Having Transistorized Inverter Patents (Class 363/16)
  • Patent number: 8345450
    Abstract: The configurations of a DC/DC resonant converter and a controlling method thereof are provided. The proposed converter includes an over-current protection apparatus including a first switch element having a first and a second terminals, and a first voltage element having a negative terminal coupled to a positive terminal of a DC input voltage source and a positive terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first switch element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chao Yan, Jianhong Zeng, Wenxin Zhang, Yiqing Ye, Jianping Ying, Peter Barbosa, Wen-Chang Lee
  • Patent number: 8346166
    Abstract: An adaptive inductive ballast is provided with the capability to communicate with a remote device powered by the ballast. To improve the operation of the ballast, the ballast changes its operating characteristics based upon information received from the remote device. Further, the ballast may provide a path for the remote device to communicate with device other than the adaptive inductive ballast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    Inventor: David W. Baarman
  • Publication number: 20120327690
    Abstract: A power control system includes a transformer and a controller regulates a current on a secondary-side of the transformer based on a primary-side signal value. In at least one embodiment, the secondary-side current is a current out of a filter coupled to a rectifier and the secondary-side of the transformer and into a load. In at least one embodiment, the primary-side signal value is a sample of a current in the primary-side windings of the transformer. In at least one embodiment, the primary-side signal value represents a sample value of a primary-side transformer current. Proper timing of sampling the primary-side signal value substantially eliminates contributions of a transformer magnetizing current from the primary-side transformer current sample. Sampling the primary-side signal value when contributions of the transformer magnetizing current are substantially eliminated allows at least an average of the secondary-side current to be determined from the primary-side signal value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventor: John L. Melanson
  • Publication number: 20120327689
    Abstract: A power supply with a digital control circuit generates an output voltage by driving a piezoelectric transducer with an alternating current voltage at a digitally controlled driving frequency. To skip over a spurious frequency, the driving frequency is switched between a first range above the spurious frequency and a second range below the spurious frequency. Within the first and second ranges, the driving frequency is varied in directions that make the output voltage track a target voltage. If the driving frequency arrives at the lower limit of the first range, it jumps to a switchover frequency in the second range. The first range can be used to generate a comparatively low output voltage, and the second range to generate a comparatively high output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Toru KOSAKA
  • Patent number: 8339809
    Abstract: A switching power supply device includes a transformer, a switching unit which is connected with a primary winding of the transformer and configured to switch a current flowing to the primary winding, a start unit configured to start the switching unit, a voltage drop unit configured to lower output voltage from a secondary winding of the transform, and a current control unit configured to control an amount of a current flowing in the start unit when the switching unit is in an off state by lowering output voltage by the voltage drop unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Nakata
  • Patent number: 8339810
    Abstract: A ground power unit having a power supply unit capable of accepting a wide range of AC input voltages and producing one or more DC power signals for powering components of the GPU is disclosed. In one embodiment, the power supply unit includes a rectifier that converts an AC input power to a DC link power. The power supply unit includes a gate driving circuit that has a power MOSFET transistor which, under the control of a PWM controller, produces a switched DC signal. The DC link power and the output of the gate drive circuitry are provided to a transformer, which modulates the signals and produces a first DC output power signal that is load independent and a second DC output power signal that is load dependent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Milind Ratnaparkhi, Keith Welker
  • Publication number: 20120320632
    Abstract: Power switch controllers and methods used therein are disclosed. An exemplifying power switch controller includes a window provider, a sensor and a logic controller. The window provider provides minimum and maximum time signals to indicate the elapses of a minimum time and a maximum time, respectively. The sensor detects a terminal of an inductive device, to generate a trigger signal. The logic controller prevents a power switch connected to the inductive device from being turned on before the elapse of the minimum time, forces the power switch to be turned on after the elapse of the maximum time, and turns on the power switch if the trigger signal is asserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: SHAMROCK MICRO DEVICES CORP.
