Including D.c.-a.c.-d.c. Converter Patents (Class 363/15)
  • Patent number: 11955894
    Abstract: A quasi-resonant auto-tuning controller includes a zero-voltage crossing detection circuit and a valley tuning finite-state machine having a look-up table. The zero-voltage crossing detection circuit receives a reference voltage and receives an auxiliary signal from an auxiliary winding. The zero-voltage crossing detection circuit produces a comparison signal having pulses when the auxiliary signal is less than the reference voltage. The valley tuning finite-state machine produces a divided pulse width based on the comparison signal, stores the divided pulse width of each pulse in the look-up table, determines, from the comparison signal, that the auxiliary signal is less than the reference voltage, waits a time period corresponding to the divided pulse width stored in the look-up table if the auxiliary signal is less than the reference voltage, and produces a valley point signal after waiting the time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Silanna Asia Pte Ltd
    Inventor: Aleksandar Radic
  • Patent number: 11799381
    Abstract: A converter control circuit includes a terminal to be coupled to a switch node. The control circuit includes a valley sensing circuit coupled to the terminal and detects valleys in an oscillating voltage on the switch node. The valley sensing circuit has a first output and asserts a first control signal on the first output indicative of occurrence of a valley. A logic gate has a second output and asserts a second control signal on the second output to turn on a switching transistor. A switch-on control circuit has a first input and a second input. The first input couples to the first output. The second input couples to the second output. The switch-on control circuit asserts a third control signal to turn on the switching transistor responsive to the second control signal indicating that the switching transistor is to be on while the first control indicates a valley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jose Vidal, Dinesh Katam
  • Patent number: 11611228
    Abstract: Controllers and methods for controlling a resonant power converter output voltage include operating the power converter according to a control period comprising an on cycle operation mode for a duration T_on that produces a first voltage Vo1 and an off cycle operation mode for a duration T_off that produces a second voltage Vo2. Vo1 is produced using a first switching frequency for a first selected number of switching cycles corresponding to the on time T_on. The converter output voltage or the converter input and output voltages may be sensed and used to determine the switching frequency during the on cycle operation mode and the duration of the off cycle operation mode. The final output voltage of the power converter is regulated to a selected value based on a ration of (T_on):(T_on+T_off). The controllers and methods may be used with power converters in power delivery devices to accept wide input voltage ranges compatible with devices such as cell phones, tablet computers, and notebook computers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Queen's University at Kingston
    Inventors: Yan-Fei Liu, Yang Chen, Wenbo Liu
  • Patent number: 11545301
    Abstract: A fully coupled magnetic device includes at least two phases of circuits, with each phase formed by several coupling units connected in series. Every two phases of circuits are directly coupled through at least one coupling unit, and a direction of a magnetic field generated by DC (direct current) of one phase of the two phases of circuits is opposite to that of another phase of the two phases of circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: HANGZHOU DIANZI UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ningning Wang, Shanfeng Peng, Junchao Yu, Feeney Ciaran, Tingcong Ye
  • Patent number: 11456155
    Abstract: A high voltage switch comprising: a high voltage power supply providing power greater than about 5 kV; a control voltage power source; a plurality of switch modules arranged in series with respect to each other each of the plurality of switch modules configured to switch power from the high voltage power supply, and an output configured to output a pulsed output signal having a voltage greater than the rating of any switch of the plurality of switch modules, a pulse width less than 2 ?s, and at a pulse frequency greater than 10 kHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Eagle Harbor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Ziemba, Kenneth E. Miller, James R. Prager, John G. Carscadden, Ilia Slobodov
  • Patent number: 11451054
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that operate to correct the electrical characteristics of an electric distribution system based on analysis at a particular point in the system, for example, at a customer's meter. To do so, the subject characteristic may be measured at the meter. The subject characteristic may be provided to a power inverter controller, which responds by modifying the characteristic of the inverter output to achieve the desired measurement at the meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: JABIL INC.
