Patents by Inventor Michael A. Kost

Michael A. Kost 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: 20180039585
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an adapter for different types of devices that are defined by a full set of capabilities for a communication protocol may include one or more ports, wherein each of the one or more ports is configured to receive one of the different types of devices, and a device controller communicatively coupled to the one or more ports. The device controller may be configured to, when one of the different types of devices is received by the one or more ports obtain information related to a detection of the one of the different types of devices and, based on the information related to the detection, expose a subset of capabilities from the full set of capabilities to a bus of the communication protocol, wherein the subset of capabilities is defined by the one of the different types of devices for the communication protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Bradley Allan LAMBERT, Michael A. KOST
  • Patent number: 9768689
    Abstract: Thermal levels in an inductor of a boost converter may be managed by implementing peak current limits for the boost converter. For example, an inductor may be allowed to conduct above a certain peak current limit for a certain period of time before the current is reduced by a controller to a low current limit. The controller may hold the low current limit in place for a certain period of time, after which the current through the inductor is allowed to again exceed the low current limit. However, if the high current limit is again exceeded or sustained for a certain period of time, the low current limit may be again imposed by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: CIRRUS LOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Ullas Pazhayaveetil, Jeffrey May, Gautham D. Kamath, Michael Kost
  • Patent number: 9635723
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an apparatus may comprise a controller to provide compatibility between a load and a secondary winding of an electronic transformer. The controller may be configured to operate a single-stage power converter in a first power mode for a first period of time, such that the single-stage power converter is enabled to transfer energy from the secondary winding to the load during the first power mode and operate the single-stage power converter in a second power mode for a second period of time prior to the first period of time, such that the single-stage power converter is enabled to transfer energy from the secondary winding to the load during the second power mode, wherein the first power mode and the second power mode occur within a half-line cycle of an electronic transformer secondary signal present on the secondary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Yanhui Xie, Sahil Singh, Michael A. Kost
  • Patent number: 9577538
    Abstract: A power distribution system includes controller of a switching power converter to control the switching power converter and determine one or more switching power converter control parameters. In at least one embodiment, the switching power converter utilizes a transformer to transfer energy from a primary-side of the transformer to a secondary-side of the transformer. In at least one embodiment, the switching power converter control parameters includes a secondary-side conduction time delay that represents a time delay between when the primary-side ceases conducting a primary-side current and the secondary-side begins to conduct a secondary-side current. In at least one embodiment, determining and accounting for this secondary-side conduction time delay increases the prediction accuracy of the secondary-side current value and accurate delivery of energy to a load when the controller does not directly sense the secondary-side current provided to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Yanhui Xie, Michael A. Kost, John L. Melanson, Zhaohui He, Chris M. Franklin
  • Patent number: 9510401
    Abstract: A system and method reduces power consumption by an electronic power control system when a controller of the electronic power control system reduces sense signal monitoring during a standby mode of the controller. The electronic power control system includes a controller to control a switching power converter. The controller operates in at least two modes, standby and active modes. Energy savings during standby mode can be achieved in a variety of current and/or voltage sensing configurations. During the standby mode, the controller generates a signal to at least intermittently disable sensing of an input voltage to the switching power converter or at least intermittently disabling sensing of an input voltage and an output voltage. Disabling sensing reduces energy losses associated with an input voltage sense signal itself and with circuitry in the controller used to process the input voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Kost, Karl Thompson
  • Patent number: 9496844
    Abstract: In accordance with systems and methods of the present disclosure, an apparatus may include a variable bandwidth filter having an input for receiving an input signal and an output for receiving an output signal, wherein the output signal is generated by filtering the input signal in conformity with a variable bandwidth of the variable bandwidth filter and the variable bandwidth is set based on an integrated error between the input signal and the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Michael A. Kost, Eric J. King
  • Patent number: 9391517
    Abstract: Thermal levels in an inductor of a boost converter may be managed by controlling an average current through the inductor. For example, a switching frequency of the boost converter between charging and discharging the inductor may be increased or decreased. Increasing or decreasing the switching frequency results in a corresponding decrease or increase in the switching period for the boost converter. The controller may adjust the switching frequency to control the average current level while maintaining a peak-to-peak current level in the inductor by monitoring the inductance of the inductor and the peak current level in the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: CIRRUS LOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Ullas Pazhayaveetil, Michael Kost
  • Patent number: 9385621
