Patents by Inventor Xavier de Frutos

Xavier de Frutos 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: 8134329
    Abstract: A buck converter for use in controlling a motor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a power input operable for connection to a DC power supply, a switch for selectively connecting the motor to the power supply, a pulse width modulation controller operable to provide a pulse width modulation signal to the switch, wherein the switch connects the motor to the power supply based on the pulse width modulation signal, and a voltage shifting capacitor connected across the switch and in series with a diode. The buck converter may include a shift control device operable to control a voltage across the voltage shifting capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Xavier de Frutos
  • Patent number: 7948296
    Abstract: A synchronous rectifier comprising a MOSFET device, and a gate driver for driving the gate of the MOSFET device, the MOSFET device comprising first and second MOSFET transistors coupled with their drain-source paths in parallel to receive an alternating current waveform for rectification by the drain-source paths of the MOSFET transistors, the first transistor having a low Rdson and the second transistor having a high Rdson whereby the apparent Rdson of the MOSFET device is increased when the current through the MOSFET device is below a threshold thereby enabling zero crossing detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Bruno Charles Nadd, Xavier de Frutos, Andre Mourrier
  • Publication number: 20090060479
    Abstract: A buck converter for use in controlling a motor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a power input operable for connection to a DC power supply, a switch for selectively connecting the motor to the power supply, a pulse width modulation controller operable to provide a pulse width modulation signal to the switch, wherein the switch connects the motor to the power supply based on the pulse width modulation signal, and a voltage shifting capacitor connected across the switch and in series with a diode. The buck converter may include a shift control device operable to control a voltage across the voltage shifting capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventor: Xavier de Frutos
  • Patent number: 7465610
    Abstract: A fully protected H-bridge for a d-c motor consists of two high side MOSFETs and a control and logic IC on a first conductive heat sink all within a first package and two discrete low side MOSFETs. The entire bridge is controlled by the IC. Shoot thru protection is provided for each leg, and a PMW soft start sequence is provided through the control of the low side MOSFETs, programed by an external, chargeable RC circuit. Input signals to the high side MOSFETs select the operation modes. Protective circuits are provided for short circuit current and over current conditions. Sleep mode and braking/non braking control is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Bruno C. Nadd, Vincent Thiery, Xavier de Frutos, Chik Yam Lee
  • Publication number: 20070069289
    Abstract: A synchronous rectifier comprising a MOSFET device, and a gate driver for driving the gate of the MOSFET device, the MOSFET device comprising first and second MOSFET transistors coupled with their drain-source paths in parallel to receive an alternating current waveform for rectification by the drain-source paths of the MOSFET transistors, the first transistor having a low Rdson and the second transistor having a high Rdson whereby the apparent Rdson of the MOSFET device is increased when the current through the MOSFET device is below a threshold thereby enabling zero crossing detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: Bruno Nadd, Xavier de Frutos, Andre Mourrier
  • Patent number: 7183834
    Abstract: A synchronous rectifier comprising a MOSFET device, and a gate driver for driving the gate of the MOSFET device, the MOSFET device comprising first and second MOSFET transistors coupled with their drain-source paths in parallel to receive an alternating current waveform for rectification by the drain-source paths of the MOSFET transistors, the first transistor having a low Rdson and the second transistor having a high Rdson whereby the apparent Rdson of the MOSFET device is increased when the current through the MOSFET device is below a threshold thereby enabling zero crossing detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Bruno Charles Nadd, Xavier de Frutos, Andre Mourrier
  • Patent number: 7115922
    Abstract: A fully protected H-bridge for a d-c motor consists of two high side MOSFETs and a control and logic IC on a first conductive heat sink all within a first package and two discrete low side MOSFETs. The entire bridge is controlled by the IC. Shoot thru protection is provided for each leg, and a PMW soft start sequence is provided through the control of the low side MOSFETs, programed by an external, chargeable RC circuit. Input signals to the high side MOSFETs select the operation modes. Protective circuits are provided for short circuit current and over current conditions. Sleep mode and braking/non braking control is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Bruno C Nadd, Vincent Thiery, Xavier de Frutos, Chik Yam Lee
  • Patent number: 7012393
    Abstract: A motor drive comprising a first power semiconductor switching device having a pair of main current carrying terminals, the main current carrying terminals being coupled in series with a motor load; a first current control loop, the current control loop having a current sensor for the switching device for controlling the current through the switching device; a current limiting circuit driving the first current control loop to maintain the current in the switching device at a desired level, the current limiting circuit having first and second inputs; a speed regulation circuit having a first input coupled to a speed control input and a second input coupled to a feedback voltage from the motor representing the actual motor speed, the speed regulation circuit providing an output to the first input of the current limiting circuit to drive the motor to the desired motor speed; and a power limitation circuit for limiting the power consumed by the motor to a predetermined level and providing an output to the second
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Xavier De Frutos, André Mourrier, Chikyam Lee
  • Publication number: 20050231146
