With Thyristor Control Means In The Line Circuit Patents (Class 363/85)
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Patent number: 11620078Abstract: Apparatus and methods of providing digital varying output, such as sinusoidal, pulse width modulation, SPWM, control for an inverter comprising at least a first switch and a second switch are disclosed. The method comprising: generating a first binary control signal at a system modulation frequency; generating a second binary control signal at an M-times higher carrier frequency; wherein generating the second binary control signal comprises: providing a periodic counter having a K-times higher reset frequency; calculating M switch-off moments; determining for each, a corresponding switch-off counter value and a corresponding counter sequence value; storing each switch-off counter value in a respective memory location corresponding to the respective counter sequence and dummy values in the remaining memory locations; and sequentially and periodically transferring the contents of the memory locations to at least one PWM value register.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.Inventors: Wei Cao, Huan Mao, Xiang Gao, Dechang Wang
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Patent number: 10944318Abstract: The present application related to switching circuits as employed in power supplies and more particularly to a method of controlling same. More specifically, the present application relates to current shaping circuits for use in power supplies and provides a method for controlling them which provides for stable operating conditions and fast transient response.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2017Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: Icergi LimitedInventors: George Young, Trong Tue Vu
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Patent number: 10855171Abstract: A control method of a PFC (Power Factor Correction) circuit having at least one power switch, the control method having: producing an effective value of an input voltage; generating a compensation signal based on an output voltage and an output voltage reference signal; generating an on time signal based on the compensation signal, the effective value of the input voltage, a first on time period value and a second on time period value; generating an on time delay signal based on the input voltage, the output voltage, the first on time period value, the effective value of the input voltage and the compensation signal; and generating a current valley signal based on the input voltage, the effective value of the input voltage, the compensation signal, the second on time period value, and an inductance value of the inductor adopted by the PFC circuit.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.Inventor: Wenbin Lu
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Patent number: 9882504Abstract: An HVDC power increase controller includes a command output unit for outputting a current command value according to a disturbance signal to a main controller; a voltage drop determiner receiving an alternating current (AC) voltage and comparing a level of the AC voltage to a lowest level of a voltage causing a rectification failure; and a power tracking determiner receiving a direct current (DC) power and comparing a level of the DC power to an estimated power level corresponding to the current command value. The command output unit adjusts the current command value according to a comparison result of the voltage drop determiner and the power tracking determiner.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2016Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Korea Electric Power CorporationInventors: Seong Doo Lee, Soon Ho Choi, Chan Ki Kim
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Publication number: 20150146461Abstract: A silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) dimming circuit and a dimming control method are disclosed. The SCR dimming circuit includes a SCR element, a rectifier circuit, a filter circuit, a power converter, and a dimming control circuit. The dimmer control circuit includes a phase angle detection circuit, an output current feedback control circuit, an input current control circuit, a maximum operation time detection circuit, and a logic operator. An input current sampling signal fluctuates near a predetermined value after the SCR element is turned off by turning on and off the power converter, so that the input AC current is less than a holding current of the SCR element. The present SCR dimming circuit and the present dimming control method can avoid repeatedly turning on the SCR element in cycles of an operating frequency. Thus, the linearity of dimming is improved and the flicker of an LED lamp is eliminated.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2014Publication date: May 28, 2015Inventors: Jian DENG, Yunlong HAN, Xiaodong HUANG
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Publication number: 20150016165Abstract: An improved gated thyristor that utilizes less silicon area than IGBT, BIPOLARs or MOSFETs sized for the same application is provided. Embodiments of the inventive thyristor have a lower gate charge, and a lower forward drop for a given current density. Embodiments of the thyristor once triggered have a latch structure that does not have the same Cgd or Ccb capacitor that must be charged from the gate, and therefore the gated thyristor is cheaper to produce, and requires a smaller gate driver, and takes up less space than standard solutions. Embodiments of the inventive thyristor provide a faster turn off speed than the typical >600 ns using a modified MCT structure which results in the improved tail current turn off profile (<250 ns). Additionally, series resistance of the device is reduced without comprising voltage blocking ability is achieved. Finally, a positive only gate drive means is taught as is a method to module the saturation current using the gate terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventor: DAVID SCHIE
