Patents Issued in March 21, 2017
  • Patent number: 9602025
    Abstract: A multiphase power converter circuit includes at least two single phase power converter circuits. Each single phase power converter circuit includes at least one converter series circuit with a number of converter units. The converter series circuit is configured to output a series circuit output current. A synchronization circuit is configured to generate at least one synchronization signal. At least one of the converter units is configured to generate an output current such that at least one of a frequency and a phase of the output current is dependent on the synchronization signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Gerald Deboy
  • Patent number: 9602026
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device includes a temperature compensating structure including a first beam suspended from a substrate and a second beam suspended from the substrate. The first beam is formed from a first material having a first Young's modulus temperature coefficient. The second beam is formed from a second material having a second Young's modulus temperature coefficient. The body may include a routing spring suspended from the substrate. The routing spring may be coupled to the first beam and the second beam. The routing spring may be formed from the second material. The first beam and the second beam may have lower spring compliance than the routing spring. The MEMS device may be a resonator and the temperature compensating structure may have dimensions and a location such that the temperature compensation structure modifies a temperature coefficient of frequency of the resonator independent of a mode shape of the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Emmanuel P. Quevy, Daniel N. Koury, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9602027
    Abstract: A motor controller for an electric motor having a stator and a rotor. The motor controller includes a power input for receiving AC power from a power source; a control input for receiving a control signal from a control; and circuitry for switching power from the power source to the electric motor in response to the control signal. The circuitry is operable to: apply a driving waveform to the stator to cause rotation of the rotor; remove the driving waveform from the stator to cause the rotor to coast and eventually stop; apply a stop detection waveform to the stator while the rotor is coasting, wherein the stop detection waveform induces a waveform on the rotor which in turn induces a waveform back to the stator while the rotor is rotating; and monitor the stator to detect a characteristic of the waveform induced back to the stator to detect when the rotor has substantially stopped rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas J. Sheahan
  • Patent number: 9602028
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method actuate a frequency converter of an electric machine having a safety function, in particular a safe-torque-off (STO) function. Wherein, by a preferably clocked converter circuit, an electrically isolated output voltage is generated from an input voltage, from which output voltage a control signal is generated for the frequency converter for the operation thereof in accordance with standards and for triggering the safety function. An actuation signal is generated for a semiconductor switch which is periodically connected to the input voltage, and the output voltage is limited when the output voltage exceeds a switching threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Baumueller Nuernberg GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Hensel, Magdi Dimas-Zekri, Axel Helmerth
  • Patent number: 9602029
    Abstract: A method for operating a brushless, rotating electrical machine, including at least three phase windings, each of which has a first phase winding terminal and a second phase winding terminal. The phase windings are connected to each other, in particular the particular second phase winding terminals are connected to a shared star point, and phase-width-modulated voltage signals being applied separately to each individual phase winding, and at least one selected phase winding being at least temporarily connected to a constant electrical potential. To minimize switching operations and to reduce the alternating current component of the current source, the pulses of the pulse-width-modulated signals applied to the remaining phase windings are at least temporarily phase-shifted with respect to each other during the period in which the selected phase winding is connected to a constant electrical potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Wuerzburg
    Inventor: Johannes Schwarzkopf
  • Patent number: 9602030
    Abstract: The present disclosure illustrates a motor drive circuit. The motor drive circuit includes a resistor module, a multiplexer, a data control unit, an analog-to-digital converter and a register. The resistor module receives an input voltage and generates at least one parameter voltage. The parameter voltage is associated with a motor speed curve of a motor. The multiplexer receives the parameter voltage. The data control unit controls the multiplexer to output the parameter voltage. The analog-to-digital converter receives the parameter voltage and converts the parameter voltage to digital form, and then outputs the digital parameter voltage to the data control unit. The register stores the digital parameter voltage outputted by the data control unit. A controller determines the motor speed curve according to the digital parameter voltage stored in the register, and drives the motor in response to the motor speed curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kun-Min Chen
  • Patent number: 9602031
