Utilizing Pulse-width Modulation Patents (Class 363/21.18)
  • Patent number: 8190932
    Abstract: A power supply converting circuit includes a multi-phase pulse-width modulation (PWM) controller, a single-phase PWM controller, some first voltage converting circuits, a second voltage converting circuit, and an electrical switch unit. The multi-phase PWM controller provides some first PWM signals and a second PWM signal. The single-phase PWM controller provides a third PWM signal. The first voltage converting circuits receive the first PWM signals to output a first power supply to a central processing unit (CPU) chipset. The electrical switch unit receives the second and third PWM signals to selectively output the second or third PWM signal to the second voltage converting circuit to output one of the first and second power supplies, such that the second voltage converting circuit selectively outputs one of the first and second power supplies to the CPU chipset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yi Rui
  • Patent number: 8184459
    Abstract: A switching power supply apparatus employing a voltage obtained by rectifying an output from an AC power supply, as an input thereof includes a switching control circuit. The switching control circuit conducts a PFM control having a fixed ON-period of a switching device when a load is judged to be light based on a load signal indicating the load, and a PWM control when the load is judged not to be light. The switching control circuit changes the ON-period based on whether the AC power supply is a high voltage system or a low voltage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanari Fujii
  • Publication number: 20120106209
    Abstract: A method for generating a current limit signal for a power converter without sensing an input voltage of the power converter detects a current of a power switch of the power converter to obtain a current sense signal, counts a time for the current sense signal to increase from a first level to a second level, and according to the time, determines a current limit signal for limiting a maximum value of the current of the power switch for the power converter to have a constant maximum output power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: RICHPOWER MICROELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi WU, Chih-Feng HUANG
  • Patent number: 8164928
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus of operating a primary-side-regulation power converter at both continuous current mode and discontinuous current mode are provided. The apparatus includes a switching circuit, a signal generator, a correlation circuit, and a feedback modulator. The signal generator generates a half signal and a second sampling pulse in response to a switching signal. The correlation circuit receives the half signal, the second sampling pulse and a switching-current signal for generating a modulating current. The feedback modulator modulates a feedback signal in response to the modulating current, a detection signal and the switching signal. The detection signal obtained from a transformer is correlated to an output voltage of the primary-side-regulation power converter. An on-period of the half signal is half of an on-period of the switching signal. The switching-current signal is sampled at a falling-edge of the half signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: System General Corporation
    Inventors: Li Lin, Rui-Hong Lu
  • Publication number: 20120087154
    Abstract: A voltage supply device for a load, in particular for a network, has an energy store that can be connected to connection terminals and a voltage transformer with at least one electronic switch. A reverse polarity protection is in contact with the connection terminals and is designed to convert voltage delivered from the energy store into control voltage for active activation of the electronic switch when the polarity of the voltage is reversed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Peter Maisel, Martin Saliternig
  • Publication number: 20120075891
    Abstract: System and method for regulating a power converter. The system includes a first signal generator configured to receive a first sensed signal and generate an output signal associated with demagnetization. The first sensed signal is related to a first winding coupled to a secondary winding for a power converter, and the secondary winding is associated with at least an output current for the power converter. Additionally, the system includes a ramping signal generator configured to receive the output signal and generate a ramping signal, and a first comparator configured to receive the ramping signal and a first threshold signal and generate a first comparison signal based on at least information associated with the ramping signal and the first threshold signal. Moreover, the system includes a second comparator configured to receive a second sensed signal and a second threshold signal and generate a second comparison signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: ON-BRIGHT ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yunchao Zhang, Yaming Cao, Xiaomin Huang, Xiuhong Zhang, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 8125798
    Abstract: A self-oscillating flyback converter includes a controller integrated circuit housed in a 3-pin package. A switch control terminal is coupled to the base of an inductor switch that controls the current through a primary inductor of the converter. The controller IC adjusts the on time of the switch such that output current remains constant in constant current mode and output voltage remains constant in constant voltage mode. A signal received on a switch control terminal turns the switch off and provides an indication of the output current when the switch is on. A signal received on a feedback terminal powers the controller IC and provides an indication of the output voltage when the switch is off. The controller IC is grounded through a ground terminal. The flyback converter transitions from critical conduction mode to discontinuous conduction mode at light loads to prevent its efficiency from deteriorating at high switching frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Huynh, Jian Yang, Mingliang Chen