    Inventors: Siarhei Kalodka, Chien-Liang Lin, Sergey Gaitukevich
  • Patent number: 8335092
    Abstract: In an ON/OFF type isolated DC-DC converter that stores electromagnetic energy in a main transformer during an ON period of a power switch and releases the electromagnetic energy to an output during an OFF period of the power switch, high-speed, highly stable output voltage control without the need for a photocoupler, for which the allowable temperature range is relatively narrow and the current transfer ratio changes over time, is performed. An integrating circuit including a resistor and a capacitor generates a ramp wave, and the ramp wave is superposed on a reference voltage of a reference voltage source Vref through a capacitor. A comparator compares a voltage Vo that is proportional to an output voltage of a converter with the reference voltage on which the ramp wave has been superposed, and transmits an inversion timing signal through a pulse transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadahiko Matsumoto, Tatsuya Hosotani
  • Publication number: 20120314452
    Abstract: The converter comprises an inverter powered by a DC current source. The inverter powers a conversion unit operating on the basis of controlled magnetic switching obtained by means of power diodes and saturable inductors. A regulator can be used to produce a control voltage that is a function of the output voltage which is regulated with the injection of the control voltage into the circuit comprising the smoothing inductors. According to the invention, during each operating cycle, one of the power diodes is locked when the other power diode switches to conduction mode, such as to create a phase displacement between the input voltage of the conversion unit and the input current of same. The phase displacement angle is a function of the control voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: Centre National D'Etudes Spatiales
    Inventor: Denis Schwander
  • Publication number: 20120313430
    Abstract: A converter operable for powering one or more loads having a variable switching frequency. The switching frequency of the converter being selectable based on a desired output power level and/or whether switching of a plurality of switches of the converter is characterized as zero voltage switching (ZVS) or non-zero voltage switching (NZVS).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiangchun Wu, Richard J. Hampo
  • Patent number: 8331109
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for two serially connected semiconductor switches connected to a voltage supply is provided. Between the semiconductor switches a primary winding of a transformer is connected. A first diode is connected on an anode side to a potential of the voltage supply at a source terminal of the second semiconductor switch and on a cathode side to a first connection terminal facing the first semiconductor switch on the primary winding. A second diode is connected on the cathode side to the potential of the voltage supply at a drain terminal of the first semiconductor switch and on the anode side to a second connection terminal facing the second semiconductor switch on the primary winding. A first secondary winding of the transformer is provided, connected in series between the first diode and the first connection terminal, and a second secondary winding, connected in series between the second diode and the second connection terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wilhelm Appel, Bernhard Eichhorner, Wolfgang Peprny, Arnold Schönleitner
  • Patent number: 8331110
    Abstract: A power converter topology operates as a switching capacitor (capacitive voltage divider) converter during a first, preferably short portion of a switching cycle to provide excellent dynamic transient response and as a pulse width modulated converter during a second portion of a switching cycle to provide flexibility of voltage regulation and generality of application. This topology can be made self-driven and is capable of zero voltage switching. Therefore the power converter can be used as one of a plurality of branches of a multi-phase converter to enhance transient response. The respective branches can also be independently optimized for particular load levels and can be operated independently in a phase shedding manner to improve efficiency at low load. Further, the power converter or respective branches of a multi-phase power converter are compatible with non-linear control to further improve dynamic response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Xu, Ke Jin, Fred C. Lee
  • Publication number: 20120307527
    Abstract: The converter comprises an inverter and a conversion unit in which a transformer powers a controlled rectifier formed by saturable inductors and power diodes. According to the invention, a series reactive circuit associated with the transformer co-operates with the controlled rectifier for the phase displacement of the voltage applied at the primary of the transformer in relation to the current flowing therethrough. The phase displacement is regulated by a control voltage as a function of the variations in the output voltage of the converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventor: Denis Schwander
  • Publication number: 20120307526
