Patents by Inventor Peter Gammenthaler

Peter Gammenthaler 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: 7834613
    Abstract: A current sensor is provided that employs a primary winding that carries the current to be measured, and a secondary winding that controls the flux inside the magnetic core, provides a sample of the primary current, and also helps to control the flux at small primary currents and to saturate the transformer. An auxiliary winding is optionally used to control the flux in order to simplify control of the sensor. By periodically applying a certain voltage at the secondary winding, the transformer core is forced out of saturation, and a sample of the primary current is taken by a sensing circuit that may include a sample-and-hold circuit and an analog-to-digital converter. A control circuit is employed to control the currents flowing in the secondary winding and optional auxiliary winding and to manage the sensing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Power-One, Inc.
    Inventors: Silvio Ziegler, Peter Gammenthaler, Alain Chapuis
  • Patent number: 6704203
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power supply module for high output currents, particularly a DC-DC converter, with a plate-shaped carrier element (10) configured to interact with a planar inductor and having a plurality of conductor layers, which has a suitably formed opening (12) to receive a core element of the planar inductor, on the component side is formed for automated mounting of electronic components (16), particularly a power semiconductor (14), and on the output side has a contact arrangement (40) to discharge the high output current. On the component side a strip- and/or rail-shaped bridge element (18) is provided, which forms a conductor for the output current and has a conductor cross section greater than 2 mm2. The bridge element, as a component independent of the carrier element, is preferably mounted and contacted on the carrier element by means of an automated assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Power-One A.G.
    Inventors: Alain Chapuis, Peter Gammenthaler
  • Patent number: 6657872
    Abstract: The invention concerns a voltage converter of a flux converter type with a self-regulating synchronous rectifier in the secondary circuit related to a transformer (17), with a capacitor device (C1; C1, C2) being provided, for driving an active switching element (V1, V2) of the synchronous rectifier, which is charged by means of an auxiliary winding (W1, W2) of the transformer in the secondary circuit, and its charge is applied to a control terminal of the active switching element by means of a semiconductor element (D1, D2; 30, 32), with the capacitor device being implemented in such a way that the charge allows synchronous switching operation of the active switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Power-One AG
    Inventors: Alain Chapuis, Peter Gammenthaler
  • Publication number: 20020122321
    Abstract: The invention concerns a voltage converter of a flux converter type with a self-regulating synchronous rectifier in the secondary circuit related to a transformer (17), with a capacitor device (C1; C1, C2) being provided, for driving an active switching element (V1, V2) of the synchronous rectifier, which is charged by means of an auxiliary winding (W1 W2) of the transformer in the secondary circuit, and its charge is applied to a control terminal of the active switching element by means of a semiconductor element (D1, D2; 30, 32), with the capacitor device being implemented in such a way that the charge allows synchronous switching operation of the active switching element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Alain Chapuis, Peter Gammenthaler
  • Publication number: 20020118504
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power supply module for high output currents, particularly a DC-DC converter, with a plate-shaped carrier element (10) configured to interact with a planar inductor and having a plurality of conductor layers, which has a suitably formed opening (12) to receive a core element of the planar inductor, on the component side is formed for automated mounting of electronic components (16), particularly a power semiconductor (14), and on the output side has a contact arrangement (40) to discharge the high output current. On the component side a strip- and/or rail-shaped bridge element (18) is provided, which forms a conductor for the output current and has a conductor cross section greater than 2 mm2. Said bridge element, as a component independent of the carrier element, is preferably mounted and contacted on the carrier element by means of an automated assembly process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: Power-One AG
    Inventors: Alain Chapuis, Peter Gammenthaler
  • Patent number: 6222733
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for cooling a planar inductance coil, in particular a planar transformer, on a plate-shaped support having a plurality of conducting layers, wherein at least one conducting layer of the support, in co-operation with a core element designed to guide a magnetic flux, provides the planar inductance coil, wherein on its first side towards a surface of the support the core element is connected to said side by means of a heat-conducting adhesive and on a second planar outside surface it is preferably substantially over the entire surface glued to a cooling element having a planar contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Melcher A.G.
    Inventor: Peter Gammenthaler
  • Patent number: 5848903
    Abstract: A socket (1) forms part of a flat-pin connector designed for 19" racks. Mounted on it by means of soldering tabs (3) is a standard circuit board (2) which is fitted in a housing (9). The housing (9) has two parallel walls (13,14) and is closed off from the socket by a half-frame (16). The part of the socket (1) facing towards the circuit board (2) has a central section (6) which not only carries the soldering tabs (3) but also acts as a stop for the circuit board (2). The dimensions and position of this central section (6) are such that the housing wall (13) which covers the solder side of the circuit board does not extend out more than a distance defined by the distance between the pin array and the side of the socket (1), so that the whole of the rest of the width comprising distances is available for components and the other wall (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Melcher AG
    Inventor: Peter Gammenthaler
  • Patent number: D409138
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Melcher AG
    Inventor: Peter Gammenthaler