For Rectifier System Patents (Class 363/84)
  • Publication number: 20130016541
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an AC/DC converter station for interconnection of a DC transmission line and an AC network, the AC/DC converter station including an AC/DC converter and a control system configured to control the AC/DC converter. The AC/DC converter station comprises a capacitor connected in series between the AC/DC converter and the AC network, and a voltage measurement device arranged to measure the voltage across the capacitor. The AC/DC converter further comprises a control system connected to the voltage measurement device and arranged to receive, from the voltage measurement device, a signal indicative of a measured voltage. The control system is arranged to perform the control of the AC/DC converter in dependence of the signal received from the voltage measurement device. The invention further relates to a method of operating an AC/DC converter station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD
    Inventors: Staffan Norrga, Tomas U Jonsson, Anshuman Shukla
  • Publication number: 20130010508
    Abstract: A fault mode of a PWM module embedded in a microcontroller is used to detect main supply zero crossings for regulating output voltage of a PFC converter operating in BCM, without using an external detecting element or a comparator, ADC or other specialized component internal to the microcontroller. In some implementations, the end of decrease current flow in the energy storage inductor of the converter is used to reinitialize a PWM timer or counter (counting-up or counting-down timer). The current goes to zero for a time period when the main supply voltage goes to zero, resulting in the PWM timer or counter not being reinitialized prior to the end of the current PWM cycle. The failure to reinitialize the timer or counter can be used to generate a signal indicative of a zero voltage crossing of the main supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: ATMEL NANTES S.A.S.
    Inventor: Karl Jean-Paul Courtel
  • Patent number: 8350549
    Abstract: A converter utilizing synchronous rectification comprises a first switch, a second switch connected in series to the first switch, and a gate drive circuit controlling each switch to switch to on/off-state using pulse-width modulation. Each switch includes a channel region that is conductive in both forward and reverse directions in on-state and is not conductive in the forward direction in off-state, and a unipolar diode region conductive only in the reverse direction. The gate drive circuit synchronizes output timing for signal with which the first switch switches to on-state with output timing for signal with which the second switch switches to off-state, and synchronizes output timing for signal with which the first switch switches to off-state with output timing for signal with which the second switch switches to on-state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Kitabatake
  • Patent number: 8335095
    Abstract: A one cycle control method for power factor correction based on a boost circuit and a main control chip of system comprises the steps of: (1) Determining whether soft-start ends or not; if the soft-start ends, processing step (2) directly, if not, increasing reference value Uref of output voltage and then processing step (2); (2) Reading sampling output voltage Uo, and sampling inductive current ig according to A/D sampling triggering instant; (3) Calculating duty ratio of PWM signal for driving the switch transistor; (4) Outputting PWM signal; (5) Calculating the next A/D sampling triggering instant according to the duty ratio of PWM signal; (6) Returning to step (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai
    Inventors: Xuetao Mi, Qingfeng Guo, Min Xu
  • Patent number: 8324823
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an AC LED dimmer and dimming method thereof. The AC LED dimmer includes a rectifier receiving AC voltage from an AC voltage source and full-wave rectifying the AC voltage; a direct current (DC)/DC converter receiving the full-wave rectified voltage from the rectifier, generating a full-wave rectified stepped-up voltage, and generating a pulse enable signal; a pulse width modulation controller receiving the full-wave rectified stepped-up voltage and generating a pulse width modulation signal to dim an AC LED in response to the pulse enable signal; a switch driving the AC LED under control of the pulse width modulation signal, and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter to be connected between the AC voltage source and the switch to eliminate electromagnetic interference from the AC voltage source. Accordingly, the dimmer can perform an efficient and linear dimming function and suppress harmonics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung Hoon Choi, In Kyu Park
  • Publication number: 20120300517
    Abstract: A power factor corrector raises power factor at low loads or high mains voltages by modifying the switch timing or the current received by the power converter. It achieves this by increasing the switch-on time of a control switch during the falling time so that the majority of the switch-on time during a mains period occurs during the falling time, to thereby control the current received by the converter to compensate for current received by the intermediate filter. Some embodiments may employ a feedback system to produce one or more error signals that modify the control signal used to control the operation of the converter. Various embodiments may also include additional stages that limit the compensation range of the error signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Cheng Zhang, Hans Halberstadt
  • Patent number: 8305004