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Patent number: 8837186Abstract: An apparatus/method is provided. The power conversion apparatus includes: a rectifying unit including a silicon-controlled rectifier thyristor (SCR) for rectifying single-phase power externally inputted; a power factor correcting unit configured to correct a power factor of the power rectified by the rectifying unit; and a control signal generating unit configured to detect a zero-crossing point based on the single-phase power inputted and generate a pulse single of which a width increases as time elapses based on the detected zero-crossing point. The rectifying unit rectifies the single-phase power by using the pulse signal inputted to a gate terminal of the SCR.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2012Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jae Ho Lee
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Patent number: 8830712Abstract: A method of controlling an inverter device, a control device, an inverter device and a direct current power transmission system are provided. The direct current power transmission system is provided for connection to an AC voltage bus of an AC power system and includes the control device and the inverter device that converts between DC power and AC power. The control device receives measurements of the voltage (VAC) at the AC voltage bus and controls the inverter device to provide a constant AC voltage on the bus.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2010Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: ABB Technology AGInventor: Paulo Fischer de Toledo
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Patent number: 8804387Abstract: To measure input power as accurate as possible, a power supply apparatus includes an AC/DC converter that generates a direct-current internal power supply from an alternating-current commercial power supply, an output-voltage measurement unit that measures an output voltage of the internal power supply, an output-current measurement unit that measures an output current of the internal power supply, a temperature measurement unit that measures an environmental temperature of the power supply apparatus itself, a storage device that stores therein in advance conversion efficiency data in which a correspondence between a conversion efficiency ? of the AC/DC converter and the environmental temperature is recorded, and a computation unit that determines the conversion efficiency ? based on the environmental temperature and the conversion efficiency data and calculates the input power of the commercial power supply by using the determined conversion efficiency ?, the output voltage, and the output current.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2011Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventor: Takahiko Yamanaka
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Patent number: 8796585Abstract: Methods and devices for controlling a welding power source based on a primary supply voltage level are provided. One method may include sensing activation of the welding power source and sensing a primary supply voltage established on a control transformer of the welding power source. The method may also include establishing a substantial current draw from a primary power supply that exceeds a predefined current threshold when the sensed primary supply voltage exceeds a predefined voltage threshold. The substantial current draw may be adapted to trip a circuit breaker of the welding power source to disallow current through the welding power source when the sensed primary supply voltage exceeds the predefined voltage threshold.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2010Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventor: Craig Steven Knoener
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Patent number: 8670253Abstract: A converter includes a converter bridge (101) adapted to transfer electrical energy between the AC terminal (102) and the DC terminal (103) of the converter. The converter also includes electrical paths bypassing the converter bridge for conducting overvoltage transients occurring in the AC terminal around the converter bridge to the DC terminal. Each electrical path includes a unidirectionally conductive semiconductor component (104a, 104b, 104c), such as a diode, and a voltage-limiting component (105) for which the ratio of voltage change to current change is small when the voltage of the voltage-limiting component is greater than a predetermined threshold voltage. Because of the overvoltage protection thus achieved, AC chokes can be omitted from the AC terminal or at least they can be designed smaller, reducing the load-dependent voltage drop of the DC terminal.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2010Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Vacon OyjInventors: Ari Ristimäki, Nicklas Södö, Matti Takala, Mika Levonen
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Patent number: 8472216Abstract: A circuit arrangement includes a switching element that switches a load current, a current-limiting element connected in series to the switching element, a bistable first relay connected in parallel to the switching element and the current-limiting element, and a control circuit that switches the power-supply unit from a first operating state to a second operating state in which a load current for generating a DC voltage flows from the power grid to the power-supply unit, such that the control circuit turns on the switching element for a first time period during switching of the power-supply unit from the first to the second operating state, to turn the bistable relay on during the first time period, and to turn the switching element off at the end of the first time period.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2009Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Fujitsu Technology Solutions Intellectual Property GmbHInventor: Peter Busch
