Bridge Type Patents (Class 363/58)
  • Patent number: 11901855
    Abstract: For polyharmonic flux motor loss increase, a method offsets pulse width modulation (PWM) carriers to a motor to increase motor harmonics. The offset PWM carriers increase energy losses for the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Lamb, Zhendong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11784586
    Abstract: In this power conversion device, first three-phase AC voltages generated by an inverter and an AC filter are divided by first to third voltage dividers to generate second three-phase AC voltages, and third three-phase AC voltages that are line-to-line voltages of the second three-phase AC voltages and a neutral point voltage of the first three-phase AC voltages are detected. Then, DC components of the third three-phase AC voltages resulting from errors of voltage ratios of the first to third voltage dividers are obtained based on the detection results and contents in a storage unit, the DC components are removed from the third three-phase AC voltages to generate fourth three-phase AC voltages, and the inverter is controlled such that DC components of the fourth three-phase AC voltages are eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yousuke Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11754638
    Abstract: A ground fault detection apparatus is used to detect a ground fault of a three-phase UPS apparatus. The UPS apparatus includes a first filter circuit, an AC/DC conversion circuit, a DC bus, a DC/AC conversion circuit, and a second filter circuit coupled in sequence. The ground fault detection apparatus includes a detection circuit having a first detection end and a second detection end. The first detection end is coupled to the first filter circuit and the second filter circuit, and the second detection end is coupled to an equipment grounding point. The equipment grounding point is coupled to a neutral point of a three-phase power source, and the three-phase power source is coupled to the first filter circuit. The detection circuit indicates whether the UPS apparatus has a ground fault and a location where the ground fault occurs according to a detection voltage between the first detection end and the second detection end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Hung-Chieh Lin, Jen-Chuan Liao, Yi-Ping Hsieh, Hsin-Chih Chen
  • Patent number: 11606090
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device comprising a high-side switching device, a low-side switching device, a high-side driver configured to turn on/off the high-side switching device, a low-side driver configured to turn on/off the low-side switching device, a high-side driving external terminal configured to supply a power supply voltage for driving the high-side driver, and a protection circuit section connected to the high-side driving external terminal. The high-side driver may include a reference potential terminal set to a reference potential of the high-side driver. The protection circuit section may be connected between the high-side driving external terminal and the reference potential terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masashi Hoya
  • Patent number: 11480373
    Abstract: A chiller system includes a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator in fluid communication. A motor drives the compressor. A variable speed drive powers the motor. An oil heater and pump system circulate heated lubricating oil in the compressor. A control panel is arranged to determine whether an input parameter is greater than or equal to a threshold parameter; deactivate the VSD in response to sensing that the input parameter is less than the threshold parameter; determine at least one chiller capacity control parameter at a point when the VSD is deactivated, and maintain the at least one chiller capacity control parameter while the VSD is deactivated; determine that the input parameter has been restored; determine a motor rotation and motor rotational speed; and in response to determining that the input parameter is restored and the motor is rotating in a forward direction, reactivate the VSD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Curtis Christian Crane, Mark Bodell, II, Curtis G. Rager, John C. Hansen, Dean K. Norbeck
  • Patent number: 11456680
    Abstract: A power system includes an inverter that convert a DC voltage to a three-phase alternating current (AC) voltage. One or more switch drivers generate a pulse width modulation (PWM) drive signal that drives the inverter. The power system further includes a controller that determines a modulation index associated with the PWM drive signal and injects a harmonic into the PWM drive signal in response to the modulation index exceeding a modulation index threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Huazhen Chai, Mustansir Kheraluwala
  • Patent number: 11444567
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting an overcurrent of a clutch control system including a motor, an inverter including a plurality of switching elements and configured to convert DC power into AC power by ON/OFF of the plurality of switching elements and to provide the AC power to the motor; a motor control unit configured to detect a current provided to the motor; and a microcomputer having an overcurrent threshold for overcurrent detection set for each of a predetermined number of levels, and configured to compare the detected current with the overcurrent threshold for each level, to diagnose whether there is a level corresponding to an overcurrent, to measure an overcurrent duration when there is a level corresponding to the overcurrent, and to control the inverter based on the overcurrent duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI AUTOEVER CORP.
