Patents by Inventor Xiqun Zhu

Xiqun Zhu 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: 11909255
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a battery backup unit (BBU) cut-off and recharge circuit includes: a first transistor, a power entry connection connected to a main power supply, where power from the power entry connection flows to application circuits for an electronic device, and the first transistor is positioned between a BBU and the power entry connection, and a microcontroller, where the microcontroller is operative to: detect a loss of power from the main power supply, turn on the first transistor to enable the BBU to discharge through the power entry connection to application circuits, detect a status of charge (SOC) for the BBU, and upon detecting that the SOC is under a predefined threshold, set the BBU cut-off and recharge circuit to a lockdown state by turning off the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Xiqun Zhu, Sung Kee Baek, Wingo Cheong, Steven Anthony Granzella, Joel Goergen, Charles Calvin Byers
  • Patent number: 11862966
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a surge protector includes a capacitor, a switch, and a first transistor. The capacitor charges based on an input power to the surge protector. The switch turns on when the capacitor is charged to a charge threshold. The surge protector outputs the input power when the switch is turned on. The first transistor turns on when a voltage of the input power exceeds a first input voltage threshold such that the capacitor discharges to below the charge threshold and such that the switch turns off. The surge protector stops outputting the input power when the switch is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiqun Zhu, Sung K. Baek
  • Publication number: 20230361668
    Abstract: A control method improves the efficiency profile of a power supply across a wide range of output loading. The method includes obtaining a measure of output power for a power supply, which includes one or more output modules and an auxiliary power supply. The method determines whether a maximum power rating of the auxiliary power supply is sufficient to provide the measure of output power. Responsive to a determination that the maximum power rating of the auxiliary power supply is sufficient to provide the measure of output power, the controller of the power supply directs the auxiliary power supply to provide the output power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Xiqun Zhu, Sung Kee Baek, Joel Goergen, Doug Paul Arduini, Ruqi Li
  • Publication number: 20230344329
    Abstract: A control method improves the efficiency profile of a power supply across a wide range of output loading. The method includes obtaining a measure of output power for a power supply, which includes one or more output modules and an auxiliary power supply. The method determines whether a maximum power rating of the auxiliary power supply is sufficient to provide the measure of output power. Responsive to a determination that the maximum power rating of the auxiliary power supply is sufficient to provide the measure of output power, the controller of the power supply directs the auxiliary power supply to provide the output power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Xiqun Zhu, Sung Kee Baek, Joel Goergen, Doug Paul Arduini, Ruqi Li
  • Patent number: 11777394
    Abstract: A control method improves the efficiency profile of a power supply across a wide range of output loading. The method includes obtaining a measure of output power for a power supply, which includes one or more output modules and an auxiliary power supply. The method determines whether a maximum power rating of the auxiliary power supply is sufficient to provide the measure of output power. Responsive to a determination that the maximum power rating of the auxiliary power supply is sufficient to provide the measure of output power, the controller of the power supply directs the auxiliary power supply to provide the output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Xiqun Zhu, Sung Kee Baek, Joel Goergen, Doug Paul Arduini, Ruqi Li
  • Patent number: 11682904
    Abstract: A method comprises, at a power balancing circuit for three-phase AC power: feeding three power phases to respective loads; measuring power drain on the three power phases by the respective loads; based on measuring, detecting an unbalanced power drain across the three power phases due to a relatively light power drain on one or more lightly loaded power phases and a relatively high power drain on one or more heavily loaded power phases; computing an amount of power to be drained from the one or more lightly loaded power phases and to be fed to the one or more heavily loaded power phases to balance the power drain across the three power phases; and transferring the amount of power from the one or more lightly loaded power phases to the one or more heavily loaded power phases to balance the power drain across the three power phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Xiqun Zhu, Sung Kee Baek, Robert Gregory Twiss
  • Publication number: 20230122603
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a surge protector includes a capacitor, a switch, and a first transistor. The capacitor charges based on an input power to the surge protector. The switch turns on when the capacitor is charged to a charge threshold. The surge protector outputs the input power when the switch is turned on. The first transistor turns on when a voltage of the input power exceeds a first input voltage threshold such that the capacitor discharges to below the charge threshold and such that the switch turns off. The surge protector stops outputting the input power when the switch is turned off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Xiqun ZHU, Sung K. BAEK
  • Publication number: 20230097568
