Bridge Type Patents (Class 363/56.02)
  • Patent number: 7835161
    Abstract: A dc-ac converter capable of supplying a finely regulated ac drive voltage to a load is provided. For this purpose, the converter includes, in a primary winding of a transformer, a full-bridge or half-bridge type semiconductor switch circuit whose switch can be controlled by pulse-width modulation. Transformer has a secondary winding for connection with a load. Based on PWM signals and by use of adequate switching logics for controlling multiple semiconductor switches, sophisticated control including zero-current switching and penetrating current prevention can be effected. Moreover, by means of regulated burst control of the ratio of on-duty period to off-duty period together with pulse-width modulation control, power supplied to the load can be regulated over a wide range beyond the limits of control obtained by the pulse-width modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 7817452
    Abstract: A phase shifted H-bridge resonant converter with symmetrical currents includes, a DC storage cap (31), four switches (1-4) with a parallel turn off network consisting of diodes (5-8), capacitors (9), (11), (14), (16), resistors (10), (12), (13), (15). The subsequent output of switches (1-4), is arranged in series with DC blocking caps (17-18), connected to a low mutually coupled inductor (32), an AC resistive load, capacitor (19), resistor (20) across inductor (32), with capacitors (22), (23) that comprise a resonant tank circuit, and is connected to the primary of transformer (21) wherein the interaction between the two coils of the low mutually coupled inductor (32) provides symmetrical currents within the switches and resonant tank circuit. Further, output rectification may be arranged by use of secondary winding of transformer (21), diodes (24-27), filter inductor (28), filter capacitor (29), and load resistor (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventor: Stephen William Smith
  • Patent number: 7796406
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter apparatus comprising half or full bridge, two-stage resonant converter, which may include series resonant (inductor, capacitor) devices. An isolated transformer having primary and secondary winding supplies current to full-wave secondary stage-bridge through the use of primary winding resonant devices employing primary stage-bridge. The magnetizing of said devices employs zero-current, zero-voltage resonant-transition switching technology, which reduces switching losses at all switching frequencies to almost zero. The regulation of output voltage at all loads and input voltages achieved by the control of the switching frequency and the phase between signals for primary and secondary stages. The proper intermittent of the frequency and the phase allows achieving the value of efficiency up to 97%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Lumenis Ltd.
    Inventor: Dubitsky Lev
  • Patent number: 7791309
    Abstract: The present invention relates a motor controller and a motor control method of controlling a motor having a stator coil and a rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sun Ho Hwang, Han Su Jung, Chung Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 7764523
    Abstract: A method of operating a converter circuit is disclosed, wherein the converter circuit has a converter unit with a multiplicity of controllable power semiconductor switches and the converter unit is connected at the AC voltage end to an electrical AC voltage network. According to the method, the controllable power semiconductor switches are controlled by means of a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Fabio Conticelli, Dirk Beiser, Patrick Bohren
  • Patent number: 7751207
    Abstract: Proposed is a power semiconductor module with a housing and one or a plurality of half-bridge circuitries arranged therein. Each half-bridge circuitry has a first (TOP) and a second (BOT) power switch and each switch is comprised of one power transistor and a corresponding power diode (recovery diode). The power semiconductor module furthermore has a positive polarity direct current lead and a negative polarity direct current lead. Per each half-bridge circuitry it furthermore has two alternate current leads that are not directly connected electrically. Each TOP transistor is connected to the power diode of the BOT switch and a first alternate current lead and each BOT transistor is connected to the power diode of the TOP switch and a second alternate current lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Semikron Elektronik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dejan Schreiber, Heinrich Heilbronner
  • Publication number: 20100157634
    Abstract: A control system for a power inverter is disclosed. The power inverter may be configured to supply power to a grid. The control system may include a plurality of output voltage sensors and a plurality of output current sensors configured to measure output line voltages and output line currents of the power inverter. The control system may further include a controller coupled to the power inverter. The controller may be configured to provide a control signal associated with a disturbance frequency to the power inverter. The controller may be further configured to determine an output power of the power inverter based on the output line voltages and output line currents, and determine an amplitude of oscillation in the output power caused by the disturbance frequency. The controller may also be configured to detect an islanding condition, if the amplitude of oscillation is below a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Dachuan Yu, Mahesh Sitaram Illindala, Osama Mohammad Alkhouli
