Using Choke And Switch Across Source Patents (Class 323/222)
  • Patent number: 10523013
    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: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: TIGO ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Maxym Makhota, Daniel Eizips, Dan Kikinis
  • Patent number: 10516373
    Abstract: Example embodiments provide a device that includes a power transformer with a first output voltage terminal providing a first voltage and a second output voltage terminal providing a second voltage, a voltage regulator coupled to one or more of the first output voltage terminal and the second output voltage terminal, and a power storage element that stores power supplied by the second output voltage, and the first output voltage terminal supplies power to a remote entity until a load power requirement of the remote entity exceeds a threshold power level at which time the power storage element is used to provide power from the second output voltage terminal to the remote entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: David F. Baretich, Simon J. Broadley
  • Patent number: 10514404
    Abstract: A current sensor circuit is provided. The circuit includes a voltage integration circuit connected in parallel to an inductive element. The voltage integration circuit is configured to integrate an inductive element current through the inductive element between a first potential at a first end of the inductive element and a second potential a second end of the inductive element. The voltage integration circuit provides a voltage analog of the inductive element current. A voltage current convertor circuit is electrically connected to the voltage integration circuit. The voltage current convertor circuit is configured to convert the voltage analog of the voltage integration circuit to an output current that is proportional to the inductive element current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Paul Ranucci
  • Patent number: 10516336
    Abstract: A digital average-input current-mode control loop for a DC/DC power converter. The power converter may be, for example, a buck converter, boost converter, or cascaded buck-boost converter. The purpose of the proposed control loop is to set the average converter input current to the requested current. Controlling the average input current can be relevant for various applications such as power factor correction (PFC), photovoltaic converters, and more. The method is based on predicting the inductor current based on measuring the input voltage, the output voltage, and the inductor current. A fast cycle-by-cycle control loop may be implemented. The conversion method is described for three different modes. For each mode a different control loop is used to control the average input current, and the control loop for each of the different modes is described. Finally, the algorithm for switching between the modes is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Amir Fishelov, Meir Gazit, Nikolay Radimov
  • Patent number: 10511162
    Abstract: A circuit protection method comprises operating a range extender in a normal mode, wherein the range extender comprises at least one DC-to-DC converter having an input side and an output side and at least one bypass device coupled between the input side and the output side. The operating of the range extender in the normal mode comprises converting an input voltage at the input side into an output voltage at the output side by the DC-to-DC converter, wherein the output voltage is higher than a critical voltage. The method further comprises operating the range extender in a safety mode when the output voltage is lower than the critical voltage. The operating of the range extender in the safety mode comprises bypassing the DC-to-DC converter by the bypass device, wherein the critical voltage is lower than or equal to the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Fei Li
  • Patent number: 10511166
    Abstract: A voltage transformer comprising a first input terminal and a second input terminal. An input voltage can be applied between the first input terminal and the second input terminal, a switch branch having a switch, wherein the switch is designed to close a circuit path between the first input terminal and the second input terminal, and a reverse polarity protection diode, which, in the switch branch, is connected in series with the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Holger Ludwig, Volker Weskamp
  • Patent number: 10511226
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to regulate a switched mode power supply. An example power converter includes a first comparator, a ramp generator coupled to a first input of the first comparator, and a current balance circuit coupled to the ramp generator, the current balance circuit including a transistor including a first current terminal, a second current terminal, and a gate, a multiplier circuit coupled to the first current terminal, a second comparator coupled to the gate, a first current source coupled to the first current terminal and the multiplier circuit, and a second current source coupled to the second current terminal and the second comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Sanjay Gurlahosur, Karen Huimun Chan
  • Patent number: 10511187
    Abstract: A sequential extraction control device for use in a 3-phase DC/AC converter. The 3-phase converter has three single-phase DC/AC converters, each controlled by a respective PWM extractor. Duty factor adjustments are made depending on a current portion of an AC power cycle. A sequential regulator causes the PWM extractors to have non-overlapping duty cycles such that extractions of each of the single-phase DC/AC converters is performed in sequence, rather than concurrently. This improves the efficiency in extracting power from the DC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: LT LIGHTING (TAIWAN) CORP.
