Having Particular Zero-switching Control Circuit (e.g., For Quasi-resonant Converter, Etc.) Patents (Class 363/21.03)
  • Patent number: 11942872
    Abstract: The present application discloses a multi-path resonant circuit and a resonant converter. The multi-path resonant circuit includes at least two parallel N-phase resonant circuits, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 3. The at least two parallel N-phase resonant circuits include a first N-phase resonant circuit and a second N-phase resonant circuit. A first resonant inductor in any phase resonant circuit of the first N-phase resonant circuit is coupled with a second resonant inductor in any phase resonant circuit of the second N-phase resonant circuit. In this way, current sharing of the multi-path resonant circuit can be realized through a simpler structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: GUANGDONG SOFAR SMART SOLAR TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lei Chang, Xinwei Liu, Dongdong Yang, Hongyuan Jin
  • Patent number: 11888405
    Abstract: A primary controller comprising a control circuit coupled to determine a mode of operation and to generate a first mode of operation signal and a second mode of operation signal. The control circuit coupled to generate a control signal in response to the first mode of operation signal or the second mode of operation signal, the control signal causes a delay time to enable a turn ON of a power switch after a turn OFF of a clamp switch. The control circuit coupled to output a clamp drive signal to control the clamp switch and comprises a delay circuit coupled to receive the first mode of operation signal and the second mode of operation signal, wherein the delay circuit is coupled to apply a first delay time or a second delay time to the control signal, the second delay time being longer than the first delay time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventors: Jinyuan Tian, Munadir Aziz Ahmed, Arthur B. Odell, Rajko Duvnjak
  • Patent number: 11876383
    Abstract: A wireless charging system having a power transmitting device may wirelessly transfer power to a power receiving device. The power receiving device may include a voltage regulator that operates independently from the power transmitting device. The voltage regulator may output a rectified voltage and may activate pull-down rectifier switches during zero voltage crossings to boost the rectified voltage. The power receiving device may send control error packets to the power transmitting device to direct the power transmitting device to adjust the transmit power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Alireza Safaee
  • Patent number: 11824458
    Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter converts a DC input voltage to a DC output voltage by generating a primary AC voltage and transforming the primary AC voltage into a secondary AC voltage with a transformation ratio. The DC-to-DC converter has series resonance circuit for each AC voltage phase. When the ratio of the DC output voltage to the DC input direct voltage is greater than the transformation ratio, a phase shift between the primary alternating voltage and a series resonance circuit current corresponding to the primary alternating voltage is controlled to zero by changing a clocking frequency clocking the AC voltages. Conversely, when the ratio of the DC output voltage to the DC input voltage is less than the transformation ratio, the phase shift between the secondary AC voltage and a series resonance circuit current corresponding to the secondary AC voltage is controlled to zero by changing a clocking frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus Zocher, Martin Hergt
  • Patent number: 11824459
    Abstract: A synchronous average harmonic current controller for a bidirectional resonant power converter provides efficient load invariant voltage gain. The controller includes a switched capacitor filter which averages and compensates a current signal over each half of the synchronous switching period. The control signal encodes an independent modulated phase and non-modulated differential duty cycle error response. The error response signals provide negative feedback to a pulse width modulation stage which results in reduction of the synchronous average harmonic current. At this operating point, the harmonic voltage gain is related closely to the commanded bridge duty cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Lee Fredrik Mazurek
    Inventor: Lee Fredrik Mazurek
  • Patent number: 11431252
    Abstract: A flyback converter, including: a transformer, a first switch, a second switch, and a control circuit. The transformer includes a first side and a second side. The first switch is coupled to the first side at an input terminal. The second switch is coupled to the second side and an output terminal. The control circuit is coupled between the output terminal and the second switch, wherein the control circuit is arranged to adjust a voltage on the input terminal by changing a flow of a current between the second switch and the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: ALPHA AND OMEGA SEMICONDUCTOR INTERNATIONAL LP
    Inventors: Guan-Yu Lin, Yu-Ming Chen, Jung-Pei Cheng, Tien-Chi Lin, Hsiang-Chung Chang, Yueh-Ping Yu
  • Patent number: 11398767
