Including Automatic Or Integral Protection Means Patents (Class 363/50)
  • Patent number: 11894779
    Abstract: A power converter can include a DC-DC converter stage having an input coupled to an input of the power converter and an output coupled to an output of the converter and an active power buffer coupled to the output of the power converter. The active power buffer can further include an energy storage capacitor and one or more switching devices selectively coupling the energy storage capacitor to the output of the power converter so as to alternately store energy in and discharge energy from the energy storage capacitor. Control circuitry of the power converter can include a first control loop that operates the DC-DC converter stage to regulate an average voltage across the energy storage capacitor of the active power buffer and a second control loop that operates the one or more switching devices of the active power buffer to regulate an output voltage of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chanwit Prasantanakorn, Bharat K Patel
  • Patent number: 11791710
    Abstract: A stacked half bridge converter may be configured to provide an AC output voltage from either a DC or an AC input voltage. The switching devices of the converter may be operated according to a plurality of switching sequences, each switching sequence including one or more switching patterns, each switching pattern including one or more switching states of the switching devices. The switching sequences, patterns, and states may be selected to improve operation of the converter, by regulating the voltage at a neutral point of the converter to reduce ripple, increase switching efficiency, protect the switching devices from overvoltages, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jie Lu, Brandon Pierquet, Ashish K. Sahoo
  • Patent number: 11711008
    Abstract: A loss optimization control method for modular multilevel converters (MMCs) under fault-tolerant control is disclosed. The method includes the following steps: when a fault of a SM in a MMC occurs, bypassing the faulty SM to achieve fault-tolerant control; suppressing the fundamental circulating current using a fundamental circulating current controller; respectively calculating the loss of each SM in faulty arms and healthy arms by using loss expressions of different switching tubes in SMs of the MMC; aiming at the loss imbalance between the arms of the MMC, taking the loss of a healthy SM as the reference, adjusting the period of capacitor voltage sorting control in the faulty SMs, achieving the loss control over the working SMs in the faulty SMs, and finally achieving the loss balance of each SM in the faulty arms and the healthy arms. Compared with the conventional methods, the proposed method is easier to implement and does not increase the construction cost of MMCs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: SOUTHEAST UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Fujin Deng, Mengyue Wang, Jifeng Zhao
  • Patent number: 11575329
    Abstract: A switching circuit for a current source inverter includes a first inverter leg, a second inverter leg, and a controller. The first inverter leg includes a first reverse-voltage-blocking (RB) switch, a second RB switch, and a third RB switch that are connected in series between a first bus line and a second bus line. The second inverter leg includes a fourth RB switch, a fifth RB switch, and a sixth RB switch are connected in series between the first bus line and the second bus line. The controller is configured to control a switch between an on-state and an off-state for each RB switch. When in the on-state, a reverse voltage is blocked by a respective RB switch, and a current with a positive polarity is conducted through the respective RB switch. When in the off-state, a voltage and the current are blocked by the respective RB switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Thomas Merlin Jahns, Hang Dai, Bulent Sarlioglu, Renato Amorim Torres
  • Patent number: 11394192
    Abstract: A power supply delivery system is provided. The power supply delivery system includes a source module and a load module. The source module includes an input coupled to a Class 1 power source, plural outputs coupled to plural Class 2 cables, and circuitry coupled to the input and the plural outputs. The circuitry splits power received via the input into a plural Class 2 channels and conducts the plural Class 2 channels to the plurality of outputs. The load module includes plural inputs coupled to the plural Class 2 cables, an output coupled to a Class 1 load, and circuitry coupled to the plural inputs and the output. The circuitry combines the plurality of Class 2 channels received via the plural inputs into a single Class 1 channel and conducts the single Class 1 channel to the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Gyrus Acmi, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Sargeant, Geophrey J. McComis
  • Patent number: 11391789
