For Forward-type Converter Patents (Class 363/21.04)
  • Patent number: 11936287
    Abstract: A self-driven active clamp circuit applied to a flyback converter having a transformer and a switch has a clamp switch and a resistor. The clamp switch is connected between a first capacitor and a second capacitor in series. Another terminal of the first capacitor is connected to a first terminal of a primary-side winding of the transformer. Another terminal of the second capacitor is connected to a second terminal of the primary-side winding of the transformer and the switch of the flyback converter. A terminal of the resistor is connected to a control terminal of the clamp switch. Another terminal of the resistor is connected to the second terminal of the primary-side winding of the transformer and the switch of the flyback converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: MINMAX TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Cheng-Chou Wu
  • Patent number: 11929665
    Abstract: A switching power conversion apparatus for converting power from an input voltage source to a load includes first and second switches connected to a switching node. An inductive element has a magnetizing current connected to the node, and the inductive element is connected to deliver energy via the first and second switches from the input voltage to the load during a succession of power conversion cycles. A capacitance connected to the node resonates with the inductive element to cause parasitic oscillation. A clamp subcircuit across the inductive element contains an auxiliary switch to trap energy and prevent parasitic oscillation, wherein the auxiliary switch is complementary to the first switch. A controlled voltage source injects energy in the inductive element, when the auxiliary switch turns off to discharge the parasitic capacitance by using trapped energy in the inductive element in addition to injected energy from the controlled voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Rompower Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Ionel Jitaru
  • Patent number: 11899445
    Abstract: Embodiments of this present disclosure may include a system with a first power converter and a control system. The first power converter may supply a first output power to a first backplane at least sometimes concurrent to a second power converter supplying a second output power to a second backplane. The control system may be electrically coupled to the first backplane and the second backplane. The control system may balance a first electrical property and a second electrical property provided to each of one or more load components electrically coupled to the first backplane and the second backplane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Denning, Sean P. Overberger, James R. Hissem
  • Patent number: 11837945
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for a power supply circuit that includes a state-indicating circuit, which is a first or second circuit when the power supply circuit is of a non-isolated or isolated type, as the case may be. The integrated circuit including a voltage generation circuit that generates, at a first terminal, a voltage that is (1) lower than a first level, when the first circuit is coupled to the first terminal, (2) higher than a second level, when the second circuit is coupled to the first terminal, and (3) higher than the first level and lower than the second level, when no state-indicating circuit is coupled to the first terminal, and a determination circuit that determines that the power supply circuit is of the non-isolated or isolated type, when the voltage at the first terminal is lower or higher than the second level, as the case may be.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Hiasa
  • Patent number: 11837950
    Abstract: The invention provides a switching power supply and an electronic device, comprising an active clamp circuit and a transformer, the active clamp circuit including a first clamp capacitor, a second clamp capacitor, and a path guiding module that is connected at two terminals of the first clamp capacitor and two terminals of the second clamp capacitor respectively; the path guiding module, the first and the second clamp capacitors are all directly or indirectly connected to a primary side of the transformer; the path guiding module is configured to guide the first and the second clamp capacitors to obtain an electric energy from different positions on the primary side of the transformer in a first time period, and to guide the first and the second clamp capacitors to discharge the primary side of the transformer after being connected in parallel with each other in a second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: HUAYUAN SEMICONDUCTOR (SHENZHEN) LIMITED COMPANY
    Inventors: Chunming Guo, Zhiwei Qiu, Chenglong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11831250
    Abstract: A multi-switch types hybrid power electronics build block (MST HPEBB) least replaceable unit converter employs a first low voltage side (for example, 1000 volt power switches) and a second high voltage side (for example, 3000 volt power switches). The MST HPEBB LRU employs multiple bridge converters connected in series and/or in parallel, and coupled in part by a 1:1 transformer. To reduce weight and volume requirements compared to known PEBB LRUs, different power switch types are employed in different bridge converters. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, low voltage 1.7 kVolt SiC MOSFETS may be employed on the lower voltage side, while at least some 4.5 kVolt Silicon IGBTs may be employed on the high voltage side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zhi Zhou, Steven Mankevich