    Inventor: Geoffrey Wen-Tai Shuy
  • Patent number: 10505449
    Abstract: A vehicle electric drive includes a battery, an inverter, and a power converter electrically between the battery and inverter. The power converter includes series switches activated at a predefined switching frequency, a series capacitor and non-gapped inductor, and an inductor electrically between the non-gapped inductor and series switches. The non-gapped inductor defines an inductance proportional to an inverse of a product of a capacitance of the capacitor and the switching frequency squared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Baoming Ge, Lihua Chen
  • Patent number: 10505440
    Abstract: A switching power converter and a method for receiving an input power at an input node and outputting an output power at an output node is presented. The switching power converter has a high-side switching device coupled between the input node and the output node, a low-side switching device coupled between the input node and a predetermined voltage level, and an active snubber circuit for suppressing voltage peaks at the input node. The active snubber circuit has a first capacitor coupled to the output node. The first capacitor is charged during a first dead time after the low-side switching device has been switched OFF and before the high-side switching device is switched ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Kuan-Ta Lu
  • Patent number: 10498240
    Abstract: A DC/DC converter is provided which can be produce easily and inexpensively with an alternating current component with which a superimposed direct current is reduced in an output voltage (ripple). A C+DC/DC converter includes an input and output, a series arm which is arranged between the input and the output and in which at least one first inductor and first capacitor are arranged, and a capacitor arranged in a first shunt arm at the output. A second shunt arm arranged parallel to the first shunt arm is equipped with a first switch and a second switch arranged in series and a second inductor such that the first connection of the inductor is connected to a point between the first inductor and the first capacitor and the second connection of the inductor is connected to a point between the first and the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Novum engineerING GmbH
    Inventor: Sören Birth
  • Patent number: 10498218
    Abstract: A switching circuit apparatus includes: a first capacitance provided between a first port terminal and a the first terminal of a switching circuit unit, a second capacitance provided between the first terminal and a conductor part, and a first inductance provided between a second port terminal and a second terminal of the switching circuit unit. The switching circuit apparatus is provided with: a first capacitor connected between the first port terminal and the second port terminal, and a second inductor connected between the second terminal and the conductor part. The second inductor has such an inductance that a ratio of the inductance of the second inductor to the first inductance is equal to a ratio of the first capacitance to the second capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taiki Nishimoto, Akira Minegishi, Atsushi Yamamoto, Masahiro Yamaoka, Tohlu Matsushima, Osami Wada
  • Patent number: 10491100
    Abstract: A combined alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) power converter is disclosed. In embodiments, the power converter includes an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter, a bridge rectifier, and a boost converter. The EMI filter is configured to receive an electrical signal from a power source. The bridge rectifier is coupled to the EMI filter and includes at least four diodes arranged in a diode bridge configuration. The boost converter is coupled to the bridge rectifier and includes a switched DC path and a switched AC path. The switched DC path includes a DC transistor and the switched AC path includes an AC transistor. The switched AC path can also include one or more diodes and/or switching elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. Mayfield, Daniel J. Kaplan, Jeffrey J. Deloy, Tristan J. Kendall
  • Patent number: 10492272
    Abstract: A LED sensing light driving circuit includes a rectifying filter circuit, a buck power-supplying circuit, a constant current driving circuit, a sensing signal generating circuit, and a hysteresis comparator circuit. The rectifying filter circuit has a DC output terminal supplies power to the sensing signal generating circuit and the hysteresis comparator circuit via the buck power-supplying circuit. The sensing signal generating circuit reduces a voltage at a first input terminal of the hysteresis comparator circuit in response to increase or decrease of surrounding luminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: XIAMEN ECO LIGHTING CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Wenchang Huang, Hemu Ye, Wei Liu, Zongjin Liu, Jie Zhang, Xiaobo Chen
  • Patent number: 10491106
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement, a signal processor, and a method of interleaved switched boundary mode power conversion are disclosed. The circuit arrangement comprises at least an input for receiving an input voltage from a power supply; an output to provide an output voltage to a load; a first interleaved circuit comprising a first energy storage device and a first controllable switching device; one or more secondary interleaved circuits, each comprising a secondary energy storage device, and a secondary controllable switching device; and a signal processor, connected to the controllable switching devices. The signal processor comprises a first switching cycle controller, configured for cycled zero-current switching operation of the first controllable switching device; and one or more secondary switching cycle controllers, configured for cycled zero-current switching operation of the secondary controllable switching devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Santosh Manjunath Bhandarkar, Alex Dumais
