Patents Issued in January 3, 2017
  • Patent number: 9537378
    Abstract: An audible warning system for a generator system is provided. The generator system includes a surge suppressor and a rectifier assembly. The rectifier assembly rotates along with the rotor of the generator system, and generates airflow. The surge suppressor includes a face portion. The audible warning system includes a mounting plate and an acoustic alarm device. The mounting plate is attached to the rectifier assembly to mount the surge suppressor and the acoustic alarm device. The acoustic alarm device includes an air inlet portion in engagement with a face portion of the surge suppressor. In operation, this arrangement blocks fluid communication of the airflow into the air inlet portion, in an operational state. A failure of the surge suppressor allows the airflow to pass through the air inlet portion to generate an audible alarm for an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Miroslav Halicek
  • Patent number: 9537379
    Abstract: A motor realizes mechanical field-weakening control by controlling the leakage magnetic flux from the rotor cores of the motor. The motor includes a stator, a rotor including rotor cores circumferentially spaced apart from one another inside the stator and permanent magnets disposed between the respective rotor cores which extend radially from the stator, and a magnetic flux adjustment unit including a ring-shaped main frame, magnetic substance portions extending from the main frame so as to be circumferentially spaced apart from one another and non-magnetic regions defined between the magnetic substance portions. The magnetic flux adjustment unit is rotatable to control the leakage magnetic flux from the rotor cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Gu Lee, Young Kwan Kim, Keun Young Yoon, Su Kwon Jeong
  • Patent number: 9537380
    Abstract: A permanent-magnet type rotating electrical machine, including a rotor including a plurality of magnetic poles arranged at an equal interval, and a stator including a plurality of teeth and a plurality of armature windings. A high frequency voltage different in frequency and amplitude from voltages for generating a torque is applied to the armature windings. A magnetic pole position of the rotor is estimated by using a current trajectory of a measured high frequency current. When dq transform is applied to the measured high frequency current, a current trajectory forms an ellipse on d and q axes. Angular variation ranges of a major axis of the ellipse with respect to a load current and a rotor position are set so as to acquire a predetermined position estimation resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi Yamaguchi, Eigo Totoki, Masato Ito, Daisuke Nishijima, Toshinori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9537381
    Abstract: A motor for a compressor, and a reciprocating compressor having the same, are provided. A winding coil may be formed by removing a bobbin from the winding coil, and then coating an insulating material on an outer circumferential surface of the winding coil, to allow heat and moisture generated by the winding coil to be emitted to outside and provide enhanced performance and reliability. As a bobbin is removed from the winding coil, a coil line may be wound on the removed portion of the bobbin to enhance an occupation ratio by the coil line on the same area, and thus enhance efficiency of the motor. An elastic member or an adhesive may be inserted or applied into a space between the winding coil and a coil insertion groove of an inner stator to minimize vibrations of a coil line. The insulating material, which is in the form of powder, may melt while the coil line is adhered as the self-bonding material melts, forming a coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sangsub Jeong, Jungsik Park, Hyuk Lee, Jehoon Kim
  • Patent number: 9537382
    Abstract: A switch controller includes a primary side including signal transmission circuitry to transmit signals representative of desired transitions of a switch. A signal transformer galvanically isolates the primary side from a secondary side but inductively couples signal transmission circuitry to signal reception circuitry. A switch is coupled to switch a low impedance onto a primary side winding of the signal transformer during pauses between transmissions of the signals representative of the desired transition of the switch. The secondary side includes signal reception circuitry, a drive signal generator to generate a drive signal in response to valid signals received by the signal reception circuitry, and a validation circuit that includes a first comparator, a timer, and a second comparator to compare a timed duration with a threshold duration, and to output to the drive signal generator signals indicative of the validity of particular signals received by the signal reception circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: CT-Concept Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Thalheim, Olivier Garcia
  • Patent number: 9537383
