Having Feedback Winding Inductively Coupled To Inverter Inductive Device (e.g., Tertiary Winding, Etc.) Patents (Class 363/21.16)
  • Patent number: 7649755
    Abstract: The switched mode power supply contains a transformer, which has a primary winding and at least one secondary winding, a switching transistor in series with the primary winding and a control circuit for controlling an output voltage of the switched mode power supply. The control circuit contains an oscillator, whose oscillation frequency can be set via a terminal, and which is coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer. The wiring for the terminal is connected such that the switched mode power supply starts up at a relatively low oscillation frequency once it has been connected, and, during operation when an additional voltage is supplied to the input via the secondary winding, the oscillation frequency of the switched mode power supply is increased. The terminal is connected in particular via a bandpass filter to a voltage generated by the secondary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Reinhard Kögel, Jean-Paul Louvel
  • Publication number: 20100008109
    Abstract: A switching power supply of the present invention includes: an oscillator circuit for oscillating a signal for turning on a switching element; an error signal generating circuit for generating an error signal having a signal level corresponding to a difference between the signal level of a feedback signal and a reference level; a switching control circuit for turning on the switching element at a time in response to the signal oscillated by the oscillator circuit and turning off the switching element at a time in response to the signal level of the error signal; and a reference level control circuit for controlling the reference level according to a time period during which the switching operation of the switching element is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Naohiko Morota
  • Patent number: 7643315
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus that includes a power supply having a primary coil and a secondary coil. The secondary coil generates an output voltage and a feedback voltage related to the output voltage. The feedback voltage is sampled at a time instant that is digitally controllable. The output voltage is determined from the feedback voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Agere Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Blaha, Albert Molina, Patrick J. Quirk, Fadi Saibi
  • Patent number: 7633776
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter for overvoltage protection is provided with a primary control circuit 12 which comprises an impedance controller 31 and a protective circuit 41 for ceasing operation of primary control circuit 12 when power source voltage VCC on primary control circuit 12 exceeds a predetermined voltage level. Impedance controller 31 comprises a potential detector 32 for picking out power source voltage VCC to primary control circuit 12 to produce a detection signal; and an impedance adjuster 33 for adjusting power input impedance Z in primary control circuit 12 in response to the detection signal from potential detector 32 to repress rapid rise in power source voltage on primary control circuit 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Usui
  • Publication number: 20090303757
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a switching controller uses an auxiliary winding voltage of a transformer to form a signal representative of current flow through a secondary winding of the transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Francois Lhermite
  • Patent number: 7630219
    Abstract: A direct current (DC) to DC converter is provided. The DC to DC converter includes: a transformer which comprises a primary winding which is connected in series with an input voltage and a secondary winding which generates induced current when the input voltage is applied to the primary winding; a switching part which is connected to the primary winding and performs a switching operation according to a predetermined control signal; a first delay part which delays an increasing rate of voltage between open nodes according to a turned-off state of the switching part and supplies a discharge current when the switching part is turned-on; and a second delay part which delays current flow in the switching part when the first delay part discharges the current when the switching part is turned-on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-hyung Lee
  • Patent number: 7593242
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to extend an on time period of switch to regulate a transfer of energy from an input of a power supply to an output of a power supply. One example integrated circuit includes an energy transfer element coupled between an input and an output of the power supply. A switch is coupled to the input of the energy transfer element. A controller is coupled to the switch to control switching of the switch to regulate a transfer of energy from the input of the power supply to the output of the power supply in response to a feedback signal received from the output of the power supply. The controller is coupled to limit a maximum on time period of the switch a first maximum on time period in response to a first range of power supply operating conditions and to a second maximum on time period for a second range of power supply operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Power Intergrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Chan Woong Park, Alex B. Djenguerian, Kent Wong
  • Patent number: 7583519