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for diagnosing an open fault of an LLC resonant converter based on a resonant capacitor voltage, including: specifying a proper threshold based on an amplitude of a resonant capacitor voltage when an LLC resonant converter works normally; sampling the resonant capacitor voltage after a fault occurs, and comparing the sampled resonant capacitor voltage with the specified threshold to diagnose the fault; and controlling phase shifting between bridge arms to locate the fault. Characterized by a high diagnosis speed, a low misdiagnosis rate, and good robustness, the method for diagnosing an open fault of an LLC resonant converter in the present disclosure is of great significance for ensuring uninterrupted running of the LLC resonant converter when the open fault occurs on the LLC resonant converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: CENTRAL SOUTH UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chunsheng Wang, Kaiyuan Tan, Jianhui Mao, Pengcheng Wang
  • Patent number: 11329550
    Abstract: A snubber circuit connected to a switching circuit, wherein the switching circuit including a higher side switch element connected between a high potential node and a switch node, a lower side switch element connected between the switch node and a reference potential node, and a bypass capacitor connected between the high potential node and the reference potential node, the snubber circuit comprising: a snubber capacitor; a diode; and a coil, wherein a negative electrode of the snubber capacitor is connected to the reference potential node, an anode of the diode is connected to the switch node and a cathode of the diode is connected to a positive electrode of the snubber capacitor, and one end of the coil is connected to the positive electrode of the snubber capacitor and the other end of the coil is connected to the high potential node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Shiomi
  • Patent number: 11323060
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes: a converter configured to convert alternating current power of an AC source into direct current power; an inverter configured to convert the direct current power in a DC link into alternating current power for motor driving by the switching device being subjected to ON/OFF control, a DC link voltage detection unit configured to detect a DC link voltage, a DC link voltage determination unit configured to determine whether the DC link voltage exceeds a voltage threshold value, an alarm signal output unit configured to output an alarm signal in an abnormal condition; and a switching control unit configured to perform ON/OFF control on the switching device, and, when the alarm signal is output and the DC link voltage exceeds the voltage threshold value, the switching control unit performs control in such a way as to turn on all the switching device of a lower arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Hironao Tanouchi, Naoki Masuda, Masato Watanabe, Hirokazu Nagai
  • Patent number: 11295785
    Abstract: A memory system and storage device are provided, including: an auxiliary power device having at least one capacitor, wherein the at least one capacitor has a first path for leakage current; a charging circuit including a switch connected to the auxiliary power device; and a state determining circuit connected to the auxiliary power device, wherein the state determining circuit includes a path circuit connected in parallel with the at least one capacitor to form a second path having at least one of a resistance lower than a resistance of the first path or a current source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Woosung Lee, Chunghyun Ryu, Hyoungtaek Lim
  • Patent number: 11245341
    Abstract: A control method of a multilevel converter includes: classifying power modules that start working, need to update an output state or stop working to form m power module groups; and controlling power modules in a same one of the power module groups to start working, update the output state or stop working at the same time, and sequentially controlling the m power module groups to start working, or update the output state or stop working, according to a preset time interval. The number of power modules in each power module group is less than or equal to a preset value, causing a change value of an output level of the each power module group to be less than or equal to a preset voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jianping Ying, Wei Xie, Lan Wei, Jianfei Zheng, Bingjie Liu, Dingkun Shen, Zhiming Hu, Wei Xu, Yang Liu
  • Patent number: 11245336
    Abstract: An over-current protection module for a flyback power supply having a transformer includes: a switch control unit, configured to generate a control signal in a first period to control a transistor switch coupled to a primary side of the transformer, wherein the transistor switch is turned on in a first duty cycle of the control signal and the transistor switch is turned off in a second duty cycle of the control signal; a transformation unit, configured to generate a compensation current according to the second duty cycle; a timing control unit, configured to output the compensation current to an impedance unit to generate an impedance cross voltage in a shut-off period of the transistor switch of the first period; and a current control unit, configured to determine an over-current reference voltage according to the impedance cross voltage for the over-current protection module in a second period following the first period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Infinno Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yuan-Kai Cheng, Chun-Chiang Chen
