With Transistor Control Means In The Line Circuit Patents (Class 363/89)
  • Patent number: 9474113
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode (LED) lighting device has an LED and a power supply including an inductor coupled to the LED. A cathode of the LED is coupled to the inductor opposite an anode of the LED. The inductor is coupled for receiving a first power signal. A transistor includes a conduction terminal coupled to the inductor to enable current through the inductor. A current from the first power signal is switched to generate a second power signal. A first diode includes an anode coupled to the inductor opposite the cathode of the LED. A controller includes a first terminal coupled to a cathode of the first diode and a second terminal coupled to a control terminal of the transistor. A zener diode is coupled to the first terminal of the controller. A capacitor is coupled between the first diode and inductor. A second diode is coupled to the first diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Enerton, Inc.
    Inventors: Der Jeou Chou, Ming Yi Chan
  • Patent number: 9455696
    Abstract: Disclosed are a pulse frequency modulation circuit and a power adapter. The pulse frequency modulation circuit includes a first multiplier, a second multiplier, a third multiplier, a divider and an adder sequentially and electrically connected to one another. The second multiplier includes an output terminal connected to an input terminal of the divider, a first input terminal, and a second input terminal connected to an input terminal circuit of the adder. To prevent the uncertain timing of the critical operating status of the time control circuit detected by the conventional zero-crossing detection method, the pulse frequency modulation circuit and power adapter adopt the pulse frequency modulation circuit for computation and output a control signal to control the OFF/ON time of a transistor in the power adapter, so as to control the timing of the operating status of the power adapter precisely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Inventors: Yung-Hong Wang, Zhi-Jian Fan
  • Patent number: 9450437
    Abstract: An electronic circuit to increase voltages from one or more energy sources. The electronic circuit can include a first set of capacitors and a second set of capacitors, and a first set of switches associated with the first set of capacitors and a second set of switches associated with the second set of capacitors. Also included is at least one energy source and an external load. The first and second set of capacitors, first and second set of switches, the at least one energy source, and the external load are arranged and connected such that the first set of capacitors is connected to the at least one energy source in parallel while the second set of capacitors is connected to the external load in series, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: The Penn State University
    Inventors: Younggy Kim, Bruce E. Logan, Marta Hatzell
  • Patent number: 9445464
    Abstract: An operating circuit for light-emitting means (18), in particular an LED string, contains an actively clocked power factor correction circuit (11), which produces a regulated output voltage (UBUS), by means of which the light-emitting means (18) are supplied directly or indirectly via at least one further converter stage (17). The regulation is performed by means of a control unit (16), which, as manipulated variable (tON), actuates clocking of a switch of the power factor correction circuit (11). The operating circuit is designed, in the event of the presence of a predefined event, for example a rapid or sudden change in the energy demand of the light-emitting means (18), selectively: —to change suddenly the value of the manipulated variable (tON) using feedforward control, and/or —to vary the time constant of the control loop of the output voltage (UBUS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: TRIDONIC GMBH & CO KG
    Inventor: Andre Mitterbacher
  • Patent number: 9433047
    Abstract: A single inductor multiple LED string driver comprises a switch control circuit and a current-sensing control circuit. The switch control circuit generates a plurality of digital control signals that are used to control a plurality of switches coupled to a plurality of strings of LEDs. Each switch is selectively turned on and off by each corresponding digital control signal. The current-sensing control circuit determines an integrated charge amount provided by each current that flows from an input voltage through each LED string, through each switch, through a common inductor, and through a main switch to ground. In response to the determined integrated charge amount, the current-sensing control circuit generates an on-time control signal that controls the on-time of each switch such that the average current flowing across each LED string is equal to each other. Furthermore, the total current flowing across each LED string is regulated to a predefined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Huynh, Cuong Van Pham
  • Patent number: 9425607
    Abstract: An AC-DC converter device includes a first overvoltage protection circuit connected between a first DC output terminal and a first control terminal of a gate pulse controller. The first overvoltage protection circuit is configured to turn off a first switch if the output voltage between the DC output terminals is above a threshold voltage. A galvanic insulation barrier is connected either between the first overvoltage protection circuit and the first control terminal or between the first control terminal and the first switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Eltek AS
    Inventors: Erik Myhre, Thomas Olsen, Jan Tore Brastad
  • Patent number: 9419522
