Patents Issued in January 12, 2016
  • Patent number: 9236760
    Abstract: An AC-DC converter converts an alternating-current voltage, supplied from an external power supply, to a direct-current voltage higher than a peak voltage of the alternating-current voltage, and outputs the direct-current voltage to a first power supply line. In a normal control mode, a DC-DC converter steps down a voltage of the power supply line through on/off control over a switching element to charge a main battery. On the other hand, in an upper arm ON control mode, the DC-DC converter charge the main battery while the switching element is kept in an on state. On the basis of a state of external charging, a control device applies the upper arm ON control mode when a condition that upper arm ON control is applicable is satisfied, and applies the normal control mode when the condition is not satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NIPPON SOKEN, INC.
    Inventors: Seiji Iyasu, Toru Wakimoto, Kenji Itagaki, Yoshinobu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 9236761
    Abstract: A device for contactless current generation, in particular bicycle dynamo, on a rotatable counter element, in particular wheel rim, with at least one movably mounted rotor element (2) having at least one magnet (3), and at least one coil (7), in the at least one winding of which a current can be induced by the magnet (3), which moves together with the rotor element (2), said current being usable to operate a consumer, wherein the rotor element (2) is movable by magnetic interaction with the counter element (1), characterized in that the rotor element (2) and the counter element (1) have different axial profiles, and, in an operative position, the rotor element (2) is designed to generate at least one magnetic field (6a, 6b) on the basis of an eddy current in the conductive counter element (1), which forms an uninterrupted circular path, in such a manner that, by means of continuous relative movement between the counter element (2) and rotor element (1), eddy current fields which are continuously opposed to on
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Dirk Strothmann
  • Patent number: 9236762
    Abstract: A system of monitoring and/or maintaining remotely located autonomously powered lights, security systems, parking meters, and the like is operable to receive data signals from a number of the devices, and provide a comparison with other similar devices in the same geographic region to detect a default condition of a particular device, and/or assess whether the defect is environmental or particular to the specific device itself. The system includes memory for storing operating parameters and data, and outputs modified control commands to the devices in response to sensed performance, past performance and/or self-learning algorithms. The system operates to provide for the monitoring and/or control of individual device operating parameters on an individual or regional basis, over preset periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: CLEAR BLUE TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Tuerk John, Miriam Tuerk, Mark Windrim, Ahmad Yafaoui
  • Patent number: 9236763
    Abstract: Embodiments of devices and methods distribute power in a remote pumping system to avoid charge imbalances in energy storage devices of an array. These embodiments identify certain energy storage devices in the array in which the output voltage is less than or equal to a threshold value. In one example, power from a plurality of power sources is directed to the non-performing energy storage devices to expedite re-charging of these energy storage devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventor: Francisco Manuel Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 9236764
    Abstract: A DC power supply system includes a DC power supply and a secondary battery for backing up the DC power supply. When a voltage of the DC power supply is lower than a voltage of the secondary battery, the DC power system adds an extra voltage to the voltage of the DC power supply to provide an input voltage to the secondary battery higher than the voltage of the secondary battery by using an electric power of the secondary battery, and the secondary battery is charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Kidera, Takuya Kagawa, Hideki Tamura, Hiroyuki Nishino, Mariko Nishi
  • Patent number: 9236765
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a controlling device for operating various appliances. It includes a personal computer, which is programmed to provide for regulation of the sequence of operations of various electrical devices, such as a controller, the controller functions to initiate or turn OFF a relay or switching electronics device, which can provide for the operations of an appliance, whether it be an industrial or household appliance, or appliances that are used specifically in the entertainment field, such as a scent emitting device, a dimmer, a misting mechanism, and a vibratory motor. These are examples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignees: Live-FX, LLC, SE Associates, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle James Gonyer, Neal F. Harris
  • Patent number: 9236766
