Patents Issued in August 1, 2017
  • Patent number: 9722452
    Abstract: A system and method for integrating a wireless charging device with a display is provided herein. The system includes an information receiver to receive information from the wireless charging device; an information processor to process the information, and the processed information being about a wireless charging device or an electronic device on the wireless charging device; and an information communicator to communicate the processed information to a display coupled to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Mark Schroeder, Dinu Petre Madau, Gary Edward Zack
  • Patent number: 9722453
    Abstract: A touch screen, an electronic device, and a wireless charging method are provided. The touch screen includes: a substrate adapted to carry a touch sensor circuit, where the touch sensor circuit includes a first touch sensor circuit and a second touch sensor circuit; and an equivalent switch arranged between the first touch sensor circuit and the second touch sensor circuit, where the first touch sensor circuit and the second touch sensor circuit form the touch sensor circuit in a case that the equivalent switch is off; and the first touch sensor circuit and the second touch sensor circuit form an equivalent coil and two ends of the equivalent coil are connected to a rechargeable power supply to generate an induced current for charging the rechargeable power supply, in a case that the equivalent switch is on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yanru Wang
  • Patent number: 9722454
    Abstract: A wireless charging apparatus can include an exciter that initiates and shapes electromagnetic fields of microwave frequency. The exciter can include a ground structure and a feed structure disposed within the ground structure. The wireless charging apparatus can also include an adapter configured to hold a device to be charged with a side of the device to be charged exposed external to the apparatus while charging the device to be charged. The adapter can transmit the microwave power from the exciter to the device to be charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Ugur Olgun, Hugh K Smith
  • Patent number: 9722455
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program product for: receiving an indication of presence of a wireless charging field, detecting a change of orientation of a device during the presence of the wireless charging field and controlling an application parameter based on the detected change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Jarmo Saari, Timo Toivanen
  • Patent number: 9722456
    Abstract: A console assembly for an automotive vehicle and use with a mobile device. The console assembly including a storage compartment having a floor, a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of end walls. An opening permits access into the storage area and a slidable top wall is operable to move between a covered position and a retracted position relative to the opening. An anti-slip surface is provided on the top wall and configured to receive the mobile device thereon. A wireless charging unit is also incorporated into and moveable with the top wall. The wireless charging unit is located immediately below the anti-slip surface. When the mobile device is placed on the anti-slip surface, the device is moveable with the top wall, between the covered position and retracted position, while being charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Lambert, Nicholas S. Sitarski, Scott L. Weiss, Jonathan J. Quijano
  • Patent number: 9722457
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor chip having four sides and being substantially formed in a rectangle, the semiconductor chip including: a first terminal which is located along one side of the four sides of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a solar cell outside the semiconductor chip; a second terminal which is located along the one side of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a secondary cell outside the semiconductor chip; and an interconnection line that electrically interconnects the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kikuo Utsuno
  • Patent number: 9722458
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a smoothing capacitor, an input voltage detection unit, a power conversion unit, and a controller. The input voltage detection unit detects a voltage value of the input voltage. The power conversion unit converts a direct-current voltage smoothed by the smoothing capacitor into an alternating-current voltage to output the alternating-current voltage to a power system. The controller has a first operation mode of outputting active power to the power system, has a second operation mode of outputting reactive power to the power system, determines whether or not the voltage value is one of equal to and higher than a determination value, and makes a transition from the first operation mode to the second operation mode within a predetermined time from a time point when it is determined that the voltage value is lower than the determination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Matsuoka, Tatsuaki Ambo
  • Patent number: 9722459
    Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling an uninterruptible power supply are provided. The uninterruptible power supply includes an input configured to receive input power, an output, a power conversion circuit coupled with the input and the output, and a controller coupled with the power conversion circuit. The power conversion circuit includes an inverter, which includes a low pass filter. The low pass filter includes an inductor, and the controller is configured to provide control signals to the inverter such that a first current, measured at the inductor, generates a second current, measured at the output, where the first current has a first polarity and the second current having a second polarity, and the first polarity is either zero or the same polarity as the second polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Henning Roar Nielsen
