Transient Protection (e.g., Snubber, Etc.) Patents (Class 363/56.12)
  • Patent number: 11867730
    Abstract: A sensor device coupled to a communication interface bus, the sensor device includes: a current source having a first terminal operable to receive a supply current, a second terminal operable to provide a supply current, and a control terminal, wherein an operating voltage is supplied by a current through the current source; a voltage clamp having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the current source, a second terminal coupled to a power supply terminal, and an output terminal operable to provide a current sense signal; and a control circuit having an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the voltage clamp and an output terminal coupled to the control terminal of the current source operable to provide an adjustment signal responsive to the current sense signal, wherein the current source is configured to adjust the current through the current source responsive to the adjustment signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tomas Suchy, Miroslav Stepan, Pavel Hartl, Marek Hustava, Petr Kamenicky
  • Patent number: 11855525
    Abstract: A connection structure of a snubber circuit within a semiconductor device includes: a first substrate having a first electrode wiring line; a second substrate facing the first substrate, the second substrate having a second electrode wiring line facing the first electrode wiring line; and a stack ceramic capacitor having connection terminals provided on opposite ends, respectively, of the stack ceramic capacitor installed in an upright position in such a manner that entire surfaces of the connection terminals are connected to the first and second electrode wiring lines, respectively, where the stack ceramic capacitor is installed adjacent to a switching element attached on the first substrate, and the connection terminal and one electrode terminal on the switching element are connected with the first electrode wiring line interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hiyoshi Michiaki
  • Patent number: 11631668
    Abstract: An electronic circuit having a first terminal and a second terminal. The electronic circuit includes a plurality of diodes connected in parallel, the plurality of diodes including a first diode and a second diode that respectively have applied thereto a first forward voltage and a second forward voltage, the second forward voltage being higher than the first forward voltage. A first path and a second path are formed from the first terminal, respectively via the first diode and the second diode, to the second terminal. An inductance of the first path is larger than an inductance of the second path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiji Okumura
  • Patent number: 11063521
    Abstract: A switching power supply includes a current resonance-type DC-DC converter that has an auxiliary winding provided on the primary side of a transformer, divides a voltage, which has been generated in the auxiliary winding by a current resonance operation, using a voltage divider circuit formed of resistors, and supplies, to a control IC, the divided voltage as a detection voltage for the resonant voltage for setting a timing for turning off a switching element. A phase correcting capacitor is provided between the auxiliary winding and the voltage divider circuit and corrects a delay in switching timing by setting the phase of the voltage of the voltage divider circuit ahead of the voltage of the auxiliary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jian Chen
  • Patent number: 10972014
    Abstract: A circuit having primary and secondary sides includes a flyback converter having an input voltage source and a transformer with primary and secondary windings. A main switch is in series with the primary winding. A passive clamp circuit includes a clamp diode, a clamp capacitor, and an auxiliary circuit including first and second rectifiers in series with each other and with an electronic component configured to store electromagnetic energy. The electronic component has first and second terminals. A cathode of the first rectifier is connected with the passive clamp circuit, and an anode of the first rectifier is connected to the second terminal of electronic component. An anode of the second rectifier is connected with the cathode of the first rectifier, and a cathode of the second rectifier is connected with the first terminal of the electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventor: Ionel Jitaru
  • Patent number: 10680525
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for regulating power conversion systems. A system controller includes: a first controller terminal configured to receive a first signal related to an input signal for a primary winding of a power conversation system; and a second controller terminal configured to output a drive signal to a switch to affect a current flowing through the primary winding, the drive signal being associated with a switching period including an on-time period and an off-time period. The switch is closed (e.g., being turned on) in response to the drive signal during the on-time period. The switch is opened (e.g., being turned off) in response to the drive signal during the off-time period. A duty cycle is equal to a duration of the on-time period divided by a duration of the switching period. The system controller is configured to keep a multiplication product of the duty cycle and the duration of the on-time period approximately constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qian Fang, Xiangkun Zhai, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 10511221