    Inventors: Ronald Beebe, Christopher Compton, David Eckerson, Yizhe Liu, Salman Talebi-Rafsanjan
  • Patent number: 11431253
    Abstract: A Low-voltage DC-DC Converter (LDC) includes a new bidirectional isolated LDC, in which two converters with different power circuit topologies operate in parallel in order to enable both buck mode and boost mode. The two applied converters are a phase-shift full-bridge converter with full-bridge synchronous rectification and an active-clamp forward converter. According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve the advantages of both a phase-shifted full-bridge converter with full-bridge synchronous rectification applied and an active clamping forward converter. Thus, it is possible to minimize output voltage and current ripples, thereby improving the quality of the LDC output power while minimizing electromagnetic waves generated while a product is operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won Gon Kim, Deok Kwan Choi, Kang Min Kim, Min Heo, A Ra Lee, Tae Ho Bang, Hyun Woo Shim, Du Ho Kim, Soo Min Jeon, Ji Hoon Park
  • Patent number: 11399579
    Abstract: In selected examples, a hanger couples to an electrically-powered garment, to provide electrical energy to the garment to recharge the battery of the garment. The electrical energy may be transferred from the hanger to the garment using inductive coupling. The electrical energy may also or instead be transferred using contact coupling facilitated by magnet(s) in the interfaces of the hanger system and the garment. The garment may include biometric, environmental, and other sensors to collect data. The hanger system-garment interfaces may provide for data flow between the hanger and the garment. In selected examples, a smart garment may be controlled by a smartphone or another mobile device. The smartphone may control several smart garments, which may be connected in series and/or in parallel, with one of the smart garments being a master connected to the smartphone, and the other garments being slave garments connected to the smartphone through the master.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: TECH GEAR 5.7, INC.
    Inventors: K C Bean, Tyson J. Mackjust
  • Patent number: 11366417
    Abstract: The power supply apparatus includes a control unit configured to output a pulse signal for driving a switching element, to drive a transformer to output a voltage from a secondary winding of the transformer, and a memory unit configured to store information associating the output voltage with the duty and the frequency of the pulse signal, and the control unit switches the frequency and the duty based on the output voltage and the information stored in the memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shuhei Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11329502
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein provide examples of an electrical panel (e.g., a modular electrical panel) that is configured to control a plurality of electrical loads. The electrical panel may include a control circuit, memory, a communication circuit, and an alternating current (AC) line feed and/or a direct current (DC) line feed. The electrical panel may also include a plurality of power supplies and a plurality of control modules, where more than one control module is associated with each of the plurality of power supplies. Each control module may configured to receive DC power from the associated power supply and provide an output voltage to at least one electrical load. The electrical panel provides flexibility as to whether each stage of conversion, regulation, and/or control is performed at a control module located within the electrical panel or performed at an accessory module located at an electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Stuart W. DeJonge, Robert C. Newman, Jr., Matthew W. Nuhfer, Michael W. Pessina, Thomas M. Shearer
  • Patent number: 11323032
    Abstract: A power conversion device according to the present invention is provided with two or more sets of power modules each of which includes a switching element and a switching element control circuit having a third electrode voltage control part and a temperature detection part. The power modules PM1, PM2 are connected in parallel to each other. The switching element control circuit includes a temperature comparison part which calculates an average operation temperature of the switching element, and compares an operation temperature of the corresponding switching element and the average operation temperature. The third electrode voltage control part controls a third electrode voltage based on information including an average operation temperature, an operation temperature of the switching element, and a threshold voltage during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Wataru Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 11316365
