Using A Three Or More Terminal Semiconductive Device As The Final Control Device Patents (Class 323/311)
  • Patent number: 11979112
    Abstract: A system, method, and solar photovoltaic (PV) network for solar PV variability reduction with reduced time delays and battery storage optimization are described. The system includes a Moving Regression (MR) filter; a State of Charge (SoC) feedback control; and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The MR filter, SoC feedback control and BESS are configured to provide smoothing of solar PV variabilities. The MR filter is a non-parametric smoother that utilizes a machine learning concept of linear regression to smooth out solar PV variations at every time step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Muhammad Khalid, Miswar Akhtar Syed
  • Patent number: 11955790
    Abstract: An electronic fuse circuit for safeguarding a multi-channel electronic power distributor includes a driver circuit for each channel of the power distributor configured to control an electronic switch of a corresponding channel to assume a certain state, and a microcontroller interface configured to receive from a microcontroller a command for setting the state of the electronic switch of a corresponding channel. The driver circuit of the corresponding channel is configured to set the state of the electronic switch of the corresponding channel according to the command from the microcontroller. The electronic fuse circuit further includes a safety circuit for detecting a malfunction in the microcontroller and/or the power distributor. In the event of a detected malfunction in the microcontroller and/or the power distributor, the driver circuit of each channel is configured to set the state of the electronic switch of the corresponding channel according to a channel-specific preconfigured safety state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Lisa Draexlmaier GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Wortberg
  • Patent number: 11955267
    Abstract: A reactor includes a first and second winding, a coupling core portion, and a first and second core portion. The coupling core portion forms a coupling magnetic path, through which a magnetic flux generated by the first winding when the first winding is energized and a magnetic flux generated by the second winding when the second winding is energized pass, which magnetically couples the first winding and the second winding together. The first core portion forms a first magnetic path, through which the magnetic flux generated by the first winding when the first winding is energized passes and is aligned with a first plane. The second core portion forms a second magnetic path, through which the magnetic flux generated by the second winding when the second winding is energized passes and is aligned with a second plane. The coupling plane intersects at right angles with the first and second plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Asahi, Junichi Kotani
  • Patent number: 11942864
    Abstract: A voltage conversion circuit and a display device are provided. The voltage conversion circuit includes a voltage conversion module, a comparison module, and a control module. The voltage conversion module includes at least two voltage conversion units, and the voltage conversion unit converts the input voltage into a target voltage. The comparison module compares each of testing voltages with a reference voltage to generate a feedback signal. The control module receives the feedback signal and controls the voltage conversion unit to convert the input voltage to the target voltage based on the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: TCL China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wenfang Li
  • Patent number: 11942860
    Abstract: Circuits and methods to mitigate or eliminate potentially damaging events (e.g., damaging current spikes from in-rush current, charge transfer current, short circuits, etc.) in DC-DC power converters. Embodiments enable dynamic switching of conversion ratios in reconfigurable power converters while under load without turning off the power converter circuitry or suspending switching of the charge pump power switches. Embodiments selectively increase the ON resistance, RON, for at least some power FETs in a power converter by actively controlling the driver voltage to the gates of the power FETs. During normal operation, the power FET driver voltage may be set to overdrive the FET gate to lower RON to a desired level that allows high current flow. For other scenarios, the power FET driver voltage may be reduced so as to increase RON while ON and thus impede current flow to provide protection against potentially damaging events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Antony Christopher Routledge
  • Patent number: 11901808
    Abstract: A method for protecting a circuit includes steps of: providing a first current source connected to a capacitor of the circuit through a second switch; providing a detection and control unit for turning on the second switch at a first time, and let the first current source to charge the capacitor; detecting a voltage value of the capacitor by the detection and control unit; wherein when the voltage value is greater than or equal to a reference voltage value, the detection and control unit turns off the second switch and turns on a first switch of the circuit, and when the voltage value is lower than the reference voltage value, the detection and control unit turns off the second switch and continue turns off the first switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: INNOLUX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ching-Wen Shih
