With Starting Arrangement Patents (Class 363/49)
  • Publication number: 20120230069
    Abstract: A startup control circuit with an acceleration startup function and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The startup control circuit is applied to a power supply. A power switch, which is coupled to a primary-side winding of a transformer, is switched to control the transformer, thus adjusting the output voltage of the power supply. The startup control circuit mainly includes a capacitor and a startup control apparatus. The startup control apparatus includes an enable switch unit and a power control unit. By turning on and turning off the enable switch unit of the startup control apparatus, the acceleration startup control and the stable output power of the power supply can be implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Ren-Huei TZENG, Ching-Hao Li, Jian-He Li
  • Patent number: 8237420
    Abstract: An inrush current suppressing circuit connected between a power supply and a working circuit of an electronic device includes a first power supply circuit and a second power supply circuit both connected between the power supply and the working circuit. The first power supply circuit suppresses inrush current and forwards power from the power supply to the working circuit when the electronic device is powered on. The second power supply circuit forwards power from the power supply to the working circuit when the power supply reaches a predetermined voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignees: Ambit Microsystems (Shanghai) Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: An Liu
  • Patent number: 8223513
    Abstract: An inverter includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit, a direct current (DC) voltage input terminal, a storage capacitor, a first transformer, a soft start circuit, and a first transistor. The PWM circuit includes a first output terminal. The first transformer includes a first primary winding. The first primary winding includes a first terminal and a second terminal capable of being grounded via the storage capacitor. The soft start circuit includes an inductor and a first capacitor. A gate electrode of the first transistor is connected to the first output terminal. A source electrode of the first transistor is connected to the first terminal of the first transformer via the inductor. A drain electrode of the first transistor is connected to the DC voltage input terminal and connected to the source electrode via the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignees: Innocom Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Chimei InnoLux Corporation
    Inventors: Li-Jun Zhao, Tong Zhou
  • Patent number: 8213187
    Abstract: A power supply control circuit for use in a power supply is disclosed. An example power supply control circuit includes a power switch coupled between first and second terminals. The first terminal is to be coupled to a positive input supply rail of the power supply. The second terminal is to be coupled to an energy transfer element input of the power supply. A sampling circuit is coupled to a third terminal. The sampling circuit coupled to sample a signal across the energy transfer element input of the power supply during an off time of the power switch to provide a sampled output of the power supply. The sampled output of the power supply is disabled from being be resampled by the sampling circuit during an on time of the power switch. A control circuit coupled to the sampling circuit and the power switch, the control circuit coupled to switch the power switch in response to the sampled output of the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Publication number: 20120163047
    Abstract: A startup circuit includes a MOSFET that is connected between a startup power source and an auxiliary power source made of a smoothing capacitor and passes a startup current from the startup power source to the smoothing capacitor, a JFET that has a drain terminal connected to a drain terminal of the MOSFET and a source terminal connected through a resistor to a gate terminal of the MOSFET, and a pinch-off voltage controller that controls a pinch-off voltage of the JFET to a first reference voltage at startup and to a second reference voltage, which is lower than the first reference voltage, after startup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki KUBOTA, Satoshi Kondou
  • Patent number: 8207715
    Abstract: A soft-start circuit to generate and output a soft-start voltage having a specified gradient. The soft-start circuit includes a slope voltage generator circuit to generate and output multiple slope voltages having different specified gradients, including a steepest slope voltage whose gradient is steepest among the gradients of the multiple slope voltages and a mildest slope voltage whose gradient is mildest thereamong, at least one voltage conversion circuit to receive the slope voltages and output a voltage whose gradient is milder than the gradient of the steepest slope voltage, and a selection circuit to receive at least one specified reference voltage and the voltage generated by the voltage conversion circuit, compare the voltage by the voltage conversion circuit with the specified reference voltage, and output either the voltage or the specified reference voltage as the soft-start voltage in accordance with a comparison result generated by the selection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Gotoh
  • Publication number: 20120155127
