Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
323223000 | Using a three or more terminal semiconductive device | 39 |
20080197819 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL - The method of the invention in one aspect involves electronic power control by varying the amplitude of an electrical power supply voltage, independent of frequency, whereby the output frequency will always be the same as the input frequency. An electrical circuit apparatus for accomplishing this function in a specific embodiment is also disclosed herein. The specific circuitry of this aspect of the invention uses eight solid state switches, such as IGBT's, eight diodes, an inductor, input and output filters and novel controlling circuitry. The controller apparatus and methods of the invention may be used to implement all otherwise conventional converter types, buck, boost, and inverting (and duals of these) versions to obtain different regulating characteristics, including galvanic isolation of the output from the input. Indeed, the eight-switch controller can act to either buck or boost the input voltage, and can switch between bucking and boosting during a cycle, thus providing more control of the regulated output voltage. The inventive methods and devices may be used in power factor correction, voltage and/or current harmonic filtering and neutralization, line and load conditioning, control of power transfer between two power grids, and programmable control of surges, sags, dropouts and most other voltage regulation problems. | 08-21-2008 |
20080258695 | Switching device integrated with light emitting device - A light emitting component can include a substrate, a light emitting device supported by the substrate, wherein the light-emitting device has first and second terminals, and a switching element supported by the substrate and having first and second terminals electrically connected to the first and second terminals of the light-emitting device, respectively. The switching element is configured to, at least in part, divert at least some current away from the light emitting device when the switching element is in a closed state. An electrical connection between the first terminal of the switching element and the first terminal of the light emitting device can have a length of less than 5 cm (e.g., less than 2 cm, less than 1 cm, less than 5 mm, less than 1 mm). A current regulator may be supported by a second substrate and can supply current to the light emitting device. | 10-23-2008 |
20090174373 | CLAMP CIRCUIT AND COMBINATIONAL CIRCUIT THEREOF - A clamp circuit comprises a first transistor, a second transistor and a voltage-dividing circuit. The first transistor has a source terminal connected to a reference voltage, and has a drain terminal grounded through a current source. The second transistor has a gate terminal connected to the gate and drain terminals of the first transistor, and has a drain terminal grounded. The voltage-dividing circuit is connected to an input voltage end, an output voltage end and a source terminal of the second transistor for providing a clamping voltage. | 07-09-2009 |
20090302812 | LOW NOISE VOLTAGE REGULATOR - In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a voltage regulator (VR) that includes a first amplifier receiving a first reference voltage and a feedback voltage as inputs. A second amplifier receiving a second reference voltage and an output of the first amplifier as inputs. A drive component (e.g., transistor(s)) coupled to the second amplifier to drive current to an output based on an output of the second amplifier. A shunt component (e.g., transistor(s)) coupled to the first amplifier to shunt current from the output based on the output of the first amplifier. Current variations in the shunt component are controlled. | 12-10-2009 |
20100019741 | CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR REGULATING THE CURRENT IN AN ON-BOARD ELECTRICAL POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE - A circuit arrangement for regulating the current in an on-board electric power supply system of a vehicle, with a controllable damping resistance, an energy accumulator and an electronic control unit. The damping resistance is adjustable to satisfy a control condition, such that generator current flowing through the control unit can be compensated by a counter-current originating from the energy accumulator and flowing through the damping resistance, having regard to a specified current limit value. In a method for controlling the circuit arrangement, generator current flowing through the control unit is compensated by a counter-current originating from the energy accumulator and flowing through the damping resistance, and the damping resistance is controlled, in such a manner, that a predetermined current limit value is taken into account. | 01-28-2010 |