  • Patent number: 11888384
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a switching converter includes: a switching stage including first and second switching devices for receiving an input voltage and for providing an output voltage; a driving stage including first and second driving devices for driving the first and second switching devices, respectively; a current sensing arrangement for sensing an output current provided by the switching stage; a voltage generation arrangement configured to generate a supply voltage for powering the driving stage, the voltage generation arrangement being configured to adjust the supply voltage according to the sensed output current; and a charge recovery stage configured to store a first electric charge being lost from the first driving device during driving of the first switching device and to release at least partially the stored first electric charge to the second driving device during driving of the second switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Niccolo′ Brambilla, Sandro Rossi, Valeria Bottarel, Alessandro Nicolosi
  • Patent number: 11874307
    Abstract: A signal detection circuit is provided, and includes an input switch circuit, an amplitude detection circuit, a clock generating circuit, and an integration circuit. The input switch circuit receives a reference voltage and an input voltage and selectively outputs the reference voltage or the input voltage. The amplitude detection circuit detects an output of the input switch circuit to generate an amplitude voltage. The clock generating circuit controls the input switch circuit to alternately enter first and second phases, the input switch circuit is controlled to output the reference voltage in the first phase, and output the input voltage in the second phase. The integration circuit receives the amplitude voltage as an input, and generates an integration voltage corresponding to an accumulation result within a predetermined time interval. The predetermined time interval includes at least one period that cycles between the first phase and the second phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventors: Ruei-Ming Gan, Kuan-Chang Tsung
  • Patent number: 11870363
    Abstract: A secondary side controller for a flyback converter includes an integrated circuit (IC), which in turn includes: a synchronous rectifier (SR) sense pin coupled to a drain of an SR transistor on a secondary side of the flyback converter; a capacitor having a first side coupled to the SR sense pin, the capacitor to charge or discharge responsive to a voltage sensed at the SR sense pin; a diode-connected transistor coupled between a second side of the capacitor and ground; a first current mirror coupled to the diode-connected transistor and configured to receive, as input current, a reference current from a variable current source; and a peak detect transistor coupled to the diode-connected transistor and to an output of the first current mirror. The peak detect transistor is to output a peak detection signal in response to detecting current from the capacitor drop below the reference current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Saravanan Virunjipuram Murugesan, Rajesh Karri, Arun Khamesra, Hariom Rai
  • Patent number: 11867788
    Abstract: Example implementations include a method of generating a ramp down compensation voltage based at least partially on the a current sense voltage and an inductor voltage of an inductor at an inductor node, applying the ramp down compensation voltage to the inductor node, and in accordance with a first determination that the valley current sense voltage and the inductor voltage are not equal, modifying a predetermined capacitance of a system capacitor operatively coupled to the inductor node to a first modified capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Ding
  • Patent number: 11848614
    Abstract: A power supply circuit that outputs an electric power that is input from a vibration-driven energy harvesting element to an external load, includes: a negative half-wave rectifying circuit that half-wave rectifies an alternating current power that is input from the vibration-driven energy harvesting element, into a negative voltage output; an inverting chopper circuit that inverts and outputs the negative voltage output which is output from the negative half-wave rectifying circuit, into a positive voltage output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: The University of Tokyo, Saginomiya Seisakusho, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toshiyoshi, Hisayuki Ashizawa, Masahiro Morita
  • Patent number: 11838013