    Abstract: A driver circuit for driving a switching transistor includes a dead time calibration circuit and/or a quick start circuit. The dead time calibration circuit includes a delay comparator to compare a present delay between the low side switch turning off or the high side switch turning off and a voltage at a switch node between the high side switch and the low side switch to a past delay and a controller responsive to the comparison is configured to adjust the delay of an adjustable delay element coupled to a control terminal of a switching transistor. The quick start circuit includes a quick start signal generator having an adjustable delay element to generate a quick start signal having a pulse to turn on the switching transistor for a quick start interval, a quick start comparator configured to monitor the quick start signal, and a control circuit responsive to the comparison by the quick start comparator to adjust the delay of the delay element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventor: Joshua Wibben
  • Patent number: 9537384
    Abstract: To provide a power supply noise reduction circuit and a power supply noise reduction method that do not require circuit elements to be increased in size and do not cause voltage drop in a power supply voltage. A power supply noise reduction circuit 10 that reduces noise included in a constant voltage output that is output from a power supply 2 to a load includes a first resistor 20 that is inserted into a power supply line L1 extending from the power supply 2 to the load, a filter 31 that is coupled to a load terminal of the first resistor 20 and outputs a first voltage that is obtained by reducing the noise from the constant voltage output, and a unity gain amplifier 32 that drives the first voltage output from the filter 31 and outputs the driven first voltage to the load terminal of the first resistor 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: ADVANTEST CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 9537385
    Abstract: Disclosed are an induction current sampling device and method for a bridgeless PFC circuit. The device includes a first sampling unit, a second sampling circuit and a third sampling circuit, wherein the first sampling unit, connected in serial with a first switch transistor of the bridgeless PFC circuit, is configured to sample a current flowing through the first switch transistor to acquire a first sampling signal V1; the the second sampling unit, connected in serial with a second switch transistor of the bridgeless PFC circuit, is configured to sample a current flowing through the second switch transistor to acquire a second sampling signal V2; and the third sampling unit, with one terminal connected with a ground of the bridgeless PFC circuit and the other terminal connected with a negative output of a PFC capacitor of the bridgeless PFC circuit, is configured to sample a current flowing through a boost diode of the bridgeless PFC circuit to acquire a third sampling signal V3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xifeng Pu, Dacheng Zheng, Binchuan Dai, Dan Li, Zhenghai Wan, Junkai Li
  • Patent number: 9537386
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and integrated circuits are disclosed for a driver controller that internally calculates average output current. In one example, a method includes receiving an output voltage of an output line. The method further includes performing a calculation of an average output current at the output line based at least in part on the output voltage. The method further includes controlling an interval timing of a switch based at least in part on the calculation of the average output current at the output line, wherein the switch is configured for switching current to the output line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Michael Herfurth, Xiaowu Gong
  • Patent number: 9537387
    Abstract: A reference signal generating circuit is provided that generates a reference signal corresponding to an input signal for power factor compensation of a power converter. The reference signal generating circuit includes a detector sampling the input signal according to a reference clock to detect and hold the maximum input signal and a phase measuring unit measuring a phase of the sampled input signal based on the sampled input signal and the detected maximum input signal. The circuit also includes a reference signal generating unit configured to generate a reference signal having a specific value in response to the measured phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhi Yuan Cui, Younggi Ryu, Inho Hwang, Sang Hoon Jung, Taeyoung Park
  • Patent number: 9537388
    Abstract: A hybrid distribution transformer is provided that includes an electromagnetic transformer and a voltage source converter that is operable to reduce fluctuation in the output voltage of the hybrid distribution transformer in the event of an increase or decrease in the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Mohamed Y. Haj-Maharsi, Sandeep Bala, Le Tang
  • Patent number: 9537389
    Abstract: Provided is an inverter device that can reduce high-frequency noise. The inverter device includes a transformer for converting the voltage of the AC power output from an inverter circuit and outputting the resulting power. Each of first to third coil sections for converting the voltage of the AC power output from the inverter circuit and outputting the resulting power includes an inner coil respectively wound around first to third core sections and an outer coil. The first to third core sections are each column shaped having an axis in the Y direction, and are arranged in the Z direction. Non-magnetic pressing members are provided between the adjacent coil sections and between the adjacent coil sections. The pressing members press against the adjacent coil sections and the adjacent coil sections respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Koji, Takeshi Tanaka, Takeshi Nagata