    Inventors: Joon-Hyun Park, Jeong-Yong Eom
  • Patent number: 11233126
    Abstract: A SiC epitaxial wafer includes a SiC substrate and a SiC epitaxial layer disposed on the SiC substrate. The SiC epitaxial layer includes a high carrier concentration layer and two low carrier concentration layers having lower carrier concentration than the high carrier concentration layer, and being in contact with a top surface and a bottom surface of the high carrier concentration layer to sandwich the high carrier concentration layer. A difference in carrier concentration between the high carrier concentration layer and the low carrier concentration layers is 5×1014/cm3 or more and 2×1016/cm3 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Sakai, Yoichiro Mitani
  • Patent number: 11199798
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a motor, a first power supply unit, a second power supply unit, a control unit, and a delay unit. The first power supply unit supplies a first voltage to the motor. The second power supply unit supplies a second voltage higher than the first voltage to the motor. The control unit supplies and stops supplying the second voltage from the second power supply unit to the motor while supplying the first voltage from the first power supply unit to the motor. The delay unit delays a rise in the second voltage supplied from the second power supply unit to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Morishita
  • Patent number: 11095231
    Abstract: A multilevel power converter has at least one phase module with a plurality of modules connected between positive and negative DC voltage connections. The phase module has a first phase module branch connected to the positive DC voltage connection, and a second phase module branch connected to the negative DC voltage connection. Each of the modules has at least two electronic switching elements and an electric energy storage unit. A third phase module branch connects the first phase module branch to the second phase module branch. A switching device connects an AC voltage connection of the multilevel power converter to a first connection node between the first phase module branch and the third phase module branch in a first switch position and connects the AC voltage connection to a second connection node between the third phase module branch and the second phase module branch in a second switch position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Herbert Gambach, Volker Hussennether, Roland Schuster, Thomas Westerweller, Adnan Chaudhry
  • Patent number: 10566782
    Abstract: A bus system comprises a feed module, a load module and a data cable connecting the feed module to the load module. A fuse is provided in an energy path and/or respectively in an energy/data transmission path between a feed module and a load module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher Pohl, Thomas Rettig, Johannes Künne
  • Patent number: 10305370
    Abstract: A line commutated converter, LCC, for a high-voltage, direct current, HVDC, power converter comprises at least one bridge circuit for connection to at least one terminal of a DC system. Each bridge circuit comprises a plurality of arms, and each arm is associated with a respective phase of an AC system. Each arm comprises an upper and lower thyristor connected in series, an associated branch extending from between the upper and lower thyristors, and at least one capacitor module for each phase. The, or each capacitor module is operable to insert a capacitor into the respective arm of the bridge circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: The University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Xiao-Ping Zhang, Ying Xue
  • Patent number: 9712076
    Abstract: A plurality of capacitors are interposed between ones of a plurality of input lines. The clamp capacitor is connected between two DC power supply lines. A current-source converter includes a plurality of switch devices, where x represents r, s and t. The switch device selects conduction/non-conduction through a first diode between corresponding one of the input lines and the first DC power supply line and conduction/non-conduction through a second diode between said corresponding one of input lines and the second DC power supply line based on external signals and brings corresponding one of the input lines with the first and second DC power supply lines in a state of not receiving the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenichi Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 9667129
    Abstract: A power conversion device, including first and second semiconductor switching elements, first and second free wheeling diodes respectively connected in reverse parallel to the first and second semiconductor switching elements, and first and second drive circuits configured to respectively on/off drive the first and second semiconductor switching elements. The first and second semiconductor switching elements are connected in series to form a half bridge circuit and are respectively disposed on upper and lower arms of the half bridge circuit. The second drive circuit includes an alarm signal generation circuit configured to generate different alarm signals upon detecting overcurrent in different arms of the half bridge circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazumi Takagiwa
  • Patent number: 9209707
    Abstract: A three-level inverter having two direct current (DC)-links for converting DC voltages generated in a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules into alternating current (AC) voltages, wherein one end of a first DC-link of the two DC-links is connected to a first potential point at which a first potential is generated in the plurality of PV modules, and one end of a second DC-link of the two DC-links is connected to a second potential point at which a second potential that is lower than the first potential is generated in the plurality of PV modules, and both the other end of the first DC-link and the other end of the second DC-link are connected to a third potential point at which a third potential having a medium level between the first potential and the second potential is generated in the plurality of PV modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignees: LG ELECTRONICS INC., KOREA ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING & SCIENCE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yong-Soon Park, Seung-Ki Sul, Chun-Ho Lim, Seong-Hun Lee, Ki-Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 9178506
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, apparatus, circuits, methods, and other implementations, including a system that includes one or more power switching devices that receive power delivered by a power unit, and a high-speed charge control circuit electrically coupled to the one or more power switching devices. The high-speed charge control circuit includes an optocoupler coupled to the power unit and further coupled to a first switching device of the high-speed charge control circuit, the first switching device actuated based on output of the optocoupler to establish an electrical path to discharge at least a portion of electrical charge present at least on the one or more power switching devices when power delivery from the power unit is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Crydom, Inc.