    Abstract: A semiconductor device that normally-off drives a first transistor that normally-on drives, the semiconductor device includes a first circuitry, a second circuitry, and a first diode. The first circuitry that is connected with a power supply voltage and a ground voltage, detects the power supply voltage, and outputs a transition state of the power supply voltage. The second circuitry that is connected with the power supply voltage, the ground voltage, the first circuitry, and a second transistor, and outputs a drive voltage of a second transistor connected in series with the first transistor, based on an output of the first circuitry. The first diode having an anode connected with a drive terminal of the first transistor and a cathode connected with an output terminal of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Fujiwara, Yiyao Liu, Yusuke Sato, Naotsugu Kako, Hideaki Majima
  • Patent number: 11831306
    Abstract: According to an example, an electronic device includes a component, a supply line providing a supply voltage, a transistor with a control input, a linear first control loop, and a non-linear second control loop. The transistor outputs an output voltage to the component depending on a signal applied to the control input. The linear first control loop includes an ADC to convert an analog output voltage level into a digital measurement signal, a controller to generate a digital control signal for the transistor depending on the digital measurement signal, and a DAC to convert the digital control signal into a first analog control signal. The non-linear second control loop is configured to generate a second analog control signal depending on the analog output voltage level. The second analog control signal is superimposed with the first analog control signal and the combined control signals are fed to the control input of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Mihail Jefremow, David Zipperstein, Juergen Schaefer, Holger Dienst, Markus Bichl, Ralph Mueller-Eschenbach, Arndt Voigtlaender
  • Patent number: 11817376
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first transistor provided with an electron transit layer made of a nitride semiconductor, a first gate electrode, a first source electrode, and a first drain electrode; and a second transistor that includes a second gate electrode, a second source electrode, and a second drain electrode. The first gate electrode and the second drain electrode are electrically connected to each other, while the first source electrode and the second source electrode are not electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hirotaka Otake
  • Patent number: 11797037
    Abstract: A voltage regulator can include an operational amplifier powered by a supply voltage and configured to generate a first gate voltage. The voltage regulator can also include a first transistor configured to receive the first gate voltage and generate a first driving voltage. The voltage regulator can further include a second transistor configured to receive a second gate voltage and generate a second driving voltage. The first gate voltage can be generated based on feedback provided to the operational amplifier. The second gate voltage can be generated from the first gate voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: YANGTZE MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Min She
  • Patent number: 11770063
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for power conversion. In some examples, the power conversion may be done by an inverter configured to convert a direct current (DC) input to an alternating current (AC) output. The inverter may include a plurality of capacitors connected at the input of a DC/AC module. The system may include a housing configured to house the inverter. Voltage control circuitry may be configured to increase a voltage at the input of the DC/AC module inside the housing of the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Matan Atias, Liron Har-Shai
  • Patent number: 11750038
    Abstract: A micro-energy acquisition device is provided. The radio frequency circuit generates a ground voltage according to the micro-energy voltage and output the ground voltage through the ground terminal; the first unidirectional conduction component makes the ground voltage to be unidirectionally conductive to generate the first voltage; the microprocessor generates the supply voltage according to the first voltage and is operated according to the supply voltage; the first input/output port of the microprocessor is connected with the first unidirectional conduction component; since the microprocessor and the radio frequency circuit are connected in series, an electrical energy consumption speed of the micro-energy voltage is slower, the capability of data transmission is improved and an error rate of data transmission is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventor: Wenjing Wu
  • Patent number: 11695413
    Abstract: A Schmitt trigger circuit includes a first and second set of transistors, a first and second feedback transistor, and a first and second circuit. The first set of transistors is connected between a first voltage supply and an output node. The first voltage supply has a first voltage. The second set of transistors is connected between the output node and a second voltage supply. The second voltage supply has a second voltage. The first feedback transistor is connected to the output node, a first node and a second node. The second feedback transistor is connected to the output node, a third node and a fourth node. The first circuit is coupled to and configured to supply the second supply voltage to the second node. The second circuit is coupled to and configured to supply the first supply voltage to the fourth node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD., TAIWAN CHINA COMPANY, LIMITED, TSMC NANJING COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Lei Pan, Yaqi Ma, Jing Ding, Zhang-Ying Yan
