With Transistor Control Means In The Line Circuit Patents (Class 363/97)
  • Patent number: 9007794
    Abstract: A power supply control system for a power supply having a first half-bridge leg and a second half-bridge leg. In the control system, a first plurality of drive signals are configured to operate a half-bridge as a forward leg while a second plurality of drive signals are configured to operate a half-bridge as a backward leg. A switch element is intermediate the first and second plurality of drive signals and the first and the second half-bridge legs, the switch element being adapted to operate the first half-bridge as a forward leg and the second half-bridge as a backward leg in a first operating mode, the switch element being further adapted to operate the first half-bridge as a backward leg and the second half-bridge as a forward leg in a second operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Solidstate Controls, LLC
    Inventors: Amuliu Bogdan Proca, Philip Irwin
  • Patent number: 9001542
    Abstract: A current-source power converting apparatus according to an embodiment includes an inverter and a drive controller. The inverter includes, in every output phase, a plurality of switching elements that are serially connected between the positive pole and the negative pole of a direct current source. The drive controller controls the inverter in accordance with a current command in an output mode of controlling the switching elements of different output phases for supplying current between the output phases and a short circuit mode of controlling the switching elements of the same output phase. An output phase in which the drive controller executes the short circuit mode is an output phase whose phase voltage or phase current has the minimum absolute value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Yushi Takatsuka, Katsutoshi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 9001541
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a switch control circuit, a power factor corrector including the same, and a driving method thereof. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a turn-on time of a power switch is controlled according to a zero crossing voltage to sense a voltage of both terminals of the power switch, and a turn-off time of the power switch is controlled according to a feedback voltage corresponding to the output voltage. At this time, the switching frequency of the power switch is sensed by the zero crossing voltage and the switching frequency is restricted by a predetermined threshold frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Gye-Hyun Cho, Hyun-Chul Eom, Seunguk Yang, Young-Bae Park
  • Publication number: 20150085543
    Abstract: An inverter assembly includes an inverter and a load sensor. The inverter is configured to provide electrical power to a load. The load sensor has a first amplifier for sensing current of the load when the load is a low power load connected to the inverter and a second amplifier for sensing the load current when the load is a high power load connected to the inverter. Vehicle functionality such as start/stop functionality may be disabled while the load sensor senses that the load is connected to the inverter whereas the start/stop functionality may be disabled while the load sensor senses that the load is not connected to the inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Krzysztof Klesyk
  • Patent number: 8988906
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes an inverter circuit, a system voltage measurement unit measuring a system voltage, a voltage drop detector detecting a voltage drop of a power system, based on the system voltage, a direct current power measurement unit measuring a direct current power to be input into the inverter circuit, an alternating current command value calculator calculating an alternating current command value to control an alternating current output from the inverter circuit, based on the direct current power and the system voltage, and a current limiter that decrease a current limit value to limit the alternating current command value, when the voltage drop is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Ruben Alexis Inzunza Figueroa, Eiichi Ikawa, Takeshi Sumiya
  • Patent number: 8988899
    Abstract: A switching regulator device including a power conversion transformer for converting an input voltage from a power source at a primary side to a predetermined output voltage and outputting the output voltage to a load circuit connected to a secondary side, a power converter circuit that has a primary-side circuit and a secondary-side circuit insulated from each other, and transmits a load driving control signal input to the primary-side circuit through the secondary-side circuit to the load circuit, and a feedback circuit that performs feedback control on the output voltage on the basis of feedback current generated at the primary side of the power conversion transformer, a part of the feedback current of the feedback circuit being consumed in synchronism with the load driving control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sukeyuki Shinotsuka, Claudio Yudi Inaba
  • Patent number: 8981589
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for regulating the state of charge of a battery. An exemplary electrical system includes a fuel cell coupled to a bus and a battery coupled to the bus via a switching arrangement coupled to a capacitor. An exemplary method for operating the electrical system involves operating the switching arrangement such that a voltage of the battery is substantially equal to a voltage of the fuel cell when a state of charge of the battery is greater than a lower threshold value and less than an upper threshold value, and operating the switching arrangement to couple the capacitor electrically in series between the battery and the bus when the state of charge of the battery is not between the lower threshold value and the upper threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Sebastian Lienkamp, Peter Kilian, Stephen Raiser