  • Patent number: 10491131
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for switched boundary mode power conversion, a corresponding signal processor and a method of switched boundary mode power conversion are provided. The circuit arrangement comprises an input for receiving an input voltage from a power supply, an output to provide an output voltage to a load, an energy storage device, a controllable switching device, and a signal processor. The signal processor is connected to the controllable switching device and being configured for zero-current switching of the switching device, wherein the signal processor is further configured to determine at least one switching point for the zero-current switching from a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal, wherein the first voltage signal corresponds to the input voltage and the second voltage signal corresponds to the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Limited
    Inventors: Santosh Manjunath Bhandarkar, Alex Dumais
  • Patent number: 10476375
    Abstract: A multiple-output integrated power factor correction system includes, for example, a processor that is formed in a substrate and is arranged to monitor each voltage output of two or more output stages of a power supply and in response to generate an individual voltage error signal for each monitored output stage. A combined output voltage error signal is generated in response to each of the individual voltage error signals. The voltage input to the power supply and the total inductor current of the power supply are monitored and used to generate a combined output voltage control signal in response to the monitored input voltage total inductor current as well as the combined output voltage error control signal. Each individual output voltage control signal for each monitored output stage is generated in response to each of the respective generated individual voltage error signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Shamim Choudhury, Zhenyu Yu, Zhong Ye
  • Patent number: 10476384
    Abstract: A variable high voltage charge-pump system includes a plurality of unregulated switching stages and a plurality of regulated switching stages arranged in a cascaded configuration. The unregulated switching stages receive unregulated voltage input signals, and the regulated switching stages receive regulated voltage input signals. An amplifier generates the regulated voltage input signals to bring the output voltage to a desired value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Danielle Morton, Chinwuba Ezekwe
  • Patent number: 10468969
    Abstract: An electronic circuit (1), in particular DC-link circuit, has a high side DC voltage level, an input and an output, the electronic circuit comprising a DC-link capacitor (4), an inrush circuit (3), for limiting an input current to a predetermined level, connected between a supply line (6) of the DC-link capacitor and the input. The inrush circuit includes a charge resistor element (Rc), a switch element (9), connected in parallel with the charge resistor element, and a control (7, 8) controlling the switch element. The control is adapted to turn the switch element on when the input current falls below a predetermined current level. The control includes a trigger control element (8) adapted to detect a differential voltage across the switch element and to turn the switch element off when the detected differential voltage rises above a predetermined threshold voltage. A method is provided for operating the electronic circuit (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: GRUNDFOS HOLDING A/S
    Inventors: Jan Knudsen, Niels Høgholt Petersen
  • Patent number: 10459862
    Abstract: A system includes a multi-conductor bus, a master device coupled to the multi-conductor bus, and at least one slave device coupled to the multi-conductor bus. The multi-conductor bus has a clock line and a data line. The master device is arranged to transmit an address configuration sequence, and the at least one slave device is arranged to configurably determine its own address based on at least one portion of the address configuration sequence. The at least one slave device has a physical address configuration input coupled to either a fixed voltage potential or a changing voltage potential. The at least one slave device is arranged with a first address during a pre-initialization state and arranged with a second address during a post-initialization state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Eugenio Miluzzi, Marco Leo, Marco Castellano
  • Patent number: 10461645
    Abstract: A power supply system for recovering degraded performance of a solar cell due to PID is provided. The power supply system includes a solar cell, a non-isolated type DC/DC converter that boosts a DC voltage from the solar cell input from an input end with a predetermined boosting ratio and outputs a DC voltage from an output end, and an inverter that converts a DC voltage output from the output end of the DC/DC converter into an AC voltage, the power supply system being connected to an external power system for system interconnection, wherein the power supply system includes a potential adjustment device for applying a voltage of an external power system to the solar cell via the inverter to set a ground potential of a negative electrode of the solar cell to positive when an output of the solar cell is smaller than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tsubota, Kenji Kobayashi, Takuji Kumagai, Naoki Maki, Kazumi Tsuchimichi
  • Patent number: 10461349
    Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel cell system including a fuel cell, includes generating electric current via an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas by the fuel cell including a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. An impedance of the fuel cell is detected. It is determined whether the impedance reaches a threshold impedance. The electric current generated by the fuel cell is increased when the impedance is determined to reach the threshold impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuki Koiwa, Osamu Ogami, Yuji Matsumoto, Kenji Taruya
