Using A Three Or More Terminal Semiconductive Device As The Final Control Device Patents (Class 323/265)
  • Patent number: 11829174
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a regulator for a non-volatile memory. The regulator comprises a high voltage supply terminal, a low voltage supply terminal, an output terminal, a ground terminal and an internal node. The regulator further comprises an input amplifier inserted between the low voltage supply terminal and the ground terminal and outputting a first output voltage at a first intermediate output node according to a reference voltage and a feedback voltage provided at its negative and positive input terminals, respectively; a mirror circuit forming two current paths between the internal node and the ground terminal and between the internal node and a second intermediate output node respectively; and a cascode block coupled between the high voltage supply terminal and the internal node and operating in response to a voltage at the second intermediate output node of the regulator where the two current path is formed by the mirror circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Grande, Marco Passerini, Stefano Malacrida
  • Patent number: 11736013
    Abstract: A buck-boost switching regulator includes: a power switch circuit including an input switch unit and an output switch unit which switch a first terminal and a second terminal of an inductor for buck-boost conversion; at least one low dropout regulator correspondingly coupled to at least one output high side switch in the output switch unit to correspondingly convert at least one low dropout voltage into at least one output voltage; and a bypass control circuit configured to operably generate a bypass control signal according to a conversion voltage difference between the input voltage and the corresponding low dropout voltage; wherein when the corresponding conversion voltage difference is lower than a reference voltage, the bypass control signal controls a corresponding bypass switch to electrically connect the input voltage with the corresponding low dropout node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Shei-Chie Yang, Jian-Yu Tu, Yuan-Yen Mai, Pao-Hsun Yu
  • Patent number: 11596037
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, there is provided a power supply system including a converter configured to generate an output signal based on a rectified input signal for driving a light source, an output correction circuit coupled to an output of the converter and configured to measure a ripple in the output signal and to generate a correction signal to dynamically control a DC-level of the output signal of the converter based on the measured ripple and a reference signal corresponding to a desired DC-level of the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: ERP POWER, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Archer, Louis Chen, James H. Mohan
  • Patent number: 11522462
    Abstract: A switch mode power converter comprises an inverter, a transformer having a primary side winding and a secondary side winding and a first inductor in series with the primary side winding. A second inductor is provided magnetically coupled to the first inductor, and a voltage at one end of the second inductor is used as a feedback signal for indirectly measuring (i.e. approximating) the secondary side voltage, but with measurement at the primary side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Signify Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Bernhard Christiaan Van Dijk
  • Patent number: 11366174
    Abstract: A device to predict failure in a power supply includes a converter circuit configured to generate a regulated output voltage. The device additionally includes a first feedback circuit to generate a first feedback voltage proportional to the regulated output voltage and a second feedback circuit to generate a second feedback voltage based on the regulated output voltage. The second feedback circuit includes a voltage sampling circuit to detect the regulated output voltage, a correction circuit to generate a correction signal responsive to a voltage difference between the regulated output voltage and a specified output voltage, a reference circuit to obtain a specified correction signal to apply to the power supply, a comparator circuit to determine whether a difference between the generated correction signal and the specified correction signal exceeds a threshold signal value, and an alerting circuit to generate an alert signal responsive to the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Navdeep Singh Dhanjal
  • Patent number: 11249118
    Abstract: A current sensing circuit includes a current detection unit having a first resistance element; a first MOS-transistor and a first constant current source connected between a first output end of the current detection unit and a ground terminal; a second MOS-transistor and a second constant current source connected between a second output end of the current detection unit and the ground terminal; a third MOS-transistor having a source connected to the first output end and a gate connected to a drain of the second MOS-transistor; a second resistance element connected between an output terminal and the ground terminal; and a high withstand-voltage MOS-transistor connected between the third MOS-transistor and the output terminal to receive a predetermined control voltage, wherein the gates of the first and second MOS-transistors are commonly connected, and the gate of the first MOS-transistor is connected to the drain thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: ABLIC INC.
