Voltage Regulator Protective Circuits Patents (Class 361/18)
  • 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: 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: 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: 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
  • Patent number: 11469686
    Abstract: A semiconductor circuitry includes a plurality of diodes and a first resister. The semiconductor circuitry is arranged in a circuit in which a first transistor and a second transistor are connected to a power supply in series, and the circuit outputs a voltage applied to an external load. The plurality of diodes which are connected in parallel with a first transistor and a second transistor, are diodes to which a reverse bias is applied by the power supply, and are connected in series with each other, and in which each breakdown voltage is lower than a voltage of the power supply and the sum of breakdown voltage of all these diodes is higher than the voltage of the power supply. The first resistor which connects a connection node between the plurality of diodes and a connection node between the first transistor and the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eiji Shimada
  • Patent number: 11444528
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a discharge controlling circuit of an electric-motor controller, wherein the discharge controlling circuit includes a discharging-signal transmitting circuit, a switch circuit and a discharging circuit; the switch circuit is connected respectively to the discharging-signal transmitting circuit and the discharging circuit; the discharging circuit is connected to an anode of a busbar; an input end of the discharging-signal transmitting circuit is connected to a discharging-signal outputting pin of the electric-motor controller, and an output end of the discharging-signal transmitting circuit is connected to a cathode of the busbar; the discharging-signal transmitting circuit is configured to output a controlling signal to the switch circuit according to a received discharging signal; and the switch circuit is connected to the anode of the busbar, the cathode of the busbar and the output end of the discharging-signal transmitting circuit, and is configured to be turned on accordi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: JING-JIN ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuxia Qu, Hao Zhang, Ying Wang
  • Patent number: 11444584
    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: January 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics America, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Korol, Roberto Aparicio Joo
  • Patent number: 11418127
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a converter cell (4) for a power converter. The cell comprises a plurality of semiconductor devices (T) forming a half-bridge or full-bridge topology in the cell. The cell also comprises an energy storage (5) connected across the at least one switch leg (6). The cell also comprises a crowbar leg (7) connected across the at least one switch leg, comprising a plurality of series connected semiconductor crowbar switches (C) arranged to short-circuit the energy storage (5). The cell also comprises first and second AC terminals (A, B), wherein at least one of said AC terminals is connected to one of the at least one switch leg, between two of the plurality of series connected semiconductor devices of said switch leg, and connected to the crowbar leg, between two of the plurality of series connected crowbar switches of said crowbar leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Aravind Mohanaveeramani, Jan Svensson, Alireza Nami
  • Patent number: 11402072
    Abstract: LED lamp assembly comprising a safety switch, a plurality of connector pins arranged at first and second ends of the LED lamp assembly, the connector pins being adapted for electrical connection to a lamp fixture, a plurality of filament simulation circuits, wherein at least one of the connector pins at each of the first and second ends is electrically coupled to a corresponding one of the filament simulation circuits, a plurality of rectifier circuits, one or more LEDs electrically coupled to an output of the rectifier circuits, and a safety switch control circuit operatively coupled to the safety switch. At least one of the connector pins at the first end is electrically coupled via the safety switch to an input of a first one of the rectifier circuits, and at least one of the connector pins at the second end is electrically coupled to an input of a second one of the rectifier circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Silicon Hill B.V.
