Patents Issued in May 2, 2017
  • Patent number: 9641069
    Abstract: A charge pump circuit includes a plurality of stages. Each stage of the charge pump circuit includes: a first transistor, drain of the first transistor being output of the stage, source of the first transistor being input of the stage; a second transistor, gate of the second transistor being connected to source of the first transistor, drain of the second transistor being connected to drain of the first transistor, source of the second transistor being connected to gate of the first transistor, body of the second transistor being connected to body of the first transistor; and a third transistor, gate of the third transistor being connected to drain of the first transistor, drain of the third transistor being connected to source of the first transistor, source of the third transistor being connected to body of the first transistor and body of the third transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SOLOMON SYSTECH (SHENZHEN) LIMITED
    Inventors: Zhirong Chen, Wing Chun Chan, Wai Kwong Lee, Wai Sum Choi
  • Patent number: 9641070
    Abstract: An integrated circuit an open pin detector includes a current source coupled to the pin, a comparator having a first input coupled to the pin, a second input responsive to a threshold voltage, and an output at which a comparator output signal is provided. A controller is responsive to the comparator output signal to provide an enable signal to the current source and an open pin signal indicative of an open pin condition at the pin. A method for detecting an open pin condition of a pin of an integrated circuit includes comparing the pin voltage to a first threshold voltage level, initiating open pin detection in response to the pin voltage falling below the first threshold voltage level, such as by providing a current to the pin, and indicating an open pin condition if the pin voltage rises to exceed a second threshold voltage level within a predetermined time interval. Also described is preventing the pin voltage from exceeding a predetermined voltage level during open pin detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventor: Joshua Wibben
  • Patent number: 9641071
    Abstract: Disclosed is a ?uk based current source, a control circuit for a ?uk based current source, and a method for providing a current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Andrea Logiudice, Giorgio Chiozzi
  • Patent number: 9641072
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to drive reactive loads are disclosed. An example apparatus to drive a reactive load includes a reactive component in circuit with the reactive load, a first switching element in circuit with the reactive load to selectively hold the reactive load in a first energy state and to selectively allow the reactive load to change from the first energy state to a second energy state, a second switching element in circuit with the reactive load to selectively hold the reactive load in the second energy state and to selectively allow the reactive load to change from the second energy state to the first energy state, and a controller to detect a current in the reactive load, and to control the first and second switching elements to hold the reactive load in the first or the second energy state when the current traverses a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Abderrhamane Ounadjela, Jacques Jundt, Olivier Moyal, Henri-Pierre Valero, Sandip Bose
  • Patent number: 9641073
    Abstract: A switch-mode power supply is provided that includes a comparator for producing a pulse-width modulated (PWM) controller clock signal for controlling a power switch in the switch-mode power supply. The switch-mode power supply is configured to superimpose a DC-free version of a ramp voltage with an error voltage to produce a combined voltage. The comparator compares the combined voltage to a reference voltage to produce the PWM controller clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Farsheed Mahmoudi, James Thomas Doyle, Amirali Shayan
  • Patent number: 9641074
    Abstract: A current control circuit includes an input circuit for receiving an input signal, an output circuit for providing an output signal. The output circuit is coupled to the input circuit to receive a current therefrom. The current control circuit also includes a feedback circuit coupled to the input circuit and the output circuit to form a feedback loop. The current control circuit further includes a first slope compensation current coupled to the output circuit for controlling the output signal, the first slope compensation current being a periodic current. The current control circuit also includes a second slope compensation current coupled to the feedback circuit, wherein the second slope compensation current has the same phase and period as the first slope compensation current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: BCD Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongbo Zhang, Hongyue Du, Wei Zhang, Chao Chen, Yong Zhao
  • Patent number: 9641075
    Abstract: Embodiments of current feedback circuits for Direct Current (DC)-DC converters and methods for operating current feedback circuits for DC-DC converters are described. In one embodiment, a current feedback circuit for a DC-DC converter includes a current replication circuit configured to provide current feedback to the DC-DC converter based on an on-time of the DC-DC converter and an alternating current (AC)-coupling circuit configured to add the current feedback to a regulation circuit of the current feedback circuit and to remove a DC voltage from the current replication circuit. The regulation circuit includes a filter circuit configured to compensate for an offset of an output voltage of the DC-DC converter caused by the current feedback. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Beier, Gerhard Osterloh, Rodrigo Mora-Sanchez
