With Ramp Generator Or Controlled Capacitor Charging Patents (Class 323/288)
  • Patent number: 11949337
    Abstract: A flyback power converter includes a controller, a high-end driving circuit, an active clamp switch, a main switch and a zero current detection circuit. The high-end driving circuit is coupled to the controller. The active clamp switch is coupled to the high-end driving circuit for driving the active clamp switch. The main switch is coupled to the controller. The zero current detection circuit is coupled to the controller. The main switch and the active clamp switch are arranged on the primary side of a transformer. The switching period of a gate of the active clamp switch and the switching period of a gate of the main switch are controlled in reverse phase to achieve zero voltage or zero current conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: PHIHONG TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ta-Ching Hsu
  • Patent number: 11831305
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement (100), comprising a control circuit (104) and a switch element (101) for switching between a first and a second switching state of the switch element (101). The control circuit (104) is designed to provide a variable pre-control voltage dependent on the switching state of the switch element. The pre-control voltage is a voltage that is switched as the control voltage at the switch element (101) during one of the two switching states. The control circuit (104) is also designed to vary the pre-control voltage during each of the switching states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Kaiser, Moritz Schollbach, Peter Sinn, Tobias Richter
  • Patent number: 11770072
    Abstract: A method for controlling a buck-boost converter includes generating a first threshold voltage with a decreasing voltage level, generating a second threshold voltage with an increasing voltage level, and sensing an inductor current. A signal indicative of the sensed inductor current is compared to the first threshold voltage to control an on time of the high side buck switch and is compared to the second threshold voltage to control an off time of the high side boost switch. Also described is a controller including a compensator responsive to an output voltage feedback signal to generate a compensation voltage and a modulator having a buck signal path coupled to receive the compensation voltage and configured to control an on time of the high side buck switch and a boost signal path coupled to receive the compensation voltage and configured to control an off time of the high side boost switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Michele Suraci, Giorgio Oddone
  • Patent number: 11711012
    Abstract: A converter to convert an input voltage into a regulated output current for supplying a load includes a reverse current protection diode having an anode coupled to the input voltage and a cathode, an energy storage element coupled to the cathode of the reverse current protection diode, a high side transistor coupled to the energy storage element and responsive to a high side control signal, and a low side transistor coupled to the energy storage element and responsive to a low side control signal. A controller is configured to generate the high side control signal and the low side control signal such that the low side transistor is enabled and the high side transistor is disabled during a pre-regulation interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Vishal Ghorband, George P. Humphrey
  • Patent number: 11700336
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for a circuit, in some examples, including a storage element, a co-processor, and a telemetry sequencer coupled to the storage element and the co-processor. The telemetry sequencer is configured to implement a digital state machine to receive configuration information indicating a type of telemetry data for generation, retrieve operations and operands, where the operations and the operands define a sequential series of actions for execution to generate the telemetry data, drive the co-processor with the operations and the operands by passing some of the operations and some of the operands to the co-processor for processing by the co-processor, receive, from the co-processor, and store an intermediate output of the series of actions as the telemetry data in a first format, and receive, from the co-processor, and store a final output of the series of actions as the telemetry data in a second format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Shobhit Singhal, Vikas Lakhanpal, Preetam Tadeparthy
  • Patent number: 11699947
    Abstract: A converter system (100) includes a switch (102) adapted to be coupled to a switching terminal (104). The switch (102) is configured to generate a switching signal having first and second states at the switching terminal (104). Ripple generating circuitry (122) is adapted to be coupled to the switching terminal (104) and is configured to: generate a filtered signal based on the switching signal; and keep the filtered signal within a particular range. Loop control circuitry (116) is coupled to the ripple generating circuitry (122) and is configured to control the switch (102) based on the filtered signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jiancong Ruan, Runqin Tan, Peisheng Zhu
  • Patent number: 11677322