    Abstract: A power adapter for a portable computer includes a pulse width modulation unit and an output shaping unit and further includes a first judgment module that judges whether the portable computer is in a first state according to state judging parameters, and compares an output voltage with a first preset voltage and a second preset voltage when judging that the portable computer is in the first state, and acquires a judging result, wherein the first preset voltage is greater than or equal to the second preset voltage. The power adapter can increase efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignees: BEIJING LENOVO SOFTWARE LTD., LENOVO (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ling Yao, Bo Song, Xiaoren Cheng, Weizhi Lin, Shuangcheng Zhao
  • Patent number: 9236767
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for providing intelligent power control in response to an external power interruption, causing a processor is in an electrical fixture to interrogate an external power control switch to gain an understanding of the switch's state, where prior to the external power interruption the electrical fixture may be powered by external power and where external power may be connected and disconnected by a user of the switch. In the event that the switch's state is determined to be such that it would normally pass power to the electrical fixture, the processor causes the electrical fixture to operate using a backup power supply. In the event that the switch's state is determined to be such that it would normally not pass power to the electrical fixture, the processor causes the electrical fixture to act as if the user of the switch has intentionally removed power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Wireless Environment, LLC
    Inventors: Michael V. Recker, David B. Levine
  • Patent number: 9236768
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for controlling parallel uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) are provided. One example of a parallel UPS system may include several UPS modules to supply power to a load and at least one controller. At least some of the UPS modules may include a bypass feed path that can be switched on or off via a static switch module (SSM). The controller may adaptively control which of the bypass feed paths are switched on and off based on the load and respective capacity ratings of the UPS modules. The controller may also determine when an SSM of one of the bypass feed paths is likely to have failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventors: Lorenzo Giuntini, Silvio Colombi, Andrea Lauro Delmué
  • Patent number: 9236769
    Abstract: A control unit of an uninterruptible power supply device includes a PWM circuit generating a plurality of PWM signals controlling a plurality of IGBT elements of a power conversion unit; a plurality of output terminals for supplying the plurality of PWM signals to the plurality of IGBTs; and a switching circuit arranging the plurality of PWM signals in order in accordance with the type of the uninterruptible power supply device and supplying the PWM signals to the plurality of output terminals. Accordingly, the control unit can be shared among a plurality of types of uninterruptible power supply devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eduardo Kazuhide Sato, Masahiro Kinoshita, Yushin Yamamoto, Tatsuaki Amboh, Katsumi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9236770
    Abstract: In one embodiment of this invention, identical communicating node elements are constructed and placed throughout a power delivery network. Each of these node elements supplies features and options that facilitate peer-to-peer communications, data and service aggregation, propagated interfaces and distributed computational power. The network of interacting node elements, built with a common architecture, gives the power delivery network advanced capabilities for utilities and customers. These advanced capabilities include self-healing, highly secure communications, real-time interactions between any devices, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Gelman, Oleg Logvinov, Lawrence Durfee, Samuel Mo, Deanna Wilkes-Gibbs, Brion Ebert
  • Patent number: 9236771
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power transfer. A transmit antenna generates an electromagnetic field at a resonant frequency of to create a coupling-mode region within a near field of the transmit antenna. A receive antenna receives the resonant frequency when it is within the coupling-mode region and resonates substantially near the resonant frequency. One, or both, of the transmit and receive antennas are tunable antennas that can be adaptively tuned. The adaptive tuning is accomplished by detecting a mismatch at the tunable antenna and generating a mismatch signal responsive to a voltage standing wave ratio at the tunable antenna. A resonance characteristic of the tunable antenna can be modified by adjusting a capacitance of a variable capacitor network connected to the tunable antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Stanley S. Toncich, Ernest T. Ozaki, Alireza H. Mohammadian
  • Patent number: 9236772
