Having Transistorized Inverter Patents (Class 363/16)
  • Patent number: 9143046
    Abstract: A control device that controls a switching circuit and minimizes hard switching that occurs in the switching circuit of a half-bridge resonant converter having a high-side transistor and a low-side transistor. The control device is configured to turn the high-side and low-side transistor on and, so that a square-wave voltage is applied to a primary winding of a transformer. The controller starts the switching of the half-bridge converter by first turning on the low-side transistor for a first time period useful for pre-charging a bootstrap capacitor couplable to the middle point of the half-bridge, and then turning the low-side transistor and the high-side transistor off for a second time period that immediately follows and is longer than the first time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventors: Claudio Adragna, Aldo Vittorio Novelli, Christian Leone Santoro
  • Patent number: 9143040
    Abstract: An open loop half-bridge LLC power converter includes circuitry to reliably increase hold-up time without sacrificing efficiency. An LLC resonant circuit includes resonant inductance, a primary transformer winding, and resonant capacitance. An auxiliary circuit includes an auxiliary transformer winding, an inductor, and a third switching element coupled in series. A controller is coupled across a voltage sensor and effective thereby to determine a holdup time condition. In a “normal” operating condition the controller generates switch driver signals to turn OFF the third switching element and disable the auxiliary circuit, and in a hold-up time condition the controller turns ON the third switching element and enables the auxiliary circuit wherein the output voltage is increased via current supplied from the auxiliary winding. In various embodiments the auxiliary winding may be an auxiliary primary or secondary, or a secondary to an auxiliary primary winding of a second transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Inventor: Tai Keung Lee
  • Patent number: 9130467
    Abstract: A primary side resonant circuit is formed by a primary side resonant inductor and a primary side resonant capacitor, and secondary side resonant circuits are formed by secondary side resonant inductors and secondary side resonant capacitors. Mutual inductances are formed equivalently through magnetic field resonant coupling between a primary winding and secondary windings, and a multi-resonant circuit that includes two or more LC resonant circuits is formed by a primary side circuit and a secondary side circuit. Electric power is transmitted from the primary side circuit to the secondary side circuit; resonant energy that is not transmitted from the primary winding and, of energy which the secondary winding has received, resonant energy that is not supplied to an output are each retained in the multi-resonant circuit; and, at the secondary side, the resonant energy is retained in a current path in which a rectifying element is not formed in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Hosotani
  • Patent number: 9128712
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch controller, sense electrodes operably coupled to the touch controller, a display controller operably coupled to the touch controller to communicate with the touch controller to detect touches, and drive electrodes operably coupled to the touch controller when the electronic device is operating in a reduced power condition and operably coupled to the display controller when the electronic device is operating in a normal power condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Amit Pal Singh, John Edward Dolson, Premal Vinodchandra Parekh
  • Patent number: 9118258
    Abstract: A switching power converter with an input terminal configured to receive a first input voltage; an output terminal configured to provide an output current to a load, wherein the output current has a peak value and an average value; a power switch; a first loop coupled to the input terminal, wherein the first loop configured to generate a first output signal based on the first input voltage; a second loop configured to generate a second output signal based on the output current; a multiplier configured to generate a multiplying signal based on multiplying the first output signal with the second output signal; and a driving circuit configured to generate a driving signal based on the multiplying signal to control the power switch, so as to reduce the ratio between the peak value and the average value of the output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yike Li, Paul Ueunten
  • Patent number: 9105595
    Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a battery heating circuit is provided, comprising a switch unit 1, a switching control module 100, a damping component R1, and an energy storage circuit; the energy storage circuit is configured to be connected with the battery and comprises a current storage component L1 and a charge storage component C1; the damping component R1, the switch unit 1, the current storage component L1, and the charge storage component C1 are connected in series; the switching control module 100 is connected with the switch unit 1, and is configured to control ON/OFF of the switch unit 1, so as to control energy flowing from the battery to the energy storage circuit only. For example, the heating circuit provided in the present invention can improve the charge/discharge performance of the battery, and improve safety when the battery is heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: BYD Company Limited