    Abstract: An electronic circuit comprises at least one semiconductor switch mounted with its switching path in series with an inductive load to be triggered, and at least one freewheeling element that interacts with the semiconductor switch during switching phases and is also mounted in series with the load. A control unit controls a control connection of the semiconductor switch with a variable control current as a function of the time profile of a voltage measured at the freewheeling element and/or as a function of the time profile of the voltage measured at the switching path. A method for triggering a semiconductor switch of such a circuit, triggered by a variable control current for switching, the control current predefined as a function of the time profile of a voltage measured at the freewheeling element and/or as a function of the time profile of the voltage measured at the switching path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: ebm-papst Mulfingen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Helmut Lipp, Ralph Wystup, Fabian Schneider, Sebastian Schroth
  • Patent number: 9602032
    Abstract: Provided is a BrushLess Direct Current (BLDC) motor system including a motor driving circuit configured to control a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) inverter in a first operation mode or a second operation mode according to a control signal, and output a switching signal according to each operation mode, the PWM inverter configured to receive the switching signal to output first three-phase voltages having a first frequency in the first operation mode, and output second three-phase voltages having a second frequency in the second operation mode, a sensorless BLDC motor configured not to operate in the first operation mode by operating based on three-phase voltages having a frequency in a different band from the first frequency, and operate in the second mode by operating based on three-phase voltages having a frequency in an identical band to the second frequency, and a parameter detecting circuit configured to calculate parameter information on the sensorless BLDC motor in the first operation mode by using sens
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Minki Kim, Jung Hee Suk, Yil Suk Yang, Jimin Oh, Sewan Heo
  • Patent number: 9602033
    Abstract: The motor control apparatus controlling rotation of a brushless motor includes a controller to control an angular velocity of the motor, and a load torque calculator to calculate a load torque at which the motor drives a driven member, by using a detection signal output from a rotation detector to output the detection signal in response to the rotation of the motor. When the motor drives the driven member toward a target stop position, the controller calculates a deceleration rotation amount, which is a remaining rotation amount of the motor at start of deceleration of the motor from its drive state that is one of an acceleration state and a constant velocity state, and controls the angular velocity of the motor on a basis of the deceleration rotation amount. The controller calculates the deceleration rotation amount by using the load torque calculated in the drive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junki Yoshimuta
  • Patent number: 9602034
    Abstract: A CPU obtains a difference between a data number at timing when an ENC0 signal or an ENC1 signal changes in a case where there is no follow-up delay of a rotor relative to a voltage signal applied to an A-phase coil and a B-phase coil and a data number at timing when the ENC0 signal or the ENC1 signal changes in a case where there is a follow-up delay of the rotor relative to the voltage signal applied to the A-phase coil and the B-phase coil. Then, the CPU controls the voltage signal applied to the A-phase coil and the B-phase coil based on the obtained difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Mizuo
  • Patent number: 9602035
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driving apparatus which performs vector control based on an output current of an inverter. The driving apparatus of the present invention includes a vector controller (11) for transforming three-phase output currents of an inverter (10) into a torque current and a magnetization current, and controlling the torque current and the magnetization current. The vector controller (11) includes a torque-voltage control section (21) for determining a torque-voltage command value based on a deviation between a torque-current command value and the torque current, a magnetization-voltage output section (23) for outputting 0 as a magnetization-voltage command value, a target-magnetization-current determination section (26) for determining a magnetization-current command value based on a deviation between a torque-voltage command value and a target-output-voltage value, and a target-output-voltage determination section (27) for determining the target-output-voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenta Tsukakoshi, Masakazu Komai
  • Patent number: 9602036
    Abstract: The present disclosure illustrates a motor speed curve control circuit. The motor speed curve control circuit is configured for adjusting a speed of a motor according to a motor speed curve. The motor speed curve control circuit comprises a divider resistor module, an analog-to-digital converter and an arithmetic unit. The resistor module is configured for generating at least one turning-point voltage. The turning-point voltage is used to adjust a slope of the motor speed curve. The analog-to-digital converter converts the turning-point voltage to digital form. The arithmetic unit sets a speed associated with the turning-point voltage corresponding to a first preset duty cycle in the motor speed curve, such that the motor speed curve becomes linear. The arithmetic unit generates a second pulse width modulation signal according to the adjusted motor speed curve and a first pulse width modulation signal to drive the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kun-Min Chen, Ching-Sheng Li, I-Lin Chiu
  • Patent number: 9602037