  • Patent number: 9537390
    Abstract: A control circuit (115), a control method, a DC-DC converter and an electronic device are provided. The control circuit (115) is used to control the DC-DC converter to switch its operation modes. In the control circuit (115), whether mode of the DC-DC converter is to be switched is judged according to parameters of a first duration of an active duration and a second duration of an inactive duration. Comparison of analog values is prevented, and as a result, the use of the analog comparator is reduced, thus the influence of the semiconductor processes on designing a controller can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: OPTIS CIIRCUIT TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Jingwen Mao, Zhiyong Luo, Kaihua Zheng
  • Patent number: 9537391
    Abstract: Power system includes at least one power source and a DC/DC converter with an input coupled to the power source, and an output coupled to a load, for allowing power transfer from the power source to the load, the DC/DC converter including means for regulating an input voltage of the DC/DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: ST-ERICSSON SA
    Inventor: Stéphanie Fajtl
  • Patent number: 9537392
    Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention includes a circuit comprising a voltage adjust circuit and an input terminal of an electronic system. The voltage adjust circuit is coupled to receive an input voltage. The input terminal of the electronic system is coupled to receive a supply voltage from an output terminal of the voltage adjust circuit. The voltage adjust circuit makes an adjustment to the supply voltage based on a minimum voltage requirement of the electronic system. Accordingly, the leakage current supplied to the electronic system reduces, thereby saving power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: MARVELL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Shankar Kozhumam, Jon E. Tourville
  • Patent number: 9537393
    Abstract: A controller (500) for determining a distribution of switching phases among switching elements of a power supply system The power supply system has a plurality of voltage converters, each comprising a switching element and being arranged to convert an input voltage supplied to the voltage converters to a respective output voltage by switching the switching element at a predetermined frequency. The controller (500) comprises a receiver (510) for receiving one or more signals indicative of a respective contribution from each of the voltage converters to a ripple current component of an input current of the voltage converters, and a rank determining module (520) configured to rank the voltage converters in order of decreasing contribution to the ripple current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Andreas Larsson, Torbjörn Holmberg, Magnus Mellteg
  • Patent number: 9537394
    Abstract: A resonant power converter comprising electrical safety components comprising a combination of a diodes and a zener diodes coupled between DC conductors and an auxiliary switching circuit, the diodes being adapted to hinder the current from flowing from the auxiliary switching circuit to the negative DC conductor, and the zener diodes being adapted to allow current to flow from the negative DC conductor to the auxiliary switching circuit when the potential difference between the negative DC conductor and the phase conductor is above a threshold voltage. The Zener diodes being selected such that the threshold voltage of the Zener diodes is below the maximum blocking voltage of the transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: COMSYS AB
    Inventors: Dan Liljegren, Oscar Haraldsson
  • Patent number: 9537395
    Abstract: A peak efficiency detection system may include a switched power supply (SPS) module providing an output supply signal. The SPS module may have an internal node, and a plurality of SPS circuits configured to generate the output supply signal on the internal node. A dead type module may generate control signals. A central node external to the SPS module may deliver the output supply signal to a load module. A power stage size control module may generate control signals for controlling the SPS module. A peak-efficiency detection (PED) module may receive the output supply signal from the central node, the control signals from the SPS module, and the control signals from the power stage size control module. The PED module may generate a signal representative of an efficiency of the SPS module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventor: Vratislav Michal
  • Patent number: 9537396
    Abstract: The present document relates to Direct Current (DC) to DC power converters. In particular, the present document relates to DC to DC power converters which comprise one or more bipolar transistors as power switches. A control circuit configured to control a power switch of a switched-mode power converter is described. The power switch comprises a bipolar transistor. The control circuit is configured to determine an indication of a time instant, at which the power switch is switched off; and to adjust a basis current for controlling the power switch based on the determined indication of the time instant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Horst Knoedgen
  • Patent number: 9537397
