| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 323235000 | Zero switching | 62 |
| 20090051333 | SWITCHING POWER SOURCE APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A switching power source apparatus includes a storage unit to store energy obtained from input power supplied to the storage unit, and to output at least of the stored energy as output power; a first switch; a second switch connected in series with the first switch, the series connection of the first switch and the second switch being connected to the storage unit; and a voltage clamp unit to clamp a level of a voltage applied across the series connection of the first switch and the second switch to a predetermined voltage or less. The first switch is turned on while the second switch is still turned off, and then the second switch is turned on after the first switch has been turned on to supply the input power to the storage unit from the series connection of the first switch and the second switch. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090189575 | Method for Measuring an Alternating Current which is Generated Using Inverters, and Arrangement for Carrying out the Method - There is described a method for measuring an alternating current which is generated using inverters and is fed into an AC power system, wherein a zero crossing signal of the AC power system is predefined, and wherein, triggered by the zero crossing signal, the measured alternating current is periodically adjusted in such a manner that an adjustment value which is assigned to the zero crossing signal is predefined, a measured value which is assigned to the zero crossing signal being adapted to said adjustment value. This method makes it possible for the measurement signal detected by a measuring circuit to be periodically adjusted using an adjustment value even during operation. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090218995 | Apparatus and method for bias modulator using zero current switching - An apparatus and a method for a bias modulator using a Zero Current Switching (ZCS) are provided. The bias modulator includes a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal generator for converting an input envelope signal to a PWM signal; a PWM/ZCS converter for calculating the number of ZCS control signals to be provided within an on-time duration of the PWM signal and generating at least one ZCS control signal according to the number of the ZCS control signals; and a ZCS switching regulator for generating a bias current according to the ZCS control signal. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090237042 | Zero Voltage Switching - A method for providing non-resonant zero-voltage switching in a switching power converter. The switching power converter converts power from input power to output power during multiple periodic switching cycles. The switching power converter includes a switch and an auxiliary capacitor adapted for connecting in parallel with the switch, and an inductor connectable to the auxiliary capacitor. The main switch is on. A previously charged (or previously discharged) auxiliary capacitor is connected across the main switch with auxiliary switches. The main switch is switched off with zero voltage while discharging (charging) the auxiliary capacitor by providing a current path to the inductor. The auxiliary capacitor is disconnected from the switch. The voltage of the auxiliary capacitor is charged and discharged alternatively during subsequent switching cycles. The voltage of the auxiliary capacitor stays substantially the same until the subsequent turn off of the main switch during the next switching cycle with substantially no energy loss in the auxiliary capacitor. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090237043 | Zero Current Switching - A method for providing non-resonant zero-current switching in a switching power converter operating in a continuous current mode. The switching power converter converts power from input power to output power. The switching power converter includes a main switch connected to a main inductor, wherein an auxiliary inductor is connectible with the main inductor. The main current flows from an input to an output. The auxiliary inductor is connected with the main inductor thereby charging the auxiliary inductor so that an auxiliary current flows from the output to the input opposing the main current. Upon a total current including a sum of the main current and the auxiliary current. substantially equals or approaches zero, the switch is turned on. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090256534 | POWER SUPPLY CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS - A power supply system including a controller capable of regulating a pulsed output voltage. The power supply system includes a load, a switching circuit connected to the load, and a controller electrically connected to the switching circuit. The controller is adapted to transmit a switching signal to the switching circuit for generating an adjustable duty cycle pulsed voltage to provide power to the controller and the load. The controller is further adapted to adjust the pulsed output voltage against a reference voltage by varying the duty cycle of the switching signal. The power supply system may include a start-up circuit electrically connected to the controller and adapted to provide a start-up voltage to the controller until the controller is powered by an operating voltage through the switching circuit. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090267575 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING ZERO CROSSING AND VOLTAGE AMPLITUDE FROM SINGLE PULSE SIGNAL - A device and method for detecting a zero crossing and voltage amplitude of a commercial power source voltage inputted to an electronic device, from a single pulse signal are disclosed. The apparatus for detecting a zero crossing and a voltage amplitude from a single pulse signal includes: a first calculation unit that compares the commercial power source voltage to a first reference voltage to determine whether or not the commercial power source voltage is smaller than the first reference voltage; a second calculation unit that compares the commercial power source voltage to a second reference voltage smaller than the first reference voltage to determine whether or not the commercial power source voltage is larger than the second reference voltage; a pulse output unit that outputs a pulse if the commercial power source voltage is smaller than the first reference voltage but larger than the second reference voltage; and a detecting unit that detects a zero crossing and a voltage amplitude by analyzing the pulse which has been outputted from the pulse output unit. