Patents by Inventor Vikram Balakrishnan

Vikram Balakrishnan 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: 20240030809
    Abstract: A power converter includes a damping circuit coupled to the dissipative element for dissipating energy corresponding to a resonant ringing produced by a magnetic inductance of the energy transfer element and by the switch capacitance when the power converter is in discontinuous conduction mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: VIKRAM BALAKRISHNAN, ENG HWEE QUEK
  • Patent number: 11695343
    Abstract: A control circuit comprising an output controller coupled to an output side of a power converter. The output controller comprises a switch control signal generator to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of the power controller and to communicate a control signal to an input controller coupled to an input side to control a turn ON of a power switch. The control signal is generated in response to the feedback signal and is communicated in response to an enable signal. The output controller comprises an extremum locator to generate the enable signal in response to a winding signal representative of an instantaneous voltage on an output terminal of an energy transfer element and the extremum locator enables the switch control signal generator such that the transition of the power switch from the OFF state to the ON state occurs substantially when the winding signal reaches an extremum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: POWER INTEGRATIONS. INC.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, David Michael Hugh Matthews, Vikram Balakrishnan, Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Zhao-Jun Wang, Giao Minh Pham, Qing McIntosh
  • Patent number: 11342856
    Abstract: A switched mode power converter has an energy transfer element that delivers an output signal to a load. A power switching device coupled to the primary side of the energy transfer element regulates a transfer of energy to the load. A secondary controller is coupled to receive a feedback signal and output a pulsed signal in response thereto. A primary controller is coupled to receive the pulsed signal and output a drive signal in response thereto, the drive signal being coupled to control switching of the power switching device. A compensation circuit generates an adaptively compensated signal synchronous with the pulsed signal. The adaptively compensated signal has a parameter that is adaptively adjusted in response to a comparison of the feedback signal with a threshold reference signal. The parameter converges towards a final value that produces a desired level of the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Giao Minh Pham, Vikram Balakrishnan, Arthur B. Odell, Antonius Jacobus Johannes Werner, Karl Moore, Matthew David Waterson
  • Patent number: 11283343
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter for transferring energy between an input and an output, the controller comprising a second controller to generate a request event and a request signal in response to a feedback signal and a switching window signal, the second controller to transmit the request event during a switching window of the switching window signal. The second controller comprising an extremum locator switching window generator to generate the switching window corresponding with an extremum in the winding signal and a measurement enable circuit to output an enable signal to enable the extremum locator switching window generator to measure a duration of a half cycle to generate the switching window. The measurement enable circuit to enable the extremum locator switching window generator in response to the feedback signal reaching a percentage of a target reference and output a quiet signal to prevent transmitting the request event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Edward Er Deng, Feng Tian, Vikram Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian
  • Publication number: 20210328516
    Abstract: A control circuit comprising an output controller coupled to an output side of a power converter. The output controller comprises a switch control signal generator to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of the power controller and to communicate a control signal to an input controller coupled to an input side to control a turn ON of a power switch. The control signal is generated in response to the feedback signal and is communicated in response to an enable signal. The output controller comprises an extremum locator to generate the enable signal in response to a winding signal representative of an instantaneous voltage on an output terminal of an energy transfer element and the extremum locator enables the switch control signal generator such that the transition of the power switch from the OFF state to the ON state occurs substantially when the winding signal reaches an extremum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: BALU BALAKRISHNAN, DAVID MICHAEL HUGH MATTHEWS, VIKRAM BALAKRISHNAN, ROLAND SYLVERE SAINT-PIERRE, ZHAO-JUN WANG, GIAO MINH PHAM, QING MCINTOSH
  • Patent number: 11081964
    Abstract: A method of providing an input switching request signal to an input side switch includes determining a switching request window indicative of relaxation ringing during a first switching cycle. It is determined that the input side switch is operating in a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) mode of operation during a second switching cycle. It is determined that the switching request window is open during the second switching cycle. The input switching request signal is enabled in response to determining the switching request window is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, David Michael Hugh Matthews, Vikram Balakrishnan, Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Zhao-Jun Wang, Giao Minh Pham, Qing McIntosh
  • Publication number: 20210184556
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter for transferring energy between an input and an output, the controller comprising a second controller to generate a request event and a request signal in response to a feedback signal and a switching window signal, the second controller to transmit the request event during a switching window of the switching window signal. The second controller comprising an extremum locator switching window generator to generate the switching window corresponding with an extremum in the winding signal and a measurement enable circuit to output an enable signal to enable the extremum locator switching window generator to measure a duration of a half cycle to generate the switching window. The measurement enable circuit to enable the extremum locator switching window generator in response to the feedback signal reaching a percentage of a target reference and output a quiet signal to prevent transmitting the request event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Er Deng, Feng Tian, Vikram Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian
