Patents by Inventor Yukinari Fukumoto

Yukinari Fukumoto 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: 7746004
    Abstract: A discharge-lamp lighting apparatus includes series circuits connected to each end of a DC power source, a transformer, FETs Qp1, Qn1, Qp2, and Qn2, and a drive circuit. The drive circuit includes transistors Q1 and Q3 to discharge gate-source capacitances of the Qp1 and Qp2, resistance elements to determine gate potentials of the transistors Q1 and Q3 when the transistors Q1 and Q3 are turned on, transistors Q2 and Q4 to charge the gate-source capacitances of the Qp1 and Qp2, constant current circuits, and switches connected in series with the series circuits of the constant current circuits and resistance elements, respectively, to turn on/off the constant current circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo Kimura, Yukinari Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 7339800
    Abstract: A switching power source device of resonance type is provided which comprises an output voltage detector 18 for detecting output voltage on a load 13 to produce a detection signal; and a control circuit 2 for applying on-off signals Vg1, Vg2 to each control terminal of first and second MOS-FETs 3, 4 in response to the detection signal from the output voltage detector 18. Control circuit 2 comprises a frequency control circuit 23 for controlling the on-off operation of first and second MOS-FETs 3, 4 in response to the level of detection signal from output voltage detector 18 to decide the switching frequency of first and second MOS-FETs 3, 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukinari Fukumoto
  • Publication number: 20080042586
    Abstract: A discharge-lamp lighting apparatus includes series circuits connected to each end of a DC power source, a transformer, FETs Qp1, Qn1, Qp2, and Qn2, and a drive circuit. The drive circuit includes transistors Q1 and Q3 to discharge gate-source capacitances of the Qp1 and Qp2, resistance elements to determine gate potentials of the transistors Q1 and Q3 when the transistors Q1 and Q3 are turned on, transistors Q2 and Q4 to charge the gate-source capacitances of the Qp1 and Qp2, constant current circuits, and switches connected in series with the series circuits of the constant current circuits and resistance elements, respectively, to turn on/off the constant current circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo KIMURA, Yukinari FUKUMOTO
  • Patent number: 7330365
    Abstract: A synchronous commutation DC-DC converter comprises a current detection transformer (51) for detecting currents (IQ1, IQ2) flowing through the primary circuit, first and second DC bias power sources (53, 54) generating bias voltages (VBS1, VBS2) larger than the voltage corresponding to the exciting current of a transformer (4), and first and second comparators (55, 57) for driving first and second commutation MOS-FETs (7, 8) when the detection voltage (VDT) of a current detection resistor (52) exceeds the bias voltages (VBS1, VBS2) of the first and second DC bias power sources (53, 54). Since each commutation MOS-FET (7, 8) in the secondary circuit is driven in synchronism with the currents (IQ1, IQ2) of the primary circuit from which the exciting current component of the transformer (4) is removed, it is possible to minimize switching loss of each commutation MOS-FET (7, 8) in the secondary circuit and enhance conversion efficiency of the synchronous commutation DC-DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Usui, Ryuichi Furukoshi, Yukinari Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 7239533
    Abstract: A DC power source device comprises a MOS-FET 5 which performs the intermittent switching operation for converting DC input from a DC power supply 1 into high frequency electric power; a control circuit 9 for turning MOS-FET 5 on and off; and a rectifying smoother 6 for converting the high frequency electric power through MOS-FET 5 into a DC power output supplied to a load 50. Control circuit 9 comprises an output current controller 11 for controlling the on-off term of MOS-FET 5 to make DC output current IO through load 50 settle toward a rated value IOMAX; a shunt regulator 24 for receiving a drive current ISH supplied from rectifying smoother 6 and producing a reference voltage VR1 to regulate the rated value IOMAX of output current controller 11; and a constant current source 32 for keeping drive current ISH on a substantially constant level under the rated output current value condition and reduced output voltage condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinari Fukumoto, Syohei Osaka, Toshirou Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7221128
    Abstract: A converter is provided in which the cost and size of which are reduced by a decrease in current consumption with no need of large elements or radiation fins. The converter has a switching element (Q1) being connected to a DC power source through a primary winding (P) of a transformer (T), a control circuit (4) for turning on/off the switching element (Q1), a diode (D51) and a capacitor (C51) for rectifying/smoothing the voltage induced in the secondary winding (S) of the transformer (T) to extract DC output, and a starting circuit (5) for starting the control circuit (4). The starting circuit (5) operates as a constant current circuit (Q2, R1, R2, ZD1, D1) while starting the control circuit (4), and as a constant voltage circuit (Q2, R1, R2, ZD2, D1) after starting the control circuits (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Usui, Yukinari Fukumoto, Yasuhiro Rikiishi, Syouhei Osaka
  • Patent number: 7212417
    Abstract: A transformer has a primary winding connected to a pair of DC input terminals via an active switch, and a secondary winding connected to a pair of DC output terminals via a first rectifying and smoothing circuit. The active switch is driven constantly under normal load, and at intervals under light load, under the direction of a switch control circuit. This switch control circuit is powered with a control voltage fed from a second rectifying and smoothing circuit which is connected to a tertiary winding of the transformer. In order to preclude malfunctioning or nonoperation in the event of an abnormal drop of the control voltage during operation in light load mode, the switch control circuit is equipped to drive the active switch at shorter intervals in control voltage recovery mode when the control voltage falls below a predefined limit than the normal intervals of the light load mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukinari Fukumoto
  • Publication number: 20070008757