  • Patent number: 10461658
    Abstract: A control device controls a switching converter having an input alternating supply voltage and a regulated direct voltage at the output terminal. The converter comprises a switch and the control device is adapted to control the on time period and the off time period of said switch for each cycle. The control device has a first input signal representative of the current flowing through at least one element of the converter and comprises a zero crossing detector adapted to detect at least one pair of first and second zero crossings of said first signal for each switching cycle, said second zero crossing immediately following the first zero crossing and occurring in opposite direction with respect to the first zero crossing. The control device comprises a synchronizer adapted to synchronize the start of the on period with each second zero crossing of said first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Claudio Adragna
  • Patent number: 10454373
    Abstract: A multi-phase buck voltage regulator includes first and second buck converters, first and second low pass filters, and a current balancing loop circuit. The first buck converter includes a first pair of power transistors and a first switch node. The second buck converter includes a second pair of power transistors and a second switch node. The low pass filters are coupled to their respective switch nodes. The current balancing loop circuit receives a filtered output of each filter. The current balancing loop generates a current balancing current signal to control a gain of a first voltage-to-current converter for the second buck converter. The duty cycle of the second buck converter is thereby adjusted, which in turn adjusts a current of the second buck converter to become closer to a current of the first buck converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Sanjay Gurlahosur
  • Patent number: 10454371
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide for a buck-boost circuit that is immune against being stuck in an undesirable mode of operation. The circuit does not require any additional intermediate states other than buck-mode and boost-mode when managing transitions between buck and boost mode. In certain embodiments, a robust and simple buck-boost topology ensures efficient and rapid transitions by operating comparators that are coupled to switching elements of the buck-boost in such a manner that the inductor current can be selectively monitored to detect an inductor current slope during a power transfer phase. Information about the current slope enables a controller to make a decision whether a transition to another state is appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Masini, Federico Mazzarella
  • Patent number: 10447146
    Abstract: For the purpose of power factor correction, an inductance (21) is supplied with an input voltage (Vin), wherein a controllable switching means (24) that is coupled to the inductance (21) is actuated in order to selectively charge and discharge the inductance (21). A control device (14) for actuating the switching means (24) is designed such that it actuates the switching means (24) selectively on the basis of one of a plurality of modes of operation. In a first mode of operation, a switch-on time is stipulated for the switching means (24) on the basis of a minimum waiting time and on the basis of a voltage that drops across the switching means (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: TRIDONIC GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Hans Auer, Peter Lampert
  • Patent number: 10439498
    Abstract: A boost converter disclosed herein may include boost circuits including: a diode including a cathode connected to a high-potential output wiring; a switching element including a terminal connected to an anode of the diode and a terminal connected to a low-potential wiring; and a reactor connected between the high-potential input wiring and the anode. A control circuit may energize, in a first operation, a first boost circuit when charge current is in a first range, and energize the first and a second boost circuits when the charge current is in a second range larger than the first range. The control circuit may energize, in a second operation, a third boost circuit when the charge current is in the first range, and energize the third and a fourth boost circuits when the charge current is in the second range. The first boost circuit is other than the third boost circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Manabu Uehara
  • Patent number: 10439575
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a differential power amplifier includes a pair of transistors, a transformer coupled to the drain terminals of the transistors, and an output transmission line. The differential power amplifier operates in a range of frequencies from a lower operating frequency to an upper operating frequency to provide a relatively linear gain between the lower operating frequency and the higher operating frequency. The drains of the transistors are coupled to the primary winding of the transformer. The output transmission line is coupled to the secondary winding of the transformer. The output transmission line further includes at least one inductor-capacitor (LC) circuit that is configured to match predetermined output impedance in view of the lower and upper operating frequencies of the differential power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: SPEEDLINK TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Che-Chun Kuo, Taiyun Chi, Thomas Chen
  • Patent number: 10439497