  • Patent number: 7733616
    Abstract: Each of three-phase arm of an inverter has first and second switching elements connected in series together at a connection point to the corresponding phase coil of the three-phase motor. Control device turns on the first switching element of the i-th (i is a natural number smaller than four) for a predetermined time period, and determines that the second switching element of the i-th arm has a short fault, when an overcurrent exceeding a predetermined threshold is detected within the predetermined time period. The predetermined time period is shorter than a time period from a time point of turning on the first switching element of the i-th arm to a time point of attaining the predetermined threshold by a current flowing through a path extending from a power supply line through the second switching element of the remaining arm other than the i-th arm to a ground line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Yamada
  • Patent number: 7724554
    Abstract: A semiconductor switch circuit is connected to a primary winding of a transformer having a secondary winding connected to a load. The semiconductor switch circuit has switches controlled by PWM to provide a controlled constant current. In the inventive inverter, constant current control is performed by PWM operation of the switches of the semiconductor switch circuit. The inverter cuts off electricity to the control circuit when putting the control circuit into a standby state if a run-stop signal gains a logical stop-state. At the same time as the run-stop signal gaining the stop-state, switch drive signals enabling the switches of the semiconductor switch circuit are turned off. Thus, over-current can be prevented from flowing in the load when the control circuit is put into the standby state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 7715214
    Abstract: A device and method for determining whether a malfunction is present in a drive circuit, which drives an electric device that generates counter-electromotive force, when all gates in the switching elements of the drive circuit are blocked. After the gates are blocked, the temperature of the switching elements is monitored and the presence of a malfunction is determined based on the detected temperature of the switching elements. A malfunction is determined to be present when the detected temperature equals or exceeds a predetermined temperature; the change in the detected temperature equals or exceeds a predetermined value; or the rate of change in the detected temperature equals or exceeds than a predetermined rate. Thus, it can be appropriately determined whether the gates in the drive circuit are appropriately blocked and minimize the influence of any malfunctions on other elements outside of the drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Kishimoto, Masaya Amano, Nobuyuki Tanaka, Kouji Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7710744
    Abstract: A method controls a Full Bridge converter with a Current-Doubler of the type including at least a first and a second half-bridges of diodes connected to respective control transistors. The method includes detecting a reference value, comparing, instant by instant, the reference value with an output voltage value of the converter, and carrying out a switching from a transfer phase to an energy recirculation phase in correspondence with instants when the output voltage value reaches the reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giovanni Garcea, Massimo Ghioni, Christian Beia, Stefano Saggini, Francesco Villa
  • Patent number: 7701738
    Abstract: A power supply and method of operating the same. The method includes the steps of: operating first and second switches to an “On” position; operating said first switch to a “Off” position, causing a flow of a first free-wheeling current through a first free-wheeling current path; measuring a value of said free-wheeling current; controlling the switching of said second switch responsive to said value of said free-wheeling current; and regulating power from said power supply unit. The power supply includes: an inductive converter; a first free-wheeling current path comprising: a first switch connected in series with said inductive converter and a first means for measuring a first free-wheeling current flowing through said first free-wheeling current path; and a second free-wheeling current path comprising: a second switch connected in series with said inductive converter and a second means for measuring a second free-wheeling current flowing through said second free-wheeling current path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Elektro Beckhoff GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Pruessmeier, Jens Sachs
  • Patent number: 7643318
    Abstract: A topology for a three-phase, wye-connected H-bridge converter allowing continued operation when one H-bridge phase has failed by bypassing the failed H-bridge, increasing dc-bus voltage to provide the required output load voltage, and decreasing switching frequency to reduce power losses in semiconductor switches. In normal operation, the dc-bus voltage is operated at a lower voltage, improving the reliability of power semiconductor devices. When an H-bridge is bypassed, the dc-bus is operated at a higher voltage but lower effective switching frequency, reducing semiconductor losses, allowing the converter to put out more current with the same temperature rise in the power switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert G. Wagoner