    Abstract: A converter having an inductor, a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a fourth switch connected between the other ends of the inductor and the second switch. The converter is adapted to turn ON/OFF individually the first switch, the second switch, the third switch and the fourth switch so as to convert a voltage applied between the other ends of the first switch and the second switch. Also included is a diode, a maintaining device and a release device. The generating device generates small/large output electric current in correspondence with high/low of a voltage of a connection node between the semiconductor transistor and the resistor, and increases the output electric current by switching a voltage applied on the third end from a first voltage to a second voltage lower than the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LIMITED
    Inventor: Tsuguo Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9537398
    Abstract: A high voltage generating circuit includes a charge pump circuit and an output voltage control circuit. The charge pump circuit raises a voltage to a high voltage higher than a power supply voltage. The output voltage control circuit controls the voltage to make the raised high voltage to be a predetermined target voltage. The output voltage control circuit includes at least two offset free comparator circuits, or at least one offset free comparator circuit and at least one differential amplifier. The offset free comparator circuit includes a coupling capacitor, a differential amplifier and a plural switch. The coupling capacitor inputs a voltage corresponding to the high voltage. The differential amplifier compares a voltage from the coupling capacitor with a predetermined reference voltage and outputs a comparison result voltage to the charge pump circuit. The switches are connected to the differential amplifier to cancel an offset of the differential amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Powerchip Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Arakawa, Tomofumi Kitani
  • Patent number: 9537399
    Abstract: A switching control circuit includes driving a flow of direct current through an at least partially inductive load. The switching control circuit is adapted for adjusting a control current in order to activate and/or deactivate a flow of current to a load terminal. The system comprises a timer element for initiating at least one timed adjustment of the control current during activation or deactivation of the flow of current through a first semiconductor switch of the circuit so as to anticipate a state change of a component of the switching control circuit. The controller is adapted for determining a timing for the timed adjustment in a predictive manner. A method employs the various features of the switching control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES NV
    Inventors: Christian Paintz, Thomas Freitag, Heiko Grimm, Enrico Reinhardt
  • Patent number: 9537400
    Abstract: A device and method for operating a switching power converter are disclosed. In an embodiment a circuit includes a switching power converter having a half bridge including a high-side semiconductor switch connected to a low-side semiconductor switch and an inductor coupled to a half-bridge output node. The circuit further includes a control circuit configured to generate drive signals to switch the high-side semiconductor switch and the low-side semiconductor switch on and off, wherein the drive signals are generated to ensure a dead time between a switch-off of the low-side switch and a subsequent switch-on of the high side switch, and wherein the dead time is set to a first value, when an inductor current is negative at a time of switching, and the dead time is set to a second value, which is lower than the first value, when the inductor current is positive at the time of switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Noebauer
  • Patent number: 9537401
    Abstract: A push-pull converter including a primary-side input converter circuit with a plurality of primary-side switching devices in a full-bridge circuit including a transformer being designed to receive the first AC voltage on a primary-side winding and to generate a second AC voltage on a secondary-side winding. The push-pull converter includes a secondary-side output converter circuit to convert the second AC voltage into an output DC voltage, including a first semi-bridge circuit, said semi-bridge circuit including a first secondary-side switching device, a second secondary-side switching device, and a first center tap connected to a first connection of the secondary-side winding. The secondary-side output converter circuit includes a second semi-bridge circuit which includes a first secondary-side diode, a second secondary-side diode, and a second center tap connected to a second connection of the secondary-side winding, said second semi-bridge circuit not including a switchable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Hembach, Christoph Van Booven
  • Patent number: 9537402