  • Patent number: 8976559
    Abstract: Disclosure includes control methods and power controllers with load compensation adapted for a power supply powering a load. A disclosed power controller comprises a converter and a control circuit. The converter converts the load signal at a first node to output a load-compensation signal at a second node. The load signal corresponds to an output power provided from the power supply to the load, and the converter includes a low-pass filter coupled between the first and second nodes. The control circuit is coupled to an inductive device via a feedback node, for controlling the output power to make a cross voltage of the inductive device approach a target voltage, based on a feedback voltage at the feedback node. The higher the load-compensation signal the higher the target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Leadtrend Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Lun Shen, Ren-Yi Chen, Yu-Yun Huang
  • Patent number: 8976560
    Abstract: An inverter control device includes a voltage detector, a target value calculation section, an inverter control section, an abnormality detector and a voltage clamp unit. The target value calculation section calculates a target value of an alternating current output from the inverter based on a detection voltage. The inverter control section controls a switching element of the inverter based on the detection voltage and the target value. The abnormality detector detects an abnormality in the voltage detector. The voltage clamp unit holds the detection voltage, for calculating the target value, at a first assured voltage determined based on a lower limit area of an assured voltage range that assures an operation of the inverter: and holds the detection voltage, for generating the control signal, at a second (higher) assured voltage, upon detecting the abnormality in the voltage detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Nakamura, Hiromichi Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20150062988
    Abstract: A power inverter combination includes a half-bridge power inverter including first and second semiconductor power switches receiving input power having an intermediate node therebetween providing an inductor current through an inductor. A controller includes input comparison circuitry receiving the inductor current having outputs coupled to first inputs of pulse width modulation (PWM) generation circuitry, and a predictive control block having an output coupled to second inputs of the PWM generation circuitry. The predictive control block is coupled to receive a measure of Vin and an output voltage at a grid connection point. A memory stores a current control algorithm configured for resetting a PWM period for a switching signal applied to control nodes of the first and second power switch whenever the inductor current reaches a predetermined upper limit or a predetermined lower limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: AHMADREZA AMIRAHMADI, HAIBING HU, ISSA BATARSEH
  • Patent number: 8971063
    Abstract: A grid tied inverter connectable to an electricity grid, the grid tied inverter comprising a DC to DC current fed push-pull converter operable to generate a current waveform from a DC voltage source, the current waveform being substantially synchronised to the electricity grid, and a transformer having a first side connected to the DC to DC current fed converter and a second side having an output line connectable to the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Alexander Charles Knill
  • Publication number: 20150049519
    Abstract: An electrical power converter includes a circuit with a single switching transistor that is electrically connected to a direct current power source, a first inductor-capacitor (LC) circuit electrically connected to the single switching transistor, a second LC circuit electrically connected to the first LC circuit and configured to provide an output signal to a load. A controller is operatively connected to the single switching transistor. The controller identifies an error between the output signal of the circuit and a reference signal and adjusts a duty cycle of a pulse width modulation (PWM) switching signal to switch the single switching transistor at a predetermined frequency with the adjusted duty cycle to reduce the identified error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventor: Afshin Izadian
  • Patent number: 8947894
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a flyback converter are presented. The flyback converter includes a transformer, a semiconductor switch coupled to a primary winding of the transformer, a current measurement circuit coupled to the semiconductor switch, a diode coupled in series to a secondary winding of the transformer, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a feedback voltage, a reference signal, and the measured primary current and generate a control signal for the semiconductor switch dependent on the feedback voltage, the reference signal, and the measured primary current. The semiconductor switch switches on and off cyclically in CCM operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Guoxing Zhang, Mingping Mao
  • Patent number: 8947896