  • Patent number: 9722460
    Abstract: Described herein are techniques related to near field coupling (e.g., wireless power transfers (WPF) and near field communications (NFC)) operations among others. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Songnan Yang, Emily B. Cooper, Jim J. Walsh, Anand S. Konanur
  • Patent number: 9722461
    Abstract: A digital multifunction peripheral including a contactless power feeding unit having a function of communicating with a terminal apparatus and a function of feeding the power in a contactless manner to the terminal apparatus is configured to detect a status of the digital multifunction peripheral, detect the presence or absence of a power receiving apparatus capable of communicating with the contactless power feeding unit, and, when such a power receiving apparatus is present, detect the status of the power receiving apparatus, and perform power-saving control based on the result of the detections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akio Ito
  • Patent number: 9722462
    Abstract: A resonant wireless power system includes a source circuit having a source coil, an ac driver with a first resistance, representing the equivalent output impedance of the ac driver, and a matching network. A current probe measures the magnitude signal of the instantaneous source coil current. A voltage probe measures the instantaneous ac driver voltage. A phase detector compares the phase of the instantaneous source coil current and the instantaneous ac driver voltage, and produces a first output signal proportional to the phase difference. A first amplifier compares the magnitude signal and a target signal, and produces an error signal proportional to the difference. A first compensation filter produces the control voltage that determines the ac driver supply voltage. A second amplifier amplifies the first output signal. A second compensation filter produces the control voltage that determines the impedance of a variable element in the source circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: MEDIATEK Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Anand Satyamoorthy, Hasnain Akram, Patrick Stanley Riehl
  • Patent number: 9722463
    Abstract: A wireless power transmitter which wirelessly transmits a power to a wireless power receiver, the wireless power transmitter includes a power source for supplying a power; a transmission coil for wirelessly transmitting the power received from the power source; a detector for detecting a quantity of energy stored in the transmission coil; and a controller for adjusting an intensity and a transmission pattern of the power supplied to the transmission coil based on the detection result, wherein the controller controls the power source to supply the power at a predetermined period through a time-division scheme to determine an existence state of the wireless power receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Woo Kil Jung
  • Patent number: 9722464
    Abstract: Embodiments of a gas turbine engine actuation system are provided, as are embodiments of a high temperature actuator and methods for the manufacture thereof. In one embodiment, the gas turbine engine actuation system includes an actuated gas turbine engine component and a high temperature actuator, which has a rotor mechanically linked to the actuated gas turbine engine component and a stator surrounding at least a portion of the rotor. The stator includes, in turn, a coil support structure having a plurality of spokes extending radially therefrom. A plurality of pre-formed electromagnetic coils is circumferentially distributed about the coil support structure. Each of the plurality of pre-formed electromagnetic coils is inserted over at least one of the plurality of spokes in a radial direction. The stator further includes an inorganic dielectric material in which each of the plurality of pre-formed electromagnetic coils is at least partially embedded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Eric Passman, James Piascik, Robert Franconi, Jimmy Wiggins, Leroy Allen Fizer
  • Patent number: 9722465
    Abstract: A tooth of a stator has a tapered shape in which a tooth width decreases toward a distal end portion thereof. A winding is formed of an edgewise winding wound around the tooth in a row. The winding is supplied with power so that a terminal on a base portion side of the tooth may have a higher voltage than that of a terminal on the distal end portion side thereof. A tooth width Th of the base portion is set within the range of Tmin<Th<1.25Tha defined by a tooth width Tha that maximizes an index using an outer radius and a core back width of a stator core, a clearance of the windings in the slot, a winding width, an air gap between the teeth and the winding, a pitch of the slot, and an inclination angle of the winding, and a permissible lower limit Tmin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Moriyuki Hazeyama, Hideaki Arita, Yoshihiro Miyama, Akihiro Daikoku
  • Patent number: 9722466