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Patent number: 8400797Abstract: A power conversion system with zero-voltage start-up mechanism and a zero-voltage start-up device are disclosed. The system includes a power conversion circuit, a power factor correction unit, a storage capacitor, a storage switching unit, and a zero-voltage detection module. The storage switching unit is serially connected with the storage capacitor, and particularly controlled by the zero-voltage detection module. The zero-voltage detection module detects a timing as an input voltage is at low level, and then outputs a control signal to turn on the storage switching unit. Therefore, the present invention assures that the power conversion system is turned on when the input voltage is at the low level, in order to suppress the system from a surge current.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2010Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Lien Chang Electronic Enterprise Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chun-Kong Chan, Hsi-Yuan Tsai
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Publication number: 20130051097Abstract: A power source device for rectifying the output of an AC generator in which magneto coils are in a star-shaped connection in three phases. The device includes a control rectifier circuit configured from a first control rectifier circuit for performing full-wave rectification on three-phase AC voltages, and a second control rectifier circuit for performing full-wave rectification on AC voltages obtained between neutral and each of two-phase AC output terminals selected from the three-phase AC output terminals of the generator, as well as on AC voltage obtained between the selected two-phase AC output terminals; and a controller controlling the first and second circuits so that the output of the first circuit is supplied to the load when the rotational speed of the generator is equal/less than a set speed, and the output of the second circuit is supplied to the load when the rotational speed exceeds the set speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2012Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nozomu Katsumata, Masaki Asari, Hirofumi Yamaguchi, Shuichi Muramatsu, Ryosuke Tonooka, Shinji Komatsu
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Publication number: 20120163050Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2011Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SASInventors: Laurent Gonthier, Antoine Passal
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Publication number: 20120033467Abstract: A switching mode power supply (SMPS) includes at least one transformer, a switching unit to switch a voltage applied to the at least one transformer, a snubber circuit connected to the switching unit, a first switch to control an on or off operation of the snubber circuit, and a second switch to control an on or off operation of the first switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2011Publication date: February 9, 2012Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., LtdInventor: Kwang-wook KIM
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Patent number: 7916508Abstract: An exemplary embodiment includes a system for measuring and controlling a thyristor comprising a thyristor, a Rogowski coil in operable communication therewith the thyristor, and a processor operative to receive signals from the Rogowski coil, determine a direct current value of the thyristor, and control the thyristor.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2007Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: William Robert Pearson
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Patent number: 7729145Abstract: A power converter that converts an AC power outputted from a generator into a DC power and supplies it to a battery (load). The power converter includes a thyristor (switch unit) connected between an output unit of the generator and the battery (load); and a gate control unit (control unit) for generating a triangle wave voltage having a constant peak voltage corresponding to each cycle of the AC power outputted from the generator, generating a differential voltage between the voltage supplied to the load via the switch unit and a predetermined target voltage, and controlling the conductive state of the switch unit based on the triangle wave voltage and the differential voltage.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2007Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Shindengen Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Toyotaka Takashima
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Patent number: 7551461Abstract: AC/DC rectifiers are vital elements in industry. Their uses include HVdc electric energy transmission, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), electrochemical plants, railway systems, variable speed induction motors, telephone plants, etc. Regrettably, currents IA, IB and IC on the primary side of the transformer feeding the rectifier are distorted, which is penalized worldwide. Conventionally, this distortion is reduced through an apparatus connected either on the primary or secondary side of the transformer. The proposed apparatus, however, is connected on the DC side of the rectifier. It is demonstrated in a laboratory prototype that this apparatus achieves notably low distortion levels (ideally zero) in currents IA, IB and IC, at low cost and with a simple and robust control system, which is capable of handling rapid load variations. It can also be repaired on line without the need to disconnect the system.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2004Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignees: Universidad De Santiago De ChileInventor: Miguel Villablanca