    Abstract: A system includes a converter unit and a power distribution unit (PDU) having at least one power outlet, a first power port configured to be coupled to an AC power source and second power port coupled to the converter unit. The PDU is further configured to selectively provide power to the at least one outlet from the first and second power ports. The PDU may include a power strip with an elongate enclosure and a plurality of receptacles at a face of the enclosure, and the converter may include a rack mountable converter unit coupled to the power strip by a power cable and a communications cable. The rack mountable converter unit may include an inverter and a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Scott Jason Davis, Thomas Joseph Overberg, David G. Windsor, Stefan Ashley Coote
  • Patent number: 11228242
    Abstract: A method for operating an electronic switch in a power converter and a control circuit for operating an electronic switch in a power converter are disclosed. The method includes: driving an electronic switch coupled to an inductor in a power converter in successive drive cycles each including an on-time and an off-time, wherein the off-time includes a demagnetization time period in which the inductor is demagnetized and a delay time, and wherein an end of the delay time is dependent on the occurrence of a predefined number of signal pulses of a pulse signal. The pulse signal includes a first portion that represents local minima of a voltage across the switch and, a second portion that includes signal pulses obtained by timely extrapolating the pulse signal of the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Martin Feldtkeller
  • Patent number: 11205965
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to calibrate a power converter. An example apparatus includes a comparator including a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, the first input terminal of the comparator configured to be coupled to a filter to receive a filtered feedback signal, the second input terminal of the comparator configured to receive a first voltage signal, and the output terminal of the comparator coupled to a node, an oscillator including an output terminal, and a voltage stepper including a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, the first input terminal of the voltage stepper configured to receive a second voltage signal, the second input terminal of the voltage stepper coupled to the output terminal of the oscillator, and the output terminal of the voltage stepper configured to be coupled to an error amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Stefan Wlodzimierz Wiktor, Brian Thomas Lynch, Luis Gonzales
  • Patent number: 11120940
    Abstract: For near field communications, inductive coils coupled to each communicating circuit are brought close together so that there is inductive coupling between the two coils. Data signals can then be relayed between the two circuits without any direct connection between them. However, the system is susceptible to common mode noise, such as ambient EMI. In addition to the “active” coil pairs used for transmitting and receiving data, a pair of “passive” coils is provided, proximate to the active coil pairs, that is only used for detecting the ambient EMI. The EMI signals detected by the passive coils are processed by a noise detector/processor, and the noise detector processor then controls the transmitters and/or receivers to at least partially compensate for the detected EMI signals. Transmit power or receiver thresholds may be controlled by the noise detector/processor to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, or other compensation techniques can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth G. Richardson
  • Patent number: 11114931
    Abstract: An AC-DC power converter can include: a front-stage power circuit; a rear-stage power circuit configured to share one power switch as a main power switch with the front-stage power circuit, where the rear-stage power circuit is coupled to a load, and a first magnetic component of the front-stage power circuit and a second magnetic component of the rear-stage power circuit are not coupled in one conductive loop from a positive terminal of a DC input voltage to a negative terminal of the DC input voltage; and an energy storage capacitor coupled to the front-stage power circuit and the rear-stage power circuit, where a common node of the first and second magnetic components is directly coupled to the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Qiukai Huang, Jian Deng
  • Patent number: 11063514
    Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit using predictively precharged voltage rails is generally disclosed. For example, the voltage regulator circuit may include a main switching regulator configured to provide a target voltage, the main switching regulator having a first voltage node, a precharge switching regulator configured to provide a precharge voltage, the precharge switching regulator having a second voltage node, the precharge voltage based on a difference between the target voltage and a next target voltage to be provided by the main switching regulator, and a precharge switch circuit configured to selectively couple the second voltage node to an output voltage node based upon a transition from the target voltage to the next target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Chris Rosolowski, Todd Sutton, Orlando Santiago, Joseph Duncan, Rashed Hoque, Marko Koski, Zdravko Lukic
  • Patent number: 11056978
