With Additional Series Regulator Patents (Class 323/224)
  • Patent number: 8541996
    Abstract: A power control device for performing switching control for an output voltage of a power supply device includes a signal generation circuit for comparing a difference between a value of the output voltage and a value of a first reference voltage with a value of a second reference voltage, and for stopping the switching control when a value of the difference is less than or equal to the value of the second reference voltage, and an adjuster circuit for adjusting the second reference voltage based on a ratio between a value of an input voltage and the value of the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Toshihiko Kasai, Hidenobu Ito
  • Patent number: 8542001
    Abstract: In a power circuit for reducing standby power consumption, a power supply is defined to include a primary power system and a stationary power system. The stationary power system outputs a stationary power after obtaining an input power. A control unit controls ON/OFF of the primary power system, obtains the stationary power as the required power, and receives a PS ON/OFF signal for triggering the control unit, so that the control unit controls the primary power system to supply a primary output power. The power supply includes a switch unit having two ends connected to a power circuit for outputting the stationary power and a virtual load respectively. The PS ON/OFF signal is provided for controlling the switch unit. If the switch unit does not receive the PS ON/OFF signal, it is OFF in a standby mode to avoid unnecessary power consumption of the virtual load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Zippy Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Tsun-Te Shih, Yu-Yuan Chang, Yi-Hua Wang, Heng-Chia Chang
  • Patent number: 8541991
    Abstract: A power converter and method of controlling the same for selected modes of operation. In one embodiment, the power converter includes a first power switch coupled to a source of electrical power and a second power switch coupled to the first power switch and to an output terminal of the power converter. The power converter also includes a controller configured to control an operation of the first and second power switches during selected modes of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Enpirion, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Dean Lopata, Ashraf W. Lotfi
  • Patent number: 8508203
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a control circuit of a switching regulator wherein a confirmation signal is generated to confirm that an upper gate switch has been turned off, to avoid shoot-through. The confirmation signal is generated by obtaining an upper gate sampling signal from a transistor in a level shift circuit which receives a resetting signal for turning off the upper gate switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chien Fu Tang, Isaac Y. Chen, Pei-kai Tseng
  • Patent number: 8492989
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a switched-mode power supply. It is also related to a LED lighting system and driver which comprise such a switched-mode power supply. In addition, the present invention is related to a method for electrically driving a load. According to the present invention, the switched-mode power supply is switched from a charging state, in which an energy storage is charged, to a discharging state, in which the energy storage feeds a load, when a current limit has been exceeded. This current limit is set proportional to an instantaneous voltage outputted by the rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Lioris B.V.
    Inventor: Pedro De Smit
  • Patent number: 8476885
    Abstract: A power arrangement that includes a monolithically integrated III-nitride power stage having III-nitride power switches and III-nitride driver switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Michael A. Briere
  • Patent number: 8476881
    Abstract: A power control device for performing switching control for an output voltage of a power supply device includes a signal generation circuit for comparing a difference between a value of the output voltage and a value of a first reference voltage with a value of a second reference voltage, and for stopping the switching control when a value of the difference is less than or equal to the value of the second reference voltage, and an adjuster circuit for adjusting the second reference voltage based on a ratio between a value of an input voltage and the value of the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Toshihiko Kasai, Hidenobu Ito
  • Patent number: 8476883
    Abstract: A compensation circuit has a resistor, a switch and a compensation capacitor. The resistor and the switch are connected in series between a power node and a compensation node. The compensation capacitor is connected to the compensation node, whose voltage is responsive to the output power source. For a predetermined period of time after the voltage falls below a predetermined value, the switch is open and no current flows through the resistor from the power node to the compensation node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Leadtrend Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Da-Chun Wei, Wen-Chung Yeh
  • Patent number: 8456143
