Including Pre Or Post Regulation Patents (Class 323/266)
  • Patent number: 9502894
    Abstract: A voltage controller (700) operable to generate control signals for controlling an intermediate bus voltage (VIB) in an intermediate bus architecture power system (100), the intermediate bus voltage comprising a voltage output from a first stage DC/DC power converter (200) to at least one second stage DC/DC power converter (500-1 to 500-K). The voltage controller (700) comprises a receiver operable to receive at least one of voltage and current values input to the first stage DC/DC power converter (200). The voltage controller (700) further comprises a efficiency measuring unit operable to determine a measure of the efficiency of the intermediate bus architecture power system in accordance with the received values, and a control signal generator operable to generate control signals in dependence upon the determined efficiency measure to cause the first stage DC/DC converter (200) to set the intermediate bus voltage (VIB).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Torbjorn Holmberg, Magnus Karlsson
  • Patent number: 9499063
    Abstract: Disclosed is a power-supply device configured to supply an operating voltage from an external battery to a control circuit via a voltage terminal. The power-supply device is also configured to supply an operating voltage from an output terminal to a driving circuit of the power-supply device via a switch. The control circuit that has received the operating voltage compares the voltage of the output terminal with a predetermined voltage, and makes a determination. If the voltage of the output terminal is not higher than the predetermined voltage, a predetermined notification is sent outside the power-supply device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tsuguo Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9479049
    Abstract: A semiconductor module includes a voltage generator, and a heat dissipating mechanism composed of, for example, an insulating heat dissipating sheet and a heat sink. The voltage generator is capable of generating, by using a built-in linear regulator function, a power source voltage to drive a boost converter based on a voltage boosted by the boost converter. The voltage generator is mounted on the heat dissipating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Sakai, Masahiro Kato, Tomofumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9459635
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for regulating a voltage at a load. A current source is configured to provide a current to a voltage control mechanism and the voltage control mechanism is configured to provide a portion of the current to the load. The current is generated based on the portion of the current that is provided to the load. A system includes the current source, an upstream controller, and the voltage control mechanism that is coupled to the load. The upstream controller is coupled to the current source and is configured to control a current that is generated by the current source based on a portion of the current that is provided to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Dally
  • Patent number: 9453883
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a distributed and scalable number of power supplies used in automatic test equipment. The apparatus includes at least one Pin Electronics (PE) module comprising a plurality of PE channels. The apparatus includes at least one programmable power supply (PPS) module comprising a plurality of programmable power supply channels, wherein the at least one PPS module is remote from the at least one PE module. That apparatus includes a test site controller executing a test program comprising a plurality of test instructions delivered over the plurality of Pin Electronics (PE) channels and the plurality of programmable power supply (PPS) channels in order to test a plurality of devices under test (DUTs) in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: ADVANTEST CORPORATION
    Inventor: Edmundo DeLaPuente
  • Patent number: 9438107
    Abstract: A control device includes: a power supply circuit that controls output voltage using a switching element; a generation unit that generates a reference signal on the basis of the output voltage from the power supply circuit; a PWM unit that generates a PWM signal that is output to the switching element by comparing the reference signal with a carrier signal; and a switching unit that switches a frequency of the carrier signal by changing amplitude of the carrier signal, wherein the generation unit generates the reference signal on the basis of the frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Tomotake Sasaki, Tsugito Maruyama, Yu Yonezawa, Yoshiyasu Nakashima
  • Patent number: 9413266
    Abstract: Generally, this disclosure provides circuits and methods to reduce and regulate DC link voltage in a power supply through the use of a DC breaker circuit. The breaker circuit may include a breaker switch configured to couple an input stage circuit of a power supply to an output stage circuit of the power supply and to provide a regulated DC link voltage to the output stage circuit, the level of the DC link voltage based on switching states of the breaker switch. The breaker circuit may further include a control circuit configured to generate a gate control signal to control the switching states of the breaker switch, the gate control signal based on a comparison of the DC link voltage to a high voltage threshold and a low voltage threshold, such that the magnitude of the DC link voltage is regulated to a set point and a peak-to-peak ripple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Yigang (Jason) Guo
  • Patent number: 9407146
