With Threshold Detection Patents (Class 323/284)
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Patent number: 8810224Abstract: A system and method to regulate voltage is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a voltage regulator includes an error amplifier, a voltage buffer responsive to the error amplifier, and a first transistor responsive to the voltage buffer and coupled to a voltage supply source. A second transistor is coupled to the voltage supply source and further coupled to an output node. A third transistor is coupled to the first transistor and has a gate coupled to a capacitor. The capacitor is coupled to a node between the error amplifier and the voltage buffer.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2011Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Junmou Zhang, Yuan-Cheng Pan, Mikhail Popovich
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Patent number: 8810219Abstract: A voltage regulator having good transient response characteristics and maintaining stable operation is provided. The voltage regulator includes: a first MOS transistor having a gate terminal connected to an output terminal of the differential amplifier circuit; a first constant current source provided between the first MOS transistor and a ground terminal; an output MOS transistor having a gate terminal connected to a drain terminal of the first MOS transistor via a phase compensation circuit; a second MOS transistor having a gate terminal to which an output of the differential amplifier circuit is input and a drain terminal connected to the gate terminal of the output MOS transistor; and a second constant current source provided between the second MOS transistor and a ground terminal.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2012Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.Inventor: Teruo Suzuki
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Patent number: 8810226Abstract: Methods and apparatuses include operating a semiconductor component using a DC/DC-converter. The DC/DC-converter has its duty cycle controlled. A voltage at the semiconductor component is sensed for a voltage. The duty cycle is controlled or regulated so that the sensed voltage corresponds to a predetermined voltage. The predetermined voltage may be gradually increased until a difference between the sensed voltage and the predetermined voltage reaches a predetermined limit.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2012Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Lantiq Deutschland GmbHInventors: Christian Jenkner, Gunther Steinle
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Patent number: 8810225Abstract: Methods of a switching mode DC/DC converter are provided in the present invention. The proposed method includes a step of causing a switching frequency of the converter to be operated at a rated value multiplied by a second predetermined value when an output voltage of the converter is not larger than a first predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2011Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Hanergy Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Chung-Kuang Huang, Xiao-Ming Duan, Ronald Chang
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Publication number: 20140225583Abstract: A DC-DC converter is provided. When a load of the DC-DC converter is too light, the DC-DC converter can raise a frequency of its PWM signal, and reduce a pulse width of the PWM signal, so as to avoid the frequency of the PWM signal falling into a frequency range that can heard by human's ear and maintain high conversion efficiency of the DC-DC converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: uPI Semiconductor Corp.Inventor: Hua-Chiang Huang
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Publication number: 20140225584Abstract: A switching power supply circuit is disclosed in an embodiment. The switching power supply circuit includes a power output stage, a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generator, a compensation module, and a overshooting protection module. The power output stage is used for generating an output signal to drive a load device. The PWM signal generator generates a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal which is used for controlling the power output stage. The compensation module is used for generating a compensation signal to the PWM signal generator according to the output signal. The overshooting protection module receives the output signal to enable or disable the PWM signal generator.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.Inventors: Zhao-Long DONG, Ching-Ji LIANG
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Patent number: 8803499Abstract: A control circuitry can be configured to receive an error signal indicating a difference between an output voltage of the power supply and a desired setpoint for the output voltage. According to one configuration, depending on the error signal, the control circuitry initiates switching between operating the control circuitry in a pulse width modulation mode and operating the control circuitry in a pulse frequency modulation mode to produce an output voltage. Operation of the control circuitry in the pulse frequency modulation mode during a transient condition, such as when a dynamic load instantaneously requires a different amount of current, enables the power supply to satisfy current consumption by the dynamic load. Subsequent to the transient condition, the control circuitry switches back to operation in the pulse width modulation mode.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2011Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: International Recifier CorporationInventors: Venkat Sreenivas, Robert T. Carroll