    Abstract: An arrangement place for a device such as a rectifier and a power storage device is easily secured. At the time of power supply using a resonance phenomenon, a power-receiving device generates a magnetic field space having a lower magnetic field strength than other parts at or around the inner side of the power-receiving module, and this magnetic field space is used as the arrangement place of an electronic component. The power-receiving module includes a power-receiving resonance coil which is resonated with a power-supplying module and a power-receiving coil which partly overlaps the power-receiving resonance coil in a coil diameter direction and receives and supplies power from and to the power-receiving resonance coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takezo Hatanaka, Hisashi Tsuda
  • Patent number: 9236773
    Abstract: An electrical machine includes a rotor with a rotational axis, a coil arranged circumferentially with respect to and fully encircling the rotational axis, and a stator assembly. The stator assembly includes first and second lamination stacks comprising associated pluralities of laminae, the stacks being arranged circumferentially with respect to the rotational axis on opposing sides of the coil for conducting magnetic flux. The stacks are configured with gaps generally radially through the laminae thereof, defining separate circumferential segments in each laminae, to prevent creating a continuous electrical circuit around the rotational axis in the segments. Each laminae has a connecting ring spaced radially from the segments, and beams connecting the segments to the ring as a unitary piece. Back return elements extend axially between the stacks to provide a flux path therebetween, and are positioned circumferentially between adjacent parts of the beams and radially between the segments and the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Electric Torque Machines Inc
    Inventors: Thomas Janecek, Tyler Williams, John Dyer
  • Patent number: 9236774
    Abstract: A driving unit includes a stator, a housing including a tubular section to accommodate the stator, a cover coupled to the housing to block an upper opening of the tubular section, and a bent wire rod defined by a wire to press the stator against the tubular section, the bent wire rod being arranged between a top surface of the stator and a rear surface of the cover while being compressingly deformed along an axis of the stator. The bent wire rod has substantially annular shape with an opened portion when seen along the axis, and includes projections projecting upward along the axis and depressions projecting downward along the axis being arranged alternately and successively. An elastic force from the bent wire rod causes the stator to receive a downward force along the axis. The stator is pressed against the tubular section to hold the stator in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAHA MOTOR ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomonari Shiraishi, Toshihiko Nagata, Toshihide Ootani, Hideyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9236775
    Abstract: A rotary electric machine includes a stator and a rotor located in a rotatable manner relative to the stator via a gap. The stator includes a multi-phase stator winding that is held in a plurality of slots formed in the stator. The rotor includes at least one magnet section embedded therein so as to face the slots. The magnet section includes a plurality of axially laminated magnets with a skew angle which is an angle of a positional difference between the magnets. This skew angle ?s is set so as to satisfy ?s=k?/2 where ? is a slot pitch which is an angle between the slots, and k is a coefficient set based on: an arc ratio ?a being an angle covering an area in which magnetic flux radially flows from the magnetic section; and a slot factor S being a ratio of the slots relative to the magnet section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Takahashi, Masahiro Seguchi
  • Patent number: 9236776
    Abstract: A rotor, constituting an interior permanent magnet motor, includes magnets that are inserted into the rotor, and a rotor core containing magnet insertion pockets to which the magnets are inserted, and, when the magnets are inserted, the magnet insertion pockets are formed to provide openings in areas except both ends of an inner circumferential face, at both ends in a circumferential direction of the magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuchika Tsuchida, Masahiro Nigo, Koji Yabe, Tomoaki Oikawa
  • Patent number: 9236777
    Abstract: A motor includes a rotor and a stator. The stator is operable to electromagnetically induce movement of the rotor and includes stator teeth and a motor-board. A stator tooth includes a core material, a plurality of winding segments, and a bobbin. The bobbin includes a core receptacle for mechanically engaging the core material, radial-orientated sections to support and electrically isolate the winding segments, and connectors for electrically coupling the winding segments. The motor-board includes electrical receptacles for electrically mating with the connectors for each of the winding segments and traces for coupling the winding segments to a power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: BISON GEAR & ENGINEERING CORP.