    Abstract: A single-stage integrated circuit drives LED sources in a constant power mode to eliminate the need for LED current sensing, while reshaping the waveform of the inductor current near line zero crossing to achieve high power factor. The integrated circuit achieves substantially constant input power by maintaining a constant voltage at a power factor corrector controller through an input voltage feedforward system. Accordingly, the disclosed circuit provides a high power factor, high efficiency, simple, and cost-effective solution with substantially consistent input power for both isolated and non-isolated offline LED applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jianwen Shao
  • Publication number: 20120275203
    Abstract: To provide an AC-DC converter that is highly efficient in a broad load current range from a light load to a heavy load. An AC-DC converter 1 has a main circuit and a control means 4; the main circuit includes a diode bridge circuit 3, a main inductor L1, a main switching element S1, a main diode D1, an auxiliary inductor L2, an auxiliary switching element S2, an auxiliary diode D2, and a smoothing capacitor C1 connected to a DC load 12. The AC-DC converter 1 supplies electric power from an AC power supply 11 to the DC load 12. In a period during which the instantaneous value of an input current from the AC power supply 11 is smaller than a prescribed value Ith, the AC-DC converter 1 stops the main switching element S1 and performs electricity conversion in hard switching by the operation of the auxiliary switching element S2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Takae Shimada, Akihiko Kanouda, Toshikazu Okubo, Tomoyuki Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 8300440
    Abstract: The present invention provides an AC-DC converter and AC-DC conversion method for converting an AC input provided by a power transfer winding. The AC-DC converter includes a rectifying means for rectifying the AC input into a rectified output, and a control means for controlling the rectifying means based on a comparison between a reference signal and a voltage feedback signal, the voltage feedback signal being based on the rectified output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: ConvenientPower HK Ltd.
    Inventors: Wing Choi Ho, Wai Pong Choi, Shu Yuen Ron Hui
  • Patent number: 8300430
    Abstract: The configurations of a compensation device configured in a circuit having a synchronous rectifier (SR), a controller and a load, and a compensation method thereof are provided in the present invention. In the proposed circuit, the SR includes a first terminal, a first inductor electrically connected to the first terminal in series, a second terminal and a second inductor electrically connected to the second terminal in series, the controller is coupled to the first and the second inductors, and the device includes a voltage source having a positive terminal coupled to the controller and a negative terminal coupled to the second inductor and providing a compensation voltage to reduce or eliminate the influence of the first and the second inductors towards a voltage value across the first and the second terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Junshan Lou, Dezhi Jiao, Dong Lin
  • Publication number: 20120268063
    Abstract: An embodiment of a charger may include an input, at least one switch having a first node coupled to a reference voltage, a current sensor coupled between the input and a second node of the at least one switch, an output coupled to a third node of the at least one switch, and a charge controller coupled to the input to determine an input voltage, to the current sensor to determine an input current and to control inputs of the at least one switch. The at least one switch may be responsive to control signals supplied by the charge controller to the control inputs thereof to control voltage and current at the output of the charger. The charge controller may be responsive to the input voltage and the input current to produce the control signals in a manner that maximizes electrical power drawn at the input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS LLC
    Inventors: Weihong Qiu, Xiaozhou Zhou, Jun Liu, Bertram J. Rodgers, III
  • Patent number: 8292185
    Abstract: A circuit includes an antenna terminal for generating a current through electromagnetic induction. The circuit also includes a rectifier for receiving the current and generating a rectified power supply voltage. In addition, the circuit includes a voltage clamp for sinking at least some of the current from the antenna terminal based on the rectified power supply voltage from the rectifier. The voltage clamp could include a control circuit (such as an N-channel transistor and a resistor) for controlling the sinking of at least some of the current from the antenna terminal. The voltage clamp could also include a sink circuit (such as an N-channel transistor) for sinking at least some of the current from the antenna terminal. The voltage clamp could further include a sink control circuit (such as a P-channel transistor and a resistor) for activating and deactivating the sink circuit based on operation of the control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kian-Ann Ng
  • Publication number: 20120262961
    Abstract: A controller for a power supply having a primary side and a secondary side includes a mapping circuit for generating a feedback signal corresponding to an output current of the secondary side, a power switch coupled to the primary side for conducting a connection according to a modulation signal, a constant current block, for generating a first current signal according to the feedback signal; and a control unit, for generating the modulation signal to control the power switch according to the first current signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: NOVELTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventors: Min-Chu Chien, Chin-Yen Lin
  • Publication number: 20120257427
