Patents by Inventor Slobodan Cuk
Slobodan Cuk 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).
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Patent number: 9231471Abstract: The present invention employs a resonant inductor, a resonant capacitor and a hybrid transformer using a Hybrid-switching method with three switches which results in two distinct switched-networks: one for ON-time interval and another for OFF-time interval. Resonant inductor is placed in series with the hybrid transformer primary to insure the continuity of primary and secondary currents at the switching transitions and thus eliminating completely the potential switching losses at the switching transitions. In the best use of the invention the resonant inductor is replaced by use of the inherent leakage inductance of the transformer and for the first time eliminate the switching losses always associated with the transformer leakage inductance of all other switching converters. The output voltage is controlled by the standard Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) duty ratio control.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2011Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: CUKS, LLCInventor: Slobodan Cuk
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Patent number: 8350538Abstract: A number of non-isolated and isolated converter embodiments are disclosed all featuring the three switches and characteristic not present in prior-art converters such as: a) reduced voltage stresses on all three switches resulting in safe operation without a danger of voltage overstress of any of the three switches over the full operating range from duty ratio of 0 to 1.0 and thus resulting in wide input voltage operating. b) operating range with magnetics flux and magnetic size much reduced compared to prior-art converters c) stressless switching eliminates switching losses and reduces stresses which are present in prior-art converters. All three features result in simultaneous increase of efficiency, reduction of size and cost when compared with prior-art converters.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2010Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Cuks, LLCInventor: Slobodan Cuk
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Patent number: 8350540Abstract: A storageless DC-DC converter is provided having simultaneously ultra high efficiency of 99.5% in an ultra compact size leading to 1 kW/inch3 power density, while also providing a regulation over the wide input DC voltage range. In addition to fixed 2 to 1 step-down voltage conversion the continuous output voltage reduction is obtained by use of a new method of the modulation of the freewheeling time of one of the two current rectifiers. This provides a simple regulation of the output voltage via a standard duty ratio control, despite the wide range of the input voltage change and simultaneous wide range of the load current change. An alternative control method customarily used in classical resonant converters to control output voltage by change of the switching frequency with a fixed duty ratio control is also demonstrated.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2010Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Cuks, LLCInventor: Slobodan Cuk
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Publication number: 20120281436Abstract: An isolated DC-to-DC voltage step-up converter is provided with four switches, an input inductor, an isolation transformer, two resonant inductors and two resonant capacitors and operates with two distinct intervals: ON-time interval and an OFF-time interval. The two half-wave sinusoidal resonant capacitor charge and discharge intervals, one during the ON-time interval and the other during the OFF-time interval are chosen as to eliminate the losses due to energy stored in the leakage inductance of the isolation transformer and to operates with zero voltage switching of the primary side switches. It provides the output voltage regulation over the wide input voltage range with the same low voltage stresses of all four switching devices. The isolation transformer has full bi-directional flux capability and has DC bias. Despite the two independently controlled resonances, the output voltage is controlled by the duty ratio D control at constant switching frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2011Publication date: November 8, 2012Inventor: SLOBODAN CUK
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Publication number: 20120268969Abstract: The novel DC-AC inverter topology with high frequency isolation transformer consists of an input DC-DC converter with high frequency isolation transformer and an output full-bridge unfolding converter with four transistors provides the output AC voltage from a DC source. The input DC-DC converter has two primary side controllable switches and a single rectifier on the secondary side, two resonant capacitors, a resonant inductor, an output inductor and a high-frequency isolation transformer, which does not store DC energy. The duty ratio D of the primary side switches is modulated by the rectified AC voltage to result in an output rectified AC voltage, which is unfolded into an AC sinusoidal output voltage by the output full-bridge unfolding converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2011Publication date: October 25, 2012Inventor: Slobodan CUK