    Abstract: Voltage regulator circuits and methods therefor provided. In some embodiments, a voltage regulator circuit comprises: a first switch coupled to a power input; a second switch coupled to the first switch; a switching node between the first switch and the second switch; an inductor coupled between the switching node and an output node; a capacitor coupled between the output node and ground; a driver configured to operate the first and second switches according to a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) signal; a PWM circuit configured to generate the PWM signal based on at least an error signal; and a phase detector configured to generate the error signal based on a phase difference between the PWM signal and a clock reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Kinetic Technologies International Holdings LP
    Inventors: Karl Richard Volk, Sofjan Goenawan
  • Patent number: 11669135
    Abstract: A voltage stacked system that includes a stack of near threshold computing (NTC) chips for achieving inter-chip communication with simple wires as interconnections is disclosed. The chips include at least two secondary supply voltages and at least a secondary ground voltage electrically coupled to the stack of the chips arranged in series. The secondary supply and ground voltages are tapped in a predefined sequence at one or more predefined access points in the stack to generate two versions of an internal voltage within each of the chips. Each of the two versions of the internal voltage is a voltage difference between respective supply voltages and ground voltages, and the two have a set voltage shift such that the chips in the stack have supply voltages overlapping with those in the neighboring chips. Optionally, the two voltages are boosted to further higher voltages as needed using charge pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: DXCorr Design Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh Tiruvuru, Sagar Vidya Reddy
  • Patent number: 11658654
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for use in biasing and driving high voltage semiconductor devices using only low voltage transistors are described. The apparatus and method are adapted to control multiple high voltage semiconductor devices to enable high voltage power control, such as power amplifiers, power management and conversion (e.g. DC/DC) and other applications wherein a first voltage is large compared to the maximum voltage handling of the low voltage control transistors. According to an aspect, timing control of edges of a control signal to the high voltage semiconductor devices is provided by a basic edge delay circuit that includes a transistor, a current source and a capacitor. An inverter can be selectively coupled, via a switch, to an input and/or an output of the basic edge delay circuit to allow for timing control of a rising edge or a falling edge of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventor: Gary Chunshien Wu
  • Patent number: 11632088
    Abstract: A voltage converter comprising: a bootstrap circuit, comprising an output capacitor, an error amplifier, a charging control circuit and a charging circuit. The charging control circuit comprises: a detection circuit, configured to detect an output voltage of the output capacitor to generate a detection signal; and a power limiting circuit, configured to clamp an output voltage of the error amplifier to a specific range based on the detection signal. The charging circuit is configured to generate a charging signal according the output voltage of the error amplifier to the bootstrap circuit, to charge the output capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Elite Semiconductor Microelectronics Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Yang-Jing Huang, Deng-Yao Shih, Ya-Mien Hsu
  • Patent number: 11586234
    Abstract: The application discloses a power supply circuit and a power supply device. A drain of a first N-type metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) receives a first input voltage. A filter is coupled to a source of the first N-type MOSFET and is configured to output an output voltage. A non-inverting input terminal of an operational amplifier is coupled to a ground terminal through a first capacitor. A control circuit is coupled to an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier. One terminal of a switch is coupled to a gate of the first N-type MOSFET, and the other terminal is switchably coupled to the control circuit or an output terminal of the operational amplifier, so that the gate of the first N-type MOSFET is switched to be coupled to the control circuit or the output terminal of the operational amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: PEGATRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hsiao-Wei Sung, Chun-Wei Ko, Yu-Kai Shen, Chih-Wei Huang
  • Patent number: 11539297
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a DC-DC power converter which comprises a switched converter core operated in accordance with a primary control signal to supply a primary DC output current (Io) of the converter; said primary control signal exhibiting a minimum resolution, e.g. a minimum time step, leading to a corresponding minimum current step of the primary DC output current. The DC-DC power converter additionally comprises a controllable resistive path, or a controllable current source, connected between a pair of terminals selected from a group of: (the positive output terminal, the negative output terminal, the positive input terminal, the negative input terminal) and configured to add or subtract a secondary DC output current (Icon) to the primary DC output current (Io) in accordance with a secondary control signal to adjust the load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: NPC Tech ApS
