Electricity: power supply or regulation systems inventions 06/09

20090160410 - Real time clock (rtc) voltage regulator and method of regulating an rtc voltage: A real time clock (RTC) voltage regulator, a method of regulating an RTC voltage and a power management integrated circuit (PMIC). In one embodiment, an RTC voltage regulator includes a current source configured to provide a first current and a voltage regulator having a common gate amplifier and a power... Agent: Texas Instruments Incorporated

20090160411 - Fast voltage regulators for charge pumps: A digital multilevel memory system includes a charge pump and a voltage regulator for generating regulated high voltages for various memory operations. The charge pump may include a plurality of boost circuits to boost the output of the charge pump during a fast start up. Afterwards, the boost circuits are... Agent: Dla Piper LLP (us )

20090160413 - Method and arrangement for the power supply of an induction heating device: In order to increase the power of an induction heating device or in order to avoid system reactions when driving the latter, either the pulse widths of the two switching means can be made unsymmetrical in the case of half-bridge driving up to the half-point of a half-cycle. Alternatively, a... Agent: Alston & Bird LLP

20090160412 - Methods and systems for control of switches in power regulators/power amplifiers: Systems and methods for controlling timing of switches in power regulator/power amplifiers.... Agent: Burns & Levinson, LLP

20090160414 - Comparator-system dc-dc converter: The comparator-system DC-DC converter 1 comprises the voltage conversion section 100 and the control unit 200. The control unit 200 comprises comparator sections 20 and 40 which compare the output voltage of the voltage conversion section 100 and the reference voltage, and determine a predetermined ON width of the ON... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20090160415 - Method and apparatus to control a power supply for high efficiency: A power supply control circuit is disclosed. In one aspect, a power supply control circuit includes a controller to be coupled to a switch to regulate an output of a power supply in response to a feedback signal and a parameter change signal. A parameter response circuit is coupled to... Agent: Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman LLP

20090160416 - Dc-dc converter: A DC-DC converter generates an optimal slope compensation voltage in response to input and output voltages, thus capable of maintaining its operational stability even when a dynamic range of the output voltage is widen. The DC-DC converter compares an error voltage corresponding to a difference between a feedback voltage of... Agent: Volentine & Whitt PLLC

20090160417 - Current limiting device for plasma power supply: The current (Iout) flowing between a plasma chamber and a power supply is limited by limiting the current change di/dt if the current exceeds a predetermined current. A current change limiting device is provided in the current path between the power supply and the plasma chamber and is configured to... Agent: Fish & Richardson PC

20090160418 - Dc-dc converter: A DC-DC converter includes a reference voltage generation circuit. The reference voltage generation circuit generates a reference voltage for determination of the pulse width of a drive signal to be supplied to a switching circuit. The reference voltage generation circuit includes a current sensing circuit. The current sensing circuit has... Agent: Volentine & Whitt PLLC

20090160419 - Start-up circuit for reference voltage generation circuit: Embodiments relate to a start-up circuit for a reference voltage generation circuit. According to embodiments, a start-up circuit may include a start-up start unit allowing current to flow in the reference voltage generation circuit to initiate a start-up process in response to a start-up start signal, a reference current generation... Agent: Sherr & Vaughn, PLLC

20090160420 - Differential current mirror circuit: A differential current mirror circuit includes: a first branching unit that branches current through a first current input terminal to a first current path and a second current path; a second branching unit that branches current through a second current input terminal to a third current path and a fourth... Agent: Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

20090160421 - Multi-regulator power delivery system for asic cores: An electronic product includes an application specific semiconductor chip (ASIC) device which includes in its circuitry both a linear regulator module configured to be coupled to an optional external capacitance and a capless regulator module configured to be coupled to internal capacitance of the electronic product. Control logic of the... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/sandisk