    Abstract: A control technology which eliminates the need for changing the switching frequency even under light load where the on-time of a drive switching element becomes shorter than a minimum on-time dependent on the characteristics of the circuit in a synchronous rectification switching regulator. The synchronous rectification switching regulator includes a drive switching element for storing energy in a coil by applying a DC input voltage from a DC power supply to an inductor and permitting a current to flow, and a rectification switching element for rectifying the current of the inductor during an energy discharge period where the drive switching element is turned off. The timing for turning off the rectification switching element under light load is delayed so as to store energy in the inductor from the output, and the on-time is controlled to become longer as the load becomes lighter by the output from an error amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Heisuke Nakashima
  • Patent number: 8450988
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter comprises a high-side switch, a low-side switch connected to the high-side switch, and an output capacitance. An inductance has one end connected to the high-side switch and the low-side switch and another end connected to the output capacitance. A shunting device circulates current flowing through the inductance back to the inductance during a load reduction transition to control a voltage across the output capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Fan-Nin Kung
  • Patent number: 8446132
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for power conversion for fuzes and other electrical power consumers. A current monitor coupled to a power source signal generates a source current indicator. A controller generates a control signal responsive to the source current indicator. A filter well is coupled to the power source signal. An inductive switch circuit switchably grounds a rectified inductive load coupled to an output side of the filter well in response to the control signal, developing a pulsed power signal. A resonance rectifier presents substantially lossless resistive impedance for the pulsed power signal and rectifies the pulsed power signal to charge a charge storage device and generate a power output signal. The filter well, the inductive switch circuit, and the controller maintain the source current indicator within a predetermined current range by filtering the pulsed power signal and adjusting the control signal's frequency responsive to the source current indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Yost, John E. Overland, Jason A. Christensen
  • Patent number: 8446137
    Abstract: A method of controlling a pulse width modulated (PWM) voltage regulator including a control circuit of a power stage, and a circuit configured to determine a duration of charge phases and further configured to receive a charge signal and to generate a logic command may include controlling, using the control circuit, switches of the power stage as a function of the logic command at an end of a charge phase and at a start of a discharge phase of an output capacitance. The method may also include generating the charge signal to be one of enabled and disabled during charge phases and another of enabled and disabled during discharge phases, and delaying, at each PWM cycle, the logic command with respect to a previous PWM cycle to compensate at least one of a phase and a frequency difference between each PWM cycle and a reference clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventors: Adalberto Mariani, Giulio Renato Corva
  • Patent number: 8441238
    Abstract: A zero current detecting circuit is disclosed. The zero current detecting circuit includes a first zero current comparator for determining current variation on an inductor of a synchronous switching power converter so as to accordingly turn off a down-bridge transistor of the synchronous power converter; a second zero current comparator for determining whether the first zero current comparator turns off the down-bridge transistor too early or too late and outputting a comparison result, and a counter coupled to the second zero current comparator for ascending or descending a control bit according to the comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Anpec Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ke-Horng Chen, Tzu-Yang Yen
  • Patent number: 8436593
    Abstract: A boost circuit is used for power factor correction (PFC). In a low power application, transition mode control is utilized. However, switching frequency varies with different input voltages, and over a wide input voltage range, the switching frequency can become too high to be practical. To address this issue, a boost circuit is provided whose effective inductance changes as a function of input voltage. By changing the inductance, control is exercised over switching frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianwen Shao, Thomas Lea R. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 8432143
    Abstract: An arrangement comprising at least a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module in a string is disclosed. The first photovoltaic module and second photovoltaic module are electrically connected in parallel and arranged to provide a DC voltage to a voltage bus. Also, an electrical connecting device configured for connecting to a photovoltaic module is disclosed. The electrical connecting device comprises first and second contacts for receiving a first DC voltage from the photovoltaic module and third and fourth contacts configured for electrically parallel connection to a DC voltage bus for providing a second DC voltage, dependent on the first DC voltage, to the DC voltage bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Femtogrid Energy Solutions B.V.