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Patent number: 8803500Abstract: Disclosed is a switching-mode power supply device which outputs a voltage having a different electrical potential from an input voltage including an inductor, a driving switching element and a control circuit, and the control circuit includes a trigger signal generating circuit which generates and outputs a signal which provides timing to turn the driving switching element on or off, a first timekeeping unit which times a fixed ON period or a fixed OFF period which defines the pulse width of a driving pulse of the driving switching element, a second timekeeping unit which times a minimum OFF period or a minimum ON period of the driving switching element and a sudden load change detection circuit which detects a sudden load change.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2011Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Heisuke Nakashima
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Patent number: 8803769Abstract: A DC-DC converter generates a first power and a second power for driving pixels in an organic light emitting display, such that the voltages of the first power and the second power are substantially independent of the voltage from a power supply or a battery. A voltage detector detects the voltage from the power supply, and a booster circuit and an inverter circuit respectively boost and invert the voltage from the power supply to generate and output the first and the second powers, respectively, for the pixels. A PWM controller controls the booster circuit and the inverter circuit to control voltages of the first power and the second power. The booster circuit is adapted to reduce the voltage from the power supply to be lower than the voltage of the first power when the voltage from the power supply detected by the voltage detector is higher than a reference voltage.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2009Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Sung-Cheon Park, Su-Yeon Yun
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Patent number: 8797011Abstract: A variable current limiter, a power supply and a method of operating a non-isolated voltage converter are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the variable current limiter includes: (1) a converter controller configured to regulate an output voltage of a non-isolated voltage converter and limit an output current thereof and (2) a limit provider configured to provide a variable output current limit that inversely varies with the output voltage, the converter controller configured to employ the variable output current limit to limit the output current.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2010Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hongping Li, Vijayan Joseph Thottuvelil
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Patent number: 8797010Abstract: A design and method for controlling the initial inductor current in a DC/DC switching regulator. The Ton or Toff time, depending upon implementation, is gradually increased such that power applied to a load is initially constrained until the system reaches a stable state, at which time normal power is connected to the load. In an embodiment, the on or off time is limited by a circuit which controls a pair of complementary transistors. The states of the transistors are controlled by the use of a startup-phase voltage and a reference voltage, which are then compared in an error amplifier. The result of the comparison is compared to a sawtooth signal in a comparator, the output of which controls the state of complementary transistors.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2007Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Aivaka, Inc.Inventor: Ahmad B. Dowlatabadi
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Patent number: 8797012Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes output voltage comparison circuitry that compares an output voltage of a regulator and a reference voltage and outputs an output voltage comparison signal based on the comparison. Slope detection circuitry detects a slope of the output voltage and outputs a slope comparison signal based on the slope detected. Duty cycle determination circuitry receives the output voltage comparison signal and the slope comparison signal and outputs a pre-driver signal having a duty cycle based on the output voltage comparison signal and the slope comparison signal. The pre-driver signal is used to regulate the output voltage of the voltage regulator.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2013Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.Inventors: Siew Yong Chui, Rudy Kurniawan, Jye Sheng Hong
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Publication number: 20140210439Abstract: The present invention discloses a switching regulator and a control circuit thereof. The switching regulator includes a boost or buck-boost power stage, a first operation circuit and a bypass circuit. The power stage controls at least one power transistor switch included therein according to a first operation signal, to convert an input voltage to an output voltage at an output terminal. The first operation circuit generates the first operation signal in response to the output voltage or a related signal thereof. The bypass circuit includes a bypass transistor and a second operation circuit. When it is required to provide power to the output terminal promptly, the second operation circuit turns ON the bypass transistor, and when the input voltage is equal to the output voltage or equal to a sum of the output voltage plus a safety offset value, the second operation circuit turns OFF the bypass transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2013Publication date: July 31, 2014Inventors: Tzu-Huan Chiu, Chung-Lung Pai, Hung-Yu Cheng, Shuo-Wen Chang
