Using Choke And Switch Across Source Patents (Class 323/222)
  • Patent number: 11923774
    Abstract: A switching power supply apparatus includes switching elements that generate switching current flowing through an inductor, a switching control circuit, and an inductor current detection circuit that detects current flowing through the inductor. The inductor current detection circuit is composed of a time constant circuit including a detection capacitor and a detection resistor that are connected in series to each other and is connected in parallel to the inductor. A time constant of the inductor current detection circuit has characteristics varied with frequency or temperature. This compensates variation of equivalent series resistance of the inductor with respect to the frequency or variation thereof with respect to the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Hosotani
  • Patent number: 11901803
    Abstract: A driver includes a low-resistance charging path between a supply voltage rail and a first output node, a high-resistance charging path between the supply voltage rail and the first output node, an inverter coupled to the first output node and configured to enable and disable the low-resistance charging path, and a high-resistance discharging path between the first output node and a second output node. The first output node is coupled to a control terminal of a pass gate transistor in some implementations. The low-resistance charging path charges a voltage on the first output node to a threshold voltage of the pass gate transistor, and the high-resistance charging path charges the voltage on the first output node greater than the threshold voltage of the pass gate transistor. The high-resistance discharging path discharges the voltage on the first output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Bernhard Wolfgang Ruck, Ruediger Kuhn, Oliver Nehrig
  • Patent number: 11881777
    Abstract: This DC-pulse power supply device is provided with: a DC power supply; a pulse unit (20) for generating a pulse output using a step-up chopper circuit connected to the DC power supply; and a voltage superimposing unit (30A, 30B) connected to a DC reactor of the step-up chopper circuit. The voltage superimposing unit (30A, 30B) superimposes an amount (Vc, VDCL2) corresponding to a superimposed voltage on the output voltage of the step-up chopper circuit. The pulse unit (20) outputs, in a pulse form, the output voltage (Vo) on which the amount (Vc, VDCL2) corresponding to the superimposed voltage is superimposed by the voltage superimposing unit (30A, 30B). The amount corresponding to the superimposed voltage is superimposed on the pulse output of the step-up chopper circuit, thereby raising the output voltage of the pulse output of the step-up chopper circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: KYOSAN ELECTRIC MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Itsuo Yuzurihara, Toshiyuki Adachi, Tomohiro Yoneyama, Koichi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 11863073
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes an output terminal, a reference voltage source, an error amplifier, and a compensation circuit. The error amplifier is coupled to the output terminal and the reference voltage source. The error amplifier is configured to generate an error signal representative of a difference between a voltage at the output terminal and a reference voltage provided by the reference voltage source. The compensation circuit is coupled to the error amplifier. The compensation circuit includes a resistor, a capacitor, and a switch control circuit. The resistor is coupled to the error amplifier. The capacitor is coupled to the resistor. The switch control circuit is configured to modulate connection of the resistor to the capacitor based on a switching frequency of the DC-DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Narayanan Seetharaman, Julian Leonhard Becker Ferreira, Puneet Sareen, Stefan Dietrich
  • Patent number: 11824451
    Abstract: A multi-phase buck-boost converter circuit comprises a buck circuit stage, a boost circuit stage, and a control circuit. The buck circuit stage is connected to an input of the buck-boost converter circuit to receive an input voltage. The boost circuit stage includes multiple boost circuits connected in parallel. The boost circuit stage is coupled to the buck circuit stage and an output of the multi-phase buck-boost converter circuit. Each boost circuit includes an inductor coupled to the buck circuit stage. The control circuit operates the multiple boost circuit stages out of phase with respect to each other in a boost mode, operates the buck circuit stage in a buck mode, and operates the multiple boost circuit stages out of phase with respect to each other and operates the buck circuit stage in a buck-boost mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Dongwon Kwon, Min Kyu Song, Jindong Zhang, Min Chen
  • Patent number: 11791619
    Abstract: A combination motor control device includes a power circuit (180) structured to sense voltage and/or current flowing through the combination motor control device, a semiconductor switching and interruption circuit (170) including a number of solid state transistors and being operable to turn on to allow power to flow through the combination motor control device and to turn off to stop allowing power to flow through the combination motor control device, and a control circuit (190) structured detect faults in power flowing through the combination motor control device based on the sensed voltage and/or current, to control the semiconductor switching and interruption circuit (170) to provide a motor starter and/or motor controller functionality, and to control the semiconductor switching and interruption circuit (170) to turn off in response to detecting a fault in power flowing through the combination motor control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Huaqiang Li, Thomas Ruchti