    Abstract: A controller for a secondary side of a switched mode power supply. A thermistor and an LED of an optocoupler are connected in parallel with each other between a voltage-supply-pin and a STOP pin of the controller. A reference-source provides a reference-signal between the STOP pin and the voltage-supply-pin. The STOP pin receives a temperature-measurement-signal from the thermistor, wherein the temperature-measurement-signal is representative of the resistance of the thermistor. The controller also includes an OTP-comparator that compares: (i) the temperature-measurement-signal; with (ii) a threshold-level, and provides an OTP-signal that is representative of whether or not the temperature-measurement-signal at the STOP pin crosses the threshold-level; and a switchable-current-source that selectively provides a bias-current to the STOP pin based on the OTP-signal, wherein the bias-current causes the LED to emit a light-signal that is representative of a fault to an associated photo-detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Jeroen Kleinpenning
  • Patent number: 11049671
    Abstract: A power distribution switch including a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) relay switch matrix disposed between a power source and an electrical load, and a controller module configured to operate the MEMS relay switch between a conducting and a non-conducting state, wherein the conducting state conducts power from the power source to the electrical load and the non-conducting state prevents power conduction from the power sources to the electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Russell Mark Compton, Glenn Scott Claydon, John Oliver Collins, Christopher Fred Keimel, Julian Peter Mayes
  • Patent number: 10998772
    Abstract: An electric power transmitting device includes a radio frequency power circuit that converts a direct current power supply to radio frequency electric power having a switching frequency, a transmitting coil connected to the radio frequency power circuit and magnetically coupled to a receiving coil in an electric power receiving device, and a transmitting resonance capacitor that is connected to the transmitting coil and that forms a resonant circuit together with the transmitting coil. The transmitting coil has flexibility to allow a coil opening to be closed, and capacitance of the transmitting resonance capacitor is determined so that while the transmitting coil is opened, resonance of the resonant circuit occurs at a resonant frequency, which matches the switching frequency, and while the transmitting coil is substantially closed, the resonance of the resonant circuit does not occur at the switching frequency, which deviates from a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Hosotani
  • Patent number: 10985614
    Abstract: A device has a plurality of coils arranged along a perimeter within the device, where each coil has a winding configured to be coupled to a power converter through a resonant capacitor, and forms a resonator with the resonant capacitor. The device has also a connection core which is magnetically coupled to the plurality of coils. Furthermore, the device has a plurality of power converters, where each power converter is coupled to one of the plurality of coils, and is configured such that a current flowing through the winding of the coil has the same frequency as other winding currents in the device, and the phase angle of the current is approximately equal to the space angle of the coil, so a rotating magnetic field is formed in a space around the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Inventors: Hengchun Mao, Xuezhong Jia
  • Patent number: 10978959
    Abstract: A power transformation system that is constructed and arranged to transform power from one or more primary voltage nodes to a separate secondary voltage node using one or more columns comprised of a plurality of capacitive modules each of which is capable of being either electrically inserted into the column or electrically isolated and electrically bypassed. There is a secondary voltage node, at a non-ground potential, to which a first end of the column is electrically connected. In the two-primary node example there are two high voltage switches, each in series with a reactor; one high-voltage switch adapted to electrically connect a second end of the column to the first primary voltage node and the other high-voltage switch adapted to electrically connect the second end of the column to a second primary node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignees: Electranix Corporation
    Inventors: Lionel O. Barthold, Dennis Woodford, Maryam Salimi
  • Patent number: 10937301
    Abstract: Improvements in a circuit with a glanceable indicator(s) for power checking and short testing in electrical power supplies is disclosed. Providing a reliable, easily understandable indication of electrical integrity will save consumers time and money by allowing them to quickly and accurately determine whether a power supply is causing an issue or lack of function with their powered device. By eliminating (or identifying) the power supply as the cause of the issue, the consumer will be able to troubleshoot quicker and have a better experience with their devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: OhnKat Inc.
