Utilizing Pulse-width Modulation Patents (Class 363/21.1)
  • Patent number: 11923763
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first winding and a first switch connected in series between an input terminal and ground, a second winding magnetically coupled to the first winding and coupled to an output terminal through a second switch, a third winding magnetically coupled to the first winding and connected in series with a fourth switch, a fourth winding magnetically coupled to the first winding and connected in series with a third switch, and an energy storage device connected between a common node of the third winding and the fourth winding, and ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Halo Microelectronics International
    Inventor: Milind Chandra Gupta
  • Patent number: 11646655
    Abstract: A control method for an LLC resonant converter includes the following steps. Firstly, the LLC resonant converter is enabled. Then, the sonant converter is operated in a first modulation mode, so that the magnitude of the output voltage is greater than or equal to an intermediate voltage value. When the magnitude of the output current is greater than zero, a determining step is performed to determine whether the magnitude of the output voltage is greater than a reference voltage value. When the determining result is satisfied, the LLC resonant converter is operated in the first modulation mode. When the determining result is not satisfied, the LLC resonant converter is operated in a second modulation mode, so that the magnitude of the output voltage is lower than the intermediate voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Ching-Ho Chou, Yung-Chuan Lu
  • Patent number: 11381155
    Abstract: An overvoltage protection circuit includes an error amplifier, which outputs a first command voltage for bringing the output voltage of a converter closer to a first set voltage, and an overvoltage detection circuit, which outputs a second command voltage for bringing the output voltage of the converter closer to a second set voltage that is higher than the first set voltage. The overvoltage protection circuit controls the converter based on the first command voltage and the second command voltage. Noise immunity can be guaranteed even when an overvoltage detection level is set lower than the level of disturbance noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatoshi Kutsukake, Akira Moriyama
  • Patent number: 11101774
    Abstract: One example includes a differential amplifier, a voltage weighting element, coupled to a voltage source which provides an input voltage, to provide a reference voltage with a constant power limit when the input voltage varies, an error amplifier configured to receive and compare the reference voltage provided from the voltage weighting element and a feedback sensed voltage provided from the differential amplifier to identify whether the sensed voltage exceeds the reference voltage, and a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller, coupled to a power transformer and the error amplifier, that reduces a transformer input current provided to the power transformer based on the comparison of the reference voltage from the voltage weighting element and the feedback sensed voltage from the differential amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: David F. Baretich, Simon J. Broadley
  • Patent number: 10971992
    Abstract: A start-up circuit to discharge EMI filter is developed for power saving. It includes a detection circuit detecting a power source for generating a sample signal. A sample circuit is coupled to the detection circuit for generating a reset signal in response to the sample signal. The reset signal is utilized for discharging a stored voltage of the EMI filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Wei-Hsuan Huang, Meng-Jen Tsai, Chien-Yuan Lin, Ming-Chang Tsou, Chuan-Chang Li, Gwo-Hwa Wang
  • Patent number: 10931204
    Abstract: An isolated resonant converter has an analog comparator with hysteresis for generating a first ON/OFF signal, a digital isolator for outputting a second ON/OFF signal, an oscillator for providing a clock pulse signal with a frequency, and a primary pulse width modulator coupled to receive the clock pulse signal and the second ON/OFF signal. An output voltage of the isolated resonant converter is controlled by the analog comparator within a predefined range. The second ON/OFF signal is electrically isolated from the first ON/OFF signal. The primary pulse width modulator controls the switching of the isolated resonant converter in response to the clock pulse signal during the logic high state of the second ON/OFF signal and stops the switching of the isolated resonant converter during the logic low state of the second ON/OFF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Di Han, Jian Jiang, Panyin Liu
  • Patent number: 10816959
    Abstract: A method and a system for compensating an offset of a resolver, may include sampling an output signal of the resolver at a predetermined sampling frequency, comparing magnitudes of the sampled output signals of the resolver, when a difference in magnitude between the sampled output signals of the resolver is greater than a predetermined reference value, controlling the motor by a random pulse width modulation (RPWM) scheme in which switching frequencies of the switching elements in the inverter are arbitrarily changed, and compensating an offset of the resolver coupled to the motor while controlling the motor with the RPWM scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Sang Lim, Joo Young Park, Gu Bae Kang, Young Un Kim