    Abstract: An active rectification system includes an active rectifier that converts an alternating current (AC) input to a direct current (DC) output. The active rectifier includes a plurality of switching devices and at least a first output capacitor and a second output capacitor connected at the DC output of the active rectifier. A controller includes a DC output regulation portion and an output capacitor balancing portion, wherein the DC output regulation portion monitors the DC output and in response generates control signals for regulating the DC output to a desired value. The output capacitor balancing portion monitors first and second output capacitor voltages associated with the first and second output capacitors, respectively, and generates an accumulated adjustment value that modifies the control signals provided by the DC output regulation portion to balance the first and second output capacitor voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Souren G. Fattal
  • Publication number: 20120224401
    Abstract: A method of generating an output voltage from a variable input voltage with a power factor correction (PFC) system is disclosed. The PFC system includes a first power rail and a second power rail connected in parallel between an input for receiving the input voltage and an output for outputting the output voltage. The method includes operating one or both of the first power rail and the second power rail to generate the output based, at least in part, on whether the input voltage exceeds a threshold voltage. Power supplies and PFC systems suitable for performing the method are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: Astec International Limited
    Inventor: Vijay G. Phadke
  • Publication number: 20120218792
    Abstract: A multiphase power converter includes one or both of a phase control circuit and a valley switching locking circuit. The phase control circuit measures a phase difference between a first phase circuit and a second phase circuit and varies an on-time of a drive switch of the second phase circuit to produce and maintain a predetermined phase difference between the first phase circuit and the second phase circuit. When the multiphase power converter is operating in a discontinuous mode of operation, the valley switching locking circuit counts the number of zero crossings of an input current of the first phase circuit and blocks a second zero crossing detection signal from a waveform generator (i.e., PWM driver) associated with the second phase circuit until an input current of the second phase circuit has as many zero crossings as that of the first phase circuit input current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Silvio Ziegler, Ivan Feno
  • Publication number: 20120206947
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to AC-DC adapters, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods of employing a load detector to detect a load condition of the AC-DC adapters based on transient variation of a DC output voltage; and therefore, enable the AC-DC adapters to switch from a low power mode to a normal power mode. At the low power mode, a DC output voltage is generated at a target voltage by the AC-DC adapter, and subsequently drops at a decay rate dependent on load condition. The load detector is electrically coupled to monitor the output voltage and measure the decay time between two threshold voltages. An enable instruction is provided to configure the AC-DC adapter to the normal power mode as soon as the decay time is lower than the threshold decay time or the variation of consecutive decay times reaches a certain threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Carlton Michael Haight, David Wardell Ortte, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120201062
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a standby power cut-off device that cuts off standby power generated from an electrical appliance by learning power on/off control data sent from a remote control, and upon receipt of the power on/off control data of the remote control, simultaneously controls commercial power (main power) supplied to the electrical appliance, and a control method thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Seoby Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Sub Lee
  • Patent number: 8223515
    Abstract: A transformer module includes a main primary winding coupled to a first input power source to receive a medium voltage signal, multiple main secondary windings each to couple to a power cell of a drive system, and an auxiliary primary winding coupled to a second input power source to receive a low voltage signal. The auxiliary primary winding can be spatially separated from the main windings to increase leakage inductance. The auxiliary primary winding can be active during a pre-charge operation to pre-charge the power cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: TECO—Westinghouse Motor Company
    Inventors: Mehdi Abolhassani, Thomas Keister, Alex Skorcz, Ryan Edwards, Enrique Ledezma
  • Publication number: 20120176823
    Abstract: A power converter is provided that has an alternating-current (AC) to direct-current (DC) switched-mode power converter circuit that converts alternating-current power into direct-current power for powering an attached electronic device. Power can be conserved by automatically placing the power converter circuit in a low-power standby mode of operation whenever the electronic device is detached from the power converter. A monitoring circuit can be powered by a capacitor or other energy storage element while the power converter is operating in the standby mode. If the monitoring circuit detects an output voltage change that is indicative of attachment of the electronic device or if the storage element needs to be replenished, the monitoring circuit can place the power converter circuit in an active mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Sims, Jeffrey Terlizzi
  • Patent number: 8218339
