With Inductive Control Means In The Line Circuit Patents (Class 363/90)
  • Patent number: 11929668
    Abstract: In the present invention, when a DC reactor is in a magnetically saturated state, the on/off operations of a switching element are suspended and the switching element is set to an off state for a predetermined period of time, thereby resetting the magnetic saturation of the DC reactor and maintaining the supply of power to a load. After resetting the magnetic saturation, the pulse output of the normal pulse mode is restarted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: KYOSAN ELECTRIC MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Itsuo Yuzurihara, Toshiyuki Adachi, Tomohiro Yoneyama, Koichi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 11762447
    Abstract: A power supply includes a Primary or “high voltage” side and a Secondary or “low voltage” side. The primary side has boost stage circuitry that includes a boost stage controller that causes the boost stage circuitry to provide electrical energy, at least at a minimum boost voltage, to an energy storage capacitor. The energy storage capacitor may be charged by electrical energy at the minimum boost voltage and discharge electrical energy during a ride through event to power the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Josh Carver, Robert Lopez, Jr., Arkanatha Sastry, Veselin Skendzic
  • Patent number: 11329547
    Abstract: A primary controller applied to a primary side of a power converter includes a ripple cancellation circuit, a compensation voltage generation circuit, and a gate control signal generation circuit. The ripple cancellation circuit generates an adjustment according to a current flowing through a feedback pin of the primary controller during turning-on of a power switch of the primary side of the power converter. The compensation voltage generation circuit generates a compensation voltage of a compensation pin of the primary controller according to the adjustment, a reference voltage, and a feedback voltage of the feedback pin. The gate control signal generation circuit generates a gate control signal to the power switch to reduce an output voltage of a secondary side of the power converter according to the compensation voltage and a detection voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Leadtrend Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Hsin-Hung Lu, San-Yi Li
  • Patent number: 10498224
    Abstract: A PFWM control method for a combination power supply of boost converter and bridge type DC-DC converter is disclosed. The bridge type DC-DC converter may include half bridge, full bridge or BUCK. The method includes simultaneously controlling the boost and DC-DC converters by using PFWM. In one aspect, the bridge type DC-DC output voltage or current or power is sensed to obtain duty of PWM for driving switching components. The duty is used to adjust DC-DC output voltage or current or power. In the other aspect, the boost converter's operating parameter is sensed to obtain a frequency of PFM for driving switching components. The frequency is used to adjust boost output voltage. The above frequency and duty are combined into at least a pair of complementary PFWM driving signals, to directly or indirectly drive switching components of the combination power supply of boost converter and bridge type DC-DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: SHANGHAI TUITUO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Renhong Li, Zhuo Shen
  • Patent number: 10285226
    Abstract: The invention is related to a driving circuit that provides an operating current for at least one lighting means. The driving circuit comprises an isolated switched converter having a switch (4) controlled by a control circuit (10), wherein a primary side choke (3) is charged when the switch (4) is in its conducting state and the primary side choke (3) is discharged when the control circuit (10) controls the switch (4) in its non-conducting state. The circuit comprises first determining means (13) for monitoring the current through the primary side choke (3), and second determining means (11) for determining a switch-off time, wherein the second determining means (11) comprises an auxiliary winding (12) coupled to a secondary side choke (6) and the second determining means (11) is configured to monitor the voltage across the auxiliary winding (12) for determining a switch-off time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TRIDONIC GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Jamie Kelly, Deepak Makwana
  • Patent number: 10241322