    Inventors: Jakob Døllner Mønster, Thomas Andersen, Mickey P. Madsen, Riccardo Pittini, Martin Schøler Rødgaard, Toke Meyer Andersen
  • Patent number: 11509210
    Abstract: A device includes a comparator having a first comparator input configured to receive a time signal. The device also includes a subtractor having a subtractor output coupled to a second comparator input, and a first subtractor input adapted to be coupled to a voltage converter terminal. The device also includes a current source having an output coupled to a second subtractor input, and a current source input coupled to the first subtractor input. The device also includes a capacitor coupled to the second subtractor input and to ground. The device also includes a latch having an output and first and second inputs. The latch output is coupled to a control terminal of a transistor in parallel with the capacitor, the first latch input is coupled to the comparator output, and the second latch input is configured to receive a clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Yueming Sun, Guofeng Jin
  • Patent number: 11509221
    Abstract: Direct current-direct current (DC-DC) converters including buck converters are described. These DC-DC converters may be configured to reduce oscillations that would otherwise arise in the output reference voltage due to ringing effects without significantly lengthening the duration of the transient period. These DC converters may leverage a feedback voltage generated by sensing the current flowing through the inductor of the buck converter. The feedback voltage may compared to a threshold, and the signal resulting from the comparison may be used to vary the reference voltage. The DC-DC converter may be operated in a “partial reset mode,” in which the voltage generated by sensing the inductor's current is reduced to a value greater than zero in response to the feedback voltage reaching the threshold. Reducing the sense voltage in this manner may reduce the duration of the transient period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: MediaTek Inc.
    Inventors: Yueh-Min Chen, Yu-Hsin Lin
  • Patent number: 11505280
    Abstract: Among others, the present invention provides electric bicycles each including a body frame; a front wheel and a rear wheel; an electric motor configured to provide a mechanical power to at least one of the front and rear wheels; and a battery box configured to removably receive and hold one or more lithium battery packs. The one or more lithium battery packs are configured to power the electric bicycle, and at least one lithium battery pack is capable of being used as a power supply of a separate lithium electric tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Avant Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Ying Ye
  • Patent number: 11502601
    Abstract: A control circuit of a power converter is coupled to an output stage and controls it to convert an input voltage into an output voltage and generate an output current. The control circuit includes a ripple generation circuit, a synthesis circuit, an error amplifier, a comparator and a PWM circuit. The ripple generation circuit generates a ripple signal according to an input voltage, an output voltage and output current. The synthesis circuit receives the ripple signal and a first feedback signal related to output voltage to provide a second feedback signal. The error amplifier receives the second feedback signal and a reference voltage to generate an error signal. The comparator receives a ramp signal and error signal to generate a comparison signal. The PWM circuit generates a PWM signal to control output stage according to the comparison signal. A slope of ripple signal is changed with the output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: UPI SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventors: Chih-Lien Chang, Chun-Chieh Wang
  • Patent number: 11459969
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a DC/DC voltage converter for controlling the current of at least one fuel injector of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, the vehicle including a supply battery and the converter including a coil and a switch. The method includes the steps of measuring the value of the voltage delivered by the battery, of determining a threshold value of the current passing through the coil from the measured value of the voltage and from a predetermined curve of the current as a function of the voltage, and of actuating the opening of the switch when the current passing through the coil reaches the determined threshold value of the current in order to regulate the power of the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Cedrick Biellmann, Thierry Bavois
  • Patent number: 11456668
    Abstract: A method of operating a hysteretic synthetic current-mode switching regulator is disclosed. In the switching regulator, PWM pulses (PWM) are generated by a PWM generator (20; FIG. 7) in dependence upon a ramp voltage (VR) which oscillates between upper and lower window voltages (VW+, VW?). The ramp voltage depends on a control voltage (VC) which depends on current (IL) through an inductor (6). The method comprise determining whether a period (T) equal to or greater than a given period (TREFRESH) has elapsed without a PWM pulse being generated, upon a positive determination, causing the ramp voltage to be pulled up to or above the upper window voltage (VW+) for a given duration (?T) and when said given duration has elapsed, causing the ramp voltage to decrease until a rising edge of a PWM pulse is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Vinod Aravindakshan Lalithambika, Allan Warrington, Vipul Raithatha