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for sensing the output current in a switch mode power supply (SMPS) using primary side sensing. We describe a module which senses a current in a primary winding of a transformer and a voltage on a primary or auxiliary winding of the transformer, and which includes a multiplier coupled to an output of a signal averager averaging a primary winding current and to an output of a timing signal generator using the sensed voltage to signal when a secondary winding is powering an output of the SMPS, to multiply an averaged current sense signal by a fraction of a total cycle period of said SMPS during which the secondary winding is providing power to provide a signal estimating an output current of the SMPS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Cambridge Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Johan Piper, David M. Garner, David Robert Coulson
  • Publication number: 20090175058
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of switching a switch of a power supply in response to an input voltage signal are disclosed. According to aspects of the present invention, a power supply controller includes a switch duty cycle controller coupled to receive a feedback signal and a duty cycle adjust signal. The switch duty cycle controller is coupled to generate a drive signal coupled to control switching of a switch, which is coupled to an energy transfer element, to regulate energy delivered from an input of a power supply to an output of the power supply. The power supply controller also includes a gain selector circuit coupled to receive an input voltage signal, which is representative of an input voltage to the power supply, to generate the duty cycle adjust signal received by the switch duty cycle controller. The maximum duty cycle of the drive signal to be varied in response to a plurality of linear functions over a range of values of the input voltage signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Stefan Baurle, Zhao-Jun Wang
  • Patent number: 7558093
    Abstract: A power converter includes a switch controller generating a pulse signal controlling a switch to emulate peak current mode control. The switch controller generates a control voltage from a representation of an output voltage of the power converter and a reference voltage. Based on the control voltage and a representation of an input voltage of the power converter, the switch controller determines a peak current in that switching cycle. If the peak current detected exceeds a maximum peak current, an on-time of the pulse signal in the next switching cycle is decreased. The power converter also provides short circuit or overload protection by increasing an off-time of the pulse signal until the off-time exceeds a transformer reset time of a transformer. If the switch period increased to prevent short circuit or overload exceeds a limit, the pulse signal is shut off immediately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: iWatt Inc.
    Inventor: Junjie Zheng
  • Patent number: 7554822
    Abstract: Power converter for receiving an input current at an input voltage and for providing an output current at an output voltage. The power converter comprises a transformer (133) having a primary (136) and at least one secondary (138) side, wherein the transformer shows a mutual inductivity Ls. The power converter further comprises at least one switching device (124a, 124b) being operated at an operating frequency fop at the primary side of said transformer, and a capacitor CS at the primary side of the transformer. The capacitor forms a resonant circuit with the leakage inductivity LS of said transformer, wherein said operating frequency, said capacitor Cs, said mutual inductivity Lm and said leakage inductivity LS are matched such that the effective value of the output current is substantially constant with respect to variations of a load being traversed by said output current by using resonance principles and operating the power converter in a current source mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Eberhard Waffenschmidt, Tom Neubert
  • Patent number: 7551460
    Abstract: This invention relates to switch mode power supply (SMPS) controllers employing primary side sensing. We describe an (SMPS) controller which uses an area correlator to compare an area under a feedback signal waveform between a start point defined by said first timing signal and an end point defined by said second timing signal with a reference area. An output of the area correlator provides an error signal for regulating the SMPS output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Cambridge Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Vinod A. Lalithambika, Devarahandi Indika Mahaesh de Silva, Jayaraman Kumar, Gehan Amaratunga
  • Publication number: 20090147547
    Abstract: The present invention includes a turn-off signal modulating circuit that periodically varies a turn-off timing of a switching element 2 at a preset modulation time after a current detection by a drain current detecting circuit 15, and by modulating the peak of a current flowing through the switching element 2, diffuses switching noise while preventing concentration of an oscillating frequency at a constant frequency even under a constant input voltage and a constant load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuji Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20090147546
    Abstract: An embodiment of a voltage converter, provided with: a voltage transformer having a primary winding receiving an input voltage, a secondary winding supplying an output voltage, and an auxiliary winding supplying a feedback voltage correlated to the output voltage; a main switch, connected to the primary winding; a control circuit, which controls switching of the main switch and has a sampling stage for sampling and holding the feedback voltage and supplying a sampled signal; and a voltage limiting circuit, provided with a clamp capacitor, designed to be connected across the primary winding. A sampling control stage is connected to the sampling stage, and is designed, during a given operating condition of the voltage converter, to enable updating of the sampled signal on the basis of a state of charge of the clamp capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Michele Grande, Salvatore Tumminaro, Salvatore Giombanco, Alfio Pasqua, Claudio Adragna
  • Patent number: 7545657