    Abstract: The bi-directional DC/DC converter has zero voltage switching (ZVS) soft switching capability resulting in a higher efficiency, and provides reduction of the switching losses due to higher switching frequencies. The capability of operation in higher frequencies results in reducing the size of passive components including inductance and capacitors. The subject DC/DC converter is capable of operating with three voltage levels in both power flow directions, thus providing flexibility in the voltage control and attaining lower inductor current ripple and lower switch voltage ratings. DC link capacitors are replaced with ultra capacitor banks split in two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: University of Maryland
    Inventors: Alireza Khaligh, Serkan Dusmez
  • Patent number: 9413260
    Abstract: Current of a three-phase multilevel modular converter (MMC) is controlled. The control is a division-summation (D-?) method yet uses integration to replace the two steps of division and summation. Common D-? characteristic equations are used for all areas. Inductance changes are considered in the characteristic equations. Current source is used to control converter. Therefore, the current of the converter can be traced to sinusoidal reference current even when the inductance changes become big. The modulation method and the capacitor-voltage balancing method are submodule unified pulse width modulation (SUPWM) and sorted voltage-balancing method, respectively. The current control directly obtains a law of the current change on each conducting module of an arm. It does not need complex sector judgments and table look-ups. Thus, the amount of computation and memory for a processor can be relatively reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: NATIONAL TSING HUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tsai-Fu Wu, Li-Chun Lin, Xin-yu Yu
  • Patent number: 9413263
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a transformerless power supply configured to limit heat generation. A system includes a power supply input configured to receive power from a time-varying input voltage source. A phase control circuit is configured to generate a current control signal, where the current control signal commands power to be drawn from the power supply through an output transistor, where the current control signal commands the drawn power to have a minimum current when the time-varying input voltage is at a maximum, and where the current control signal commands the drawn power to have a maximum current when the time-varying input voltage is at a minimum. A power supply output is responsive to the output transistor, where the power supply output is configured to output power drawn from the power supply input via the output transistor, wherein the outputted power is at a consistent power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: STACK LABS INC.
    Inventors: Neil Joseph, Francis Joseph
  • Patent number: 9407160
    Abstract: A method for controlling a converter for converting an n-phase AC input voltage into a DC output voltage, each phase of the AC input voltage being connected to a switch of the converter. The method includes determining the signs of j characteristic voltages (Va, Vb, Vc, Va-Vb, Vb-Vc, Va-Vc, Va+20°, Vb+20°, Vc+20°, Va?20°, Vb?20°, Vc?20°); determining a reference combination (C1-C12, C1-C18), to which the signs of j characteristic voltages (Va, Vb, Vc, Va-Vb, Vb-Vc, Va-Vc, Va+20°, Vb+20°, Vc+20°, Va?20°, Vb?20°, Vc?20°) correspond, by comparing the signs of the j characteristic voltages to data from a reference table; and (c) opening each switch for an opening time (t1, t2, t3) pre-determined according to the reference combination (C1-C12, C1-C18) identified during the determining of the reference combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: LABINAL POWER SYSTEMS
    Inventor: Cédric Balpe
  • Patent number: 9397566
    Abstract: Described is an apparatus which comprises: a first bridge to be coupled to a first load; a first Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) circuit to drive the first bridge; a second bridge to be coupled to a second load; and a second PWM circuit to drive the second bridge, wherein the first PWM circuit is controlled by a first digital word separate from a second digital word, wherein the second PWM circuit is controlled by the second digital, and wherein the second digital word is derived from the first digital word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Cowley, Harish K. Krishnamurthy, Ruchir Saraswat
  • Patent number: 9383505
    Abstract: A LCD illuminator (20), when energized, emits light which impinges upon an input surface of a light pipe included in a LCD module (54). The LCD illuminator (20) includes a thermally-conductive housing (22) to which a thin, thermally conductive printed circuit board (“PCB”) (32) is mechanically and thermally bonded. The PCB (32) has an array of LED die (34) mounted thereon that face away from the thermally conductive housing (22). A layer of thermal interface material (56) interposed between an outer surface of the thermally conductive housing (22) and the LCD module (54) facilitates conducting heat generated by the LED die (34) out of the LCD module (54). Also disclosed is an improved LCD module (54) that includes the disclosed LCD illuminator (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Inventor: Kevin J. Hathaway
  • Patent number: 9385618
    Abstract: A power supplying apparatus may be capable of switching off a synchronous rectifier on a secondary side in advance by predicting a switching-on time on a primary side. The power supplying apparatus may include: a power converting unit switching power input to the primary side and transferring the power to the secondary side; and a synchronous rectifying unit formed on the secondary side, synchronized with the switching of the power converting unit to perform a rectification switching operation, thereby rectifying the power transferred from the power converting unit, and changing the rectification switching operation before a switching change point of the power converting unit depending on a preset timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: SOLUM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung Chul Gong, Jong Rok Kim, Ho Joon Jang, Hwan Cho
