Voltage Regulator Protective Circuits Patents (Class 361/18)
  • Patent number: 12206397
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may be provided with power switching circuitry. The power switching circuitry may include a primary power switch and multiple auxiliary power switches. A power gating control circuit may output control signals for selectively activating the primary power switch and at least one of the auxiliary power switches to charge a gated voltage. One or more voltage detectors may be configured to monitor the gated voltage and to activate the remaining auxiliary power switches in response to detecting that the gated voltage exceeds one or more thresholds. Configured and operated in this way, inrush current surge protection can be achieved while charging up the gated voltage sufficiently fast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yueming He, Dennis M Fischette, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12199522
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting a short circuit of an inverter, and an inverter are provided. A voltage of a common bus is increased when a plurality of boost circuits in the inverter are all in a non-working state, and after circuit parameters of input sides of all the plurality of boost circuits are detected, a boost circuit in which a diode is short-circuited in the plurality of boost circuits is further determined based on the circuit parameters of the input sides of the boost circuits. According to the method and the apparatus for detecting a short circuit of an inverter, and the inverter, circuit complexity of the inverter can be reduced, and circuit complexity of a photovoltaic power generation system including the inverter is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhiwu Xu, Yongbing Gao, Niantao Jiang
  • Patent number: 12188993
    Abstract: A method for detecting an electrical fault in an electrical installation includes: measuring an alternating electric current flowing through the electrical installation; detecting an electrical fault on the basis of the measured electric current; and tripping the electrical protection device when an electrical fault is identified by the electronic control device. The detection of the fault includes identifying a transition of the measured current from a first level to a second level with a duration lower than a predefined threshold which is lower than or equal to 10% of the nominal period of the alternating electric current, the first level and the second level corresponding to current values of opposite sign but the amplitude of which, in terms of absolute value, is higher than a predefined current threshold equal to the product of the trip threshold of the protection device and a weighting coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventor: Daniel Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 12184270
    Abstract: Apparatus and associate methods relate to desaturation protection of a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) or an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT). Desaturation protection circuitry provides desaturation protection to the MOSFET or IGBT as well protection of the desaturation protection circuitry, should such circuitry be connected to reverse power. The desaturation protection circuitry determines a desaturation condition based on a control voltage generated by a Zener-diode-resistor network conductively coupled between first and second conduction nodes of the MOSFET or IGBT. The Zener-diode-resistor network is coupled to first and second conduction nodes via a rectifying diode that is configured to protect the desaturation protection circuitry from reverse bias power. Negative feedback limits current through a signal isolation device that is conductively isolated from the output node, which indicates whether the desaturation condition has been determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Orlowske
  • Patent number: 12166418
    Abstract: A control circuit for a switched-mode power converter to generate a control signal for controlling switching transistors in the power converter is disclosed. The control circuit includes: a comparator; a ramp compensation circuit for producing and applying a ramp compensation signal to a first or second input of the comparator; an on-time generation circuit to generate an on-time timer signal; and a control signal generation circuit to generate, based on the comparison signal and the on-time timer signal, the control signal for controlling the switching transistors in the power converter. The ramp compensation signal output from the ramp compensation circuit is configured with: a first slope during an inductor demagnetization interval in operation of the power converter in CCM and a second slope during an inductor demagnetization interval and a zero-current interval in operation of the power converter in DCM, the first slope is greater than the second slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: SHANGHAI BRIGHT POWER SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shungen Sun, Hanfei Yang
  • Patent number: 12158768
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a system-on-chip (SoC) including a built-in self-test (BIST) block, a low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator with a pass metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), and a current-monitor circuit with a sensing MOSFET, a tuning MOSFET, a sensing resistor, and a tuning resistor. Herein, both the pass MOSFET and the sensing MOSFET receive an input voltage, and a gate of the pass MOSFET is coupled to a gate of the sensing MOSFET. The sensing MOSFET, the tuning MOSFET, and the sensing resistor are connected in series between the input voltage and ground, and the tuning resistor is coupled between a gate of the tuning MOSFET and ground. The BIST block is configured to tune a current through the tuning resistor so as to adjust a voltage at a connection point of the sensing MOSFET and the tuning MOSFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Toby Balsom, Jeroen Kuenen, Vikram Chaturvedi