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a switching converter includes a switch controller that generates a control signal with a switching period for controlling switching of a switch of the switching converter and setting a first interval in which a current flows in the switch, a second interval in which energy is transferred onto a storage element of the switching converter, and a third, wait, interval, at the end of the second interval. The duration of the first interval is determined based on a control voltage indicating the output voltage. A pre-distortion stage receives the control voltage and generates a pre-distorted control voltage as a function of the control voltage and a relationship between one of the first and third time intervals and the switching period, wherein the switch controller is configured to control a duration of the first interval based on the pre-distorted control voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giovanni Gritti, Claudio Adragna
  • Patent number: 9661702
    Abstract: A constant-current controller with square wave input current shaping for driving a series of light emitting diodes (LEDs) is provided. The controller may include a sample and hold circuit that samples a current sense voltage, a first multiplier circuit that multiplies an output of the sample and hold circuit, an error detector circuit that compares an output of the multiplier circuit with a reference voltage, an error amplifier that amplifies an output of the error detector circuit, a second multiplier circuit that multiplies an output of the error amplifier by a coefficient, and an output circuit that outputs a pulse-width modulated control signal based on an output of the second multiplier circuit. The coefficient may vary depending on whether the constant-current LED driver controller is used with a boost converter or a buck-boost converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Mednik, Rohit Tirumala
  • Patent number: 9167661
    Abstract: A power supply device comprises: a DC power supply section that outputs a DC voltage; a voltage conversion section that supplies a DC power to a load by ON/OFF drive of a switching element; a resistor; a control section that performs the ON/OFF drive of the switching element; and an auxiliary winding. The control section comprises: a calculation section that calculates a drive period of the switching element; a count section compares a calculation result obtained in the calculation section with an upper limit value of the drive period; and a flip-flop. When the calculation result is shorter than the upper limit value, the flip-flop sets the drive period, using the calculation result. When the calculation result is longer than the upper limit value, the flip-flop sets the drive period, using the upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunobu Hamamoto, Masafumi Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Asano
  • Patent number: 9019735
    Abstract: A power factor correction circuit may include a boost converter circuit in which a plurality of boost circuits including a boost inductor, a rectifying diode, and a boost switch are connected with each other; and a snubber circuit including a snubber inductor and a snubber switch so as to snubber the boost converter circuit. The snubber inductor may be controlled so as to be turned on before the boost inductor is turned on to apply zero voltage to the boost inductor. It is possible to reduce switching loss occurring when the boost switch is turned on and increase efficiency of an AC-DC power supply apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In Wha Jeong, Kee Ju Um, Bum Seok Suh, Kwang Soo Kim, Min Gyu Park
  • Patent number: 8988903
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for protecting a switch mode power supply (SMPS). An SMPS may include an input power connector, an input rectifier and filter, a transformer, an output rectifier and filter, and an output power connector. A control circuit may selectively generate a switching signal for driving the transformer based on a feedback signal and a protection signal generated by a protection circuit. The protection circuit may generate the protection signal with an asymmetric duty cycle oscillating between an enable state and an inhibit state. The protection signal may inhibit the control circuit from generating the switching signal when the protection signal is in the inhibit state. A detection circuit may receive the feedback signal and selectively force the protection signal to the enable state when the feedback signal indicates that an output voltage is too high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond W. Rice
  • Publication number: 20150016166
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to the field of power factor correction and specifically to generation of a reference waveform which is proportional to line voltage and is controllable in amplitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Marc TAN
  • Patent number: 8861230
    Abstract: A control circuit for controlling one or more power switches of a power converter includes a voltage control loop and a current control loop. The control circuit is configured to generate a current reference for the current control loop using the voltage control loop and an AC reference signal. The control circuit is configured to operate in at least a first mode in which a parameter of the voltage control loop is sampled only at every other zero crossing of the AC reference signal and the sampled parameter is used to generate the current reference for the current control loop. The power converter may be an AC-DC converter or a DC-AC converter (i.e., inverter). Alternatively, the voltage control loop may be sampled at every zero crossing of the AC reference signal, and/or more frequently during transient load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Astec International Limited