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20110095735 | CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR PREDICTING A VALLEY TIMING FOR A VOLTAGE ACROSS A SWITCHING DEVICE - Disclosed are circuits and methods for use in a control circuit of a switching mode power supply for turning on a switching device in the switching mode power supply when the voltage across the switching device is at a minimum. A voltage detector is provided for detecting the voltage across the switching device to produce a detection voltage which is a function of the voltage across the switching device, and circuit arrangement is used to predict a valley timing for the voltage across the switching device by evaluating the time period that the detection voltage falls down from a first threshold to a second threshold. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110109283 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A CONVERTER - A system and method for controlling a converter. One embodiment provides the cyclic actuation of a first switching element, used for applying an input voltage to an inductive storage element. A second switching element is used as a first rectifier element in a rectifier arrangement, in a step-up converter. An actuating circuit is provided for the first and second switching elements. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110115448 | ELECTRICAL SWITCHING MODULE - A module including a case; an electrical switching device configured to control power to a load; and a controller coupled to the electrical switching device. The electrical switching device and the controller are substantially encapsulated by the case. Functionality of the module can be exposed through a communication interface in the case. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110127973 | SWITCHED MODE POWER CONVERTER - The invention provides a switched mode power converter adapted for zero-voltage transition operation, wherein the converter comprises a half-bridge, having a first power switch ( | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110267015 | REAL TIME ADJUSTABLE ZERO CURRENT DETECTION FOR A SWITCHING REGULATOR - A feedback loop is used to optimize a zero current threshold for a switching regulator. After the low side power switch of the switching regulator turns off, the switching node state is monitored to adjust the zero current threshold in a real time and thus the low-side power switch is prevented from turning off too early or too late. Thereby the efficiency in green mode is optimized. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110316496 | Switching power source apparatus and control method thereof - A switching power source apparatus includes a converting unit to convert a voltage level of power, a first switch to switch power supplied to the converting unit, a second switch connected in series with the first switch and turned on after the first switch has been turned on, and a voltage clamp unit to clamp a level of a voltage applied across the series connection of the first switch and the second switch to a predetermined voltage or less. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110316497 | METHOD FOR CLOSED-LOOP CONTROL OF A DC-DC VOLTAGE CONVERTER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF INTERLACED CELLS OPERATING IN ZERO-VOLTAGE SWITCHING MODE - A method for closed-loop control of a DC-DC voltage converter operating in zero-voltage switching mode (ZVS) with a switching threshold (Z) is disclosed. The converter includes a plurality of interlaced cells, each cell having at least two controlled switches, which are alternately closed and open, and an inductor (L) in which an output current flows from the cell, and a clock with a given switching period configured for triggering the switching of the switches between upper (+M) and lower (−M) control thresholds, the control threshold (+M, −M) with the value nearest to the switching threshold (Z) being denoted as an associated control threshold. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20120007570 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REGULATING RMS VOLTAGE DELIVERED TO A LOAD - A system and method for regulating the root mean square (RMS) voltage delivered to a load by an alternating current (AC) electrical circuit having a line voltage. To avoid radio frequency interference (RFI), the load is disconnected from the AC electrical circuit when energy stored in the load is at or near zero and is reconnected when the line voltage is at or near zero. Inductive loads are disconnected when the line current is at or near zero while capacitive loads are disconnected when the line voltage is at or near zero. The duration of the disconnection does not exceed one half-cycle of the fundamental frequency. Disconnections alternate between removing positive voltage half-cycles and negative voltage half-cycles to avoid a direct current (DC) bias. A system incorporating digital logic elements is provided for implementing the method and for detecting whether the load is inductive or capacitive. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120013313 | MULTIPHASE DC-DC CONVERTER USING ZERO VOLTAGE SWITCHING - A multiphase DC-DC converter including at least one conversion path, multiple switch capacitance networks, and a multiphase switch controller. Each conversion path includes first and second intermediate nodes. Each switch capacitance network includes a capacitance coupled in parallel with an electronic switch and is coupled to one of the intermediate nodes. The switch controller controls the switch capacitance networks using zero voltage switching. Multiple phases may be implemented as multiple conversion paths each having first and second intermediate nodes coupled to first and second switch capacitance networks, respectively. A single conversion path may be provided with multiple switch capacitance networks coupled to each intermediate node for multiple phases. Alternatively, a common front end with a first intermediate node is coupled to one or more switch capacitance networks followed by multiple back-end networks coupled in parallel for multiple phases. A regulator may be provided to regulate an output voltage. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120032653 | REDUCTION OF INRUSH CURRENT DUE TO VOLTAGE SAGS WITH IMEPDANCE REMOVAL TIMING CIRCUIT - Various systems and methods are provided for minimizing an inrush current to a load after a voltage sag in a power voltage. In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising the steps of applying a power voltage to a load, and detecting a sag in the power voltage during steady-state operation of the load. The method includes the steps of adding an impedance to the load upon detection of the sag in the power voltage, and removing the impedance from the load when the power voltage has reached a predefined point in the power voltage cycle after the power voltage has returned to a nominal voltage. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120038331 | Systems and Methods of Smooth Light Load Operation in a DC/DC Converter - Systems and devices for smooth light load operation in a DC/DC converter are presented. The disclosed systems and methods enable smooth discontinuous conduction mode (DCM)/continuous conduction mode (CCM) transition. The disclosed systems and methods of smooth light load operation in a DC/DC converter may also avoid the generation of sub-harmonics during light load operation. In an example embodiment, a rising ramp is used to control the ON time of the converter oscillator, while a falling ramp controls the OFF time. During DCM operation, the minimum value of the falling ramp is clamped. The clamping of the falling ramp ensures a substantially similar level of the error amplifier output in both CCM and DCM and avoids disturbances caused by a difference in the error amplifier outputs between the modes. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120081084 | Controller with Valley Switching and Limited Maximum Frequency for Quasi-Resonant Power Converters - A controller for a power converter is provided. The controller includes a PWM circuit, a detection circuit, a signal generation circuit and an oscillation circuit. The PWM circuit generates a switching signal coupled to switch a transformer of the power converter. A feedback signal is coupled to the PWM circuit to disable the switching signal. The detection circuit is coupled to the transformer via a resistor for generating a valley signal in response to a signal waveform of the transformer. The signal generation circuit is coupled to receive the feedback signal and the valley signal for generating an enabling signal. The oscillation circuit generates a maximum frequency signal. The maximum frequency signal associates with the enabling signal to generate a pulse signal. The feedback signal is correlated to an output load of the power converter. The maximum frequency of the pulse signal is limited. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120119715 | CONTROL CIRCUITRY IN A DC/DC CONVERTER FOR ZERO INDUCTOR CURRENT DETECTION - A converter controller for discharge of a coil used in a DC/DC converter including a voltage detector connected to monitor a state of a diode connected between the coil and ground and an offset comparator, having an adjustable offset, for causing a coil discharge path to be interrupted. The comparator is provided with an initial high offset so that for at least a first converter switching period, the coil will have sufficient charge when the coil discharge path is interrupted to cause the diode to become forward biased as determined by the voltage detector. The offset is periodically reduced until the coil is sufficiently discharged so that the diode is not forward biased, with that value of offset being optimum and thus used in subsequent switching periods. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120176104 | Synchronous Switching Power Converter with Zero Current Detection, and Method Thereof - Zero current detecting circuit includes a zero current comparator for determining current variation on an inductor of a synchronous switching power converter so as to accordingly turn off a down bridge transistor of the synchronous power converter; an integrator for executing integration to the signal on an input end of the zero current comparator within a transient period after the down bridge transistor is turned off, for eliminating the effect from the offset voltage of the zero current comparator; and an integration controller for determining if the down bridge transistor is turned off too early or too late so as to control the integrator to positively or negatively integrate. | 07-12-2012 |
| 20120187926 | Zero Voltage Switching - A method for providing non-resonant zero-voltage switching in a switching power converter. The switching power converter converts power from input power to output power during multiple periodic switching cycles. The switching power converter includes a main switch and an auxiliary capacitor adapted for connecting to the main switch, and an inductor connectible to the auxiliary capacitor. When the main switch is on, a previously charged (or previously discharged) auxiliary capacitor is connected to the main switch with auxiliary switches. The main switch is switched off with zero voltage while discharging non-resonantly (charging) the auxiliary capacitor by providing a current path to the inductor. The auxiliary capacitor is disconnected from the main switch. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120200271 | Mode Control Circuit for DC-DC Converter - Representative implementations of devices and techniques determine when a dc to dc converter switches from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation. The determination is based on a time interval representing a portion of a current waveform, which is measured and compared to a threshold value. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20120299561 | QUASI-RESONANT CONTROLLING AND DRIVING CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR A FLYBACK CONVERTER - The present invention relates to a quasi-resonant controlling and driving circuit and method for a flyback converter. In one embodiment, a controlling and driving circuit for a flyback converter, can include: a differentiation circuit configured to receive a third controlling signal and a drain-source voltage of a main power switch of the flyback converter; where the drain-source voltage is configured to be differentiated by the differentiation circuit to generate a differential voltage when the third controlling signal is active within an interval that the main power switch is shut-off; a valley voltage detection circuit coupled to the differentiation circuit, and configured to receive the differential voltage; and where a valley controlling signal is configured to be generated by the valley voltage detection circuit to achieve quasi-resonant driving for the main power switch of the flyback converter when the differential voltage crosses zero with a positive slope. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20130002212 | DC-DC CONVERTER - A DC-DC converter, having an input voltage and an output voltage, includes an inductor and a switch switching the input voltage to an input side of the inductor, where a feedback path controlling initiation of closing the switch includes capacitive coupling of the voltage at the input side of the inductor. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130027006 | BOOST POWER CONVERTER WITH HIGH-SIDE ACTIVE DAMPING IN DISCONTINUOUS CONDUCTION MODE - A boost power converter system according to one embodiment includes an input voltage high-side node; an inductor coupled to the input voltage high-side node at a first terminal of the inductor; a power switch coupled to the inductor at a second terminal of the inductor; a drive circuit configured to control the power switch such that the boost power converter system operates in a discontinuous conduction mode when a load current drops below a critical conduction threshold; and a damping switch configured to enable current flow from the power switch at the second terminal of the inductor to the input voltage high-side node, wherein the damping switch is closed when the power switch is open and the damping switch is opened when the power switch is closed. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130307497 | SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY DEVICE - Aspects of the invention include a switching power supply device that includes a zero current detecting circuit that detects zero current of electric current flowing through the inductor to turn ON the switching element, an ON width generating circuit that determines the ON width of the switching element to turn OFF the switching element, and an OFF width detecting circuit that detects the OFF width of the switching element based on the output of the ON width generating circuit and the output of the zero current detecting circuit, and holds the OFF width until the next operating cycle. Aspects of the invention also include an ON width adjusting circuit that is included in the ON width generating circuit and adjusts the ON width of the switching element in the next operation cycle according to the width detected by the OFF width detecting circuit. | 11-21-2013 |
| 20140111168 | Synchronous Switching Power Converter with Zero Current Detection, and Method Thereof - The synchronous switching power converter comprises an inductor; a down bridge transistor; and a zero current detection circuit comprising a zero current comparator for receiving a fixed comparing level at a negative input end for comparison to change state of a comparing result; a delay unit, for delaying the comparing result to change state of a turn off signal according to a compensation voltage, to turn off the down bridge transistor when determining current on the inductor is zero; a transient state adjusting circuit for indicating a transient period when detecting state of the turn off signal is changed; and an integrator for integrating the compensation voltage by analog manner to adjust value of the compensation voltage and providing to the delay unit within the transient period; wherein the zero current comparator determines the integrator to integrate positively or negatively within the transient period. | 04-24-2014 |
| 20140176093 | SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME - A switching loss is reduced by reducing a deviation from the operational principle of zero-volt switching (ZVS). A semiconductor integrated circuit includes high-side switch elements Q | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140232359 | RESONANCE-BASED SINGLE INDUCTOR OUTPUT-DRIVEN DC-DC CONVERTER AND METHOD - A resonance-based DC-DC converter for converting a DC input voltage to a first DC output voltage (V | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140292290 | SOURCE-ELECTRODE DRIVING CONTROL CIRCUIT AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed are driving control methods and circuits for quasi-resonant control of a main power switch of a switching power supply. In one embodiment, a driving control circuit can include: (i) a clamp circuit coupled to a gate of the main power switch, where the clamp circuit is configured to clamp a voltage of the gate to a clamping voltage that is greater than a threshold voltage of the main power switch; (ii) a valley voltage detection circuit configured to activate a valley control signal when a drain-source voltage of the main power switch is at a resonance valley level; and (iii) a source voltage control circuit configured to reduce a voltage of a source of the main power switch to turn on the main power switch in response to the valley control signal being activated. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140300329 | Systems and Methods to Auto-Adjust Zero Cross Circuits for Switching Regulators - Various embodiments of the present invention provide for an adaptive and accurate zero cross circuit that can operate without directly sensing an inductor current. Certain embodiments allow adjustment of a zero crossing condition while eliminating the need for a blanking time. In certain embodiments this is accomplished by detecting the effects of turning off a switch on a switching node voltage of a buck converter. | 10-09-2014 |