    Abstract: A motor drive device and motor drive system according to the present invention comprise: a power source terminal; a charging and discharging unit connected in series with the power source terminal; connection terminals to be connected to each of primary and secondary excitation coils for an anti-symmetric two phase motor; and a drive control unit which has a plurality of switching elements and respectively forms first and second paths by turning these switching elements on and off. The first path is used for independently supplying power to the respective primary and secondary excitation coils from the power source terminal via the connection terminals, and the second path is used for independent regeneration of each residual energy remaining in the primary and secondary excitation coils from the respective primary and secondary excitation coils into the charging and discharging unit via the connection terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Hamaguchi, Toshihiro Nogi, Kenichi Inoue
  • Patent number: 9602038
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (40) for controlling an inverter (10) using space-vector pulse width modulation, in particular to control an electric machine (14), said inverter (10) being equipped with a plurality of controllable switches (S) and a corresponding plurality of freewheeling diodes (D) and being designed to provide a polyphase electric current (IU, IV, IW) and a polyphase voltage in the form of current space vectors (I*, U*), in particular to supply polyphase electric current (IU, IV, IW) to the electric machine (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andrea Deflorio
  • Patent number: 9602039
    Abstract: A PWM rectifier includes a main circuit unit which performs a power conversion on the basis of a PWM control signal, a DC voltage loop control unit which generates a current command, a current command restriction unit which sets, when an absolute value of the current command exceeds a limit value, the limit value as a final current command, and otherwise sets the current command as the final current command, a DC voltage loop saturation determination unit which determines a saturation state when the final current command is set to the limit value and otherwise determines as a non-saturation state, a DC voltage command calculation unit which changes the DC voltage command into a value obtained by adding an offset to a minimum or maximum value of the DC voltage value, and a PWM control signal generation unit which generates the PWM control signal from the final current command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Niwa, Kenta Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9602040
    Abstract: In an apparatus, a determiner determines whether a two-MG frequency ratio of a first electrical frequency of a first MG to a second electrical frequency of a second MG is within a specific frequency-ratio range. The specific frequency-ratio range includes 1/6n where n is an integer excluding zero. An update-cycle controller controls an update cycle of a command voltage according to the determined result such that the update cycle during a specific drive of the first MG is longer than the update cycle during a usual drive of the first MG while a cycle of a carrier signal is maintained during both the usual and specific drives. The specific drive represents drive of the first MG while the two-MG frequency ratio is within the specific frequency-ratio range. The usual drive represents drive of the first MG while the two-MG frequency ratio is out of the specific frequency-ratio range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigenori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9602041
    Abstract: The method of controlling a rotating three-phase motor involves generating in synchronism with the rotation of the motor a variable duty cycle pulse-width modulated signal for each of the switching circuit components used to supply current to the motor coils. The generated variable duty cycle pulse-width modulated signals control the switching circuit components to selectively place pairs of motor coils in current conducting states and to develop an associated varying voltage for each of the phases. This varying voltage is monitored to identify the one phase that is at a voltage in between the voltages of the other two phases. Then for the identified one phase, the variable duty cycle pulse-width modulated signal is specially generated so that when the switching circuit components of the other two phases are concurrently switched on, the switching circuit component of the identified one phase is not switched on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Zuher Naim Khalaf, Jeffrey Scott Aranowski
  • Patent number: 9602042
    Abstract: A load current value I of a motor rotationally driving an impeller is read out when the impeller is rotated at a predetermined set rotational speed X0, and the rotational speed of the impeller is increased so that the load current value I becomes equal to or larger than a threshold value I0 when it is determined that the load current value I is smaller than the predetermined threshold value I0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: NISSHIN STEEL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shintarou Tada, Masayuki Sugimura
  • Patent number: 9602043
    Abstract: A magnet management method of controlling a ferrite-type permanent magnet electrical machine includes receiving and/or estimating the temperature permanent magnets; determining if that temperature is below a predetermined temperature; and if so, then: selectively heating the magnets in order to prevent demagnetization and/or derating the machine. A similar method provides for controlling magnetization level by analyzing flux or magnetization level. Controllers that employ various methods are disclosed. The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiment(s), and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patel Bhageerath Reddy, Ayman Mohamed Fawzi El-Refaie, Kum Kang Huh