    Abstract: A rotary electric machine includes a stator in which a plurality of armatures each have a coil formed by a winding wire wound in plural layers around bobbins mounted to a magnetic pole tooth, which are disposed annularly on an inner circumference of a cylindrical frame. The coil is formed by the winding wire being wound with a constant feed pitch in parallel with slots of the bobbins in plural layers. The winding wire forming a first layer of the coil is shifted by half the feed pitch between a left side and a right side of a center axis of the coil as viewed from a plane perpendicular to a stacking direction of a stacked iron core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironori Tsuiki, Shinichiro Yoshida, Yutaro Shirai, Hiroyuki Akita, Masaya Inoue, Daisuke Shijo, Shogo Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9722467
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided armature windings of a rotating electrical machine, in which a 3-phase winding of two layers including upper and lower layers is constituted of phase belts having an electrical phase difference of 60° in between, pairs of upper coil pieces and lower coil pieces are contained in slots, the number of slots per pole per phase includes a fractional number, and a denominator thereof is an integral number greater than or equal to 4, wherein coil arrangement is carried out such that at least one coil piece in either of the upper or lower coil pieces included in two layers of upper and lower layers in one phase belt is replaced with a coil piece of an adjacent different phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kadek Fendy Sutrisna, Hiroaki Ishizuka, Masashi Okubo, Toshiyuki Aso, Takashi Ueda, Kazuma Tsujikawa, Hideyuki Hachiya, Daisuke Hiramatsu, Toru Otaka
  • Patent number: 9722468
    Abstract: A rotating electromechanical machine has a rotor having at least one current-carrying winding and at least one rotor-mounted sensor configured to sense a machine property or parameter during machine operation. Rotor-mounted circuitry dynamically modifies at least one property of the current-carrying winding during machine operation in response to the sensed machine property or parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9722469
    Abstract: A housing of a driving device, in particular an electric motor adjustment drive for a motor vehicle, has a housing opening, which is covered by a gas-permeable membrane, in particular a membrane that is impermeable to liquid. The housing opening is surrounded by a collar contour, which is interrupted locally at the circumference and within which the membrane lies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Wuerzburg
    Inventors: Andreas Schweichart, Peter Klingler
  • Patent number: 9722470
    Abstract: A rotating electric machine includes a rotation body driven to rotate, an accommodation body housing the rotation body, a first power-supply member electrically connected to a positive electrode of a power source, a second power-supply member electrically connected to a negative electrode of the power source, an insulation layer contacting outer peripheral surfaces of the first and second power-supply members, and a conductive layer contacting the insulation layer on an opposite side of the insulation layer from the outer peripheral surfaces of the first and second power-supply members. The conductive layer is electrically connected to the accommodation body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Honda, Akira Shiga, Kaname Egawa
  • Patent number: 9722471
    Abstract: An electric drive contains an electric motor for generating a driving force and a transmission for transmitting the driving force. The electric motor has a motor housing, a rotor arranged in the motor housing, and a motor shaft which bears the rotor. The transmission has at least two transmission elements which are coupled in terms of the transmission of force. The electric drive furthermore contains a drive housing for accommodating the electric motor and the transmission. Moreover, the motor shaft is mounted by at least a first radial bearing and a second radial bearing and braced transverse to its axis of rotation. The second radial bearing being arranged radially offset to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Wuerzburg
    Inventors: Peter Klingler, Maik Brumme
  • Patent number: 9722472
    Abstract: Provided are embodiments of systems, computer medium and computer-implemented methods for harvesting human energy from an employee. The techniques including determining an amount of energy harvested, and selectively enabling/disabling one or more electronic user devices based at least in part on the amount of energy harvested. The amount of energy harvested including kinetic energy and neural energy. The kinetic energy having been harvested by a kinetic energy system including one or more kinetic energy harvesting devices that harvest kinetic energy generated by physical activity of an employee. The neural energy having been harvested by a neural energy system that includes one or more neural energy harvesting devices that harvest neural energy generated by neural activity of the employee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Samantha Horseman, Ronald Monsen
  • Patent number: 9722473
    Abstract: The invention relates to a construction machine such as a road paver with an electric generator. The construction machine comprises a hydraulic oil system for hydraulic functions that also cools the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: JOSEPH VOGELE AG
    Inventors: Martin Buschmann, Michael Diesner, Philipp Stumpf
  • Patent number: 9722474
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an inverter-integrated electric compressor which, even with the connector of a power source-side cable configured to be connected directly to a P-N terminal on a circuit board, reduces the stress on the circuit board by support by a high voltage electric component and can implement this support with high precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES AUTOMOTIVE THERMAL SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Hattori, Masahiko Asai