  • Patent number: 11777546
    Abstract: A binary receiver combines a fast amplifier with a relatively slow amplifier for noise rejection. Both the fast and slow amplifiers employ hysteresis. The fast amplifier has relatively lower hysteresis, meaning that its sensitivity is a less effected by prior data values but more susceptible to glitch-induced errors. Conversely, the slow amplifier has relatively higher hysteresis and rejects glitches but introduces undesirable signal-propagation delays. A state machine taking input from both amplifiers allows the receiver to filter glitches without incurring a significant data-propagation delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Panduka Wijetunga
  • Patent number: 11770075
    Abstract: A method of setting a synchronous rectifier on-time value includes determining that a time interval has occurred, receiving a number of triangular current mode (TCM) pulses measured during the time interval, and determining a pulse comparison value equal to a number of switching period pulses during the time interval minus the number of TCM pulses during the time interval. The method also includes increasing the synchronous rectifier on-time if the pulse comparison value is greater than or equal to a threshold and decreasing the synchronous rectifier on-time if the pulse comparison value is less than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Nexgen Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Anders Lind
  • Patent number: 11764669
    Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein may relate to power converters, and may more particularly relate to multi-stage hybrid power converters, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: The Trustees of Princeton University, pSemi Corporation
    Inventors: Minjie Chen, Yenan Chen, David Giuliano
  • Patent number: 11764695
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement and to an actuating method for a DC voltage converter, in particular a DC voltage converter with phase-shifted full-bridge topology, wherein power can also be transmitted from the primary side to the secondary side when the electrical voltage on the primary side undershoots the product of the electrical voltage on the secondary side and the transmission ratio of a transformer in the DC voltage converter. In this way, for example, a capacitor on the primary side of the DC voltage converter can be discharged to a safe, low voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Kienzler, Emiliano Gudino Carrizales, Jan Riedel
  • Patent number: 11764663
    Abstract: A power supply circuit that generates an output voltage from an AC voltage inputted thereto. The power supply circuit includes a rectifier circuit rectifying the AC voltage, an inductor receiving a rectified voltage from the rectifier circuit, a transistor controlling an inductor current flowing through the inductor, and an integrated circuit switching the transistor based on the inductor current and the output voltage. The integrated circuit includes a sample-and-hold circuit that samples-and-holds a voltage corresponding to the rectified voltage in a predetermined timing, an output circuit that outputs a limit voltage based on the voltage held by the sample-and-hold circuit, indicating a limit value for limiting the inductor current, and a signal output circuit that receives the limit voltage and a voltage corresponding to the inductor current, to thereby output a signal to turn off the transistor upon determining that a current value of the inductor current exceeds the limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takato Sugawara
  • Patent number: 11750099
    Abstract: Quasi-Constant On-Time Controller. At least one example embodiment is a method of operating a power converter, comprising: charging an inductor of a switching power converter, each charging has an on-time; and then discharging the inductor while providing current to the load; and repeating the charging and the discharging at a switching frequency. During the repeating, the example method may comprise: adjusting the switching frequency proportional to a voltage difference between an output voltage and a setpoint voltage; generating an on-time reference proportional to a frequency difference between the switching frequency and a setpoint frequency, the on-time of each charging of the inductor is based on the on-time reference; and modifying the on-time proportional to the voltage difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Alessandro Zafarana
  • Patent number: 11742743
    Abstract: A switching regulator clamping the power or ground of the power switch driver is introduced. In a buck regulator, the first power switch is coupled between the input terminal of the buck regulator and the first terminal of an inductor. The second terminal of the inductor is coupled to the output terminal of the buck regulator. The second power switch is coupled between the first terminal of the inductor and an internal ground of the buck regulator. There is a driver power clamp configured to clamp the power terminal of the driver of the second power switch when the first power switch is turned off. In a boost regulator, a driver power clamp is configured to clamp the ground terminal of the driver of the power switch that couples the input inductor to an output terminal of the boost regulator when another power switch is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Chien-Lung Lee, Jin-Yan Syu