  • Publication number: 20190348900
    Abstract: A switched mode power converter has an energy transfer element that delivers an output signal to a load. A power switching device coupled to the primary side of the energy transfer element regulates a transfer of energy to the load. A secondary controller is coupled to receive a feedback signal and output a pulsed signal in response thereto. A primary controller is coupled to receive the pulsed signal and output a drive signal in response thereto, the drive signal being coupled to control switching of the power switching device. A compensation circuit generates an adaptively compensated signal synchronous with the pulsed signal. The adaptively compensated signal has a parameter that is adaptively adjusted in response to a comparison of the feedback signal with a threshold reference signal. The parameter converges towards a final value that produces a desired level of the output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Giao Minh Pham, Vikram Balakrishnan, Arthur B. Odell, Antonius Jacobus Johannes Werner, Karl Moore, Matthew David Waterson
  • Patent number: 10298110
    Abstract: A switched mode power converter has an energy transfer element that delivers an output signal to a load. A power switching device coupled to the primary side of the energy transfer element regulates a transfer of energy to the load. A secondary controller is coupled to receive a feedback signal and output a pulsed signal in response thereto. A primary controller is coupled to receive the pulsed signal and output a drive signal in response thereto, the drive signal being coupled to control switching of the power switching device. A compensation circuit generates an adaptively compensated signal synchronous with the pulsed signal. The adaptively compensated signal has a parameter that is adaptively adjusted in response to a comparison of the feedback signal with a threshold reference signal. The parameter converges towards a final value that produces a desired level of the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Giao Minh Pham, Vikram Balakrishnan, Arthur B. Odell, Antonius Jacobus Johannes Werner, Karl Moore, Matthew David Waterson
  • Patent number: 10205394
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a drive circuit coupled to generate a drive signal to control switching of a power switch to control a transfer of energy from a power converter input to a power converter output. An input is also included to receive an enable signal including enable events responsive to the power converter output. The drive circuit is coupled to turn ON the power switch in response to the enable events, and turn OFF the power switch in response to a power switch current reaching a current limit threshold. A current limit threshold generator is coupled to receive the drive signal from the drive circuit to vary the current limit threshold at a variable rate in response to the enable events of the enable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Giao Minh Pham, Vikram Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20190044448
    Abstract: A method of providing an input switching request signal to an input side switch includes determining a switching request window indicative of relaxation ringing during a first switching cycle. It is determined that the input side switch is operating in a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) mode of operation during a second switching cycle. It is determined that the switching request window is open during the second switching cycle. The input switching request signal is enabled in response to determining the switching request window is open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, David Michael Hugh Matthews, Vikram Balakrishnan, Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Zhao-Jun Wang, Giao Minh Pham, Qing McIntosh
  • Patent number: 10171000
    Abstract: A power converter controller includes a drive circuit to generate a drive signal to control switching of a power switch. The drive circuit generates the drive signal in response to a current sense signal, a current limit signal, a frequency skip signal, and a hold signal. A current limit generator generates the current limit signal in response to a load. A frequency detection circuit generates the frequency skip signal in response to the drive signal to indicate when an intended frequency of the drive signal is within a frequency window. The current limit signal remains fixed for at least a switching cycle when the intended frequency is within the frequency window. A first latch generates the hold signal to control the current limit generator to hold the current limit signal. The first latch generates the hold signal in response to the frequency skip signal and a feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Balakrishnan, Giao Minh Pham, Ricardo Luis Janezic Pregitzer, Peter Vaughan
  • Patent number: 10141765
    Abstract: A circuit for use with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) socket includes a power converter coupled to receive an input voltage at an input terminal and coupled to provide an output voltage at an output terminal. A transistor is coupled between the output terminal of the power converter and a bus voltage terminal of the USB socket. A USB communication controller is coupled to the USB socket. The USB communication controller includes an output terminal coupled to a control terminal of the transistor. A bleeder circuit is coupled between the output terminal of the USB communication controller and the bus voltage terminal of the USB socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Balakrishnan, Edward E. Deng, Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre
  • Patent number: 10128763