  • Patent number: 11804783
    Abstract: A power converter includes a transformer having a primary-side winding connected to a switch, and a controller connected to a gate node of the switch. The controller includes a switch timing and control module to generate switch control pulses, a gate driver to receive the switch control pulses and generate gate control pulses therefrom to control the switch, and a gate drive controller to provide a switch transition speed control signal to the gate driver to control a switch transition speed of the switch for each pulse of the gate control pulses. Based on an operating mode of the power converter, the gate drive controller is configured to set the switch transition speed of the gate driver to a first speed for generating an initial gate control pulse and to set the switch transition speed of the gate driver to a second speed for generating subsequent gate control pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Silanna Asia Pte Ltd
    Inventor: Aleksandar Radic
  • Patent number: 11736026
    Abstract: A flyback converter is provided that detects a load-transient-produced increase in the output current to more quickly detect and respond to the load transient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Mengfei Liu, Yimin Chen, David Nguyen, Juyoung Yoon, Tao Li, Guang Feng, Kai-Wen Chin, Yong Xiong Lin, Jianming Yao
  • Patent number: 11716015
    Abstract: A switch mode power supply includes a bootstrap circuit, control circuits, and an auxiliary winding coupled to the bootstrap circuit and configured to supply power to the control circuits after startup of the power supply. The bootstrap circuit is configured to supply power to the control circuits during startup and includes an isolation circuit to limit current flow between the starting capacitor and the control circuits while the starting capacitor is charged to a starting voltage by the high voltage input. During the initial charge of the starting capacitor, the control circuits do not have power to provide the initial functionality of the power supply. Once the starting capacitor is charged to the starting voltage, the isolation circuit is activated to allow current flow that powers the control circuits during the remainder of the startup until the auxiliary winding is able to power the control circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bora Novakovic, Jatinkumar K. Patel, Rangarajan M. Tallam, Robert W. Reese
  • Patent number: 11705818
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes a first switching network that receives the input DC voltage and outputs a first AC voltage, a transformer, and a secondary side conversion circuit that receives the second AC voltage and outputs the output DC voltage. The transformer includes a first plurality of primary windings, a second plurality of primary windings and a plurality of secondary windings. The transformer is configured to receive the first AC voltage and outputting a second AC voltage. When the input DC voltage is intended to be used in a low voltage range, the first plurality of primary windings and the second plurality of primary windings are configured to be in parallel at the time the DC-DC converter is manufactured. When the input DC voltage is intended to be used in a high voltage range the first plurality of primary windings and the second plurality of primary windings are configured to be in series at the time of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rafael Jimenez Pino, Pablo Gaona Rosanes, Hector Sarnago Andia, Oscar Lucia Gil
  • Patent number: 11637499
    Abstract: An active-clamp flyback converter is provided with improved active-clamp switch control that switches on an active-clamp switch at an active-clamp switch on-time that equals a power switch on-time minus a peak charge time for an active-clamp capacitor. The peak charge time is the duration between the switching off of the power switch transistor and when the charging current through the active-clamp capacitor falls to zero. The controller measures this peak charge time following the switching off of the power switch transistor and then applies it to the subsequent switching on of the active-clamp switch so that the active-clamp switch is switched on at the power switch on-time minus the peak charge time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Xiaoyong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11626810
    Abstract: Systems and methods for power conversion are described. For example, a system may include a transformer including a plurality of secondary windings; a first set of switches connecting respective taps of the plurality of secondary windings to a first terminal; a second set of switches connecting the respective taps of the plurality of secondary windings to a second terminal; and an electrical load connected between the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ashish K. Sahoo, Brandon Pierquet, Jie Lu
  • Patent number: 11532982
