For Resonant-type Converter Patents (Class 363/21.02)
  • Patent number: 8040696
    Abstract: The configurations of a resonant converter system and a controlling method thereof are provided. The proposed resonant converter system includes a resonant converter receiving an input voltage for outputting an output voltage, a rectifying device having a first rectifying switch and a synchronous rectification control circuit coupled to the resonant converter and including a signal generation apparatus generating a weighted turn-off signal to turn off the first rectifying switch at a zero crossing point of a first current flowing through the first rectifying switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongyang Wu, Bin Wang, Jianhong Zeng, Jianping Ying, Xiaoni Xin
  • Publication number: 20110249473
    Abstract: A method for controlling operation of a resonant converter is to be implemented by a control module that generates a drive signal for controlling a power switch of the resonant converter to thereby control an output voltage and an output current provided by the resonant converter to a load. The method includes: (A) configuring the control module to determine if the load is operating in a first mode or a second mode; (B) configuring the control module to generate the drive signal according to the output voltage when the control module determines that the load is operating in the first mode; and (C) configuring the control module to generate the drive signal according to the output current when the control module determines that the load is operating in the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: SILITEK ELECTRONIC (GUANGZHOU) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: MING-ZHU LI, JING-YAN LI, QING-LIN ZHAO, ZHI-HONG YE, CHUN-LIN ZHANG
  • Patent number: 8036001
    Abstract: A converter and a driving method thereof are provided. The converter includes first and second switches, and generates a square wave signal according to operations of the first and second switches. The converter includes a first capacitor and a primary coil, and resonates a driving voltage by using a driving voltage with the first capacitor and the primary coil so as to generate a driving current. The converter includes a secondary coil that forms the primary coil and the transformer, and generates output power by rectifying a current and a voltage generated in the secondary coil. In addition, the converter detects the phase of the driving current, and increases switching frequencies of the first and second switches if a phase difference of the phase of the driving current and that of the driving voltage is smaller than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventor: Hang-Seok Choi
  • 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: 8036000
    Abstract: The configurations of a resonant converter system and a controlling method thereof are provided. The proposed resonant converter system includes a resonant converter and a hybrid control apparatus coupled to the resonant converter for generating a driving signal to adjust a phase angle and a frequency of the resonant converter such that the resonant converter would reach a relatively lower voltage gain and have a relatively lower loss during an abnormal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianping Ying, Yiqing Ye, Chao Yan, Jianhong Zeng
  • Publication number: 20110242856
    Abstract: A resonant converter (10) comprising a voltage compensation circuit (72, 73) configured to generate a periodic compensation voltage signal (Vslopecompens) at a switching frequency of the converter such that conduction intervals (31, 32) are ended according to first and second voltage levels in combination with the periodic compensation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Hans Halberstadt
  • Publication number: 20110228566
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a series resonant converter with an overload delay and short-circuit protection mechanism, which includes a voltage sensing circuit for sensing a voltage ripple level on a primary side of a transformer thereof, that corresponds to a load on a secondary side of the transformer, and generating and sending a DC detection level to an overload delay circuit and a short-circuit protection circuit thereof accordingly. The overload delay circuit and the short-circuit protection circuit are able control the converter through a resonant controller chip to output different currents according to magnitude of the load on the secondary side and maintain stable operation for a predetermined delay time even if the secondary side is overloaded, however, once the secondary side is short-circuited, the converter is turned off instantly. Thus, the converter is effectively prevented from damage which may otherwise result from sustained overload or short circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: SKYNET ELECTRONIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jim-Hung Liang
  • Patent number: 8023289
    Abstract: A synchronous rectifier of a resonant switching power converter is provided to improve efficiency. The synchronous rectifier includes a power transistor and a diode connected to a transformer and an output of the resonant switching power converter for ratifications. A controller generates a drive signal to control the power transistor in response to an on signal and an off signal. A causal circuit is developed to generate the off signal in accordance with the on signal. The on signal is enabled once the diode is forward biased. The on signal is coupled to enable the drive signal for switching on the power transistor. The off signal is coupled to disable the drive signal for switching off the power transistor. The off signal is enabled before the on signal is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Ying-Chieh Su, Chou-Sheng Wang, Tien-Chi Lin, Jhih-Da Hsu
  • Publication number: 20110222317