    Abstract: A switch bias system is provided that includes a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) switch comprising a base, emitter, and collector; a current sense circuit coupled to the emitter, the current sense circuit configured to sense current flow through the emitter of the BJT switch; and a proportional bias circuit configured to generate a bias current to the base of the BJT switch, the bias current set to a fixed proportion of the sensed current flow through the emitter of the BJT switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Alan Dunipace
  • Publication number: 20150028794
    Abstract: A high efficiency multi-mode power conversion device has DC-boost receiving input power from a DC (e.g., solar) source, a power inverter and an AC grid supply. Power conversion switches are arranged in a stacked configuration with controllable inner and outer switches conveying: in an non-inverting switched mode, an AC voltage from power from the AC grid supply; in an inverting outer switched mode, an AC voltage from power from the AC grid supply; and in an inverting outer and inner switched mode, an inverted voltage from power from the DC-boost circuit. At least one input switch and output to the AC grid supply is coupled to an output of the power inverter and a resonant circuit is coupled to the input switch. A rectifier and/or high voltage AC output tap is coupled to the resonant circuit and a controller is coupled to the power conversion switches and the input switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Rhombus Energy Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick Flett
  • Patent number: 8934276
    Abstract: A method for balancing a voltage of an inverter determines an expected voltage of a capacitor based on a voltage of the capacitor at a start of a switching cycle and determines a duty cycle minimizing a value of an objective function representing a difference between the expected voltage of the capacitor and a desired voltage of the capacitor. A switching sequence controlling the inverter is selected based on the duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Koon Hoo Teo, Yi Deng
  • Patent number: 8934266
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power converter is provided. The method includes the following steps. A switching signal coupled to switch a transformer for regulating the output of the power converter is generated in accordance with a feedback signal and a ramp signal. The ramp signal is generated in accordance with a switching current signal and a slope compensation signal. The slope compensation signal is generated in response to an input voltage signal. The input voltage signal is generated in response to the level of the input voltage of the power converter. The feedback signal is generated in accordance with the output of the power converter, and the switching current signal is correlated with a switching current of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Li Lin, Yue-Hong Tang
  • Publication number: 20150009733
    Abstract: A power supply system that comprises an electrical storage device; a power conversion circuit configured to convert a power from the electrical storage device into converted DC power; and a power control unit configured to receive the converted DC power and output AC power. The converted DC power is controlled such that the output AC power is a predetermined AC power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kazutaka Takaki
  • Publication number: 20150009732
    Abstract: An inverter may include at least two switching means for feeding a series oscillator circuit from a source, wherein a control device of the inverter controls the switching means in such a way that: in a first mode A, the inverter feeds the oscillator circuit via the switching means from the source; and in a second mode B, the oscillator circuit is decoupled from the source, wherein the control device switches back and forth between the two modes A and B to set a reference current in the oscillator circuit or a reference voltage on the oscillator circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Faical Turki, Thomas Vosshagen
  • Patent number: 8928181
    Abstract: In a method and in an apparatus for transmission of energy and data, with a primary side, on which an amplifier is arranged, with a secondary side, on which a data source, e.g. a measuring sensor, is arranged, and with a plug-together assembly inductively coupling, galvanically completely isolated, the primary side and the secondary side, to minimize power losses and disturbing influences of fluctuating parameters, power from the plug-together assembly and from the amplifier, preferably a Class-E-amplifier, is controlled to a predeterminable, desired value. For this, a microcontroller taps the primary voltage on the primary winding and produces for the amplifier a controlled operating voltage as well as a controlled operating frequency, in order to keep the working point of the amplifier always in the optimal region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft fur Mess- und Regeltechnik mbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Buschnakowski, Torsten Pechstein, Sven-Matthias Scheibe
  • Patent number: 8922050
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power supply device for at least one electrical machine, having at least one storage device for electric energy (battery) and an inverter equipped with at least one reactor, the inverter having dual functions, being provided for charging (charge operation) the storage device from an in particular stationary power supply system, and for supplying the electrical machine with an alternating current in driving operation. A setpoint charge power is specified for the charge operation, and the reactor current is set accordingly by the inverter. Furthermore, a power supply device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Jochen Fassnacht
