For Flyback-type Converter Patents (Class 363/21.12)
  • Publication number: 20130342014
    Abstract: A power inverter is provided comprising: a control board comprising: a processor that generates an AC waveform from a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal according to instructions or data stored in a memory associated with the processor; and an output at which a signal having the AC waveform is provided; a power supply module that is connected to the control board, comprising: an input connected to the output of the control board at which the AC waveform signal is provided; and an output at which an AC power signal is provided on a channel of the power inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Eric Johannessen, David P. Eckel
  • Publication number: 20130343099
    Abstract: An active damping circuit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is applied to a power supply using an input voltage that is generated by rectifying an AC input passed through a dimmer. The active damping circuit includes: an active damper including a damper resistor coupled to the input voltage and a damper switch coupled in parallel with the damper resistor; and an active damping controller controlling a switching operation of the damper switch using a high voltage switch that generates a predetermined power voltage to control a resistance value of the active damper of a firing period of the input voltage to be higher than a resistance value of the active damper of other periods, excluding at least the firing period among a period during which the input voltage is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Hyun-Chul EOM, Yong-Sang SHIN
  • Publication number: 20130343098
    Abstract: Power converters and methods of recovering leakage energy in power converters are disclosed. In one embodiment, a power converter assembly includes an input for receiving a direct current (DC) power input, a flyback converter coupled to the input, and a leakage energy recovery circuit coupled to the flyback converter. The flyback converter includes a transformer having a plurality of windings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: SUNEDISON, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Kern, Tilak Gopalarathnam
  • Publication number: 20130336018
    Abstract: A converter is configured with a transformer that has a primary coil and a secondary coil, a first switching element that is serially connected to the primary coil, a control circuit that controls the first switching element, and a firs rectifying element that supplies electric power to the control circuit. A ground potential of the control circuit and the first rectifying element are connected to the primary coil at different points. Accordingly, an inverter is miniaturized and manufacturing costs are reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: LiGang PENG, Xin ZHOU
  • Publication number: 20130336019
    Abstract: An example controller for a power supply includes a first circuit and a drive signal generator. The first circuit receives a first signal representative of a switch current flowing through a switch of the power supply and then generates a second signal in response the switch current not reaching a current threshold within an amount of time. The second signal indicates when a dimming circuit at an input of the power supply is utilized. The drive signal generator generates a drive signal to control switching of the switch in response to the second signal, where energy is transferred across an energy transfer element of the power supply in response to the switching of the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Yury Gaknoki, Mingming Mao, Tiziano Pastore
  • Patent number: 8611108
    Abstract: An example control element for use in a power supply includes a high-voltage transistor and a control circuit to control switching of the high-voltage transistor. The high-voltage transistor includes a drain region, source region, tap region, drift region, and tap drift region, all of a first conductivity type. The transistor also includes a body region of a second conductivity type. An insulated gate is included in the transistor such that when the insulated gate is biased a channel is formed across the body region to form a conduction path between the source region and the drift region. A voltage at the tap region with respect to the source region is substantially constant and less than a voltage at the drain region with respect to the source region in response to the voltage at the drain region exceeding a pinch off voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald R. Disney
  • Patent number: 8611107
    Abstract: A method for controlling an multi-stage inverter comprises controlling an input converter of the multi-stage inverter with an input controller and controlling an output converter of the multi-stage inverter with an output controller separate from the input controller. The input controller and output controller may be galvanically isolated. Additionally, the method may include communicating data between the input controller and the output controller over a power bus of the multi-stage inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: SolarBridge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Chapman, Andrew O'Connell, Timothy Sams, Eric Martina
  • Publication number: 20130329467