  • Patent number: 11444604
    Abstract: Disclosed are a phase-tracked pulse generation circuit and a power supply device. The present application uses a driving pulse rising edge of a power supply as a reference, and uses a constant current circuit to charge a charging and discharging circuit at a constant current. When the reference driving pulse rising edge comes, the charging and discharging circuit is discharged; the peak voltage on the charging and discharging circuit is taken out and then divided for comparison with the voltage on the charging and discharging circuit; when the voltage on the charging and discharging circuit is equal to a divided voltage value of the peak voltage, the output of a comparison circuit turns high, and the output of a comparator is the phase-tracked pulse; the rising edge of the phase-tracked pulse can be used for synchronizing another power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Shenzhen TCL New Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dexiang Zuo, Guoliang Tang
  • Patent number: 11431302
    Abstract: An isolation circuit and a method for providing isolation between two dies are provided. The isolation circuit includes: an isolation module, configured to generate an isolation signal based on an input signal from a first die and to provide isolation between the first die and a second die, where the isolation signal is smaller than the input signal in amplitude, and the first die is coupled with the second die; a latch module, configured to latch the isolation signal at a certain level and output a latched signal; an amplifier module, configured to amplify the latched signal. In the isolation circuit, a modulation module and a demodulation module can be saved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: 2PAI SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhiwei Dong
  • Patent number: 11398774
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus is disclosed. The electronic apparatus includes: a first power factor correction (PFC) unit comprising circuitry and a second PFC unit comprising circuitry connected to the first PFC unit, a first controller configured to control the first PFC unit, and a second controller configured to control the second PFC unit, wherein the first controller is configured to: detect a voltage output from the first PFC unit, control a driving time of the first PFC unit based on the detected output voltage, and provide information on the driving time to the second PFC unit through the second controller, and wherein the second controller is configured to control a driving time of the second PFC unit based on the information on the driving time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinho Kang, Moonyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 11398771
    Abstract: A switching regulator control circuit is used in a switching regulator that converts an input voltage into an output voltage by the switching of a switching device, and generates a switching signal for controlling the ON/OFF operation of the switching device. The switching regulator control circuit has a fault detector and a fault protector. The fault detector detects, based on the duty ratio of the switching signal or a variable correlated to it and included in a control signal used to generate the switching signal, a fault state where the duty ratio falls outside the normal modulation range. The fault protector stops the switching of the switching device when the fault detector detects a fault state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuhei Yamaguchi, Tetsuo Tateishi
  • Patent number: 11381099
    Abstract: Distributing higher currents demanded by a power consuming load(s) exceeding overcurrent limits of a current limiter circuit for a power source in a power distribution system. The power distribution system receives and distributes power from the power source to a power consuming load(s). The power distribution circuit is configured to limit current demand on the power source to not exceed a designed source current threshold limit. The power distribution circuit includes an energy storage circuit. The power distribution circuit is configured to charge the energy storage circuit with current supplied by the power source. Current demanded by the power consuming load(s) exceeding the source current threshold limit of the power source is supplied by the energy storage circuit. Thus, limiting current of the power source while supplying higher currents demanded by power consuming load(s) exceeding the source current limits of the power source can both be accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC
    Inventor: Ami Hazani
  • Patent number: 11374483