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter circuit steps down a power source voltage and supplies a stepped-down DC power. The DC-DC converter circuit includes a voltage divider circuit formed of plural capacitive elements for dividing the power source voltage. The DC-DC converter circuit includes plural current supply circuits provided between the voltage divider circuit and output terminals. The current supply circuits connect each of the capacitive elements to the output terminals such that each of the capacitive elements supplies the power to the output terminals in the same polarity. The current supply circuits include plural switching elements, which selectively render the current supply circuits conductive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Thilak SENANAYAKE
  • Publication number: 20120300499
    Abstract: A method for controlling voltage crossing a power switch of a switched-mode power converter is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: controlling a switch frequency of a power switch of a switched-mode power converter to a first frequency as activating the switched-mode power converter; and changing the switch frequency of the power switch to a second frequency after a specific amount of time; wherein the first frequency is lower than the second frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Yuan-Wen Chang, Ren-Yi Chen, Yi-Lun Shen
  • Publication number: 20120300500
    Abstract: An M-winding coupled inductor includes a first end magnetic element, a second end magnetic element, M connecting magnetic elements, and M windings. M is an integer greater than one. Each connecting magnetic element is disposed between and connects the first and second end magnetic elements. Each winding is wound at least partially around a respective one of the M connecting magnetic elements. The coupled inductor further includes at least one top magnetic element adjacent to and extending at least partially over at least two of the M connecting magnetic elements to provide a magnetic flux path between the first and second end magnetic elements. The inductor may be included in an M-phase power supply, and the power supply may at least partially power a computer processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventor: Alexandr Ikriannikov
  • Patent number: 8319376
    Abstract: A driving circuit drives a switching element such that an ON-period of the switching element is shorter when a power receiving device is detected not to be placed than when the power receiving device is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Kitamura, Kyohei Kada
  • Patent number: 8320138
    Abstract: A DC converter includes: a transformer (T1) including a primary winding (P1) and a secondary winding (S1); a series resonant circuit in which a current resonant reactor (Lr), the primary winding (P1) of the transformer, and a current resonant capacitor (Cri) are connected in series; conversion circuits (Q1, Q2) for converting a DC voltage of a DC power supply (Vin) into a rectangular-wave voltage, so as to output the rectangular-wave voltage to the series resonant circuit; and a rectifier smoothing circuit (D3, D4, Co) for rectifying and smoothing a voltage generated at the secondary winding (S1) of the transformer, so as to output a DC output voltage to a load, wherein a capacitive element (Cr) including a capacitive component corresponding to a floating capacitance (Cp) equivalently present between the primary winding of the transformer was connected to the current resonant reactor (Lr) in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Aso
  • Patent number: 8305001
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode driver circuit includes: a first-rectifier circuit to output a first-rectified voltage; a transformer including primary and secondary coils and an auxiliary coil inductively coupled to the primary or secondary coils, the primary coil being applied with the first-rectified voltage; a transistor connected in series to the primary coil; a second-rectifier circuit to output a second-rectified voltage obtained by rectifying a voltage generated in the auxiliary coil; a capacitor to be charged with the second-rectified voltage; and a control circuit to control on and off of the transistor based on a charging voltage of the capacitor so that the charging voltage becomes equal to a predetermined voltage, the secondary coil outputting a voltage that varies with a frequency corresponding to a frequency of the first-rectified voltage and that corresponds to a turns ratio between the primary and secondary coils, as a voltage for driving a light-emitting diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignees: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC, Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Horiuchi, Toru Imaizumi, Takaya Kusabe
  • Publication number: 20120274146
    Abstract: In a switch mode power supply, a circuit and method for switching between an internal clock and an external synchronization clock when a stable external clock has been detected, and for switching back to operating the power supply using said internal clock when a predetermined number of sequential external clock pulses exceed a predetermined switching period dropout threshold or are otherwise missing. In one embodiment, a power system comprises a plurality of power supplies connected in parallel to a common load and where each power supply is synchronized to the external clock when a stable external clock has been detected by each.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Steven Patrick Laur, Zbigniew Jan Lata, Jinyu Yang
