Having A Winding In Series With The Source And Load (e.g., Buck-boost) Patents (Class 323/259)
  • Patent number: 11949335
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to a converter are disclosed. An apparatus includes a converter and a controller. The converter converts an input voltage potential to an output voltage potential. The input voltage potential and the output voltage potential include direct current (DC) voltage potentials. The controller generates pulse width modulation (PWM) signals responsive to a duty cycle control signal, controls the converter via the PWM signals in a buck mode when the duty cycle control signal is less than a predetermined maximum buck value, and controls the converter via the PWM signals in a cascaded buck-boost mode (CBB mode) when the duty cycle control signal is greater than the predetermined maximum buck value. A duty cycle of at least a portion of the PWM signals transitions linearly with the duty cycle control signal from the buck mode to the CBB mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Santosh Bhandarkar, Alex Dumais
  • Patent number: 11733287
    Abstract: A testing circuit includes a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit and second circuit have a first capacitor and a second capacitor. The first circuit is connected to a first transistor. The second circuit is connected to a second transistor. A first inductor has a first terminal connected to an input of the testing circuit and a second terminal connected to a source of the second transistor. A first diode has an anode connected to ground and a cathode connected to the second terminal of the first inductor. The second capacitor has a first terminal connected to a drain of the second transistor and a second terminal connected to ground. The first capacitor has a first terminal connected to the input of the testing circuit and a second terminal connected to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: INNOSCIENCE (ZHUHAI) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jihua Li, Tao Zhang, Wenjie Lin
  • Patent number: 11705811
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a buck converter portion of a buck-boost converter configured to operate under a constant on-time control scheme, wherein an on-time of a high-side switch of the buck converter portion is determined by a buck on-time timer, and a boost converter portion of the buck-boost converter configured to operate under a constant off-time control scheme, wherein an off-time of a low-side switch of the boost converter portion is determined by a boost off-time timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: M3 Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Yang, Xiaoyu Xi, David Meng
  • Patent number: 11641162
    Abstract: Circuits and methods for converting a current to an output voltage are disclosed herein. An embodiment of the circuit includes a first switch connected between a source of current and a first node and a second switch connected between the first node and a common voltage. The circuit also includes a first controller for controlling the state of the first switch and a second controller for controlling the state of the second switch. A capacitor is coupled to the first node; the voltage on the capacitor is the output voltage. When the second switch is open, the capacitor charges, and when the second switch is closed, the capacitor does not charge. The current flows through the primary inductance of a transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Salvatore Giombanco
  • Patent number: 11381171
    Abstract: A buck-boost power converting system includes a voltage source input for connecting a voltage source for power conversion. A plurality of switches are connected electrically to the voltage source input, wherein each switch is connected to a controller configured for control of the switches. A voltage output is configured to connect to a load to power the load with converted power from the voltage source input, wherein the controller is configured to provide positive voltage or negative voltage at a desired level to the voltage output, as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Vaibhav Kumar Somani, Raviprakash Yadav
  • Patent number: 11283362
    Abstract: A system for controlling and regulating the AC voltage level delivered to a load regardless of the varying input AC voltage comprises a high frequency AC series voltage regulator coupled with a low frequency operating mains transformer. In one embodiment, the LF operating mains transformer operates at electrical mains frequency, which is typically 50 Hz or 60 Hz. The magnetic core of the LF operating mains transformer may be made of industry standard low frequency core material selected from a material group including silicon steel and amorphous core such as ‘Metglass’. The AC series voltage regulator is connected to the primary of the LF operating mains transformer, and the secondary of the LF operating mains transformer is connected in series between the mains input (which receives the unregulated input AC voltage to be regulated) and its output (which outputs the regulated AC voltage to the loads).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Edge Electrons Limited
    Inventor: Neal George Stewart
  • Patent number: 11258363