  • Patent number: 7593241
    Abstract: A hybrid power supply system including piezoelectric and ferrite transformers for driving a discharge lamp is provided. Specifically, the hybrid power supply system includes a rectifier/filter, a piezoelectric inverter, and a ferrite converter. The rectifier/filter has an input terminal connected to an external AC voltage to convert the external AC voltage to a DC voltage. The piezoelectric inverter is connected to the rectifier/filter to step up and convert the DC voltage to an AC voltage for driving the discharge lamp. The ferrite transformer is connected to the rectifier/filter to step down the DC voltage to a rated DC voltage for driving discharge lamp circuits other than the discharge lamp. The piezoelectric inverter and the ferrite converter are integrated by connecting a primary side of the piezoelectric step-up transformer and a primary side of the ferrite step-down transformer in series or in parallel with an output terminal of switching circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Inventors: Oh-Young Kwon, Alexandre Golovtchanski
  • Patent number: 7589981
    Abstract: A dc-ac converter capable of supplying a finely regulated ac drive voltage to a load is provided. For this purpose, the converter includes, in a primary winding of a transformer, a full-bridge or half-bridge type semiconductor switch circuit whose switches can be controlled by pulse-width modulation. Transformer has a secondary winding for connection with a load. Based on PWM signals and by use of adequate switching logics for controlling multiple semiconductor switches, sophisticated control including zero-current switching and penetrating current prevention can be effected. Moreover, by means of regulated burst control of the ratio of on-duty period to off-duty period together with pulse-width modulation control, power supplied to the load can be regulated over a wide range beyond the limits of control obtained by the pulse-width modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 7579792
    Abstract: An electrical system for a vehicle includes a power source providing electrical power to a first and a second electrical motor. Each motor has two or more windings, and each winding has a first end and a second end. A boost link such as a battery or capacitor is configured to store electrical energy for subsequent retrieval and use by either electrical motor. A first inverter circuit includes a first grouping of switches, wherein each of the first group of switches couples one of the first ends of the windings to the power source. A second inverter circuit includes a second group of switches, each coupling one of the second ends of the windings to the boost link. A controller is coupled to activate each of the first and second groups of switches to thereby allow the electrical energy to be placed on and retrieved from the boost link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Nagashima, Brian A Welchko, Peter J. Savagian
  • Patent number: 7570502
    Abstract: A problem to be solved by the present invention is to eliminate variation in potential in a turn-off time period of each GTO element, and to stabilize a gate drawing current by surely performing the turn-off of the GTO element. In an inverter apparatus having a three-phase inverter configured to include paired GTO elements an inverter control portion has a simultaneous switching prevention function of delaying a turn-on operation of each of the GTO elements which correspond to phases other than a phase corresponding to an optional one of the GTO elements and also correspond to an electrode opposite to an electrode corresponding to the optional one of the GTO elements by a predetermined time in a case where a turn-on command signal for turning on each of the GTO elements is generated within a predetermined time period since the turn-off of the optional one of the GTO elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignees: The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc., Nissin Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sugawara, Katsunori Asano, Mitsuru Matsukawa, Yoshifumi Minowa, Toshihiko Shikata
  • Patent number: 7535189
    Abstract: A motor drive circuit comprises a first power line; a second power line; an H-bridge circuit that includes a first source transistor and a first sink transistor connected serially, a second source transistor and a second sink transistor connected serially, a motor coil connected at a connection point between the first source transistor and the first sink transistor, and first to fourth regenerative diodes disposed respectively on the first and second source transistors and the first and second sink transistors, the H-bridge circuit being connected between the first power line and the ground, the first source transistor and the second sink transistor being switched complementarily to the second source transistor and the first sink transistor; and a voltage constraint circuit connected between the second power line and control electrodes of the first and second source transistors, the voltage constraint circuit constraining increase in the voltage of the control electrodes of the first and second source transis
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joji Noie
