With Ramp Generator Or Controlled Capacitor Charging Patents (Class 323/288)
  • Patent number: 9594387
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a measurement circuit for obtaining a value representing a magnitude of an output capacitance connected at an output node of the voltage regulator. A correction circuit in the voltage regulator modifies a compensation circuit internal to the voltage regulator based on the value. The modification of the compensation circuit is done to ensure that sufficient stability margins to accommodate the output capacitance are ensured for the main feedback loop in the voltage regulator. In an embodiment, a voltage proportional to the output capacitance is detected at start-up of the voltage regulator, and a corresponding binary signal is generated. The logic value of the binary signal is used to add or remove components and/or circuit portions in the compensation circuit to ensure stability. The voltage regulator is thus designed to support a wide range of output capacitance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Vikram Gakhar, Preetam Charan Anand Tadeparthy
  • Patent number: 9588532
    Abstract: According to an exemplary implementation, a voltage regulator includes an emulated ripple generator. The emulated ripple generator includes a high side switch configured to control charging of an emulated ripple. The emulated ripple generator further includes a low side switch configured to control discharging of the emulated ripple. The high side switch and the low side switch are configured to control the charging and the discharging such that the emulated ripple is substantially in-phase with an inductor current of the voltage regulator. The high side switch can be configured to control the charging by selectively enabling a high side current source. Furthermore, the low side switch can be configured to control the discharging by selectively enabling a low side current source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Americas Corp.
    Inventors: Amir M. Rahimi, Parviz Parto, Peyman Asadi
  • Patent number: 9570984
    Abstract: A circuit for a paralleled power supply module to implement automatic current-sharing in proportion comprises: at least two power supply modules, and an output current feedback loop and an output voltage adjusting loop corresponding to each power supply module. Wherein, the output current feedback loop comprises an output current sample amplifying unit, configured to collect output current of a power supply module and amplify the collected output current into a voltage signal according to an inverse proportion of the output proportion set for each power supply module, and a current-sharing controller unit configured to adjust an output voltage of each power supply module; and the output voltage adjusting loop is configured to compare the output voltage of the current-sharing controller unit with a reference voltage, and control the output voltage of the power supply module to adjust the output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventors: Yundong Yang, Dacheng Zheng, Fangchun Wang, Yanghuai Gao, He Zhou, Bei Li
  • Patent number: 9467044
    Abstract: A timing generator for a power converter is provided. The timing generator includes a threshold voltage generation circuit and a timing generation unit. The threshold voltage generation circuit receives an error signal related to an output voltage of the power converter. The threshold voltage generation circuit generates a threshold voltage according to the error signal. The timing generation unit generates a timing signal according to the error signal, the threshold voltage and a control signal. The timing generation unit provides a tracking signal. A width of the timing signal depends on a time when tracking signal departed from a level of the error signal to a level of the threshold voltage. The present invention also provides a timing signal generation method for the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: uPI Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Ya-Ping Chen, Wei-Ling Chen
  • Patent number: 9450498
    Abstract: There is provided a multi-output power supply capable of maintaining power balancing between multiple output powers by fixing a switching duty until a voltage level reaches a predetermined voltage level during an initial stage of a soft-start operation, the multi-output power supply including a power supply unit switching an input power and outputting a plurality of powers having levels determined according to the switching, and a controller controlling a soft switching operation of the power supply unit during an initial operation and fixing a switching duty of the power supply unit to a preset switching duty according to a result of a comparison between a preset reference voltage level and an operating voltage determining whether the soft switching operation is performed or not during the soft switching operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SOLUM CO., LTD
    Inventors: Dae Hoon Han, Seo Hyung Kim, Jae Shin Lee, Joon Youp Sung, Bo Hyun Hwang, Jung Sun Kwon
  • Patent number: 9413220