  • Patent number: 11728443
    Abstract: Systems and methods for shut-down of a photovoltaic system. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a computer system includes: communicating, via a central controller, with a plurality of local management units (LMUs), each of the LMUs coupled to control a respective solar module; receiving, via the central controller, a shut-down signal from a user device (e.g., a hand-held device, a computer, or a wireless switch unit); and in response to receiving the shut-down signal, shutting down operation of the respective solar module for each of the LMUs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Maxym Makhota, Daniel Eizips, Dan Kikinis
  • Patent number: 11716017
    Abstract: Systems and methods for efficient power conversion in a power supply in a power distribution system are disclosed. In particular, a low frequency transformer having high conversion efficiency is coupled to an input from a power grid. An output from the transformer is rectified and then converted by a power factor correction (PFC) converter before passing the power to the distributed elements of the power distribution system. By placing the transformer in front of the PFC converter, overall efficiency may be improved by operating at lower frequencies while preserving a desired power factor and providing a desired voltage level. The size and cost of the cabinet containing the power conversion circuitry is minimized, and operating expenses are also reduced as less waste energy is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: CORNING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ami Hazani
  • Patent number: 11682971
    Abstract: A system has an input and an output. The system includes a voltage converter, including first transistor coupled to the input and to a first switching node, second transistor coupled to the first switching node and to ground, third transistor coupled to a second switching node and to the output, fourth transistor coupled to the second switching node and to ground, and an inductor having a first terminal coupled to the first switching node and a second terminal coupled to the second switching node. The system also includes a controller coupled to the voltage converter, the controller including a state machine and a plurality of drivers to control the transistors of the voltage converter. The state machine is adaptable to cause the second and fourth transistors to conduct and the first and third transistors not to conduct, in response to current through the inductor being less than a current threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Johann Erich Bayer, Rüdiger Ganz, Ivan Shumkov
  • Patent number: 11658482
    Abstract: A system and method for combining power from DC power sources. Each power source is coupled to a converter. Each converter converts input power to output power by monitoring and maintaining the input power at a maximum power point. Substantially all input power is converted to the output power, and the controlling is performed by allowing output voltage of the converter to vary. The converters are coupled in series. An inverter is connected in parallel with the series connection of the converters and inverts a DC input to the inverter from the converters into an AC output. The inverter maintains the voltage at the inverter input at a desirable voltage by varying the amount of the series current drawn from the converters. The series current and the output power of the converters, determine the output voltage at each converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Adest, Lior Handelsman, Yoav Galin, Amir Fishelov, Guy Sella
  • Patent number: 11646660
    Abstract: Energetic firing device using a boost circuit to ensure an energetic fire circuit is charged to an All-Fire voltage even if a power source is not capable of providing necessary voltage. Boost circuit may be located between power source and energetic fire circuit and increase voltage provided by the power source when enabled. Boost circuit may be located between system logic and the energetic fire circuit and generate the All-Fire voltage when enabled. The boost circuit may generate the All-Fire voltage from an enable signal and a pulse train provided by the system logic. The boost circuit may be a switching power supply that may regulate the All-Fire voltage generated. The boost circuit may be a capacitive voltage multiplier. The boost circuit may remove power from being provided to the energetic fire circuit until enabled thus reducing system power and increasing safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Action Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Francis Mattia, Richard Frantz, Matthew Kordbegli
  • Patent number: 11645983
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present application disclose a booster circuit and a driving method thereof, a backlight module and a display device. The booster circuit includes: a booster sub-circuit and an oscillation elimination sub-circuit; wherein the booster sub-circuit includes a power supply element, an inductor, and a first switch; the booster sub-circuit is configured to provide, at a connection node, a voltage higher than a voltage provided from the power supply element; and wherein a parasitic capacitance occurs between the connection node and a ground terminal; the oscillation elimination sub-circuit is configured to prevent a current generated when the parasitic capacitance discharges from flowing through the inductor so as to eliminate an oscillation generated between the parasitic capacitance and the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: CHONGQING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yanwu Chen, Bo Xu