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a power converter including a resonant converter with an controller, the controller configured to control the converter to operate in a normal mode when output power is above a burst mode threshold level, start a timer when the output power falls below the burst mode threshold level, continue operating in the normal mode until the timer reaches a predetermined time and operate in burst mode when the timer reaches the predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Peter Theodorus Johannes Degen, Jacobus Eduardus Henricus Maria Peeters, Tsung-Pin Tang, Edy Chandra
  • Patent number: 11394304
    Abstract: A power supply may include a power block to receive an input power and generate an output power; and a control system coupled to the power block, wherein the power block and control system are arranged to provide unidirectional current flow and bipolar voltage during operation of the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: ESAB AB
    Inventor: Andrzej Mnich
  • Patent number: 11356029
    Abstract: Disclosed are a rectifying circuit and a switched-mode power supply. The rectifying circuit includes a first rectifying section for rectifying a positive induced voltage generated across a secondary winding of a transformer, a second rectifying section for rectifying a negative induced voltage generated across the secondary winding, and an inductance section connected between the first rectifying section and the second rectifying section. The switched-mode power supply includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, a drive circuit for switchingly driving the primary winding of the transformer, and the rectifying circuit connected to the secondary winding of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: ROHM Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Hamachi, Akeyuki Komatsu
  • Patent number: 11342841
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes by controlling at least either one of a switching frequency of a switching element (S) or a duty ratio indicating an ON period of the switching element, securing delay time from voltage at both ends of the switching element reaches zero voltage by resonance of the resonant circuit (L0, C0) in an OFF state of the switching element until the switching element is turned on, and turning on the switching element within the delay time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Kai, Shigeharu Yamagami, Tetsuya Hayashi, Yusuke Zushi, Taku Shimomura
  • Patent number: 11323037
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a forward converter with secondary LCD connected in series to realize excitation energy transfer, comprising a forward converter main circuit and an energy transfer and transmission circuit. The forward converter main circuit includes a high-frequency transformer T, a switching tube S, a diode D1, a diode D2, an inductance L1, and a capacitor C1. The energy transfer and transmission circuit includes a diode D3, a capacitor C2, and an inductance L2. The circuit structure of the present disclosure has simple circuit structure and high reliability. And the reverse recovery problem of the diode could be eliminated by the soft switch-off or soft switch-on of the switching tube, which further reducing the loss of switching tube and diodes and improving the overall efficiency. In addition, the excitation energy could be transferred to the load side to improve the energy transmission efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: XI'AN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Shu Lin Liu, Yi Jun Shen, Xue Ting Li, Yin Qiao Peng, Ji Zhi Yan
  • Patent number: 11239746
    Abstract: A two-stage converter, a method for starting the two-stage converter, an LLC converter, and an application system are provided. A controller of the LLC converter of the two-stage converter first controls a main circuit of the LLC converter to perform hiccup charging on a direct current bus of a later-stage converter at a preset interval, so that the direct current bus voltage of the later-stage converter gradually increases, until an auxiliary power supply of the later-stage converter starts to operate, to supply power to the controller of the later-stage converter. After the controller of the later-stage converter reports the detected direct current bus voltage, the controller of the LLC converter determines whether the output voltage of the LLC converter increases to a hiccup starting voltage. If so, the controller of the LLC converter controls the main circuit to operate in a hiccup voltage stabilization phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Sungrow Power Supply Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Tao Zhao, Fushuai Zhuang, Xinyu Wang, Jiacai Zhuang, Mingda Wang, Yuan Zhuang
  • Patent number: 11233448
    Abstract: A switching control circuit for controlling a power supply circuit that includes an inductor to which an input voltage is applied and through which an inductor current flows, and a transistor configured to control the inductor current. The switching control circuit includes first and second error voltage output circuits that output first and second error voltages, based respectively on a feedback voltage corresponding to the output voltage and a reference voltage, and on an error signal corresponding to a difference between the level of the output voltage and a second level, when the power supply circuit is of a non-isolated type and an isolated type, respectively. The switching control circuit further includes a drive circuit that switches the transistor based on the inductor current, and on the first and second error voltage when the power supply circuit is of the non-isolated type and an isolated type, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Endo, Hironobu Shiroyama, Nobuyuki Hiasa, Hiroki Yamane
