Using A Three Or More Terminal Semiconductive Device As The Final Control Device Patents (Class 323/265)
  • Patent number: 7550951
    Abstract: A two-step charger includes an AC/DC power supply, a transformer, a compensator, a controller, a comparator and an isolating controller. The comparator detects whether a battery is connected to the transformer. If so, a command voltage of the charger is set at a high level. Since the battery voltage is lower than the command voltage, the controller orders the compensator to send out a compensating current. The current entering the primary side of the transformer is increased to promote the output current from the secondary side of the transformer. Once the comparator detects that the battery reaches as high as the charger, the command voltage is adjusted to a low level. The controller orders the compensator to stop outputting the compensating current. Therefore, a larger current can speed up battery charging. Once the battery is fully charged, the charging voltage is lowered to avoid high temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Asian Power Devices Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Chi Lai, Ji-Shun Liao
  • Patent number: 7548441
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptively configuring an array of voltage transformation modules is disclosed. The aggregate voltage transformation ratio of the adaptive array is adjusted to digitally regulate the output voltage for a wide range of input voltages. An integrated adaptive array having a plurality of input cells, a plurality of output cells, or a plurality of both is also disclosed. The input and output cells may be adaptively configured to provide an adjustable transformer turns ratio for the adaptive array or in the case of an integrated VTM, an adjustable voltage transformation ratio for the integrated VTM. A controller is used to configure the cells and provide digital regulation of the output. A converter having input cells configured as a complementary pair, which are switched out of phase, reduces common mode current and noise. Series connected input cells are used for reducing primary switch voltage ratings in a converter and enabling increased operating frequency or efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: VLT, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrizio Vinciarelli
  • Patent number: 7548042
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter system having a DC-DC converter including a power transistor and a control unit is provided, which control unit provides control signals for triggering the power transistor. The DC-DC converter is operable in two operating modes: in a first operating mode, the DC-DC converter operates at high efficiency; and in a second operating mode, the DC-DC converter operates at low efficiency. The high power loss released in the second operating mode is used in the warm-up phase after the start of a motor vehicle engine as an additional heating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Jochen Fassnacht
  • Publication number: 20090115380
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating an internal voltage includes an output-voltage detecting unit for detecting a voltage level of an internal voltage, an oscillating unit for generating a periodic signal in response to a detection signal from the output-voltage level detecting unit, a first driving-voltage level detecting unit for detecting an increase of a voltage level of a driving voltage, a second driving-voltage level detecting unit for detecting a decrease of a voltage level of the driving voltage, a period control unit for controlling a period of the periodic signal in response to output signals of the first and second driving-voltage level detecting units, and a charge pumping unit for generating the internal voltage by charge-pumping the driving voltage in response to an output signal from the period control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventor: Tae-Heui Kwon
  • Publication number: 20090091307
    Abstract: A power supply circuit and a method for adjusting an output voltage therein are provided. The power supply circuit includes a regulator having an input terminal receiving an input voltage, an output terminal outputting an output voltage and a regulating terminal, a voltage divider coupled between the output terminal and a ground, generating a dividing voltage, and a gain circuit coupled between the regulating terminal and the voltage divider, receiving the dividing voltage and generating a gain for adjusting the output voltage according to a reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: HOLTEK SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventor: Chien-Feng LAI
  • Patent number: 7511462
    Abstract: A DC power conversion circuit having self-auxiliary power and self-protection against a short or open load circuit includes a DC voltage source, a driving circuit, and an auxiliary circuit. The DC voltage source is used for providing a DC power. The driving circuit includes a switch, a first resistor, a control signal generator, a second resistor, a diode and an inductor. The switch is used for conducting or cutting off an electrical connection according to an incoming control signal. The control signal generator senses voltage of the first resistor to generate the control signal. The inductor is coupled between the first resistor and a load circuit. The auxiliary circuit is parallel to the inductor and includes an auxiliary capacitor and an auxiliary diode. The auxiliary capacitor is coupled between the first resistor and the second resistor. The auxiliary diode is coupled between the inductor and the auxiliary capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: ADDtek Corp.