    Abstract: A converter circuit has a first resonant converter that is connected on the DC voltage side to a first energy storage circuit, and a transformer. A second resonant converter is connected on the AC voltage side to the secondary winding of the transformer and on the DC voltage side to a load converter, and a CLL resonant circuit is connected to the first resonant converter and to the primary winding of the transformer. The CLL resonant circuit has a resonant capacitance, a first resonant inductance and a second resonant inductance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD
    Inventors: Antonio Coccia, Francisco Canales, Manfred Winkelnkemper, Marc Pellerin, Nicolas Hugo, Philippe Stefanutti, Toufann Chaudhuri
  • Patent number: 8014176
    Abstract: A resonant switching power converter having burst mode transitioning operates during low or zero load conditions with reduced audible noise and component stresses, while improving efficiency. Pulse bursts are generated with a beginning and/or ending pulse duration that differs from mid-burst pulse durations, in order to reduce an amplitude of transients otherwise generated at the beginning and/or end of the bursts. Alternatively, the spacing between the pulses at the beginning and/or end of the bursts may differ from the spacing between the pulses in the middle of the bursts to reduce the transient(s). A number of pulses at the beginning and/or end of the burst can also be set with gradually varying durations, to further reduce component stress and audible vibration in a transformer that couples the resonant tank to the output of the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Melanson, Mauro L. Gaetano
  • Publication number: 20110211370
    Abstract: Systems and methods of resonant DC/DC conversion disclosed herein improve the basic resonant converter designs by proactively setting and coordinating the gate drive timings between the primary side and secondary side. By proactively setting and coordinating gate drives timings between the primary side and secondary side, both efficiency and transient performance optimizations may be achieved with or without diode emulation mode, depending on whether the switching frequency is below resonance or above resonance, and the nature of the load characteristics. If the switching frequency of the converter is determined to be at or below the resonance frequency, the output transistors may be configured to be fully active at or above a predetermined output load current. The turn-on timing of the output transistors is dependant on the load for a given output voltage, and is almost independent of input voltage. Turn-on timing may be significantly different at light load to no load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Yuwei Luo, Bosheng Sun, Ian Lloyd Bower
  • Patent number: 8009448
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a forward-flyback converter with active-clamp circuit. The secondary side of the proposed converter is of center-tapped configuration to integrate a forward circuit and a flyback circuit. The flyback sub-circuit operating continuous conduction mode is employed to directly transfer the reset energy of the transformer to the output load. The forward sub-circuit operating discontinuous conduction mode can correspondingly adjust the duty ratio with the output load change. Under the heavy load condition, the mechanism of active-clamp flyback sub-circuit can provide sufficient resonant current to facilitate the parasitic capacitance of the switches to be discharged to zero. Under the light load condition, the time interval in which the resonant current turns from negative into positive is prolonged to ensure zero voltage switching function. Meanwhile, the flyback sub-circuit wherein the rectifier diode is reverse biased is inactive in order to further reduce the power losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Yen-Ming Liu
  • Publication number: 20110204713
    Abstract: A DC/DC converter for providing an output voltage includes: a connected DC voltage transformer; a supply voltage input for providing a first supply potential and a second supply potential to the DC voltage transformer; a potential point which is connectable to the second supply potential as a function of an activation state of the DC voltage transformer; an output capacitor which is connected to an output connection and to the potential point, and which is chargeable to the output voltage by activating the DC voltage transformer, and at which an output potential is tappable. The output voltage is provided between the output potential and the second supply potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Christoph Wenger, Christof Maluck, Albert Geiger
  • Publication number: 20110205761
    Abstract: This invention relates to circuits and methods for controlling a resonant power converter. Control of the power converter may comprise comparing an output voltage or current of the converter to at least one reference voltage or current; enabling primary side switching signals based on a first selected result of the comparison; and disabling primary side switching signals based on a second selected result of the comparison; wherein a primary side switching signal for each primary side switch includes at least one off-on-off transition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Darryl J. Tschirhart, Praveen K. Jain
  • 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20110176335
    Abstract: A burst mode control method for a resonant converter is provided, in which at least one first regulation pulse is provided to pre-adjust a magnetizing inductor current and a resonant capacitor voltage in a resonant circuit during a burst mode working period. After the first regulation pulse is completed, at least one pulse group including a plurality of driving pulses is provided to intermittently turn on switching elements of a square wave generator. The first regulation pulse adjusts the magnetizing inductor current and the resonant capacitor voltage, such that the magnitude of the magnetizing inductor current is essentially the same and the magnitude of the resonant capacitor voltage is essentially the same at each rising edge of each driving pulse of the pulse group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Zeng LI, Jie FU