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a time-interleaved current-feedback droop function for multiphase buck converters. An example method includes outputting a first control signal to enable a first set of switches corresponding to a first voltage of a first phase from a multiphase converter, the first phase included in a plurality of phases; enabling a first current associated with the first phase to be measured by a sample and hold circuit associated with the first phase; sampling the first current; holding the first current, the first current based on a load current for the first phase of the multiphase converter; and outputting a droop voltage based on a plurality of currents corresponding to the plurality of phases of the multiphase converter, the plurality of currents including the load current for the first phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jian-Yi Wu, Yongjie Jiang, Haydar Bilhan, Anthony M. Hill
  • Patent number: 10439487
    Abstract: Converter devices and methods are disclosed. A supply voltage (Vcc), for example to supply a control circuit (11) controlling a switch (Q1), is generated using an additional current path (16) and a snubber circuit (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Yi-Chou Hsiao, Chia Jui Chang, Jin Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 10433383
    Abstract: A light emitting diode driving apparatus includes a control unit, a switch control circuit, a signal switch unit and a control power unit. The control power unit, the signal switch unit and a plurality of light emitting diode units are connected in series. The control power unit supplies power to the control unit. The control unit controls the switch control circuit to turn on the signal switch unit, so that a direct current power is through the signal switch unit to form a high-level part of a lighting signal for driving the light emitting diode units. The control unit controls the switch control circuit to turn off the signal switch unit, so that a low-level part of the lighting signal is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Semisilicon Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Wen-Chi Peng
  • Patent number: 10432093
    Abstract: A multiphase DC-DC converter includes a first phase circuit including a higher inductance inductor and a second phase circuit including a lower inductance inductor. An output of the inductors are tied together providing a Vout. A phase manager and current sharing (PMCS) block receives a feedback signal from a feedback network coupled between Vout and the PMCS block that receives current feedback from phase circuits. The PMCS block generates driver control signals at a first time when a load is requesting a lower load current for controlling the phase circuits to operate with a first current sharing ratio to provide the lower load current, and at a second time when the load is requesting a higher load current controls the phase circuits to operate at a second current sharing ratio that is different from the first current sharing ratio having a higher average second phase circuit current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kuang-Yao Cheng, Wenkai Wu, Yipeng Su
  • Patent number: 10432085
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for switched boundary mode power conversion, a corresponding signal processor and a method of switched boundary mode power conversion are provided. The circuit arrangement comprises an input for receiving an input voltage from a power supply, an output to provide an output voltage to a load, an energy storage device, a controllable switching device, and a signal processor. The signal processor is connected to the controllable switching device and being configured for zero-current switching of the switching device. The signal processor is further configured to determine an on-time period for the switching device in one or more switching cycles based on the output voltage and the output of a crossover frequency control module to provide an improved transient response characteristic of the circuit arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Santosh Manjunath Bhandarkar, Alex Dumais
  • Patent number: 10432087
    Abstract: A circuit for a switched-mode-power-supply. The switched-mode-power-supply is configured to: receive a current-control-signal; and provide an output-voltage based on the current-control-signal. The circuit comprises a controller, a current-limiter and a clamp-circuit. The controller is configured to: generate a control-voltage based on the difference between: (i) a sense-voltage, which is representative of the output-voltage of the switched-mode-power-supply; and (ii) a reference-voltage; generate a target-current-control-signal based on the control-voltage, wherein the target-current-control-signal is configured to adjust the current through the switched-mode-power-supply in order to bring the sense-voltage closer to the reference-voltage. The current-limiter is configured to provide the current-control-signal as the target-current-control-signal limited to a max-current-control-value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Benno Krabbenborg
  • Patent number: 10431424
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a parasitic capacitance compensation circuit for a switch is disclosed that includes a first inductor operably coupled between a first terminal and a second terminal, and a second inductor operably coupled between the first and second terminals and parallel to the first inductor. The second inductor is switched in when a peak voltage on the first and second terminals falls below a first voltage. The first inductance tunes out substantially all of a parasitic capacitance of the switch when the switch is OFF and the peak voltage is above the first voltage. The first and second inductances collectively tune out substantially all of the parasitic capacitance of the switch when the switch is OFF and the peak voltage is below the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Inventors: Anton Mavretic, Ian M. Costanzo
  • Patent number: 10425006