  • Patent number: 12155195
    Abstract: To provide improved overvoltage protection for a voltage converter for converting an input voltage into a DC output voltage, a first switch-off unit is provided, which is configured to effect a switch-off of at least a part of the voltage converter if the DC output voltage reaches or exceeds a first voltage threshold, in order to reduce the DC output voltage. Furthermore, a second switch-off unit is provided, which is configured to check whether a mean value of the DC output voltage reaches or exceeds a mean value threshold and, if the mean value threshold is reached or exceeded, to effect a switch-off of at least a part of the voltage converter in order to reduce the DC output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Sebastian Blume, Thomas Schiemer, Tim Huber, Djordje Vukovic
  • Patent number: 12149189
    Abstract: A method includes converting an electrical output provided by an energy generator with a first voltage converter; and, subsequent to converting the electrical output provided by the energy generator with the first voltage converter, activating, with a microprocessor, a second voltage converter for converting the electrical output provided by the energy generator with the second voltage converter. An electrical device with a microprocessor for selecting one of two or more voltage converters is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vadim Piskun, Rakesh Sethi
  • Patent number: 12142741
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a battery pack including a pack body and a plurality of terminals. The pack body has first and second main surfaces that are opposed to each other in a first axis direction, first and second end surfaces that are opposed to each other in a second axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction, and first and second side surfaces that are opposed to each other in a third axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction and the second axis direction. The plurality of terminals includes a positive terminal, a negative terminal, a temperature detection terminal, and a control terminal that are arranged on the first end surface along the third axis direction. The negative terminal is arranged between the temperature detection terminal and the control terminal and closer to the control terminal than the temperature detection terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Kumagai, Kiyoshi Yonishi, Shigeji Ikeda
  • Patent number: 12113518
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement (200) for controlling a plurality of semiconductor switches connected in parallel, having an activation connection (213) and a deactivation connection (214), and having a plurality of control connections (220), each provided for connection to a control connection (123) of one of the plurality of semiconductor switches, wherein the activation connection (213) and the deactivation connection (214) are each connected to each of the plurality of control connections (220), and wherein a circuit breaker (230) is provided between the activation connection (213) and at least one of the control connections (220), furthermore having at least one detection and control arrangement which is designed to detect a current flow in the at least one of the control connections (220) and, if a short-circuit is detected on the basis of the current flow, to control the circuit breaker (230) to open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Calin Purcarea, Daniel Schweiker, Matthias Boesing, Tim Bruckhaus, Tobias Richter
  • Patent number: 12107413
    Abstract: Disclosed is a switch protection circuit and a power converter, configured to set upper and lower limit-value current signals which can be adjusted along with an input voltage, so that instantaneous power of a main power switch can be prevented from being too high, and the main power switch can always be operated within a safe operating range, thereby solving the problem that the power converter is easy to be damaged in applications under a high-current circumstance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: JOULWATT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Aimin Xu
  • Patent number: 12081349
    Abstract: Embodiments of this application disclose an optical network unit and a PoE power supply system. The optical network unit in embodiments of this application includes a conductive connection terminal, a switch module, a network transformer, a first voltage conversion module, and a network interface connector. The conductive connection terminal is configured to be connected to a power over Ethernet PoE power supply device, and the conductive connection terminal is connected to the network transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinbo Li, Zelin Wang, Xiaofei Zeng
  • Patent number: 12074592
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an overcurrent protection circuit configured to, upon detection of an output current that flows through a switch element reaching a first overcurrent limit value, reduce an overcurrent limit value for the output current from the first overcurrent limit value to a second overcurrent limit value smaller than the first overcurrent limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: ROHM Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Toru Takuma
  • Patent number: 12074591
