Patents by Inventor Tzu-Chen Lin

Tzu-Chen Lin 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: 20180138818
    Abstract: A flyback power converter includes a transformer, a power switch, a power switch control circuit, a synchronous rectification (SR) switch, an SR switch control circuit, and a signal coupler circuit. The signal coupler circuit includes a primary port and a secondary port, wherein the primary port is electrically connected to the power switch control circuit, and the secondary port is electrically connected to the SR switch control circuit. The primary port and the secondary port receive different signals generated by the power switch control circuit and the SR switch control circuit respectively, and the signal coupler circuit senses and converts the different signals to generate corresponding converted signals at the secondary port and the primary port respectively in different and non-overlapping time periods, without direct contact or direct connection between the primary side and the secondary side of the transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Tzu-Chen Lin, Bing Zeng, Li-Di Luo
  • Patent number: 9755529
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flyback power converter and a control circuit thereof. The flyback power converter includes a transformer, a power switch, a driver, a synchronous rectification (SR) switch, a controller, and a signal coupler circuit. The transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding. The power switch controls the conduction time of the primary winding; and the SR switch controls the conduction time of the secondary winding. The controller controls the SR switch and generates an ON pulse signal and an OFF pulse signal in a normal operation mode. When an output voltage reaches a lower limit voltage, the flyback power converter operates in the normal operation mode. The driver generates a switching signal according to the ON pulse signal and the OFF pulse signal in the normal operation mode, to determine a start conduction time point and an end conduction time point of the primary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu-Chang Chen, Li-Di Luo, Tzu-Chen Lin
  • Patent number: 9755525
    Abstract: A power converter circuit includes a transformer for converting a primary side voltage to a secondary side voltage and generating an output current. A power limit control unit senses the secondary side voltage to obtain a waveform feature of the primary side voltage, and decides a target of the output current according to the waveform feature of the primary side voltage. When the primary side voltage drops to a threshold, the output current is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tzu-Chen Lin
  • Publication number: 20170237353
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power switch of a power converter includes: detecting whether a zero current event occurs; generating an error signal; generating an adjusted voltage by multiplying a setting voltage by a ratio of an on time during which of the power switch is turned on in a previous switching cycle to a time length of the previous switching cycle; performing a low-pass filtering operation on the adjusted voltage to generate a filtered signal; providing a transconductance amplifier for converting the filtered signal into a ramp signal; turning on the power switch when the zero current event occurs; and turning off the power switch and rapidly lowering the level of the ramp signal when the ramp signal is greater than or equal to the error signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chang-Yu WU, Tzu-Chen LIN
  • Publication number: 20170222566
    Abstract: An AC-to-DC power converter includes a rectifier for generating a rectified voltage based on an AC voltage; an input capacitor coupled between the rectifier and a fixed-voltage terminal; a first inductive element; a first auxiliary capacitor; a first switch coupled between the input capacitor and the first inductive element; a second switch coupled between the first inductive element and the fixed-voltage terminal; a circuitry node; an auxiliary switch for coupling between the circuitry node and the first auxiliary capacitor or between the first auxiliary capacitor and the fixed-voltage terminal; a first diode; a second diode; a control signal generating circuit for controlling the first switch and the second switch; and an auxiliary switch control circuit for controlling the auxiliary switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chang-Yu WU, Tzu-Chen LIN
  • Publication number: 20170201107
    Abstract: An adaptive buck converter of a charging cable includes: a power receiving interface for receiving a DC voltage and a cable current from a cable; a terminal communication interface for transmitting a charging voltage and a charging current to a connection terminal of the charging cable and for receiving a communication signal generated by the mobile device from the connection terminal; a power converting circuit for receiving the DC voltage and the cable current from the power receiving interface and for generating the charging voltage and the charging current, wherein the charging voltage is lower than the DC voltage while the charging current is greater than the cable current; and a data processing circuit coupled with the power converting circuit and configured for controlling the power converting circuit according to the communication signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Applicant: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ta-Yung YANG, Jing-Meng LIU, Isaac Y. CHEN, Tzu-Chen LIN
  • Publication number: 20170201101
    Abstract: An adaptive charging voltage generator of a mobile device charger includes: a power receiving interface for receiving a DC voltage and a cable current from a cable; a terminal communication interface for transmitting a charging voltage and a charging current to a connection terminal of the mobile device charger and for receiving a communication signal generated by the mobile device from the connection terminal; a buck converter for receiving the DC voltage and the cable current from the power receiving interface and for generating the charging voltage and the charging current, wherein the charging voltage is lower than the DC voltage while the charging current is greater than the cable current; and a charging voltage control circuit coupled with the buck converter and configured for controlling the buck converter according to the communication signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Applicant: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ta-Yung YANG, Jing-Meng LIU, Isaac Y. CHEN, Tzu-Chen LIN