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Publication number: 20140210446Abstract: An example circuit includes a capacitance circuit, a regulator circuit, and a slew rate control circuit. The capacitance circuit is coupled between a first node and a second node. The regulator circuit is coupled to the capacitance circuit to regulate a supply voltage across the capacitance circuit with a charge current during a normal operation mode of the circuit. The slew rate control circuit is coupled to the capacitance circuit and the regulator circuit. The slew rate control circuit is coupled to lower a slew rate of a change in voltage over change in time between the first and second nodes during a power up mode of the circuit. The slew rate control circuit includes a transistor coupled between the first and second nodes to shunt excess current from the charge current.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2014Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.Inventors: David Kung, Leif Lund
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Publication number: 20140210445Abstract: A control circuit includes a detection circuit configured to detect a load current flowing into a load, and a setting circuit configured to set switching operations on first and second switch circuits according to the load current. The setting circuit is configured to cause both the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit to be in an off state, when a power supply stop signal is input from an outside, if the load current is in a first range, and to cause the first switch circuit to perform an on-off operation on the basis of the output voltage while causing the second switch circuit to be in the off state, if the load current is higher than a first reference value that is an upper limit of the first range.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2014Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITEDInventor: Morihito HASEGAWA
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Patent number: 8791672Abstract: This regulated power supply system with high input voltage dynamics, of the type having a shared inductance buck/boost transformer and having at least two controllable semiconductor switching members, one associated with the buck function of the transformer and the other with the boost function of the transformer, is characterized in that one of the controllable semiconductor switching members is driven by control means as a function of the system's input voltage, and the other is driven continuously by enslavement means on the output voltage.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2011Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: ThalesInventors: Francois Klein, Christophe Taurand
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Patent number: 8791678Abstract: A control circuit of a switching DC-DC power supply includes a feedback circuit detecting an output voltage of the power supply to generate a feedback signal, an error comparator detecting an error between the output voltage and a design value of the output voltage, a control logic circuit generating a control signal according to the error for regulating the output voltage, and an offset and delay cancellation circuit generating an offset adjust signal according to the feedback signal and a second reference voltage for adjusting an offset of the error comparator to pull the output voltage toward the design value.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2011Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.Inventors: Ting-Jung Tai, Chih-Hao Yang, An-Tung Chen
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Patent number: 8786267Abstract: A feedback loop is used to optimize a zero current threshold for a switching regulator. After the low side power switch of the switching regulator turns off, the switching node state is monitored to adjust the zero current threshold in a real time and thus the low-side power switch is prevented from turning off too early or too late. Thereby the efficiency in green mode is optimized.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2011Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.Inventors: Shao-Hung Lu, Isaac Y. Chen, An-Tung Chen
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Patent number: 8786247Abstract: A charging circuit receives electric power from a solar battery, and charges a secondary battery. A charging current detection unit generates a detection signal that corresponds to a charging current supplied from a DC/DC converter to the secondary battery. A control circuit generates a reference voltage that corresponds to the detection signal. A driving unit generates a pulse signal having a duty ratio that is adjusted such that the voltage output from the solar battery matches the reference voltage, and performs switching of a switching transistor according to the pulse signal. A control circuit adjusts the reference voltage such that the reference voltage becomes greater.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2011Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tsutomu Ishino, Tadayuki Sakamoto
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Patent number: 8786265Abstract: A switching regulator is configured to provide a regulated voltage to a load while maintaining a substantially maximum output current limit, the switching regulator having a loop gain. In accordance with one aspect the switching regulator comprises: a circuit for adjusting the maximum output current limit in response to a programmable signal independently of the loop gain. In accordance with another aspect, the switching regulator comprises: a resistance sensing element for providing the current output of the regulator, and having a resistance which varies with temperature; and a circuit for maintaining the output current limit at a level independent of the temperature of the sensing element. In addition, in accordance with one aspect, a method of providing a regulated voltage to a load is disclosed in which a substantially maximum output current limit of a switching regulator is maintained.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2009Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Linear Technology CorporationInventors: Gregory J. Manlove, Andrew J. Gardner, Yiding (Eric) Gu