  • Patent number: 9641076
    Abstract: A switching regulator switches a current from input direct current (DC) power to generate target DC power. The switching regulator includes: a direct current (DC)-DC converter and a ripple injection circuit. The DC-DC converter is configured to: generate an output voltage at an output terminal based on an input voltage applied to an input terminal, and according to a switching cycle that selectively forms a voltage-down current path or a voltage-up current path based on a comparison between a reference voltage and a voltage sensed at a feedback node; and apply a feedback current from the output terminal to the feedback node. The ripple injection circuit is configured to: generate a pulse current synchronized with the switching cycle; and apply the pulse current to the feedback node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryotaro Kudo, Gwang-yol Noh, Hwa-yeal Yu
  • Patent number: 9641077
    Abstract: Reliability of a buck power stage may be enhanced by extending the maximum input voltage able to be withstood in the disabled (non-switching) state. During device qualification/testing, a power management unit (PMU) in the disabled state may have its input node subjected to greater than a maximum input voltage permitted for reliability (Vmax). Under such conditions, a force voltage (Vforce) may be selectively applied to the PMU switching node in the disabled state. For a given input voltage (VIN), this reduces voltage across the non-switching transistors of the power stage (and hence the resulting stress) to below Vmax. In certain embodiments, the Vforce applied to the switching node is of a fixed magnitude. In other embodiments, the Vforce applied to the switching node is of a magnitude varying with input voltage. Embodiments may be particularly suited to implement power management for a System-On-Chip (SoC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Chi-Fan Yung, Vishal Gupta, Joseph Duncan
  • Patent number: 9641078
    Abstract: A switching power supply device includes a switching output circuit, an error amplifier, a slope voltage generating circuit, a PWM comparator, a logic circuit, a switch driving circuit, and a reverse current detection circuit. The slope voltage generating circuit increases a slope voltage from a reset level with a gradient corresponding to an input voltage during an on period of the output transistor, and maintains the slope voltage at an offset level corresponding not to the reset level but to an output voltage during an off period of the output transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yosuke Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 9641079
    Abstract: For a DC/DC converter with high dynamics and for high-voltage conditions, a provision is made that a capacitor series connection (2) of at least three capacitors (C1, C2, C3) is provided in the DC/DC converter (1), a first capacitor (C1) and middle third capacitor (C3) of the capacitor series connection (2) being part of a first inverting buck-boost converter (7) and a second capacitor (C2) and the middle third capacitor (C2) of the capacitor series connection (2) being part of a second inverting buck-boost converter (8), and that the first direct-current voltage (UIN) is applied to the capacitor series connection (2) and the second direct-current voltage (UOUT) is applied to the common third capacitor (C3) of the first and second inverting buck-boost converter (7, 8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: FRONIUS INTERNATIONAL GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Schmalnauer, Thomas Kroesswang-Ridler
  • Patent number: 9641080
    Abstract: A circuit may include a switching signal generator to generate a high-side switching signal and a low-side switching signal. A low-side switch may be connected to the output of the circuit and to the switching signal generator to receive the low-side switching signal. A plurality of high-side switches may be connected to corresponding inputs of the circuit. A matrix may be configured to selectively connect the high-side switching signal to two or more of the high-side switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Shadi Hawawini, Giovanni Garcea
  • Patent number: 9641081
    Abstract: A boost converter for converting between an input voltage and an output voltage is disclosed. The boost converter includes an inductor connected to the input voltage a switching arrangement for controlling the switching of the inductor current to an output load at the output voltage and a controller for controlling the switching arrangement to provide duty cycle control. The duty cycle control switching takes place when the inductor current reaches a peak current level which varies over time with a peak current level function. The peak current level function includes the combination of a target peak value derived from a target average inductor current and a slope compensation function which periodically varies with a period corresponding to the converter switching period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Benno Krabbenborg