  • Patent number: 9722475
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for winding coils of dynamoelectric machines, wherein a coil comprises members formed of leg portions (19a, 190a). The leg portions (19a, 190a) being inserted in slots (17, 170) of cores (18, 180) of the dynamo electric machine, wherein the slots (17, 170) are provided with insulation members (33, 330) for lining the walls of the slots (17, 170). The leg portions (19a, 190a) are inserted in the slots (17, 170) of the cores (18, 180) of the dynamoelectric machines. A passage member (20, 200) having passages (22, 220) is provided aligned with a core (18 ,180) to align the passages (22, 220) with the slots (17, 170). The area (23, 230) adjacent an edge of a passage (22) is aligned with the end (32, 320) of an insulation member (33, 330) of a slot (17, 170) for engaging the end (32, 320) of the insulation member (33, 330) during insertion of the leg portions (19a, 190a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ATOP S.P.A
    Inventors: Stefano Niccolini, Massimo Ponzio
  • Patent number: 9722476
    Abstract: Self-centering electromagnetic transducers, such as linear motors and generators, are disclosed. In one embodiment, an electromagnetic transducer includes an outer yoke made of a ferromagnetic material, and a coil assembly including a plurality of loops of electrically conductive wire, wherein the coil assembly is substantially surrounded by the outer yoke. The electromagnetic transducer further includes a magnet, and an inner yoke made of ferromagnetic material. The magnet is disposed within the outer yoke such that the coil assembly surrounds the magnet. The inner yoke is disposed within the magnet, and the magnet is free to translate. The electromagnetic transducer further includes at least one high-reluctance zone positioned within the outer yoke and/or the inner yoke. In some embodiments, the electromagnetic transducer includes one or more actuators that vary a width of one or more high-reluctance zones to change a spring rate of the electromagnetic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Cincinnati Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Andreas Fiedler
  • Patent number: 9722477
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a high-efficiency stepping motor in which a magnetic force of an exciting coil is made to effectively contribute to a rotating operation of a rotator. [Solution] The present stepping motor (50) uses permanent magnets (22) having inside a substantially cylindrical inner peripheral surface, and is disposed with a substantially columnar exciting coil (26) inside the inner peripheral surface. Moreover, turning on/off of current application to the exciting coil (26) and the application direction are switched when the permanent magnet (22) and the exciting coil (26) have reached a specific position. Repulsion and attraction that act on both ends of the exciting coil (26) can thereby be made to contribute to a rotary motion of the stepping motor (50). Therefore, the stepping motor (50) can obtain a high conversion efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Shinobu Nogami
  • Patent number: 9722478
    Abstract: A stepping motor may include a rotor having a rotation shaft and a permanent magnet, a fixed body having a cylindrical stator provided with a plurality of pole teeth so as to face the permanent magnet, an urging member which urges the rotor toward one side in a motor axial line direction, a supported face of the rotor which faces the one side in the motor axial line direction, and a support face of the fixed body which slidably supports the supported face of the rotor on the one side with respect to the supported face. When a first sliding load which is a total sliding load applied to the rotor is “Ta”, a detent torque acted on the rotor is “Td”, and a dynamic torque acted on the rotor by the stator is “Te”, then “Ta”, “Td” and “Te” satisfy the following expression: “Td”<“Ta”<“Te”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshio Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9722479
    Abstract: The invention concerns a windmill including a rotatable transverse flux electrical machine (TFEM) comprising a stator portion; and a rotor portion rotatably located in respect with the stator portion, the rotor portion including an alternate sequence of magnets and concentrators radially disposed about a rotation axis thereof; the stator portion including at least one phase, the at least one phase including a plurality of cores cooperating with a coil disposed about the rotation axis, each core including a skewed pair of poles to progressively electromagnetically engage an electromagnetic field of respective cooperating concentrators. The invention is also concerned with a plurality of elements located in desired positions in the TFEM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: EOCYCLE TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Raphael Nadeau, Daniel Massicotte, Eric Adams, Simon Cote, Patrice Fortin, Jean-Francois Bernier-Synnott
  • Patent number: 9722480
    Abstract: A linear drive for a miniaturized optical system, as used for example in an endoscope, includes a stator and an armature. The stator has a coil with two stator pole shoes arranged in axial direction, and two magnetic field sensors arranged at the outer side of the stator pole shoes. The armature has permanent magnets which are polarized in opposite directions, and a center armature pole shoe between the two permanent magnets, and an armature pole shoe at each side of the permanent magnet, opposite to the center armature pole shoe in axial direction. The magnetic field of the outer armature pole shoe goes completely or only in part, dependent from the armature position, through the magnetic field sensor and thus generates a position-dependent signal. This signal can be used for measuring and/or controlling the position of the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Kelp