    Inventor: Robert Schaacke
  • Patent number: 8427119
    Abstract: A power source apparatus includes a first converter having a reactor L1, a switching element Q1, and a rectifier D1; a second converter connected in parallel with the first converter and having a reactor L2, a switching element Q2, and a rectifier D2; a capacitor C1 connected to output ends of the first and second converters; a current detector R1 detecting a resultant current of currents of the first and second converters; a controller 13 driving the switching element Q1 and the switching element Q2; and a selector. In a case where the resultant current indicates a first reference value, if one of first and second drive signals of the controller is active, the active drive signal is deactivated, and if both the first and second drive signals are active, one of the first and second drive signals that is active longer than the other is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shohei Osaka
  • Patent number: 8415936
    Abstract: A multiphase DC-DC converter including at least one conversion path, multiple switch capacitance networks, and a multiphase switch controller. Each conversion path includes first and second intermediate nodes. Each switch capacitance network includes a capacitance coupled in parallel with an electronic switch and is coupled to one of the intermediate nodes. The switch controller controls the switch capacitance networks using zero voltage switching. Multiple phases may be implemented as multiple conversion paths each having first and second intermediate nodes coupled to first and second switch capacitance networks, respectively. A single conversion path may be provided with multiple switch capacitance networks coupled to each intermediate node for multiple phases. Alternatively, a common front end with a first intermediate node is coupled to one or more switch capacitance networks followed by multiple back-end networks coupled in parallel for multiple phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventor: Zaki Moussaoui
  • Patent number: 8410769
    Abstract: A power converter and method of controlling the same for selected modes of operation. In one embodiment, the power converter includes a first power switch coupled to a source of electrical power and a second power switch coupled to the first power switch and to an output terminal of the power converter. The power converter also includes a controller configured to control an operation of the first and second power switches during selected modes of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Enpirion, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Dean Lopata, Ashraf W. Lotfi
  • Patent number: 8400132
    Abstract: A circuit may generate a clock signal with a variable period given by a ratio between an initial switching period and a number of phase circuits through which a current of a multi-phase PWM voltage converter flows. The circuit may include an adjustable current generator driven by a signal representing the number of phase circuits through which the current flows and configured to generate a current proportional to the number of phase circuits through which the current flows, and a tank capacitor charged by the adjustable current generator. The circuit may include a comparator of a voltage on the tank capacitor with a threshold value configured to generate a pulse of the clock signal when the threshold value is attained, and a discharge path of the tank capacitor, the discharge path being enabled during the pulses of the clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventors: Osvaldo Enrico Zambetti, Daniele Giorgetti
  • Patent number: 8395362
    Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of controlling a dead time of a switching voltage regulator are disclosed. One method includes generating a regulated output voltage based upon a switching voltage. The method included generating the switching voltage through controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and a shunt switch element, wherein the dead time comprises time that both the series switch element and the shunt switch element are open. The duration of the dead time is adjusted based on a rate of change of the switching voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: R2 Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. C. Brown, Lawrence M. Burns
  • Patent number: 8390261
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement, includes output terminals that provide an output current and input terminals that receive a source current and a source voltage from a DC current source. A maximum power point tracker is coupled between the input terminals and the output terminals and a bypass circuit is coupled between the input terminals and the output terminals. The bypass circuit is configured to enter a bypass state dependent on the output current and dependent on the source current. The source current flows through the bypass circuit in the bypass state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Gerald Deboy
  • Patent number: 8384363
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a DC voltage to a lower DC voltage, provides for conducting current from an input terminal, through an inductor to charge a capacitor connected to the inductor at an output terminal and to provide a varying range of load current from the output terminal, alternately switching the input terminal between a supply voltage and a ground potential to produce a desired voltage at the output terminal that is lower than the supply voltage, while providing the varying range of load current, and disconnecting the input terminal from both the supply voltage and the ground potential to reduce an increase in voltage at the output terminal caused by a substantial reduction in the load current, while current through the inductor adjusts in response to the reduced load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: L&L Engineering, LLC
    Inventors: Paul W. Latham, II, Stewart Kenly
  • Patent number: 8384369
    Abstract: A microprocessor operated controller device and associated method for modifying an AC input power to provide a reduced power AC output power to a load when coupled to the controller device. The AC output power has a series of cut-out pulses in each half cycle of the AC output power waveform. The device includes a switching system having a plurality of switching elements for positioning the series of cut-out pulses in each half cycle of a waveform of the AC input power to result in said reduced power AC output power and a switch control system for coordinating opening and closing of the plurality of switching elements during positioning of the series of cut-out pulses. The switch control system includes a synchronization system for synchronizing the switching system with timing of each half cycle of the AC input power waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Cavet Holdings Limited