    Abstract: A power source circuit includes a power source terminal for inputting a power source voltage; a switching regulator including a switching circuit connected to the power source terminal and a smoothing circuit connected to the switching circuit; a series regulator connected to the switching regulator in series; a switching portion; and a control portion. The smoothing circuit includes a capacitor and an inductor to output a first voltage. The series regulator is connected to the switching circuit and the smoothing circuit in series to output a second voltage. The switching portion supplies the power source voltage to the series regulator. The control portion outputs a switching signal for controlling the switching portion to turn on or off according to the power source voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Taya
  • Patent number: 9401641
    Abstract: A method may include causing a first test current to be delivered for a period of time from a phase of a voltage regulator to a load coupled to the voltage regulator, the phase configured to deliver electrical energy to the load. The method may also include measuring a first measured output current associated with the first test current. The method may further include causing a second test current to be delivered from the phase to the load for the period of time, the second test current differing from the first test current by a known offset. The method may additionally include measuring a second measured output current associated with the second test current. The method may also include calculating the respective gain and the respective offset of the phase based on the first measured output current, the second measured output current, the period of time, and the known offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Abey K. Mathew, John J. Breen
  • Patent number: 9401646
    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: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: FINsix Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony Sagneri, George Hwang, Justin Burkhart, Fred Chen
  • Patent number: 9401653
    Abstract: Circuits and techniques for improving power converter efficiencies and controllability are disclosed. For example, a first converter stage includes a push-pull circuit topology and an isolating element including a magnetizing inductance for isolating a primary side of the first converter stage from a secondary side of the first converter stage. The magnetizing inductance may vary as a function of a current flowing in the primary side of the first converter stage. For example, the isolating element can be a transformer with a stepped gap core and have a varying magnetizing inductance profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Manoel Soares, Michael B. Nussbaum, Joseph Taher Mossoba
  • Patent number: 9335774
    Abstract: In many aspects, the systems and methods described herein include circuitry for an intermediate bus converter for use in a datacenter. The systems and methods described herein describe an intermediate bus converter comprising power stage circuitry, comprising a non-isolated converter, configured to convert a DC source voltage to one or more DC output voltages, wherein the DC source voltage is received from a front-end AC-to-DC converter. The intermediate bus converter further comprising controller circuitry configured to receive both the DC source voltage and the DC output voltage, and generate an at least one control signal to control the operation of the power stage circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Honggang Sheng, Sangsun Kim, Cornelius B. O'Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9323263
    Abstract: An output stage has an input supply node to receive an input power supply and an output node to provide an output supply to a load. An amplifier is used to control current strength of the output stage according to the output supply and a reference voltage. A hysteresis unit is used to monitor the output supply and operable to control the current strength of the output stage according to a voltage level of the output supply. In one embodiment, a plurality of charge pumps are used to adjust current strength of the output stage. A logic unit is used to monitor the output supply and operable to control the plurality of charge pumps according to a voltage level of the output supply and one or more reference voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Rinkle Jain, Yi-Chun Shih, Vaibhav Vaidya
  • Patent number: 9323269
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a supply filter, a bias filter, and first and second circuits. The supply filter is configured to operate from a supply voltage, and to generate a filtered supply voltage at a first node. The supply filter includes a transistor and a capacitor. First and control terminals of the transistor receive the supply voltage. A second terminal of the transistor and a first terminal of the capacitor are connected to the first node. The first circuit is configured to operate from both the supply voltage and the filtered supply voltage, and to generate a second reference voltage based on an input reference voltage. The bias filter is configured to generate a filtered second reference voltage based on the second reference voltage. The second circuit is configured to operate from the filtered supply voltage, and to generate a regulated voltage based on the filtered second reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Kai Kang, Wyant Chan, Pierte Roo
  • Patent number: 9312748
