Patents by Inventor Koji Sonobe

Koji Sonobe 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: 7948780
    Abstract: A semiconductor device for switching power supply control limits the startup current supplied from a high-voltage input terminal, and prevents heat generation and combustion in case of an anomaly. A high-voltage input terminal is connected to the main winding of a transformer, and is supplied with a startup voltage upon input of a power supply to the switching power supply device. A power supply terminal is connected to a capacitor, and outputs a startup current to charge the capacitor after input of the power supply input. A startup circuit is connected between the high-voltage input terminal and the power supply terminal, and charges the capacitor while increasing the startup current with magnitude proportional to the voltage value of the power supply terminal, and after startup, turns off the startup current and supplies the power supply voltage only from the auxiliary winding of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Sonobe
  • Patent number: 7859860
    Abstract: A switching power source device for supplying power to a load includes a series resonant circuit, a plurality of main switch elements or main switch element groups for switching a current path of the series resonant circuit, a transformer for inducing a secondary current from the series resonant circuit, a plurality of synchronous rectification switch elements for rectifying the secondary current, a maximum on width control circuit for ordering a start and a completion of a maximum on width to the synchronous rectification switch element in synchronization with a timing of turning on the main switch elements or the main switch element groups, and a synchronous control circuit. The circuit controls an on period of the synchronous rectification switch element so as to turn on the synchronous rectification switch element in synchronization with a particular timing, and turn off in synchronization with another timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jian Chen, Koji Sonobe
  • Publication number: 20100172157
    Abstract: The invention provides a switching power supply device which can detect a light load state on a pulse-by-pulse basis without worsening power efficiency. In a synchronous control circuit, for each timing of the turning-on of main switching elements, the delay time Tdif of the conduction timing of internal diodes Ds determined according to the magnitude of the load LD is detected by a comparator, a reference time pulse Tsrs having a prescribed time width is generated by a load judgment circuit, and the logical product of the two is generated by an AND circuit. By this means, the load is regarded as being a light load when the delay time Tdif is longer than the reference time pulse Tsrs, and the synchronous rectification MOSFETs Qs are not turned on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jian CHEN, Koji SONOBE
  • Publication number: 20100142229
    Abstract: A switching power source device which has main switch elements which switch a current path of the series resonant circuit, and a transformer which induces a current to a secondary side, controls the main switch elements on a primary side. Synchronous rectification switch elements are turned ON and OFF in response to one of the main switch elements. A synchronous control circuit which turns the synchronous rectification switch element ON in synchronization with an ON timing of the main switch element, or a conduction timing of internal diodes in the synchronous rectification switch elements detected by an inter-terminal voltage signal of the synchronous rectification switch element, whichever timing is later, determines a maximum ON width of the synchronous rectification switch element in accordance with a delay time of the conduction timing of the internal diodes with respect to the ON timing of the main switch element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jian Chen, Koji Sonobe
  • Publication number: 20100135050
    Abstract: A comparator detects whether a feedback signal of an output voltage detecting circuit for a switching power supply circuit reaches a control voltage. A comparator detects an operating state of the switching power supply circuit, which is instructed by a switching instruction signal, by comparing the instruction signal with a reference voltage. The comparators are connected to a decision circuit which outputs to a control circuit a signal instructing a normal state until the feedback signal reaches the control voltage, and thereafter a signal instructing a normal state or a stand-by state that is instructed by the switching instruction signal. Thus, the control circuit makes the switching power supply circuit operate in a normal state until the output voltage reaches the control voltage. After the output voltage reaches the control voltage, the switching power supply circuit operated in an operation state instructed by the switching instruction signal to enable stable startup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji SONOBE
  • Publication number: 20100067262
    Abstract: A switching power source device for supplying power to a load includes a series resonant circuit, a plurality of main switch elements or main switch element groups for switching a current. path of the series resonant circuit, a transformer for inducing a secondary current from the series resonant circuit, a plurality of synchronous rectification switch elements for rectifying the secondary current, a maximum on width control circuit for ordering a start and a completion of a maximum on width to the synchronous rectification switch element in synchronization with a timing of turning on the main switch elements Or the main switch element groups, and a synchronous control circuit. The circuit controls an on period of the synchronous rectification switch element so as to turn on the synchronous rectification switch element in synchronization with a particular timing, and turn off in synchronization with another timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC DEVICE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jian Chen, Koji SONOBE
  • Publication number: 20090237965
    Abstract: A semiconductor device for switching power supply control limits the startup current supplied from a high-voltage input terminal, and prevents heat generation and combustion in case of an anomaly. A high-voltage input terminal is connected to the main winding of a transformer, and is supplied with a startup voltage upon input of a power supply to the switching power supply device. A power supply terminal is connected to a capacitor, and outputs a startup current to charge the capacitor after input of the power supply input. A startup circuit is connected between the high-voltage input terminal and the power supply terminal, and charges the capacitor while increasing the startup current with magnitude proportional to the voltage value of the power supply terminal, and after startup, turns off the startup current and supplies the power supply voltage only from the auxiliary winding of the transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC DEVICE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji SONOBE
  • Publication number: 20070221963
    Abstract: A switching power supply has a start-up circuit that includes a field effect transistor (JFET), which has a gate region (a p-type well region) formed in a surface layer of a p-type substrate and a drift region (a first n-type well region). A plurality of source regions (second n-type well regions) are formed circumferentially around the drift region. A drain region (a third n-type well region) is formed centrally of the source region. The drain region and the source regions can be formed at the same time. A metal wiring of the source electrode wiring connected to source regions is divided into at least two groups to form at least two junction field effect transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: C/O FUJI ELECTRIC DEVICE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru SAITO, Koji SONOBE