    Inventor: Vito Rinaldi
  • Patent number: 8384368
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes a converter having an input power source Vin, a reactor L1, a switching element Q1, and a rectifying element D1, a smoothing capacitor C1 connected to an output terminal of the converter, and a controller 10b to turn on/off the switching element and thereby control power to be outputted from the converter. The controller has a pulse generator 15 to generate a pulse signal according to an input voltage to the converter and an output voltage from the converter, the pulse signal being used to turn on/off the switching element. The controller also has an adjuster 18 to mask an ON time of the pulse signal for a predetermined time and thereby provide the pulse signal with an adjusted ON time, the adjusted ON time determining a duty ratio at which the switching element is turned on/off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shohei Osaka
  • Patent number: 8373395
    Abstract: A power source apparatus includes: a switch circuit to receive an input voltage; a control circuit to switch the switch circuit from a second state to a first state at a timing corresponding to a comparison result between a feedback voltage generated based on a first voltage corresponding to an output voltage and a reference voltage generated based on a standard voltage set in accordance with the output voltage; and a voltage generation circuit to add a compensation voltage generated by voltage-converting a time period in which the switch circuit switches from the second state to the first state to one of the first voltage and the standard voltage, to generate the feedback voltage, to add a slope voltage which changes at a slope to one of the first voltage and the standard voltage, and to generate the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Makoto Yashiki
  • Patent number: 8368364
    Abstract: In order to achieve an object to reduce a surge voltage and suppress noise generation, the present invention provides a DC-DC converter with a snubber circuit, which boosts a voltage Vi of a DC power supply. The snubber circuit includes: a series circuit connected to both ends of a smoothing capacitor Co and including a snubber capacitor Cs and a snubber resistor Rs; a snubber diode Ds1 connected to a node at which the snubber capacitor Cs and the snubber resistor Rs are connected, and to a node at which a reactor Lr1 and an additional winding 1b of a transformer T1 are connected; and a snubber diode Ds2 connected to the node at which the snubber capacitor Cs and the snubber resistor Rs are connected, and to a node at which a reactor Lr2 and an additional winding 2b of a transformer T2 are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignees: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd., National University Corporation Shimane University
    Inventors: Hideki Asuke, Hideharu Takano, Mamoru Tsuruya, Masayoshi Yamamoto, Takahiro Kawashima, Shigeyuki Funabiki
  • Patent number: 8368361
    Abstract: A power control system includes a current transformer to step down a switch current of a switching power converter. In at least one embodiment, the stepped down current is received by a switching power converter controller. Since the current is received by the controller, the current is not converted into a voltage prior to receipt by the controller in order for the controller to monitor an inductor current of the switching power converter. In at least one embodiment, the controller compares the stepped down switch current with a reference current. In at least one embodiment, the controller includes a voltage converter to convert the switch current into a voltage within the controller. The controller compares the voltage representing the switch current with a reference voltage. The controller can use the current or voltage comparisons to control power factor correction and output voltage regulation of a switching power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Melanson
  • Patent number: 8370654
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a first operational circuit module receiving a first supply voltage from a first voltage regulator that is external to the integrated circuit, and a first adaptive voltage scaling module to adjust the first supply voltage based on performance characteristics of the first operational circuit module. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the first adaptive voltage scaling module includes a first performance monitoring module. The performance monitoring module is disposed on the integrated circuit, and is configured to generate at least a first indicator corresponding to at least one performance characteristic of the first operational circuit module. Further, the first adaptive scaling module includes a first voltage requirement determination and voltage feedback generator module that is disposed on the integrated circuit, and is coupled to the first performance monitoring module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell Israel (M.I.S.L) Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Hasko, Erez Reches, Reuven Ecker, Ido Bourstein
  • Patent number: 8358116
    Abstract: A DC/DC converter converts an input DC voltage into an output DC voltage. The DC/DC converter includes an input capacitor, an inductor, an electronic switch, a diode, an output capacitor and a control unit, wherein the control unit controls the first electronic switch as a function of the signals fed to the control unit. The input capacitor is connected between the input voltage and ground or zero point, and the inductor is connected between the input capacitor and the electronic switch. A second electronic switch, which the control unit can drive by means of a switching signal, is disposed between the load and the ground or zero point, and a second diode embodies a connection between the output of the load and the input capacitor. The control unit is fed the value of the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Lear Corporation GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus-Dieter Grebner
  • Patent number: 8358117
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes output voltage comparison circuitry that compares an output voltage of a regulator and a reference voltage and outputs an output voltage comparison signal based on the comparison. Slope detection circuitry detects a slope of the output voltage and outputs a slope comparison signal based on the slope detected. Duty cycle determination circuitry receives the output comparison signal and the slope comparison signal and outputs a pre-driver signal having a duty cycle based on the output comparison signal and the slope comparison signal. The pre-driver signal is used to regulate the output voltage of the voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Siew Yong Chui, Rudy Kurniawan, Jye Sheng Hong