    Inventors: James Sigamani, Yancy Fontanilla Boncato
  • Patent number: 8829864
    Abstract: A current driver circuit includes a converter part having a switching element and converting an input voltage into an output voltage; a current detector which generates a detection signal indicative of the current of the switching element; an input voltage compensating circuit which generates a compensation signal corresponding to the input voltage; a comparator which compares the detection signal and the compensation signal against each other; and a switch driver circuit which generates a drive signal. The drive signal turns the switching element off in accordance with an output of the comparator, and turns the switching element on again after a lapse of a prescribed time from the switching element being turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Collabo Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Takuya Ishii
  • Patent number: 8797004
    Abstract: Disclosed is a PFC (power factor correction) device for shaping an input current of a power converter. The device includes means for receiving a rectified input voltage derived from an AC input voltage; load determining means for determining a load value L which represents the power drawn by a load supplied by the power converter; current shaping means for shaping the input current of the power converter to follow a reference waveform; and control means for controlling the current shaping means to operate over a conduction interval ? during each positive and negative half cycle of the AC input voltage. The duration of the conduction interval is controlled in accordance with the load value L. The current shaping means may shape the input current to follow the reference waveform which crosses zero at phase angles which substantially correspond to the start and end of the conduction interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: TDK-Lambda UK Limited
    Inventor: Andrew John Skinner
  • Patent number: 8780597
    Abstract: An AC-to-DC conversion apparatus is provided, and which includes a first switch-element, an output capacitor and a bridgeless power-factor-correction (PFC) circuit. The bridgeless PFC circuit is coupled to an AC input, and includes a first inductor, a second inductor and a bridge circuit constructed by second to fifth switch-elements. The first switch-element is connected between bridgeless PFC circuit and the output capacitor. Under such circuit configuration and suitable control manner, the common-mode interference in the provided AC-to-DC conversion apparatus is lowered and thus reducing the power loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: FSP Technology Inc., FSP-Powerland Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Xu, Qiao-Liang Chen
  • Patent number: 8760128
    Abstract: A three-phase boost-buck PFC converter including three independent single-phase boost-buck PFC circuits respectively is provided, which are capable of performing PFC on each phase of the three-phase power. The single-phase boost-buck PFC circuit is composed of two single-phase boost-buck converters independently working in a positive and a negative half cycle of an input voltage, and the two single-phase boost-buck converters are connected in parallel at an input side, and are connected in series at an output side, and each of the single-phase boost-buck converters is composed of a front-end boost circuit and a back-end buck circuit connected in cascade. Compared to the existing technique, regardless of a boost mode or a buck mode, the conduction loss is effectively reduced, and the whole system efficiency is effectively improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignees: FSP Technology Inc., FSP-Powerland Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Xu, Chuanyun Wang, Peng Mao
  • Patent number: 8736236
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a master-slave interleaved BCM PFC controller for controlling a PFC circuit with master and slave channels. In one embodiment, the PFC controller can include: a master channel controller that generates a master channel control signal and an inverted master channel control signal; a first phase shifter that provides a first phase shift for the master channel control signal, and generates a delayed opening signal therefrom; a second phase shifter that provides a second phase shift for the inverted master channel control signal, and generates a delayed shutdown signal therefrom; a slave channel controller that receives the delayed opening signal, the delayed shutdown signal, and a slave channel inductor current zero-crossing signal, and generates a slave channel control signal therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) Ltd.
