With Means To Selectively Provide D.c. Of Either Polarity Patents (Class 363/63)
  • Patent number: 11942865
    Abstract: A power converter with a voltage-modulating circuit, a controller, and a sensing circuit. The controller controls switches of a voltage-modulating circuit to provide a level of an output voltage (VOUT) based on an operational mode of the voltage-modulating circuit and a voltage measurement provided by the sensing circuit. The operational mode of the voltage-modulating circuit can be pass-through mode or voltage-modulating. The sensing circuit includes one or more externally programmable connectors configured to determine one or more boundaries of an output voltage window. In the pass-through mode, a level of VOUT will be provided without switching any of the switches when a level of an input voltage (VIN) falls within the output voltage window. In the voltage-modulating mode, a level of VOUT will be provided by switching one or more of the switches when the level of VIN falls outside of the output voltage window having only one boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: TDK-Lambda Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Wildrick, Joel Zaens
  • Patent number: 11901140
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a hybrid circuit breaker for an industrial automation system. The hybrid circuit breaker may include a mechanical switch and solid-state switches. The hybrid circuit breaker may receive control signals to open and close a current path based on moving a spanner of the mechanical switch. In some cases, moving the spanner of the mechanical switch may generate electrical arcs when the hybrid circuit breaker is conducting electrical current. In such cases, the hybrid circuit breaker may remove the electrical arcs by drawing the electrical arcs to a conductive bar and away from the spanner. Moreover, the hybrid circuit breaker may dissipate the electrical arcs on the conductive bar by opening one or multiple solid-state switches disposed on the conductive bar. In some cases, one or multiple voltage suppressors may receive (e.g., suppress or ground) an electrical power of the electrical arcs when the solid-state switches are opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew E. Carlson, Kyle B. Adkins, Randall S. Langer, David Elmiger, Aiman Kerim, James P. Miller
  • Patent number: 11888311
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a non-dissipative snubber circuit configured to boost a voltage applied to a load after the load's impedance rises rapidly. The voltage boost can thereby cause more rapid current ramping after a decrease in power delivery to the load which results from the load impedance rise. In particular, the snubber can comprise a combination of a capacitive element, two inductive elements, and three switches, where a duty cycle of two of the three switches controls the voltage boost. The snubber can be arranged between a DC power supply and a switching circuit configured to generate a pulsed waveform for provision to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Faleh Alskran, John Dorrenbacher
  • Patent number: 11705756
    Abstract: An integrated circuit on a chip may include a plurality of capacitors that are connected in series and generate an AC noise signal. A selected bandwidth of the AC noise signal transmits through the series of capacitors as a first AC power signal. Respective rectifiers are positioned for receiving a positive cycle of the first AC power signal and a negative cycle of the first AC power signal. Output terminals are connected to the respective rectifiers and configured for connection to an off chip circuit. The capacitors may be fixed or variable gap capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Arkansas
    Inventor: Paul Thibado
  • Patent number: 11699572
    Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure describe a feedback loop that can be used to maintain a nearly constant sheath voltage and thus creating a mono-energetic IEDF at the surface of the substrate. The system described herein consequently enables a precise control over the shape of IEDF and the profile of the features formed in the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonid Dorf, Evgeny Kamenetskiy, James Rogers, Olivier Luere, Rajinder Dhindsa, Viacheslav Plotnikov
  • Patent number: 11671019