  • Patent number: 8301080
    Abstract: An adaptive inductive ballast is provided with the capability to communicate with a remote device powered by the ballast. To improve the operation of the ballast, the ballast changes its operating characteristics based upon information received from the remote device. Further, the ballast may provide a path for the remote device to communicate with device other than the adaptive inductive ballast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    Inventor: David W. Baarman
  • Patent number: 8301079
    Abstract: An adaptive inductive ballast is provided with the capability to communicate with a remote device powered by the ballast. To improve the operation of the ballast, the ballast changes its operating characteristics based upon information received from the remote device. Further, the ballast may provide a path for the remote device to communicate with device other than the adaptive inductive ballast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    Inventor: David W. Baarman
  • Publication number: 20120262951
    Abstract: Provided is a configuration in which it is possible to mount an applied voltage suppression circuit configured to prevent voltage breakdown of a semiconductor switching element, and a set voltage thereof can be inspected without damaging an IC or the like of a peripheral circuit. In a power converter having a semiconductor switching element, an applied voltage suppression circuit configured to suppress a voltage applied to the semiconductor switching element and at least one component of constituent components of a driving circuit which causes the semiconductor switching element to be turned off if the component is absent are transferred to and disposed on a slave substrate (separate unit) which is divided from and electrically connected to a master substrate including the semiconductor switching element, the driving circuit, a control circuit, and the like mounted thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruo Suenaga, Nobuo Shirokawa, Hideaki Moriya, Manabu Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20120262948
    Abstract: A photovoltaic module includes: a solar cell module including a plurality of solar cells; and a junction box including a capacitor unit attached to one face of the solar cell module and that to stores DC power supplied from the solar cell module, and a dc/dc converter unit to convert the level of the stored DC power and output the same. Thus, power may be easily supplied through the junction box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Kiok Lee, Myonghwan Kim
  • Publication number: 20120262950
    Abstract: A power supply adapter receives an AC voltage, converts the AC voltage into a DC voltage, and supplies the DC voltage to an electronic device. A DC/DC converter converts the voltage smoothed by a smoothing capacitor into the DC voltage. A device-side connector is connected to the DC/DC converter via a cable, and is configured to be detachably connected to the electronic device. The device-side connector includes a detection unit detecting whether or not the electronic device is connected, and generates a connection detection signal indicating whether or not the electronic device is connected. A control circuit of the DC/DC converter is connected to the detection unit of the device-side connector via the cable, and is set to an operating state when the connection detection signal indicates that the electronic device is connected, and is set to a non-operating state when the connection detection signal indicates that the electronic device is not connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Nate, Tadayuki Sakamoto, Hiroshi Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20120262952
    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: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Klaus Rigbers, Carsten Althof, Frank Papenfuss
  • Publication number: 20120262949
    Abstract: A photovoltaic module includes: a solar cell module including a plurality of solar cells; a junction box including a capacitor unit to store DC power supplied from the solar cell module, a dc/dc converter unit to level-convert the stored DC power and output the same; and a controller to control a voltage or current based on the supplied DC power from the solar cell module among a plurality of sections, calculate a local maximum power point in each of the sections using the controlled voltage or controlled current, determine a maximum power value among a plurality of calculated local maximum power points, and to control the dc/dc converter unit to output the level-converted DC power based on the determined maximum power value when a hot spot occurs in the solar cell module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventor: Dongho Han
  • Publication number: 20120250356