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for a circuit comprising a power converter controller. In an example, the power converter controller is configured to receive a signal representative of a current of a power converter, compare the signal representative of the current of the power converter to an error signal and generate a peak current detection signal having an asserted value when the signal representative of the current of the power converter is not less than the error signal. A state machine circuit is coupled the peak current detection circuit. The state machine circuit is configured to receive the peak current detection signal, a clock signal, and a timer signal and implement a state machine to generate at least one control signal for controlling a mode and a phase of operation of the power converter based on values of the peak current detection signal, the clock signal, and the timer signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Joerg Kirchner, Stefan Dietrich, Gaetano Maria Walter Petrina
  • Patent number: 11228249
    Abstract: A power converter circuit includes an input configured to receive an input voltage and an output configured to provide an output voltage; a main converter coupled between a main converter input and the output and comprising a first winding and a second winding that are inductively coupled; and an auxiliary converter comprising an auxiliary converter input coupled to a third winding and an auxiliary converter output, wherein the third winding is inductively coupled with the first winding and the second winding. The auxiliary converter output is coupled between the input and the main converter input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Gerald Deboy, Johann Kolar, Dominik Neumayr
  • Patent number: 11217379
    Abstract: Various embodiments include an inductor assembly for a converter comprising: a plurality of first conductors arranged on respective legs of a first magnetic core; a second magnetic core with one or more legs, the second core magnetically coupled to the first core via an air-gap and arranged to provide a path for common mode magnetic flux of the plurality of first conductors; and a respective second conductor corresponding to each of the plurality of first conductors. Each pair of first and second conductors is electrically connected in series. The second conductors are arranged on a single leg of the second core and positively coupled to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Gopal Mondal, Matthias Neumeister, Stefan Hänsel, Jonathan Robinson
  • Patent number: 11201544
    Abstract: A converter includes two switching stages coupled in series between positive and negative input terminals. A control circuit is configured for driving the switching stages based on an output voltage of the converter. A first switching stage includes two switches coupled in series between a positive input terminal and a first node. A capacitor and an inductor are coupled in series between the two switches and a positive output terminal. A third switch is coupled between a node between the capacitor and the inductor and the negative input terminal. A second capacitor is coupled between the first node and the negative input terminal. A second switching stage includes a second node coupled to the first node. Two additional electronic switches are coupled in series between the second node and the negative input terminal. A second inductor is coupled between the two additional switches and the positive output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Osvaldo Enrico Zambetti
  • Patent number: 11152861
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a multiphase converter design with multi-path phase management circuit and output logic. The phase management circuit and output logic can be employed to implement phase adding and shedding operations based on input and output current information and based on control signals for a power stage of the converter. In some examples, the design employs an estimate of an average output current based on a current at an input of the converter for phase control. In additional examples, the design employs cycle-by-cycle current limit and maximum duty-cycle signals to enable phase quickly during load transient. In further examples, the design employs low input and output-current sensed signals for efficient phase shedding and power saving. The design herein improves an overall accuracy of phase adding and shedding, load transient response performance, an operational efficiency and thermal performance of multiphase converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Wenliang Chen, Reza Sharifi, Byron Mitchell Reed, Jairo Daniel Olivares, Ryan Erik Lind
  • Patent number: 11133694
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an add-on battery that may be electrically coupled to a second system that includes an electrical energy storage device are presented. In one example, the systems and methods provide for extending operation of the second system via selectively powering the second system via the add-on battery in response to operating conditions of the second system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Green Cubes Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Jesper Martaeng, Mohammed Alobaidi, Anthony Cooper
  • Patent number: 11062830