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter of synchronous rectification type is provided which comprises: a current detector (51) for discerning electric current (IQ1, IQ2) flowing through a primary side circuit; first and second DC biasing power supplies (53, 54) for producing a bias voltage (VBS1, VBS2) higher than voltage corresponding to excitation current through transformer (4); and first and second comparators (55, 57) for activating first and second rectifying MOS-FET (7, 8) when current detector (51) produces the detection voltage (VDT) over bias voltage (VBS1, VBS2) of first and second DC biasing power supplies (53, 54). As each of first and second rectifying MOS-FETs (7, 8) in secondary side circuit is driven synchronously with electric current (IQ1, IQ2) flowing through the primary side circuit except excitation current component through transformer (4), the converter can minimize switching loss in each rectifying MOS-FET (7, 8) in secondary side circuit to improve conversion efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventors: Hiroshi Usui, Ryuichi Furukoshi, Yukinari Fukumoto
  • Publication number: 20060239040
    Abstract: A transformer has a primary winding connected to a pair of DC input terminals via an active switch, and a secondary winding connected to a pair of DC output terminals via a first rectifying and smoothing circuit. The active switch is driven constantly under normal load, and at intervals under light load, under the direction of a switch control circuit. This switch control circuit is powered with a control voltage fed from a second rectifying and smoothing circuit which is connected to a tertiary winding of the transformer. In order to preclude malfunctioning or nonoperation in the event of an abnormal drop of the control voltage during operation in light load mode, the switch control circuit is equipped to drive the active switch at shorter intervals in control voltage recovery mode when the control voltage falls below a predefined limit than the normal intervals of the light load mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Applicant: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukinari Fukumoto
  • Publication number: 20060164872
    Abstract: A switching power source device of resonance type is provided which comprises an output voltage detector 18 for detecting output voltage on a load 13 to produce a detection signal; and a control circuit 2 for applying on-off signals Vg1, Vg2 to each control terminal of first and second MOS-FETs 3, 4 in response to the detection signal from the output voltage detector 18. Control circuit 2 comprises a frequency control circuit 23 for controlling the on-off operation of first and second MOS-FETs 3, 4 in response to the level of detection signal from output voltage detector 18 to decide the switching frequency of first and second MOS-FETs 3, 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventor: Yukinari Fukumoto
  • Publication number: 20060113973
    Abstract: A DC power source device comprises a MOS-FET 5 which performs the intermittent switching operation for converting DC input from a DC power supply 1 into high frequency electric power; a control circuit 9 for turning MOS-FET 5 on and off; and a rectifying smoother 6 for converting the high frequency electric power through MOS-FET 5 into a DC power output supplied to a load 50. Control circuit 9 comprises an output current controller 11 for controlling the on-off term of MOS-FET 5 to make DC output current IO through load 50 settle toward a rated value IOMAX; a shunt regulator 24 for receiving a drive current ISH supplied from rectifying smoother 6 and producing a reference voltage VR1 to regulate the rated value IOMAX of output current controller 11; and a constant current source 32 for keeping drive current ISH on a substantially constant level under the rated output current value condition and reduced output voltage condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Inventors: Yukinari Fukumoto, Syohei Osaka, Toshiroru Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6980445
    Abstract: A boost quantity detecting section (103) detects a boost quantity of an inductor (L11). An operational amplifier (113) of a control section (106) compares the boost quantity detected by the boost quantity detecting section (103) with a reference voltage (ES12). When a supply voltage supplied from an AC power source (100) reduces and an output voltage is unchanged, the boost quantity detected by the boost quantity detecting section (103) increases. When a signal level of a boost quantity detection signal is higher than the reference voltage (ES12), a control section (106) reduces a target level of a switching current. The target level of the switching current decreases, so that the output voltage decreases and energy loss due to boosting reduces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinari Fukumoto, Hiroshi Usui, Koichi Morita
  • Publication number: 20050201123
    Abstract: A converter is provided in which the cost and size of which are reduced by a decrease in current consumption with no need of large elements or radiation fins. The converter has a switching element (Q1) being connected to a DC power source through a primary winding (P) of a transformer (T), a control circuit (4) for turning on/off the switching element (Q1), a diode (D51) and a capacitor (C51) for rectifying/smoothing the voltage induced in the secondary winding (S) of the transformer (T) to extract DC output, and a starting circuit (5) for starting the control circuit (4). The starting circuit (5) operates as a constant current circuit (Q2, R1, R2, ZD1, D1) while starting the control circuit (4), and as a constant voltage circuit (Q2, R1, R2, ZD2, D1) after starting the control circuits (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Hiroshi Usui, Yukinari Fukumoto, Yasuhiro Rikiishi, Syouhei Osaka
  • Publication number: 20050162143
    Abstract: A boost quantity detecting section (103) detects a boost quantity of an inductor (L11). An operational amplifier (113) of a control section (106) compares the boost quantity detected by the boost quantity detecting section (103) with a reference voltage (ES12). When a supply voltage supplied from an AC power source (100) reduces and an output voltage is unchanged, the boost quantity detected by the boost quantity detecting section (103) increases. When a signal level of a boost quantity detection signal is higher than the reference voltage (ES12), a control section (106) reduces a target level of a switching current. The target level of the switching current decreases, so that the output voltage decreases and energy loss due to boosting reduces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventors: Yukinari Fukumoto, Hiroshi Usui, Koichi Morita