  • Patent number: 11223279
    Abstract: An electronic converter comprises first and second electronic switches that are connected between positive input and output terminals, where an intermediate node between the first and second electronic switches represents a first switching node. Third and fourth electronic switches are connected between the positive output terminal and a negative input terminal, where an intermediate node between the third and fourth electronic switches represents a second switching node. A first terminal of a primary winding of a transformer is connected to the second switching node, and a capacitor and inductance are connected in series between a second terminal of the primary winding and the first switching node. Fifth and sixth electronic switches are connected between the positive output terminal and a negative output terminal, where a first terminal of the secondary winding is connected to an intermediate node between the fifth and sixth electronic switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Osvaldo Enrico Zambetti
  • Patent number: 11183947
    Abstract: A modular power supply system is configured to include: a main controller, configured to output a main control signal; N local controllers, wherein each of the local controllers is configured to receive the main control signal to output at least one local control signal; N auxiliary power supplies, in one-to-one correspondence with the N local controllers, wherein each of the auxiliary power supplies is configured to provide power to the corresponding local controller, and N power units, in one-to-one correspondence with the N local controllers, wherein each of the power units includes a first end and a second end, the second end of each of the power units is connected to the first end of an adjacent one of the power units, each of the power units is configured to include M power converters, each of the power converters is configured to operate according to the local control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jianping Ying, Ming Wang, Xiaobo Huang, Jun Liu, Zhiming Hu
  • Patent number: 11152864
    Abstract: An active clamp circuit for a power converter having a transformer includes a switch having a drain node, a gate node, and a source node, the drain node configured to be connected to a first terminal of a primary winding of the transformer, a capacitor having a first terminal connected to the source node, and a second terminal to be connected to a second terminal of the primary winding, a gate driver coupled to the gate node to control the switch and having a high-side input node and a low-side input node, the low-side input node being coupled to the first terminal of the capacitor, and a voltage regulator to: i) receive an input voltage from the second terminal of the capacitor, and ii) provide a regulated voltage to the high-side input node using the input voltage and being of a sufficient voltage level to control the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Silanna Asia Pte Ltd
    Inventor: Ren Huei Tzeng
  • Patent number: 11088624
    Abstract: A voltage conversion apparatus for implementing zero-voltage switching based on recovering leakage inductance energy is provided. A leakage inductance energy recovery circuit is coupled to a primary side auxiliary winding and a control circuit, and recovers leakage inductance energy of a transformer circuit to supply an operating power to the control circuit. Before a main switch is turned on the next time, leakage inductance energy recovered previously is used to lower a cross-voltage of the main switch, so that transient loss of conduction of the main switch is eliminated or reduced, and circuit efficiency is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Power Forest Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Tso-Min Chen
  • Patent number: 11063520
    Abstract: A converter includes input voltage terminals, a series circuit connected to the input voltage terminals and including first and second switches connected in series, a transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding, a resonant tank connected to the series circuit and including the primary winding, an auxiliary switch connected to the series circuit and the resonant tank, output voltage terminals connected to the secondary winding, and a controller that, based on a single control loop and a single control parameter, controls the auxiliary switch with pulse-width modulation and controls the first and second switches with pulse-frequency modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yang Chen, Hongliang Wang, Yan-Fei Liu, Jahangir Afsharian, Bing Gong
  • Patent number: 11038432