    Abstract: Soft start circuits for a switching power converter include an amplifier configured to operate from a common bias node and amplify a difference between a positive input and a negative input to generate an amplifier output. A soft start bias circuit supplies a soft start bias current during a soft start process for the switching power converter. An operational bias circuit supplies an operational bias current after the soft start process. In some embodiments, a capacitor is operably coupled to the amplifier output and is configured to provide a frequency compensation for the switching power converter and a charging ramp for the soft start process. In some embodiments, the soft start circuit is configured such that the soft start bias current is at least an order of magnitude smaller than the operational bias current and limits a current that the amplifier can during the soft start process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: A. Paul Brokaw
  • Publication number: 20120146584
    Abstract: A method and a circuit for energizing an electrical device are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SONY ERICSSON MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
    Inventor: Gunnar Klinghult
  • Patent number: 8194427
    Abstract: A switching power supply device includes: a transformer having a primary winding, a secondary winding and an auxiliary winding; a switching element connected to the primary winding of the transformer; a control circuit that performs an ON/OFF control for the switching element in a case where a voltage is inputted to the primary winding of the transformer, thereby induces voltages in the secondary winding and auxiliary winding of the transformer; a rectifying/smoothing circuit for rectifying and smoothing the voltage induced in the secondary winding of the transformer and outputting the voltage to a load; an auxiliary power supply circuit that rectifies and smoothes the voltage induced in the auxiliary winding of the transformer, and charges a capacitor owned by the auxiliary power supply circuit with the voltage to thereby supply power to the control circuit; and a starting circuit that supplies a current to the capacitor of the auxiliary power supply circuit in a case of starting the control circuit and in a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Shimada
  • Publication number: 20120120688
    Abstract: A startup circuit for use in a DC-DC converter having an input voltage terminal and an output voltage terminal, with the output voltage terminal connected to an output capacitor and with said converter including a pass transistor for transferring charge from the input terminal to the output terminal. The startup circuit includes a control circuit configured to cause the pass transistor to conduct an output current during start up when the output terminal voltage is approaching a final regulated voltage, with the output current being comprised of first and second current components, with the first current component being proportional to the output voltage and the second current component being proportional to the input voltage, with the two components being combined so as to resist changes in the power dissipation in the pass transistor during startup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Siew K. Hoon, Mengzhe Ma
  • Patent number: 8169802
    Abstract: Disclosed are a switch controller, a switch control method, a converter using the same, and a driving method thereof. A first voltage is generated by using a voltage that is input to an input terminal, and a soft start signal is generated by using the first voltage during a soft start duration. A switching operation is controlled by using the soft start signal during the soft start duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Tae Kim, Gwan-Bon Koo, Hang Seok Choi
  • Patent number: 8169207
    Abstract: A power supply device has an error amplifier producing an error voltage by amplifying a difference between a feedback voltage according to an output voltage and a predetermined reference voltage, an output portion producing a desired output voltage from an input voltage in such a way that the error voltage is reduced, and a clamping portion setting, during a predetermined period after startup of the power supply device, an upper limit of the error voltage to a value that is lower than a value obtained at normal times, such that the lower the input voltage the higher the upper limit, the higher the input voltage the lower the upper limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Omi
  • Patent number: 8169803
    Abstract: A power transistor chip and an application circuit thereof have a junction field effect transistor to act as a start-up circuit of an AC/DC voltage converter. The start-up circuit can be turned off after the PWM circuit of the AC/DC voltage converter operates normally to conserve the consumption of the power. Besides, the junction field effect transistor is built in the power transistor chip. Because the junction field effect transistor is fabricated with the same manufacturing process as the power transistor, it is capable of simplifying the entire process and lowering the production cost due to no additional mask and manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chih-Feng Huang, Kuo-Chin Chiu
  • Publication number: 20120099350
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a threshold detection circuit that is coupled to measure a signal from a first resistive external circuit coupled between a fourth external terminal of the integrated circuit and a first external terminal of the integrated circuit during a duration of an initialization period after the fourth external terminal has been charged to a supply threshold value. A regulator circuit is coupled to charge the fourth external terminal to the supply threshold value during the initialization period of the integrated circuit. A selection circuit is coupled to the threshold detection circuit to select a parameter/mode of the integrated circuit in response to the signal measured from the first resistive external circuit during the duration of the initialization period after the fourth external terminal has been charged to the supply threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Robert J. Mayell, Kent Wong
