Including D.c.-a.c.-d.c. Converter Patents (Class 363/15)
  • Patent number: 9825527
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal generates a sawtooth ramp signal at a first frequency under standard operating conditions using a ramp generator, and generates a sawtooth ramp at a second frequency under alternative operating conditions. The sawtooth ramp is combined with an error threshold by a PWM controller to generate a square wave PWM control signal. The error threshold is adjusted simultaneous with adjusting the frequency of the sawtooth ramp, thereby preventing either a voltage overshoot and a voltage undershoot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail Zarkhin, Alfons Fisch
  • Patent number: 9780677
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for providing electrical power for use in powering electronic devices is described herein. The electrical circuit includes a primary power circuit and a secondary power circuit. The primary power circuit receives an alternating current (AC) input power signal from an electrical power source and generates an intermediate direct current (DC) power signal. The intermediate DC power signal is generated at a first voltage level that is less than a voltage level of the AC input power signal. The secondary power circuit receives the intermediate DC power signal from the primary power circuit and delivers an output DC power signal to an electronic device. The output DC power signal is delivered at an output voltage level that is less than the first voltage level of the intermediate DC power signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Advanced Charging Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Freeman, W.J. “Jim” Weaver, Jr., Mitchael C. Freeman, Robert Dieter, Glenn Noufer, Randall L. Sandusky, Jim Sesters, Neaz E. Farooqi, Jim Devoy, Jay Cormier, Silvia Jaeckel, Andrea Baschirotto, Piero Malcovati
  • Patent number: 9742296
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power conversion circuit system in which a circulating current can be reduced by accurately detecting the circulating current, to thereby improve efficiency in power conversion. The power conversion circuit system includes a power conversion circuit composed of a primary conversion circuit having left and right arms and a secondary conversion circuit having left and right arms, and a control circuit for controlling switching of switching transistors in the primary and secondary conversion circuits. The control circuit detects the circulating current at at least one of timings lagged by ?/2+?/2 from at least either a peak timing or a valley timing in a carrier counter where ? represents a difference in phase between the primary and secondary conversion circuits, and performs feedback control for reducing the detected circulating current to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuntaro Inoue, Kenichi Takagi, Takahide Sugiyama, Kenichiro Nagashita, Masaki Okamura, Yoshitaka Niimi
  • Patent number: 9613743
    Abstract: Electromagnetic transformer components include a magnetic core and at least two conductors assembled with the core and defining respective windings completing different numbers of turns. The conductors are fabricated from a composite material including carbon nanotubes having an improved conductivity. The transformer is fabricated to have performance parameters that are selected in view of a function of a ratio of conductivity and/or a function of a ratio of effective diameter of the composite conductor material relative to a reference conductor material as conventionally used in a transformer fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: COOPER TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Frank Anthony Doljack
  • Patent number: 9537406
    Abstract: A flyback controller featuring bidirectional power control and parallelly-connected power modules is based on flyback DC-DC converters for allowing bidirectional energy flow and transformation. The flyback controller includes two bidirectional DC-DC converters that are connected in parallel. The bidirectional DC-DC converters are electrically connected with a digital-signal processor. The digital-signal processor controls the bidirectional DC-DC converters and current thereof, so that the current flows evenly across the bidirectional DC-DC converters. Thereby, the flyback controller has advantages about simplified components and increased power output, and is suitable for testing secondary batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: CHYNG HONG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mu-Chun Lin
  • Patent number: 9484831
    Abstract: The number of constituent components is reduced so as to provide a small-size and inexpensive electric-power conversion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Mao Kawamura
  • Patent number: 9484737
    Abstract: A protector that protects a rectifier, and a wireless power receiver including the protector are provided. In one embodiment, a protector for an electronic device may include: a switch configured to control current flow to a rectifier of the electronic device; and a switch controller configured to: compare, with a predetermined threshold value, a voltage difference between an output voltage of the rectifier and a voltage of the electronic device; and transmit a control signal to the switch (i) to discontinue current flow to the rectifier when the voltage difference is greater than the predetermined threshold value, and (ii) to enable current flow to rectifier when the voltage difference is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Zo Kim, Sang Wook Kwon, Yun Kwon Park, Eun Seok Park, Young Tack Hong, Ki Young Kim, Young Ho Ryu, Nam Yun Kim, Jin Sung Choi