20090160422 - Boost converter with adaptive coil peak current: A power conversion circuit operates in a discontinuous switching mode over a wide range of loading conditions and varies a coil peak current to maintain efficiency over the wide range of loading conditions. The coil peak current is adjustable based at least in part on a feedback signal generated in... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20090160423 - Self-configurable multi-regulator asic core power delivery: An electronic product includes an application specific semiconductor circuit (ASIC) including in its circuitry both a linear regulator module for use with an optional external capacitance and a capless regulator module coupled to internal capacitance of the product. The capless regulator module includes both a low-power sub-module and a high-power... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/sandisk

20090160424 - High-voltage power supply device and image forming apparatus having same: A high-voltage power supply device includes a circuit board having a piezoelectric transformer; a frequency-controlled oscillator for generating a frequency signal that drives the piezoelectric transformer in accordance with a control signal; a switching element connected to a primary side of the piezoelectric transformer for performing a switching operation in... Agent: Fitzpatrick Cella Harper & Scinto

20090153107 - Method and apparatus for regulating electrical power from a non-perpetual power source: A method and system for regulating electrical power from a non-perpetual power source. In one implementation, the method includes receiving a variable power output from the non-perpetual power source, wherein a power amplitude of the variable power output substantially varies over time; and generating a regulated current output or a... Agent: Patterson & Sheridan, L.L.P.

20090153108 - Power management efficiency using dc-dc and linear regulators in conjunction: A power management unit for improving power efficiency of an electronic device. The power management unit includes a first and a second stage power regulator and a control circuitry. The first stage power regulator includes a switching regulator to efficiently adjust an input voltage based on a feedback signal. The... Agent: Murabito Hao & Barnes LLP

20090153109 - Multi-cell voltage regulator: In some embodiments, the number of active cells in a multi-cell voltage regulator is controlled so that the current-per-active-cell approaches a predefined target or to be within an acceptable range so that the active cells operate with suitable efficiency.... Agent: Erik Nordstrom Intel Corporation

20090153110 - Control method for multi-phase dc-dc controller and multi-phase dc-dc controller: A multi-phase DC-DC controller. The multi-phase DC-DC controller comprises converter channels, a channel control device and a power control device. Each converter channel comprises a switch device, a first output node and an inductor coupled between the switch device and the first output node. The channel control device generates adjusted... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20090153111 - Switching power converter with reduced switching losses: A switching power converter has at least one electronic power switch. To minimize switching losses and optimize efficiency, the gate drive voltage level used to drive the electronic power switch is optimized. In an aspect, a digital controller generates optimizes the gate drive voltage using efficiency optimization algorithms, which in... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20090153112 - Linear step-down voltage regulator: A linear step-down voltage regulator is provided. The linear step-down voltage regulator is grounded with a ground terminal. The ground terminal is electrically connected to a digital ground terminal of a switching circuit. The linear step-down voltage regulator includes a pass element, a voltage dividing resistor, an error amplifier, a... Agent: J C Patents, Inc.

20090153113 - Apparatus, method and system for control of ac/ac conversion: A method, system and apparatus for controlling a pulse width modulator (PMW) converter for direct AC/AC conversion and/or AC voltage regulation. According to some embodiments of the invention, an output voltage may be provided, independent of the input voltage quality, thereby avoiding or minimizing power company irregularities, brownouts and the... Agent: Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer, LLP

20090153115 - Dc-dc converter drive circuit which has step up mode and step down mode: A switching signal for load power control undergoes a logic change on the basis of a reference power supply potential by a controller responding to a load power feed control sense signal, and a reference signal. The sense signal in a first operation mode is converted from a load power... Agent: Mcginn Intellectual Property Law Group, PLLC

20090153114 - Dc-dc converters with transient response control: A DC-DC converter used to convert an input voltage to an output voltage is disclosed. The DC-DC converter comprises a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) generator, a transient boost circuit, a logic circuit, a switching device, and a buck circuit. The pulse-width-modulation (PWM) generator generates a PWM signal according to the output voltage.... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20090153117 - Load controller: A load controller includes: an input circuit which detects that a drive instruction signal is less or equal to a first input threshold value; a constant current source activated in accordance with a detection by the input circuit; a PWM signal generating unit that is activated by the constant current... Agent: Sughrue-265550