  • Publication number: 20140369099
    Abstract: A power converter includes a body including a switching element; a plurality of semiconductor modules each having a control terminal projected from the body; a circuit board controlling the switching element; a cooler that cools the semiconductor modules; a smoothing capacitor smoothing direct-current voltage applied to the switching element; a discharge resistor disposed on a surface of the circuit board and electrically connected parallel to the smoothing capacitor. The semiconductor modules are mounted on the circuit board with the control terminal, the discharge resistor includes a first connecting portion at one end of the discharge resistor in a longitudinal direction thereof and a second connecting portion at an other end of the discharge resistor in the longitudinal direction, and the first connecting portion is connected to the control terminal via a wiring pattern provided on the surface of the circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Yousuke ASAKO
  • Publication number: 20140367563
    Abstract: An asymmetric waveform pulse generator comprises a metallic oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) bridge circuit, which includes a plurality of MOSFETs for inverting high voltage DC voltage to asymmetric waveform pulses. The asymmetric waveform pulse generator further comprises a pulse-width modulating (PWM) circuit for generating PWM signals, and a plurality of isolation driving circuits corresponding to the plurality of MOSFETs, for controlling switching on/off of the plurality of MOSFETs in the MOSFET bridge circuit based on the PWM signals generated by the PWM circuit. Each of the isolation driving circuits comprises an isolation transformer for isolating the MOSFET bridge circuit from the PWM circuit. A FAIMS ion detector employing the asymmetric waveform pulse generator is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Qishui Zhong, Hui Li, Dajin Chen, Baihua Li
  • Publication number: 20140368145
    Abstract: In a three phase inverter device, a smoothing capacitor, a bus bar at a positive electrode side and a bus bar at a negative electrode side are formed on a first surface of the circuit substrate. Electronic s components containing a microcomputer, etc., a differential wiring pattern, a single wiring pattern and a current wiring pattern are formed on a second surface of the circuit substrate. A ground pattern is formed in the inside of the circuit substrate in order to separate the electronic components, the differential wiring pattern, the single wiring pattern and the current wiring pattern from the smoothing capacitor, the bus bar at the positive electrode side and the bus bar at the negative electrode side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Jyunji Miyachi, Tsuneo Maebara, Yousuke Asako
  • Publication number: 20140362623
    Abstract: The invention is a control method and a control device for determining components of a control voltage of an inverter adapted for feeding power to a grid, in the course of which a vector direction (?*) of a voltage of the grid is determined, on the basis of active power and reactive power of the grid, current reference signal components (id,ref, iq,ref) are determined, Park vector components (ix, iy) are generated by Park transformation from components (i1, i2, i3) associated with phases of a current of the inverter, the current reference signal components (id,ref, iq ref) are transformed into the transformed current reference signal components (ix,ref, iy,ref) on the basis of the vector direction (?*), a first error signal is generated by leading the first component (ix) of the Park vector and the first component (ix ref) of the transformed current reference signal to a first subtracting unit (77), and a second error signal is generated by leading the second component (iy) of the Park vector and the second c
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Gábor FARKAS
  • Patent number: 8908390
    Abstract: A switching converter system includes a feedback path with at least one comparator arranged to provide a digital error signal in response to a comparison of an output voltage to a reference voltage. A first isolation channel can be configured to isolatably transport a clock signal to digitally gate the error signal, and a second isolation channel can be configured to isolatably transport the error signal. A controller can be coupled to the first and second isolation channels and configured to control a duty cycle in response to the error signal. A transformer is preferably inserted into the first and second isolation channels to enhance isolation and the first and second isolation channels respectively can include first and second digital gates that each have an output port coupled to an input port of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernhard Strzalkowski
  • Patent number: 8907647
    Abstract: There is provided a control device which controls a transformer in accordance with a total loss imposed on a load driving system including the transformer and a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8908396