  • Patent number: 7529108
    Abstract: A digital controller for use with a full-bridge power converter which includes an isolation transformer that conducts first and second currents of opposite polarity during respective power-transfer phases. A current transformer senses the currents, and a non-zero current Iin is generated when either of the first or second currents is >0. The controller includes a sigma-delta modulator arranged to integrate a current applied to its input and to modulate the integrated signal to a bitstream. Iin is integrated by a first integrator and the bitstream is decimated to a digital word by a first decimation filter during the first power-transfer phase, and is integrated by a second integrator and decimated with a second decimation filter during the second phase. The difference between the digital values is used to adjust the pulses that operate the full-bridge switches as necessary to reduce any imbalance between the first and second currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc
    Inventor: Anthonius Bakker
  • Patent number: 7492618
    Abstract: An inverter device includes an inverter circuit, an inverter driving unit, and a clamp diode. The inverter circuit includes an upper arm unit and a lower arm unit connected in series. The upper arm unit and the lower arm unit include switching elements that drive a load. The inverter driving unit includes a high-withstand-voltage IC that drives the switching elements of the upper arm unit and the lower arm unit. The high-withstand-voltage IC has a first terminal for supplying a reference voltage to the lower arm unit and a second terminal for supplying a high-voltage to the upper arm unit. The clamp diode clamps a potential difference between the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kensaku Matsuda, Shinzou Tomonaga
  • Patent number: 7492620
    Abstract: A semiconductor switch circuit is connected to a primary winding of a transformer having a secondary winding connected to a load. The semiconductor switch circuit has switches controlled by PWM to provide a controlled constant current. In the inventive inverter, constant current control is performed by PWM operation of the switches of the semiconductor switch circuit. The inverter cuts off electricity to the control circuit when putting the control circuit into a standby state if a run-stop signal gains a logical stop-state. At the same time as the run-stop signal gaining the stop-state, switch drive signals enabling the switches of the semiconductor switch circuit are turned off. Thus, over-current can be prevented from flowing in the load when the control circuit is put into the standby state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 7480161
    Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a three- or single-phase semiconductor power converter employing fixed-pulse switching patterns superposes a DC component on an AC output voltage, to suppress asymmetrical magnetization of a transformer connected to the power converter. The three-phase semiconductor power converter 1 provides an AC output. The voltage of the AC output is changed by the transformer 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akihisa Kataoka, Tomotsugu Ishizuka, Koichi Hidese, Shigeru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7466566
    Abstract: An inverter has a semiconductor switch circuit provided in the primary circuit of a transformer. The switch circuit is controlled by a PWM circuit. The switch circuit is operated on the basis of an intermittent-operation signal having an ON state and OFF state to: set an error signal to a substantially zero level during OFF periods; gradually increase the error signal upon transition from an OFF state to an ON state; and gradually decrease the error signal upon transition from an ON state to an OFF state. Each ON phase of the intermittent operation is slowly started and slowly ended through charging and discharging of a capacitor provided in a feedback circuit. This enables concomitant application of constant-current control and intermittent-operation control to the inverter, which in turn provides a broad range of power that can be supplied to a load, significantly reduces hamming of the transformer, and prevents over-current from occurring in the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 7463071
    Abstract: A level-shift circuit for use with a half bridge in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes an oscillator operable to provide a timing signal, a level-shift switch controlled by the timing signal of the oscillator, a high side control circuit operable to provide a high side control signal to a high side switch of the half bridge to control the high side switch and a low side control circuit operable to provide a low side control signal to a low side switch of the half bridge to control the low side switch. The level-shift switch is turned ON when the timing signal is high such that the level-shift switch connects the high side control circuit to ground and the high side control signal stays low to keep the high side switch OFF when the timing signal is high. The low side control circuit provides the low side control signal to turn the low side switch ON a predetermined period of time after the timing signal goes high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas J. Ribarich
  • Patent number: 7446512