    Inventor: Keisuke Ito
  • Patent number: 11180040
    Abstract: A charging device for electrically charging and discharging a traction battery in an electric vehicle, comprises a first DC-DC converter; a vehicle plug; a power plug or network connection; a rectifier; a second DC-DC converter; a connection node; wherein the first DC-DC converter can be coupled with a DC power source and is coupled with the connection node; the rectifier can be coupled with the power plug and is coupled with the second DC-DC converter; and the connection node is coupled with the vehicle plug. The object of providing such a charging device with improved efficiency is achieved in that the connection node is connected between the second DC-DC converter and the vehicle plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jan Giebel, Ralf Pfennigwerth, Karsten Rowold, Carsten Busse
  • Patent number: 11084381
    Abstract: A junction box controller controls a junction box including a circuit for vehicle travel that supplies power from a battery for vehicle travel to an electrical component for vehicle travel and a charging circuit including a positive electrode charging relay and an negative electrode charging relay that are for use in coupling and decoupling the battery for vehicle travel to and from an external charging power source in a state in which the positive electrode charging relay and the negative electrode charging relay are coupled to the circuit for vehicle travel. The junction box controller includes a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the circuit for vehicle travel, and a controller that, when the temperature of the circuit for vehicle travel reaches or exceeds a preset threshold, controls and switches on either one of the positive electrode charging relay and the negative electrode charging relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsukasa Murakami, Takashi Fukuda, Yukio Karasawa
  • Patent number: 11038428
    Abstract: In an aspect, the present invention provides a high frequency switching power converter. The high frequency switching power converter may include a plurality of soft-switchable power cells flexibly connected to receive an input signal in series and provide an output. The high frequency switching power converter may further include a controller for configuring the flexible connection and for controlling the power cells to receive the input signal. In an embodiment, each of the plurality of power cells may be separately controllable by the controller. Further, a portion of the plurality of power cells may be arranged with parallel outputs. Additionally, at least one of the plurality of cells may include one or more switched capacitors. In another embodiment, the at least one of the plurality of cells may include at least one switched capacitor and a DC/DC regulating converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: FINsix Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony Sagneri, George Hwang, Justin Burkhart, Fred Chen
  • Patent number: 10955866
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes an operational amplifier that compares a feedback voltage that is proportional to an output voltage and a predetermined reference voltage that corresponds to a desired output voltage. The operational amplifier controls the conduction state of an output transistor according to the comparison. A detecting circuit monitors the operating state of the operational amplifier, and in the case that the operational amplifier is not operating, outputs a signal which causes the output transistor to be placed in a non-conductive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayuki Usuda
  • Patent number: 10897203
    Abstract: A buck converter may operate in a low power mode or a high power mode based on a power requirements of a load. In the high power mode, modifications to increase frequency response include a higher polling frequency for a comparator, a lower impedance divider in a feedback circuit, a higher biasing current for a comparator, and larger switches for providing current to a reactive step-down circuit of the buck converter. In the low power mode these modifications are reversed. The buck converter may make use of an improved strong arm comparator and a circuit for sensing presence of an inductor in the reactive step-down circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: AMBIQ MICRO, INC.