  • Patent number: 9641082
    Abstract: System and method for regulating a power converter. A system for regulating a power converter includes a controller, a first switch, and a second switch. The controller is configured to generate a first switching signal and a second switching signal. The first switch is configured to receive the first switching signal, the first switch being coupled to an auxiliary winding of the power converter further including a primary winding and a secondary winding. The second switch is configured to receive the second switching signal and coupled to the primary winding of the power converter. The controller is further configured to, change, at a first time, the second switching signal to open the second switch, maintain, from the first time to a second time, the first switching signal to keep the first switch open, and change, at the second time, the first switching signal to close the first switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huawei Lv, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 9641083
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a control device, a control method of a power converter and a switching power supply using the control device. The control device of the power converter includes: a first control unit, which is coupled to the power converter to detect an output voltage of the power converter and is configured to generate a first control signal based on the output voltage; a variable resistor unit, which is connected to an output terminal of the first control unit to receive the first control signal and is configured to generate a resistance value based on the first control signal; and a second control unit, which is connected to the variable resistor unit and is configured to output a second control signal in order to control operations of a switch unit of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haibin Song, Yuanqiang Gu, Jian Zhou, Daofei Xu
  • Patent number: 9641084
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of controlling a switching power supply, can include: (i) generating a driving current signal that follows a waveform of a sense voltage signal, where the sense voltage signal is related to a current through a collector of a transistor that is configured as a power switch of the switching power supply, where the collector is coupled to an inductive element of the switching power supply; (ii) providing the driving current signal to a base of the transistor, where the transistor is in a saturated conduction state when a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal is active; and (iii) releasing charge accumulated on the base when the PWM signal is inactive to turn off the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Huiqiang Chen, Yunlong Han, Xiaoru Xu, Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 9641085
    Abstract: A power converter having a clock module and a method for controlling a clock signal of the power converter. The clock module is configured to provide the clock signal and to set a clock frequency of the clock signal to a first predetermined frequency at the moment when the power converter is powered on. The clock module is further configured to regulate the clock frequency to increase from the first predetermined frequency to a second predetermined frequency through a predetermined times of step type frequency increase during a startup procedure of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yike Li
  • Patent number: 9641086
    Abstract: An oscillator applied to a control circuit of a power converter includes a compensation module and an oscillation module. The compensation module outputs or sinks an adjustment current according to a compensation voltage corresponding to a load, a direct current voltage of a primary side of the power converter, and a reference voltage. The oscillation module outputs a clock signal according to the compensation voltage, a control voltage, and the adjustment current. The control circuit generates a gate control signal to a power switch of the primary side according to the clock signal. When the compensation voltage is less than a first predetermined voltage, a frequency of the gate control signal is a first fixed value, and when the compensation voltage is between the first predetermined voltage and a second predetermined voltage and greater than the second predetermined voltage, the frequency is varied with the compensation voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Leadtrend Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Ming-Chang Tsou, Meng-Jen Tsai, Chih-Chi Chang
  • Patent number: 9641087
    Abstract: A method and a device for detecting conduction mode is disclosed. The method uses an energy-storing element to connect with a synchronous rectifier and a load, and the load connects with the synchronous rectifier. Firstly, energy is discharged from the energy-storing element and applied to the load through the synchronous rectifier to periodically generate a detected voltage signal across the synchronous rectifier, and the detected voltage signal comprises at least one raising waveform, at least one horizontal waveform and at least one descending waveform. Then, an output is generated according to waveform of the detected voltage signal and either of a reference duration or a reference slope, so as to determine that the energy-storing element operates in CCM or DCM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SYNC POWER CORP.