  • Patent number: 10736014
    Abstract: A network receives a connection request, from a wireless device, that includes a first Access Point Name (APN) that is invalid in a first wireless carrier network. The network device translates the first APN to a second APN that is valid in the first wireless carrier network. The network device uses the second APN in signaling associated with a connection between the wireless device and the first wireless carrier network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: James Mathison
  • Patent number: 10498236
    Abstract: Disclosed are multilevel buck converters, and controllers and methods for operating such converters. Embodiments improve the voltage gain (Vo/Vin) of multi-level DC-DC converters, such as three-level converters, that is imposed by a duty cycle limitation in conventional approaches. According to certain embodiments, the duty cycle of switches is controlled to so that the converter output voltage is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Inventors: Tianshu Liu, Yan-Fei Liu
  • Patent number: 10491128
    Abstract: A power controlling semiconductor device generates a drive pulse to turn on or off a switching device which applies an intermittent current to a primary side winding of a transformer in response to a voltage proportional to a present current flowing through the primary side winding of the transformer and to an output voltage detection signal from a secondary side of the transformer. The device includes a current detecting terminal and an overcurrent detecting circuit. The voltage proportional to the present current flowing through the primary side winding is applied to the current detecting terminal. The overcurrent detecting circuit compares a voltage corresponding to the voltage applied to the current detecting terminal with an upper limit current detecting voltage to detect an overcurrent. A correction current is applied to a correction resistor connected to the current detecting terminal for a shift in the voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Arima, Hiroki Matsuda, Yukio Murata
  • Patent number: 10461522
    Abstract: A protection device for a power converter provided between an AC system and a DC power transmission system is configured to: receive an input of an AC current value obtained between a transformer connected to the AC system and the power converter capable of converting AC power into DC power; receive an input of a change rate of a direct current detected by a Rogowski coil provided between a DC line and the power converter, the DC line receiving DC power from the power converter; determine based on the AC current value and the change rate whether a fault occurs or not in one of the power converter and the DC line; and output information for protecting the power converter based on a determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuo Aramaki
  • Patent number: 10431658
    Abstract: A gate trench and a protective trench are provided on a top surface of the silicon carbide semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type. A protective diffusion layer of a second conductivity type is provided at a position deeper than the gate electrode in the silicon carbide semiconductor layer. An inter-layer insulating film covers a surface of the gate electrode and includes a cell opening. A source electrode is electrically connected to the source region via the cell opening and electrically connected to the protective diffusion layer via the protective trench. A plated film is provided on the source electrode. A concave part is provided on a top surface of the source electrode above the protective trench. A depth in a vertical direction of the concave part is equal to or less than half of a width in a horizontal direction of the concave part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kagawa, Atsushi Narazaki, Yutaka Fukui, Katsutoshi Sugawara
  • Patent number: 10141851
    Abstract: A direct current (DC) to DC power converter includes a first converter for converting a first DC bus voltage into a first high frequency AC voltage and a second converter for converting a second high frequency alternating current (AC) voltage into a second DC bus voltage. The DC to DC converter also includes a resonant circuit for coupling the first bus converter and the second bus converter and a controller for providing switching signals to the first converter and the second converter to operate the power converter in a soft switching mode. The resonant circuit includes a high frequency transformer coupled between the first converter and the second converter and an auxiliary converter coupled in series with a first resonant inductor and the high frequency transformer. The resonant circuit further includes second inductor coupled across a first winding of the high frequency transformer. An auxiliary voltage generated by auxiliary converter is added in series with an output voltage of the first converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Ravisekhar Nadimpalli Raju
  • Patent number: 10128762