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Patent number: 7495940Abstract: A device that includes an active rectifier (14) having control gates controllable to produce an output voltage on a DC bus (20), a gate control circuit (16) for producing gate control signals for controlling the active rectifier control gates, a first circuit (18) connected to the gate control circuit (16) and producing a command current magnitude signal and a power factor signal for use by the gate control circuit (16), a current line (30) providing a current related to the DC load current to the first circuit (16), and a voltage line (32) providing a voltage related to the DC bus voltage to the first circuit (16), the first circuit (16) including a peak detector (64) detecting current peaks on the DC bus (20), a command current magnitude signal generator (34) commanding a current as a function of the detected peaks, and a power factor controller (33, 40) varying the power factor signal (42) to control the voltage on the DC bus (20).Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2005Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventor: Louis Cheng
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Publication number: 20080310201Abstract: A digital PFC (DPFC) control approach that requires no input voltage sensing or current loop compensation is described. The approach can provide stable, low-harmonic operation over a universal input voltage range and load ranging from high-load operation in continuous conduction mode down to near-zero load. A fast voltage loop can also be incorporated into a DPFC controller to provide additional control of the power stage. A controller can be based on low-resolution DPWM and A/D converters, can be implemented without microcontroller or DSP programming, and is well suited for simple, low-cost integrated-circuit realizations.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2008Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADOInventor: Dragan Maksimovic
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Patent number: 7394675Abstract: A power supply operable from a plurality of alternating current inputs had having protection from abnormal operation. The power supply includes a switchable rectifier and a voltage to voltage converter. Protection circuits switch off at least one of the rectifier and the converter if the rectified voltage exceeds a predetermined voltage value and/or a current through the converter exceeds a predetermined current value. The protection circuits include latch circuits to prevent cyclic operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2006Date of Patent: July 1, 2008Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kyung-hoon Hwang
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Publication number: 20080123379Abstract: A voltage regulating circuit comprising a rectifier (2) for receiving an AC voltage (Vmains) and for generating a rectified AC voltage (vrec), and a capacitor (3) connected in parallel with said rectified AC voltage for providing a DC voltage (VDC) over a load (5), characterized by a unidirectional current switch (4) provided between the rectifier (2) and the capacitor (3), and a control block (6) arranged to activate the switch (4) at selected instances (7) during negative slopes of the rectified AC voltage (vrec) so that said DC voltage (VDC) does not exceed a predetermined voltage limit. By controlling the voltage provided by the rectified mains, the DC voltage can be regulated to any preset value (lower than the AC mains peak value). The inventive voltage stabilizer will guarantee a desired constant DC load voltage value for different mains peak input voltages and under wide range of load variations. Thereby a converter driven by this voltage can be more optimized or even be unregulated.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2005Publication date: May 29, 2008Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.Inventors: Pieter Jan Mark Smidt, Jorge Luiz Duarte
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Patent number: 7269039Abstract: A device includes an active rectifier (14) having control gates controllable to produce an output voltage on a DC bus (20), a gate control circuit (16) for producing gate control signals for controlling the active rectifier control gates, a first circuit (18) connected to the gate control circuit (16) for producing a command current magnitude signal and a power factor signal for use by the gate control circuit (16), a current line (30) providing a signal related to the DC load current to the first circuit (18), and a voltage line (32) providing a signal related to the DC bus voltage to the first circuit (18). The first circuit (18) includes a command current magnitude signal generator (34) producing the command current signal based on the DC load current and a power factor controller (44, 48) producing the power factor signal. The power factor controller (44, 48) includes a feed forward circuit (52, 56) for increasing the power factor signal in response to current fluctuations on the current line (30).Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2005Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventor: Louis Cheng
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Patent number: 7187569Abstract: An apparatus for generating electronic signals for application in subsea electromagnetic exploration. A surface generated high-voltage low-current source signal stabilized at a first frequency is supplied to a deep-tow vehicle (18) via an umbilical cable (16). The high-voltage low-current signal is transformed at the deep-tow vehicle to a high-current low-voltage a.c. signal by a transformer (52) within a cycloconverter (30). A semiconductor relay bridge (104) provides switchable rectification of the high-current low-voltage a.c. signal to provide a quasi-square wave at a second frequency, lower than the first frequency, for supply to a transmitting antenna (22) towed by the deep-tow vehicle. The times of the rectification switching are dependent on zero crossings of the high-current low-voltage a.c. signal. Allowable rectification switching times may be gated to occur only within pre-determined time windows to avoid noise-induced zero-crossing switching.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2002Date of Patent: March 6, 2007Assignee: University of SouthamptonInventors: Martin C. Sinha, Lucy M. MacGregor