  • Publication number: 20170179834
    Abstract: A power converter includes: a transformer having a primary side winding to receive a rectified voltage, and a secondary side winding to generate an output DC voltage; a gallium nitride (GaN) M0SFET, coupled to the primary side winding for controlling a primary side current flowing through the primary side winding; a sensing resistor coupled to the GaN transistor switch, for sensing the primary side current to generate a current sensing signal; and a switch control unit, for controlling the GaN transistor switch according to the current sensing signal. The sensing resistor and the GaN transistor switch are connected at a ground node having a voltage level which is the ground of the primary side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventor: Tzu-Chen Lin
  • Patent number: 9680369
    Abstract: A power factor correction (PFC) circuit of a power converter is disclosed. The power converter includes a primary side coil, a secondary side coil, an inductive coil, and a power switch. The PFC circuit includes a zero current detection circuit for detecting an inductive signal of the inductive coil to generate a detection signal; an error detection circuit for generating an error signal corresponding to an output voltage signal or an output current signal according to a reference signal; a ramp signal generating circuit for generating a ramp signal; a comparison circuit for comparing the ramp signal with the error signal to generate a comparison signal; and a trigger circuit for generating a control signal to control the power switch and for controlling the ramp signal generating circuit to adjust a slope of the ramp signal according to the detection signal and the comparison signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chang-Yu Wu, Tzu-Chen Lin
  • Publication number: 20170163162
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flyback power converter with a programmable output and a control circuit and a control method thereof. The flyback power converter converts an input voltage to a programmable output voltage according to a setting signal, wherein the programmable output voltage switches between different levels. The flyback power converter includes: a transformer circuit, a power switch circuit, a current sense circuit, an opto-coupler circuit, and a control circuit. The control circuit adaptively adjusts an operation signal according to a level of the programmable output voltage, to maintain a same or relatively higher operation frequency of the operation signal when the programmable output voltage switches to a relatively lower level, so as to maintain a phase margin while supplying the same output current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Kuang-Fu Chang, Tzu-Chen Lin, Chien-Fu Tang
  • Patent number: 9627984
    Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated power supply circuit with a programmable function and a control method thereof. The isolated power supply circuit includes: a transformer circuit, a power switch circuit, a control circuit, and a discharge circuit. The control circuit generates an operation signal and a bleeding signal according to a setting signal. The discharge circuit is coupled to an output node, for generating a discharging current. When the programmable output voltage at the output node switches between different predetermined levels, in a transition period, the bleeding signal adjusts the discharging current to discharge the output node, such that the transition period is shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuang-Fu Chang, Tzu-Chen Lin, Chih-Wei Chi
  • Patent number: 9627987
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a flyback converter, a primary side control circuit therein, and a control method thereof. The flyback converter includes: a transformer circuit, a power switch circuit, a primary side control circuit, a synchronous rectification (SR) switch, and a synchronous rectification (SR) control circuit. When a feedback signal indicates that a difference between a target output voltage and an actual output voltage increases, the primary side control circuit increases an operation frequency of an operation signal by step-wisely reducing a cycle period of the operation signal in response to the increase of the difference, wherein the cycle period of the operation signal is reduced by a predetermined unit of time in each step, such that the cycle period of the operation signal is a step function of the increase of the difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu-Kai Chen, Hsin-Yi Wu, Tzu-Chen Lin
  • Patent number: 9614449
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flyback power converter with a programmable output and a control circuit and a control method thereof. The flyback power converter converts an input voltage to a programmable output voltage according to a setting signal, wherein the programmable output voltage switches between different levels. The flyback power converter includes: a transformer circuit, a power switch circuit, a current sense circuit, an opto-coupler circuit, and a control circuit. The control circuit adaptively adjusts an operation signal according to a level of the programmable output voltage, to maintain a same or relatively higher operation frequency of the operation signal when the programmable output voltage switches to a relatively lower level, so as to maintain a phase margin while supplying the same output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuang-Fu Chang, Tzu-Chen Lin, Chien-Fu Tang
  • Patent number: 9601983
