Single-ended, Separately-driven Type Patents (Class 363/20)
  • Patent number: 7613017
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to power converter systems and methods that regulate an output voltage by gating a fixed energy pulse. For example, a comparator may be used to gate a programmable timer that is optimized to provide a fixed “on-time” and “off-time” for a given load. For line variations, the on-time is adjusted via a control loop. That is, the on-time is compensated via the control loop to provide a fixed amount of energy at the output of the power converter. The off-time is configured to deliver the fixed duration of energy to the output storage capacitor. The comparator monitors the output voltage to allow a single fixed energy pulse to pass to the output storage capacitor when the output voltage is below a desired level. When the output voltage is above the desired level, energy transfer is temporarily ceased (i.e., energy pulses temporarily stop).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Louis Robert Diana, Dominick Frank Travaglini
  • Publication number: 20090262558
    Abstract: A switching power supply circuit includes a direct current (DC) power supply input, a first transistor, a capacitor, a first resistor, a second resistor, a switching circuit including a second transistor, and a first transformer including a first primary winding and a secondary winding. The DC power supply input is connected to a drain electrode of the first transistor via the capacitor. A gate electrode of the first transistor is connected to ground via the first resistor, and connected to the drain electrode of the first transistor via the second resistor. The DC power supply input is connected to a source electrode of the first transistor via the primary winding. The source electrode of the first transistor is grounded via the second transistor. The secondary winding is structured and arranged to drive a load circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Jie-Jian Zheng, Tong Zhou
  • Publication number: 20090262559
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a high breakdown voltage semiconductor element including a switching element and a JFET element; and a sense element. The sense element includes a first drift region of a first conductivity type, a first base region of a second conductivity type, a first source region of a first conductivity type, a first gate insulating film, a first drain region of a first conductivity type, a sense electrode electrically connected to the first source region, a first gate electrode, and a first drain electrode electrically connected to the first drain region. The first gate electrode of the sense element and the second gate electrode of the switching element are connected to each other. The first drain electrode of the sense element and the electrode shared by the switching element and the JFET element are connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventor: Saichirou KANEKO
  • Publication number: 20090257249
    Abstract: An energy transmission device includes: a semiconductor device formed on a first semiconductor substrate; a semiconductor integrated circuit including a reverse current preventing diode and a control circuit; a DC voltage source; and a transformer. The reverse current preventing diode includes a reverse current preventing layer of a second conductivity type formed at a surface of a second semiconductor substrate, and a well layer of a first conductivity type formed in the second semiconductor substrate and covering the reverse current preventing layer. The transformer includes a primary winding connected in series with the semiconductor device and the DC voltage source, and a first secondary winding connected to a load. The energy transmission device is configured so that electric power is supplied from the first secondary winding of the transformer to the load. A second drain electrode of the semiconductor device is electrically connected to the reverse current preventing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventor: Saichirou KANEKO
  • Publication number: 20090257248
    Abstract: In a DC/DC converter comprising a transformer (10) having a primary winding Np and at least first and second secondary windings Ns1 and Ns2; a main output path connecting the first secondary winding to a main output Vp and comprising a synchronous rectifier circuit, a first inductor L1, and a first capacitor C1; and an input path connecting a DC supply voltage Ve to the primary winding and including a switch circuit (12) controlled by a first pulse width modulator PWM1 to regulate the main output voltage by switching the current in the primary winding, there is provided an auxiliary output circuit connecting the second secondary winding to an auxiliary output Va and comprising an auxiliary rectifier path having a control switch M5, a free-wheel switch M6, a rectifier switch M3, a second inductor L2, and a second capacitor C2; and a second pulse width modulator PWM2 connected to the control switch M5 and to the free-wheel switch M6 to control a conduction interval of said switches in order to regulate the auxi
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: 3W POWER HOLDINGS B.V.