    Inventor: Shih-Yuan Wang
  • Publication number: 20090043244
    Abstract: Disclosed is a transdermal electrotransport drug delivery system having a constant current that can accommodate large resistance change in a body surface. A semiconductor circuit component such as a Zener diode or a PMOS FET is used to impose a voltage drop from the output of a voltage booster circuit to maintain a constant current for electrotransport. Methods for its use are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventor: Omer T. Inan
  • Patent number: 7489198
    Abstract: A switched linear regulator includes a control device with a controlled current path and a control electrode. The current path is connected in series with a source of voltage and a load. An error signal generator compares the load voltage with a reference value to generate a degenerative error signal. The error signal is coupled to the control electrode with a voltage offset. An OFF control signal source includes a transistor which is connected to the control electrode to swamp or overpower the error signal, and render the controlled current path nonconductive. Thus, the same active control element both linearly regulates and provides an ON-OFF function. A speed-up transistor responds to the OFF signal to short the control electrode to a reference voltage to quickly discharge capacitance at the control electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce M. Cepas, Noel Delgado, Daniel H. McCauley, IV, Yan Zheng
  • Publication number: 20090033356
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for using a class H amplifier in a tester for testing protective relaying equipment, particularly useful in conducting end to end testing. The class H amplifier is configured to provide separation between the amplifier and the power supply of the tester using a DSP which also offers flexibility for programming algorithms to realize efficiencies in matching the waveform to the output rail. End to end testing is also improved by including expected results for the test case used by the tester to enable the tester to determine how close the results are to what is expected. This offers time savings and is less prone to error in that the expected results can be predetermined by a qualified/experienced professional.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Jeff Starkell, Scott Gilbertson, Kenneth Tang
  • Publication number: 20090027020
    Abstract: A method of providing threshold voltage monitoring and control in synchronous power converters is disclosed. The method establishes a threshold voltage level for at least one of an upper gate and a lower gate power switch in a synchronous power converter. The threshold voltage levels indicate switching delay times are present in the upper and lower gate power switches. The method detects body diode conduction levels for both the upper and lower gate power switches. When at least one of the detected body diode conduction levels exceed a prescribed body diode conduction level, the method adjusts the threshold voltage level for at least one of the upper and lower gate power switches to reduce a body diode conduction time for the at least one of the upper and lower gate power switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Weihong Qiu, Noel B. Dequina
  • Patent number: 7477096
    Abstract: A radiation tolerant high-power DC/DC converter is disclosed. The converter does not incorporate radiation-hardened parts, but instead uses p-channel FET switches that have a negative gate threshold voltage. With exposure to radiation, the gate threshold voltage decreases, becoming more negative. Thus, the gate is still controllable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Inventor: Steven E. Summer
  • Publication number: 20080290849
    Abstract: A voltage regulation system is provided including detecting a feedback voltage less than a reference voltage; asserting a current source gate output by the feedback voltage less than the reference voltage; activating a gated current source by the current source gate output; and waiting a delay interval before negating the current source gate output for turning off the gated current source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: MICREL, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Weng, Charles Vinn, Raymond David Zinn
  • Publication number: 20080279399
    Abstract: The speaker apparatus according to the invention is arranged in a manner that when the magnitude of an audio signal Sin increases temporarily and so a consumption power increases, a DC-DC converter reduces an output voltage Vout to thereby increase an output current Iout and further discharges a capacitor to thereby increase a current supplied to an amplifier. Thus, a power of 2.5 W or more supplied from a USB connection terminal can be temporarily supplied to the amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Noro, Takanori Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7449869
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a digital controller for adjusting the duty ratio a pulse width modulation control signal used to control a power switch of a switch mode power converter. According to various embodiments, the digital controller comprises a voltage compensator module for generating a first signal (Dvoltage) representative of the duty ratio of the control signal based on a difference between an output voltage of the converter and a reference voltage. The controller also includes a current compensator module for generating a second signal (Dcorrection) representative of a modification to the duty ratio of the control signal based on an output current of the converter. A subtraction module subtracts the second signal (Dcorrection) from the first signal (Dvoltage) to thereby generate a third signal (D), which is used by a duty ratio PWM generator module to generate the pulse width modulation control signal with the appropriate duty ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Artesyn Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Piotr Markowski
  • Publication number: 20080265845