  • Patent number: 11646664
    Abstract: Techniques for a sinking and sourcing power stage are provided. In an example, a power stage circuit can include a first power transistor configured to couple to a first input power rail, a second power transistor configured to couple to a second input power rail, an output node configured to couple to a load and to couple the first power transistor in series with the second power transistor between the first and second input power rails, and a controller configured to operate the first and second power transistors in a first mode to source current to the load and to operate the first and second power transistors in a second mode to sink current from the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventor: Hio Leong Chao
  • Patent number: 11632039
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for a power supply circuit. The integrated circuit includes an oscillator circuit configured to output an oscillator voltage that rises with a predetermined slope from a first voltage, upon an inductor current of the power supply circuit becoming smaller than a first predetermined value, an error voltage output circuit configured to output an error voltage corresponding to a difference between a reference voltage and a feedback voltage corresponding to the output voltage, a drive circuit configured to turn on and off a transistor of the power supply circuit respectively upon the inductor current becoming smaller than the first predetermined value, and upon the oscillator voltage reaching a second voltage that is based on the error voltage, and an output circuit configured to change the first and/or second voltage based on a rectified voltage obtained by full-wave rectification of the AC voltage, and to output the changed voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Endo, Takato Sugawara
  • Patent number: 11619960
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods of using such apparatuses. One of the apparatuses includes a control circuitry to generate error information based on a value of the feedback voltage generated from an output voltage, generate output information to control a power switching unit based on the error information provided to a forward path in the control circuitry, and adjust a gain of the forward path based on a gain factor computed based at least in part on a first value of the output information in order to cause the output information to have a second value. The control circuitry also computes a value of correction information when the output voltage is within a target value range, and adjusts the control information, based on the correction information, when the output voltage is outside the target value range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Tarun Mahajan, Ramnarayanan Muthukaruppan, Rajesh Sidana, Srinath B. Pai
  • Patent number: 11606034
    Abstract: Multiphase power processing circuit and a method for control thereof are disclosed, with which, exchange of data is achievable between a multiphase controller and any of power processing circuits via pins of at least two of the three categories, Enable, PWM and Temperature Indicator, of the multiphase controller. The exchanged data may include, but is not limited to, a phase identifier, an over-current protection threshold, an over-current protection threshold, an over-temperature protection threshold, a current sampling gain, a current sampling bias, a temperature sampling gain, a temperature sampling bias, a drive speed and the like of the power processing circuit. In this way, improvements in system flexibility and security are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: SHANGHAI BRIGHT POWER SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shungen Sun
  • Patent number: 11601043
    Abstract: A control circuit for controlling an AC-DC power supply, can include: a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal generating circuit configured to generate a PWM signal in accordance with a reference voltage and a current sampling signal representing an inductor current flowing through an inductor of the AC-DC power supply, and to control a power stage circuit of the AC-DC power supply in accordance with the PWM signal; and a reference voltage generating circuit configured to generate the reference voltage based on an input voltage of the AC-DC power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Longqi Wang, Jianxin Wang
  • Patent number: 11594880
    Abstract: A system and method for combining power from DC power sources. Each power source is coupled to a converter. Each converter converts input power to output power by monitoring and maintaining the input power at a maximum power point. Substantially all input power is converted to the output power, and the controlling is performed by allowing output voltage of the converter to vary. The converters are coupled in series. An inverter is connected in parallel with the series connection of the converters and inverts a DC input to the inverter from the converters into an AC output. The inverter maintains the voltage at the inverter input at a desirable voltage by varying the amount of the series current drawn from the converters. The series current and the output power of the converters, determine the output voltage at each converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Adest, Lior Handelsman, Yoav Galin, Amir Fishelov, Guy Sella
  • Patent number: 11594881