  • Patent number: 9360528
    Abstract: A circuit that includes a bridge rectifier configured to convert a sensed input signal into a rectified output signal and a regulator configured to convert the rectified output signal into a voltage source signal. The circuit further includes a variable period timer configured to be powered by the voltage source signal and to convert the rectified output signal into a low duty cycle timer signal in which 50% is a low duty cycle and the low duty cycle timer signal has a frequency that is correlated to an input voltage level of the sensed input signal, wherein the voltage sensing circuit is configured to operate on input voltage levels of sensed alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) input signals over one or more determined dynamic ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Kenneth Barfield
  • Patent number: 9362843
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a switch controller, a power supply including the same, and a method for driving the same. An AC input of the power supply is connected to a rectification circuit. The power supply includes a power switch to which an input current passed through the rectification circuit flows during an on-period and a switch controller, the switch controller detects a half-on time point that is the intermediate time point of the on-period, detects a sense voltage that is determined by a current flowing to the power switch during the on-period at the half-on time point, generates a modulation wave by controlling a reference wave according to the detected voltage, and controls switching operation of the power switch according to the modulation wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor LTD
    Inventors: Hyun-Chul Eum, Seung-Uk Yang
  • Patent number: 9350170
    Abstract: According to one disclosed embodiment, a smart power management system includes a power conversion unit having a communication module and a power management module that can convert mains power into a form that can be used to power a plurality of electronic devices. In one embodiment, the power conversion unit can selectively disconnect power availability provided for a particular electronic device and reduce phantom load waste by communicating with a connected electronic device and exchanging information. In another embodiment, the power conversion unit can selectively disconnect power availability provided for a particular electronic device by monitoring the electronic device's power usage over time and determining an appropriate power availability based on predetermined power management parameters. In another embodiment, the power conversion unit can communicate with other power conversion units to form a mesh network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Walley, Robert Hulvey
  • Patent number: 9350159
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to clamp overvoltages for inductive power transfer systems are described herein. An example overvoltage protection circuit is described, including a first terminal configured to receive an alternating current signal for conversion to a second signal, a capacitor, a first switch configured to selectively electrically couple the capacitor to the first terminal based on an overvoltage detection signal to reduce an overvoltage on the second signal, and an overvoltage detector. The example overvoltage detector is configured to determine a signal level of the second signal and, in response to determining that the signal level of the second signal is greater than a threshold, to output the overvoltage detection signal to cause the switch to electrically couple the capacitor between the first terminal and a second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Stephen Christopher Terry, Paul L. Brohlin
  • Patent number: 9350264
    Abstract: It provides the effective power conversion control technique which it can control which it made use of a characteristic (nature) of each A/D converter in. It comprises the third control part including the third operating circuit it inputs signal from third A/D converter inputting the detecting signal which is different from the detecting signal which is the same as the detecting signal or the detecting signal and above third A/D converter, and to generate the third operating signal, and the above actuating management circuit manages the actuating of an above first control part and the second above control part and the third above control part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: NAGASAKI UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fujio Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 9350180
    Abstract: Conventionally, current detection in load switches is implemented by monitoring the voltage across a small value sense resistor in series with the load switch, where the differential voltage across is applied to a comparator to generate a control signal corresponding to a light load condition, a normal load condition, or an over-load condition. Detecting the light load condition, however, can be difficult to determine using this arrangement due to the low differential voltage. Here, however, a integrated circuit (IC) is provided that employs an internal voltage supply and comparators to examine the load current to determine whether a light load condition is present, which does not suffer from the same problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher T. Maxwell, John M. Perry, Aline C. Sadate, James C. Spurlin, Nakshatra S. Gajbhiye
  • Patent number: 9342079