    Inventors: Edgar Equihua, Sergio Orozco
  • Patent number: 9006624
    Abstract: An induction heating system includes an induction heating coil operable to inductively heat a load with a magnetic field, a detector for detecting a current feedback signal corresponding to a current flowing through the induction heating coil, and a controller for detecting a switching transient in the current feedback signal and determining a resonant frequency of the system based on a characteristic of the switching transient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Brosnan, Mariano Filippa, Kresimir Odorcic
  • Patent number: 8813346
    Abstract: A coil-type electronic component has a coil inside or on the surface of its base material and is characterized in that: the base material is constituted by a group of grains of a soft magnetic alloy containing iron, silicon and other element that oxidizes more easily than iron; the surface of each soft magnetic alloy grain has an oxide layer formed on its surface as a result of oxidization of the grain; this oxide layer contains the other element that oxidizes more easily than iron by a quantity larger than that in the soft magnetic alloy grain; and grains are bonded with one another via this oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Ogawa, Atsushi Tanada, Hitoshi Matsuura, Kiyoshi Tanaka, Hiroshi Kishi, Kenji Kawano
  • Patent number: 8789262
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an inductor includes a mold device having a mold cavity, disposing a coil member above the mold cavity of the mold device, filling metallic particles into the mold cavity of the mold device, forcing the coil member into the metallic particles to form a base member, applying two conductive coating members onto the base member and electrically connecting to the terminals of the coil member respectively, and attaching two conductive coverings onto the conductive coating members respectively and electrically connecting to the conductive coating members respectively for allowing the inductors to be quickly manufactured in a mass production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Mag. Layers Scientific Technics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien Chih Liu
  • Patent number: 8779708
    Abstract: A brushless motor driving circuit includes a battery for supplying a power to the brushless motor driving circuit; a driver circuit; a bridge circuit including a plurality of N-channel FETs; a control unit for rotating a brushless motor by switching the bridge circuit through the driver circuit based on a rotor position detection signal; a floating voltage generator for applying a voltage to a first group of the FETs of the bridge circuit; and a converter which is powered from the battery. The converter has an output connected to an input of the floating voltage generator for the first group of the FETs of the bridge circuit and an input of the driver circuit for a second group of the FETs of the bridge circuit to dedicatedly supply a power to gates of the FETs, and the control unit is powered from the battery without using the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8707547
    Abstract: A lead-frameless power inductor and its fabrication method are disclosed. The power inductor comprises a lower substrate, a coil provided on the lower substrate, and an intermediate layer which encloses the coil, wherein the lower substrate can be a soft magnetic entrainer or a non-magnetic entrainer. The coil is made of an insulated wire, and the intermediate layer is a colloid consisting of magnetic powder. A method for fabricating the lead-frameless power inductor includes steps of preparing a lower substrate; forming a plurality of conducting metal layers on the lower substrate; forming a wire package on an upper surface of said lower substrate; coating a surface of said wire package with a magnetic powder; dividing the substrate into a plurality of granulated elements by cutting process; and forming the conducting metal layer on both sides of the element to form a surface mounting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Inpaq Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wei Chih Lee
  • Patent number: 8653781
    Abstract: Provided is a variable frequency drive and a rotation speed searching apparatus for an induction motor incorporated therein. The rotation speed searching apparatus is featured by scanning the rotor frequency of the induction motor and determining either the error between a detected DC-bus voltage and a set DC-bus voltage or the error between a detected output current and a set output current, so that the rotation speed of the induction motor can be searched out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui-Chung Hsieh, Chi-Lung Hsiao
  • Patent number: 8601673
    Abstract: A method of producing an inductor with high inductance includes forming a removable polymer layer on a temporary carrier; forming a structure including a first coil, a second coil, and a dielectric layer on the removable polymer layer; forming a first magnetic glue layer on the removable polymer layer and the structure; removing the temporary carrier; and forming a second magnetic glue layer below the structure and the first magnetic glue layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Cyntec Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shih-Hsien Tseng
  • Patent number: 8482886
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a protection circuit, a resonance converter having the same, and a protection method thereof. A resonance converter having high-side and low-side switches senses a current flowing through the low-side switch and determines a zero voltage switching failure by using a width of a current flowing to a negative direction of the low-side switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Gwan-Bon Koo, Hyun-Chul Eom, Jin-Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 8407883