  • Patent number: 11666774
    Abstract: The invention relates to a modular pulse source consisting of a main module and at least one additional module which are connected in series to each other in the sense of two-terminal circuits. The modules each comprise an energy storage device. The energy storage device of the main module is initially charged by a charging circuit. A stimulation coil is connected at the two ends of the series connection and as a result of a voltage pulse delivered by the chain of modules generates a magnetic field which in turn causes an induced electrical pulse or a respective electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Universität der Bundeswehr München
    Inventors: Thomas Weyh, Florian Helling
  • Patent number: 11671002
    Abstract: A resonant switching power converter includes: plural capacitors; plural switches; at least one charging inductor; at least one discharging inductor; a controller which generates a charging operation signal and at least one discharging operation signal; and at least one zero current detection circuit which detects a charging resonant current flowing through the charging inductor in a charging process and/or detect a discharging resonant current flowing through the discharging inductor in a discharging process. When detecting that a level of the charging resonant current or a level of the discharging resonant current is zero, the zero current detection circuit generates at least one zero current detection signal which is sent to the controller. The controller determines start time points and end time points of the charging process and the discharging process according to the zero current detection signal. There can be plural discharging processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuo-Chi Liu, Chung-Lung Pai, Ta-Yung Yang
  • Patent number: 11619961
    Abstract: A bandgap reference correction circuit comprising a bandgap reference circuit comprising a first resistor; a first oscillator comprising a second resistor, wherein a frequency of a first oscillator output signal of the first oscillator depends on a resistance of the second resistor; and a compensation module configured to: receive the first oscillator output signal from the first oscillator and a reference frequency signal from a reference oscillator; determine the frequency of the first oscillator output signal using the reference frequency signal; and set a resistance of the first resistor based on the frequency of the first oscillator output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefano Pietri, John Pigott
  • Patent number: 11604487
    Abstract: Reference circuits are described. In particular reference circuits that use a plurality of cascaded proportional to absolute temperature, PTAT, cells are described. In the circuits disclosed, currents of the low current density arm of first PTAT cell are mirrored into the high current density arms of a second PTAT cell such that any deviation of current in the low current density arm of the first cell will be replicated as the current in the high current density arm of the second cell. In this way low noise circuits can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: ANALOG DESIGN SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: Stefan Marinca, Thomas O'Dwyer
  • Patent number: 11606033
    Abstract: The switching power supply device includes first and second switches connected in series between an application end of an input voltage and an application end of a low voltage lower than the input voltage, and third and fourth switches connected in series between an application end of the input voltage and an application end of the low voltage, and a control unit configured to control the on/off state of each of the first to fourth switches. The first to fourth switches are configured such that an inductor is provided between a first connection node connecting the first switch and the second switch and a second connection node connecting the third switch and the fourth switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shingo Hashiguchi, Isao Takobe, Keita Itohara, Akihiro Kawano, Hironori Sumitomo
  • Patent number: 11552571
    Abstract: The present document relates to a power converter configured to convert an input voltage at an input of the power converter into an output voltage at an output of the power converter. The power converter may comprise a power stage, a voltage controlled voltage source VCVS, a first feedback path and a second feedback path. The power stage may be coupled to the output of the power converter. The VCVS may be configured to generate, at an output of the VCVS, an error voltage by comparing a reference voltage with a feedback voltage indicative of the output voltage. The first feedback path may extend from the output of the power converter, via the VCVS, via the power stage, to the output of the power converter. The second feedback path may extend from the output of the VCVS to the output of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Alberto Sozzani