    Abstract: A power conversion system of a multi-phase generator used to provide a power factor correction for a multi-phase generator. The power conversion system of the multi-phase generator includes a multi-phase power conversion unit and a control unit. The multi-phase power conversion unit receives a plurality of generator voltages and a plurality of generator currents generated from the multi-phase generator, and converts the generator voltages into a DC voltage and a DC current. The control unit controls the generator currents to linearly follow the generator voltages, therefore the power factor correction for the multi-phase generator is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Hung Hsiao, Jo-Fang Wei, Li-Wei Hsiao
  • Patent number: 9306383
    Abstract: A low current protection circuit is configured to detect a lowering of a load current flowing a load to perform a low current protection operation and includes: a load current detection configured to detect a load current; a low current detection configured to detect a lowering of the load current by comparing the load current detected by the load current detection unit and a preset reference value; a protection unit configured to perform the low current protection operation when the lowering of the load current is detected by the low current detection unit; and a masking unit configured to mask the low current protection operation of the protection unit from when the lowering of the load current is detected by the low current detection unit to when a masking time period depending on a duty ratio of the external pulse signal elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Osamu Ohtake
  • Patent number: 9214858
    Abstract: In an intermediate bus architecture power system, a voltage controller that generates control signals for controlling an intermediate bus voltage (VIB) output from a first stage DC-to-DC power converter to at least one second stage DC-to-DC power converter via the intermediate voltage bus. A receiver receives values of the current input to the first stage converter, or the current and voltage output by the first stage converter. The controller determines a first value of an efficiency measure using the received values corresponding to a first VIB, and determines a second value of the efficiency measure for a second VIB higher than the first VIB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Torbjörn Holmberg, Magnus Karlsson
  • Patent number: 9195327
    Abstract: The present invention provides a touch panel with features enabling the external form to be downsized without degrading a detection accuracy of a touch input area and applying an electric voltage to a pair of the electrodes and detecting the output electric voltages inverting the polarity of the voltage. A touch panel of the present invention uses the principle of Apollonius' circle for the touch position detection. Said touch panel is fabricated so that two substrates having a transparent conductive film thereon are place in a manner that said each transparent conductive film is facing each other. A first substrate has one electrode and a second substrate has two pairs of point electrodes. Said two pairs of the point electrodes are arranged in a circumference region of said second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: NLT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Ito, Ichiro Hazeyama, Shizuo Morishita
  • Patent number: 9190901
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques for power factor correction on a constant current system without the use of a diode rectifier bridge. In an example embodiment, the present disclosure provides a power factor correction circuit which includes two switching MOSFETs biased in opposite directions which operate during opposite half cycles of the input current. The power factor correction circuit generates an input voltage to match the phase of the input current. The input voltage is generated via charging and draining of an input capacitor by the MOSFETs. The MOSFETs are driven on a duty cycle synchronously associated with the input current wave form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventor: Traver Gumaer
  • Patent number: 9178364
    Abstract: The present invention relates to estimating a battery current supplied from a battery to a switching power supply, which provides a regulated output signal to a load, based on a switching power supply current in the switching power supply, and then controlling the regulated output signal to limit the battery current to within an acceptable threshold. The switching power supply current may be provided by one or more switching elements in the switching power supply. The switching elements may be mirrored to provide a mirrored switching power supply current, which is used to estimate the battery current. The estimated battery current may include an estimated average battery current, an estimated instantaneous battery current, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Alexander Wayne Hietala, Chris Ngo
  • Patent number: 9143037
    Abstract: An apparatus for power conversion comprises a voltage transformation element, a regulating element, and a controller; wherein, a period of the voltage transformation element is equal to a product of a coefficient and a period of the regulating circuit, and wherein the coefficient is selected from a group consisting of a positive integer and a reciprocal of said integer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: ARCTIC SAND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: David M. Giuliano
  • Patent number: 9136756
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide for single and dual phase charge pump, two stage DC/DC buck-boost converters having fast line and load transient control irrespective of load conditions. In certain embodiments of the invention, this is accomplished by controlling a desired output voltage with an error amplifier that controls a plurality of hysteresis comparators. A dual phase charge pump architecture eliminates ripple currents and mode transitions and increases efficiency by splitting the total current between two paths. Certain embodiments allow to use low voltage semiconductor devices, which significantly reduces switching losses and further increases efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Rui Liu