  • Patent number: 9602044
    Abstract: A motor driver combination for controlling a travelling wave motor includes a pre-driver including a microcontroller unit (MCU) chip including a plurality of high-resolution pulse width modulation (HRPWM) generators providing a frequency resolution better than ten Hz. A digital bus is for transferring digital words received from a controller in a servo and velocity control block to the HRPWM generators, where the digital words provide travelling wave motor operating performance information from the motor during its operation. A clock oscillator providing an accuracy of at least eighty (80) parts per million (ppm) is coupled to or provided by the MCU chip for each of the high-resolution PWM generators. A motor driver includes a plurality of power drivers for providing phased outputs for driving the travelling wave motor including a plurality of inputs coupled to outputs of the plurality of HRPWM generators. The travelling wave motor can be an ultrasonic motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Stephen John Fedigan
  • Patent number: 9602045
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are provided for monitoring a subsea flow device such as a subsea flowline. The apparatus generally includes a thermoelectric device that is adapted to generate electric power from a thermal potential between the subsea flow device and the surrounding seawater. A sensor that is powered by the thermoelectric device is adapted to monitor one or more characteristics of the flow device, such as temperature or strain, and provide a communication that is indicative of the characteristic. The communication may be a radiation output or an acoustic output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Sid A. Mebarkia, Antonio C. F. Critsinelis, Steven E. Wooldridge
  • Patent number: 9602046
    Abstract: The present invention is premised upon an improved photovoltaic device (“PV device”), more particularly to an improved photovoltaic device with a multilayered photovoltaic cell assembly and a body portion joined at an interface region and including an intermediate layer, at least one interconnecting structural member, relieving feature, unique component geometry, or any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jason A Reese, James R Keenihan, Ryan S Gaston, Keith L Kauffmann, Joseph A Langmaid, Leonardo C Lopez, Kevin D Maak, Michael E Mills, Narayan Ramesh, Samar R Teli
  • Patent number: 9602047
    Abstract: A device for self-tracking a light source, including a focusing optical device configured to focus incoming light to a focal spot, an adaptive device configured to reflect the light of the focal spot and arranged to provide for a phase change at an area of the focal spot of the incoming light to generate a reflected light, and a light guide located between the focusing optical device and the adaptive device, the light guide configured to capture the reflected light of the adaptive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE (EPLF)
    Inventors: Volker Zagolla, Christophe Moser, Jacques-Edouard Moser
  • Patent number: 9602048
    Abstract: A photovoltaic module is discussed. The photovoltaic module includes a solar cell module including a plurality of solar cells and a junction box attached to a rear surface of the solar cell module, the junction box including a power conversion module to convert direct current (DC) voltage supplied from the solar cell module into alternating current (AC) voltage and to output the AC voltage, wherein the power conversion module included at least one bypass diode to receive the DC voltage from the solar cell module, a converter unit to power-convert the DC voltage from the at least one bypass diode, the converter unit including at least three interleaving converters, a capacitor to store voltage output from the converter unit, and an inverter unit to output the AC voltage using the voltage stored in the capacitor. Consequently, it is possible to stably output AC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Younjong Kang, Myonghwan Kim, Myungsoo Ham, Wontae Ham, Giyob Park, Byoungsu Yoon
  • Patent number: 9602049
    Abstract: In a circuit device controlling an operating point of each of two or more series-connected photovoltaic cells or other power supply cells in a module, the output voltage of the module can be boosted without reducing the generated electric power. The operating point control circuit device includes capacitors connected in parallel to the respective series-connected cells, switching elements connected in parallel to the respective series-connected cells through an inductor, an additional capacitor connected in series to the capacitor row, and an additional switching element connected in series to the switching element row. The switching elements are controlled to shut off electrical conduction between the corresponding terminals connected thereto in the same predetermined cycle and in mutually different periods so as to always establish a condition that one switching element is in the non-conductive state and the others are is in the conductive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo Metropolitan University
    Inventors: Shinichi Urabe, Toshihisa Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9602050
    Abstract: An electrical circuit includes: at least one inductor, at least one varactor, and at least two transistors, all of which electrically arranged to form a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) having an oscillation frequency; wherein the at least two transistors includes a first transistor and a second transistor; wherein the first transistor has a first bulk terminal and a first parasitic diode disposed between the first bulk terminal and the first transistor; wherein the second transistor has a second bulk terminal and a second parasitic diode disposed between the second bulk terminal and the second transistor; wherein application of a first control voltage to the first bulk terminal, application of a second control voltage to the second bulk terminal, or application of first and second control voltages to the first and second bulk terminals, respectively, is effective to change the oscillation frequency of the VCO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Run Levinger, Jakob Vovnoboy
