Patents Issued in March 21, 2017
  • Patent number: 9601975
    Abstract: A disclosed terminal block assembly for a generator includes a terminal block with a base with first and second transverse terminal surfaces adjoining one another. One of the terminal surfaces includes an increased width greater than a length of a cable terminal lug for providing a lightning strike and creepage barrier. The terminal surfaces include spaced apart protrusions extending from the first and second surfaces to provide spaced apart terminal areas overlapping the first and second surfaces. First and second terminal studs are disposed within each corresponding first and second terminal areas and are electrically connected by a bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Dhaval Patel, Edward C. Allen, Alan D. Hanson, Laurence D. Vanek, Glenn C. Lemmers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9601976
    Abstract: A method and assembly for forming a rotor include forming a rotor core having a plurality of voids and placing the formed rotor core into a die cavity. The method includes moving a plurality of support shoes to define an outer diameter of the die cavity, and injecting at least one of the plurality of voids with a magnetic slurry. At least one permanent magnet is formed from the magnetic slurry by applying pressure to the rotor core and the magnetic slurry within the die cavity and by applying a magnetic field to align the magnetic slurry. After forming the at least one permanent magnet within the rotor core, the plurality of support shoes are retracted and the rotor core removed with the at least one permanent magnet formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Edward L. Kaiser, Amanda Luedtke, Peter J. Savagian, Sinisa Jurkovic
  • Patent number: 9601977
    Abstract: A rotating electric machine includes: a stator core having a plurality of slots aligned along a circumferential direction; a stator having a stator coil with an enamel coating inserted into the slots of the stator core; and a rotor rotatably arranged over the stator core through a given gap. The stator coil includes: main coils of a plurality of phases in which a plurality of segment coils each having a rectangular cross-section wire formed into a substantially U-shaped wire in advance is connected to each other; a first sub-coil having a lead wire led from the slots and attached with an AC terminal, and connected to one end of the respective main coils; and a second sub-coil having a neutral wire led from the slots, and connected to the other end of the respective main coils. The lead wire and the neutral wire are each formed of a wire with a bend structure having a plurality of straights and bends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Nakayama, Yoshimi Mori, Takahiro Omori, Tomoaki Kaimori, Tsuyoshi Gotou, Hiromitsu Okamoto, Naoki Nishikawa, Takashi Genmoto
  • Patent number: 9601978
    Abstract: A rotor includes a shorting ring defining a plurality of cavities therein, and a plurality of conductor bars each integral with the shorting ring and having an end disposed within a respective one of the plurality of cavities. The shorting ring and each of the conductor bars are formed from an aluminum alloy including a lanthanoid present in an amount of from about 0.1 part by weight to about 0.5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the aluminum alloy. An aluminum alloy, and a method of forming a rotor are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Qigui Wang, Richard Jack Osborne, Yucong Wang, Margarita Thompson
  • Patent number: 9601979
    Abstract: An alloy material for an R-T-B system rare earth permanent magnet having a high orientation rate and high coercivity (Hcj), and a method for producing an R-T-B system rare earth permanent magnet using the alloy material. The alloy material includes a plurality of R-T-B system alloys having different compositions and a metal powder. The respective R-T-B system alloys are formed of R which is composed of two or more kinds selected from rare earth elements, T which is composed of a transition metal essentially containing Fe, B, and unavoidable impurities. A first alloy having the greatest Dy content contains 17 mass % or greater of Dy, and a Dy concentration difference between the first alloy and a second alloy having the smallest Dy concentration difference with respect to the first alloy among the plurality of R-T-B system alloys is 5 mass % or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Nakajima, Takashi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9601980
    Abstract: An electromechanical transducer of the invention comprises a structural unit, an armature, and two elastic units. The structural unit includes magnets, a yoke and a coil. The armature has an inner portion disposed to pass through inside the structural unit and two outer portions protruding from the inner portion, and the armature constitutes a magnetic circuit with the structural unit via two regions through which components of the magnetic flux flow in reverse directions in the inner region. The elastic units give restoring forces to the outer portions in response to displacement of the armature due to magnetic forces of the magnetic circuit. Each of the elastic units includes a pair of elastic members symmetrically arranged via the armature in a direction of the displacement. Each of the elastic members has one end engaging one of the outer portions and another end engaging one of the elastic member attaching portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: RION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Iwakura, Fumitaka Funahashi
  • Patent number: 9601981