    Abstract: A DC/DC converter, a power converter and a control method thereof are disclosed, wherein the DC/DC converter includes an output circuit, a rectangular wave generator, a resonant tank, a detection unit and a control unit. The output circuit has a load. The rectangular wave generator converts an input voltage into driving pulses. The resonant tank provides a first voltage based on the driving pulses for the output circuit. The detection unit detects a signal related to a state of the load. When the state of the load is a light-load or a no-load, the control unit controls the rectangular wave generator in a hiccup mode to reduce a ratio of a work period to a stop period, or makes that number of the driving pulses within the current work period is less than the number of the driving pulses when a duty ratio is 50%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pei-Qing Hu, Hong-Yuan Jin, Hong-Jian Gan, Jian-Ping Ying
  • Publication number: 20120250357
    Abstract: A power supplying device provides power to the body of an image forming apparatus and an optional device connected to the body of the same. The power supplying device comprises: a rectifier circuit which rectifies an alternating current inputted from an alternating-current source; a booster circuit which boosts and smooths the direct-current voltage caused by the rectifier circuit; a judgment portion which judges whether or not there is an optional device connected to the body of the image forming apparatus; an identification portion which identifies the type of the optional device connected thereto; and a controller which, if there is an optional device connected thereto according to the judgment portion, adjusts the boosted voltage obtained by the booster circuit to a higher value than that if there is no optional device connected thereto, which depends on the type of the optional device identified by the identification portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takahiro YOKOYA, Mikiyuki Aoki, Junichi Masuda, Taku Kimura
  • Patent number: 8279627
    Abstract: An example controller for use in a power converter includes an oscillator and a logic circuit. The oscillator is to be coupled to a switch of the power converter and determines a switching cycle period of the switch. The logic circuit is also to be coupled to the switch to control a duty cycle of the switch in response to a magnitude of a feedback signal to regulate an output of the power converter. The logic circuit controls the duty cycle of the switch such that a control loop gain of the power converter is substantially constant during a transition of the controller between duty cycle control modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Baurle, Giao Pham
  • Publication number: 20120243264
    Abstract: A power supplying device performs both of a suppression of EMI noise and a reduction in an output voltage. In the power supply device, a switching control device that controls a switching element according to a pulse control signal includes a PPM circuit that modulates a pulse position; a PWM circuit that modulates a pulse width; and a pulse generator circuit that generates a pulse modulated by the PPM circuit and the PWM circuit. When a pulse interval of the pulse modulated in the pulse position by the PPM circuit is sparser than the pulse interval of the pulse before the modulation, the PWM circuit lengthens the pulse width. On the contrary, when the pulse interval of the pulse modulated in the pulse position by the PPM circuit is denser than the pulse interval of the pulse before the modulation, the PWM circuit shortens the pulse width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo NAKAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20120243263
    Abstract: This DC-DC converter circuit includes: first and second switching elements (S1, S2); an output transformer (T) that includes a first primary winding (P1) connected in series between the positive electrode sides of the first and second switching elements (S1, S2), a second primary winding (P2) connected in series between their negative electrode sides, a secondary winding (S) for obtaining an output voltage, and tertiary windings (n3, n4); a first voltage source (C1), connected between a first connection point at which the first primary winding (P1) is connected to the second switching element (S2) and the first switching element (S1), that applies a voltage to the first switching element via the first primary winding; a second voltage source (C2) connected to locations symmetric with those of the first voltage source (C1); and a control unit (CT) that turns the first and second switching elements (S1, S2) alternatingly ON and OFF, and first and second regeneration snubber circuits (SN1, SN2) for regenerating
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Hajime Katsushima, Toshikazu Fujiyoshi, Kenji Morimoto, Hajime Yamamoto, Satoshi Yamamura
  • Patent number: 8274800
    Abstract: A digital signal processing circuit which performs average current control is disposed on a secondary side of a transformer of an isolated DC-DC converter, and a switching control signal output from the digital signal processing circuit is transmitted to a switching element included in a power factor correction converter through an isolated drive circuit. The digital signal processing circuit obtains an average value of currents supplied to an inductor in accordance with a voltage output from a bias winding of the inductor or an output from a secondary side of a current transformer which detects a drain current of the switching element. Furthermore, the average value of the currents corresponds to a waveform (full-wave rectification sine wave) of an input voltage Vi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Uno, Tomokuni Tokugawa, Tatsuya Hosotani