    Inventors: Liangwei Sun, Qiukai Huang
  • Patent number: 8736237
    Abstract: A power supply controller includes a switching signal generator, a zero crossing detection (ZCD) circuit, first and second logic gates, and an interval generator. The switching signal generator generates a switching signal and the ZCD circuit generates a ZCD signal that pulses each zero-crossing of an ac input voltage. The first logic gate generates a first output when the ZCD signal pulses while the output of the power supply is below a threshold reference. The second logic gate generates a second output when the ZCD signal pulses while the output of the power supply is above the threshold reference. The interval generator is enabled in response to the first output and disabled in response to the second output. The interval generator allows the switching signal to pass through the interval generator to the switch when enabled and does not allow the switching signal to pass when disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond K. Orr
  • Patent number: 8716985
    Abstract: A power factor correction device comprises a power stage circuit converting input alternating current voltage into input current according to a pulse width modulation signal and outputs the input current to a load generating output voltage on the load, and sampling the input current outputting a correcting current; a current compensating circuit receiving and comparing the correcting current with a reference current signal generating a compensating current signal; a voltage compensating circuit receiving and comparing the output voltage with a reference voltage generating a compensating voltage signal; a multiplication amplifier receiving the compensating current signal and the compensating voltage signal generating an updated reference current signal by multiplying the compensating current signal with the compensating voltage signal; and a pulse width modulation converter receiving the compensating current signal and the compensating voltage signal generating the pulse width modulation signal to synchronize
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Chung-Ping Ku, Wei-Chi Huang
  • Patent number: 8699238
    Abstract: A modified power converter circuit utilizes an RLC circuit tuned to the frequency of any instability in the power converter circuit in order to remove the instability in the circuit output. In one embodiment, a pair of RLC circuits are connected in parallel across the input capacitor and output capacitor of the power circuit topology, respectively. The capacitor and inductor of each RLC circuit act as filters having a period with the same value as the instability created by interaction of the respective input or output capacitor with the isolation transformer inductance and expose the resistor within each the RLC circuit to only the frequency of instability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Sedona International, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Tong, Paul Clouser
  • Patent number: 8650411
    Abstract: Energy management of an electronic device using multiple electric power sources. The electric power sources may include a parasitic electric power source, a rechargeable electric power source, an intermittent electric power source, and a continuous electric power source. The electronic device further may include a power supply for receiving the electric power from the source(s) and supplying electric power to the various components of the electronic device that require power. The electronic device may include a source selector for controlling which power source supplies electric power to the power supply. Energy management of the electronic device may be configured to use a permanently exhaustible power source such as a battery only when other power sources are unavailable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Laurence V. Feight, Ryan W. Swartzendruber
  • Patent number: 8630101
    Abstract: A power converter for delivering power to a load at a regulated voltage 11 includes a regulating stage receiving an unregulated supply 10 and having a main transformer 18. Switches 16a and 16b are arranged in a half-bridge connect the transformer primary 17 to the unregulated supply 10 to drive the load via a rectifying stage connected to the transformer secondary 19. The on-time of the switch is controlled by a controller 14 to effect the regulation over a range of values of the unregulated supply. An auxiliary transformer 103 has a secondary winding 104 connected in series with the main transformer primary 17 and a primary winding that is selectively driven via a switch 106. A comparator 107 detects a low voltage event within the regulating stage, such as a drop in the intermediate voltage at 10. The primary winding 105 of the auxiliary transformer 103 is driven during the low voltage event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Texas InstrumentsIncorporated
    Inventors: George Young, Colin Gillmor
  • Patent number: 8619440
    Abstract: Control methods and controller thereof for a power supply including a power switch and an inductor. The power switch is turned on to increase the inductor current through the inductor, which is sensed to generate a current-sense signal. The current-sense signal is added up with an adjusting signal to generate a summation signal. The power switch is turned off if the summation signal is higher than a peak limit. The turn-on time of the power switch is detected to update the adjusting signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Leadtrend Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chien Huang, Ren-Yi Chen, Wen-Chung Yeh
  • Patent number: 8610409