    Inventors: Chun-Jen Huang, Hsian-Pei Yee
  • Patent number: 9641088
    Abstract: A current resonant power source apparatus includes a series circuit (Lr, P, C2) connected between switch elements Q1 and Q2 and a capacitor C1, a full-wave rectifying and smoothing circuit (D1, D2, C3) for providing a DC voltage, a control circuit of Q1 and Q2, a voltage detector 11 of the DC voltage, a current detector of the primary winding P, a soft-start time constant setting unit, and an ON time controller. If a voltage generated to a time constant is smaller than a set voltage, the ON time controller sets an ON time for Q1 and Q2 according to the DC voltage and soft-start signal, and if it is equal to or greater than the set voltage, sets one of the first and second ON times according to the current from the current detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Ohtake, Ryuichi Furukoshi
  • Patent number: 9641089
    Abstract: A first switching circuit is connected between a transformer first winding and a DC power supply. A second switching circuit is connected between the transformer second winding and a battery. When charging the battery, a control circuit turns off an element in a second bridge circuit in the second switching circuit, and controls a phase shift amount of a first diagonal element, and a phase shift amount of a second diagonal element in the second bridge circuit, relative to a drive phase of a first reference element in a first bridge circuit in the first switching circuit. When discharging the battery, the control circuit turns off an element in the first bridge circuit and controls a phase shift amount of the second diagonal element and a phase shift amount of the first diagonal element relative to a drive phase of a second reference element in the second bridge circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Higaki, Ryota Kondo, Masaki Yamada, Yohei Tan
  • Patent number: 9641090
    Abstract: A multiple-input power converter transferring energy from multiple input sources to a load comprises a plurality of voltage inputs. The power converter implements soft-switching techniques thereby reducing the converter switching losses and increasing the converter efficiency while using fewer components than presently designed multiple-input power converters. Such a power converter may include multiple input sources, where serially connected switches are coupled to one of the multiple input sources in an input leg. A voltage blocking capacitor is inserted between these input legs. Furthermore, the power converter includes a transformer for isolating the load from the multiple input sources, where the voltage blocking capacitor is connected to the primary winding of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Alexis Kwasinski, Sheng-Yang Yu, Ruichen Zhao
  • Patent number: 9641091
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is apparatus for increasing efficiency in transmitting direct electric (DC) energy. The apparatus includes a voltage stabilizer that includes, a wire connected to a power line for transmitting the DC electric energy; an electrical substance encircling the wire, an electromagnetic-field generating coil encircling the electrical substance at regular intervals in a direction perpendicular to the wire, the electromagnetic-field generating coil being connected to the wire, a voltage-stabilization circuit unit stabilizing voltage of the DC electric energy input into the apparatus before outputting the DC electric energy, and a connector connecting the power line to the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventor: Bon Hun Ku
  • Patent number: 9641092
    Abstract: Provided is a power converter 3 that directly converts polyphase AC power to AC power. A converter circuit has a plurality of first switching elements 311, 313 and 315 that are connected to each phase R, S or T of the polyphase AC power to enable switching for turning on current-carrying bidirectionally, and a plurality of second switching elements 312, 314 and 316 that are connected to each phase to enable switching for turning on current-carrying bidirectionally. The converter circuit comprises input lines R, S and T connected to each input terminal, and output lines P and N connected to each output terminal. Parts of wiring 347 and 348 of protection circuits 32 are located between output lines P and N. The wiring distance between each protection circuit 32 and the corresponding switching element can be shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignees: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD., NAGAOKA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hironori Koyano, Takamasa Nakamura, Masao Saito, Kouji Yamamoto, Tsutomu Matsukawa, Manabu Koshijo, Junichi Itoh, Yoshiya Ohnuma