    Abstract: A semiconductor device for power supply control includes an over-current detection circuit which detects an over-current state on a secondary side of a transformer by comparing a voltage in proportion to current flowing in a primary-side winding wire with an over-current detection voltage; a control signal generation circuit which generates a control signal to turn off a switching element when the over-current detection circuit has detected the over-current state; and an over-current detection level generation circuit which generates the over-current detection voltage in accordance with an on-duty of a driving pulse of the switching element. The over-current detection level generation circuit is configured to generate the over-current detection voltage in accordance with: Vocp=Vint+a·ON Duty, where Vocp represents the over-current detection voltage, ON Duty represents the on-duty, Vint represents the over-current detection voltage to be a reference, and “a” represents a correction coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Matsuda, Yukio Murata
  • Patent number: 10103637
    Abstract: A switching power supply comprises a power converter that includes a transformer, a low side switch and a high side switch. The low side switch draws current from a supply voltage through a primary winding of the transformer. The high side switch discharges current from the primary winding of the transformer to a snubber capacitor. The controller synchronously controls the opening and closing of the low side switch and the high side switch. The power converter can be included in a flyback converter. The power converter can generate a regulated output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Champion Microelectronic Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey Hwang
  • Patent number: 10020732
    Abstract: A power converter includes an input node that receives an input voltage and a control loop that regulates an output voltage of the power converter. The power converter also includes a comparison voltage generation circuit that generates a comparison voltage based on an operating point of the power converter. The power converter also includes a first comparator that compares a control loop voltage in the control loop with the comparison voltage, and generates a control signal. The power converter also includes a mode control circuit that transitions the power converter from the low power operating mode to a first operating mode using the control signal. The output voltage is regulated in both the first operating mode and the low power operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Silanna Asia Pte Ltd
    Inventor: Barry S. Arbetter
  • Patent number: 9966861
    Abstract: A control method for an active clamp converter has steps of: detecting a state of the load; when the state of the load is a light-load state, using a skipping mode to control a switch frequency of a master switch; when the state of the load is not the light-load state, using an ACF mode to control the switch frequency of the master switch. In the skipping mode, the switch frequency is decreased when the state of the load is getting light, thus providing an energy efficiency power saving function for the light-load state. In the ACF mode, the master switch is controlled to turn on while a reverse current is generated, thus the switching loss of the master switch is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: ACBEL POLYTECH INC.
    Inventors: Chia-An Yeh, Shu-Wei Chuang
  • Patent number: 9823609
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing part including a heater, and a first temperature detection part configured to detect the temperature of the heater; a chopper circuit including a reactor, a freewheeling element, and a switching element, the chopper circuit being configured to switch an input direct current on and off in a specified duty cycle by using the switching element and to supply the current to the heater; and a control part configured to control the duty cycle based on a detection result obtained by the first temperature detection part, as well as to control a switching frequency of the switching element based on an operation mode of the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi Tamada, Mikiyuki Aoki, Seiichi Kirikubo, Akinori Kimata
  • Patent number: 9793817
    Abstract: A multiple output converter is provided. The multiple output converter includes a power conversion circuit and a switching control unit. The power conversion circuit includes an input unit having at least one first switch, a transformer unit configured to convert a magnitude of power from the input unit, an output unit having a plurality of output terminals, which are configured to receive the power from the transformer unit, and a second switch unit having a plurality of second switches, wherein each of the plurality of second switches is installed in each of the plurality of output terminals, respectively, and is controlled in a time division multiple control manner. The switching control is configured to transmit a pulse width modulation signal to the at least one first switch and the plurality of second switches for controlling the at least one first switch and the plurality of second switches in the time division multiple control manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Foundation of Soongsil University-Industry Cooperation
    Inventors: Woojin Choi, Long Tran Van
  • Patent number: 9755634