    Abstract: An example controller for use in a power supply includes a zero crossing detection (ZCD) circuit, a threshold detection circuit, and a punctuated switching control circuit. The ZCD circuit generates a ZCD signal that pulses each zero-crossing of an ac input voltage. The threshold detection circuit receives and compares an output of the power supply with a threshold reference. The punctuated switching control circuit generates a switching signal to control a switch to regulate the output of the power supply. The switching signal is generated to have intervals of switching and intervals of no switching, where each interval of switching begins responsive to the output of the power supply dropping below the threshold reference and each interval of no switching begins responsive to the output rising above the threshold reference. Each interval has a beginning that is synchronized with a pulse of the ZCD signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond K. Orr
  • Patent number: 8570005
    Abstract: A device for converting power from a floating source of DC power to a dual direct current (DC) output, the device includes: positive and negative input terminals connectible to the floating source of DC power; and positive and negative, and ground output terminals connectible to the dual DC output that may feed an inverter. The inverter may be either a two or three level inverter. A charge storage device may be connected in parallel to, and charged from, the positive and negative input terminals. A resonant circuit may be also connected between the charge storage device and the dual DC output. The resonant circuit may include an inductor connected in series with a capacitor. The charge storage device may discharge through the resonant circuit by switching through to either the negative output terminal or the positive output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Vadim Lubomirsky
  • Patent number: 8542511
    Abstract: A single-phase voltage source AC/DC converter according to the present invention generates a second axis voltage command from difference between a DC voltage detection value at a DC terminal and a DC voltage command value and controls a DC voltage by increasing and decreasing active power with the second axis voltage command. For example, the voltage at the DC terminal is increased by decreasing active power when the DC voltage detection value at the DC terminal is lower than the DC voltage command, while the DC voltage detection value at the DC terminal is decreased by increasing the active power when the DC voltage detection value at the DC terminal is higher than the DC voltage command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Origin Electric Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masaaki Ohshima, Shuichi Ushiki, Jinbin Zhao
  • Patent number: 8536843
    Abstract: This invention offers a power supply circuit that is capable of improving a power factor as well as reducing a ripple current of an input/output of the power supply circuit due to switching of a switching device. The power supply circuit is provided with a first power supply circuit including first and second switching devices, a second power supply circuit including third and fourth switching devices and a switching control circuit. The switching control circuit controls the switching devices so that the first switching device and the third switching device are turned on and off at timings different from each other when an alternating current voltage from an alternating current power supply is positive, and the second switching device and the fourth switching device are turned on and off at timings different from each other when the alternating current voltage is negative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: ON Semiconductor Trading, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukio Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8513926
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power factor correction circuit and a driving method thereof. The power factor correction circuit receives an input voltage and maintains an output voltage at a constant level by controlling switching operation of a power switch connected to an inductor that supplies the output voltage. In this case, the power factor correction circuit controls switching operation of the power switch by differentiating a control structure for an output voltage respectively according to a stabilization period during which the output voltage is constantly maintained and a start-up period during which the output voltage is increased before being stabilized. In addition, the power factor correction circuit controls the switching operation of the power switch according to the control structure of the start-up period during a predetermined correction delay period from a time that the stabilization period starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Bae Park, Sang Cheol Moon, Byoung Heon Kim
  • Publication number: 20130194845
    Abstract: A control device of a switching converter controls the closing and opening of a switch of the converter that regulates the operation of an inductor. The control device includes a ramp voltage generator, a switch control circuit configured to close the switch based on a comparison of the ramp voltage with a first signal and a generator control circuit configured to control the ramp voltage generator based on a value of a second signal representative of a current flowing through the inductor of the converter, in comparison with the value of a third signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicants: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L., DORA S.P.A.
    Inventors: DORA S.P.A., STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
  • Patent number: 8493754
    Abstract: A converter can include at least two power stages. Each power stage can include a power factor control circuit. An active shared control circuit for a three power stage system receives at least three sense signals. Each of the sense signals is associated with a parameter of the respective one of the power stages. The control circuit provides at least three control signals. Each of the control signals being associated with the respective power factor control circuit of the power stages. The active share control circuit balances the current supplied by the power stages via the control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren J. Wambsganss, Brent C. Peterson