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a direct-current to direct-current (DC-DC) converter having an output terminal and at least one electronic switch. The DC-DC converter also includes: 1) a first feedback loop configured to control a voltage at the output terminal by adjusting a first switching parameter of the at least one electronic switch; and 2) a second feedback loop configured to adjust a second switching parameter of the at least one electronic switch. The second feedback loop includes a switched-capacitor circuit configured to determine a threshold signal based on an error between a reference signal and a control signal for the at least one electronic switch. The second feedback loop is configured to adjust the second switching parameter based on a comparison of an on-time signal with the threshold signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Taisuke Kazama, Masahiro Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 11353904
    Abstract: A voltage regulator system includes a switch system including a power switch to conduct an output current through an inductor based on an input voltage and a switching signal to generate an output voltage at a load. A feedback system generates a PWM signal based on the output voltage and based on a variable reference voltage. A gate driver system generates the switching signal based on the PWM signal. The gate driver system controls the switch system to increase the output voltage at output voltage slopes in each of startup stages during startup of the voltage regulator system. A sampling system samples the output current and the output voltage during the startup of the voltage regulator system to measure each slope of the output voltage slopes at each of the respective startup stages during the startup of the voltage regulator system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kuang-Yao Cheng, Wenkai Wu, Preetam Tadeparthy, Shuhua Zhang
  • Patent number: 11323034
    Abstract: A voltage generating circuit includes an input stage, a control stage, an inductor and an output stage. The input stage includes a plurality of comparators each generating a comparison result according to an input voltage and a reference voltage and a multiplexer configured to output a voltage control signal sequentially carrying the comparison results of the comparators. The control stage is configured to control conduction of a charging path between a power source and a first node in response to the voltage control signal. The inductor is coupled between the first node and a second node. The output stage includes a plurality of output switches coupled to the second node and turned on or off in response to a switch control signal. The switch control signals are generated according to the voltage control signal and rising edges and falling edges of the switch control signals are interleaved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventor: Yu-Hsuan Liu
  • Patent number: 11309112
    Abstract: Provided is a solenoid valve drive device capable of accurately controlling a hysteresis value of a drive current for driving a solenoid valve. The solenoid valve drive device according to the present invention controls a set value of a hysteresis or a time width of the hysteresis based on a difference between an extreme value of the hysteresis in a peak hold period of a drive current and a set value of the extreme value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Katagiri, Takao Fukuda, Yuuji Ishida
  • Patent number: 11309848
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes: a Schmidt trigger having an input electrically coupled to an input of the amplifier circuit, a switching network electrically coupled to an output of the Schmidt trigger, an inductor electrically coupled to the switching network, a first resistor electrically coupled to the inductor, a capacitor electrically coupled to the first resistor, a first feedback circuit that provides a first feedback signal to the input of the Schmidt trigger based on a voltage at a first node electrically coupled to the first resistor and to the capacitor, a second resistor electrically coupled to the output of the amplifier circuit, a third resistor electrically coupled to the second resistor, and a second feedback circuit that provides a second feedback signal to the input of the Schmidt trigger based on a voltage at a second node electrically coupled to the second resistor and to the third resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Britz, Jake R. Richards
  • Patent number: 11296600
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a buck converter which includes a voltage converter configured to convert an input voltage into an output voltage by a driving signal, a compensator configured to generate an error compensation signal by receiving a feedback signal defined from the output voltage, an active ramp controller configured to generate a ramp signal by adjusting a ramp bias voltage when load transient occurs, and an output voltage controller configured to adjust the output voltage using the ramp signal and the error compensation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University
    Inventors: Bai Sun Kong, Jung Duk Suh
  • Patent number: 11283345
    Abstract: In some examples, a voltage regulator includes a first pair of switches controllable by a first clock signal having a first phase. The switches in the first pair are coupled to each other via a capacitor. The voltage regulator also includes a second pair of switches controllable by a second clock signal having a second phase. The first and second phases are non-overlapping. The switches in the second pair are coupled to each other via the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kishalay Datta, Vinod Menezes
  • Patent number: 11240895