  • Patent number: 8159842
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a power converter with extremely low standby power consumption for converting an input AC power to an output DC power, comprising: a DC supply voltage generating unit, used for generating a DC supply voltage; a pulse width modulation controller, used for generating a pulse width modulation signal according to a feedback voltage of the output DC power; and an isolated actuating switch, placed between the DC supply voltage generating unit and the pulse width modulation controller, for controlling the supply of the DC supply voltage to the pulse width modulation controller, according to a switch signal from a loading device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Chicony Power Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fu-Sung Chen, Sen-Chi Lin, Ming-Ho Huang
  • Patent number: 8149602
    Abstract: A PSE configured to determine the end of the start up phase at the PD responsive to a condition of the voltage at the PSE output. In one particular embodiment, the startup phase end is determined responsive to a PSE output voltage within a predetermined range of the PSE input voltage. In another particular embodiment, the startup phase end is determined responsive to the voltage drop associated with the PSE current limiter being lower than a predetermined maximum. In yet another particular embodiment, the startup phase end is determined responsive to the absolute value of the rate of change of the PSE output voltage being lower than a predetermined value. In yet another particular embodiment, the startup phase end is determined responsive to the absolute value of the rate of change of the voltage drop associated with the PSE current limiter being lower than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Microsemi Corp.-Analog Mixed Signal Group, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yair Darshan
  • Patent number: 8143954
    Abstract: A device can be coupled to an electrical load for supplying electrical power to the electrical load. The device contains an oscillator unit and an auxiliary oscillator unit. The oscillator unit is configured to generate an output signal of the device which can be supplied to the electrical load and which has a first frequency. The auxiliary oscillator unit is electrically coupled to the oscillator unit. The auxiliary oscillator unit is configured to excite the oscillator unit to oscillate at a second frequency greater than the first frequency. The auxiliary oscillator unit contains a timing element which is configured and arranged to terminate the excitation of the oscillator unit after the expiration of a pre-specified period of time after the start of the oscillator unit and the auxiliary oscillator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Bolz
  • Publication number: 20120057379
    Abstract: A power supply circuit for an electrical appliance, including a turning-on stage configured for determining a transition from a turned-off state, in which the power supply circuit is off and does not supply electric power, to a turned-on state of the power supply circuit. The turning-on stage includes a transducer of the remote-control type configured for triggering the transition in response to the reception of a wireless signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Natale Aiello
  • Patent number: 8129965
    Abstract: A low dropout regulator includes an error amplifier, an N-type depletion MOSFET, a first switch, a second switch, a low-pass filter resistor, and a low-pass filter capacitor. By switching on both the first switch and the second switch, a voltage level of an output node at a negative input terminal of the error amplifier may be rapidly raised to be close to and lower than a voltage level of an input node at a gate of the N-type depletion MOSFET. Both the first switch and the second switch are then switched off immediately so that the voltage level of the output node is gradually raised to be equal to the voltage level of the input node through the low-pass filter resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Analog Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shun-Hau Kao, Mao-Chuan Chien, Chih-Liang Huang
  • Patent number: 8129963
    Abstract: The invention relates to a DC to DC converter comprising a DC to DC converter unit (DCW), a first field effect transistor (FET1) for the voltage conversion, a bipolar transistor (BP1) as a starting aid, and a second field effect transistor (FET2) for switching-off the bipolar transistor (BP1). Said bipolar transistor (BP1) is mounted in parallel with the first field effect transistor (FET1), and the second field effect transistor (FET2) is mounted upstream of the bipolar transistor (BP1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Hagemeyer, Peter Himmelreich
  • Publication number: 20120051101
    Abstract: A power inverter system includes a plurality of power semiconductor switching devices. Each switching device includes a corresponding gate turn off resistance configured to increase during starting up periods of the inverter system such that the open circuit voltage of a corresponding power source providing power to the power inverter system does not exceed the switching device blocking voltage ratings during the corresponding switching turn-off periods. The starting up period is the time required to bring the corresponding power source voltage from its open circuit voltage level to a predetermined voltage which constitutes a safe operating condition for the plurality of power semiconductor switching devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Said Farouk Said El-Barbari, Anthony William Galbraith
  • Publication number: 20120051102
