Patents by Inventor Kim-Ly Kha

Kim-Ly Kha 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: 11750097
    Abstract: A switch-mode AC-DC power converter includes a pair of input terminals, a pair of output terminals, and four switches coupled in a bridgeless totem-pole circuit arrangement between the pair of input terminals and the pair of output terminals. A control circuit is coupled to the four switches and configured to, during a cycle of an AC voltage input, turn on the first switch, turn off the second switch, and apply pulse-width modulation (PWM) control signals to the third and fourth switches. The control circuit is also configured to, during a zero crossing of the AC voltage input, supply a PWM control signal to the fourth switch to reduce a rate of voltage change across the second switch at the zero crossing to reduce common mode noise of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Astec International Limited
    Inventors: Zhihua Gu, Siu Chik Wong, Kim Ly Kha
  • Publication number: 20230155486
    Abstract: A multi-phase interleaved PFC converter includes at least six switches coupled in a multi-phase interleaved circuit arrangement, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to turn on and turn off a first one of the switches according to a PWM signal to operate the first switch as an active switch having an off-time as a function of a duty cycle of the PWM signal, while turning on and turning off a second one of the switches as a synchronous switch. The control circuit is also configured to receive signal(s) indicative of currents in each phase of the interleaved circuit arrangement, set an on-time of the second switch equal to the off-time of the first switch when the signal(s) indicate continuous mode operation, and set the on-time of the second switch to a duration less than the off-time of the first switch when the signal(s) indicate discontinuous mode operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Zhihua GU, Siu Chik WONG, Kim Ly KHA
  • Patent number: 11557961
    Abstract: A multi-phase interleaved PFC converter includes at least six switches coupled in a multi-phase interleaved circuit arrangement, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to turn on and turn off a first one of the switches according to a PWM signal to operate the first switch as an active switch having an off-time as a function of a duty cycle of the PWM signal, while turning on and turning off a second one of the switches as a synchronous switch. The control circuit is also configured to receive signal(s) indicative of currents in each phase of the interleaved circuit arrangement, set an on-time of the second switch equal to the off-time of the first switch when the signal(s) indicate continuous mode operation, and set the on-time of the second switch to a duration less than the off-time of the first switch when the signal(s) indicate discontinuous mode operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Astec International Limited
    Inventors: Zhihua Gu, Siu Chik Wong, Kim Ly Kha
  • Publication number: 20220060112
    Abstract: A switch-mode AC-DC power converter includes a pair of input terminals, a pair of output terminals, and four switches coupled in a bridgeless totem-pole circuit arrangement between the pair of input terminals and the pair of output terminals. A control circuit is coupled to the four switches and configured to, during a cycle of an AC voltage input, turn on the first switch, turn off the second switch, and apply pulse-width modulation (PWM) control signals to the third and fourth switches. The control circuit is also configured to, during a zero crossing of the AC voltage input, supply a PWM control signal to the fourth switch to reduce a rate of voltage change across the second switch at the zero crossing to reduce common mode noise of the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Zhihua Gu, Siu Chik Wong, Kim Ly Kha
  • Patent number: 11183932
    Abstract: A switch-mode AC-DC power converter includes a pair of input terminals, a pair of output terminals, and four switches coupled in a bridgeless totem-pole circuit arrangement between the pair of input terminals and the pair of output terminals. A control circuit is coupled to the four switches and configured to, during a cycle of an AC voltage input, turn on the first switch, turn off the second switch, and apply pulse-width modulation (PWM) control signals to the third and fourth switches. The control circuit is also configured to, during a zero crossing of the AC voltage input, supply a PWM control signal to the fourth switch to reduce a rate of voltage change across the second switch at the zero crossing to reduce common mode noise of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Astec International Limited
    Inventors: Zhihua Gu, Siu Chik Wong, Kim Ly Kha
  • Publication number: 20210226528
    Abstract: A multi-phase interleaved PFC converter includes at least six switches coupled in a multi-phase interleaved circuit arrangement, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to turn on and turn off a first one of the switches according to a PWM signal to operate the first switch as an active switch having an off-time as a function of a duty cycle of the PWM signal, while turning on and turning off a second one of the switches as a synchronous switch. The control circuit is also configured to receive signal(s) indicative of currents in each phase of the interleaved circuit arrangement, set an on-time of the second switch equal to the off-time of the first switch when the signal(s) indicate continuous mode operation, and set the on-time of the second switch to a duration less than the off-time of the first switch when the signal(s) indicate discontinuous mode operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Zhihua GU, Siu Chik WONG, Kim Ly KHA