    Abstract: The present document relates to a start-up circuit comprising a power switch wherein a circuit charges a supply voltage capacitor. The capacitor provides a supply voltage to a power switch; the power switch forms a switched power converter with a power converter network. The circuit comprises a source and gate interface for coupling the circuit to the power switch; a capacitor interface couples the circuit to the supply voltage capacitor; a start-up path couples the gate interface to the capacitor interface; wherein the startup path provides a voltage at the gate interface which is at or above a threshold voltage of the power switch; and a charging path couples the source interface to the capacitor interface; wherein the charging path provides a charging current to the capacitor interface, when the power switch is in on-state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventor: Horst Knoedgen
  • Patent number: 9716437
    Abstract: A switching power supply comprises a power converter that includes a transformer, a low side switch and a high side switch. The low side switch draws current from a supply voltage through a primary winding of the transformer. The high side switch discharges current from the primary winding of the transformer to a snubber capacitor. The controller synchronously controls the opening and closing of the low side switch and the high side switch. The power converter can be included in a flyback converter. The power converter can generate a regulated output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Champion Microelectronic Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey Hwang
  • Patent number: 9712065
    Abstract: System and method for regulating a power conversion system. An example system controller for regulating a power conversion system includes a first controller terminal associated with a first controller voltage and coupled to a first transistor terminal of a first transistor, the first transistor further including a second transistor terminal and a third transistor terminal, the second transistor terminal being coupled to a primary winding of a power conversion system, a second controller terminal associated with a second controller voltage and coupled to the third transistor terminal, and a third controller terminal associated with a third controller voltage. The first controller voltage is equal to a sum of the third controller voltage and a first voltage difference. The second controller voltage is equal to a sum of the third controller voltage and a second voltage difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiqing Yang, Jun Zhou, Liqiang Zhu, Qiang Luo, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 9651601
    Abstract: The invention relates to circuit arrangements for cable checking, cable testing, cable diagnosis and/or cable fault localization with a voltage source having a first voltage multiplier for a positive voltage and a second voltage multiplier for a negative voltage current sources that are connected to one another in combination with the voltage multipliers to generate a test voltage over the load impedance of the cable to charge and discharge the load capacitance of the cable and a control device that is interconnected with the voltage source and the current sources and devices with a circuit arrangement of that type. The circuit arrangements distinguish themselves, in particular, by the fact that arbitrary voltage curves of different amplitudes can be generated through the cable as the impedance acting as the test specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Hagenuk KMT Kabelmesstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Nico Stechemesser
  • Patent number: 9641082
    Abstract: System and method for regulating a power converter. A system for regulating a power converter includes a controller, a first switch, and a second switch. The controller is configured to generate a first switching signal and a second switching signal. The first switch is configured to receive the first switching signal, the first switch being coupled to an auxiliary winding of the power converter further including a primary winding and a secondary winding. The second switch is configured to receive the second switching signal and coupled to the primary winding of the power converter. The controller is further configured to, change, at a first time, the second switching signal to open the second switch, maintain, from the first time to a second time, the first switching signal to keep the first switch open, and change, at the second time, the first switching signal to close the first switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huawei Lv, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 9584025
    Abstract: System and method for regulating a power converter. The system includes a first comparator configured to receive a first input signal and a second input signal and generate a first comparison signal based on at least information associated with the first input signal and the second input signal, a pulse-width-modulation generator configured to receive at least the first comparison signal and generate a modulation signal based on at least information associated with the first comparison signal, a driver component configured to receive the modulation signal and output a drive signal to a switch to adjust a primary current flowing through a primary winding of the power converter, and a voltage-change-rate detection component configured to sample the feedback signal to generate a first sampled signal for a first modulation period and to sample the feedback signal to generate a second sampled signal for a second modulation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuan Lin, Zhenglan Xia, Xiuhong Zhang, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 9520806