20100237836 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING RIGHT HALF-PLANE ZERO IN A CASCADED DC-DC BUCK-BOOST CONVERTER - A method to generate a substantially DC output having a voltage level different than a DC input, constituted of receiving a feedback signal representing at least one of the voltage level and the current level of the generated substantially DC output; relatively emphasizing the high frequency portion of the feedback signal; controlling the buck function of a cascaded buck-boost converter with a first switching signal having a first duty cycle, the first duty cycle being a first function of the received feedback signal responsive to said relatively emphasized high frequency portion; and controlling the boost function with a second switching signal having a second duty cycle, the second duty cycle being a second function of the received feedback signal, wherein the first switching signal and the second switching signal are continuously enabled to facilitate a continuous conduction mode. | 09-23-2010 |
20110109282 | ACTIVE DAMPING CIRCUIT FOR ELECTRIC CHOPPER CIRCUIT - A snubber circuit for a chopper circuit has at least one chopper transistor with terminals connected to a first line and to a second line, the first line being at a power supply potential and the second line being at ground potential. The snubber circuit has a capacitive element and a charging diode for charging the capacitive element. The charging diode and the capacitive element are connected in series to each other and together they are connected in parallel with the chopper transistor. The snubber circuit has an inductive element having a first end connected to a connection point situated between the charging diode and the capacitive element, and a second end connected to one of the lines. | 05-12-2011 |
20110285363 | Adjustable Shunt Regulator Circuit - An adjustable shunt regulator circuit has two current paths in parallel, with each current path having a bipolar transistor therein with the bases of the bipolar transistors of the two current paths connected in common. One of the current paths has a high impedance node. A MOS transistor has a gate connected to the high impedance node, and a source and a drain. A resistor divide circuit is connected in parallel to the source and drain of the MOS transistor and provides the output of the regulator circuit. The resistor divide circuit has a first resistor connected in series with a second resistor at a first node. A feedback connects the first node to the bases of the bipolar transistors connected in common of the two current paths. | 11-24-2011 |
20120212192 | Switching Controller - A circuit is provided for providing a drive signal. The circuit comprises a live input and a neutral input, an output for providing a drive signal, a master logic gate. The first output is connected to the master logic gate output. A dc signal is connected to the input of the master logic gate so that the output of the master logic gate changes when the state of the input changes. A shunt is connected to the live input and is capable of being switched into and out of the circuit in response to the live input voltage changing from positive to negative with respect to the neutral input voltage and vice versa. The shunt is also arranged to provide a short circuit for the dc signal to bypass the input of the master logic gate. | 08-23-2012 |
20120313592 | SHUNT REGULATOR CIRCUIT HAVING A SPLIT OUTPUT - A shunt regulator for an RFID tag chip is powered from split outputs from the RF rectifier, including a first output for providing a power delivery path to on-chip circuits and a second output for providing a discharge-regulation path. The shunt regulator includes a capacitor coupled between the first output and ground. The shunt regulator further includes an input node for receiving a power supply voltage from the rectifier split outputs, a first diode having an anode coupled to the input node, a second diode having an anode coupled to the input node, a resistor divider circuit and amplifier coupled between a cathode of the first diode and ground, transistor having a control terminal coupled to an output of the resistor divider and amplifier circuit, and a current path coupled between a cathode of the second diode and ground. | 12-13-2012 |
20130063099 | High electrical field driver - A high electrical field driver for producing high electrical field is invented based on the switching circuit. The inventive high electrical field driver can produce at least one high electrical field. | 03-14-2013 |
20130249505 | DC-DC CONVERTER ENABLING RAPID OUTPUT VOLTAGE CHANGES - Embodiments for methods, apparatus and systems for operating a voltage regulator are disclosed. One embodiment of the voltage regulator generates a switching voltage through controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and a shunt switch element. The voltage regulator further includes a switched output filter that includes a plurality of capacitors for filtering the switching voltage and generating an output voltage. A mode controller is operative to disconnect at least one of the plurality of capacitors upon receiving a first indicator, where disconnecting causes the at least one of the plurality of capacitors to electrically float, wherein while the at least one capacitor is disconnected the output voltage is changed from a first value to a second value, return the output voltage to a first value or a third value upon receiving a second indicator, and reconnect the at least one of the plurality of capacitors. | 09-26-2013 |