  • Patent number: 9722481
    Abstract: Disclosed is a voice coil motor, the motor including a mover having a bobbin equipped with a lens and a coil block secured to an outer circumference of the bobbin; a stator having a magnet that is disposed in such a way as to face the coil block; elastic members coupled to a lower end of the bobbin and connected to both ends of the coil block; a base supporting the elastic members and the stator; and a cover can covering the mover, the stator and the base, with an opening being formed in the cover can to expose the lens therethrough, wherein each of the elastic members includes a terminal portion that extends between the cover can and a side surface of the base, the terminal portion including a short-circuit prevention portion so as to inhibit a short-circuit between the terminal portion and the cover can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sanghee Lee
  • Patent number: 9722482
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a buck converter and regulation loop with pulse skipping modulation (PSM) and auto-transition to pulse frequency modulation (PFM) comprising of a peak current loop configured to provide a method of generating a constant minimal inductor peak current, a system configured to provide a method of skipping pulses utilizing a pulse skipping modulation (PSM) mode of operation, and, the peak current loop configured to provide a method of auto-transition from the pulse skipping modulation (PSM) to a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventors: Guillaume de Cremoux, Nicolas Borfigat
  • Patent number: 9722483
    Abstract: A voltage regulator has an input terminal and a ground terminal. The voltage regulator includes a high-side device, a low side device, and a controller. The high-side device is coupled between the input terminal and an intermediate terminal. The high-side device includes first and second transistors each coupled between the input terminal and the intermediate terminal, such that the first transistor controls a drain-source switching voltage of the second transistor. The low-side device is coupled between the intermediate terminal and the ground terminal. The controller drives the high-side and low-side devices to alternately couple the intermediate terminal to the input terminal and the ground terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Volterra Semiconductor LLC
    Inventors: Marco A. Zuniga, Chiteh Chiang, Yang Lu, Badredin Fatemizadeh, Amit Paul, Jun Ruan, Craig Cassella
  • Patent number: 9722484
    Abstract: A noise filter circuit uses open loop signal processing to process the signal that causes the noise and generate a signal to be fed back into the system to cancel noise currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Juergen Stahl, Thomas Antonius Duerbaum, Jens Goettle, Alexander Pawellek, Anton Cornelis Blom, Hans Halberstadt, Frans Pansier
  • Patent number: 9722485
    Abstract: A switching power supply device includes a switching circuit and a control circuit. The switching circuit includes multiple switching elements, an inductor, and a capacitor. The control circuit compares an input voltage of the switching circuit with a predetermined threshold voltage set for an operation switch, and controls the switching circuit to perform the operation switch between at least two power control operations based on a comparison result. The at least two power control operations includes at least two of a buck operation, a buck-boost operation, or a boost operation. The control circuit further performs an inrush current restriction operation in response to the operation switch in order to restrict a flowing of an inrush current to one of the switching elements, which turns on and outputs the input voltage through the inductor in response to the operation switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Mikami, Yoshiyuki Kawase, Toru Itabashi
  • Patent number: 9722486
    Abstract: A first detector compares an electric signal to be monitored with a first threshold. A second detector compares the electric signal with a second threshold. A first memory stores setting data of the first threshold. A second memory stores setting data of the second threshold. An interface circuit receives data from an external processor, and writes the data thus received to the first memory and the second memory. The protection circuit is configured such that data writing to the first memory is possible only when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Shinozaki, Isao Yamamoto, Shinya Karasawa, Shigenobu Shimohagi, Jun Maede
  • Patent number: 9722487
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and integrated circuits are disclosed for controlling a power converter. In one example, a controller includes a peak current reference module configured to output a peak current reference. The controller further includes a valley current reference module configured to output a valley current reference. The controller further includes one or more comparators configured to compare a current through the power converter to the peak current reference and the valley current reference, to turn a gate switch of the power converter on when the current through the power converter falls to the valley current reference, and to turn the gate switch of the power converter off when the current through the power converter rises to the peak current reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Andriyanto Halim, Siew Lee Cheong, Attila Tomasovics
  • Patent number: 9722488