    Abstract: This device is A Specially Improved Automotive Replacement Voltage Regulator for use in the automotive components remanufacturing and original equipment alternator product. Particularly this device has additional transient suppression means for the loads; “high side drive” of the rotor field to eliminate corrosion from the low side short condition; full passivation around the monolithic chip; and a monolithic chip that contains both the power and control devices which permits a simplified heat sink for thermal dissipation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventor: Justin B. Lybbert
  • Publication number: 20080265850
    Abstract: A current sensor senses the current at a sense transistor and generates an output current that is an accurate proportional representation of the current at the sense transistor. Furthermore, the sensed current is relatively independent of the resistive load of the feedback path at feedback control module to which it is applied. In one embodiment, the feedback control module uses the sensed current in a DC-DC voltage converter to regulate a voltage. The current sensor employs a pair of operational amplifiers to match a voltage at a current electrode of a transistor that generates the output current to a voltage at a current electrode of the sense transistor, such that an effective resistance of the transistor generating the output current is significantly higher than the resistive load of the feedback control module, thereby ensuring that the output current is relatively independent of the resistive load of the feedback control module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventor: Jader Alves De Lima Filho
  • Publication number: 20080265853
    Abstract: A voltage regulating circuit for providing a regulated output voltage. The voltage regulating circuit includes a voltage regulator, a converting circuit, a capacitive device, a first current mirror module, and a second current mirror module. The voltage regulator has a first output producing the regulated output voltage and a second output producing a pass voltage. The converting circuit converts the pass voltage into a first current and a second current passing through a first converting node and a second converting node respectively, where the first current charges/discharges the capacitive device. The first current mirror module has a first current mirror path coupled to the first converting node and a second current mirror path coupled to the second converting node. The second current mirror module has a first current mirror path coupled to the second converting node and a second current mirror path coupled to the first output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Hung-I Chen, Chih-Hong Lou
  • Publication number: 20080246448
    Abstract: A sleep mode control circuit and method are provided to pull high the error signal of a DC/DC switching power supply system to a target level when the switching power supply system is in a sleep mode, such that the switching power supply system can be more rapidly waked up from the sleep mode to its normal mode once the loading of the switching power supply system increases. A threshold is given for the output signal of the comparator that is used to determine the duty for the switching power supply system, and the error signal in the sleep mode is thus maintained slightly lower than the minimum voltage for the error signal in the normal mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Wei-Che Chiu
  • Publication number: 20080238379
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus and method of regulating is provided. A converter circuit includes a primary switching element and an auxiliary switching element. The auxiliary switching element is for transferring a reflected voltage signal. A transformer includes a primary and a secondary, the primary is coupled with the converter circuit. The primary and secondary each include a single winding. An output rectifier circuit is coupled with the secondary of the transformer. A resonant circuit is included in the converter circuit and is coupled with the primary. The resonant circuit includes one or more resonance capacitors that are configured for providing a transformer resonance. The transformer resonance comprises the reflected voltage signal, the capacitance of the one or more resonance capacitors and a parasitic capacitance of the transformer. The reflected voltage signal is reflected from the secondary to the primary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Mark Telefus, Farza Bob Roohparvar
  • Publication number: 20080218135
    Abstract: To provide a voltage supplying device and an image display device, which can bring a voltage on a line to be supplied with voltage (e.g. source line) to a substantially desired voltage. A voltage supplying device comprising a source line (L12), a source line (L13) adjacent to the source line (L12), and a voltage generating means for generating a voltage supplied to the source line (L12) and a voltage supplied to the source line (L13), wherein the voltage generating means receives a pixel data (D12) representing a driving voltage (v12) for on the source line (L12) and a pixel data (D13) representing a driving voltage (v13) for on the source line (L13), and generates a correction voltage (v12-?v3) different from the driving voltage (v12) using the received pixel data (D12) and (D13), and wherein the voltage supplying device supplies the source line (L12) with the correction voltage (v12-?v3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventor: Hajime Nagai
  • Publication number: 20080211313