    Abstract: Energy efficient control of a cooling system cooling an electronic system is provided based, in part, on projected conditions. The control includes automatically determining an adjusted control setting(s) for an adjustable cooling component(s) of the cooling system. The automatically determining is based, at least in part, on projected power consumed by the electronic system at a future time and projected temperature at the future time of a heat sink to which heat extracted is rejected. The automatically determining operates to reduce power consumption of the cooling system and/or the electronic system while ensuring that at least one targeted temperature associated with the cooling system or the electronic system is within a desired range. The automatically determining may be based, at least in part, on an experimentally obtained model(s) relating the targeted temperature and power consumption of the adjustable cooling component(s) of the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Milnes P. David, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9343994
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus including a three-phase transformer interconnected to a three-phase power system, the three-phase transformer including a primary winding group that receives three-phase electric power of the three-phase electric power system, a first secondary winding group and a second secondary winding group that receive electric power transferred from the primary winding group, and a first converter group and a second converter group connected to the first and second secondary winding groups, respectively, the power conversion apparatus further including a DC output terminal group connected to at least one of other ends of the first to third converter arms provided in the first converter group, and connected to at least one of other ends of the fourth to sixth converter arms provided in the second converter group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 9343955
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a controller configured to apply slope compensation to a reference signal in a power factor corrector. The device also configured to adjust the slope compensation based on an input voltage of the power factor corrector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Albino Pidutti, Andrea Carletti
  • Patent number: 9343953
    Abstract: An example controller includes a power factor enhancer, an on-time controller, and a switching signal generator. The power factor enhancer is coupled to generate a pre-distortion signal each half-line cycle of an ac input voltage of a PFC converter. The on-time controller ends an on-time of a PFC switch in response to a sensed PFC switch current of the PFC converter multiplied by the pre-distortion signal. The switching signal generator controls an input current waveform of the PFC converter to substantially follow a shape of an input voltage waveform by generating a switching signal in response to the on-time controller to control switching of the PFC switch. The power factor enhancer adjusts the pre-distortion signal to pre-distort the sensed PFC switch current to compensate for distortion in the input current waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger Colbeck
  • Patent number: 9325240
    Abstract: The low input voltage boost converter with peak inductor current control and offset compensated zero detection provide a boost converter scheme to harvest energy from sources with small output voltages. Some embodiments described herein includes a thermoelectric boost converter that combines an IPEAK control scheme with offset compensation and duty cycled comparators to enable energy harvesting from TEG inputs as low as 5 mV to 10 mV, and the peak inductor current is independent to first order of the input voltage and output voltage. A control circuit can be configured to sample the input voltage (VIN) and then generate a pulse with a duration inversely proportional to VIN so as to control the boost converter switches such that a substantially constant peak inductor current is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PATENT FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Benton H. Calhoun, Aatmesh Shrivastava
  • Patent number: 9319104
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that control devices using signals transmitted over power lines in many different applications and configurations. They provide a lower cost approach for controlling devices via signals transmitted over power lines. The methods and systems may control intensity, spectral, and other characteristics of lighting devices, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or assemblies thereof, via power lines. They may also control other types of loads, such as motors, relays, valves or the like. Additionally, techniques for independently controlling intensity and spectral content of selected high efficiency lighting devices are also described. For example, the brightness and color of an LED may be controlled via the power lines that supply power to the LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Inventors: William H Speegle, Remigius Shatas
  • Patent number: 9313842
    Abstract: A switch mode power supply controller provides power to a pair of light sources. The controller includes a low voltage programmable current source and adjusting elements for independently adjusting the current to the LED light sources. The controller also includes a first communication port for receiving a communication from an external device, such as a dimmer, or from another power supply controller; and a second communication port for sending a communication to a third power supply controller. These ports provide an upstream and downstream communication capability through a chain of controllers so that input from a device can be communicated upstream and downstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ringdale, Inc.