    Inventor: Shounak Roy
  • Patent number: 11368083
    Abstract: A method for the discharging a DC-link capacitor includes electrically coupling the DC-link capacitor to at least one half-bridge, wherein the half-bridge comprises at least two switches and that are connected in series. The method includes at least one step in which the switches and of the half-bridge are controlled in order to carry out a simultaneous closing of the switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Appel, Manuel Schwab
  • Patent number: 11368093
    Abstract: A main control circuit includes a PWM comparator that compares a contrast voltage generated according to a feedback voltage with a ramp voltage having a periodically varying voltage value, and causes an output stage circuit to perform a switching action based on a result of the comparison in the PWM control. A feedback path switch is inserted in a feedback path for propagating a signal according to the feedback voltage to the PWM comparator. The main control circuit controls, upon switching from sleep control that stops the switching action to the PWM control, within a specific period equal to one or more periods of the PWM control, the feedback path switch off and sets a voltage within a variation range of the ramp voltage as an initial voltage for the contrast voltage to thereby start a switching action and controlling the feedback path switch on after the specific period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: ROHM Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Shun Fukushima, Yosuke Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 11362651
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to circuits and techniques for protecting a body diode of a power switch from an inductive load when the power switch is turned OFF. A driver circuit may detect whether the power switch is in a desaturation mode when the power switch is turned ON and disable the power switch in response to detecting that the power switch is in the desaturation mode. In addition, the driver circuit may detect whether the body diode of the power switch needs protection when the power switch is turned OFF, and in response to detecting that the body diode needs protection, control the power switch according to a body diode protection scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Michael Krug, Marco Bachhuber, Tommaso Bacigalupo, Benedikt Hanelt, Marcus Nuebling
  • Patent number: 11362650
    Abstract: Circuits for providing overcurrent and overvoltage protection are disclosed herein. The circuits feature a depletion mode MOSFET (D MOSFET) as a current limiter, the D MOSFET being connected to a bi-metallic switch, where the bi-metallic switch acts as a temperature sensing circuit breaker. In combination, the D MOSFET and bi-metallic switch are able to limit current to downstream circuit components, thus protecting the components from damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Chuan Fang Chin, Teddy To
  • Patent number: 11336201
    Abstract: A power supply circuit configured to generate an output voltage from a predetermined AC voltage. The power supply circuit includes a rectifier circuit rectifying the predetermined AC voltage, an inductor receiving a rectified voltage from the rectifier circuit, a transistor controlling an inductor current flowing through the inductor, and an integrated circuit configured to drive the transistor based on the inductor current and the output voltage. The integrated circuit includes a comparison circuit configured to compare a current value of the inductor current and a predetermined current value, and a timer circuit configured to receive a comparison result indicating that the current value is smaller than the predetermined current value, and output a signal indicating that the AC voltage is interrupted, when the current value has been smaller than the predetermined current value for a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroki Yamane
  • Patent number: 11329474
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a power semiconductor switch; a logic circuit connected to an input terminal; an overheat detection circuit that outputs to the logic circuit an overheat detection signal when a temperature of the power semiconductor switch exceeds an overheat detection threshold; and an overcurrent detection circuit that monitors a current that flows through the power semiconductor switch and that outputs to the logic circuit and to the overheat detection circuit an overcurrent detection signal when the current that flows through the power semiconductor switch exceeds a prescribed threshold, wherein in the overheat detection circuit, the overheat detection threshold values is changed from a first threshold value to a second threshold value that is lower than the first threshold value when the overheat detection circuit receives the overcurrent detection signal from the overcurrent detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sho Nakagawa, Morio Iwamizu
  • Patent number: 11302491
    Abstract: A high speed arc suppressor and method include a first phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across contacts of the power contactor in a positive domain and a second phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across the contacts in a negative domain. First and second high speed switches are configured to enable and disable operation of an associated one of the first and second phase-specific arc suppressors. First and second drivers are configured to drive the first and second high speed switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Arc Suppression Technologies
    Inventors: Reinhold Henke, Warren Kahle
  • Patent number: 11291494
    Abstract: A device and method for detecting faults in a shield of an electrosurgical instrument is described. The device has a relay configured to selectively interrupt power to the electrosurgical instrument, monitoring circuitry configured to monitor a shield in the electrosurgical instrument, control circuitry to control the relay, and a battery power source. The monitoring circuitry has an envelope detector and a detected average shield current detector. The monitoring circuitry is configured to compare a shield current peak value to a shield current peak threshold value, and to compare a detected average shield current value to a detected average shield current threshold value. The device is further configured to operatively couple an active electrode of an electrosurgical instrument and a return electrode to an electrosurgical generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Encision Inc.