    Inventors: Ivan Bogue, Yousof Mortazavi
  • Patent number: 10833587
    Abstract: A control circuit having extended hold-up time is coupled to a bus path of a conversion circuit. The control circuit includes a bypass circuit, an energy storage capacitor, and an auxiliary power circuit. The auxiliary power circuit supplies an energy storage voltage to the energy storage capacitor according to a working voltage provided by the conversion circuit. When a bus voltage of the bus path is less than or equal to the energy storage voltage, the energy storage voltage is supplied to the bus path through the bypass circuit so that the bus voltage is greater than or equal to a predetermined voltage within a hold-up time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: P-DUKE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lien-Hsing Chen, Chun-Ping Chang, Hao-Jen Wang, Yung-Chi Chang
  • Patent number: 10775823
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an LDO circuit is configured to increase a bias current to an error amplifier of the LDO circuit, and to subsequently return the bias current to an earlier value in response to the output current increasing to greater than a threshold current level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Vaclav Kotrc
  • Patent number: 10734177
    Abstract: The present disclosure illustrates an electromagnetic relay device and a control method thereof. In the electromagnetic relay device, a control circuit respectively provides driving power to switch on the two electromagnetic relay units disposed adjacent to each other, and then provides the first holding power and the second holding power, lower than the driving power, to the two electromagnetic relay units after the two electromagnetic relay units are switched on, thereby maintaining the two electromagnetic relay units in the switched-on status. When the electromagnetic relay unit receiving the second holding power is tripped because of the environmental factor, the electromagnetic relay unit receiving the second holding power generates and outputs the trip feedback signal to the control circuit, so that the control circuit increases the first holding power upon receipt of the trip feedback signal. The second holding power is lower than or equal to the first holding power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Moxa Inc.
    Inventor: Kun-Nan Wu
  • Patent number: 10650777
    Abstract: A display device includes a power generator to supply a driving voltage to the display and a controller to control the display and the power generator and to generate a power control signal. The power generator includes a DC-DC converter and bypass cut-off logic. The DC-DC converter receives an input power voltage and the power control signal, selectively boosts the input power voltage based on the power control signal, and generates the driving voltage. The bypass cut-off logic selectively cuts off supply of the input power voltage to the DC-DC converter based on the power control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-sik Hwang, Sanghyun Park, Kyungmo Lee
  • Patent number: 10545521
    Abstract: A linear regulator with a pass device having a first terminal, a second terminal and a drive terminal is presented. The first terminal of the pass device is coupled with the supply voltage of the linear regulator. The second terminal of the pass device is coupled with the output of the linear regulator. A driver stage is coupled with the supply voltage of the linear regulator, and the drive terminal of the pass device drives the pass device with a driving voltage. A compensating circuit compensates for a change in a voltage difference between the drive terminal of the pass device and the supply voltage of the linear regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Carlos Zamarreno Ramos, Ambreesh Bhattad, Frank Kronmueller
  • Patent number: 10523129
    Abstract: Provided is a synchronous rectification circuit, which relates to electronic circuit technologies. The synchronous rectification circuit is self-driven by a combination of a charge pump and a Boost circuit, including a rectification MOSFET, a charge pump, logic control modules, voltage detection modules, an oscillator module, a PWM generation module, a reference voltage generation module, a switch, a free-wheeling MOSFET, an isolation MOSFET, an inductor, a capacitor and sampling resistors. According to the present application, initially, the charge is stored on the capacitor through the charge pump, the Boost circuit is turned on till the voltage is increased to a certain value; through processing by the logic control modules and the like, the rectification MOSFET is turned on, thus self-driving of the synchronous rectification circuit is achieved. The self-driving mode can charge the capacitor faster, lower the duty of the rectification circuit, and reduce the average conduction voltage drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Guizhou E-CHIP Microelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zehong Li, Rong Wang, Caimin Yi, Yuzhou Wu
  • Patent number: 10506114
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a non-volatile storage unit, a power circuit, a power switch for the power circuit, a determination unit, and a power control unit. The determination unit is configured to determine an address through a predetermined method before power is turned off or voltage decreases after activation. The power control unit is configured to execute power-off processing in a case where an operation instruction of the power switch is provided after power-on processing and execute writing of information to be saved with respect to an address of the non-volatile storage unit previously determined by the determination unit in a case where a decrease in voltage of the power circuit is detected after the power-on processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kohei Asano