    Abstract: Disclosed is a power converter including a switching circuit; a transformer having a primary winding connected to the switching circuit and a secondary winding; a main control circuit connected to the switching circuit for outputting a main control signal to manipulate the switching circuit; at least one synchronous rectifier connected to the secondary winding; at least one current transformer connected to the synchronous rectifier for outputting a detecting signal according to a current flowing through the synchronous rectifier; and at least one synchronous rectification control circuit connected to a control terminal of the synchronous rectifier, the current transformer, and a control terminal of the switching circuit for receiving the detecting signal and the main control signal for manipulating the synchronous rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Han Li, Gang Liu, Jing Chen, Jinfa Zhang
  • Publication number: 20120163049
    Abstract: An apparatus for collecting wireless is provided. The apparatus includes an antenna and a collection circuit. The antenna generates an alternating current (AC) voltage from a radio wave. The collection circuit generates a direct current (DC) voltage corresponding to the AC voltage, determines whether the DC voltage is lower than a preset value, and changes an internal impedance of the collection circuit if it is determined that the DC voltage is lower than the preset voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicants: SUNGKYUNKWAN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION FOR CORPORATE COLLABORATION, Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-chan JUNG, Min-geun SONG, Hyung-chul KIM, Youngoo YANG
  • Publication number: 20120163050
    Abstract: A circuit for converting an A.C. power supply voltage into a D.C. voltage, including: a first branch capable of providing a first power level; and a second parallel branch capable of providing a second power level greater than the first one, the second branch including a bidirectional activation switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventors: Laurent Gonthier, Antoine Passal
  • Publication number: 20120155134
    Abstract: A high efficiency rectifier and a wireless power receiver including the rectifier are provided. In one embodiment, a rectifier may be formed of a full bridge diode circuit and may include: a first dual diode, a second dual diode, a third dual diode and a fourth dual diode forming the full bridge diode circuit, the full bridge diode circuit including: a first path configured to output voltage when the phase of an input voltage is positive, via the first dual diode and the fourth dual diode; and a second path configured to output voltage when the phase of the input voltage is negative, via the second dual diode and the third dual diode. In another embodiment, a rectifier may include: at least two full bridge diode circuits connected in parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Dong Zo KIM, Sang Wook KWON, Yun Kwon PARK, Eun Seok PARK, Young Tack HONG, Ki Young KIM, Young Ho RYU, Nam Yun KIM, Jin Sung CHOI
  • Publication number: 20120155133
    Abstract: Provided are a direct current/direct current (DC/DC) converter and a wireless power receiver including the DC/DC converter. In one embodiment, a direct current-direct current (DC/DC) converter for use in a wireless power receiver, the DC/DC converter may include: a voltage converting unit configured to convert, DC voltage, to a predetermined DC voltage; a turn-on switch configured to control current flow of the DC voltage through the voltage converting unit; and a switching controller configured to: detect an amount of current of the voltage converting unit based on a first turn-on period of the turn-on switch, set a second turn-on period of the turn-on switch based on the detected amount of current, and control the turn-on switch based on the second turn-on period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Dong Zo KIM, Young Tack HONG, Young Jin MOON, Sang Wook KWON, Yun Kwon PARK, Chang Sik YOO, Eun Seok PARK, Ki Young KIM, Young Ho RYU, Nam Yum KIM, Jin Sung CHOI, Yong Seong ROH
  • Publication number: 20120119650
    Abstract: Disclosed is an active constant power supply apparatus, which rectifies power having various intensities and frequencies without using a high capacity condenser for a smoothing circuit which degrades the power factor of a circuit, and supplies constant power to a load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventor: Dong-Won Lee
  • Publication number: 20120113691
    Abstract: A power converter including a rectifier stage connected to plural phases of a network delivering an input current at a determined fundamental frequency, a DC power supply bus and a bus capacitor connected to the DC power supply bus. The converter includes a controlled current source situated on the DC power supply bus, the current source making it possible to control a rectifier current, flowing on the DC power supply bus, and a controller for the controlled current source to control a rectifier current, flowing on the DC power supply bus. The controller is configured to implement a regulation loop into which are injected a first harmonic and a second harmonic synchronized respectively at six times and twelve times the fundamental frequency of the input current delivered by the network, the amplitude and phase of these harmonics being determined to limit the THDi and the PWHD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Arnaud VIDET, Thomas Devos, Heu Vang
  • Publication number: 20120106213
    Abstract: A three-phase rectifier converts three-phase alternating current (AC) power supplied from a three-phase AC power supply into direct current (DC) power. The three-phase rectifier includes a full-wave rectifier circuit, a bidirectional switch circuit, and a controller. The full-wave rectifier circuit rectifies three-phase AC power to DC power. The bidirectional switch circuit switches on and off inputs of respective phases from the three-phase AC power supply to the full-wave rectifier circuit. The controller detects voltages of the respective phases of the three-phase AC power supply, generates switching patterns for the respective phases to switch the bidirectional switch circuit on and off based on the detected voltages of the phases, and controls switching of the bidirectional switch circuit based on the switching patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventor: Satoshi Ichiki