    Inventor: Vinay Gupta
  • Patent number: 10908735
    Abstract: An anti-interference method and apparatus for a touch panel relate to the communications field and improve accuracy of switching an operating frequency by the touch panel. The anti-interference method for the touch panel includes obtaining an operating frequency of a charging adapter and a jitter frequency of the charging adapter, and calculating, using a preset algorithm based on the operating frequency and the jitter frequency, a low-noise interval in which the touch panel is to operate such that the touch panel obtains the low-noise interval, and switches an operating frequency of the touch panel to a frequency in the low-noise interval when interference to the touch panel exceeds a preset range. The low-noise interval is a frequency interval in which the touch panel is to operate when the interference to the touch panel is within the preset range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lianming Zhang, Ke Ai, Wenfeng Wang
  • Patent number: 10897211
    Abstract: An output voltage is suppressed from changing and high efficiency is realized in a power conversion apparatus capable of performing a step-up/step-down operation. In a power conversion apparatus including a DAB DC/DC converter, when energy transmitted from a primary side and energy accumulated in a reactor at a secondary side are output from the secondary side, of a control signal of a first switching element and a control signal of a fourth switching element which are both in ON states, the first and fourth switching elements being diagonal to each other in a full bridge at the primary side, a period Toff2 in which the control signal of the first switching element is turned off before the control signal of the fourth switching element is turned off is controlled, and thereby a step-up/step-down ratio is continuously changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Mizokami
  • Patent number: 10896809
    Abstract: A high voltage switch comprising: a high voltage power supply providing power greater than about 5 kV; a control voltage power source; a plurality of switch modules arranged in series with respect to each other each of the plurality of switch modules configured to switch power from the high voltage power supply, and an output configured to output a pulsed output signal having a voltage greater than the rating of any switch of the plurality of switch modules, a pulse width less than 2 ?s, and at a pulse frequency greater than 10 kHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Eagle Harbor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Ziemba, Kenneth E. Miller, James R. Prager, John G. Carscadden, Ilia Slobodov
  • Patent number: 10879805
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a switched-mode power supply (SMPS) includes a transformer having a plurality of windings sharing a common core and a plurality of primary stages coupled in series. Each of the plurality of primary stages include a winding of the plurality of windings, a switch having a first node coupled to a first terminal of the winding, and a first capacitor coupled between a second terminal of the winding and a second node of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Chris Josef Notsch
  • Patent number: 10862301
    Abstract: A fuel cell based power generation system is presented. The fuel cell based power generation system includes a fuel cell assembly configured to generate a DC power, at least one assembly switching element configured to operatively couple the fuel cell assembly to a first DC bus, at least one converter coupled between the first DC bus and an electrical grid, a plurality of auxiliary loads operatively coupled to the first DC bus at a location between the at least one assembly switching element and the at least one converter, where at least one of the plurality of auxiliary loads is configured to receive power from the fuel cell assembly via the at least one assembly switching element, and a controller operatively coupled to the at least one converter, where the controller is configured to allow a voltage of the first DC bus to fluctuate within a range of voltage values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: CUMMINS ENTERPRISE LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Teichmann, Honggang Wang
  • Patent number: 10855178
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes a substrate having opposing first and second sides, a first discrete power stage transistor die attached to the first side of the substrate and including a high-side power transistor, and a second discrete power stage transistor die attached to the first side of the substrate and including a low-side power transistor electrically connected to the high-side power transistor to form an output phase of the DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter further includes an inductor attached to the first side of the substrate so as to electrically connect the output phase to a metal output trace on the substrate. The inductor at least partly covers at least one of the first and the second discrete power stage transistor dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Darryl Tschirhart, Benjamim Tang, Emil Todorov
  • Patent number: 10763037