    Abstract: For the purpose of providing a resonant switching power supply device having a wide output voltage variable range by changing its switching frequency, the resonance circuit thereof comprises a switching transformer, a first resonance section connected in series with the switching transformer, and a second resonance section connected in parallel with the switching transformer, wherein the resonance frequency characteristic in the case that the DC load current is large is formed using the series-connected devices of the first resonance section, and the resonance frequency characteristic in the case that the DC load current is small is formed using the first resonance section, the second resonance capacitor of the second resonance section and the switching transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Nishihara, Akeyuki Komatsu
  • Patent number: 7411797
    Abstract: The invention relates to a converter provided with a resonant circuit (16), which comprises a control device (24) adapted, in connection with a commutation of the phase current (iph) from a semiconductor element of turn-off type of a first current valve (2, 3) to a rectifying member of a second current valve (3, 2) to effectuate a turn-on of the auxiliary valve (18) of the resonant circuit with a varaible time delay (td) after the turn-off of the first current valve, the converter comprising a member (35) for determining said time delay in dependence on the magnitude and the direction of the phase current (iph) and the magnitude and the direction of a determined unbalance so that the unbalance is corrected at least partly when the control device applies the time delay (td). The invention also relates to a method for controlling such a converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Staffan Norrga, Bo Bijlenga
  • Patent number: 7403401
    Abstract: A dc-ac converter capable of supplying a finely regulated ac drive voltage to a load is provided. For this purpose, the converter includes, in a primary winding of a transformer, a full-bridge or half-bridge type semiconductor switch circuit whose switches can be controlled by pulse-width modulation. Transformer has a secondary winding for connection with a load. Based on PWM signals and by use of adequate switching logics for controlling multiple semiconductor switches, sophisticated control including zero-current switching and penetrating current prevention can be effected. Moreover, by means of regulated burst control of the ratio of on-duty period to off-duty period together with pulse-width modulation control, power supplied to the load can be regulated over a wide range beyond the limits of control obtained by the pulse-width modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 7352544
    Abstract: A method and electrical circuit for dynamic reconfiguration of a DC-to-AC inverter comprising first and second power rails where each the rails has a power source. The method comprises monitoring the first and second power rails for short-circuit failure; and upon failure of one of the power rails, disconnecting the failed power rail from its power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Pratt + Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Kamal Al-Haddad
  • Patent number: 7313003
    Abstract: The present invention provides a switching power supply unit capable of suppressing a surge voltage generated in a rectifier element more effectively. A first resonance circuit is constructed by capacitors in a surge voltage suppressing circuit and an inductor, and resonance time of the first resonance circuit is set to be longer than recovery time of a diode in a rectifier circuit. According to at least one of a DC input voltage and an output current, either a first bridge circuit or a second bridge circuit is selectively allowed to perform switching operation. At the time of forward-direction operation, the first resonance circuit is formed by the capacitors in the surge voltage circuit and the inductor on the high voltage side. At the time of reverse-direction operation, a second resonance circuit is formed by the capacitors and an inductor on the low voltage side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Wataru Nakahori, Yasuhiro Murai
  • Patent number: 7292463
    Abstract: A semiconductor switch circuit is connected to a primary winding of a transformer having a secondary winding connected to a load. The semiconductor switch circuit has switches controlled by PWM to provide a controlled constant current. In the inventive inverter, constant current control is performed by PWM operation of the switches of the semiconductor switch circuit. The inverter cuts off electricity to the control circuit when putting the control circuit into a standby state if a run-stop signal gains a logical stop-state. At the same time as the run-stop signal gaining the stop-state, switch drive signals enabling the switches of the semiconductor switch circuit are turned off. Thus, over-current can be prevented from flowing in the load when the control circuit is put into the standby state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
  • Publication number: 20070247880
    Abstract: Provided is a full-bridge active clamp DC-DC converter for reducing power loss due to high-speed switching by primary switches that are zero-voltage switched by energy stored as a leakage inductance of a transformer when main switches are on or off using a full-bridge active clamp circuit, which can be used at capacity, e.g., more than 1 KW. The full-bridge active clamp DC-DC converter includes a primary circuit and a secondary circuit divided by a transformer, the primary circuit, which is a full-bridge active clamp circuit, comprising an input capacitor Cd, two main switches S1 and S2, two sub-switches S3 and S4, and a clamp capacitor Cc, and the secondary circuit, which is an output rectification circuit for rectifying an output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicants: POSTECH FOUNDATION, POSTECH ACADEMY-INDUSTRY FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Bong Hwan KWON, Jung Min KWON