  • Publication number: 20120099354
    Abstract: An AC-to-DC converter for converting an AC voltage to a DC voltage includes a first converter, a second converter, a sense circuit, a controller, and an enabling circuit. The first converter converts an AC voltage to a first DC voltage. The second converter converts the first DC voltage to a second DC voltage. The sense circuit coupled to the first and second converters provides a first sense signal indicative of the first DC voltage and a second sense signal indicative of the AC voltage. The controller coupled to the first and second converters controls the first and second DC voltages. The enabling circuit coupled to the sense circuit generates a control signal to the controller to disable both the first converter and the second converter by comparing the first sense signal to a first threshold voltage and comparing the second sense signal to a second threshold voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Jianlong GAO, Tiesheng YAN, Jianping XU
  • Patent number: 8164932
    Abstract: A power converter is provided that has an alternating-current (AC) to direct-current (DC) switched-mode power converter circuit that converts alternating-current power into direct-current power for powering an attached electronic device. Power can be conserved by automatically placing the power converter circuit in a low-power standby mode of operation whenever the electronic device is detached from the power converter. A monitoring circuit can be powered by a capacitor or other energy storage element while the power converter is operating in the standby mode. If the monitoring circuit detects an output voltage change that is indicative of attachment of the electronic device or if the storage element needs to be replenished, the monitoring circuit can place the power converter circuit in an active mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Sims, Jeffrey Terlizzi
  • Publication number: 20120092910
    Abstract: A switching power supply is provided to supply an AC input voltage. The supply includes a control circuit configured to detect a voltage of the AC power source in a voltage waveform, and switch elements in a synchronous rectification switching mode in synchronization with polarities of the voltage waveform when the AC input voltage is equal to or greater than a predetermined voltage value. The control unit also operates the switching without synchronization with the polarities when the AC input voltage is smaller than the predetermined voltage value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeki SUGAHARA, Masao Ueno
  • Patent number: 8159842
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a power converter with extremely low standby power consumption for converting an input AC power to an output DC power, comprising: a DC supply voltage generating unit, used for generating a DC supply voltage; a pulse width modulation controller, used for generating a pulse width modulation signal according to a feedback voltage of the output DC power; and an isolated actuating switch, placed between the DC supply voltage generating unit and the pulse width modulation controller, for controlling the supply of the DC supply voltage to the pulse width modulation controller, according to a switch signal from a loading device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Chicony Power Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fu-Sung Chen, Sen-Chi Lin, Ming-Ho Huang
  • Publication number: 20120075892
    Abstract: Control systems, methods and power conversion systems are presented for reducing common mode voltages in AC motor loads driven by inverter PWM control using switching sequences with only active vectors where a first vector of each switching sequence differs by one phase switching state from a last vector of a switching sequence of an adjacent sector, along with enhanced deadtime compensation and reflected wave reduction techniques in providing pulse width modulated switching signals to a switching inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rangarajan M. Tallam, Russel J. Kerkman, David Leggate
  • Publication number: 20120063183
    Abstract: A power supply input device including a first resistance of a discharge resistance conversion unit connected in parallel to a discharge resistance unit; and a switching unit of the discharge resistance conversion unit connected to the first resistance and performing a switching operation according to an externally received control signal, thus minimizing power losses occurring when a system is in a standby mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jee-hoon JUNG, Joong-gi Kwon
  • Patent number: 8135967
    Abstract: A storage system includes one or more first power supplies which receive power from the first input and supplies power to each of multiple load groups through multiple first paths and multiple second power supplies which receive power from the second input and supplies power to each of the multiple load groups through multiple second paths. Each load group is comprised of at least one load, and each load is a storage device. Power is supplied from different second power supplies respectively to two or more load groups to which power is supplied from the first power supply through two or more first paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yosuke Tsuyuki
  • Patent number: 8134848
