Patents by Inventor Iwao Fukushi

Iwao Fukushi 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: 8912780
    Abstract: A switching-control circuit to control switching of a transistor whose input electrode is applied with an input voltage, and turn off the transistor, when an output current from the transistor is greater than a reference current, includes: a reference-voltage-generating circuit to generate such a first-reference voltage that the reference current is reduced with reduction in an output voltage; a comparing circuit to compare a voltage corresponding to the output current with the first-reference voltage; and a driving circuit to turn on/off the transistor based on a feedback voltage corresponding to the output voltage and a second reference voltage corresponding to a target level so that the output voltage reaches the target level, when the comparing circuit determines that the output current is smaller than the reference current, and turn off the transistor when the comparing circuit determines that the output current is greater than the reference current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Shuhei Kawai, Iwao Fukushi, Masahiro Maruki
  • Patent number: 8415932
    Abstract: A switching control circuit includes an N-channel MOSFET having an input electrode applied with an input voltage and an output electrode connected to one end of an inductor and one end of a rectifying element. The other end of the inductor is connected to a first capacitor. A bootstrap circuit is configured to generate a bootstrap voltage on a second capacitor having one end connected to the output electrode of the N-channel MOSFET. The bootstrap voltage is required when the N-channel MOSFET is turned on. A driving circuit is configured to be applied with a driving voltage corresponding to the bootstrap voltage and turn on/off the N-channel MOSFET to generate an output voltage of a target level on the first capacitor. A clamping circuit is configured to clamp the driving voltage to be at a predetermined level or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignees: Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd., Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Yosuke Kobayashi, Iwao Fukushi
  • Patent number: 8179107
    Abstract: A power supply circuit comprising: a voltage generating circuit configured to generate an output voltage of a target level from an input voltage; an overcurrent protection circuit configured to control the voltage generating circuit so as to stop an output current, when a level of the output current generated at a time of generating the output voltage is greater than a reference level; and a reference-level change circuit configured to change the reference level in the overcurrent protection circuit to be at a second level higher than a first level from the first level for a predetermined period, when the overcurrent protection circuit detects that the level of the output current is greater than the reference level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignees: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC, Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Iwao Fukushi
  • Publication number: 20110199145
    Abstract: A switching-control circuit to control switching of a transistor whose input electrode is applied with an input voltage, and turn off the transistor, when an output current from the transistor is greater than a reference current, includes: a reference-voltage-generating circuit to generate such a first-reference voltage that the reference current is reduced with reduction in an output voltage; a comparing circuit to compare a voltage corresponding to the output current with the first-reference voltage; and a driving circuit to turn on/off the transistor based on a feedback voltage corresponding to the output voltage and a second reference voltage corresponding to a target level so that the output voltage reaches the target level, when the comparing circuit determines that the output current is smaller than the reference current, and turn off the transistor when the comparing circuit determines that the output current is greater than the reference current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: ON SEMICONDUCTOR TRADING, LTD.
    Inventors: Shuhei Kawai, Iwao Fukushi, Masahiro Maruki
  • Publication number: 20110127974
    Abstract: A switching control circuit includes: a drive circuit configured to turn on/off a transistor according to a duty ratio of a drive signal so as to generate an output voltage of a target level from an input voltage, the transistor configured to be applied with the input voltage at an input electrode thereof; and a drive signal generation circuit configured to change the duty ratio of the drive signal based on a reference voltage and a feedback voltage corresponding to the output voltage, to generate the drive signal having the duty ratio which is changed so that the feedback voltage becomes equal in level to the reference voltage, and which is changed so that the output voltage is reduced with a rise in temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicants: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD., SANYO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Iwao Fukushi
  • Patent number: 7940507
    Abstract: The switching control circuit comprises a switching control signal generation circuit that detects a change in ripples of the output voltage and-generates a switching control signal for the on/off control of the switching element to make the output voltage follow the target level; an overcurrent state detection circuit that generates a state signal indicating whether the output current is in an overcurrent state where the output current is equal to or greater than a predetermined current; and a delay circuit that delays the state signal for a same predetermined delay time at both of the times when the output current exceeds the predetermined current and when the output current falls below the predetermined current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Iwao Fukushi, Tomoaki Nishi, Takashi Noma