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Patent number: 8779743Abstract: Disclosed include a control circuit adapted for a power controller powered by an operation voltage. When the operation voltage exceeds an over-voltage reference, the power controller stops power conversion provided by a power converter. The control circuit comprises a slope detector detecting a variation slope of the operation voltage. When the variation slope exceeds a drop rate, the slope detector recovers the power conversion. When the power conversion is recovered the power controller compares the operation voltage with the over-voltage reference.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Leadtrend Technology CorporationInventor: Yi-Lun Shen
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Patent number: 8779735Abstract: A method for controlling a current between an energy source and a load is disclosed. A switching module is coupled between the energy source and the load. The switching module includes two input terminals coupled to the energy source and two output terminals coupled to the load and at least one semiconductor switching element coupled between one of the input terminals and one of the output terminals. At least one current parameter of the current is measured between the energy source and the load. The current between the energy source and the load is interrupted by switching off the switching element when the at least one current parameter reaches or exceeds at least one predetermined parameter threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Werner Roessler, Gerald Deboy
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Patent number: 8779742Abstract: The switched-mode power supply includes a power stage, and a control unit to control the operation of the power stage based on a critical parameter of the power stage, wherein the control unit is configured to control the operation of the power stage to change from a first operational mode to a second operation mode if the critical parameter leaves a pre-defined range, and to change from the second operational mode to the first operational mode based on a measurement of a first time interval.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Intel Mobile Communications GmbHInventor: Stephan Henzler
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Patent number: 8779741Abstract: A DC voltage converter produces an output voltage (VS) at an output terminal from an energy source. The DC voltage convert includes a selector switch includes a first input coupled to the energy source, a second input coupled to a ground, and an output coupled to a first terminal of an inductor. A second terminal is coupled to the output terminal of the converter and a capacitor is coupled between the output terminal and the ground. A regulator produces a control signal as a function of a result of a comparison of the output voltage with a reference voltage. A control circuit couples the output of the selector switch to the first or second input of the selector switch, as a function of the control signal. The converter may also include a means of inhibition adapted to inhibiting the control circuit when a current flowing in the inductor gets cancelled.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2008Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: ST-Ericsson SAInventor: Severin Trochut
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Patent number: 8773096Abstract: A voltage regulator includes an amplifier to generate a difference voltage responsive to a comparison of a reference voltage and a feedback voltage. An output driver is coupled to the amplifier and drives a regulated output voltage responsive to the difference voltage. An impedance circuit is coupled between the output driver and a low power source and establishes the feedback voltage responsive to a current through the impedance circuit. A variation detector is operably coupled between the regulated output voltage and the difference voltage and is configured to modify the difference voltage. In some embodiments, the difference voltage is modified responsive to a rapid change of the regulated output voltage capacitively coupled to the variation detector. In other embodiments, the difference voltage is modified responsive to a rapid change of the feedback voltage capacitively coupled to the variation detector.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Integrated Device Technology, inc.Inventors: Shawn Wang, Yumin Zhang, Jeffrey G. Barrow
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Patent number: 8773090Abstract: A voltage regulator with adaptive hysteretic control. The voltage regulator may include a top switch (e.g., MOSFET) configured to couple a power supply supplying an input voltage to a load. An adaptive hysteretic control circuit of the voltage regulator may turn on the top switch when the feedback voltage reaches the low threshold and turn off the top switch when the feedback voltage reaches the high threshold. The adaptive hysteretic control circuit may adjust the upper and lower threshold to make the voltage regulator working like a constant on time control circuit in steady state. When a step down transient happens, the top switch could be turned off when the output voltage reaches the upper threshold, and when a step up transient happens, the top switch could be turned on when the output voltage reaches the lower threshold, it makes the voltage regulator working like a hysteretic control circuit.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2011Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.Inventors: Qian Ouyang, Yuancheng Ren