    Abstract: A linear actuator that is configured to be extended/contracted by relatively displacing a first tube and a second tube in an axial direction, includes a rod that is provided inside the first tube, a plurality of permanent magnets that are held in the rod so as to be arranged in the axial direction; a stopper that is provided on a tip-end portion of the rod, a coil that is provided inside the second tube so as to face the permanent magnets, and a stopper receiving portion that is provided on the second tube so as to face the stopper, wherein the relative displacement between the first tube and the second tube in the extension direction is restricted by bringing an extension-direction-side end surface of the stopper into contact with the stopper receiving portion at a fully extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventors: Kousuke Satou, Noriyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9601982
    Abstract: A method of and device for reducing power loss in a voltage conversion circuit. The voltage conversion circuit comprises a main power circuit and a switchable auxiliary circuit, which comprises a first and a second winding circuits. A switch controls the use of the first winding circuit, the second winding circuit, or both to reduce power lose during the voltage conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Zhang, Wei Li, Anthony Brinlee
  • Patent number: 9601983
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flyback power converter and a control circuit and a control method thereof. The flyback power converter includes: a power stage circuit, a voltage sense circuit, a current sense circuit, and a control circuit. When the flyback power converter operates in a quasi-resonant mode, the control circuit determines a time point of turning OFF a power switch in the power stage circuit according to a current sense signal, a pulse width modulation (PWM) frequency of a PWM signal, and a predetermined threshold, wherein the control circuit adaptively adjusts an ON period of the power switch, or adaptively adjusts an operation bandwidth or an amplifier gain of an error amplifier circuit in a feedback control loop according to the PWM frequency to mitigate an output voltage ripple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuang-Fu Chang, Tzu-Chen Lin, Li-Di Luo
  • Patent number: 9601984
    Abstract: A power converter includes a backup power source Eb provided separately from a power source Es and designed to supply power during a discharge period, and a discharging driver Mb that turns on/off an upper-arm (one) switching element in series-connected switching elements Qu and Qd based on a drive signal that has at least one of a voltage and a frequency, and drives a lower-arm (the other) switching element Qd such that it is always on, the at least one of the voltage and the frequency of the drive signal being within a predetermined range lower than a drive signal outputted from a normal driver Mu, Md.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Hamanaka, Tsuneo Maebara, Koichi Sakata
  • Patent number: 9601985
    Abstract: A segmented driver including at least one drive pin and a sense pin, a driver circuit, a comparator, and a controller. The driver circuit activates a selected drive level between the drive pins and a reference node. The comparator compares a voltage of the sense pin with a threshold voltage and provides a threshold indication when the voltage of the sense pin reaches the threshold voltage. The controller commands the driver circuit to activate a first drive level in response to an off indication, and commands the driver circuit to switch to a second, lower drive level in response to the threshold indication. The driver circuit may be implemented using low resistive current devices. Multiple drive pins may be included, each for selectively activating a corresponding drive path to adjust drive level. The threshold voltage may be set using a current source and resistor, and may be adjusted for temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Ibrahim S. Kandah, Fred T. Brauchler, Steven R. Everson, Kim R. Gauen
  • Patent number: 9601986
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for the surge protection of inverters for photovoltaic systems, comprising at least one surge protection device which is physically integrated in the inverter or can be found in the vicinity of the inverter. The at least one surge protection device is connected to the DC side of the inverter. According to the invention, the inverter supplies a signal for setting or tracking the operating point at an operating level in the maximum power point (MPP) range, the response voltage of the surge protection device being predetermined, set, or selected on the basis of said signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: DEHN + SÖHNE GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Jens Ehrler
  • Patent number: 9601987
    Abstract: In a power supply apparatus, power is transmitted from its input terminal to its output terminal. The transmitted power is controlled so that an output voltage detected in a predetermined ratio can be equal to a reference voltage. A reduction signal is outputted when the output voltage decreases below a threshold. A presence or absence of an abnormality in a capacitance connected to the output terminal or a load current in a load connected to the output terminal is determined, when the output voltage is equal to the target voltage, by changing at least one of the detection ratio and the reference voltage so that the output voltage can transition from a target voltage higher than the threshold toward a middle voltage lower than the threshold only during a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mutsuya Motojima, Takeshi Morinaga