    Abstract: A switching power source apparatus includes a switching element connected through a primary winding of a transformer to a DC power source, a start circuit for a control circuit, a rectify-smooth circuit of a voltage of a secondary winding of the transformer, and a rectify-smooth circuit to rectify and smooth a voltage of a tertiary winding of the transformer into a source voltage for the control circuit. The start circuit supplies a first starting current to start the apparatus and stops the first starting current once the apparatus has started. If the source voltage to the control circuit decreases to a turn-off voltage after the apparatus has started, the start circuit supplies a second starting current that is smaller than the first starting current. If the source voltage to the control circuit further decreases to a predetermined voltage that is lower than the turn-off voltage, the start circuit supplies the first starting current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Shimada, Masaru Nakamura, Akihiro Uchida
  • Patent number: 7545654
    Abstract: A control circuit and method for controlling the output voltage and/or the output current of a switching power supply. The control circuit includes a transformer with a primary-side and a secondary-side main winding and a primary-side switch for switching on and off the primary current through the primary-side main winding in response to a control signal of the control circuit. The control circuit also includes a primary-side auxiliary winding operable to induce a voltage pulse after the primary-side switch is turned off, and a sample and hold device for sampling and storing a level of the voltage pulse for generating a control variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Power Systems Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Schroder genannt Berghegger
  • Publication number: 20090141520
    Abstract: An embodiment of a voltage converter, designed to convert an input voltage into a regulated output voltage, having: a voltage transformer having a primary winding receiving the input voltage, a secondary winding supplying the output voltage (Vout), and an auxiliary winding supplying a feedback signal correlated to the output voltage; a control switch, connected to the primary winding; and a control circuit, connected to a control terminal of the control switch for controlling switching thereof as a function of the feedback signal. The control circuit is provided with a sampling stage that samples the feedback signal and supplies a sampled signal. An averager stage is connected to the output of the sampling stage and implements a low-pass filtering of the sampled signal so as to reduce undesirable oscillations due to sampling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Michele Grande, Salvatore Tumminaro, Claudio Adragna
  • Patent number: 7535736
    Abstract: A switching power supply has a switching device connected via a primary winding of a transformer to DC input voltage; a circuit for rectifying voltage at a secondary winding of the transformer, and outputting an output signal; and a control circuit for controlling on/off states of the switching device. The control circuit detects a current signal generated based on a forward voltage generated at a drive winding of the transformer while the switching device is on; generates an input correction signal using the current signal, the level of the input correction signal varying in accordance with the DC input voltage; detects a signal of current flowing through the switching device; and compares the input correction signal with the signal of the current flowing through the switching device, and limits the maximum value of this current in accordance with the DC input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Nakamura, Masaaki Shimada
  • Patent number: 7525823
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for sensing the output current in a switch mode power supply (SMPS) using primary side sensing are described. A system includes a primary current sense input, a charge input to sense a charging time of an SMPS transformer; a discharge input to sense a discharging time of the transformer; at least one averager; and a calculator. The primary current is averaged by the averager over at least a switching cycle of the SMPS and the calculator estimates the output current of the SMPS using the averaged primary current, the charge signal and the discharge signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Cambridge Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Johan Piper, David M. Garner
  • Patent number: 7522431
    Abstract: A comparing circuit and a control loop are used to maintain the peak level of current flowing through an inductor of a flyback converter. An inductor switch control signal controls an inductor switch through which the inductor current flows. The inductor current increases at a ramp-up rate during a ramp time and stops increasing at the end of the ramp time. The comparing circuit generates a timing signal that indicates a target time at which the inductor current would reach a predetermined current limit if the inductor current continued to increase at the ramp-up rate. The control loop then receives the timing signal and compares the target time to the end of the ramp time. The pulse width of the inductor switch control signal is increased when the target time occurs after the end of the ramp time. Adjusting the pulse width controls the peak of the inductor current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Active-Semi International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Huynh, Matthew Grant, David Kunst, Zhibo Tao
  • Patent number: 7518889