    Abstract: An electric power converter is equipped with a master converter and a slave converter that are connected in parallel with each other, and to a load. The master converter operates having priority over the slave converter. The slave converter includes a voltage sensor for detecting an output voltage of the electric power converter and a control unit for controlling an output of the slave converter based on a target command value. The control unit selects a current command value Ic2 received from the master converter as a target command value when a variation ?V per predetermined time of a detected output voltage Vo2 is lower than a variation ?Vth1. The control unit selects a voltage command value Vc2a calculated so as to suppress the output voltage Vo2 from changing as the target command value when the variation ?V exceeds the variation ?Vth1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Syuji Kurauchi, Tsuyoshi Hosoda, Keisuke Yagyu
  • Patent number: 9537403
    Abstract: A control circuit for a switched-mode power supply having an input side (101) connectable to an electrical power source and an output side (102) connectable to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Cheng Zhang, Joan Wichard Strijker, Hans Halberstadt
  • Patent number: 9537404
    Abstract: A power converter includes a transformer with a primary and a secondary winding and a switch. A controller of the power converter at the primary winding side of the transformer generates a control signal to turn on or turn off the switch, the switch being turned on responsive to the control signal being in a first state and the switch being turned off responsive to the control signal being in a second state. The controller determines current through the primary winding generated while the switch is turned on and indirectly detects an input voltage to the power converter based on the current through the primary winding generated while the switch is turned on. The controller in turn may detect conditions such as a loss of power or brown out at the input of the power converter based on the indirectly detected input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Li, Hien Huu Bui, David Nguyen, Fuqiang Shi
  • Patent number: 9537405
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a drive circuit coupled to control switching of a power switch of the power converter to regulate the output of the power converter. A limit sense circuit is coupled to output a limit sense signal in response to a condition of the power converter. The drive circuit is coupled to operate in a first operation mode if there is a no limit condition. The first operation mode includes regulating the output of the power converter with a regulated output voltage and a first maximum output current. The drive circuit is coupled to operate in a second operation mode if there is a limit condition. The second operation mode regulating the output of the power converter with the regulated output voltage and a second maximum output current wherein the second maximum output current is less than the first maximum output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Bäurle, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Patent number: 9537406
    Abstract: A flyback controller featuring bidirectional power control and parallelly-connected power modules is based on flyback DC-DC converters for allowing bidirectional energy flow and transformation. The flyback controller includes two bidirectional DC-DC converters that are connected in parallel. The bidirectional DC-DC converters are electrically connected with a digital-signal processor. The digital-signal processor controls the bidirectional DC-DC converters and current thereof, so that the current flows evenly across the bidirectional DC-DC converters. Thereby, the flyback controller has advantages about simplified components and increased power output, and is suitable for testing secondary batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: CHYNG HONG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mu-Chun Lin
  • Patent number: 9537407
    Abstract: A power supply includes a power conversion circuit configured to selectively operate in one of an active mode in which output power is supplied to a load and a standby mode in which output power is not supplied to the load, a plurality of auxiliary circuits including a first auxiliary circuit and a second auxiliary circuit, a bias node configured to supply power to the plurality of auxiliary circuits, and a switch that is coupled between the bias node and the first auxiliary circuit and that is configured to disconnect the first auxiliary circuit from the bias node in response to a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan Fang, Daniel Pope, James Andrew McBryde
  • Patent number: 9537408
    Abstract: A power conversion method of a power conversion apparatus including plural primary side ports disposed in a primary side circuit and a secondary side port disposed in a secondary side circuit magnetically coupled to the primary side circuit through a transformer, the method adjusting transmission power transmitted between the primary and secondary side circuits by changing a phase difference between switching of the primary and secondary side circuits, and changing a first duty ratio of the switching of the primary side circuit or a second duty ratio of the switching of the secondary side circuit, the method including: determining whether a value obtained by dividing the phase difference by 360° is greater than a third duty ratio; and setting the second duty ratio to be equal to or greater than the value obtained by dividing the phase difference by 360° when the value is greater than the third duty ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Hirano
  • Patent number: 9537409