    Abstract: A bridge circuit with series-connected switches and associated control method. The bridge circuit has a first bridge arm and a second bridge arm coupled to a common node, the first bridge arm has a plurality of series-connected first main switches, each first main switch is coupled in parallel with an auxiliary module, each first auxiliary module has a clamping capacitor and an auxiliary switch, the first bridge arm receives a first main switch signal to control the plurality of series-connected first main switches, the second bridge arm receives a second main switch signal, the control method is sensing voltages of the clamping capacitors in the first bridge arm, correspondingly generating voltage sensing signals, and turning on at least one auxiliary switch for a predetermined time during a dead time according to a sorting result of the voltage sensing signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shuai Shao, Jianjia Zhang, Zhi Gao, Yucen Li, Junming Zhang, Kuang Sheng
  • Patent number: 11657846
    Abstract: A method to determine a relative delay between a current-overshoot signal and a write data signal for a hard disk drive preamplifier, the method including using a memory element to strobe a test current-overshoot signal with a test data signal; counting a number of strobed transitions of the test current-overshoot signal; adjusting the delay based on the number of strobed transitions; setting a phase difference between the current-overshoot signal and the write data signal according to the delay; and using the memory element to strobe the current-overshoot signal with the write data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Enrico Mammei, Paolo Sanna, Dennis Hogg, Edoardo Contini
  • Patent number: 11575326
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes a first switching network that receives an input DC voltage and outputs a first AC voltage, a transformer, and a secondary side conversion circuit. The first switching network receives an input DC voltage. The transformer includes a middle-point primary tap such that when the input DC voltage is in a low voltage range, the middle-point tap of the transformer primary is connected to the input DC voltage causing current to flow through the first plurality of primary windings in parallel to current flowing through the second plurality of primary windings and when the input DC voltage is in a high voltage range, the middle-point tap is disconnected from the input DC voltage causing current to flow through the first plurality of primary windings in series with current flowing through the second plurality of primary windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Rafael Jimenez Pino, Pablo Gaona Rosanes, Hector Sarnago Andia, Oscar Lucia Gil
  • Patent number: 11309798
    Abstract: A power converter includes an input circuit, an output circuit and a controller. The output circuit may comprise a plurality of output terminals configured to be connected to a plurality of loads. The input circuit may comprise a plurality of input terminals configured to be connected to one or more power sources. An inductive element may be coupled between the input circuit and the output circuit. The output circuit may feature one or more voltage compensation circuits connected between two output terminals, the voltage compensation circuits activated to compensate an output voltage at one of the two output terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ofir Bieber, Yaniv Hachamo, Meir Gazit
  • Patent number: 10971342
    Abstract: A power converter is capable to convert an electrical input power into a bipolar output power and to deliver the bipolar output power to at least two independent plasma processing chambers. The power converter includes: a power input port for connection to an electrical power delivering grid, at least two power output ports each for connection to one of the plasma processing chambers, and a controller configured to control delivering the bipolar output power to the power output ports, using at least one control parameter. The controller is configured to obtain a full set of desired values for the control parameter for the power output ports, calculate whether the power converter is capable of delivering every desired value to every output port, and if so, calculate a sequence of pulses of power delivery to the output ports to supply the power to plasma processes in the plasma processing chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: TRUMPF Huettinger Sp. z o. o.