  • Publication number: 20120033460
    Abstract: A control circuit for a switching power converter is provided. The control circuit is installed between a secondary side and an output of the power converter and coupled to control a switching device. The control circuit includes a linear predict circuit, a reset circuit, a charge/discharge circuit, and a PWM circuit. The linear predict circuit is coupled to receive a linear predict signal from the secondary side for generating a charging signal. The reset circuit is couple to receive a resetting signal for generating a discharging signal. The charge/discharge circuit is coupled to receive the charging signal and the discharging signal for generating a ramp signal. The PWM circuit is coupled to receive the linear predict signal for enabling a switching signal and receive the ramp signal for resetting the switching signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: SYSTEM GENERAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chia-Yo Yeh, Jhih-Da Hsu, Ying-Chieh Su, Chien-Chun Huang, Chou-Sheng Wang
  • Publication number: 20120033459
    Abstract: A circuit regulator is used to generate a pulse-width-modulation signal, so as to control a power to be selectively input or not input to a primary side of a switching power supply. The circuit regulator includes a synchronous timing pulse generation circuit, outputs a starting pulse after performing signal process of time delay, timing pulse regulation, and synchronization control on a pulse-width-modulation signal and a discharging time signal of a secondary side, and accordingly effectively controls a pulse starting time of the pulse-width-modulation signal. Therefore, the synchronous timing pulse generation circuit can be applied to the circuit regulator, so as to further effectively prevent an inductor current of the switching power supply from entering a Continuous Conduction Mode (CCM).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: MACROBLOCK, INC.
    Inventors: Lon Kou Chang, Chang Yu Wu, Hsing Fu Liu
  • Patent number: 8098502
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of operating a switched-mode power supply that has a switch coupled to a drive signal is disclosed. The method includes deactivating the drive signal at a first instance of time, and comparing a power supply signal to a threshold after deactivating the drive signal. The method further includes activating the drive signal a variable period of time after the power supply signal crosses the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ming Ping Mao, Yong Siang Teo, Siu Kam Eric Kok
  • Patent number: 8094468
    Abstract: A control circuit is developed to adaptively operate a power converter at quasi-resonance (QR) and in a continuous current mode (CCM) to achieve high efficiency. The control circuit includes a PWM circuit generating a switching signal coupled to switch a transformer. A signal generation circuit generates a ramp signal and a pulse signal. The pulse signal is generated in response to the ramp signal for switching on the switching signal. A feedback circuit produces a feedback signal according to an output load of the power converter. The feedback signal is coupled to switch off the switching signal. A detection circuit is coupled to the transformer for generating a valley signal in response to the waveform of the transformer. The valley signal is further coupled to generate the pulse signal when the ramp signal is lower than a threshold. The level of the threshold is correlated to the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Chuh-Ching Li, Ying-Chieh Su, Chih-Chi Chang
  • Publication number: 20120002449
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a sampling component. The sampling component receives a first voltage signal on a primary side of a transformer and monitors the first voltage signal to determine a voltage sampling time. The determined voltage sampling time is when the first voltage signal is used to estimate a second voltage level on a secondary side of the transformer. The first component further samples the first voltage signal at the voltage sampling time to determine a first voltage level. A second component outputs a control signal to control a switch to regulate the second voltage level based on the first voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Yangsoo Park, Jinho Choi, Wanfeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 8089783
    Abstract: A flyback converter includes a controller integrated circuit (IC) housed in an IC package with only three terminals. The controller IC is grounded through a ground terminal. A feedback signal is received onto a power terminal. The feedback signal powers the controller IC and is derived from a voltage across an auxiliary inductor of the flyback converter. A switch terminal is coupled to an inductor switch that is turned on by a switch control signal having a frequency and a pulse width. The inductor switch controls the current that flows through a primary inductor of the flyback converter. A switch signal is received onto the switch terminal and is used to generate the inductor switch control signal. The controller IC adjusts the frequency in a constant current mode such that output current remains constant and adjusts the pulse width in a constant voltage mode such that output voltage remains constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhibo Tao, David Kunst, Steven Huyah