    Abstract: Provided is a power conversion device including a power converter for performing power conversion between primary-side DC voltage and secondary-side DC voltage, and a control device for controlling the power converter in accordance with a command value, wherein the control device generates a primary-side duty for a primary-side bridge circuit, a secondary-side duty for a secondary-side bridge circuit, and a phase shift amount between the primary-side bridge circuit and the secondary-side bridge circuit, on the basis of a solution of an optimization problem for minimizing a peak absolute value of current flowing through the transformer, under a constraint condition that zero voltage switching operation is achieved, at an operation point based on the command value, thus achieving zero voltage switching operation and suppressing increase in conduction loss, without increase in the number of components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Kajiyama, Takaharu Ishibashi, Zhiqing Yang
  • Patent number: 11005378
    Abstract: Power converter controllers, flyback converters and methods are provided which use a resonant tank current of the flyback converter as a measure for an output current of the flyback converter. A power converter controller includes a control logic circuit that is configured to use, as a measure of an output current of the flyback converter, the resonant tank current indicated by the signal at a time in a phase where there is no reflected current to the primary side of the flyback converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Alfredo Medina-Garcia
  • Patent number: 11005371
    Abstract: A power converter and method to provide a small conversion ratio between an input and an output voltage. The power converter has an inductor coupled to the input port of the power converter. The power converter has a first stage with an input node; a first switch; a second switch; a third switch coupled to the second switch of the first stage and to a reference potential; and a flying capacitor coupled to the input node. The power converter also has a second stage with an input node; a first switch coupled to the input node of the second stage and to the output port of the power converter; a second switch coupled to the input node of the first stage; a third switch coupled to the second switch of the second stage and to the reference potential; and a flying capacitor coupled to the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Francesco Cannillo, Nicola Macri
  • Patent number: 10998827
    Abstract: This specification discloses devices and methods that provide for an improved switched mode power supply (SMPS) with a supply voltage connected p-type active clamp. In some embodiments, such an improved SMPS can have a p-type active clamp connected on one side to a positive voltage (which can preferably be the supply voltage), and on the other side to a clamp capacitor. Such an improved SMPS would then have the benefit of not requiring additional components (such as a level shifter, a high side supply voltage, a negative supply voltage, etc.) and the costs associated with these additional components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Joan Wichard Strijker
  • Patent number: 10892679
    Abstract: A controller includes a current limit generator that generates a current limit threshold. A switch controller receives the current limit threshold, an enable signal, and a current sense signal representative of a current through a power switch. The switch controller generates a drive signal to control switching of the power switch to control the transfer of energy from an input of the power converter to an output of the power converter in response to the enable signal and the current sense signal. The switch controller outputs the drive signal to turn on the power switch in response to the enable signal and turns off the power switch when the current sense signal reaches the current limit threshold. A jitter generator generates a jitter signal for jittering a switching period of the drive signal. The current limit threshold is modulated by the jitter signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Giao Minh Pham, Lance M. Wong, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Patent number: 10770965
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a flyback converter with a series-parallel mode (SPM) active clamp. The active clamp, coupled in parallel with the primary coil, may include a clamp switch, two or more snubber capacitors, and associated diodes. The active clamp may be configured to absorb and retain the leakage energy from the leakage inductance of the flyback converter. The clamp switch may be turned on selectively as the primary switch approaches one of a plurality peak values to adjust frequencies of the switching devices. With the active clamp circuit, the flyback converter may first re-capture the leakage energy in the active clamp circuit and then recover it back to the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marco A. Davila, Joao L. Andres, Bogdan T. Bucheru, Vijay Phadke
  • Patent number: 10693451
    Abstract: A ringing suppressor circuit is connected to a differential signal transmission line that includes a high potential signal line and low potential signal line pair for transmitting high and low level differential signals, and includes a ringing suppressor and a stopper. When the differential signal changes to a high level, the ringing suppressor suppresses ringing by lowering the impedance between the signal lines by turning ON of a switching element. When a differential signal voltage drops below a voltage lowering determination voltage, the stopper stops the impedance lowering function of the ringing suppressor by turning OFF another switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignees: SOKEN, INC., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youhei Sekiya, Hiroyuki Mori, Tomohisa Kishigami