    Abstract: One aspect includes power supply systems. The system includes an error amplifier system configured to generate an error voltage based on a feedback voltage of the power supply system relative to a reference voltage. The system also includes a PWM generator comprising a comparator configured to generate a PWM signal based on the error voltage and a ramp signal. The system further includes a power stage configured to generate the output voltage based on the PWM signal, the power stage comprising a transconductance amplifier configured to generate a temperature-compensated sense current associated with a magnitude of an output current associated with power stage. The ramp signal being generated based on the temperature-compensated sense current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: F. Dong Tan, Kwang M. Yi
  • Patent number: 9413247
    Abstract: A method of operating an electrical power supply device having a primary side and a secondary side is provided. The method includes transmitting with an optocoupler arranged between the primary side and the secondary side a wide band control signal and a numerical information signal. The method further includes transmitting the control signal and the information signal over a rectangular-wave signal modulated in combination with frequency modulation and pulse width modulation. The control signal and the information signal are the modulating signals for frequency modulation and pulse width modulation of said rectangular-wave signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: OSRAM GMBH
    Inventors: Francesco Angelin, Filippo Branchetti
  • Patent number: 9397578
    Abstract: A digital control unit generates a control signal to control a duty cycle of a switched mode power supply such that a faster response to an input voltage transient is achieved. The digital control unit comprises a feedback compensator, a feed forward compensator, a transient detector, and a controller. The transient detector receives a signal indicative of the input voltage of the switched mode power supply and detects transients on the received signal. The feedback compensator receives a signal indicative of the output voltage of the switched mode power supply and adjusts the control signal. The feed forward compensator receives a signal indicative of the input voltage of the switched mode power supply, performs a relatively fast, but coarse, adjustment of the control signal, and then performs a more accurate, but relatively slow, adjustment of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET L M ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Magnus Karlsson, Anders Kullman, Jonas Malmberg, Fredrik Wahledow
  • Patent number: 9378930
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) reactor having a substrate RF bias that is capable of control of the RF phase difference between the ICP source (a first RF source) and the substrate bias (a second RF source) for plasma processing reactors used in the semiconductor industry. Control of the RF phase difference provides a powerful knob for fine process tuning. For example, control of the RF phase difference may be used to control one or more of average etch rate, etch rate uniformity, etch rate skew, critical dimension (CD) uniformity, and CD skew, CD range, self DC bias control, and chamber matching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael N. Grimbergen, Alan Hiroshi Ouye, Valentin N. Todorow
  • Patent number: 9379536
    Abstract: A control means comprises a control segment (3) that is designed for driving an electrically adjustable piece of furniture and a switched-mode power supply unit (2) that supplies power to the control segment (3). The switched-mode power supply unit (2) features a switching regulator component (223) for controlling the switched-mode power supply unit and can be switched into a normal operating mode and into an idle mode. The switched-mode power supply unit (2) is designed for making available a supply voltage for the switching regulator component (223) in a clocked fashion with the aid of a start-up circuit (224) in the idle mode. The switched-mode power supply unit (2) features a power failure detection circuit (230) that is designed for detecting a failure of a line voltage applied to the input side of the switched-mode power supply unit (2) based on a signal within the start-up circuit (224) and for signaling this failure to the control segment (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: LOGICDATA ELECTRONIC & SOFTWARE ENTWICKLUNGS GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Lukas, Mario Schenk
  • Patent number: 9374007
    Abstract: Provided is a DC/DC converter that is capable of performing stable control without being affected by noise from an output voltage and without any malfunction and is capable of operating at a relatively constant frequency. The DC/DC converter includes an ON-timer circuit configured to input a control signal, which is synchronized with a signal input to a gate of an output transistor, and output an ON-time signal. The ON-timer circuit includes: a ripple generation circuit configured to generate and output a ripple component based on the control signal; an averaging circuit configured to output a signal obtained by averaging the ripple component; and a timer circuit configured to generate and output the ON-time signal based on the signal of the averaging circuit and the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiomi Shiina, Masayuki Uno