20090153119 - Method and device for measuring current for a dc-dc converter: An embodiment of a current sensing device for a DC-DC converter comprising an output node through which passes an output current and taken to an output potential equal respectively to first and second values. The current sensing device comprises an amplifying module comprising a retroaction node through which passes a... Agent: Graybeal Jackson LLP

20090153118 - Power supply controller and mechanical apparatus using the same: There is a need for improving switching regulator characteristics and providing a stable power supply controller. The power supply controller uses a battery and either or both functions of stepping up and stepping down a battery voltage. The power supply controller includes a means that prevents a ripple voltage from... Agent: Crowell & Moring LLP Intellectual Property Group

20090153116 - Switching controller and semiconductor device used in the same: According to the present invention, in a switching power supply, a feedback signal from an output voltage detection circuit 6 through a light emitting part 7-1 and a light receiving part 7-2 of a photocoupler 7 is combined with an output voltage signal VA from a tertiary winding 1-3 of... Agent: Steptoe & Johnson LLP

20090153120 - Phase doubling for switching power supply: A switching power supply control system may include logic to generate a greater number of second switching control signals in response to a first number of original switching control signals. For example, the logic may increase the number of phases that may be controlled by an existing switching power supply... Agent: Marger Johnson & Mccollom, P.C.

20090153121 - Voltage supply interface with improved current sensitivity and reduced series resistance: A voltage supply interface provides both coarse and fine current control with reduced series resistance. The voltage supply interface has a segmented switch having N component switches that are digitally controlled. The voltage supply interface replaces a conventional sense resistor with a calibration circuit that has a replica switch that... Agent: Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.l.l.c.

20090153122 - Dropper-type regulator: A dropper-type regulator capable of providing a soft start function using a simple circuit configuration. An exemplary regulator includes a first FET having a relatively high current driving capability and a second FET having a relatively low current driving capability are provided in parallel between an input terminal and an... Agent: Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP

20090153123 - Pwm controller and method therefor: In one embodiment, a PWM controller is configured to inhibit a drive signal responsively to a bulk input voltage remaining at a low value for a time interval.... Agent: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC Intellectual Property Dept. - A700

20090153124 - Dc-to-dc converter: A DC-to-DC converter includes a DC-to-DC conversion unit for converting an input voltage into an output voltage by switching operation of the switching element according to a drive signal and supplying the output voltage to a load and a control unit for generating the drive signal. The control unit includes... Agent: Mcdermott Will & Emery LLP

20090153125 - Electronic circuit: An electronic circuit is disclosed. The electronic circuit includes a bandgap circuit provided with first and second bipolar transistors that are coupled at a first node and a current mirror circuit provided with third and fourth transistors with respective control terminals coupled at a second node. The electronic circuit further... Agent: Spansion LLC C/o Murabito , Hao & Barnes LLP

20090153126 - Current mirror circuit: The present invention discloses a current mirror circuit generating an output current flowing through an output current path according to an input current flowing through an input current path. The current mirror circuit comprises a P type transistor in the output current path, an operational amplifier, and a basic circuit.... Agent: Hayes Soloway P.C.