    Abstract: A resonant converter includes a primary switching circuit having a primary winding and a primary switching stage configured to drive the primary winding; a secondary resonant circuit having a secondary winding magnetically coupled to the primary winding, a resonance capacitor connected in parallel to the secondary winding, and first and second secondary inductors respectively coupled between an output terminal of the converter and respective terminals of the resonance capacitor; a rectification stage connected in parallel with the resonance capacitor, and having first and second switches coupled to form a half-bridge; and a feedback command circuit. The command circuit is configured to receive feedback signals representing an output voltage and an output current at the output terminal of the resonant converter, receive voltages at the terminals of the resonance capacitor, and turn on/off, independently with respect to each other, the switches of the rectification stage and the primary switching stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Osvaldo Enrico Zambetti, Stefano Saggini
  • Patent number: 9537410
    Abstract: A system and method for series connecting electronic power devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a switching device system includes a first upper arm electrically coupled to a first lower arm and a second upper arm electrically coupled to a second lower arm. Each of the arms include a plurality of low voltage sub-modules connected in series and each plurality of low voltage sub-modules includes an auxiliary switching device, a series switching device, and a capacitor. Each plurality of low voltage sub-modules is configured to be sequentially switched using the auxiliary switching device and the series switching device separately in the upper arms and the respective lower arms to control change in voltage over time (dV/dt) while selectively blocking a desired high voltage. Further, a capacitor voltage balancing (sorting or rotating) algorithm may be used to actively balance voltage across each plurality of low voltage sub-modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rui Zhou, Luis Jose Garces, Ravisekhar Nadimpalli Raju, Rixin Lai, Di Zhang
  • Patent number: 9537411
    Abstract: A flyback active clamping power converter is disclosed. The flyback active clamping power converter comprises an input inductor, a down-bridge switch, an up-bridge switch, a first energy-storing capacitor, a clamping capacitor, a resonant inductor, a magnetizing inductor, a transformer, an output diode and an output capacitor. When a resonant frequency generated by the resonant inductor and the clamping capacitor in the flyback active clamping power converter is substantially equal to a switching frequency, the output diode is able to perform a zero current switching in the whole load range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chien-Yu Lin, Wei-Lieh Lai, Yu-Kang Lo, Huang-Jen Chiu
  • Patent number: 9537412
    Abstract: A direct current voltage conversion device includes a direct current to alternating current converter, a transformer, a first converter switch, a second converter switch and a clamping circuit. The clamping circuit clamps a voltage across the second converter switch to a preset value, and stores energy of a voltage peak across the second converter switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignees: Lite-On Electronics (Guangzhou) Limited, Lite-On Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Peng Qu, Jianhua Zhou, Zhihong Ye
  • Patent number: 9537413
    Abstract: A driver system comprises a direct current (DC) voltage source and a first bi-directional DC-to-DC converter having a primary side coupled to the DC voltage source and a secondary side and configured to convert a first voltage on the primary side to a second voltage on the secondary. The driver system also comprises a second bi-directional DC-to-DC converter having a primary side coupled to the DC voltage source and a secondary side coupled to the secondary side of the first bi-directional DC-to-DC converter and configured to convert the first voltage on the primary side to a third voltage on the secondary. The first and second bi-directional DC-to-DC converters are capable of boosting the first voltage, and the second control signal is a complement of the first control signal. A voltage difference between the second and third voltages comprises an output voltage that comprises an amplification of the first control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Stanley Glaser, Ramanujam Ramabhadran
  • Patent number: 9537414
    Abstract: A full-bridge circuit has serial first arms and serial second arms. Another full-bridge circuit has serial third arms and serial fourth arms. Primary and secondary coils of a transformer are included, respectively, in a part connecting a middle point of the first arms and a middle point of the second arms and a part connecting a middle point of the third arms and a middle point of the fourth arms. A switching phase difference between the first arms and the third arms and a switching phase difference between the second arms and the fourth arms are adjusted, and transmission power between these full-bridge circuits is controlled. Connections of respective electrodes of a power source are inversely connected to respective polarity buses of the other full-bridge circuit. A phase of switching in one of the third and fourth arms other one having a short-circuit failure is inverted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Miura, Kazuyuki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9537415