  • Patent number: 7286375
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for compensating for a deviation in voltage output of a phase leg inverter when dead-time periods are inserted to prevent shoot-through failures. The method includes determining a pulse width for an input signal to the inverter such that the inverter voltage output is a desired amount. The pulse width is based on the non-inverted or inverted pulse sequences of two carrier signals and the polarity of current through the inverter. An amount of pulse width is added to the input signal when the current is positive, and an amount of pulse width is subtracted from the input signal when the current is negative. An additional amount of pulse width is added to or subtracted from the input signal depending on whether the carrier signal sequence changes from a non-inverted signal to an inverted signal or changes from an inverted signal to a non-inverted signal, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian A Welchko, Silva Hiti, Steven E. Schulz
  • Patent number: 7272022
    Abstract: A dc-ac converter capable of supplying a finely regulated ac drive voltage to a load is provided. For this purpose, the converter includes, in a primary winding of a transformer, a full-bridge or half-bridge type semiconductor switch circuit whose switches can be controlled by pulse-width modulation. Transformer has a secondary winding for connection with a load. Based on PWM signals and by use of adequate switching logics for controlling multiple semiconductor switches, sophisticated control including zero-current switching and penetrating current prevention can be effected. Moreover, by means of regulated burst control of the ratio of on-duty period to off-duty period together with pulse-width modulation control, power supplied to the load can be regulated over a wide range beyond the limits of control obtained by the pulse-width modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 7245508
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes serially connected arms U and X, serially connected arms V and Y, serially connected arms W and Z, and a capacitor, the pairs of serially connected arms and the capacitor all connected in parallel to one another. The input-side arms U and X and the output-side arms W and Z are subjected to PWM control so that the arms W and Z are controlled to have a voltage that is lower than that of the arms U and X, thereby providing a step down operation. A step up operation also can be provided by an opposite relation in which the arms W and Z are controlled to have a voltage that is higher than that of the arms U and X, thereby to expand the range within which the output voltage is controlled with the effect of reducing distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Tokuda, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Yasuhiro Okuma, Hiroyuki Matsuo, Osamu Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7227763
    Abstract: Disclosed is a power supply apparatus using a half-bridge type driving circuit, which is intended for the purpose of the compensation of a power factor, the achievement of a low crest factor and the maintenance of a constant output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: AVERD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Si Youl Noh, Min Sung Yang
  • Patent number: 7099168
    Abstract: A semiconductor switch circuit is connected to a primary winding of a transformer having a secondary winding connected to a load. The semiconductor switch circuit has switches controlled by PWM to provide a controlled constant current. In the inventive inverter, constant current control is performed by PWM operation of the switches of the semiconductor switch circuit. The inverter cuts off electricity to the control circuit when putting the control circuit into a standby state if a run-stop signal gains a logical stop-state. At the same time as the run-stop signal gaining the stop-state, switch drive signals enabling the switches of the semiconductor switch circuit are turned off. Thus, over-current can be prevented from flowing in the load when the control circuit is put into the standby state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 7095632
    Abstract: A dc-ac converter capable of supplying a finely regulated ac drive voltage to a load is provided. For this purpose, the converter includes, in a primary winding of a transformer, a full-bridge or half-bridge type semiconductor switch circuit whose switches can be controlled by pulse-width modulation. Transformer has a secondary winding for connection with a load. Based on PWM signals and by use of adequate switching logics for controlling multiple semiconductor switches, sophisticated control including zero-current switching and penetrating current prevention can be effected. Moreover, by means of regulated burst control of the ratio of on-duty period to off-duty period together with pulse-width modulation control, power supplied to the load can be regulated over a wide range beyond the limits of control obtained by the pulse-width modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 7081738
