Single-ended, Self-oscillating Type Patents (Class 363/18)
  • 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: 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
  • Patent number: 8325498
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for use in a power supply includes a drive signal generator, a short on time detector, and an oscillator. The drive signal generator generates a drive signal in response to a clock signal. The short on time detector provides an output indicating that consecutive on times of the drive signal are short on times. An on time of the drive signal is a short on time if a switch current of the switch exceeds a current limit after a leading edge blanking period and if the on time of the switch is less than or equal to a sum of the leading edge blanking period and a current limit delay time period. The oscillator generates the clock signal and changes a frequency of the clock signal from a first frequency to a lower second frequency in response to the output of the short on time detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Andrew J. Morrish
  • Patent number: 8325497
    Abstract: A power supply may comprise a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) controller; a synchronous rectifier having a forward metal oxide field effect transistor (MOSFET) and a catch MOSFET; a forward gate driver; a catch gate driver; and the PWM controller connected so that a low output of the PWM controller facilitates operation of the catch MOSFET and so that the low output precludes operation of the forward MOSFET. The power supply may include a self powered synchronous rectifier that may be constructed with delay times that are independent of lot-to-lot and temperature-related timing variations of MOSFETS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Marotta, Xavier Enriquez, Stanislav Suchovsky, Steven Lawson
  • Patent number: 8279636
    Abstract: A power supply includes a first power converter, a second power converter, and a clamp reset circuit. The clamp reset circuit is electrically coupled to other components within the first power converter and the second power converter. A clamp standby connection can be provided to electrically couple the clamp reset circuit to components comprising the second power converter. The clamp reset circuit is coupled to reduce magnetizing energy of a transformer of the first power converter and limit voltage in a component of the second power converter. The clamp reset circuit may include a Zener diode and a resistor that are adapted to reduce magnetizing energy of the first power converter and voltage through the second power converter. The clamp reset circuit normally includes a capacitor that is adapted to store energy from the first power converter and the second power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Mayell
  • Patent number: 8279628
    Abstract: Audible noise in resonant switching power converter during low-power burst mode operation is reduced by spreading the spectrum generated by the bursts, thereby reducing the amplitude of audio spectrum peaks in the current supplied through the resonant tank from a switching circuit. The spreading can be accomplished by varying the intervals between the bursts and/or by varying a pulse pattern within the bursts. The pulse pattern within the bursts can be varied by varying the number of pulses in the bursts, the polarity of the initial pulse of the bursts, and/or the duration of pulses within the bursts either uniformly or randomly. The burst pulse pattern may also be selected in alternation from a set of pulse patterns stored in a memory and the selection may be made randomly or systematically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Melanson
  • Patent number: 8279630
    Abstract: A power supply circuit includes continuous conduction mode power factor correction (PFC). The PFC may be performed by generating a carrier signal voltage at a beginning of a switching cycle of the power supply, generating a sampling voltage indicative of drain current of a drive transistor, and detecting when the carrier signal voltage has decreased to the same level as the sampling voltage at an intersection time. The ON time of the drive transistor may be set to twice the intersection time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Hangseok Choi
  • Patent number: 8264858
    Abstract: A technique for controlling a power supply with power supply control element with a tap element. An example power supply control element includes a power transistor that has first and second main terminals, a control terminal and a tap terminal. A control circuit is coupled to the control terminal. The tap terminal and the second main terminal of the power transistor are to control switching of the power transistor. The tap terminal is coupled to provide a signal to the control circuit substantially proportional to a voltage between the first and second main terminals when the voltage is less than a pinch off voltage. The tap terminal is coupled to provide a substantially constant voltage that is less than the voltage between the first and second main terminals to the control circuit when the voltage between the first and second main terminals is greater than the pinch-off voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald R. Disney
  • Patent number: 8174852
    Abstract: A switching circuit for use in a power converter in one aspect includes a first and second active switch and a first and second passive switch. The first active switch can be coupled to a first terminal of a primary winding of a transformer. The second active switch can be coupled to a second terminal of the primary winding of the transformer. The output capacitance of the first active switch is greater than the output capacitance of the second active switch. The first passive switch can be coupled to the second active switch and to the second terminal of the primary winding. The second passive switch can be coupled to the first active switch and to the first terminal of the primary winding. The reverse recovery time of the first passive switch is greater than the reverse recovery time of the second passive switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Mayell