    Abstract: A magnetic device includes a magnetic core, a plurality of first windings forming respective first winding turns, and a second winding forming a second winding turn. Each first winding turn is within the second winding turn, as seen when the magnetic device is viewed cross-sectionally in a first direction. Yet another magnetic device includes a magnetic core, one or more first windings, and one or more second windings magnetically isolated from the one or more first windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Volterra Semiconductor LLC
    Inventors: Alexandr Ikriannikov, Anthony J. Stratakos
  • Patent number: 10855184
    Abstract: A switch-mode power supply includes a DC-DC converter and metering circuitry that is coupled to the DC-DC converter. The metering circuitry includes scaling circuitry, a current source, a capacitor, switching circuitry, and a comparator. The scaling circuitry is configured to generate a reference current scaled to be a predetermined fraction of a peak current flowing in an inductor of the DC-DC converter. The current source is configured to output a first current that is one-half of the reference current. The capacitor is coupled to the current source. The switching circuitry is configured to switchably connect the current source to the capacitor. The comparator is coupled to the capacitor. The comparator is configured to generate a signal indicating that a voltage across the capacitor exceeds a threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Vinod Joseph Menezes, Manikandan Rr, Rajat Chauhan, Vipul Kumar Singhal, Mahesh Madhukar Mehendale, Kaichien Tsai
  • Patent number: 10804796
    Abstract: A converter includes a first switch coupled between a first input terminal and a first terminal of an inductor, and a second switch coupled between a second terminal of the inductor and a second input terminal. A third switch is coupled between the second terminal of the inductor and a first output terminal, and a fourth switch is coupled between the first terminal of the inductor and a second output terminal. A capacitor is coupled between the first and second output terminals. A control circuit monitors a regulated voltage between the first and second output terminals. During a charge phase, the first and second switches are closed to charge the inductor. During a discharge phase, the third and fourth switches are closed to charge the capacitor and increase the regulated voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Edoardo Botti, Arunkumar Salimath, Edoardo Bonizzoni, Franco Maloberti, Paolo Cacciagrano, Davide Luigi Brambilla
  • Patent number: 10756629
    Abstract: A converter supplies an output voltage, generated by stepping down or up an input voltage from a DC power supply, to an inverter for driving an AC motor. In the converter in a boost mode, a buck circuit is stopped, a boost circuit is operated, and a first bypass switch is turned on to form a path from the DC power supply to the boost circuit. In a buck mode, the boost circuit (30) is stopped, the buck circuit is operated, and a second bypass switch is turned on to form a path from the buck circuit to the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuta Ishikawa, Akihiko Iwata, Tatsuki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 10651722
    Abstract: A buck-boost converter comprises a first high-side switch and a first low-side switch connected in series between an input voltage terminal and ground, a second high-side switch and a second low-side switch connected in series between an output voltage terminal and ground, an inductor connected to a common node of the first high-side switch and the first low-side switch, and a common node of the second high-side switch and the second low-side switch and a control apparatus configured to generate gate drive signals, wherein the control apparatus comprises a first timer for setting a turn-off time of the first low-side switch, a second timer for setting a turn-off time of the second high-side switch and a peak current mode control device for setting a turn-off time of the first high-side switch and a turn-off time of the second low-side switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: M3 Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Yang, Xiaoyu Xi, David Meng
  • Patent number: 10630190
    Abstract: A multi-input power DC-DC converter includes a first and second bridge circuit for receiving power from a first and second electric power source. The first bridge circuit includes a first power switches with a first switch output node in between, and a second bridge circuit for receiving power from a second electric power source including second power switches with a second switch output node in between. At least one of the first and second electric power source is a photovoltaic (PV) panel. A single LLC resonant tank coupled to both the first and second output node is configured together with a transformer including a secondary winding and a primary winding that provides a magnetizing inductance which provides a second inductance for the single LLC resonant tank. A rectifier is coupled to the secondary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Seyed-Milad Tayebi, Issa Batarseh, Haibing Hu
  • Patent number: 10594218