  • Patent number: 11228170
    Abstract: A power control device includes: an output voltage controller configured to control an output voltage based on a feedback voltage corresponding to the output voltage; and an overvoltage protector configured to continue or stop the operation of the output voltage controller based on a first detection result of whether the output voltage has exceeded an output voltage threshold value and a second detection result of whether the feedback voltage has fallen to or below a feedback voltage threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Okajima
  • Patent number: 11152852
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bidirectional DC/DC converter for transmitting energy between a high-voltage grid (HV) and a low-voltage grid (LV), comprising connections for a high-voltage battery (UHV) and a low-voltage battery (UNV). The converter comprises the following:—one or more transformers (1) for galvanically isolating the low-voltage grid (LV) from the high-voltage grid (HV), an intermediate circuit capacitor (CZK) in the high-voltage grid (HV),—electronic switches (D1 to D4, M1 to M4) for connecting and reversing the polarity of the coil of the transformer (1) on the high-voltage grid (HV) and on the low-voltage grid (LV),—a controller (2) for controlling the electronic switches (D1 to D4),—and a series inductance (W1) in the low-voltage grid (NV).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Emiliano Gudino Carrizales
  • Patent number: 11139733
    Abstract: Disclosed is a modular multilevel converter sub-module, including: a normal circuit which includes a first switching element and a second switching element connected in series and a first diode and a second diode respectively connected to be parallel to the first switching element and the second switching element to offset a counter electromotive force generated in the first switching element and the second switching element, a fault DC current blocking circuit which includes a capacitor connected to the normal circuit in parallel and applies a capacitor voltage to a DC fault path as a reverse voltage with respect to a fault voltage, and a bypass circuit which includes a third switch element, is connected to the fault DC current blocking circuit in parallel, and determines an output voltage and a direction of an arm current to provide a DC fault current bypass path when a DC fault current occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION, YONSEI UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kyeon Hur, Heejin Kim, Sangmin Kim, Jongseo Na, Ryangkyu Kim
  • Patent number: 11085956
    Abstract: A capacitor capacitance measurement device includes a discharge circuit which is connected in parallel to a charging circuit and a capacitor and in which a discharge switch and a discharge resistor are connected in series, a resistor voltage dividing circuit which is connected in parallel to the capacitor and in which a first resistor and a second resistor are connected in series, and a control device for sending a command to stop charging of the capacitor to the charging circuit, sending a conduction command to the discharge switch, measuring a voltage Va at a voltage division point of the resistor voltage dividing circuit, and calculating a capacitance of the capacitor from a drop in the voltage of the capacitor during discharge. On the basis of whether a time difference in the capacitor voltage drop is within a threshold, correct/false determination for capacitor capacitance measurement is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryo Nagayasu
  • Patent number: 11056968
    Abstract: A power converter capable of performing over-voltage protection and over-temperature protection converts an input voltage into an output voltage. A power switch is connected in series with a primary winding between the input voltage and an input ground. A power controller with a multi-function pin controls the power switch to control a winding current through the primary winding. The power converter has a multi-purpose circuit with first and second resistors, a rectifier and a thermistor. A connection node makes the first and second resistors connected in series between two ends of an auxiliary winding. The rectifier and the thermistor are connected in parallel between the multi-function pin and the connection node. The power controller can perform over-voltage protection and over-temperature protection via the multi-purpose circuit and the multi-function pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: WELTREND SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventors: Chun-Teh Chen, Yi Lun Shen, Yu-Yun Huang, Ren Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 11031872