    Abstract: An EMI emission suppressing system, apparatus and method that enables the EMI produced by high frequency switching of a switching circuit to be suppressed via the transfer of the higher order harmonic emissions to a frequency range below the standard EMI bandwidth of less than 150 KHz by applying low frequency modulation or jitter into the feedback of a switching signal of the switching circuit. The EMI suppression is achieved with minimal added ripple on the output signal of the switching circuit by using discontinuous modulations in the form of only applying the low frequency modulation when the switch or higher order harmonic producing element of the switching circuit is accessing, or drawing power from, the main power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: Mark Telefus
  • Publication number: 20130329466
    Abstract: An EMI emission suppressing system, apparatus and method that enables the EMI produced by high frequency switching of a switching circuit to be suppressed via the transfer of the higher order harmonic emissions to a frequency range below the standard EMI bandwidth of less than 150 KHz by applying low frequency modulation or jitter into the feedback of a switching signal of the switching circuit. The EMI suppression is achieved with minimal added ripple on the output signal of the switching circuit by using discontinuous modulations in the form of only applying the low frequency modulation when the switch or higher order harmonic producing element of the switching circuit is accessing, or drawing power from, the main power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: Mark Telefus
  • Patent number: 8605467
    Abstract: A converter circuit includes a transformer having a first side and a second side. The converter circuit also includes a switch coupled to the first side of the transformer. The converter circuit further includes a rectifying diode coupled to the second side of the transformer and to a first output terminal of the converter circuit. In addition, the converter circuit includes a clamping diode coupled to the second side of the transformer, to the rectifying diode, and to a second output terminal of the converter circuit. The converter circuit may include a boost section and a flyback section. The converter circuit may also include an active clamp and an isolated flyback section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Giovanni Frattini, Giorgio Spiazzi, Paolo Mattavelli
  • Patent number: 8605466
    Abstract: A radiation hardened motor drive stage utilizes a non-radiation hardened P-channel FET switch. The radiation hardened motor drive stage includes a non-radiation hardened P-channel FET switch that is connected three (3) pairs of upper and lower switch blocks or legs wherein the output of each pair is connected to a motor winding switch terminal. The upper switch blocks or legs are connected the P-channel switch a. The lower switch block or legs are connected to a negative power bus. The negative power bus permits the N-channel FETS or IGTS within the switch blocks or legs exposed to ionized radiation to be controlled, even when their gate threshold voltage has dropped below zero volts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Inventor: Steven E. Summer
  • Patent number: 8605468
    Abstract: In a switching power supply, a current detection resistor is connected to a switching unit to detect a current flowing through the switching unit. A diode is connected in parallel to the current detection resistor to reduce heat generated in the switching unit by back electromotive force generated by an inductance component of the current detection resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichiro Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20130322130
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a power supply controller is configured to adjust a peak value of a primary current through a power switch responsively to a difference between a demagnetization time and a discharge time of the parasitic leakage inductance of a transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventor: Joel Turchi
  • Patent number: 8599579
    Abstract: Consistent with an example embodiment, there is a control method which reduces the steps: instead of a constant on-time for the switch, the duration of the on-time is increased each time an additional valley to be skipped. The predetermined increase may be either a fixed fractional increase or a further additional increment; it may be determined by a small regulation loop that multiplies the on-time from the main loop with a factor equal to the ratio between measured period time and the sum of primary and secondary stroke times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Johann Baptist Daniel Kuebrich, Thomas Antonius Duerbaum, Hans Halberstadt
  • Patent number: 8599580
    Abstract: A buck converter includes a first electrical switch and a second electrical switch connected in series, a PWM module coupled to the gate of the first electrical switch through a first adjustable resistance module and coupled to the gate of the second electrical switch through a second adjustable resistance module, a filter circuit coupled between the connecting node of the two different electrical switches and an output node, and a control module for adjusting values of the first adjustable resistance module and the second adjustable resistance module and acquiring a voltage value from the connecting node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qi-Yan Luo, Song-Lin Tong, Peng Chen
  • Patent number: 8599581
    Abstract: A switching mode power supply, and a primary-side controlled PFM converter using the primary-side regulated PFM controller are discussed. In present embodiment, the primary side cycle by cycle switch peak current is no longer a constant. The time detector is added to monitor the waveform of primary-side sample voltage and then generate the duty cycle. The transfer function should be selected to satisfy a specific relationship of switching frequency and switch peak current against with output loading current. The new design shows higher switching frequency but lower value of switch peak current at light load condition. This resolves the audible noise and poor transient response issue from the prior art PFM controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Fremont Micro Devices (SZ) Limited