| 20140320094 | CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR POWER CONVERTER AND RELATED CONTROL METHOD - A control circuit of a power converter includes: a zero current detection circuit for detecting a current flowing between an inductor and a voltage output terminal of the power converter to generate a zero current detection signal; an adjusting circuit for generating an adjustment signal according to the zero current detection signal; a clock signal generating circuit for adjusting a frequency of a clock signal according to the adjustment signal; a periodical signal generating circuit for generating a periodical signal according to the clock signal; an error detection circuit for generating an error signal; and a control signal generating circuit for generating a control signal to control operations of a power switch. If the and amount of pulses generated by the zero current detection circuit satisfy a predetermined condition, the adjusting circuit switches the power converter's operation mode from DCM to CCM. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20140347021 | SAMPLING NEGATIVE COIL CURRENT IN A SWITCHING POWER CONVERTER AND METHOD THEREOF - An electronic circuit and method for sampling negative coil current in a power converter includes a zero crossing detector and a sample-and-hold circuit. A switch determines whether a charging or discharging current is flowing through a coil. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140368172 | IGBT/FET-BASED ENERGY SAVINGS DEVICE FOR REDUCING A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT OF VOLTAGE USING PULSE WIDTH MODULATION - An IGBT/FET-based energy savings device, system and method wherein a predetermined amount of voltage below a nominal line voltage and/or below a nominal appliance voltage is saved, thereby conserving energy. Phase input connections are provided for inputting analog signals into the device and system. A magnetic flux concentrator senses the incoming analog signal and a volts zero crossing point detector determines the zero volts crossing point of the signal. The positive half cycle and negative half cycle of the signal are identified and routed to a digital signal processor for processing the signal. The signal is reduced by pulse width modulation and the reduced amount of energy is outputted, thereby yielding an energy savings for an end user. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20140368173 | POWER CONVERSION APPARATUS - A power conversion apparatus includes first, second, third, and fourth switching elements. In a first period, the second and third switching elements are switched ON, and first and fourth switching elements are alternately switched ON/OFF. In a second period, the first and fourth switching elements are switched ON, and the second and third switching elements are alternately switched ON/OFF. In a third period, the first and second switching elements are switched ON, and the third and fourth switching elements are switched OFF. The power conversion apparatus provides a release path for inductive energy accumulated in a reactor. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20150054475 | SIGNAL GENERATION DEVICE AND SIGNAL GENERATION METHOD - A signal generation device and a signal generation method may measure leakage currents, such as an input current value I and phase-shifted current values I cos θ and I sin θ in a short period of time and automatically output the detected values without calculating a vector of a phase difference. The signal generation device generates logical signals from a voltage waveform and a current waveform of a measured power line through first and second comparators, sets parameters, full-wave rectifies the current waveform, and performs quantization transform on the full-wave rectified current waveform using a successive ΔΣADC. | 02-26-2015 |
| 20150061611 | BOOTSTRAP REFRESH CONTROL CIRCUIT, POWER CONVERTER AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - A power converter having a bootstrap refresh control circuit and a method for controlling the power converter. The bootstrap refresh control circuit is configured to monitor a bootstrap voltage across a bootstrap capacitor and to provide an enhanced high side driving signal to a high side switch of the power converter. The bootstrap refresh control circuit is further configured to controlling the charging of the bootstrap capacitor through regulating the on and off switching of the high side switch and a low side switch based on the bootstrap voltage. The bootstrap refresh control circuit can refresh the bootstrap voltage in time to support driving the high side switch normally, without causing large spikes in an output voltage of the power converter and without influencing the power conversion efficiency of the power converter. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150084605 | ZERO CURRENT DETECTOR AND DC-DC CONVERTER USING SAME - A DC-DC converter includes a zero current detector. The DC-DC converter includes a high-side switch and a low-side switch. When the DC-DC converter works in a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). The zero current detector detects a zero current a detection node which is arranged between the high-side switch and the low-side switch generates the zero current, the zero current detector outputs the control signal to a driver. The driver switches the high-side switch and the low-side switch off simultaneously according to the control signal. | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150091536 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A semiconductor device includes: first and second switching elements connected in series through a switching node; a pulse control unit that pulse-controls switching operations of the first and the second switching elements; an inductor that outputs an output voltage from a second end, a first end of the inductor being coupled to the switching node; a detection unit that detects that an inductor current flowing through the inductor is zero; and a first determination unit that determines that an operation mode of an external circuit to which the output voltage is supplied is a second mode when a period during which the inductor current is zero is longer than a first reference period, a power consumption in the second mode being smaller than that in a first mode. | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150115908 | Phase Offset Compensation for Multiphase DC-DC Converter - The present document relates to multiphase DC-DC power converters. In particular, the present document relates to the compensation of the phase offset incurred in multiphase DC-DC power converters which are controlled based on coil current zero crossing. A control circuit for a multiphase power converter is described. The multiphase power converter comprises a first and a second constituent switched-mode power converter, wherein the first and second constituent power converters provide first and second phase currents, respectively. The first and second phase currents contribute to a joint load current of the multiphase power converter. The first and second constituent power converters comprise first and second half bridges with first and second high side switches and first and second low side switches, respectively. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150115909 | Zero Voltage Switching - A method for providing non-resonant zero-voltage switching in a switching power converter. The switching power converter converts power from input power to output power during multiple periodic switching cycles. The switching power converter includes a main switch and an auxiliary capacitor adapted for connecting to the main switch, and an inductor connectible to the auxiliary capacitor. When the main switch is on, a previously charged (or previously discharged) auxiliary capacitor is connected to the main switch with auxiliary switches. The main switch is switched off with zero voltage while discharging non-resonantly (charging) the auxiliary capacitor by providing a current path to the inductor. The auxiliary capacitor is disconnected from the main switch. The voltage of the auxiliary capacitor is charged and discharged alternatively during subsequent switching cycles. The voltage of the auxiliary capacitor stays substantially the same until the subsequent turn off of the main switch during the next switching cycle with substantially no energy loss in the auxiliary capacitor. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150137775 | CONTROL CIRCUIT APPLICABLE TO POWER CONVERTER AND OPERATION METHOD THEREOF - A control circuit includes an auxiliary pin for receiving an auxiliary voltage of an auxiliary winding of a power converter; a first detection unit for detecting a first time point when the auxiliary voltage begins resonance, and outputting a first detection signal according to the first time point; a second detection unit for detecting a second time point when the auxiliary voltage reaches a predetermined voltage, and outputting a second detection signal according to the second time point; a delay time controller for obtaining a delay time according to a output time difference between the first detection signal and the second detection signal, and outputting a driving signal with delay of the delay time when receiving the second detection signal; and a gate control signal generator for generating a gate control signal to a power switch of the power converter according to the driving signal of the delay time controller. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150295505 | AC LOAD DETECTION AND CONTROL UNIT - Devices and methods for controlling a state of a load powered by an AC power source include a control unit having a memory, a processor coupled to the memory, a current sensor, a relay and a phase detector. The current sensor detects whether current is drawn by the load. The processor is configured to receive from the current sensor a state indication including whether current is drawn by the load. The processor may store the received state indication in the memory. The phase detector detects a zero-crossing point of the AC power source and provides that indication to the processor. In response to receiving the state indication, the processor is configured to activate the relay to change a phase of current to the load using the zero-crossing point detected by the phase detector in order to limit current flowing to the load in order to remotely turn off the load. | 10-15-2015 |
| 20150311800 | POWER CONVERTING APPARATUS, CONTROL DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING POWER CONVERTING APPARATUS - A power converting apparatus is provided. The power converting apparatus includes a power converter configured to output a voltage to a load, and a controller configured to output a PWM signal which is generated in response to a voltage command to the power converter. The power converter includes a plurality of switching elements driven based on the PWM signal. The controller is configured to generate the PWM signal such that a first period during which a zero voltage is outputted and a second period during which a non-zero voltage is outputted are adjusted according to the voltage command. The controller is allowed to output the PWM signal which is set such that one first period and one or more second periods exist within an updating cycle of the voltage command, to the power converter. | 10-29-2015 |