    Abstract: A circuit includes an overshoot-and-undershoot (OU) signal generator generating a signal indicating detection of an overshoot or an undershoot of an output signal of the power converter. The circuit further includes a feedback signal modulator receiving a first feedback signal and the signal indicating detection of the overshoot or the undershoot and generating a second feedback signal in response to the first feedback signal and the signal indicating detection of the overshoot or the undershoot. The feedback signal modulator generates the second feedback signal that is different from the first feedback signal during a predetermined time interval after the signal indicating detection of the overshoot or the undershoot has been asserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hyun-Chul Eum, Tae-Sung Kim, Young-Jong Kim
  • Patent number: 11005266
    Abstract: There is provided an electrical assembly for use in a power transmission network. The electrical assembly includes a converter including terminals for connection to an electrical network, where the first terminal is a DC terminal. The assembly also includes a DC power transmission medium connected to the DC terminal, and a circuit interruption device including switching element(s) and an energy absorption element, each switching element being switchable to divert a flow of current in the DC power transmission medium through the energy absorption element in order to reduce the flow of current in the DC power transmission medium; The assembly also includes a converter control unit programmed to operate the converter to control a DC voltage at the DC terminal in a leakage current reduction mode to control a voltage across the energy absorption element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Robin Gupta, Robert Stephen Whitehouse, Carl David Barker
  • Patent number: 10884472
    Abstract: A method for adjusting operation parameters of a computer system based on power consumption of the computer system is disclosed. During a power state transition of the computer system, a voltage level of a power supply signal may be sampled at a plurality of time points to generate a multiple voltage level samples. A voltage level of a selected one of the multiple voltage level samples may be adjusted using a particular coefficient of multiple coefficients to generate an updated voltage level sample. A power consumption of the computer system may be determined using the updated voltage level sample, and based on the power consumption, at least one operation parameter of the computer system may be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Yufei Qian, Yifan YangGong, Sebastian Turullols
  • Patent number: 10833502
    Abstract: A system for controlling inrush current between a power source and a load includes an output capacitor coupled in parallel with the load, and a transistor having a gate, a collector configured to be coupled to the power source, and an emitter configured to be coupled to the load. The system also includes a supply resistor configured to be electrically coupled between the power source and the load and to provide a resistor charging current from the power source to the output capacitor to charge the output capacitor in response to initial power being provided by the power source. The system also includes a gate resistor having a first terminal coupled to the gate of the transistor to cause the transistor to operate in a linear mode in response to the initial power being provided by the power source to increase a speed of charging the output capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank Z. Feng, Randall Bax, Ryan W. Schmid, Huazhen (Harry) Chai
  • Patent number: 10811970
    Abstract: An object of this disclosure is to implement a Buck, Boost, or other switching converter, with a circuit to supply a reference voltage and Adaptive Voltage Positioning (AVP), by means of a servo and programmable load regulation. The reference voltage is modified, achieving a high DC gain, using a servo to remove any DC offset at the output of the switching converter. The correction implemented by the servo is measured, and a programmable fraction of the correction is injected back on either the reference voltage or the output feedback voltage. To accomplish at least one of these objects, a Buck, Boost, or other switching converter is implemented, consisting of an output stage driven by switching logic, with a servo configured between the reference voltage and the control loops of the Buck converter. The AVP function is implemented on either the reference voltage or output feedback voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Pietro Gallina, Vincenzo Bisogno, Mark Childs
  • Patent number: 10686442
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically matching a plurality of resistors to a sensor are disclosed. In the method and apparatus, a switching block of a plurality of switching blocks receives a plurality of selection signals. The switching block is coupled to a resistor array having a plurality of resistors that are coupled in series and arranged in a closed loop. Each two resistors are coupled to each other by a respective resistor node of a plurality of resistor nodes. The switching block of the plurality of switching blocks has a plurality of input nodes and an output node, where the output node is coupled to the respective resistor node of the plurality of resistor nodes. In the method and apparatus, the switching block couples an input node of the plurality of input nodes to the output node based on the selection signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS INTERNATIONAL N.V.