    Abstract: A series regulator, which includes a power adjusting portion to which power is supplied, the power adjusting portion making an adjustment to the power thus supplied and outputting the power thus adjusted to a load, and an adjustment control portion detecting an output voltage that is a voltage outputted to the load and controlling the adjustment based on the detection result, is provided with: a current detecting portion for detecting an output current that is a current outputted to the load; and a power supplying section for supplying the power to the power adjusting portion after changing a voltage according to the detection result of the current detecting portion. With this configuration, even when the magnitude of the output current varies, it is possible to appropriately adjust the input voltage according to the variations in the output current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventor: Yuuichi NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20080197822
    Abstract: A variable gain amplifier includes first and second power supply terminals arranged to be connected to a power supply, a transconductance amplifier, first and second PN junction elements, a voltage drop element, first and second resistors, a current-generating transistor, and a current mirror. The transconductance amplifier outputs a current corresponding to a difference between a potential of a base of the first initial stage transistor and a potential of a base of the second initial stage transistor. An emitter of the second initial stage transistor is connected to the emitter of the first initial stage transistor at a node. Each of the first and second PN junction elements has a first end connected to the base of the first initial stage transistor and a second end. The voltage drop element is connected between the second end of the first PN junction element and the first power supply terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masafumi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20080186003
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to an internal power supply voltage generating device. The internal power supply voltage generating device may include a start-up voltage generating part, a reference voltage generating part, and/or an internal power supply voltage generating part. The start-up voltage generating part may be configured to generate a start-up voltage using an external power supply voltage. The reference voltage generating part may be configured to generate a reference voltage using the start-up voltage. The internal power supply voltage generating part may be configured to generate an internal power supply voltage using the reference voltage and the external power supply voltage. The start-up voltage generating part may be turned off by the reference voltage generated by the reference voltage generating part. Example embodiments also relate to a method of generating an internal power supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Jong-Pil Cho, Chan-Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 7408795
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptively configuring an array of voltage transformation modules is disclosed. The aggregate voltage transformation ratio of the adaptive array is adjusted to digitally regulate the output voltage for a wide range of input voltages. An integrated adaptive array having a plurality of input cells, a plurality of output cells, or a plurality of both is also disclosed. The input and output cells may be adaptively configured to provide an adjustable transformer turns ratio for the adaptive array or in the case of an integrated VTM, an adjustable voltage transformation ratio for the integrated VTM. A controller is used to configure the cells and provide digital regulation of the output. A converter having input cells configured as a complementary pair, which are switched out of phase, reduces common mode current and noise. Series connected input cells are used for reducing primary switch voltage ratings in a converter and enabling increased operating frequency or efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: VLT, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrizio Vinciarelli
  • Publication number: 20080180074
    Abstract: A regulated voltage is generated at an output terminal of a voltage regulator circuit having at least one input terminal. A feedback signal is coupled from a first transistor coupled in parallel with a first resistor between the output terminal and the input terminal. The feedback signal is coupled to the input terminal to regulate the stability of the voltage regulator circuit. In a method of operation, the stability of a circuit is regulated by generating a feedback signal in the circuit to add a zero to a transfer function and raise an open loop phase curve of the circuit to result in a better power signal rejection ratio over a frequency range for the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Wenche Einerman, Christer Jansson
  • Publication number: 20080180977
    Abstract: An exemplary power supply control circuit (200) includes a first port (201), a second port (202), a third port (203), a controllable switch (280), and a control circuit (270). The first and second ports are configured to receive a power supply voltage signal. The second and third ports are configured to output the power supply voltage signal to a load circuit. The controllable switch includes a control member (281) and a switch member (282 ). The control circuit is configured to control a working state of the control member. When the load circuit stops working, the control circuit controls the control member to control the switch member to be disconnected, so as to cut off the power supply voltage signal from outputting to the load circuit. A liquid crystal display (400) using the power supply control circuit is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Jie-Jian Zheng, Tong Zhou, Jian-Hui Lu, Hua Xiao, Kun Le
  • Publication number: 20080180072
    Abstract: A pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit and a method for enabling the same are provided. The method includes the steps of: receiving a first power voltage and a second power voltage; providing a high-side driving power pin, wherein the peripheral circuit of the high-side driving power pin is adapted for generating a high-side driving voltage according to the first power voltage and the second power voltage; and enabling the PWM circuit when the high-side driving voltage is larger than the second power voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: WINBOND ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chia-Ching Lu, Shih-Hsuan Hsu, Lian-Cheng Tsai