  • Patent number: 9641093
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power source (10) for providing a direct current, comprising a heavy-current transformer (12) with at least one primary winding (13) and at least one secondary winding (14) with center tapping, a synchronous rectifier (16) connected with the at least one secondary winding (14) of the heavy-current transformer (12) and comprising circuit elements (24), and a circuit (17) for actuating the circuit elements (24) of the synchronous rectifier (16), and a supply circuit (48) for supplying the synchronous rectifier (16) and the actuation circuit (17), and to a method for cooling such a power source (10). For reduction of losses and improvement of efficiency, the synchronous rectifier (16) and the actuation circuit (17) and the supply circuit (48) thereof are integrated in the heavy-current transformer (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Artelsmair, Christoph Schultschik, Johannes Neuboeck, Stefan Wolfsgruber
  • Patent number: 9641094
    Abstract: A converter includes a converter circuit that converts the AC voltages supplied from the ?-connection and the Y-connection, which are two systems of a 12-phase rectifier transformer, to a DC voltage; a current detector that detects the current in a DC bus output from the converter circuit; and an imbalance detection unit that detects the occurrence of an imbalance between the current output from the ?-connection and the current output from the Y-connection, the currents being detected by the current detector. The converter can detect an imbalance that occurs between the current flowing in the diode bridge on the ?-connection side and the current flowing in the diode bridge on the Y-connection side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Masanori Kato
  • Patent number: 9641095
    Abstract: A dense and efficient output stage for a DC/DC converter includes center tapped secondary windings of a transformer having an offset core with respect to a PCB, two pairs of synchronous rectifiers configured to define two pairs of paralleled symmetrical AC loops respective to the secondary windings, and at least two bus bars disposed within a forced cooling airstream to act as heat sinks for the synchronous rectifiers, while further providing a filtering impedance between the transformer windings and an output capacitance. A split capacitance is disposed in close proximity with the synchronous rectifiers to filter out ripple current, in one embodiment characterized by first and second capacitors each respectively coupled between opposing ends of the first and second bus bars, wherein the bus bars are arranged about at least three sides of the transformer core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: PAI CAPITAL LLC
    Inventors: Urs Wild, Ivan Feno
  • Patent number: 9641096
    Abstract: An energy-saving power supply apparatus includes a bridge rectifier, a diode bypass circuit and a control circuit. The diode bypass circuit is electrically connected to the bridge rectifier. The control circuit is electrically connected to the diode bypass circuit and the bridge rectifier. The bridge rectifier includes a plurality of diodes. After the control circuit receives a power start signal, the control circuit is configured to control the diode bypass circuit, so that a part of the diodes are bypassed to save energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Chicony Power Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Nan Huang, Shiu-Hui Lee, Chih-Ming Yu, Hsin-Chang Yu, Jhen-Siang Huang, Ming-Chieh Cheng, Chang-Li Hsieh, Jung-Shan Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9641097
    Abstract: A vehicle electrical system includes: an active bridge rectifier which is connected to a generator via multiple phase terminals, and having terminals on the direct voltage side; a unit for recognizing load shedding at the active bridge rectifier and short-circuiting the phase terminals in a clocked manner, as the result of which a pulsed current is fed to the vehicle electrical system; a vehicle electrical system capacitor configured for smoothing the pulsed current; and a voltage limiting unit configured for clipping a voltage between the terminals of the bridge rectifier on the direct voltage side to a predefined maximum voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Paul Mehringer
  • Patent number: 9641098