    Abstract: A power converter system includes a converter configured to be coupled to a power generation unit for receiving power from the power generation unit, and a bus coupled to the converter, wherein a voltage is generated across the bus when electricity is conducted through the power converter system. The power converter system also includes an inverter coupled to the bus and configured to supply power to an electrical distribution network, and a control system coupled to the converter and to the inverter. The control system is configured to gradually adjust the voltage across the bus during at least one of a shutdown sequence and a startup sequence of the power converter system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, David Smith
  • Patent number: 8120343
    Abstract: According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent an overcurrent from passing through a switching element 1 during overcurrent protection and reduce power consumption during standby while detecting an output voltage immediately after power-on and achieving soft start control without being restricted by time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kunimatsu
  • Publication number: 20120039096
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a startup circuit for a power supply is provided. The startup circuit comprises a resistance coupled between a voltage source and a first node. A first capacitor, coupled to the first node, is operable to be charged by current flowing through the resistance. A first transistor has an emitter, a base, and collector, wherein the collector is coupled to the voltage source and the base is coupled to the first node. A diac circuit. coupled to the emitter of the first transistor, is operable to fire to turn on the first transistor, thereby allowing discharge of the first capacitor through the base-emitter junction of the first transistor. A second capacitor is operable to be charged by current related to a discharge voltage resulting from the firing of the diac circuit. The second capacitor operable to store charge to provide VCC voltage to a controller of the power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventor: Richard A. Dunipace
  • Patent number: 8116106
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to select functional parameters and/or operating modes of a circuit based on a measurement during an initialization period. In one aspect an integrated circuit includes a threshold detection circuit coupled to measure during an initialization period of the integrated circuit a signal from a first external circuit comprising one or more components coupled to a first external terminal of the integrated circuit. A selection circuit is coupled to the threshold detection circuit to select a parameter/mode of the integrated circuit in response to the signal from the first external circuit during the initialization period of the integrated circuit. The first external terminal is further coupled to one or more additional external circuits, each of which comprising one or more components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Robert J. Mayell, Kent Wong
  • Publication number: 20120033449
    Abstract: A control module includes a control unit that is configured to control an electrically adjustable item of furniture, and a switched mode power supply that is configured to supply the control unit. The control unit and power supply are integrated into a common housing. The switched mode power supply is configured to be switched to an idle operating state depending on a ready signal. The switched mode power supply includes, in a second stage, a switched mode regulator component, the supply voltage of which is made available in the idle operating state by a starting circuit in a clocked manner. The starting circuit has an energy store and a resistive element. The energy store and the resistive element are dimensioned so that, in the idle operating state, an interval for charging the energy is longer than an interval for discharging the energy store by the switched mode regulator component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: LOGICDATA Electronic & Software Entwicklungs GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Koch, Mario Schenk
  • Patent number: 8111529
    Abstract: An over current protection circuit and a power converter using the same. The over current protection circuit includes a soft start cell and an operational amplifier. The soft start cell outputs a soft start signal according to a direct current (DC) level, and the soft start signal increases progressively to the DC level in a soft start interval. The operational amplifier outputs an over current signal to a feedback control circuit according to the soft start signal and an inductance current of a switching converter so that a duty cycle of a driving signal from the feedback control circuit increases progressively in the soft start interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Lan-Shan Cheng, Chih-Yuan Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20120026762
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method of reducing a drop in voltage on a pre-biased output of a DC-DC step-down switching converter. A high side switch is activated to conduct a first current to the pre-biased output. After the high side switch is activated, a low side switch is activated to draw a second current from the pre-biased output such that the magnitude of the first current is greater than the magnitude of the second current for at least a portion of a time period T1. After the time period T1 ends, the magnitudes of the first and second currents are changed to maintain a predetermined voltage on the pre-biased output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Baoson Nguyen, Rex M. Teggatz, Li Li
  • Patent number: 8106644