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a power supply and an operation method thereof. The power supply includes a power factor correction (PFC) circuit, a resonant conversion circuit and a dead zone control circuit. The PFC circuit performs power factor correction to output a corrected voltage. The resonant conversion circuit is coupled to the PFC circuit to receive the corrected voltage. The resonant conversion circuit converts the corrected voltage into a converted voltage. The dead zone control circuit is coupled to the resonant conversion circuit to receive the switch voltage. The dead zone control circuit controls the PFC circuit to adjust the corrected voltage. The dead zone control circuit observes the change trend of the falling time of the switch voltage in the deadtime by adjusting the corrected voltage. The dead zone control circuit determines the corrected voltage according to the change trend of the switch voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Chicony Power Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tso-Jen Peng, Mao-Song Pan, Yi Ching Su
  • Patent number: 11496039
    Abstract: A power controller for an LLC resonant converter controls a high-side switch and a low-side switch. An ON-time generator in the power controller determines a high-side ON time of the high-side switch and a low-side ON time of the low-side switch in response to the bigger one between a feedback voltage and a burst voltage, where the feedback voltage is generated in response to an output voltage of the LLC resonant converter. A burst-mode controller in the power controller has a triangular-wave generator providing a triangular-wave signal with an amplitude in association with the burst voltage. A comparator comparing the triangular-wave signal and the feedback voltage to determine a break time when both the high-side and low-side switches are turned OFF. The LLC resonant converter operates in a burst mode when the break time is introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: LEADTREND TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yao-Tsung Chen, Kuan-Hsien Chou
  • Patent number: 11496057
    Abstract: A converter includes an input capacitor, a primary-side switching circuit, a magnetic element circuit, a secondary-side switching circuit, and an output capacitor. The magnetic element circuit includes a transformer and an inductor. The input capacitor is configured to receive an input voltage. The primary-side switching circuit is coupled to the input capacitor. The magnetic element circuit is coupled to the primary-side switching circuit. The secondary-side switching circuit is coupled to the magnetic element circuit. The output capacitor is coupled to the secondary-side switching circuit. The input capacitor, the inductor, and the output capacitor oscillate to generate an oscillating current. The primary-side switching circuit is switched between a peak point of the oscillating current and a valley point of the oscillating current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Da Jin, Ya-Hong Xiong, Qing-Hua Su
  • Patent number: 11456659
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a devices, systems and methods implementing a single transformer-based gate driver. In one embodiment, single transformer-based gate driver includes an RF source; a PWM controller; an edge detector and pulse generating circuit operably connected to the RF source and PWM controller; a transformer comprising a primary side and a secondary side, the primary side of the transformer operably connected to an output of the edge detector and pulse generating circuit, the secondary side of the transformer operably connected to a rectifier circuit and a signal recovery circuit; and a drive circuit operably connected to the rectifier circuit and the signal recovery circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Fang Peng, Hui Li
  • Patent number: 11430600
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for a multiple-layer planar transformer having center taps of a segmented winding. In an example, a multiple-layer planar transformer can be a coupled inductor circuit including a first winding comprising a conductive coil having an electrical path defining and encircling the central axis, a second winding configured to magnetically couple with the first winding, the second winding having a plurality of individual segments, wherein each individual segment forms a fraction of one turn of the second winding, and a first output inductor coupled to a first common node of the second winding. The first common node can directly couple a first node of a first individual segment of the plurality of individual segments with a first node of a second individual segment of the plurality of individual segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventor: Jonathan Paolucci
  • Patent number: 11336189
    Abstract: A direct current-direct current (DC-DC) converter includes a plurality of switches configured to be coupled to a voltage source. The DC-DC converter also includes a transformer having a primary winding coupled to the plurality of switches and a secondary winding. The DC-DC converter further includes a first capacitor; and a second capacitor, wherein the first capacitor is coupled in series with the primary winding, the second capacitor is coupled in parallel with the secondary winding. The first capacitor, the second capacitor, and a leakage inductance of the transformer form a dual-capacitor resonant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Inventors: Leila Parsa, Rohit Suryadevara
  • Patent number: 11234315