  • Patent number: 8144484
    Abstract: A technique for controlling a power supply with power supply control element with a tap element. An example power supply control element includes a power transistor that has first and second main terminals, a control terminal and a tap terminal. A control circuit is coupled to the control terminal. The tap terminal and the second main terminal of the power transistor are to control switching of the power transistor. The tap terminal is coupled to provide a signal to the control circuit substantially proportional to a voltage between the first and second main terminals when the voltage is less than a pinch off voltage. The tap terminal is coupled to provide a substantially constant voltage that is less than the voltage between the first and second main terminals to the control circuit when the voltage between the first and second main terminals is greater than the pinch-off voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald R. Disney
  • Patent number: 8089781
    Abstract: An example integrated circuit for use in a power supply includes a switch, a terminal and a controller. The controller is coupled to control switching of the switch to regulate the output of the power supply in response to a feedback signal received at the terminal. The controller includes a comparator and an oscillator. The comparator is coupled to detect when a switch current through the switch exceeds a current limit and the oscillator is coupled to extend an off time of the switch in response to the comparator detecting that the switch current exceeds a current limit and if an on time of the switch is substantially equal to a sum of a leading edge blanking period and a current limit delay time period. The oscillator extends the off time of the switch independent of the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Andrew J. Morrish
  • Patent number: 8077487
    Abstract: In a first aspect, in a Primary Side Regulation (PSR) power supply, some primary current pulses are used to forward bias an output diode such that an auxiliary winding voltage can be properly sampled after each pulse. The samples are used to regulate the power supply output voltage (VOUT). Other primary current pulses, however, are of a smaller peak amplitude. These pulses are not used for VOUT regulation, but rather are used to determine whether the VOUT has dropped. In a second aspect, a transient current detector circuit within the PSR controller integrated circuit detects whether an optocoupler current has dropped in a predetermined way. If the TRS current detector detects that the optocoupler current has dropped, then the power supply stops operating in a sleep mode and is made to operate in another higher power operating mode in which the power supply switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Huynh
  • Patent number: 8059429
    Abstract: In a first aspect, in a Primary Side Regulation (PSR) power supply, some primary current pulses are used to forward bias an output diode such that an auxiliary winding voltage can be properly sampled after each pulse. The samples are used to regulate the power supply output voltage (VOUT). Other primary current pulses, however, are of a smaller peak amplitude. These pulses are not used for VOUT regulation, but rather are used to determine whether the VOUT has dropped. In a second aspect, a transient current detector circuit within the PSR controller integrated circuit detects whether an optocoupler current has dropped in a predetermined way. If the TRS current detector detects that the optocoupler current has dropped, then the power supply stops operating in a sleep mode and is made to operate in another higher power operating mode in which the power supply switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Huynh
  • Patent number: 8045348
    Abstract: A controller for a switching mode power supply includes two semiconductor chips. The first semiconductor chip has a high-voltage startup transistor coupled to a high voltage supply input terminal and configured to provide a charging current in a startup phase or protection mode of a switching mode power supply (SMPS) and to provide substantially no current in a normal operation phase of the SMPS. The second semiconductor chip has a control circuit for controlling the switching mode power supply. The second semiconductor chip also has first and second on-chip high-voltage resistors coupled to the high-voltage supply input terminal and the high-voltage startup transistor in the first semiconductor chip. The first and the second on-chip high-voltage resistors are configured to provide a voltage and a current related to a voltage at the high-voltage supply input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: BCD Semiconductor Manufacturing Limited
    Inventors: Yajiang Zhu, Zheng Ying, Xianfeng Liu, Yanping Wang
  • Patent number: 8035997
    Abstract: Circuitry includes an acquiring circuit to acquire period and phase information of an oscillation. The acquiring circuit includes a first input electrically coupled to a first connection and a second input electrically coupled to a second connection. The first connection and the second connection are for electrically coupling to an oscillating circuit. A control circuit includes a first input electrically coupled to an output of the acquiring circuit. The control circuit includes a second input electrically coupled to a third connection for supply of a voltage that is based on the rectified voltage. A switch includes a controlled segment for electrically coupling a fourth connection to a reference potential connection, and a control connection that is electrically coupled to an output of the control circuit to excite an oscillation in the oscillating circuit via a DC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Austriamicrosystems AG