  • Patent number: 9602051
    Abstract: In some aspects, a wireless sensor device includes a voltage controlled oscillator. The voltage controlled oscillator includes a first inverter, a second inverter, and a transformer connected between the first and second inverters. The first inverter includes a first inverter input node and a first inverter output node. The second inverter includes a second inverter input node and a second inverter output node. The transformer includes a primary winding portion, a first secondary winding portion, and a second secondary winding portion. The primary winding portion is connected between the first inverter output node and the second inverter output node and is inductively coupled to the first and second secondary winding portions. The first secondary winding portion is connected between the primary winding portion and the first inverter input node. The second secondary winding portion is connected between the primary winding portion and the second inverter input node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Cognitive Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Volodymyr Yavorskyy, Tajinder Manku
  • Patent number: 9602052
    Abstract: An oscillator includes first, second, and third current sources, a resistor having first and second terminals, first and second capacitors each having first and second terminals, a switch circuit through which each of the current sources is connectable to the first terminal of one of the resistor and the two capacitors to supply current thereto, a comparator, and switch controller configured to generate control signals for the switch circuit and an oscillation output signal for each of multiple periods based on an output signal from the comparator. During one of the periods, the switch circuit is controlled to connect the first current source to the first terminal of the first capacitor, the second current source to the first terminal of the resistor, the first terminal of the resistor to a first input of the comparator, and the first terminal of the first capacitor to a second input of the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Yuji Satoh
  • Patent number: 9602053
    Abstract: An audio FM transmitter is disclosed that may achieve high-precision frequency control as well as compact size and low cost by enabling FM modulation using a fractional-N type PLL circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Circuit Design, Inc.
    Inventors: Yukinaga Koike, Yuuichi Miyashita
  • Patent number: 9602054
    Abstract: An analog circuit for generating a periodic signal at a selected phase, including one or more phase interpolators that receive orthogonal differential RF signals and a pair of differential gain signals. The differential in-phase RF signal is applied at respective gates of tail transistors, and a first differential gain signal is applied across gates of a transistor pair coupled to each of the tail transistors. The quadrature-phase RF signal and a second differential gain signal is similarly applied to another quad of transistors (i.e., pair of transistor pairs) and associated tail transistors. A load connected to the one transistor in each pair receives the output signal, at a phase corresponding to a ratio of the first and second gain signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Sudipto Chakraborty
  • Patent number: 9602055
    Abstract: A single-ended mixer having a mismatched, high termination impedance is disclosed. The termination impedance can be mismatched by at least one order of magnitude higher than the standard impedance of a given design environment, such as a 50 Ohm environment for a radio frequency (RF) circuit. The termination impedance can be provided in close physical proximity to the mixer core of the single-ended mixer to allow a suitable bandwidth of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventors: Omar Fathy M. Haridy, Peter John Katzin, Ahmed Adel Hassona
  • Patent number: 9602056
    Abstract: An RF amplifier module that has a plurality of amplifiers wherein at least one of the amplifiers is powered via an envelope tracking module. The biasing input of at least one of the amplifiers is provided to the first amplifier to power the first amplifier to reduce power consumption. The first amplifier may also be powered via fixed biasing to provide greater stability of the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Philip John Lehtola
  • Patent number: 9602057
    Abstract: An apparatus for and method of a supply modulator (SM) for a power amplifier (PA) is provided. The apparatus includes a buck-boost converter, including a supply input connected to a battery voltage (Vbat), and an output; a switch and capacitors module, including a first input connected to the output of the buck-boost converter, and a second input; a buck (dual) converter, including a supply input connected to Vbat, an input connected to the output of the buck-boost converter, and an output connected to the second input of the switch and capacitors module; a linear amplifier (LA), including a supply input connected to the output of the buck-boost converter, an input, and an output connected to the second input of the switch and capacitors module; and the PA, including a supply input connected to the output of the buck (dual converter, an input for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal, and an output for outputting an RF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yong Sik Youn, Seung Chul Lee, Ji Seon Paek, Thomas Byunghak Cho