    Inventors: Matthew Sherman Hanson, Edmund Peter Henke, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9236778
    Abstract: An attachment assembly for attaching a generator to a motor vehicle engine is provided. The assembly may include at least one engine attachment boss secured to the engine. The attachment assembly may further include a plurality of generator housing legs integrally formed with a generator housing. The assembly may further include a support dowel fitted, at a first end, within the bore located on the inner opposing side of one of the plurality of generator housing legs. The support dowel may be inserted, at a second end, into the bore of the at least one engine attachment boss, in order to couple the generator to the engine during assembly. This combination allows placement and fixation of the generator to the engine by a single operator without the need for an assembly assist device. A method for securing a generator to a motor vehicle engine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Brian D. Kaminski
  • Patent number: 9236779
    Abstract: A rotatable output shaft, a rotatable rotary plate member coupled with the output shaft, rotary weight members supported by the rotary plate member, a guide member fixed in motionless condition having a partially arc shape at a side where the rotary weight members rise, and rotation engagement members pivotally supported by the rotary place member are provided. Each of the rotary weight members includes a circular plate section, and a weight section fixed to the circular plate section to bias a position of the center of gravity of each rotary weight member from the axis of the circular plate section. Each of the rotary weight members is adapted to rotate in one direction when an outer circumference side surface of the circular plate section is driven by the outer circumference side surface of each rotation engagement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Simple Tokyo Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Megumi Miyagawa, Keiko Kondo
  • Patent number: 9236780
    Abstract: An inner ring of a bearing is affixed to an end of the rotor spindle and is immovable relative to the rotor spindle in the axial direction. An outer ring of the bearing is located radially outside of the inner ring via a roller body. An outer ring affixed portion is integrally affixed to the outer ring and is immovable relative to the outer ring in the axial direction. An inner ring receiving portion is located between the inner ring and a bottom portion of a housing and is in contact with the inner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenichi Oishi
  • Patent number: 9236781
    Abstract: A modified planetary gear box and arrangement of the gear box with a drive motor permits electrical, optical or other types of cabling or wiring to be passed through the planetary gear box along its axis of rotation. The planetary gear box drives or rotates a reel of coiled tubing. Electrical, hydraulic, optical and other types of line for lowering into a well bore through the coiled tubing is passed through a passageway through the center of the planetary gear box, into one end of a hub of the reel, and then into the coiled tubing, which is injected into the wellbore. The other end of the hub of the reel is able to be connected to a swivel joint that can be connected to a pump for pumping fluid into the coiled tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventor: William Benjamin White
  • Patent number: 9236782
    Abstract: A motor stator automatically assembling system includes a feeding unit, a wire-winding unit, a first conveyer unit, a second conveyer unit, a first assembly unit and a second assembly unit. The feeding unit is operated to feed a plurality of insulation members. The insulation members are arranged on the first conveyer unit to be conveyed to the wire-winding unit. The wire-winding unit is operated to wind wires on the insulation members to form a plurality of wire-wound insulation members. The wire-wound insulation members are arranged on the second conveyer unit to be conveyed to the first assembly unit. The first assembly unit is operated to insert pole teeth into the wire-wound insulation members to form a plurality of compact pole tooth sets. The second assembly unit is operated to combine the compact pole tooth sets with a stator ring frame to form an assembled motor stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Herng Shan Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-Pei Huang
  • Patent number: 9236783
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric machine, comprising a rotor (8; 50; 76) and a stator (9; 29; 77), wherein the rotor (8; 50; 76) and/or the stator (9; 29; 77) comprise at least one laminated core (2; 11; 32; 72) having a substantially rectangular cross-section, wherein the laminated core (2; 11; 32; 72) comprises a sheet metal strip (1), wherein the sheet metal strip (1) is wound in a coil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Krauth, Tilo Koenig
  • Patent number: 9236784
    Abstract: A flux-switching electric machine includes a rotor having a rotor core that is configured to rotate about a central longitudinal axis. The rotor core has a circumference that includes an approximately constant radius of curvature along an arc length of the rotor core. The rotor core includes magnetic and non-magnetic segments that are arranged in an alternating pattern of magnetic segments and non-magnetic segments along the arc length of the rotor core. The flux-switching electric machine also includes a stator having a stator core that extends a length along the central longitudinal axis. The stator core includes a stator base and stator teeth that extend radially from the stator base relative to the central longitudinal axis. The stator includes a direct current (DC) field coil wound around at least one corresponding stator tooth. The stator includes an alternating current (AC) armature coil wound around at least one corresponding stator tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Tsarafidy Raminosoa, Manoj Ramprasad Shah
  • Patent number: 9236785
    Abstract: A regulator of a vehicle AC generator is formed of an IC regulator of a mold package type and a regulator holder having an IC regulator mount portion. A press-fit fitting structure (140A, 230A, 140C, or 230D) is provided between an attachment plane of the IC regulator mount portion (110A) and an attachment plane of the IC regulator (200A) or between an inner wall surface of the IC regulator mount portion and an outer wall surface of the IC regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotaka Kimata, Kazunori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9236786