    Abstract: A method comprises, at a power balancing circuit for three-phase AC power: feeding three power phases to respective loads; measuring power drain on the three power phases by the respective loads; based on measuring, detecting an unbalanced power drain across the three power phases due to a relatively light power drain on one or more lightly loaded power phases and a relatively high power drain on one or more heavily loaded power phases; computing an amount of power to be drained from the one or more lightly loaded power phases and to be fed to the one or more heavily loaded power phases to balance the power drain across the three power phases; and transferring the amount of power from the one or more lightly loaded power phases to the one or more heavily loaded power phases to balance the power drain across the three power phases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Xiqun Zhu, Sung Kee Baek, Robert Gregory Twiss
  • Patent number: 11522442
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe control circuitry for operating a PFC converter in an AC-DC power supply under light loading conditions. The embodiments herein improve the power factor by identifying an optimized phase offset (?) between an AC reference voltage and an AC reference current used to control the PFC converter. In one embodiment, the control circuitry iteratively changes the phase offset between the reference voltage and current and measures its impact on the power factor. The control circuitry then selects the phase offset that results in the best power factor to use when operating the PFC converter under light loading conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruqi Li, Sung K. Baek, Douglas P. Arduini, Xiqun Zhu
  • Publication number: 20220216712
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a battery backup unit (BBU) cut-off and recharge circuit includes: a first transistor, a power entry connection connected to a main power supply, where power from the power entry connection flows to application circuits for an electronic device, and the first transistor is positioned between a BBU and the power entry connection, and a microcontroller, where the microcontroller is operative to: detect a loss of power from the main power supply, turn on the first transistor to enable the BBU to discharge through the power entry connection to application circuits, detect a status of charge (SOC) for the BBU, and upon detecting that the SOC is under a predefined threshold, set the BBU cut-off and recharge circuit to a lockdown state by turning off the first transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Xiqun ZHU, Sung Kee BAEK, Wingo CHEONG, Steven Anthony GRANZELLA, Joel GOERGEN, Charles Calvin BYERS
  • Patent number: 11342762
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a battery backup unit (BBU) cut-off and recharge circuit includes: a first transistor, a power entry connection connected to a main power supply, where power from the power entry connection flows to application circuits for an electronic device, and the first transistor is positioned between a BBU and the power entry connection, and a microcontroller, where the microcontroller is operative to: detect a loss of power from the main power supply, turn on the first transistor to enable the BBU to discharge through the power entry connection to application circuits, detect a status of charge (SOC) for the BBU, and upon detecting that the SOC is under a predefined threshold, set the BBU cut-off and recharge circuit to a lockdown state by turning off the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Xiqun Zhu, Sung Kee Baek, Wingo Cheong, Steven Anthony Granzella, Joel Goergen, Charles Calvin Byers
  • Patent number: 11249144
    Abstract: To reduce the rate at which a false alternating current (“AC”) loss alarming signal is generated, but at the same time detect an actual AC loss situation in a timely manner, the disclosed method describes an AC line power loss detection and active verification method. If the AC line input voltage dips momentarily lower than a standard sine wave amplitude, the AC line may not be considered lost as long as it still has energy to drive a load. The method inserts a momentary load across the AC line and compares the AC line voltage before and after the extra load is applied. If the AC power is present, this extra loading will increase the AC loading current momentarily, but will not affect the AC line voltage. However, if the AC power is lost, such loading will lower the AC line voltage, indicating a loss of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Xiqun Zhu, Sung Kee Baek, Robert Gregory Twiss
  • Patent number: 10971923
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a hot swap inrush current limiter circuit includes a pair of paths connecting an input and a load, a first capacitor connected in series with a switch between the paths, a first resistor connected to one of the paths and to a junction between the switch and the first capacitor, a second capacitor connected in series with a second resistor between the paths, with a gate of the switch connected to a junction between the second capacitor and the second resistor, a first diode connected in parallel with the second capacitor, and a second diode connected in parallel with the second resistor to allow for discharge of the second capacitor when input power is off. A method is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Xiqun Zhu, Sung Kee Baek
  • Publication number: 20210066936
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a battery backup unit (BBU) cut-off and recharge circuit includes: a first transistor, a power entry connection connected to a main power supply, where power from the power entry connection flows to application circuits for an electronic device, and the first transistor is positioned between a BBU and the power entry connection, and a microcontroller, where the microcontroller is operative to: detect a loss of power from the main power supply, turn on the first transistor to enable the BBU to discharge through the power entry connection to application circuits, detect a status of charge (SOC) for the BBU, and upon detecting that the SOC is under a predefined threshold, set the BBU cut-off and recharge circuit to a lockdown state by turning off the first transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Xiqun ZHU, Sung Kee BAEK, Wingo CHEONG, Steven Anthony GRANZELLA, Joel GOERGEN, Charles Calvin BYERS