  • Patent number: 9601988
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes a power converter to directly convert AC power having a frequency into AC power having a different frequency. A gate driver drives the power converter. A gate drive signal generator generates a gate drive signal supplied to the gate driver. Two cutoff devices are coupled between the gate driver and the gate drive signal generator, and supply or cut off the gate drive signal to the gate driver based on a command from an external apparatus. At least one of the two cutoff devices generates a feedback signal. An analyzer determines whether the one cutoff device has an abnormality based on the command and the feedback signal. A cutoff controller controls another one of the two cutoff devices to cut off the gate drive signal to the gate driver when the analyzer determines that the one cutoff device has the abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Shigenori Takayama, Satoshi Sueshima, Keisei Inoki
  • Patent number: 9601989
    Abstract: The instant disclosure provides an intelligent pulse control circuit used for a power supply. The intelligent pulse control circuit comprises a control unit, a buffer unit, a comparing unit and a switch unit. The buffer receives a loading signal. The comparing unit is coupled to the buffer unit, receives the loading signal generated according to the current of the output loading, and compares the loading signal and the feedback signal to generate a control signal. The switch unit is controlled by the control signal of the comparing unit to provide a turn-off signal. When the output loading is light load, the switch unit controls the control unit to disable the PFC stage and the PWM stage according to the turn-off signal. Accordingly, the intelligent pulse control circuit can reduce the power consumption when the output loading is light load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chi-Che Wu, Tsan Chen, Yun-Chieh Hsu
  • Patent number: 9601990
    Abstract: A power factor correction (PFC) power converter is disclosed that converts AC input power to DC output power. A single stage of the PFC power converter performs both the DC-DC power conversion and the power factor correction for the power converter. The disclosed PFC power converters are efficient in energy conversion and have a power factor of 0.9-1.0. Further, the disclosed PFC power converters can be implemented in both low and high power applications above 75 W.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Microsemi Corporation
    Inventor: Xiao Ping Jin
  • Patent number: 9601991
    Abstract: In a switching regulator control circuit according to aspects of the invention, a drain current is converted to a voltage Vis with a resistance. The voltage is delivered to a multiplication circuit. The multiplication circuit generates and outputs a voltage that is a product signal of the voltage and a voltage that is proportional to a duty factor. A comparator circuit compares the voltage with an error signal delivered to the other comparison input terminal of the comparator. When the voltage has reached the error voltage, the comparator delivers a turn-off instruction through an OR circuit to a terminal of a flip-flop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jian Chen
  • Patent number: 9601992
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a switching power supply with regulated voltage suppression to reduce transformer audio noise. The switching power supply is operable to be fed a zero crossing voltage and to generate an output voltage. The output voltage may have a voltage level set using a modulated gate signal. A circuit is provided to reduce audio noise in a switching power supply by setting a ringing suppression time of the modulated gate signal to a first time period when the zero crossing voltage is below a predetermined voltage threshold and to a second time when the zero crossing voltage is above the predetermined threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Kok Kee Lim, Yong Siang Teo, Siew Teng Winson Wong
  • Patent number: 9601993
    Abstract: A boosting circuit of charge pump type includes: charging portion for applying an input voltage to a first capacitor; double boosting portion for applying the input voltage to a second capacitor and applying a sum of the input voltage and a voltage across the first capacitor to an output capacitor in a first predetermined period after start of a boosting operation; and triple boosting portion for repeating in order, after end of the first predetermined period, a step of applying the sum of the input voltage and the voltage across the first capacitor to the second capacitor and a step of applying a sum of the voltage across the first capacitor and a voltage across the second capacitor to the output capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kawano
  • Patent number: 9601994
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an internal voltage generation circuit for generating a pumping voltage. The internal voltage generation circuit may include a pumping unit suitable for generating a pumping voltage by pumping an input voltage and a control unit suitable for stepwise controlling a voltage level of the input voltage based on the breakdown voltage information of the pumping unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Chi-Hyun Kim, Jae-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 9601995