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a DC/AC converter, comprising switching arms, a voltage and current variation modulation circuit, and an electrical energy harvester module. The energy recovery module is linked to the switching arms and to the modulation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: IFP Energies nouvelles, MAVEL S.r.l
    Inventors: Wissam Dib, Davide Bettoni, Denny Chiono
  • Patent number: 10122358
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a transistor including a main terminal and a sense terminal; a main output electrode connected to the main terminal via a first wire; a sense output electrode connected to the sense terminal via a second wire; and a package sealing the transistor, the first and second wires, part of the main output electrode and part of the sense output electrode, wherein a wiring inductance from the main terminal to the main output electrode is larger than a wiring inductance from the sense terminal to the sense output electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takuya Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 9698689
    Abstract: A zero-voltage switching buck converter circuit and control circuit are provided. The buck converter circuit may include a first inductor, a smoothing capacitor coupled to the first inductor, a rectifier diode coupled in parallel with the first inductor and the smoothing capacitor, a control switch coupled to the first inductor, a control circuit configured to turn the control switch off and on repeatedly at a high frequency rate; and a snubber network coupled to the first inductor and the control circuit. The snubber network may include second and third inductors connected in series, wherein one terminal of the first inductor is connected to a node connecting the second and third inductors, and an auxiliary switch connected to the control circuit. A first terminal of the second inductor that is not connected to the node may be coupled to the control switch, and a first terminal of the third inductor that is not connected to the node may be coupled to the auxiliary switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander Mednik
  • Patent number: 9287767
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention relates to a DC voltage conversion circuit including: a DC power supply; a switching device which is connected to two ends of the DC power supply through an inductor; and a series circuit which is connected in parallel with the switching device and which includes a diode and a load, so that an input voltage supplied from the DC power supply can be converted into an output voltage with a predetermined magnitude by an operation of the switching device and supplied to the load. The DC voltage conversion circuit can further include: a series circuit which is connected to two ends of the diode and which includes a snubber capacitor and a snubber diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryuji Yamada
  • Patent number: 9184701
    Abstract: Circuitry, which includes a direct current (DC)-DC converter having a first switching power supply is disclosed. The first switching power supply includes a first switching converter, an energy storage element, a first inductive element, which is coupled between the first switching converter and the energy storage element, and a first snubber circuit, which is coupled across the first inductive element. The first switching power supply receives and converts a DC power supply signal to provide a first switching power supply output signal based on a setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Berchtold, Chris Levesque, William David Southcombe, David E. Jones, Scott Yoder, Terry J. Stockert
  • Patent number: 9143044
    Abstract: An embodiment apparatus comprises a first two-piecewise linear approximation generator and a second two-piecewise linear approximation generator coupled to an output of the first two-piece wise linear approximation generator. The second two-piecewise linear approximation generator generates a dead time inversely proportional to the output of the first two-piece wise linear approximation generator. A gate drive generator is configured to generate a primary switch drive signal and an auxiliary switch drive signal complementary to the primary switch drive signal. In addition, the dead time between the primary switch drive signal and the auxiliary switch drive signal is adjustable when the power converter operates in a light load condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Liming Ye, Xujun Liu
  • Patent number: 9025351
    Abstract: An exemplary converter circuit has a converter unit with plural actuatable power semiconductor switches, and the DC voltage side of which is connected to a capacitive energy storage circuit. The capacitive energy storage circuit has at least one capacitive energy store and at least one snubber network for limiting the rate of current or voltage rise on the actuatable power semiconductor switches of the converter unit. In order to reduce undesirable oscillations in an overcurrent in the capacitive energy storage circuit, the capacitive energy storage circuit has at least one passive nonactuatable damping unit having a unidirectional current-flow direction, where the passive nonactuatable damping unit has a diode and a damping resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Kefas Damazio-Coelho, Matthias Luescher, Oscar Apeldoorn, Thomas Berner
  • Patent number: 9001538