    Abstract: A device includes an analog current division circuit configured to divide an input current into a first current and a second current, and a multiplexer array including a plurality of switches to provide the first current to a first of three colors of LEDs and the second current to a second of three colors of LEDs simultaneously during a first portion of a period, the first current to the second of three colors of LEDs and the second current to a third of three colors of LEDs simultaneously during a second portion of the period, and the first current to the first of three colors of LEDs and the second current to the third of three colors of LEDs simultaneously during a third portion of the period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Yifeng Qiu, John Grant
  • Patent number: 11239758
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of power and electronic technologies, particularly to a power supply system with a stable loop comprising a PMOS transistor, a NMOS transistor, a first comparator and a voltage control circuit connected between a comparison terminal and the ground; wherein, a current-limiting acquisition port is configured to acquire on-state current of the PMOS transistor; and the current-limiting protection circuit outputs an voltage signal of the comparison result as the control signal of the pulse width modulation driver when the acquired on-current state of the PMOS transistor is less than a preset current value; and outputs a turn-off signal for turning off the pulse width modulation driver as the control signal when the acquired on-current state of the PMOS transistor is greater than a preset current value. The present invention has the advantages that relatively high loop stability can be ensured and high reliability is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: AMLOGIC (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mao Fan
  • Patent number: 11205949
    Abstract: A new discharge circuit and method are provided. The new discharge circuit includes: a voltage regulation chip; a discharge control circuit; a discharge switch circuit; a discharge bootstrap circuit; and an output circuit. An input voltage is regulated by the voltage regulation chip, and an output voltage of the voltage regulation chip is outputted to a load end via the output circuit. The voltage regulation chip is connected to the discharge switch circuit via the discharge control circuit. The output circuit is connected to the discharge switch circuit via the discharge bootstrap circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: ZHENGZHOU YUNHAI INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Weihua Cao
  • Patent number: 11205961
    Abstract: An electronic device has a DC/DC boost converter that includes a power NFET. The power NFET is coupled between a first pin, which can be coupled to a battery through an inductor, and a second pin that can be coupled to a ground plane. A switch-node is coupled to a third pin, which can be coupled to a diode to provide a boosted output voltage. A gate driver can receive a FET-on signal and drive a gate of the power NFET. A digital logic circuit provides the FET-on signal and includes an Ipeak gear-shifting circuit that dynamically changes the value of a peak inductor current responsive to one or more determinations that are related to one of the boosted output voltage and a switching frequency of the DC/DC boost converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Keliu Shu
  • Patent number: 11165357
    Abstract: The aim of the invention, as demonstrated in various examples, is to control a current flow to an electrical load, e.g. a light emitting diode, in a particularly precise manner. For this purpose, control gear (90) comprising a DC-DC switching controller (100) is used in various examples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Tridonic GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Ludwig Erasmus De Clercq
  • Patent number: 11121625
    Abstract: A voltage doubler circuit configuration includes a switching regulator having a variable input voltage and a regulated voltage, and a voltage doubler circuit that utilizes the regulated voltage of the switching regulator. The voltage doubler circuit includes an output capacitor that receives an elevated voltage from a voltage doubler capacitor and an electrical clamp that limits the voltage doubler capacitor from exceeding the regulated voltage. The output voltage is twice the regulated voltage minus circuit losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: INTERDIGITAL MADISON PATENT HOLDINGS, SAS
    Inventor: Joseph Clark
  • Patent number: 11025155
    Abstract: There is provided a power supply control device as a control main entity of a switching power supply. The power supply control device includes a minimum ON width setting part configured to set a minimum ON width of an output switch according to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Sato, Satoru Nate
  • Patent number: 10979042
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for use in biasing and driving high voltage semiconductor devices using only low voltage transistors are described. The apparatus and method are adapted to control multiple high voltage semiconductor devices to enable high voltage power control, such as power amplifiers, power management and conversion (e.g. DC/DC) and other applications wherein a first voltage is large compared to the maximum voltage handling of the low voltage control transistors. According to an aspect, timing control of edges of a control signal to the high voltage semiconductor devices is provided by a basic edge delay circuit that includes a transistor, a current source and a capacitor. An inverter can be selectively coupled, via a switch, to an input and/or an output of the basic edge delay circuit to allow for timing control of a rising edge or a falling edge of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventor: Gary Chunshien Wu