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to regulate an output of a power converter. One example power converter controller circuit includes a line sense input to be coupled to receive a signal representative of an input voltage of a power converter. A feedback input to be coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter is also included. A drive signal generator is also included to generate a drive signal coupled to control switching of a switch to provide a regulated output parameter at the output of the power converter in response to the feedback signal. The drive signal generator is coupled to receive a plurality of inputs including the line sense input and the feedback input. The drive signal generator is coupled to latch the power converter into an off state in response to a detection of a fault condition in the power converter as detected by the plurality of inputs if the power converter input voltage is above a first threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Power Integrations, inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Bäurle, Alex B. Djenguerian, Kent Wong
  • Patent number: 7518836
    Abstract: A switching mode power supply and a corresponding method of protection operation is presented. A switching controller of the switching mode power supply receives current sensing information corresponding to the current flowing through a main switch and feedback information corresponding to an output voltage through a single terminal, and performs a protection operation when the voltage at the terminal is maintained to be lower than a reference voltage for more than a predetermined time frame. The power supply requires a low number of terminals, while preserving the protection operation function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-Won Kim, Joo-Han Yoon
  • Publication number: 20090091953
    Abstract: A comparing circuit and a control loop are used to maintain the peak level of current flowing through an inductor of a flyback converter. An inductor switch control signal controls an inductor switch through which the inductor current flows. The inductor current increases at a ramp-up rate during a ramp time and stops increasing at the end of the ramp time. The comparing circuit generates a timing signal that indicates a target time at which the inductor current would reach a predetermined current limit if the inductor current continued to increase at the ramp-up rate. The control loop then receives the timing signal and compares the target time to the end of the ramp time. The pulse width of the inductor switch control signal is increased when the target time occurs after the end of the ramp time. Adjusting the pulse width controls the peak of the inductor current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: Steven Huynh, Matthew Grant, david Kunst, Zhibo Tao
  • Patent number: 7515442
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a secondary side power supply controller is configured to enable a secondary side power switch independently of a state of a drive signal used to control a primary side of the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Frantisek Mikulenka, Roman Urban
  • Patent number: 7511973
    Abstract: A modification of a control loop of a primary side sensing power control system that uses a different and unique relationship to accomplish the constant current control while attenuating the affects of a ripple voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: iWatt Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Kesterson, Junjie Zheng
  • Publication number: 20090073727
    Abstract: A lower-cost and more precise control methodology of regulating the output voltage of a flyback converter from the primary side is provided, which works accurately in either continuous voltage mode (CCM) and discontinuous mode (DCM), and can be applied to most small, medium and high power applications such cell phone chargers, power management in desktop computers and networking equipment, and, generally, to a wide spectrum of power management applications. Two highly integrated semiconductor chips based on this control methodology are also described that require very few components to build a constant voltage flyback converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Steven Huynh, Mingliang Chen, Chuan Xiao, Mingfan Yu
  • Patent number: 7505287
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and a method that controls the current limit such that it is maintained within a small range for any acceptable input voltages, e.g., 90 to 264 Volts RMS, causes the output voltage of a PWM controller to drop as the output load increases so as to maintain a constant current output, and does cycle by cycle calculation compensating for the VIN ripple output from the bridge and bulk filter capacitor so that no loop filter is required in the constant current mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: iWatt Inc.
    Inventor: John William Kesterson
  • Patent number: 7502233
    Abstract: There is provided a power supply for AC/DC and DC/DC conversion which receives the DC power supplied from airplanes, vehicles and vessels as well as normal AC power, and converts the power to DC power and supplies it to portable electronic products. The power supply for AC/DC and DC/DC conversion includes an AC input 10, a DC input 20, a switch 30 for selecting AC input power or DC input power, a DC output 40, and a circuit used for AC/DC and DC/DC conversion 100 which converts the power input from the AC input or the DC input to DC power having predetermined values of current and voltage, and a secondary side of a transformer (TL) for AC/DC conversion inside the circuit for conversion serves as an inductor for performing DC/DC conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Smart Power Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun-Jun Kim, Dae-Young Youn, Sang-Min Kim
  • Patent number: 7502236
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of switching a switch of a power supply in response to an input voltage signal are disclosed. According to aspects of the present invention, a power supply controller includes a switch duty cycle controller coupled to receive a feedback signal and a duty cycle adjust signal. The switch duty cycle controller is coupled to generate a drive signal coupled to control switching of a switch, which is coupled to an energy transfer element, to regulate energy delivered from an input of a power supply to an output of the power supply. The power supply controller also includes a gain selector circuit coupled to receive an input voltage signal, which is representative of an input voltage to the power supply, to generate the duty cycle adjust signal received by the switch duty cycle controller. The maximum duty cycle of the drive signal to be varied in response to a plurality of linear functions over a range of values of the input voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Bäurle, Zhao-Jun Wang