    Abstract: For near field communications, inductive coils coupled to each communicating circuit are brought close together so that there is inductive coupling between the two coils. Data signals can then be relayed between the two circuits without any direct connection between them. However, the system is susceptible to common mode noise, such as ambient EMI. In addition to the “active” coil pairs used for transmitting and receiving data, a pair of “passive” coils is provided, proximate to the active coil pairs, that is only used for detecting the ambient EMI. The EMI signals detected by the passive coils are processed by a noise detector/processor, and the noise detector processor then controls the transmitters and/or receivers to at least partially compensate for the detected EMI signals. Transmit power or receiver thresholds may be controlled by the noise detector/processor to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, or other compensation techniques can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth G. Richardson
  • Patent number: 10756567
    Abstract: When an abnormality occurs in a first voltage detector (4a), a control circuit (7) in an uninterruptible power supply device controls an inverter (3) in synchronization with an output signal (VI2D) from a second voltage detector (4b) to match a phase of a two-phase AC voltage (VO1, VO2) output from the inverter (3) with a phase of a two-phase AC voltage (VI1, VI2) supplied from a commercial AC power supply (51), and then turns on a semiconductor switch pair (S9, S10) and a bypass switch pair (S7, S8). Accordingly, even when an abnormality occurs in the first voltage detector (4a), the two-phase AC voltage can be supplied to a load (53) without instantaneous interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Masunaga, Akihiro Yamanishi
  • Patent number: 10673343
    Abstract: A diode clamp mixed three-level dual-active full-bridge converter based on a dual active full-bridge converter, an additional control variable is added by replacing two-level bridge arm on the primary side with a diode clamp three-level bridge arm. A control method based on four variables including duty ratios of 0 voltage level and high voltage level of the primary side, duty ratio of 0 voltage level of the secondary side of the diode clamp mixed three-level dual active full-bridge converter, and phase shift ratio between primary and secondary sides of the diode clamp mixed three-level DAB converter; four-degree-of-freedom globally optimized control is realized by coordinating four variables, RMS value of the current is reduced, and operating efficiency of the converter is improved. Closed-loop control of the DAB globally optimized operation is given, which enables the converter to automatically realize globally optimized operation under different operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Shanhai Jiao Tong University
    Inventors: Anping Tong, Guojie Li, Lijun Hang, Keyou Wang
  • Patent number: 10601325
    Abstract: The present application discloses a DC-to-DC converter circuit and a circuit board layout structure for the same. The DC-to-DC converter circuit is electrically connected between a first power supply side and a second power supply side, and comprises a first branch with a primary side coupled to the first power supply side and a secondary side coupled to the second power supply side; a second branch with a primary side coupled to the first power supply side and a secondary side coupled to the second power supply side; and a first inductor. The secondary sides of the first branch and the second branch are connected in series via the first inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Shengli Lu, Yanbing Xia, Wenhua Li
  • Patent number: 10574470
    Abstract: Power over Ethernet (POE) can be converted into a USB stream and separate power. With these techniques, the benefits of POE can be obtained without requiring a terminal to be POE-enabled and without employing a terminal's Ethernet port. Many more terminals may therefore be powered via POE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: EWC Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Katatip Nino Vanich, Zach Hazen
  • Patent number: 10404162
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing electric power includes a power-converter having a path for power flow between first and second power-converter terminals. During operation the first and second power-converter terminals are maintained at respective first and second voltages. Two regulating-circuits and a switching network are disposed on the path. The first regulating-circuit includes a magnetic-storage element and a first-regulating-circuit terminal. The second regulating-circuit includes a second-regulating-circuit terminal. The first-regulating-circuit terminal is connected to the first switching-network-terminal and the second-regulating-circuit terminal is connected to the second switching-network-terminal. The switching network is transitions between a first switch-configuration and a second switch-configuration. In the first switch-configuration, charge accumulates in the first charge-storage-element at a first rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventor: David Giuliano
  • Patent number: 10361621
    Abstract: A power supply comprising a DC to DC converter coupled to a current limited controller and an accumulator is disclosed, where the DC to DC converter may be a switch-mode DC to DC converter. The current limit controller may be configured to limit a current draw of the switch-mode DC to DC converter. The accumulator may be configured to discharge to an output terminal of the DC to DC converter while the current limit controller limits the current draw of the DC to DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Elbit Systems of America, LLC
    Inventors: Eli Ashkenazy, Jesse Terrell
  • Patent number: 10331150