    Abstract: A transformer that realizes ZVS operation includes a primary winding and a secondary winding. A control circuit turns switching elements on and off in a complimentary manner in order to repeatedly invert the voltage applied to the primary winding. A conduction path supplies a voltage excited in the secondary winding to a load connected between a high-potential side and a ground side of the secondary winding. A first rectifier diode has a rectification direction extending from the high-potential side toward the ground side of the load and is provided along the conduction path. A second rectifier diode and a capacitor, which are connected in series with each other, are connected in parallel with the secondary winding. An inductor is connected in parallel with the second rectifier diode. A rectification direction of the second rectifier diode matches the direction extending from the high-potential side to the ground side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Hosotani
  • Publication number: 20150078044
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes: a horizontal switching element having a front surface and a rear surface, including a first electrode and a second electrode on the front surface, and having a first current path between the first electrode and the second electrode; a snubber capacitor electrically connected to the horizontal switching element; a first substrate on which the snubber capacitor is mounted, the first substrate being connected to the first electrode and the second electrode on the front surface of the horizontal switching element; and a second current path through which an electric current flows in a direction approximately opposite to the first current path that is a path allowing an electric current to flow between the first electrode and the second electrode of the horizontal switching element, the second current path being provided in the first substrate and disposed at a position opposite to the first current path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Yu UJITA, Kiyonori KOGUMA, Yoshifumi YAMAGUCHI, Tomokazu HONDA
  • Patent number: 8964414
    Abstract: A DC power supply including a resonant circuit on a secondary side of a transformer suppresses a surge voltage during power recovery of diodes constituting a rectifier circuit, correctly estimates a load current from a secondary current of the transformer, and adjusts supplied power when a load is light. The DC power supply includes a DC voltage source, a converter, a transformer, a rectifier circuit, a resonant circuit composed of a resonant switch and a resonant capacitor, a filter reactor, a filter capacitor, a snubber diode, a snubber capacitor, a load, first and second voltage sensors, a current sensor, and a controller for controlling gate pulses of semiconductor devices constituting a converter and the resonant switch and a signal for adjusting operation timings of A/D converters converting the signals of these sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Mito Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Kojima, Yuichiro Nozaki, Masafumi Makino, Takeshi Shinomiya, Tetsu Sugiura
  • Patent number: 8964430
    Abstract: An active snubber circuit for a switching power supply, in which a main switching element repeatedly operates an on-off operation so that current intermittently flows in a primary coil, has a capacitor for surge voltage absorption, a sub-switching element and a sub-control circuit controlling the sub-switching element. A circuit in which the capacitor for surge voltage absorption and the sub-switching element are connected in series is connected in parallel with the primary coil, and the sub-control circuit turns on the sub-switching element for a predetermined time period just after the main switching element is off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsutomo Yoshinaga
  • Publication number: 20140367563
    Abstract: An asymmetric waveform pulse generator comprises a metallic oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) bridge circuit, which includes a plurality of MOSFETs for inverting high voltage DC voltage to asymmetric waveform pulses. The asymmetric waveform pulse generator further comprises a pulse-width modulating (PWM) circuit for generating PWM signals, and a plurality of isolation driving circuits corresponding to the plurality of MOSFETs, for controlling switching on/off of the plurality of MOSFETs in the MOSFET bridge circuit based on the PWM signals generated by the PWM circuit. Each of the isolation driving circuits comprises an isolation transformer for isolating the MOSFET bridge circuit from the PWM circuit. A FAIMS ion detector employing the asymmetric waveform pulse generator is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Qishui Zhong, Hui Li, Dajin Chen, Baihua Li
  • Publication number: 20140362613
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an LC snubber circuit for a switching converter, wherein the switching converter includes an inductor and a switching device connected in series. The LC snubber circuit can include a first snubber diode, a snubber capacitor, a second snubber diode, and a snubber transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. The secondary winding of the snubber transformer is connected to an output of the switching converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Ki-Bum PARK, Francisco CANALES, Sami PETTERSSON
  • Patent number: 8908405
    Abstract: An inverter may include an inversion unit for converting a direct current bus voltage into an alternating current voltage, a first snubber unit, and a second snubber unit. The inversion unit may include a first external switch, a first internal switch, a second internal switch, and a second external switch which are connected in series in order between a direct current bus positive voltage terminal and a direct current bus negative voltage terminal. The first snubber unit may be connected between the direct current bus negative voltage terminal and the first internal switch for suppressing voltage stress of the first internal switch. The second snubber unit may be connected between the direct current bus positive voltage terminal and the second internal switch for suppressing voltage stress of the second internal switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventor: Jianning Yang