  • Patent number: 9348345
    Abstract: Analog pulse width modulation (PWM) control circuits and techniques are presented for improving output voltage load transient response in controlling DC to DC conversion systems in which a transient detector circuit restarts a PWM carrier ramp waveform to initiate asynchronous injection of a pulse between the regular periodic PWM pulses in a fixed frequency pulse stream to mitigate the effect of output inductor energy depletion on output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Brian Thomas Lynch, Neeraj Keskar
  • Patent number: 9323262
    Abstract: Provided is a voltage regulator capable of preventing breakdown of a gate of an input transistor even when an overshoot occurs at an output terminal. The voltage regulator includes a diode, which is provided to an input transistor to which a divided voltage of an error amplifier circuit is input. The diode includes a cathode connected to a source of the input transistor and an anode connected to a gate thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsutomu Tomioka
  • Patent number: 9312772
    Abstract: A modulator configured to control switching of current through an inductor of a converter according to a current limiting scheme while converting an input voltage to an output voltage, which includes a current limit generator and a comparator network. The current limit generator is configured to provide a periodic ramping current limit value based on either the input voltage or the output voltage, an inductance of the inductor, a timing signal, and a predetermined maximum output current of the boost converter. The comparator network is configured to provide a switch control signal to control switching of current through the inductor by comparing a current sense value indicative of a current through the inductor with a lesser of a compensation error value and the periodic ramping current limit value. The converter may be configured as a peak current mode control converter in either boost or buck mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: INTERSIL AMERICAS LLC
    Inventors: Weihong Qiu, Ruchi J. Parikh, Chun Cheung, Zhixiang Liang
  • Patent number: 9312773
    Abstract: A power converter having a bootstrap refresh control circuit and a method for controlling the power converter. The bootstrap refresh control circuit is configured to monitor a bootstrap voltage across a bootstrap capacitor and to provide an enhanced high side driving signal to a high side switch of the power converter. The bootstrap refresh control circuit is further configured to controlling the charging of the bootstrap capacitor through regulating the on and off switching of the high side switch and a low side switch based on the bootstrap voltage. The bootstrap refresh control circuit can refresh the bootstrap voltage in time to support driving the high side switch normally, without causing large spikes in an output voltage of the power converter and without influencing the power conversion efficiency of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Yike Li
  • Patent number: 9313866
    Abstract: A light string includes a number of lights. The lights are electrically connected in series and powered by an AC power supply. At least one capacitor is connected in parallel to one of the lights. Each light or a part of lights of the light string of the present invention is electrically connected in parallel to a capacitor. When the light string is powered on, the capacitor is charged and absorbs a surge current which may occur. Thus, the voltage dropped on each light rises slowly and the lights are safe. The capacitor also performs power compensation and electrical connection. When the filament of the light bulb fails and the bulb remains in the light string, or when the bulb is removed from its socket for replacement, the closed path for flow of electrical current is still closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Inventor: Houhua Han
  • Patent number: 9293988
    Abstract: A current mode PWM converter configured to maintain a duty ratio of a driving signal for driving a boost circuit boosting an input voltage to an output voltage when a frequency of a clock signal for generating the driving signal is varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: KyoungJin Lee, Hyoungseok Oh, Jehyung Yoon
  • Patent number: 9270177
    Abstract: A switching power-supply device is configured to convert and output a first direct voltage to a second direct voltage by alternately turning on and off a first switching element and a second switching element, the switching power-supply device includes: a reference voltage generation unit; a comparison unit; and a driving signal generation unit, wherein the driving signal generation unit controls the period of supplying the driving signal to the driving unit, depending on an input-and-output condition, and wherein the reference voltage generation unit starts rising of the ramp signal during a period from a time point, at which the first switching element has been turned from on to off in response to the driving signal, to when the first switching element is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9270157