    Abstract: A combined lamp strip controller and a combined lamp strip control method related to the technical field of circuit control. The lamp strip controller comprises: a power supply circuit, a control circuit, an infrared transmitting circuit, an infrared receiving circuit and a drive circuit, wherein the drive circuit is a bridge drive circuit, and the infrared transmitting circuit, the infrared receiving circuit and the drive circuit are connected to the control circuit in an integrated manner. In the embodiments of the present invention, an infrared sensing assembly is used to sense changes in the environment around a lamp strip, and finally the lamp strip is driven by an infrared sensing control signal to switch a lighting mode, and one or more program instructions are further used to implement at least one sensing control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: NING BO GOLDEN POWER ELECTRONIC CO., LTD
    Inventor: Zhengxian Shen
  • Patent number: 11211874
    Abstract: A flyback converter is provided with a secondary-side low-power-mode controller that detects whether a mobile device has been disconnected from the flyback converter. In response to this detection, the low-power-mode controller initiates a low-power mode of operation in which a primary-side controller is disabled to increase efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: DIALOG SEMICONDUCTOR (UK) LIMITED
    Inventors: Kevin Yu, Miranda Lam
  • Patent number: 11165276
    Abstract: A adapter having an inputting terminal and an outputting terminal is provided. The adapter further includes a converter having a first side and a second side, a testing switch having a first terminal and a second terminal, a detecting circuit and a first indicator. The first side is coupled to the inputting terminal. The second side is coupled to the outputting terminal. The converter is used to convert inputting power for providing outputting power to a load system. The first terminal is coupled to the second side. The detecting circuit is coupled to the second terminal. When the first terminal and the second terminal of the testing switch are conducted, the load system is disconnected with the adapter by the detecting circuit. The detecting circuit is used to detect an outputting signal for generating a detecting result. The first indicator sends a message according to the detecting result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: CYBER POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Yu-Sheng Wang, Hong-Lun Wang, Cheng-Yang Su
  • Patent number: 11165350
    Abstract: An apparatus for power conversion comprises a voltage transformation element, a regulating element, and a controller; wherein, a period of the voltage transformation element is equal to a product of a coefficient and a period of the regulating circuit, and wherein the coefficient is selected from a group consisting of a positive integer and a reciprocal of said integer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventor: David M. Giuliano
  • Patent number: 11114945
    Abstract: Controlling an active clamp field effect transistor (FET) in a secondary-controlled active clamp converter is described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a primary-side FET coupled to a transformer, a secondary-side FET coupled to the transformer, and an active clamp FET disposed on a primary side of the transformer. A secondary-side controller is configured to control the active clamp FET across a galvanic isolation barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Rashed Ahmed, Hariom Rai
  • Patent number: 11025793
    Abstract: A power supply controlling apparatus includes a first power supply unit that supplies DC power to a load using power supplied from a commercial power supply, a power detecting unit that detects an input voltage and an input current input from the commercial power supply to the first power supply unit, and a control unit that controls the input current to be a constant current having an upper limit current value in response to the input voltage by controlling DC power supplied to the load from the first power supply unit based on the input voltage and the input current which are detected by the power detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junpei Hosoya, Tomoyuki Yamashita, Norikazu Okada, Takaaki Hirasawa, Shunta Yamahori
  • Patent number: 11011990
    Abstract: A DC/DC power converter has an input terminal, an output terminal, and a ground terminal. The DC/DC power converter includes two capacitors connected in series between the output terminal and the ground terminal, a boost converter having a first boost converter terminal connected to the input terminal, a second boost converter terminal connected to the output terminal, and a third boost converter terminal connected to a connection point between the capacitors, and a step-up converter having a first step-up converter terminal connected to the ground terminal, a second step-up converter terminal connected to the output terminal, and a third step-up converter terminal connected to the connection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Petar Grbovic, Roland Huempfner, Jose Antonio Cobos, Pedro Alou, Jesus Angel Oliver, Miroslav Vasic
  • Patent number: 10917020
    Abstract: A multi output DC/DC converter includes a transformer having a primary side winding connected to an input side and a secondary side winding connected to an output side; a rectifying diode for rectifying an output of the secondary side winding; an output inductor having a first end connected to the rectifying diode; and a first output switching element and a second output switching element each having first ends connected to a second end of the output inductor, where a second end of the first output switching element and a second end of the second output switching element become first and second output stages outputting different voltages, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Inha University Research and Business Foundation