  • Patent number: 8086355
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to power management and the like, and more particularly, to an apparatus, a system, a method, and a computer-readable medium for providing power controlling functionality to generate configurable power signals and to deliver power during fault conditions. In at least some embodiments, a power control unit can generate power signals having configurable attributes as a function of a mode of operation, a fault type, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Global Embedded Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Stanley Stanczak, Louis Stephen Smutek, Alan Wayne Brown, David Allen Backus
  • Patent number: 8085560
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes: a transformer which converts input power supplied to a primary winding to be induced to a secondary winding; a current detector which detects an output current of the secondary winding of the transformer; a voltage detector which detects an output voltage of the secondary winding of the transformer; a switch which adjusts the output voltage outputted by the transformer; and a controller which controls the switch to maintain output power obtained by multiplying the output current by output voltage, within a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung-hak Lee
  • Patent number: 8077482
    Abstract: Provided is a DC-DC converter that can reduce losses. Ein and C1 are serially connected. Q1 and Q2 are serially connected so that antiparallel diodes thereof face the same direction. A terminal of C1 that is not connected to Ein and a terminal of Q2 that is not connected to Q1 are connected. A terminal of Ein that is not connected to C1 and a terminal of Q1 that is not connected to Q2 are connected. A coil N1 of T is connected between a connection point of Ein and C1 and a connection point of Q1 and Q2. Among a pair of terminals of a coil N2, a terminal having the same polarity as a terminal the coil N1 that is connected to Ein is connected to the connection point of C1 and Q2 through D1 and the other terminal is connected to the connection point of Ein and C1. A coil N3 is connected to a smoothing circuit through a rectification circuit. The direction of D1 is set in such a manner that energy can be transferred to C1 from the coil N2 when Q1 is in a conduction state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventor: Sadanori Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20110292694
    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: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: ON-BRIGHT ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Ye, Zhen Zhu, Shifeng Zhao, Zhiliang Chen, Lieyi Fang
  • Publication number: 20110286248
    Abstract: In a switching power converter, PWM mode and PFM mode are separated into two independent control sections with the control voltage range in each control section determined independently. Each of the PWM and PFM modulation modes cannot operate continuously beyond its boundaries, thereby forming a control gap between the two control sections within which no continuous operation is allowed. In order to supply a load condition within the control gap, the power supply operates at the two boundaries of the control gap. Transition between PWM and PFM modes occurs fast, with low output voltage ripple. No limitation needs to be imposed on the control voltage range in each of the PWM and PFM control sections, because the control parameters in the PWM and PFM control sections need not be matched to one another, due to separation of the PWM and PFM modes by the control gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: IWATT INC.
    Inventors: Xiaoyan Wang, Liang Yan, Junjie Zheng, John William Kesterson, Clarita Poon
  • Patent number: 8064231
    Abstract: A short circuit protection circuit for a pulse width modulation (PWM) unit which includes a PWM logic control circuit, an under voltage lookout (UVLO) circuit and an internal clock circuit; wherein the UVLO circuit detecting a bias power (Vcc) and delivering an UVLO signal when the bias power is judged excessively low, the PWM unit further comprising: a short circuit detector, a short circuit recovery circuit and a frequency multiplexer. The short circuit detector is to detect the UVLO signal and generate a short signal. The short circuit recovery circuit to set a pre-determined recovery time and generate a recovery signal when the pre-determined recovery time ends. The frequency multiplexer which is triggered by the short signal when the short circuit event occurs to change a switching frequency to a short PWM frequency, and triggered by the recovery signal to restore the switching frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: BCD Semiconductor Manufacturing Limited
    Inventors: Shao-Hua Fang, Chao Chen, Jian-Hua Duan, Ya-Jiang Zhu
  • Patent number: 8051317
    Abstract: A power supply system allowing remote adjustments of the power output of the power supply unit without having to physically access the power supply unit itself is disclosed. A power supply system in accordance with the present invention utilizes a central processing unit (CPU) to provide a command that adjusts to the power output via a modified pulse width modulator (MPWM). Moreover, the central processing unit (CPU) may also be used to provide fine tune adjustments to the error signal of the power supply system, wherein the central processing unit (CPU) produces a command for the modified pulse width modulator to control the power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Richard Doss
  • Patent number: 8045344