    Inventors: Jan Peter Engelstaedter, Moritz Heintze, Jakub Swiatnicki
  • Patent number: 10938295
    Abstract: A multi-phase network power supply with compensation for harmonic oscillations relates to electrical engineering and is intended for supplying various electrical devices connected to a multi-phase alternating-current electrical network. The technical result of the claimed solution consists in lessening harmonic components, reducing pulsations in the voltage and current output by the power supply, and significantly reducing the required power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Inventors: Yuriy Borisovich Sokolov, Mikhail Viktorovich Strelnikov
  • Patent number: 10381924
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a power converter that includes an inductance and a switched-capacitor network that cooperate to transform a first voltage into a second voltage features a controller, a switched-capacitor terminal for connection to the switched-capacitor network, and switches. at least one of which connects to the switched-capacitor terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventor: David Giuliano
  • Patent number: 10014778
    Abstract: Provided is a control method for controlling a SIBO buck-boost converter including a first switch coupled between an input and a first node, a second switch coupled between the first node and GROUND, a third switch coupled between a second node and GROUND, a fourth switch coupled between the second node and a first output node for outputting the positive output, a fifth switch coupled between the first node and a second output node for outputting the negative output, and an inductor coupled between the first node and the second node. The first and the third switches are turned on to energize the inductor. The first and the fourth switches are turned on to generate a positive output. The third and the fifth switches are turned on to generate a negative output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: BRAVOTEK ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Hsin Wei, Yu-Shen Lin
  • Patent number: 9998005
    Abstract: A voltage converter provides a positive voltage and a negative voltage with a single inductor. The voltage converter has a first switch, a second switch, a third switch and a fourth switch switched periodically, wherein each switching period comprise a first time period, a second time period and a third time period, and wherein: during the first time period, the first switch and the fourth switch are turned on, whereas the second switch and the third switch are turned off; during the second time period, the first switch and the third switch are turned on, whereas the second switch and the fourth switch are turned off; and during the third time period, the second switch and the fourth switch are turned on, whereas the first switch and the third switch are turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bairen Liu, Licheng Sheng, Bo Yu
  • Patent number: 9997940
    Abstract: In general, techniques are disclosed for efficiently transferring power from a portable power bank to an electronic device. More particularly, a disclosed power bank incorporates a switching mechanism capable of routing battery voltage (novel) or a stepped-up voltage (e.g., from a boost regulator) directly to a common portion of an output connector. In addition, electronic devices as described herein also incorporate a switching mechanism to allow them to accept direct battery output (novel) or a stepped-up voltage at a common portion of the device's connector (e.g., a USB connector). When used in combination, the disclosed portable power bank can transfer power to the electronic device with no more than half the loss attributable to voltage conversion operations of the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: XunGuang Xu, Jieli Li, Zifeng Shen
  • Patent number: 9819286
    Abstract: A converter outputs reactive power and has three phase branches connected to a phase of an alternating voltage source. Each of the phase branches has a phase module with a series circuit containing two-pole sub modules. A voltage which is dropped across each phase module corresponds to the sum of the voltages which are dropped across the sub modules. The first and the third phase branch are electrically connected to one another by a magnetically coupled throttle pair. A control device controls phase module currents. The control device contains current controllers which are associated with the phase modules, a decoupling unit for decoupling control differences by a computational during control of the phase module currents, a coupling unit for correcting the decoupled computational actuating variables in accordance with the magnetic coupling of the first throttle pair to obtain corrected actuating voltages, and a control unit for driving the sub modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Pieschel, Christian Siegl, Markus Wiesinger
  • Patent number: 9806650
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus is disclosed, which stops driving a motor in a normal operation state and a start state. The motor driving apparatus adjusts a corresponding switch according to a pulse width modulation (PWM) table, to gradually increase a duty cycle of turning-on the corresponding switch. The PWM table indicates a relationship between a parameter and the duty cycle. The duty cycle increases with the monotone variation of the parameter. Accordingly, the motor driving apparatus can rapidly stop the operation of the motor, to avoid that the motor driving apparatus breaking down or the motor generating noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chien-Lun Chu, Ching-Feng Lai