  • Patent number: 10686382
    Abstract: A control circuit controls a switching circuit of a resonant converter where the switching circuit includes first and second power switches. A first on time of the first power switch and a second on time of the second power switch are controlled to generate a square wave signal to drive the resonant circuit. The control circuit controls the first on time based on a zero current detection time indicating detection of a zero current crossing of a resonant current generated in the resonant circuit in response to the square wave signal and on a time shift delay time based on an output voltage of the resonant converter. The second on time of the second power switch control is based on the zero current detection time detected for the first power switch and on the time shift delay time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Marco Dell'Oro, Giuseppe Scappatura, Luca Longhi, Matteo Sucameli, Dino Ciambellotti
  • Patent number: 10658934
    Abstract: A switched mode power supply controller includes a latch having an output for providing a drive signal, an off-time control circuit operating in valley switching and frequency reduction modes controlling an off-time of the latch based on at least a zero current detect signal, and an on-time control circuit resetting the latch in response to a current sense signal exceeding a feedback voltage representative of a load and to the current sense signal exceeding a modulated peak current threshold value. The on-time control circuit resets the latch in response to a current sense signal exceeding a feedback voltage representative of a load and to the current sense signal exceeding a peak current threshold value. In the frequency reduction mode, the on-time control circuit modulates the peak current threshold value by increasing the peak current threshold value by a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alan David Finkel, Armando Gabriel Mesa
  • Patent number: 10651014
    Abstract: Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a small modular self-contained surface plasma device for decontamination of air and surfaces within enclosed volumes. Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus using the technical process of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) surface plasma generation from ambient atmosphere for decontamination of air and surfaces within enclosed volumes. The primary application mode is for preservation of perishable commodities within industrial shipping containers through reduction of surface spoilage organisms and destruction of evolved gaseous ethylene that causes premature ripening. Additional implementations include deployment for oxidation of surfaces and/or container atmospheres in applications to diminish or eradicate pesticides, toxins, chemical residues, and other natural or introduced contaminants. Other embodiments envisioned include incorporation of device capabilities and or ancillary modules for feedback input (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SURFPLASMA, INC.
    Inventors: Subrata Roy, Sherlie Eileen Portugal Atencio
  • Patent number: 10615779
    Abstract: A system comprises a buffer circuit coupled to a comparator, and an adaptive threshold control circuit coupled to a timer and comparator. Buffer circuit receives a first voltage across a control terminal and a first current terminal of a transistor and a second voltage across a second current terminal and the first current terminal of the transistor. Comparator compares first voltage to a first threshold, generating a first trigger signal when it crosses first threshold, and compares second voltage to a second threshold, generating a second trigger signal when it crosses second threshold. Timer determines length of time between trigger signals. Adaptive threshold control circuit generates a first control signal for first trigger signal, and a second control signal for second trigger signal, and provides a control signal to comparator indicative of whether length of time is greater than or less than user-programmed value, causing comparator to adjust first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Michael Edwin Butenhoff, Rakesh Raja, Sudhir Nagaraj
  • Patent number: 10483850
    Abstract: Switched-mode power supply (SMPS) integrated circuit including direct current step-down converter, switch, and element for potential energy storage in electric field and having T-On voltage. SMPS configured to: receive DC input current and output through load; operate in boundary conduction mode applying pulse-width-modulated voltage to switch for controlling T-On/T-Off duty cycle; generate regulated T-On current setting maximum T-On; monitor input voltage by reduction to voltage signal range; convert signal voltage to signal current value within current signal range; output T-On modulation current including signal current; combine T-On modulation current with regulated T-On current during T-On period to store potential energy in element while monitoring T-On voltage of element; and initiate T-Off period when potential energy stored in element reaches maximum T-On voltage. Further SMPS's. Method of operating SMPS's.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: ECOSENSE LIGHTING INC.