  • Patent number: 7492615
    Abstract: A feedback circuit (3) generates an error amplification signal VEAO for stabilizing an output voltage Vo at the reference voltage. The reference voltage is set beforehand in the feedback circuit (3). The peak value of drain current ID passing through a switching element (1) is controlled by the error amplification signal VEAO and the output voltage Vo is stabilized. Meanwhile, when a load (132) increases, a reference voltage variable circuit (13) increases the internal reference voltage of the feedback circuit (3) based on the error amplification signal VEAO, so that fluctuations in output voltage due to load fluctuations are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naohiko Morota, Kazuhiro Murata
  • Patent number: 7492613
    Abstract: A control circuit for detecting the reflected voltage of a transformer is provided. A detection circuit is developed for sampling the reflected voltage. Because the pulse width of the reflected voltage is narrower at light load, a bias circuit is utilized for producing a bias signal to help the reflected voltage detection. Furthermore, a blanking circuit ensures a minimum pulse width of the reflected voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventors: Ta-yung Yang, Chuh-Ching Li, Feng Cheng Tsao
  • Patent number: 7492619
    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: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Ye, Zhen Zhu, Shifeng Zhao, Zhiliang Chen, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 7471531
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus that includes a power supply having a primary coil and a secondary coil. The secondary coil generates an output voltage and a feedback voltage related to the output voltage. The feedback voltage is sampled at a time instant that is digitally controllable. The output voltage is determined from the feedback voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Blaha, Albert Molina, Patrick J. Quirk, Fadi Saibi
  • Patent number: 7453709
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to extend an on time period of switch to regulate a transfer of energy from an input of a power supply to an output of a power supply. One example integrated circuit includes an energy transfer element coupled between an input and an output of the power supply. A switch is coupled to the input of the energy transfer element. A controller is coupled to the switch to control switching of the switch to regulate a transfer of energy from the input of the power supply to the output of the power supply in response to a feedback signal received from the output of the power supply. The controller is coupled to limit a maximum on time period of the switch a first maximum on time period in response to a first range of power supply operating conditions and to a second maximum on time period for a second range of power supply operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Chan Woong Park, Alex B. Djenguerian, Kent Wong
  • Patent number: 7443700
    Abstract: A primary side sensing power control system and method for constant current control that utilizes a relationship that involves the measured reset-time from the previous cycle to determine the primary side peak current and off-time for the next cycle. This control mechanism does not need the knowledge of input voltage or magnetizing inductance. Therefore, it removes the sensitivities of input voltage and magnetizing inductance to the output current limit. Furthermore, it uses a time measurement instead of a voltage measurement for the current calculation which in many cases is easier to perform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: iWatt Inc.
    Inventors: Liang Yan, Junjie Zheng, John Kesterson, Xiaoyan Wang, Hien Bui
  • Publication number: 20080259654
    Abstract: A cord correction circuit in a primary-side-controlled flyback converter compensates for the loss of output voltage caused by the resistance of the charger cord. In one embodiment, a correction voltage is subtracted from a feedback voltage received from a primary-side auxiliary inductor. A pre-amplifier then compares a reference voltage to the corrected feedback voltage. In another embodiment, the correction voltage is summed with the reference voltage, and the pre-amplifier compares the feedback voltage to the corrected reference voltage. The difference between the voltages on the input leads of the pre-amplifier is used to increase the output voltage to compensate for the voltage lost through the charger cord. The flyback converter also has a comparing circuit and a control loop that maintain the peak level of current flowing through the primary inductor of the converter. Adjusting the frequency and pulse width of an inductor switch signal controls the converter output current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Active-Semi International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Huynh, Matthew Grant, David Kunst, Zhibo Tao
  • Patent number: 7440296
    Abstract: This invention relates to a control circuit for the closed-loop control of an output voltage of a primary-controlled switched-mode power supply as well as an associated method. The switched-mode power supply comprises a primary-side switch and a transformer with at least one auxiliary winding in which an auxiliary voltage is induced after opening the primary-side switch. The voltage induced in the at least one auxiliary winding provides the basis for the measurement voltage passed to the control circuit and for the supply voltage of the control circuit. The invention also refers to an associated switched-mode power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: FRIWO Mobile Power GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Schroder genannt Berghegger