  • Publication number: 20080174283
    Abstract: A communication card including a card substrate, a power interface adapted to receive power from a power source and distribute it to elements mounted on the card substrate and a ground start detection circuit on the card substrate. The card additionally includes an active current regulating circuit adapted to receive electrical power through the power interface, regulate a provided current responsive to the received electrical power and provide the regulated current to the ground start detection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Michel Ivgi, Offir Assayag, Gordon E. Gustafson, Jeffrey Robert Clobes, Yuval Cohen
  • Publication number: 20080157731
    Abstract: Analog voltage drain with reduced current drain is achieved by a a new capacitive-divided feedback architecture. During the operational phase an op amp monitors a capacitively-divided fraction of the output voltage, and drives a current sink or source accordingly; during an initial phase the output is forced to the correct value by a different circuit, while the opamp is connected to self-tune itself in a way which removes DC offset effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 1, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Feng Pan
  • Publication number: 20080143306
    Abstract: A voltage control circuit is provided. The voltage control circuit comprises a control voltage source, a current generating unit, and an output voltage generating unit. The control voltage source inputs a single end control voltage. The current generating unit coupled to the control voltage source and a ground generates a first current according to the single end control voltage. The output voltage generating unit coupled to the current generating unit, receives a reference voltage, and generates a first output voltage and a second output voltage according to the first current and the reference voltage. A value of the first output voltage is greater than a value of the second output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Hisn-Kuang Chen, Yi-Bin Hsieh, Che-Wei Hsu
  • Publication number: 20080116861
    Abstract: The voltage applied to an integrated circuit is controlled by a temporal process monitor formed as part of the integrated circuit. The temporal process monitor includes a voltage controlled oscillator for producing a first output signal having a first period. A comparator compares the first period to one or more reference values. Should the first period be greater than a first selected reference value the comparator sends a signal to increase the voltage being supplied to the integrated circuit. Should the first period be less than a second selected reference value, the comparator sends a signal to decrease the voltage applied to the integrated circuit. In some embodiments a scaling circuit is provided for producing a second output signal having a second period different from (typically but not necessarily longer than) the first period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: KENT KERNAHAN, MILTON D. RIBEIRO, DONGSHENG ZHOU, SORIN ANDREI SPANOCHE, RAFAEL PAYSEO-DIAZ, CRAIG NORMAN LAMBERT, MICHAEL W. CALDWELL, JINGQUAN CHEN
  • Publication number: 20080095952
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for initiation and control of a sustained metal plasma and nano plasma (macroparticulate) deposition methods for preparing modified metal coatings are provided. The plasma deposition process can be tightly controlled by virtue of a device that incorporates a plasma arc initiator component and an internal power supply that is capable of controlling dwell time on the target and the size range of particles ejected in the plasma arc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Daniel M. Storey
  • Publication number: 20080088290
    Abstract: Devices, such as mobile devices, may be exposed to short circuit and output overload events. To protect against such events, mobile devices typically include current limit circuits. Some current limit circuits may involve user programmable function. User programmable function may need accurate current limit detectors. Various embodiments of the present invention include devices and methods for detecting one or more programmed current limits. Some embodiments allow for a user application to select among parallel or serial configurations of current detection circuitry. Each such configuration may include multiple resistive devices of different resistive values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: Advanced Analogic Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John So
  • Publication number: 20080084193
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for voltage regulation including a first transistor coupled between a first node and a third node, a second transistor coupled between a second node and the third node, a third transistor coupled between the third node and an output node, and a control unit that can be coupled to the first transistor, that can be coupled to the second transistor, and is coupled to the third transistor, wherein the control unit is configured to steer the transistors such that a predetermined output voltage is provided at the output node when a supply voltage is provided at one of the first node and the second node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Thomas Jean Ludovic Baglin
  • Patent number: 7342440
    Abstract: The invention relates to a current regulator having the following features: a first semiconductor body (1; 1?) having a first and second terminal contact (11, 12), a transistor (T) having a control terminal and a load path, which is integrated in the semiconductor body (1; 1?) and the load path of which runs between the terminal contacts (11, 12) of the semiconductor body, a current measuring resistor (22), which is at least partly formed by a section of the load path of the transistor, an evaluation and drive circuit (3), which is connected to the current measuring resistor (22) and which is designed to drive the transistor depending on a voltage across the measuring resistor (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Emanuele Bodano, Michael Lenz