  • Patent number: 9735336
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for switching an electrical load having at least one capacitive component and one inductive component in a bridge branch of a bridge circuit comprises a charging of the bridge branch to a first voltage (V1) in a forward switching phase (F), a discharging of the capacitive component of the electrical load in a first open switching phase (O1), a charging of the bridge branch to a second voltage (V2) in a reverse switching phase (R), with the second voltage (V2) being polarized inversely from the first voltage (V1), and a negative charging of the capacitive component of the electrical load in a second open switching phase (O2). A bridge circuit is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Andreas Fitzi, Stephan Dobretsberger
  • Patent number: 9261934
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to improving dynamic response of hybrid power boost technology are described. In one embodiment, two or more levels of charger over-current are used for AC adapters/chargers during transition from charging (e.g., one or more battery packs) to boosting platform performance (e.g., by increasing the operating frequency of one or more processor cores of a processor). In another embodiment, an adapter's voltage level is used as a trigger for fast transition from charging to boosting. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Alexander B. Uan-Zo-Li
  • Patent number: 8804386
    Abstract: Each switching element of a charge pump circuit of a voltage regulator comprises a relatively small-sized MOS transistor associated with a relatively large-sized MOS transistor connected in parallel. Only the small transistors are switched in a first mode of operation, while the large transistors are switched in a second mode of operation. In this manner the switching losses in the first mode of operation can be decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: ST-Ericsson SA
    Inventor: Laurent Chevalier
  • Patent number: 8797771
    Abstract: An AC-DC step-up converter circuit architecture for generating multiple output voltages, both positive and negative, in an implantable biomedical device is disclosed. Switches and active rectifiers are used inside the converter for charging capacitors from the AC source and delivering currents to the loads. Regulated output voltages with high power efficiency are obtained by controlling the on/off times of the switches using feedback loops that include integrator circuits configured to provide control parameters related to the various output voltages and their associated predetermined reference voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research
    Inventor: Edward K. F. Lee
  • Publication number: 20140198545
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a power converter and method for controlling same, comprising a plurality of switch elements, an inductive reactor, and at least two ports for the movement of electrical energy. Any energy-moving port may be made unipolar, bidirectional, bipolar, or bidirectionally bipolar. Ports may be equipped with sensing circuitry to allow the converter output to be controlled responsively to an input signal. The disclosure may be configured to be used in many ways, for example, as a power-supply, as an amplifier, or as a frequency converter. The disclosure may comprise energy predictive calculating means to obtain excellent transient response to line and load variations. The disclosure may also include a switch to create a low impedance path around the inductor to allow current to recirculate through the inductor when it is not needed at any of the ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: CogniPower, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas E. Lawson, William H. Morong
  • Patent number: 8750003
    Abstract: The present invention provides a DC to AC converter including a device enabling separation of electric current into a positive portion of the circuit and a negative portion of the circuit, each portion of the circuit including an electronic switch, wherein one portion of the circuit is adapted to produce a wave form in a positive half cycle, the second portion of the circuit is adapted to produce a wave form in a negative half cycle, the voltage of the output current is fed to a polarity switch as feedback to change the polarity, and wherein the carrier duty cycle is adapted to change from 0 to 100 percent in each polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Inventor: Shlomo Ran Bet Esh
  • Patent number: 8698462
    Abstract: The invention provides a power converter and method for controlling same, comprising a plurality of switch elements, an inductive reactor, and at least two ports for the movement of electrical energy. Any energy-moving port may be made unipolar, bidirectional, bipolar, or bidirectionally bipolar. Ports may be equipped with sensing circuitry to allow the converter output to be controlled responsively to an input signal. The invention may be configured to be used in many ways, for example, as a power-supply, as an amplifier, or as a frequency converter. The invention may comprise energy predictive calculating means to obtain excellent transient response to line and load variations. The invention may also include a switch to create a low impedance path around the inductor to allow current to recirculate through the inductor when it is not needed at any of the ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: CogniPower, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas E. Lawson, William H. Morong
  • Patent number: 8674631