  • Publication number: 20120230059
    Abstract: A control device controls a switching circuit for a converter. The switching circuit comprises a half-bridge having a high-side transistor and a low-side transistor. The control device comprises a controller configured to control turning on and turning off said two transistors, so that a square-wave voltage is applied to the transformer primary. The controller is configured to start switching the half-bridge by turning on the low-side transistor. The control device comprises a first timer configure to initially turn on the low-side transistor for a duration given by a first time period useful for pre-charging a bootstrap capacitor couplable to the middle point of the half-bridge, and a second timer configured to keep the low-side transistor and the high-side transistor turned off for a second time period immediately following the first time period and having a longer duration than the first time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Claudio Adragna, Aldo Vittorio Novelli, Christian Leone Santoro
  • Publication number: 20120230060
    Abstract: A PFC converter that reduces a superimposed voltage generated by an inrush current into a filter capacitor operates such that, when a commercial alternating-current power supply is connected to input terminals of a PFC converter, a rectified voltage is applied to a filter capacitor via a diode bridge and a charging current flows through the filter capacitor. At the same time, the rectified voltage is also applied to a series circuit including a diode and a capacitor and a charging current for the capacitor flows through the series circuit. Accordingly, a charging time constant becomes large and a superimposed voltage generated by the inductance component of a line or a line filter connected to the line and the charging current becomes low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki TANAKA, Kyoichi TAKEMURA
  • Patent number: 8259469
    Abstract: A circuit used to convert DC input to AC output comprises a transformer and three series sub-circuits. The first series sub-circuit is connected in parallel with the DC input and comprises first and second capacitors connected in series. The secondary series sub-circuit is connected in parallel with the DC input and comprises a first primary winding of the transformer, a clamping capacitor and a second primary winding of the transformer sequentially connected in series. The third series sub-circuit connected in parallel with said clamping capacitor and comprises first and second switches connected in series. The center nodes of the first and third series sub-circuits are connected together. Thus, while a secondary winding of the transformer provides AC voltage, the circuit is able to effectively reduce current ripple and decrease voltage stress on semiconductor switch with minimum component count. Similar topologies may be used for rectification instead of inversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Ching-Shan Leu, Pin-Yu Huang
  • Patent number: 8253394
    Abstract: A snubber circuit comprises a first energy storage device and circuitry coupled to the first energy storage device to facilitate capturing, by the first energy storage device, energy of a switching circuit. The snubber circuit also comprises a second energy storage device coupled to the first energy storage device to store the captured energy. The circuitry additionally facilitates resetting of the first energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: B. Mark Hirst
  • Patent number: 8248824
    Abstract: A DC power source apparatus converts a DC input voltage into high-frequency power by turning on/off a switching element connected to a primary winding of a transformer and converts the high-frequency power transmitted to a secondary winding of the transformer into a DC output voltage. The primary and secondary windings of the transformer include a core winding set having a primary winding P1 wound around a leg of a core defining a closed magnetic path and a secondary winding externally wound around the primary winding and another core winding set having a primary winding P2 wound around a leg of the core and a secondary winding externally wound around the primary winding. The primary winding of each of the two core winding sets has a plurality of winding layers among which a lowermost one that is closest to the core is connected to the switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mizuki Utsuno, Masayuki Watanabe, Hideto Sugiura, Eri Tamegai
  • Patent number: 8243473
    Abstract: The invention provides a switching power supply device which can detect a light load state on a pulse-by-pulse basis without worsening power efficiency. In a synchronous control circuit, for each timing of the turning-on of main switching elements, the delay time Tdif of the conduction timing of internal diodes Ds determined according to the magnitude of the load LD is detected by a comparator, a reference time pulse Tsrs having a prescribed time width is generated by a load judgment circuit, and the logical product of the two is generated by an AND circuit. By this means, the load is regarded as being a light load when the delay time Tdif is longer than the reference time pulse Tsrs, and the synchronous rectification MOSFETs Qs are not turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jian Chen, Koji Sonobe