    Inventors: Mustafa Homsi, Chris Strickler
  • Patent number: 10483859
    Abstract: An AC/DC converter includes a transformer including a primary winding connected to an AC power source and a secondary winding electromagnetically coupled to the primary winding, a bidirectional switch connected in series to the primary winding, a resonant capacitor connected in parallel or series to the bidirectional switch, a full-wave rectification circuit arranged to perform full-wave rectification of an induced voltage generated in the secondary winding, a smoothing capacitor arranged to smooth an output of the full-wave rectification circuit, and a control circuit arranged to turn on and off the bidirectional switch. The transformer is a leakage transformer or a resonant transformer having leakage inductance. The AC converter takes out both forward voltage and flyback voltage from the secondary winding, so as to directly convert an AC input voltage supplied from the AC power source into a DC output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hatano
  • Patent number: 10432104
    Abstract: A synchronous switching converter with an energy storage component and a synchronous rectifier coupled to the energy storage component, having: a secondary control circuit configured to receive a slew rate threshold adjusting signal and a voltage across the synchronous rectifier, and to provide a secondary control signal; wherein the secondary control circuit detects a slew rate of the voltage across the synchronous rectifier, and maintains the synchronous rectifier being off when the slew rate of the voltage across the synchronous rectifier is lower than a slew rate threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hui Li, Lei Miao, Siran Wang, Lin Feng
  • Patent number: 10374516
    Abstract: According to an implementation, a resonant converter for detecting non-zero voltage switching includes an oscillator configured to generate a first clock signal to drive a first power switch, and a second clock signal to drive a second power switch. The resonant converter includes a non-zero voltage switching (non-ZVS) detection circuit configured to receive an integrated current sense signal sensed on a primary side of a transformer of a resonant network, and determine a polarity of a voltage of the integrated current sense signal at a predetermined point in the first clock signal or the second clock signal during a switching cycle. The non-ZVS detection circuit is configured to detect a non-ZVS event based on the polarity of the voltage of the integrated current sense signal at the predetermined point in the first clock signal or the second clock signal during the switching cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Sangcheol Moon, Jintae Kim, Hangseok Choi
  • Patent number: 10374518
    Abstract: A direct current (DC)-DC converter includes: a transformer; a half bridge circuit provided on a primary side of the transformer; a synchronous rectification circuit provided on a secondary side of the transformer; and a controller configured to switch a power semiconductor device for rectification of the synchronous rectification circuit at a duty ratio and a phase corresponding to an input voltage of the half bridge circuit and an output current of the synchronous rectification circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY, UTSUNOMIYA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Fumihiro Okazaki, Satoshi Ogasawara, Hirohito Funato, Kousuke Aoki
  • Patent number: 10312016
    Abstract: A circulating-current reducing circuit is provided that can suppress a circulating current with a simplified configuration having no control circuit. The circulating-current reducing circuit is connected to a transformer unit to reduce circulating current. The transformer unit includes: a first transformer device; a second transformer device that is connected to the first transformer device in parallel; and a switching element that controls timing of supply of current to a primary coil portion of the first transformer device and a primary coil portion of the second transformer device. The circulating-current reducing circuit includes a first circuit that is connected between the primary coil portion of the first transformer device and the switching element, and a second circuit that is connected between the primary coil portion of the second transformer device and the switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: SUMIDA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeshi Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 10250126
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method applied in a controller unit of a feedback circuit for controlling a resonant converter. When the operation mode of the resonant converter turns from no load (or light load) to full load (or heave load), the controller unit is configured by the method of the present invention to control a power switch unit in the resonant converter to switch ON and OFF according to an operation frequency of full load (such as 100 KHz), in the case of the fact that an instantaneous drop of the output voltage and a variation of the output current of the resonant converter are over predicted. As a result, the instantaneous drop of the output voltage is largely reduced. Therefore, this method is able to make the resonant converter provide the output voltage stably during the switch between the no-load operation mode and the full-load operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: MEANWELL (GUANGZHOU) ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Po-Ming Chen, Shao-Jie Lu
  • Patent number: 10186972
    Abstract: A controller applied to a secondary side of a power convertor includes a sampling/tracking circuit and a comparator. The sampling/tracking circuit is coupled to the secondary side of the power convertor for generating a sampling value corresponding to an output voltage of the power convertor when a sampling signal is enabled, and generating a tracking value corresponding to the output voltage. The comparator is coupled to the sampling/tracking circuit for generating a warning signal to a primary-side regulation controller of the power converter according to the sampling value and the tracking value during an enabling period of a tracking signal. The primary-side regulation controller adjusts a frequency of a gate control signal according to the warning signal, and the sampling signal and the tracking signal are not enabled simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Leadtrend Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Hsiang-Feng Yu, Ching-Tsan Lee