    Abstract: A system and method for closed-loop efficiency modulation for an AC/DC power system is provided. A boost-buck converter and a DC/DC converter connected in series receive a rectified DC feed signal from a AC input signal and deliver a modified DC output to an active load. A controller receives power data at various stages of the system and uses that data to modify a series of trim voltages provided to the feedback inputs of the respective converters to modify each converters output voltage. The controller modifies each converter's output voltage to maximize power efficiency while monitoring other data in the system to ensure the system is operating correctly and safely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Simon P Whittam, John S. Gryba, Michael W. Parrell
  • Patent number: 8130520
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to largely improve the efficiency at the time of light load of a power supply apparatus using a power factor correction (PFC) controller. A PFC controller is provided with a voltage-current converter. The voltage-current converter converts voltage of a signal output from an error amplifier for detecting voltage level of output voltage to an arbitrary current value and outputs the current value as a correction current. The voltage-current converter outputs a correction current of a large current value when the error amplifier detects that the load is light, and the PFC controller performs control to decrease the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhito Ayukawa, Nobutoshi Kasai
  • Publication number: 20120051105
    Abstract: A method of controlling an output current of a power supply circuit comprising a first converter stage for receiving an input voltage, a second converter stage delivering a regulated output current, a controlled switch for conducting the input current and the output current, the method comprising: detecting a portion of the input current conducted by the controlled switch; detecting a current in the controlled switch; deriving a difference between the current in the controlled switch and the portion of the input current conducted by the controlled switch; and maintaining the difference at a reference level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Alexander Mednik, Rohit Tirumala, Marc Tan
  • Publication number: 20120051104
    Abstract: An object is to provide a single-phase voltage type AC/DC converting device and a three-phase voltage type AC/DC converting device arranged between a load and a distribution network and is capable of contributing to stabilize a system frequency and a system voltage, and a stabilization controlling method of the system frequency and the system voltage. By applying an autonomous parallel operation control technique of an AC/DC converter to a load, which receives power from a distribution network, drooping characteristics (governor-free characteristics) for a frequency of active power and voltage-maintaining characteristics (V-Q characteristics) may be obtained. The governor-free characteristics are the characteristics to automatically decrease received power when the system frequency decreases and automatically increase the received power when this increases, so that even the load may contribute to stabilize the system frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Masaaki Ohshima, Shuichi Ushiki, Yasuhiro Genjima, Kiyomi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20120026766
    Abstract: A control device controls a switching converter that converts an alternating supply voltage to a regulated voltage and comprises a switch connected to an inductor. The control device is adapted to control the on period and the off period of said switch for each cycle. The control device comprises a ramp generator adapted to generate a ramp voltage, a comparator adapted to determine the final instant of the on period of the switch by crossing the ramp voltage with a first voltage. The control device has a first signal representing a current through the inductor and a second signal representative of the current flowing through at least one element of the converter. The control device is adapted to control the closing of said switch according to said first signal and comprises a synchronizer adapted to synchronize the start of the ramp voltage with the zero crossing of said second signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Claudio Adragna
  • Publication number: 20120014149
    Abstract: According to one embodiment a power conversion apparatus includes a first switch, a second switch, and a pulse generator. The first switch is connected at both ends of an AC power supply through an inductor and capacitor connected in series. The second switch is connected at both ends of the first switch through a smoothing capacitor connected in series. The pulse generator generates a first pulse signal for driving the first switch at a frequency higher than a cycle of the AC voltage, and supplies it to the first switch, when the polarity of the voltage of the AC power supply is positive. The pulse generator generates a second pulse signal for driving the second switch at a frequency higher than a cycle of the AC voltage, and supplies it to the second switch, when the polarity of the voltage of the AC power supply is negative.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yutaka USAMI
  • Patent number: 8089790
    Abstract: A power supply input device including a first resistance of a discharge resistance conversion unit connected in parallel to a discharge resistance unit; and a switching unit of the discharge resistance conversion unit connected to the first resistance and performing a switching operation according to an externally received control signal, thus minimizing power losses occurring when a system is in a standby mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jee-hoon Jung, Joong-gi Kwon
  • Publication number: 20110317458