  • Patent number: 8482944
    Abstract: An inrush protection circuit is provided for an electronic ballast for powering HID lamps. A first resistor is positioned along a low potential side of the circuit and a switching element coupled in parallel with the first resistor. Second and third resistors are coupled in series and effective to receive DC input power from a DC source, with a first node between the second and third resistors further coupled to the gate of the switching element. A capacitor is coupled in parallel with the third resistor to provide a smoothed DC voltage to the gate of the switching element. A discharging circuit includes a diode and a fourth resistor coupled in series between the first node and the high potential side of the circuit, and is arranged to conduct discharging current from the capacitor until the voltage across the capacitor discharges below a predetermined voltage after the DC input power is removed from the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenichi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8437157
    Abstract: Power line current fed power supplies producing stable load currents and related methods are described. The power supplies may include a current transformer coupled to an inductive network. In some embodiments, the current transformer operates in saturation mode. In some embodiments, a substantially constant DC current is generated having a magnitude that remains substantially constant despite variations of the magnitude of AC current in the power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Marmon Utility, LLC
    Inventors: Felix I. Alexandrov, Michael L. Williams
  • Patent number: 8379420
    Abstract: An example controller for use in a power supply includes a zero crossing detection (ZCD) circuit and a punctuated switching control circuit. The ZCD circuit is coupled to generate a ZCD signal in response to a zero-crossing of an ac input voltage of the power supply. The punctuated switching control circuit is coupled to the ZCD circuit to generate a switching signal to control a switch to regulate an output of the power supply. The punctuated switching control circuit generates the switching signal having an interval of switching and an interval of no switching in response to the ZCD signal, where the interval of switching has a beginning that is synchronized with the zero crossing of the ac input voltage and where the interval of no switching has a beginning that is synchronized with another zero crossing of the ac input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond K. Orr
  • Patent number: 8375566
    Abstract: Methods of providing arc resistant switchgear enclosures for dry-type transformers are provided. The enclosures have one or more arc-resistant features, including arc channels, arc fault dampers, and arc fault plenums. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises providing a base structure with a dry-type transformer seated thereon, providing walls and a roof, wherein at least the front wall contains at least one longitudinal seam covered by an arc channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Ballard, Nathan T. Sigman, Edgar A. Wimmer, Jr., Rafael Gutierrez, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8355268
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic driver circuit and a corresponding method for supplying an electronic load (LED1, LED2, . . . , LEDn) with a DC current or voltage (Vload). To achieve a high efficiency and a low thermal stress on the electronic load, the proposed driver circuit comprises: —an AC input (L, N) for receiving an AC input voltage (Vmains), two buck-boost converters (10, 20) for alternately operating as rectifier for rectifying said AC input voltage (Vmains) and as DC/DC converter for DC conversion of said rectified AC input voltage, a control unit (11, 12, 13, 21, 22, 23; 40) for monitoring the zero crossing of the AC input voltage (Vmains) and for controlling said two buck-boost converters (10, 20) to change their modes of operation upon detection of a zero crossing, such that during all periods one buck-boost converter operates as rectifier and the other buck-boost converter operates as DC/DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Ulrich Boeke
  • Patent number: 8350549
    Abstract: A converter utilizing synchronous rectification comprises a first switch, a second switch connected in series to the first switch, and a gate drive circuit controlling each switch to switch to on/off-state using pulse-width modulation. Each switch includes a channel region that is conductive in both forward and reverse directions in on-state and is not conductive in the forward direction in off-state, and a unipolar diode region conductive only in the reverse direction. The gate drive circuit synchronizes output timing for signal with which the first switch switches to on-state with output timing for signal with which the second switch switches to off-state, and synchronizes output timing for signal with which the first switch switches to off-state with output timing for signal with which the second switch switches to on-state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Kitabatake
  • Patent number: 8325463
    Abstract: One embodiment of an improved energy conversion and storage system uses pre-charge-enabled energy-converting variable capacitors that can be substantially encapsulated in asphalt roads or streets. Another embodiment can be substantially encapsulated in concrete walls or rooftops. Radiant solar energy does work on temperature-sensitive capacitors. Temperature change, in one embodiment, modifies the capacitance of the previously pre-charged capacitor, thereby converting solar energy into increased electrical energy available for practical use, without needing parabolic reflectors and without needing any moving parts. Other embodiments are described and shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: William Mehrkam Peterson