  • Patent number: 10186908
    Abstract: An efficient power transmitting terminal, a contactless power transmission device and a power transmission method are disclosed herein. By adjusting the equivalent output impedance of the DC-AC voltage converter through a soft-switching control circuit composed of an inductor or an inductor and a capacitor, the equivalent output impedance is maintained at inductive impedance. According to the feature of current of inductive impedance lagging behind the voltage, the voltage of the switching device in the DC-AC voltage converter reduces to zero before switching-on, to achieve zero-voltage switching-on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Ningbo WeiE Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hengyi Su
  • Patent number: 10050545
    Abstract: A method for operation of a single-ended forward converter to achieve “true soft switching” The method includes injecting, with a current source and in transformer winding, a narrow pulse of current via an injection winding of the transformer to add such pulse to the magnetizing current to exceed the current level of current passing through freewheeling rectifier to reduce that current to zero time when the freewheeling rectifier is turns off at zero current conditions. Further, the sum of the magnetizing current and the injected current provide the current required by the output inductor during the transition time. The amplitude of injected current is defined such that the sum is greater than the minimum current through the output inductor (at least by an amount that reflects into the primary winding). The amount of current reflected in the primary is chosen to be sufficiently large to discharge parasitic capacitances reflected across the primary main switch to zero during the transition time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: ROMPOWER TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Ionel Jitaru
  • Patent number: 10014789
    Abstract: A resonant converter includes a first switch on a primary side and a second switch coupled to the first switch, a first synchronous rectification switch on a secondary side conducted according to a switching operation of the first switch, a second synchronous rectification switch on the secondary side conducted according to a switching operation of the second switch, and a switch control circuit configured to detect a waveform of one end voltage of at least one of the first synchronous rectification switch and the second synchronous rectification switch, determine one of a below region and an above region, and differently control conduction duration of the first and second synchronous rectification switches according to a determined result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Won-Tae Lee, Hyeong Seok Baek, Ji-Hoon Jang, Hang-Seok Choi, Moon-Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 9998018
    Abstract: A multilevel LLC resonant converter comprises a first capacitor and a second capacitor connected in series providing a mid-voltage point of an input dc power source, a resonant tank connected in series with a primary side of a transformer, a first transistor and a second transistor connected in series, wherein a common node of the first transistor and the second transistor is connected to the mid-voltage point through a first isolation switch and a third transistor and a fourth transistor connected in series, wherein a common node of the third transistor and the fourth transistor is connected to the mid-voltage point through a second isolation switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dianbo Fu, Wensong Yu, Hengchun Mao, Heping Dai
  • Patent number: 9998021
    Abstract: A flyback converter implements a Forced Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS) timing control by detecting a positive current excursion of the secondary winding current as the synchronous rectifier turn off trigger. The synchronous rectifier switch is turned on near the end of the switching cycle or the on duration is extended to develop a current ripple on the secondary winding current. The control circuit of the flyback converter detects a positive current excursion on the secondary winding current to turn off the synchronous rectifier and to start the next switching cycle. At this point, the voltage across the primary switch has been discharged and the primary switch can be turned on with zero drain-to-source voltage. In other embodiments, zero voltage switching for the off-transition of the primary switch is realized by coupling a capacitor across the primary switch or by coupling a capacitor across the primary winding, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Kuang Ming Chang, Lin Chen, Qihong Huang
  • Patent number: 9991805
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a resonant DC-DC power converter comprising an input side circuit comprising a positive and a negative input terminal for receipt of an input voltage or current and an output side circuit comprising positive and negative output terminals for supply of a converter output voltage and connection to a converter load. The resonant DC-DC power converter further comprises a rectification circuit connected between an output of a resonant network and the output side circuit. The resonant network is configured for alternatingly being charged from the input voltage or current and discharged through the rectification circuit by a first controllable switch arrangement in accordance with a first switch control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Danmarks Tekniske Universitet
    Inventors: Mickey P. Madsen, Milovan Kovacevic
  • Patent number: 9935554