    Inventor: Andreas Fitzi
  • Patent number: 8014174
    Abstract: The present invention can include an image forming apparatus having an electrical load, a supplying circuit configured to supply an electrical power to the electrical load, and an output circuit configured to output a voltage according to a current value of the electrical power being supplied to the electrical load. The present invention may also provide for a controller configured to control an electrical current flowing in the electrical load based on an output voltage value of the output circuit as a feedback value, and an inhibiting circuit configured to inhibit a reverse current to flow in the output circuit when the supplying circuit is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsumi Inukai
  • Patent number: 8000113
    Abstract: A power converter device and method are provided. The power converter device includes an input power source and an input inductor configured for coupling a power of the input power source to the device. A switch is configured to regulate a power of the input power source through the input inductor. A shunting diode is coupled between the switch and the input inductor. A resonant load is coupled with the input inductor. A switching element is coupled with the input inductor and the resonant load and configured to operate at a fixed frequency. The power converter device also includes a control circuit for modulating a frequency of the switch and a driving module for driving the switching element at the fixed frequency. In an exemplary embodiment, the power converter device is a Class-E amplifier. The fixed frequency is a frequency equal to a resonant frequency of the resonant load. In one embodiment, the power converter device is configured as an integrated circuit device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Maarten Jeroen Fonderie
  • Patent number: 7995360
    Abstract: A power supply includes a first power converter, a second power converter, and a clamp reset circuit. The clamp reset circuit is electrically coupled to other components within the first power converter and the second power converter. A clamp standby connection can be provided to electrically couple the clamp reset circuit to components comprising the second power converter. The clamp reset circuit is coupled to reduce magnetizing energy of a transformer of the first power converter and limit voltage in a component of the second power converter. The clamp reset circuit may include a Zener diode and a resistor that are adapted to reduce magnetizing energy of the first power converter and manage leakage inductance energy through the second power converter. The clamp reset circuit normally includes a capacitor that is adapted to store energy from the first power converter and the second power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Mayell
  • Patent number: 7990739
    Abstract: A resonant power converter is provided and includes a capacitor, an inductive device, a first transistor, a second transistor, and a control circuit. The capacitor and the inductive device develop a resonant tank. The first transistor and the second transistor are coupled to switch the resonant tank. The control circuit generates a first signal and a second signal to control the first transistor and the second transistor respectively. Frequencies of the first signal and the second signal are changed for regulating output of the resonant power converter. The control circuit is further coupled to detect an input voltage of the resonant power converter. A pulse width of the second signal is modulated in response to change of the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: System General Corporation
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Ying-Chieh Su, Tien-Chi Lin, Shih-Hung Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7944085
    Abstract: A multiple output switching power source apparatus includes first and second switching elements Q1 and Q2, a first series resonant circuit connected in parallel with Q1 or Q2 and having a first current resonant capacitor and a primary winding of a transformer that are connected in series, a first rectifying-smoothing circuit to rectify and smooth a voltage generated by a secondary winding of the transformer, a second series resonant circuit connected in parallel with the secondary winding and having a second current resonant capacitor and a second resonant reactor that are connected in series, a second rectifying-smoothing circuit to rectify and smooth a voltage of the second series resonant circuit, and a control circuit to determine an ON period of Q1 according to a voltage obtained from one of the first and second rectifying-smoothing circuits, determine an ON period of Q2 according to a voltage obtained from the other of the first and second rectifying-smoothing circuits, and alternately turn on/off Q1 an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoichi Kyono
  • Patent number: 7933131
    Abstract: A power supply, which outputs a plurality of voltages in order to improve the cross regulation between output voltages and at the same time reduce the amount of electric power consumed, and an image forming device having the same are disclosed. The power supply includes a power converter, which generates a first output power source and a second output power source in response to an external power supply and a power control signal, respectively; a power output part, which includes output parts to rectify and smooth each of the first and second output power sources; a first output controller, which receives the first output power source feedback from the power output part to generate the power control signal; and a second output controller, which receives the second output power source feedback from the power output part to control to operate the power output part in stable mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-seok Cho, Sang-yong Han