  • Patent number: 9479061
    Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter assembly includes an inverter having first and second terminals connectable to a power transmission network. The inverter has a modular multilevel converter including a first inverter limb extending between the first and second terminals with first and second inverter limb portions separated by a third terminal. Each inverter limb portion includes at least one rationalized module having first and second sets of series-connected current flow control elements connected in parallel with an energy storage device. The current flow control elements include an active switching element directing current through the energy storage device and a passive current check element limiting current flow to one direction. The current flow control elements and energy storage device provide a voltage source to synthesize an AC voltage at the third terminal. A rectifier is electrically connected to the third terminal and connectable to a second power transmission network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: David Reginald Trainer, Nnamdi Okaeme
  • Patent number: 9461555
    Abstract: A multilevel current source converter (CSC) for controlling electrical power transmission in a high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system includes an alternating current (AC) side for input/output of AC to/from the CSC; a direct current (DC) side for input/output of DC to/from the CSC; and a plurality of modular CSC cells connected in parallel with each other between the AC side and the DC side of the CSC, each modular cell comprising a plurality of switches. The CSC is configured for being connected in series with an HVDC transmission line and for injecting a voltage in series with the HVDC transmission line at the DC side of the CSC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: ABB TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Amit Kumar, Subhasish Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 9373439
    Abstract: A transformer is configured to receive an input electrical signal at input nodes and supply an output electrical signal at output nodes. The transformer includes windings wound on the core between the input and output nodes. The windings define a signal path to transform the input electrical signal into the output electrical signal along the signal path. The transformer includes a first insulated conductive layer arranged between first and second windings configured to receive a first bias voltage. The transformer includes a second insulated conductive layer arranged spatially proximate to the first and second windings configured to receive a second bias voltage. The first and second insulated conductive layers form an electrostatic field that is based on a potential difference between the first and second bias voltages independent of the signal path. The windings are arranged to be within the formed electrostatic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: The Quest Group
    Inventor: Garth Judson Powell
  • Patent number: 9343906
    Abstract: A method for initializing a power inverter of a photovoltaic system includes: opening an AC mains switch and a DC switch to disconnect the power inverter from an electrical grid and to disconnect a capacitor bank associated with the inverter from a solar cell array; closing the AC mains switch to allow power to flow from an electrical grid to the DC capacitor bank to charge the DC capacitor bank; monitoring the DC capacitor bank until a desired voltage is reached; initiating the operation of the power inverter; stabilizing the DC voltage received from the DC capacitor bank at a predetermined power up voltage for the power inverter; waiting for an inverter initialization period to elapse; and adjusting DC voltage received by the power inverter to a voltage associated with a maximum power output level of the solar cell array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Solar Inverters USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl Kaiser
  • Patent number: 9270187
    Abstract: An electric power conversion system includes: a primary electric power conversion circuit including a primary coil connected to a connection point between a plurality of transistors; a secondary electric power conversion circuit configured similarly to the primary electric power conversion circuit and including a secondary coil corresponding to the primary coil; and a control circuit controlling transfer of electric power between the primary and secondary electric power conversion circuits. The control circuit executes feedforward control for setting one of an on/off ratio of a terminal voltage signal of the primary coil and an on/off ratio of a terminal voltage signal of the secondary coil, in response to at least one of fluctuations in voltage ratio between both waveforms and fluctuations in phase symmetry between both waveforms, when the terminal voltage waveform of the primary coil and the terminal voltage waveform of the secondary coil are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Takagi, Masanori Ishigaki, Takaji Umeno, Takahiro Hirano, Jun Muto, Yasuharu Terada, Kenichiro Nagashita