    Abstract: An inductor current flows through an inductor of a flyback converter. In a constant voltage mode, the pulse width of an inductor switch control signal is adjusted to maintain a constant output voltage of the flyback converter. The inductor switch control signal controls a switch through which the inductor current flows. In a constant current mode, a comparing circuit, a control loop and a clamp generator circuit are used to maintain the peak level of inductor current. The comparing circuit generates a timing signal based on the ramp-up rate of the inductor current. The control loop uses the timing signal and a feedback signal to generate a time error signal. The clamp generator circuit uses the time error signal to generate a clamp signal that adjusts the pulse width of the inductor switch control signal to clamp the peak current output by the flyback converter in the constant current mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Grant
  • Publication number: 20110242859
    Abstract: An isolated primary circuit regulator is applied to a primary side of a transformer of a power supply. The isolated primary circuit regulator outputs a switching signal, and switches the transformer by using the switching signal, thereby stabilizing an output current. The isolated primary circuit regulator includes a discharge time detector, an oscillator, a pulse width modulator and a control circuit. The discharge time detector is used for detecting a discharge time of a switching current generated at a secondary side of the transformer. The oscillator is used for generating an oscillation signal. The control circuit is used for outputting an adjustment signal. The pulse width modulator outputs a switching signal according to the oscillation signal output by the oscillator and the adjustment signal output by the control circuit. The switching signal has a duty cycle and a frequency corresponding to the oscillation signal and the adjustment signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: MACROBLOCK, INC.
    Inventors: Lon Kou Chang, Tsung Hsien Lu, Ruei Ming Gan
  • Patent number: 8031493
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for a switching mode converter to improve the light load efficiency thereof. The converter is thus operated with three modes by monitoring a feedback signal and a supply voltage. When the feedback signal indicates that loading gets light enough, the converter is switched from the first mode to the second mode, and during the second mode some cycles are skipped. If loading is too light, the converter is switched from the second mode to the third mode, and during the third mode more cycles will be skipped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Pei-Lun Huang, Liang-Pin Tai
  • Patent number: 8031492
    Abstract: A PWM controller having an oscillator, a control circuit and a two-level limiter is provided. The oscillator generates a pulse signal. The control circuit couples to the oscillator for generating a PWM signal in response to the pulse signal, wherein the PWM signal controls a power switch. The two-level limiter couples to the control circuit for generating a two-level limit signal in response to an on-time of the PWM signal, wherein the two-level limit signal is formed by a first-level signal and a second-level signal during a switching period of the PWM signal, and the first-level signal is used to limit the maximum output power of the power converter under a high-line input voltage with a heavy-load condition, and the second-level signal is used to limit the maximum output power of the power converter under a low-line input voltage with the heavy-load condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventors: Chien Yuan Lin, Tin-Wei Chen
  • Publication number: 20110228572
    Abstract: An oscillator with time-variant frequency deviation for a power supply includes a signal generator for generating a first signal according to a clock signal and a comparing unit for adding an offset to at least one of the first signal and a threshold voltage corresponding to the first signal and for comparing the first signal and the threshold voltage after completion of the offset adding, to generate the clock signal whose frequency deviates with variation of the added offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Chin-Yen Lin, Min-Chu Chien
  • Patent number: 8023292
    Abstract: The present invention reduces switching noise generated in a switching control device having a switching element such as a switching power supply in linear linkage with the state of a load of the output and without increasing the control circuit scale which is a factor of cost increase. The present invention adopts a configuration of a control circuit having an ON/OFF circuit that controls the switching element such that one or both of two specified values (upper limit and lower limit) that specify triangular waves of a triangular wave generation circuit that specifies a drive oscillating frequency of the switching element is/are changed in linear linkage with the output load state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Hachiya
  • Patent number: 8018742
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a full-range-duty PWM signal generation method for an AC-to-DC power conversion, comprising the steps of: generating a saw-tooth signal with a predetermined valley voltage; generating a reference signal according to at least one of a current feedback signal and a voltage feedback signal; and generating a PWM signal according to voltage comparison of the saw-tooth signal and the reference signal. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a full-range-duty PWM signal generation apparatus for an AC-to-DC power conversion, and a system using the full-range-duty PWM signal generation apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Grenergy Opto, Inc.