    Inventors: Thierry Baptiste, Sebastien Duprez
  • Publication number: 20090251928
    Abstract: A switching power supply circuit includes a direct current (DC) power supply input terminal, a first transformer including a first primary winding, a second transformer, and a pulse generating circuit, and a startup circuit. The pulse generating circuit includes first and second first switching units connected in series and two voltage division resistors connected in series between the DC power supply input terminal and ground, and two capacitors connected in parallel with one of the two voltage division resistors. The second transformer includes a second primary winding connected between control terminal and second conducting terminal of the first switching unit, a second secondary winding; and an assistant winding connected between the control terminal of the second switching unit and ground. The second conducting terminal of the first switching unit is grounded via the second secondary winding, the first primary winding and a capacitor in series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Jie-Jian Zheng, Tong Zhou
  • 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: 20090231886
    Abstract: A power supply and a bootstrap circuit thereof are provided. The bootstrap circuit includes a transistor, a first capacitor, a first impedance and a regulator circuit. The collector and the emitter of the transistor respectively serve as the input terminal and the output terminal of the bootstrap circuit. A terminal of the first capacitor is coupled to the collector of the transistor. A terminal of the first impedance is coupled to another terminal of the first capacitor. The regulator circuit is coupled to another terminal of the first impedance and the base of the transistor for clamping the voltage of the above-mentioned base at a predetermined voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: INVENTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chun-Hua Xia, Shih-Hao Liu
  • Patent number: 7573730
    Abstract: A charging device with boundary mode control is disclosed. The charging device includes a transformer, a power switch, a detection circuit and a pulse-width modulation (PWM) controller. The power switch is electrically connected to one end of a primary-side winding of the transformer. The detection circuit is electrically connected to the primary-side winding and the power switch. The detection circuit detects the resonance of the parasitic capacitance of the power switch, thereby generating a detection signal for boundary mode control. The PWM controller generates a pulse-width modulation signal for driving the power switch, and turns on the power switch according to the detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Leadtrend Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Ming-Nan Chuang, Yi-Shan Chu, Yu-Bin Wang
  • Patent number: 7564903
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of sampling reflected voltage signal of a transformer is proposed. Sampling signals are used for generating hold voltages by sequentially sampling the reflected voltage from the transformer. A buffer circuit generates a buffer signal from the higher voltage of hold voltages. A sampling switch periodically conducts the buffer signal to produce a feedback signal according to an output of the buffer circuit. The feedback signal is proportional to output voltage of the transformer. A threshold signal added by the reflected voltage signal produces a level-shift signal. A discharge-time signal is enabled once the switching signal is disabled. The discharge-time signal is disabled once the level-shift signal is lower than output of the buffer circuit. The pulse width of the discharge-time signal is correlated to the discharge time of the transformer. The sampling signals are enabled to generate hold voltages when discharge-time signal is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventor: Ta-yung Yang
  • Publication number: 20090175054
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a switched mode power supply as an isolating transformer. According to said method, magnetic energy is stored in the core of a transformer during a storage stage via a primary coil that is connected to an intermediate circuit current and the stored magnetic energy is delivered to a load in a subsequent discharge phase, for the most part by means of a secondary coil, a small part of said magnetic energy being discharged on the primary side. The energy that is discharged on the primary side charges a capacitor in such a way that the capacitor current is always held above the secondary current multiplied by the transmittance ratio of the transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Wilhelm Appel, Wolfgang Peprny, Arnold Schonleitner
  • Patent number: 7542308
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter is provided with a control circuit 6 which comprises a drive signal generator 11 for producing on-off signals to a control terminal of a MOS-FET 3 in synchronization with pulse signals VOSC from an oscillator 10; an intermittent controller 12 for producing a control signal VC1 to drive signal generator 11 in response to the level of detection signal from an output voltage detector 5 to convert MOS-FET 3 to the intermittent operation during the light load period; and a power control circuit 16 for ceasing power supply VCC to oscillator 10 in response to control signal VC1 from intermittent controller 12 to stop production of pulse signal VOSC from oscillator 10 for the cessation term of MOS-FET 3 during the intermittent operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyasu Yamada
  • Publication number: 20090116264
    Abstract: An exemplary power supply circuit (20) includes an input terminal (201), an output terminal (202), voltage converting circuits (23, 24), and a pulse width modulation circuit (22). The input terminal is capable of receiving a direct current voltage. The output terminal is capable of providing voltage to a load circuit. The voltage converting circuits are connected in parallel between the input terminal and the output terminal. The pulse width modulation circuit is configured to control the voltage converting circuits to convert the direct current voltage into pulse voltages. A phase of each pulse voltage is delayed relative to that of an adjacent preceding pulse voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventor: Ching-Chung Lin