  • Patent number: 9215100
    Abstract: A data acquisition circuit may isolate control and data decode logic elements from data acquisition elements such as sensors through the use of a single transformer. A control signal may be supplied to a primary winding of a transformer by alternately opening and closing a push switch and a pull switch. First and second analog to digital converter circuits may receive analog signals and convert them to data signals, which may appear on the secondary winding of the transformer. Data signals may be substantially received by a data demodulator circuit on the primary side of the data acquisition circuit. The data demodulator circuit may compare a voltage associated with the received signal to a threshold voltage and output a result of the comparison to the control and data decode logic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Hogan
  • Patent number: 9144143
    Abstract: Systems and methods include a voltage transformer connected to a power source. The voltage transformer transforms a high voltage of the power source to a first low voltage signal. Regulators are connected to the voltage transformer, and the regulators receive the first low voltage signal from the voltage transformer and convert the first low voltage signal to a second low voltage signal. A remote device is connected to each of the regulators. The remote device is powered by the second low voltage signal from the regulator to which it is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Reza Raji, Paul J. Dawes
  • Patent number: 9077258
    Abstract: A regulation circuit of a power converter for cable compensation according to the present invention comprises a signal generator generating a compensation signal in accordance with a synchronous rectifying signal. An error amplifier has a reference signal for generating a feedback signal in accordance with an output voltage of the power converter. The compensation signal is coupled to program the reference signal. The feedback signal is coupled to generate a switching signal for regulating an output of the power converter. The regulation circuit of the present invention compensates the output voltage without a shunt resistor to sense the output current of the power converter for reducing power loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Chou-Sheng Wang
  • Publication number: 20150138837
    Abstract: A converter with at least one primary side having a first set of coils magnetically coupled to at least one secondary side having at least a second set of coils, wherein the primary side is electrically isolated from the secondary side by an isolation barrier, wherein one of the secondary sides is configured to be connected to an external output unit, wherein the primary side is magnetically coupled to another secondary side having a third set of coils which coils are configured to be coupled to an external input unit, wherein the two secondary sides are electrically isolated from each other by a second isolation barrier, wherein the three sets of coils are magnetically coupled to each other via a common magnetic path. The converter provides an isolated current-to-current transfer between the input side and the output side which replicates the input current with high accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: PR ELECTRONICS A/S
    Inventor: Stig Alnøe Lindemann
  • Patent number: 9036370
    Abstract: A power converter including: a first controlled current source configured to control current flowing on a DC supply bus of the converter, a switch connected to a second current source and to a third current source and to each of input phases of the converter, a first controller configured to control the first current source to impose a current on the DC supply bus, and a second controller synchronized with the first controller and configured to control the second current source and the third current source to impose a current on one of the input phases selected with aid of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Arnaud Videt, Hocine Boulharts, Heu Vang
  • Patent number: 9036369
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for programming a parameter value in an IC (e.g., any power electronic device, such as a controller of a power converter) are disclosed. The parameter can be selected/programmed by selecting a clamp using an external optional (selectively inserted) diode coupled to a multi-function programming terminal. In particular, a controller IC for a power converter can be externally programmed via one or more multiple function terminals during startup of the converter to select between two or more options using the external programming terminal(s). Once programming is complete, internal programming circuitry may be decoupled from the programming terminal and during normal operation the programming terminal may then be used for another function, such as a bypass (BP) terminal to provide a supply voltage to the IC or other required functionalities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Mayell, Yury Gaknoki, Mingming Mao
  • Patent number: 9024477