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes: a line breaker that is connected in series to a direct-current power supply; a first capacitor that is connected in parallel to the direct-current power supply through the line breaker; a discharge circuit that includes a resistor and a first switching circuit connected in series and is connected in parallel to the first capacitor; a power converter for driving a synchronous machine; a second capacitor that is connected in parallel to a direct-current side of the power converter; a second switching circuit that is connected in series between the first capacitor and the second capacitor; and a control circuit for controlling the discharge circuit. The control circuit controls the discharge circuit on the basis of the voltage of the first capacitor and the voltage of the second capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Kono, Keita Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 8654549
    Abstract: An input power circuit for a battery-powered device, such as a toy or consumer electronic device, includes a polarity correction circuit portion. The device includes a first input terminal and a second input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal, and a diode with a forward voltage drop of about 0.5 volts or less. In embodiments, the polarity correction circuit portion is configured to provide a positive voltage polarity at the first output terminal and a negative voltage polarity at the second output terminal for any polarity of power at the first input terminal and the second input terminal. The polarity correction circuit portion can include a diode bridge, and the diode may include a Schottky diode or a germanium diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: JLJ, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Janning
  • Patent number: 8576590
    Abstract: A power supply includes a transformer, a switching unit configured to drive the transformer at a primary side of the transformer, a voltage adjustment unit configured to adjust voltage of a capacitive element at a secondary side of the transformer, at the primary side thereof, and a plurality of constant voltage members connected across the terminals of the capacitive element at the secondary side of the transformer, wherein the power supply generates voltage having a predetermined polarity during the period before the voltage of the capacitive element at the secondary side of the transformer becomes a predetermined voltage by the voltage adjustment unit, and generates voltage having a polarity opposite to the predetermined polarity after the voltage of the capacitive element at the secondary side becomes the predetermined voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Kawakatsu
  • Patent number: 8547070
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing and operating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a first capacitor node, a second capacitor node, a first capacitor electrode, a second capacitor electrode, a first switch and a second switch. The first switch is coupled between the first capacitor electrode and the first and second capacitor nodes such that the first switch has a first position that couples the first capacitor electrode to the first capacitor node and a second position that couples the first capacitor electrode to the second capacitor node. The second switch is coupled between the second capacitor electrode and the first and second capacitor nodes such that the second switch has a first position that couples the second capacitor electrode to the first capacitor node and a second position that couples the second capacitor electrode to the second capacitor node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Allers, Reiner Schwab
  • Patent number: 8427851
    Abstract: A charge pump circuit, and associated method and apparatuses, for providing a split-rail voltage supply, the circuit having a network of switches that is operable in a number of different states and a controller for operating the switches in a sequence of said states so as to generate positive and negative output voltages together spanning a voltage approximately equal to the input voltage and centered on the voltage at the common terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Wolfson Microelecttronics plc
    Inventor: John P. Lesso
  • Patent number: 8400122
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a device for providing a DC output voltage, including a first output voltage and a second output voltage, from an input voltage. The device can include a first voltage regulator configured to provide the first output voltage when the input voltage is below a threshold voltage, and a charge pump configured to provide the second output voltage from the first output voltage in a two-state mode when the input voltage is below the threshold voltage, and to provide the first output voltage and the second output voltage in a three-state mode when the input voltage is above the threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Ben North, Cary L. Delano
  • Patent number: 8390502
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a charge redistribution DAC with an on-chip reservoir capacitor to provide charges to the DAC in lieu of traditional external reference voltages. The DAC may include the on-chip reservoir capacitor having a first plate and a second plate, an array of DAC capacitors to generate a DAC output, and an array of switches controlled by a DAC input word to couple the DAC capacitors to the reservoir capacitor. The charge redistribution DAC may further comprise a first switch connecting the first plate to an external terminal for a first external reference voltage, and a second switch connecting the second plate to an external terminal for a second external reference voltage. One embodiment may provide an ADC that includes the charge redistribution DAC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Kapusta