    Inventors: Wenhui Xu, Yaochuan Han, Wei Feng, Qinyao Yang, Wenjin Xia, Shibin Ma
  • Patent number: 9099232
    Abstract: A magnetic device and power converter employing the same. In one embodiment, the magnetic device includes a first L-core segment including a first leg and a second leg extending therefrom, and an opposing second L-core segment including a first leg and a second leg extending therefrom. The magnetic device also includes a winding formed around at least one of the first leg and the second leg of the first L-core segment or the second L-core segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Power Systems Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Sriram Chandrasekaran
  • Patent number: 9093413
    Abstract: Under one aspect, a circuit for heating a battery includes the battery including a parasitic damping component and a parasitic current storage component, a switch unit, a switching control component coupled to the switch unit, and a charge storage component. The charge storage and current storage components are at least parts of an energy storage circuit. The damping component, the current storage component, the switch unit, and the charge storage component are connected to form at least a part of a loop. The switching control component is configured to turn on and off the switch unit so as to control a current flowing from the battery to the charge storage component and flowing from the charge storage component to the battery. The circuit for heating the battery is configured to heat the battery by at least discharging and charging the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: BYD Company Limited
    Inventors: Wenhui Xu, Yaochuan Han, Wei Feng, Qinyao Yang, Wenjin Xia, Shibin Ma
  • Patent number: 9087806
    Abstract: Under one aspect, a heating circuit for at least a first battery and a second battery includes a first charging/discharging circuit, which is connected to the first battery, and a second charging/discharging circuit, which is connected to the second battery. The first charging/discharging circuit includes a first damping component, a first current storage component, a first switch unit, and a charge storage component, all of which are connected in a first loop with each other. The second charging/discharging circuit includes a second damping component, a second current storage component, a second switch unit, and the charge storage component, all of which are connected in a second loop with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: BYD Company Limited
    Inventors: Wenhui Xu, Yaochuan Han, Wei Feng, Qinyao Yang, Wenjin Xia, Shibin Ma
  • Patent number: 9085239
    Abstract: A push-pull circuit comprising: a push-pull first switching element and second switching element; a first rectifier element; a third switching element for switching a pathway between conductance and cutoff, the pathway leading from a connection point between the first switching element and an inductive load via the first rectifier element to a connection point between a DC power source and a center tap of the inductive load; a second rectifier element; and a fourth switching element for switching a pathway between conductance and cutoff, the pathway leading from a connection point between the second switching element and the inductive load via the second rectifier element to a connection point between the DC power source and the center tap of the inductive load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Kimoto, Hiroshi Igarashi, Yoshifumi Yaoi, Kenji Komiya, Masaru Nomura, Yoshiji Ohta, Hiroshi Iwata
  • Patent number: 9088157
    Abstract: A boost type power converting apparatus is disclosed. The boost type power converting apparatus includes a boost type power converting circuit and a protection circuit. The boost type power converting circuit receives an input voltage and generates an output signal at an output terminal thereof according to the input voltage, and outputs the output signal to a load. The protection circuit is coupled between the boost type power converting circuit and the load in series to form an electrical loop, and turns on or off the electrical loop according to the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Beyond Innovation Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiu-Yuan Lin, Chien-Pang Hung
  • Patent number: 9083250
    Abstract: A method for controlling a switching regulator includes defining a waiting time during which a trigger signal corresponding to a recirculation signal of the switching regulator is ignored holding a control switch in an open condition, and detecting a number of local valleys of the recirculation signal during the waiting time. In particular, defining the waiting time is performed for each switching cycle by adding a first value, which is determined on the basis of a load on the regulator, to a second variable value, which is proportional to the number valleys detected during the waiting time of the preceding switching cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Claudio Adragna
  • Patent number: 9071155