    Abstract: A high voltage power source device includes piezoelectric transformers, each of the piezoelectric transformers being formed with a primary electrode and a secondary electrode on piezoelectric ceramics, receiving a primary voltage at the primary electrode, and generating a second voltage from the secondary electrode, switching elements, each of the switching elements driving a respective one of the piezoelectric transformers, and primary voltage supply devices, each of the primary voltage supply devices supplying the primary voltage to the primary electrode of the respective one of the piezoelectric transformers by driving the respective one of the switching elements when the secondary voltage is generated from the respective one of the second electrodes, wherein the respective one of the primary voltage supply devices supplies the primary voltage to the respective one of the primary electrodes by driving the respective one of the switching elements at the same frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Ryo Takatsuka
  • Patent number: 9001529
    Abstract: The present invention employs system and method in for distinguishing between power capabilities of various external power sources and a system that can communicate the identified power capabilities to the secondary side of the wireless power transfer system. Once the secondary side of the wireless power transfer system receives the power capability information, it adjusts the current available for a payload in accordance with the information received on power source capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Vladimir Alexander Muratov
  • Publication number: 20150062970
    Abstract: Power supplies together with related over voltage protection methods and apparatuses. A power supply has a transformer including a primary winding and an auxiliary winding. A power switch is coupled to the primary winding and a sensing resistor coupled between the power switch and a grounding line. A multi-function terminal of a controller is coupled to the sensing resistor. A diode and a first resistor is coupled between the auxiliary winding and the multi-function terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Kuo-Chien Huang, Ren-Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 8971057
    Abstract: The invention provides a bidirectional converter that operates under an AC generation mode or a charge mode. The bidirectional converter may be a single component or circuit, which may include a DC-DC conversion stage using a unique “Smith 2 Stage conversion” technique and a DC-AC conversion stage or AC-DC conversion stage using a switchable filter depending on the mode. During the charge mode, the converter may be able to control the voltage and current of the DC output using a software algorithm, to match the battery being charged, or the DC receiver. This may enable the converter to control the nature of the DC output so it can be adapted to any energy storage technology. The controllable output voltage and synchronizable frequency may allow the converter to be used in series combinations to achieve a variety of high voltage outputs from simpler building blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Stem, Inc
    Inventor: Lynn B. Smith
  • Patent number: 8958216
    Abstract: A digital isolation circuit includes an encode circuit, a planar magnetic circuit, and a decode circuit. The encode circuit receives an input signal and divides the input signal into a first signal pulse and a second signal pulse. The planar magnetic circuit is coupled to an output of the encode circuit. The planar magnetic circuit includes a primary winding, a secondary winding and a magnetic core. The primary winding is magnetically coupled to the secondary winding through the magnetic core to generate an isolated output signal in response to the pair of signal pulses. The decode circuit receives the isolated output signal from the secondary winding to generate an output signal substantially identical to input signal. A method of digitally isolating a square wave input signal from an output signal using the digital isolation circuit is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Howard Kohler, Stephen Mark Jackson
  • Publication number: 20150042242
    Abstract: A driver port that provides selectable output currents based on connections thereto, and a driver including the same, is provided. A plurality of shunt resistors are connected in series between a negative output of a driver and a ground. A driver port having a plurality of connection points is provided, each respective connection point connected to a different connection between two of the plurality of shunt resistors. A load including one or more solid state light sources is capable of being connected between one of the connection points of the driver port and a positive output of the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin Kumar, Markus Ziegler, Naveen Tumula, Thomas Schalton
  • Publication number: 20150036388
    Abstract: A power-supply apparatus is provided which includes a transformer, a primary semiconductor unit, a secondary semiconductor unit, and a secondary electronic device. Each of the primary semiconductor unit and the secondary semiconductor units has a plurality of semiconductor devices installed therein. The transformer, the primary semiconductor unit, the secondary semiconductor unit, and the secondary electronic device are electrically joined through connecting conductors. The transformer is laid on the primary semiconductor unit to make a first stack. Similarly, the secondary electronic device is laid on the secondary semiconductor unit. This permits the power-supply apparatus to be reduced in overall size thereof and minimizes adverse effects of electromagnetic noise to ensure the high efficiency in power supply operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Yuuichi HANDA, Katsutoyo MISAWA, Yuuki TAKEMOTO, Shotaro YAMASAKI, Shuji KURAUCHI