20090153127 - Method and apparatus for external control mode step down switching regulator: A switching regulator integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed that includes a switch circuit that further includes a first switch and a second switch, a mode selector circuit controlled by external circuitry to select between a first mode and a second mode, and a control circuit. In response to a feedback... Agent: Perkins Coie LLP Patent-sea

20090153128 - Dummy battery apparatus: The invention discloses a dummy battery apparatus (30), configured for supplying power to a portable electronic device (10). The portable electronic device (10) has a circuit board (13), which sets at least one testing port (130). The dummy battery apparatus (30) defines at least one gap thereon, and the defining... Agent: PCe Industry, Inc. Att. Steven Reiss

20090146618 - Fixed-off-time power factor correction controller: A control device for a power factor correction device in forced switching power supplies is disclosed; the device for correcting the power factor comprises a converter and said control device is coupled with the converter to obtain from an input alternating line voltage a regulated output voltage. The converter comprises... Agent: Seed Intellectual Property Law Group PLLC

20090146619 - Power factor correction method for ac/dc converters and corresponding converter: An indirect and passive method for AC/DC( converter power factor correction is disclosed. The correction is achieved by stabilizing the input impedance of the converter with keeping the inversely proportional dependence between the current iconv(t) and voltage uconv(t) of the output smoothing filter (3). The necessary dependence is achieved by... Agent: Vern Maine & Associates

20090146620 - Methods and apparatus for current sensing: Methods and apparatus for current sensing according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with a current sensor adapted to sense the current provided to a load via a transistor. In one embodiment, a power supply includes the current sensor, and supplies the current through a series... Agent: The Noblitt Group, PLLC

20090146621 - Methods and apparatus for current sensing in mutually coupled inductors: Methods and apparatus for current sensing in mutually coupled inductors according to various aspects of the present invention may operate in conjunction with a control system adapted to control current through the inductors and multiple current sensors connected to the control system. Each current sensor may comprise a series combination... Agent: The Noblitt Group, PLLC

20090146622 - Phase shedding converter with ripple minimization: In an information handling system, a multi-phase electrical converter includes an electrical input, an electrical output, a plurality of converter phases coupled with the electrical input and the electrical output, and a controller to ramp operation of one or more of the converter phases as a load demand adjusts. In... Agent: Haynes And Boone, LLPIPSection

20090146623 - Dc to dc converter: A DC to DC converter comprising an inductor, first and second electrically controllable switches and a controller, wherein the first electrically controllable switch is interposed between an input node and a first terminal of the inductor and the second electrically controllable switch extends between a second terminal of the inductor... Agent: Wolf Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.

20090146624 - Shunt regulator having over-voltage protection circuit and semiconductor device including the same: A shunt regulator includes a control circuit, a bypass circuit and a protection circuit. The control circuit is coupled between a first node and a ground, and generates a gate control signal in response to a voltage of the first node and a reference voltage. The bypass circuit forms a... Agent: F. Chau & Associates, LLC

20090146625 - Voltage generating apparatus: A voltage generating apparatus including a voltage generator and a current splitter is provided. The voltage generator has an output node, and generates a first output voltage from the output node. The first output voltage rises when the temperature rises and the current flowing from the output end of the... Agent: Jianq Chyun Intellectual Property Office

20090146629 - Methods and apparatus for power supply: Methods and apparatus for supplying a load according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with an output stage and a control system driving the output stage. The control system may include a PWM controller adapted to provide a drive signal to the output stage and an... Agent: The Noblitt Group, PLLC

20090146628 - Power supply control circuit: An exemplary aspect of a power supply control circuit includes a reference voltage control circuit that applies a potential corresponding to a potential of a second power supply line to a reference voltage node connected to a control terminal of a first switch when a power supply voltage is applied... Agent: Young & Thompson

20090146626 - System and method for dissipating energy on the primary side of a bi-directional switching power supply: A system for dissipating energy in a power supply includes a bidirectional switching power output stage coupled to a primary power supply side and a secondary power supply side, the bi-directional switching power output stage configured to provide a positive voltage and a positive current, the bi-directional switching power output... Agent: Agilent Technologies Inc.

20090146627 - Voltage regulating circuit: A voltage regulating circuit including an error signal generator, a comparator, a switch unit, a low-pass filter and a modulating unit is provided. The error signal generator respectively receives a reference voltage signal and a feedback signal, and generates an error signal. The comparator respectively receives the error signal and... Agent: J C Patents, Inc.