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Patent number: 8773099Abstract: According to one aspect of the teachings herein, a DC-to-DC converter operates according to an advantageous constant on-time topology that reduces output voltage ripple during light load conditions. The converter produces an output voltage by driving high-side and low-side switches in an inductor-based switching circuit, and regulates the output voltage by varying the on-time of a low-side switch, while holding the on-time of the high-side switch constant. Advantageously, the converter shortens the on-time of the high-side switch during light load conditions, which reduces the output voltage ripple. Thus, the converter may be understood as using a first, constant on-time for the high-side switch during “normal” operations and a second, shorter on-time for the high-side switch during light load conditions.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2011Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Semtech CorporationInventor: Steven M. Granger
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Patent number: 8773100Abstract: An inductive load controlling device in which a target current value is reached in a short time while suppressing overshoot, undershoot, and ringing, including a target value filter that receives a target current value of electric current to be supplied to the load and exhibits differential characteristics using a plurality of filter parameters; an inductive load controlling section that controls load current to be supplied to the load based on a filter output from the target value filter; a parameter memory section that stores parameters for the filter corresponding to a plurality of selection conditions; a selection condition detecting section that detects the selection conditions; and a parameter selection processing section that selects the filter parameters fitting to the selection condition out of the parameter memory section based on the selection condition detected by the selection condition detecting section and delivers the filter parameters to the filter.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masashi Akahane
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Patent number: 8766478Abstract: A power system and a control method thereof are disclosed. The power system comprises: providing a plurality of power sources; electrically connecting a plurality of converters between the power sources and at least one load, wherein the converters are electrically connected to the power sources respectively in a one-to-one manner; and positive feed-forward controlling each of the converters by using a positive feed-forward control circuit electrically connected to one of the power sources in a one-to-one manner, for the use to protect the input voltage source from over-current drawing by reducing the input current of the converter when the source voltage drops, regardless constant output-voltage.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2007Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Inventor: Ching Hsiung Liu
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Patent number: 8766487Abstract: A detection method for use in a primary unit of an inductive power transfer system, the primary unit being operable to transmit power wirelessly by electromagnetic induction to at least one secondary unit of the system located in proximity to the primary unit and/or to a foreign object located in said proximity, the method comprising: driving the primary unit so that in a driven state the magnitude of an electrical drive signal supplied to one or more primary coils of the primary unit changes from a first value to a second value; assessing the effect of such driving on an electrical characteristic of the primary unit; and detecting in dependence upon the assessed effect the presence of a said secondary unit and/or a foreign object located in proximity to said primary unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2008Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Access Business Group International LLCInventors: Jonathan Richard Dibben, Willy Henri Lemmens, David James Hough, Hendrik Cannoodt, John De Clercq
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Patent number: 8766616Abstract: The present invention provides a comparator with novel output logic. The comparator makes a comparison between an input voltage and a reference voltage. A differential amplifying circuit includes a first input transistor with a control terminal applied with the reference voltage and a second input transistor with a control terminal applied with the input voltage. An output section receives an export signal of the differential amplifying circuit and outputs an output signal that corresponds to the export signal and denotes a result of the comparison. A feedback circuit receives the output signal of the output section, and if the output signal is changed from a first level to a second level, the output signal feeds back to the differential amplifying circuit or the output section while it is restored to the negated level.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventor: Manabu Oyama
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Patent number: 8766614Abstract: An apparatus for impedance matching of an electrical load to a generator has input connections for connection to the generator and output connections for connection to the load. The apparatus has a converter which connects the input connections to the output connections. An input voltage which is applied between the input connections can be converted into an output voltage. The converter has energy storage means connected to one of the output connections by an active diode, a controllable switching device, and an actuation device. The switching device can be moved to a first and a second switching state so that energy from the generator is stored in the energy storage means in the first switching state. Energy which is stored can be output to the load in the second switching state. A detector is connected to the input connections for detecting a measurement signal for the impedance matching. The actuation device has an activation signal and can be moved to a first and a second operating state.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Albert-Ludwigs-Universitat FreiburgInventors: Dominic Maurath, Yiannos Manoli