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technique for substantially preventing, in a power converter including a boost power factor correction section, the power factor correction section from starting an intermittent operation even if the ripple voltage of its smoothing capacitor has increased. The converter includes: a power factor correction section including a booster circuit boosting an input voltage supplied from a rectifier section and a smoothing capacitor smoothing an output of the booster circuit; and a control section correcting a power factor by controlling the booster circuit. The control section makes correction to the amount of boost of the booster circuit such that an output voltage of the smoothing capacitor does not become lower than the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Ishizeki, Kentarou Taoka, Masahide Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9722489
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for mixed charge pumps with voltage regulator circuits is disclosed. An example apparatus comprises a first charge pump circuit configured to provide a first output, a second charge pump circuit configured to provide a second output, a plurality of coupling circuits configured to voltage couple and current couple the first output and the second output to a common node to provide a regulated voltage, and a feedback circuit configured to regulate the first output and the second output based on the regulated voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaojiang Guo, Qiang Tang
  • Patent number: 9722490
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus, such as a power-supply controller, includes a generator and an adjuster. The generator is configured to provide a switching signal that causes a power supply to generate a regulated output signal, and the adjuster is configured to impart a condition to the power supply while the power supply is operating in a first mode, the condition being approximately equal to a condition that the power supply would have if the power supply were operating in a second mode. For example, such an apparatus may be able to reduce or eliminate a transient on a regulated output signal (e.g., a regulated output voltage) when a power supply transitions from a first operating mode, such as a pulse-frequency-modulation (PFM) mode, to a second operating mode, such as a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: INTERSIL AMERICAS LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Archibald
  • Patent number: 9722491
    Abstract: A method and apparatus operate a switchmode power supply. The apparatus can include a pulse width modulation controller that can produce a first pulse width modulation signal at a first frequency. The apparatus can include a switchmode power supply switching element including a control terminal. The apparatus can include a harmonic filter coupled between the pulse width modulation controller and the control terminal of the switching element. The harmonic filter can provide a second pulse width modulation signal at a second frequency to the control terminal of the switching element. The second frequency can be higher than the first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: Daniel H. Wagner
  • Patent number: 9722492
    Abstract: A direct current (DC)-DC converter that includes a first switching converter and a multi-stage filter is disclosed. The multi-stage filter includes at least a first inductance (L) capacitance (C) filter and a second LC filter coupled in series between the first switching converter and a DC-DC converter output. The first LC filter has a first LC time constant and the second LC filter has a second LC time constant, which is less than the first LC time constant. The first LC filter includes a first capacitive element having a first self-resonant frequency, which is about equal to a first notch frequency of the multi-stage filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Levesque, William David Southcombe, David E. Jones, Scott Yoder, Terry J. Stockert
  • Patent number: 9722493
    Abstract: Power converters that can allow for the transfer of DC power between a ground-referenced bus and a floating system are provided. In one embodiment, the power converter includes a ground-referenced DC bus associated with a DC voltage. The power converter further includes a first switching element, a second switching element, and a third switching element coupled in series between the ground-referenced DC bus and a ground reference. The power converter further includes a floating system associated with a floating DC voltage. The floating system can include a first terminal coupled to a first node between the first switching element and the second switching element. The floating system can further include a second terminal coupled to a second node between the second switching element and the third switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bennett Steven Sheron, Lukas Mercer Hansen, Wayne Allen Schulz
  • Patent number: 9722494
    Abstract: A controller for a multiphase converter comprises a first stage controller for producing a first gate drive signal to turn on a first power transistor of a first boost converter; a delay element configured to produce a delayed signal by delaying the first gate drive signal by half a cycle length; a time difference detection element configured to: output a turn on command based on a zero crossing detection (ZCD) signal indicating that one or more zero current conditions of a second boost converter of the multiphase converter are met and the delayed signal; and a second stage controller configured to assert a second gate drive signal to turn on a second power transistor of the second boost converter based on the turn on command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Giuseppe Scappatura