  • Patent number: 7319310
    Abstract: An improved power supply unit includes a DC power source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and a voltage regulating circuit that includes a plurality of elements coupled in series between the positive and negative terminals of the DC power source to regulate the power supply signals supplied thereto to effectively cancel ripple and noise in such power supply signals. In one embodiment, the series-coupled elements include at least one resistor and a transconductive element having a characteristic transconductance value of T. The at least one resistor provides a resistance substantially equal to 1/T. The transconductive element and the one resistor cooperate to suppress spurious voltage level variations produced by the DC power source. The transconductive element may be realized by a thermionic triode, field effect transistor or other suitable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Audio Note UK Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew B. Grove
  • Patent number: 7317455
    Abstract: A bias offset voltage circuit for controlling one or more devices is disclosed. The bias offset voltage circuit includes a three voltage sources connected in series and a switching element. Each voltage source includes a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The switching element includes a positive input terminal, a negative input terminal, and an output terminal. The negative terminal of the first voltage source is connected to the negative input terminal. The positive terminal of the third voltage source is connected to the positive input terminal. The terminals of the second voltage source are used to drive a first device. The output terminal of the switching element drives a second device. The bias offset voltage circuit may be used to provide proper voltages to each of the devices where the higher-supplied voltage could damage the device supplied with the lower supplied voltage, or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Charles A. Wright
  • Patent number: 7312972
    Abstract: An actuator driving circuit for driving an electromagnetic actuator, includes a boosting circuit which boosts a source voltage, and a boosted voltage controller which is connected to an output terminal of the boosting circuit, i.e., the downstream of the boosting circuit, to control a boosted voltage generated by the boosting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuharu Hourai, Kenichi Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20070262757
    Abstract: In a power supply apparatus including a step-up circuit, an output terminal is provided and connectable to an external smoothing circuit formed by a parasitic resistance of a connection layer and an external capacitor. A resistor is connected between an output end of the step-up circuit and the output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hirokazu Kawagoshi
  • Patent number: 7271550
    Abstract: A dimmer circuit arrangement is disclosed including a second control circuit (40) for controlling the operation of a triac (50) for delivering current to a load (60), and a first control circuit (10) for controlling the operation of an IGBT power semiconductor switch (20) for controlling the rate of rise of load voltage. The first control circuit also controls the operation of the second control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Clipsal Integrated Systems Pty Ltd
    Inventor: James Robert Vanderzon
  • Patent number: 7268314
    Abstract: A power supply device for electric discharge machining includes a switching circuit that supplies a discharge pulse current to an inter-electrode portion that is a portion between an electrode and a workpiece serving as another electrode arranged to be opposed to the electrode at a predetermined interval; and a pulse-width control unit that generates a control pulse signal of a predetermined pulse width in response to a detection signal for starting a discharge at the inter-electrode portion. The switching circuit includes a switching circuit including a switching element suitable for a high-speed operation and a switching circuit including a switching element suitable for a low-speed operation, and receives the control pulse signal in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Satou, Hiroyuki Ooguro
  • Patent number: 7202645
    Abstract: An improved power supply unit includes a DC power source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and a voltage regulating circuit that includes a plurality of elements coupled in series between the positive and negative terminals of the DC power source to regulate the power supply signals supplied thereto to effectively cancel ripple and noise in such power supply signals. In one embodiment, the series-coupled elements include at least one resistor and a transconductive element having a characteristic transconductance value of T. The at least one resistor provides a resistance substantially equal to 1/T. The transconductive element and the one resistor cooperate to suppress spurious voltage level variations produced by the DC power source. The transconductive element may be realized by a thermionic triode, field effect transistor or other suitable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Audio Note UK Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew B. Grove
  • Patent number: 7068000
    Abstract: A torque control device for an electrical tool has a switching circuit, a voltage detecting circuit, a torque detecting circuit and a processor. The switching circuit connects between a motor of the electrical tool and a DC voltage source. The voltage detecting circuit detects voltage or current variation of the motor. The torque detecting circuit based on the detected voltage or current variation data outputs an actual torque value of the motor. The processor compares the actual torque value with a default value to determine whether actual torque is greater than the default. If so, the switching circuit is turned off by the processor to prevent the motor from being damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Techway Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fu-Hsiang Chung