    Abstract: A resonant capacitor and an inductor are connected in series between a primary winding of a transformer and a second switching element. A first rectifying and smoothing circuit including a first rectifier switching element and a capacitor rectifies and smoothes a voltage generated in a first secondary winding of the transformer, and takes out a first output voltage. A second rectifying and smoothing circuit including a second rectifier switching element and a capacitor rectifies and smoothes a voltage generated in a second secondary winding of the transformer, and takes out a second output voltage. A control circuit controls an on-time of a first switching element and an on-time of the second switching element in accordance with the first output voltage and the second output voltage, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Uno
  • Patent number: 9059125
    Abstract: Circuit and method for heating a battery. The circuit includes the battery including a first damping component and a first current storage component, a switch unit, a switching control component, a first charge storage component, and an energy superposition unit. The switching control component is configured to turn on the switch unit so as to allow a current to flow between the battery and the first charge storage component and to turn off the switch unit so as to stop the current. The energy superposition unit is configured to, after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off, adjust a storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component so that a positive voltage terminal of the first charge storage component is coupled, directly or indirectly, to a negative voltage terminal of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: BYD Company Limited
    Inventors: Wenhui Xu, Yaochuan Han, Wei Feng, Qinyao Yang, Wenjin Xia, Shibin Ma
  • Patent number: 9054548
    Abstract: The contactless power feeding system includes a power transmitting device including an AC power source, a power transmitting element transmitting an AC power and a first microprocessor generating a transmission signal, and a power receiving device including a power receiving element receiving the AC power, a rectifier circuit, a smoothing circuit, a voltage conversion circuit, a second microprocessor generating a response signal in accordance with the transmission signal, a charge control circuit changing a charging rate for a power storage device in accordance with the response signal and the power storage device whose charging is controlled by the charge control circuit. Then, a resistance value of the power storage device changes, an impedance changes, and a modulation signal is generated. The generated modulation signal is transmitted from the power receiving device to the power transmitting device and is processed by the first microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichiro Kamata
  • Patent number: 9042121
    Abstract: Among many embodiments, a power conversion apparatus and a method for converting power are disclosed. The power conversion apparatus may include switching components configured to create an alternating current; a preemptive detector arranged and configured to provide, in advance of the alternating current reaching a zero-crossing, a control signal responsive to the alternating electrical current approaching the zero-crossing; and a controller configured, at least in part, to change a state of the switching components before the zero crossing, in response to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hendrik Walde, Daryl Frost
  • Publication number: 20150138838
    Abstract: A circuit for use in a switched mode power supply comprising includes an integrated circuit, a transformer, a capacitor, a low voltage circuit and a current limiting resistor. The IC jitters the switching frequency of the switch based on a bias voltage of the integrated circuit. The IC also includes a current source configured to supply current for operation of the switching regulator when insufficient current is available from the bias input pin. The transformer includes primary, secondary and auxiliary windings. The primary winding receives a rectified line voltage and is coupled to the switch. The capacitor is coupled between the bias input pin and ground. The low voltage circuit is coupled to the auxiliary winding, and provides current to the bias input pin. The current limiting resistor limits current produced by the low voltage circuit to less than that required for operation of the IC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas G. Block, Matt E. Kraus
  • Publication number: 20150138839
    Abstract: An AC-to-DC converter circuit includes DC-to-DC converter that in turn includes a secondary side circuit. The secondary side circuit includes a secondary winding, a pair of bipolar transistor-based self-driven synchronous rectifiers, a pair of current splitting inductors, and an output capacitor. Each of the synchronous rectifiers includes a bipolar transistor and a diode whose anode is coupled to the transistor collector and whose cathode is coupled to the transistor emitter. The current splitting inductors provide the necessary base current to the bipolar transistors at the appropriate times such that the bipolar transistors operate as synchronous rectifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: IXYS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kyoung Wook Seok
  • Patent number: 9036372