  • Patent number: 10868431
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a battery backup unit (BBU) cut-off and recharge circuit includes: a first transistor, a power entry connection connected to a main power supply, where power from the power entry connection flows to application circuits for an electronic device, and the first transistor is positioned between a BBU and the power entry connection, and a microcontroller, where the microcontroller is operative to: detect a loss of power from the main power supply, turn on the first transistor to enable the BBU to discharge through the power entry connection to application circuits, detect a status of charge (SOC) for the BBU, and upon detecting that the SOC is under a predefined threshold, set the BBU cut-off and recharge circuit to a lockdown state by turning off the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiqun Zhu, Sung Kee Baek, Wingo Cheong, Steven Anthony Granzella, Joel Goergen, Charles Calvin Byers
  • Publication number: 20200309861
    Abstract: To reduce the rate at which a false alternating current (“AC”) loss alarming signal is generated, but at the same time detect an actual AC loss situation in a timely manner, the disclosed method describes an AC line power loss detection and active verification method. If the AC line input voltage dips momentarily lower than a standard sine wave amplitude, the AC line may not be considered lost as long as it still has energy to drive a load. The method inserts a momentary load across the AC line and compares the AC line voltage before and after the extra load is applied. If the AC power is present, this extra loading will increase the AC loading current momentarily, but will not affect the AC line voltage. However, if the AC power is lost, such loading will lower the AC line voltage, indicating a loss of power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Xiqun Zhu, Sung Kee Baek, Robert Gregory Twiss
  • Patent number: 10718822
    Abstract: To reduce the rate at which a false alternating current (“AC”) loss alarming signal is generated, but at the same time detect an actual AC loss situation in a timely manner, the disclosed method describes an AC line power loss detection and active verification method. If the AC line input voltage dips momentarily lower than a standard sine wave amplitude, the AC line may not be considered lost as long as it still has energy to drive a load. The method inserts a momentary load across the AC line and compares the AC line voltage before and after the extra load is applied. If the AC power is present, this extra loading will increase the AC loading current momentarily, but will not affect the AC line voltage. However, if the AC power is lost, such loading will lower the AC line voltage, indicating a loss of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Xiqun Zhu, Sung Kee Baek, Robert Gregory Twiss
  • Publication number: 20200067305
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a hot swap inrush current limiter circuit includes a pair of paths connecting an input and a load, a first capacitor connected in series with a switch between the paths, a first resistor connected to one of the paths and to a junction between the switch and the first capacitor, a second capacitor connected in series with a second resistor between the paths, with a gate of the switch connected to a junction between the second capacitor and the second resistor, a first diode connected in parallel with the second capacitor, and a second diode connected in parallel with the second resistor to allow for discharge of the second capacitor when input power is off. A method is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Xiqun Zhu, Sung Kee Baek
  • Publication number: 20200041579
    Abstract: To reduce the rate at which a false alternating current (“AC”) loss alarming signal is generated, but at the same time detect an actual AC loss situation in a timely manner, the disclosed method describes an AC line power loss detection and active verification method. If the AC line input voltage dips momentarily lower than a standard sine wave amplitude, the AC line may not be considered lost as long as it still has energy to drive a load. The method inserts a momentary load across the AC line and compares the AC line voltage before and after the extra load is applied. If the AC power is present, this extra loading will increase the AC loading current momentarily, but will not affect the AC line voltage. However, if the AC power is lost, such loading will lower the AC line voltage, indicating a loss of power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Xiqun Zhu, Sung Kee Baek, Robert Gregory Twiss
  • Patent number: 10473729
    Abstract: To reduce the rate at which a false alternating current (“AC”) loss alarming signal is generated, but at the same time detect an actual AC loss situation in a timely manner, the disclosed method describes an AC line power loss detection and active verification method. If the AC line input voltage dips momentarily lower than a standard sine wave amplitude, the AC line may not be considered lost as long as it still has energy to drive a load. The method inserts a momentary load across the AC line and compares the AC line voltage before and after the extra load is applied. If the AC power is present, this extra loading will increase the AC loading current momentarily, but will not affect the AC line voltage. However, if the AC power is lost, such loading will lower the AC line voltage, indicating a loss of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Xiqun Zhu, Sung Kee Baek, Robert Gregory Twiss