    Abstract: An inverter comprises a first input capacitor and a second input capacitor connected in series, an inverting unit comprising a first switch, a second switch, a third switch and a fourth switch connected in series, wherein the inverting unit is connected to an input of an L-C filter, a first bidirectional conductive path connected between a common node of the first switch and the second switch, and a common node of the first input capacitor and the second input capacitor, a second bidirectional conductive path connected between a common node of the third switch and the fourth switch, and the common node of the first input capacitor and the second input capacitor and a flying capacitor connected between the common node of the first switch and the second switch, and the common node of the third switch and the fourth switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dianbo Fu, Yunfeng Liu, Yongbing Gao
  • Patent number: 9641099
    Abstract: Provided are single phase and multiple phase DC-AC inverters with soft switching, and related methods and uses. The DC-AC inverters comprise at least one voltage source inverter circuit or at least one current source inverter circuit having a DC input and an AC output including a first component at a fundamental frequency and a ripple component at a frequency higher than the fundamental frequency; wherein the ripple component is of a sufficient magnitude that the voltage source inverter circuit output current reverses polarity and allows the at least one inverter circuit to operate with zero voltage switching; or wherein the ripple component is of a sufficient magnitude that the current source inverter circuit output voltage reverses polarity and allows the at least one inverter circuit to operate with zero current switching. The circuits and methods may be used with grid-connected renewable energy sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SPARQ SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Vidisha Gupta, Sayed Ali Khajehoddin, Praveen K. Jain
  • Patent number: 9641100
    Abstract: A system for converting a first voltage into a second voltage includes input terminals and output terminals, switching members disposed between the terminals which can convert voltage, and a device for controlling the switching members. The device includes a cell for controlling a switching member, and a member for managing and supplying the control cell. The member is connected to the control cell by a link allowing the simultaneous transmission of a control signal and electrical energy. The member includes a device for generating a pulse, and which includes at least two different control intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventor: Alfred Permuy
  • Patent number: 9641101
    Abstract: A method for controlling output energy of a power system includes following steps: Using a controlling unit to detect a phase offset between voltage and current of an AC power outputted from the power system. When the power system enters an energy-storage cycle, the controlling unit makes a power conversion unit output the AC power having a first preset power factor and store a partial energy of an AC grid in an energy-storage unit when the AC power is in a reactive power area. When the power system enters an energy-release cycle, the controlling unit makes the power conversion unit output the AC power having a second preset power factor and release the energy stored in the energy-storage unit, wherein an average value of the power factor in the energy-storage cycle and the energy-release cycle is the same as a preset average power factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: CHICONY POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chu-Chen Yang, Chao-Jui Huang
  • Patent number: 9641102
    Abstract: For example, a semiconductor device has a lead connected to a second portion of a chip mounting part on which a semiconductor chip to be a heat source is mounted and a lead connected to a third portion of the chip mounting part on which the semiconductor chip to be the heat source is mounted. Further, each of the leads has a protruding portion protruding from a sealing member. In this manner, it is possible to enhance a heat dissipation characteristic of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Mitamura, Koji Bando, Yukihiro Sato, Takamitsu Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 9641103
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide actuator control. Actuator control is provided via charge control as opposed to voltage control. A driver for driving an actuator can include a charge pump for injecting charge into one or more capacitive elements of the actuator. The driver can further include a capacitance detection aspect for detecting the capacitance of the capacitive elements of the actuator to determine positioning of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: MEMS Drive, Inc.