  • Publication number: 20110176334
    Abstract: In the power supply composed of a driver circuit generating the carrier, a resonance circuit driven by the carrier and a rectification circuit generating the dc. voltage by rectifying the amplitude-modulated carrier supplied by the resonance circuit and stabilizing the output voltage by the feeding back the voltage error between the output voltage and a reference voltage externally supplied to set up the output voltage, to the frequency and the amplitude of the carrier, the frequency response of the dc. power supply is improved both by providing the pole located at the origin with a transfer function where the dc. voltage, generated by rectifying and smoothing the output of the resonance circuit, is fed back to the frequency of the carrier and by not providing the pole at the origin with a transfer function where the dc. voltage is fed back to the amplitude of the carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2007
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventor: Masatosi Imori
  • Patent number: 7974106
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for power generation systems are described. In particular, embodiments of the invention relate to the architecture of power conditioning systems for use with fuel cells and methods used therein. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems usable to reduce ripple currents in fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Ranganathan Gurunathan, Ramesh Srinivasan, Pavana Kumar
  • Patent number: 7973496
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power supply device for supplying power to a load, preferably a LED, comprising a first circuitry (12) with an inverter unit (24) adapted to provide an AC voltage, preferably a rectangular voltage, and a resonant circuit (30) with a capacitance (32) and an inductance (34), a second circuitry (14) with a rectifier unit (42), a switch (64) and said load (60), said switch being adapted to switch said load on and off, a controller unit (16) adapted to control said switch (64) as to adjust the power provided to said load (60) without any measurement signal from said primary circuitry (12), and a transformer (18) with a primary side (20) and a secondary side (22), said primary side being connected to said first circuitry (12) and said secondary side (22) being connected to said second circuitry (14), preferably said rectifier, so that said first and second circuitries are galvanically isolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Christoph Loef, Matthias Wendt
  • Patent number: 7968822
    Abstract: An electric arc welding system including a power lead for providing welding current between an advancing welding wire and a workpiece, a short circuit sensor having a short circuit output signal when the electrode is shorted with the workpiece and a premonition sensor having a fuse output signal when a short circuit is about to break. This welding system has at least two power source modules, each with a common isolated DC input and an output connected to the power lead with each of the modules controlled to perform a short circuit arc welding process. The individual module comprises a regulated DC to DC converter having a DC output signal with a waveform controlled by a waveform signal from a controller and an output switch receiving the DC output signal and in series with the power lead where the output switch is opened by a gate signal to reduce the welding current in the power lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventor: Elliott K. Stava
  • Publication number: 20110149608
    Abstract: An electrical power converter includes a transformer (4) with a primary circuit and a secondary circuit. Detecting circuitry is employed to compute a signal representative of the output current in the secondary circuit, and this signal controls the timing of the switching function of rectification switches (49,50) which rectify the secondary AC signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Hans Halberstadt
  • Publication number: 20110149607
    Abstract: A power converter employing a controller configured to increase a dead time between conduction periods of first and second power switches therein and method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the power converter includes first and second power switches coupled to an input thereof, and a sensor configured to provide a sensed signal representative of at least one of a current level and a power level of the power converter. The power converter also includes a controller configured to increase a dead time between conduction periods of the first and second power switches when the sensed signal indicates a decrease of at least one of the current level and the power level of the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Aaron Jungreis, Antony Brinlee, Paul Garrity
  • Publication number: 20110134662
    Abstract: A blocking-oscillator-type converter circuit works with a transformer that has only one primary winding and one secondary winding. The transformer contains no reaction coupling winding for the blocking oscillator. The control voltage for the oscillator is derived from the primary voltage of the transformer, that is, during the free-running phase. Furthermore, a voltage monitoring circuit is provided that works independent of the oscillator, inhibiting the output voltage of the oscillator when the voltage on the output of the blocking-oscillator-type converter is too large. A current monitoring circuit works independent of the oscillator and the voltage monitoring circuit and inhibits the pulses for the power transistor when the current on the output side exceeds a specified amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventor: Fritz Frey
  • Patent number: 7957160
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Flyback Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Babcock, David J. Babcock, Phillip N. Smith
  • Patent number: 7944715