    Abstract: A power generating device is provided, which includes a matrix converter device, a power transmission path for transmitting electric power between the matrix converter device and an electric power system, and at least one inductor for phase adjustment, bridged between the power transmission path and a neutral point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Junji Fujii, Takashi Tanaka, Kotaro Takeda, Wataru Yoshinaga
  • Patent number: 9537416
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for a power converter includes a first switching device proximate an AC source. The circuit also includes a voltage measurement device proximate a DC link and extends between the AC source and the DC link. The circuit further includes a DC voltage source and a first capacitive device. The first capacitive device is positioned between the first switching device and the voltage measurement device. The circuit further includes a second switching device positioned between the first capacitive device and the voltage measurement device. The circuit also includes a controller operatively coupled to the DC voltage source, the voltage measurement device, and the switching devices. The controller is configured to open the second switching device when a measured voltage signal generated by the voltage measurement device is substantially representative of a reference voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zhihui Yuan, Qingyun Chen, Stefan Schroeder, Jie Shen
  • Patent number: 9537417
    Abstract: A power supply control circuit arranged to prevent a steady power loss from occurring in an input filter connected to an alternating current power source. In order to detect that an AC input has been turned off, diodes are connected to AC lines, thus detecting a full-wave rectified waveform. This detected voltage is compared with a reference voltage by a comparator. An output signal of the comparator is input into the reset terminal of a timer circuit having a time measurement period longer than the power source frequency of an alternating current power source. A switch element of a discharging circuit is turned on by an output signal of the timer circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironobu Shiroyama, Takato Sugawara
  • Patent number: 9537418
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus is provided. The power conversion apparatus receives an AC input power by an input side and includes a capacitor, an AC-to-DC conversion unit and a discharge unit. The capacitor is connected with the input side. The AC-to-DC conversion unit is coupled to the input side, and configured to convert the AC input power after receiving the AC input power to generate a DC output power. The discharge unit is coupled to the capacitor and has at least two switch elements. The discharge unit enables the at least two switch elements when supply of the AC input power is interrupted, such that one of a first discharge path and a second discharge path formed by the at least two switch elements is taken to discharge or drain the energy stored in the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: NIKO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ta-Ching Hsu, Chung-Ming Leng
  • Patent number: 9537419
    Abstract: A power supply system includes: a switching power supply configured to rectify and smooth an AC voltage of an AC power supply to generate a predetermined DC voltage; a low-capacity power supply circuit that generates a zero-cross detection signal corresponding to zero-cross points of the AC power supply based on a rectified current flowing in a smoothing capacitor; and a controller configured to receive the zero-cross detection signal from the signal generating circuit and perform a determining process of determining whether it is possible to perform detection process of the zero-cross points based on a voltage value of the zero-cross detection signal. If the control unit determines that it is possible to perform the detection process of the zero-cross points, the control unit performs a zero-cross point detecting process of detecting the zero-cross points based on the zero-cross detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsumi Inukai
  • Patent number: 9537420
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying power produced by a power converter. In one embodiment, the method comprises comparing a line voltage level to a first threshold and a second threshold, wherein the line voltage level is a level of a line voltage at an output of a power converter; and modifying power produced by the power converter by (i) a first modification when the line voltage level is between the first and the second thresholds, and (ii) a second modification when the line voltage level exceeds the second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Barnes, Tibor Bolfan
  • Patent number: 9537421
    Abstract: A power converter includes at least one leg having a first string operatively coupled to a second string via a first connecting node and a second connecting node. The first string includes a first branch and a second branch operatively coupled via a third connecting node. Each of the branches has a plurality of switching units, a controllable semiconductor switch and the first connecting node and the second connecting node. The first string is operatively coupled across a first bus and a second bus. Furthermore, the second string includes a plurality of controllable semiconductor switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Di Zhang, Dong Dong, Andrew Allen Rockhill