    Abstract: A method of controlling a voltage regulator includes regulating a voltage output by the voltage regulator to correspond to a target voltage, generating a voltage ramp that starts at a first voltage and ends at a second voltage and responsive to the voltage ramp, modifying the output voltage response of the voltage regulator based on one or more compensation parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Amir Babazadeh, Benjamim Tang
  • Patent number: 10411600
    Abstract: A driver coupled to a configurable load having a first load portion coupled to a second load portion at an intermediate node includes a first switch coupled to the intermediate node and to a battery voltage, and a second switch coupled to the second load portion and ground. A current steering control circuit of the driver is responsive to a feedback voltage associated with the intermediate node and is configured to generate a first switch control signal and a second switch control signal to control a slew rate of either the first switch or the second switch. The current steering control circuit can include a gate driver and a current steering amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Sutej Reddy Challa, Richard Garvey, George P. Humphrey
  • Patent number: 10411598
    Abstract: System controller and method for a power converter. For example, the system controller includes a first current controller configured to receive a first input signal and generate a first output signal based at least in part on the first input signal, a second current controller configured to receive a compensation signal and a second input signal and generate a second output signal based at least in part on the second input signal, and a drive signal generator configured to receive the first output signal and the second output signal, generate a first drive signal based at least in part on the first output signal and the second output signal, and generate a second drive signal based at least in part on the first output signal and the second output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haibo Li, Fagang Wang, Qiang Luo, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 10411599
    Abstract: A boost and LDO hybrid converter with dual-loop control is disclosed. In some implementations, a hybrid converter includes an inductor having a first terminal to receive an input voltage and a second terminal; an n-type metal oxide semiconductor device (nMOS) having a drain coupled to the second terminal of the inductor; a p-type metal oxide semiconductor device (pMOS) having a gate, a drain, and a source, the source coupled to the second terminal of the inductor; an output capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the drain of the first pMOS; and a controller having a switch driver and a buffer, wherein the controller is configured to use the switch driver to drive the gate of the first pMOS in a boost mode and to use the buffer to drive the gate of the first pMOS in a low drop out (LDO) mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Chunlei Shi, Jongrit Lerdworatawee, Yu Pu
  • Patent number: 10411596
    Abstract: A power regulator comprises a first power switch configured to carry a pulsed current, an input capacitor between a positive terminal of an input voltage bus and a return point, an output capacitor between a positive terminal of an output voltage bus and the return point and a protection device coupled between the return point and a common return point of the input voltage bus and the output voltage bus, wherein the pulsed current is configured to flow through the protection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hengchun Mao, Yan-Fei Liu, Renhua Wu
  • Patent number: 10404160
    Abstract: An auxiliary converter circuit for regulating an input current to a main switching converter circuit. The auxiliary converter circuit has a voltage detector for determining a change in a voltage across the auxiliary converter circuit, and a current sensor for sensing an input current to the main switching converter circuit. The auxiliary converter circuit also has a current compensation circuit that includes a comparator circuit arranged to compare the sensed input current with a reference current; and a controlled current circuit. The controlled current circuit is arranged to selectively provide a positive compensation current and a negative compensation current to the input current, based on the determined voltage change and the comparison, for suppressing harmonic distortion and electromagnetic interference in the input current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: AnApp Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Peter On Bon Chan
  • Patent number: 10404196
    Abstract: A backflow preventing device includes a backflow preventing element that is connected between a power supply and a load and that prevents electric current from flowing backward from the load side toward the power supply side, and a commutating device that performs a commutation operation for causing the electric current to flow to a commutation path connected in parallel with the backflow preventing element. A plurality of elements including at least one or more of elements constituting the commutating device are configured as a module, so that, for example, the device can be reduced in size. Moreover, a simplified heat-dissipation design and a simplified air-duct design can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Shimomugi, Koichi Arisawa, Takashi Yamakawa, Keisuke Uemura, Noriyuki Matsubara, Shinsaku Kusube, Kenta Yuasa, Akihiro Tsumura
  • Patent number: 10404170
    Abstract: A power supply unit includes: a first rectifying device connected to the direct current power source, a second rectifying device having an anode connected to the first rectifying device, a first condenser having one end connected to the second rectifying device, a second condenser connected to the second rectifying device, a third rectifying device having an anode connected to the second rectifying device, a resonance reactor connected to the third rectifying device and connected to the first condenser, s switching device connected to the direct current power source and connected the third rectifying device, an output reactor connected to the third rectifying device, an output condenser connected to the direct current power source and connected to the output reactor, an output rectifying device connected to the first condenser and connected to the direct current power source, a control circuit sending a gate signal to the switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Mai Uenaka, Yuuya Tanaka, Masaki Yamada, Yoshihiro Takeshima