  • Publication number: 20140334203
    Abstract: A power converter includes a switch element, a snubber capacitor, and a connection conductor configured to connect the switch element and the snubber capacitor to each other, and at least a part of the connection conductor is arranged to be held between the snubber capacitor and an electrode of the switch element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Tomokazu HONDA, Akira SASAKI, Kiyonori KOGUMA, Kunihiro TAKENAKA, Yu UJITA, Yuji NODA
  • Patent number: 8873259
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes a regeneration snubber circuit. The snubber circuit is connected in parallel with the secondary diode circuit and includes a series circuit of a discharge blocking diode, a snubber capacitor, and a switching element for regeneration connected in parallel with the discharge blocking diode. The DC-DC converter further includes a control unit which turns the switching element for regeneration on a predetermined time period after the timing of turning the primary side switching element off. The predetermined time period is set to approximately the time period during which the charge, accumulated in the snubber capacitor due to reverse recovery time when one of the secondary diodes has been turned off, discharges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Sansha Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Fujiyoshi, Hajime Katsushima, Kenji Morimoto, Satoshi Yamamura
  • Patent number: 8824177
    Abstract: A semiconductor device of the present invention includes a switching transistor, and a recovery diode and a snubber device which are mounted on a single conductive substrate (frame) on which the switching transistor is also mounted. The snubber device includes a SiC-MOSFET connected between an output terminal C and a reference terminal E of the switching transistor, a Zener diode formed between a gate terminal G and a drain terminal D of the SiC-MOSFET, and a resistor formed between the gate terminal G and a source terminal S of the SiC-MOSFET. The reference terminal E of the switching transistor, the source terminal S of the SiC-MOSFET, and an anode terminal of the recovery diode are commonly connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Shinsuke Godo
  • Publication number: 20140226376
    Abstract: The invention provides an electronic circuit capable of reducing surge voltage while reducing switching loss when a MOSFET is turned off. A capacitor (91) is connected between apart closer to a first power source terminal (31) of a U-phase module (3) in a bus bar (61a) and a part closer to a second power source terminal (32) of the U-phase module (3) in a bus bar (64a). A capacitor (92) is connected between apart closer to a first power source terminal (41) of a V-phase module (4) in a bus bar (62) and a part closer to a second power source terminal (42) of the V-phase module (4) in a bus bar (65). A capacitor (93) is connected between a part closer to a first power source terminal (51) of a W-phase module (5) in a bus bar (63) and a part closer to a second power source terminal (52) of the W-phase module (5) in a bus bar (66).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masashi Hayashiguchi
  • Patent number: 8787047
    Abstract: A system for dissipating energy in a power supply includes a bidirectional switching power output stage coupled to a primary power supply side and a secondary power supply side, the bi-directional switching power output stage configured to provide a positive voltage and a positive current, the bi-directional switching power output stage also configured to provide a positive voltage and to receive a current. The system for dissipating energy in a power supply also includes a current sinking circuit coupled to the primary power supply side, the current sinking circuit configured to dissipate energy when the secondary power supply side of the switching power supply is receiving current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Benes
  • Publication number: 20140192573
    Abstract: A power conversion circuit includes a high side switching device connected at its collector to the high potential side of a power supply, a low side switching device connected at its emitter to the lowpotential side of the power supply, a first junction to which the emitter of the high side switching device and the collector of the low side switching device are connected, a first diode connected at its cathode to the collector of the high side switching device, a second diode connected at its anode to the emitter of the low side switching device, a second junction to which the anode of the first diode and the cathode of the second diode are connected, an inductance connected between the first and second junctions, and a snubber circuit connected to the first junction and adapted to absorb stored energy in the inductance when a freewheeling current flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuharu TABATA
  • Publication number: 20140192572
    Abstract: A power converter includes a group of serial three-level inverters including 2n (n=2) three-level inverters connected in series, two switch circuits for selecting an output from either one of two of the three-level inverters in the group of serial three-level inverters, and a switch circuit for selecting an output from either one of the switch circuits. Each three-level inverter includes two switch elements connected in series, two capacitors connected in series, and a switch element for connecting the first node to the second node, the switch elements being connected in parallel to the capacitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYS. CORP.