  • Patent number: 8279646
    Abstract: A regulated power supply apparatus and method is provided. A converter circuit is configured to generate a regulated voltage signal from an unregulated voltage signal. A power sequencing circuit includes an unregulated voltage source input terminal and is configured for coupling an unregulated voltage signal to an unregulated voltage signal input terminal of the converter circuit. The power sequencing circuit includes an enable output coupled to the enable signal input terminal and includes a power limiting circuit and a trigger circuit. The power limiting circuit includes a first cascade of discrete analog components as controls for a first switching element and the trigger circuit includes a second cascade of discrete analog components as controls for a second switching element. The first cascade is configured as a charge control circuit for controlling a rate of charge of a first filter network and includes a zener diode coupled in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventor: James R. Hamstra
  • Patent number: 8278927
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a multilevel inverter for generating an AC output voltage, having at least seven potential levels, from a DC voltage source such that the generated AC voltage produces a current in a gradient coil of a magnetic resonance imaging system is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Perumal Venkatesa
  • Patent number: 8130519
    Abstract: A power supply circuit for powering a load at constant current has a rectifier stage for receiving an AC voltage input and for producing a first substantially DC voltage. A first capacitor is attached to the load. A charge-pump is attached to an output of the rectifier stage and to the load for providing power factor correction and for converting the first substantially DC voltage to a second substantially DC voltage at the first capacitor. The charge pump is prevented from conducting energy back into the output of the rectifier stage. The charge pump delivers energy to a charge pump output, the energy being delivered directly instead of being stored. A converter stage is attached to the load and the first capacitor. The converter stage is used for converting voltages at the first capacitor and the charge pump to an output DC current. The converter stage has a switch for periodically connecting a first series-coupled circuit of the charge pump to the output of the rectifier stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Supertex, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Mednik, Rohit Tirumala, Marc Tan
  • Patent number: 8059433
    Abstract: An exemplary power circuit includes a first rectifying and filtering circuit, a power factor correction (PFC) circuit, an inverter circuit and a second rectifying and filtering circuit. The first rectifying and filtering circuit receives an AC voltage and transforms the AC voltage to a first DC voltage. The power factor correction circuit includes a first transformer, a first diode and a first storage capacitor. The inverter circuit includes a transistor and a second transformer. A primary winding of the second transformer is grounded via the transistor and receives the first DC voltage via a primary winding of the first transformer, the first diode and a secondary winding of the first transformer in series when the transistor is switched on. The second rectifying and filtering circuit connected to a secondary winding of the second transformer for providing a second DC voltage to a load circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignees: Innocom Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Chimei Innolux Corporation
    Inventors: Jie-Jian Zheng, Tong Zhou
  • Patent number: 7816895
    Abstract: A power supplying device includes: an output transformer including first and second output coils for generating first intermediate voltages from an input voltage; a voltage adjusting transformer including primary and secondary coils; a first rectifying-and-filtering circuit connected to the first output coil for generating a first output voltage from the first intermediate voltage obtained from the first output coil; the primary coil being connected in parallel to the first output coil, the secondary coil being connected in series to the second output coil and being coupled to the primary coil for generating a second intermediate voltage from the first intermediate voltage obtained from the first output coil; and a second rectifying-and-filtering circuit connected to the secondary coil for generating a second output voltage from a combined voltage combining the second intermediate voltage obtained from the secondary coil with the first intermediate voltage obtained from the second output coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yi-Chou Hsiao, Wen-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 7778002
    Abstract: An ignition apparatus includes a transformer having a central core, a primary winding disposed thereabout, a secondary winding disposed outwardly of the primary winding, and an outer core or shield disposed outwardly of the secondary winding. The central and outer cores and the primary and secondary windings define a magnetic circuit through which magnetic flux flows during various phases of operation. An end-of-spark natural ringing of the secondary voltage is suppressed and limited by a control winding disposed in relation in the magnetic circuit. The control winding has a pair of terminals across which is connected a diode. The diode is oriented so that during a spark event, it is reverse biased but after the spark event it becomes forward-biased when the secondary voltage is positive so as to selectively facilitate dissipation of any residual electrical charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert A. Skinner, Mark A. Paul, Douglas L. Sprunger
  • Publication number: 20100118572