    Abstract: A method for actuating a semiconductor power switch of an AC circuit is provided, which can be activated or deactivated by the semiconductor power switch. The method has the following steps: a) ascertaining the present current value and the present voltage value of the AC circuit; b) ascertaining whether the present current value exceeds a specifiable maximum value and if so, c1) generating an actuation signal for deactivating the current circuit, c2) generating an actuation signal for activating the current circuit within a period of time after generating the actuation signal for deactivating the current circuit, wherein the period of time is less than or equal to the period duration of the voltage, and c3) ascertaining whether the present current value exceeds a specifiable maximum value, which corresponds to the previous maximum value or is less than the previous maximum value, after activating the current circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Marvin Tannhäuser, Fabian Döbler
  • Patent number: 12062935
    Abstract: A system generally comprising a charger with an integrated battery is provided that may be associated with a generator starter. The system is configured to maintain battery charge with the charger that monitors battery temperature before initiating a boost charge. Battery charge is thereafter maintained with the charger supplying a float or eco-float current to the battery, which maximizes system life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Stored Energy Systems, LLC
    Inventors: William Kaewert, Sam Coleman, Kyle Miller
  • Patent number: 12058792
    Abstract: A semiconductor light source and a constant current circuit are arranged in series between an input terminal and a ground terminal. When an input voltage at the input terminal exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage, a load dump circuit cuts off or reduces a current that flows through the constant current circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Tetsuya Suzuki, Atsushi Ozawa, Toru Ito
  • Patent number: 12040578
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a method for a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) controller is provided. The method comprises: coupling a control channel PHY of the USB-C controller to a first configuration channel (CC) terminal of the USB-C controller; coupling a VCONN supply terminal to a second CC terminal of the USB-C controller; detecting that a voltage across the second CC terminal of the USB-C controller and the VCONN supply terminal is greater than a predetermined threshold; and in response to detecting that the voltage is greater than the predetermined threshold, decoupling the VCONN supply terminal from the second CC terminal of the USB-C controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Hemant P. Vispute, Partha Mondal
  • Patent number: 12028127
    Abstract: The technology provides for a power line communication system capable of providing data from a first device to a second device over a power line. The first device may include a set of contacts and a second device may include a second set of contacts. The second set of contacts may be adapted to electronically engage with the first set of contacts of the first device to form at least a power and ground lines connection. Circuitry within the first device and the second device may include circuitry for providing data over the power line connection between the first device and the second device. The circuitry may comprise a power line, a ground line, a transmitter line carrying data signals, a capacitor coupling the transmitter line to the power line at a connection point, and a receiver comprising two field effect transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yuan Jen Chang, Shih-Hsien Yang
  • Patent number: 12015342
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the control of a DC-DC converter, wherein the gradient of a controlled variable is limited for the control of the DC-DC converter. A maximum current change in the DC-DC converter can be limited by limiting the gradient of the controlled variable in order to optionally prevent dangerous operating states of the DC-DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Kienzler, Gholamabas Esteghlal
  • Patent number: 12003099
    Abstract: A control unit for a motor vehicle, having a supply connection for receiving a supply voltage from a supply line needing to be secured against a reaction from the control unit, wherein to protect against the reaction there is provision in a current path of the supply connection for a unidirectional first blocking element, and a diagnostic circuit is configured to check the blocking effect thereof by a predetermined diagnostic routine. An additional, second unidirectional blocking element is connected in series with the blocking element in the current path of the supply connection, wherein the first and the second blocking element each provide for a unidirectional flow of current to the device circuit, and the diagnostic circuit is configured to use the diagnostic routine to also check the blocking effect of the second blocking element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Scheier, Christian Voss, Josef Schnell
  • Patent number: 11962243
    Abstract: A system and method for combining power from DC power sources. Each power source is coupled to a converter. Each converter converts input power to output power by monitoring and maintaining the input power at a maximum power point. Substantially all input power is converted to the output power, and the controlling is performed by allowing output voltage of the converter to vary. The converters are coupled in series. An inverter is connected in parallel with the series connection of the converters and inverts a DC input to the inverter from the converters into an AC output. The inverter maintains the voltage at the inverter input at a desirable voltage by varying the amount of the series current drawn from the converters. The series current and the output power of the converters, determine the output voltage at each converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Adest, Lior Handelsman, Yoav Galin, Amir Fishelov, Guy Sella