    Inventor: Shinzo TAMAI
  • Patent number: 8760095
    Abstract: To prevent demagnetization of a permanent magnet synchronous rotating machine, a rotating machine control device according to the present invention is a rotating machine control device comprising: a power converter having a switch part on each of a positive side and a negative side for each phase; and short circuit detection unit for detecting a short circuit of the switch part, wherein a command to turn on positive-side switches and negative-side switches of a plurality of phases of the switch part is issued in the case where the short circuit detection unit detects the short circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Iwaji, Daigo Kaneko, Kento Mochizuki, Takeshi Shinomiya, Daisuke Kori, Seikichi Masuda
  • Patent number: 8755163
    Abstract: A three-phase AC power controller has three strands, each having an input and an output. Five pairs of valves are connected antiparallel for rotating field reversal. The first input is connected to the first output by way of a first pair, the second input is connected to the second output by way of a second pair and to the third output by way of a third pair, and the third input is connected to the second output by way of a fourth pair and to the third output by way of a fifth pair. An RC half-branch is connected as a snubber circuit to each input and to each output. These RC half-branches are each interconnected via a transverse connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Grammenos Nicoltsios, Heinz Pichorner
  • Patent number: 8736204
    Abstract: Apparatus for transferring power between an electricity network (UP) operating on alternating-current electricity and a multiphase electric machine (M2, M3), which apparatus comprises low-voltage power cells (CS, C11 . . . CN6) operating on a cascade principle, which power cells comprise a single-phase output connector (OUT), and at least one transformer (TA, T1 . . . TN), comprising for each power cell connected to it a single-phase or multiphase winding dedicated to the specific power cell, which transformer comprises at least one additional winding (WA, WB1 . . . WBN) connected to the same magnetic circuit as the other windings for the purpose of at least one auxiliary circuit, which can be connected to the aforementioned additional winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Vacon Oyj
    Inventors: Nicklas Södö, Risto Komulainen
  • Patent number: 8730692
    Abstract: A switching mode power supply (SMPS) includes at least one transformer, a switching unit to switch a voltage applied to the at least one transformer, a snubber circuit connected to the switching unit, a first switch to control an on or off operation of the snubber circuit, and a second switch to control an on or off operation of the first switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwang-wook Kim
  • Patent number: 8705257
    Abstract: A switching module includes a series-connected unit of a first flowing restriction element and a second flowing restriction element, the first flowing restriction element having an opening and closing function of opening and closing a flowing path of current, and the second flowing restriction element having at least one of a rectifying function of restricting the direction in which current flows and the opening and closing function, and a snubber circuit connected to the series-connected unit in parallel. A first wiring line connecting between the first flowing restriction element and the snubber circuit, a second wiring line connecting between the second flowing restriction element and the snubber circuit, a third wiring line connecting between the first flowing restriction element and the second flowing restriction element, the first flowing restriction element, the second flowing restriction element, and the snubber circuit are formed substantially integrally with each other by using an insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhisa Yamaguchi, Yasuyuki Sakai
  • Publication number: 20140104903
    Abstract: The final cell or cells in a cascade or ladder of voltage elevator cells may be exposed to significant overvoltages from electrostatic discharge originating in off-chip loads. In such conditions, the final cell or cells may be damaged or destroyed by such overvoltages. Protective circuitry may be added to one or more of the final voltage elevator cells to reduce or eliminate such damage or destruction by distributing the overvoltage among two or more cells. Such protective circuitry may include a capacitor coupled in parallel with the input and output node of one or more of the final voltage elevator cells. The protective circuitry may also include a resistor coupled in series between the final voltage elevator cell and the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Semtech Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Aebischer
  • Patent number: 8693223
    Abstract: A power converter includes an output unit, a first transformer, a switch unit, and a processing unit. The first transformer includes a primary winding and a secondary winding. The primary winding is coupled between an input voltage and a first node. The switch unit is coupled between the first node and a second node. The processing unit is coupled between the input voltage and the first node. When the switch unit is in an OFF state, the processing unit is used to receive a first sensing voltage and store a sensing power of the first sensing voltage through a first path, isolate the first sensing voltage from feeding in through a second path different from the first path simultaneously, and then release the stored sensing power through the second path. The first sensing voltage is generated as the switch unit switches from an ON state to the OFF state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: FSP Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Cody Lin
  • Patent number: 8693222