  • Patent number: 10396666
    Abstract: System controller and method for a power converter. For example, the system controller includes a first current controller configured to receive a first input signal and generate a first output signal based at least in part on the first input signal, a second current controller configured to receive a compensation signal and a second input signal and generate a second output signal based at least in part. on the second input signal, and a drive signal generator configured to receive the first output signal and the second output signal, generate a first drive signal based at least in part on the first output signal and the second output signal, and generate a second drive signal based at least in part on the first output signal and the second output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haibo Li, Fagang Wang, Qiang Luo, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 10397992
    Abstract: In a power converter, a circuit determines an average value of an inaccessible current from an average value of an accessible current and a value of the operating duty cycle of the converter. A method of measuring an average value of an inaccessible current from a measured value of a current, in a power converter, by a duty cycle of a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, representing a duty cycle of the power converter. Coupling a voltage representing the measured value to an input of a low pass filter during a time period (D) and coupling the input of the low pass filter to a reference voltage during a time period (1?D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Isaac Cohen
  • Patent number: 10396765
    Abstract: A power amplifying apparatus includes a power circuit configured to generate operating power, a random pulse generation circuit configured to be supplied with the operating power and to generate a pulse width modulation signal of which a pulse width is randomly changed over time using an input radio frequency (RF) signal, and a charge pump circuit configured to be supplied with the operating power and to randomly perform a switching operation according to the pulse width modulation signal to generate a negative voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byeong Hak Jo, Jeong Hoon Kim, Hyun Paek, Jong Ok Ha
  • Patent number: 10389248
    Abstract: The present embodiments are directed to circuitry and techniques for operating a switching regulator, including in connection with transitions out of energy conservation modes during which a minimal amount of current is drawn from a power source such as a battery. According to certain aspects, embodiments of an energy conservation mode include provisions for maintaining high performance voltage regulation even in the face of a sudden increase in load requirements. These and other embodiments can further include various techniques for signaling an appropriate transition for exiting out of energy conservation mode and into a continuous conduction mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Byongho Park, Edward Coleman, Chris Jurado, Shawn Evans, Noboru Kagemoto, Daniel Zheng
  • Patent number: 10389346
    Abstract: A circuit may include a switching element configured to draw a positive current from a source/sink unit when the switching element is turned on, the source/sink unit including an inductance, the inductance emitting an excess positive current after the switching element is turned off. Additionally, the circuit may include a snubber circuit configured to absorb the excess positive current from the inductance of the source/sink unit, and deliver a negative current to the source/sink unit. In one example, the delivered negative current has a lower amperage and a longer duration than the positive current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Uwe Kirchner, Stefano De Filippis
  • Patent number: 10386877
    Abstract: An electronic circuit for voltage regulation includes a voltage regulator and a recovery boosting circuit. The recovery boosting circuit is configured to detect a voltage drop occurring in an output voltage of the voltage regulator, to generate (i) a first electrical current that is derived from the output voltage of the voltage regulator and (ii) a second electrical current that is derived from a supply voltage of the voltage regulator, to generate a pulse whose energy depends on the first electrical current and on the second electrical current, and to assist the voltage regulator in recovering from the voltage drop, by applying the pulse to the voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Nuvoton Technology Corporation
    Inventor: On Magen
  • Patent number: 10389243
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to a boost converter. The boost converter generally includes an inductor coupled to a first node, a first switch coupled between the first node and a reference node for the boost converter, and a feedback control circuit. The feedback control circuit may include a first input coupled to the first node, a second input coupled to a terminal of the first switch, and an output coupled to a control input of the first switch. The feedback control circuit may include a first amplifier having a first input coupled to the first input of the feedback control circuit and a second input coupled to a first reference voltage source. The feedback control circuit may also include a second amplifier having a first input coupled to a second reference voltage source and an output coupled to a power supply node of the first amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Subbarao Chakkirala