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Patent number: 7050313Abstract: An AC-DC converter includes a DC reference voltage generation unit that creates a DC reference voltage waveform based in part on a feedback signal. The AC-DC converter also includes an SCR firing unit that receives a variable frequency power output from the generator and that provides firing signals. The AC-DC converter further includes SCRs arranged as a positive bank of SCRs and a negative bank of SCRs. The AC-DC converter further includes a modulator unit that receives the firing signals and the DC reference voltage waveform, and that respectively outputs SCR gate signals to the SCRs. The AC-DC converter also includes a filter unit provided between the positive and negative banks of SCRs. The AC-DC converter also includes a voltage feedback path for feeding back the DC output voltage as the feedback voltage waveform.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2004Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Smiths Aerospace LLC.Inventors: Hao Huang, Victor B. Bonneau, David D. Karipides, Anthony G. Koesters
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Publication number: 20020105818Abstract: In a power conversion device according to the present invention, an AC power source voltage signal Vac which is the instantaneous value of AC power source 1 detected by a power source voltage detection circuit comprising a transformer 5, rectifier 6 and A/D converter 7 is averaged by an averaging circuit 9 and an average AC power source voltage signal Vave is output. This average AC power source voltage signal Vave and AC power source voltage signal Vac are compared in comparator 8 and, if their deviation is more than a prescribed value, a power source voltage drop detection signal PSF_S is output. Spurious detection of power source voltage drop resulting from the effect of power source fluctuations can thereby be prevented.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2002Publication date: August 8, 2002Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Tadamitsu Yoshikawa, Hiroaki Matsumoto
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Patent number: 6377482Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for initial charging of the output capacitors of a three-phase three-point pulsed rectifier system. According to the invention, a thyristor is arranged in each phase between the input terminal and is connected in the current flow direction to the anode of the freewheeling diode, and an initial charging path is connected in parallel with this thyristor. The circuit for actuating the thyristor is activated after completion of the initial charging; the reference voltage is applied to the negative input of the comparator.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2001Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: Ascom Energy Systems AGInventors: Johann W. Kolar, Wilhelm Korb
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Patent number: 6055167Abstract: An integrated power factor converter utilizes a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) bridge which limits the inrush current by controlling the conduction angle of the SCR's. The same SCR bridge shuts down the output in case of short circuit and recovers automatically at a predetermined duty cycle rate. In case the input voltage exceeds approximately 275 VAC, the SCR bridge regulates the output voltage to below 400 VDC. The input inrush current is reduced by phasing up the input voltage in a controlled manner. The use of SCR's in the input bridge produces no additional losses, since the rectifier function is required regardless of which topology is used. The integrated power factor converter interfaces universal voltage mains to DC/DC converters while reducing input harmonics.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1998Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: Custom Power Systems, Inc.Inventors: Andrei Shamkovich, Donald Mulvey, John J. Santini
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Patent number: 6018473Abstract: A power supply includes a diode bridge rectifier. The diode bridge rectifier output provides direct current to a primary capacitor. A current-limiting resistor is connected in series with the rectifier output and the primary capacitor. The current-limiting resistor acts to limit inrush current to the primary capacitor when the power supply is turned on. A triac is coupled in parallel with the current-limiting resistor. When charged, the primary capacitor provides a primary signal and primary current to a switched load, which includes a first winding of a transformer and a load switching device. The transformer also has a second winding connected in series with the triac's gate terminal. When the primary signal reaches a satisfactory level, the load switching device switches the load, causing current transients in the first winding. The first winding current transients, in turn, induce current in the second winding and in the triac gate terminal.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 1999Date of Patent: January 25, 2000Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Franciscus Gerardus Johannes Claassen
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Patent number: 5923550Abstract: A method and apparatus for reduction of radio frequency interference caused by pulse width modulation of rectifier switching devices (56A, 56B, 58A, 58B) in multiple rectifiers 50 connected to a common power source. In general, the invention reduces radio frequency signals introduced into the power source by phase shifting operation of the rectifiers such that one of the rectifiers has switching devices which are gated into conduction during a first portion of a pulse width modulation cycle and switching devices in another rectifier are gated into conduction during another portion of the pulse width modulation cycle. In this manner, switching of devices in one of the rectifiers produces harmonic currents during one portion of a PWM cycle while the switching devices in the second rectifier produce harmonic currents during another portion of the cycle.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 1997Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar
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Patent number: 5852556Abstract: A power converter comprises a pulse generator capable of outputting two different levels of gate power. A thyristor (LTT) is turned on by the first gate power output from the pulse generator, and the second gate power is supplied to the thyristor (LTT) during the transient period from the time the thyristor valve current is cut off to the time the withstand voltage of the thyristor (LTT) recovers to the rated value. The second gate power is set at a low level by which the thyristor (LTT) will not be turned on when the second gate power with the normal level of voltage is applied to the thyristor.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 1997Date of Patent: December 22, 1998Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Sumio Kobayashi
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Patent number: 5742189Abstract: A frequency conversion apparatus comprising a sampling circuit for receiving a first intermediate frequency signal extracted from an input signal and having a predetermined intermediate frequency and a predetermined band width and sampling the first intermediate frequency signal in accordance with a predetermined sampling frequency signal, to output a second intermediate frequency signal, and a sampling signal generator for outputting the sampling frequency signal to the sampling circuit, the sampling frequency signal having a frequency determined so that an integer multiple of not less than three times the sampling frequency is outside a frequency range of the input signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 1995Date of Patent: April 21, 1998Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Hiroshi Yoshida, Miyuki Ogura, Koji Iino, Shoji Otaka
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Patent number: 5572415Abstract: A circuit is provided for rectifying an AC input voltage to provide a substantially constant DC output voltage. A composite input voltage is derived from the AC input voltage, which is composed of a scaled input AC voltage shifted by a selected DC bias voltage such that the entire range of such input signal voltages is contained within the supply voltages-of detection circuitry which controls the rectifier circuitry. The detection is thus carried out during both the upper and lower excursions of the input AC voltage.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1994Date of Patent: November 5, 1996Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics Pte. LimitedInventor: Muni Mohan
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Patent number: 5513093Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an ac signal to load terminals, where the signal has a reduced open circuit voltage is disclosed. The apparatus includes an ac current source connected to the load terminals and an open circuit sensor. A control circuit is connected to the source of ac current and to the open circuit sensor, and when the sensor senses an open circuit the control circuit causes the current source to provide a dc signal. The dc signal is created by allowing the current source to provide a signal of only one polarity. The polarity may be either electrode positive or electrode negative. The current source may be either a phase controlled current source or an inverter. The method includes the steps of detecting the presence of an open circuit at the load terminals and causing the ac power source to provide a half wave signal of only one polarity in response to the detection of an open circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1994Date of Patent: April 30, 1996Assignee: Miller Electric Mfg. Co.Inventor: Don J. Corrigall
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Patent number: 5483192Abstract: A gate power supply circuit including a switching device and a gate drive circuit connected to the switching device for generating a gate signal to be supplied to a gate of the switching device. The gate power supply circuit further includes a series circuit of a snubber capacitor and a snubber diode connected in parallel with the switching device, and an inductor, a first terminal of which is connected to a connection point of the switching device and the snubber diode. The gate power supply circuit also includes a series circuit of power disposing circuit and a first diode, connected between a series connection point of the snubber capacitor and the snubber diode and a second terminal of the inductor. The gate power supply circuit further includes a series circuit of a power supplying capacitor and a second diode, connected in parallel with the inductor.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 1993Date of Patent: January 9, 1996Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Hiromichi Tai
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Patent number: 5430637Abstract: A power supply circuit limits the voltage on a filter capacitor driven by rectified half-cycles of an input AC waveform. A FET switch in series with the current charging the filter capacitor is opened as soon as the charge on the filter capacitor is adequate. A voltage triggered latch circuit is responsive to the rectified AC input applied through a decoupling diode to the filter capacitor, and supplies a control signal to the FET switch. A further sensing circuit can monitor the current charging the filter capacitor, and can trigger the latch to open the FET switch as needed to limit initial in-rush current during the initial application of AC power. The decoupling diode decouples the rectified peaks provided by the rectifiers from the voltage on the filter capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1994Date of Patent: July 4, 1995Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventor: Dean C. Buck