    Abstract: A controlling circuit is provided for controlling an output voltage of a main circuit of a switched-mode power supply. The controlling circuit includes components that generate a switching status selecting signal reflecting a voltage change of the main circuit, and output a reference voltage according to a voltage output status selected according to the switching status selecting signal. Other components output a pulse width modulation controlling signal according to the reference voltage and a current signal reflecting a current change of the main circuit, and output a pulse frequency modulation controlling signal with a frequency according to a frequency output status selected according to the switching status selecting signal. Yet other components output a switching controlling signal according to the controlling signals, and control a switch of the main circuit to switch-on or switch off according to the switching controlling signal to stabilize the output voltage of the main circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Xiaohua Yang, Wenhui Ye
  • Publication number: 20110292699
    Abstract: Systems and devices for reduction of total harmonic distortion in power supply circuits are presented. Example embodiments of the disclosed systems of total harmonic distortion reduction reduce a low frequency output voltage ripple seen by the voltage control loop by adding a compensating ripple voltage to the output feedback signal. The compensating signal may be scaled by the user to optimize the degree of ripple reduction, and may be automatically adjusted by monitoring circuitry to scale with a power factor control circuit output power level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Ulrich B. Goerke, Matthew Thomas Murdock
  • Publication number: 20110280052
    Abstract: There is described a multilevel electric power converter circuit comprising: Ns switching elements connected in series in a closed loop; NAE additional elements, the additional elements being one of a direct current source and at least one passive element, connected within the closed loop such that each additional element is connected to four of the switching elements, the ratio of a number of additional elements NAE to a number of switching elements NS corresponding to NS=2NAE+2; and one of a load and an alternating current source connected across the closed loop at nodes between adjacent switching elements that are separate from nodes to which the additional elements are connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Kamal Al-Haddad, Youssef Ounejjar, Luc-Andre Gregoire
  • Publication number: 20110267856
    Abstract: A Power Factor Corrector (PFC), typically used as the first stage of switched mode power supplies, particularly suited for Universal Mains inputs, is disclosed, along with methods for controlling a switched mode power supply having power factor correction. In order to increase efficiency, particularly under low load conditions, without undue degradation of the Power Factor, the switching of the PFC circuit is confined to one or more operating windows within each half-cycle. In embodiments, the operating window comprises a small time window centred around the peak of the mains voltage. The higher the power level, the wider the switching window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Frans Pansier
  • Publication number: 20110235378
    Abstract: A power supply system includes an AC power source, a converter, a relay switch, and a waveform monitoring circuit. The AC power source provides an AC voltage. The converter is capable of converting the AC voltage into a DC voltage. The relay switch is connected between the AC power source and the converter. The waveform monitoring circuit is connected to the AC power source, and monitors a waveform of the AC voltage provided by the AC power source. The waveform monitoring circuit is connected to the relay switch, and turns on the relay switch when an absolute value of an instantaneous voltage of the AC voltage is not bigger than a threshold voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: KUANG-LIANG TANG
  • Patent number: 8013568
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wireless charger for a mobile communication terminal, which allows charging a plurality of batteries in a conveniently way without any terminal connection of the batteries to chargers for various mobile communication terminals such as a cellular phone and PDA and also allows intercepting electromagnetic waves while the charger is used, by means of Faraday's law. The wireless charger of the present invention includes a charger body having an electromagnetic wave intercepting means; a charging pad received in the charger body; and at least one battery that is to be charged by means of induced electromotive force generated by the charging pad, wherein the charger body includes a power supply means, a housing having a receiver for receiving the charging pad and connected to the power supply means, and a cover hinged to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: LS Cable & System Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Young Park, Sung-Wook Moon, Sung-Wook Choi, Gwang-Hee Gwon, Sub Han, Jung-Bum Kim
  • Patent number: 8009450
    Abstract: Active power converters and methods are presented for converting input electrical power to output electrical power with converter switching control in which the individual phase voltage command values are compensated according to phase line voltage imbalances to compensate the converter control to provide balanced phase currents in the presence of unbalanced phase supply line voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Semyon Royak, Robert J. Breitzmann, Mark M. Harbaugh
  • Patent number: 8000116
    Abstract: An output protection circuit used for a power converter having an operational amplifier, a diode, a number of voltage-dividing resistors, and a switch tube. In this circuit, the voltage-dividing resistors are connected in series to form a voltage-dividing network, of which one node is connected to a reference level end Vref of a PWM control module of the converter, while the other node is grounded. A voltage dividing point M is coupled to an inverting input end of the operational amplifier AR1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Mornsun Guangzhou Science & Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Ruiping Zhu