  • Patent number: 10505441
    Abstract: A voltage regulation system, a regulator chip and a voltage regulation control method thereof are provided. The voltage regulation control method includes the steps of disabling a first regulator, and electrically connecting an input terminal of a second regulator to a power supply terminal; setting a voltage on a second terminal of a first transistor of the first regulator to a ground voltage for a predetermined period; next, turning off the first transistor and the second transistor of the first regulator; next, activating the second regulator, and detecting the voltage on the second terminal of the first transistor; when the voltage on the second terminal of the first transistor is equal to the voltage on the power supply terminal, determining that an inductor electrically connected between the first regulator and the second regulator; otherwise, determining that first regulator and the second regulator are not electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Nuvoton Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Chung-Ming Hsieh
  • Patent number: 10338632
    Abstract: An adaptive voltage converter adapted to compensate for the exponential sensitivities of sub-threshold and near-threshold circuits. The converter can change its power/performance characteristics between different energy modes. The converter may comprise two or more voltage converters/regulators. A multiplexing circuit selects between the outputs of the several converters/regulators depending on the state of a control signal generated by a control facility. The converter is specially adapted to change the output of each converter/regulator based on a number of variables, including, for example, process corner, temperature and input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ambiq Micro, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Hanson, Yanning Lu
  • Patent number: 10310572
    Abstract: Thermal reduction and voltage adjustment techniques for computing systems and processing devices are presented herein. In a first example, a method of operating a voltage control system for a processing device includes operating the processing device in a computing assembly at a selected performance level, the processing device supplied with at least one input voltage at a first voltage level. The method includes monitoring thermal information associated with the computing assembly, and when the thermal information indicates a temperature associated with the computing assembly exceeds a threshold temperature, adjusting the at least one input voltage level supplied to the processing device to a second voltage level lower than the first voltage level and continuing to operate the processing device at the selected performance level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: William Paul Hovis, Garrett Douglas Blankenburg, Peter Anthony Atkinson, Robert James Ray, Andres Felipe Hernandez Mojica, Samy Boshra-Riad, Erng-Sing Wee, Brian Keith Langendorf
  • Patent number: 10305377
    Abstract: Representative implementations of devices and techniques may minimize switching losses and voltage ripple in a switched capacitor de-de converter. A digital controller is used to control switching, based on an existing load. In some examples, the digital controller may insert a dead-time phase in a switching period, which may reduce voltage ripple for a low output load current. In other examples, the digital controller may adjust the conductance of a plurality of sub-switches, where the plurality of sub-switches may include one or more sub-switches that have a higher on-resistance than other sub-switches. For example, a sub-switch may have an on-resistance that is a multiple of the on-resistance of other sub-switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Kyrylo Cherniak, Werner Hoellinger, Gerhard Maderbacher, Stefano Marsili, Volha Subotskaya
  • Patent number: 10277132
    Abstract: System and method for regulating a power converter. The system includes a first signal generator configured to receive a first sensed signal and generate an output signal associated with demagnetization. The first sensed signal is related to a first winding coupled to a secondary winding for a power converter, and the secondary winding is associated with at least an output current for the power converter. Additionally, the system includes a ramping signal generator configured to receive the output signal and generate a ramping signal, and a first comparator configured to receive the ramping signal and a first threshold signal and generate a first comparison signal based on at least information associated with the ramping signal and the first threshold signal. Moreover, the system includes a second comparator configured to receive a second sensed signal and a second threshold signal and generate a second comparison signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yunchao Zhang, Yaming Cao, Xiaomin Huang, Xiuhong Zhang, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 10209724
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes an operational amplifier that compares a feedback voltage that is proportional to an output voltage and a predetermined reference voltage that corresponds to a desired output voltage. The operational amplifier controls the conduction state of an output transistor according to the comparison. A detecting circuit monitors the operating state of the operational amplifier, and in the case that the operational amplifier is not operating, outputs a signal which causes the output transistor to be placed in a non-conductive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayuki Usuda
  • Patent number: 10205395