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Patent number: 5260863Abstract: For controlling the current in an inductive load, the gate current used to fire thyristors in a rectifier is controlled to reach zero at exactly the same time, within a given half-wave, as the current in the inductive load which receives the voltage from the rectifier, keeping gate voltage on as long as thyristor current is on. A discontinuous thyristor converter current signal is detected and used to generate an enable signal in conjunction with a thyristor gate voltage. The enable signal, in synchronism with a power supply line voltage, provides a pair of channeling signals which then, depending upon whether the field current is positive or negative, activate the gate voltages of the thyristors such that the gate voltages end exactly at that time, within a given half-wave, where the generator field current becomes discontinuous.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1991Date of Patent: November 9, 1993Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Bernd L. Ackermann, Peter L. Herkel
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Patent number: 5155673Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting thyristors in a power converter from overvoltages. Voltage detectors determine if the forward voltage of each thyristor has increased in the converter. If such an overvoltage occurs during a predetermined period after the conduction of the thyristor, forced triggering of all the thyristors prevent damage to the thyristors.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 1991Date of Patent: October 13, 1992Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Tadashi Takahashi, Katsuro Ito
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Patent number: 4959321Abstract: Cell electrofusion apparatus, for example for the production of hybridomas, comprises a flow-through capillary (14) surrounded by a water-cooled jacket (16) and through which a physiologically normal medium (such as a tissue culture fluid) containing cells is pulsed by a pump driven syringe (28), high voltage pulses being applied to electrodes (18) at opposite ends of the channel, which voltage pulses are of a magnitude and duration such that, taking into account the rate of fluid flow through the capillary and the extraction of heat by the cooling means, the temperature of the cell-containing medium is constrained to remain below the limit at which substantial cell damage occurs.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 1989Date of Patent: September 25, 1990Inventors: Alan W. Preece, Douglas H. Follett
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Patent number: 4868731Abstract: The circuit contains a separate firing and extinguishing circuit, each having a respective capacitive charge store for generating the firing and the extinguishing current pulses for a GTO thyristor. A fast switching element which can be directly activated via a push-pull stage is provided which, when activated, discharges a respective charge store via the gate-cathode path of the GTO thyristor. As a result, the GTO thyristor can be operated at a high cycle frequency of up to at least 12,000 Hz and can be used in audio frequency transmitters for ripple control systems.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 1988Date of Patent: September 19, 1989Assignee: Zellweger Uster AGInventor: Gunther Hobi
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Patent number: 4833587Abstract: A fraction of current passing through the P-emitter region and N-base region of a thyristor is by-passed to the base-emitter junction of a PNP transistor. The amount of the base current is dependent on the thyristor current. Thus, as the anode current of the thyristor increases, the base current and hence the collector current of the PNP transistor increases. The collector current by-passed to the PNP transistor is fed, via a switch which is closed during the off-time of the thyistor, to the base-collector path of an NPN transistor whose collector and emitter are respectively connected to the gate and cathode of the thyristor. The turn-on voltage across the collector and emitter of the NPN transistor accordingly becomes lower than the gate-cathode voltage of the thyristor. The base-emitter current of the NPN transistor equals the collector current of the PNP transistor, the collector current being a fraction of the anode current by-passed to the PNP transistor.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 1988Date of Patent: May 23, 1989Assignee: Hitachi Ltd. and Hitachi Haramachi Semi-Conductor Ltd.Inventors: Shigeru Sugayama, Tadaaki Kariya, Tatsuo Shimura, Sigeo Tomita
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Patent number: 4775925Abstract: An apparatus and method relative to the operating of a control turn-off semiconductor device provide for determining the actual control electrode to cathode voltage upon the application of a turn-off control signal by adjusting the apparent value of that voltage by a value representing the voltage drop due to inductance in lead lines. The thusly adjusted value is employed to develop an output signal which indicates that the device has been turned off. In a further embodiment, the output signal may also be employed to reduce the value of the control signal from a first, relatively high value to a second, relatively low value.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 1987Date of Patent: October 4, 1988Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Georges R. E. Lezan, Loren H. Walker
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Patent number: 4730352Abstract: The invention relates to a supply circuit for an X-ray emitter usable in radiology. The circuit has a transformer, whereof the primary is connected to the three-phase power supply and whereof the secondary is connected to the X-ray emitter. The primary circuit is put into operation by the closing of a controlled switch. This switch has a set of closing thyristors. The switch also has a correctly charged capacitor connectable to the set of thyristors. For opening the circuit, the capacitor is connected in such a way that it supplies a reverse current to the thyristors of the set of thyristors. Thus the capacitor is recharged with the reverse polarity. During a following closing - opening sequence of the switch, the terminals of the capacitor are connected to the set of thyristors by switching their connection. In this way, the capacitor is always correctly connected for fulfilling its function during the blocking of the thyristors.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 1985Date of Patent: March 8, 1988Assignee: Thomson-CGRInventor: Roberto Rovacchi