20140042993 | Method and Apparatus of Shunt Control for Multiple Power Converters on a Shared DC Bus - A system for managing shunt utilization among multiple power converters sharing a common DC bus is disclosed. Each power converter includes a shunt device, typically one or more power resistors, configured to dissipate power from the DC bus. The power converter is configured according to an initial set of configuration parameters to selectively connect the shunt device to the DC bus. Each power converter monitors the amount of power being dissipated from the DC bus via the shunt device connected to that power converter and determines a utilization rate for the shunt device. As the utilization rate increases, the configuration parameters are modified to less frequently connect the shunt device to the DC bus. As the utilization rate decreases, the configuration parameters are modified to more frequently connect the shunt device to the DC bus. | 02-13-2014 |
20140132231 | DC Conversion Circuit - A DC conversion circuit in the disclosure includes a buck-boost converter and a resonant stage circuit. The buck-boost converter has two input ends, a negative output end and a positive output end. The buck-boost converter receives a first DC signal via its two input ends, and outputs a second DC signal via its two output ends. The resonant stage circuit has two input ends and two output ends. The resonant stage circuit receives the second DC signal via its two input ends, converts the second DC signal into energy for power charging, and outputs the energy to a load via its two output ends. Then, the resonant stage circuit converts the energy, which is used for power charging, to form a negative voltage by a resonance effect, and outputs the energy to the load via its two output ends. | 05-15-2014 |
20140167710 | DC/DC Converter with Shunt Circuitry - The present disclosure provides, in one embodiment, a method of shunting a power supply to reduce output ripple. The method includes determining at least one performance parameter of a DC/DC converter circuit; generating a first reference signal, wherein the first reference signal is based on the performance parameter; comparing the first reference signal to the performance parameter; and generating a shunt current from an input power source to an output node of the DC/DC converter circuit based on, at least in part, the comparison of the performance parameter and the first reference signal. | 06-19-2014 |
20160056709 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INDUCTIVE-KICK PROTECTION CLAMP DURING DISCONTINUOUS CONDUCTION MODE OPERATION - A method includes determining that a current at an inductor in a series transfer capacitor buck converter is decaying to zero during a first cycle. The method also includes, in response to determining that the current at the inductor is decaying to zero, enabling an electrostatic discharge (ESD) structure and turning off a low side transistor. The ESD structure is disposed at a node connecting the low side transistor, a high side transistor and the inductor. The method further includes disabling the ESD structure before the high side transistor is turned on during a next cycle following the first cycle. | 02-25-2016 |
323224000 | With additional series regulator | 6 |
20090195227 | CONSTANT VOLTAGE CIRCUIT - A constant voltage circuit configured to convert an input voltage into an output voltage having a predetermined level is disclosed. The constant voltage circuit includes a differential amplifier circuit configured to produce an output signal having a voltage level in response to a reference voltage and the output voltage; and an output circuit configured to receive the output signal and produce a current in response to the voltage level of the output signal. The output voltage is proportional to the current. The output circuit includes plural output transistors and a transistor selecting unit configured to select one or more output transistors to be operated among the plural output transistors to produce the current depending on the level of the output voltage. | 08-06-2009 |
20090256533 | Current-level Decision Device for a Power Supply Device and Related Power Supply Device - An current-level decision device for a power supply device includes a reception end for receiving a current sense signal, a reference voltage generator for generating a first reference voltage, a reference voltage correction unit coupled to the reference voltage generator and the reception end for adjusting the reference voltage according to variation of the current sense signal, so as to generate a second reference voltage, a comparator coupled to the reception end and the reference voltage correction unit for comparing the current sense signal and the second reference voltage to generate a comparison result, and a control unit coupled to the comparator for controlling a switch transistor of the power supply according to the comparison result. | 10-15-2009 |
20110115446 | System and Method for AC Voltage Regulation - In an embodiment, a power converter system is provided for AC voltage regulation. The power converter system receives an AC input voltage at an input terminal and provides an AC output voltage to a load at an output terminal. A main bi-directional switch is coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal. The main bi-directional switch is operable to control the provision of the AC output voltage. A reactive current flows through the main bi-directional switch if the load is reactive. An auxiliary bi-directional switch is coupled to the output terminal. The auxiliary bi-directional switch is operable to circulate the reactive current due to the reactive load, thereby reducing any voltage spikes in the power converter system. | 05-19-2011 |