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes: a high-side switch; a low-side switch coupled to the high-side switch in series; a capacitor configured to be charged while the low-side switch is turned on and to increase a driving voltage for turning on the high-side switch by a charged voltage; a buffer configured to output a control signal for controlling the high-side switch; a latch configured to receive the control signal at a first input terminal, retain the control signal, and output the control signal to the high-side switch; and a switch configured to receive the control signal from the latch and deactivate the buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Masafumi Kondou, Toshihiko Mori
  • Patent number: 9250640
    Abstract: A controller for a DC-to-DC converter includes a control signal generator and an oscillation prevention subsystem. The control signal generator is adapted to control one or more switching circuits of the DC-to-DC converter such that the DC-to-DC converter transfers power from an input power source to a load. The oscillation prevention subsystem is adapted to shift a switching frequency of the DC-to-DC converter away from a frequency of an alternating current component of a load current flowing between the DC-to-DC converter and the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Volterra Semiconductor LLC
    Inventor: Sombuddha Chakraborty
  • Patent number: 9236857
    Abstract: A voltage detection circuit includes a reference voltage and current supply configured to generate a reference voltage and a reference current; a switching element configured to shift from an off-state to an on-state when the reference voltage is higher than a predetermined threshold voltage; a current mirror circuit allowing a current corresponding to the reference current to flow through the switching element in the on-state; a capacitive element coupled in series to the current mirror circuit and charged with the current flowing through the switching element; and an inverter configured to output an enable signal activated based on a terminal voltage of the capacitive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Miyamoto, Ichiro Yamane, Hirokuni Fujiyama
  • Patent number: 9224757
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter is driven by single high input voltage, and includes a voltage converter circuit and a control circuit. The increase of the occupied area of the DC-DC converter is suppressed. The DC-DC converter includes an input terminal to which input voltage is applied; a voltage converter circuit connected to the input terminal, and including a first transistor; a control circuit configured to control the voltage converter circuit, and including a second transistor including a silicon material in a channel formation region; and a third transistor provided between the input terminal and the control circuit, and configured to convert the input voltage into power supply voltage that is lower than the input voltage. The first transistor and the third transistor include an oxide semiconductor material in channel formation regions. The first transistor and the third transistor are stacked over the second transistor with an insulating film provided therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Takahashi, Yoshiaki Ito
  • Patent number: 9203293
    Abstract: An EMI emission suppressing system, apparatus and method that enables the EMI produced by high frequency switching of a switching circuit to be suppressed via the transfer of the higher order harmonic emissions to a frequency range below the standard EMI bandwidth of less than 150 KHz by applying low frequency modulation or jitter into the feedback of a switching signal of the switching circuit. The EMI suppression is achieved with minimal added ripple on the output signal of the switching circuit by using discontinuous modulations in the form of only applying the low frequency modulation when the switch or higher order harmonic producing element of the switching circuit is accessing, or drawing power from, the main power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Power Systems Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Mark Telefus
  • Patent number: 9203292
    Abstract: An EMI emission suppressing system, apparatus and method that enables the EMI produced by high frequency switching of a switching circuit to be suppressed via the transfer of the higher order harmonic emissions to a frequency range below the standard EMI bandwidth of less than 150 KHz by applying low frequency modulation or jitter into the feedback of a switching signal of the switching circuit. The EMI suppression is achieved with minimal added ripple on the output signal of the switching circuit by using discontinuous modulations in the form of only applying the low frequency modulation when the switch or higher order harmonic producing element of the switching circuit is accessing, or drawing power from, the main power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: POWER SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventor: Mark Telefus
  • Patent number: 9195250