    Abstract: A system and method for combining power from DC power sources. Each power source is coupled to a converter. Each converter converts input power to output power by monitoring and maintaining the input power at a maximum power point. Substantially all input power is converted to the output power, and the controlling is performed by allowing output voltage of the converter to vary. The converters are coupled in series. An inverter is connected in parallel with the series connection of the converters and inverts a DC input to the inverter from the converters into an AC output. The inverter maintains the voltage at the inverter input at a desirable voltage by varying the amount of the series current drawn from the converters. The series current and the output power of the converters, determine the output voltage at each converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Adest, Lior Handelsman, Yoav Galin, Amir Fishelov, Guy Sella
  • Patent number: 11588408
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a circuit including a transformer having a primary winding coupled to an input port configured to receive an input voltage and a secondary winding configured to provide an output voltage at an output port, controller circuitry configured to switch on and off a current through the primary winding so that energy is transferred to the secondary winding while switching and supply circuitry connected to the controller circuitry, wherein the supply circuitry is coupled to an auxiliary winding of the transformer and configured to provide a supply voltage for the controller circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Francesco Ciappa, Giuseppe Scappatura
  • Patent number: 11581800
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed that use an alternating current bridge circuit to determine whether an impedance change occurs at an input to DC-DC voltage converter(s). Techniques are also disclosed for a DC power distribution system that utilizes isolation circuitry coupled to an input of DC-DC voltage converter(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Khalid W. Al-Mufti
  • Patent number: 11575260
    Abstract: A system and method for combining power from DC power sources. Each power source is coupled to a converter. Each converter converts input power to output power by monitoring and maintaining the input power at a maximum power point. Substantially all input power is converted to the output power, and the controlling is performed by allowing output voltage of the converter to vary. The converters are coupled in series. An inverter is connected in parallel with the series connection of the converters and inverts a DC input to the inverter from the converters into an AC output. The inverter maintains the voltage at the inverter input at a desirable voltage by varying the amount of the series current drawn from the converters. The series current and the output power of the converters, determine the output voltage at each converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Adest, Lior Handelsman, Yoav Galin, Amir Fishelov, Guy Sella
  • Patent number: 11569746
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a DC coupled electrical converter for converting an input voltage applied to first connections to an output voltage comprising: a boost converter connected on the input side to the first connections; an inverting buck-boost converter connected on the input side to the first connections; and a series circuit including two capacitors, the series circuit connected to an output-side positive pole of the boost converter and to an output-side negative pole of the inverting buck-boost converter. An output-side negative pole of the boost converter and an output-side positive pole of the inverting buck-boost converter are connected to a center connection between the capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Christopher Fromme, Marvin Tannhäuser
  • Patent number: 11569660
    Abstract: A system and method for combining power from DC power sources. Each power source is coupled to a converter. Each converter converts input power to output power by monitoring and maintaining the input power at a maximum power point. Substantially all input power is converted to the output power, and the controlling is performed by allowing output voltage of the converter to vary. The converters are coupled in series. An inverter is connected in parallel with the series connection of the converters and inverts a DC input to the inverter from the converters into an AC output. The inverter maintains the voltage at the inverter input at a desirable voltage by varying the amount of the series current drawn from the converters. The series current and the output power of the converters, determine the output voltage at each converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Adest, Lior Handelsman, Yoav Galin, Amir Fishelov, Guy Sella
  • Patent number: 11557967
    Abstract: A voltage regulator for providing power to a system includes feedforward circuitry receiving a signal from the system indicating the current needed by the system, and the feedforward circuitry causes the voltage regulator to change the voltage regulator output current in response to the signal from the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Florian Feckl, Nigel Peter Smith, Erich Johann Bayer
  • Patent number: 11552545