    Abstract: A method for controlling a resonant-mode power supply, the resonant-mode power supply comprising an assembly of switches (K1, K2, K3, K4), between which a resonant circuit with an output load is connected, and a controller (C) configured to stabilize output voltages or currents by controlling switching frequency of the assembly of switches (K1, K2, K3, K4) in response to the output of a slow-response monitoring circuit (SMC) configured to monitor the output voltage or current and having a certain time (?1) of response to changes of value of the output voltage or current. The power supply further comprises an energy recirculation circuit (ERC1) in which the current (Ilim) is monitored by means of a fast-response monitoring circuit (CMC1) having a time (?2) of response to changes in the (Ilim) current faster than the response time (?1) of the slow-response monitoring circuit (SMC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: AKADEMIA GORNICZO-HUTNICZA IM. STANISLAWA STASZICA W KRAKOWIE
    Inventor: Cezary Worek
  • Patent number: 9036371
    Abstract: A contactless power supply has a dynamically configurable tank circuit powered by an inverter. The contactless power supply is inductively coupled to one or more loads. The inverter is connected to a DC power source. When loads are added or removed from the system, the contactless power supply is capable of modifying the resonant frequency of the tank circuit, the inverter frequency, the inverter duty cycle or the rail voltage of the DC power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    Inventor: David W. Baarman
  • 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: 9013895
    Abstract: A contactless power supply has a dynamically configurable tank circuit powered by an inverter. The contactless power supply is inductively coupled to one or more loads. The inverter is connected to a DC power source. When loads are added or removed from the system, the contactless power supply is capable of modifying the resonant frequency of the tank circuit, the inverter frequency, the inverter duty cycle or the rail voltage of the DC power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    Inventor: David W. Baarman
  • Patent number: 9013896
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jose Palathra Thomas, Sam Chaisitti, Priyanka Rajan Rele, Jorge Enrique Lugo Nevarez
  • Patent number: 9007052
    Abstract: A system for sensing voltage in an isolated converter includes an input circuit isolated from an output circuit using a first transformer, the first transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil, wherein the output circuit includes an output inductor and an output capacitor, and wherein the input circuit includes a power source that provides power to the output circuit through the first transformer; a feedback winding coupled to the output inductor to form a second transformer; and a monitor circuit that calculates a voltage across the output capacitor using a voltage across the feedback winding, a voltage across the primary coil of the first transformer, a turns ratio of the first transformer, and a turns ratio of the second transformer in order to provide feedback to control the input circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Ohnemus, David A. Fox
  • Patent number: 9007785
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Kosaka
  • Patent number: 9000601
    Abstract: The respective main electrodes of the semiconductor switching elements such as IGBTs, which are respectively mounted on the plurality of insulating boards, are electrically connected to each other via the conductor member. This configuration makes it possible to suppress the occurrence of the resonant voltage due to the junction capacity and the parasitic inductance of each semiconductor switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Power Semiconductor Device, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunori Azuma, Kentaro Yasuda, Takahiro Fujita, Katsuaki Saito, Yoshihiko Koike, Michiaki Hiyoshi
  • Publication number: 20150091465
    Abstract: A power supply circuit includes a rectifying circuit, a power-factor improving circuit, a bridge circuit, a transformer, a rectifying and smoothing circuit, first and second drivers, a power supply section, and a control section. The rectifying circuit converts an alternating-current input voltage into a rectified voltage. The power-factor improving circuit improves a power factor of the rectified voltage and converts the rectified voltage into a direct-current voltage. The bridge circuit converts the direct-current voltage into an alternating-current voltage. The rectifying and smoothing circuit converts the alternating-current voltage into a direct-current output voltage. The first driver controls a switching element. The second driver controls the power-factor improving circuit. The power supply section converts the direct-current voltage into a driving voltage corresponding to the first and second drivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: TOSHIBA LIGHTING & TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Go Kato, Shinichiro Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20150084510
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a power supply device includes a DC-DC converter and a protection circuit. The DC-DC converter includes a switching element of a normally on type, a current control element of the normally on type connected to the switching element in series and configured to control an electric current flowing to the switching element, and a rectifying element connected to the current control element in series. The DC-DC converter converts, according to ON and OFF of the switching element, an input first direct-current voltage into a second-direct current voltage, which has an absolute value different from an absolute value of the first direct-current voltage, and supplies the second direct-current voltage to a load. When an electric current equal to or larger than a predetermined value flows to the switching element and the current control element, the protection circuit cuts off the electric current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: TOSHIBA LIGHTING & TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yohei Miura, Hiroshi Akahoshi, Noriyuki Kitamura, Hirokazu Otake, Masato Ishikawa, Yuji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8976542