  • Patent number: 11909329
    Abstract: A semiconductor unit includes a semiconductor device, a controller, and a resistor. The semiconductor device includes a transistor arranged between a positive electrode of a battery and an inverter circuit electrically connected to the battery. The controller is connected to a control terminal of the transistor and configured to control the transistor. The resistor arranged between the control terminal and the controller. The controller controls the transistor so that when a current flowing to the transistor is greater than or equal to a threshold value, the transistor is deactivated. The resistor has a resistance value that is greater than or equal to 100 ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mineo Miura, Masashi Hayashiguchi, Jun Terada
  • Patent number: 11869431
    Abstract: A power provider includes: a first power converter to convert an input voltage, and output a first power voltage to a display panel through a first power line; a second power converter to convert the input voltage, and output a second power voltage to the display panel through a second power line; and a short circuit detecting circuit to detect a short-circuit of the first power line and the second power line in the display panel, by determining whether or not a level of a sensed voltage measured at the second power line is greater than or equal to a reference short circuit voltage level during a short circuit detecting period. The short circuit detecting circuit is to vary a length of the short circuit detecting period and the reference short circuit voltage level in response to a driving frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong Kwan Han
  • Patent number: 11860709
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a power supply apparatus having power limiting mechanism. A switch transistor is controlled by a control voltage such that a power supply unit supplies a power to a powered device when the switch transistor is controlled to be conducted, wherein the switch transistor has an operation current, an operation voltage and an operation power under conduction. A voltage detection circuit detects the operation voltage. A power-limiting circuit performs analog-to-digital conversion on the operation voltage, generates a current-limiting signal related to a current-limiting value according to the operation voltage based on a predetermined voltage-current curve and performs digital-to-analog conversion on the current-limiting signal to generate a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rui Wang, Min Zhang, He Li, Qi-Cai Tang, Teng-Yue Zhang
  • Patent number: 11838009
    Abstract: A power converter having a mechanism of dynamically controlling a minimum off time is provided. A high-side overcurrent protecting circuit determines whether or not a current flows from a high-side switch through a node between a second terminal of the high-side switch and a first terminal of a low-side switch toward an inductor, and determines whether or not the current is larger than a threshold to output a high-side overcurrent detected signal and a high-side overcurrent protecting signal. An off time adjusting circuit outputs a minimum off time signal to a driver circuit according to the high-side overcurrent protecting signal. The driver circuit determines that an overcurrent event occurs when the high-side switch is turned on according to the high-side overcurrent detected signal, and accordingly the driver circuit at least continually turns on the low-side switch during a longer minimum off time of the minimum off time signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shih-Chung Wei
  • Patent number: 11831145
    Abstract: A current sense short protection circuit includes a switch unit, a current sensing unit, a detection circuit and a short detection module. The first terminal of the switch unit receives a first voltage. The control terminal of the switch unit receives a control signal. The first terminal of the current sensing unit is coupled to the second terminal of the switch unit. The second terminal of the current sensing unit receives a second voltage. The detection unit receives the second voltage and a third voltage provided by the first terminal of the current sensing unit, and generates a detection signal according to the second voltage and the third voltage. The short detection module receives the first voltage, the second voltage and the detection signal, and generates a short detection signal according to the first voltage, the second voltage and the detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: HONGKONG DERUN MICROELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wu-Lin Lu, Chiung-Ying Peng
  • Patent number: 11824475
    Abstract: A motor control device controls a motor. The motor control device is provided separate from the motor. The motor control device includes a switch provided in an electrical conduction path for the motor. The motor control device detects a temperature of the switch. The motor control device controls the switch between an on state and an off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Matsuda, Norihisa Imaizumi, Tatsuya Kakehi
  • Patent number: 11784487