    Abstract: A controller is adapted for controlling a switch of a resonant direct current/direct current converter, and includes: a pulse width modulation controlling unit for detecting an output voltage of the resonant direct current/direct current converter, and for generating a pulse width modulation signal according to the output voltage detected thereby; a fixed frequency signal generating unit for generating a fixed frequency signal; and a logic synthesizing unit for synthesizing the pulse width modulation signal and the fixed frequency signal so as to generate a driving signal that is adapted to drive the switch of the resonant direct current/direct current converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Qingyou Zhang, Xiaoyi Jin, Yuli Feng, Zhihong Ye, Qinglin Zhao
  • 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: 7940534
    Abstract: Resonant transformer systems and methods of use are described. One aspect may include a primary winding, a secondary winding, and at least one output winding. In further aspects, a transformer may be coupled to the secondary winding. In one aspect, the output winding is coupled to rectifying circuitry, which may be coupled to one or more capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Extremely Ingenious Engineering
    Inventors: Anthony Francis Issa, Jeffrey Messer, John Michael Tobias
  • Publication number: 20110103100
    Abstract: In an isolated switching power supply apparatus, by performing on/off control of a first switching device and a second switching device, energy is transmitted from the primary side to the secondary side using a second primary winding and a second secondary winding while the first switching device is on, and energy is transmitted by a first primary winding and a first secondary winding while the second switching device is on. The first secondary winding and the second secondary winding are connected in series with one another, and an inductor is inserted in series to the second secondary winding. An output current is made to flow through the inductor irrespective of whether the first switching device is on or the second switching device is on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tatsuya HOSOTANI
  • Publication number: 20110103097
    Abstract: An approach is provided for controlling a direct current gain of a resonant converter to increase power efficiency within a circuit. A phase shift module is configured to the resonant converter for generating a first control signal to control a primary driver of the resonant converter and a secondary control signal to control a secondary driver of the resonant converter. The first control signal and the second control signal has a phase shift for controlling a DC gain of the resonant converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Delta Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Wang, Hongyang Wu, Chao Yan
  • Publication number: 20110090717
    Abstract: A two-stage insulated bidirectional DC/DC power converter is disclosed. A two-stage insulated bidirectional DC/DC power converter according to an embodiment of the invention has the characteristic of including: an LLC resonant converter operating at a constant duty ratio; a bidirectional converter joined to a front part of the LLC resonant converter and configured to perform a booster converter function of outputting the input voltage at a consistent input voltage for the LLC resonant converter, and a buck converter function of reducing the voltage by way of the LLC resonant converter and then outputting a consistent voltage; and a bidirectional converter control unit configured to control changes in an input voltage of the bidirectional converter and regulate an output voltage of the LLC resonant converter to thereby maintain a consistent input voltage of the LLC resonant converter, such that the LLC resonant converter operates at a constant duty ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicants: Myongji University Industry and Academia Cooperation Foundation, Orient Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jun-Young Lee, Yu-Seok Jeong, Hyung-Jun Chae, Kwang-Min Yoo, Jae-Jin Chang, Jae-Ha Chang
  • Patent number: 7928776
    Abstract: An voltage detection device includes a comparator circuit comprising a first input terminal connected to a system power supply, a second input terminal connected to a standby power supply, an output terminal capable of outputting a control voltage according to comparison result; an indicator circuit; and a switch circuit connected between the standby power supply and the indicator circuit, comprising a control terminal to receive the control voltage from the comparator circuit thereby to control the standby power supply supplied to the indicator circuit or not; a power state terminal of the computer connected to a node between the standby power supply and the indicator circuit, wherein the power state terminal is at a low level when the computer is turned off. The voltage detection device can ensure that all the power supplies provide power to the computer components normally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ning Wang, Cheng Qian, Yong-Xing You
  • Publication number: 20110085354
    Abstract: A burst mode resonant power converter with high conversion efficiency has a rectifier, a power factor correction circuit, a resonant circuit, a controller, and a burst mode triggering unit. The maximum frequency switching end of the controller is connected to a maximum frequency variable circuit. When the load is medium or heavy, the maximum frequency variable circuit increases the maximum switch frequency of the controller. When the load is in the no-load or the light conditions, it reduces the maximum switch frequency thereof. Therefore, the controller reduces the number of times that the resonant circuit switches the bridge switch circuit. The conduction cycle of the 50% pulse signal output to the bridge switch circuit becomes longer. Larger energy can be transmitted at a time to the secondary coil of the transformer. This increases the overall efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: ACBEL POLYTECH INC.