  • Patent number: 9602058
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a circuit that includes an envelope processing circuitry and a voltage modulator. The envelope processing circuitry is configured to receive a stream of envelope values of a signal for transmission and output a supply modulation signal in response to the stream of envelope values based on an average-power-tracking (APT) calibration. The voltage modulator is configured to modulate a supply voltage to an amplifier according to the supply modulation signal. The amplifier operates under the supply voltage to amplify the signal for transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Qiang Li, Alexander Zaslavsky, Brian T. Brunn
  • Patent number: 9602059
    Abstract: An amplifier has an input port for receiving an input signal and an envelope port for receiving an envelope signal indicative of an envelope of the input signal, and an output port for delivering an amplified signal. The amplifier has a first transistor and a second transistor. A first biasing circuit is coupled to the envelope port and is arranged to generate a first bias voltage dependent on the envelope signal. A summing stage is coupled to the input port for receiving the input signal, to the first biasing circuit for receiving the first bias voltage, and to the gate of the first transistor. A second biasing circuit is coupled between the envelope port and the gate of the second transistor, and is arranged to generate a second bias voltage dependent on the envelope signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: OPTIS CIRCUIT TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventor: Vincent Knopik
  • Patent number: 9602060
    Abstract: An RF power amplifier circuit and input power limiter circuits are disclosed. A power detector generates a voltage output proportional to a power level of an input signal. There is a directional coupler with a first port connected to a transmit signal input, a second port connected to the input matching network, and a third port connected to the power detector. A first power amplifier stage with an input is connected to the input matching network and an output is connected to the transmit signal output. A control circuit connected to the power detector generates a gain reduction signal based upon a comparison of the voltage output from the power detector to predefined voltage levels corresponding to specific power levels of the input signal. Overall gain of the RF power amplifier circuit is reduced based upon the gain reduction signal that adjusts the configurations of the circuit components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Oleksandr Gorbachov, Huan Zhao, Lisette L. Zhang, Lothar Musiol, Yongxi Qian
  • Patent number: 9602061
    Abstract: A distributed amplifier includes a plurality of transistors, a first line connecting gate electrodes of the transistors to each other, and a second line connecting drain electrodes of the transistors to each other, wherein the first line and the second line are electromagnetically coupled to each other at a position situated between immediately adjacent transistors among the plurality of transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Niida
  • Patent number: 9602062
    Abstract: A switching amplifier includes a compensation circuit to compensate for DC offset in the amplifier, to enhance operation of the switching amplifier. The compensation circuit may comprise a SAR ADC, where the DAC element can be used to provide a compensation voltage. The switching amplifier may further include a PWM modulator configured to avoid cross-talk to further enhance operation of the switching amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Jingxue Lu, Ankit Srivastava, Matthew David Sienko, Manu Mishra, Sheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 9602063
    Abstract: An amplifier with switchable and tunable harmonic terminations and a variable impedance matching network is presented. The amplifier can adapt to different modes and different frequency bands of operation by appropriate switching and/or tuning of the harmonic terminations and/or the variable impedance matching network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Frederick Kaatz, Chris Olson
  • Patent number: 9602064
    Abstract: Switchable feedback circuit for radio-frequency (RF) power amplifiers. In some embodiments, an RF power amplifier (PA) circuit can include a transistor having a base, a collector, and an emitter. The transistor can be configured to amplify an RF signal. The RF PA circuit can further include a switchable feedback circuit implemented between the collector and the base. The switchable feedback circuit can be configured to provide a plurality of resistance values between the collector and the base. Such a PA circuit can be implemented in products such as a die, a module, and a wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Andy Cheng Pang Wu, Yu-Jui Lin, Peter Phu Tran
  • Patent number: 9602065
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device, received signals of different frequency bands are input selectively to low noise amplifiers. A plurality of primary inductors are coupled between differential output nodes of the respective low noise amplifiers. A secondary inductor is provided commonly for the primary inductors, and magnetically coupled to the primary inductors. A demodulator converts a received signal transmitted from one of the primary inductors to the secondary inductor by electromagnetic induction, into a signal of a low frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masakazu Mizokami
  • Patent number: 9602066