    Abstract: An overvoltage protecting system and method of a motor pre-driver are provided. An overvoltage protecting circuit compares a first reference voltage with a common voltage inputted to a single phase motor to output a first comparison signal. When a controller circuit determines that the common voltage is higher than the first reference voltage according to the first comparison signal, the controller circuit turns off a first high-side switch and a second high-side switch, and turns on the first low-side switch and the second low-side switch, during a phase time of a phase transition signal of the single phase motor. After the phase time ends, the controller circuit alternately turns on the first low-side switch and the second low-side switch according to a level of the phase transition signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jyun-Ping Jiang, Shih-Hai Chien
  • Patent number: 11777155
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a battery pack including a pack body and a plurality of terminals. The pack body has first and second main surfaces that are opposed to each other in a first axis direction, first and second end surfaces that are opposed to each other in a second axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction, and first and second side surfaces that are opposed to each other in a third axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction and the second axis direction. The plurality of terminals includes a positive terminal, a negative terminal, a temperature detection terminal, and a control terminal that are arranged on the first end surface along the third axis direction. The negative terminal is arranged between the temperature detection terminal and the control terminal and closer to the control terminal than the temperature detection terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Kumagai, Kiyoshi Yonishi, Shigeji Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11755089
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a power processor, an interface, a detector that detects at least one of a voltage value and a current value on an electric power line that connects the power processor and the interface, and a controller. The controller transmits warning information to an external device via the interface in a case where a detection value of the detector indicates an abnormal value while electric power is supplied to the external device via the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seigo Hayashi, Hajime Usami
  • Patent number: 11750109
    Abstract: The connection distance between a first snubber circuit and the positive electrode of a first semiconductor element is shorter than the connection distance between the first snubber circuit and the positive electrode of a third semiconductor element. The connection distance between the first snubber circuit and the negative electrode of a fourth semiconductor element is shorter than the connection distance between the first snubber circuit and the negative electrode of a second semiconductor element. The connection distance between a second snubber circuit and the positive electrode of the third semiconductor element is shorter than the wiring distance between the second snubber circuit and the positive electrode of the first semiconductor element, and the connection distance between the second snubber circuit and the negative electrode of the second semiconductor element is shorter than the wiring distance between the second snubber circuit and the negative electrode of the fourth semiconductor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Amimoto, Yu Kawai
  • Patent number: 11750000
    Abstract: An electronic device having a universal serial bus (USB) power delivery function includes a connector, an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit, a power reception notification circuit, and a control circuit. The connector is coupled to a USB host. The connector includes a configuration channel (CC) pin. The power reception notification circuit is configured to turn on, in response to an enable signal, a pull-down path of a pull-down circuit of the ESD protection circuit. The configuration channel pin generates a pull-down voltage through the pull-down path of the pull-down circuit when the pull-down path is turned on. The control circuit is configured to send the enable signal to the power reception notification circuit when a trigger signal that meets a power reception condition is detected. The control circuit controls the connector to draw power from the USB host when the pull-down voltage of the connector is greater than a pull-down threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventors: Ya-Hsuan Sung, Leaf Chen, Li-Cheng Chu
  • Patent number: 11735901
    Abstract: A short protection method for a power converter having an output terminal for providing an output voltage. The power converter works in a hiccup protection mode when a short fault occurs. The hiccup protection mode has a sleep stage and a reset stage, the short protection method detects the output voltage during the hiccup protection mode and sets the time period of the reset stage based on the detected output voltage. The time period of the reset stage increases with the increase of the detected output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong Zhou
  • Patent number: 11722103
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an amplifier circuit and a protection circuit. The amplifier circuit may be configured to generate an output signal by amplifying an input signal received at an input port. The input signal may be a radio-frequency signal. The protection circuit may be configured to (i) generate a detection signal by detecting when a level of the input signal exceeds a corresponding threshold, where the level is a power level, a voltage level or both, (ii) route the input signal away from the input port of the amplifier circuit and disable the amplifier circuit both in response to the detection signal being continuously active at least a first time duration and (iii) route the input signal to the input port of the amplifier circuit and enable the amplifier circuit both in response to the detection signal being continuously inactive at least a second time duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Korol, Roberto Aparicio Joo