  • Patent number: 7881077
    Abstract: A PWM controller with output current limitation makes the over-current limitations almost the same even though the input voltages are different. The designer does not need to use high specification components or add an output current limiting circuit against the over-current condition. Costs are reduced and the layout is simplified. The switch power supply includes a transformer, a power switch, a first detecting circuit for generating a first detecting signal, a second detecting circuit for generating a second detecting signal, and a controller. The transformer converts the power and outputs the power to the secondary side. The power switch has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a controlled terminal. The controller has a control terminal, a first detecting terminal for receiving the first detecting signal, and a second detecting terminal for receiving the second detecting signal. The controller performs a protecting operation according to the received signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Niko Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ta-Ching Hsu
  • Patent number: 7876581
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a power converter transformer for suppressing conduction EMI (ElectroMagnetic Interference) includes a primary winding positioned at a primary side; a secondary winding positioned at a second side and coupled with the primary winding; a parasitic capacitor connected between one end of the primary winding and one end of the secondary winding; a switching unit connected to the other end of the primary winding; a Y-capacitor connected between the switching unit and a ground terminal; an auxiliary winding positioned at the secondary side and coupled with the secondary winding; and an auxiliary capacitor connected between the one end of the primary winding and the auxiliary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Hae Kim, Dong Seong Oh, Dea Min Jang, Jin Wook Kim, Il Woon Lee, Jae Sun Won, Erlan Dzhunusbekov, Dmitry Berdnikov
  • Patent number: 7830675
    Abstract: To reduce power loss during standby. In a switching power supply device using a first power supply circuit (11) having a small output and a second power supply circuit (12) having a large output, the first power supply circuit (11) is continuously kept in an operating state and the second power supply circuit (12) is started by using an electric power generated in the first power supply circuit (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamiji Nagai, Toshio Nagai, legal representative, Kazuo Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7791905
    Abstract: Power converter with a controllable first switch and a diode and a controllable second switch and a second diode, a transformer with a primary winding and a secondary winding, of which the secondary winding forms at least part of a control circuit for the first switch. As a result of an alternating voltage across the primary winding, a synchronously alternating voltage is induced in the secondary winding, which can be used to control the first switch essentially synchronously with the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Bart Jozef Maria Smet, Hendrik Jan Zwerver
  • Patent number: 7787262
    Abstract: A capacitor charging circuit is provided with a primary side output voltage sensing circuit including an RC network having an RC time constant with a predetermined relationship to the RC time constant of the output capacitor. Once the capacitor voltage reaches a fully charged level, the charging mode is terminated. The output voltage is continuously detected by measuring the voltage across the primary side RC network that decays at a predetermined rate with respect to the output capacitor and the charging mode is commenced once the RC voltage falls to a predetermined level. According to a further aspect of the invention, a switch control circuit in a flyback converter controls the switch off time in response to detection of a change in the slope polarity of the voltage at a terminal of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijay Mangtani, Nai-Chi Lee, Tseng-Nan Tsai, John Humenick
  • Publication number: 20100208498
    Abstract: A circuit for boosting the voltage from a very low level voltage source to a higher level voltage output utilizing self-oscillation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Edward Rubio, Stanley Simon Hirish, David Charles Nemir
  • Patent number: 7724544
    Abstract: An AC power supply apparatus used for an AC load of a high voltage such as a cold cathode tube. When a cold cathode tube is caused to emit a light, a DC voltage is on/off controlled at a predetermined ratio; thereafter, an AC signal of a high frequency is applied to the on/off controlled voltage in an oscillator circuit; then the resultant signal is boosted up to a predetermined level of voltage in a booster circuit; and thereafter, the AC power supply of the high voltage is applied to the load such as the cold cathode tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Inventor: Eiichi Mori
  • Patent number: 7706155
    Abstract: The invention relates to a half-bridge power converter controller that employs current mode control. The power converter controller includes pulse modulation circuitry, error circuitry, and stabilization circuitry. The stabilization circuitry stabilizes the voltage at the mid-point of a half-bridge power converter input capacitor circuit. The input capacitor circuit mid-point voltage is stabilized by selectively adjusting the on-times of the high-side switch and low-side switch of a half-bridge power converter. This adjustment tailors the current that is provided to the input capacitor circuit and thus maintains the mid-point voltage near a desired value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Bell, Steven Joseph Schulte