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Publication number: 20140176018Abstract: In one aspect, a circuit includes a switching regulator configured to provide power to a load, a current regulator circuit coupled to the load and a response circuit configured to provide a control signal to the switching regulator in response to electrical changes of the current regulator circuit. The control signal changes non-linearly with respect to the electrical changes at the current regulator circuit. In another aspect, a circuit includes an adaptive regulation voltage circuit configured to provide a regulation voltage to a first input of an amplifier to maintain operability of a current regulator circuit. The adaptive regulation voltage circuit replicates electrical characteristics of the current regulator circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2014Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, LLCInventors: Gregory Szczeszynski, Matthew Szaniawski
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Publication number: 20140176105Abstract: An electronic control device includes a turn-on restriction section capable of performing a restriction operation to restrict a turn-on speed of a switching element. The turn-on restriction section includes a comparator. The comparator receives a voltage of a main terminal of the switching element connected to a smoothing circuit and determines whether the voltage of the main terminal of the switching element reaches a threshold voltage. The turn-on restriction section performs the restriction operation for a predetermined time from a start of a turn-on period in which the switching element is turned on. The turn-on restriction section stops the restriction operation after the predetermined time has elapsed. The predetermined time is set to a time from the start of the turn-on period until the voltage of the main terminal of the switching element reaches the threshold voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2013Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: Denso CorporationInventors: Hiroshi YAMAGUCHI, Toru ITABASHI, Kenichi YASHIRO, Yuki MIKAMI
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Publication number: 20140176104Abstract: A buck voltage converting apparatus is disclosed. The buck voltage converting apparatus includes a first transistor, a second transistor, an inductor, a controller and a switch. The first transistor receives an input voltage. A first terminal of the inductor is coupled to the first and second transistors. A second terminal of the inductor is coupled to an output terminal of the buck voltage converting apparatus for generating an output voltage. The controller receives the output voltage, and generates a detection voltage according to voltage amplitude of the output voltage. The switch is coupled between a first terminal of the first transistor and a control terminal of the second transistor. The switch is turned on or off according to the detection voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2012Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: EXCELLIANCE MOS CORPORATIONInventors: Pao-Chuan Lin, Su-Yuan Lin, Hung-Che Chou
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Patent number: 8760097Abstract: A voltage control operation unit receives, from a subtraction unit, a value obtained by subtracting a detection value of a voltage from a voltage command value, and performs a control operation for setting the voltage to be equal to the voltage command value. The voltage control operation unit outputs the calculated control amount as a current command value. A current control operation unit receives, from a subtraction unit, a value obtained by subtracting a detection value of a current from a current command value, and performs a control operation for setting the current to be equal to the current command value. A driving signal generation unit generates a signal for driving a boost converter based on a duty command value received from the current control operation unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2009Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naoyoshi Takamatsu, Masaki Okamura, Daigo Nobe
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Patent number: 8760140Abstract: An apparatus for auto-regulating the input power source of a driver is provided. The apparatus includes a load detector and a controller. The load detector detects a load current and outputs a detection signal according to the load current. The controller is coupled to the load detector and receives the detection signal. The controller provides an operation voltage between a first voltage and a second voltage, wherein the first voltage is lower than the second voltage. The operation voltage is supplied to the driver and regulated flexibly according to different load demand. In the light loading, the device for auto-regulating the input power source can improve the use efficiency of electric power.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.Inventors: Ho-Pu Hsiao, Nung-Te Huang, Chih-Wan Hsu
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Patent number: 8760148Abstract: A device to measure a passive intermodulation (PIM) creating component is provided that uses minimal average power. For a PIM measurement, two separate signals F1 and F2 are generated to simulate signals, such as from two different types of cell phone operating bands being transmitted in the same area or two different transmit frequencies within one cell phone operating band. PIMs are measured to assure interference is not created on one of the cell phone bands. Minimal power is used by connecting pulse width modulators (PWM) to provide DC power to the high power amplifiers (HPA) creating the signals F1 and F2. By controlling the duty cycle of the PWM to limit ON time of the HPAs to approximately 10%, significant average power savings occur. Size is also reduced with reduced power consumption because heat sinks and other cooling components are not required.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2010Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Anritsu CompanyInventor: Donald Anthony Bradley