  • Patent number: 11722067
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include flyback converters, control circuits and methods to facilitate secondary side regulation of the output voltage. A primary side control circuit operates a primary side switch to independently initiate power transfer cycles to deliver power to a transformer secondary winding in a first mode. A secondary side control circuit operates a synchronous rectifier or secondary side switch to generate a predetermined cycle start request signal via a transformer auxiliary winding to assume secondary side regulation and to cause the primary side controller to initiate new power transfer cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Satish Kumar Vemuri, James M. Walden, Isaac Cohen
  • Patent number: 11705894
    Abstract: A test and measurement circuit including a capacitor in parallel with a device under test, a direct current voltage source configured to charge the capacitor, a pulse generator configured to generate a pulse for testing the device under test, and a sensor for determining a current in the device under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Keithley Instruments, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory Sobolewski
  • Patent number: 11671000
    Abstract: An electrical supply device is connected on a network side to an electrical supply network and includes a frequency converter having a network-side power converter and an intermediate circuit, and a network filter, which is connected upstream of the network-side power converter. In a method for operating the electrical supply device, during a pulse-blocking operating state of the frequency converter, a check is carried out for the presence of a dangerous state of the network filter, and only in the presence of the dangerous state, only the network-side power converter is actuated such that a network perturbation causing the dangerous state of the network filter is at least damped to protect the network filter from the dangerous state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Benno Weis
  • Patent number: 11659119
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a fluctuation generating portion, and a connection identifying portion. The fluctuation generating portion fluctuates an output power of a power supply portion that supplies power to a load. The connection identifying portion identifies a connection relationship between the power supply portion and the load based on a correlative relationship between a fluctuation of the output power and a fluctuation of the power supplied to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yasushi Takatsuki
  • Patent number: 11641197
    Abstract: A method for protecting a system including a driver integrated circuit includes receiving a driver input signal. The method includes driving an output signal externally to the driver integrated circuit. The output signal is driven based on the driver input signal and an indication of a delay between receipt of an edge of the driver input signal and arrival of a corresponding edge of the output signal at an output node coupled to a terminal of the driver integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Péter Onódy, Tamás Marozsák, Michael R. May, Fernando Naim Lavalle Aviles, Patrick De Bakker
  • Patent number: 11632106
    Abstract: A switch device includes a first node, a switch unit, an adjustment switch, an impedance element, a second node and a detection unit. A first terminal of the switch unit is coupled to the first node. A first terminal and a second terminal of the adjustment switch are respectively coupled to a second terminal of the switch unit and a reference voltage terminal. A first terminal and a second terminal of the impedance element are respectively coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal of the adjustment switch. The detection unit is coupled to the second node, and a control terminal of the switch unit and a control terminal of the adjustment switch. The detection unit detects a node signal at the second node to accordingly control the switch unit and the adjustment switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: RichWave Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chih-Sheng Chen, Chih-Che Lin, Yu-Siang Huang, Hsuan-Der Yen
  • Patent number: 11596040
    Abstract: A two-stage driver supplies current to a light emitting diode (LED) load. The two-stage driver includes a first stage and a second stage. The first stage has a first flyback converter. The first stage is configured to receive a non-regulated voltage input and to generate a substantially constant bulk voltage across a first-stage output filter capacitor. The second stage has a second flyback converter. The second stage is configured to receive the bulk voltage from the first stage. The second stage is further configured to generate a desired current through the LED load. The second stage is electrically isolated from the first stage such that the LED load does not share a common ground reference with the non-regulated voltage input to the first stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventor: Wei Xiong
  • Patent number: 11581887
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an overcurrent protection circuit configured to, upon detection of an output current that flows through a switch element reaching a first overcurrent limit value, reduce an overcurrent limit value for the output current from the first overcurrent limit value to a second overcurrent limit value smaller than the first overcurrent limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toru Takuma
  • Patent number: 11581725