    Inventor: Ko-Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 8018743
    Abstract: In a switching power converter, PWM mode and PFM mode are separated into two independent control sections with the control voltage range in each control section determined independently. Each of the PWM and PFM modulation modes cannot operate continuously beyond its boundaries, thereby forming a control gap between the two control sections within which no continuous operation is allowed. In order to supply a load condition within the control gap, the power supply operates at the two boundaries of the control gap. Transition between PWM and PFM modes occurs fast, with low output voltage ripple. No limitation needs to be imposed on the control voltage range in each of the PWM and PFM control sections, because the control parameters in the PWM and PFM control sections need not be matched to one another, due to separation of the PWM and PFM modes by the control gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: iWatt Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoyan Wang, Liang Yan, Junjie Zheng, John William Kesterson, Clarita Poon
  • Patent number: 8018741
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Huynh, Mingliang Chen, Chuan Xiao, Mingfan Yu
  • Publication number: 20110194317
    Abstract: A voltage converter includes a transformer with a pair of primary coils and a secondary coil. The converter has a DC input and a capacitor bank, having a pair of capacitors, is connected across the DC input. A switch is associated with each primary coil. A gate drive feedback module outputs a pulse width modulated signal to drive either the first or second primary coil. A gate drive switch has as an input the pulse width modulated signal and outputs to the first second switch. A pulse steering logic module determines which of the first or second capacitors has a higher voltage and controls the gate drive switch to direct the pulse width modulated signal in response thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: ABB INC.
    Inventors: Donald J. Truettner, Kalyan P. Gokhale
  • Publication number: 20110176339
    Abstract: A signal transmission arrangement is disclosed. A voltage converter includes a signal transmission arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Martin Kerber, Jens-Peer Stengl, Uwe Wahl
  • Patent number: 7983061
    Abstract: The present invention provides a switching controller capable of reducing acoustic noise of a transformer for a power converter. The switching controller includes a switching circuit, a comparison circuit, an activation circuit, and an acoustic-noise eliminating circuit. The acoustic-noise eliminating circuit comprises a first-check circuit, a second-check circuit, a pulse-shrinking circuit, and a limit circuit. The first-check circuit receives a switching-current signal which is correlated to a switching current of the power converter and a PWM signal to generate a trigger signal. The second-check circuit receives the trigger signal to generate a control signal. When the frequency of the trigger signal falls into audio band, the control signal will be enabled to limit the switching current. Therefore, the acoustic noise of the transformer can be eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: System General Corporation
    Inventor: Ta-Yung Yang
  • Patent number: 7978484
    Abstract: A flyback AC/DC switching converter has a constant voltage (CV) mode. The CV mode has sub-modes. In one sub-mode (“mid output power sub-mode”), the output voltage (VOUT) of the converter is regulated using both pulse width modulation and pulse frequency modulation. Both types of modulation are used simultaneously. In a second sub-mode (“low output power sub-mode”), VOUT is regulated using pulse width modulation, but the converter switching frequency is fixed at a first frequency. By setting the first frequency at a frequency above the frequency limit of human hearing, an undesirable audible transformer humming that might otherwise occur is avoided. In some embodiments, the converter has a third sub-mode (“high output power sub-mode”), in which pulse width modulation is used but the switching frequency is fixed at a second frequency. By proper setting of the second frequency, undesirable EMI radiation and other problems that might otherwise occur are avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Grant, Zhibo Tao
  • Patent number: 7974110
    Abstract: A switching power supply unit is provided which provides improved response for frequency switching with a smooth rise in voltage. The switching power supply unit includes: a rectifier circuit for rectifying an alternating current from an AC power source into a direct current; a switching circuit for switching the current rectified by this rectifier circuit using a switching device; a pulse oscillator circuit for outputting a switching signal to the switching device; and a transformer circuit for stepping a voltage up or down depending on the current switched by this switching circuit. A frequency switching unit is also used to detect a pulse output from the switching circuit. Based on the state of this pulse output, the frequency switching unit changes a resistance using resistors, thereby switching the frequency of the switching signal in the pulse oscillator circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Ecopower Design Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukio Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7969753
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Huynh, Mingliang Chen, Chuan Xiao, Mingfan Yu
  • Patent number: 7965524