    Abstract: A power converter with a negative current detection mechanism is provided. A negative current detecting circuit includes a first operational amplifier, a first transistor and a second transistor. A non-inverting input terminal of the first operational amplifier is connected to a second terminal of a sense resistor. An inverting input terminal of the first operational amplifier is connected to a first terminal of a first capacitor. Control terminals of the first and second transistors are connected to an output terminal of the first operational amplifier. A first terminal of the first transistor is connected to the second terminal of the sense resistor. A second terminal of the first transistor is grounded. A first terminal of the second transistor is connected to the inverting input terminal of the first operational amplifier and the first terminal of the first transistor. A second terminal of the second transistor is grounded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hsin-Tai Lin, Tzu-Yang Yen
  • Patent number: 11536750
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a current sensor unit includes: a rectification module, to convert an AC current to a pulsed DC current; a conversion module containing an energy storage element, to store energy based upon the pulsed DC current during a charging mode and to generate a power supply current based upon a voltage of the energy storage element; a mode switching module, bypassed by the conversion module during operation in the charging mode, and bypassing the conversion module during operation in an energy release mode; a current sensor module, to detect a pulsed DC current flowing back from the conversion module or mode switching module; a control module, to acquire electrical energy from the power supply current, determine that operation is in the charging mode or energy release mode based upon the voltage of the energy storage element, and acquire a detection value provided by the current sensor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Aktlengesellschaft
    Inventor: Shou Qi Xu
  • Patent number: 11522439
    Abstract: A switching regulator clamping the power or ground of the power switch driver is introduced. In a buck regulator, the power switch is coupled between the input terminal of the buck regulator and the first terminal of an inductor. The second terminal of the inductor is coupled to the output terminal of the buck regulator. There is a driver power clamp configured to clamp the ground terminal of the driver of the power switch. In a boost regulator, an inductor is provided which has a first terminal coupled to an input terminal of the boost regulator and has a second terminal coupled to the negative supply terminal of the power supply through a power switch. The boost regulator has a driver power clamp that is configured to clamp the power terminal of the driver of the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Chien-Lung Lee, Jin-Yan Syu
  • Patent number: 11496050
    Abstract: A device includes a first FET coupled between first and drive terminals, and is configured to turn on/off responsive to a PWM signal having a first/second state, respectively. A second FET is coupled between the first and drive terminals and is configured to turn on responsive to the PWM signal having the first state, and turn off responsive to expiration of a particular delay after the second FET turns on. A third FET is coupled between drive and second terminals, and is configured to turn on/off responsive to the PWM signal having the second/first state, respectively. A fourth FET is coupled between the drive and second terminals, and is configured to turn on responsive to the PWM signal having the second state if a switching terminal has a first voltage, and turn off responsive to the PWM signal having the first state or the switching terminal having a second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Xufeng Wu, Wei Zhao, Yueming Sun
  • Patent number: 11487310
    Abstract: A light emitting load driving device includes a first constant current source structured to be serially connected to a first light emitting load group; a second constant current source structured to be serially connected to a second light emitting load group; a first load connection terminal structured to be connected to the first light emitting load group; a second load connection terminal structured to be connected to the second light emitting load group; and a control circuit structured to be supplied a first voltage applied to the first load connection terminal, a second voltage applied to the second load connection terminal, and a reference voltage applied to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is structured to select a minimum voltage between the first voltage and the second voltage, and the control circuit is structured to equalize the minimum voltage and the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: ROHM Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Sadakazu Murakami
  • Patent number: 11467612
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments may include a method of applying a charging pulse to an output capacitor, detecting satisfaction of a charging threshold, ending the charging pulse in response to the detecting the satisfaction of the charging threshold, and discharging the sampling capacitor in response to the detecting the satisfaction of the charging threshold. In some embodiments, once a sampling capacitor voltage drops below a discharging threshold, a charging pulse is applied. Exemplary embodiments may also include an apparatus with a controller coupled to an input node, a timer coupled to the controller, an inductive charger coupled to the controller, to an input node, and to an output node, and a sensor coupled to the controller and the output node. Exemplary embodiments may further include an apparatus where a sensor with a sampling capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the output node and a second terminal coupled to the controller and the inductive charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Renesas Eledctronics America Inc.