    Abstract: A high frequency cathode heater supply for a microwave source includes a SMPS inverter and an isolation transformer having a primary winding arranged to be powered by the SMPS inverter, a monitor winding passing through primary core assemblies of the primary winding and a secondary winding arranged for connection to the cathode heater. A current monitor is arranged to monitor a current in the primary windings. Signal processing modules are arranged to receive a first input signal from the monitor winding indicative of a voltage across the cathode heater and a second input signal from the current monitor indicative of a current through the cathode heater. The signal processing modules are arranged to output a control signal to the SMPS inverter to control power supplied to the cathode heater dependent on a monitored resistance of, or monitored power supplied to, the cathode heater as determined from the first input signal and the second input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: E2V Technologies (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Robert Richardson, Michael Bland, Colin Bennett
  • Publication number: 20150061536
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an apparatus may comprise a controller to provide compatibility between a load and a secondary winding of an electronic transformer. The controller may be configured to operate a single-stage power converter in a first power mode for a first period of time, such that the single-stage power converter is enabled to transfer energy from the secondary winding to the load during the first power mode and operate the single-stage power converter in a second power mode for a second period of time prior to the first period of time, such that the single-stage power converter is enabled to transfer energy from the secondary winding to the load during the second power mode, wherein the first power mode and the second power mode occur within a half-line cycle of an electronic transformer secondary signal present on the secondary winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Yanhui Xie, Sahil Singh, Michael A. Kost
  • Patent number: 8971074
    Abstract: A bias supply, a method of communicating data across an isolation barrier and a power supply are provided herein. In one embodiment, the bias supply includes: (1) a bias supply transformer having a primary winding inductively coupled to a secondary winding across an isolation barrier, (2) a controller configured to direct operation of the bias supply and (3) bias voltage manipulating circuitry, coupled to an input of the controller, configured to receive primary data and based thereon alter a secondary bias output voltage of the secondary winding between defined voltage levels by varying a voltage provided to the controller, the controller and the bias voltage manipulating circuitry located on the primary side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. Guthrie, Subarna Pal
  • Publication number: 20150055972
    Abstract: A power-supply device includes: a rectifier circuit configured to output a rectified voltage by rectifying an output from a transformer; a comparator circuit configured to compare a comparison voltage corresponding to an output voltage or an output current that are generated based on the rectified voltage with the indicator voltage and to control an operation of the transformer drive circuit so as to reduce the difference between the comparison voltage and the indicator voltage; a constant voltage element configured to limit the output voltage or the output current by operating as a constant voltage source when the value of the output voltage or the output current reaches a threshold; and a current mirror circuit. The current mirror circuit is configured to lower the indicator voltage by allowing a current proportional to the current flowing through the constant voltage element to flow through the current path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventor: Toru KOSAKA
  • Patent number: 8964412
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for filtering the transients of an input signal of an integrated circuit while maintaining a constant voltage at an input terminal of the integrated circuit are disclosed. In one example, the integrated circuit can be a controller of a switched-mode power supply. The controller can include a line sensing circuit coupled to receive an input signal representative of the line voltage and operable produce an output signal that can be used by other circuits within the controller. The input signal may include a current through a sense resistor coupled between the input of the power supply and the line sensing circuit. The output signal may include a scaled and filtered version of this current. The line sensing circuit can be coupled to the input terminal of the controller to receive the input signal or can directly receive the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Mingming Mao
  • Patent number: 8964411