  • Patent number: 9137750
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, there is disclosed an apparatus comprising a first transmitter, a second transmitter, and logic coupled to the first transmitter and the second transmitter. The logic is operable to limit a time period the second transmitter is able to transmit while the first transmitter is transmitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John Blosco, Stephen Joseph McCarthy, Corey Metsker
  • Patent number: 9065887
    Abstract: A method for reducing power consumption on an xDSL subscriber board, includes: obtaining a maximum downlink service bandwidth, a downlink signal-to-noise ratio margin in line connection parameters of the user port, and transmission mode information in a line template bound to the user port; determining whether the downlink signal-to-noise ratio margin is larger than a preset value, if yes, reducing a maximum downlink nominal total transmission power; otherwise, configuring the maximum downlink nominal total transmission power as a downlink transmit power in line connection parameters of the current port; calculating a minimum undistorted power supply voltage required by a corresponding line driver of each registered user port under the current configuration of the bound template, comparing minimum undistorted power supply voltage values, to find the largest value; and controlling an output voltage of a power module of a line driver equaling to the largest value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liang Chen, Xiaodong Li, Fengbin Pan, Xueren Yang
  • Publication number: 20150123628
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a system with improved power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) over a wide frequency range. The improved PSRR is achieved by negating the influence of the parasitic capacitance associated with the bias lines and the introduction of a regulated power supply with embodiments associated with providing a ripple free and regulated supply. With reduction of parasitic capacitance, and providing an ENABLE switch by a pre-regulated supply, the degradation of the PSRR is achieved. The embodiments include both n-channel and p-channel MOSFETs implementations, and a positive and negative regulated power supply voltage. With the combined influence of the utilization of the VREG supply, and the lowering of battery-to-bias line capacitance using design layout and improved floor planning an improved PSRR over a wide frequency distribution is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Dialog Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventors: Ambreesh Bhattad, Ludmil Nikolov
  • Patent number: 9024593
    Abstract: A power supply unit includes a boost converter having an input node and output node. The output node is coupled to a high-side of an H-bridge that is for supplying power to a capacitive load that is coupled to a first node and to a second node of the H-bridge. A first diode is coupled in forward direction between the first node of the H-bridge and the input node of the boost converter. A second diode is coupled in forward direction between the second node of the H-bridge and the input node of the boost converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Keller, Joerg E. Goller, Erich J. Bayer
  • Patent number: 9018926
    Abstract: A PFC circuit has inductive elements and a capacitor between a source node of a first transistor and the second node of a second transistor. The capacitor is configured to resonate at a frequency approximately half that of the switching frequency of the transistors. Furthermore, the inductive element is configured to charge the drain-source voltage of the transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Cripe
  • Patent number: 9007038
    Abstract: A direct-current stabilized power supply device for stepping down an input voltage from a solar cell, including: a first constant voltage power supply circuit connected to the solar cell and including a constant current limiter circuit; a switch circuit; a switching-type second constant voltage power supply circuit connected to the switch circuit; and a voltage detection circuit that detects the output voltage of the first constant voltage power supply circuit. When the detected output of the first power supply circuit is equal to or higher than a first determination voltage, the switch circuit is closed, and power is supplied to the load from the second power supply circuit, and when the detected voltage is equal to or lower than a second, lower, determination voltage the switch circuit is opened, and the power supplied from the second power supply circuit is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Onamba Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Shizuya, Yukitaka Miyata, Yasufumi Konishi
  • Patent number: 8981739
    Abstract: Embodiments of a linear voltage regulator are described. In one embodiment, the linear voltage regulator includes a PMOS low drop-out (LDO) regulator configured to convert an input voltage to a regulated voltage, a charge pump connected to the PMOS LDO regulator and configured to amplify the regulated voltage into an amplified voltage, and an NMOS LDO regulator connected to the charge pump and configured to convert the amplified voltage into an output voltage. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Junmou Zhang, Jim Caravella, Brad Gunter
  • Patent number: 8971063