    Inventors: Ratko Mandic, John Fogg, Julian Zhu, Daniel Zheng
  • Patent number: 11469674
    Abstract: A power conversion system is provided. The power conversion system includes N power conversion circuits. Each power conversion circuit includes an input, an output, two switching power conversion units and at least one resonant capacitor. The input and output are configured to receive an input voltage and output an output voltage respectively. Each switching power conversion unit includes a plurality of switches and a winding. The plurality of switches operates periodically according to a switching period. A dotted terminal of one winding is electrically coupled to an undotted terminal of the other winding. The two windings are magnetically coupled to each other to form a transformer. In one switching period, the resonant capacitor stores an energy or outputs the stored energy as the corresponding switch is turned on or off. A resonance is generated between the resonant capacitor and inductor with a resonant frequency and a resonant period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Da Jin, Yahong Xiong, Yingjun Li, Qinghua Su
  • Patent number: 11463012
    Abstract: An architecture for a multi-port AC/DC Switching Mode Power Supply (SMPS) with Power Factor Correction (PFC) comprises power management control (PMC) for PFC On/Off Control and Smart Power Distribution, and optionally, a boost follower circuit. For example, in a universal AC/DC multi-port USB-C Power Delivery (PD) adapter, PMC enables turn-on and turn-off of PFC dependent on output port operational status and a combined load of active output ports. A microprocessor control unit (MCU) receives operational status, a voltage sense input and a current sense input for each USB port, computes output power for each USB port, and executes a power distribution protocol to turn-on or turn-off PFC dependent on the combined load from each USB port. Available power may be distributed intelligently to one or more ports, dependent on load. In an example embodiment, turning-off PFC for low load and low AC line input increases efficiency by 3% to 5%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: GaN Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Xuechao Liu, Paul Wiener
  • Patent number: 11444531
    Abstract: A voltage converter, which is configured as a step-down converter for reducing an input direct voltage to an output direct voltage lower than the input direct voltage, includes a first step-down converter circuit arrangement, having a first semiconductor switching element with a first control input, a first coupled choke having a first freewheeling diode, and a first input capacitor and a first output capacitor. A second step-down converter circuit arrangement, includes a second semiconductor switching element having a second control input, a second coupled choke having a second freewheeling diode, and a second input capacitor and a second output capacitor. An associated control device controls the voltage converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Zehetbauer, Gerhard Werner, Matthias Zimmermann, Roberto Scibilia
  • Patent number: 11444443
    Abstract: Disclosed are a household appliance, an apparatus and a method for detecting an arc fault in the household appliance. The apparatus includes: a grid current detecting unit, configured to detect a current from a power grid to the household appliance so as to generate a first current detecting signal; a filter protecting unit, configured to perform an attenuation processing on an arc signal in the power grid; a load current detecting unit, configured to detect an actual running current in a load of the household appliance so as to generate a second current detecting signal; and a control unit connected to the grid current detecting unit and the load current detecting unit respectively, and configured to identify and compare the first current detecting signal and second current detecting signal so as to determine a source of the arc fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignees: GD MIDEA AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhiwei Mai, Zhaozhong Ruan, Biying Wang
  • Patent number: 11431244
    Abstract: A capacitor management circuit for a power management circuit, where the power management circuit includes a bidirectional converter having first and second ports, the capacitor management circuit includes a plurality of capacitor modules, and where each capacitor module includes: a switch and a capacitor coupled in series between two terminals of the second port; and a control circuit configured to detect state information of the corresponding capacitor, and to control operation state of the switch, in order to realize independent control of each capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Yunliang Ma, Lingdong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11394307
    Abstract: Resonant converters with wide voltage gain ranges are achieved by controlling at least one of the primary side resonant circuit and the secondary side rectifier circuit. A switch is included in at least one of the primary or secondary sides, and control of the switch according to a selected mode determines an output voltage of the resonant converter. Embodiments accommodate wide input and output voltage ranges, and are suitable for use in AC-DC power adapters for portable devices with different voltage requirements, such as cell phones, tablets, and notebook computers, as well as in DC-DC converter applications including electric vehicle power systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Queen's University at Kingston
    Inventors: Yang Chen, Yan-Fei Liu
  • Patent number: 11382191
    Abstract: An electric power apparatus for an electric arc furnace comprises at least one electrode and is connectable to a power network to supply to the electrode the electric energy to generate an electric arc to melt a metal mass. The apparatus comprises an electric regulation unit interposed and connected to the power network and to the electrode and configured to regulate at least one electric quantity for powering the electrode. The apparatus comprises at least one detection device to detect the electric quantity, interposed between the electrode and the electric regulation unit, a positioning device to move the at least one electrode nearer to/away from the metal mass to be melted and a control and command unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: DANIELI AUTOMATION S.P.A.