    Abstract: A control circuit of the power converter according to the present invention comprises a feedback circuit, an output circuit and an adaptive clamping circuit. The feedback circuit generates a feedback signal in accordance with an output of the power converter. The output circuit generates a switching signal in accordance with the feedback signal for regulating the output of the power converter. The adaptive clamping circuit limits the level of the feedback signal under a first level for a first load condition. The feedback circuit determines a slew rate of the feedback signal for increasing the level of the feedback signal from the first level to a second level. The adaptive clamping circuit is disabled and the level of the feedback signal can be increased to the second level for a second load condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Li Lin, Yue-Hong Tang, Jung-Sheng Chen
  • Publication number: 20140355317
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for enhancing power output, the apparatus comprising: a thyristor having an anode, a cathode and a gate; and a controller connected to the gate, the cathode and the anode wherein, when the anode is provided with a voltage, the controller is configured for activating the thyristor to allow current flow between the anode and the gate in a first instance and is configured for activating the thyristor to allow current flow between the gate and the cathode in a second instance so as to provide the cathode with an enhanced voltage, the enhanced voltage being an enhancement of the voltage at the anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: DYTECH ENERGY PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: Sabreesh Tenneti
  • Publication number: 20140355318
    Abstract: A method of controlling a frequency converter comprises steps for measuring phase currents flowing in a three-phase supply network, for generating a first modulation space vector that comprises an angle that is synchronous to a supply voltage of the three-phase supply network and a determined modulation index as an amplitude, for generating a third modulation space vector depending on the first modulation space vector and the measured phase currents and for modulating the frequency converter according to the third modulation space vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: Jens Onno Krah
  • Patent number: 8902619
    Abstract: A power supply current monitor comprising a processor operable to monitor a pulsed voltage signal generated by a power supply and generate an alert when a pulse width for the pulsed voltage signal is outside an expected pulse width range; wherein the pulse width is dependent on an amount of current being supplied to a load by the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Grek
  • Patent number: 8901466
    Abstract: The invention may enable provision of a method for facilitating operation of an induction heating device, and a pot detection method for an induction heating device and to an induction heating device. The induction heating device is characterized by determining a low point of a resonant cycle on a linking node of a parallel resonant circuit and a switching element, determining a low point voltage at the low point of the resonant cycle and switching on the switching element at the low point of the resonant cycle for a cycle duration that is determined depending on the low point voltage in such a manner that a low point voltage does not exceed a predetermined maximum value in the following resonant cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: E.G.O. Elektro-Geraetebau GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Schilling, Ralf Dorwarth, Martin Volk, Tobias Schönherr
  • Patent number: 8891255
    Abstract: In a switching power supply apparatus, a resonant capacitor and an inductor are connected in series between a primary winding in a transformer and a second switching element. A first rectifier smoothing circuit including a diode and a capacitor rectifies and smoothes a voltage occurring at a first secondary winding in the transformer during an on period of a first switching element to extract a first output voltage. A second rectifier smoothing circuit including a diode and a capacitor rectifies and smoothes a voltage occurring at a second secondary winding in the transformer during an on period of the second switching element to extract a second output voltage. A control circuit controls an on time of the first switching element and an on time of the second switching element on the basis of the first output voltage and the second output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Uno
  • Patent number: 8891268
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to a switching control system for controlling an isolated power supply. The system includes a pulse-width modulation (PWM) switching controller configured to generate at least one primary switching signal having a first duty-cycle for activating at least one primary-side switch of the isolated power supply. A synchronous rectifier (SR) switching controller is configured to generate at least one SR switching signal having a second duty-cycle for activating at least one SR switch of the isolated power supply to conduct an output current through a secondary winding of a transformer and an output inductor to generate an output voltage, the second duty-cycle being independent of the first duty-cycle in a soft-start mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Lin Sheng, Xiaojun Xu
  • Publication number: 20140334206
    Abstract: The PWM modulating method comprises the following steps: detecting actual voltage values (Vc1, Vc1, Vc2, Vc3 . . . ) across bulk capacitors (C1, C2, C3) provided across input terminals of said inverter; calculating a duty cycle vector (D) based on electric parameters defining a rotating vector (V0) representing an output electric quantity required from the inverter; and modifying said duty cycle vector (D) as a function of said actual voltage values to re-balance said bulk capacitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Power-One Italy S.p.A.