    Abstract: A power supply device for supplying power to a load by combining a secondary battery and a capacitor connected in parallel to the secondary battery includes an insulation type DC-DC converter with a primary coil connected in parallel to the secondary battery and configured to accumulate energy by a current supplied from the secondary battery and a secondary coil connected in series to the capacitor and configured such that an induction current flows therein by the accumulated energy from the primary coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Yamada, Takayuki Tsuchiya, Kunihiko Hikiri, Kouichi Itani, Noriaki Miyake
  • Patent number: 9407143
    Abstract: A vehicle power-supply unit has chargeable and rechargeable first power supply and second power supply connected to a voltage transducer at input and output terminals, respectively, and a switch element connected between the output terminal of the voltage transducer and the second power supply. By controlling a rector current flown through a reactor connected to at least two switching elements at one end when the voltage transducer is started, a capacitor connected between the other end of the reactor and the ground is charged, and the switch element is brought in a connection state according to a charging voltage of the capacitor and a voltage value of the second power supply. Consequently, a vehicle power-supply unit can protect the elements by preventing a rush current during a backflow and reverse connection and at start-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Ubukata, Nobuhiro Kihara
  • Patent number: 9257892
    Abstract: Device comprising an electric power converter circuit for converting electric energy. The converter circuit comprises a switch arrangement with two or more controllable electric switches connected in a switching configuration and controlled so as to provide a current drive of electric energy from an associated electric source connected to a set of input terminals. This is obtained by the two or more electric switches being connected and controlled to short-circuit the input terminals during a part of a switching period. Further, a low pass filter with a capacitor and an inductor are provided to low pass the output from the switch arrangement and designed such that a high impedance at a frequency range below the switching frequency is obtained, seen from the output terminals. Switches implemented by normally-on-devices are preferred, e.g. in the form of a JFET. The converter circuit may be in different configurations such as half bridge buck, full bridge buck, half bridge boost, or full bridge boost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Danmarks Tekniske Universitet
    Inventors: Arnold Knott, Michael A. E. Andersen
  • Patent number: 9160233
    Abstract: A controller for controlling a power converter to output constant power includes a current sensing module, a voltage generation module, and a voltage regulation module. The current sensing module generates a sensing current according to an output current flowing through a secondary side of the power converter. The voltage generation module generates a set voltage corresponding to a reciprocal of the sensing current according to the sensing current. The voltage regulation module generates a regulation voltage to a feedback circuit of the secondary side of the power converter according to the set voltage and a sensing voltage corresponding to an output voltage of the secondary side of the power converter. The feedback circuit and a primary side of the power converter regulate the output voltage according to the regulation voltage, where a product of the output voltage and the output current is a constant value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Leadtrend Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Meng-Jen Tsai, Ming-Chang Tsou
  • Patent number: 9154031
    Abstract: A current mode DC-DC conversion device with fast transient response is provided. The device includes a DC-DC converter, a pulse width control unit, a current feedback circuit, a fast transient feedback circuit, a first error amplifier, an adder, and a comparator. The current feedback circuit generates a current feedback signal according to the current passing through an inductor in the DC-DC converter. The fast transient feedback circuit generates a transient feedback signal according to a first voltage feedback signal. The first error amplifier amplifies the difference value between a second voltage feedback signal and a reference signal to generate an error amplification signal. The comparator compares the error amplification signal and the summation of current feedback signal and transient feedback signal to generate a comparison signal. The comparison signal is provided to the pulse width control unit for controlling the duty cycle of the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Anpec Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chia-Chieh Weng, Chin-Hong Chen
  • Patent number: 9154043
    Abstract: A power source device that outputs a DC voltage includes a rectification unit configured to rectify an input pulse voltage, a voltage-current conversion unit disposed on a side where the pulse voltage is input into the rectification unit, a current-voltage conversion unit configured to convert a current from the voltage-current conversion unit into a voltage, and a comparison unit configured to compare the voltage from the current-voltage conversion unit with a reference voltage. An operation of the rectification unit is controlled based on an output from the comparison unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minoru Hayasaki, Hiroshi Mano