    Abstract: A power supply device and current equalization method wherein the device includes: a plurality of power modules connected in parallel and a plurality of current equalization modules; two adjacent power modules corresponding to a current equalization module, each power module including: voltage output unit, power stage unit, and control unit; each current equalization module including: first and second current sampling conversion units, and error comparison unit; by using the error comparison unit to compare difference between load currents of two adjacent power modules and generating corresponding first control voltage based on the load currents, and the control unit generating the second control voltage based on the first control voltage to control the power stage unit to change the output voltage according to the second control voltage changing. The device accurately achieves current equalization of power modules connected in parallel and simplifies complexity of power supply device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Bobiao Chang
  • Patent number: 10296058
    Abstract: Connectors having contact structures that may generate a low amount of EMI outside of an electronic device housing the connector structure, may further provide isolation from EMI present outside of the electronic device, and reduce the chance of a user or user's property encountering a power supply on an exposed contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Meng Chi Lee, Ayewin Oung, Eric S. Jol
  • Patent number: 10263456
    Abstract: A three-port bidirectional DC-DC converter for grid-interactive renewable energy source system applications. The three-phase topology is suitable for residential power requirements. The control of the backup battery system and the renewable energy source system are naturally decoupled. In addition, the port interface with the renewable energy is current type, which can implement maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and soft switching under wide variations in the renewable energy source terminal voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhan Wang, Hui Li
  • Patent number: 10201050
    Abstract: A constant power backup power supply for LED lighting fixtures is disclosed. The power supply includes a storage battery that is charged while an AC power source is in an ON condition. When AC power transitions to an OFF condition, a capacitor bank charged by the battery supplies current to the primary side of a flyback converter operating in discontinuous conduction mode. The secondary side of the flyback converter supplies constant output power to the LED lighting fixture for an arbitrary output voltage within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: IOTA ENGINEERING, LLC
    Inventor: Jie Wang
  • Patent number: 10186876
    Abstract: A battery module charging and discharging control method comprising: determining the charging priority of battery modules in a battery system; raising the charging priority of the battery modules that are more difficult to unload, load, and/or replace; lowering the charging priority of the battery modules that are easier to unload, load, and/or replace; causing the battery modules with higher charging priority to take precedence over the battery modules with lower charging priority during the charging control of the battery modules; determining the discharging priority of the battery modules; raising the discharging priority of the battery modules that are easier to unload, load, and/or replace; and lowering the discharging priority of the battery modules that are more difficult to unload, load, and/or replace; causing the battery modules with higher discharging priority to take precedence over the battery modules with lower discharging priority during the discharging control of the battery modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Inventors: Ka Yin Victor Chan, Sok Lei Leong
  • Patent number: 10158286
    Abstract: In this DC/DC converter, a first switching circuit is connected between a first winding of a transformer and a DC power supply, and a second switching circuit is connected between a second winding and a battery. A control circuit includes a first circuit for performing feedback control so as to reduce a difference between a detected value and a command value of charge current, and a second circuit for correcting one of control input and output of the first circuit on the basis of the detected value and the command value. In charging the battery, the control circuit controls a phase shift amount of a first diagonal element in the first switching circuit and a phase shift amount of a second diagonal element in the second switching circuit relative to the drive phase of a first reference element in the first switching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Higaki, Ryota Kondo, Masaki Yamada
  • Patent number: 10148118
    Abstract: The embodiments herein achieve a system including a first mobile device; a second mobile device; a garment device; and a control unit. The garment device includes a first connection unit formed in a first area corresponding to a position on which the first mobile device is worn, a second connection unit formed at a position on which the second mobile device is worn, and a fabric cable electrically connected with the first connection unit and the second connection unit. Further, the control unit is configured to control one of a charging of the second mobile device from the first mobile device, and a charging of the first mobile device from the second mobile device based on a charging direction, wherein the charging direction is determined based on a battery information of one of the first mobile device and the second mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Futureplay, Inc.