    Abstract: A reference generator circuit generates a reference signal for use by a regulator in generating operational power for circuits and devices. A start-up circuit includes a self-biased voltage reference and a differential amplifier configured to generate a start-up signal to induce current flow in response to a voltage independent reference signal during a start-up phase of the circuit and cease inducing the current flow following the start-up phase of the circuit. The reference signal is generated by receiving a supply voltage and inducing current flow into a node of a bandgap reference circuit during a start-up phase of the bandgap reference circuit and ceasing inducing the current flow following the start-up phase of the bandgap reference circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Vignesh Kalyanaraman
  • Publication number: 20120014145
    Abstract: A startup circuit is installed in a switching power source apparatus. The startup circuit is configured to start up a controller with the use of a rectified voltage at startup of an AC power source and includes a detector (ZD3, Q4, Q6) to detect if the rectified voltage is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage, a timer 20 to count a predetermined time after the rectified voltage is detected to be equal to or lower than the predetermined voltage, and a discharger (R10, Q7) to discharge the rectified voltage if the rectified voltage does not become equal to or lower than a specified voltage within the predetermined time counted by the timer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kengo KOIKE
  • Patent number: 8084893
    Abstract: A semiconductor device controls a switching power supply. The semiconductor device includes a current inflow terminal; a starter circuit to cause a starting current to flow from the current inflow terminal to a power supply terminal to charge a capacitor externally connected to the power supply terminal; a control unit which controls the starter circuit to turn on to charge the capacitor with the starting current and controls the starter circuit to turn off to perform brown-out detection; a comparator which detects a brown-out state while the starter circuit is turned off; and a brown-out detection unit which receives output signals from the comparator and the control unit as inputs. The brown-out detection is performed while the starter circuit is off, so that the current inflow terminal for the starter circuit is used in common as a voltage detection terminal for detection of the brown-out state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanari Fujii
  • Publication number: 20110305051
    Abstract: A start-up circuit with low standby power loss for power converters according to present invention comprises a first diode and a second diode coupled to an input voltage of the power converter. A start-up resistor is coupled to the join of the first diode and the second diode. A high-voltage switch is coupled to the start-up resistor to generate a power source. A control circuit generates a switching signal for switching a transformer. A detection circuit generates a disable signal in response to the input voltage to disable the switching signal. A winding of the transformer is coupled to the power source to generate the power for the power source. The high-voltage switch is turned off to cut off the start-up resistor for saving the power loss once the voltage of the power source is higher than a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: SYSTEM GENERAL CORP.
    Inventors: TA-YUNG YANG, WEI-HSUAN HUANG, RUI-HONG LU
  • Patent number: 8072783
    Abstract: The invention relates to an input circuit for a logic circuit part, comprising a voltage converter component for conversion of a mains voltage to the required low voltage in order to supply a user with a low voltage. The supply to the input circuit may hence be connected to a mains supply to rectify the mains voltage and an output from the input circuit may be connected to the voltage converter component to provide a rectified input voltage for the voltage converter component. According to the invention, an improved input circuit for a logic circuit part with improved functionality and operating security also permitting an extensive miniaturization and simplified production may be achieved by replacement of at least two of the remaining four diodes in the rectifier part of an input circuit for a logic circuit part by two controllable switches which work as a synchronous rectifier and are connected such as to be switched on and off by alternate forced control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Power Systems Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Mörbe, Michael Bothe
  • Patent number: 8072784
    Abstract: An exemplary electronic device includes a controller, a first convertor, a second convertor, and a switching unit. The first convertor is configured for receiving a first voltage from an external power supply and converting the first voltage into a second voltage. The controller is coupled to the first convertor for generating a start signal when receiving the second voltage. The second convertor is connected to the controller for receiving the first voltage, converting the first voltage into a third voltage to power an operating unit of the electronic device, and converting the first voltage into a fourth voltage to power the controller when receiving the start signal. The switching unit is coupled to the controller and the first convertor for disabling the first convertor when the controller receives the fourth voltage. A related power supply unit is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Lung Hung, Tao Wang, Wen-Ming Chen, Wang-Chang Duan, Qiang Huang, Shi-Ming Zhang
  • Patent number: 8054656