    Inventors: Klaus Bollmann, Tom C. Penick
  • Patent number: 9299764
    Abstract: An inductor layout (200, 300, 400) comprising a first inductor (210, 310, 410) and a second inductor (220, 320, 420). The first and second inductors (210, 310, 410; 220, 320, 420) are electrically and magnetically independent inductors concentrically arranged on an integrated circuit 800. At least one of the first and second inductors (210, 310, 410; 220, 320, 420) is a multi-loop inductor with a first axis (226a, 316a, 326a, 416a, 426a) of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET L M ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Thomas Mattsson, Pietro Andreani
  • Patent number: 9293985
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing input current harmonic distortion in a Vienna-type active rectifier that includes the steps of sensing voltage values from upper and lower halves of a DC bus associated with the rectifier, determining an average of the sensed voltage values, calculating upper and lower scale factors by dividing the sensed voltage values with the averaged sensed voltage value, rescaling a reference signal from a controller using the upper and lower calculated scale factors, and forward feeding the rescaled reference signal from the controller to a pulse width modulator to obtain a gate driver signal for power semiconductor switches of the rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Vietson M. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9276495
    Abstract: A switching converter and method for controlling a switching converter in a quasi resonant mode of operation, wherein a sense voltage is predefined for a PWM controller to determine a switch off time of a switching element, a switch-on time of the switching element also falls in a valley of an oscillating voltage that is being applied to the switched-off switching element, and where the sense voltage is reduced in each valley occurring after a switch-off operation such that a stable operating point is thus reached under any load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Daniel Portisch
  • Patent number: 9270143
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a combination power supply module containing the main drive electronics and backup drive electronics along with a backup power supply for a light emitting diode (LED) based luminaire are described herein. The power supply module may include a main LED driver that is electrically connected to a main power supply through active power factor correction circuitry and is also electrically connected to an LED or array of LEDs. The power supply module further includes power management circuitry electrically connected to a backup power supply and an emergency LED driver, where the power management circuitry discharges the backup power supply to supply power to the emergency LED driver for powering at least a subset of the LEDs when power is no longer being supplied to the main LED driver. The main LED driver and the emergency LED driver are contained in the same module housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Anthony A. Mangiaracina, Kevin Odith Porter
  • Patent number: 9263939
    Abstract: A capacitor discharging circuit and a converter are disclosed. The converter comprises: a capacitor connected between the live line and null line of an AC power input terminals, a conversion module coupled to the capacitor and comprising an energy storage component at least, an energy transfer unit coupled with the energy storage component and the capacitor, an AC power-off detecting unit and a control unit; wherein the energy transfer unit comprises a switch device; when AC power is disconnected, the AC power-off signal triggers the control unit to output a switch driving signal, controlling the operation of the energy transfer unit to transfer the energy stored in the capacitor to the energy storage component to discharge the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hongyuan Jin, Baochen Wang, Hongjian Gan, Jianping Ying
  • Patent number: 9257914
    Abstract: A method of active rectification control of an active rectifier includes detecting a phase angle and a frequency of a voltage input of the active rectifier; regulating a DC output voltage of the active rectifier with d-q components of a pole voltage; and aligning a reference current input of the active rectifier to the d-q components of the pole voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Souren G. Fattal
  • Patent number: 9236375
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are provided for switching a load with true reverse current blocking (TRCB). The device may include an input port coupled to a supply voltage; an output port coupled to the load; a TRCB circuit coupled to the input port and the output port; and a switch control port coupled to the TRCB circuit. The TRCB circuit may be configured to couple the input port to the output port in response to a switch close signal applied to the switch control port and to de-couple the input port from the output port in response to a switch open signal applied to the switch control port. The TRCB circuit may further be configured to block current flow from the output port to the input port in response to both the switch open signal and the switch close signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Ni Sun
  • Patent number: 9225229
    Abstract: A semiconductor switch circuit includes a switch between an input node and an output node that connects nodes to each other according to a control signal and a level shifter outputting the control signal at a boosted level that is greater than a power supply voltage level. The semiconductor switch circuit also includes a booster circuit to output a boosted voltage at the boosted level higher than a power supply voltage level. A control circuit is configured to control the level shifter output of the control signal to the switch. A capacitance switching circuit is included to change the capacitance of a connection between the booster circuit and the level shifter. The capacitance switching circuit can vary capacitance according to the voltage level of the booster circuit output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Abe, Hironori Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 9209697