  • Patent number: 7433210
    Abstract: The switched-mode power supply has a transformer which contains a primary winding and at least one secondary winding, a switching transistor in series with the primary winding, a driver stage for controlling the switching transistor, and a control circuit for controlling an output voltage. The control circuit in this case contains an oscillator which can be adjusted via a connection and is coupled to a secondary winding in order to determine the time at which the switching transistor is switched on. A switching stage is, in particular, arranged between the connection and the secondary winding and passes on a supply voltage to the connection when a sudden voltage change occurs on the secondary winding at the time of an oscillation. In consequence, the switching transistor is switched on at a time at which the losses when switched on are low, thus considerably reducing the losses which occur in the switching transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Michael Meitzner, Wolfgang Hermann, Jean-Paul Louvel
  • Publication number: 20080239767
    Abstract: An exemplary power supply circuit (200) includes a transformer (240), a first transistor (260), a start-up resistor (261), and a pulse generating circuit (250). The transformer includes a primary winding (241), a secondary winding (243), and an auxiliary winding (242). The first bipolar junction transistor includes a collector connected to a first terminal of the primary winding and an emitter grounded. The start-up resistor is connected between a second terminal of the primary winding and a base of the bipolar junction transistor. The pulse generating circuit is configured for generating a control signal according to an induction voltage of the auxiliary winding. The control signal is provided to the base of the first bipolar junction transistor for switching the first bipolar junction transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Jie-Jian Zheng, Tong Zhou, Jian-Hui Lu
  • Publication number: 20080232142
    Abstract: A control circuit controls the output current of the power converter at the primary side of the transformer. The control circuit includes a current-detection circuit for generating a primary-current signal in response to the switching current of the transformer. A voltage-detection circuit is coupled to the transformer to generate a period signal and a discharge-time signal in response to the reflected voltage of the transformer. A signal-process circuit is utilized to generate a current signal in response to the primary-current signal, the period signal and the discharge-time signal. The period signal is correlated to the switching period of the switching signal of the power converter. The discharge-time signal is correlated to the duty cycle of switching current at the secondary-side of the transformer. The current signal is correlated to the output current of the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: SYSTEM GENERAL CORP.
    Inventor: Ta-yung Yang
  • Publication number: 20080219033
    Abstract: A switching power supply device includes a first series circuit of first and second switching elements connected in parallel with a DC power supply. An isolation transformer has primary and secondary windings and first and second auxiliary windings, a first layer including the primary windings between a second layer of the two auxiliary windings, and a third layer of the secondary windings. A capacitor in series with the primary windings defines a second series circuit in parallel with the second switching element. A rectifying and smoothing circuit includes a rectifying diode and a smoothing capacitor, connected to the secondary windings. First and second control circuits turn on and off the first and second switching elements based on voltages generated in the two auxiliary windings, to obtain a DC output from the rectifying and smoothing circuit, enabling an adequate auxiliary windings voltage and stable switching operation including stable zero-voltage turn-on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: Fuji Electric Device Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukihiro Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7414865
    Abstract: A controller controls the output current by measuring and controlling the switching current of the power converter. A first circuit generates a first signal in accordance with the switching current. A second circuit detects a discharge-time of the transformer. A third circuit generates a third signal by integrating the first signal with the discharge-time. The time constant of the third circuit is programmed and correlated with the switching period of the switching signal, therefore the third signal is proportional to the output current. A switching circuit generates a switching signal and controls the pulse width of the switching signal in accordance with the third signal and a reference voltage. Therefore, the output current of the power converter can be regulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventor: Ta-Yung Yang
  • Patent number: 7414864
    Abstract: A switching power supply apparatus includes a first inductor that is serially connected to a primary winding of a transformer, and a second inductor that is arranged so as to apply a voltage of a capacitor with sine waves obtained by rectifying an AC input voltage for an on-period of a first switching circuit. A diode for preventing the inverse current to the second inductor and a capacitor that is charged by excitation energy charged to the second inductor and applies a voltage to the primary winding for on-period of the first switching circuit. Further, a capacitor is arranged so that the inductor, the primary winding, and a second switching circuit define a closed loop. Switching control circuits control the on-period of a first switching element to control an output voltage Vo, and further control an input voltage Vi by controlling the on-period of a second switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hosotani, Hiroshi Takemura