  • Patent number: 7782024
    Abstract: A switching control circuit comprises: an error amplifying circuit configured to output an error voltage obtained by amplifying an error between a feedback voltage corresponding to an output voltage and a lower voltage selected out of a first reference voltage increasing with time passage and a second reference voltage used as a reference for a target level; a comparison circuit configured to output a comparison signal obtained by comparing the feedback voltage with the error voltage output from the error amplifying circuit; and a drive circuit configured to output first and second control signals for controlling first and second transistors, respectively, in order to turn the output voltage to the target level by complementarily turning on and off the first and second transistors, after the error voltage exceeds the feedback voltage, based on the comparison signal output from the comparison circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Iwao Fukushi, Masahiro Maruki, Takashi Noma
  • Publication number: 20100194364
    Abstract: A switching-power-supply control circuit comprising: a first control circuit to operate a first transistor applied with an input voltage at an input electrode thereof and a second transistor connected in series to the first transistor, based on a first feedback voltage and first reference voltage, the first feedback voltage corresponding to an output voltage obtained through a connection point between the first and second transistors; and a second control circuit to allow the first control circuit to turn on/off the first and second transistors in a complementary manner so that the first feedback voltage becomes equal to the first reference voltage, when a second feedback voltage rising with rise of the output voltage is lower than a second reference voltage, and allow the first control circuit to turn off the second transistor, when the second feedback voltage is higher than the second reference voltage, according to the output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicants: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Iwao Fukushi, Shuhei Kawai
  • Publication number: 20100181984
    Abstract: The switching control circuit comprises a switching control signal generation circuit that detects a change in ripples of the output voltage and-generates a switching control signal for the on/off control of the switching element to make the output voltage follow the target level; an overcurrent state detection circuit that generates a state signal indicating whether the output current is in an overcurrent state where the output current is equal to or greater than a predetermined current; and a delay circuit that delays the state signal for a same predetermined delay time at both of the times when the output current exceeds the predetermined current and when the output current falls below the predetermined current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicants: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Iwao Fukushi, Tomoaki Nishi, Takashi Noma
  • Patent number: 7755874
    Abstract: A self-excited DC-DC converter includes a switching element that chops an input voltage; a smoothing circuit that smoothes the chopped voltage to generate an output voltage; and a switching control circuit. The switching control circuit includes a switching control signal generation circuit that generates a switching control signal for the on/off control of the switching element by comparing a feedback voltage of the output voltage and a comparison voltage; an output correction circuit that adjusts the comparison voltage according to an error between the feedback voltage and the reference voltage and, when the output current is in the overcurrent state, reduces the level of the comparison voltage; an overcurrent protection signal generation circuit that, when the output current is in an overcurrent state, generates an overcurrent protection signal for turning off the switching element regardless of the switching control signal; and a delay circuit that delays the overcurrent protection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Iwao Fukushi, Tomoaki Nishi, Takashi Noma
  • Publication number: 20100156372
    Abstract: A switching control circuit includes an N-channel MOSFET having an input electrode applied with an input voltage and an output electrode connected to one end of an inductor and one end of a rectifying element. The other end of the inductor is connected to a first capacitor. A bootstrap circuit is configured to generate a bootstrap voltage on a second capacitor having one end connected to the output electrode of the N-channel MOSFET. The bootstrap voltage is required when the N-channel MOSFET is turned on. A driving circuit is configured to be applied with a driving voltage corresponding to the bootstrap voltage and turn on/off the N-channel MOSFET to generate an output voltage of a target level on the first capacitor. A clamping circuit is configured to clamp the driving voltage to be at a predetermined level or lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicants: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD., SANYO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Kobayashi, Iwao Fukushi
  • Publication number: 20090322302
    Abstract: A power supply circuit comprising: a voltage generating circuit configured to generate an output voltage of a target level from an input voltage; an overcurrent protection circuit configured to control the voltage generating circuit so as to stop an output current, when a level of the output current generated at a time of generating the output voltage is greater than a reference level; and a reference-level change circuit configured to change the reference level in the overcurrent protection circuit to be at a second level higher than a first level from the first level for a predetermined period, when the overcurrent protection circuit detects that the level of the output current is greater than the reference level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicants: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Iwao Fukushi