    Abstract: A motor drive comprising a first power semiconductor switching device having a pair of main current carrying terminals, the main current carrying terminals being coupled in series with a motor load; a first current control loop, the current control loop having a current sensor for the switching device for controlling the current through the switching device; a current limiting circuit driving the first current control loop to maintain the current in the switching device at a desired level, the current limiting circuit having first and second inputs; a speed regulation circuit having a first input coupled to a speed control input and a second input coupled to a feedback voltage from the motor representing the actual motor speed, the speed regulation circuit providing an output to the first input of the current limiting circuit to drive the motor to the desired motor speed; and a power limitation circuit for limiting the power consumed by the motor to a predetermined level and providing an output to the second
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventors: Xavier De Frutos, Andre Mourrier, Chikyam Lee
  • Patent number: 6906487
    Abstract: An antipinch circuit prevents the motor driven closure of an automotive window if a soft obstacle is compressed between the window and the top of the door frame, and the window is opened in response to the sensing of the obstacle. The circuit measures the motor torque (by measuring motor current) and the motor shaft speed (by measuring motor back EMF). The torque and motor speed are compared to “signatures” of these values in the case of the window closing normally against the top of the door frame, or against an obstacle, and either stopping or reversing the motor rotation accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Xavier de Frutos
  • Patent number: 6856177
    Abstract: A power switching circuit comprising a power semiconductor switching device, a charge pump circuit having a control input to control whether it is on or off and a charge pump output, the charge pump output being coupled to a control terminal of the power semiconductor switching device, a bootstrap power supply for supplying power to driver circuitry for the power semiconductor switching device, the bootstrap power supply comprising a bootstrap capacitor coupled to a charging current source, the bootstrap power supply providing power to the driver circuitry when the power semiconductor switching device is being switched by the driver circuitry in a pulsed mode, and the charge pump supplying a control voltage to turn on the power semiconductor switching device and maintain it on when the power switching semiconductor device is to be maintained on continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Xavier de Frutos, Bruno C. Nadd, Vincent Thiery, Chik Yam Lee
  • Publication number: 20050017768
    Abstract: A power switching circuit comprising a power semiconductor switching device, a charge pump circuit having a control input to control whether it is on or off and a charge pump output, the charge pump output being coupled to a control terminal of the power semiconductor switching device, a bootstrap power supply for supplying power to driver circuitry for the power semiconductor switching device, the bootstrap power supply comprising a bootstrap capacitor coupled to a charging current source, the bootstrap power supply providing power to the driver circuitry when the power semiconductor switching device is being switched by the driver circuitry in a pulsed mode, and the charge pump supplying a control voltage to turn on the power semiconductor switching device and maintain it on when the power switching semiconductor device is to be maintained on continuously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventors: Xavier de Frutos, Bruno Nadd, Vincent Thiery, Chik Lee
  • Publication number: 20040189229
    Abstract: A fully protected H-bridge for a d-c motor consists of two high side MOSFETs and a control and logic IC on a first conductive heat sink all within a first package and two discrete low side MOSFETs. The entire bridge is controlled by the IC. Shoot thru protection is provided for each leg, and a PMW soft start sequence is provided through the control of the low side MOSFETs, programed by an external, chargeable RC circuit. Input signals to the high side MOSFETs select the operation modes. Protective circuits are provided for short circuit current and over current conditions. Sleep mode and braking/non braking control is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Bruno C. Nadd, Vincent Thiery, Xavier de Frutos, Chik Yam Lee
  • Publication number: 20040125627
    Abstract: A synchronous rectifier comprising a MOSFET device, and a gate driver for driving the gate of the MOSFET device, the MOSFET device comprising first and second MOSFET transistors coupled with their drain-source paths in parallel to receive an alternating current waveform for rectification by the drain-source paths of the MOSFET transistors, the first transistor having a low Rdson and the second transistor having a high Rdson whereby the apparent Rdson of the MOSFET device is increased when the current through the MOSFET device is below a threshold thereby enabling zero crossing detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Bruno Charles Nadd, Xavier de Frutos, Andre Mourrier
  • Patent number: 6747300
    Abstract: A fully protected H-bridge for a d-c motor consists of two high side MOSFETs and a control and logic IC on a first conductive heat sink all within a first package and two discrete low side MOSFETs. The entire bridge is controlled by the IC. Shoot thru protection is provided for each leg, and a PMW soft start sequence is provided through the control of the low side MOSFETs, programed by an external, chargeable RC circuit. Input signals to the high side MOSFETs select the operation modes. Protective circuits are provided for short circuit current and over current conditions. Sleep mode and braking/non braking control is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Ternational Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Bruno C. Nadd, Vincent Thiery, Xavier de Frutos, Chik Yam Lee
  • Publication number: 20030137265
    Abstract: An antipinch circuit prevents the motor driven closure of an automotive window if a soft obstacle is compressed between the window and the top of the door frame, and the window is opened in response to the sensing of the obstacle. The circuit measures the motor torque (by measuring motor current) and the motor shaft speed (by measuring motor back EMF). The torque and motor speed are compared to “signatures” of these values in the case of the window closing normally against the top of the door frame, or against an obstacle, and either stopping or reversing the motor rotation accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: International Rectifier Corp.
    Inventor: Xavier de Frutos