  • Patent number: 8354827
    Abstract: A control circuit includes a controller that provides a master PWM signal indicative of a difference between a predetermined setpoint and a process signal. The control circuit also includes a PWM splitter circuit that receives the master PWM signal and provides a first PWM signal for a first switch and a second PWM signal for a second switch. The first PWM signal corresponds to a first portion of the master PWM signal and the second PWM signal corresponds to a second portion of the master PWM signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Werle, Todd E Kooken
  • Patent number: 8350539
    Abstract: A control circuit and method are proposed to generate a control signal to operate a buck-boost power stage of a buck-boost power converter to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. The control circuit and method detect the output voltage to generate an error signal, control the frequency of two ramp signals according to the error signal, generate two pulse width modulation signals according to the error signal and the two ramp signals, and generate the control signal according to the two pulse width modulation signals. When the loading of the buck-boost power converter transits from heavy to light, the frequency of the two ramp signals is decreased to improve the efficiency of the buck-boost power converter. The peaks and valleys of the two ramp signals may be adjusted by signals related to the input voltage and the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Wen-Wei Chen, Kuo-Chi Liu
  • Patent number: 8350551
    Abstract: An embodiment of a power-supply controller includes a signal combiner and a control circuit. The signal combiner is operable to generate a combined feedback signal from sense and output feedback signals that are respectively derived from a sense signal and a regulated output signal, and the signal combiner is operable to receive the sense signal from a sense circuit that is operable to generate the sense signal while a current is flowing through an inductor and while a switch that is disposed between the inductor and an input voltage has a first state. The sense signal generated by the sense circuit is related to the current, and the switch and the inductor are operable to generate the regulated output signal. The control circuit is coupled to the signal combiner and is operable to cause the switch to have a second state for a predetermined time in response to the combined feedback signal having a predetermined relationship to a reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Intersil Americas LLC
    Inventors: Da Feng Weng, Jinrong Qian, Tamas Szepesi
  • Patent number: 8350538
    Abstract: A number of non-isolated and isolated converter embodiments are disclosed all featuring the three switches and characteristic not present in prior-art converters such as: a) reduced voltage stresses on all three switches resulting in safe operation without a danger of voltage overstress of any of the three switches over the full operating range from duty ratio of 0 to 1.0 and thus resulting in wide input voltage operating. b) operating range with magnetics flux and magnetic size much reduced compared to prior-art converters c) stressless switching eliminates switching losses and reduces stresses which are present in prior-art converters. All three features result in simultaneous increase of efficiency, reduction of size and cost when compared with prior-art converters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Cuks, LLC
    Inventor: Slobodan Cuk
  • Patent number: 8350540
    Abstract: A storageless DC-DC converter is provided having simultaneously ultra high efficiency of 99.5% in an ultra compact size leading to 1 kW/inch3 power density, while also providing a regulation over the wide input DC voltage range. In addition to fixed 2 to 1 step-down voltage conversion the continuous output voltage reduction is obtained by use of a new method of the modulation of the freewheeling time of one of the two current rectifiers. This provides a simple regulation of the output voltage via a standard duty ratio control, despite the wide range of the input voltage change and simultaneous wide range of the load current change. An alternative control method customarily used in classical resonant converters to control output voltage by change of the switching frequency with a fixed duty ratio control is also demonstrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Cuks, LLC
    Inventor: Slobodan Cuk
  • Patent number: 8350549
    Abstract: A converter utilizing synchronous rectification comprises a first switch, a second switch connected in series to the first switch, and a gate drive circuit controlling each switch to switch to on/off-state using pulse-width modulation. Each switch includes a channel region that is conductive in both forward and reverse directions in on-state and is not conductive in the forward direction in off-state, and a unipolar diode region conductive only in the reverse direction. The gate drive circuit synchronizes output timing for signal with which the first switch switches to on-state with output timing for signal with which the second switch switches to off-state, and synchronizes output timing for signal with which the first switch switches to off-state with output timing for signal with which the second switch switches to on-state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Kitabatake
  • Patent number: 8344711
    Abstract: A power supply device including a converter having a switch circuit to which an input voltage is supplied and a coil coupled between the switch circuit and an output end from which an output voltage is output; and a control circuit comparing between a feedback voltage and a reference voltage, and on/off controls the switch circuit according to a comparison result; wherein, the control circuit includes a current gradient detection circuit performs detection of a gradient of a coil current flows thorough the coil during an off period of the switch circuit and generates a slope voltage according to a result of the detection; and an adder circuit performs one of generating the feedback voltage by adding the slope voltage to a voltage according to the output voltage and generating the reference voltage by adding the slope voltage to a standard voltage that is set according to the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Futamura