    Abstract: A polarity-switching amplifier circuit includes: a first amplifying transistor and a second amplifying transistor, a transformer which includes a primary winding and a secondary winding, and a polarity-switching controller. An unbalanced input signal is input to the first amplifying transistor and the second amplifying transistor. The transformer receives an output signal of the first amplifying transistor and an output signal of the second amplifying transistor as a balanced signal input to the primary winding, and outputs a signal from the secondary winding. The polarity-switching controller turns on one of the first amplifying transistor and the second amplifying transistor and turns off the other thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Isao Imazeki, Masaki Kanemaru
  • Patent number: 9602067
    Abstract: A switching amplifying method or a switching amplifier for obtaining one or more than one linearly amplified replicas of an input signal, is highly efficient, and does not have the disadvantage of “dead time” problem related to the class D amplifiers. Said switching amplifying method comprises the steps of: receiving the input signal; pulse modulating the input signal for generating a pulse modulated signal; switching a pulsed current from a direct current (DC) voltage according to the pulse modulated signal; conducting said pulsed current positively or negatively to a filter according to the polarity of the input signal; filtering said pulsed current positively or negatively conducted to the filter for outputting an output signal by the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventor: Wen-Hsiung Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9602068
    Abstract: A configuration is provided with: a tuned line 13 that is connected between a branch terminal 3 and a branch terminal of branch lines 2 and 4; and a tuned line 14 that is connected between a combining terminal 7 and a combining terminal 9 of combining lines 10 and 11. This enables reduction of a non-uniform voltage distribution occurring due to a difference in characteristics between two amplifier elements 6 and 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shohei Imai, Hiroshi Otsuka, Koji Yamanaka, Hiroaki Maehara, Motoyoshi Koyanagi, Akira Ota
  • Patent number: 9602069
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an amplifier. The amplifier includes a first transistor that receives a first input. A second transistor receives a second input. A plurality of impedance networks is coupled between the first transistor and the second transistor. At least one impedance network of the plurality of impedance networks includes a first impedance path and a second impedance path. The first impedance path is activated during single ended operation, and the second impedance path is activated during differential operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Rajendrakumar Joish
  • Patent number: 9602070
    Abstract: The power amplifying device includes a first potential line to which a first potential is supplied, a second potential line to which a second potential that is lower than the first potential is supplied and a third potential line to which a third potential that is between the first potential and the second potential is supplied. The power amplifying device includes a first BTL amplifier unit. The power amplifying device includes a second BTL amplifier unit. The power amplifying device includes a third BTL amplifier unit. The power amplifying device includes a fourth BTL amplifier unit that has a seventh output amplifier and an eighth output amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tsurumi
  • Patent number: 9602071
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed that includes a power distribution network, a first resonant network, a second resonant network, and a third resonant network. The power distribution network is configured transmit a voltage. The first resonant network is coupled to a first terminal of the power distribution network, and is configured to provide a first electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection to the power distribution network. The second resonant network is coupled to a second terminal of the power distribution network, and is configured to provide a second ESD protection to the power distribution network. The third resonant network coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal of the power distribution network, and the first resonant network, the second resonant network, and the third resonant network are configured to filter an AC signal from the power distribution network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ming-Hsien Tsai
  • Patent number: 9602072
    Abstract: A new slide screw impedance tuner structure uses a circular slabline, eccentrically rotating disc probes and a rotating carriage allowing reducing the linear size of the tuner by a factor of 3. The slabline lies flat on the bench table surface and the disc probe rotates at the end of a rotating arm, which acts as a mobile carriage, forming a planetary configuration. The rotation of the arm controls the phase of GAMMA and the rotation of the disc-probe controls its amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventor: Christos Tsironis
  • Patent number: 9602073
    Abstract: A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator structure includes a first electrode disposed over a substrate, a piezoelectric layer disposed over the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed over the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer includes undoped piezoelectric material and doped piezoelectric material, where the doped piezoelectric material is doped with at least one rare earth element, for improving piezoelectric properties of the piezoelectric layer and reducing compressive stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Grannen, John Choy
  • Patent number: 9602074
    Abstract: Mechanical resonating structures are described, as well as related devices and methods. The mechanical resonating structures may have a compensating structure for compensating temperature variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Chen, Jan H. Kuypers, Alexei Gaidarzhy, Guiti Zolfagharkhani