    Inventors: Jae Hyuk Choi, Byeong Seob Song, Sam Gyun Kim, Jae Kuk Kim, Bom Seok Lee, Jae Hyun Ahn
  • Patent number: 10917016
    Abstract: An electrical-power-supplying device for a wall plug includes a first DC-DC power converter including a first output and a second output; a second DC-DC power converter the input of which is connected to the second output; and a first capacitor connected to the input of the first converter, a second capacitor connected to the first output and a third capacitor connected to the second output. The first output of the first converter and the output of the second converter are connected in series to form an output of the power-supplying device able to deliver a DC voltage, the power-supplying device including at least one fourth capacitor that is connected to the output of the second converter or to the output of the power-supplying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventor: Jerome Brenguier
  • Patent number: 10897209
    Abstract: In the power supply device, the insulated transformer transforms the voltage of alternating-current power. The rectifying circuit rectifies the alternating-current power transformed by the transformer to direct-current power. The smoothing inductor smoothes the direct-current power rectified by the rectifying circuit. The first output terminal outputs the direct-current power smoothed by the smoothing inductor. The second output terminal is a terminal different from the first output terminal and outputs the direct-current power smoothed by the smoothing inductor. An FET is provided between the smoothing inductor and the first output terminal and adjusts a current output from the smoothing inductor to the first output terminal. An FET is provided between the smoothing inductor and the second output terminal and adjusts a current output from the smoothing inductor to the second output terminal. The controller controls the FET and the FET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shota Yoshimitsu, Keisuke Kanda
  • Patent number: 10840693
    Abstract: A modular and adaptable power system may be used to provide electrical power connections in an industrial work site, such as a mine. The system provides a plug-and-play interchangeable output module that can be quickly and easily disconnected from and reconnected to a separate and independent input/feed-through module. This allows a user to daisy chain multiple input/feed-through modules together, thereby greatly reducing setup time. Output modules can be quickly disconnected and relocated and returned to previous locations and reconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Electro-Mechanical Corporation
    Inventors: Mark T. Gromlovits, Troy K. Mickelsen, Michael J. Kelly, Brian G. Barker, Larry E. Beverly
  • Patent number: 10838442
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including an input terminal to which a power source, for which the time until a voltage equal or greater than a predetermined voltage value is output fluctuates according to an external environment, is connected, a power source section to which the input terminal supplies power from the power source, a power source supply terminal that supplies power to a driven semiconductor device, a switch that controls a connection between the power source section and the power source supply terminal, and a voltage regulator to which the input terminal supplies power from the power source, and that supplies a voltage to the power source supply terminal is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shigeru Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 10833593
    Abstract: In the power supply device, the insulated transformer transforms the voltage of alternating-current power. The rectifying circuit rectifies the alternating-current power transformed by the transformer to direct-current power. The smoothing inductor smoothes the direct-current power rectified by the rectifying circuit. The first output terminal outputs the direct-current power smoothed by the smoothing inductor. The second output terminal is a terminal different from the first output terminal and outputs the direct-current power smoothed by the smoothing inductor. An FET is provided between the smoothing inductor and the first output terminal and adjusts a current output from the smoothing inductor to the first output terminal. An FET is provided between the smoothing inductor and the second output terminal and adjusts a current output from the smoothing inductor to the second output terminal. The controller controls the FET and the FET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shota Yoshimitsu, Keisuke Kanda
  • Patent number: 10819239
    Abstract: A switched-mode power supply includes a transformer, a switching element, a switching controller, a voltage generator circuit, an overvoltage protection circuit, and a load increase circuit. The overvoltage protection circuit is configured to, when a first DC voltage outputted from the voltage generator circuit is below a predetermined voltage, apply a first drive voltage to an input terminal of the switching controller, and to, when the first DC voltage exceeds the predetermined voltage, apply a second drive voltage, which is different from the first drive voltage, to the input terminal, whereby the switching controller stops controlling switching operation. The load increase circuit is configured to, when the output voltage exceeds a threshold voltage, flow a current from the secondary side, thereby increasing a load applied to the secondary side. The threshold voltage is less than a rated voltage of the transformer and greater than the target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shiro Ueno, Katsumi Inukai, Hideki Arimoto