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Publication number: 20120262967Abstract: The novel single-stage power processing DC-AC inverter topology with high frequency isolation transformer eliminates the four-transistor unfolding full-bridge stage and provides the output AC voltage at high power conversion efficiency. The new inverter topology has only three switches, two resonant capacitors, a resonant inductor, an output inductor and a small size high-frequency isolation transformer, which does not store the DC energy. The output AC voltage is obtained by the PWM sinusoidal modulation of the duty ratio control of the three switches and can be regulated against the input voltage changes.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2011Publication date: October 18, 2012Inventor: SLOBODAN CUK
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Publication number: 20120249102Abstract: The present invention employs a resonant inductor, a resonant capacitor and a hybrid transformer using a Hybrid-switching method with three switches which results in two distinct switched-networks: one for ON-time interval and another for OFF-time interval. Resonant inductor is placed in series with the hybrid transformer primary to insure the continuity of primary and secondary currents at the switching transitions. The hybrid transformer converts both inductive and capacitive energy storage from the source to the load. The two-phase extension results in tenfold reduction of the output current ripple. Despite the presence of the resonant inductor current during the OFF-time interval, the output voltage is neither dependent on resonant component values nor on the load current but depends on duty ratio D and turns ratio n of the hybrid transformer only. Thus a simple regulation of output voltage is achieved using duty ratio D control.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2011Publication date: October 4, 2012Inventor: SLOBODAN CUK
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Publication number: 20120120697Abstract: A new class of Three-Phase Isolated Rectifiers with Power Factor Correction provides a high efficiency, small size and low cost due to direct conversion from three-phase input voltage to output DC voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2010Publication date: May 17, 2012Inventor: Slobodan Cuk
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Patent number: 8134351Abstract: A four-switch step-down storageless DC-DC converter is provided having simultaneously ultra high efficiency of over 99% in an ultra compact size, while also providing a regulation and maintaining fast transient response while in regulation. Because of its storageless feature it is ideal for demanding computer applications, such as VRM (Voltage Regulator Modules), with extremely fast step-load load current change requirements and tight output voltage regulation requiring ultra low output ripple voltages during the transients.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Cuks, LLCInventor: Slobodan Cuk
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Publication number: 20120044722Abstract: The isolated voltage step-down switching DC-DC converter has one magnetic component, the isolation transformer, and two small size resonant inductors. The transformer is built on a magnetic core with no air-gap, hence no DC storage and thus results in fast load transient response. Two active switches on the primary side have voltage stresses equal to input voltage and two current rectifiers on secondary side have voltage stresses equal to output DC voltage under all operating duty ratio conditions. The converter operates with two independent resonance's, one coinciding with the ON-time interval and the other coinciding with the OFF-time interval resulting in all switches being turned ON and turned OFF at zero current. Primary side high voltage switches operate with zero-voltage switching for all load currents. Despite the two resonance's, the output voltage is controlled by use of the variable duty ratio, constant switching frequency PWM method.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2011Publication date: February 23, 2012Inventor: SLOBODAN CUK
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Publication number: 20120001612Abstract: A four-switch step-down storageless DC-DC converter is provided having simultaneously ultra high efficiency of over 99% in an ultra compact size, while also providing a regulation and maintaining fast transient response while in regulation. Because of its storageless feature it is ideal for demanding computer applications, such as VRM (Voltage Regulator Modules), with extremely fast step-load load current change requirements and tight output voltage regulation requiring ultra low output ripple voltages during the transients.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2010Publication date: January 5, 2012Inventor: Slobodan Cuk
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Publication number: 20110292703Abstract: A new class of Single-Stage AC-DC converters with built-in Isolation and PFC feature is introduced along with the companion hybrid switching conversion method. Several different converter topologies are introduced, which all feature three switches only, single magnetic component and low voltage stresses on all switches.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2010Publication date: December 1, 2011Inventor: Slobodan Cuk
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Publication number: 20110285369Abstract: A three-switch step-down converter provides efficiency, size, cost and other performance advantages over the conventional two-switch buck converter and other step-down converters, over the entire duty ratio operating range. Unlike buck converter which uses only inductive energy transfer, the three-switch step-down converter employs the capacitive energy transfer in addition to inductive energy transfer to result in much reduced losses and better utilization of the switches resulting in reduced cost of the silicon needed for given efficiency performance. The present invention also introduces a new hybrid switching method, which implements for the first time use of odd number of switches, such as three in this case, which is strictly excluded from use in conventional Square-wave, Resonant and Quasi-resonant switching converters, which all require an even number of switches (2, 4, 6 etc.), operating as complementary pairs.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Inventor: Slobodan Cuk