    Abstract: A damascene process is utilized to fabricate the segmented magnetic core elements of an integrated circuit inductor structure. The magnetic core is electroplated from a seed layer that is conformal with a permanent dielectric mold that results in sidewall plating defining an easy magnetic axis. The hard axis runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core and the inductor coils are orthogonal to the core's longitudinal axis. The magnetic field generated by the inductor coils is, therefore, parallel and self-aligned to the hard magnetic axis. The easy axis is enhanced by electroplating in an applied magnetic field parallel to the easy axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Smeys, Peter Johnson, Andrei Papou
  • Patent number: 8375566
    Abstract: Methods of providing arc resistant switchgear enclosures for dry-type transformers are provided. The enclosures have one or more arc-resistant features, including arc channels, arc fault dampers, and arc fault plenums. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises providing a base structure with a dry-type transformer seated thereon, providing walls and a roof, wherein at least the front wall contains at least one longitudinal seam covered by an arc channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Ballard, Nathan T. Sigman, Edgar A. Wimmer, Jr., Rafael Gutierrez, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8354813
    Abstract: A torque limit section that applies limit to a torque instruction value of an electric motor such that a switching elements temperature is restricted to no more than an element upper limiting temperature includes a torque restriction section that finds a torque restriction value for restricting the torque of the electric motor in accordance with the said switching elements temperature; a torque restriction mitigation section that finds a torque restriction mitigation value for mitigating the torque limit value in accordance with the integrated value of the deviation of the element upper limiting temperature and the switching elements temperature; a first subtractor that finds a torque restriction value by subtracting the torque restriction mitigation value from the torque limit value; and a second subtractor that finds a limited torque instruction value obtained by subtracting the torque limit value from the torque instruction value and outputs this to the gate generating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ryuta Hasegawa, Ryuichi Morikawa, Toshiharu Oobu
  • Patent number: 8335061
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a protection circuit, a resonance converter having the same, and a protection method thereof. A resonance converter having high-side and low-side switches senses a current flowing through the low-side switch and determines a zero voltage switching failure by using a width of a current flowing to a negative direction of the low-side switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Gwan-Bon Koo, Hyun-Chul Eom, Jin-Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 8307534
    Abstract: A method of forming an encapsulated coupled coil arrangement. The method includes coupling a first lead of a first coil to a second lead of an electrical circuit device, by soldering or infusion, using a superconductive jointing alloy; and encapsulating the first coil, the electrical circuit device and the jointed leads of the first coil and the electrical circuit device in an encapsulation material. The jointing alloy has a melting point higher than a highest temperature experienced by the encapsulation material having the encapsulation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Plc
    Inventors: Graham Hutton, M'Hamed Lakrimi, Adrian Mark Thomas
  • Patent number: 8302287
    Abstract: A multilayer inductor includes a bottom magnetic layer having an external conductive pattern formed on a bottom surface thereof for connection to a substrate such as a printed circuit board. The bottom external conductive pattern includes signal/power contacts and first and second inductor electrodes. A top magnetic layer includes a top external conductive pattern having signal/power contacts and inductor electrode contacts. An inductor conductive pattern formed on the top surfaces of intermediate magnetic layers disposed between the top and bottom magnetic layers are electrically coupled to each other by means of through holes to form a spiral inductor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Jun Lu, François Hébert
  • Patent number: 8289736
    Abstract: An electric power transmission system includes at each end of a high voltage direct current transmission line including three conductors, a converter station for conversion of an alternating voltage into a direct voltage for transmitting direct current between the stations in all three conductors. Each station has a voltage source converter and an extra phase leg connected between the two pole conductors of the direct voltage side of the converter. A third of the conductors is connected to a midpoint between current valves of the extra phase leg. An arrangement is adapted to control the current valves of the extra phase leg to switch for connecting the third conductor either to the first pole conductor or the second pole conductor for utilizing the third conductor for conducting current between the stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Gunnar Asplund
  • Patent number: 8215003