  • Patent number: 11552547
    Abstract: A resonant switching power converter includes: at least one capacitor; switches coupled to the at least one capacitor; at least one charging inductor; at least one discharging inductor; and a zero current estimation circuit. The switches switch electrical connection relationships of capacitors according to an operation signal. The zero current estimation circuit estimates a time point at which a charging resonant current is zero during a charging process and/or estimate a time point at which a discharging resonant current is zero during at least one discharging process according to voltage differences across two ends of the charging inductor and/or the discharging inductor, so as to correspondingly generate a zero current estimation signal. The zero current estimation signal is adopted to generate the operation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuo-Chi Liu, Ta-Yung Yang, Chung-Lung Pai
  • Patent number: 11543847
    Abstract: A band gap reference voltage generating circuit includes a reference voltage generating circuit, a current generating circuit, a current divider circuit, and a first connection path switching circuit. The reference voltage generating circuit forms a reference voltage on first and second current input terminals thereof. First and second input terminals of the current generating circuit are connected to the first and second current input terminals, respectively. The current generating circuit generates a first current to bias the reference voltage generating circuit. The current divider circuit includes a current input terminal, a first current output terminal, and a second current output terminal. The first connection path switching circuit switches connection paths between the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the current generating circuit, and the first current input terminal and the second current input terminal of the current divider circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chang-Xian Wu, Chun-Ku Lin
  • Patent number: 11496041
    Abstract: The invention provides a gate drive device, a gate drive method, a power semiconductor module, and an electric power conversion device capable of reducing a negative gate surge voltage. The gate drive device drives a semiconductor device constituting an arm in an electric power conversion device. Before a turn-off start of a drive arm, in a counter arm, a voltage between one main terminal of the semiconductor device and a gate terminal of the semiconductor device is charged to a voltage value that is larger, in a positive direction, than a negative voltage of a negative gate power supply and smaller than a gate threshold voltage of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Power Semiconductor Device, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Ikarashi, Toru Masuda, Seiichi Hayakawa, Yuji Takayanagi, Masamitsu Inaba
  • Patent number: 11476724
    Abstract: Wireless power transfer systems, disclosed, include one or more circuits to facilitate high power transfer at high frequencies. Such wireless power transfer systems may include a damping circuit, configured to dampen a wireless power signal such that communications fidelity is upheld at high power. Additionally or alternatively, such wireless power transfer systems may include voltage isolation circuits, to isolate components of the wireless receiver systems from high voltage signals intended for a load associated with the receiver. Utilizing such systems enables wireless power transfer at high frequency, such as 13.56 MHz, at voltages over 1 Watt, while maintaining fidelity of in-band communications associated with the higher power wireless power signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: NuCurrent, Inc.
    Inventors: Alberto Peralta, Pavel Shostak
  • Patent number: 11444009
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first transistor provided with an electron transit layer made of a nitride semiconductor, a first gate electrode, a first source electrode, and a first drain electrode; and a second transistor that includes a second gate electrode, a second source electrode, and a second drain electrode. The first gate electrode and the second drain electrode are electrically connected to each other, while the first source electrode and the second source electrode are not electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hirotaka Otake
  • Patent number: 11437868
    Abstract: Wireless power transfer systems, disclosed, include one or more circuits to facilitate high power transfer at high frequencies. Such wireless power transfer systems may include a damping circuit, configured to dampen a wireless power signal such that communications fidelity is upheld at high power. Additionally or alternatively, such wireless power transfer systems may include voltage isolation circuits, to isolate components of the wireless receiver systems from high voltage signals intended for a load associated with the receiver. Utilizing such systems enables wireless power transfer at high frequency, such as 13.56 MHz, at voltages over 1 Watt, while maintaining fidelity of in-band communications associated with the higher power wireless power signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NuCurrent, Inc.