    Abstract: A switching control circuit is coupled to a switching device and an auxiliary winding of a transformer, wherein a primary winding of the transformer is coupled to the switching device. The switching control circuit includes a voltage receiver, a comparing unit and a propagation delay circuit, wherein the voltage receiver is coupled to the auxiliary winding of the transformer for receiving a reflected voltage signal and transforming the reflected voltage signal into a peak voltage signal, while the switching device is turned off. The comparing unit is coupled to the voltage receiver for receiving the peak voltage signal and a first threshold voltage, and outputting a comparison result. The propagation delay circuit is coupled to the comparing unit for receiving the comparison result, and outputting a PWM signal to turn on the switching device after a delay time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventors: Ying-Chieh Su, Chih-Chi Chang
  • Patent number: 8050062
    Abstract: A system for supplying AC power from a DC power source, such as a photovoltaic array is disclosed. The system includes a converter and an inverter coupled by a DC link. Control methods and systems are provided to maintain the DC source voltage and the DC link voltage below the open-circuit voltage of the DC power source. During steady state conditions, the DC source voltage and the DC link voltage are maintained below the open-circuit voltage of the DC power source by controlling the output of the inverter. The DC link voltage is temporarily adjusted to allow for higher DC link transients when the DC power source is first coupled or re-coupled to the system. During conditions when the inverter is decoupled from the system, the converter is controlled to maintain the DC link voltage below the open-circuit voltage of the DC power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, David Smith, Anthony William Galbraith
  • Patent number: 8045348
    Abstract: A controller for a switching mode power supply includes two semiconductor chips. The first semiconductor chip has a high-voltage startup transistor coupled to a high voltage supply input terminal and configured to provide a charging current in a startup phase or protection mode of a switching mode power supply (SMPS) and to provide substantially no current in a normal operation phase of the SMPS. The second semiconductor chip has a control circuit for controlling the switching mode power supply. The second semiconductor chip also has first and second on-chip high-voltage resistors coupled to the high-voltage supply input terminal and the high-voltage startup transistor in the first semiconductor chip. The first and the second on-chip high-voltage resistors are configured to provide a voltage and a current related to a voltage at the high-voltage supply input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: BCD Semiconductor Manufacturing Limited
    Inventors: Yajiang Zhu, Zheng Ying, Xianfeng Liu, Yanping Wang
  • Publication number: 20110255315
    Abstract: A switching power supply device ensuring no voltage dip is caused by a sink current even if started with output voltage accumulated. When input voltage Vi is reapplied with output voltage Vo accumulated, supplying PWM signals to main switching element 9 and rectifying switching elements is stopped by output detection circuit 21 until a voltage produced by dividing output voltage Vo decreases to a first threshold allowable for energy caused by a sink current. Accordingly, inflow of the sink current immediately after reapplication of input voltage and the subsequent voltage dip are inhibited. Afterward, when the voltage produced by dividing the output voltage Vo decreases to the first threshold and then main switching element starts operating by PWM signal from control circuit 22, drive detection circuit 31 detects this condition to permit supplying PWM signal to rectifying switching elements 10, enabling inhibition of the subsequent inflow of the sink current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: TDK-Lambda Corporation
    Inventor: Masayoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 8036003
    Abstract: The present invention provides a switching power supply device capable of automatically restarting an electrical apparatus without a user operation when a voltage of the electrical apparatus or an operation of the electrical apparatus is abnormal. The switching power supply device is provided with a short-circuiting switch for a shunt regulator included in the feedback circuit. When an abnormal condition occurs in a secondary side circuit, the short-circuiting switch is turned on by means of a control signal to reduce a voltage of a primary side auxiliary winding and temporarily stop an operation of a primary side control circuit and of a switching element. A primary side capacitor continues to be charged by a power supply through a starting resistor. The primary side control circuit and the switching element automatically restart to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8031494
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switch-mode power converter including a bias circuit. A power converter power transformer includes a magnetic core. The switch-mode power converter power transformer also includes an initial bias primary winding and an initial bias secondary winding, both wound on the magnetic core, wherein the initial bias secondary winding shares at least one magnetic path in common with the initial bias primary winding. A driver is configured to drive the initial bias primary winding with high frequency pulses when enabled by an enable signal. A rectifier and capacitor are configured to provide a voltage to power a control circuit during a power converter start-up. A method provides an initial bias power for a power converter output side referenced controller, powering the output side referenced controller from the initial bias windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Power-One, Inc.