    Abstract: A switching power supply device includes: a non-linear control type switching control unit that, in accordance with a result of a comparison between a feedback voltage and a reference voltage, performs on/off control of a switch element, and thereby generates an output voltage from an input voltage; a backflow current detection unit that, upon detecting a backflow current flowing to the switch element, forcibly switches off the switch element; and an on-time setting unit that sets an on-time of the switch element, in a case of the backflow current not being detected, in accordance with a duty of the switch element, and in a case of the backflow current being detected, in accordance with a switch voltage appearing at one end of the switch element or the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Murakami, Shinji Kawata
  • Patent number: 9190928
    Abstract: The switched power supply (10) comprises: an input (16) for an AC input current (IPRI) under an input voltage (VPRI); an output (36) for a DC output current (Isec), and successively, from the input to the output, a system of controlled breaker switches (20); a transformer (21) whereof the primary (24) is linked at the output of the system of controlled breaker switches (20); a rectifying circuit (28) connected across the terminals of a secondary circuit (26) of the transformer; and a storage capacitor (32) linked in parallel across the output terminals of the rectifier circuit (28) with interposition of a coil (34), the output (36) being formed across the terminals of the storage capacitor (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: DEVIALET
    Inventors: Pierre-Emmanuel Calmel, Mathias Moronvalle
  • Patent number: 9178408
    Abstract: This document describes systems and techniques related to voltage regulators. The subject matter of this document can be embodied in a method that includes measuring an output current of a switching regulator. The switching regulator includes a high-side transistor and a low side-transistor wherein the high-side transistor and the low-side transistor are driven using a first gate voltage and a second, different gate voltage, respectively. The method also includes adjusting a direct-current (DC) voltage source of the switching regulator such that the first gate voltage is adjusted in accordance with the measured output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Volterra Semiconductor LLC
    Inventors: Marco A. Zuniga, Chiteh Chiang, William Numann, Yang Lu, Jun Ruan
  • Patent number: 9158315
    Abstract: A constant on time mode power supplier uses longer constant on time when the output voltage of the constant on time mode power supplier is drooped due to load variation, to increase energy provided to the output of the constant on time mode power supplier for preventing the output voltage from undershooting and shortening the time for the output voltage to recover stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventor: Wen-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 9152159
    Abstract: An output transistor coupled between an input terminal where an input voltage is input and an output terminal where an output voltage is output; an error amplifier configured to generate a first error signal and a second error signal based on a voltage in accordance with the output voltage and a reference voltage, and to output the first error signal to a gate terminal of the output transistor; an anti-overshoot circuit coupled to the output terminal and controlled by the second error signal; an output transistor control part configured to add a control signal based on a first current in accordance with an AC component of the output voltage to the first error signal; and a sensitivity adjustment part configured to decrease the first current based on the second error signal when the output voltage is higher than a certain voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: SOCIONEXT INC.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kamiya, Akihito Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 9148054
    Abstract: The subject matter of this document can be embodied in a method that includes a voltage regulator having an input terminal and an output terminal. The voltage regulator includes a high-side transistor between the input terminal and an intermediate terminal, and a low-side transistor between the intermediate terminal and ground. The voltage regulator includes a low-side driver circuit including a capacitor and an inverter. The output of the inverter is connected to the gate of the low-side transistor. The voltage regulator also includes a controller that drives the high-side and low-side transistors to alternately couple the intermediate terminal to the input terminal and ground. The controller is configured to drive the low-side transistor by controlling the inverter. The voltage regulator further includes a switch coupled to the low-side driver circuit. The switch is configured to block charge leakage out of the capacitor during an off state of the low-side transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Volterra Semiconductor LLC
    Inventors: Chiteh Chiang, Marco A. Zuniga, Yang Lu
  • Patent number: 9146575