  • Patent number: 10811979
    Abstract: The combined voltage regulator and snubber circuit generally has a voltage regulator device in parallel with the energy storage element of the snubber circuit operatively connectable in series with a leakage inductance current path; the leakage inductance being part of a magnetic component utilized in a switch-mode power supply having an input voltage source, controllable semiconductor switches, freewheeling semiconductor switches, feedback controller, reactive energy storage components and a load; the voltage regulator generally providing constant or variable voltage to the gate driver of the controllable semiconductor and/or feedback controller; the snubber circuit generally recycling leakage inductance energy to the input capacitor of a neighboring cell in a multi-cell stacked converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Appulse Power Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksandar Radic, Seyed-Behzad Mahdavikhah-Mehrabad
  • Patent number: 10756614
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for current sensing and error correction in a switched-mode power supply composed of a high-side transistor coupled to a low-side transistor are described. One example method generally includes capturing a current associated with the low-side transistor at a first time corresponding to the low-side transistor turning off; capturing a current associated with the high-side transistor at a second time corresponding to a first delay after the high-side transistor turns on; capturing the current associated with the high-side transistor at a third time corresponding to the high-side transistor turning off; and applying a first correction current to a current-summing node of the current-sensing circuit for a first interval based on the first delay, wherein the first correction current is based on the captured current associated with the low-side transistor at the first time and on the captured current associated with the high-side transistor at the second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Stuart Pullen, Michael Bui, Steve Hawley, Chunping Song
  • Patent number: 10749428
    Abstract: A switched mode power supply (SMPS) having a DC bus supplied by an power input, a first transformer with a first primary connected to the DC bus, and a second transformer with a second primary connected in series with the first primary, a first switching device connected in parallel with the second primary, a second switching device connected in series between the first switching device and a circuit ground. The SMPS also includes a snubber and hold up circuit having a diode and a holdup capacitor connected in parallel with the second switching device. The SMPS also includes a first control circuit connected to the first switching device and a second control circuit connected to the second switching device, wherein the output of the first control circuit is based at least in part on the output of the second control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Rajkumar Sengodan
  • Patent number: 10742111
    Abstract: An ACF power converter uses a soft start operation to reduce overheating and stress on components. The power converter includes a first transistor and second transistor. A high side driver controls the first transistor, and low side driver controls the second transistor. A first operating potential is provided to the low side driver during a first period of time. The second transistor switches based on an oscillator signal having a first rate of frequency change to generate a second operating potential for the high side driver, while attempting to hold the first transistor in the non-conductive state during a second time period. The first and second transistors switch based on the oscillator signal having a second rate of frequency change during a third time period. The power converter is held in ACF mode and inhibited from changing state for a period of time post soft start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Wayne McCoy, Ajay Karthik Hari
  • Patent number: 10686384
    Abstract: A partial power converter (PPC) in an electrical power system, comprising an input capacitor connected in parallel to a power source vpv and connected to a primary winding of a transformer, wherein the primary winding is connected in series to a M1 transistor of the MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) type, wherein two secondary windings Ns1 and Ns2—both with the same number of turns, are connected, each one, in series by means of a terminal, with diodes D1 and D2, respectively, and the diodes D1 and D2 are connected to the respective ends of a capacitor Cdc output; the other terminal of the secondary winding Ns1 of the transformer is connected to one of the terminals of the primary winding, whereas the other terminal of the secondary winding Ns2 is connected to one of the terminals of transistor M1, and wherein the output capacitor Cdc serves as a link to connect to a next stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSIDAD TÉCNICA FEDERICO SANTA MARÍA
    Inventors: Marcelo Alejandro Perez Leiva, Jaime Wladmir Zapata Amores, Samir Kouro Ranaer
  • Patent number: 10649477