    Inventor: David Newton
  • Patent number: 11294437
    Abstract: A system for reducing inrush current to an electronic component, the system including: a power supply, the power supply providing power at multiple non-zero voltages; and the electronic component; wherein, when the electronic component is connected to the power supply, the power supply provides a first non-zero voltage to the electronic component and, in response to a signal from the electronic component, provides a second voltage, the second voltage being higher than the first voltage, to the electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul D Bliley, Tyler Phillip Kapp, Duane A Koehler
  • Patent number: 11289997
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a power module, which may include an inverter circuit employing semiconductor switch dies. In the presence of a failure of a die, which may include an arc from a short, a sensor produces a signal responsive to the failure. The signal initiates an indirect fuse, such as a pyrotechnic element, that opens conductors associated with the die. For example, the die or a related die may be wire bonded to terminals of the module. The indirect element may therefore open the bonds to the terminals to isolate the failed die and/or related dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. White, Mark H. Sherwood, Stephen M. Spiteri, Zachary M. Rubin
  • Patent number: 11283390
    Abstract: A controller for an electric motor system including a three phase bridge inverter having a plurality of high side switches and a plurality of low side switches, the controller comprising means arranged upon detection of a fault in one of the high side switches to place the remaining high side switches in a closed circuit configuration and the plurality of low side switches in an open circuit configuration and upon detection of a fault in one of the low side switches to place the remaining low side switches in a closed circuit configuration and the plurality of high side switches in an open circuit configuration to allow coil windings of an electric motor to be placed in a short circuit configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: PROTEAN ELECTRIC LIMITED
    Inventor: Richard Burke
  • Patent number: 11262248
    Abstract: A method analyzes an operation of a power semiconductor device. The method includes: providing a set of reference voltages of the power semiconductor device and a set of corresponding reference currents; measuring an on-state voltage and a corresponding on-state current of the power semiconductor device to obtain a measurement point; adapting the set of reference voltages by adapting two of the set of reference voltages lying closest to the measurement point by extrapolating the measurement point; and using the adapted set of reference voltages to analyze the operation of the power semiconductor device. The extrapolation is based on a predefined reference increment current and a predefined reference increment voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: MASCHINENFABRIK REINHAUSEN GMBH
    Inventor: Angus Bryant
  • Patent number: 11258248
    Abstract: A power supply includes a power converter, a protection circuit, and a control circuit. The protection circuit includes an input for receiving an input voltage, an output for providing an output voltage to the power converter, a first switching device coupled in a current path between the input and the output, and a second switching device coupled across the first switching device. The control circuit is configured to sense the input voltage and the output voltage, in response to the output voltage exceeding a first defined threshold, turn off the first switching device and turn on the second switching device to supply power to the power converter, and in response to the input voltage exceeding a second defined threshold, turn off the second switching device to disconnect the power source from the power converter. Other example power supplies and protection circuits are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventors: Ruel Joyosa Tolentino, Jahres Rederi Masangkay Satur, Khanderao Madhav Gaikwad
  • Patent number: 11245328
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for a power supply circuit that generates an output voltage at a target level from an AC voltage input thereto. The power supply circuit includes an inductor, and a transistor that controls a current flowing through the inductor. The integrated circuit drives the transistor based on the inductor current and the output voltage. The integrated circuit has a signal output circuit including a first comparator circuit comparing the inductor current and a predetermined current value, a timer circuit measuring a time elapsed since the value of the inductor current becomes smaller than the predetermined current value, and a second comparator circuit comparing the output voltage and a lower-than-target level. The signal output circuit indicates that the AC voltage is not input to a rectifier circuit, when the elapsed time reaches a predetermined time period and a level of the output voltage is lower than the lower-than-target level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuta Endo
  • Patent number: 11238822
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a driver circuit, a preset protection value and a first voltage are input via a first circuit. A first switching circuit is electrically connected to the first circuit and a trigger circuit. A second switching circuit is electrically connected to a first voltage, and the trigger circuit is electrically connected to a printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignees: Chongqing HKC Optoelectronics, Technology Co., Ltd, HKC Corporation Limited