    Abstract: A low power radio frequency envelope detector includes a charging transistor for controlling the charge supplied to an output capacitor. A first input capacitor couples an input signal to a gate of the charging transistor. A second input capacitor couples a first polarity of the input signal to a first diode such that the first diode is operable to couple charge to the first input capacitor and to the gate of the charging transistor in response to a positive excursion of the first polarity of the input signal. A third input capacitor couples a second polarity of the input signal to a second diode coupled in series with the first diode. The first and second diodes are operable to couple charge to the first input capacitor and to the gate of the charging transistor in response to a positive excursion of the first polarity of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Subhashish Mukherjee, Kumar Anurag Shrivastava
  • Patent number: 9601996
    Abstract: In a switching power supply apparatus, a switching element is turned on/off to intermittently conduct current input via an inductor. Current input during a period in which the switching element is turned off is supplied to an electrolytic capacitor via a conduction path. A rectifier diode is provided in the conduction path to face toward the electrolytic capacitor. An inductor is provided in the conduction path to be connected in series with the rectifier diode. A high speed diode has a reverse recovery time shorter than the reverse recovery time of the rectifier diode, and is connected in parallel with the inductor to face toward the electrolytic capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Hosotani
  • Patent number: 9601997
    Abstract: Operation of a switching power converter having an output capacitor having a small equivalent series resistance (ESR) is stabilized and jitter reduced by sensing capacitor current with gain and combining the resulting signal with the output voltage signal to provide a feedback signal to control switching of the power converter. capacitor current can be sensed without interfering with operation of the filter capacitor by providing a branch circuit having a time constant matched to the output or filter capacitor but an arbitrarily high impedance so as to be effectively lossless. The gain provided in the capacitor current signal can be tuned to provide optimally short settling time after load transients; generally within one switching cycle. Matching of time constants and/or tuning of gain can be performed automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Yingyi Yan, Pei-Hsin Liu, Fred C. Lee
  • Patent number: 9601998
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a feedback system that can control hybrid regulator topologies that have multiple converters or regulators connected in series. The hybrid regulator can include at least two regulators: a switched inductor regulator and a switched-capacitor regulator. The disclosed embodiments of the feedback system can simplify feedback design for the hybrid regulator that can include multiple converter stages. These disclosed embodiments can control the feedback to improve the efficiency of a hybrid regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: LION SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventors: Hanh-Phuc Le, John Crossley, Alberto Puggelli, Wonyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 9601999
    Abstract: Techniques for optimizing the trade-off between minimizing switching losses and minimizing conduction losses in a buck converter. In an aspect, each of a high-side switch and a low-side switch may be implemented as a plurality of parallel-coupled transistors, each transistor having an independently controllable gate voltage, allowing adjustment of the effective transistor size. In response to the target voltage of the buck converter corresponding to a relatively high voltage range, more high-side switch transistors and fewer low-side switch transistors may be selected. Similarly, in response to the target voltage corresponding to a relatively low voltage range, more low-side switch transistors and fewer high-side switch transistors may be selected. In an aspect, the techniques may be applied during a pulse-frequency modulation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Joseph D Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 9602000
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a power supply circuit includes a switching element to which a drive signal is supplied, a control value generating circuit that compares an output voltage and a reference voltage to generate a control value, and a comparison circuit that compares a feedback current and the control value. The power supply circuit has a generating circuit that generates a clock signal having a constant period in a PWM control mode and a clock signal according to the output voltage in a PFM control mode. The control value of the control value generating circuit is changed so that averages of the feedback current before and after the control mode switching become equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Chen Kong Teh
  • Patent number: 9602001
    Abstract: A buck converter includes a power stage circuit and a control circuit. The power stage circuit has a pair of switches, an output inductor, and an output capacitor. The control circuit has a current-sensing unit (CCS), an error-amplifying (EA) and transient-holding (TH) unit, a transient-optimized feedback unit (TOF), and a PWM generation unit. The CCS senses an output capacitor current. The EA with the TH receives a feedback voltage and a reference voltage to generate an error signal. The TOF receives the feedback voltage and the reference voltage to generate a proportional voltage signal by a variable gain value. The PWM generation unit receives the proportional voltage signal and a sensing voltage signal to generate a PWM signal. When the proportional voltage signal equals the sensing voltage signal, the switches are controlled by the PWM signal at an optimal time point so that transient responses are optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: NATIONAL CHENG KUNG UNIVERSITY, MEGAWIN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ting-Hsuan Hung, Szu-Yu Huang, Tai-Haur Kuo, Kow-Liang Wen