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with mitigation of magnetic fields are described herein. In an embodiment, a method for mitigating an electromagnetic field includes positioning a mitigating coil around a linear alternator of linear motor so that the mitigating coil is coaxially located with an alternator coil; arranging the mitigating coil to generate a field to mitigate an electromagnetic field generated by the alternator coil; and passing an induced current from the alternator coil through the mitigating coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Steven M. Geng, Janis M. Niedra
  • Patent number: 9236787
    Abstract: A motive power transmission device capable of suppressing deformation of matching surfaces of cases is provided. A motive power transmission device is used as a transmission for a hybrid vehicle containing a first rotating electric machine and a second rotating electric machine as two rotating electric machines. The first rotating electric machine and the second rotating electric machine each serving as a motor/generator are housed in independent first case and second case, and the both are coupled to constitute the transmission for a hybrid vehicle. A first stator and a second stator are fastened and fixed to the first case and the second case on sides opposite to a first matching surface and a second matching surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hattori
  • Patent number: 9236788
    Abstract: An induction generator (100) for a remote switch which comprises a U-shaped magnetic diverter (102) with first and second limbs as well as a coil core (104) with an induction coil (106) arranged between the limbs. A movable magnetic element (110) is provided for switching the induction generator (100). When the magnetic element (110) is in its first position, the magnetic element (110) is connected with the first limb and the coil core (104) and, when the magnetic element (110) is in its second position, the magnetic element (110) is connected with the coil core (104) and the second limb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Eduard Ruff
  • Patent number: 9236789
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes programmable snubber circuits and methods. In one embodiment, a circuit is configured between first and second power supply terminals. A programmable snubber circuit may be configured between the first and second power supplies to reduce ringing on the power supplies. In one embodiment, the circuit is a switching regulator and the power supply terminals are internal power supply terminals. The snubber circuit may be programmed to reduce ringing caused by switching currents through parasitic inductances in a package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Shengyuan Li, Chunlei Shi, Loc Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9236790
    Abstract: A power distribution device includes a direct current power source DC/DC converter connected to a direct current power source, and an AC/DC converter connected to an alternating current power source. The direct current power source DC/DC converter and the AC/DC converter are accommodated in a single container from which a DC load supply line is led out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Inakagata
  • Patent number: 9236791
    Abstract: Various systems and method for distributing electrical power are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a first inverter coupled to an electrical bus, a second inverter coupled to the electrical bus, a filter including a first inductor and a second inductor, and a transfer switch circuit coupled between the first inverter and the second inverter and a load. The transfer switch circuit is configured to transfer power from the first inverter through the first inductor to the load and transfer power from the second inverter through the second inductor to the load in a first mode of operation. The transfer switch circuit is further configured to transfer power from the first inverter through the first inductor and through the second inductor to the load in a second mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Wendong Zhang
  • Patent number: 9236792
    Abstract: A voltage regulator permits reduced current consumption by promptly and timely stopping the operation of an inrush current protection circuit immediately after the voltage regulator is started up. The voltage regulator has an output voltage detection circuit, which issues a detection signal to actuate the inrush current protection circuit when a low voltage at an output terminal is detected at the time of starting up the voltage regulator. When it is detected that the voltage at the output terminal has reached a predetermined level, the operation of the inrush current protection circuit is stopped and a power path of the output voltage detection circuit is cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventor: Socheat Heng
  • Patent number: 9236793
    Abstract: Power controllers and related primary-side control methods are disclosed. A disclosed power controller has a comparator and an ON-triggering controller. The comparator compares a feedback voltage with an over-shot reference voltage. Based on an inductance-coupling effect, the feedback voltage represents a secondary-side voltage of a secondary winding. Coupled to the comparator, the ON-triggering controller operates a power switch at about a first switching frequency when the feedback voltage is lower than the over-shot reference voltage. The ON-triggering controller operates the power switch at about a second switching frequency when the feedback voltage exceeds the over-shot reference voltage. The second switching frequency is less than the first switching frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Leadtrend Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yu-Yun Huang, Yi-Lun Shen
  • Patent number: 9236794
    Abstract: A charge pump circuit, and associated method and apparatuses, for providing a split-rail voltage supply, the circuit having a network of switches that is operable in a number of different states and a controller for operating the switches in a sequence of said states so as to generate positive and negative output voltages together spanning a voltage approximately equal to the input voltage and centered on the voltage at the common terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventor: John P. Lesso