  • Publication number: 20150016150
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-phase converter comprising a plurality of electric phases, each of which can be triggered by a switching means. At least one coupling means (100 to 106) is provided for coupling a phase to another phase, each phase having two windings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Mirko Schinzel, Nils Draese, Richard Schoettle
  • Patent number: 8928181
    Abstract: In a method and in an apparatus for transmission of energy and data, with a primary side, on which an amplifier is arranged, with a secondary side, on which a data source, e.g. a measuring sensor, is arranged, and with a plug-together assembly inductively coupling, galvanically completely isolated, the primary side and the secondary side, to minimize power losses and disturbing influences of fluctuating parameters, power from the plug-together assembly and from the amplifier, preferably a Class-E-amplifier, is controlled to a predeterminable, desired value. For this, a microcontroller taps the primary voltage on the primary winding and produces for the amplifier a controlled operating voltage as well as a controlled operating frequency, in order to keep the working point of the amplifier always in the optimal region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft fur Mess- und Regeltechnik mbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Buschnakowski, Torsten Pechstein, Sven-Matthias Scheibe
  • Publication number: 20150003114
    Abstract: The present invention is to utilize the partial electric energy of a direct current power source for being converted through an electric control unit (ECU101) into alternating polarity electric energy or ripple electric energy, and through a full wave rectifier for generating a direct current auxiliary power source, so as to form a voltage accumulation with the direct current power source, and a direct current output terminal is served to output the boosted direct current electric energy, thus a full power transformer is not required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Publication number: 20140355308
    Abstract: Techniques and devices related to power adapters for mobile devices and, in particular, small form factor power adapters that allow a voltage droop during a power pulse exceeding a maximum output of the power adapter are discussed. For example, a small form factor and low voltage power adapter may include an adapter output power protection control that limits an output of the power adapter in response to a power pulse exceeding a maximum output of the power adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: ALEXANDER UAN-ZO-LI, CHRISTINE KIM, THYAGARAJAN SRINIVASAN, GEORGE DASKALAKIS
  • Publication number: 20140340938
    Abstract: Disclosed is a flyback converter using a coaxial cable transformer which includes: a flyback driving unit that supplies a primary current; a transformer that is formed by winding a cable, which has a plurality of inner conductors as a primary cable and an outer conductor enclosing the inner conductors as a secondary cable, around a magnetic core and by connecting both ends of the primary cable and that receives the primary current and outputs a secondary current in accordance with the turn ratio of the primary cable and the secondary cable; a rectifying diode that rectifies the secondary current; and an output capacitor that smoothes a voltage through the rectifying diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Joung Hu Park, Do Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8891262
    Abstract: A series-switch bridgeless power supply provides common-mode EMI filtering. The power supply includes a center-tapped inductive device bifurcated into first and second windings. The AC input, provided at first and second input terminals, is applied to the center-tap of the inductive device. First and second switches are connected to distal ends of the first and second windings, respectively, and are connected in series with one another to form a circuit path from the first input terminal, through the inductive device and each of the series-connected switches, back through the inductive device and to the second input terminal. A controller turns the switches On and Off to modulate the current through the inductive device. Common-mode voltage generated by the modulation of the first and second switches is filtered by connection of each switch to a junction defined between a pair of capacitors connected in series between the first and second input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Polar Semiconductor, LLC
    Inventor: Crispin Metzler
  • Publication number: 20140334185
    Abstract: A switching power supply apparatus includes an isolated converter that has efficiency characteristics in which power conversion efficiency at a rated load is higher than power conversion efficiency at a light load and that converts power-supply voltage into direct-current voltage to output the direct-current voltage; an FET that switches supply and shutoff of the power-supply voltage to the isolated converter; a secondary battery that stores the direct-current voltage output from the isolated converter; a voltage detector that detects an amount of charge in the secondary battery; and a controller that switches the FET on the basis of the amount of charge in the secondary battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: Tatsuya HOSOTANI