    Abstract: System and method for regulating an output current of a power conversion system. An example system controller for regulating an output current of a power conversion system includes a driving component, a demagnetization detector, a current-regulation component, and a signal processing component. The driving component is configured to output a drive signal to a switch in order to affect a primary current flowing through a primary winding of the power conversion system. The demagnetization detector is configured to receive a feedback signal associated with an output voltage of the power conversion system and generate a detection signal based on at least information associated with the feedback signal. The current-regulation component is configured to receive the drive signal, the detection signal and a current-sensing signal and output a current-regulation signal based on at least information associated with the drive signal, the detection signal, and the current sensing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yunchao Zhang, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 10205393
    Abstract: A comparator circuit includes a first comparator, a second comparator, and a logic portion. The logic portion adjust a variable reference voltage input to the second comparator to become close to a reference voltage input to the first comparator, during a period from a time point when reverse current of current flowing in a coil disposed in a switching power supply device is detected in a state where a first comparison signal is output as a comparison signal while the first comparator and the second comparator are operated, until a first predetermined period of time elapses in a state where switching operation of the switching power supply device is stopped (excluding a period from a time point when the reverse current is detected until a second predetermined period of time shorter than the first predetermined period of time elapses).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Genki Tsuruyama, Tetsuo Tateishi
  • Patent number: 10103630
    Abstract: A power supply is disclosed. The power supply an output diode, a main switch coupled to the input filter and an output inductor coupled to the output diode and the main switch. The power supply also includes a bypass switch coupled to the main switch and configured to bypass the output inductor. A switch driver is included and the switch driver is configured to turn on the bypass switch and upon detecting the output diode in a blocking mode, turn on the main switch and turn off the bypass switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Lucas Pieter Lodewijk van Dijk, Martin Wagner, Gert van der Horn
  • Patent number: 10050520
    Abstract: The present disclosure illustrates a charge pump circuit. The charge pump circuit includes an input voltage module and a switching transistor module. The input voltage module is configured for providing an input voltage. The switching transistor module is configured for receiving a supply voltage and the input voltage. There is a voltage difference between the supply voltage and the input voltage. During a first charging period, the switching transistor module charges a first capacitor, and a voltage across the first capacitor is the voltage difference. During a second charging period, the switching transistor module charges a second capacitor, and a voltage across the second capacitor is a sum of the supply voltage and the voltage difference. A frequency which the switching transistor module charges the second capacitor is higher than a frequency which the second capacitor provides voltage to a bridge circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ming-Jung Tsai
  • Patent number: 10008939
    Abstract: System and method for protecting a power conversion system. An example system controller includes a protection component and a driving component. The protection component is configured to receive a demagnetization signal generated based on at least information associated with a feedback signal of the power conversion system, process information associated with the demagnetization signal and a detected voltage generated based on at least information associated with the feedback signal, and generate a protection signal based on at least information associated with the detected voltage and the demagnetization signal. The driving component is configured to receive the protection signal and output a driving signal to a switch configured to affect a primary current flowing through a primary winding of the power conversion system. The detected voltage is related to an output voltage of the power conversion system. The demagnetization signal is related to a demagnetization period of the power conversion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yunchao Zhang, Yuan Lin, Xiuhong Zhang, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 9893631
    Abstract: A power transfer system includes DC-DC power conversion circuitry that has a first switch and a second switch on either side of a transformer connected via a common ground with a first capacitor and a second capacitor cross-connected across the transformer. A direction of power transfer is determined, and primary and secondary sides of the DC-DC power conversion circuitry are aligned based on the direction of power transfer. An amount of on-time for the first switch or the second switch is determined based on a quantity of power transfer through the DC-DC power conversion circuitry. The primary and secondary switches are controlled using switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Masanori Ishigaki
  • Patent number: 9886046
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes an operational amplifier that compares a feedback voltage that is proportional to an output voltage and a predetermined reference voltage that corresponds to a desired output voltage. The operational amplifier controls the conduction state of an output transistor according to the comparison. A detecting circuit monitors the operating state of the operational amplifier, and in the case that the operational amplifier is not operating, outputs a signal which causes the output transistor to be placed in a non-conductive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Usuda