    Inventors: Yuquan Huang, Matthew Man Ho Ku
  • Patent number: 8593832
    Abstract: A power converter includes a current controller coupled to an energy transfer element to selectively enable a first, second or third current in the current controller. The first current is substantially zero, the second current is greater than the third current, and the third current is greater than the first current. The third current only partially discharges a capacitance coupled to the energy transfer element and the current controller. A control circuit is to be coupled to the current controller to selectively enable the first, second or third current in the current controller. A first feedback circuit is coupled to generate a first feedback signal while the first current is enabled by the current controller after a full discharge pulse. A second feedback circuit is coupled to generate a second feedback signal while the first current is enabled in the controller after a partial discharge pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Arthur B. Odell, Henson Wu
  • Publication number: 20130308348
    Abstract: A converter includes a transformer module, a primary side circuit module, and a secondary side circuit module. The transformer module includes a magnetic core group and a winding. The winding includes a primary winding and a secondary winding, and is further installed on the magnetic core group. The primary side circuit module is coupled to the primary winding. The secondary side circuit module is coupled to the secondary winding. The primary side circuit modules or the secondary side circuit module has overlapping vertical projection area on a first plane with the winding, and the first plane is a plane in a horizontal direction of the winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC
    Inventors: Teng Liu, Ke Dai, Ming-Hui Dai, Na Dong, Jian-Ping Ying
  • Patent number: 8587967
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to a power apparatus. The power apparatus includes a power converter configured to convert an input voltage to an output voltage for providing power at an output thereof to which a load is connectable. The converter can include an isolation barrier configured to electrically isolate the output and the load from an input source that provides the input voltage. The system also includes a control loop that includes indirect sense circuitry configured to indirectly derive an indication of at least one of output current and output power of the converter. The control loop is configured to control output current or output power based on the indirectly derived indication of output current or output power, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Isaac Cohen
  • Patent number: 8587968
    Abstract: A switching mode power supply (SMPS) includes a transformer having a primary winding, a secondary winding for providing an output voltage, and an auxiliary winding. The SMPS also includes a power switch coupled to the primary winding. A first control circuit is coupled to the secondary winding, and is configured to provide a first electrical signal to the secondary winding when the output voltage of the SMPS is less than a reference voltage during a discontinuous time, whereupon a second electrical signal is induced in the auxiliary winding. A second control circuit is coupled to the auxiliary winding and the power switch. The second control circuit is configured to regulate the output of the SMPS by controlling the power switch in response to a feedback voltage signal from the auxiliary winding, and is further configured to turn on the power switch in response to the second electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventors: YaJiang Zhu, Jia Xie, Yongbo Zhang, Chao Chen, Shuzhuang Lv
  • Publication number: 20130301310
    Abstract: An isolated switching mode power supply, having: an input terminal; an output terminal; a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding; a primary power switch coupled to the primary winding; a secondary power switch coupled between the secondary winding and the output terminal of the power supply; a secondary controller configured to generate a frequency modulation signal based on the output voltage and the first feedback signal; a coupled device configured to provide a frequency control signal based on the output voltage and the frequency modulation signal; and a primary controller configured to provide a switching signal to control the primary power switch based on the current sense signal and the frequency control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: CHENGDU MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Siran Wang, Junming Zhang, Yuancheng Ren
  • Publication number: 20130301311
    Abstract: A switching mode power supply, having: an input port; an output port; an energy storage component and a pair of power switches coupled between input port and the output port; an error amplifier configured to generate an amplified error signal based on the feedback signal and the reference signal; an error comparator configured to generate a frequency control signal based on the amplified error signal and the first sawtooth signal; a peak current generator configured to generate a peak current signal based on the frequency control signal; a peak current comparator configured to generate a current limit signal based on the peak current signal and the current sense signal; and a logic circuit configured to generate a switching signal to control the power switches based on the frequency control signal and the current limit signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: CHENGDU MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: CHENGDU MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130301309