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Patent number: 8760141Abstract: A frequency-hopping pulse-width modulator is disclosed, which facilitates a switching regulator to use smaller-size inductive and capacitive elements, to have an improved power efficiency at light load, as well as predictable spectrum at different load levels. The improved modulator automatically determines the switching frequency of a switching regulator according to the load current delivered by the switching regulator from a number of pre-defined frequencies, which are all multiples of a fundamental frequency. By designing the maximum switching frequency of frequency-hopping pulse-width modulator in the MHz range, a switching regulator is able to use smaller-size inductive and capacitive elements. Light-load efficiency of the switching regulator with the frequency-hopping pulse-width modulator is also greatly improved as switching frequency of such switching regulator is reduced with decreased load current.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2008Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyInventors: Tsz Yin Man, Kwok Tai Philip Mok, Man Sun John Chan
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Patent number: 8754599Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a power conversion unit which supplies drive power to a motor, a current detection unit which detects the value of a current flowing from the power conversion unit to the motor, a delta-sigma modulation AD converter to which the current value detected by the current detection unit is input as analog data, and which includes a modulator and a plurality of digital low-pass filters and outputs digital data in accordance with the filter characteristics of the respective digital low-pass filters, and a command generating unit which is connected to the digital low-pass filter to be used for motor drive control among the plurality of digital low-pass filters, and which generates a drive command to the power conversion unit by using the digital data output from the motor drive controlling digital low-pass filter.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Fanuc CorporationInventors: Taku Sasaki, Yasusuke Iwashita
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Patent number: 8754618Abstract: A multi-phase DC-DC controller. The multi-phase DC-DC controller comprises converter channels, a channel control device and a power control device. Each converter channel comprises a switch device, a first output node and an inductor coupled between the switch device and the first output node. The channel control device generates adjusted pulse width modulation signals according to control signals of the converter channels to respectively control operation of the switch device in each converter channel. The power control device generates the control signals according to sensed currents in the converter channels so as to dynamically turn on or off each converter channel according to the sensed currents.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: UPI Semiconductor CorporationInventor: Hua-Chiang Huang
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Publication number: 20140159692Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for automatic dimmer loading in a cut-phase dimmer-converter arrangement, the method including providing minimum dimmer hold-on current by continuously loading of the dimmer with the current grater than minimum hold-on dimmer current without current measurement means or with using of measurement means by measuring a first current across the dimmer to form a current output signal and compensating for a drop in the dimmer output current by adding a load current across said dimmer to ensure that a total current comprising a sum of the first current and the load current always exceeds a threshold current for continuous operation of the dimmer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2013Publication date: June 12, 2014Inventors: Victor TZINKER, Sergey KHARITON, Alexander FIRTEL
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Patent number: 8749211Abstract: A high voltage power supply is provided. The high voltage power supply includes a soft-start circuit unit which outputs a natural voltage that decreases exponentially as time elapses and converts the natural voltage into a forced voltage having a predetermined scale if an enable signal is applied, a controller which compares the natural voltage output from the soft-start circuit unit with a reference voltage and outputs a control signal, and a converting unit which delays outputting a final voltage during a first predetermined time period and outputs the final voltage, which gradually increases as time elapses according to the control signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2010Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Pankaj Agarwal, Joon-hyun Yang, Sung-jin Choi
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Patent number: 8749218Abstract: A control circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention for a DC-DC converter which has an input, an output and a series connection of a differentiator, a comparator unit, and an integrator. The series connection is coupled in between the input and the output. The comparator unit has an inverting amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2011Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.Inventors: Loreto Mateu, Markus Pollak, Peter Spies