  • Patent number: 9602002
    Abstract: A switching power supply device includes a slope compensation circuit configured to start slope compensation for suppressing subharmonic oscillation in accordance with a timing signal from an oscillation circuit. The oscillation circuit is provided with a first circuit, which generates a signal of a fundamental oscillation frequency, and a second circuit, which applies logic processing to the signal of the fundamental oscillation frequency to form the timing signal. Thus, it is possible to provide a switching power supply device in which a variation in a start timing of slope compensation can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroki Yamane
  • Patent number: 9602003
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes: a drive voltage generating part for generating a drive voltage and then apply the drive voltage to a drive line; an output transistor for outputting a voltage corresponding to a voltage value of the drive line as the internal source voltage; and a compulsory drive circuit including a capacitor element configured to receive the source voltage at one end, a first switching element for receiving a ground voltage and applying the ground voltage to the other end of the capacitor element by being set in an ON state over a period in which the selected operational mode is the standby mode, and a second switching element that connects the other end of the capacitor element to the drive line only for a predetermined period in an ON state when the operational mode transitions from the standby mode to the active mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki Otsuka
  • Patent number: 9602004
    Abstract: A controller used in a buck-boost converter includes a logic control circuit, a pulse width increasing circuit, a pulse width decreasing circuit, a first driving circuit and a second driving circuit. The pulse width increasing circuit generates a sum control signal based on a logic control signal generated by the logic control circuit. The pulse width increasing circuit increases the pulse width of the logic control signal by a first value to generate the pulse width of the sum control signal. The pulse width decreasing circuit generates a difference control signal based on the logic control signal. The pulse width decreasing circuit decreases the pulse width of the logic control signal by a second value to generate the pulse width of the difference control signal. The first and second driving circuit respectively generates driving signals based on the sum control signal and the difference control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: CHENGDU MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chenggang Deng
  • Patent number: 9602005
    Abstract: An embodiment of a power supply includes an output node, inductively coupled phase paths, and a sensor circuit. The output node is configured to provide a regulated output signal, and the inductively coupled phase paths are each configured to provide a respective phase current to the output node. And the sensor circuit is configured to generate a sense signal that represents the phase current flowing through one of the phase paths. For example, because the phase paths are inductively coupled to one another, the sensor circuit takes into account the portions of the phase currents induced by the inductive couplings to generate a sense signal that more accurately represents the phase current through a single phase path as compared to conventional sensor circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Intersil Americas LLC
    Inventors: Shangyang Xiao, Weihong Qiu, Jun Liu
  • Patent number: 9602006
    Abstract: In various embodiments a method is provided for determining a demagnetization zero current time for a switched mode power supply having a transformer, a first side and a second side being galvanically separated from each other and a switched mode power supply controller, the method including: determining a first voltage being applied to one side of the transformer; determining a second voltage provided at the other side of the transformer; determining a time the first voltage is provided to a winding of the transformer; and determining, by a circuit located on the same side of the transformer as the switched mode power supply controller, the demagnetization zero current time using the determined first voltage, the determined second voltage and the determined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventor: Marc Fahlenkamp
  • Patent number: 9602007
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes a first DC/DC converter which includes a first transformer, a first primary circuit provided at a primary side of the first transformer, and a first secondary circuit provided at a secondary side of the first transformer. The first secondary circuit includes sets of a switching element and a free-wheel diode, which is connected between an input terminal and an output terminal of the switching element, to perform synchronous rectification operation and diode rectification operation. The apparatus includes a second DC/DC converter which includes a second transformer, a second primary circuit provided at a primary side of the second transformer, and a second secondary circuit provided at a secondary side of the second transformer. The second secondary circuit includes a plurality of rectifier diodes, which are arranged in parallel with each other, to perform the diode rectification operation constantly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Hosoda