    Abstract: A power supply circuit for powering a load at constant current has a rectifier stage for receiving an AC voltage input and for producing a first substantially DC voltage. A first capacitor is attached to the load. A charge-pump is attached to an output of the rectifier stage and to the load for providing power factor correction and for converting the first substantially DC voltage to a second substantially DC voltage at the first capacitor. The charge pump is prevented from conducting energy back into the output of the rectifier stage. The charge pump delivers energy to a charge pump output, the energy being delivered directly instead of being stored. A converter stage is attached to the load and the first capacitor. The converter stage is used for converting voltages at the first capacitor and the charge pump to an output DC current. The converter stage has a switch for periodically connecting a first series-coupled circuit of the charge pump to the output of the rectifier stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Alexander Mednik, Rohit Tirumala, Marc Tan
  • Patent number: 7660136
    Abstract: An apparatus for synchronous rectifying of a soft switching power converter is provided. An integrated synchronous rectifier includes a power transistor coupled between a transformer and the output of the soft switching power converter, and a controller receiving a pulse signal to switch on/off the power transistor. A switching control circuit generates the pulse signal in response to a current signal, and generates drive signals to switch the transformer in response to a switching signal. An isolation device is coupled to transfer the pulse signal between the switching control circuit and the integrated synchronous rectifier. The switching signal is used for regulating the power converter and the current signal is correlated to the switching current of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: System General Corporation
    Inventor: Ta-Yung Yang
  • Publication number: 20100002480
    Abstract: A self-oscillating flyback converter includes a controller integrated circuit housed in a 3-pin package. A switch control terminal is coupled to the base of an inductor switch that controls the current through a primary inductor of the converter. The controller IC adjusts the on time of the switch such that output current remains constant in constant current mode and output voltage remains constant in constant voltage mode. A signal received on a switch control terminal turns the switch off and provides an indication of the output current when the switch is on. A signal received on a feedback terminal powers the controller IC and provides an indication of the output voltage when the switch is off. The controller IC is grounded through a ground terminal. The flyback converter transitions from critical conduction mode to discontinuous conduction mode at light loads to prevent its efficiency from deteriorating at high switching frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Steven Huynh, Jian Yang, Mingliang Chen
  • Publication number: 20090175061
    Abstract: A control system is provided for controlling varying alternating current (AC) to a load with varying resistance and inductance. A plurality of nested control loops may employ cascaded proportional controllers to provide desired control of a pulse width modulation (PWM) block to control an inverter that supplies AC power to the load. An AC feedback signal may be supplied to each proportional controller. An AC feed forward signal may be added to outputs of the proportional controllers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Milan Rajne, Sukumar De, Ram Krishan Maheshwari
  • Patent number: 7471524
    Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter having a transformer with a primary and a tapped secondary, two serial output filter inductors connected parallel with the secondary, a center output filter inductor connected between the secondary tap and serial output inductors, two serially connected switches connected in parallel with the two output inductors for receiving a signal to control operation of the switches during steady state and an output load connected between the serial connection of the serial output inductors and serial switching devices. The transformer primary side connected with double-ended primary-side topologies. The transformer secondary and output filers configured to form a current tripler rectifier, current quadtupler rectifier or current N-tuper rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Issa Batarseh, Liangbin Yao
  • Publication number: 20080285319
    Abstract: Common household power transformers (e.g., “wall warts”) typically exhibit poor power factors, which, in turn, cause energy losses to power grids and adversely affect current waveforms in the power grids. AC-to-DC power conversion with good power factor is achieved using a transformer, power switch coupled in series with the primary side of the transformer, and switching controller. The switching controller measures current through the primary side of the transformer, via a current sense element, and controls the power switch to enable and disable current through the primary side of the transformer. The switching controller generates a power switch control signal at a frequency with a duty factor that changes non-linearly as a function of an instantaneous current through the primary side of the transformer. As a result, a power factor of greater than 90% or even 95% can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventor: Cecil W. Deisch
  • Patent number: 7283378
    Abstract: An improved inductor for a DC link that has an auxiliary winding for inducing an opposing magnetic field in a magnetically permeable core with an auxiliary DC current that opposes a magnetic field that a primary winding for the inductor induces along a magnetic path in the core with a DC component of current to reduce magnetic saturation of the inductor due to the DC component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: James H. Clemmons