    Abstract: A grid tied inverter connectable to an electricity grid, the grid tied inverter comprising a DC to DC current fed push-pull converter operable to generate a current waveform from a DC voltage source, the current waveform being substantially synchronised to the electricity grid, and a transformer having a first side connected to the DC to DC current fed converter and a second side having an output line connectable to the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Alexander Charles Knill
  • Patent number: 8970185
    Abstract: A switching regulator includes a high-side driver configured to receive an input voltage, and a low-side driver configured to receive the input voltage. The high-side driver and the low-side driver are configured to provide an output voltage based on the input voltage. A charge pump module is configured to receive a supply voltage that varies between a first voltage level and a second voltage level greater than the first voltage level, generate the input voltage based on the supply voltage, and maintain the input voltage at the second voltage level independent of variations in the supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Sehat Sutardja, Sofjan Goenawan, Gareth Seng Thai Yeo
  • Patent number: 8942016
    Abstract: A second control circuit is configured to switch a pulse signal to a level which turns off a second switching transistor when a coil current that flows through a primary winding reaches a predetermined threshold current. The second control circuit is configured to start a switching operation when a power supply for an electronic device is turned on, to set the threshold current to a first value when an intermediate voltage is higher than a predetermined level, and to set the threshold current to a second value that is lower than the first value when the intermediate voltage is lower than a predetermined level. A first control circuit is configured to start a switching operation upon receiving an instruction from a microcontroller to start operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Nate, Hiroshi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8937464
    Abstract: Voltage regulation in charge pumps. A high voltage generation system includes a charge pump having an output voltage node and a regulated input voltage node. The high voltage generation system also includes a voltage regulator. The voltage regulator includes a capacitive attenuator in electrical communication with the output voltage node. The voltage regulator also includes a comparator in electrical communication with the capacitive attenuator and with a reference voltage source. The voltage regulator further includes a buffer in electrical communication between the comparator and the regulated input voltage node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Synopsys Inc.
    Inventors: Yanyi L. Wong, Agustinus Sutandi
  • Patent number: 8933681
    Abstract: A novel integrated switched mode power supply circuit that provides supply voltages to an integrated circuit may be of minimal complexity and have the capacity for a wide range of input supply voltages. The novel power supply may include cascaded, unregulated step-down charge pumps (e.g. unregulated voltage splitters), one or more linear regulators coupled to the output of the cascaded voltage splitters, and a start-up current source to provide the IC supply current until the input supply voltage is sufficiently high for the voltage splitter(s) to be functional to provide the IC supply current. Furthermore, each voltage splitter may be activated or disabled depending on the value of the input supply voltage, and the input of a disabled voltage splitter may be shorted to its output via an integrated power switch. Using (cascaded) voltage splitters to provide the IC supply current reduces overall power dissipation in the IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Demetri J. Giannopoulos, Aaron Shreeve
  • Patent number: 8933675
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein describe the use of two inductors in a non-isolated power converter. The power converter receives power from a non-regulated power source, and converts the received power to regulated output signals. Each inductor in the power converter receives power provided from the non-regulated power source via a switch controlled by a controller, and provides a regulated output to a power converter load. A first regulated output provided by a first inductor can be representative of a second regulated output provided by a second inductor. In addition, a voltage feedback signal can be provided for use by the controller based on the first regulated output and/or the second regulated output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Xiaolin Gao
  • Publication number: 20140375284
    Abstract: A power transfer device includes an input terminal, an output terminal, a control unit, and a drive unit. The input terminal can receive an input voltage. The output terminal can provide an output voltage. The control unit can control a switch between the input and output terminals to adjust the output voltage according to the input voltage and a reference voltage, wherein said control unit is deactivated if the reference voltage reaches the input voltage. The drive unit can connect the control unit and the switch if the control unit is activated, and can maintain the output voltage at or near the input voltage if the control unit is deactivated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Guoyong GUO, Laszio LIPCSEI
  • Patent number: 8917069