    Inventors: Tanmoy Sen, Aswani Aditya Kumar Tadinada
  • Patent number: 10673230
    Abstract: A bipolar DC power transmission scheme comprises: DC poles, each including a respective power transmission medium extending between two ends; a plurality of converters, wherein each end of the power transmission medium of the first pole is respectively operatively connected to a converter, and each end of the power transmission medium of the second pole is respectively operatively connected to a converters; a controller programmed to block one or more of the converters in response to a fault occurring on either of the first and second poles; and a monitoring device configured to identify the faulty poles on which the fault has occurred, wherein the controller is further programmed to deblock the or each blocked converter connected to the other of the poles after the monitoring device has identified the faulty one of the poles on which the fault has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Robin Gupta, Robert Stephen Whitehouse
  • Patent number: 10644584
    Abstract: A power controller provides open-circuit protection for a power supply when an open circuit occurs between a ground end of an auxiliary winding and an input ground. The power controller provides a PWM signal to determine an ON time and an OFF time of a power switch connected in series between an input voltage and the input ground. A deviation detector in the power controller detects a winding voltage at a floating end of the auxiliary winding during the ON time, and asserts an open protection signal when a variation of the winding voltage during the ON time fits a first predetermined condition, so as to keep the power switch turned OFF and provide the open-circuit protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: LEADTREND TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuan Hsien Chou, Fong Cheng Yang
  • Patent number: 10483861
    Abstract: A flyback converter controller is provided with a single terminal through which the flyback converter controller senses for over-voltage faults for an input voltage and also senses for open circuit faults for an auxiliary winding. A first voltage divider provides a divided version of the input voltage to the single terminal. The controller compares a voltage for the single terminal to at least one over-voltage threshold to detect the over-voltage fault for the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: DIALOG SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventors: Guang Feng, Jiang Yu, Qifeng Shi, Qiu Sha, Xiaolin Gao, Yong Xiong Lin
  • Patent number: 10477631
    Abstract: The present application discloses a power circuit applied in a LED load. The power circuit includes: a power converter configured to convert an input voltage into a DC output voltage; a first feedback module configured to detect the output voltage and an output current of the power converter, and to output a first feedback signal; a second feedback module configured to detect the output voltage and the output current of the power converter, and to output a second feedback signal, the second feedback module and the first feedback module being independent to each other; and a control circuit configured to output a control circuit according to the first feedback signal or the second feedback signal to control the power converter via the control signal so as to make the output power of the power converter smaller than a predetermined power threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaobo Wang, Xinghua Zhang
  • Patent number: 10432101
    Abstract: A first bridge circuit includes a first leg and a second leg. The first leg includes an upper arm and a lower arm. The upper arm includes a plurality of switching devices connected in series, a plurality of freewheeling diodes connected in antiparallel with the switching devices, respectively, and a plurality of snubber capacitors connected in parallel with the switching devices, respectively. A control circuit controls the first and second bridge circuits such that a dead time period is provided between a turn-on period of an upper arm and a turn-on period of a lower arm included in each of the first and second legs, in each of the first and second bridge circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takaharu Ishibashi, Takushi Jimichi, Kimiyuki Koyanagi
  • Patent number: 10404157
    Abstract: An AC-DC conversion device that includes a major circuit portion and a control circuit is provided. The major circuit portion includes a converter in which multiple switch portions in a bridge connection include separately-excited switching elements and snubber circuits connected in parallel with the switching elements; and the major circuit portion is connected to an alternating current power supply and a direct current circuit and applies, to the direct current circuit, an alternating current voltage applied from the alternating current power supply by an ON of the multiple switch portions. The control circuit controls the voltage applied to the direct current circuit by controlling the ON timing of the multiple switch portions by inputting a control pulse to each of the multiple switch portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Hattori, Teruo Yoshino, Tomohisa Okami
  • Patent number: 10284096
    Abstract: A control circuit controls a switch of a switching current converter receiving an input quantity, with a transformer having a primary winding and a sensor element generating a sensing signal correlated to a current in the primary winding. The control circuit has a comparator stage configured to compare a reference signal with a comparison signal correlated to the sensing signal and generate an opening signal for the switch. The comparator stage has a comparator element and a delay-compensation circuit. The delay-compensation circuit is configured to generate a compensation signal correlated to the input quantity and to a propagation delay with respect to the opening signal. The comparator element generates the opening signal with an advanced timing correlated to the input quantity and to the propagation delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Giovanni Gritti