  • Publication number: 20140334186
    Abstract: An energy-saving power converter includes a first switch unit, a transformer primary side, a transformer secondary side, a diode subunit, a switch subunit, a comparison unit, a current sensor, and a resistor. The transformer primary side starts storing energy when the first switch unit is turned on. The transformer secondary side sends a secondary side current to the current sensor through the diode subunit when the first switch unit is turned off. The current sensor informs the comparison unit and the resistor when the current sensor senses the secondary side current. The resistor is used to transform the secondary side current into voltage form for entering the comparison unit. The comparison unit is configured to turn on the switch subunit, so that the secondary side current is passing through the switch subunit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Chicony Power Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shih-Min LIN
  • Publication number: 20140313782
    Abstract: A power adaptor is provided. The power adaptor includes a voltage converter, a connecting port, a first transformer and a controller. The voltage converter receives an input voltage and determines whether to convert the input voltage to an output voltage according to an indicating signal. The first transformer includes a primary side and a secondary side. The primary side and the secondary side are coupled to each other, and a first end and a second end of the secondary side are coupled to the connecting port, respectively. The controller generates the indicating signal according to a voltage at the primary side of the first transformer. The connecting port is used to connect to an electrical device, and when the connecting port is electrically connected to the electrical device, a first end and a second end of the secondary side are short to a reference ground end of the secondary side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Yu-Cheng Shen, Yu Hung
  • Publication number: 20140307479
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a switching control and a sensor. The switching control generates a first signal to control switching of a power switch between a first state and a second state. The sensor receives a second signal from a single terminal of the controller during at least a portion of the time that the power switch is in the first state and during at least a portion of the time that the power switch is in the second state. The second signal is representative of a line input voltage during at least the portion of time that the power switch is in the first state and is representative of an output voltage during at least the portion of time that the power switch is in the second state. The sensor is coupled to be responsive to the first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Balu Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20140307478
    Abstract: An LLC converter having a primary side burst control circuit, and a secondary side regulator circuit. The primary side burst control circuit has an inner feedback loop circuit for adjusting the LLC operating frequency to control the power drawn by the LLC converter proportional to an optical feedback signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: Joseph M. Leisten
  • Patent number: 8861228
    Abstract: A high voltage controller configured to drive a high voltage generator. The high voltage controller includes a voltage select input and a current select input, an actual voltage input and an actual current input. First circuitry is configured to generate an alternating current (AC) drive signal. Second circuitry configured to generate a direct current (DC) drive signal. Closed loop control circuitry is configured to adjust the DC drive signal based on at least one of the voltage select and current select inputs and at least one of the actual voltage and actual current inputs. The first circuitry may include a push-pull circuit. The second circuitry may include a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller. A high voltage generator may be coupled to the AC and DC drive signals. The high voltage generator may include a high voltage transformer having a pair of primary windings and center tap. The AC drive signal may be coupled to the primary windings and the DC drive signal may be coupled to the center tap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Durr Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Farhad Berton, Josef Braun
  • Publication number: 20140293656
    Abstract: A DC to DC converter assembly, for connecting first and second high voltage DC power transmission networks, comprising first and second modular multilevel converters, each converter including a first converter limb having first and second limb portions, each limb portion including a least one module switchable to selectively provide a voltage source and thereby vary the magnitude ratio of a DC voltage (V1, V2) across the first and second terminals of a respective converter and an AC voltage (VAC) at the third terminal of the corresponding converter, the DC to DC converter assembly further including a first link electrically connecting the third terminal of one converter, with the third terminal of the other converter, and at least one converter further including a controller configured to switch the first and second limb portions in the first converter limb of the said converter into simultaneous conduction to divert a portion (IDiV1) of current flowing within the said converter away from the first link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: David Reginald Trainer, Nnamdi Okaeme