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales
    Inventor: Denis Schwander
  • Publication number: 20150049514
    Abstract: A power converter circuit includes a storage component, a rectifier component comprising a first field effect transistor and having first and second bias states, and a switch including a second field effect transistor having first and second operational states. The first and second field effect transistors are High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventor: Robert Joseph Callanan
  • Publication number: 20150036389
    Abstract: An energy efficient apparatus includes a switching device, a frequency dependent reactive device, and a control element is provided. The switching device is coupled to a source of electrical power and includes a pair of transistors and is adapted to receive a control signal and to produce an alternating current power signal. The frequency of the alternating current power signal is responsive to the control signal. The frequency dependent reactive device is electrically coupled to the pair of transistors for receiving the alternating current power signal and producing an output power signal. The frequency dependent reactive device is chosen to achieve a desired voltage of the output power signal relative to the frequency of the alternating current power signal. The control element senses an actual voltage of the direct current power signal and modifies the control signal delivered to achieve the desired voltage of the direct current power signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Michael H. Freeman, W. J. "Jim" Weaver, JR., Mitchael C. Freeman, Robert Dieter, Brian Santee
  • Patent number: 8947340
    Abstract: A backlight unit includes a plurality of light sources, a boost circuit, a plurality of balance circuits, and a plurality of first resistors. The boost circuit boosts an input alternating current voltage and applies a driving alternating current voltage to the light sources. Each of the balance circuits includes a first capacitor and is disposed between an output terminal of the boost circuit and the light sources. Each of the first resistors connects two balance circuits among the balance circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Duyeon Han
  • Patent number: 8947898
    Abstract: A power conversion circuit converting DC electric power into AC electric power and sending the AC power to an inductive load, includes a first switching device connected to the DC power supply; a second switching device connected to the DC power supply; a first inductor provided between the first switching device and the inductive load; a second inductor provided between the second switching device and the inductive load; and a clamping diode connected between a first connection point between the first switching device and the first inductor, and a second connection point between the second switching device and the second inductor. When the first and second switching devices are turned off, a current flows through the second diode, clamping diode, first inductor and inductive load to completely flow out a current in the first inductor, and then a current flows through the second diode, second inductor and inductive load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shun-ichi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20150029757
    Abstract: An electric power source device has a transformer, primary side semiconductor components, secondary side semiconductor components, a choke coil, a base plate and first circuit substrate and one or more second circuit substrates. The transformer has a primary side coil and a secondary side coil. The primary side semiconductor components form a primary side circuit connected to the primary side coil. The secondary side semiconductor components form a secondary side circuit connected to the secondary side coil. The choke coil has a smoothing circuit for smoothing an output voltage. The transformer, the primary side semiconductor components, the secondary side semiconductor components and the choke coil are formed on the base plate. The first circuit substrate is arranged parallel to the base plate. The second circuit substrate is arranged parallel to a normal line of the first circuit substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Shuji KURAUCHI, Katsutoyo MISAWA, Yuuki TAKEMOTO, Yuuichi HANDA, Shotaro YAMASAKI
  • Publication number: 20150023062
    Abstract: In a switching power supply device having low loss in synchronous rectifying switches, exhibiting high power efficiency, and not causing troubles by reverse current in the switches. A secondary control circuit includes a reference voltage circuit to generate a reference voltage having a predetermined potential, and an ON-timing detector circuit to detect an ON timing of a synchronous rectifying switch through monitoring of a terminal voltage of the switch, an OFF-timing detector circuit to detect an OFF timing of the switch, and a timer circuit to be turned on at the ON timing and measure a predetermined period. The threshold voltage consisting of the reference voltage generated by the reference voltage circuit and an offset voltage is applied to the OFF-timing detector circuit during the measurement of the timer circuit, and the threshold voltage consisting of the reference voltage is applied to the OFF-timing detector circuit during the non-measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takumi Hyugaji, Naoto Endo
  • Patent number: 8937817