  • Patent number: 10243511
    Abstract: Provided is a method for performing automatic modularity control of an inverter and an inverter that includes DC power sources configured to supply DC power, a plurality of converters to convert direct current power to alternating current power to be supplied to a load, and a controller. The controller performs automatic modularity control of the plurality of converters, by separately controlling the plurality of converters and detecting an operation status thereof and performs fault detection at the plurality of converters at an early stage and isolates a respective converter of the plurality of converters, while continuously supplying power to the load via remaining converters of the plurality of converters. The automatic modularity control further includes early fault detection based continuous monitoring of the current produced by each converter and semiconductor switching feedback and cyclic starting of the inverter to normalize the lifecycle of the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Datatreya Reddy Gollapudi, Britto Arputhanathan, Venkateswaran Mathurai
  • Patent number: 10164518
    Abstract: A power control device includes a switch control circuit, a first resistor, a second resistor, a third resistor, a sense node, a first comparator, a second comparator, a transformation circuit, and a logic control circuit. The switch control circuit outputs a driving signal according to a set signal and a reset signal. The first resistor, the second resistor, and the third resistor generate a reference voltage according to a feedback current. The sense node receives a current sample voltage. The first comparator outputs a first control signal according to the current sample voltage and the reference voltage. The transformation circuit outputs a short detection voltage according to the current sample voltage. The second comparator outputs the second control signal according to the current sample voltage and the short detection voltage. The logic control circuit gate outputs the reset signal according to the first control signal and the second control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: WELTREND SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventors: Yi-Lun Shen, Ren-Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 9995796
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for detecting arc-faults in a photovoltaic array are disclosed. Further, the detection not only identifies that an arc-fault is present in the array, but also classifies whether the arc-fault is a series type arc-fault or a parallel type arc-fault. Upon determination of the specific type of arc-fault that is at issue, de-energizing the arc-fault specific to the type is selected and carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventor: Jay Johnson
  • Patent number: 9991820
    Abstract: A multi-level converter is provided. The multi-level converter may include a plurality of direct current (DC) sources coupled in series to form a DC link, and at least one phase circuit coupled in parallel to the DC link. The phase circuit may include at least one flying capacitor, at least one output node, a first set of switching devices selectively coupling the flying capacitor to one or more of the DC sources at a first frequency, and a second set of switching devices selectively coupling the flying capacitor to the output node at a second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Yingying Kuai
  • Patent number: 9929675
    Abstract: An inverter apparatus is provided. The inverter apparatus includes a direct current to direct current (DC/DC) converter, a direct current to alternating current (DC/AC) converter and a control circuit. The DC/DC converter is arranged for converting an input power to a DC power according to a control signal. The DC/AC converter is coupled to the DC/DC converter, and is arranged for receiving the DC power, and generating an AC power according to the DC power. The control circuit is coupled to the DC/DC converter, and is arranged for generating the control signal according to a reference power and the input power so as to control an operation of the DC/DC converter, detecting the control signal to generate a detection result, and controlling the reference power according to the detection result so as to adjust a duty cycle of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: FSP TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Han-Wei Chen, Chun-Hao Yu, Chia-Hua Liu
  • Patent number: 9906138
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus including a flyback power conversion circuit, a control chip and a detection auxiliary circuit is provided. The flyback power conversion circuit receives and converts an input voltage into a DC output voltage. The control chip generates a PWM signal in response to a power supplying requirement to control the operation of the flyback power conversion circuit, wherein the control chip has a single multi-function detection pin. The detection auxiliary circuit assists the control chip to obtain a first detection voltage via the multi-function detection pin, such that the control chip performs a detection of an over temperature protection (OTP) and a detection of an over voltage protection (OVP) synchronously according to the first detection voltage. The first detection voltage is related to the DC output voltage or a thermal voltage of an environment temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Power Forest Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Po-Jen Ke
  • Patent number: 9881912
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a plurality of circuit units, and each of the circuit units includes, a first electrode, a second electrode; a first switching element and a second switching element electrically connected in series between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a third electrode electrically connected between the first switching element and the second switching element. The circuit units are arranged in an annular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazuto Takao, Shinya Kyogoku
  • Patent number: 9872353