20110181252 | Driving Circuit for Depletion Mode Semiconductor Switches - A driving circuit for a half bridge utilizing bidirectional semiconductor switches in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes a high side driver operable to control a high side bidirectional semiconductor switch, wherein the high side driver provides a negative bias voltage to the bidirectional semiconductor switch to turn the high side bidirectional semiconductor switch OFF. A low side driver may be operable to control a low side bidirectional semiconductor switch. An external voltage source with a negative terminal of the voltage source connected to the high side driver may be provided. A high side driving switch may be positioned between the negative terminal of the voltage source and the high side driver and operable to connect the high side driver to the negative terminal of the voltage source when the low side driver turns the low side bidirectional semiconductor switch ON. | 07-28-2011 |
20120229102 | Stacked NMOS DC-To-DC Power Conversion - Another embodiment includes a voltage regulator. The voltage regulator includes a series switch element connected between a first voltage supply and a common node, the series switch element comprising an NMOS series switching transistor, a shunt switch element connected between the common node and a second voltage supply, the shunt switch element comprising an NMOS shunt switching transistor. The voltage regulator further includes means for closing the series switch element during a first period by applying a switching gate voltage to a gate of the NMOS series switch transistor of the series switch element, wherein the switching gate voltage has a voltage potential of at least a threshold voltage greater than a voltage potential of the common node, means for closing the shunt switch element during a second period, the shunt switch element comprising an NMOS shunt switching transistor. | 09-13-2012 |
20120326680 | COMMON CASCODE ROUTING BUS FOR HIGH-EFFICIENCY DC-TO-DC CONVERSION - Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of generating a regulated voltage are disclosed. One method includes generating the regulated voltage through controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and shunt switch element. This method includes closing the series switch element during a first period, the series switch element comprising a plurality of series switch elements segments. The method includes applying a switching gate voltage to gates of series switching transistors of a subset of the plurality of series switch elements segments of the series switch element, wherein only the series switching transistors of the subset of the plurality of series switch elements segments of the series switch element turn on, while series protection transistor of more than the subset of the plurality of series switch elements segments of the series switch element turn on. The shunt switch element during is closed during a second period. | 12-27-2012 |
323225000 | Plural devices | 17 |
20090058375 | SELF-OSCILLATING CONVERTER - A converter has a main feedback path and two auxiliary feedback paths from an output node to an auxiliary differential input pair of a comparator. The auxiliary feedback paths have different RC time constants so that a differential ramp signal is effectively applied to the auxiliary differential inputs of the comparator. The circuit design compensates for a negligibly small equivalent series resistor of an output capacitor so that modern capacitors may be used without compromising the stable oscillation of the converter. | 03-05-2009 |
20090167259 | DC-DC CONVERTER, DC-DC CONVERTER CONTROL METHOD, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - The DC-DC converter includes a control unit that controls a current stored in an inductance and an output voltage output from an output terminal electrically couplable to the inductance. The control unit assigns a first period and a second period to a given period when the output voltage is lower than a given value in response to a load electrically couplable to the output terminal. The first period is where a current is stored in the inductance in response to an input voltage and a reference voltage, and the second period is where the current stored in the inductance is supplied to the output terminal in response to the input voltage and the output voltage. | 07-02-2009 |
20090295342 | Circuit and Method for Limiting a Current Flow in Case of a Shortage of a Support Capacitor - A circuit includes a voltage supply net, a first capacitor connected between the voltage supply net and a reference potential via a first transistor, and a second capacitor connected between the voltage supply net and the reference potential via a second transistor, such that the first and the second capacitor form at least a part of a support capacitance for the voltage supply net. The circuit is configured to provide control signals to control terminals of the first and second transistor such that the first transistor allows for a limited current flow in case of a shortage of the first capacitor and such that the second transistor allows for a limited current flow in case of a shortage of the second capacitor. | 12-03-2009 |