  • Patent number: 9075116
    Abstract: Described is a method for testing a power producer or a power consumer that can be connected to a power grid. The power producer or the power consumer is connected to a terminal point. A converter circuit is provided for influencing a voltage that is present at the terminal point. The converter circuit is connected via a transformer to the terminal point. In at least one embodiment, a series connection is configured with a choking coil and a first switch and connected to the terminal point. In a time coordinated manner, the first switch is initially closed and the converter circuit is influenced such that the voltage has the desired value at the terminal point, whereupon the second switch is then opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited
    Inventors: Norbert Niesel, Joerg Janning
  • Publication number: 20150138844
    Abstract: A control circuit operable to control the switching of switching elements in a switched mode power supply. The control circuit comprises a switching control signal generator operable to generate control signals for switching the switching elements such that the switched mode power supply converts an input voltage (Vin) to an output voltage Vout). The control circuit further comprises an operation mode setting module which is operable to receive a signal (I) indicative of a current flowing to a load that is connected to an output of the switched mode power supply, and operable to cause the switching control signal generator to generate the control signals so as to operate the switched mode power supply in a continuous conduction mode or a pulse skipping mode in dependence upon the current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Magnus Karlsson, Oscar Persson
  • Publication number: 20150138845
    Abstract: A DC/DC converter includes: a transformer; a main MOS transistor connected in series between a primary side inductance of the transformer and a ground potential; a synchronous rectification MOS transistor connected in series between a secondary side inductance of the transformer and the ground potential; a refluxing MOS transistor connected between a secondary side output of the transformer and the ground potential; and a controller. If an operation is stopped, the controller stops the main MOS transistor and stops the synchronous rectification MOS transistor and the refluxing MOS transistor after a lapse of a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Yuichi SHINOZAKI
  • Patent number: 9030847
    Abstract: An inverter and driving method of the inverter are disclosed. The inverter includes an active clamp forward (ACF) converter and a flyback converter. One of a forwarding operation of delivering current from a primary side to a secondary side by using the ACF converter and a backwarding operation of delivering current from the secondary side to the primary side by using the flyback converter is selected to generate a rectified AC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Sampat Shekhawat, Myungbok Kim, Donghye Cho
  • Patent number: 9013897
    Abstract: A power supply applied to an electronic device for providing power includes a transformer unit, a connector, a pulse-width modulation (PWM) control unit, and a switch unit. The connector is electrically connected with the secondary side of the transformer unit for outputting a first output voltage. The PWM control unit outputs a pulse signal with a first period. The switch unit is electrically connected between the PWM control unit and the primary side of the transformer unit. When the electronic device is connected to the power supply, the connector receives an external control signal, and the PWM control unit adjusts the pulse width of the pulse signal to a second period and transmits the pulse signal with the second period to the switch unit to control the connector to output a second output voltage to the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
    Inventor: Min-Hua Hsu
  • Patent number: 8964419
    Abstract: An active voltage drop control-type pulse power generator includes power stages, a power inverter, a power loop, a control inverter, a control loop, and a compensation unit. The power stages include power cells connected in series. Each power cell includes a switch and a capacitor connected in series, a driver for driving the switch, a bypass diode connected to both ends of the switch, and a rectifying diode connected to both ends of the capacitor. The power inverter charges the capacitor via the power loop and the rectifying diode inside each power cell. The control inverter provides a control signal for the switch via the control loop and the driver inside each power cell. The compensation unit is connected to one of the power cells and generates a compensation voltage for compensating for a voltage drop at a load according to a voltage detected in real-time from the power cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute
    Inventors: Hong Je Ryoo, Sung Roc Jang, Geun Hie Rim, Jong Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 8964415