  • Patent number: 9236795
    Abstract: A charge pump system includes a comparator having a first input coupled to a first reference voltage, a second input coupled to a feedback signal and an output coupled to control operation of a voltage controlled oscillator. The feedback signal is coupled to an output of the charge pump system. An amplifier has a first input coupled to a second reference voltage, a second input coupled to the feedback signal, and an output coupled as input to the voltage controlled oscillator. A gain of the amplifier is lower than a gain of the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Perry H. Pelley, Michael G. Neaves
  • Patent number: 9236796
    Abstract: A method having a negative output voltage at a negative output terminal of a charge pump tracking a positive output voltage at a positive output terminal of the charge pump. The charge pump comprises a plurality of switches and each of the plurality of switches has a serially coupled resistance. The method comprises selecting the serially coupled resistance for at least one of the plurality of switches to be different to each of the other respective serially coupled resistances associated to the other switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bairen Liu, Hongqiang Qin, Eric Yang, Song Qu, Paul Ueunten
  • Patent number: 9236797
    Abstract: A system includes: a first converter for receiving a pre-stage input DC voltage from a power source, and providing a pre-stage output DC voltage including a first DC voltage or a second DC voltage; a modulator the modulator controlling the first converter; a second converter, coupled to the first converter; and a controller, the controller controlling an operation mode of the second converter and notifying the modulator about the operation mode of the second converter. The modulator and the controller receive an external voltage indication signal indicating whether the pre-stage output DC voltage is the first DC voltage or the second DC voltage. The modulator controls the first converter to output the pre-stage output DC voltage based on the voltage indication signal. The modulator notifies the controller about whether the pre-stage output DC voltage reaches a target level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Ke-Horng Chen, Chun-Yu Hsieh, Chih-Yu Yang, Chao-Jen Huang
  • Patent number: 9236798
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter control circuit has an inductor configured to be interposed between a first node which is set to a first direct current voltage or a second direct current voltage and a second node which outputs an output voltage at a predetermined direct current voltage level, an error signal generator configured to generate an error signal depending on a voltage difference between a reference voltage and a voltage correlating with the output voltage, a ripple extractor configured to extract and output ripple components contained in the voltage of the first node, a single-ended signal generator configured to generate a single-ended signal based on the error signal and an output signal from the ripple extractor, and a switch drive unit configured to drive and control, based on the single-ended signal, a switch circuit which sets the first node to the first direct current voltage or the second direct current voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Takeshi Ueno
  • Patent number: 9236799
    Abstract: A current generator includes an amplifier having a first terminal configured to receive an input voltage, at least one tunable resistor coupled to a second terminal of the amplifier, a resistor calibration circuit coupled to the at least one tunable resistor, and at least one transistor. A gate of the at least one transistor is coupled to an output of the amplifier, and a terminal of the at least one transistor is coupled to the at least one tunable resistor or a load. The resistor calibration circuit is configured to adjust a resistance setting of the at least one tunable resistor to control a current level of the current generator based on a power supply voltage or a current of a reference resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ming-Chieh Huang, Chan-Hong Chern, Chih-Chang Lin
  • Patent number: 9236800
    Abstract: A system for balancing current supplied by a plurality of regulators coupled to a load includes circuitry operable to measure an average load current supplied by each regulator, determine an overall average current to be shared by the plurality of regulators, and compare each average load current with the overall average current to be shared by the plurality of regulators. The circuitry included in the system is also operable to adjust an output current of one or more of the plurality of regulators so that the plurality of regulators supply the same current to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Benjamin Tang, Scott Wilson Southwell, Kenneth A. Ostrom
  • Patent number: 9236801
    Abstract: A switch mode power supply having an output terminal configured to provide an output voltage, the switch mode power supply has a first switch, a second switch and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to provide a first switching control signal to turn ON and turn OFF the first switch, and when the switch mode power supply works in a power saving mode, the first switch is turned ON if a voltage feedback signal is less than a reference voltage and a current flowing through the second switch is less than a bias current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Qian Ouyang
  • Patent number: 9236802
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a turbo circuit for increasing an output of a voltage regulator having a several power stages includes an activation sub-circuit coupled to a feedback signal of the voltage regulator, the activation sub-circuit being configured to generate a multi-stage ON signal for turning on the power stages substantially concurrently. The turbo circuit further comprises a deactivation sub-circuit coupled to the feedback signal, the deactivation sub-circuit being configured to cancel the multi-stage ON signal when the feedback signal reaches an extremum value. In one embodiment, the turbo circuit may be implemented in a multi-phase buck converter fabricated as part of an integrated circuit on a semiconductor die. In another embodiment, the turbo circuit can be implemented in a multi-phase boost converter as part of an integrated circuit on a semiconductor die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Americas Corp.