20100052627 | DC/DC CONVERTER - A boost DC/DC converter has a voltage dividing circuit connected between the output terminal and the ground, that outputs a divided voltage obtained by dividing the output voltage; a reference voltage generating circuit that generates a reference voltage based on the input voltage; an error amplifier that outputs a first signal corresponding to the difference between the divided voltage and the reference voltage; a feedforward circuit that detects the input voltage and outputs a second signal corresponding to a current inversely proportional to the input voltage; a multiplier that multiples the first signal by the second signal and outputs a third signal obtained; and a control circuit that outputs, based on the third signal, a control signal for controlling on/off of the switching transistor so that the divided voltage is equal to the reference voltage. | 03-04-2010 |
20100060246 | Supply Architecture for Inductive Loads - Apparatus and associated systems and methods may relate to a process for supplying unidirectional current to a load, controlling a reverse electromotive force (REMF), capturing inductive energy from the load, and supplying the captured inductive energy to the load. In an illustrative example, an operating cycle may include a sequence of operations. First, inductive energy captured from the load on a previous cycle may be supplied to the load. Second, energy may be supplied to the load from an external power source. Third, a REMF voltage may be substantially controlled upon disconnecting the power source from the load. Fourth, the load current may be brought to zero by capturing the inductive energy for use on a subsequent cycle. In some embodiments, a single power stage may supply a DC inductive load, or a pair of power stages may be operated to supply bidirectional current to an AC load. | 03-11-2010 |
20100148733 | Reverse Polarity Protection for MOSFETS - The invention relates to a control circuit and a corresponding method for controlling MOSFETs coupled to the control circuit. The MOSFETs are coupled to a load to couple the load to a power supply, or the MOSFETs are coupled to a generator. In case of inverted polarity, the control circuit switches the MOSFETs to their conducting state to prevent damaging the MOSFETs. | 06-17-2010 |
20100188057 | Zilinx : the 11Less Green Technology for FPIC of Smart Window - The 11Less Green Technology are Noiseless Field Programmable Integrated Circuit FPIC, Curtainless Window, Bladeless Turbo Fan, Brakeless Vehicle, Sawless, Resistorless, Capless, Inductorless, Diodeless Random Number Generator, Xtaless Clock Generator, Clockless Switch Mode Power Supply. The Green Technology of the Current Regulator for Green Power & Noise of Green Chip and Smart Window Driver for Smart Window of Green House are the fundamental building blocks of the next century green technology industry. Zilinx' FPIC is the last Field Programmable Integrated Chip. For the Green Building Management System, the IGU of the Smart Window includes the transparent Solar Cell, ElectroChromic Window and Smart Fan to adjust the light, temperature and ventilation simultaneously. | 07-29-2010 |
20100253296 | SYMMETRIC SAMPLE AND HOLD OVER-CURRENT SENSING METHOD AND APPARATUS - An over-current condition is detected in a synchronous DC-DC converter by sampling and holding a measured load current value. The load current is sampled while a low-side transistor is ON and then held when the low-side transistor is OFF. The held value is compared to a threshold value while the low-side transistor is OFF. The comparison occurs during the portion of the cycle when the low-side transistor is OFF so that a comparator has sufficient time in which to detect the over-current condition, even in high duty cycle applications. | 10-07-2010 |
20100259231 | Extremely high-speed switchmode DC-DC converters - Switchmode DC-DC power converters using one or more non-Silicon-based switching transistors and a Silicon-based (e.g. CMOS) controller are disclosed. The non-Silicon-based switching transistors may comprise, but are not necessarily limited to, HI-V compound semiconductor devices such as gallium arsenide (GaAs) metal-semiconductor field effect transistors (MESFETs) or heterostructure FETs such as high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). According to an embodiment of the invention, the low figure of merit (FoM), τ | 10-14-2010 |
20110012570 | Synchronous driver circuit and integrated circuit for use therein - The present invention discloses a synchronous driver circuit, comprising: an inductor having one end coupled to an input voltage; a first power transistor having one end coupled to the other end of the inductor and another end supplying an output voltage; a second power transistor having one end coupled to the other end of the inductor and another end coupled to ground; a control circuit for controlling the operation of the first and second power transistors; a gate driver coupled to the control circuit and having an output controlling the gate of the first power transistor; and a bootstrap capacitor having one end coupled to a voltage node and the other end coupled to the other end of the inductor, the voltage across the bootstrap capacitor being provided as the operational voltage of the gate driver. | 01-20-2011 |