  • Patent number: 8242754
    Abstract: A resonant power converter with half bridge and full bridge operations and a method for control thereof are provided. The resonant power converter includes a full bridge circuit, a control circuit and a PFC circuit. The full bridge circuit switches a power transformer in response to switching signals. The control circuit coupled to receive a feedback signal and an input signal generates switching signals. The feedback signal is correlated to the output of the power converter and the input signal is correlated to the input voltage of the full bridge circuit, where the full bridge circuit is operated as a full bridge switching when the input signal is lower than a threshold, and the full bridge circuit is operated as a half bridge switching when the input signal is higher than the threshold. The PFC circuit generates the input voltage of the full bridge circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventor: Ta-Yung Yang
  • Patent number: 8243472
    Abstract: A power supply having a two-way DC to DC converter has an AC to DC converter and a two-way DC to DC converter. When an AC power is input to the AC to DC converter, the AC to DC converter transforms the AC power to a middle level DC power and the two-way DC to DC converter transforms the middle level DC power to a low level DC power. When the AC power is unavailable and the two-way DC to DC converter obtains an external DC power, the two-way DC to DC converter transforms the external DC power to the middle level DC power. Therefore, if the power supply obtains the external DC power, the power supply can still output the middle level DC power even the AC power is unavailable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Acbel Polytech Inc.
    Inventors: Shun-Te Chang, Wei-Liang Lin
  • Publication number: 20120201052
    Abstract: A measurement transmitter connectable galvanically isolated relative to one another and the other components of the measurement transmitter, which is optimized as regards installation space and number of components required for galvanic isolations. A power supply, which has a direct voltage generator, which serves to produce a stable direct voltage; a chopper, which is connected to the direct voltage generator and which produces a rectangular, alternating voltage from the stable direct voltage; a digital unit, which serves to operate the chopper; and two or more connector modules connected, in parallel with one another, to the chopper; each connector module has a transformer, which transforms the rectangular, alternating voltage; each connector module has a rectifier downstream from the respective transformer; and the rectifier produces a direct voltage from the transformed rectangular, alternating voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft fur Mess- und Regeltechnik mbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Bjorn Haase
  • Patent number: 8238125
    Abstract: The specification discloses a wireless power charging system in which undesired frequencies in the primary coil are cancelled. Exemplary undesired frequencies are the harmonics of the primary coil drive signal. The system includes a sense transformer/coil, an injection transformer/coil, and a compensation signal generator. The sense transformer/coil senses the signal in the primary coil. The compensation signal generator receives the sensed signal and generates an injection signal whose constituent parts are equal in amplitude to, but pi phase different from, each undesired frequency. The combined signal is injected into the primary through the injection transformer/coil so that the injection signal cancels the undesired frequencies in the primary coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    Inventor: Julian Andrew John Fells
  • Patent number: 8232791
    Abstract: A driver includes a boost converter, a pulse width modulator controlling the boost converter, and a timer controlling the pulse width modulator. The timer, such as a digital counter, causes the pulse width modulator to produce narrow pulses unless or until the end of a period is reached, at which point the pulse width modulator is not controlled by the timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: World Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Gee Yee, Douglas James Andersn
  • Publication number: 20120188794
    Abstract: An adaptive bleeder circuit is applicable to a power converter, in which the power converter has a transformer primary side and a transformer secondary side, and the power converter enables input power to be selectively input or not input to the transformer primary side through a pulse-width-modulated signal. The adaptive bleeder circuit includes a switched bleeder circuit, and the bleeder circuit switch dynamically adjusts a turn on/off ratio (or referred to as duty ratio) of the switch element according to the TRIAC holding current and the converter input current of an alternating current (AC) TRIAC. When the input current is less than the holding current, the bleeder circuit increases conduction time ratio of the pulse-width-modulated signal, such that the input current recovers to the holding current to maintain normal conduction of the AC TRIAC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: MACROBLOCK, INC.