    Abstract: A device and method that includes a shunt regulator of a universal serial bus (USB) compatible power supply device is disclosed. The shunt regulator includes an amplifier with an output, a first input, and a second input. The shunt regulator also includes a current digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that is coupled to the first input of the amplifier and a voltage bus node. The current DAC adjusts a sink or a source current delivered at the first input of the amplifier to regulate a programmable output voltage (Vbus) in the USB-compatible power supply device. The current delivered by the DAC is responsive to receipt of a digital code indicative of a programmable power supply command specifying the Vbus to be delivered by the USB-compatible power supply device on the voltage bus node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Pavan Kumar Kuchipudi
  • Patent number: 10622905
    Abstract: [Object] To realize a DC-DC converter that can reduce switching loss when zero voltage switching is not achieved. [Solution] When starting second control in conjunction with first control, a control unit (10) performs reduction of predetermined phase difference and increase of phase offset at the same time. A smallest value of output power of the DC-DC converter (CON1) performing reduction of the predetermined phase difference is lower than power at which a primary-side reactor (6) is saturated by current flowing through the primary-side reactor (6) under the first control and lower than power at which a secondary-side reactor (7) is saturated by current flowing through the secondary-side reactor (7) under the first control, at a desired output voltage under the first control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takaharu Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 10608527
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus for driving a light emitting apparatus is provided. The power supply apparatus includes a lossless snubber circuit and a power converting circuit. The lossless snubber circuit has a first diode, a first inductor and a second diode coupled in series between an input end and a first reference end, and has a first capacitor coupled between the first diode and a second reference end. The power converting circuit has a switch, a transformer and a second indictor. The switch is coupled between the first and second reference ends, and is turned on or off according to a control signal. The second inductor is coupled to a first side of the transformer in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: I-SHOU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chun-An Cheng, Er-Yun Chang, Chin-Chih Lai, Man-Tang Chang
  • Patent number: 10574146
    Abstract: A converter and a driving method thereof are disclosed. The converter includes a transformer, a main switch, a clamp switch, and a switching controller. Here, the switching controller controls a turn-on time of the main switch and a turn-off time of the clamp switch corresponding to an output load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gwanbon Koo, Youngbae Park
  • Patent number: 10554132
    Abstract: A combined voltage regulator and snubber circuit generally has a voltage regulator device in parallel with the energy storage element of the snubber circuit operatively connectable in series with a leakage inductance current path; the leakage inductance being part of a magnetic component utilized in a switch-mode power supply having an input voltage source, controllable semiconductor switches, freewheeling semiconductor switches, feedback controller, reactive energy storage components and a load; the voltage regulator generally providing constant or variable voltage to the gate driver of the controllable semiconductor and/or feedback controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Silanna Asia Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Aleksandar Radic, Seyed-Behzad Mahdavikhah-Mehrabad
  • Patent number: 10523112
    Abstract: A power converter and a method of controlling the power converter are provided. The power converter includes a PFC rectifier module and a DC-DC converter module. When the output voltage of the power converter is greater than or equal to a minimum limit value of the bus voltage output by the PFC rectifier module, the DC-DC converter module is operated in a constant-on mode in which the DC-DC converter module does not perform voltage conversion and the PFC rectifier module outputs the bus voltage which is adjusted according to the output voltage of the power converter. When the output voltage of the power converter is less than the minimum limit value, the DC-DC converter module is operated in a voltage-regulation mode in which the DC-DC converter module converts the bus voltage into the output voltage of the power converter, and the bus voltage is a constant value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Chao Yan, Yiwen Lu, Liping Sun, Zhihui Ding, Qi Huang
  • Patent number: 10396673
    Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter controller configured to generate phase control signals to control a plurality of power stages of a DC-to-DC converter where each power stage includes two phases. The DC-to-DC converter controller is configured to generate the phase control signals in a manner which (a) balances magnitude of current processed among the two phases of each power stage and (b) balances magnitude of current processed among the plurality of power stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Armando Presti, Antonio Magazzu, Sean Philip Gold, Filippo Guagliardo, Issac Siavashani, Henry Dinh