  • Patent number: 9864426
    Abstract: A voltage regulator and/or associated circuitry provides an indication of average current consumed or drawn by a load, level and magnitude of transient events, and regulation efficiency. A dynamic voltage and frequency scaling governor makes use of the indication of average current consumed or drawn by the load, level and magnitude of transient events, and regulation efficiency to help optimize operation of the load, with respect to power and/or performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Endura Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Taner Dosluoglu, Anatoly Gelman
  • Patent number: 9862216
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a power source unit supplying power to an electric load through a power supply line, a capacitor connected to the power supply line, a charge circuit charging the capacitor while restricting a current value of the power supplied from the power source unit, a detection unit detecting a voltage value of the capacitor, a controller which switches, after the charge of the capacitor is completed, a current value of the charge circuit to a first current value smaller than a current value supplied before the charge of the capacitor is completed, a first determination unit determining whether a first condition is satisfied based on the voltage value detected by the detection unit after the charge of the capacitor is completed, and a second determination unit determining whether an error process is to be performed based on a determination result of the first determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisao Okita, Yasufumi Ogasawara, Takashi Sakai, Toru Oshika, Shinya Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9804617
    Abstract: A power control integrated circuit (IC) chip can include a direct current (DC)-DC converter that outputs a switching voltage in response to a switching output enable signal. The power control IC chip can also include an inductor detect circuit that detects whether an inductor is conductively coupled to the DC-DC converter and a powered circuit component in response to an inductor detect signal. The power control IC chip can further include control logic that (i) controls the inductor detect signal based on an enable DC-DC signal and (ii) controls the switching output enable signal provided to the DC-DC converter and a linear output disable signal provided to a linear regulator based on a signal from the inductor detect circuit indicating whether the inductor is conductively coupled to the DC-DC converter and the powered circuit component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sachin Sudhir Turkewadikar, Nitin Agarwal, Madhan Radhakrishnan
  • Patent number: 9806628
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the delivery of power from a DC source to an AC grid includes an inverter configured to deliver power from the unipolar input source to the AC grid and an inverter controller. The inverter includes an input converter, an active filter, and an output converter. The inverter controller includes an input converter controller, an active filter controller and an output converter controller. The input converter controller is configured to control a current delivered by the input converter to a galvanically isolated unipolar bus of the inverter. The output converter is configured to control the output converter to deliver power to the AC grid. Additionally, the active filter controller is configured to control the active filter to supply substantially all the power that is deliver by the output controller to the AC grid at a grid frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Brian T. Kuhn, Robert S. Balog, Jonathan W. Kimball, Philip T. Krein, Alexander Gray, Trishan Esram
  • Patent number: 9755516
    Abstract: In a switched mode inductive DCDC converter having a first mode that conducts a first current path through an inductor and through a first switch, and a second mode that conducts a second current path through the inductor and through a second switch, a detecting component detects a parameter. The detecting component outputs a biasing signal extend the turn OFF time of one of the switches in order to decrease a voltage build up on the other switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Schmeller, Erich Bayer
  • Patent number: 9645592
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes an operational amplifier that compares a feedback voltage that is proportional to an output voltage and a predetermined reference voltage that corresponds to a desired output voltage. The operational amplifier controls the conduction state of an output transistor according to the comparison. A detecting circuit monitors the operating state of the operational amplifier, and in the case that the operational amplifier is not operating, outputs a signal which causes the output transistor to be placed in a non-conductive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masayuki Usuda
  • Patent number: 9592892
    Abstract: An active heave compensation system comprises a motor generator to interact with a load so as to drive the load in a first part of a heave motion cycle and to regenerate at least part of energy with which the load has been driven in a second part of the heave motion cycle, and an electrical storage element for storing the regenerated energy. The active heave compensation system further comprises a power supply electrically connected to the motor generator and the electrical storage element for providing electrical power to at least the motor generator, and a control unit configured to control the power supply substantially in synchronism with the heave motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: ITREC B.V.