    Abstract: An electronic transformer stabilization circuit includes a detection circuit and a reactive load. The detection circuit may be configured to receive a transformer output or a transformer signal derived from the transformer output. The detection circuit may determine whether the transformer that generated the transformer output is an electronic transformer. The determination may be made based on the presence of absence of high frequency components in the transformer output. Responsive to determining that an electronic transformer generated the transformer output, the stabilization circuit may operate a switch to connect the reactive load across an output of the transformer. The reactive load may include an inductor and may be configured to draw a stabilization current from the transformer. The stabilization current may ensure that the total current drawn from the transformer exceeds an oscillation current required to maintain reliable operation of the electronic transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Michael A. Kost, Eric J. King, John L. Melanson, Kan Wang, Ramin Zanbaghi
  • Patent number: 9385598
    Abstract: A low voltage lamp includes a boost converter stage and a load. The load may include low voltage light producing elements including low voltage light emitting diodes. The boost converter stage receives an electronic transformer output and includes an inductor coupled to a switch and a switch controller that receives one or more controller inputs. Inductor current may be returned to the transformer when the switch is closed and provided to a rectifier coupled to the load when the switch is open. Controller inputs may include a transformer input that receives the transformer output, a sense input indicating switch current, and a load input indicating load voltage. Controller logic may synchronize assertions of a control signal for the switch with edge transitions of the transformer output to maintain peak inductor current within a specified range and to selectively transfer stored energy in the inductor to the load or back to the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Kan Wang, Michael A. Kost, Eric J. King, John L. Melanson, James P. McFarland
  • Patent number: 9351356
    Abstract: An electronic system includes controller to control a switching power converter to provide power to a load. To control the amount of power provided to the load, in at least one embodiment, the controller senses a current value representing a current in the switching power converter and detects when the current value reaches a target peak value. However, due to delays in the controller and/or the switching power converter, the detected target peak value will not be the actual current peak value generated by the switching power converter. In at least one embodiment, the controller adjusts the detected target peak value with a post-detection delay compensation factor to generate a delay compensated current value that more accurately represents an actual peak current value associated with the current in the switching power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Zhaohui He, Robert T. Grisamore, Michael A. Kost
  • Patent number: 9277624
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a system and method for providing compatibility between a load having a reactive impedance during steady-state operation and a secondary winding of an electronic transformer driven by a leading-edge dimmer may include a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may cause the load to have a substantially non-reactive impedance when the first circuit is enabled. The second circuit may enable the first circuit to cause the load to have the substantially non-reactive impedance during a duration of time following start-up of the electronic transformer and disable the first circuit after the duration such that the load has the reactive impedance during steady-state operation of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Philips International, B.V.
    Inventors: Wesley L. Mokry, Michael A. Kost, Eric J. King
  • Patent number: 9263964
    Abstract: In accordance with systems and methods of the present disclosure, an apparatus for providing compatibility between a load having a reactive impedance and a secondary winding of an electronic transformer may include a power converter and a circuit. The power converter may be configured to transfer electrical energy from the secondary winding to the load. The circuit may be configured to charge an energy storage device coupled to the power converter following start-up of the electronic transformer in order to increase a voltage of the energy storage device to at least a voltage level sufficient for the electronic transformer to enter steady-state operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Philips International, B.V.
    Inventors: Michael A. Kost, Wesley L. Mokry, Prashanth Drakshapalli, Stephen T. Hodapp, Firas Azrai
  • Publication number: 20150364993
    Abstract: A low voltage lamp includes a boost converter stage and a load. The load may include low voltage light producing elements including low voltage light emitting diodes. The boost converter stage receives an electronic transformer output and includes an inductor coupled to a switch and a switch controller that receives one or more controller inputs. Inductor current may be returned to the transformer when the switch is closed and provided to a rectifier coupled to the load when the switch is open. Controller inputs may include a transformer input that receives the transformer output, a sense input indicating switch current, and a load input indicating load voltage. Controller logic may synchronize assertions of a control signal for the switch with edge transitions of the transformer output to maintain peak inductor current within a specified range and to selectively transfer stored energy in the inductor to the load or back to the transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Kan Wang, Michael A. Kost, Eric J. King, John L. Melanson, James P. McFarland
  • Patent number: 9215770
    Abstract: A controller may be configured to: (i) predict based on an electronic transformer secondary signal an estimated occurrence of a high-resistance state of a trailing-edge dimmer coupled to a primary winding of an electronic transformer, wherein the high-resistance state occurs when the trailing-edge dimmer begins phase-cutting an alternating current voltage signal; (ii) operate a power converter in a trailing-edge exposure mode for a first period of time immediately prior to the estimated occurrence of the high-resistance state, such that the power converter is enabled to transfer energy from the secondary winding to the load during the trailing-edge exposure mode; and (iii) operate the power converter in a power mode for a second period of time prior to and non-contiguous with the first period of time, such that the power converter is enabled to transfer energy from the secondary winding to the load during the power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Philips International, B.V.