  • Patent number: 10389223
    Abstract: A method and controller for controlling a converter are provided. The converter is operated in a first phase in which controller logic asserts a first gate drive signal to cause a first transistor of the converter to be conductive and deasserts a second gate drive signal to cause a second transistor of the converter to be non-conductive. In a first deadtime phase and a second phase, the controller logic deasserts both the first and second gate drive signals to cause leakage energy from a leakage inductance of a primary winding of the converter to be transferred to a clamp capacitance of the converter. After the leakage energy is transferred, the converter is operated in a third phase in which the logic asserts the second gate drive signal and deasserts the first gate drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Claudio Adragna
  • Patent number: 10333319
    Abstract: A hybrid system modifies a control algorithm such that the super-capacitor can not only supply pulsed power, but it now can also absorb pulsed power from the load while keeping the battery current constant such that the incoming pulsed power does not stress the battery. The absorbed energy is accumulated in the capacitor and then the control algorithm operates the DC/DC converter to recharge the battery with the energy from the capacitor at a rate that optimized battery performance. If the load supplies energy to the hybrid system such that the current into the battery is within its optimal operating range, then the load is permitted to directly charge the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTRO STANDARDS LABORATORIES
    Inventors: Raymond B Sepe, Jr., Kyle Waterman
  • Patent number: 10334667
    Abstract: A controller for a power converter to convert electrical power at an input voltage into electrical power at an output voltage and a method of operating such controller is presented. The controller for controlling a power converter has an input port to receive a voltage representative of the input voltage; an input voltage measuring unit to sample a measuring voltage and to determine a measurement value that is representative of the input voltage; a switch; and a diode connectable with a storage unit to provide a supply voltage for the controller during operation of the controller. The switch controls the charging of the storage unit from the voltage at the input port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Horst Knoedgen, Julian Tyrrell
  • Patent number: 10327298
    Abstract: An LED luminaire comprises a power switching driver, LED array(s) powered by the power switching driver, and a detection and control circuit. The detection and control circuit comprises a voltage sensing circuit, a current sensing circuit, a voltage regulator circuit, an optocoupler circuit, and a pair of low-voltage input ports receiving an external voltage. The detection and control circuit is configured to extract an electrical signal from an output voltage, an output current driving the LED array(s), and the external voltage and to couple an optical feedback signal to the power switching driver. The external voltage comprises a voltage sent from a motion sensor, an adapted control voltage from a daylight sensor, or both to control the power switching driver to offset lighting amount of the LED luminaire to reduce energy consumption in response to changing daylight availability when a motion is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: ALEDDRA INC.
    Inventor: Chungho Hsia
  • Patent number: 10277138
    Abstract: Provided is an active clamp full bridge converter, which includes: a transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil and configured to convert a voltage; a primary circuit connected to an input capacitor for supplying an input power and including a full bridge circuit having first to fourth switches to transmit the input power to the primary coil according to a switching operation of the first to fourth switches; and a secondary circuit connected to the secondary coil and including a rectifying bridge circuit having first to fourth diodes, an active clamp circuit connected to the rectifying bridge circuit and composed of an active clamp switch and a clamping capacitor connected in series, and an output inductor connected to the active clamp circuit, to transmit an energy received from the primary circuit by the transformer to an output capacitor connected to the output inductor and the active clamp circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Foundation of Soongsil University-Industry Cooperation
    Inventors: Woojin Choi, Duong Tran Dai
  • Patent number: 10206253
    Abstract: A controller for a power converter to convert electrical power at an input voltage into electrical power at an output voltage and a method of operating such controller is presented. The controller for controlling a power converter has an input port to receive a voltage representative of the input voltage; an input voltage measuring unit to sample a measuring voltage and to determine a measurement value that is representative of the input voltage; a switch; and a diode connectable with a storage unit to provide a supply voltage for the controller during operation of the controller. The switch controls the charging of the storage unit from the voltage at the input port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Horst Knoedgen, Julian Tyrrell