    Abstract: A buck boost converter includes a buck boost converter circuit to generate an output voltage in response to an input voltage, and a mode control logic circuit to generate a mode control signal to control an operation mode of the buck boost converter circuit to operate in one of a buck mode, a boost mode, and a buck-boost mode. The buck boost converter circuit includes an upper buck transistor coupled to an input voltage node, the input voltage node to receive the input voltage, an upper boost transistor coupled to an output voltage node, the output voltage node to output the output voltage, and an inductor coupled between the upper buck transistor and the upper boost transistor. The mode control signal is generated based on a first duty cycle of the upper buck transistor and a second duty cycle of the upper boost transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaodong Zhan, Prabhjot Singh, Long Yu
  • Patent number: 10574138
    Abstract: A power converter includes a power converting circuit, a high-voltage control circuit, a low-voltage control circuit, and a driving circuit. The power converting circuit is configured to receive and convert a HVDC voltage from a high-voltage side to a LVDC voltage to a low-voltage side. The high-voltage control circuit is coupled to the high-voltage side and configured to detect the HVDC voltage and output a first control signal according to the HVDC voltage. The low-voltage control circuit is coupled to the low-voltage side and configured to detect the LVDC voltage and output a second control signal according to the LVDC voltage. The driving voltage is configured to selectively output a driving signal to drive the power converting circuit according to the first or the second control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chia-Cheng Yang, Chen-Bin Huang, Jui-Teng Chan
  • Patent number: 10554130
    Abstract: A method includes generating a first ramp signal for controlling a first portion of a converter, generating a second ramp signal for controlling a second portion of the converter, controlling a state of a first switch of the first portion through comparing the first ramp signal to a control signal and a state of a first switch of the second portion through comparing the second ramp signal to the control signal and determining a switching cycle of the converter through comparing a current flowing through an inductor of the converter to a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Liming Ye, Jinbo Huang, Heping Dai, Dianbo Fu, Daoshen Chen
  • Patent number: 10491003
    Abstract: A power regulator includes a plurality of harvester switches, each coupled to receive a separate energy source, a plurality of load switches, each coupled to supply power to a separate load, an inductor to store energy received from one or more energy sources and release the energy to supply the power to one or more loads and a controller to control charging of the inductor via activation of one or more of the harvester switches and discharging of the inductor via activation of one or more of the load switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sally Amin, Sergio Carlo, Harish Krishnamurthy, Christopher Schaef, Vaibhav Vaidya
  • Patent number: 10447142
    Abstract: A switch-mode power supply includes a DC-DC converter and metering circuitry that is coupled to the DC-DC converter. The metering circuitry includes scaling circuitry, a current source, a capacitor, switching circuitry, and a comparator. The scaling circuitry is configured to generate a reference current scaled to be a predetermined fraction of a peak current flowing in an inductor of the DC-DC converter. The current source is configured to output a first current that is one-half of the reference current. The capacitor is coupled to the current source. The switching circuitry is configured to switchably connect the current source to the capacitor. The comparator is coupled to the capacitor. The comparator is configured to generate a signal indicating that a voltage across the capacitor exceeds a threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Vinod Joseph Menezes, Manikandan RR, Rajat Chauhan, Vipul Kumar Singhal, Mahesh Madhukar Mehendale, Kaichien Tsai
  • Patent number: 10374514
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a control circuit adjusts a duty cycle of a boost converter and comprises a duty cycle limiter generator configured to receive an input voltage provided to the boost converter and to generate a control signal to be provided to the boost converter for adjusting the duty cycle of the boost converter to control the output voltage of the booster converter in response to the input voltage. In one embodiment, the maximum duty cycle limit generator further generates the maximum duty cycle signal in response to an output voltage of the boost converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Subbarao Surendra Chakkirala, Jiwei Chen
  • Patent number: 10355596
    Abstract: A buck-boost converter and a method are presented. The buck-boost converter comprises an inductor, a buck converter, and a boost converter. The buck converter controls switches according to a buck duty cycle, whereas the boost converter controls switches according to a boost duty cycle. The converter contains a voltage feedback loop for regulating an output voltage of the converter. A buck comparator generates the buck duty cycle signal by comparing the error voltage with a ramp voltage. A boost comparator generates the boost duty cycle signal by comparing a boost error voltage with the ramp voltage, wherein the boost error voltage is indicative of a sum of the error voltage and an offset voltage and the boost ramp voltage is indicative of a sum of the ramp voltage and the offset voltage. There is a duty cycle feedback loop for adjusting the buck and boost duty cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Frederic Choquet