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Patent number: 8040704Abstract: Switching Converter with a novel two-loop Integrated magnetic structure integrates transformer and two output inductors and eliminates large circulating current in the transformer secondary side resulting in ultra high efficiency and zero ripple output current as well as zero ripple currents in both output inductors simultaneously. The novel lossless switching method eliminates the primary side switching losses to result in switching converter with highest efficiency, compact size and additional performance advantages, such as ultra low output ripple voltage, low EMI noise and improved reliability with additional benefits when operated with a front-end Power Factor Converter for computer server applications.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2008Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Cuks, LLCInventor: Slobodan Cuk
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Publication number: 20110175591Abstract: The step-down switching converter is provided, which promises to replace the conventional buck converter in many applications due to its many advantage, such as higher efficiency, smaller size, fast transient response and lower cost and ultra low output ripple voltage among other benefits.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2011Publication date: July 21, 2011Inventor: Slobodan Cuk
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Publication number: 20110169474Abstract: The step-down switching converter is provided, which promises to replace the conventional buck converter in many applications due to its many advantage, such as higher efficiency, smaller size, fast transient response and lower cost among other benefits.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Inventor: Slobodan Cuk
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Patent number: 7915874Abstract: Unlike buck converter and tapped-inductor buck converters, which use only inductive energy transfer, the present invention employs the capacitive energy transfer in addition to inductive energy transfer. The hybrid transformer performs the double duty simultaneously: transfers the input inductive energy storage to the load through a taped-inductor turns ratio n but also transfers the resonant capacitor discharge current to the load during OFF-time interval amplified by turns ratio m of the hybrid transformer. Despite the presence of the resonant inductor current during the OFF-time interval, the output voltage is neither dependent on resonant component values nor on the load current as in conventional resonant converters but depends on duty ratio D and turns ratio n of the hybrid transformer. Hence a simple regulation of output voltage is achieved using duty ratio control.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2010Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Cuks, LLCInventor: Slobodan Cuk
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Publication number: 20110057640Abstract: A storageless DC-DC converter is provided having simultaneously ultra high efficiency of 99.5% in an ultra compact size leading to 1 kW/inch3 power density, while also providing a regulation over the wide input DC voltage range. In addition to fixed 2 to 1 step-down voltage conversion the continuous output voltage reduction is obtained by use of a new method of the modulation of the freewheeling time of one of the two current rectifiers. This provides a simple regulation of the output voltage via a standard duty ratio control, despite the wide range of the input voltage change and simultaneous wide range of the load current change. An alternative control method customarily used in classical resonant converters to control output voltage by change of the switching frequency with a fixed duty ratio control is also demonstrated.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2010Publication date: March 10, 2011Inventor: Slobodan Cuk
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Publication number: 20100259241Abstract: A number of non-isolated and isolated converter embodiments are disclosed all featuring the three switches and characteristic not present in prior-art converters such as: a) reduced voltage stresses on all three switches resulting in safe operation without a danger of voltage overstress of any of the three switches over the full operating range from duty ratio of 0 to 1.0 and thus resulting in wide input voltage operating. b) operating range with magnetics flux and magnetic size much reduced compared to prior-art converters c) stressless switching eliminates switching losses and reduces stresses which are present in prior-art converters. All three features result in simultaneous increase of efficiency, reduction of size and cost when compared with prior-art converters.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2010Publication date: October 14, 2010Inventor: Slobodan Cuk
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Publication number: 20100259240Abstract: A truly Bridgeless PFC converter is provided which eliminates the four-diode bridge rectifier and operates directly from the AC line to result in high-efficiency, small size and low cost solution for Power Factor Correction applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2010Publication date: October 14, 2010Inventor: Slobodan Cuk