    Abstract: A resonant converter circuit generates an output voltage from an input voltage by switching first and second FETs. A subsequent-stage switching control circuit alternately subjects the first and second FETs in the resonant converter circuit to on/off control with a fixed on-duty ratio and a fixed switching frequency. A boost converter circuit includes an inductor, a smoothing capacitor, and a third FET arranged to switch the energization of the inductor. A previous-stage switching control circuit subjects the third FET in the boost converter circuit to on/off control with a controlled on-duty ratio, and adjusts an output voltage to the resonant converter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Uno, Hajime Shiji
  • Patent number: 9205751
    Abstract: A battery charger may be capable of receiving power from a power distribution circuit including a fuse and may be configured to reduce reactive power through the fuse caused by at least one load, other than the charger, electrically connected with the power distribution circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Allan Roy Gale, Michael W. Degner, Larry Dean Elie
  • Patent number: 9197126
    Abstract: In a power converting apparatus which converts AC power into DC power, an inverter circuit including at least one series-connected single-phase inverter is connected in a downstream of a stage in which an AC input is rectified in series therewith. In the downstream stage of the inverter circuit, there are provided a smoothing capacitor connected via a rectifier diode and a short-circuiting switch for bypassing the smoothing capacitor. The short-circuiting switch is set to an ON state only in each of short-circuiting phase ranges of which midpoint matches each of zero-crossing phases and an output of the inverter circuit is controlled by using a current command so that a DC voltage of the smoothing capacitor follows a target voltage and an input power factor is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Yamada, Takahiro Urakabe, Akihiko Iwata, Norikazu Ito
  • Patent number: 9190900
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an electronic device includes a controller configured to be coupled to a first switch of a power factor corrector. The controller is configured to produce a variable switching frequency depending on a load current. For a first load current, the controller is configured to produce a first switching frequency, and for a second load current, the controller is configured to produce a second switching frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Andrea Carletti, Albino Pidutti
  • Patent number: 9178363
    Abstract: According to one disclosed embodiment, a smart powering and pairing system includes a power conversion unit (PCU) having a communication module, a power management module and a pairing module. The PCU can convert mains power into a form that can be used to power a plurality of electronic devices. In one embodiment, the PCU can transparently pair a connected electronic device to a group of subsequently connected electronic devices by accepting pairing information from the connected electronic device and using it to pair the subsequently connected devices. In another embodiment, the PCU can transparently pair a group of connected electronic devices by applying generated security data to all the connected devices. In another embodiment, a power conversion unit can use security data to un-pair connected electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Walley, Robert Hulvey
  • Patent number: 9176200
    Abstract: A power supply test device includes a function generator, a loading circuit, a current detection circuit, and a controller. The function generator outputs a square-wave signal to the loading circuit. The loading circuit is electronically connected to a power supply, the loading circuit regulates an output current of the power supply according to the square-wave signal. The current detection circuit cooperates with the controller in detecting a slope of the output current. The controller compares the detected slope with a preset value, and regulates the square-wave signal according to the comparison to regulate the slope of the output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji-Chao Li, Yun Bai, Dan-Dan Liu, Song-Lin Tong
  • Patent number: 9153993
    Abstract: According to one disclosed embodiment, a smart charging system includes a power conversion unit having a communication module and a charging integrated circuit that can convert mains power into a managed charging power used to charge any of several electronic devices. In one embodiment, a power conversion unit can manage a charging process by communicating with a connected electronic device and exchanging a charge profile representing ideal characteristics of the charging power. In one embodiment, an electronic device receives a charge from a power conversion unit through a wired power conduit. In another embodiment, an electronic device receives a charge from a power conversion unit through a wireless power conduit. In one embodiment, the smart charging system includes a battery usable to charge an electronic device when a mains adapter of the smart charging system is not powered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Walley, Robert Hulvey
  • Patent number: 9153995
    Abstract: According to one disclosed embodiment, a smart power delivery system includes a power conversion unit having a communication module and a power management module that can convert mains power into an optimized voltage and limited current used to power an electronic device. In one embodiment, a power conversion unit can optimize an output voltage by communicating with a connected electronic device and exchanging parameters representing desired characteristics of the output voltage. In one embodiment, an electronic device receives power from a power conversion unit through a wired power conduit. In another embodiment, an electronic device receives power from a power conversion unit through a wireless power conduit. In one embodiment, an optimal voltage is selected after negotiation between multiple electronic devices and a power conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Walley, Robert Hulvey