20090146630 - Semiconductor device: A semiconductor device includes: a digital control circuit configured to supply two semiconductor switching elements connected in series in a switching power supply circuit with a pulse signal for turning on/off the semiconductor switching elements; and a dead time setting circuit configured to set a dead time in which the... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20090146631 - Step-down switching regulator: In a control circuit which turns on/off the switching device elements included in a synchronous rectifier step-down switching regulator, a hysteresis comparator compares the detection voltage that corresponds to the output voltage of the step-down switching regulator with a first threshold voltage and a second threshold voltage. A light-load detection... Agent: Cantor Colburn, LLP

20090146632 - Soft start of a switched secondary control circuit for a switched mode power supply: Usually when switched secondary control is used to regulate output voltages in a flyback converter, high peak currents through the secondary switch occur during startup. Traditional soft-start methods cannot be applied to limit these peak currents. With the inventive control circuit and method, current limiting during startup is achieved by... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20090146634 - Single integrator sensorless current mode control for a switching power converter: A single integrator sensorless current mode control scheme for a switching power converter requires an amplifier circuit which produces an first current that varies with the difference Verror between a reference voltage and a voltage that varies proportionally with Vout, a circuit which produces a second current that varies with... Agent: Koppel, Patrick, Heybl & Dawson

20090146633 - Step-up switching regulator and its control circuit and electronic apparatus employing it: A switching transistor has a source connected to the ground and a drain connected to the first terminal. The other end of an inductor whose one end is to be connected to the first terminal is connected to the second terminal. An input voltage is applied to the third terminal.... Agent: Cantor Colburn, LLP

20090146635 - System and method for improving inductor current sensing accuracy of a dc/dc voltage regulator: The DC/DC voltage converter comprises at least one switching transistor. An inductor is connected to the at least one switching transistor. A pulse width modulation circuit generates control signals to at least one switching transistor responsive to a current control signal. A current sensor connected in parallel with the inductor... Agent: Howison & Arnott, L.l.p

20090146636 - Switching element, variable inductor, and electronic circuit device having circuit configuration incorporating the switching element and the variable inductor: An inexpensive variable inductor has inductance value continuously changeable without reducing a Q value. When a control voltage is applied to a control terminal of a MOS transistor from a power supply, a continuity region is formed in a channel, and a region between main terminals becomes conductive. When the... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20090146637 - Load tap changer: A load tap changer includes a single mechanical switch that is movable to create, in a first position, a first conducting path between a first transformer tap and a load. When the switch is in a second position, the switch creates a second conducting path between a second transformer tap... Agent: Pepper Hamilton LLP

20090146638 - Micro power converter: An object of the invention is to provide a micro power converter of a step-up and step-down type without requiring more than two semiconductor switches, without increasing the size of a semiconductor chip, and without degrading efficiency. A micro power converter comprises a micro transformer composed of a planar transformer... Agent: Rabin & Berdo, PC

20090140703 - Dc-dc converter: A DC-DC converter includes a charge pump unit and a clock pulse generator unit. The charge pump unit precharges a boost node in response to a precharge clock pulse and boosts the boost node to a boosted voltage in response to a pump clock pulse. The clock pulse generator unit... Agent: Volentine & Whitt PLLC

20090140704 - Method for the operation of a wind energy plant with voltage-dependent control of a reactive electric variable which is to be provided: A method for the operation of a wind energy plant, with control of a reactive electric variable which is to be provided, wherein a desired value for the reactive electric variable is determined as follows: a first upper and/or a first lower limit value of the grid voltage is defined... Agent: Vidas, Arrett & Steinkraus, P.A.

20090140705 - Device for regulating electrical voltage: The invention relates to a device for regulating the electrical voltage in power mains, comprising a regulating transformer. Optionally interconnecting only three winding taps and a separate reactor winding with a total of four switching elements, enables five different voltage levels to be set.... Agent: K.f. Ross P.C.