  • Patent number: 8344710
    Abstract: A control methodology for a two-stage PWM DC-DC conversion system, with transformer-isolation, in which the converter circuit input voltage is compared to a set voltage calibrated as a function of the desired output voltage and the maximum voltage conversion ratio provided by the second-stage converter. When the input voltage is above the set voltage, the second-stage converter is controlled to provide both output voltage regulation during normal operation and output current limiting during over-current conditions. However, when the input voltage is below the set voltage, the first-stage converter is controlled to provide output voltage regulation with minor output current limiting, and the second-stage converter is controlled to provide extended output current limiting independent of the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tillasthanam V. Sriram, Alexandre M. S. Reis, Hua Zhou
  • Publication number: 20120326680
    Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of generating a regulated voltage are disclosed. One method includes generating the regulated voltage through controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and shunt switch element. This method includes closing the series switch element during a first period, the series switch element comprising a plurality of series switch elements segments. The method includes applying a switching gate voltage to gates of series switching transistors of a subset of the plurality of series switch elements segments of the series switch element, wherein only the series switching transistors of the subset of the plurality of series switch elements segments of the series switch element turn on, while series protection transistor of more than the subset of the plurality of series switch elements segments of the series switch element turn on. The shunt switch element during is closed during a second period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: R2 SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Burns, James E.C. Brown
  • Patent number: 8339114
    Abstract: A high-side switch is coupled to a power supply terminal and selectively coupled to ground via a conduction path. During an on state duration, the high-side switch can be enabled and the conduction path can be disabled. During an off state duration, the high-side switch can be disabled and the conduction path can be enabled. During a skip state duration, the high-side switch and the conduction path both can be disabled. A controller coupled to the high-side switch can control the on state duration and the skip state duration based on a current reference. The controller can further generate a control signal for controlling the high-side switch and the conduction path according to the on state duration and the skip state duration, and adjust an output current to the current reference according to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: O2Micro Inc
    Inventor: Laszlo Lipcsei
  • Patent number: 8339115
    Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of controlling a bypass resistance of a voltage regulator are disclosed. One method includes generating a regulated output voltage based upon a switching voltage. The switching voltage is generated through controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and a shunt switch element, the series switch element and the shunt switch element being connected between voltages based on an input voltage. Control of a duty cycle of the switching voltage is provided by sensing and feeding back the regulated output voltage. The bypass resistance is controlled based on an integration of a difference between the duty cycle and a maximum duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: R2 Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. C. Brown, Bret Rothenberg, Lawrence M. Burns
  • Patent number: 8330435
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a buck boost converter for generating a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage. The buck boost converter includes an inductor, a first pair of switching transistors responsive to a first PWM signal and a second pair of switching transistors responsive to a second PWM signal. An error amplifier generates an error voltage responsive to the regulated output voltage and a reference voltage. A control circuit generates the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal responsive to the error voltage and a sensed current voltage responsive to a sensed current through the inductor. The control circuit controls switching of the first pair of switching transistors and the second pair of switching transistors using the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal responsive to the sensed current through the inductor and a plurality of offset error voltages based on the error voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Weihong Qiu, Zaki Moussaoui, Jun Liu
  • Patent number: 8324873
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus is provided which includes: a first switch provided between an inductor and a terminal to which a reference voltage is applied; a second switch provided between the inductor and an output terminal; a first comparator circuit that compares an input voltage with a first comparison voltage; a signal generating circuit that outputs a frequency signal according to an output from the first comparator circuit; and a first control circuit that controls the first and second switches based on an output from the signal generating circuit to control an electrical current flowing into the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakagawa, Masahiro Natsume, Katsuyuki Yasukouchi
  • Patent number: 8324872
    Abstract: A voltage regulator including at least one coupled inductor including a first winding and a second winding each having a polarity. The first winding and the second winding connected in series to form a common node such that the first winding and the second winding have the same polarity. The first winding and the second winding having a coefficient of coupling approximately equal to one. A conduction switch having an on-state and an off-state, to controllably conduct an input voltage to the at least one coupled inductor at a switching frequency. A freewheeling switch having an on-state and an off-state, in communication with the common node of the at least one coupled inductor to provide a path for current when the conduction switch is in the off-state. An output capacitor in communication with the at least one coupled inductor to filter the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade, Ltd.