    Inventors: Alberto Peralta, Pavel Shostak
  • Patent number: 11418112
    Abstract: A power converter includes: capacitors; switches coupled to the corresponding capacitors, wherein the switches switch electrical connection relationships of corresponding capacitors according to operation signals; one or more charging inductors connected in series to one or more corresponding capacitors; one or more discharging inductors connected in series to one or more corresponding capacitors. In a charging process, by switching the switches, a series connection of the capacitors and the corresponding charging inductor(s) is formed between the input voltage and the output voltage, so as to form a charging path. In a discharging process, by switching the switches, each capacitor and one of the corresponding discharging inductors are connected in series between the output voltage and ground voltage level, so as to form plural discharging paths. The charging process and the discharging process are arranged in alternating and repetitive manner, to convert the input voltage to the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuo-Chi Liu, Chung-Lung Pai
  • Patent number: 11381168
    Abstract: A switching power supply device includes first to fourth switches sequentially connected in series, an inductor, a first capacitor whose first end is connected to a connection node of the first switch and the second switch and whose second end is connected to a connection node of the third switch, the fourth switch, and the inductor, a second capacitor whose first end is connected to a connection node of the second switch and the third switch, and a controller that controls switching on and off of the first to fourth switches. In at least one of a first pair configured with the first switch and the third switch and a second pair configured with the second switch and the fourth switch, the controller shifts a timing of switching from off to on between two switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: ROHM Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Kawano, Yuhei Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11320319
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a circuit for generating a complimentary to absolute temperature (CTAT) voltage reference. The primary contributor to the voltage reference is first bipolar junction transistor, which is configured in diode mode, to produce the CTAT voltage. Such references include a non-linear component. A pair of bipolar junction transistors are coupled to the first bipolar junction transistor, and are configured to generate a delta base-emitter voltage. By coupling one of the pair to a proportional to absolute temperature current source, and the other to a current course which is substantially independent of absolute temperature, a further non-linear component is introduced, which is complimentary to the non-linear component introduced by the first bipolar junction transistor. The pair of bipolar transistors share a common emitter area size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventor: Viorel Bucur
  • Patent number: 11264899
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to embodiments includes a normally-off transistor having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a first control electrode, a normally-on transistor having a third electrode electrically connected to the second electrode, a fourth electrode, and a second control electrode, a first element having a first end portion electrically connected to the first control electrode and a second end portion electrically connected to the first electrode, and the first element including a first capacitance component; and, a second element having a third end portion electrically connected to the first control electrode and the first end portion and a fourth end portion, and the second element including a second capacitance component, wherein, when a threshold voltage of the normally-off transistor is denoted by Vth, a maximum rated gate voltage of the normally-off transistor is denoted by Vg_max, a voltage of the fourth end portion is denoted by Vg_on, the first capacitance component is deno
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Yoshioka, Toru Sugiyama, Masaaki Iwai, Naonori Hosokawa, Masaaki Onomura, Hung Hung, Yasuhiro Isobe
  • Patent number: 11218078
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes an input voltage source in series with a parasitic capacitance. The voltage changes and causes resonant ringing, wherein the input voltage source is connected to a rectifier means which is connected to an output circuit. A passive clamp circuit across the rectifier means includes a clamp diode, a clamp capacitor, and an auxiliary circuit. The auxiliary circuit includes first and second rectifiers in series with an electronic component having first and second terminals. The first rectifier has an anode connected with the passive clamp circuit, and a cathode connected to the second terminal of the electronic component. The second rectifier has a cathode connected with the anode of the first rectifier, and an anode connected with the first terminal of the electronic component. Some of the leakage inductance transfers to an auxiliary energy storage and damps the resonant ringing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Rompower Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Ionel Jitaru
  • Patent number: 11195782
    Abstract: Reliability of a semiconductor device is improved. In the semiconductor device SA1, a snubber capacitor pad SNP electrically connected to the capacitor electrode of the snubber capacitor is formed on the surface of the semiconductor chip CHP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Fujita, Hiroyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11188113