    Inventors: Yen-Lung Wang, Wei-Liang Lin
  • Patent number: 7924577
    Abstract: A power converter includes a transformer, a primary switch, an auxiliary switch, first and second resonance capacitors, and a secondary side rectification means. A switch mode power supply is formed to use reflected voltage and parasitic capacitance as an energy source for a transformer resonance. The auxiliary switch effectively exchanges energy between the primary inductance of the transformer and the first and second resonant capacitors. The auxiliary switch effectively switches the transformer resonance between two distinct frequencies. In one embodiment of the invention, the power converter can be, but is not limited to, a flyback converter and further includes a comparator and a driver. The comparator is for detecting the voltage across the second resonance capacitor and the driver is configured to drive the auxiliary switch based on the output state of the comparator. The resonant nature of the converter provides zero voltage (ZVS) for the primary switch as well as for the auxiliary switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventors: Arian Jansen, Mark Telefus, Bahman Sharifipour
  • Patent number: 7924578
    Abstract: A power converter includes a transformer, a primary switch, an auxiliary switch, first and second resonance capacitors, and a secondary side rectification means. A switch mode power supply is formed to use reflected voltage and parasitic capacitance as an energy source for a transformer resonance. The auxiliary switch effectively exchanges energy between the primary inductance of the transformer and the first and second resonant capacitors. The auxiliary switch effectively switches the transformer resonance between two distinct frequencies. In one embodiment of the invention, the power converter can be, but is not limited to, a flyback converter and further includes a comparator and a driver. The comparator is for detecting the voltage across the second resonance capacitor and the driver is configured to drive the auxiliary switch based on the output state of the comparator. The resonant nature of the converter provides zero voltage (ZVS) for the primary switch as well as for the auxiliary switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventors: Arian Jansen, Mark Telefus, Bahman Sharifipour
  • Publication number: 20110080757
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power converter (90) and a method of operating same. There are numerous advantages to operating power converters using a series resonant converter (1, 21). This approach is particularly suitable for minimising switching losses in the power converter when it is operated at high frequency. However, there are problems with the known converters in that they are prone to generate noise in the acoustic spectrum due to the fact that the converter stages are often operating at different frequencies. The present invention relates to a power converter and a method of operating same that enables the operating frequency of the converter to be controlled by a control circuit over a predetermined range of the resonant frequency. This allows reduction in acoustic noise generation and facilitates frequency smearing that will in turn reduce spectral peaks. This is achieved whilst maintaining output ripple within acceptable ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventor: George Young
  • Patent number: 7916506
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a switch unit of a resonant direct current/direct current converter includes a frequency modulation controller and a pulse selector. The frequency modulation controller is adapted to be coupled electrically to the converter for receiving a correcting threshold value and output information of the converter, and for generating a synchronization signal according to the correcting threshold value and the output information received thereby. The pulse selector is adapted to be coupled electrically to the converter and the frequency modulation controller for receiving the correcting threshold value, the output information and the synchronization signal, and for generating a driving signal according to the correcting threshold value, the output information and the synchronization signal received thereby. The driving signal is adapted to drive the switch unit and has a working period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Qingyou Zhang, Xiaoyi Jin, Xin Guo, Zhihong Ye, Qinglin Zhao
  • Publication number: 20110069514
    Abstract: A DC conversion apparatus includes a plurality of current resonant converters. Each of the current resonant converters has two switching elements connected in series, a transformer having primary and secondary windings, a series resonant circuit including a resonant reactor, the primary winding of the transformer, and a resonant capacitor, and a rectifying circuit to rectify a voltage generated by the secondary winding of the transformer. The DC conversion apparatus also includes a smoothing circuit having a reactor L3 and a smoothing capacitor C and arranged after connection points to which output terminals of the rectifying circuits of the plurality of current resonant converters are commonly connected. The DC conversion apparatus further includes a controller to control, according to an output voltage from the smoothing circuit, ON/OFF of the two switching elements of each of the plurality of current resonant converters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akiteru CHIBA