  • Publication number: 20100073965
    Abstract: A self-oscillating DC/DC converter comprising: a first and a second input connection for application of an input DC voltage; a first and a second bipolar transistor, wherein each bipolar transistor has a control electrode, a reference electrode and a working electrode; at least one first coupling capacitor; wherein a first switching junction is formed by the junction of the working electrode and the reference electrode of the first bipolar transistor, and a second switching junction is formed by the junction of the working electrode and the reference electrode of the second bipolar transistor, wherein the first and the second switching junctions are connected in series with respect to the input DC voltage; a rectifier, with an output that is coupled to a first and a second output connection in order to provide an output DC voltage; a transformer, which has a primary winding, a secondary winding and at least one control winding; wherein the primary winding is coupled between a galvanic connection of the first
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: OSRAM GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRANKTER HAFTUNG
    Inventors: Peter Niedermeier, Bernd Rudolph
  • Publication number: 20090262557
    Abstract: A bi-directional DC-DC converter includes a first series circuit connected to ends of a first DC power source and including a first winding of a first reactor and a first switch; a second series circuit connected to ends of the first switch and including a second winding of the first reactor, a second reactor, a second switch, a third switch, and a second DC power source; a third series circuit connected to the ends of the first switch and including a fourth switch and the second DC power source; and a control circuit configured to turn on/off the switches and thereby carry out step-up and step-down operations between the first and second DC power sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicants: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd., Shimane University
    Inventors: Hideki Asuke, Hideharu Takano, Masaki Kanazawa, Mamoru Tsuruya, Masayoshi Yamamoto, Hirotaka Hara, Shigeyuki Funabiki
  • Publication number: 20090244930
    Abstract: Power converter with a controllable first switch and a diode and a controllable second switch and a second diode, a transformer with a primary winding and a secondary winding, of which the secondary winding forms at least part of a control circuit for the first switch. As a result of an alternating voltage across the primary winding, a synchronously alternating voltage is induced in the secondary winding, which can be used to control the first switch essentially synchronously with the second switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Bart Jozef Maria Smet, Hendrik Jan Zwerver
  • Patent number: 7596002
    Abstract: A power conversion system comprises a converter coupled to a power source and configured to convert a DC power to a variable AC power signal. The power conversion system may further comprise a process control unit coupled to the converter and configured to control the variable AC power signal. The power conversion system may also further comprise a transformer having a primary side and a secondary side, the primary side receiving the variable AC power signal from the converter and a passive rectifier coupled to the secondary side of the transformer. The transformer may be adapted to provide galvanic isolation between the power source and an electro-chemical process. The passive rectifier is adapted to convert the variable AC power to the variable DC power and to deliver the variable DC power to the electro-chemical processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ralph Teichmann
  • Publication number: 20090185397
    Abstract: An isolated switching regulator has a closed-loop soft-start feature that allows tighter regulation of the output voltage and eliminates or reduces overshoot. It also has an optional reset feature which will resoft-start the regulator during recovery from a fault on the output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: H. Pooya Forghani-zadeh, Luis Alberto Huertas-Sanchez, Gregory Wallis Collins
  • Patent number: 7557547
    Abstract: The present invention provides a control power supply capable of stably operating to output a desired voltage as electric power, even when the input voltage thereof varies over a wide range. A power supply includes a rectification circuit 2 for rectifying the AC output from a power generator 1 and a non-insulation type DC/DC converter 3 for stepping down the DC output from the rectification circuit 2. A self-excited oscillation type converter (RCC) 4 is provided at the following stage of the non-insulation type DC/DC converter 3. The input voltage which has been stepped down by the converter 3 is input to the primary side of the RCC 4, and the RCC 4 stably operates with the input voltage which varies largely to supply, from its secondary side, a power supply to an ECU 5 or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinori Inagawa, Motohiro Shimizu, Kenji Kamimura
  • Patent number: 7515440
    Abstract: A voltage sense circuit and power supply regulation technique. In one aspect, a voltage sense circuit utilized in a power supply regulator includes a transformer including a sense winding and an output winding. A first diode is coupled to the sense winding, a first resistor is coupled to the first diode and a first capacitor coupled to the first resistor and the first diode. A second diode coupled to the first capacitor, the first resistor and the first diode. A second capacitor coupled to the second diode such that a voltage across the second capacitor is representative of a voltage across the output winding. In one embodiment, the first capacitor is discharged in a substantially shorter period of time than the second capacitor such that the second capacitor is charged substantially without influence from leakage inductance energy from the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Chan Woong Park