    Inventor: Sehat Sutardja
  • Patent number: 8319482
    Abstract: A power supply includes a first switch and a second switch coupled in series between an input voltage terminal to which an input voltage is applied and a reference voltage terminal to which a reference voltage lower than the input voltage is applied, an inductor disposed between a junction coupling the first and second switches and an output terminal from which an output voltage is output, and a controller controlling the first and second switches to be alternately switched at a given switching cycle depending on an error of the output voltage with respect to a target voltage, wherein the controller changes the switching cycle from a first cycle to a second cycle longer than the first cycle, depending on a voltage at the junction when the second switch is in a turned-on state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Matsuo, Takeshi Kimura, Osamu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8310215
    Abstract: A linear modulation voltage transformer circuitry includes a power stage unit, a voltage division unit, a linear modulation unit, an error amplifier, and a recursive controller. The power stage unit adapts an input voltage and outputs a first voltage to the voltage division unit, which outputs a divided voltage. The linear modulation unit receives the divided voltage, compares it with a control voltage, and outputs an error voltage signal to the error amplifier, which amplifies the error voltage signal as an error gain control signal. The recursive controller receives and modulates the error gain control signal and outputs the modulation error gain control signal to the power stage unit as a reference signal so as for the power stage unit to modulate the first voltage. Thus, the first voltage can be varied in real time via the linear modulation unit to meet load demands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Chung-Hsin Electric and Machinery Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Chen-Kun Chou, Zhan-Yi Lin, Ting-Kuan Li, Yu-Jen Chen, Chi-Bin Wu
  • Patent number: 8305059
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a regulator circuit that regulates a substantially constant magnitude of an output voltage at an output node. The circuit includes a master stage configured to set a first threshold voltage and a second threshold voltage. The first threshold voltage can have a magnitude that is greater than the second threshold voltage. The circuit also includes a charging follower stage configured to conduct a first current from a first power rail to the output node. The first current can increase in response to a transient decrease of the output voltage relative to the first threshold voltage. The circuit further includes a discharging follower stage configured to conduct a second current from the output node to a second power rail. The second current can increase in response to a transient increase of the output voltage relative to the second threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Mohammad A. Al-Shyoukh
  • Patent number: 8305053
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a power supply system. The system includes at least one power switch configured to be activated and deactivated based on a duty-cycle of a respective at least one control signal to generate an output voltage. The system also includes a gate driver configured to generate the at least one control signal and to adjust a slew-rate of each pulse of the at least one control signal to substantially mitigate amplitude ringing at a switching node during a first rising-edge portion and to substantially mitigate conduction losses associated with the at least one power switch during activation and deactivation of the at least one power switch during a second rising-edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Tom C. Truong, Stefan Wiktor
  • Patent number: 8299764
    Abstract: A controller integrated circuit for a switched mode regulator which converts an input voltage to an output voltage. The controller includes a phase pin, a modulation circuit and a filter. The modulation circuit is configured to regulate the output voltage using the input voltage and output voltage level information. The filter has an input coupled to the phase pin and an output providing the output voltage level information which approximates the output voltage based on phase pin voltage. Various filters are contemplated, including passive and active low pass filters and the like. A regulator using such a controller is disclosed. A method of determining a voltage level of an output voltage includes receiving a phase voltage from a phase pin coupled to the phase node, and filtering the phase voltage to provide an output sense voltage having a voltage level approximating the voltage level of the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Laur, Rhys S. A. Philbrick
  • Patent number: 8299770
    Abstract: A method of providing threshold voltage monitoring and control in synchronous power converters is provided. The method includes establishing a threshold voltage level for at least one of a gate drive voltage for an upper and a lower power switch in a synchronous power converter, each threshold voltage level controlling a switching delay time for one of the upper and lower power switches. The method further includes detecting body diode conduction levels for at least one of the upper and lower power switches and adjusting the threshold voltage level for at least one of the upper and lower power switches, based on the detected body diode conduction levels, to fine-tune a body diode conduction time around an equilibrium for the at least one of the upper and lower power switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Weihong Qiu, Noel B. Dequina