  • Patent number: 8310215
    Abstract: A linear modulation voltage transformer circuitry includes a power stage unit, a voltage division unit, a linear modulation unit, an error amplifier, and a recursive controller. The power stage unit adapts an input voltage and outputs a first voltage to the voltage division unit, which outputs a divided voltage. The linear modulation unit receives the divided voltage, compares it with a control voltage, and outputs an error voltage signal to the error amplifier, which amplifies the error voltage signal as an error gain control signal. The recursive controller receives and modulates the error gain control signal and outputs the modulation error gain control signal to the power stage unit as a reference signal so as for the power stage unit to modulate the first voltage. Thus, the first voltage can be varied in real time via the linear modulation unit to meet load demands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Chung-Hsin Electric and Machinery Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Chen-Kun Chou, Zhan-Yi Lin, Ting-Kuan Li, Yu-Jen Chen, Chi-Bin Wu
  • Patent number: 8288974
    Abstract: A power supply control device controls a power supply connected to a motor and includes: an AC/DC converter that makes a first DC power supply; a DC/DC converter that makes a second DC power supply out of the first DC power supply; a first rectifying element that allows current to flow from the first DC power supply toward the motor; a second rectifying element that allows current to flow from the first DC power supply toward the DC/DC converter; and a third rectifying element that allows current to flow from the motor toward the DC/DC converter. In this way, a power supply connected to a motor can be suitably controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikiyuki Aoki, Kunio Furukawa
  • Patent number: 8212380
    Abstract: A transformer accepts an AC voltage from an AC power source, transforms the AC voltage, and supplies the transformed AC voltage to first rectifying circuits. Similarly, another transformer accepts an AC voltage from an AC power source, transforms the AC voltage, and supplies the transformed AC voltage to second rectifying circuits. The first rectifying circuits convert the accepted AC voltage into a positive DC voltage, and the second rectifying circuits convert the accepted AC voltage to a negative DC voltage. The positive DC voltage and the negative DC voltage then are superimposed and outputted to a secondary side of a transformer in the AC circuits. The AC voltage outputted from the transformers in the AC circuits and the DC voltage formed by superimposing the positive and negative DC voltages outputted from the first and second rectifying circuits are further superimposed, and supplied to each developing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Masanori Okada
  • Patent number: 8014412
    Abstract: A power supply system for providing power to a powered device over a communication link includes a power supply device capable of supporting an AC disconnect-detect function. The power supply device has a controller, an output port coupled to the communication link, and a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) controlled by the controller to provide power to the output port. The BJT may be turned off to present a high impedance required to support the AC disconnect-detection function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Jacob Herbold
  • Patent number: 7990742
    Abstract: A charge pump circuit, and associated method and apparatuses, for providing a split-rail voltage supply, the circuit having a network of switches that is operable in a number of different states and a controller for operating the switches in a sequence of said states so as to generate positive and negative output voltages together spanning a voltage approximately equal to the input voltage and centered on the voltage at the common terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Wolfson Microelectronics plc
    Inventor: John P. Lesso
  • Publication number: 20110150523
    Abstract: A power supply includes a transformer, a switching unit configured to drive the transformer at a primary side of the transformer, a voltage adjustment unit configured to adjust voltage of a capacitive element at a secondary side of the transformer, at the primary side thereof, and a plurality of constant voltage members connected across the terminals of the capacitive element at the secondary side of the transformer, wherein the power supply generates voltage having a predetermined polarity during the period before the voltage of the capacitive element at the secondary side of the transformer becomes a predetermined voltage by the voltage adjustment unit, and generates voltage having a polarity opposite to the predetermined polarity after the voltage of the capacitive element at the secondary side becomes the predetermined voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Jun Kawakatsu
  • Patent number: 7919933
    Abstract: A high intensity discharge (HID) lamp is operable as a stroboscopic light source by reducing power and maintaining constant polarity at the lamp for a period of dimmed operation and exciting the lamp with aperiodic polarity reversals for a run up period before returning the lamp to steady state operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Precise Flight, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Thomas Philiben, Christian Auerswald, Elon Alexandria