  • Publication number: 20090080222
    Abstract: A power supply includes an input filter and rectifier module, a digital control module, and a converter module. The input filter and rectifier module is configured to rectify an input voltage. The digital control module is adapted to prevent a potential saturation of a transformer by setting a maximum allowable duty cycle for a control signal transmitted to the transistor based on an input voltage. The digital control model is further adapted to reduce switching losses in the power supply by setting the control signal switching frequency, based on the input voltage. The converter module is configured to convert the input voltage into a direct current output voltage based upon the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS, LP
    Inventors: Lucian Popescu, Constantin D. Livescu
  • Publication number: 20090073726
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide low harmonic distortion AC power for distribution by converting energy from natural or renewable sources into electrical form, and constructing a current waveform on a primary winding of a transformer by recapturing inductive energy previously stored in the transformer so as to transform the converted electrical energy into substantially sinusoidal AC voltage at a secondary winding of the transformer. For example, AC power may be supplied to a utility power grid from raw electrical energy from renewable energy sources (e.g., solar cells). An inverter may construct the primary winding current waveform using two unidirectional switches. On each half cycle, one of the switches first applies energy previously recaptured from primary winding inductance, and then applies the raw energy to the transformer primary winding at the utility power grid frequency. Accordingly, the constructed primary winding current may exhibit substantially improved total harmonic distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: FLYBACK ENERGY, INC.
    Inventor: Paul M. Babcock
  • Patent number: 7499292
    Abstract: A power device includes a transformer, a control signal outputting unit, and a power adjusting unit. The transformer has a primary coil and a secondary coil. The control signal outputting unit variably controls a parameter value and outputs, based on the parameter value, a control signal for controlling output power from the secondary coil. The power adjusting unit receives the control signal from the control signal outputting unit and adjusts power supplied to the primary coil based on the control signal. The power adjusting unit modifies a rate of change within a range in which the parameter value can be variably controlled, the rate of change being a rate of change in the power supplied to the primary coil with respect to the parameter value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Inukai, Hiroyuki Naganawa
  • Patent number: 7480156
    Abstract: The subject invention reveals new three terminal tapped inductor canonical cells for non-isolated power conversion. The canonical cells achieve reduced semiconductor component stresses for applications with limited line voltage range for small step up and step down ratios or for large step up and step down ratios. Some of the canonical cells can be used to form buck, boost, and buck boost converters. Another of the canonical cells is a member of the SEPIC family which can both step up and step down or operate in all four quadrants. Related canonical cells which achieve zero voltage switching and improved electromagnetic compatibility are also revealed. A new more robust floating gate drive control circuit is revealed which operates without magnetic components, without optical coupling, and without high voltage semiconductors is revealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Inventor: Ernest Henry Wittenbreder, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090016083
    Abstract: A resonant converter including a primary side switching stage having high- and low-side switches series connected at a switching node and controlled by a primary side controller; a transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil, the secondary coil having at least one pair of portions series connected at a node, a resonant tank formed by series connecting the primary coil to the switching node with a first inductor and a first capacitor; at least one pair of first and second secondary side switches connected to the at least one pair of portions, respectively, the first and second secondary side switches of each pair being used for synchronous rectification; and a secondary side controller to control and drive the first and second secondary side switches of each pair by sensing voltage across each secondary side switch and determining a turn ON and turn OFF transition for the first and second secondary side switches in close proximity to a point in time when there is zero current through the secondary s
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Marco Soldano, Adnaan Mustafa Lokhandwala
  • Publication number: 20090016082
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide voltage converters and methods for using such. As one example, a voltage converter is disclosed that includes a transformer, an operational detector, and a controllable oscillator. The transformer includes a first winding and a second winding, and the operational detector provides an electrical output corresponding to an operational characteristic of the transformer. The controllable oscillator provides a clock output with a frequency corresponding to the electrical output. This clock output at least in part controls application of a voltage input to the first winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Rais K. Miftakhutdinov, Lin Sheng, John R. Wiggenhorn
  • Publication number: 20090003018
    Abstract: A direct current to direct current (DC/DC) converter control systems and related methods are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment provides a control circuit configured to modulate the duty cycles of a first switching device and a second switching device, and is further configured to compensate for a voltage drift at a monitoring node by varying the modulation for at least one of the switching devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Barry O. Blair, Rick L. Barnett, Donald Marabell, Kalyan Siddabatula