  • Patent number: 10340799
    Abstract: A step-up/down power supply, in which a circuit area is small, includes a step-down unit that generates an output voltage lower than an input voltage by turning on or off a step-down switch in which the input voltage of the step-up/down power supply is applied, and a step-up unit that generates an output voltage higher than the input voltage by turning on or off a step-up switch in which a ground is applied. A step-down gate voltage control circuit controls a gate voltage of the step-down switch and includes a gate voltage generating circuit that generates a first voltage and a second voltage for turning on the step-down switch. A gate voltage switching circuit switches between the first voltage and the second voltage, and the gate voltage generating circuit includes a first voltage source that generates the first voltage and a second voltage source that generates the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming Liu, Shinya Kajiyama, Taizo Yamawaki, Ryosuke Ishida, Hirofumi Kurimoto, Yasushi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10312806
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a voltage converter for simulating inductor current control, which simulates an inductor current of a power level circuit according to operation signals generated by a control circuit, an input voltage, and an output voltage, thereby achieving detection of the inductor current by using a non-sensing method. Therefore, compared to a conventional sensing method, the voltage converter of the present disclosure can reduce use of a sensing circuit to reduce costs, and an inductor current ramp generated thereby has no distortion. Accordingly, the voltage converter of the present disclosure can improve the accuracy of inductor current detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chih-Yuan Chen, Zhan-Zhe Huang
  • Patent number: 10285233
    Abstract: Described is an improved LED-based flashlight with discrete mechanical, electrical or electro-mechanical actuation to adjust operation of the flashlight. The control of power to the device is accomplished by switching brightness modes electronically through use of multiple drivers and/or dynamic microcontrollers. The system may apply to current regulators as well as voltage regulators. Efficiency may be optimized to minimize power losses by operating each driver chip within fixed bands, handing off regulation to other chips that function well at different input currents or voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Muyshondt Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge Enrique Muyshondt
  • Patent number: 10181793
    Abstract: A buck-boost power converter and a control circuit for the buck-boost converter. The buck-boost power converter includes a first power switch and a second power switch coupled in series between an input port and a reference ground, and a third power switch and a fourth power switch coupled in series between an output port and the reference ground. The control circuit receives a pulse skipping control signal and a zero-crossing indication signal, and controls the second power switch and/or the third power switch to turn on when the pulse skipping control signal controls the buck-boost power converter to enter into a pulse skipping mode and the zero-crossing indication signal indicates that an output inductor current of the buck-boost power converter crosses zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jian Zhang
  • Patent number: 10141849
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes first and second parallel converter branches, each parallel converter branch including an input node, N output nodes, a plurality of switches, a converter output node, and control logic. The control logic generates a first set of switch signals to control the switches of the first parallel converter branch and a second set of switch signals to control the second parallel converter branch, the first set switch signals and the second set of switch signals having respective duty cycles to cause each of the first and second parallel converter branches to output the DC output voltage on each of the N output nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Shuai Jiang, Chee Yee Chung, Xin Li
  • Patent number: 10122257
    Abstract: A method of suppressing ripple can include: (i) coupling a switching converter and a load in series between output terminals of a signal source; and (ii) controlling a difference voltage between an input voltage signal and an output voltage signal of the switching converter to vary with a voltage signal generated by the signal source to maintain a load current signal flowing through the load as a DC signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Qiukai Huang, Jian Deng
  • Patent number: 10110138