    Abstract: The present invention relates to control circuits and methods for a flyback converter and AC-DC power converters thereof. In one embodiment, a control circuit can include: (i) a turn-on signal generating circuit that is configured, in each switching cycle, to receive a drain-source voltage of a power switch of the flyback converter, and to activate a turn-on signal to turn on the power switch when the drain-source voltage reaches a valley value; (ii) a turn-off signal generating circuit that is configured, in each switching cycle, to activate a turn-off signal to turn off the power switch based on a power switch feedback error signal after a power switch conducting time interval has elapsed; and (iii) where input current and voltages of the flyback converter can be maintained as substantially in phase, and an output electrical signal of the flyback converter can be maintained as substantially constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventor: Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 8582323
    Abstract: The invention under consideration refers to a controller for a primary-side regulated control power supply unit for the regulation of the output of the primary regulated control power supply unit. The invention also concerns a method for the operation of a control power supply unit of the generic type and a pertinent control power supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventors: Ralf Schröder gen. Berghegger, Rüdiger Malsch
  • Patent number: 8582325
    Abstract: A power supply includes a forward converter having a first transformer coupled to an input of the power supply and to a first voltage output. The power supply also includes a separate flyback converter having a second transformer that is coupled to the input and to a second voltage output. A clamp reset circuit is coupled to the first transformer and to the second transformer. The clamp reset circuit includes a capacitor and a voltage limiting element. The voltage limiting element is coupled to prevent energy received at the capacitor from both the power converters from exceeding a threshold. The voltage limiting element limits a voltage on the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Mayell
  • Patent number: 8582324
    Abstract: A pulse width modulation controller and method for output ripple reduction of a jittering frequency switching power supply detect the current of a power switch of the switching power supply to generate a current sense signal, and adjust the gain or the level of the current sense signal according to the switching frequency of the power switch to adjust the on time of the power switch, to reduce the output ripple of the switching power supply caused by the jittering frequency of the switching power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Richpower Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kun-Yu Lin, Tzu-Chen Lin, Pei-Lun Huang
  • Patent number: 8576587
    Abstract: A predictive synchronous rectification controller for controlling at least one synchronous rectification switch is provided. The synchronous rectification controller has a ramp generator, a peak sampling unit, and an output control unit. The ramp generator receives a synchronous signal and generates a ramp signal accordingly. The peak sampling unit generates a predicted reference voltage signal by retrieving a peak voltage of the ramp signal. The output control unit compares the ramp signal with the predicted reference voltage signal to generate a synchronous rectification control signal to control a conducting state of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Niko Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ta-Ching Hsu
  • Patent number: 8570771
    Abstract: System and method for regulating an output voltage of a power conversion system. The system includes an error amplifier coupled to a capacitor. The error amplifier is configured to receive a reference voltage, a first voltage, and an adjustment current and to generate a compensation voltage with the capacitor. The first voltage is associated with a feedback voltage. Additionally, the system includes a current generator configured to receive the compensation voltage and generate the adjustment current and a first current, and a signal generator configured to receive the first current and a second current. The signal generator is further configured to receive a sensing voltage and to generate a modulation signal. Moreover, the system includes the gate driver directly or indirectly coupled to the signal generator and configured to generate a drive signal based on at least information associated with the modulation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaomin Huang, Lieyi Fang
  • Publication number: 20130279209
    Abstract: The drive current of the switch in a switching power converter is adjusted dynamically according to line or load conditions within a switching cycle and/or over a plurality of switching cycles. The magnitude of the switch drive current can be dynamically adjusted within a switching cycle and/or over a plurality of switching cycles, in addition to the pulse widths or pulse frequencies of the switch drive current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Junjie Zheng, Jun Zheng, Andrew Kwok-Cheung Lee, John William Kesterson, Allan Ming-Lun Lin, Hien Huu Bui, Carrie Seim, Yong Li