    Inventor: Xiaoyu Huang
  • Patent number: 11239743
    Abstract: A switching mode power supply preventing false triggering of an over current protection due to a surge pulse. The switching mode power supply has a switch and an inductor. An inductor current flows through the inductor. The switching mode power supply turns off the switch and meanwhile starts timing for a preset period of time when the inductor current is larger than a preset value. The switch is kept off during the preset period of time and is then turned on when the preset period of time expires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuedong Chen, Yiqing Jin, Zhiheng Hu
  • Patent number: 11233392
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium in a containment, comprising a sensor unit and an electronics unit, wherein the electronics unit includes a transceiver unit and a transceiver protecting unit for limiting an input voltage of the transceiver unit to a first transceiver voltage value. According to the present disclosure, the transceiver protecting unit includes a first limiting unit and a transistor unit, the transistor unit connected in series with the transceiver unit, wherein the first limiting unit is connected in parallel with transceiver unit and to a control terminal of the transistor and is configured to control an input voltage for the control terminal of the transistor to a predeterminable control value such that the input voltage of the transceiver unit is limited to the first transceiver voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser SE+ Co. KG
    Inventors: Armin Wernet, Michael Dötsch
  • Patent number: 11215649
    Abstract: An electric power system comprises recording devices (101-105) located at different elements of the electric power system and configured to record waveform samples of quantities related to operation of the elements of the electric power system. The electric power system comprises a central device (106) configured to receive the recorded waveform samples from the recording devices. The recording devices are synchronized to maintain a common clock time and to associate, to each of the recorded waveform samples, one or more timing values indicative of the clock time during recording the waveform sample. As the timing values are associated to the waveform samples, it is possible to reconstruct a time order of phenomena indicated by the recorded waveform samples. Thus, it is possible to identify which of the phenomena are causes and which are consequences when analyzing for example what happened prior to a fault situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Danfoss Editron Oy
    Inventors: Matti Iskanius, Risto Tiainen
  • Patent number: 11211866
    Abstract: An adjustable inductance system includes a plurality of inductor modules coupled to a corresponding plurality of loads and a pool of at least one floating inductor module that may be coupled in parallel with any one of the plurality of inductor modules. A control circuit monitors the current drawn through the inductor module by the load. If current draw exceeds a threshold, the control circuit couples a floating inductor module to the load. Using the current drawn by the load, the control circuit determines an appropriate inductance value and determines an appropriate inductor configuration for the inductor module, the floating inductor module, or both the inductor module and the floating inductor module to achieve the determined inductance value. The control circuit causes switching elements to transition to a state or position to achieve the inductor configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Lambert, Kaladhar Radhakrishnan, Beomseok Choi, Krishna Bharath, Michael J. Hill
  • Patent number: 11210398
    Abstract: An activity sensing circuit includes an ammeter circuit configured to monitor a supply current drawn specifically by a webcam. A hardware trigger circuit receives a webcam supply current monitoring signal from the ammeter circuit, and detects when the webcam supply current monitoring signal indicates the supply current drawn specifically by the webcam exceeds a first threshold supply current level. In response to detection of the supply current exceeding the first threshold supply current level, the trigger circuit notifies an indicator circuit to provide a user-perceptible indication. The indicator circuit is immune to control by a processor of an information handling system of which it is part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Sathish Bikumala, Jace W. Files
  • Patent number: 11204010
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle that includes a DC/DC converter is described. In one example, the method includes adjusting an output voltage of the DC/DC converter after the DC/DC converter is used to crank an engine. The output voltage of the DC/DC converter may be adjusted responsive to a state of charge of an ultra-capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, John Eric Rollinger, David Hancock, William Taylor, Mark E. Shields
  • Patent number: 11190004
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a failure diagnosis circuit may comprise a first terminal, a second terminal, a first relay and a second relay, a diagnostic signal transmission circuit, a transmission circuit diagnosis circuit, a first diagnostic signal reception circuit, a first reception circuit diagnosis circuit, a second diagnostic signal reception circuit, a second reception circuit diagnosis circuit, and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Takeru Morishita