  • Publication number: 20080298088
    Abstract: Disclosed is a DC to DC converter, which comprises: a transforming circuit, for transforming an input voltage to an output voltage; a comparator, for comparing a reference voltage and a feedback voltage proportional to the output voltage to generate a comparing signal; a control circuit, coupled to the transforming circuit and the comparator, for controlling the transforming circuit according to the comparing signal; and a time-counting device, coupled to the control circuit, for counting the time of a specific voltage level of the comparing signal; wherein the time-counting device informs the control circuit that a load open situation occurs if the specific voltage level of the comparing signal lasts a predetermined time, then the control circuit turns off the transforming circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Yi-Lun Shen, Da-Chun Wei
  • Patent number: 7450402
    Abstract: DC-DC converters such as flyback converters achieve self-regulation by communication information between primary and secondary circuits through the power transformer. Operating in accordance with a generalized concept or algorithm, the converter can be bi-directional and self-regulating. Control of the turn OFF times of semiconductor switches in first and second circuits coupled to first and second windings of the power transformer determines whether power flow is in one direction through the converter or the other direction. Turn ON timing of each semiconductor switch is when there is a reverse current through the switch and voltage across the switch is at or near zero. Turn OFF of a switch can be controlled from one or more operating parameters of the converter such as output voltage, in which case the converter's self-regulation is affected through duty cycle variation with variations in output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: DET International Holding Limited
    Inventor: Ionel D. Jitaru
  • Patent number: 7443699
    Abstract: A power supply controller (10, 60, 70) uses a negative current (36) of a power transistor (16, 71) to detect the valley point for enabling the power transistor when driving an inductor (17). The negative current occurs when the inductor is de-magnetized and can be used for controlling the time to enable the power transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Francois Lhermite
  • Publication number: 20080247195
    Abstract: According to the switching supply such as a DC/DC converter, since primary side coils provided in two transformers are mutually connected in series, voltage variation generated in parallel-connected secondary side coils can be suppressed, and the uniformity of secondary side parallel output can be enhanced even in case of voltage value fluctuations or the like caused by variation in the output of an inverter circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wataru NAKAHORI
  • Publication number: 20080239759
    Abstract: Primary and secondary coils are provided in the first through section and a coil group is also provided in the second through section. Hence, the surface area over which the coil group extends within a plane which is perpendicular to the through sections is greater than in the case where all of the coils are provided in a single through section. The surface area which is not covered by the magnetic body cores of the platelike members increases. In cases where the surface area of the members is large, the heat radiation characteristic is enhanced. Hence, the cooling efficiency of the transformer improves. In cases where there is a plurality of coil groups which are magnetically coupled to one another in particular, because it is difficult to move the heat produced in the plurality of coil groups through heat conduction, heat transfer, or heat radiation, a heat radiation structure of this kind is effective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Wataru NAKAHORI
  • Patent number: 7426120
    Abstract: The present invention provides a switching control circuit having a valley voltage detector to achieve the soft switching and improve the efficiency of a power converter. The switching control circuit includes a control circuit coupled to the feedback signal to generate a switching signal. Through an output circuit, the switching signal drives a switching device for switching a transformer and regulating the output of the power converter. The valley voltage detector is coupled to an auxiliary winding of the transformer for generating a control signal in response to the voltage of the transformer. The control signal is used for enabling the switching signal. The switching signal further turns on the switching device in response to a valley voltage across the switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: System General Corporation
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Rui-Hong Lu, Chuh-Ching Li, Feng-Cheng Tsao, Pei-Sheng Tsu
  • Patent number: 7420823
    Abstract: A bi-directional boost circuit for power factor correction includes a power factor control circuit and a pair of diodes, a pair of inductors, and a pair of switches. A first diode, a second diode, a first inductor, a second inductor, a first switch, and a second switch convert the AC input voltage, rectify the AC input voltage, and output an intermediate DC voltage. The power factor control circuit receives the AC input voltage and receives the intermediate DC voltage. The power factor control circuit regulates the DC output voltage. Based on the AC input voltage and the intermediate DC output voltage, the power factor control circuit controls an inductor current waveform by driving the first switch and the second switch to create a substantially sinusoidal current as seen by the power source that is in phase with the AC input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Comarco Wireless Technologies, Inc
    Inventor: Thomas W Lanni
  • Publication number: 20080205089
    Abstract: Power converter system topologies comprise a DC/DC converter. The DC/DC converter includes a transformer coupling a high side to a low side. The high side may include an inverter bridge in the form of an inverter module and an inductor. The low side may include a rectifier in the form of a rectifier module and a pair of inductors. The transformer may take the form of a planar transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE US, INC.