    Abstract: One embodiment includes a power supply system including a transformer comprising a primary, secondary, and auxiliary winding that are magnetically coupled. The system also includes a switch stage that generates a current through the primary winding in response to activation of a switch based on a control signal that is generated based on a feedback voltage associated with the auxiliary winding. The current can be induced in the secondary winding. The system also includes an output stage coupled to the secondary winding and that generates an output voltage based on the current induced in the secondary winding. The system further includes a feedback stage coupled to the auxiliary winding and comprising a discriminator configured to determine a zero-current condition associated with the current induced in the auxiliary winding based on monitoring a change in slope of the feedback voltage and to measure the feedback voltage during the zero-current condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard L. Valley
  • Patent number: 9887633
    Abstract: This disclosure provides control techniques for a resonant converter. In one embodiment, a resonant converter controller includes predictive gate drive circuitry configured to generate a predictive gate drive signal indicative of a time duration from a rising edge of a first drive signal for controlling a conduction state of a first inverter switch of a resonant converter system to a synchronous rectifier (SR) current zero crossing instant of a first SR switch of the resonant converter system, wherein the first tracking signal is based on at least the first drive signal and a voltage drop across the first SR switch. The resonant converter controller may also include SR gate drive shrink circuitry configured to generate an SR gate drive turn on delay signal to increase delay of SR on times in response to detection of a decrease in load current demand of the resonant converter system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Hang-Seok Choi
  • Patent number: 9866100
    Abstract: A circuit for providing dynamic output current sharing using average current mode control for active-reset and self-driven synchronous rectification with pre-bias startup and redundancy capabilities for power converters. The circuit communicates a secondary side feedback signal to a primary side via a bidirectional magnetic communicator that also provides a secondary voltage supply. Pre-bias startup is achieved by detection of the output current direction and controlling the gate signals of synchronous rectifiers. The circuit permits dynamic current sharing via a single-control signal and automatic master converter selection and promotion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Crane Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Cuon Lam, Hach Nguyen, Khoa Nguyen, Peter Odell, Sovann Song
  • Patent number: 9855849
    Abstract: An on-board power system for a vehicle includes a first on-board power system branch with a first operating voltage U1, a first energy accumulator, and a first electrical consumer; a second on-board power system branch with a second operating voltage U2 and a second energy accumulator; and a third on-board power system branch with a third operating voltage U3 and a third electrical consumer. The on-board power system also includes a DC/DC converter configured to transmit energy bidirectionally at least between the first on-board power system branch and the second on-board power system branch. The on-board power system also includes a switching device configured to selectively connect the first energy accumulator and the second energy accumulator to one another in series via in such a way that the third operating voltage U3 can be made available by the first operating voltage U1 and the second operating voltage U2 together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Dirk Reichow, Markus Gilch
  • Patent number: 9825453
    Abstract: A protection mode control circuit includes an auto-restart counter configured to count the cycle of a first signal in a protection condition and to generate an auto-restart signal when a result of the count reaches a protection reference value and a latch mode unit configured to generate a latch mode signal for changing protection mode to latch mode when the auto-restart signal is consecutively generated by a predetermined threshold number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-Tae Lee, Ji-Hoon Jang, Hyeong Seok Baek, Hang-Seok Choi
  • Patent number: 9825520
    Abstract: A current-limiting circuit that includes a transistor connected between an input terminal and an output terminal of the current-limiting circuit. A controller is arranged to monitor a current flowing through the transistor and to control the transistor based on the monitored current so as to limit the current, wherein a voltage dropped across the transistor varies over a range of values during operation in a current-limiting mode. The controller includes a timing module arranged to control, based on a value of the voltage across the transistor, a period of time for which the transistor limits the current. For all ranges of voltage that may be dropped across the transistor during the current-limiting mode, the timing module is arranged to control the respective period of time for each range, such that the transistor dissipates substantially the maximum amount of energy that it is capable of dissipating without sustaining damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventor: Mattias Andersson
  • Patent number: 9806614
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting a zero inductor current to control switch transitions for a power converter. An example method includes outputting a first voltage and a first current, receiving the first voltage and output a second voltage into an input of a comparator, when the second voltage is above a third voltage, outputting a first output voltage, when the second voltage is below the third voltage, outputting a second output voltage, determining when the first current is zero based the output of the comparator, enabling a set of switches based on when the first current is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ranjit Kumar Dash, Keith Edmund Kunz