  • Patent number: 7394669
    Abstract: In a switching mode power supply, an input received from the secondary side of the transformer 7 and indicative of the power being drawn by the loads is used to control the timing of bursts. The input is compared with two threshold different threshold values V2, V3, and switching is enabled if the input rises above a first higher threshold value V2, and disabled if it falls below a second lower threshold value V3. A memory device FF1 controls a current limitation circuit which limits currents in the primary of the transformer when the switching mode power supply is operating in the burst mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Marc Fahlenkamp, Xiao Wu Gong, Harald Zoellinger
  • Patent number: 7394670
    Abstract: A control circuit 8 of a switching power source comprises a voltage detector 31 for detecting a voltage VDC of a DC power supply 1 to produce a detection voltage VDT; a comparator 41 for producing an output signal VCP when detection voltage VDT from voltage detector 31 exceeds a reference voltage VR2; a bottom voltage detector 51 for detecting a bottom point of voltage VDS across a MOS-FET 3 after energy has been discharged from transformer 2; and a switching controller 61 for selectively turning MOS-FET 3 on depending on existence or absence of the output signal VCP from comparator 41. When the input voltage VDC from DC power supply 1 so rises that detection voltage VDT of voltage detector 31 is above the reference voltage VR2, switching controller 61 serves to late turn MOS-FET 3 on at the time bottom voltage detector 51 detects the second or later bottom point of the voltage VDS across MOS-FET 3, extending the off period of MOS-FET 3 to reduce switching frequency of MOS-FET 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kengo Koike
  • Patent number: 7388764
    Abstract: A lower-cost and more precise control methodology of regulating the output current of a Flyback converter from the primary side is provided. The methodology regulates the output current accurately in both continuous current mode (CCM) and discontinuous mode (DCM) and can be applied to most small, medium, and high power applications such as cell phone chargers, power management in desktop computers and networking equipment, and, generally, to a wide spectrum of power management applications. Two highly integrated semiconductor chips based on this control methodology are also described that require very few components to build a constant current Flyback converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Active-Semi International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Huynh, Mingliang Chen, Chuan Xiao, Mingfan Yu
  • Publication number: 20080130325
    Abstract: A flyback DC-DC converter is disclosed herein. The flyback DC-DC converter includes a controller, an input switching circuit, a transformer and an output switching circuit. The input switching circuit is controlled by the controller and thus controls power supply to the transformer. The transformer is equipped with a first secondary winding to provide the output voltage, a second secondary winding that forms a feedback loop together with a voltage divider, and a third secondary winding to control the output switching circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventor: Zhibin Ye
  • Publication number: 20080130327
    Abstract: An exemplary power supply circuit (20) includes a first commutating and filter circuit (21), a transformer (24), a second commutating and filter circuit (25), a transistor (27), a pulse width modulation circuit (26) outputting a control signal to control operation state of the transistor, and a feedback circuit (29). An external alternating current voltage is converted into a direct current with a cooperation operating of the transistor, the first commutating and filter circuit, the transformer, and the second commutating and filter circuit. The feedback circuit feeds an operating state of the transformer back to the pulse width modulation circuit, and the pulse width modulation circuit outputs corresponding control signals to turn on or turn off the transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Huai-Zhu Yan, Tong Zhou, Hong-Bo Zhou, Kun Le
  • Patent number: 7382062
    Abstract: The invention finds application in the field of power supplies for valve actuators, and particularly relates to a wide voltage range stabilized switching power supply for valve actuators, of the type that comprises a filter 2, a diode bridge 3, an array of capacitors 5, an auxiliary power supply stage 6, formed by a switch mode circuit, having an operating range of 21 to 380 VDC, which generates the supply voltages required for the internal operation of the power supply, a full-bridge power stage 7, which receives an input voltage in the range of 120 VDC to 373 VDC, and generates the three stabilized output voltages required for supplying the load, and a boost stage 4, located upstream from the power stage 7, which allows to increase the voltage to a value in the range of 120 VDC to 373 VCC, whenever it is below such range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Biffi Italia S.R.L.
    Inventors: Archimede Affaticati, Giuseppe Riboli
  • Publication number: 20080123372
    Abstract: A control circuit includes a switch coupled to a transformer of a power converter for switching the transformer. A sampling circuit is coupled to the transformer to sample a reflected voltage of the transformer to generate a voltage signal. A switching circuit generates a switching signal to control the switch in response to the voltage signal. The minimum on time of the switching signal is changed in response to the change of an input voltage of the power converter. Because the pulse width of the reflected voltage is narrower at light load, the minimum on time of the switching signal helps the reflected voltage detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Ta-yung Yang