    Abstract: A band gap reference voltage generating circuit includes a reference voltage generating circuit, a current generating circuit, a current divider circuit, and a first connection path switching circuit. The reference voltage generating circuit forms a reference voltage on first and second current input terminals thereof. First and second input terminals of the current generating circuit are connected to the first and second current input terminals, respectively. The current generating circuit generates a first current to bias the reference voltage generating circuit. The current divider circuit includes a current input terminal, a first current output terminal, and a second current output terminal. The first connection path switching circuit switches connection paths between the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the current generating circuit, and the first current input terminal and the second current input terminal of the current divider circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chang-Xian Wu, Chun-Ku Lin
  • Patent number: 11183832
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus to facilitate a fault triggered diode emulation mode of a transistor. An example apparatus includes a driver to output a control signal to a gate terminal of a transistor of a power converter; and a diode emulation control circuit to, in response to determining a fault corresponding to the transistor, enable the transistor when current flows in a direction from a source terminal of the transistor to a drain terminal of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Serkan Dusmez, Nathan Richard Schemm, Salil Chellappan
  • Patent number: 11128247
    Abstract: An inverter-converter system includes a DC source, a DC to DC boost converter, a DC link capacitor, an inverter circuit, a variable speed electric machine, and a controller. The DC to DC boost converter receives an input DC voltage from the DC source. The inverter circuit converts the variable boosted voltage to an AC voltage to drive the variable speed electric machine. The controller senses a plurality of parameters from the variable speed electric machine, and controls the DC to DC boost converter to boost up the input DC voltage to a variable output voltage based on the plurality of parameters and/or the voltage (or load) needed by the variable speed electric machine. The design of the inverter-converter system can achieve an electrical efficiency and cost savings for the overall system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Wayne Schumacher, Marcelo Andrade Dias
  • Patent number: 11108319
    Abstract: The power conversion device includes: a boosting unit for boosting DC voltage, the boosting unit including a second switching element, a third switching element, a second reverse-current blocking element, and a third reverse-current blocking element which are connected in series, the boosting unit including an intermediate capacitor connected between a connection point between the second reverse-current blocking element and the third reverse-current blocking element, and a connection point between the third switching element and the second switching element; a smoothing capacitor which is connected in parallel to the boosting unit and smooths the DC voltage boosted by the boosting unit; and a control unit for turning on the third switching element so that the intermediate capacitor is charged to charge completion voltage of the intermediate capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuki Matsunaga, Shuta Ishikawa, Akihiko Iwata
  • Patent number: 11088686
    Abstract: A semiconductor module includes: a semiconductor substrate; a switching element having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a gate electrode, and the switching element configured to perform turning on/off between the first electrode and the second electrode in response to applying of a predetermined gate voltage to the gate electrode; a control circuit part configured to control the gate voltage; and a current detection element configured to detect a current which flows between the first electrode and the second electrode of the switching element, wherein the switching element, the control circuit part, and the current detection element are mounted on the semiconductor substrate, and the current detection element is formed of a Rogowski coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Wataru Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 11050353
    Abstract: A power conversion device capable of suppressing current backflow while also improving current responsiveness and power conversion efficiency is achieved. A snubber capacitor capable of absorbing switching surge is connected to a low-voltage side switching circuit that includes switching elements. Until a predetermined time elapses from when a request to start switching is received, a controller determines that the snubber capacitor has not reached full charge or near-full charge, and asynchronously controls the low-voltage side switching circuit and a high-voltage side switching circuit that includes switching elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sho Yaegaki, Kenji Kubo, Takuma Ono, Yuki Yamabe
  • Patent number: 11009540
    Abstract: An energy supply for a test device includes an energy source configured to provide energy via an inductive element for use by test circuitry; and an energy recovery circuit electrically couplable to the energy source and configured to direct unused energy from the inductive element to the energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventors: Steven T. Clauter, Gary B. Rogers, Norvell Eric Austin, Bradley T. Wolford
  • Patent number: 10979032
