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: 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
  • Publication number: 20150340944
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a light emitting device driver circuit, a current ripple rejecter therein, and a current ripple rejection method therefor. The light emitting device driver circuit includes: a power converter circuit, for converting an input voltage carrying an AC component to an output voltage and supplying an output current; and a current ripple rejecter, which is coupled to the power converter circuit, for filtering a ripple of the output current to generate a light emitting device current, and supplying the light emitting device current to a light emitting device circuit. The current ripple rejecter includes: a low-pass-filter circuit, for filtering the ripple of the output current to generate a filtered current; and a current amplification circuit, which is coupled to the low-pass-filter circuit, for amplifying the filtered current to generate an amplified current; wherein the light emitting device current includes the amplified current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tzu-Chen Lin, Chang-Yu Wu, Isaac Y. Chen
  • Publication number: 20150311778
    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: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuang-Fu Chang, Tzu-Chen Lin, Li-Di Luo
  • Publication number: 20150288288
    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: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuang-Fu Chang, Tzu-Chen Lin, Chih-Wei Chi
  • Patent number: 9136766
    Abstract: A switching power converting apparatus is capable of converting an input voltage to an output voltage, and includes a transformer, a primary side control module, and a secondary side control module. The secondary side control module utilizes voltage clamping techniques or current-drawing techniques to stop self-excited conversion from the input voltage to the output voltage when the output voltage is greater than a predetermined target voltage, or utilizes a non-self-excited conversion architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Chien-Fu Tang, Tzu-Chen Lin, Isaac Y. Chen
  • Publication number: 20150162821
    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: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chang-Yu WU, Tzu-Chen LIN
  • Patent number: 8937470
    Abstract: An active power factor correction (PFC) circuit for calibrating a power factor of an AC-to-DC converter when the active PFC circuit is coupled with the AC-to-DC converter is disclosed including: a piecewise linear gain circuit, an error amplifier, a PWM controller, and a PWM signal generator. The piecewise linear gain circuit is for receiving a feed forward signal and generating a corresponding gain signal, wherein the gain signal and the feed forward signal have a broken line relation with respect to magnitude. The error amplifier is for generating an error signal according to an output voltage of the AC-to-DC converter. The PWM controller is for generating a control signal according to the gain signal and the error signal. The PWM signal generator is for generating a PWM signal for controlling a power switch of the AC-to-DC converter according to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Tzu-Chen Lin
  • Patent number: 8907648
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a power factor correction circuit, a control circuit therefor and a method for driving a power factor correction circuit. The power factor correction circuit receives rectified power obtained by rectifying AC power, and corrects the power factor thereof. The power factor correction circuit includes an inductor, and it generates a reference signal as a limit for the inductor current. The reference signal is proportional to Comp/Vin, wherein Comp is a signal relating to a feedback signal, and Vin is a voltage signal relating to the AC power or the rectified power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jyun-Che Ho, Chien-Fu Tang, Isaac Y. Chen, Shao-Hung Lu, Tzu-Chen Lin
  • Patent number: 8824172
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a flyback power converter reduce the standby output voltage of the flyback power converter by switching the reference voltage provided by a shunt regulator of the flyback power converter or the ratio of voltage divider resistors of the shunt regulator, to reduce the standby power consumption by an output feedback circuit of the flyback power converter, the shunt regulator, and the voltage divider resistors, and thereby improve the power loss of the flyback power converter in standby mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Richpower Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Sheng-Hua Chen, Tzu-Chen Lin, Pei-Lun Huang
  • Publication number: 20140192564
    Abstract: A switching power converting apparatus is capable of converting an input voltage to an output voltage, and includes a transformer, a primary side control module, and a secondary side control module. The secondary side control module utilizes voltage clamping techniques or current-drawing techniques to stop self-excited conversion from the input voltage to the output voltage when the output voltage is greater than a predetermined target voltage, or utilizes a non-self-excited conversion architecture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Chien-Fu TANG, Tzu-Chen LIN, Isaac Y. CHEN
  • Patent number: 8582324