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes a first winding of a first transformer to which direct current power is supplied, a switching element configured to be connected in series with the first winding of the first transformer, a first winding of a second transformer and a capacitor configured to be connected in series with each other and in parallel with the switching element, a second winding of the first transformer configured to be coupled with the first winding of the first transformer, output terminals configured to be connected to the second winding of the first transformer and to output direct current power, and a pair of second windings of the second transformer configured to be coupled with the first winding of the second transformer, the second windings of the second transformer being connected in parallel with each other with reverse polarity between the output terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yu Yonezawa, Yoshiyasu Nakashima
  • Patent number: 8611115
    Abstract: A resonant converter comprises first and second input terminals (1, 2) to connect a voltage source (VBulk). A series connection of a first switch (S1) and a second switch (S2) is connected between the input terminals. A resonant circuit with a resonant inductance, at least one resonant capacitor (C1, C2, Cs), and at least a primary winding of a transformer (T1, T1—a, T1—b) is connected to the common Terminal of the first switch (S1) and the second switch (S2). A diode (D3) is connected in conduction direction from the first input Terminal (1) to the clamping capacitor (Cclamp). Another diode (D4) is connected in conduction direction from the clamping capacitor (Cclamp) to the second input terminal (2). A comparator (5) is connected across the clamping capacitor (Cclamp). The comparator (5) is further connected to a pulse control unit (3) to control the first and second switches (S1, S2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: DET International Holding Limited
    Inventors: Heiko Figge, Frank Schafmeister
  • Patent number: 8570775
    Abstract: Power conversion systems and control techniques are presented in which a bus transient control component bypasses selected phases of a rectifier during a protective mode of operation to reduce common mode voltages or currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lixiang Wei, Yuan Xiao, Richard Lukaszewski, Navid R. Zargari
  • Patent number: 8570780
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a parallel connection structure 1 between a first node and a second node; a first snubber device and a second snubber device having a clamp level that is the same as or higher than the output voltage of a power source section. One terminal of the first snubber device is connected through the first node to one end of the parallel connection structure, the opposite terminal of the first snubber device is connected through a third node to one terminal of the second snubber device, and the opposite terminal of the second snubber device is connected through the second node to the opposite end of the parallel connection structure. Electric power is fed back to the power source section through the second and third nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinsuke Godo, Atsunobu Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 8542506
    Abstract: A power isolation system and method is disclosed. The system includes a transformer suitable for use in the power isolation system, and a semiconductor device electrically connected to the transformer to provide a reduction of the inrush current associated with powering the transformer, wherein the semiconductor device is activated upon power up based upon the previous shutdown state of the power isolation system to provide a soft start to the transformer, and after activation of the transformer, the semiconductor device is shorted in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Middle Atlantic Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Schluter, Bernard P. O'Kane, Brendan K. Walsh, Steve Kaufer
  • Patent number: 8488348
    Abstract: A switch mode power supply apparatus includes a transformer, a main switching device to adjust a power supply supplied to a primary coil of the transformer, an active clamping circuit to suppress a voltage stress of the main switching device, and a control circuit to control a clamping operation of the active clamping circuit when the switch mode power supply apparatus is in a standby mode. Therewith, it is possible to significantly reduce power consumption of the switch mode power supply apparatus in the standby mode and improve efficiency of the switch mode power supply apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung-won Hong, Joe-hoon Jung
  • Patent number: 8462524
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement which comprises at least one 3-level pulse width modulation inverter with a snubber circuit. The snubber circuit is formed by at least one coil (L), two capacitors (Cu, Co) and a series connection comprising four diodes (Dh1-Dh4) poled in the same direction, whereof the two outer diodes (Dh1, Dh4) are in each case directly connected to the input terminals (1, 3) for the positive and the negative pole of the input voltage. The electrical connection between the two inner diodes (Dh2, Dh3) is connected on the one hand via the coil (L) to the input terminal (2) for the center tap of the input voltage and on the other hand to the middle bridge branch of the pulse width modulation inverter. In one embodiment, the two capacitors (Cu, Co) are in each case connected with one terminal to the electrical connection between one of the inner diodes (Dh2, Dh3) and one of the outer diodes (Dh1, Dh4) and with the other terminal directly to the output terminal (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Hochschule Konstanz
    Inventor: Manfred W. Gekeler
  • Patent number: 8456144
    Abstract: A power supply with non-isolated DC DC splitting includes n conversion cells that are interlaced. The splitting switch of each cell is placed in a resonant circuit. The resonant circuit makes it possible to obtain a switching to the open state of said switch at zero current and voltage. The ripple at the input and output is minimized and the efficiency improved. In particular, the wiring inductances in the charge transfer loop of each cell no longer have negative effects on the efficiency. The cell may be of boost, buck, buck/boost, Cuk or SEPIC topology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignees: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventors: Daniel Chatroux, Jean-Claude Dolhagaray, Francis Roy