    Abstract: A power converter and an operating method therefore are disclosed. The power converter includes an output stage, an input voltage detecting unit, and a pulse width modulation (PWM) unit. The output stage is coupled between an input terminal and a ground terminal. The input voltage detecting unit is used to detect an input voltage. The PWM unit is coupled to the output stage and the input voltage detecting unit and used to provide a PWM signal to the output stage. The PWM unit adjusts an on-time of a switch conducting signal of the PWM signal according to the input voltage and a default voltage. When the input voltage is lower than the default voltage, the PWM unit increases the on-time of the switch conducting signal and a period of the PWM signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: UPI SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chien-Yuan Shen
  • Patent number: 9143034
    Abstract: A DC-DC controller and a multi-ramp signal operating method thereof are provided. The DC-DC controller includes a ramp generating unit, a comparator, a logic circuit and a switch unit. The ramp generating unit generates a first interior-ramp signal and a second interior-ramp signal alternately. The logic circuit generates the first and second control signals according to a comparison signal of the comparator. The switch unit is configured to switch one of the first interior-ramp signal and the second interior-ramp signal alternately to a second terminal of the comparator according to the first and second control signals. When the second interior-ramp signal is switched to the comparator, the first interior-ramp signal is charged to a first voltage level by the ramp generating unit. In another switch procedure, the second interior-ramp signal is charged to a second voltage level by the ramp generating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: uPI Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Chih-Lien Chang
  • Patent number: 9134738
    Abstract: A voltage converter is disclosed. The voltage converter includes a constant on time signal generator, a first and second transistors, an inductor, a feedback circuit and a ripple injection circuit. The constant on time signal generator generates a first and second driving signals for driving the first and second transistors. The voltage converter generates an output signal at an output end thereof. The feedback circuit divides the output signal to generate a feedback signal at a feedback end of the voltage converter. The ripple injection circuit gets the voltage of the feedback end and the voltage of the phase end to generate a injection signal. The constant on time signal generator generates the first and second driving signals according to the injection signal, the output signal and a reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Excelliance MOS Corporation
    Inventors: Pao-Chuan Lin, Li-Chieh Chen, Hung-Che Chou
  • Patent number: 9110480
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for power regulation according to various aspects of the present invention may operate in conjunction with producing a voltage ramp starting at a first voltage and ending at a second voltage and compensating the voltage ramp according to a compensation parameter. The compensation parameter may be adapted to compensate for a circuit parameter. A voltage may then be generated according to the compensated voltage ramp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Amir Babazadeh, Benjamim Tang, Jinghong Guo, Scott Southwell, Tim Ng, Richard Pierson, Nick Steffen
  • Patent number: 9083251
    Abstract: A controller for a power converter includes a drive circuit coupled to generate a drive signal in response to an error signal representative of a load of the power converter. The drive circuit includes a pulse skipping circuit coupled to generate a blanking signal in response to the error signal. The pulse skipping circuit includes an enable circuit and a blanking circuit. The enable circuit is coupled to output an enable signal in response to the error signal. The blanking circuit is coupled to output the blanking signal in response to the enable signal and a ramp signal. The ramp signal is generated in response to the error signal. A duration of the blanking signal corresponds to a length of time for the ramp signal to reach a reference signal. The length of time is responsive to the error signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Guangchao Darson Zhang, Yury Gaknoki, Mingming Mao
  • Patent number: 9071137
    Abstract: An error amplifier and a driving circuit are disclosed herein. The error amplifier is configured to charge a compensation capacitor with an error current. The error amplifier includes an input stage, a main output stage, and an auxiliary output stage. The input stage is configured to provide a first differential output signal and a second differential output signal in response to a comparison between a reference voltage and a feedback voltage. The main output stage is configured to charge the compensation capacitor. The auxiliary output stage is configured to be activated to charge the compensation capacitor. a first operation, both the main output stage and the auxiliary output stage charge the compensation capacitor. In a second operation, the main output stage charges the compensation capacitor, and the auxiliary output stage is deactivated and does not charge the compensation capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: HIMAX ANALOGIC, INC.