  • Patent number: 9144451
    Abstract: A high-frequency surgical generator for generating high efficiency outputs that can be operated in resonance over a wide load resistance range. The high-frequency surgical generator includes a first stage circuit for generating high-frequency power and a second stage circuit coupled to the first state circuit. The second stage circuit includes an input and an output and a series resonant circuit located between the input and the output. The second stage circuit further includes an inductor that is switched parallel to the input and a capacitor that is switched parallel to the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: ERBE ELEKTROMEDIZIN GMBH
    Inventors: Heiko Schall, Florian Eisele
  • Patent number: 9141118
    Abstract: A control circuit of a power converter is provided. The control circuit comprises a PWM circuit, a sample circuit, and emulation circuit. The PWM circuit generates a switching signal for switching an inductor and generating a switching current of the inductor in response to a current feedback signal. The sample circuit is coupled to sample a switching current signal into a capacitor during an on time of the switching signal. The emulation circuit generates a discharge current couple to discharge the capacitor during an off time of the switching signal for generating the current feedback signal. The switching current signal is correlated to the switching current of the inductor, and the discharge current is generated in response to an input voltage of the inductor, an output voltage of the power converter, and the on time of the switching signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: SYSTEM GENERAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Ying-Chi Chen, Chien-Tsun Hsu, Cheng-Sung Chen
  • Patent number: 9136760
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a switched mode voltage regulator circuit comprising a regulation loop coupled between the output voltage of the regulator and a switch driver. The regulation loop comprising an error signal generator supplying a digital error signal representative of a voltage difference between the output voltage and a reference voltage. The regulation loop further comprises a linear digital filter and a non-linear digital filter both coupled for receipt of the digital error signal and a digital summer coupled for receipt of linearly and non-linearly filtered digital error signals to provide a combined digital error signal. A digital pulse modulator is configured to generate the pulse width or pulse density modulated driver control signal in accordance with the combined digital error signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES GLOBAL
    Inventors: Ulrik Sorensen Wismar, Soren Gaadestrup
  • Patent number: 9136768
    Abstract: A switching power supply device includes: a power factor correction circuit having a step-up chopper circuit including a chopper switching element and a power factor correction control unit controlling a switching operation of the chopper switching element; a DC/DC converter having a transformer, a switching circuit, a rectifier circuit, a smoothing circuit, and a DC/DC converter control unit; and a control ON/OFF circuit controlling the ON/OFF states of an output voltage of the DC/DC converter circuit. The switching circuit is provided at a primary winding side of the transformer. The rectifier circuit and the smoothing circuit are provided at a secondary winding side of the transformer. The control ON/OFF circuit controls the ON/OF states of the output voltage of the DC/DC converter circuit by controlling the power factor correction control unit and the DC-DC converter control unit based on an external signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Gakuou Sasaki, Yuuta Takano
  • Patent number: 9130478
    Abstract: A rectifier circuit includes a bridge circuit configured to receive an alternating input signal. A parallel resonant circuit is coupled between the bridge circuit and an output. The circuit could also include a capacitive storage element coupled to the output and configured to provide an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Martin Feldtkeller
  • Patent number: 9124190
    Abstract: An isolated switched mode power supply comprises a transformer, with primary and secondary windings, and a rectification network connected to the secondary winding. The rectification network and the transformer are arranged such that, during a free-wheeling period of operation of the switched mode power supply, a magnetic flux from a first portion of a secondary winding of the transformer substantially cancels a magnetic flux from a second portion of the secondary winding between the first and second portions of the secondary winding. Additionally, a secondary side circuit connected to the secondary winding comprises a switching device, which is connected to a center-tap, provided between the first and second portions of the secondary winding, and an output of the rectification network so as to conduct at least a part of a free-wheeling current flowing in the secondary side circuit during the free-wheeling period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Magnus Karlsson, Jonas Malmberg, Oscar Persson
  • Patent number: 9124115
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    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
  • Patent number: 9118244
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus controls an output voltage based on a difference between a predetermined reference voltage and a feedback voltage obtained from the output voltage. The power supply apparatus includes a feedback voltage adjustment circuit. The feedback voltage adjustment circuit is configured to gradually reduce or increase the feedback voltage by a predetermined amount, when a condition for increasing or reducing the output voltage to a target value is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Masayuki Shigetomi