    Abstract: A switching mode power supply (SMPS) includes a rectifying device configured for converting a periodically varying input AC (alternating current) voltage into a DC (direct current) voltage, and a transformer including a primary winding, a secondary winding, and an auxiliary winding. The primary winding is coupled to the rectifying device. An input capacitor is coupled to the rectifying device and the primary winding of the transformer. A first power switch is coupled to the input capacitor. A control circuit is coupled to the first power switch and is configured to control the first power switch based on a phase or amplitude of the input AC voltage. By controlling the charging and discharging of the input capacitor, power is provided to the primary winding during a longer portion of the AC input voltage cycle, allowing the rectifier device to have a larger conduction angle to increase a power factor (PF).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: BCD Semiconductor Manufacturing Limited
    Inventors: Yajiang Zhu, Na Liu, Siyuan Xu
  • Patent number: 8947018
    Abstract: A dimmable LED driver adapted to be operated with a dimmer that is configured to generate a predetermined conductive angle, wherein the dimmable LED driver comprises: a rectifier configured to convert an alternating current output by the dimmer to a direct current, a buck PFC block configured to adjust an output voltage of the direct current so as to obtain a stable output voltage, a second buck DC/DC block configured to realize output of a constant current after the stable output voltage is realized, a dimming block configured to, after realizing output of the constant current, accomplish a dimming function jointly with the second buck DC/DC block, and an MCU configured to control the buck PFC block, the second buck DC/DC block and the dimming block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventors: Luca Bordin, Shaoping Chen, Yuli Chen, Shijun Nie, Wei Tan
  • Publication number: 20150009715
    Abstract: Disclosed is a power saving current measuring apparatus which includes a sensing resistor; a switch that is connected to the sensing resistor in parallel; a controller that controls on and off operations of the switch; and a current measuring unit that measures current flowing in the sensing resistor, wherein when the switch is turned on, the controller controls the current to bypasses the sensing resistor to flow to the switch, and when the switch is turned off, the controller controls the current to flow in the sensing resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: Joung Hu Park
  • Patent number: 8928363
    Abstract: The dead time is secured stably in a semiconductor drive circuit for switching devices using a wide band gap semiconductor. The drain terminal of the switching device of an upper arm is connected to the positive terminal of a first power supply, the source terminal of the switching device of a lower arm is connected to the negative terminal of the first power supply, and the source terminal of the switching device of the upper arm is connected with the drain terminal of the switching device of the lower arm. A gate drive circuit provided for each switching device includes an FET circuit and a parallel circuit made of a parallel connection of a first resistor and a first capacitor and having a first terminal connected to the gate terminal of the switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayumu Hatanaka, Kaoru Kato, Katsumi Ishikawa, Naoki Maru
  • Patent number: 8923017
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power converter (90) and a method of operating same. There are numerous advantages to operating power converters using a series resonant converter (1, 21). This approach is particularly suitable for minimizing switching losses in the power converter when it is operated at high frequency. However, there are problems with the known converters in that they are prone to generate noise in the acoustic spectrum due to the fact that the converter stages are often operating at different frequencies. The present invention relates to a power converter and a method of operating same that enables the operating frequency of the converter to be controlled by a control circuit over a predetermined range of the resonant frequency. This allows reduction in acoustic noise generation and facilitates frequency smearing that will in turn reduce spectral peaks. This is achieved while maintaining output ripple within acceptable ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments (Cork) Limited
    Inventor: George Young
  • Patent number: 8908393
    Abstract: An embodiment apparatus comprises a secondary synchronous rectifier and a secondary gate drive controller. The secondary gate drive controller coupled to a transformer winding comprises a secondary synchronous rectifier soft start signal generator configured to generate a plurality of soft start pulses, a pulse width modulation generator configured to generate a forward switch drive signal and a freewheeling switch drive signal based upon a signal across the transformer winding and a soft transition generator configured to generate a soft start freewheeling switch drive signal by gradually releasing the freewheeling switch drive signal during a soft start process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Liming Ye, Hengchun Mao, Xujun Liu
  • Patent number: 8907604