    Inventors: Lizhi Zhu, Fred Flett, John M. Van Dyke
  • Patent number: 7405952
    Abstract: A power supply device has first and second terminals, a transformer, a switching element and an auxiliary power supply element. The first and second terminals receive input power having an input voltage. The transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding. The primary winding has a pair of winding terminals. One of the pair of winding terminals is connected to the first terminal. The switching element is connected between the second terminal and the other of the pair of winding terminals of the primary winding. The auxiliary power supply element feeds electric power to the transformer when the input voltage decreases to or less than a predetermined value. The auxiliary power supply element has a capacitor and a second switching element for storing energy from the primary winding into the first capacitor during a normal operation of the power supply device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Uematsu
  • Publication number: 20080170419
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an active peak voltage-limiting clamp circuit, which comprises a primary switch unit and a secondary switch unit that are used to control the coil current of a transformer, wherein a signal acquisition unit, a zero-point decision unit, a feedback unit and a pulse control unit are used to control the turn-on periods of the primary switch unit and the secondary switch unit; thus, the turn-on period of the primary switch unit is separated from the turn-on period of the secondary switch unit, and a buffer interval for the transient voltage variation is formed therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventor: Kuo-Fan Lin
  • Publication number: 20080117653
    Abstract: A semiconductor device incorporates a resistor on a structure that uses diffusion layers for sustaining the breakdown voltage thereof to realizes a very resistive element that exhibits a high breakdown voltage and high electrical resistance, includes a spiral very resistive element buried in an interlayer insulator film. A first end of the very resistive element is connected to a drain electrode wiring and the second end of the very resistive element is grounded. An intermediate point of the very resistive element is connected to ae voltage comparator of a control IC. The semiconductor device according to the invention facilitates reducing the components parts costs, assembly costs and size of a switching power supply that includes a very resistive element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC DEVICE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaru SAITO
  • 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: 7365996
    Abstract: A switched-mode power supply for converting a DC input voltage (Uzk) into an output voltage (Ua). The switched-mode power supply comprises a circuit (AST) for triggering at least one controlled switch (S) that periodically applies the input voltage to at least one primary winding (Wp) of a transformer (UET). An auxiliary voltage for the triggering circuit can be switched off with the aid of an auxiliary semiconductor switch (Ts) when the input voltage drops below a given minimum value, the auxiliary voltage consisting of a first auxiliary supply voltage (Uh) diverted from the input voltage and a second auxiliary supply voltage (Uhl) diverted from a secondary winding (Wh) of the transformer by means of rectification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens AG Osterreich
    Inventors: Arnold Schonleitner, Hallak Jalal Abdulazim
  • Patent number: 7362077
    Abstract: A boost control module operates semiconductor switches of a boost converter circuit in an avalanche mode to precharge a boost output capacitor. The boost control module comprises a switching module that complementarily transitions a first semiconductor switch and a second semiconductor switch between ON and OFF states when a current does not exceed a maximum current threshold. The switching module transitions the first semiconductor switch and the second semiconductor switch to the OFF state when the current exceeds the maximum current threshold. The switching module maintains the first semiconductor switch and the second semiconductor switch in the OFF state until at least one of the inductor current is less than or equal to a minimum current threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Keming Chen
  • Patent number: 7355870
    Abstract: A switching mode power supply and a method for outputting voltage therefrom are provided, where a transformer receives rectified alternating current (AC) voltage and transforms a voltage value or a current value, a switching transistor is connected to one end of a first coil and controls a level of power supplied to the first coil, a heat sink is positioned adjacent to the switching transistor and attenuates electromagnetic wave noise of the switching transistor; and a capacitive device is set up in an electric power line connecting the heat sink to a first side grounding end coupled with the other end of the first coil of the transformer. Accordingly the switching mode power supply can be miniaturized while effectively attenuating the electromagnetic wave noise from the switching transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong-moon Choi
  • Patent number: 7355864
    Abstract: A switching regulator has an input voltage detection circuit which inputs a voltage applied to a rectifier diode 7 connected in series with the secondary side of a transformer and generates a voltage signal Vvp corresponding to the voltage, and a calculation unit which calculates a voltage value Vin inputted to the primary side of the transformer based on a voltage value of the voltage signal generated by the input voltage detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7336057