    Abstract: A low dropout voltage regulator circuit that dynamically adjusts its output voltage has a voltage adjustment circuit in communication with a dynamic voltage controlling circuit for modifying the output voltage of the low dropout voltage regulator. A first amplification circuit is connected to receive an adjusted reference voltage from the voltage adjustment circuit and compare it with a feedback signal from the output voltage to provide a drive signal to a signal input terminal of a follower output transistor. An output terminal of the follower output transistor provides the output voltage of the regulation circuit. An adjustable internal load circuit applies a load current to the output terminal of the follower output transistor to increase the bandwidth of the output of the voltage regulation circuit that is sensed by a dynamic biasing sensing circuit to generate a dynamic biasing signal that modifies the bandwidth of the first amplification circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventors: Rupert Howes, Alexandre Tavares, Anthony Clowes, Mark Childs
  • Patent number: 8912770
    Abstract: A power conversion circuit of two feedback loops is disclosed that includes a feedback control circuit for ramping up or down a commanded voltage to a load (e.g., LEDs). The second feedback loop feeds into the first feedback loop, and the second feedback loop operates at a slower bandwidth than the first feedback loop. When ramping up or down the commanded voltage, a voltage overshoot results because of delay in the system. The overshoot can be compensated for by a final adjustment to the commanded voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Cai, Jeff Kotowski, Kien Vi
  • Patent number: 8908391
    Abstract: An example post regulator controller for use in a power converter having a regulated output and an additional output is disclosed. The post regulator controller includes an inductor to be coupled between the regulated output of the power converter and a post regulator switch of the power converter. The inductor is to be coupled to drive the post regulator switch with an induced voltage across the inductor to redirect energy from the regulated output to the additional output of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur B. Odell
  • Patent number: 8908399
    Abstract: A regulation device may be configured for regulating an output voltage of a charge pump voltage generator. The regulation device may include a first regulation loop capable of generating and delivering, to a first input of the voltage generator, an input voltage depending on the difference between the output voltage and a first reference voltage. The regulating device may also include a charger capable of generating and delivering, to a second input of the voltage generator, a substantially constant charge voltage. An electronic device may include the regulation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: Stéphane Gamet, Joël Damiens
  • Patent number: 8890493
    Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit includes a linear voltage regulator having a pass transistor and a first feedback from an output load, and a switching regulator having a second feedback from a voltage drop across the pass transistor. The voltage regulator further includes an efficiency monitor configured to detect the voltage drop and control predetermined steps of a duty cycle of the switching regulator based on the voltage drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: Tacettin Isik
  • Patent number: 8890494
    Abstract: A wide input voltage power supply circuit for a load includes a first regulation stage and a second regulation stage. The first regulation stage includes a linear regulator circuit configured to maintain a bus voltage within a predefined voltage range when an input voltage exceeds a predefined input level. A second regulation stage includes a buck converter circuit configured to regulate an average bus voltage to a predetermined load level. The second regulation stage includes an under voltage lockout configuration, with the under voltage lockout configured to set a minimum turn-on voltage for the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Gasperi
  • Publication number: 20140327417
    Abstract: A voltage adjustment method, and a voltage pre-regulator power supply circuit and system, that implements highly-efficient output of a power supply in a quasi straight-through state and increases voltage output precision of a circuit. The voltage adjustment method includes receiving a to-be-adjusted voltage through a positive wire input end and a negative wire input end; changing, in a control mode in which a connection time is fixed and a disconnection time is adjusted, a duty cycle for the to-be-adjusted voltage to obtain a primary adjusted voltage; and changing, in a control mode in which a disconnection time is fixed and a connection time is adjusted, a duty cycle for the primary adjusted voltage to obtain an output voltage. The present disclosure is applied to a non-isolated direct-current quasi straight-through pre-regulator power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Pinhua Zhu, Hengbiao Wang, Wenzong Cao
  • Patent number: 8872499
    Abstract: There is provided a power supply apparatus supplying driving power. The power supply apparatus includes: a first power converter bypassing input power when a voltage level of the input power having a predetermined voltage level is within a reference voltage level range, and converting the input power to DC power having a preset voltage level when the voltage level of the input power is outside of the reference voltage level range; and a second power converter converting the power inputted from the first power converter to driving power having a preset voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Duk You Kim, Gun Woo Moon, Chong Eun Kim, Don Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 8872489