  • Patent number: 7911810
    Abstract: A bi-directional DC-DC converter has a transformer for connecting a voltage type full bridge circuit connected to a first power source and a current type switching circuit connected to a second power source. A voltage clamping circuit constructed by switching elements and a clamping capacitor is connected to the current type switching circuit. The converter has a control circuit for cooperatively making switching elements operative so as to control a current flowing in a resonance reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Computer Peripherals, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takae Shimada, Yoshihide Takahashi, Kimiaki Taniguchi, Hiroyuki Shoji
  • Patent number: 7911808
    Abstract: A comparing circuit and a control loop are used to maintain the peak level of current flowing through an inductor of a flyback converter. An inductor switch control signal controls an inductor switch through which the inductor current flows. The inductor current increases at a ramp-up rate during a ramp time and stops increasing at the end of the ramp time. The comparing circuit generates a timing signal that indicates a target time at which the inductor current would reach a predetermined current limit if the inductor current continued to increase at the ramp-up rate. The control loop then receives the timing signal and compares the target time to the end of the ramp time. The pulse width of the inductor switch control signal is increased when the target time occurs after the end of the ramp time. Adjusting the pulse width controls the peak of the inductor current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Huynh, Matthew Grant, David Kunst, Zhibo Tao
  • Patent number: 7911812
    Abstract: In a PFC (Power Factor Correction) converter control unit, a PWM (pulse width modulated) signal is produced by comparing a PFC converter output voltage error signal, produced by a transconductance amplifier, with a ramp signal, which may be from a control unit of a resonant mode converter in cascade with the PFC converter. Level shifting is used to match the amplitude ranges of the compared signals. A current, representing an input current of the PFC converter and produced by a current mirror, is switched by the PWM signal to a parallel resistance and capacitance to produce a smoothed voltage constituting a control signal for the PFC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Colbeck, Mircea Cristian Boros
  • Publication number: 20110051468
    Abstract: A switching power-supply apparatus includes a first converter 3, a second converter 4, an output smoothing capacitor Co1, a series resonance circuit 1 and a control circuit 11. The first converter 3, in which switching elements Q11 and Q12 are connected to both ends of a direct-current power-supply Vin in series, and a capacitor C11 and a primary winding Np1 of a transformer T1 including an auxiliary winding Na1 are connected to both ends of the switching element Q12 in series, includes diodes D11 and D12 that rectify voltages generated in secondary windings Ns11 and Ns12 of the transformer T1. The second converter 4, in which switching elements Q21 and Q22 are connected to the both ends of the direct-current power-supply Vin in series, and a capacitor C12 and a primary winding Np2 of a transformer T2 are connected to both ends of the switching element Q22 in series, includes diodes D21 and D22 that rectify voltages generated in secondary windings Ns21 and Ns22 of the transformer T2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoichi Kyono
  • Publication number: 20110051466
    Abstract: A power unit includes: a frequency divider to divide a clock signal in a second frequency-division ratio based on a first frequency-division ratio and to output a driving pulse; a switching device driven by the driving pulse; a piezoelectric transformer to output an alternating-current high voltage when receiving an intermittent voltage from the switching device; a comparison device to compare a digital signal corresponding to the piezoelectric transformer output voltage with a target voltage and to output a comparison result; a controller to control the first frequency-division ratio based on the comparison result; a first holding device to hold the controlled first frequency-division ratio; a first computing device to determine the second frequency-division ratio by performing computation using a first correction value and the first frequency-division ratio held by the first holding device; and a second holding device to hold the second frequency-division ratio determined by the first computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru KOSAKA
  • Publication number: 20110051465