    Abstract: A power interrupter device includes a solid-state bidirectional switch and control circuitry to control the solid-state bidirectional switch. The bidirectional switch is connected between input and output terminals of the power interrupter device. The control circuitry includes driver circuitry and fault detection circuitry. The driver circuitry generates a regulated direct current (DC) voltage using current drawn from an input power source applied to the input terminal and applies the regulated DC voltage to a control input of the bidirectional switch. The fault detection circuitry is configured to sense a level of load current flowing in an electrical path between the input and output terminals, to detect an occurrence of a fault condition based on the sensed load current level, and to short the control input of the bidirectional switch to place the bidirectional switch in a switched-off state, in response to detecting the occurrence of a fault condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Intelesol, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Telefus
  • Patent number: 11552073
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a main IGBT, a sense, a resistor, a MOSFET and a diode, as main components. The sense IGBT and the main IGBT are connected in parallel with each other. The drain of MOSFET is connected to the gate of the sense IGBT, the source thereof is connected to the gate of the main IGBT, and the gate thereof is connected to the emitter of the sense IGBT and the cathode of diode. One end of the resistor is connected to the gate of the main IGBT and the source of the MOSFET, and the other end of the resistor is connected to the emitter of the main IGBT and the anode of the diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Sho Tanaka, Tomohide Terashima
  • Patent number: 11548392
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an electric power distribution bus of an electric or hybrid vehicle are described. In one example, an output of an electric power consumer is decoupled from other electric power consumers so that electric current drawn from the electric power distribution bus is lowered while the electric power consumer provides a capacitive load to the electric power distribution bus, thereby reducing voltage ripple associated with the electric power distribution bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Cox, Edward Ball, Aaron Walker
  • Patent number: 11532980
    Abstract: A conversion apparatus with overload control includes a primary conversion circuit, a resonant conversion circuit, and a control unit. The control unit controls a voltage value of a DC power source outputted from the primary conversion circuit according to a current signal of an output current of the resonant conversion circuit. When the control unit realizes that the output current exceeds a rated current according to the current signal, the control unit steps up the voltage value of the DC power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: ASIAN POWER DEVICES INC.
    Inventors: Yeu-Torng Yau, Tsung-Liang Hung
  • Patent number: 11515781
    Abstract: A current source inverter, including: a first switching cell including at least first and second power switches coupling a same first input node of the inverter respectively to first and second output nodes of the inverter; and a circuit of protection against a placing in open circuit of an input current source of the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives
    Inventors: Gaëtan Perez, Anthony Bier, Stéphane Catellani
  • Patent number: 11509215
    Abstract: Recently, it is desired to improve responsiveness in case where a drop in the output voltage is prevented. A power supply control device is provided, comprising a switch control unit for controlling an ON/OFF state of a switching device of a boosting chopper using an oscillation wave, a voltage acquisition unit for acquiring DC output voltage corresponding to an output of the boosting chopper, and an oscillation control unit for reducing a change speed of the oscillation wave during at least a part of a period during which the switching device is in an ON state, in response to a drop in the DC output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Hiasa
  • Patent number: 11482929
    Abstract: A power supply controller used in a DC/DC converter includes a feedback control unit that generates a pulse-shaped PWM signal having a first level that is one of a high level and a low level and a second level that is the other of the high level and the low level, on the basis of a feedback voltage based on an output voltage of the DC/DC converter; a low voltage detection unit that detects a low voltage of the feedback voltage; and a selection unit that chooses, as a chosen clock signal, a first clock signal having a high duty when the low voltage is not detected by the low voltage detection unit, and chooses a second clock signal having a low duty when the low voltage is detected by the low voltage detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hidekazu Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11476772
    Abstract: A voltage converter circuit, comprising: a bridge rectifier; a first transistor, having a first end, a second end and a third end; a second transistor, having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the first transistor and the first end of second transistor are electrically connected to bridge rectifier, and the second end of the first transistor is electrically connected to the first end of the second transistor; and a Zener diode, connected between the third end of the first transistor and the second end of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: EPISTAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sheng-Bo Wang, Chiao Fu, Chang-Hsieh Wu, Jai-Tai Kuo, Chao-Kai Chang, Yao-Zhong Liu, Yi-Ru Shen, Chen-Yu Wang