    Inventors: Joop Roodenburg, Cornelis Johannes Ekelaar
  • Patent number: 9575499
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a low-dropout voltage regulator (LDO), including a power transistor, a driving stage circuit, a feedback circuit, a bias power source and an auxiliary reference current generation circuit. The power transistor is controlled by a driving signal to convert an input voltage into an output voltage. The feedback circuit generates a feedback voltage according to the output voltage. The driving stage circuit generates the driving signal according to the feedback voltage and the reference voltage. The bias power source provides a bias current. The auxiliary reference current generation circuit is configured to sample an output current, adjust the sampled output current to generate an adjustment current by means of mapping and superpose the adjustment current onto the bias current to generate a reference current to control drive capability of the driving stage circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: GREEN SOLUTION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Li-Min Lee, Zhong-Wei Liu, Shian-Sung Shiu, Ying-Ying Yang
  • Patent number: 9531261
    Abstract: A power-supply control device that includes a transistor that is interposed between a power source and a load; a control circuit to which a voltage from the power source is applied, the voltage being applied across a high-voltage side input terminal and a low-voltage side input terminal of the control circuit, and that is configured to turn the transistor on or off based on an operating signal for the load that is applied from an external device, and controlling supply of power to the load; a voltage detector that is configured to detect a value of the voltage applied to the control circuit by the power source, and is configured to determine whether or not the applied voltage value detected is lower than a predetermined voltage value; and a negative voltage output circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuki Sugisawa, Katsuya Ikuta, Masahiko Furuichi
  • Patent number: 9502976
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a power supply circuit is provided. The power supply circuit includes a switching transistor which is controlled to be ON/OFF by a PWM signal, and a mode switching control circuit configured to switch a control mode between peak current mode control and valley current mode control depending on the length of an ON time of the PWM signal which drives the switching transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushi Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Chen Kong Teh, Manabu Yamada
  • Patent number: 9473035
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a full-bridge switch circuit, a converter circuit, and a control circuit. The full-bridge switch circuit is operable to convert a direct current input voltage to a converted voltage. The converter circuit converts the converted voltage into a direct current output voltage. The converter circuit includes a resonant inductor, a transformer, a first converter switch, a second converter switch, an output inductor, and an output capacitor. The direct current output voltage is provided across the output capacitor. The control circuit controls the full-bridge switch circuit, the first converter switch and the second converter switch based on the direct current output voltage and a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignees: Lite-On Electronics (Guangzhou) Limited, Lite-On Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Peng Qu, Jianhua Zhou, Zhihong Ye
  • Patent number: 9423817
    Abstract: A power source circuit for idling-stop vehicles is provided whereby at normal times other than a restarting of an engine after being idling-stopped, a first voltage detected by a current detection circuit when a bypass switch is turned off is acquired, and a second voltage detected by the current detection circuit when the bypass switch is turned on is also acquired, and an electric current flowing from a battery to a load via the bypass switch is obtained on the basis of a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventor: Norihisa Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 9391453
    Abstract: An apparatus such as heterogeneous device includes at least a first die and a second die. The apparatus further includes a first inductive element, a second inductive element, and switch control circuitry. The switch control circuitry is disposed in the first die. The switch control circuitry controls current through the first inductive element to produce a first voltage. The first voltage powers the first die. The second inductive element is coupled to the first inductive element. The second inductive element produces a second voltage to power the second die. The first die and second die can be fabricated in accordance with different technologies and in which the first die and second die withstand different maximum voltages. A magnitude of the first voltage can be greater than a magnitude of the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Guido Droege, Andre Schaefer, Uwe Zillmann
  • Patent number: 9385612