| 20150318785 | Method and Apparatus for an Adaptive Threshold of a Zero Crossing Comparator Based on the Current in the Parasitic Bipolar Transistors - A buck converter device with a zero-cross comparator with an adaptive threshold. The buck converter comprises of a control block that controls a first p-channel MOSFET switch, and a second n-channel MOSFET switch. The p-channel MOSFET switch and the n-channel MOSFET switch provide a sense signal utilizing parasitic bipolar junction transistors. The p-channel MOSFET provides a sense current for the pnp parasitic bipolar junction transistor, The n-channel MOSFET provides a sense current for the npn parasitic bipolar junction transistor. The sense current is stored on a capacitor, and establishes an adaptive offset adjustment to a zero-cross comparator. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150349653 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SAFE SWITCHING IN AN AC-TO-AC CONVERTER - A system and method for controlling switching in an AC-AC converter is disclosed. A controller for the AC-AC converter determines a direction of current flow on supply lines that provide AC power to the AC-AC converter and determines a switching pattern for each of a plurality of line-side switches and each of a plurality of floating-neutral side switches in the AC-AC converter based on the determined direction of current flow on each of the supply lines. The controller causes the line-side switches and the floating-neutral side switches to operate in an ON or OFF condition according to the determined switching pattern, such that a controlled current flow is output from the AC-AC converter. The controller also implements a safe-switching routine when transitioning from a first switching pattern to a second switching pattern that prevents a non-zero current from being interrupted during the transitioning between the first and second switching patterns. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150381043 | SMPS WITH OUTPUT RIPPLE REDUCTION CONTROL AND METHOD THEREOF - A SMPS has a switch, an inductor, a zero current detection circuit for detecting the current flowing through the inductor, a load judgment circuit and a control signal generating circuit. The load judgment circuit is coupled to the zero current detection circuit and provides a plurality of status signals based on a zero current duration of the inductor current. The control signal generating circuit generates a control signal which transits from a first state to a second state when a feedback signal satisfies a preset condition, and the control signal transits from the second state to the first state after an on time of the switch, and wherein the on time is controlled based on the plurality of status signals. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20160056808 | SWITCHING POWER CONVERTER INPUT VOLTAGE APPROXIMATE ZERO CROSSING DETERMINATION - In at least one embodiment, the controller senses a leading edge, phase cut AC input voltage value to a switching power converter during a cycle of the AC input voltage. The controller senses the voltage value at a time prior to a zero crossing of the AC input voltage and utilizes the voltage value to determine the approximate zero crossing. In at least one embodiment, by determining an approximate zero crossing of the AC input voltage, the controller is unaffected by any disturbances of the dimmer that could otherwise make detecting the zero crossing problematic. The particular way of determining an approximate zero crossing is a matter of design choice. In at least one embodiment, the controller approximates the AC input voltage using a function that estimates a waveform of the AC input voltage and determines the approximate zero crossing of the AC input voltage from the approximation of the AC input voltage. | 02-25-2016 |
| 20160065068 | BUCK CONVERTER WITH A STABILIZED SWITCHING FREQUENCY - A switchable buck-converter with zero voltage switching capability includes a non-linear inductor having an inductance as a function of a load current to allow for a constant switching frequency operation of the switchable buck-converter. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160105103 | SWITCHING CONTROLLING CIRCUIT, CONVERTER USING THE SAME, AND SWITCHING CONTROLLING METHOD - The converter includes: a switching unit; an energy storing unit storing energy from direct current input power and then generating an output voltage according to a switching operation of the switching unit; and a switching controlling unit turning on the switching unit when a voltage between one end of the switching unit and the other end thereof reaches a zero point of a resonance waveform, wherein the switching controlling unit includes: a voltage detecting unit detecting the voltage one end of the switching unit and the other end thereof in case of a resonance waveform; a first comparator comparing the voltage detected by the voltage detecting unit with a predetermined first reference voltage corresponding to the zero point of the resonance waveform and outputting a first signal according to a comparison result; and a switching driving unit turning on the switching unit in response to the first signal. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20160105104 | SWITCHING CONTROLLING CIRCUIT, CONVERTER USING THE SAME, AND SWITCHING CONTROLLING METHOD - A converter includes a switching unit; an energy storage unit storing energy from DC input power and then generating an output voltage, depending on a switching operation of the switching unit; and a switching control unit turning on the switching unit when a voltage between one terminal and the other terminal of the switching unit reaches a lowest point of a resonance waveform. The switching control unit includes a voltage detection unit detecting the voltage between the one terminal and the other terminal at the time of the resonance waveform; a first signal output unit outputting a first signal when the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit reaches a change point of a slope corresponding to the lowest point of the resonance waveform; and a switching driving unit turning on the switching unit in response to the first signal. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20160111955 | CONVERTER - Disclosed herein is a converter including a switching unit, an energy storage unit for storing energy from a direct current (DC) input voltage and then generating an output voltage according to a switching operation of the switching unit, and a switching controller for controlling the switching unit to selectively execute a first operation mode for turning on the switching unit at a fixed frequency or a second operation mode for turning on the switching unit when a voltage between one end and the other end of the switching unit reaches a zero point of a resonance waveform, wherein the switching controller includes an operation mode selection unit for selectively executing the first operation mode or the second operation mode according to whether the voltage between one end and the other end of the switching unit resonates. | 04-21-2016 |