  • Publication number: 20110038187
    Abstract: A bipolar pulsed power supply is provided in which, while effectively restricting the rise in current at the time of arcing which directly leads to the generation of splashes and particles, the occurrence of overvoltage at the time of polarity reversal is prevented. The power supply has a bridge circuit constituted by switching elements SW1 through SW4 connected to positive and negative DC outputs from a DC power supply source. The operation of the switching elements is controlled to output in a bipolar pulsed mode at a predetermined frequency to a pair of electrodes which come into contact with a plasma. There is provided an output-characteristics-switching circuit which switches the output such that, when outputting to the electrodes, the output to the electrodes has initially constant-voltage characteristics and subsequent output to the electrodes has constant-current characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Yoshikuni Horishita, Shinobu Matsubara, Atsushi Ono
  • Patent number: 7843712
    Abstract: A miniaturized system on a chip that incorporates a positive high voltage charge pump and a negative high voltage charge pump into one pump circuit and shares components. A voltage control apparatus in a semiconductor device may include at least one of the following: First and second input/output units capable of inputting or outputting voltage. A voltage booster that receives and boosts a voltage from one of the first and second input/output unit and outputs the boosted voltage from the other input/output unit. An output selector that receives the boosted voltage from the voltage booster and selects one of the positive or the negative voltage to output. An output controller that receives the boosted voltage from the voltage booster and controls and/or regulates the output voltage. An output unit that outputs the generated output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Seop Lee
  • Patent number: 7786709
    Abstract: The invention provides a power converter and method for controlling same, comprising a plurality of switch elements, an inductive reactor, and at least two ports for the movement of electrical energy. Any energy-moving port may be made unipolar, bidirectional, bipolar, or bidirectionally bipolar. Ports may be equipped with sensing circuitry to allow the converter output to be controlled responsively to an input signal. The invention may be configured to be used in many ways, for example, as a power-supply, as an amplifier, or as a frequency converter. The invention may comprise energy predictive calculating means to obtain excellent transient response to line and load variations. The invention may also include a switch to create a low impedance path around the inductor to allow current to recirculate through the inductor when it is not needed at any of the ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Lawson Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Lawson, William H. Morong
  • Patent number: 7710745
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a remotely controlled power supply system that can change output polarity at a high slew rate without using switching devices. The system comprises a control circuit and two individual high voltage DC-DC converter power supply sections, one positive and one negative, connected in series. By nature of the control circuitry, either a positive or negative controllable current is produced depending upon a programmed voltage input. The two individual power supply sections are each self-oscillating single transistor circuits. The self-oscillating circuits contain an RC network tuned to provide attenuation at the second harmonic of the natural oscillating frequency of the circuit. This reduces and/or eliminates the tendency of this circuit to begin oscillation at the wrong harmonic of the natural frequency. A power-on delay circuit is used to suppress the outputs of the two power supply sections no matter the command of the input control programming signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: LHV Power Corporation
    Inventors: Eliahu Weinstein, Kenneth E. Wing
  • Publication number: 20100020577
    Abstract: A converter has at least one phase module, an AC voltage terminal and a DC voltage terminal. A phase module branch is formed between each DC voltage terminal and each AC voltage terminal. Each phase module branch has a series circuit containing submodules which each have a capacitor, a power semiconductor, and submodule sensors for detecting energy stored in the capacitor and with a regulation device for regulating the apparatus in dependence on energy values and predetermined desired values. Therefore unbalanced loading of the energy storage units is avoided. The regulation device has a summation unit for summing the energy values while obtaining branch energy actual values and a device for calculating circuit current desired values in dependence on the branch energy actual values. The regulation device compensates for imbalances in the branch energy actual values in dependence on the circuit current desired values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Mike Dommaschk, Jörg Dorn, Ingo Euler, Jörg Lang, Quoc-Buu Tu, Klaus Würflinger
  • Patent number: 7616462