  • Publication number: 20090039851
    Abstract: A switching control circuit comprises: an error amplifying circuit configured to output an error voltage obtained by amplifying an error between a feedback voltage corresponding to an output voltage and a lower voltage selected out of a first reference voltage increasing with time passage and a second reference voltage used as a reference for a target level; a comparison circuit configured to output a comparison signal obtained by comparing the feedback voltage with the error voltage output from the error amplifying circuit; and a drive circuit configured to output first and second control signals for controlling first and second transistors, respectively, in order to turn the output voltage to the target level by complementarily turning on and off the first and second transistors, after the error voltage exceeds the feedback voltage, based on the comparison signal output from the comparison circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicants: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Iwao Fukushi, Masahiro Maruki, Takashi Noma
  • Publication number: 20080136394
    Abstract: A self-excited DC-DC converter comprises a switching element that chops a direct-current input voltage; a smoothing circuit that smoothes the chopped voltage to generate a DC output voltage; a switching control signal generation circuit that generates a switching control signal for the on/off control of the switching element by comparing a feedback voltage of the output voltage and a comparison voltage; an output correction circuit that adjusts the comparison voltage according to an error between the feedback voltage and the reference voltage and, when the output current is in the overcurrent state, reduces the level of the comparison voltage; an overcurrent protection signal generation circuit that, when the output current is in an overcurrent state, generates an overcurrent protection signal for turning off the switching element regardless of the switching control signal; and a delay circuit that delays the overcurrent protection signal. Also, a switching control circuit is provided therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicants: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Iwao Fukushi, Tomoaki Nishi, Takashi Noma
  • Patent number: 7379284
    Abstract: A self-excited DC-DC converter comprises a switching element that chops a direct-current input voltage; a smoothing circuit that smoothes the chopped voltage to generate a DC output voltage; a switching control signal generation circuit that generates a switching control signal for the on/off control of the switching element by comparing a feedback voltage of the output voltage and a comparison voltage; an output correction circuit that adjusts the comparison voltage according to an error between the feedback voltage and the reference voltage and, when the output current is in the overcurrent state, reduces the level of the comparison voltage; an overcurrent protection signal generation circuit that, when the output current is in an overcurrent state, generates an overcurrent protection signal for turning off the switching element regardless of the switching control signal; and a delay circuit that delays the overcurrent protection signal. Also, a switching control circuit is provided therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Iwao Fukushi, Tomoaki Nishi, Takashi Noma
  • Patent number: 7224192
    Abstract: A voltage detection circuit, comprises a constant-current circuit, a current mirror circuit operated by the constant-current circuit, at least one diode-connected first transistor disposed between an output of the current mirror circuit and a detected voltage, and an output circuit outputting one logic voltage in response to a turn-on of the first transistor when the detected voltage is a predetermined voltage or higher, and outputting the other logic voltage in response to a turn-off of the first transistor when the detected voltage is lower than the predetermined voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Iwao Fukushi, Noriaki Okada
  • Publication number: 20060290333
    Abstract: A self-excited DC-DC converter comprises a switching element that chops a direct-current input voltage; a smoothing circuit that smoothes the chopped voltage to generate a DC output voltage; a switching control signal generation circuit that generates a switching control signal for the on/off control of the switching element by comparing a feedback voltage of the output voltage and a comparison voltage; an output correction circuit that adjusts the comparison voltage according to an error between the feedback voltage and the reference voltage and, when the output current is in the overcurrent state, reduces the level of the comparison voltage; an overcurrent protection signal generation circuit that, when the output current is in an overcurrent state, generates an overcurrent protection signal for turning off the switching element regardless of the switching control signal; and a delay circuit that delays the overcurrent protection signal. Also, a switching control circuit is provided therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Applicants: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Iwao Fukushi, Tomoaki Nishi, Takashi Noma
  • Publication number: 20060082395
    Abstract: A voltage detection circuit, comprises a constant-current circuit, a current mirror circuit operated by the constant-current circuit, at least one diode-connected first transistor disposed between an output of the current mirror circuit and a detected voltage, and an output circuit outputting one logic voltage in response to a turn-on of the first transistor when the detected voltage is a predetermined voltage or higher, and outputting the other logic voltage in response to a turn-off of the first transistor when the detected voltage is lower than the predetermined voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Iwao Fukushi, Noriaki Okada