    Inventors: Roman Gutierrez, Hongyu Wang
  • Patent number: 9641104
    Abstract: The actuator includes a vibration plate including a fixing portion for fixing the vibration plate to a holding member, and a connection portion for connecting a center portion and the fixing portion, and is provided between a surface and a friction-sliding surface in a direction in which the vibration plate is pressed against the rotor by a pressurizing force produced by a pressure member. When finishing a surface on which a piezoelectric device is to be fixed to the vibration plate to a uniform surface by polishing, a decrease in the performance of the ultrasonic motor due to deformation of the vibration plate that is caused by warping of support portions that extend from both ends thereof or by burrs or the like can be prevented, and the time required to polish the vibration plate can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryo Yamasaki, Makoto Oikawa
  • Patent number: 9641105
    Abstract: A mobile communication terminal comprises an acoustic-electro conversion unit configured to convert sound into electric energy, which includes a conversion device for converting vibration into electric energy; and an energy storage unit electrically connected to the conversion device and configured to store electric energy generated by the conversion device. The mobile communication terminal can solve the problem that the mobile communication terminal has large power consumption and short continuous service time, and can make full use of energy, has a long continuous service time and is convenient to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignees: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., Beijing BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiuxia Yang, Jiaheng Wang, Feng Bai
  • Patent number: 9641106
    Abstract: An electric vehicle driven by a synchronous motor 21 and an induction motor 31, and braked with a first regenerative torque BT1 generated by the synchronous motor generator 21 and a second regenerative torque BT2 generated by the induction motor generator 31. The ratio of the first regenerative torque BT1 to the second regenerative torque BT2 is changed in accordance with a state of charge (SOC) of a battery 11. In this way, a switching frequency from a regenerative brake to a hydraulic brake is restricted to improve drivability when a state of charge (SOC) of the battery 11 is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Ota, Ryoji Sato, Masayoshi Suhama
  • Patent number: 9641107
    Abstract: A motor controller for an electric vehicle sufficiently reduces vibration components caused by torque ripples passing through a resonance frequency of a vehicle body. The motor controller includes motor torque setting means for generating a first torque command, based on vehicle information, rotation position detection means for detecting a rotation position of the motor, rotation speed calculation means for calculating a rotation speed from a rotation position signal, a high-pass filter that extracts an AC signal component of a rotation speed signal, and a resonance suppression gain circuit that outputs a resonance suppression signal. A signal in which the resonance suppression signal is added to or subtracted from the first torque command is used as a second torque command so as to perform drive control for the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Enoki, Masahiro Iezawa, Nobuhide Mori, Yasufumi Ogawa, Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9641108
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a motor having a rotor rotatable relative to a stator include commutating the motor to cause the rotor to rotate to a known position. While the rotor is at the known position, a position of an encoder magnet configured to rotate with the rotor is measured. Subsequent commutation of the motor is adjusted to take into account a difference between the known position of the rotor and the measured position of the encoder magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Bharath Suda, James David
  • Patent number: 9641109
    Abstract: To provide a brushless DC motor drive circuit operating with low electric power without a hall element, etc., and to provide a drive circuit for brushless DC motor which may be generally started regardless of an amount of load or size of inertia moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: KOKUSAI DISPLAY KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Reijiro Ito
  • Patent number: 9641110
    Abstract: A power controller, including a supercapacitor, a motor, a transistor switch, an electric signal processor, an output resistor, a sampling resistor, a filter capacitor, a voltage-stabilizing circuit, a flyback diode, and a switch. The supercapacitor is connected in parallel to the motor, the transistor switch, and the sampling resistor to form a main working circuit. The signal output end of the electric signal processor is connected to a trigger electrode of the transistor switch via the output resistor. The sampling end of the electric signal processor is connected to the sampling resistor. The motor is connected in parallel to the flyback diode. The sampling resistor is connected in parallel to the filter capacitor. The Vcc end of the electric signal processor is connected to the supercapacitor via the voltage-stabilizing circuit. The state control ends of the electric signal processor are connected to the GND or Vcc of the electric signal processor via the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: NANJING SUPER SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kewei Xiang, Qicong Ge
  • Patent number: 9641111
    Abstract: A stepping motor driving device includes a table, a driving pulse control part, an interpolation number indicating part and a driving part. The table stores thinned data which is thinned from original data and designates a pulse width of a driving pulse relating to a slow-up control or a slow-down control of a stepping motor. The driving pulse control part sequentially reads the thinned data from the table at predetermined intervals, to interpolate the thinned data in accordance with a given interpolation number so as to generate interpolated data and to output the driving pulse with the pulse width designated by the thinned data or the interpolated data by sequentially using the thinned data and the interpolated date at predetermined intervals. The interpolation number indicating part indicates the interpolation number to the driving pulse control part. The driving part drives the stepping motor in accordance with the driving pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Naohiro Anan