  • Patent number: 9722495
    Abstract: System and method for regulating a power conversion system. An example system controller includes a signal processing component and a driving component. The signal processing component is configured to receive a feedback signal associated with an output signal of a power conversion system and generate a processed signal based on at least information associated with the feedback signal. The driving component is configured to generate a drive signal based on at least information associated with the processed signal and output the drive signal to a switch in order to affect a primary current flowing through a primary winding, the drive signal being associated with a demagnetization period corresponding to a demagnetization process of the power conversion system. The signal processing component is further configured to, sample and hold the feedback signal a plurality of times during the demagnetization period to generate a plurality of sampled and held signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yunchao Zhang, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 9722496
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of compensating for transmission voltage loss from a switching power supply, can include: (i) receiving a sampling signal that represents an output current of the switching power supply; (ii) delaying the sampling signal to generate a delayed sampling signal; (iii) converting the delayed sampling signal to generate a compensation signal; and (iv) regulating an output voltage of the switching power supply based on the compensation signal to compensate for the transmission voltage loss from the output voltage transmission to a load such that a voltage at the load is maintained as substantially consistent with an expected voltage at the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Xiaoru Xu, Yunlong Han
  • Patent number: 9722497
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for regulating a power conversion system. An example system controller includes a driving component and a detection component. The driving component is configured to output a driving signal to a switch associated with a first current flowing through a primary winding of a power conversion system, the switch including a first switch terminal related to a first voltage and a second switch terminal related to a second voltage, the driving signal being associated with a plurality of switching periods. The detection component is configured to receive an input signal associated with a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage, detect at least one valley of the input signal in magnitude during a detection period for the first switching period, and output a detection signal based on at least information associated with the input signal to affect the driving signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lieyi Fang, Chao Yao, Xiuhong Zhang, Yunchao Zhang
  • Patent number: 9722498
    Abstract: A control circuit for switching power converters with synchronous rectifiers is disclosed for providing start-up and shut-down protection. The control circuit for switching power converters with synchronous rectifiers includes a device for blocking the driving signals to the synchronous rectifiers, a voltage sampling circuit, a reference voltage, and a comparator. The comparator compares a sample voltage to a reference voltage to determine when to block and when to admit driving signals to the synchronous rectifiers. The control circuit for switching power converters with synchronous rectifiers is particularly useful for minimizing component damage due to start-up and shut-down transients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Martin Plesnik
  • Patent number: 9722499
    Abstract: Energy transfer element circuitry for use in a power converter includes a cancellation shield winding wound around an energy transfer element core. A first trimming capacitor is coupled to a first end of the cancellation shield winding to adjust a shield response of the cancellation shield winding. A second end of the cancellation shield winding is unconnected. A primary winding is wound around the energy transfer element core. A balance shield winding is wound around the energy transfer element core. A second trimming capacitor is coupled to a second end of the balance shield winding to adjust a shield response of the cancellation shield winding. A first end of the balance shield winding is unconnected. A secondary winding is wound around the energy transfer element core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Martin
  • Patent number: 9722500
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a power conversion circuit having first, second, third, and fourth switches, and a controller. The controller generates a first pulse signal for controlling the turning on and off of the first and fourth switches and a second pulse signal for controlling the turning on and off of the second and third switches, based on a circuit current flowing in the power conversion circuit and a voltage of an AC power source. The turning on and off of the switches causes the power conversion device to have a flowing current in which a high frequency component is mixed with a low frequency component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yutaka Usami
  • Patent number: 9722501
    Abstract: A brushless variable transformer. Variable autotransformers, use brushes, and as such, have moving parts requiring maintenance and periodic cleaning of the brushes. A variable transformer without brushes is advantageous in that it eliminates the cleaning and maintenance of brushes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Abbie Gougerchian