20110148368 | Stacked NMOS DC-To-DC Power Conversion - Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of generating a regulated voltage are disclosed. One method includes generating the regulated voltage though controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and shunt switch element, the series switch element being connected between a first voltage supply and a common node, and the shunt switch being connected between the common node and a second supply voltage. The series switch element includes an NMOS series switching transistor stacked with an NMOS series protection transistor, and closing the series switch element during a first period includes applying a switching gate voltage to a gate of the NMOS series switch transistor of the series switch element, wherein the switching gate voltage has a voltage potential of at least a threshold voltage greater than a voltage potential of the common node. The shunt switch element includes an NMOS shunt switching transistor stacked with an NMOS shunt protection transistor, and the shunt switch element is closed during a second period. | 06-23-2011 |
20120032652 | CIRCUIT FOR GENERATING A CLOCK SIGNAL FOR INTERLEAVED PFC STAGES AND METHOD THEREOF - A method and circuit for generating a clock signal. A power factor correction circuit has n channels operating out of phase and independently. The circuit is able to generate a clock signal for each channel according to the current cycle duration of each channel. | 02-09-2012 |
20130187619 | SHUNT REGULATOR - This document discusses, among other things, a circuit including a diode and a transistor. In certain examples, an integrated circuit can include the diode and the transistor. In some examples, an apparatus can include the diode having a first temperature coefficient, a bias resistor configured to bias the diode, and a bipolar junction transistor having a second temperature coefficient the bipolar junction transistor having a base coupled to the diode and the bias resistor, wherein the first temperature coefficient and the second temperature coefficient are configured to reduce at least a portion of a temperature drift effect of the diode and the bipolar transistor. | 07-25-2013 |
20130278230 | DISTORTION CANCELLATION IN ANALOG CIRCUITS - Embodiments of the present invention may provide an improved apparatus and method for reducing distortion in analog circuits. A circuit in accordance with the present invention may include a main path comprising an analog circuit with an input impedance, a source impedance representing the impedance of an input network driving the analog circuit, and a cancellation path. The cancellation path may be in parallel to the main path and may generate a cancelling non-linear current to substantially cancel a non-linear current drawn to the input impedance, resulting in a decrease of non-liner current flowing through the source impedance. | 10-24-2013 |
20140077773 | VOLTAGE BALANCING CIRCUIT - A voltage balancing circuit includes (n−1)-number of voltage stabilization circuits configured between k-th reference nodes of n-number of groups of resistances and k-th output nodes of the n-number of groups of main circuit capacitors respectively where 2≦k≦n. The k-th voltage stabilization circuit is configured in such a manner that the first transistor is connected via a first resistance to a (k−a)-th output node serving as the source node and the second transistor is connected via a second resistance further connected to a (k+b)-th output node serving as the destination node, where 2≦k≦n, 1≦a≦k−1 and 1≦b≦n+1−k. | 03-20-2014 |
20140084878 | POWER SUPPLY SWITCHING CIRCUIT - Provided is a power supply switching circuit capable of suppressing a load fluctuation such as undershoot that occurs at an output terminal at the time of power supply switching. The power supply switching circuit includes: a battery connected to the output terminal; a replica current generation circuit for generating a replica current that is proportional to a current flowing from the battery to the output terminal; a voltage regulator connected to the output terminal, the voltage regulator including a reference voltage circuit, an error amplifier circuit, an output transistor, and a voltage divider circuit; and a current mirror circuit for causing the replica current to flow through the output transistor of the voltage regulator. | 03-27-2014 |
20140210429 | CURRENT-PARKING SWITCHING REGULATOR WITH A SPLIT INDUCTOR - A system and method are provided for regulating a voltage level at a load. The method configures a current control mechanism to generate a current through a first inductor and a second inductor that are coupled in series and configures a voltage control mechanism to provide a portion of the current to regulate the voltage level. The second inductor isolates the load from a parasitic capacitance of the current control mechanism. An electric power conversion device for regulating the voltage level at the load comprises the current control mechanism that is coupled to an electric power source and configured to generate a current through the first inductor and the second inductor that are coupled in series and the voltage control mechanism that is coupled to the second inductor and configured to provide a portion of the current to regulate the voltage level. | 07-31-2014 |