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Publication number: 20140152284Abstract: A regulated switching converter having improved closed loop settling time is disclosed. An error amplifier having a voltage reference input, a feedback input, and an error output is included. An output filter having a voltage output terminal coupled to the feedback input provides an output voltage sample to the error amplifier. A compensation network coupled between the feedback input and the error output of the error amplifier includes at least one capacitor and at least one switch that is communicatively coupled across the at least one capacitor. A controller is adapted to monitor current flowing through the switching output terminal. The controller has at least one switch control output coupled to a control input of the at least one switch to allow the controller to momentarily close the at least one switch to substantially discharge the at least one capacitor when a predetermined high current state is reached.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2013Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: RF Micro Devices, Inc.Inventor: Ashraf Rozek
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Patent number: 8743569Abstract: The present power supply device includes a microcomputer that detects a current input to an active filter, a voltage input to the active filter, and a voltage output from the active filter, decreases a target voltage as the input current increases, and controls an IGBT to turn on/off the IGBT to match the input current and the input voltage in phase with each other and also match the output voltage to the target voltage. Thus, as the input current increases, the target voltage is decreased. A loss caused at the IGBT can be reduced to be small.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2009Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Michiho Yoshida
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Patent number: 8742741Abstract: In one general aspect, a power supply circuit can include a power stage configured to be coupled to a power source and configured to deliver an output voltage to a load circuit, and can include a comparator coupled to the power stage and configured to receive a reference voltage. The power supply circuit can also include a hysteresis control circuit configured to receive at least one of a feedback voltage or a reference voltage and configured to change a hysteresis of the comparator in response to the at least one of the feedback voltage or the reference voltage during a soft-start of the power supply circuit.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Bin Zhao, Jack Cornish, Victor Lee, Brian Horng
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Patent number: 8742743Abstract: A switching-control circuit to control a switching operation of a transistor, having an input electrode applied with the input voltage and an output electrode connected to a load via an inductor, to generate an output voltage of a target level from an input voltage, includes: a voltage-generating circuit to generate a slope voltage based on the output voltage in each of a switching period of the transistor, the slope voltage changing with a slope corresponding to the output voltage; an adding circuit to add the slope voltage to a reference voltage, indicating a reference of the output voltage of the target level, or a feedback voltage corresponding to the output voltage; and a drive circuit to perform the switching operation of the transistor, when a level of either one voltage, added with the slope voltage, of the reference and feedback voltages reaches a level of an other voltage thereof.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLCInventor: Masao Seki
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Patent number: 8742742Abstract: A switching-control circuit configured to keep a transistor on for a predetermined time to generate a target-level-output-voltage from an input voltage. The circuit is configured to generate, every switching period of the transistor, a slope voltage corresponding to that of a ripple voltage contained in an output voltage during a time period when the transistor is off, limit an amplitude of the slope voltage so as not to exceed a predetermined amplitude greater than the amplitude of the slope voltage when the target-level-output-voltage is generated, add the slope voltage to a reference voltage, indicating a reference of the target-level-output-voltage, or a feedback voltage corresponding to the output voltage, and keep the transistor on for a predetermined time and thereafter turn off the transistor, when a level of either one voltage, added with the slope voltage, of the reference voltage and the feedback voltage reaches a level of another voltage thereof.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLCInventor: Masao Seki
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Patent number: 8736244Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing capacitive current-mode control of a voltage regulator or converter, such as a DC/DC buck converter, are provided. An inductor current flowing from an inductive element into a first node of the converter, and, an output current flowing from the first node into an external load coupled to the converter may be determined. The measured output current may be subtracted from the measured inductor current to indirectly determine a capacitor current flowing from the first node into a capacitive element coupled between the first node and ground. The inductor current may then be adjusted based on the indirect measure of the capacitor current. The output current provided to the external load by the converter may be current-limited. The inductor current and the output current may be determined by sensing one or more voltage differentials across discrete or parasitic resistances.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2013Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Google Inc.Inventor: Paul Voigtlander