    Inventors: Edvin Shehu, Dan Clavette
  • Patent number: 9236803
    Abstract: The prevent invention provides an AC-DC flyback converter and a loop compensation method thereof. The AD-DC flyback converter comprises an isolating transformer, a power switch, and a feed control module. The feed control module includes a compensating circuit, a voltage buffer, and an error amplifier having a first resistor and a second resistor, and a pulse width modulation controller. With the AC-DC flyback converter and the loop compensating method, the system stability can be improved and the loop bandwidth can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: WUXI VIMICRO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhe Yang, Xianhui Dong, Zhao Wang
  • Patent number: 9236804
    Abstract: A power conversion system includes a power converter that converts an input voltage into a DC output voltage. Additionally, the power conversion system also includes a controller that provides a self-adjusting set-point control scheme for the power converter. A method of power conversion system operation is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Subarna Pal, Richard Hock
  • Patent number: 9236805
    Abstract: A system and a method for controlling a DC-DC converter include a microcomputer for deriving an input limiting current value by dividing an input limiting power value by an input voltage value. A conversion circuit scales the input limiting current value to a limiting voltage value. A voltage control circuit derives a control voltage value based on an output voltage value and a reference voltage value and defines the limiting voltage value as a control voltage limiting value. A current control circuit generates a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal based on the control voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Won Kyoung Choi, Hui Sung Jang, Sung Kyu Kim, Mu Shin Kwak, Hyun Wook Seong, Su Hyun Bae
  • Patent number: 9236806
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling a programmable power converter are provided. The method and apparatus generate a first power source and a second power source. The voltage level of the second power source is lower than the voltage level of the first power source. The first power source and the second power source provide a power supply for a control circuit. The control circuit will use the first power source as its power supply when the first power source is low. The control circuit will use the second power source as its power supply for saving the power when the first power source is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Chou-Sheng Wang, Pei-Sheng Tsu, Yi-Min Hsu
  • Patent number: 9236807
    Abstract: A DC/DC converter, a power converter and a control method thereof are disclosed, where the DC/DC converter includes an output circuit, a rectangular wave generator, a resonant tank, a detection unit and a control unit. The output circuit has a load. The rectangular wave generator converts an input voltage into at least one rectangular wave. The resonant tank provides a first voltage based on the rectangular wave for the output circuit. The detection unit detects a signal related to a state of the load. When the state of the load is light-load or a no-load, the control unit controls a working frequency or a duty ratio of the rectangular wave, so that the duty ratio of the rectangular wave is within a predetermined range, in which a voltage gain of the DC/DC converter is greater than another voltage gain under the condition of 50% duty ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hong-Yuan Jin, Pei-Qing Hu, Hong-Jian Gan, Jian-Ping Ying
  • Patent number: 9236808
    Abstract: A parallel resonant converter circuit with current-equalization function includes a power input terminal, a power output terminal, an output capacitor, first and second resonant converters and a third transformer. The first resonant converter is electrically coupled between the power input terminal and the output capacitor/power output terminal. The first resonant converter includes a first transformer. The second resonant converter is electrically coupled between the power input terminal and the output capacitor. The first resonant converter and the second resonant converter are coupled in parallel. The second resonant converter includes a second transformer. The third transformer includes a first coil winding set and a second coil winding set. The first coil winding set is electrically coupled between the power input terminal and the first transformer in series. The second coil winding set is electrically coupled between the power input terminal and the second transformer in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: ASIAN POWER DEVICES INC.
    Inventors: Tsung-Liang Hung, Ya-Lun Ouyang, Yeu-Torng Yau
  • Patent number: 9236809
    Abstract: A circuit includes a conduction detector configured to monitor conduction of a body diode of a synchronous rectifier switch relative to a predetermined threshold and to generate a detector output that indicates conduction or non-conduction of the body diode. A window analyzer is configured to generate a timing signal to indicate if the synchronous rectifier switch is turned off prematurely or turned off late relative to an on-time turn off based on the detector output from the conduction detector. A controller is configured to adjust the timing of the synchronous rectifier switch based on whether the timing signal indicates that the synchronous rectifier switch is turned off prematurely or turned off late relative to the on-time turn off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Fan Wang