  • Publication number: 20120182772
    Abstract: A control circuit, during a positive period in which current flows from a power conversion apparatus to a load, causes a second snubber capacitor to discharge by controlling a second auxiliary switch to be turned on while a second main diode is turned on, and during a negative period in which current flows from the load to the power conversion apparatus, causes a first snubber capacitor to discharge by controlling a first auxiliary switch to be turned on while a first main diode is turned on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Hosokawa, Toshifumi Ise, Hirotake Nakaji
  • Patent number: 8207717
    Abstract: A unidirectional DC-DC converter and method of control thereof. The converter includes a DC power-supply, a buck converter circuit having a first main switching element, a boost converter circuit having a second main switching element, a first snubber capacitor, a first inversely-parallel diode, a control device, and an output diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junpei Uruno, Hiroyuki Shoji, Yasuo Kaminaga, Akihiko Kanouda
  • Patent number: 8189354
    Abstract: A voltage converter transmits energy in multiple stages using a charge pump so as to decrease the voltage rating of the secondary side of the transformer and reduce the size of the transformer. Meanwhile, the voltage converter stores and recycles the leakage inductance energy by using a snubber circuit so as to increase the efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Analog Integrations Corporation
    Inventors: Szu-Ming Chiang, Wei-Ming Chen, Chi-Hung Tsai
  • Patent number: 8184458
    Abstract: A snubber circuit for a switching converter. A power source has a first rail and a second rail. A snubber transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding, a first end of each of the primary and secondary windings being coupled together to form a transformer common point and a second end of the primary winding being connected to a half-bridge switching converter. A first capacitor is connected between the first rail and the transformer common point. A second capacitor is connected between the second rail and the transformer common point. A first diode is connected between the secondary winding and the first rail. A second diode is connected between the secondary winding and the second rail. The snubber circuit suppresses voltage transients and recovers energy from said voltage transients. In one embodiment the switching converter is a half-bridge configuration with zero current switching in a multi-level topology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Vanner, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Isurin, Alexander Cook
  • Patent number: 8169177
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a control unit having overcurrent generation judgment unit, inverter selection unit, and inverter drive control unit. The overcurrent generation judgment unit judges whether an overcurrent is generated in an inverter for generation or an inverter for travel. When an overcurrent is generated in one of the inverters, the inverter selection unit selects the other inverter to be driven. The inverter drive control unit stops the driving of the one inverter and drives the other inverter to drive a travel motor or a generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 8129960
    Abstract: A resonance type electric power conversion apparatus which includes a main circuit including a main reactor, a main switching device, an inverse-parallel diode and an output power diode, and an auxiliary circuit including an auxiliary reactor, an auxiliary switch, and an auxiliary capacitor connected in parallel to the main switching device for forming a recovery current elimination circuit and a partial resonance circuit for discharging charge accumulated in the auxiliary capacitor to turn on the inverse-parallel diode, includes recovery current elimination period calculation means for calculating a recovery current elimination period after the present point of time until the current flowing through the output power diode becomes zero and the charge of the output power diode disappears based on a voltage value across the auxiliary reactor, a current value of the main reactor and an inductance value of the auxiliary reactor, and control means for controlling the auxiliary switching device to turn on based on
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Ito
  • Publication number: 20120051103
    Abstract: A power converter converts DC power supplied from a first DC power supply and a second DC power supply into AC power and supplies the AC power to a load. The power converter includes a protection circuit for allowing a charging current, which is possibly to flow from the first DC power supply and the second DC power supply to a first snubber capacitor or a second snubber capacitor, to flow to another current path, when a voltage applied to the first snubber capacitor becomes a predetermined value or more or when a voltage applied to the second snubber capacitor becomes a predetermined value or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUS SYS. CORP.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Hosokawa, Toshifumi Ise, Hirotake Nakaji
  • Patent number: 8107268
    Abstract: A passive lossless snubber cell for a switched-mode power converter comprises an energy absorbing circuit and an energy resetting circuit coupled to said energy absorbing circuit. The energy absorbing circuit is arranged to release energy stored in a snubber capacitor of the energy absorbing circuit to a storage capacitor of the energy resetting circuit through a resonant pathway of the snubber cell in response to a first switching action of a power converter transistor switch. The energy resetting circuit is arranged to release the energy stored therein to a part of a circuit of the power converter in response to a second switching action of the power converter transistor switch, the second switching action being a successive action to the first switching action. The passive lossless snubber cell has several advantages over existing snubbering techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: City University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Shu Hung Chung, Tin Ho Li