    Inventor: Massimo Valiani
  • Publication number: 20140328099
    Abstract: A control circuit for a power converter includes a pulse width modulation signal generating circuit, a power estimation circuit, and a current limiting signal generating circuit. The pulse width modulation signal generating circuit generates pulse width modulation signals according to a current sense signal and a current limiting signal for configuring the conduction status of a switch circuit of the power converter. The power estimation circuit generates a power estimation signal for estimating the power which the power converter provides to a load. The current limiting signal generating circuit generates the current limiting signal according to the power estimation signal so that the power converter may provide suitable power to the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Hung-Lin LIN
  • Patent number: 8879289
    Abstract: System and method for regulating a power converter. The system includes a first comparator configured to receive a first input signal and a second input signal and generate a first comparison signal based on at least information associated with the first input signal and the second input signal, a pulse-width-modulation generator configured to receive at least the first comparison signal and generate a modulation signal based on at least information associated with the first comparison signal, a driver component configured to receive the modulation signal and output a drive signal to a switch to adjust a primary current flowing through a primary winding of the power converter, and a voltage-change-rate detection component configured to sample the feedback signal to generate a first sampled signal for a first modulation period and to sample the feedback signal to generate a second sampled signal for a second modulation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuan Lin, Zhenglan Xia, Xiuhong Zhang, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 8879279
    Abstract: One embodiment relates to an LLC resonant power converter system. The system includes a transformer comprising a primary inductor and a secondary inductor and a switch control stage configured to generate a plurality of switching signals having a duty-cycle. The system also includes an input stage comprising the primary inductor and a plurality of switches that are controlled in response to the respective plurality of switching signals to generate a primary resonant current and an output stage comprising the secondary inductor and being configured to conduct an output current through a load based on a secondary resonant current to generate an output voltage. The system further includes a controller configured to limit a magnitude of the output current to a predetermined magnitude in response to variations of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Yuwei Luo, Bosheng Sun
  • Patent number: 8873262
    Abstract: Provided is an efficient inverter driving method. A pulse with very short pulse width is supplied as a primary driving pulse of a transformer, and the secondary output voltage of the transformer caused by a transient phenomenon can be enlarged several times while keeping the power source voltage for input current constant by shortening the time interval of the primary driving pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventor: Osamu Ide
  • Patent number: 8872500
    Abstract: An example control circuit for use in a power converter includes an input voltage sensor, a current sensor, and a drive signal generator. The input voltage sensor generates a first signal representative of an input voltage (Vin) of the power converter. The current sensor generates a second signal representative of a switch current through a power switch of the power converter. The drive signal generator generates a drive signal to control switching of the power switch in response to the first and second signals. The drive signal generator sets a switching frequency of the drive signal based on a product K×Vin×t to control a maximum output power of the power converter, where K is a fixed number and t is a time it takes the second signal to change between two values of the switch current when the power switch is in an on state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Erdem Bircan
  • Patent number: 8867246
    Abstract: A communication device, includes a CMOS type inverter configured to transfer a signal, the signal being transferred and received between an electronic device and a control part able to communicate with the electronic device whose electric power supply is a rechargeable battery; and a regulator configured to generate a regulated voltage, the regulated voltage being formed by decreasing an electric power supply voltage of the electronic device, wherein the regulator includes a depletion type NMOS transistor where a drain is connected to a high electric potential side of the electric power supply voltage and a gate and a source are mutually connected, and a capacitive element having an electrode connected to the source side and another electrode connected to a low electric potential side of the electric power supply voltage, wherein a voltage of the capacitive element is supplied across both ends of the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuhei Abe, Akira Ikeuchi
  • Patent number: 8867240
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a comparator coupled to receive a signal representative of an output of the power converter. A counter is coupled to an output of the comparator to sample the output of the comparator a plurality of times within a period. A state machine is coupled to an output of the counter to control switching of the power converter according to one of a plurality of operating condition states in response to the output of the counter. The state machine is coupled to be updated at an end of the period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Yury Gaknoki, Mingming Mao, David Michael Hugh Matthews, Tiziano Pastore