  • Patent number: 11115017
    Abstract: Provided is a driving apparatus that includes a gate driving circuit that turns off a first semiconductor element upon receiving a turn-off signal, a measuring circuit that measures a parameter according to a voltage applied to the second semiconductor element, a timing generating circuit that generates a timing signal if the parameter satisfies a first condition during a time period in which the first semiconductor element is tuned off; and a driving condition change circuit that, in response to the timing signal, further decreases a changing speed of a gate voltage of the first semiconductor element than a reference speed during the time period in which the first semiconductor element is tuned off, wherein the gate driving circuit turns off the first semiconductor element in response to that the parameter satisfies a second condition during a time period in which the first semiconductor element is tuned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunio Matsubara, Tsuyoshi Nagano
  • Patent number: 11101739
    Abstract: A switching loss of a power conversion device is sufficiently reduced. A DC-DC converter includes a switching circuit that converts input first DC power into AC power, a transformer that performs voltage conversion of the AC power, and an output circuit that converts the AC power subjected to the voltage conversion by the transformer into second DC power. The control circuit that controls the DC-DC converter calculates a magnetic flux density value B of the transformer and controls a drive frequency of the switching circuit based on the calculated magnetic flux density value B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Shintaro Tanaka, Kenji Kubo, Takayuki Ouchi, Yuji Sobu, Naoya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11101777
    Abstract: An output OUT is coupled to a load. A high-side transistor MH is arranged such that its source is coupled to a power supply line, and such that its drain is coupled to an output terminal OUT. A first OCP circuit compares a first current detection signal ICS1 that corresponds to a current ISRC that flows through the high-side transistor MH with a first threshold value IOCP having a positive correlation with a power supply voltage VDD of a power supply line, and generates a first OCP signal SOCP that indicates the comparison result. A driving circuit latch-stops the driving operation of the high-side transistor MH according to the first OCP signal SOCP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuji Saegusa
  • Patent number: 11096253
    Abstract: Multi-driver configuration apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided. Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for multi-driver configuration of a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) drivers. The system includes a plurality of LED drivers having a transformer, an input interface coupleable to the configuration device via a common communication medium, a microcontroller, a direct current (DC) sensing section to detect at least a portion of a tuning signal received at the input interface and to transmit a driver control input signal corresponding to the at least a portion of the tuning signal to the microcontroller, and a transmit switch configured to receive a driver control output signal from the microcontroller and to cause at least one output signal to be output from the LED driver via the input interface. A configuration device transmits the tuning signal to at least one LED driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Mays, II, John J. Dernovsek, Scott Price, Dane Sutherland
  • Patent number: 11089392
    Abstract: An optoelectronic switch for switching data from a source external client device to a destination external client device, the optoelectronic switch includes: an array of client-side transceivers, each having an array of client-facing optical ports to connect to an external client device, and an array of leaf-facing electrical ports; an array of leaf switches, each including an array of client-side electrical ports and an array of fabric-side electrical ports; a first electrical interconnecting region providing electrical connections between the leaf-facing electrical ports of the client-side transceivers and the client-side electrical ports of the leaf switches, an array of fabric-side transceivers, each having an array of leaf-facing electrical ports, and an array of fabric-facing optical ports; a second electrical interconnecting region providing electrical connections between the fabric-side electrical ports of the leaf switches and the leaf-facing electrical ports of the fabric-side transceivers; an array
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Rockley Photonics Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Rickman, Cyriel Johan Agnes Minkenberg, Guy Regev
  • Patent number: 11081876
    Abstract: One or more embodiments relate to a control circuit for an input filter circuit in a switch mode power supply comprising a power switch and a switch controller to control the power switch to provide a regulated output voltage and current to a load. The control circuit, also referred to as a filter control circuit, can be used to detect a high voltage surge at its input and disconnect a capacitor in the input filter circuit from an input return, thereby protecting the input filter capacitor and the SMPS from damage. According to certain aspects, the control circuit can be integrated with the switch controller. Additionally, the control circuit can provide power to the switch controller at start-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.