    Inventor: Milivoje Slobodan Brkovic
  • Publication number: 20110228575
    Abstract: A switching power supply has a start-up circuit that includes a field effect transistor (JFET), which has a gate region (a p-type well region) formed in a surface layer of a p-type substrate and a drift region (a first n-type well region). A plurality of source regions (second n-type well regions) are formed circumferentially around the drift region. A drain region (a third n-type well region) is formed centrally of the source region. The drain region and the source regions can be formed at the same time. A metal wiring of the source electrode wiring connected to source regions is divided into at least two groups to form at least two junction field effect transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru SAITO, Koji SONOBE
  • Publication number: 20110222322
    Abstract: A digital device generates a fixed duty cycle signal with an internal oscillator after a Power-On-Reset (POR). This fixed duty cycle signal is output on a signal pin that normally is used for a PWM control signal. The fixed duty cycle signal is used to stimulate the voltage generation circuits so as to power up the digital device for initialization thereof. Once the digital device has powered-up and initialized, the digital device switches over to normal operation for control of the power system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Bryan Kris, Sagar Khare, Mohammad Kamil
  • Patent number: 8018740
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method of reducing surge current in an LLC converter. The LLC converter comprises a switching circuit having a first switch and a second switch, a resonant circuit, and a rectification circuit. During start up of the LLC converter, first and second signals having a fixed period and a variable duty cycle are applied to the first and second switches respectively. When a predetermined voltage on a load configured to be coupled to the rectification circuit is reached, the first and second signals are changed to signals having a variable period and a fixed duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Bosheng Sun, Yuwei Luo, Zhong Ye
  • Publication number: 20110205767
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a converter of the multiphase interleaving type. According to the method, there is detected when a change of the load applied to an output terminal of the converter occurs. All the phases of the converter are simultaneously turned off, and a driving interleaving phase shift is recovered so as to restart a normal operation of the converter. A controller for carrying out such a method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.
    Inventors: Alessandro Zafarana, Osvaldo Zambetti
  • Publication number: 20110205768
    Abstract: A chain-link converter including one or more phases. The one or more phases each includes one or more series-connected converter cells. The chain-link converter includes a power source connected to a converter cell of one of the one or more phases. A cost-efficient start-up of the converter is provided. The invention also relates to a corresponding static compensator system and a method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventor: Jan R. Svensson
  • Publication number: 20110188275
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a method for starting up a DC-DC converter by which an output voltage can be prevented from overshooting and body diodes of switching devices can be prevented from reverse recovery. In the start-up method, the phases of gate signals of third and fourth switching devices are gradually shifted relative to the phases of gate signals of first and second switching devices. With increase of the phase shift, a voltage on a primary side of a transformer is also increased, and an output voltage is also increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuaki MINO
  • Publication number: 20110188274
    Abstract: A regulator for a switched mode power supply includes switching regulator logic, a counter and a switching transistor. The switching regulator logic is coupled to receive a feedback signal and to generate a switching signal in response. The feedback signal periodically cycles between a first state and a second state when the power supply operates normally. The counter is coupled to receive the feedback signal and an output of the counter indicates an auto-restart mode of the regulator in response to the feedback signal remaining in the first state for a predetermined count. The switching transistor is turned on and off in response to the switching signal when the output of the counter does not indicate the auto-restart mode and is disabled when the output of the counter indicates the auto-restart mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Alex Djenguerian, Leif Lund
  • Publication number: 20110182091
    Abstract: An automatic synchronous parallelization apparatus capable of suppressing an inrush current by automatically adjusting the magnitude, the frequency, and the phase of the voltage when a single-phase voltage-type DC-to-AC converting device performing an autonomous parallel operation is connected in parallel with an external single-phase AC voltage source. The automatic synchronous parallelization apparatus includes a synchronization detecting circuit, a voltage amplitude command value generating circuit, and a frequency command value generating circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Masaaki Ohshima, Shuichi Ushiki, Jinbin Zhao
  • Publication number: 20110176341
    Abstract: A start-up circuit to discharge EMI filter is developed for power saving. It includes a detection circuit detecting a power source for generating a sample signal. A sample circuit is coupled to the detection circuit for generating a reset signal in response to the sample signal. The reset signal is utilized for discharging a stored voltage of the EMI filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: SYSTEM GENERAL CORP.
    Inventor: WEI-HSUAN HUANG
  • Patent number: 7982415
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting apparatus includes a switch circuit for DC/AC converting, a discharge lamp connected to a secondary winding of a transformer, a current detector detecting an AC output current of the discharge lamp, an error amplifier outputting an error signal to a detected current, a control circuit generating control signals that turn on/off the switching elements in such a way as to control the AC output current at a predetermined value, and a time division signal generator generating a time division signal at the start of an ON/OFF operation of the switching elements, wherein the time division signal delays a change in a burst dimming signal or has a predetermined inclination on the burst dimming signal. The error amplifier changes the error signal according to the time division signal from the time division signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kengo Kimura