    Abstract: One direct current to direct current converter disclosed herein can implement three control modes: a predefined control mode in which an outer phase-shift angle is determined based on a predefined process, a current control mode in which the outer phase-shift angle is determined based on a predefined reference current profile and a DC current output, and a voltage-current control mode in which a reference current value is determined using a reference voltage value and a DC voltage output. The soft starting process can start from the predefined control mode and later switch to the current control mode followed by the voltage-current control mode or directly switch to the voltage-current control mode. The soft starting process can also start from the current control mode and later switch to the voltage-current control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Subbarao Dakshina Murthy-Bellur, Heng Yang, Minyu Cai
  • Patent number: 10069308
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a solar cell installation includes several groups of solar cells. Each group of solar cells has a local power point optimizer configured to control power generation of the group. The local power point optimizer may be configured to determine an optimum operating condition for a corresponding group of solar cells. The local power point optimizer may adjust the operating condition of the group to the optimum operating condition by modulating a transistor, such as by pulse width modulation, to electrically connect and disconnect the group from the installation. The local power point optimizer may be used in conjunction with a global maximum power point tracking module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Klein, Jan Mark Noworolski
  • Patent number: 10008927
    Abstract: A regulator circuit includes an operational amplifier, a buffer, a power transistor, a first feedback circuit, a current sensor, and second feedback circuit. The operational amplifier drives a first node with a first voltage generated by amplifying a difference between an input voltage and a feedback voltage. The buffer drives a second node with a second voltage generated by buffering the first voltage. The power transistor has a drain receiving a supply voltage, a gate connected to the second node, and a source connected to a third node. The current sensor generates a first sensing current based on the second voltage. The second feedback circuit generates a plurality of feedback currents corresponding to a ripple of the output voltage and enhances a speed at which the ripple is reduced by providing at least one of the plurality of feedback currents to the third node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hoang Quoc Duong, Hyun-Seok Shin, Jun-Hyun Bae
  • Patent number: 9919376
    Abstract: A method controls a battery-powered welding device and a battery-powered welding device includes a battery having a battery voltage and a battery current and a welding controller containing a boost converter having at least a switch and a buck converter having at least one switch for controlling a welding current and a welding voltage supplied to a welding torch. A switch for bypassing the booster converter is connected to a switch controller designed to close the switch if the intermediate circuit voltage between the boost converter and the buck converter is less than or equal to the battery voltage and to open the switch if the boost converter is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Starzengruber, Alexander Speigner
  • Patent number: 9893623
    Abstract: A “windowless” H-bridge buck-boost switching converter includes a regulation circuit with an error amplifier which produces a ‘comp’ signal, a comparison circuit which compares ‘comp’ with a ‘ramp’ signal, and logic circuitry which receives the comparison circuit output and a mode control signal indicating whether the converter is to operate in buck mode or boost mode and operates the primary or secondary switching elements to produce the desired output voltage in buck or boost mode, respectively. A ‘ramp’ signal generation circuit operates to shift the ‘ramp’ signal up by a voltage Vslp(p?p)+Vhys when transitioning from buck to boost mode, and to shift ‘ramp’ back down by Vslp(p?p)+Vhys when transitioning from boost to buck mode, thereby enabling the converter to operate in buck mode or boost mode only, with no need for an intermediate buck-boost region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventor: Hirohisa Tanabe
  • Patent number: 9698690
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of controlling a converter can include: (i) when first and fourth switches are on, and second and third switches are off, generating an on time signal according to an input voltage and a stable output voltage of the converter; (ii) generating an off time signal according to the input voltage and the stable output voltage of the converter; (iii) generating a reference time voltage according to a reference current signal and a reference voltage signal; and (iv) controlling the first, second, third, and fourth switches based on whether the on time signal is activated to indicate that the converter is operating in a buck mode, the off time signal is activated to indicate that the converter is operating in a boost mode, or the reference time signal is activated to indicate that the converter is operating in a buck-boost mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventor: Kailang Hang
  • Patent number: 9660533