    Abstract: A DC/DC converter includes: a boost converter that boosts an input voltage in accordance with a first control signal; an insulated converter that converts an output of the boost converter in accordance with a second control signal; a current sensor that detects an output current of the insulated converter; a first controller that generates the first control signal based on an error between the output current detected by the current sensor and a first threshold value; and a second controller that generates the second control signal based on an error between the output current detected by the current sensor and a second threshold value that is larger than the first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventor: Nobuo Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20080043495
    Abstract: Generally, a DC/DC converter and its associated devices and processes are presented herein. The DC/DC converter may be a switched mode converter that includes a plurality of switching devices that couple between the first and second power supply rails. A transformer is coupled to the switching devices such that the switching devices exchange electrical energy through the transformer. A rectifier is coupled to the transformer to rectify the waveform from the transformer into a substantially DC output. The DC/DC converter also includes clamp diodes to relieve voltage stress on rectifier diodes. Resistors may be coupled in series with the clamp diodes to reduce a reset time of the DC/DC converter and thereby prevent catastrophic failure of the power supply during load transients. Additionally, the DC/DC converter may be configured with a power outage detection device that monitors gate drive signals of the converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventor: Aaron Jungreis
  • Publication number: 20080025051
    Abstract: A circuit used to convert a DC input to an AC output comprises a pair of series circuits, one or two capacitors, and one transformer. Each of the series circuits is in parallel with the DC input and comprises a pair of series-connected switches and at least one transformer primary. Each capacitor couples the two series circuits, and is attached to each series circuit at a node between the respective transformer primary and switch. The center nodes between two series-connected switches are connected together. At least one secondary on the transformer provides the AC output. Optionally, multiple transformers may be utilized. Similar topologies may be used for rectification instead of inversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventor: Ching-Shan Leu
  • Patent number: 7307334
    Abstract: A technique includes forming a first well in a substrate and forming a second well in the substrate. The first well is electrically isolated from the second well. The technique includes forming an element in the second well to limit current between the first well and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Brian D. Green
  • Publication number: 20070236966
    Abstract: A unidirectional DC-DC converter which has a simple control circuit without using multiple insulated power supplies, uses an auxiliary inductor of a comparatively small capacitance, reduces the size and weight of the converter, and has a very great capacitance without switching of supply current. A unidirectional DC-DC converter equipped with main IGBT101 which supplies and shuts off current for first inductor 108a and diode 107 which discharges energy from main inductor 108a to an output, wherein the DC-DC converter is further equipped with auxiliary IGBT104 which applies current to back-to-back-connected diode 102 by using energy stored in auxiliary inductor 108b which is magnetically coupled with main inductor 108a. This applies current to the back-to-back-connected diode in a short period including a time period in which the first switching element is turned on and accomplishes ZVZCS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Junpei Uruno, Hiroyuki Shoji, Akihiko Kanouda, Yasuo Kaminaga
  • Patent number: 7280376
    Abstract: In a method and system for providing isolated power, a flyback controller includes a transformer operable to receive a primary voltage input and generate a secondary voltage output. A switch electrically coupled in series with a primary side of the transformer receives a control signal for controlling a duty cycle of the primary voltage. A controller is operable to generate the control signal responsive to receiving a plurality of inputs from the primary side. The controller regulates the secondary voltage output without receiving feedback input from a secondary side of the transformer by computing the secondary voltage as a predefined function of the plurality of the inputs when the switch is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Brent A. McDonald, Daniel E. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 7257008
    Abstract: A start-up apparatus for a power supply is presented. A charging path from an input voltage to a holding capacitor is cut off after the power converter starts up. The start-up apparatus includes a transistor having a drain supplied with the input voltage, and a source connected to the holding capacitor and an input of a start-up control unit. An output of the start-up control unit controls a switch and the transistor. The holding capacitor starts to be charged as the transistor is turned on. Once a voltage across the holding capacitor exceeds a start-up voltage, an internal control circuit is powered via the switch. Meanwhile, the transistor is turned off and the charging path is cut off. Furthermore, the start-up apparatus provides a hysteresis threshold voltage range for controlling the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: System-General Corporation