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power supply regulator is disclosed. One controller includes a feedback circuit coupled to generate a feedback current signal that corresponds to a peak switching current in response to a sense signal from a power supply regulator output. A comparator is coupled to compare the feedback current signal with a reference voltage. A modulation circuit is coupled to the feedback circuit to generate a pulse width modulated switching signal with fixed switching frequency in response to the feedback current signal and the reference voltage. A multi-cycle modulator circuit is coupled to the output of the comparator. The multi-cycle modulator circuit is coupled to enable or disable a switch signal from the controller to be coupled to a switch of the power supply regulator. A group of two or more consecutive switching cycles is separated from a next group having two or more switching cycles by a time of no switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Arthur B. Odell
  • Patent number: 7960952
    Abstract: A switching mode power supply and a switch thereof are provided. The switch includes a plurality of first transistors, and a second transistor that is turned on/off by a control signal that is equal to that of the plurality of first transistors and in which a second current corresponding to a first current flowing to the plurality of first transistors flows, wherein a ratio of the first current to the second current sequentially changes from a time point at which the second transistor is turned on. Therefore, a switching mode power supply and a switch thereof that can always uniformly sustain a maximum limit current flowing to the switch regardless of a level of an input voltage without including a special additional circuit can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Gwan-Bon Koo, Jin-Tae Kim, Yoo-Woong Hwang, Kyung Oun Jang, Jin-Woo Moon, Sang-Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 7957162
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a switch mode power supply and a driving method for reducing switching loss and audible noise in the burst mode. The switch mode power supply includes a main switch, a power supply, an output unit, and a switch controller. The power supply includes a transformer having a primary coil connected to the main switch, and supplies power to a secondary coil of the transformer according to the operation of the main switch. The output unit is connected to the secondary coil of the transformer and outputs power supplied to the secondary coil of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hang-Seok Choi, Jae-Hwoan Chi
  • Publication number: 20110122660
    Abstract: A method of controlling an output voltage of a pulse width modulation (PWM) converter with a PWM signal driving a power switch of the converter may include using a comparator to compare a reference voltage with a scaled output voltage of the converter, incrementing or decrementing an up/down counter at each pulse of a clock signal applied to the counter depending on a state of the comparator, and controlling the comparator to generate the PWM signal with a control voltage selected from a look-up table using a value of the counter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Fabio Cacciotto
  • Publication number: 20110110126
    Abstract: An example controller for use in a power supply in accordance with the present teachings includes a drive signal generator, a jitter signal generator and a compensator signal generator. The drive signal generator is coupled to output a drive signal having a switching period and a duty ratio to control switching of a switch that is to be coupled to the controller. The jitter signal generator is coupled to provide a jitter signal, where the switching period of the drive signal varies in response to the jitter signal. The compensator signal generator is coupled to provide a compensator signal responsive to the jitter signal, where the duty ratio of the drive signal is varied in response to the compensator signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew John Morrish
  • Publication number: 20110109248
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provided a DC/DC converter. The DC/DC converter includes a transformer, a first controller and a first switch. The transformer has a primary winding coupled to a power source, a first secondary winding for providing a first output voltage and a second secondary winding for providing a second output voltage. The first controller is coupled to the primary winding for controlling input power to the primary winding to regulate the first output voltage. The switch is coupled to the second secondary winding and for regulating the second output voltage. The first switch is controlled by a pulse modulation signal. A current flows through the second secondary winding if the pulse modulation signal is in the first state, and the current flowing through the second secondary winding remains cut-off if the pulse modulation signal is in the second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventor: Da LIU
  • Publication number: 20110096574
    Abstract: A switching power controller circuit comprises a first terminal pin for a high potential of a power supply for the controller circuit, a second terminal pin for providing output of switch drive signals and for receiving feedback signals, and a third terminal pin for receiving external current signals and for a low potential of the power supply. The switching power controller further comprises a clock generator, a pulse width modulation (PWM) generator, a reference generator, a power switch driver, a feedback signal sampler, a PWM comparator and a floating sampler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventor: Yu Mei Huang
  • Publication number: 20110085359
    Abstract: In order to convert an input power to one or more DC power levels that are provided to an output load, some aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for driving a switching regulator as a function of a pulsed voltage signal. In particular, this pulsed voltage signal is provided substantially at a target frequency, but exhibits frequency jitter that causes the pulsed voltage to vary slightly from the target frequency in time. The frequency jitter has a frequency range that varies as a function of the output load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Xiaowu Gong, Siu Kam Kok, Yaw Hann Thian
  • Publication number: 20110084949