    Inventors: Lon-Kou Chang, Chang-Yu Wu, Li-Wei Yen
  • Patent number: 8228690
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter has a first-voltage-side port, a second-voltage-side port, and a third-voltage-side port, and performs, at different timings, an operation of boosting a first voltage to a third voltage and an operation of bucking a second voltage to the third voltage. A power supplying system includes a fuel cell, a secondary battery, an accessory system, the DC-DC converter, and another DC-DC converter connected between the fuel cell and a motor, and boosting the first voltage of the fuel cell to a fourth voltage to supply power to the motor through an inverter. The former DC-DC converter has the first-voltage-side port connected to the fuel cell, has the second-voltage-side port connected to the secondary battery, and has the third-voltage-side port connected to the accessory system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuto Watanabe, Mitsuaki Hirakawa
  • Publication number: 20120170322
    Abstract: A method of supplying direct-current (DC) power is presented herein. In the method, a first electrical signal and a second electrical signal are received. The first electrical signal alternates between a high voltage and a low voltage according to a constant duty cycle. The second electrical signal is synchronized with the first electrical signal. The first electrical signal is gated using the second electrical signal to produce a gated electrical signal with a duty cycle less than the duty cycle of the first electrical signal. The gated electrical signal is filtered to generate a DC output voltage. A difference between the generated DC output voltage and a reference DC voltage is determined. The duty cycle of the gated electrical signal is controlled by controlling the gating of the first electrical signal based on the difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jose Palathra Thomas, Sam Chaisitti, Priyanka Rajan Rele, Jorge Enrique Lugo Nevarez
  • Publication number: 20120170323
    Abstract: A charging AC adaptor includes: a first diode bridge connected to an AC terminal; a chopper controller connected to the first diode bridge; an insulating air core transformer connected to the chopper controller; a second diode bridge connected to a secondary side of the insulating air core transformer; a DC output terminal connected to the second diode bridge; and a common connection cable connected to the DC output terminal. The charging AC adaptor is connectable to a portable device via the common connection cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun IIDA, Hiroyuki HATANO, Kimitake UTSUNOMIYA
  • Publication number: 20120170320
    Abstract: There are provided a method and an apparatus for generating a current command value for tracking the maximum power point of a solar energy generating system. The apparatus includes: a voltage detector detecting a voltage input into the flyback power converter; a first calculator calculating an output power from the detected input voltage; a second calculator calculating a power variation based on the calculated output power and a voltage variation of the input voltage; and a current command value generator generating a current command value for tracking the maximum power point of the solar cell module from the calculated voltage variation and the calculated power variation. Accordingly, a current command value after calculating an output power may be generated with only a voltage detector, without a current detector, thereby reducing the costs of a solar energy generating system by decreasing the costs for a high-priced current detector, and simplifying circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicants: RESEARCH & BUSINESS FOUNDATION SUNGKYUNKWAN UNIVERSITY, SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae Won LEE, Yong Hyok JI, Chung Yuen WON, Don Sik KIM, Doo Young SONG, Min Ho HEO, Jin Wook KIM, Tae Hoon KIM, Young Ho KIM
  • Patent number: RE43572
    Abstract: This invention is a multi-port power converter where all ports are coupled through different windings of a high frequency transformer. Two or more, and typically all, ports have synchronized switching elements to allow the use of a high frequency transformer. This concept and type of converter is known. This invention mitigates a number of limitations in the present art and adds new capabilities that will allow applications to be served that would otherwise not have been practical. A novel circuit topology for a four-quadrant AC port is disclosed. A novel circuit topology for a unidirectional DC port with voltage boost capabilities is disclosed. A novel circuit topology for a unidirectional DC port with voltage buck capabilities is disclosed. A novel circuit for a high efficiency, high frequency, bi-directional, AC semiconductor switch is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Xantrex Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard T. West