  • Publication number: 20130279208
    Abstract: A power converter and a method of controlling the same are disclosed. The power converter includes a transformer, a first switch unit, a second switch unit, and a control unit. The control unit turns on/off the first switch unit and the second switch unit according to magnitude of an input voltage. When the input voltage is at a high voltage range, the control unit turns on the first switch unit and turns off the second switch unit; when the input voltage is at a low voltage range, the control unit turns on the second switch unit and turns off the first switch unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Yuan-Fang LAI, Ying-Sung CHANG
  • Patent number: 8564979
    Abstract: The invention includes a high-voltage power supply connected, by a network input, to an AC network of frequency Fr, with n phases, and providing a high DC output voltage at at least one HV output. The power supply includes a single-phase high-voltage conversion module per phase of the network having a current rectification circuit connected, by a single-phase input of the conversion module, to a respective phase of the network and, by a rectified-current output, to a switching circuit having at least one switching transistor for switching the rectified current at a frequency Fd and p secondary HV circuits, each providing a secondary, p being an integer greater than or equal to 1, j being the rank of the secondary HV circuit ranging between 1 and p. A control and regulation unit for the power supply comprises a control circuit per conversion module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventor: Claudio Capogna
  • Patent number: 8559196
    Abstract: A control circuit of a power converter for light-load power saving according to the present invention comprises a first feedback circuit coupled to an output voltage of the power converter to receive a first feedback signal. A second feedback circuit is coupled to the output voltage to receive a second feedback signal. A control circuit generates a switching signal for switching a transformer of the power converter and regulating the output voltage of the power converter in response to the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal. The switching signal is generated in accordance with the first feedback signal when an output load is high. The switching signal is generated in accordance with the second feedback signal during a light-load condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Wei-Hsuan Huang, Chuh-Ching Li, Rui-Hong Lu, Jenn-Yu G. Lin
  • Patent number: 8553431
    Abstract: In a switching power converter, no-load condition is detected based on a variety of parameters including the output current, primary current, transformer reset time, and switching period. Once the no-load condition is detected, the switching power converter enters stand-by mode, in which the reference voltage corresponding to the target regulated output voltage of the switching power converter is lowered to a low stand-by value or the switching power converter is shut down for a predetermined duration. As a result, power loss during the stand-by mode of the switching power converter can be reduced significantly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: iWatt Inc.
    Inventor: Junjie Zheng
  • Patent number: 8553439
    Abstract: An example controller for a switched mode power supply includes a drive signal generator and a zero-crossing detector. The drive signal generator is to be coupled to control switching of a switch included in the power supply to regulate an output of the power supply. The zero-crossing detector is coupled to the drive signal generator and coupled to receive a current sense signal representative of a switch current flowing through the switch. The zero-crossing detector generates a zero-crossing signal in response to comparing the current sense signal with a reference signal representative of a zero-crossing current threshold. The zero-crossing signal indicates when a zero-crossing condition of an ac line input voltage of the power supply exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Yury Gaknoki, Mingming Mao, Tiziano Pastore
  • Publication number: 20130258721
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control device (1) intended to be employed in a switched electrical power supply system, said system being able in particular to be employed in a variable speed drive to power its electronics. The control device (1) comprises a first transistor (T1) intended to receive control signals originating from a control unit (U) and a second transistor (T2) connected in series with the first transistor (T1) and provided with a floating-control gate (G).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Hocine BOULHARTS, Allan Pierre Barauna
  • Publication number: 20130258722
    Abstract: A power supply includes a phase-cut pre-regulator. The phase-cut pre-regulator comprises a switching device connected between a line voltage and an input voltage of a bulk capacitor and a comparator receiving the line voltage and a reference voltage, comparing the line voltage with hysteresis reference voltages based on the reference voltage, and switching the switching device according to the compared result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Charlie WANG, Sang Cheol MOON, Young-Bae PARK
  • Patent number: 8541957