  • Patent number: 7492612
    Abstract: A high-voltage generator includes a high-voltage transformer having a primary coil, a secondary coil, and an auxiliary coil, and a PNP bipolar junction transistor. Based on the self-oscillation theory of a LC oscillator, an oscillating voltage is generated across the primary coil. The oscillating voltage is amplified to a high-level AC voltage through the secondary coil. One end of the auxiliary coil and an emitter of the transistor are coupled to an input DC voltage, and the other end of the auxiliary coil is connected to the base of the transistor through a RC circuit. One end of the primary coil is connected to the collector of the transistor, and the other end of the primary coil is connected to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Geu-Cheng Hu, Hsiang-Yuan Yu
  • Publication number: 20080198633
    Abstract: A method and system for operating a power converter having an electrical component and a switch coupled to a voltage source are provided. A signal is received that is representative of a desired current flow through the electrical component. A signal is generated that is representative of a difference between the desired current flow and an actual current flow through the electrical component. A duty cycle for the switch is calculated based on the signal representative of the difference and a voltage generated by the voltage source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Constantin C. Stancu, Daniel L. Kowalewski, Robert T. Dawsey
  • Publication number: 20080192512
    Abstract: An exemplary DC to DC converter (2) includes a transistor (29), a first rectifying and filtering circuit (21), a pulse generating circuit (27) and a transformer (25). The first rectifying and filtering circuit transforms an external AC voltage to a first DC voltage. The transformer includes a primary winding (251), an assistant winding (252) connected with the primary winding in a flyback mode, and a secondary winding (253). The first DC voltage is connected to ground via the primary winding, the transistor in series. The pulse generating circuit includes a controlling terminal, a diode, a resistor, and a capacitor. One terminal of the assistant winding is connected to ground, and the other terminal of the assistant winding is connected to an anode of the diode. A cathode of the diode is connected to ground via the resistor and the capacitor in series. The controlling terminal is connected to gate electrode of the transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Jie-Jian Zheng, Tong Zhou, Jian-Hui Lu
  • Patent number: 7391627
    Abstract: A power converter comprises an inductor (LP) and a controllable switch (CF) coupled to the inductor. A switch controller (1) supplies a periodic switching signal (VC1) which has a repetition time and a duty cycle to the controllable switch (CF) to generate a periodical inductor current (IL) through the inductor. A generator (2) generates an emulated signal (IE) based on timing information (TI) which represents the repetition time and the duty cycle to emulate a current signal being representative of the inductor current. A comparator (3) compares the emulated signal (IE) with the current signal (CS) to obtain an error signal (E). A generator controller (4) receives the error signal (E) to supply a control signal (VD) to the generator (2) to adapt a property of the emulated signal (IE) to become substantially equal to a property of the current signal (CS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Johan Christiaan Halberstadt, Gerrit Van Der Horn
  • Patent number: 7375995
    Abstract: A power factor correction circuit used for regulating the phase of a DC current outputted from a rectifier unit in a power supply includes an energy inductor, an output diode, a switch unit, a pulse width modulation unit, a sensing resistor, and a converter transformer. The converter transformer utilizes the DC current outputted from the rectifier unit to generate an induced current, which will pass through the two ends of the sensing resistor to produce a reference voltage, thereby the pulse width modulation unit can produce the duty cycle for the switch unit according to the reference voltage, so that the switch unit can regulate the phase of the DC current through controlling the flowing direction of the DC current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: SPI Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Allen Cheng
  • Patent number: 7315130
    Abstract: An electronic ballast circuit for a lamp is described, wherein the ballast comprises a power factor correction circuit coupled to an inverter circuit. The inverter circuit is further coupled to a trigger circuit, which is in turn operatively connected to a hot or neutral line of a power supply by a control line. Upon closing a switch in the control line, the trigger circuit operates to place a capacitor in parallel with a base drive winding of a transistor in the inverter circuit, causing the inverter circuit to shut down. When the switch is opened, the trigger circuit shuts off and the inverter starts up and returns to an oscillating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Chen, James K. Skully
  • Patent number: 7235956
    Abstract: A step up switching converter is disclosed. The switching converter comprises a first semiconductor switch arranged in series connection with a storage inductor and a sensor resistor. The control electrode of the first semiconductor switch is connected via a resistor to the input voltage, the resistor constituting the operating resistor of a second semiconductor switch. The voltage drop of the sensor resistor is fed to the control electrode of the second semiconductor switch as an indicator of the current through the storage inductor, and that connection of the storage inductor connected to the first semiconductor switch being connected on the one hand via a rectifier diode to an output capacitor which carries the output voltage, and on the other hand via a series RC element to the control input of the second semiconductor switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens AG Osterreich