  • Patent number: 10958173
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a processing element configured to couple to a first ramp generator and a second ramp generator and control the first ramp generator while a power converter is operating in a buck-boost mode of operation to generate a first ramp signal beginning at a first value and increasing to a second value during a first clock cycle and generate the first ramp signal beginning at the first value and increasing to a third value during a second clock cycle following the first clock cycle and control the second ramp generator while the power converter is operating in the buck-boost mode of operation to generate a second ramp signal beginning at a fourth value and decreasing to a fifth value during the first clock cycle and generate the second ramp signal beginning at the fourth value and decreasing to a sixth value during the second clock cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Franz Prexl, Anmol Sharma
  • Patent number: 10914787
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for processing data of a multifunctional automobile charger by using a microprocessor. A main program module, an ignition current detection module, a charging current detection module, an internal battery constant current charging detection module, an internal battery temperature detection module, an output current detection module, a wireless charging failure detection module, a module for Bluetooth communication with a mobile phone and so on are loaded in a single chip microcomputer. Instructions of the modules are executed by a processor. The present invention provides an ignition function for an automobile, can communicate with a mobile phone, and is convenient to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventors: Jianxin Ye, Yuping Luo, Shihao Huang
  • Patent number: 10868522
    Abstract: An optical emission circuit includes a power supply source and a regulation circuit coupled to control the power supply source. An optical source and a first switch are coupled in series to the power supply source. A square pulse signal source has an output coupled to a control input of the first switch. The square pulse signal source is configured to provide a square pulse signal. The regulation circuit regulates the current supplied by the power supply source according to a product of a peak current set point by a duty cycle of the square pulse signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (ALPS) SAS
    Inventor: Xavier Branca
  • Patent number: 10848048
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for a slope voltage compensation circuit with an adaptive slope compensation method, in a DC-DC switching converter operating in current control mode, at duty cycles greater than 50%. The proposed solution allows for the dynamic range of useful operation to be extended, lowering the slope voltage compensation at the beginning of the cycle, and then increasing the compensation as 50% duty cycle is achieved. This method is based on voltage control instead of time, and a second phase of a clock is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Hirohisa Tanabe
  • Patent number: 10809751
    Abstract: A power converter circuit that includes a switch node coupled to a regulated power supply node via an inductor may, during a charge cycle, source current to the regulated power supply node. In response to initiating the charge cycle, a control circuit may generate a control current using a voltage level of the regulated power supply node and a reference voltage level. The control circuit may also generate compensation and correction currents that are used with a sensed inductor current to determine when to halt the charge cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan F. Bolus, Fabio Gozzini
  • Patent number: 10790739
    Abstract: A power supply system with redundant control includes a power conversion unit configured to provide a regulated output voltage, a first power supply controller configured to control the power conversion unit such that the regulated output voltage is within a selected range, a second power supply controller having power supply controller diversity from the first power supply controller configured to control the power conversion unit such that the regulated output voltage is within a selected range, and a controller selector configured to enable either the first power supply controller or the second power supply controller in response to a control signal from a logic control circuit. The power supply controller diversity can be duty cycle diversity, frequency diversity, power supply requirement diversity, manufacturer diversity, part number diversity, foundry diversity, fabrication batch diversity, and/or manufacturing date diversity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Villano, Kirk A. Lillestolen
  • Patent number: 10734982