    Abstract: A power converter having a feedback circuit for constant loads includes an input, a switch, an input voltage sense circuit, a feedback circuit, and a controller. The input is to be coupled to receive an input voltage and the switch is coupled to the input. The input voltage sense circuit is coupled to the input to generate an input voltage sense signal representative of the input voltage. The feedback circuit is coupled to an output of the power converter, where the output is electrically coupled to the input. The feedback circuit generates a feedback signal representative of an output voltage of the power converter. The controller is coupled to the feedback circuit and to the input voltage sense circuit to control switching of the switch to regulate an output current at the output of the power converter in response to the feedback signal and the input voltage sense signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas Kang
  • Publication number: 20130242621
    Abstract: A power supply with reduced electromagnetic interference (EMI) is described. This power supply includes cascaded stages with switched-mode power-supply circuits that are switched synchronously during operation by switching signals that have a common fundamental frequency. EMI associated with the power supply is reduced by establishing a phase shift between the switching signals in at least two of the stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Asif Hussain, Nicholas A. Sims
  • Publication number: 20130242622
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method. The method includes receiving an input voltage rectified from an alternating current (AC) power supply, detecting a time duration that the input voltage is between a first threshold voltage and a second threshold voltage, determining a line voltage of the AC power supply based on the time duration, and regulating a time for turning on a switch to transfer energy via a transformer based on the detected line voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Hao PENG, Jinho Choi, Biing Long Shu
  • Patent number: 8537572
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting DC input power to DC output power. The apparatus comprises a plurality of parallel connected flyback circuits. A controller is coupled to the switches within the flyback circuits to provide accurate timing and automatic current balancing amongst the plurality of flyback circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Fornage, Mudhafar Hassan-Ali, Tarik H. Omar
  • Patent number: 8537573
    Abstract: System and method for providing control for switch-mode power supply. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a system for regulating a power converter. The system comprises a signal processing component that is configured to receive a first voltage and a second voltage, to process information associated with the first voltage and the second voltage, to determine a signal based on at least information associated with the first voltage and the second voltage, and to send the signal to a switch for a power converter. The switch is regulated based on at least information associated with the signal. The signal processing component is further configured to determine the signal to be associated a first mode, if the first voltage is higher than a first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Ye, Zhen Zhu, Shifeng Zhao, Zhiliang Chen, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 8537574
    Abstract: A power source controlling IC controlling a current flown through the primary side winding of a transformer is provided with an external terminal to which a detected voltage from the secondary side is fed back through a photocoupler; a control circuit generating and outputting a control signal of a switching element controlling the current according to an input voltage; a voltage generating circuit generating an internal reference voltage based on the input voltage; a pull-up section connected to the terminal to pull up the potential of the terminal to the internal reference voltage to give a bias voltage to a light receiving element of the photocoupler; and a voltage comparing circuit comparing the voltage of the external terminal and a predetermined reference voltage, wherein the control circuit stops outputting the control signal based on the output of the first voltage comparing circuit when detecting an abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taro Isogai, Yuji Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8537582
    Abstract: An example controller for providing power factor correction and a constant current output in a power supply includes a means for generating a delayed ramp signal and a means for integrating an input current sense signal representative of an input current and for generating an input charge signal in response thereto. The controller also includes a means for determining a ratio of an input voltage sense signal to an output voltage sense signal and for generating an input charge control signal responsive to the input charge signal and the ratio of the input voltage sense signal to the output voltage sense signal. A means for comparing the input charge control signal to the delayed ramp signal to generate a drive signal to control a switch of the power supply is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Roland S. Saint-Pierre
  • Patent number: 8536851
    Abstract: Switch-mode power conversion system and method thereof. The switch-mode power conversion system includes a primary winding configured to receive an input voltage, and a secondary winding coupled to the primary winding and configured to, with one or more other components, generate an output signal. Additionally, the switch-mode power conversion system includes a feedback component configured to receive the output signal and generate a feedback signal based on at least information associated with the output signal, and a voltage detector configured to receive the input voltage and output a detection signal. Moreover, the switch-mode power conversion system includes a mode controller configured to receive the detection signal and the feedback signal and generate a switch signal based on at least information associated with the detection signal and the feedback signal, and a switch configured to receive the switch signal and affect a first current flowing through the primary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuan Lin, Jun Ye, Lieyi Fang