  • Patent number: 9602008
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus supplies power from a DC power supply to a capacitive load by a current input push-pull DCDC converter provided with switching elements Q1 and Q2. When a capacitive load voltage is not larger than a second predetermined value, a first mode is used which turns ON one of the switching elements Q1 and Q2 alternated with turning OFF both. When the capacitive load voltage is larger than the second predetermined value but not larger than a first predetermined value, a second mode is used which turns ON both of the switching elements Q1 and Q2, then turns ON one of them, then turns OFF both, sequentially. When the capacitive load voltage is larger than the first predetermined value, a third mode is used, turning ON both of the switching elements Q1 and Q2 alternated with turning ON one of them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Tomita, Kimikazu Nakamura, Shinya Goto, Katsutoyo Misawa, Yuuichi Handa, Seiji Iyasu
  • Patent number: 9602009
    Abstract: An energy storage circuit for use with a power converter includes a base capacitor coupled between an input bus and a ground potential, and an adjust capacitor. A switching device is coupled in series with the adjust capacitor between the input bus and the ground potential. A voltage regulator coupled between a control terminal of the switching device and ground. The voltage regulator has an input coupled to the second internal node, wherein when the power switch is turned on a signal at the second internal node is representative of a fluctuating input voltage. The voltage regulator is activated when the fluctuating input voltage is in a crest region, thereby turning the switching device off and disengaging the adjust capacitor. The voltage regulator is deactivated when the fluctuating input voltage is in a valley region, thereby turning the switching device on and engaging the adjust capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan Bäurle
  • Patent number: 9602010
    Abstract: An insulated DC power supply includes a voltage transformer, a switching device and a primary-side regulating circuit. The voltage transformer includes primary and secondary windings and an auxiliary winding. The switching device causes current to flow intermittently through the primary winding. The primary-side regulating circuit receives a voltage proportional to a current flowing through the primary winding of the transformer, and a voltage proportional to a voltage induced in the auxiliary winding of the transformer to generate and output a drive pulse for turning on or off the switching device. The primary-side regulating circuit includes an ON/OFF signal generator circuit and first and second timer circuits. The switching device is turned off upon expiration of the first timer circuit, and the ON/OFF signal generator circuit does not generate a signal for turn-on of the switching device when the second timer circuit expires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Arima, Kenji Nakata, Takeshi Sato
  • Patent number: 9602011
    Abstract: A switching stage includes a first plurality of switches configured to produce an alternating current from a bulk voltage. A transformer has a primary and a plurality of secondaries, the primary configured to receive the alternating current. A second plurality of switches are coupled to a first of the plurality of secondaries through a first resonant filter to provide a first voltage output. A third plurality of switches are coupled to a second of the plurality of secondaries through a second resonant filter to provide a second voltage output, the second voltage output being of opposite polarity to the first voltage output. A controller is configured to control the second plurality of switches and the third plurality of switches according to on-and-off state of the first plurality of switches and criteria including whether an absolute value of the first voltage output or the second voltage output exceeds a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Eric Matthew Baker
  • Patent number: 9602012
    Abstract: An output voltage error detection unit outputs an auxiliary winding voltage generated across an auxiliary winding having the same number of turns as a secondary winding a certain period after a secondary conduction period starts. A correction amount calculation unit calculates a secondary voltage drop caused by a secondary current flowing in the conduction period based on a primary current flowing when the conduction period starts and outputs a calculation result as a correction amount. A reference voltage generation unit generates a reference voltage by adding the correction amount to the output voltage. A control unit generates a feedback signal to minimize the error between the auxiliary winding voltage obtained after a certain delay period and the reference voltage. A PWM signal generation unit controls a PWM signal based on the feedback signal, adjusts switching of the switching element, and maintains the output voltage at a constant level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Kawashima
  • Patent number: 9602013