| 20160118888 | SOFT START CONTROLLER OF A CONVERTER - A DC-to-DC converter includes first and second switches. If on, the first switch provides a signal path through a common node to an output voltage node. If on, the second switch provides a signal path through the common node to the output voltage node. Control logic provides first and second control signals to control the first and second switches. A node produces a first voltage that ramps up from zero during initialization, and a soft start controller controls the second control signal while the first voltage is not greater than a predefined level. While the first voltage is not greater than the predefined level, the soft start controller keeps the second control signal at a higher level to maintain on the second switch, and transitions the second control signal to a lower level only when the first control signal transitions from a lower level to a higher level. | 04-28-2016 |
| 20160134185 | Current Zero-Cross Detection Device, Signal Acquisition Circuit, and Circuit System - Disclosed are a current zero-cross detection device, zero-cross current signal acquisition circuit and totem pole bridgeless circuit system. The current zero-cross detection device includes a current transformer, first sampling switch, second sampling switch, sampling resister, comparator. The current transformer includes a primary winding and a secondary winding; the primary winding is connected to a circuit to be detected; two ends of the secondary winding are connected respectively to drain electrodes of the first and second sampling switches; source electrodes of first and second sampling switches are connected to ground; two ends of the sampling resistor are connected respectively to the drain electrode and source electrode of the second sampling switch; the negative input end of the comparator is connected to the drain electrode of the second sampling switch, its positive input end is connected to a reference voltage; the first and second sampling switches are in ON or OFF state. | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160149493 | CONTROL CIRCUIT, CONTROL METHOD AND SWITCH-TYPE CONVERTER - A control circuit configured to control a power stage circuit of a switch-type converter can include: a current detection circuit configured to detect whether an inductor current rises to a first threshold value during an on time of a first switch, and to detect whether the inductor current is greater than a second threshold value when an on time of a second switch is greater than or equal to a current detection blanking time, where the power stage circuit includes the first and second switches and the inductor; and a logic circuit configured to deactivate a first switch control signal and to activate a second switch control signal when the inductor current rises to the first threshold value such that the first switch remains off and the second switch remains on during a regulation time. | 05-26-2016 |
| 20160149505 | INDUCTIVE CLAMPING CIRCUIT - A power control circuit includes a solid state power controller operable to connect an AC power source to a load. The solid state power controller includes a first switching device and a second switching device arranged serially. Each of the switching devices includes a diode, a controller controllably coupled to each of the first switching device and the second switching device, such that the controller is capable of controlling an on/off state of the first switching device and the second switching device. The controller further includes a non-transitory memory storing instructions for causing the controller to perform the steps of: switching off a first switching device having a diode aligned with a current polarity of an AC current flow prior to a first zero crossing, delaying a switching off of a second switching device until after the first zero crossing, and switching the second switching device off after the delay and before a second zero crossing. | 05-26-2016 |
| 20160172979 | ZERO-CROSSING DETECTION CIRCUIT AND SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY THEREOF | 06-16-2016 |
| 20160181919 | GATE DRIVER INITIATED ZERO VOLTAGE SWITCH TURN ON | 06-23-2016 |
| 20160380540 | SWITCH CONTROL CIRCUIT AND BUCK CONVERTER COMPRISING THE SAME - A buck converter includes a power switch having a first end to receive an input voltage, a synchronous switch connected between a second end of the power switch and the ground, an inductor having a first end connected to the other end of the power switch, and a switch control circuit configured to turn off the synchronous switch when a zero voltage delay time passes after an inductor current flowing through the inductor reaches a predetermined reference value, calculate a dead time based on the input voltage and the zero voltage delay time, and turn on the power switch when the dead time passes following the turn-off time of the synchronous switch. | 12-29-2016 |
| 20160380542 | SWITCH CONTROL CIRCUIT AND BUCK CONVERTER INCLUDING THE SAME - A buck converter includes a power switch having one end to which an input voltage is transferred, a synchronous switch connected between the other end of the power switch and the ground, an inductor having an end connected to the other end of the power switch, and a switch control circuit configured to calculate a zero voltage delay time based on at least an ON time of the power switch and a delay time. The delay time is determined based on the inductor and parasitic capacitors of the power switch and the synchronous switch. | 12-29-2016 |
| 20170237332 | Power Converter with Zero-Voltage Switching Control | 08-17-2017 |