  • Publication number: 20140293655
    Abstract: A reactor 1A of the present invention includes a sleeve-like coil 2, a magnetic core 3A having an inner core portion 31 disposed inside the coil 2 and an outer core portion 32A disposed outside the coil 2 to form a closed magnetic path with the inner core portion 31, and a case 4 storing the coil 2 and the magnetic core 3A. The case 4 is made of non-magnetic metal such as aluminum, and structured by a pair of bottomed sleeve-like bottomed case pieces 41 and 42. The outer core portion 32A is a mold product (a hardened mold product) of a mixture of magnetic powder and resin, and integrally molded with the bottomed case pieces 41 and 42. Since the case 4 and the outer core portion 32A are integrally molded, they exhibit excellent adhesion, and consequently, the heat dissipating characteristic of the reactor 1A can be enhanced. Further, since the case 4 and the outer core portion 32A are integrally molded, excellent assemblability is exhibited, and consequently, excellent productivity is also achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicants: autoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Inaba
  • Publication number: 20140285263
    Abstract: A power supply injects a series of “tickle” pulses into a pulse width modulated (PWM) controller to induce the controller to generate PWM pulses at a minimum switching frequency, preferably one that is super-sonic (especially for audio applications). The switching frequency may also be selected or controlled such that it avoids resonances in the power supply. The “tickle” pulses may be clocked by the same clock that times the PWM controller, and they may be shaped to help ensure that the power supply maintains some regulation during low-load conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth B. DelPapa, Michael Nussbaum, Andrew Ferencz
  • Publication number: 20140268889
    Abstract: Example devices and methods for compensating for a voltage imbalance within a power supply are provided. In one example, a device comprises a plurality of transformers coupled in series and having respective outputs coupled together, and the plurality of transformers are configured to receive an input voltage. Transformers of the plurality of transformers are configured to receive a capacitor voltage as the input voltage. The device also comprises a control module configured to receive the input voltage as input to each of the plurality of transformers and a feedback signal that includes an output of the series of transformers, and the control module is configured to control switching devices for each of the plurality of transformers so as to control operation of the plurality of transformers to compensate for a voltage imbalance of the voltage across the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: ASCO POWER TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
    Inventors: Matthew Arthur Scott, Glenn Edward Wilson
  • Publication number: 20140254201
    Abstract: A power supply for prolonging a hold-up time includes a main power supply system, and a hold-up power supply system connected in parallel to a power factor correction unit in the main power supply system. The hold-up power supply system includes an isolation transformer element connected to the power factor correction unit for receiving and transforming a first power to a third power, a power storage element for receiving the third power and storing as a hold-up power, and a power comparison unit connected between the power factor correction unit and the power storage element. The power comparison unit compares a second power generated from phase modulation performed by the power factor correction unit and the hold-up power, and outputs the hold-up power when the second power is smaller than the hold-up power, so as to sustain the power modulation unit to continue operating for a hold-up time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: ZIPPY TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Tsun-Te SHIH, Yu-Yuan CHANG, Tien -Wei CHANG
  • Publication number: 20140247624
    Abstract: The invention provides a passive converter comprising an input for electrical coupling to an intermittent or variable power source, an output for electrical coupling to load, and a conversion circuit for converting from a first voltage level of the input to a second voltage level suitable for the output, wherein the conversion circuit includes a passive switching circuit adapted to passively couple the input to the output when the input exceeds a first threshold and decouple the input from the output when the input falls below a second threshold. In particular, the passive switching circuit preferably comprises a spark gap, thyristor and avalanche diode, breakover diode, discharge tube, or a thyristor operated as breakover diodes. Circuits and dielectric elastomer generator (DEG) systems including the passive converter are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: AUCKLAND UNISERVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: Iain Alexander Anderson, Todd Alan Gisby, Ho Cheong Lo, Thomas Gregory McKay, Benjamin Marc O'Brien