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for use in biasing and driving high voltage semiconductor devices using only low voltage transistors are described. The apparatus and method are adapted to control multiple high voltage semiconductor devices to enable high voltage power control, such as power amplifiers, power management and conversion and other applications wherein a first voltage is large compared to the maximum voltage handling of the low voltage control transistors. Timing of control signals can be adjusted via internal and/or external components so as to minimize shoot trough currents in the high voltage devices. A DC/DC power conversion implementation from high input voltage to low output voltage using a novel level shifter which uses only low voltage transistors is also provided. Also presented is a level shifter in which floating nodes and high voltage capacitive coupling and control enable the high voltage control with low voltage transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventors: Buddhika Abesingha, Merlin Green
  • Patent number: 10699175
    Abstract: According to another embodiment, a system includes a driver circuit that drives a first output and a second output; a coil coupled between the first output and the second output such that the driver circuit drives current through the coil in response to control signals; and a programmable slew circuit coupled to the driver circuit. In some embodiments, a switch is coupled between the first output and the coil. In some embodiments an over-voltage protection circuit is coupled to protect the driver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Integrated Device Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rui Liu, Tao Qi, Lijie Zhao, Gustavo James Mehas, Tae Kwang Park, Zhitong Guo, Siqiang Fan
  • Patent number: 10673422
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes receiving an enable signal. After the enable signal is asserted, it is determined whether a soft-start capacitor is electrically connected to an input of a ramp generator circuit while keeping an output of the ramp generator circuit low. If the soft-start capacitor is electrically connected to the input of the ramp generator circuit, a first current is injected into the input of the ramp generator circuit to generate a first voltage ramp at the output of the ramp generator circuit. If the soft-start capacitor is not electrically connected to the input of the ramp generator circuit, a second current is injected to the input of the ramp generator circuit to generate a second voltage ramp at the output of the ramp generator circuit. The second current is smaller than the first current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Marco Martini
  • Patent number: 10594209
    Abstract: A switching power converter circuit includes a power switch for operating an inductor to convert the input voltage to the output voltage to drive a load circuit; and a control circuit, including: a pulse width modulation circuit comparing an output related signal with a ramp signal to generate a pulse width modulation signal for controlling the power switch, wherein the output related signal is related to the output voltage; an error amplifier circuit generating an error amplified signal according to a difference between the output related signal and a reference signal; and a ramp signal generation circuit generating the ramp signal, wherein an amplitude of the ramp signal is determined according to the input voltage and the output voltage; and/or the slope of the ramp signal is determined according to the error amplified signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hsuan-Ju Chen
  • Patent number: 10581318
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a power conversion circuit that performs switching control of first and second semiconductor switches connected in series and converts an input direct current voltage into an alternating current voltage. A switching adjustment circuit includes a first capacitance addition circuit that increases an output capacitance of the first semiconductor switch. The first capacitance addition circuit includes a first capacitive element and a first switching unit connected in series and is connected in parallel to the first semiconductor switch. A first driving control circuit drives and controls the first capacitance addition circuit. The first driving control circuit turns on the first switching unit when the first semiconductor switch is turned off, increasing the output capacitance of the first semiconductor switch, and turns off the first switching unit when a predetermined time period elapses after the first semiconductor switch is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Ishikura, Koichi Ueki
  • Patent number: 10581326
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a circuit includes a Direct Current (DC)-DC buck-boost converter and a controller. The controller includes an error amplifier configured to receive a feedback signal responsive to an output signal of the buck-boost converter. The error amplifier is configured to compare the feedback signal and a reference signal to generate an error signal. The controller includes a modulator circuit that is configured to receive the error signal and compare the error signal with a periodic ramp signal to generate a modulated signal. The controller further includes a digital logic block to generate switching signals in response to the modulated signal that is fed to the buck-boost converter to control the output signal of the buck-boost converter. The controller includes a capacitance multiplier circuit coupled to the output of the error amplifier to configure a dominant pole so as to compensate the buck-boost converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Srinivas Venkata Veeramreddi, Sudhir Polarouthu