  • Patent number: 6982888
    Abstract: An AC-DC voltage converter includes input terminals with a series circuit connected between the input terminals. The series circuit includes a switching element and a capacitor. The discharge of the capacitor supplies the output voltage of the converter. A control circuit controls the operation of the switching element so that the conducting state of the switching element is controlled exclusively as a function of the input voltage, while the nonconducting state of the switching element is controlled exclusively as a function of the output voltage. The converter has a good dynamic range and allows accurate measurement of current consumption at the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Somfy SAS
    Inventor: Serge Bruno
  • Patent number: 6978386
    Abstract: A method for reducing thermal dissipation in a single PLC package includes implementing a pulse width modulated current regulator including a field effect transistor (FET) switch, and utilizing a turn on delay of the FET to provide a wide operating range of current. The FET has an inherent turn-on time delay that can be exploited such that, as the duty cycle is reduced, the FET's drain to source impedance dominates an inductive path of an output filter and increases output filtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Gareis, Donald A. Gates, Edwin M. Thurnau
  • Patent number: 6933707
    Abstract: Field Effect Transistors (FETs) are used to regulate current in a light emitting diode (LED). FETs are fundamentally voltage driven devices, where output current is governed by junction voltage. Since junction voltage can be controlled with little or no support circuitry, FETs present a solution to current regulation where cost, complexity, and perhaps even size are important.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignees: Luxidein Limited, Fiber Optic Designs
    Inventor: Mark R. Allen
  • Patent number: 6861830
    Abstract: A first oscillating signal presenting a peak, a valley, a rising portion gradually increasing from the valley to the peak, and a falling portion gradually decreasing from the peak to the valley is generated. A second oscillating signal presenting an instantly transiting edge, which occurs simultaneously with either the peak or the valley of the first oscillating signal, is generated. The first and the second oscillating signals are input to a first and a second power supply channels, respectively, for converting a DC voltage source into two separate DC output voltages. The first and the second oscillating signals cause at least one switching transition of the first power supply channel to occur separately in the time domain from at least one switching transition of the second power supply channel, thereby preventing transient spikes from superposing together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Aimtron Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Guang-Nan Tzeng, Tien-Tzu Chen, Chi-Yang Chen
  • Publication number: 20040251882
    Abstract: The invention relates to an LVDS driver for small supply voltages, particularly of less than 2.0 V, for producing a differential output signal (Pout, Nout), having a pull-up transistor (P3, P4) and a pull-down transistor (P1, P2), respectively, for switching the output voltages which are output at the outputs (Pout, Nout). An optimum switching response and hence an undistorted differential signal can be produced by virtue of the pull-up and pull-down transistors (P1-P4) being in the form of PMOS transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: David Mueller, Anthony Sanders
  • Publication number: 20040183508
    Abstract: A voltage generating circuit comprising a capacitor (4), a ferroelectric capacitor (6) serially connected to the capacitor (4), an output terminal (11), a capacitor (10) which grounds the output terminal (11), a supply voltage supplying terminal (13), a switch (1) which connects the supply voltage supplying terminal (13) and the connecting node (N1) of the two capacitors (4, 6), and a switch (9) which connects the connecting node (N1) and output terminal (11); wherein during a first period, with the two switches (1) and (9) placed in the OFF state, a terminal (3) is grounded and a terminal (7) is provided with a supply voltage; wherein during a second period, the terminal (3) is provided with the supply voltage and the switch (9) is placed in the ON state; wherein during a third period, the switch (9) is placed in the OFF state, the switch (1) is placed in the ON state, and the terminal (7) is grounded; wherein during a fourth period, the terminal (7) is provided with the supply voltage; and wherein thereafte
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Toyoda, Michihito Ueda, Kiyoshi Morimoto, Kiyoyuki Morita
  • Publication number: 20040183509
    Abstract: To provide a magnetic bearing device capable of lowering the costs required for the manufacture, installation, or the like of a turbo molecular pump by reducing the number of elements of an amplifier circuit that drives, through excitation, electromagnets as well as the number of wires of a cable that connects the each electromagnet and the amplifier circuit to each other, and a turbo molecular pump with the magnetic bearing device mounted thereto. One end of an electromagnet coil is connected to a common node. Also, the other end thereof is connected to an amplifier circuit composed of one transistor and one diode. Further, the one end of the electromagnet coil is common with respect to each of the electromagnets, and the common node R is controlled by an intermediate-voltage maintaining circuit so as to maintain an intermediate voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Toshiaki Kawashima, Masayuki Yamamoto