  • Patent number: 8817492
    Abstract: A DC/DC converter includes two input terminals for a DC input voltage, two output terminals for a DC output voltage, an inverter converting a DC voltage into an AC voltage, and a rectifier converting an AC voltage from the inverter into a DC voltage between a first one of the input terminals and a first one of the output terminals. At least one galvanically isolating element is arranged between the output of the inverter and the input of the rectifier, and a capacitance is coupled between the output terminals. The inverter converts a partial DC voltage, being smaller than the full DC input voltage, across a capacitance between the second one of the input terminals and the second one of the output terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Klaus Rigbers, Carsten Althof, Frank Papenfuss
  • Publication number: 20140226366
    Abstract: A signal transmission circuit includes an isolation circuit, first and second grounded gate circuits, first and second MOS transistors, and a comparator. The isolation circuit such as a thin-film transformer outputs complementary first and second output signals, based on an input signal. The first and second grounded gate circuits receive and amplify the first and second output signals, respectively. The first and second MOS transistors are connected between a power supply node and the first and second grounded gate circuits, respectively, for adjusting the first and second output signals. The comparator compares output from the first grounded gate circuit with output from the second grounded gate circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Morokuma, Jun Tomisawa
  • Patent number: 8796956
    Abstract: A driving device comprises a first transistor (B13), a second transistor (B14), and a resistance element. The first transistor (B13) has one terminal receiving a pulsed current and a control terminal connected to the one terminal. The second transistor (B14) has one terminal connected to at least one load, the other terminal connected to a reference potential together with the other terminal of the first transistor (B13), and a control terminal connected to the control terminal of the first transistor (B13). The resistance element is connected between the control terminal of the first transistor (B13) and the other terminal of the first transistor (B13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Kawata, Yoichi Kajiwara
  • Publication number: 20140211511
    Abstract: A device for detecting an average output current of a power converter includes a current generation unit, a first voltage generation unit, a first current mirror unit, and a second current mirror unit. The current generation unit generates a first charge current according to an intermediate voltage. The first voltage generation unit generates a first node voltage according to the first charge current, a first discharge current, a turning-on time, and an inverse turning-on time. The first current mirror unit generates a first current according to the first node voltage, and generates a second voltage corresponding to the average output current of a secondary side of the power converter according to the first current. The second current mirror unit generates the first discharge current according to the first current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Leadtrend Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Meng-Jen Tsai, Chih-Chi Chang, Ming-Chang Tsou
  • Publication number: 20140211510
    Abstract: A method for sensing an output voltage in a voltage converter includes at least one switching element and a transformer. A voltage is sampled across an auxiliary winding or a signal obtained from the voltage across an auxiliary winding in order to obtain a plurality of samples after the at least one switching element has assumed a first operation state and until the auxiliary voltage reaches a predefined threshold. The auxiliary winding is inductively coupled with the transformer. At least one sample obtained is evaluated before the auxiliary voltage reaches the predefined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventor: Martin Feldtkeller
  • Publication number: 20140211512
    Abstract: A modular power supply is provided. The modular power supply includes multiple inverters and a controller. Each inverter is configured to receive an input voltage and provide an output to a load. The controller is configured to provide a synchronization signal to each inverter of the plurality of inverters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Thermal Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Steven W. Norris, Roger M. Chamberlin, Michael Sawchik
  • Patent number: 8790838
    Abstract: A fuel cell system capable of improving the voltage controllability of a converter provided in the system is provided. A controller judges whether or not a passing power of a DC/DC converter falls within a reduced response performance area for the number of active phases as of the present moment. When the controller determines that the passing power of the DC/DC converter falls within the reduced response performance area, the controller determines the number of phases which avoids the driving within the reduced response performance area, and outputs a command for switching to the determined number of phases (phase switching command) to the DC/DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiko Hasegawa, Kota Manabe