20090140706 - System method and apparatus for a multi-phase dc-to-dc converter: A multiphase buck DC to DC converter with an input-output LC tank. The multiphase buck DC to DC converter with an input-output LC tank includes multiple synchronous buck DC to DC converter cells. Each one of the synchronous buck DC to DC converter cells having an input node, an output... Agent: Martine Penilla & Gencarella, LLP

20090140707 - Circuit for an active diode and method for operating an active diode: Embodiments of the invention relate to a circuit for an active diode, a method for operating an active diode, and, based thereon, an integrated active diode system, a rectifier, and a system for voltage conversion and/or regulation, comprising at least one transistor by which a current defined as positive from... Agent: Slater & Matsil LLP

20090140708 - Dc to dc converter with pseudo constant switching frequency: Various apparatuses, methods and systems for a DC to DC converter with a pseudo constant switching frequency are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments provide a DC to DC converter having a switch connected to a switching node to control a voltage of the switching node, and a switching controller... Agent: Texas Instruments Incorporated

20090140709 - Current-limiting voltage conversion device: The present invention relates to a current-limiting voltage conversion device, comprising a voltage conversion unit, a voltage signal unit, a sensor unit and a DC power loop. The voltage conversion unit and the sensor unit are electrically connected in series in the DC power loop. The voltage signal unit outputs... Agent: G. Link Co., Ltd.

20090140710 - Method and apparatus for a high voltage power supply circuit: A high voltage power supply method and apparatus is disclosed. An example power supply circuit includes a rectifier circuit coupled to receive an AC input voltage. A switchmode power converter circuit is coupled to the rectifier circuit to receive a rectified input voltage to generate a regulated output voltage. A... Agent: Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman LLP

20090140711 - Switching regulator with balanced control configuration with filtering and referencing to eliminate compensation: A controller for a switching regulator is disclosed including a sense circuit, an error amplifier circuit, a filter and reference circuit, and a comparator circuit. The switching regulator includes a pulse switch circuit coupled to an output inductor for developing an output voltage. The sense circuit provides a sense signal... Agent: Huffman Law Group, P.C.

20090140712 - Self-supply circuit and method for a voltage converter: An embodiment of a self-supply circuit, for a voltage converter that converts an input voltage into an output voltage and has a main switch and a controller, designed to control switching of the main switch for controlling the output voltage; the self-supply circuit is provided with: a charge accumulator, which... Agent: Graybeal Jackson LLP

20090140713 - Regulator circuit for testing inherent performance of an integrated circuit: In testing the function of an integrated circuit which includes a power voltage regulator for smoothing a power voltage received on an input terminal so as to reach an adjustment target voltage level, and a voltage adjuster for adjusting the voltage level, the voltage adjuster being interconnected to a wiring... Agent: Volentine & Whitt PLLC

20090140714 - Start-up circuit for generating bandgap reference voltage: Disclosed is a start-up circuit that can stably and rapidly start up a bandgap reference voltage generating circuit when the bandgap reference voltage generating circuit is switched from a sleep mode to an operation mode, even if a difference in electrical characteristic, such as DC offset or the like, occurs... Agent: Workman Nydegger 1000 Eagle Gate Tower

20090140715 - Safety mechanisms, wake up and shutdown methods in distributed power installations: A distributed power system including multiple DC power sources and multiple power modules. The power modules include inputs coupled respectively to the DC power sources and outputs coupled in series to form a serial string. An inverter is coupled to the serial string. The inverter converts power input from the... Agent: Nixon Peabody, LLP

20090140716 - Circuit arrangement for generating a pulse width modulated signal for driving electrical loads: a controlled current sink, connected to the capacitive filter, and adapted to operate as a sink of the current created by the discharge of the energy stored by the capacitive filter, which is switched to an activated state when the voltage control/switch device is non-conducting and is switched to an... Agent: Collard & Roe, P.C.