    Inventor: Kuan-Jen Tseng
  • Patent number: 9059632
    Abstract: A controller includes a ramp signal generator and control circuitry coupled to the ramp signal generator. The ramp signal generator provides a control current through a resistive component to control energy stored in a first energy storage component. The ramp signal generator further generates a ramp signal based on the energy stored in the first energy storage component. The control circuitry adjusts a voltage at one end of the resistive component thereby controlling the control current to indicate a voltage across a second energy storage component. The control circuitry further controls a current through the second energy storage component within a predetermined range based on the ramp signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: O2Micro, Inc.
    Inventors: Gang Li, Fengjiang Zhang, Laszlo Lipcsei
  • Publication number: 20150145498
    Abstract: A method for generating a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal includes generating a sawtooth ramp signal at a first frequency under standard operating conditions using a ramp generator, generating a PWM square wave having a rising edge at a falling edge of the sawtooth ramp signal and a falling edge when the sawtooth ramp signal exceeds an error threshold, adjusting the frequency of the sawtooth ramp in response to a changed operating parameter of the ramp generator, and adjusting a peak input voltage of the ramp generator simultaneous with adjusting the frequency of the sawtooth ramp, thereby preventing one of a voltage overshoot and a voltage undershoot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, US, Inc.
    Inventor: Mikhail Zarkhin
  • Patent number: 9041371
    Abstract: A disclosed switching regulator includes a speed-up circuit for speeding up an operation of an error amplifier circuit during the time starting from when a switching element is turned OFF based on an output of an abnormality detection circuit, or starting from a fixed period of time after the switching element is turned OFF based on the output of the abnormality detection circuit, until the next time the switching element is again turned OFF based on an output of a PWM comparison circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Gotoh
  • Patent number: 9041379
    Abstract: A bootstrap assist circuit and a startup circuit comprising a voltage controlled switch and a startup ramp voltage generator connected to the voltage controlled switch that will control a high side switch, a dimming interface or an enable/disable input function. Said system is used to provide a bootstrap technique to continuously switch a floating high side switch (MOSFET) by continuously charging a capacitor and then “level shifting” said capacitor voltage across the gate and source of the said high side switch to turn the switch on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Lumastream Canada ULC
    Inventor: Steven Lyons
  • Patent number: 9024600
    Abstract: Pulse width modulation controller apparatus and techniques are presented for balancing output currents of DC-DC converter stages in a multi-stage DC-DC conversion system in which a reference current is provided according to an input voltage and the value of a connected resistor, and a correction current output signal is generated that represents the difference between an average converter stage load current and the local load current, with the on-time of the PWM output signal being generated by charging a capacitance using a charging current obtained by offsetting the reference current output signal with the correction current output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Stefan Wlodzimierz Wiktor, Joseph Maurice Khayat, Brian Thomas Lynch
  • Patent number: 9013169
    Abstract: A control circuit for controlling a soft-start time of a DC power supply includes a digital potentiometer, a first drive circuit, and a controller. The digital potentiometer includes a first potentiometer. The first drive circuit includes a first driver, a first MOSFET, and a first charge capacitor. The first driver charges the first charge capacitor via the first potentiometer when the DC power supply is first switched on, and the first MOSFET is switched on to connect the DC power supply to the load when the first charge capacitor is fully charged. The controller regulates resistance of the first potentiometer to regulate a charge time constant of the first charge capacitor, enabling a gradual rise in voltage supplied, from approximately zero to full power, within a desired period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ying-Bin Fu, Yuan-Xi Chen, Ya-Jun Pan
  • Patent number: 9013166
    Abstract: In a DC-DC converter controller of the present invention, a ramp voltage for compensating a reference voltage is designed to have the same valley value or peak value irrespective of an input voltage and an output voltage of a controlled converting circuit when the controlled converting circuit operates in the steady state. Hence, the DC-DC converter controller of the present invention is capable of controlling the controlled converting circuit to accurately output the output voltage in different applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Green Solution Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Li-Min Lee, Chao Shao, Quan Gan
  • Patent number: 9013165