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flyback power converter and a control circuit and a control method thereof. The flyback power converter includes: a power stage circuit, a voltage sense circuit, a current sense circuit, and a control circuit. When the flyback power converter operates in a quasi-resonant mode, the control circuit determines a time point of turning OFF a power switch in the power stage circuit according to a current sense signal, a pulse width modulation (PWM) frequency of a PWM signal, and a predetermined threshold, wherein the control circuit adaptively adjusts an ON period of the power switch, or adaptively adjusts an operation bandwidth or an amplifier gain of an error amplifier circuit in a feedback control loop according to the PWM frequency to mitigate an output voltage ripple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuang-Fu Chang, Tzu-Chen Lin, Li-Di Luo
  • Publication number: 20160329819
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flyback power converter and a control circuit thereof. The flyback power converter includes a transformer, a power switch, a driver, a synchronous rectification (SR) switch, a controller, and a signal coupler circuit. The transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding. The power switch controls the conduction time of the primary winding; and the SR switch controls the conduction time of the secondary winding. The controller controls the SR switch and generates an ON pulse signal and an OFF pulse signal in a normal operation mode. When an output voltage reaches a lower limit voltage, the flyback power converter operates in the normal operation mode. The driver generates a switching signal according to the ON pulse signal and the OFF pulse signal in the normal operation mode, to determine a start conduction time point and an end conduction time point of the primary winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Yu-Chang Chen, Li-Di Luo, Tzu-Chen Lin
  • Publication number: 20160268908
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a power converter, a switch control circuit, and a short circuit detection method for current sensing resistor of the power converter. The power converter includes: a transformer, a power switch, a current sensing resistor and a switch control unit. The current sensing resistor has one end coupled to the power switch and another end coupled to ground. The switch control unit generates the operation signal to control the power switch. The switch control unit generates a first sample-and-hold voltage at a first time point and a second sample-and-hold voltage at a second time point according to a voltage across the current sensing resistor. When a voltage difference between the first sample-and-hold voltage and the second sample-and-hold voltage is smaller than a reference voltage, it is determined that a short circuit occurs in the current sensing resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Kuang-Fu Chang, Tzu-Chen Lin
  • Publication number: 20160172962
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a flyback converter, a primary side control circuit therein, and a control method thereof. The flyback converter includes: a transformer circuit, a power switch circuit, a primary side control circuit, a synchronous rectification (SR) switch, and a synchronous rectification (SR) control circuit. When a feedback signal indicates that a difference between a target output voltage and an actual output voltage increases, the primary side control circuit increases an operation frequency of an operation signal by step-wisely reducing a cycle period of the operation signal in response to the increase of the difference, wherein the cycle period of the operation signal is reduced by a predetermined unit of time in each step, such that the cycle period of the operation signal is a step function of the increase of the difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Yu-Kai Chen, Hsin-Yi Wu, Tzu-Chen Lin
  • Publication number: 20160149497
    Abstract: A power converter circuit includes a transformer for converting a primary side voltage to a secondary side voltage and generating an output current. A power limit control unit senses the secondary side voltage to obtain a waveform feature of the primary side voltage, and decides a target of the output current according to the waveform feature of the primary side voltage. When the primary side voltage drops to a threshold, the output current is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventor: Tzu-Chen Lin
  • Publication number: 20160105116
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flyback power converter with a programmable output and a control circuit and a control method thereof. The flyback power converter converts an input voltage to a programmable output voltage according to a setting signal, wherein the programmable output voltage switches between different levels. The flyback power converter includes: a transformer circuit, a power switch circuit, a current sense circuit, an opto-coupler circuit, and a control circuit. The control circuit adaptively adjusts an operation signal according to a level of the programmable output voltage, to maintain a same or relatively higher operation frequency of the operation signal when the programmable output voltage switches to a relatively lower level, so as to maintain a phase margin while supplying the same output current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Kuang-Fu Chang, Tzu-Chen Lin, Chien-Fu Tang
  • Publication number: 20160049865
    Abstract: A fast start-up circuit and a method of a flyback power supply utilize a charging current that is related to an input voltage of the flyback power supply to charge a control terminal of a power switch of the flyback power supply during a start-up mode. Accordingly, the power switch can be switched, and a supply voltage of the flyback power supply rises. When an output terminal of the flyback power supply occurs a short circuit, the fast start-up circuit and the method of the present invention will decrease a maximum of a current through the power switch, thereby avoiding that the power switch is overheating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Jyun-Che HO, Tzu-Chen LIN, Isaac Y. CHEN, Yi-Wei LEE