    Abstract: A controller for controlling a power supply includes a feedback signal generator to generate a feedback signal representative of an output current in response to an output sense signal. A state selector circuit receives the feedback signal and outputs a digital state signal to set an operational state of a switch of the power supply. The state selector circuit adjusts the digital state signal in response to feedback information at an end of a feedback period. A driver circuit receives the digital state signal and generates a drive signal in response to the digital state signal. The drive signal drives switching of the switch in accordance with the operational state of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiziano Pastore, Ricardo Luis Janezic Pregitzer, Mingming Mao, Peter Vaughan
  • Patent number: 9602014
    Abstract: A voltage converter circuit includes a voltage converter controller which generates a PWM signal to operate a power switch for voltage conversion. The voltage converter controller includes a sensing pin for sensing a current and the voltage converter controller receives a power supply. A parameter setting method for the voltage converter circuit includes: during a start-up stage, when the power supply increases above a predetermined reference level, the voltage converter controller outputting a current through the sensing pin; and setting at least one parameter of the voltage converter controller according to a voltage at the sensing pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kun-Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 9602015
    Abstract: A communication method and apparatus that uses modulation of post-conduction oscillation frequency in switching converters is provided. The apparatus may include a converter having a magnetic element having a primary winding and a secondary winding, a first switch, a control circuit configured to repeatedly activate the first switch to couple an input voltage source to the primary winding to store electrical energy in the magnetic element, and a diode coupled to the secondary winding, said diode configured to couple the secondary winding to a load to deliver the electrical energy stored in the magnetic element, and a communication apparatus having a second switch, a first modulator capacitor coupled to the secondary winding, a first transmitter configured to activate the second switch in accordance with a first input signal, and a first receiver configured to detect a post-conduction oscillation frequency of a voltage signal at the primary or secondary windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Mednik, Simon Krugly
  • Patent number: 9602016
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for providing electrical power for use in powering electronic devices, such as monitors, televisions, white goods, data centers, and telecom circuit boards, is described herein. The electrical circuit includes an input terminal configured to receive an input power signal, an output terminal configured to provide an output power signal, and a forward converter coupled to the input and output terminals. The forward converter includes a transformer, and a primary side regulation circuit coupled to a primary side of the transformer. The primary side regulation circuit includes a switching device coupled to the primary side, a current sense circuit configured to sense a current level on the primary side, and a controller configured to generate a pulse-width modulated control signal delivered to the switching device as a function of the sensed current level to regulate the transformer to deliver the output power signal at a desired voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: ADVANCED CHARGING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Freeman, W. J. Weaver, Jr., Mitchael C. Freeman, Robert Dieter, Andrea Baschirotto, Piero Malcovati, Marco Grassi, Glenn Noufer, Randall L. Sandusky, Neaz E. Farooqi, Jim Devoy, Silvia Jaeckel, Madison Hayes Yarbro Freeman
  • Patent number: 9602017
    Abstract: A switching power source device according to one aspect of the present invention is a current-resonant DC-DC converter, and includes a control integrated circuit having an oscillation circuit that determines a switching frequency of switching elements and a burst control circuit that controls a burst operation in the standby mode, as well as an output voltage detecting unit connected to a secondary side of a transformer to detect an output voltage. The switching frequency of the switching element is determined by the oscillation circuit by the smaller of a first frequency control voltage generated from a voltage of an auxiliary coil disposed in the primary side of the transformer and a second frequency control voltage corresponding to the output voltage, and the burst control circuit generates the first frequency control voltage that gradually increases or decreases in accordance with the voltage of the auxiliary coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jian Chen
  • Patent number: 9602018
    Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments a converter is provided, including: a transformer comprising a primary side and a secondary side; a primary side circuit arrangement coupled to the primary side of the transformer; a secondary side circuit arrangement coupled to the secondary side of the transformer, wherein the secondary side circuit arrangement is configured to provide at least one of an output voltage and an output current; a coupling component configured to provide information about at least one of the output voltage and the output current to the primary side circuit arrangement; a first energy supply configured to provide the coupling component with a first current; and second energy supply configured to provide the coupling component with a second current, wherein the second current is lower than the first current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AG