    Inventors: Antonello Mordeglia, Enzo Gigante
  • Patent number: 11368085
    Abstract: A snubber circuit connected to a rectifying circuit including a reference potential node, an output potential node, and the snubber circuit comprises a snubber capacitor; a snubber diode; and a snubber resistor, wherein a negative electrode of the snubber capacitor is connected to the reference potential node, an anode of the snubber diode is connected to the switch node and a cathode of the snubber diode is connected to a positive electrode of the snubber capacitor, one end of the snubber resistor is connected to the positive electrode of the snubber capacitor, and another end of the snubber resistor is connected to the output potential node, and a reverse recovery time of the snubber diode is longer than a reverse recovery time of the rectifying element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Shiomi
  • Patent number: 11360152
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a controller, an optional current source coupled to the controller, a voltage sampler coupled to the controller, a current detector coupled to the controller, and memory coupled to the controller, where memory includes code segments executable by the controller to: (a) apply a current pulse to a cell; (b) measure a voltage of the cell during the current pulse; (c) calculate an impedance of the cell from the measured voltage; and (d) determine an operational state of the cell from the impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Rainer Fasching, Georgy Zerkalov
  • Patent number: 11355962
    Abstract: The invention describes an apparatus (100) for transferring electrical power to an electrical load (110), comprising: a primary circuit (115), an electrical source (105) adapted for supplying said primary circuit with a direct input voltage, a secondary circuit (120) adapted for feeding the electrical load (110), and a coupling device (125) adapted for transferring electrical power from the primary circuit (115) to the secondary circuit (120), wherein the primary circuit (115) comprises: a converter (300) adapted for receiving the input voltage, for modifying said input voltage and for outputting said modified voltage, and a wave generator (190) comprising at least one switching circuit provided with at least one active switch (250), which is adapted for receiving in input the modified voltage in output from the converter (300), for converting said modified voltage into voltage waves and for applying said voltage waves to said coupling device (125), and wherein said converter comprises at least one active swi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: EGGTRONIC ENGINEERING S.P.A.
    Inventors: Igor Spinella, Enrico Dente, Giovanni Mascia
  • Patent number: 11347083
    Abstract: The Present invention is a measuring system including a measuring device 10 that is attached to a living body, the measuring device 10 being configured to store information about an amount of electric power generated using sugars in a body fluid or bodily secretion of a living body, and a container device 15 for storing the measuring device 10, the container device 15 receiving the information about the amount of electric power generated, which is stored in the measuring device 10, using a near-field wireless communication method when the measuring device 10 is stored in the container device 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: JAPAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
    Inventor: Kiichi Niitsu
  • Patent number: 11349392
    Abstract: A power voltage generator includes a booster, a voltage sensor, a constant voltage controller and a constant current controller. The booster is configured to boost an input voltage to an output voltage based on an on-off operation of a switch. The voltage sensor is configured to generate a sensing voltage by sensing the output voltage. The constant voltage controller is configured to generate a first switching signal to control the switch by comparing the sensing voltage with a reference voltage. The constant current controller is configured to generate a gain based on a ratio of an electrode signal of the switch and a target signal by comparing the electrode signal of the switch with the target signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventors: Kyun Ho Kim, Jung-taek Kim, Joon Suk Baik, Sang Su Han, Jae Woo Ryu, Myung Ho Lee