    Abstract: A pulse width modulation controller and method for output ripple reduction of a jittering frequency switching power supply detect the current of a power switch of the switching power supply to generate a current sense signal, and adjust the gain or the level of the current sense signal according to the switching frequency of the power switch to adjust the on time of the power switch, to reduce the output ripple of the switching power supply caused by the jittering frequency of the switching power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Richpower Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kun-Yu Lin, Tzu-Chen Lin, Pei-Lun Huang
  • Publication number: 20130229833
    Abstract: A feedback circuit for an isolated power converter includes an opto-coupler and a reversed polarity regulator. The opto-coupler provides a current related to an output voltage of the isolated power converter. When the isolated power converter enters light load, the output voltage rises and the reversed polarity regulator reduces the current to decrease the power consumption and thus improve the light load efficiency of the isolated power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Liang-Pin TAI, Tzu-Chen LIN, Cheng-Hsuan FAN
  • Patent number: 8503196
    Abstract: A feedback circuit for an isolated power converter includes an opto-coupler and a reversed polarity regulator. The opto-coupler provides a current related to an output voltage of the isolated power converter. When the isolated power converter enters light load, the output voltage rises and the reversed polarity regulator reduces the current to decrease the power consumption and thus improve the light load efficiency of the isolated power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Liang-Pin Tai, Tzu-Chen Lin, Cheng-Hsuan Fan
  • Patent number: 8472214
    Abstract: A flyback power converter includes a power switch connected to a primary side of a transformer, and a sensing signal is provided for a control circuit to switch the power switch so as for the transformer to convert an input voltage into an output voltage. The sensing signal is a function of the input voltage, and the control circuit extracts a variation of the sensing signal during a preset time period. The variation of the sensing signal is used to prevent the output ripple and the green mode entry point of the flyback power converter from varying with the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Pei-Lun Huang, Yu-Ming Chen, Tzu-Chen Lin
  • Patent number: 8406015
    Abstract: A control circuit and method are provided for a flyback converter converting an input voltage to an output voltage, to compensate for an entry point of a burst mode of the flyback converter, so that the entry point is not affected by the input voltage, and audible noise resulted from a higher input voltage is reduced without impacting the light load efficiency of the flyback converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Tzu-Chen Lin, Pei-Lun Huang
  • Publication number: 20120306459
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a power factor correction circuit, a control circuit therefor and a method for driving a power factor correction circuit. The power factor correction circuit receives rectified power obtained by rectifying AC power, and corrects the power factor thereof. The power factor correction circuit includes an inductor, and it generates a reference signal as a limit for the inductor current. The reference signal is proportional to Comp/Vin, wherein Comp is a signal relating to a feedback signal, and Vin is a voltage signal relating to the AC power or the rectified power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Jyun-Che Ho, Chien-Fu Tang, Isaac Y. Chen, Shao-Hung Lu, Tzu-Chen Lin
  • Patent number: 8279634
    Abstract: Disclosed are circuits and methods for use in a control circuit of a switching mode power supply for turning on a switching device in the switching mode power supply when the voltage across the switching device is at a minimum. A voltage detector is provided for detecting the voltage across the switching device to produce a detection voltage which is a function of the voltage across the switching device, and circuit arrangement is used to predict a valley timing for the voltage across the switching device by evaluating the time period that the detection voltage falls down from a first threshold to a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Tzu-Chen Lin
  • Publication number: 20120194162
    Abstract: A pulse width modulation controller and method for output ripple reduction of a jittering frequency switching power supply detect the current of a power switch of the switching power supply to generate a current sense signal, and adjust the gain or the level of the current sense signal according to the switching frequency of the power switch to adjust the on time of the power switch, to reduce the output ripple of the switching power supply caused by the jittering frequency of the switching power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: RICHPOWER MICROELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kun-Yu LIN, Tzu-Chen LIN, Pei-Lun HUANG
  • Patent number: 8203811
    Abstract: A power converter uses a PWM controller to provide a driver output to modulate the duty of the power converter. A protection apparatus and method compare a current sense input of the PWM controller with a reference voltage to assert a signal representing failure, count the number of cycles where the signal representing failure is asserted, and reset an enable signal to inhibit the driver output if the signal representing failure is asserted in several cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Tzu-Chen Lin, Pei-Lun Huang