    Abstract: A buck-boost converter with smooth transitions is disclosed. A buck-boost converter controller is disclosed including a first high side driver switch gate control signal output for controlling a first high side driver device; a first low side driver switch gate control signal output for controlling a first low side driver device; a second high side driver switch gate control signal output for controlling a second high side driver device; a second low side driver switch gate control signal output for controlling a second low side driver device; a state machine having four states comprising a buck state, a boost state, a transition buck state, and a transition boost state; a hysteresis timer indicating a pulse width greater than a predetermined threshold coupled to the state machine; and a minimum timer indicating a pulse width less than a predetermined threshold coupled to the state machine. Methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Vijay N. Choudhary
  • Patent number: 9651959
    Abstract: The present disclosure illustrates a single-inductor dual-output (SIDO) power converter for hysteresis current control mode and a control method thereof. In the SIDO power converter provided by the instant disclosure, a detecting circuit, connected to the upper bridge transistor, determines whether the inductive current reaches the upper limit threshold or the lower limit threshold, and further drives a control circuit to turn on or off the corresponding upper bridge transistor and/or the lower bridge transistor, so as to simplify the operation of the hysteresis current control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chih-Yuan Chen, Tzu-Yang Yen
  • Patent number: 9543830
    Abstract: A switch mode power converter configured for operation with a plurality of outputs is disclosed. The switch mode power converter includes an inductive element and a resistance in series with the inductive element. The resistance is series with the inductive element is used for determining a current through the inductive element. The resistance is a resistance between the main terminals of a switch in an on-state. The switch have two main terminals and a control terminal and being arranged for directing current through the inductive element to a one of the plurality of outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Henricus Cornelis Johannes Buthker
  • Patent number: 9472980
    Abstract: For managing a battery, an apparatus includes a first switch electrically connected to a first connection and a second connection. At least one of a load and a power supply is electrically connected the first connection. In addition, an inductor is electrically connected to the second connection. A second switch is electrical connected to the first connection and electrically connected to the common. The third switch is electrically connected to a third connection and electrically connected to the battery. The fourth switch is electrically connected to the third connection and electrical connected to the common. The inductor is also electrical connected the third connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Inventor: Xunwei Zhou
  • Patent number: 9461554
    Abstract: A converter comprises a non-isolated stage coupled to an input dc power source, wherein the non-isolated stage is configured to operate at a buck converter mode in response to a first input voltage and operate at a boost converter mode in response to a second input voltage, a resonant stage coupled between the non-isolated stage and a load, wherein the resonant stage is configured to operate at a resonant mode and a capacitor coupled between the non-isolated stage and the resonant stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dianbo Fu, Liming Ye, Heping Dai, Daoshen Chen
  • Patent number: 9450412
    Abstract: A method and system for a control power supply system is provided. The control power supply system includes a first conductor configured to carry a direct current (DC) electrical current from a source to a load, a second conductor configured to carry the DC electrical current from the load to the source, a electrical device electrically coupled in series with at least one of the first and second conductor. The electrical device is configured to fail in a shorted condition such that failure of the electrical device maintains a direct current (DC) ring bus including the first and second conductor. The control power supply system also includes a control power circuit electrically coupled in parallel with at least a portion of the electrical device such that a DC voltage across at least a portion of the electrical device provides a DC voltage supply to the control power circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stefan Schroeder, Christof Martin Sihler, Sebastian Pedro Rosado
  • Patent number: 9431904
    Abstract: The present document relates to efficient DC/DC converters with a modular structure for providing different levels of output currents. A controller for controlling a power converter which is configured to convert electrical power at an input voltage into electrical power at an output voltage is described. The power converter comprises first and second inverter stages comprising high side switches and low side switches which are arranged in series between the input voltage and a reference voltage. The midpoints between the high side switches and the low side switches are coupled. The electrical power at the output voltage is drawn from the midpoint. The controller is configured to determine an indication of a requested level of the electrical power at the output voltage, and to activate or deactivate the second inverter stage based on the indication of the requested level of the electrical power at the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Francesco Dalena, Enrico Pardi, Stefano Scaldaferri