  • Publication number: 20210211049
    Abstract: A switch-mode AC-DC power converter includes a pair of input terminals, a pair of output terminals, and four switches coupled in a bridgeless totem-pole circuit arrangement between the pair of input terminals and the pair of output terminals. A control circuit is coupled to the four switches and configured to, during a cycle of an AC voltage input, turn on the first switch, turn off the second switch, and apply pulse-width modulation (PWM) control signals to the third and fourth switches. The control circuit is also configured to, during a zero crossing of the AC voltage input, supply a PWM control signal to the fourth switch to reduce a rate of voltage change across the second switch at the zero crossing to reduce common mode noise of the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Zhihua GU, Siu Chik WONG, Kim Ly KHA
  • Patent number: 10122207
    Abstract: According to some aspects of the present disclosure, automatic transfer switch circuits and control methods are disclosed. Example automatic transfer switch circuits include a first voltage input having a line terminal and a neutral terminal, a second voltage input having a line terminal and a neutral terminal, a voltage output having a line output terminal and a neutral output terminal, a first relay coupled to the line terminal of the first voltage input and the line terminal of the second voltage input, a second relay coupled to the neutral terminal of the first voltage input and the neutral terminal of the second voltage input, a third relay coupled between the line output terminal and at least one of the first relay and second relay, a fourth relay coupled between the neutral output terminal and at least one of the first relay and the second relay, and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Astec International Limited
    Inventors: Kim Ly Kha, Lei Shi
  • Patent number: 9979307
    Abstract: Methods of regulating an output voltage of a switched mode power supply having a variable input voltage and a power switch include adjusting a reference voltage to adjust a duty cycle of a control signal for the power switch. The reference voltage may be adjusted as a function of the duty cycle, in response to the duty cycle of the control signal being outside a defined range and/or in the response to a temperature within the switched mode power supply being above a threshold temperature. Other methods include selecting a reference voltage from a plurality of reference voltages based on a determined input voltage and generating a control signal for the power switch as a function of the selected reference voltage to adjust the duty cycle of the control signal. Switched mode power supplies and control circuits for implementing the methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: ASTEC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Kim Ly Kha
  • Publication number: 20180062426
    Abstract: According to some aspects of the present disclosure, automatic transfer switch circuits and control methods are disclosed. Example automatic transfer switch circuits include a first voltage input having a line terminal and a neutral terminal, a second voltage input having a line terminal and a neutral terminal, a voltage output having a line output terminal and a neutral output terminal, a first relay coupled to the line terminal of the first voltage input and the line terminal of the second voltage input, a second relay coupled to the neutral terminal of the first voltage input and the neutral terminal of the second voltage input, a third relay coupled between the line output terminal and at least one of the first relay and second relay, a fourth relay coupled between the neutral output terminal and at least one of the first relay and the second relay, and a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Kim Ly KHA, Lei SHI
  • Patent number: 9866133
    Abstract: Methods of regulating an output voltage of a switched mode power supply having a variable input voltage and a power switch include adjusting a reference voltage to adjust a duty cycle of a control signal for the power switch. The reference voltage may be adjusted as a function of the duty cycle, in response to the duty cycle of the control signal being outside a defined range and/or in the response to a temperature within the switched mode power supply being above a threshold temperature. Other methods include selecting a reference voltage from a plurality of reference voltages based on a determined input voltage and generating a control signal for the power switch as a function of the selected reference voltage to adjust the duty cycle of the control signal. Switched mode power supplies and control circuits for implementing the methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: ASTEC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Kim Ly Kha