  • Patent number: 9641112
    Abstract: A power source includes a generator configured to receive mechanical energy and convert the mechanical energy to an electrical output. The generator includes a rotor and a stator. The stator has a first coil and a second coil. The first coil and the second coil are selectively arranged in a first configuration to provide the electrical output at a first voltage level and in a second configuration to provide the electrical output at a second voltage level. The power source also includes a detection circuit including a sensing relay. The detection circuit is configured to generate an output based on whether the first coil and the second coil are arranged in the first configuration or in the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
    Inventors: Nicholas Harknett, Dale Herbstritt
  • Patent number: 9641113
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method for controlling a power generation system may generally include determining a phase angle error associated with the power generation system, determining a scaling factor based on the phase angle error, generating a current command for controlling the operation of a power convertor of the power generation system and applying the scaling factor to the current command such that the current command is reduced when the phase angle error exceeds a predetermined error threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Einar Vaughn Larsen, Wei Ren, Sidney Allen Barker
  • Patent number: 9641114
    Abstract: A generator system includes an AC generator having one or more phases; a transformer having the same number of phases as the AC generator; for each phase of the AC generator, only a capacitive element receiving the current from a respective output winding of the AC generator for conveying in series to a primary winding of a respective phase of the transformer, each capacitive element having a first terminal electrically connected to the respective output winding and a second terminal electrically connected to the respective primary winding; a prime mover in driving engagement with the AC generator; and a load connected to a secondary winding of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventor: Robert Ryan Jameson Horne
  • Patent number: 9641115
    Abstract: An air moving system including an electric motor, a load coupled to the electric motor, and a motor drive controller coupled to the electric motor is provided. A DC voltage generated from an AC input voltage provided to the electric motor tends towards zero at about twice a frequency of the AC input voltage. The motor drive controller includes an adjustment control module configured to receive a measurement of an instantaneous motor current value for the electric motor, determine a flux component value based on the instantaneous motor current value, and determine, based at least in part on the flux component value and a flux component demand value, an adjusted flux component demand value that causes the motor drive controller to adjust an operation such that an average flux component value based on the flux component value is substantially similar to the flux component demand value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ludovic Andre Chretien
  • Patent number: 9641116
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an asynchronous machine (1) comprising a rotor (3) and a stator (2), in which a torque of the asynchronous machine (1) is adjusted by specifying a desired magnetic flux of a surrounding magnetic field of the stator (2) and specifying a desired slip between a rotational speed of the rotor (3) and the rotational speed of the surrounding magnetic field. According to the invention, at least in the load condition and when a rotary frequency of the surrounding magnetic field of the stator is equal to zero, the desired magnetic flux and/or the desired slip with constant torque is changed in such a way that an actual rotary frequency of the surrounding magnetic field is not equal to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Weiffen
  • Patent number: 9641117
    Abstract: A dynamic linear motor is controlled by determining a relative proximity of a moving rotor of the linear motor to a fixed stator segment of the linear motor using a current location of the moving rotor. A current driving characteristic of the linear motor at the current location of the moving rotor is determined. Settings for the fixed stator segment when the moving rotor reaches the fixed stator segment are identified based on the current driving characteristic. The fixed stator segment is driven based on the settings when the moving rotor reaches the fixed stator segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: HYPERLOOP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Sandhya Rani Jetti, George O'Neal, Nima Bahrami, James Dorris, Jiaqi Liang, Brogan Bambrogan, Joshua Giegel
  • Patent number: 9641118
    Abstract: A vehicular control apparatus that includes a switched reluctance motor and an electronic control unit is provided. The switched reluctance motor has a rotor and a stator and is mounted as a travel drive source in a vehicle. The electronic control unit executes current control of the switched reluctance motor. The electronic control unit executes first current control for causing the rotor to rotate in a reverse direction from a rotational direction in which the vehicle is started in the case where the vehicle is not started even when the switched reluctance motor outputs maximum torque within an allowable range, and executes control for causing the rotor to rotate in the rotational direction in which the vehicle is started after the rotor rotates in the reverse direction by the first current control to a rotation position at which torque for enabling a start of the vehicle can be output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi Deguchi, Kazuya Arakawa, Kensuke Yoshizue