    Inventor: Michael Herfurth
  • Patent number: 9602019
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a voltage-adjusting device applied in a power conversion system including a Vienna rectifier, a direct current (DC) bus, and an inverter. The voltage-adjusting device includes a grid voltage sampling module for sampling a grid voltage, a given bus voltage calculation module, a voltage-adjusting module, a current control module and a pulse width modulation module. The given bus voltage calculation module calculates a given value of the DC bus voltage based on the grid voltage. The current control module receives a three phase AC current from the grid, the active current given signal and the reactive current given signal to output a three phase control voltage. The pulse width modulation module outputs a pulse control signal to the Vienna rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zheng Wang, Yi Zhang, Hong-Jian Gan, Jian-Ping Ying
  • Patent number: 9602020
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a half bridge type inverter circuit that includes semiconductor elements, and a DC capacitor and that is connected to a positive side bus of the AC power supply, a smoothing capacitor, a semiconductor element that is connected between the semiconductor element and a positive side of the smoothing capacitor, and a semiconductor element that is connected between the semiconductor element and a negative side of the smoothing capacitor, in which turning-on and turning-off of the semiconductor element are controlled so that a DC voltage of the DC capacitor tracks a target voltage, and turning-on and turning-off of the semiconductor elements are controlled so that a DC voltage of the smoothing capacitor tracks a target voltage and thus an input power factor from the AC power supply is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota Kondo, Takaaki Takahara, Satoshi Murakami, Masaki Yamada
  • Patent number: 9602021
    Abstract: A hybrid HVDC converter system includes a DC bus, at least one capacitor commutated converter (CCC) and at least one self-commutated converter (SCC) coupled in series through the DC bus. The CCC induces a first voltage on the DC buses, the SCC induces a second voltage on the DC bus, the first voltage and the second voltage are summed to define a total DC voltage. The method includes at least one of regulating the total DC voltage induced on the DC buses including regulating the first DC voltage through the CCC and regulating the second DC voltage through the SCC substantially simultaneously, regulating the total DC voltage induced on the DC bus including regulating the second DC voltage through the SCC, and regulating the total DC voltage induced on the DC bus including regulating the first DC voltage through the CCC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nilanjan Ray Chaudhuri, Ranjan Kumar Gupta, Einar Vaughn Larsen
  • Patent number: 9602022
    Abstract: Electrical devices, methods of operating an electrical device for use with a multiway switch system, and methods for connecting an electrical device with a load device and a multiway switch system for controlling the load device are described. In one embodiment, an electrical device for use with a multiway switch system includes an alternating current (AC) power interface configured to connect to at least one of a live wire and a neutral wire of an AC power supply, a load regulator module configured to regulate a load device that is connected to the neutral wire of the AC power supply, an output power interface configured to connect to the multiway switch system and to output a voltage to a switch of the multiway switch system, and a microcontroller module configured to control the load regulator module in response to a switching of the multiway switch system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventor: Winston Cheng
  • Patent number: 9602023
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved grid connected solar micro-inverter. The solar micro-inverter is provided with a single processor that performs both the functions for the control of the micro-inverter and runs the application program associated with it and implements a communication modem for connectivity to the grid or to the Internet cloud. The solar micro-inverter therefore needs only a single processor to perform both the micro-inverter control and modem communication functions, resulting in cheaper and smaller system implementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventors: Zeev Collin, F. Mathew Rhodes
  • Patent number: 9602024
    Abstract: A DC/AC converter for converting DC power of a number of inductively connected generators into power grid conformal AC power for feeding into a connected power grid with a number of phases, includes an intermediate circuit with a positive and a negative intermediate circuit connection, and for each phase, a bridge. Each bridge includes a first switch between the positive intermediate circuit connection and a phase terminal, a second switch connected between a positive generator terminal of the generator and the phase terminal, a third switch connected between a negative generator terminal of the generator and the phase terminal, and a fourth switch between the negative intermediate circuit connection and the phase terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SMA SOLAR TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventor: Andreas Falk