  • Patent number: 9866134
    Abstract: Methods of regulating an output voltage of a switched mode power supply having a variable input voltage and a power switch include adjusting a reference voltage to adjust a duty cycle of a control signal for the power switch. The reference voltage may be adjusted as a function of the duty cycle, in response to the duty cycle of the control signal being outside a defined range and/or in the response to a temperature within the switched mode power supply being above a threshold temperature. Other methods include selecting a reference voltage from a plurality of reference voltages based on a determined input voltage and generating a control signal for the power switch as a function of the selected reference voltage to adjust the duty cycle of the control signal. Switched mode power supplies and control circuits for implementing the methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: ASTEC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Kim Ly Kha
  • Publication number: 20150200598
    Abstract: Methods of regulating an output voltage of a switched mode power supply having a variable input voltage and a power switch include adjusting a reference voltage to adjust a duty cycle of a control signal for the power switch. The reference voltage may be adjusted as a function of the duty cycle, in response to the duty cycle of the control signal being outside a defined range and/or in the response to a temperature within the switched mode power supply being above a threshold temperature. Other methods include selecting a reference voltage from a plurality of reference voltages based on a determined input voltage and generating a control signal for the power switch as a function of the selected reference voltage to adjust the duty cycle of the control signal. Switched mode power supplies and control circuits for implementing the methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: Astec International Limited
    Inventor: Kim Ly Kha
  • Publication number: 20150200597
    Abstract: Methods of regulating an output voltage of a switched mode power supply having a variable input voltage and a power switch include adjusting a reference voltage to adjust a duty cycle of a control signal for the power switch. The reference voltage may be adjusted as a function of the duty cycle, in response to the duty cycle of the control signal being outside a defined range and/or in the response to a temperature within the switched mode power supply being above a threshold temperature. Other methods include selecting a reference voltage from a plurality of reference voltages based on a determined input voltage and generating a control signal for the power switch as a function of the selected reference voltage to adjust the duty cycle of the control signal. Switched mode power supplies and control circuits for implementing the methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: Astec International Limited
    Inventor: Kim Ly Kha
  • Publication number: 20150200596
    Abstract: Methods of regulating an output voltage of a switched mode power supply having a variable input voltage and a power switch include adjusting a reference voltage to adjust a duty cycle of a control signal for the power switch. The reference voltage may be adjusted as a function of the duty cycle, in response to the duty cycle of the control signal being outside a defined range and/or in the response to a temperature within the switched mode power supply being above a threshold temperature. Other methods include selecting a reference voltage from a plurality of reference voltages based on a determined input voltage and generating a control signal for the power switch as a function of the selected reference voltage to adjust the duty cycle of the control signal. Switched mode power supplies and control circuits for implementing the methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: Astec International Limited
    Inventor: Kim Ly Kha
  • Patent number: 5892652
    Abstract: This invention concerns a sensitive key device with capacitive effect working through an electrically insulating plate, the key being supported by a printed circuit board. According to the invention, the bottom of a single part having a spring blade made of an electrically conducting material is fixed to the printed circuit board. The top (11) of this part forms a detection surface designed to be placed in contact with the transparent plate. The center of the part makes the part flexible such that the detection surface is in elastic contact with the plate, regardless of parallelism defects between this plate and the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Compagnie Europeenne pour l'Equipement Menager-Cepem
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Bony, Fabrice Frappereau, Kim Ly Kha, Jean-Pierre Nugeyre
  • Patent number: 5448469
    Abstract: A switch mode power supply includes a transformer and a switching transistor for turning the primary of the transformer on and off. The secondary of the transformer is connected to a comparator which compares the output voltage to a reference voltage and provides a reverse current to the switching transistor to control the duty cycle of the switching transistor in accordance with the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Gerard Rilly, Jose Rodriquez-Duran, Kim-Ly Kha