    Abstract: An optimized pseudo-random period pattern can reduce audible noise in a system that includes an inverter circuit configured to provide power to an electric machine. A system can include a PWM optimization module (POM) comprising the PPP. A carrier period for a carrier signal used to provide PWM inverter drive signals can be selected in accordance with the PPP. The PPP can be expressed as an array of 200-400 elements, each element a period belonging to a finite set of 2 or more predetermined periods. A period can be selected by index from the array, and the index incremented to progress through the PPP, which can be repeated upon its completion. The PPP can be optimized to reduce audible noise while mitigating inverter losses. Modeling techniques can determine the number of array elements, the number of possible periods, and the period values that optimize the PPP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jami J. Miller, Michael W. Degner, Scott Xiong Yu, William C. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 8903263
    Abstract: A power supply device includes, for example, a switching element, a rectifying circuit having a first rectifying element, and a control circuit which controls an output of the rectifying circuit. In particular, the power supply device includes a detection unit which detects a current flowing through the first rectifying element, and an output reduction unit which reduces the output of the rectifying circuit as an output of the switching power supply device. The output reduction unit changes a switching state of the switching element when the detection result of the detection unit exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8890368
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes first and second resonator circuits and an isolation barrier. The first resonator circuit includes first and second inductors, wherein the first resonator circuit is connected to a supply voltage. The second resonator circuit includes third and fourth inductors, wherein the second resonator circuit is matched to the first resonator circuit. The isolation barrier separates the first and second resonator circuits. The first and second inductors are inductively coupled to the third and fourth inductors, respectively, thereby providing for transfer of power from the first resonator circuit across the isolation barrier to the second resonator circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Baris Posat, Roberto Alini
  • Patent number: 8837174
    Abstract: In a switching power-supply apparatus, a primary-side power converter circuit includes a half bridge system and a synchronous rectifier circuit is provided as a rectifier circuit of a secondary-side power converter circuit. An on time ratio of the on time of a first switching element to the on time of a second switching element is controlled so as to provide an operation mode in which energy is regenerated from the secondary side to the primary side when the load is light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Hosotani
  • Patent number: 8836165
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dual-source converter for a hybrid power supply. The converter includes a first power circuit, a second power circuit, an auxiliary circuit, an output circuit and a closed loop circuit. The first power circuit is electrically connected to the second power circuit in series for receiving two varied voltage sources. The auxiliary circuit is configured to achieve soft switching of all switches. The closed loop circuit is configured to control the duty cycles of the first power circuit, the second power circuit and the auxiliary circuit so as to improve the efficiency of the dual-source converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, Armaments, Bureau, Ministry of National Defense
    Inventors: Jung-Tzung Wei, Chung-You Lin, Bo-Han Chen, Kuo-Kuang Jen, Yu-Min Liao
  • Patent number: 8797766
    Abstract: A power supply injects a series of “tickle” pulses into a pulse width modulated (PWM) controller to induce the controller to generate PWM pulses at a minimum switching frequency, preferably one that is super-sonic (especially for audio applications). The switching frequency may also be selected or controlled such that it avoids resonances in the power supply. The “tickle” pulses may be clocked by the same clock that times the PWM controller, and they may be shaped to help ensure that the power supply maintains some regulation during low-load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth B. DelPapa, Michael Nussbaum, Andrew Ferencz
  • Patent number: 8773869
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for conversion of high voltage AC to low voltage high current DC without using high voltage capacitors or transformers. A single switch is used to perform both the functions of pre-regulation and switching conversion. An input voltage detector determines when the input power AC is below a predetermined voltage limit. A threshold voltage generator provides a threshold voltage corresponding to the output voltage. A voltage comparator coupled to the input voltage detector and threshold voltage generator enables a pulse generator to activate the switch to gate a number of pulses of the input power below the predetermined voltage limit at predetermined frequency to a transformer. The converter regulates its output voltage by changing the input voltage threshold at which it starts switching, instead of using PWM or other known regulation technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventor: Zafarullah Khan