  • Publication number: 20140307494
    Abstract: A power conversion system is disclosed including a DC bus for receiving DC power, a power converter for converting the DC power to AC power, and a controller. The controller includes an active power regulator for generating a phase angle command signal, a reactive power regulator for generating a voltage magnitude command, and an active power (P) and reactive power (Q) decoupling unit for decoupling interaction between the active and reactive power regulators. The PQ decoupling unit includes an active power compensation element and a reactive power compensation element. The active power compensation element is used for generating a phase angle compensation signal based on a reactive power error signal, to compensate the phase angle command signal. The reactive power compensation element is used for generating a voltage magnitude compensation signal based on an active power error signal, to compensate the voltage magnitude command signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Xinhui WU, Jiao LIU, Dan HOU, Xueqin WU, Zhuohui 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
  • Publication number: 20140268958
    Abstract: Technologies for communicating information from an inverter configured for the conversion of direct current (DC) power generated from an alternative source to alternating current (AC) power are disclosed. The technologies include determining information to be transmitted from the inverter over a power line cable connected to the inverter and controlling the operation of an output converter of the inverter as a function of the information to be transmitted to cause the output converter to generate an output waveform having the information modulated thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Patrick L. Chapman
  • Publication number: 20140239724
    Abstract: A power conditioner according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes a first converter that converts a first DC voltage supplied from an external power supply into a second DC voltage, an inverter that converts the second DC voltage into an AC voltage and outputs the AC voltage to an external line so as to keep receiving power by the external line from a supply source system in a predetermined range, and an energy management unit that stops operations of the first converter and the inverter at predetermined time previously determined based on a magnitude of load power consumed by a load connected to the external line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: TAKASAGO, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro ISHIKAWA, Kazuaki HONDA
  • Publication number: 20140226381
    Abstract: A power conversion device generates drive command signals for switch elements of multiple phases, the drive command signals designed to control connecting and disconnecting operations of the multiple phase switch elements in such a way that a direction of a current change attributed to a connecting or disconnecting operation of one switch element and a direction of a current change attributed to a connecting or disconnecting operation of another switch element are opposite to each other. Furthermore, the power conversion device corrects output timings of the drive command signals to be outputted to the switch elements so as to synchronize connecting and disconnecting timings of the switch elements with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kensuke Sasaki, Yukio Mizukoshi, Yoshiyuki Nagai
  • Publication number: 20140226380
    Abstract: A current flowing into one of half-bridge circuits of a power semiconductor module (10) is detected by corresponding one of current detection circuits (11a and 11b to 11f) through a current detection terminal provided in corresponding one of semiconductor switching devices (Q1 and Q2 to Q6) forming the half-bridge circuits and a current detection terminal provided in corresponding one of flywheel diodes (D1 and D2 to D6) back-to-back connected to the corresponding one of the semiconductor switching devices (Q1 and Q2 to Q6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Kawashima
  • Patent number: 8804385
    Abstract: A switching converter IC without a built-in power switching device includes a first terminal serving as a power supply positive connection, a second terminal serving as a power supply return connection, a third terminal serving as the switch-driving connection for controlling the switching duty of an external bipolar or MOSFET power switching device and also serving as a conduit for detection of current drawn by the power switching device to thereby provide overcurrent protection. Feedback information is derived from voltage between the first and the second terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Mosway Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Chiu-Sing Celement Tse, On-Bon Peter Chan, Chik-Yam Lee, Chi-Keung Tang, Chi-Ken Kenny Lee
  • Publication number: 20140218985
    Abstract: A system that manages a supplemental energy source connected to a power grid uses a two stage control strategy to manage power transfers in and out of the power grid as well as in and out of an energy storage system, such as a battery bank. One stage uses a non-linear transfer function to control an output frequency of a DC-to-AC inverter to limit undesired effects of power transients that occur on the grid. A second stage uses control strategy for transferring energy between the energy storage system and an internal DC link based on a relationship between a voltage on a DC link connecting the first and second stages and a DC link reference voltage, the voltage on the DC link, and a voltage at the energy storage system. The control strategy includes rapid charging, over-charging protection, and grid transient stabilization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Dachuan Yu, Greg Speckhart