  • Publication number: 20130236206
    Abstract: The power supply device includes a transformer, a switching unit for driving a primary side of the transformer, a detection unit for detecting an output corresponding to a current flowing on the primary side, a transmission unit for transmitting an output voltage from a secondary side to the primary side, and a control unit for controlling an operation of the switching unit in accordance with an output from the transmission unit, in which, when a switching frequency for driving the switching unit falls within a predetermined frequency range including a resonant frequency of the transformer, the control unit controls the switching unit so as to shorten a turn-ON time of the switching unit in accordance with an output from the detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryuhei Shoji, Masaru Aoki, Minoru Hayasaki
  • Publication number: 20130235621
    Abstract: A switching power converter includes a controller configured to transition from a first operating mode to a second operating mode by determining the operating conditions at the transition point between the operation modes. The controller uses a point where a switch included in the power converter would have been turned on if operating under the first operating mode as a reference point to determine when to turn on the switch under the second operating mode. Using the reference point, the switching power converter determines a control period for regulating the switching period of the switch in a second operating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: IWATT INC.
    Inventors: Liang Yan, John William Kesterson, Xiaoyan Wang
  • Publication number: 20130235622
    Abstract: A power supply device comprises: a rectifier circuit converting AC input voltage to DC; a smoothing capacitor connected to an output terminal of the rectifier circuit; a switching element turning on and off output from the smoothing capacitor to provide to a load; a switching controller controlling the switching of the switching element; a first signal input part generating a first signal for stopping the switching and keeping it stopped and inputting the first signal to the switching controller via a particular terminal thereof, when a trouble occurs on the power supply device; a detector detecting that the AC input voltage is a predetermined value or less; and a second signal input part generating a second signal for stopping the switching and keeping it stopped and inputting the second signal to the switching controller via the particular terminal, when the AC input voltage is the predetermined value or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Junichi Masuda, Mikiyuki Aoki, Taku Kimura, Takahiro Yokoya
  • Publication number: 20130235620
    Abstract: A flyback converter uses primary side sensing to sense the output voltage for regulation feedback. A comparator on the primary side detects whether the output voltage has exceeded a predetermined regulated voltage by a first threshold to detect an over-voltage condition, resulting from a current generated by the converter exceeding the load current. Triggering of the comparator causes the converter to enter a non-switching sleep mode, whereby the output voltage droops over a period of time. When the output voltage has drooped below the predetermined regulated voltage by a second threshold, a synchronous rectifier is controlled to turn on, then off, to generate a pulse in the primary winding. Upon detection of the pulse, the sleep mode is terminated, and normal operation resumes until a regulated voltage is achieved or until the first threshold is again exceeded by the output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: John D. Morris, Michael G. Negrete, Min Chen
  • Publication number: 20130229832
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide an apparatus that controls a flyback converter for use with a computer system. During operation, the apparatus senses an output voltage and output current of the flyback converter. The apparatus then switches a mode for controlling the flyback converter from a discontinuous mode to a continuous mode based on the sensed output voltage and the sensed output current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Bharatkumar K. Patel, Abby Cherian, Manisha P. Pandya, Prasad S. Joshi
  • Publication number: 20130223106
    Abstract: A switching circuit for use in a power converter includes a first active switch coupled between a first terminal of an input of the power converter and a first terminal of a primary winding of a transformer. A second active switch is coupled between a second terminal of the input and a second terminal of the primary winding. An output capacitance of the first active switch is greater than an output capacitance of the second active switch. A first passive switch is coupled between the second terminal of the primary winding and the first terminal of the input. A second passive switch is coupled between the second terminal of the input and the first terminal of the primary winding. A reverse recovery time of the first passive switch is greater than a reverse recovery time of the second passive switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Power Integrations, Inc.