    Abstract: A control circuit for a switching power supply reacts to an over current condition in the switching power supply to bring its operating point to a safe condition. The control circuit senses both the direction and the magnitude of the load current in the switching power supply, and then uses this sensed information to control the active power switches in the switching power supply. In an over current condition, the switches are controlled to actively drive the load current toward zero, even if the sensed information is delayed or heavily filtered, or the switch signals from the control circuit are delayed in reaching the switches. The resulting operation of the switching power supply is more resistant to abnormal load conditions and is maintained in the presence of transient short circuits or arcs. The switching power supply hardware is also better protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Roy Millner, Ilya Bystryak
  • Publication number: 20090244941
    Abstract: A transformer accepts an AC voltage from an AC power source, transforms the AC voltage, and supplies the transformed AC voltage to first rectifying circuits. Similarly, another transformer accepts an AC voltage from an AC power source, transforms the AC voltage, and supplies the transformed AC voltage to second rectifying circuits. The first rectifying circuits convert the accepted AC voltage into a positive DC voltage, and the second rectifying circuits convert the accepted AC voltage to a negative DC voltage. The positive DC voltage and the negative DC voltage then are superimposed and outputted to a secondary side of a transformer in the AC circuits. The AC voltage outputted from the transformers in the AC circuits and the DC voltage formed by superimposing the positive and negative DC voltages outputted from the first and second rectifying circuits are further superimposed, and supplied to each developing section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masanori Okada
  • Patent number: 7534104
    Abstract: An adapter for a handpiece system , especially for use in conjunction with medical and dental light emitting apparatus for the transmission of light to cure photo-polymerisable materials. A device, preferably in the form of an adapter, enables the user to correctly match the polarity of the contacts in the supply hose or conduit with those of the light emitting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: W&H Dentalwerk Bürmoos GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Schneider
  • Publication number: 20090080224
    Abstract: A half-wave rectifier including an input port for receiving an incoming AC signal, an output port for outputting a half-wave rectified signal, an operational amplifier including inverting and non-inverting input terminals and an output terminal, the inverting input terminal connected to a ground reference and a non-inverting input terminal coupled to a negative feedback loop and a first resistor. The negative feedback loop including a second resistor coupled between a first node and a second node, the first node coupling the output terminal and the output port and the second node coupling the non-inverting input terminal and the second resistor. A capacitor is coupled to the input port and in series with the first resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Lance Weston, Mark H. Schmidt, Tony T. Li
  • Patent number: 7394234
    Abstract: A power-supply circuit for supplying voltage to a load while freely selecting positive voltage and negative voltage using a single power supply has a power supply that generates power-supply voltage, an inverted outputting circuit having a positive voltage terminal for outputting positive voltage based on the power-supply voltage and a negative voltage terminal for outputting negative voltage generated based on the power-supply voltage and having different polarity from the positive voltage and outputting the positive and negative voltage while keeping the same direction in terms of directions of electric current flowing between the positive voltage terminal and the outside and of electric current flowing between the negative voltage terminal and the outside and a step-down output circuit for supplying predetermined voltage to the load by connecting the positive voltage terminal and the negative voltage terminal to the load while switching them with a predetermined duty ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Kodera
  • Publication number: 20080055946
    Abstract: Electrical power from an input voltage supply is converted to first and second output voltages of opposite polarities using a single inductor (L) and only four principal switches (S1, S2, S4, S6). In contrast to known circuits, none of the switches is exposed to voltages greater than the input voltage (V1). In a first type of charging cycle (FIG. 5(a)-(c)), the first output voltage (V2+) is obtained from the input voltage supply through the inductor. In a second type of charging cycle (FIG. 5 (d)-(f)), the second output voltage (V2?) is obtained from the first output voltage via the intermediate step of storing energy in the same inductor as is used in the first type of charging cycle. Auxiliary switches (S7a, S7b) can be operated in wait states between cycles of the first and second type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: John Paul Lesso, John L. Pennock
  • Patent number: 7316052
    Abstract: A reclosable pouch includes interlocking male and female closure elements having elongate hollow closure profiles. The male closure profile has a hollow shaft section, and the female closure profile has a channel with at least one hollow side. A set of pleated grip strips may be disposed adjacent the closure elements to aid in opening a pouch. A die plate for extruding the closure element includes an extrudate aperture that forms an intermediate closure profile including a gap between spaced apart base wall portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Pawloski, Robert R. Turvey, Bryan L. Ackerman