  • Patent number: 9425681
    Abstract: Battery energy storage arranged to be connected to a direct current capacitor, which is connected in parallel to a power converter. The battery energy storage includes a battery module and a controllable voltage source adapted to inject a voltage opposite to a voltage ripple of the direct current capacitor. A power system including such battery energy storage and a direct current capacitor is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomas Tengner, Roberto Alves
  • Patent number: 9350243
    Abstract: An apparatus (100) includes a buck and boost conversion circuit (110), and a control unit (120, 200) for controlling operations of the buck and boost converter. The buck and boost converter includes a buck conversion circuit having a first set of switches (SW3, SW4), and a boost conversion circuit having a second set of switches (SW5, SW6). The buck conversion circuit and the boost conversion circuit may be controlled independently from each other. The control unit is configured to control delivery of power from the power converter to a load (20) via the buck conversion circuit in a buck conversion mode by controlling switching operations of the first set of switches, and to control the delivery of the power from the power converter to the load via the boost conversion circuit in a boost conversion mode by controlling switching operations of the second set of switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Zhi Quan Chen, Jian Lin Xu, Hong Bo Wang, Zhen Hua Zhou
  • Patent number: 9350247
    Abstract: A switch control circuit includes a processor computing an on-time ratio based on an input voltage value, a first output voltage value, and a second output voltage value. The processor further computes an on-time sum based, on an output current value, an inductance value, the input voltage value, the first output voltage value and the second output voltage value, and further computes an operation frequency value that corresponds to the on-time sum. The processor further computes on-time values of a boost mode and a buck-boost mode based on the on-time sum and the on-time ratio. The processor controls a signal generator based on the operation frequency value, the on-time value of the boost mode and the on-time value of the buck-boost mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: ILI TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wen-Kuen Liu, Ming-Hung Chien, Sheng-Hsiang Chiang
  • Patent number: 9318911
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are circuits and methods for limiting a charger input current. In one embodiment, a self-adaptive input power charger for charging a battery, can include: (i) a power stage circuit configured to receive an external input power supply that supplies an input voltage and an input current to the charger; (ii) a comparison circuit configured to generate a comparison result indicating that the input power supply has entered a current-limiting state when the input voltage is less than a first reference voltage; (iii) a current regulation circuit configured to generate a first control signal in response to the comparison result; and (iv) a driving control circuit configured to limit the input current by the first control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: (A) Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Jie Yao, Wei Chen, Chen Zhao, Shuai Cheng
  • Patent number: 9231471
    Abstract: The present invention employs a resonant inductor, a resonant capacitor and a hybrid transformer using a Hybrid-switching method with three switches which results in two distinct switched-networks: one for ON-time interval and another for OFF-time interval. Resonant inductor is placed in series with the hybrid transformer primary to insure the continuity of primary and secondary currents at the switching transitions and thus eliminating completely the potential switching losses at the switching transitions. In the best use of the invention the resonant inductor is replaced by use of the inherent leakage inductance of the transformer and for the first time eliminate the switching losses always associated with the transformer leakage inductance of all other switching converters. The output voltage is controlled by the standard Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) duty ratio control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: CUKS, LLC
    Inventor: Slobodan Cuk
  • Patent number: 9201441
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides, in one embodiment, a method of shunting a power supply to reduce output ripple. The method includes determining at least one performance parameter of a DC/DC converter circuit; generating a first reference signal, wherein the first reference signal is based on the performance parameter; comparing the first reference signal to the performance parameter; and generating a shunt current from an input power source to an output node of the DC/DC converter circuit based on, at least in part, the comparison of the performance parameter and the first reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph M. Ingino, Poojan Wagh