    Abstract: A generating device that includes an AC/DC conversion unit having a rectifier circuit that rectifies an output of a magneto rotor and applies the output to a battery, and an inverter circuit that converts a voltage of the battery into an AC control voltage and applies the AC control voltage to an armature coil of the magneto generator, performs chopper control that controls switch elements of the inverter circuit so as to interrupt an output current of the magneto generator to control the output of the magneto generator when a rotational speed of the magneto generator is lower than a set speed, and performs drive control that applies the AC control voltage from the battery through the inverter circuit to the armature coil when the rotational speed becomes higher than the set speed, and changes a phase angle of the AC control voltage to control the output of the magneto generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Muramatsu, Hideaki Suzuki, Masanori Nakagawa, Masakatsu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7054174
    Abstract: A series power switch bridge having the ability of automatic voltage-sharing, which belongs to the field of electric controlling equipments. It consists of a power switch bridge and a dynamic-static voltage-sharing absorption circuit (DRwC) bridge. The very power switch bridge is constituted of several power switches in series. The number of DRwC circuits in the dynamic-static voltage-sharing absorption circuit bridge is correspondence with the number of power switches. The positive terminal and the negative terminal of every DRwC circuit and the corresponding power switch are connected respectively. The very DRwC circuit consists of a diode (D), a capacitance (C) and a voltage regulator (Rw), and the diode (D) is connected in series with the circuit of the voltage regulator (Rw) and the capacitance (C) which are in parallel. The serial DRwC circuit can deal the serial power switch with static voltage-sharing, dynamic voltage-sharing and absorption of the bounce voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Inventor: Jialin Wu
  • Patent number: 7030587
    Abstract: A system for controlling a switch reluctance machine is provided. The system includes multiple phases located in the switch reluctance machine, each phase having multiple machine coils. Each machine coil is independently connected to a positive side switch circuit and a negative side switch circuit. Each positive side switch circuit is in electrical parallel connection with the other positive side switch circuits, and configured to control the flow of current through the machine coil to which it is connected. Similarly, the negative side switch circuits are connected in electrical parallel and configured to control the flow of current through the machine coil to which they are connected. The positive side and negative side switch circuits may be provided in a buck boost configuration or two half bridge configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad N. Anwar, Mehrdad Teimor, Daryl A. Wilson, Paul F. Turnbull, William Turnbull
  • Patent number: 7027315
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for operating an electrical machine having an inductive component. The circuit arrangement includes an electrical switch (TR1 through TR6) that applies a pulse-shaped signal (S1 through S4) to the electrical machine. The free-running circuit also includes an electrical switch (TR1 through TR6). A comparator (15) is provided which compares the free-running current flowing in the free-running circuit with a predefined threshold value and, if the current drops below the threshold value, provides a switching signal (S3A) that is used to deactivate the switch (TR1 through TR6) in the free-running circuit. The circuit arrangement reduces both the electrical power loss in the circuit arrangement and the mechanical power loss in the electrical machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosh GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Halfmann, Ingo Immendoerfer
  • Patent number: 6982889
    Abstract: A semiconductor switch circuit is connected to a primary winding of a transformer having a secondary winding connected to a load. The semiconductor switch circuit has switches controlled by PWM to provide a controlled constant current. In the inventive inverter, constant current control is performed by PWM operation of the switches of the semiconductor switch circuit. The inverter cuts off electricity to the control circuit when putting the control circuit into a standby state if a run-stop signal gains a logical stop-state. At the same time as the run-stop signal gaining the stop-state, switch drive signals enabling the switches of the semiconductor switch circuit are turned off. Thus, over-current can be prevented from flowing in the load when the control circuit is put into the standby state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Rohm Co., LTD
    Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 6958919
    Abstract: A zero voltage switching power conversion circuit for driving a CCFL has a ZVS circuit and a full bridge circuit composing of MOS transistors. A transformer is coupled between the full bridge circuit and the CCFL. By properly controlling the conducting timing of each MOS transistor, power is coupled from the primary side to the secondary side of the transformer thus supplying power to the CCFL. When adjusting the brightness of the CCFL, the high frequency signal is able to be temporarily shut down during off periods of the CCFL to reduce power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Samhop Microelectronics CORP