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Patent number: 4730245Abstract: A power converter having an ac side connected through a reactor to an ac power source and a dc side connected to a smoothing capacitor and a load, the converter being capable of converting and inverting electric power in accordance with the pulse width modulation control, characterized by comprising: a voltage detection circuit for detecting a voltage on the side of the ac power source when viewed from the reactor; a first judgement section for detecting that the amplitude of a voltage component on the ac side of the power converter, which is included in the ac power source voltage, is above a predetermined value on the basis of an output signal from the voltage detection circuit to produce a signal indicative of the judgement result; a second judgement section for detecting that the amplitude of the ac power source voltage is below the predetermined value to produce a signal indicative of the judgement result; and a gate circuit for performing logical sum of the outputs from the first and second judgement seType: GrantFiled: September 22, 1986Date of Patent: March 8, 1988Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Hirokazu Sato
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Patent number: 4593348Abstract: A device is described for the generation of drive signals for thyristors or power transistors in circuits for the energy supply of apparatuses and installations with regulated and/or adjustable direct voltages or direct currents. In systems with a master or controlling computer there serves as desired value giver a digital memory, which makes available the calculated desired values as a binary number on its output, while as actual-value giver there serves a binary counter which counts the beat impulses of the computer, in which system a comparison circuit on equality of the numbers triggers an impulse the time beginning of which corresponds to the ingate angle or its duration to the impulse width of a pulse-width modulated signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1984Date of Patent: June 3, 1986Assignee: Autola Stromrichter GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Werner Tewesmeier
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Patent number: 4547843Abstract: A multiple output DC power supply having a single closed loop control system for two or more power amplifiers which provide matched DC outputs. The control system is responsive to the sum of the DC signals output from the power supply to derive an average error signal. A switching logic circuit compares signals representing the unregulated AC power driving the power amplifiers to a reference signal in order to generate a set of control signals for each of the amplifiers, the average error signal biasing the reference signal so as to vary the time of occurrence of the control signals and regulate the DC outputs.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1984Date of Patent: October 15, 1985Assignee: Sundstrand CorporationInventor: David J. Hucker
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Patent number: 4504777Abstract: A control circuit for supplying a relatively constant operating voltage to an electrical load over a relatively wide range of supply line voltages, including an electronic switch connected in series with the electrical load and having a control lead, a reference voltage generating element, and a comparator for receiving the reference voltage and a voltage representative of the actual voltage applied to the electrical load and for generating and electrical signal which is applied to the control lead of the electronic switch.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1982Date of Patent: March 12, 1985Assignee: Braun AktiengesellschaftInventor: Anton Bauer
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Patent number: 4480298Abstract: A voltage converter apparatus is provided to energize a first load and a second load from a power supply connected through an inverter and a coupling transformer, with the transformer having a first secondary winding energizing the first load with first voltage pulses having a variable width determined by the operational frequency of the inverter and having a second secondary winding energizing the second load with second voltage pulses having a variable width determined by a phase controlled switching apparatus responsive to one of the voltage and the current of the second voltage pulses.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 1983Date of Patent: October 30, 1984Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventor: Warren C. Fry
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Patent number: 4456871Abstract: An inexpensive power supply for an electconic control system or the like which is capable of converting a wide range of applied AC voltages into a regulated output voltage. A thyristor is coupled in series with an input terminal and a threshold device, such as a Zener diode, placed across the input terminals and paralleled by an RC circuit coupled to the thyrisor gate. Another capacitor is coupled to the thyristor cathode. A ramp-like voltage impressed on the thyristor gate effects triggering at a phase angle which varies in accordance with output voltage. The electronic control system outputs a uniform train of pulses which serve to disable a circuit interrupter. Termination or disruption of the pulse train causes the interrupter to open the protected circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 1982Date of Patent: June 26, 1984Assignee: Siemens-Allis, Inc.Inventor: Frederick A. Stich