    Inventor: Thomas Rothmayer
  • Patent number: 7196915
    Abstract: A step-up converter based on an integrated transformer, comprising a self-resonating oscillator circuit that has inductive elements constituted by primary and secondary windings of at least one first transformer, the self-resonating oscillator circuit being powered by an external supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alessandro Savio, Anna Richelli, Zsolt Miklos Kovacs Vajna
  • Patent number: 7173830
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (10) for converting an AC voltage from the mains electricity supply into a DC voltage of predetermined level (and waveform), comprising:—a rectifier circuit (16, 17, 18, 19) for connecting to the mains electricity supply;—a switching circuit connected to the rectifier circuit;—a main transformer (26) connected to the switching circuit and—an auxiliary transformer (28) which is connected to the switching circuit and the secondary winding of which is coupled to the secondary winding of the main transformer such that the current through the switching circuit and the main transformer is limited to a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Leader Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: René Frederik Koch
  • Patent number: 7142437
    Abstract: A voltage sense circuit and power supply regulation technique. In one aspect, a voltage sense circuit utilized in a power supply regulator includes a transformer including a sense winding and an output winding. A first diode is coupled to the sense winding, a first resistor is coupled to the first diode and a first capacitor coupled to the first resistor and the first diode. A second diode coupled to the first capacitor, the first resistor and the first diode. A second capacitor coupled to the second diode such that a voltage across the second capacitor is representative of a voltage across the output winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Chan Woong Park
  • Patent number: 7119499
    Abstract: A switching power device uses a non-capacitor flyback converter circuit not provided with a smoothing input capacitor having a large capacity. Therefore, a power harmonic can be suppressed and a rush current preventing element is not required. A fluctuation in an output current to be supplied to a load is fed back to the non-capacitor flyback converter circuit by a feedback circuit at a lower speed than an input AC frequency. Therefore, it is possible to improve a power factor by causing an input AC current to be proportional to an input AC voltage. A voltage control circuit controls an output voltage so as to have a constant voltage, and the output voltage is dropped in proportion to an output current when the output current exceeds a threshold. Therefore, it is possible to have the same output characteristic as a power device comprising a low frequency power transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yuzo Ishigaki, Masao Noro
  • Patent number: 7113412
    Abstract: In charging a gate of a NMOS transistor Q1, the charging speed is adjustable by varying a resistor R1. When an inputted pulse signal VIN reverses to a negative voltage, a diode D2 turns off. Then, current flows along a discharging loop formed by the gate capacitor, the resistor R1, the emitter of the transistor Q2, the base of the transistor Q2, the resistor R2 and the capacitor C1, the transformer T1 and the source of the NMOS transistor Q1. A reverse bias voltage is applied to the gate of the NMOS transistor Q1, thereby keeping the NMOS transistor Q1off-state stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Tamura Corporation
    Inventors: Geliang Shao, Kiyoshi Obikata, Kimio Yoshimi, Kazunori Matsuzawa, Masaru Kubota
  • Patent number: 7106602
    Abstract: A circuit and corresponding method for reducing standby power and improving no-load to full-load regulation for ringing choke converters by maintaining a reduced duty cycle, with longer off time at no-load, while maintaining the output voltage swing closer to the full-load level. This reduced duty cycle prevents the output voltage from swinging high with respect to the full-load level, thereby providing good no-load and full-load output regulation in open feedback loop systems. The circuit and method provides very low no-load switching frequency and duty cycle by increasing the off time of the main switch through use of a turn off transistor driven by a zener diode, thereby maintaining conduction even with a very small control current and prolonging the off time of the main switch. The circuit and method achieves the benefits preferably using only less costly basic discrete converter components instead of more costly integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Astec International Limited
    Inventors: Samuel P. Mabanta, Donnifer Reyes, Mirasol Ponce
  • Patent number: 7027312
    Abstract: A voltage sense circuit and power supply regulation technique. In one aspect, a voltage sense circuit utilized in a power supply regulator includes a transformer including a sense winding and an output winding. A first diode is coupled to the sense winding, a first resistor is coupled to the first diode and a first capacitor coupled to the first resistor and the first diode. A second diode coupled to the first capacitor, the first resistor and the first diode. A second capacitor coupled to the second diode such that a voltage across the second capacitor is representative of a voltage across the output winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Chan Woong Park