edge of the device. The device provides an efficient utilization of the surface conductive traces such that large areas of the surface remain for other functions, such as ground plates. The thermal properties of the device are balanced by distributing the transistors and the power connections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Neil STEPHENSON, Frank WARNES
  • Publication number: 20230076965
    Abstract: A three-output DC voltage supply for providing a positive, an intermediate, and a negative voltage supply is provided which includes a positive DC voltage bus and a negative DC voltage bus configured to be connected to a DC power source, a first voltage divider connected between the positive DC voltage bus and the negative DC voltage bus, wherein the first voltage divider includes a voltage-setting component and a resistive component, and a short-circuit protection component including first and second transistors of opposite types connected between the voltage-setting component and the resistive component, wherein a base of the first transistor is connected to a collector of the second transistor to define a first base/collector node, a base of the second transistor is connected to a collector of the first transistor to define a second base/collector node, and the intermediate voltage supply is provided by either the first or second gate/collector nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventor: Frank WARNES
  • Patent number: 11502593
    Abstract: An adjustable power supply suitable for a power switch driver circuit takes an input voltage and generates output voltages at three output terminals. Two of the output terminals provide gate voltage signals to a power switch control device while the third is connected to a reference voltage. The output voltages may be adjusted using a first and second external resistor enabling power requirements for a wide variety of power switch devices to be satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Frank Warnes
  • Patent number: 11342737
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first input terminal; a second input terminal; a first output terminal; a second output terminal; a first parallel circuit including a first transistor and a first capacitor; and a second parallel circuit including a first resistor, a second resistor, a diode, and a second capacitor. The first parallel circuit and the second parallel circuit are each connected in parallel between the first input terminal and the second input terminal and in parallel between the first output terminal and the second output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Frank Warnes
  • Publication number: 20220149735
    Abstract: A power supply output device converts an input from a DC-DC converter into a bipolar voltage output of a gate driver circuit driving a power switch. The power output supply device includes an adjusting circuit to measure an output of the gate driver circuit at the gate of the power switch, and to adjust the bipolar voltage output in order to maintain the output of the gate driver circuit at a predetermined voltage. The power supply output device provides a cost-effective technique to regulate the peak positive voltage input into the gate of the power switch at a required voltage, regardless of any fluctuations or losses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventor: Frank Warnes
  • Publication number: 20220149835
    Abstract: A power supply output device converts an input from a DC-DC converter into a bipolar voltage output that is supplied to a gate driver circuit driving a power switch. The power output supply device includes a clamping circuit that sets the voltage values of the bipolar voltage output at a predetermined voltage through switching of one or more switching elements. The power supply output device allows shunting of a high current on the negative side so that the required bipolar voltage output is reached very rapidly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventor: Frank WARNES
  • Publication number: 20220149736
    Abstract: A circuit for supplying an error signal to a controller in a boost or SEPIC DC-DC converter includes first, second, and third Zener diodes, first, second, and third resistors, and a MOSFET or BJT switch. The circuit includes, connected to a common voltage input source, a first branch including the switch, the first Zener diode and the first resistor, a second branch including the second Zener diode and the second resistor. The first and second branches are mutually connected to the third resistor, and the third resistor is connected to the controller. A third branch includes the third Zener diode and connections to the base or gate of the switch and ground. Each of the first, second, and third Zener diodes are reverse-biased. The second and third Zener voltages are equal and higher than the first Zener voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventor: Frank WARNES