    Abstract: A method for operating a DC-DC converter. The method comprises: matching, based on a turns ratio of a transformer of the DC-DC converter, a primary side capacitance of the DC-DC converter and a secondary side capacitance of the DC-DC converter to result in a matched capacitance; and operating the DC-DC converter with at least one operating parameter set to cause a primary current to oscillate between a peak value and zero such that a valley of the primary current coincides with a zero crossing of a secondary switching element voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Fornage, Donald Richard Zimmanck
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8929098
    Abstract: A controller controls a voltage-source power converter and a current-source power converter based on a detection value of a rail voltage input to the voltage-source power converter and a detection value of a charging voltage output from the current-source power converter, at the time of charging operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: TDK-Lambda Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Takegami
  • Patent number: 8923019
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Pei-Qing Hu, Hong-Yuan Jin, Hong-Jian Gan, Jian-Ping Ying
  • Publication number: 20140369084
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for providing electrical power for use in powering electronic devices is described herein. The electrical circuit includes a power converter circuit that is electrically coupled to an electrical power source for receiving alternating current (AC) input power from the electrical source and delivering direct current (DC) output power to an electronic device. The power converter circuit includes a transformer and a switching device coupled to a primary side of the transformer for delivering power from the electrical power source to a primary side of the transformer. A controller is coupled to a voltage sensor and the switching device for receiving the sensed voltage level from the voltage sensor and transmitting a control signal to the switching device to adjust the voltage level of power being delivered to the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Michael H. Freeman, Robert Dieter, Mitchael C. Freeman, Sateesh Pillai, Daniel Segarra
  • Patent number: 8910372
    Abstract: An improved choke assembly for a power electronics device is provided. More specifically, a choke assembly with improved protection from environmental conditions such as dirt and water is provided. An improved choke assembly may include an insulative housing for an inductor coil that seals the inductor coil from the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Brubaker, Lixiang Wei
  • Patent number: 8913410
    Abstract: A converter device for an uninterruptible power supply, the device having first and second main switching units connected to first and second voltage lines of a first type and each equipped with a first main switch; a main switching point connected to a voltage line of a second type and connected to the first and second main switching units; and a third main switch common to the first and second main switching units, and connected between the main switching point and a third voltage line of the first type; first, second and third capacitors connected between the main switching point and each of the first, second and third voltage lines of the first type; a first auxiliary switching unit connected by individual auxiliary switches between the first and second voltage lines of the first type, and a first auxiliary switching point; a second auxiliary switching unit connected between the first, second and third voltage lines of the first type, and a second auxiliary switching point; and a transformer having windin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: MGE UPS
    Inventor: Corentin Rizet
  • Patent number: 8907509
    Abstract: A current controller device using a vector control algorithm for controlling conversion of DC power into AC power is provided. The controller device has an open loop control loop gain and produces a first and a second voltage demand signals based on a first and a second current demand signals, a first and a second current feedback signals, a first and a second voltage feedback signals. The open loop control loop gain depends on frequencies of the first and second current feedback signals. A first and a second filters are provided at a first and a second current feedback inputs respectively. The first and second filters each have a filter characteristics to reduce the frequencies of the first and second current feedback signals at which the open loop control loop gain is greater than unity and has a phase less than or equal to minus 180°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Paul Brian Brogan, Rodney Jones
  • Publication number: 20140355309
    Abstract: A selected-parameter adaptively switched power conversion system, for example, includes a counter for determining a period of an output oscillation a power supply switch, where the output oscillation starts when an output current generated by stored power of the power supply coil decays substantially to zero. An event generator for generating a switching delay event in response to the determined output oscillation period and generates a switching delay event in response to a determination of a phase of the output oscillation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Subrahmanya Bharathi Akondy, Hrishikesh Nene
  • 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