    Abstract: System and method for regulating a power converter. The system includes a first signal generator configured to receive a first sensed signal and generate an output signal associated with demagnetization. The first sensed signal is related to a first winding coupled to a secondary winding for a power converter, and the secondary winding is associated with at least an output current for the power converter. Additionally, the system includes a ramping signal generator configured to receive the output signal and generate a ramping signal, and a first comparator configured to receive the ramping signal and a first threshold signal and generate a first comparison signal based on at least information associated with the ramping signal and the first threshold signal. Moreover, the system includes a second comparator configured to receive a second sensed signal and a second threshold signal and generate a second comparison signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yunchao Zhang, Yaming Cao, Xiaomin Huang, Xiuhong Zhang, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 9350252
    Abstract: System and method for protecting a power conversion system. An example system controller includes a protection component and a driving component. The protection component is configured to receive a demagnetization signal generated based on at least information associated with a feedback signal of the power conversion system, process information associated with the demagnetization signal and a detected voltage generated based on at least information associated with the feedback signal, and generate a protection signal based on at least information associated with the detected voltage and the demagnetization signal. The driving component is configured to receive the protection signal and output a driving signal to a switch configured to affect a primary current flowing through a primary winding of the power conversion system. The detected voltage is related to an output voltage of the power conversion system. The demagnetization signal is related to a demagnetization period of the power conversion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yunchao Zhang, Yuan Lin, Xiuhong Zhang, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 9225239
    Abstract: A multiple output charge pump that includes a first flying capacitor, a second flying capacitor, a first output node, a second output node, and a switching network. The first output node is configured to provide a first voltage, and the second output node is distinct from the first output node and is configured to provide a second voltage, different than the first voltage. The switching network is configured to provide a first mode of operation in which the first and second flying capacitors are connected in one of in series with one another between an input voltage and ground or in parallel with one another between the input voltage and ground, a second mode of operation in which the first and second flying capacitors are connected in parallel with one another between ground and the second output node, and a third mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: ADVANCED ANALOGIC TECHNOLOGIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Richard K. Williams
  • Patent number: 9225234
    Abstract: A circuit for a charge-pump low-dropout (LDO) regulator may include a comparator circuit configured to control a pass transistor based on an error signal. A pre-charge path may be provided between a supply voltage and an output node of the regulator. The pre-charge path may be configured to allow charging of an output capacitor to a pre-charge voltage during a pre-charge operation mode. The output capacitor may be coupled between the output node of the regulator and ground potential. The pass transistor may be configured to allow charging of the output capacitor during an LDO mode of operation. A charge-pump circuit may be configured to provide a current for charging the output capacitor during the LDO mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: I-Ning Ku, Hui Zheng, Xicheng Jiang
  • Publication number: 20150145487
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, generating an adjustable bandgap reference voltage includes generating a current proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT). Generating the PTAT current includes equalizing voltages across the terminals of a core that is designed to be traversed by the PTAT current. Generating the adjustable bandgap reference also includes generating a current inversely proportional to absolute temperature (CTAT), summing the PTAT and the CTAT currents and generating the bandgap reference voltage based on the sum of the currents. Equalizing includes connecting-across the terminals of the core a first fed-back amplifier with at least one first stage arranged as a folded setup and including first PMOS transistors arranged according to a common-gate setup. Equalizing also includes biasing the first stage based on the CTAT current. The summation of the PTAT and CTAT currents is performed in the feedback stage of the first amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Jimmy Fort, Thierry Soude
  • Patent number: 9008251
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an adaptive phase-shifted synchronization clock generation circuit and a method for generating phase-shifted synchronization clock. The adaptive phase-shifted synchronization clock generation circuit includes: a current source generating a current which flows through a node to generate a node voltage on the node; a reverse-proportional voltage generator coupled to the node for generating a voltage which is reverse-proportional to the node voltage; a ramp generator receiving a synchronization input signal and generating a ramp signal; a comparator comparing the reverse-proportional voltage to the ramp signal; and a pulse generator for generating a clock signal according to an output from the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Isaac Chen, An-Tung Chen