    Abstract: Circuits and devices are provided for reliably maintaining a normally-off Gate Injection Transistor (GIT), or similar, in a non-conducting state when a gate of the GIT is not driven with a turn-on control signal. This is accomplished using a failsafe pulldown coupled to the GIT's gate. The failsafe pulldown includes a resistance modulation circuit, which varies the effective gate resistance of the GIT, such that a low resistance is provided for an interval immediately after a turn-on transition of the GIT, thereby facilitating a high-current pulse for charging the GIT's gate. Subsequently, a high resistance is provided, such that a much lower current is driven to maintain the GIT in its on state. The failsafe pulldown enables a GIT, or similar, to be driven with a relatively simple driver, which may be provided external to the power switch device or integrated in the same die as the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Kennith Kin Leong, Petio Natzkin
  • Patent number: 10972009
    Abstract: A COT control circuit used for realizing current sharing in multi-phase DC-DC converter. The multi-phase DC-DC converter has N switching circuits, N controllers, and a trimming current generator receiving N switching voltage signals of the N switching circuits to generate N trimming current signals. The N trimming current signals are respectively sent to the N controllers to regulate on time of at least one controllable switch of each of the N switching circuits so as to finally realize current sharing in the multi-phase circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tianzhu Zhang
  • Patent number: 10957370
    Abstract: A magnetic memory array having an epitaxially grown vertical semiconductor selector connected with a two terminal resistive switching memory element via a bottom electrode such as TaN. An electrically conductive contact such as tungsten (W) or TaN can be included between the vertical semiconductor channel and the TaN bottom electrode. The electrically conductive contact and the TaN bottom electrode can both be formed by a damascene process wherein an opening is formed in an oxide layer and a metal is deposited into the opening. A chemical mechanical polishing process can then be performed to remove portions of the metal that extend out of the opening in the oxide layer over the oxide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: SPIN MEMORY, INC.
    Inventors: Dafna Beery, Amitay Levi, Andrew J. Walker
  • Patent number: 10937479
    Abstract: A magnetic memory array having an epitaxially grown vertical semiconductor selector connected with a memory element via a bottom electrode such as TaN. An electrically conductive contact such as tungsten (W) or TaN can be included between the vertical semiconductor channel and the TaN bottom electrode. The electrically conductive contact and the TaN bottom electrode can both be formed by a damascene process wherein an opening is formed in an oxide layer and a metal is deposited into the opening. A chemical mechanical polishing process can then be performed to remove portions of the metal that extend out of the opening in the oxide layer over the oxide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: SPIN MEMORY, INC.
    Inventors: Dafna Beery, Amitay Levi, Andrew J. Walker
  • Patent number: 10930325
    Abstract: A two-stage gated-diode sense amplifier includes a first transistor connected to an input node, a second transistor connected to a boost node, the input node and a setting line, a first inverter including a third transistor connected to a power supply voltage (VDD), a first output corresponding to the first inverter and the setting line, and a fourth transistor connected to ground, the first output and the setting line, a fifth transistor connected to the first output, the first transistor and the boost node, and a second associated with a second output corresponding to the second inverter, the second inverter including a sixth transistor connected to VDD, the second output and the first output, and a seventh transistor connected to ground, the second output and the first output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yutaka Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10923297
    Abstract: A switch monitoring device includes a constant current source which supplies a current to an input line or extracts a current from the input line, a switch which connects the input line to a supply voltage or to a ground voltage, a comparator which compares a voltage on the input line with a reference voltage, a logic which receives an output voltage of the comparator, a base current source which generates a base current, and a bias current circuit which generates a bias current by adjusting the base current as a base in accordance with a current control signal from the logic and the output voltage of the comparator. The constant current source generates a current by adjusting the bias current as a base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Ishida, Hideki Matsubara, Hiroki Yamakami
  • Patent number: 10811985
    Abstract: A system including a converter is disclosed. The converter includes a first switch having one or more first controllable switches coupled in parallel across at least one diode. A first controlling unit is operatively coupled to the converter. The first controlling unit is configured to determine a temperature of the one or more first controllable switches. The first controlling unit is further configured to compare the determined temperature of the one or more first controllable switches with a transition temperature at which a first power loss of the one or more first controllable switches is equal to a second power loss of the at least one diode and control a switching state of the one or more first controllable switches based on the comparison of the determined temperature with the transition temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Prashanth Manikumar Chennamsetty, Rien William O'Steen, Pradeep Vijayan, Arvind Kumar Tiwari