  • Patent number: 9537422
    Abstract: A high-frequency power supply apparatus for supplying high-frequency power to a load the impedance of which greatly fluctuates is provided, wherein a stable high-frequency current is always maintained without having overcurrent or overvoltage generated in a drive circuit thereof. In the high-frequency power supply apparatus, a constant-current conversion circuit is connected between an LCR series resonant circuit and a half-bridge drive circuit, high-frequency current of the LCR series resonant circuit is controlled by the voltage of the half-bridge drive circuit, and a constant-current function is applied to impedance variation of the load. Due to the constant-current conversion circuit, the gate of a MOSFET of the half-bridge drive circuit is driven with a parallel capacitor using a transformer inserted in the LCR series resonant circuit, and the phases of the high-frequency current of the LCR series resonant circuit and the output of the half-bridge drive circuit are maintained to be constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eizo Kawato
  • Patent number: 9537423
    Abstract: A power conversion system includes a filter unit, a DC/DC converter, a DC link, an inverter, a control unit, and a traction motor. The DC/DC converter is used for boosting DC voltage of a DC source and electrically coupled to the DC source through the filter unit. The DC/DC converter includes multiple SiC MOSFETs configured in a synchronous rectification mode by channel reverse conduction control. The inverter is used for converting the boosted DC voltage from the converter to multi-phase AC voltage through the DC link. The control unit is used for providing PWM commands to the converter and the inverter, to convert the DC voltage to AC voltage configured to drive an AC driven device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Saijun Mao
  • Patent number: 9537424
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for controlling a DC-bus voltage for a power conditioning system. A control system regulates the DC value of the DC-bus voltage. The control system uses an adaptive DC-value estimator/observer to estimate this DC-value. Instead of having to determine the DC-value of a signal with a low frequency ripple without compromising the signal's dynamic response, a suitably precise estimate for that DC-value is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventors: Majid Pahlevaninezhad, Suzan Eren, Praveen Jain
  • Patent number: 9537425
    Abstract: A multilevel inverter includes a first half bridge in series with a second half bridge, each comprising a switch having a channel. The switch is configured to block a substantial voltage in a first direction during a first mode of operation, to conduct substantial current through the channel in the first direction during a second mode of operation, and to conduct substantial current through the channel in a second direction during a third mode of operation. During the third mode of operation, a gate of the switch is biased relative to a source of the switch at a voltage that is less than a threshold voltage of the switch. The inverter may also include a third half bridge. The inverter can be configured such that in operation, switches of the third half bridge are switched at a substantially lower frequency than the switches of the first and second half bridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Transphorm Inc.
    Inventor: James Honea
  • Patent number: 9537426
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for actuating an inverter (10) by means of space vector pulse width modulation, in particular for actuating an electrical machine (14), wherein the inverter (10) has a plurality of controllable switches (S) and is configured to provide a multi-phase electrical voltage (U, V, W) in the form of a voltage space vector (V*), wherein the controllable switches (S) are actuated in such a manner that different duty cycles of the switches (S) are set and a plurality of successive different switching states (V0-V7) of the switches (S) are set up to provide the voltage space vector (V*), wherein the duty cycles of the switches (S) are extended during a pulse width modulation period (T) if a duty cycle of one of the switches (S) falls below a predefined threshold (44) during the pulse width modulation period (T).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Mark Damson, Thomas Wiecha
  • Patent number: 9537427
    Abstract: A system includes a paralleled inverter circuit and a controller. The paralleled inverter circuit includes a first inverter and a second inverter. The controller is configured to control a first plurality of switches of the first inverter and a second plurality of switches of the second inverter based upon a control vector. The controller controls the paralleled inverter circuit using a first unit vector for a first time period and controls the paralleled inverter circuit using a second unit vector for a second time period. The first unit vector and the second unit vector are selected based upon the control vector, and the first time period and the second time period are determined based upon the control vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Dong Jiang