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a reactor composed of a coil, a core, and a container, capable of suppressing the core to break when a current flows in the coil to generate magnetic flux. In the method, the coil is formed by spirally winding a conductive wire. The coil is immersed in an insulating film in liquid with electrical insulation. The coil is placed in a furnace. Annealing for the coil and thermosetting for the insulating film are performed at a temperature within 250 to 320° C. for a period of time within 30 minutes to one hour before forming the core in the container. The coil is then disposed in the container. Inside and outside areas of the coil in the container is filled with a resin mixture composed of magnetic powder and resin. The resin mixture in the container is hardened to form the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, NEC Tokin Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Saka, Yousuke Setaka, Hiroyuki Katsuta, Takashi Yanbe
  • Patent number: 8209849
    Abstract: A method of A production method including interdiffusion of a Ni component in a magnetic layer and a Zn component in a nonmagnetic sheet to form an interdiffusion layer in a region of the nonmagnetic sheet inside a conductive pattern. This method allows the interdiffusion layer to be formed without need for complicated processing of the nonmagnetic sheet. Furthermore, there is no boundary region between the magnetic layer and the nonmagnetic sheet around it. The nonmagnetic layer is located between turns of a coiled conductor to suppress degradation of dc bias characteristics and a magnetic body penetrates in a region inside the coiled conductor to suppress reduction in inductance due to provision of the nonmagnetic layer between turns of the coiled conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Sato, Masazumi Arata, Kunio Oda, Yoshimitsu Satoh
  • Patent number: 8205324
    Abstract: A damascene process is utilized to fabricate the segmented magnetic core elements of an integrated circuit inductor structure. The magnetic core is electroplated from a seed layer that is conformal with a permanent dielectric mold that results in sidewall plating defining an easy magnetic axis. The hard axis runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core and the inductor coils are orthogonal to the core's longitudinal axis. The magnetic field generated by the inductor coils is, therefore, parallel and self-aligned to the hard magnetic axis. The easy axis is enhanced by electroplating in an applied magnetic field parallel to the easy axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Smeys, Peter Johnson, Andrei Papou
  • Patent number: 8136222
    Abstract: A method of forming an encapsulated coupled coil arrangement. The method includes coupling a first lead of a first coil to a second lead of an electrical circuit device, by soldering or infusion, using a superconductive jointing alloy; and encapsulating the first coil, the electrical circuit device and the jointed leads of the first coil and the electrical circuit device in an encapsulation material. The jointing alloy has a melting point higher than a highest temperature experienced by the encapsulation material during the encapsulation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Plc
    Inventors: Graham Hutton, M'Hamed Lakrimi, Adrian Mark Thomas
  • Patent number: 8108984
    Abstract: Methods of manufacture of integrated circuit inductors having slotted magnetic material will be described. The methods may employ electro- or electroless plating techniques to form a layer or layers of magnetic material within the slotted magnetic material structure, and in particular those magnetic material layers adjacent to insulator layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Donald S. Gardner, Gerhard Schrom, Peter Hazucha, Fabrice Paillet, Tanay Karnik
  • Patent number: 8102684
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for limiting excessive voltages by a forward delay time of a first diode is described. The first diode is alternately switched in a non-conducting direction and a conducting direction by switching a circuit element. The first diode is series-connected to a first capacitor and a pre-charging circuit is provided for the first capacitor, the pre-charging circuit charging the first capacitor while the first diode is switched in the non-conducting direction. The pre-charging circuit charges the first capacitor more strongly than an excessive voltage of the first diode with regard to the amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Harald Weinmeier
  • Patent number: 8064227
    Abstract: Cathode-anode voltage across free-wheeling diodes in an active rectifier is used in the determination of switching points when the free-wheeling diode is forward biased. Hysteretic switching is accomplished through the selection of conductive and non-conductive switching threshold. The switching thresholds are further selected to prevent voltage oscillations at zero current crossings and reduce delays during deactivation to prevent cross-conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chandra S. Namuduri, Kenneth J. Shoemaker
  • Patent number: 7921546
    Abstract: A method for making a high current low profile inductor includes forming an inductor element comprising a coil having an open center and an outside surface, the coil also having first and second coil ends, making a dry mixture comprising a dry resin and an insulated dry powdered magnetic powder, and compressing the dry mixture around the outside surface of the coil and within the open center of the coil to create an inductor body without liquefying the dry mixture, whereby the inductor body engages the coil both within the coil open center and also the coil outside surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Vishay Dale Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Shafer, Brett W. Jelkin
  • Patent number: 7886425