    Abstract: A multi-mode pulse width modulation (PWM) controller for a buck switching regulator includes a multi-mode PWM control circuit where the PWM control circuit is configured to operate in one of multiple control schemes selectable by a mode select signal. In one embodiment, the multi-mode PWM control circuit incorporates a peak current mode control scheme, a voltage mode control scheme, and a valley current mode control scheme. In another embodiment, the multi-mode PWM control circuit further incorporates a constant ON-time control scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Micrel, Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin Kalje, Mansour Izadinia
  • Publication number: 20150102794
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter, having an input voltage and an output voltage, includes an inductor and a switch switching the input voltage to an input side of the inductor, where a feedback path controlling initiation of closing the switch includes capacitive coupling of the voltage at the input side of the inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Jiwei Fan
  • Patent number: 8994355
    Abstract: A voltage converter device includes a voltage regulator having a supply terminal for receiving a supply voltage and an output terminal for providing a regulated voltage. A voltage multiplier is for receiving the regulated voltage and providing a boosted voltage higher in absolute value than the regulated voltage. The voltage multiplier includes circuitry for providing a clock signal that switches periodically between the regulated voltage and a reference voltage, and a sequence of capacitive stages that alternately accumulate and transfer electric charge according to the clock signal for generating the boosted voltage from the regulated voltage. The voltage regulator includes a power transistor and a regulation transistor each having a first conduction terminal, a second conduction terminal and a control terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Mario Micciche, Antonino Conte, Carmelo Ucciardello, FrancescoNino Mammoliti
  • Patent number: 8994410
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to prevent occurrence of a problem on a withstand voltage in a circuit group which receives supply of an internal power supply voltage. An error amplifier outputs a control voltage obtained by amplifying a difference voltage between a reference voltage and a divided voltage obtained by dividing an internal power supply voltage to an output node. A drive transistor supplies a drive current according to the control voltage of the output node of the error amplifier from an external power supply line to an internal power supply line. When the divided voltage exceeds a predetermined voltage, a clamp circuit changes the control voltage in the direction of decreasing the drive current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tokioka, Kenji Tokami, Shintaro Mori, Shigeki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8988052
    Abstract: A control circuit for controlling a power supply including a first switch and a second switch coupled in series between a first potential and a second potential. The control circuit includes a detection circuit that detects a magnitude relation of a voltage value at a node between the first and second switches and a reference value during a period in which the first switch and the second switch are inactivated. The detection circuit generates a control signal corresponding to the magnitude relation. A regulation circuit regulates a switching timing of the second switch in response to the control signal to decrease a difference between the voltage value at the node and the reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Futamura, Takashi Matsumoto, Ryuta Nagai
  • Patent number: 8988056
    Abstract: A hysteretic power converter constituted of: a switched mode power supply; a hysteretic comparator, a first input of the comparator arranged to receive a feedback signal providing a representation of the output voltage of the switched mode power supply and a second input of the comparator arranged to receive a reference voltage; a ramp capacitor coupled to one of the first and second input of the comparator; a current source, a terminal of the current source coupled to the ramp capacitor and arranged to drive current to the ramp capacitor; and a switchable current source, a terminal of the switchable current source coupled to the ramp capacitor, the switchable current source arranged to drive current to the ramp capacitor in a direction opposite the current driven by the current source, wherein the switchable current source is alternately enabled and disabled responsive to the output of the hysteretic comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Microsemi Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Mark Smith, Jr., Ekrem Cengelci
  • Publication number: 20150077083
    Abstract: A ramp signal generating method and a generator thereof, and a pulse width modulation signal generator are provided. The ramp signal generating method includes following steps: receiving an error signal, wherein the error signal relates to an output voltage of a power converter; generating an error delayed signal according to the error signal; and providing a ramp signal according to the error signal and the error delayed signal. The ramp signal is phase leading and inverting compared to the error signal. The ramp signal serves to improve a response speed of the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: uPI Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Ya-Ping Chen