    Inventors: Poornima Mazumdar, Michael A. Kost, Yanhui Xie, Sahil Singh
  • Patent number: 9215765
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a system and method for providing compatibility between a load having a reactive impedance during steady-state operation and a secondary winding of an electronic transformer driven by a leading-edge dimmer may include a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may cause the load to have a substantially non-reactive impedance when the first circuit is enabled. The second circuit may enable the first circuit to cause the load to have the substantially non-reactive impedance during a duration of time following start-up of the electronic transformer and disable the first circuit after the duration such that the load has the reactive impedance during steady-state operation of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Philips International, B.V.
    Inventors: Wesley L. Mokry, Michael A. Kost, Eric Jerome King
  • Patent number: 9204503
    Abstract: In accordance with methods and systems of the present disclosure, an integrated circuit may include an output terminal and a switching circuit. The output terminal may supply charging current to a magnetic storage element for supplying energy to two or more lighting devices coupled to the magnetic storage element. The switching circuit may have an input coupled to an input power source and an output coupled to the output terminal for charging the magnetic storage element during charging intervals, wherein energy is supplied from the magnetic storage element to a first one of the lighting devices during flyback intervals following the charging intervals occurring during a first synchronization phase and to a second one of the lighting devices during flyback intervals following the charging intervals occurring during a second synchronization phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Philips International, B.V.
    Inventor: Michael A. Kost
  • Publication number: 20150340956
    Abstract: A power distribution system includes controller of a switching power converter to control the switching power converter and determine one or more switching power converter control parameters. In at least one embodiment, the switching power converter utilizes a transformer to transfer energy from a primary-side of the transformer to a secondary-side of the transformer. In at least one embodiment, the switching power converter control parameters includes a secondary-side conduction time delay that represents a time delay between when the primary-side ceases conducting a primary-side current and the secondary-side begins to conduct a secondary-side current. In at least one embodiment, determining and accounting for this secondary-side conduction time delay increases the prediction accuracy of the secondary-side current value and accurate delivery of energy to a load when the controller does not directly sense the secondary-side current provided to the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Yanhui Xie, Michael A. Kost, John L. Melanson, Zhaohui He, Chris M. Franklin
  • Patent number: 9178415
    Abstract: A power control system includes a switching power converter and a controller. The controller is configured to detect an over-current condition of an inductor current in the switching power converter using at least one non-inductor-current signal. In at least one embodiment, the switching power converter does not have a resistor or resistor network to sense the inductor current. In at least one embodiment, the controller indirectly determines a state of the inductor current using at least one non-inductor-current signal. Potentially damaging inductor current values that are, for example, greater than a normal maximum value or at a value that causes a discontinuous conduction mode system to operate in continuous conduction mode represent exemplary inductor over-current conditions addressed by one embodiment of the power control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Kost, John L. Melanson, Rahul Singh, Mohit Sood, Zhaohui He
  • Patent number: 9167664
    Abstract: In accordance with these and other embodiments of the present disclosure, a system and method for providing compatibility between a load and a secondary winding of an electronic transformer driven by a trailing-edge dimmer may include predicting based on an electronic transformer secondary signal an estimated occurrence of a high-resistance state of the trailing-edge dimmer, wherein the high-resistance state occurs when the trailing-edge dimmer begins phase-cutting an alternating current voltage signal and operating the load in a high-current mode for a period of time immediately prior to the estimated occurrence of the high-resistance state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Yanhui Xie, Eric Jerome King, John L. Melanson, Michael A. Kost
  • Patent number: 9024541
    Abstract: A power distribution system includes controller of a switching power converter to control the switching power converter and determine one or more switching power converter control parameters. In at least one embodiment, the switching power converter utilizes a transformer to transfer energy from a primary-side of the transformer to a secondary-side of the transformer. In at least one embodiment, the switching power converter control parameters includes a secondary-side conduction time delay that represents a time delay between when the primary-side ceases conducting a primary-side current and the secondary-side begins to conduct a secondary-side current. In at least one embodiment, determining and accounting for this secondary-side conduction time delay increases the prediction accuracy of the secondary-side current value and accurate delivery of energy to a load when the controller does not directly sense the secondary-side current provided to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Yanhui Xie, Michael A. Kost, John L. Melanson, Zhaohui He, Chris M. Franklin