    Abstract: A display device including an e-paper device and a power converter is provided. The e-paper device displays information. The power converter generates a plurality of output voltages respectively at a plurality of output terminals and provides the plurality of output voltages to the e-paper device. The power converter includes a transformer and a plurality of diodes. The transformer has a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings. The diodes are electrically connected between the secondary windings and the output terminals for generating the output voltages, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Ming-Chih Chiu, Wen-Pin Liu, Rong Hsu
  • Publication number: 20110075450
    Abstract: During a soft start period at the time of startup, a PWM control is carried out. After the soft start period ends, the PWM control is converted into a frequency control, so that stress of a switching element is suppressed and the audible oscillation frequency is removed. As a result, it is possible to obtain a switching power supply device having high power conversion efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaaki Shimada
  • Patent number: 7911814
    Abstract: A flyback converter includes a controller integrated circuit (IC) housed in an IC package with only three terminals. An inexpensive TO-92 transistor package can be used. A switch terminal is coupled to an inductor switch that is turned on by a switch control signal having a frequency and a pulse width. The inductor switch controls the current that flows through a primary inductor of the flyback converter. The controller IC adjusts the frequency in a constant current mode such that output current remains constant and adjusts the pulse width in a constant voltage mode such that output voltage remains constant. A power terminal receives a feedback signal that is derived from a voltage across an auxiliary inductor of the flyback converter. The feedback signal provides power to the controller IC and is also used to generate the switch control signal. The controller IC is grounded through a ground terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhibo Tao, David Kunst, Steven Huynh
  • Publication number: 20110063880
    Abstract: A control circuit for use in a power converter in one aspect limits the magnetic flux in a transformer. Controlled current sources produce a first current that is proportional to an input voltage of the power converter and a second current that is proportional to a reset voltage of the transformer. An integrating capacitor is charged with the first current and discharged with the second current, where a voltage on the capacitor is representative of the magnetic flux in the transformer. A logic circuit is adapted to turn off the switch when the voltage on the integrating capacitor is greater than or equal to a first threshold voltage, and to allow the switch to turn on and off in accordance with a pulse width modulation signal after a delay time that begins when the integrating capacitor discharges to a second threshold voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Robert J. Mayell
  • Patent number: 7903435
    Abstract: A switching controller having switching frequency hopping for a power converter includes a first oscillator generating a pulse signal and a maximum duty-cycle signal for determining a switching frequency of a switching signal, a pattern generator having a second oscillator and generating a digital pattern code in response to a clock signal, a programmable capacitor coupled to the pattern generator and the first oscillator for modulating the switching frequency of the switching signal in response to the digital pattern code, and a PWM circuit coupled to the first oscillator for generating the switching signal in accordance with the maximum duty-cycle signal. A maximum on-time of the switching signal is limited by the maximum duty-cycle signal. The switching signal is utilized to switch a transformer of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventors: Wei-Hsuan Huang, Jenn-Yu G. Lin, Ta-Yung Yang
  • Publication number: 20110051472
    Abstract: Method and system for efficient power control with multiple modes. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a power system with selectable power modes. The power system includes a first terminal for outputting energy, and the first terminal is electrically coupled to a load. The system also includes a pulse-frequency modulation (PFM) component that is configured to adjust a pulse frequency based on the load. The system additionally includes a pulse-width modulation (PWM) component that is configured to adjust a pulse width based on the load. The system further includes a switch that is electrically coupled to the first terminal. Also, the system includes a control component, the control component being configured to provide a control signal that is capable of causing the switch to be turned on or off. The control signal is associated with an output of the PWM component and the pulse width if an output is greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: ON-BRIGHT ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiuhong Zhang, Zhen Zhu, Yaming Cao, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 7898823
    Abstract: Disclosed is a switching converter without an auxiliary winding. The switching converter has a transformer, a switching transistor, a coupling circuit and a regulating circuit. The transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding, and is for transforming an input voltage into an output voltage; a first end of the switching transistor is coupled to the primary winding of the transformer, and the switching transistor is for controlling an operation of the transformer according to a control signal; the coupling circuit is for coupling a signal at the first end of the switching transistor to generate a coupled signal; and the regulating circuit is for detecting the coupled signal to generate the control signal according to the detecting result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Leadtrend Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Tsung-Hsiu Wu