    Abstract: A method for regulating a power converter includes initiating a transition of a switch coupled to an input side of the power converter from an OFF to an ON state to regulate a transfer of energy from the input to an output side of the power converter after a switch control signal generator receives an enable signal and if a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter indicates a change in an output of the power converter. The enable signal is generated to communicate a control signal from the output to the input side in response to a first signal representative of a voltage on an output terminal that oscillates in response to an ending of the transfer of energy. The transition of the switch from the OFF to the ON state occurs substantially at a time that the first signal reaches an extremum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, David Michael Hugh Matthews, Vikram Balakrishnan, Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Zhao-Jun Wang, Giao Minh Pham, Qing McIntosh
  • Publication number: 20180262114
    Abstract: A power converter controller includes a drive circuit to generate a drive signal to control switching of a power switch. The drive circuit generates the drive signal in response to a current sense signal, a current limit signal, a frequency skip signal, and a hold signal. A current limit generator generates the current limit signal in response to a load. A frequency detection circuit generates the frequency skip signal in response to the drive signal to indicate when an intended frequency of the drive signal is within a frequency window. The current limit signal remains fixed for at least a switching cycle when the intended frequency is within the frequency window. A first latch generates the hold signal to control the current limit generator to hold the current limit signal. The first latch generates the hold signal in response to the frequency skip signal and a feedback signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Vikram Balakrishnan, Giao Minh Pham, Ricardo Luis Janezic Pregitzer, Peter Vaughan
  • Publication number: 20180248466
    Abstract: A switched mode power converter has an energy transfer element that delivers an output signal to a load. A power switching device coupled to the primary side of the energy transfer element regulates a transfer of energy to the load. A secondary controller is coupled to receive a feedback signal and output a pulsed signal in response thereto. A primary controller is coupled to receive the pulsed signal and output a drive signal in response thereto, the drive signal being coupled to control switching of the power switching device. A compensation circuit generates an adaptively compensated signal synchronous with the pulsed signal. The adaptively compensated signal has a parameter that is adaptively adjusted in response to a comparison of the feedback signal with a threshold reference signal. The parameter converges towards a final value that produces a desired level of the output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Giao Minh Pham, Vikram Balakrishnan, Arthur B. Odell, Antonius Jacobus Johannes Werner, Karl Moore, Matthew David Waterson
  • Publication number: 20180219399
    Abstract: A circuit for use with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) socket includes a power converter coupled to receive an input voltage at an input terminal and coupled to provide an output voltage at an output terminal. A transistor is coupled between the output terminal of the power converter and a bus voltage terminal of the USB socket. A USB communication controller is coupled to the USB socket. The USB communication controller includes an output terminal coupled to a control terminal of the transistor. A bleeder circuit is coupled between the output terminal of the USB communication controller and the bus voltage terminal of the USB socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Vikram Balakrishnan, Edward E. Deng, Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre
  • Patent number: 10003270
    Abstract: A controller includes a drive circuit that generates a drive signal to switch a power switch to control a transfer of energy to of a power converter output in response to a current sense signal, a feedback signal, and a current limit signal. A current limit generator generates the current limit signal in response to a load coupled to the output. An exclusion frequency range detection circuit generates a frequency skip signal in response to the drive signal to indicate when an intended frequency of the drive signal is within an exclusion frequency window. The current limit signal is unvarying for at least a switching cycle when the intended frequency of the drive signal is within the exclusion frequency window. A first latch generates a hold signal to control the current limit generator to hold the current limit signal in response to the frequency skip signal and the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Balakrishnan, Giao Minh Pham, Ricardo Luis Janezic Pregitzer, Peter Vaughan
  • Publication number: 20180123465
    Abstract: A controller includes a drive circuit that generates a drive signal to switch a power switch to control a transfer of energy to of a power converter output in response to a current sense signal, a feedback signal, and a current limit signal. A current limit generator generates the current limit signal in response to a load coupled to the output. An exclusion frequency range detection circuit generates a frequency skip signal in response to the drive signal to indicate when an intended frequency of the drive signal is within an exclusion frequency window. The current limit signal is unvarying for at least a switching cycle when the intended frequency of the drive signal is within the exclusion frequency window. A first latch generates a hold signal to control the current limit generator to hold the current limit signal in response to the frequency skip signal and the feedback signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Vikram Balakrishnan, Giao Minh Pham, Ricardo Luis Janezic Pregitzer, Peter Vaughan
  • Publication number: 20180083540
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a drive circuit coupled to generate a drive signal to control switching of a power switch to control a transfer of energy from a power converter input to a power converter output. An input is also included to receive an enable signal including enable events responsive to the power converter output. The drive circuit is coupled to turn ON the power switch in response to the enable events, and turn OFF the power switch in response to a power switch current reaching a current limit threshold. A current limit threshold generator is coupled to receive the drive signal from the drive circuit to vary the current limit threshold at a variable rate in response to the enable events of the enable signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Giao Minh Pham, Vikram Balakrishnan