    Abstract: Provided is a technique of making the leakage inductance of a transformer serve as a current resonant reactor and connecting a stray capacitance Cf1 in parallel to the leakage inductance in a resonant switching power supply device, thereby making the resonant switching power supply device smaller as well as reducing costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: Hiroshi USUI
  • Publication number: 20110051462
    Abstract: An over-voltage protection circuit of the invention is connected with a DC-DC converter having a structure in which a plurality of switching elements is serially connected to a direct current output voltage terminal of a power factor improvement circuit. An output over-voltage detection resistance of a latch-type output over-voltage detection circuit is connected to a connection point at which the plurality of switching elements is connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nakamura, Yukihiro Kaminaga
  • Publication number: 20110051464
    Abstract: The configurations of a compensation device configured in a circuit having a synchronous rectifier (SR), a controller and a load, and a compensation method thereof are provided in the present invention. In the proposed circuit, the SR includes a first terminal, a first inductor electrically connected to the first terminal in series, a second terminal and a second inductor electrically connected to the second terminal in series, the controller is coupled to the first and the second inductors, and the device includes a voltage source having a positive terminal coupled to the controller and a negative terminal coupled to the second inductor and providing a compensation voltage to reduce or eliminate the influence of the first and the second inductors towards a voltage value across the first and the second terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Junshan Lou, Dezhi Jiao, Dong Lin
  • Publication number: 20110051467
    Abstract: Provided is a resonant switching power supply device that can reduce a common mode noise as well as an increase in frequency when a load is light. A resonant switching power supply device 1 equipped with a PFM control circuit 10 to control a switching frequency in such a way that an output voltage is brought to a desired value includes: a resonant circuit where a primary winding N1 of a transformer T2, a current resonant capacitor Cri and a reactor Lr are connected in series; rectifying circuits D1, D2 and Co that are connected to secondary windings N2 and N3 of the transformer T2 and obtain the output voltage Vo; and an electrostatic shield plate S1 disposed between the primary winding N1 and secondary windings N2 and N3 of the transformer T2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryouta NAKANISHI
  • Publication number: 20110044074
    Abstract: A resonant mode power converter is controlled with a control unit including a feedback circuit coupled to generate a first current representative of an output of the power converter. A current limiting circuit is coupled to receive the first current and a second current generated in response to a reference voltage. The current limiting circuit is coupled to limit the first current in response to the second current. An oscillator is coupled to receive the first current to generate a control signal having a control frequency in response to the first current. An output voltage of the power converter is controlled in response to the control frequency of the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony Reinberger, Paul Demone
  • Publication number: 20110038181
    Abstract: The configurations of a DC/DC resonant converter and a controlling method thereof are provided. The proposed converter includes an over-current protection apparatus including a first switch element having a first and a second terminals, and a first voltage element having a negative terminal coupled to a positive terminal of a DC input voltage source and a positive terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first switch element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chao Yan, Jianhong Zeng, Wenxin Zhang, Yiqing Ye, Jianping Ying, Peter Barbosa, Wen-Chang Lee
  • Publication number: 20110038180
    Abstract: A resonant power converter with half bridge and full bridge operations and a method for control thereof are provided. The resonant power converter includes a full bridge circuit, a control circuit and a PFC circuit. The full bridge circuit switches a power transformer in response to switching signals. The control circuit coupled to receive a feedback signal and an input signal generates switching signals. The feedback signal is correlated to the output of the power converter and the input signal is correlated to the input voltage of the full bridge circuit, where the full bridge circuit is operated as a full bridge switching when the input signal is lower than a threshold, and the full bridge circuit is operated as a half bridge switching when the input signal is higher than the threshold. The PFC circuit generates the input voltage of the full bridge circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: SYSTEM GENERAL CORP.
    Inventor: Ta-Yung Yang