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a transformer is disclosed. A first bobbin piece, having a first channel and a primary winding section is provided. A second bobbin comprising first and second secondary side plates, plural partition plates, a wall portion, a secondary base having a first pin arranged on a bottom surface of the secondary base, plural secondary winding sections, and a second channel is provided. A second pin is inserted into the second bobbin piece to form a wire-arranging part protruded from the second secondary side plate and an insertion part protruded from the bottom surface of the secondary base. A primary winding coil is wound on the primary winding section, and the first and second terminals of a secondary winding coil are respectively fixed on the first pin and the wire-arranging part. A magnetic core assembly is partially disposed within the first channel and the second channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yang Liu, Ching-Hsien Teng, Hsin-Wei Tsai, Yi-Lin Chen, Bou-Jun Zung, Chia-Hung Pai, Shih-Hsien Chang
  • Patent number: 7849586
    Abstract: A method for making a power inductor comprises providing a first magnetic core comprising a ferrite bead core material, cutting a first cavity and a first air gap in said first magnetic core, and attaching a second magnetic core to said first magnetic core at least one of in and adjacent to said air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventor: Sehat Sutardja
  • Patent number: 7841070
    Abstract: A planar transformer or balun device, having small trace spacing and high mutual coupling coefficient, and a method of fabricating the same is disclosed. The method may comprise providing a first and a second inductor on a primary and a second substrate respectively, interleaving at least partially the first inductor with the second inductor, coupling the primary and the secondary substrates to form a unitary structure, and providing electrical contacts to couple the first and second inductors with another device or circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Telesphor Kamgaing
  • Patent number: 7817450
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for resetting at least one Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) in an H-bridge. The apparatus comprises a current interruption device for controlling current flow through the H-bridge, and a negative voltage detector for detecting a negative voltage at the H-bridge and driving the current interruption device to control the current flow through the H-bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Fornage
  • 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: 7760517
    Abstract: A converter includes a converter for an ion propulsion system is provided. The converter includes a bridge circuit with a first and second bridge circuit connection and four switches. The converter also includes a storage inductance and a high voltage transformer with a primary and a secondary winding. The converter further includes a switch control unit, which opens or closes the fourth switch at a control time delayed in relation to the first switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Astrium GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Herty, Jochen Haegele
  • Patent number: 7715217
    Abstract: A DC/DC converter includes a reactor, IGBT devices, a dead time generation unit, and a DC-CPU. The dead time generation unit operates in response to a reference signal for a duty ratio, to output first and second activation signals provided with an inactive period corresponding to a dead time preventing both of the IGBT devices from conducting. The DC-CPU corrects a tentative duty ratio calculated as based on a voltage control value, in accordance with a value of a current flowing through the reactor, to output the reference signal. Preferably the DC-CPU associates the value of the current of the reactor with three states and when the value approaches a value at which a state transitions to a different state, the DC-CPU gradually switches a correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kota Manabe, Masahiro Shige
  • Patent number: 7663618
    Abstract: Power-efficient, pulsed driving of capacitive loads to controllable voltage levels, with particular applicability to LCDs. Energy stored in a portion of the capacitive load is recovered during a recovery phase. Time-varying signals are used to drive the load and to recover the stored energy, thus minimizing power losses, using processes named adiabatic charging and adiabatic discharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Lars G. Svensson, William C. Athas, Rajat K. Lal
  • Patent number: 7617590
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of an embedded inductor includes the steps of providing a magnetic plastic material, disposing at least one coil into a mold, and injecting or pressing the magnetic plastic material into the mold to form a magnetic body encapsulating the coil. An embedded inductor includes at least one magnetic body encapsulating the coil by injecting molding or pressing molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng-Hong Lee, Yu-Lin Hsueh, Yi-Hong Huang
  • Publication number: 20090244939
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for resetting Silicon Controlled Rectifiers (SCRs) in an H-bridge. The apparatus comprises a hybrid bridge, comprising at least one SCR and at least one switch, and an abnormal current detector, coupled to the hybrid bridge. The abnormal current detector detects an abnormal current in the hybrid bridge and drives the at least one switch to control current flow through the hybrid bridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventor: Martin Fornage
  • Patent number: RE41796
    Abstract: A heating current used to inductively heat a metallic or magnetic work-piece is generated by an inverter supplied by a supply voltage. The inverter includes four switching elements arranged in an H-bridge circuit having two parallel longitudinal branches and a transverse branch. The switches are controlled so the heating current flows through the transverse branch. The diagonally opposed switching elements are switched from a conductive to a non-conductive state in a temporally staggered manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Klaus Schmitt, Wolfgang Schmidt, Heiko Scheffler