    Inventor: Zhihong Yu
  • Patent number: 11074089
    Abstract: A switch state determining device, includes: an external terminal to which a switch is externally attached; a constant current generating part configured to generate a constant current and flow the constant current through the external terminal; a voltage comparing part configured to compare a terminal voltage of the external terminal with a threshold voltage to generate a comparison signal; an ON/OFF determining part configured to output an ON/OFF determination signal of the switch depending on the comparison signal; a threshold voltage control part configured to adjust the threshold voltage depending on a threshold voltage set value; and a level determining part configured to output a level determination signal of the terminal voltage or a terminal voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Ishida
  • Patent number: 11068008
    Abstract: A supply circuit is provided including a supply generation circuit coupled to a supply terminal. A voltage deviation detection circuit is adapted to detect a voltage deviation in an internal supply voltage. A current limiter arrangement is adapted to limit a current through the supply generation circuit to a predefined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Kirk Herfurth
  • Patent number: 11056875
    Abstract: Systems and methods for gate driver with field-adjustable undervoltage lockout (UVLO) are disclosed. A gate driver system comprises a control circuit and a driver circuit. The driver circuit incorporates a field-adjustable UVLO, a control logic, and an inverter. The level of the field-adjustable UVLO is adjustable by an external circuit, which can be a resistor based voltage divider. By setting the UVLO level externally adjustable and by moving a reference ground to the external voltage divider, the gate driver system is able to implement gate control for various load without needing extra ground pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Arman Hematy
  • Patent number: 11050347
    Abstract: A method for dynamic enhancement of loop response upon recovery from fault conditions includes detecting a fault condition in response to a programmed output voltage of a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) converter decreasing below an input voltage of the PWM converter. A peak voltage is sampled at the end of at least one of a plurality of clock cycles of the PWM converter in response to detecting the fault condition, wherein the peak voltage is proportional to a sensed current conducted through a transistor. An error output of an error amplifier is preset to an error value determined by the peak voltage. A PWM driver is controlled with the error value to drive the transistor. An output load is charged to the programmed output voltage with the transistor in response to the input voltage increasing above the programmed output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Percy Edgard Neyra, John Ryan Goodfellow, Ondrej Pauk
  • Patent number: 11050418
    Abstract: A method of operating a power switch driver circuit coupled to a power switch includes producing, by a controller of the power switch driver circuit, a first driving signal to a control terminal of the power switch to turn on the power switch; comparing, by a first comparator of the power switch driver circuit, a first voltage at the control terminal of the power switch with a first pre-determined threshold; and starting monitoring a desaturation condition of the power switch a pre-determined period of time after detecting that the first voltage is above the first pre-determined threshold, wherein monitoring the desaturation condition comprises monitoring a second voltage at a load path terminal of the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Marco Bachhuber
  • Patent number: 11025243
    Abstract: A power circuit has a power switching device (PSD) to, when in an ON state, conduct current from its first to second terminal; a diode anti-parallel to the PSD that, when in a non-blocking state, conducts current from its anode to its cathode; a drive input line coupled to a device control terminal of the PSD to control its switching; and sense circuitry, having a temperature sensitive current source (TSCS) coupled to a conduction terminal, providing a sense signal from the TSCS to the drive input line to indicate temperature. The TSCS is thermally coupled to the PSD, the temperature indicated is of the PSD, and the conduction terminal is the first or second terminal of the PSD; and/or the TSCS is thermally coupled to the diode, the temperature indicated by the sense signal is of the diode, and the conduction terminal is the anode or cathode of the diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: MASCHINENFABRIK REINHAUSEN GMBH
    Inventor: Angus Bryant
  • Patent number: 11005360
    Abstract: Apparatus for voltage monitoring of a dual-channel device which implements or monitors a safety function of a machine or technical installation. The apparatus comprises an input for receiving an input voltage, a voltage regulator for generating a defined output voltage, and an output for providing the defined output voltage for the operation of the device. A voltage monitor compares a voltage present at the output with the defined output voltage and switches off the output in case the present voltage at the output deviates from the defined output voltage. A first interface and a second interface connect the voltage regulator to the dual-channels of the device, wherein the first interface and the second interface connect to a first processing channel and a second processing channel of the device separately so that the first processing channel and the second processing channel of the device can detune the voltage regulator independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: PILZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Bakovic, Matthias Schweiker, Uwe Schoch, Juergen Pullmann