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Wei-Hsuan Huang
  • Patent number: 7254045
    Abstract: A power factor is improved using a simplified structure without particularly providing a power factor improving circuit, and high efficiency is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Noritoshi Imamura
  • Patent number: 7254044
    Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to a power supply. According to various embodiments, the power supply includes at least one DC/DC converter. The converter includes a primary switch controlled by a pulse width modulated control signal such that the primary switch is on for a D time period of each switching cycle of the converter and is off for a 1-D time period of each switching cycle. Also, the power supply includes a current sensing element connected in series with the primary switch. In addition, the power supply includes a current limit circuit connected to the current sensing element. The current limit circuit includes a functional circuit having a first input responsive to a first signal whose voltage is proportional to the output current of the converter during the D time period of the switching cycle of the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Artesyn Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Marty Perry, Ian Poynton
  • Patent number: 7248485
    Abstract: The circuit arrangement has a mains connection, a mains switch and a switched-mode power supply which contains a power factor coil for power factor correction. In this case, the mains switch has two switching contacts, one of which is arranged in a supply line between the mains connection and the switched-mode power supply, and in this way switches the phase or neutral conductor of the 50 Hz line network off and on. The connections of the second switching contact are located in a voltage supply for the driver circuit of the switched-mode power supply, and the second switching contact switches the switching transistor in the switched-mode power supply off when the circuit arrangement is switched off, by its control voltage being switched off directly or indirectly. The switching contact of a relay is arranged in parallel with the first switching contact of the mains switch, and the control coil of this relay is connected to an output voltage of the switched-mode power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hermann, Michael Meitzner, Jean-Paul Louvel
  • Patent number: 7236086
    Abstract: A transformer having galvanically isolated windings defines a primary side and a secondary side of a power conversion apparatus. A switch couples power from a source on the primary side via the transformer to a load on the secondary side. A first circuit assembly has primary-side circuitry galvanically coupled to a port for connection to an input power source. The primary-side circuitry includes a primary-side communicator for sending or receiving control information used in controlling operation of the power conversion apparatus. A second circuit assembly has secondary-side circuitry galvanically coupled to a port for connection to a load. The secondary-side circuitry includes a secondary-side communicator for sending or receiving the control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: VLT, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrizio Vinciarelli, Louis A. Bufano
  • Patent number: 7199649
    Abstract: A switching power supply unit, for switching a rectified voltage supplied to a pulse transformer to supply a specified load voltage to a load connected to the secondary winding of the pulse transformer, wherein at the time of normal operation, a rectified voltage is supplied via a first resistor to a power supply terminal of a control circuit, together with supply of a voltage generated at a drive winding of the pulse transformer to the power supply terminal via a diode, and at the time of standby operation, a standby signal from outside indicating that the switching power supply unit has been put into standby mode is received, and it is possible to completely cut-off supply of power to a control section of the switching power supply unit constituting a main power supply when in standby mode, by supplying a voltage that is lower than a power supply threshold voltage capable of operating a control circuit to the power supply terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasunari Noguchi
  • Patent number: 7193396
    Abstract: An inductor in a series path of a DC converter having a buck or boost configuration is constituted by a transformer with windings in series with switches of the converter. A transformer turns ratio facilitates matching switch voltage and current stresses to characteristics of MOSFETs forming the switches. A high side MOSFET can have its source at a constant voltage to facilitate driving this switch. One switch can be replaced by a diode. A transformer leakage energy removal circuit can provide an auxiliary output voltage, greater than the input voltage for a buck configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Potentia Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Ray Orr
  • Patent number: 7184279
    Abstract: A solid state switching circuit utilizes a transformer in series with the circuit's switching device by which energy initially stored in the primary of the transformer is recovered in resonant circuitry connected to the secondary of the transformer for transfer of the energy to the load when the switching device is not conducting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Thermatool Corp.
    Inventor: Thomas G. Lee