    Abstract: A regulator includes a current path unit coupled between an input terminal and a ground terminal and including a first current determination unit coupled between the input terminal and a control node and configured to supply the high voltage to the control node so that a first or second current path is selected depending on a voltage of the control node, and a second current determination unit coupled between the control node and the ground terminal and configured to control the voltage of the control node depending on an input voltage, a voltage supply unit configured to supply the high voltage to an output terminal depending on the voltage of the control node, a voltage division unit configured to create a division voltage, and an amplification unit configured to amplify a difference between the division voltage and a first reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Je Il Ryu
  • Patent number: 8872486
    Abstract: A current control element (variable resistance element) is provided on a supply path of the current from a voltage regulator to another voltage regulator. An alarm driving circuit is provided on a branch flow path of the current from the voltage regulator to the voltage regulator. When the alarm driving circuit needs to be operated, a current control element controlling unit controls the resistance value of the current control element to branch the current flowing through the supply path to the branch flow path. In this case, the current branched to the branch flow path is set to the amount required to operate the alarm driving circuit. Since the sum of the currents is supplied to the voltage regulator and is the same as the current flowing before the alarm driving circuit is activated, there is no shortage of supplied power to a CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Sawada, Kentaro Ohya
  • Patent number: 8866453
    Abstract: A Buck switching regulator includes first Buck switching regulator circuitry is operable to generate a first output voltage from an input voltage and operable to generate a first sensed voltage having a value that is proportional to an output current being provided by the first Buck switching regulator circuitry. The first Buck switching regulator circuitry receives an input current and operates at a first duty cycle determined by a duty cycle signal. Input current sensing circuitry includes second Buck switching regulator circuitry coupled to the first Buck regulator switching circuitry to receive the duty cycle signal and to receive the first sensed voltage as an input voltage to the second Buck switching regulator circuitry. The second Buck switching regulator circuitry is operable responsive to the duty cycle signal to generate a second output voltage from the first sensed voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Intersil Americas LLC
    Inventor: Robert L. Lyle, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8867251
    Abstract: A power supply device for a solid state drive (SSD) inserted into a slot of a computer includes a number of voltage input contacts, a diode, a first voltage regulating module and a second voltage regulating module connected in series. The slot includes a number of voltage output contacts and a number of signal transmitting contacts. The voltage input contacts are connected to the voltage output contacts and selectively connected to the signal transmitting contacts. The voltage input contacts obtains an initial voltage from the slot from the voltage output contacts or the signal transmitting contacts. The first voltage regulating module boosts the initial voltage. The second voltage regulating module regulates the boosted voltage to a preset voltage. The diode prevents a voltage outputting from the voltage input contacts to the signal transmitting contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ya-Jun Pan, Ying-Bin Fu, Ting Ge
  • Publication number: 20140306648
    Abstract: The present disclosure shows a hybrid regulator topology that can be more easily integrated and that can maintain high efficiency across a wide output and input voltage range, even with a small inductor. The hybrid regulator topology can include two types of regulators: a flying switched-inductor regulator and a step-down regulator that divides the input voltage into an M/N fraction of the input voltage. The disclosed embodiments of the hybrid regulator topology can reduce the capacitive loss of the flying switched-inductor regulator by limiting the voltage swing across the switches in the flying switched-inductor regulator. The disclosed embodiments of the hybrid regulator topology can reduce the inductor resistive loss of the flying switched-inductor regulator by operating the flying switched-inductor regulator at a high switching frequency and with a small amount of current flow through the inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Lion Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Hanh-Phuc LE, John CROSSLEY, Wonyoung KIM
  • Publication number: 20140306673
    Abstract: The present disclosure shows a hybrid regulator topology that can be more easily integrated and that can maintain high efficiency across a wide output and input voltage range, even with a small inductor. The hybrid regulator topology can include two types of regulators: a flying switched-inductor regulator and a step-down regulator that divides the input voltage into an M/N fraction of the input voltage. The disclosed embodiments of the hybrid regulator topology can reduce the capacitive loss of the flying switched-inductor regulator by limiting the voltage swing across the switches in the flying switched-inductor regulator. The disclosed embodiments of the hybrid regulator topology can reduce the inductor resistive loss of the flying switched-inductor regulator by operating the flying switched-inductor regulator at a high switching frequency and with a small amount of current flow through the inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: LION SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventors: Hanh-Phuc LE, John CROSSLEY, Wonyoung KIM