    Inventors: Sungjae Hwang, Jongho Kim
  • Patent number: 10073474
    Abstract: A method of controlling a current flowing through a load including the steps of: applying a first transfer function representative of the load to a first voltage to obtain a second voltage; applying the second voltage to a first terminal of a circuit for generating the current; sampling a third voltage between first and second terminals of the load; comparing the third voltage with the second voltage; and determining the current to be supplied to the load according to the result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Alps) SAS
    Inventors: Patrik Arno, Alexandre Balmefrezol
  • Patent number: 10044283
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a synchronous rectification control circuit in a flyback converter, can include: a first control circuit that receives a drain-source voltage signal of a synchronous rectifier switch and a flyback converter output voltage, and generates a first control signal based on a conduction time of a primary-side power switch; a second control circuit configured to receive the drain-source voltage signal, and to generate a second control signal; when the primary-side power switch is turned off, and the first control signal is greater than a threshold value, the second control signal controls a switching operation of the synchronous rectifier switch; and when the primary-side power switch is turned off, and the first control signal is less than the threshold value, the synchronous rectifier switch is configured to stop operation, before the primary-side power switch is turned on again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventor: Jian Deng
  • Patent number: 10020745
    Abstract: Disclosed is a PWM controller with programmable switching frequency for PSR/SSR flyback converter so as to maximize the performance-to-cost ratio by tailor-making the switching frequency as a non-decreasing function of the output load and the maximum switching frequency as a non-increasing function of the input voltage, leading to a plurality of programmable voltage-dependent frequency-load curves, making possible the downsizing of flyback transformer while facilitating the simultaneous compliance with DoE and CoC efficiency requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: INNO-TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ching-Yuan Lin, Shu-Chia Lin, Wen-Yueh Hsieh, Chih Feng Lin
  • Patent number: 9997317
    Abstract: A switching system includes a control circuit that receives On-Off signals indicative of a desired operating state of a switch. The control circuit includes an oscillator that generates a first electrical pulse responsive having a first signal characteristic or a second signal characteristic that is determined by the received On-Off signal, which may be related to a frequency or duty cycle of the pulse. A pulse transformer connected to the oscillator receives the first electrical pulse and outputs a second electrical pulse having the same one of the first signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic as the first electrical pulse. A pulse detection circuit in the control circuit receives the second electrical pulse, determines whether the second electrical pulse has the first signal characteristic or the second signal characteristic, and controls transmission of power and control signals to the switch based on this determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yanfei Liu, Glenn Scott Claydon, Christopher Fred Keimel, Christian Michael Giovanniello, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9887579
    Abstract: A current control circuit (208) for a power converter (200) to control the switching thereof, wherein the current control circuit comprises a digital controller (210) using a logical input signal (226) to produce a logical control signal (212) with a fixed fundamental frequency for the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Olivier Berard
  • Patent number: 9859747
    Abstract: The embodiments herein achieve a system including a first mobile device; a second mobile device; a garment device; and a control unit. The garment device includes a first connection unit formed in a first area corresponding to a position on which the first mobile device is worn, a second connection unit formed at a position on which the second mobile device is worn, and a fabric cable electrically connected with the first connection unit and the second connection unit. Further, the control unit is configured to control one of a charging of the second mobile device from the first mobile device, and a charging of the first mobile device from the second mobile device based on a charging direction, wherein the charging direction is determined based on a battery information of one of the first mobile device and the second mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Futureplay, Inc.
    Inventors: Sungjae Hwang, Jongho Kim
  • Patent number: 9837918
    Abstract: A converter circuit includes an inverter and a controller. The inverter is configured to receive an input voltage and to convert the input voltage into a primary-side alternating-current (AC) voltage in a first inversion mode or a second inversion mode. Each of a first switch unit and a second switch unit in the inverter includes switches. When the converter circuit works in the first inversion mode, the controller controls switches of the first switch unit and the second switch unit to cooperatively switch on and switch off periodically according to an output voltage corresponding to the primary-side AC voltage. When the converter circuit works in the second inversion mode, the controller controls the first switch unit to operate independently, in which the switches of the first switch unit switch on and switch off periodically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Qing Ye, Chao Yan, Li-Ping Sun