    Inventor: Yung-Keng Kung
  • Patent number: 6944036
    Abstract: In those conventional arts, a DC/DC converter with secondary clamp circuit has a problem of voltage oscillation, and a DC/DC converter with primary clamp circuit has problems of heat and clamping losses due to larger forward and reverse currents passing the primary clamp circuit. The present invention applies a tapped inductor or a set of coupling inductors to a DC/DC converter with primary clamp circuit for reducing the voltage oscillation, and furthermore to decrease the forward and reverse current passing through the clamp circuit for reducing the clamping losses of the clamp circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chao Yan, Hongyang Wu, Heoyi Ye, Jianping Ying
  • Patent number: 6930373
    Abstract: The circuit has a power stage (LE) with heat generating components mounted around at least one component that generates less heat mounted in an inner region. The heat generating components are connected to at least one conducting metal body (K1) that is mounted on a cooling body (KK) in electrically insulated manner to cool the components. The cooling body encloses the inner region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerd Auerswald, Kurt Gross, Michael Kirchberger, Stefan Kulig, Hans Rappl
  • Patent number: 6927987
    Abstract: Half-bridge isolation stage topologies are provided in power converters, dividing an input voltage between capacitors. Primary transformer windings are periodically switched across respective capacitors. In current-fed implementations, the current flow through the primary windings is constrained as by an inductive element. In some implementations, a capacitor, primary winding and switch are connected in series in different orders in each of plural legs across the input. Current feed circuitry includes a current constraining component connecting nodes within each of respective legs. The switches of the isolation stage may be turned on with a fixed duty cycle, and a secondary circuit may comprise synchronous rectifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: SynQor, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Farrington, Abram P. Dancy, Leif E. LaWhite, Martin F. Schlecht
  • Patent number: 6924993
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling a stand-alone four-leg three-phase inverter. The inverter three-phase output is converted from AC domain elements to corresponding DC domain elements. The DC domain elements are processed into combined regulating and imbalance compensating signals, including over-current limiting. The compensating signals are restored to corresponding AC domain signals, and are processed into control inputs for the inverter, in order to stabilize the inverter output when connected to an unbalanced load. The inverter controller can be implemented entirely in software as a control algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Constantin C. Stancu, Silva Hiti
  • Patent number: 6906930
    Abstract: An isolated boost converter includes first and second switches that are switched simultaneously, a transformer and an energy storage capacitor on the primary side of the transformer for storing energy received from input power source. In one embodiment, when the first and second switches are closed, the energy in the capacitor is transferred to the output load while a boost inductor is charged, and when the first and second switches are open, the boost inductor provides energy from the input voltage source to supply the load and to charge the capacitor, In one embodiment, a third switch is provided to relieve the voltage stress on the secondary side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yungtaek Jang, Milan M. Jovanovic
  • Patent number: 6903914
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter has an output bus coupled to power a load. A voltage transient compensation circuit has a first switch between a voltage input bus and the output bus, and a second switch between the output bus and a flyback transformer coupled to a reference voltage terminal. When the voltage on the output bus drops below a first threshold, the first switch couples and thereby transfers energy from the voltage input bus to the voltage output bus and the load. When the voltage on the output bus exceeds a second threshold, the second switch is closed, transferring energy from the output bus to an input winding of the flyback transformer. When the voltage on the output bus drops back in a range between the two thresholds, the second switch is opened, and the flyback transformer transfers stored energy back to the voltage input bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Intersil Americas, Inc.
    Inventor: Zaki Moussaoui
  • Patent number: RE39926
    Abstract: A power supply for performing arc-machining operation includes a primary rectifier connected to the commercial AC power source and an inverter coupled to the rectifier. A switching device is provided between the rectifier and the inverter. By controlling the power supplied from the rectifier to the inverter, the switching device prevents a large switching loss from occurring in the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Daihen Corporation
    Inventors: Keiki Morimoto, Toshimitsu Doi, Haruhiko Manabe