    Abstract: An LED lighting device 2 according to this embodiment includes a lighting circuit that supplies a current to an LED, and a dimmer 7 that generates a PWM signal for controlling the supply of the current to the LED from the lighting circuit, in which the dimmer 7 feedback-controls the PWM signal that controls the supply of the current to the LED by comparing the output current to be output to the LED with a target current and feedforward-controls the PWM signal according to a fluctuation of an input voltage from a commercial power supply 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Motoaki Suzuki, Mamoru Kitamura, Keisuke Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9812945
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a circuit structure for enhancing EFT immunity of primary side converter, including a power ground and a feedback voltage detecting block, a feedback current detecting block, a controller, a PWM driving block, a high voltage starting block, a starting unit, a circuit for enhancing EFT immunity of primary side converter, a power MOS transistor, and an OR gate configured to perform a logical OR of an off-time calculated theoretically and an off-time output by an off-time control block. The present disclosure enhances EFT immunity effectively and improves the dynamic characteristics of the primary side converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Wuxi Chipown Micro-Electronics, Limited
    Inventors: Haisong Li, Ping Tao, Changshen Zhao, Yangbo Yi
  • Patent number: 9711101
    Abstract: An analogy voltage source circuit and a display apparatus. The circuit comprises: a voltage input terminal, a DC-DC converting circuit, a voltage output terminal, a duty ratio control circuit and an output voltage sampling circuit, wherein the output voltage sampling circuit is configured to feed back magnitude of an output voltage to the duty ratio control circuit, and the duty ratio control circuit is configured to control the magnitude of the output voltage of the DC-DC converting circuit according to the feedback of the output voltage sampling circuit. The circuit further comprises: a voltage regulating circuit having an input terminal for inputting a voltage regulating signal and an output terminal connected to the output voltage sampling circuit. The voltage regulating circuit controls to increase or decrease the feedback of the output voltage sampling circuit according to the voltage regulating signal, such that the output voltage from the voltage output terminal increases or decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiaopeng Liu
  • Patent number: 9712064
    Abstract: A power conversion method of a power conversion device including a primary-side port disposed in a primary-side circuit and a secondary-side port disposed in a secondary-side circuit magnetically coupled to the primary-side circuit with a transformer is provided, in which transmission power transmitted between the primary-side circuit and the secondary-side circuit is adjusted by changing a phase difference between switching of the primary-side circuit and switching of the secondary-side circuit. The power conversion method includes: determining whether the phase difference is zero; stopping transmission of electric power from the secondary-side circuit to the primary-side circuit when the phase difference is zero, the voltage of the primary-side port is equal to or greater than the first specified value, and the voltage of the secondary-side port is greater than the second specified value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Hirano
  • Patent number: 9692307
    Abstract: Power conversion apparatus converts input voltage and supplies output voltage to the electric load. The apparatus includes a semiconductor switch switches between open and closed states to regulate voltage control current for controlling output voltage, a first voltage detection section detects remote voltage being applied to the electric load as output voltage, a second voltage detection section detects a local voltage being applied to the output terminal as output voltage, a target current calculation section calculates target current which is the voltage control current target value, based on voltage deviation between target voltage which is the output voltage target value and either remote voltage or local voltage, and a switch control section controls the semiconductor switch so voltage control current becomes target current, to regulate output voltage to target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Iyasu, Kimikazu Nakamura, Yuuichi Handa
  • Patent number: 9570986
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for regulating a power conversion system. An example system controller includes a first controller terminal and a second controller terminal. The first controller terminal is configured to receive a first signal associated with an input signal for a primary winding of a power conversation system. The second controller terminal is configured to output a drive signal to a switch to affect a first current flowing through the primary winding of the power conversion system, the drive signal being associated with an on-time period, the switch being closed during the on-time period. The system controller is configured to adjust a duration of the on-time period based on at least information associated with the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiangkun Zhai, Yunchao Zhang, Jun Zhou, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 9537405
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a drive circuit coupled to control switching of a power switch of the power converter to regulate the output of the power converter. A limit sense circuit is coupled to output a limit sense signal in response to a condition of the power converter. The drive circuit is coupled to operate in a first operation mode if there is a no limit condition. The first operation mode includes regulating the output of the power converter with a regulated output voltage and a first maximum output current. The drive circuit is coupled to operate in a second operation mode if there is a limit condition. The second operation mode regulating the output of the power converter with the regulated output voltage and a second maximum output current wherein the second maximum output current is less than the first maximum output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Bäurle, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Patent number: 9515574
    Abstract: A modular embedded multi-level converter (MEMC) includes a first phase portion and a second phase portion. The first phase portion includes a first switch stack operable to couple a first phase branch between a positive DC bus and a midpoint node. The second phase portion includes a second switch stack operable to couple a second phase branch between the midpoint node and a negative DC bus. A DC voltage between the positive DC bus and the negative DC bus is distributable among switching units disposed in the first phase branch and the second phase branch. A distribution of the DC voltage is controlled by regulating a DC voltage at the midpoint node to balance energy among the switching units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Di Zhang, Luis Jose Garces, Andrew Allen Rockhill
  • Patent number: 9472969
    Abstract: An adapter includes a converter unit which increases at least one of voltage and current outputted from a battery pack and supply the increased the voltage and/or the current to a load, and a characteristic detection unit which detects at least one of the voltage outputted from the battery pack, the current outputted from the battery pack, a temperature of the battery pack, a voltage inputted to the load, a current inputted to the load and a temperature of the converter unit. The adapter further includes a control unit configured to control the converter unit to increase each of said at least one of the voltage and the current outputted from the battery pack to a corresponding reference value and perform a control operation of suppressing such increase to prevent an occurrence of over-current or over-discharge based on at least one detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kaizo, Tadashi Arimura, Toshiharu Ohashi
  • Patent number: 9405650
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the health of a peripheral component of an information handling system. An aggregation logic circuit coupled to a communication path provides data communication with each of a plurality of electrical circuits disposed on the peripheral component, the aggregation logic circuit providing a feedback signal representative of the health of the peripheral component during operation of the peripheral component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Timothy Michael Lambert, Pedro Lopez, Jinsaku Masuyama
  • Patent number: 9136079
    Abstract: An electronic trip unit having a number of trip unit settings includes: a first input member; a second input member; a multi-position selector configured to select one of plurality of positions corresponding to values of the trip unit settings; a plurality of indicators each corresponding to one of the plurality of trip unit settings; and a processor having a routine, wherein the routine of the processor is structured to, in response to actuation of the first input member, increment a ring counter value and selectively activate one of the indicators corresponding to the ring counter value; and wherein the routine of the processor is further structured to, in response to actuation of the second input member, set a value of the trip unit setting corresponding to the activated indicator based on the selected position of the multi-position selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harry J. Carlino, David R. Rohn, Jon E. Hymel
  • Patent number: 9136688
    Abstract: The method of detecting an arc fault in a power circuit includes determining a first signal related to current flowing in the power circuit is determined and analyzing the first signal to determine whether the signal indicates the presence of an electric arc in the power circuit. In case the first signal indicates the presence of an electric arc in the power circuit, means for suppressing an electric arc are activated. A second signal related to current flowing in the power circuit is then determined and analyzed. An occurrence of an arc fault in the power circuit is signaled if the second signal does not indicate the presence of an electric arc. The system for detecting an arc fault is designed to perform a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Joachim Laschinski, Marcel Kratochvil, Markus Hopf, Andreas Falk
  • Patent number: 9065273
    Abstract: A power adaptor for converting an alternating voltage into a direct voltage to a load is disclosed. The power adaptor includes a primary side circuit including a hot line, a neutral line for receiving the alternating voltage, and a return terminal, a secondary side circuit including a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal for outputting the direct voltage, and a protection circuit including a first non-linear resistor coupled to the return terminal of the primary side circuit and the negative output terminal of the secondary side circuit forming an electrostatic discharge path for an electrostatic current generated by the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Lung-Fai Tuen, Chiu-Hsien Chang
  • Patent number: 9041339
    Abstract: A system and method for digital management and control of power conversion from battery cells. The system utilizes a power management and conversion module that uses a CPU to maintain a high power conversion efficiency over a wide range of loads and to manage charge and discharge operation of the battery cells. The power management and conversion module includes the CPU, a current sense unit, a charge/discharge unit, a DC-to-DC conversion unit, a battery protection unit, a fuel gauge and an internal DC regulation unit. Through intelligent power conversion and charge/discharge operations, a given battery type is given the ability to emulate other battery types by conversion of the output voltage of the battery and adaptation of the charging scheme to suit the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Adest, Lior Handelsman, Yoav Galin, Amir Fishelov, Guy Sella