# US 10,320,301 B2 · Power converter responsive to device connection status > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,320,301 B2 - Document ID: US10320301B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/705,389 - Filed: 2017-09-15 - Published: 2019-03-21 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-15 - Assignees: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC - Applicants: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC - Inventors: BongGeun Chung; Gwanbon Koo; Taesung Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10320301B2 ## CPC - H02M 3/33523: {with galvanic isolation between input and output of both the power stage and the feedback loop} - H02M 1/08: Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters - H02M 1/0032: {Control circuits allowing low power mode operation, e.g. in standby mode} - H02M 1/0048: {Circuits or arrangements for reducing losses (using snubbers H02M1/34)} - H02M 1/36: Means for starting or stopping converters - Y02B 70/10: Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract Various embodiments of apparatuses, systems, and methods for controlling the operating status of a power converter during, a standby mode, a powered mode, and a transition from the standby mode to the powered mode is described. For at least one embodiment, a power converter includes a primary controller and a secondary controller wherein the primary controller includes a first circuit configured to initiate a transition from standby mode to powered mode upon receipt of a wake-up signal and wherein the first circuit is powered during standby mode. For at least one embodiment, the first circuit is powered during a transition from a standby mode to a powered mode by voltages induced in a third coil of a transformer by a device battery powering a second coil of the transformer. For one embodiment, an IMIN controller is utilized to control output currents during transitions from standby to powered mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power converter, comprising: a primary controller configured to control an operating status of a first coil of a transformer during a standby mode, a powered mode, and a transition from the standby mode to the powered mode, the primary controller comprising: a primary switch controller and driver circuit; and a first circuit configured to initiate transition of the primary switch controller and driver circuit from the standby mode to the powered mode upon receipt of a wake-up signal; wherein the first circuit is a first wake-up circuit that is powered during standby mode; and a secondary controller, electrically connected to a second coil of the transformer, comprising: a second circuit configured to detect a connecting of a device to the power converter; wherein the second circuit is configured to detect the connecting of the device to the power converter by monitoring voltage potential changes arising across a voltage divider circuit; and wherein the power converter and the device form the voltage divider circuit when the device is electrically connected to the power converter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, wherein the second circuit is a secondary wake-up circuit; wherein the secondary controller is powered by the device during the transition from the standby mode to the powered mode; wherein the secondary controller is configured to output the wake-up signal when the device is connected to the power converter; and wherein the primary switch controller and driver circuit is not powered during standby mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The power converter of claim 2, comprising: an opto-coupler configured to transmit the wake-up signal from the secondary controller to the primary controller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The power converter of claim 3, wherein the secondary wake-up circuit is configured to detect the connecting of the device to the secondary controller upon receipt of a device wake-up signal. ### Claim 5 A power converter, comprising: a primary controller configured to control an operating status of a first coil of a transformer during a standby mode, a powered mode, and a transition from the standby mode to the powered mode, the primary controller comprising: a primary switch controller and driver circuit; and a first circuit configured to initiate transition of the primary switch controller and driver circuit from the standby mode to the powered mode upon receipt of a wake-up signal; wherein the first circuit is a first wake-up circuit that is powered during standby mode; and a secondary controller, electrically connected to a second coil of the transformer, comprising: a second circuit configured to detect a connecting of a device to the power converter; wherein the secondary controller is configured for use with an electrical circuit formed with the device, wherein the electrical circuit includes: a detecting circuit configured to detect formation of an electrical connection between the device and the power converter; and a signaling circuit configured to operate a device switch; wherein the electrical circuit is configured to provide the secondary controller with electrical power from a device battery when the device switch is closed by the signaling circuit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The power converter of claim 5, wherein at least one of the detecting circuit and the signaling circuit is provided by the device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The power converter of claim 5, wherein the second circuit is a secondary wake-up circuit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The power converter of claim 5, wherein the secondary controller is powered by the device during the transition from the standby mode to the powered mode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The power converter of claim 5, wherein the secondary controller is configured to output the wake-up signal when the device is connected to the power converter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The power converter of claim 5, wherein the primary switch controller and driver circuit is not powered during standby mode. ### Claim 11 A power converter, comprising: a primary controller configured to control an operating status of a first coil of a transformer during a standby mode, a powered mode, and a transition from the standby mode to the powered mode, the primary controller comprising: a primary switch controller and driver circuit; and a first circuit configured to initiate transition of the primary switch controller and driver circuit from the standby mode to the powered mode upon receipt of a wake-up signal; wherein the first circuit is a first wake-up circuit that is powered during standby mode; and a secondary controller, electrically connected to a second coil of the transformer, comprising: a second circuit configured to detect a connecting of a device to the power converter; wherein the second circuit is configured to detect the connecting of the device to the power converter by monitoring voltage potential changes arising across a voltage divider circuit formed by the power convert and the device; wherein the secondary controller is configured to perform the operations of: detecting the connection of the device to the power converter; receiving power from a device battery; and transmitting the wake-up signal to the primary controller; wherein during transition between standby mode and powered mode the primary controller is configured to perform the operation of: stabilizing operation of the power converter until an applied voltage signal increases to a desired voltage level; wherein powered mode occurs upon the applied voltage signal reaching the desired voltage level; and wherein during powered mode, the power converter provides an output power to the device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The power converter of claim 11, wherein the secondary controller is configured to perform the operation of: detecting a change in an arbitrary device potential upon attachment of the device to the power converter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The power converter of claim 11, wherein the operation of receiving power from the device battery occurs upon closing of a device switch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The power converter of claim 11, wherein the operation of transmitting the wake-up signal to the primary controller comprises: receiving a device wake-up signal; providing the device wake-up signal to a secondary wake-up circuit; and closing a circuit enabling transmission of the wake-up signal to the primary controller. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The power converter of claim 11, wherein the operation of stabilizing operation of the power converter until an applied voltage signal increases to a desired voltage level comprises: providing power to the primary switch controller and driver circuit; wherein, during standby mode, power is not provided to the primary switch controller and driver circuit; and wherein, during powered mode, the primary switch controller and driver circuit cycle a primary switch connected to the first coil of the transformer of the power converter to generate the output power at a desired output voltage and at a desired output current. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The power converter of claim 11, wherein the power converter is configured to detect disconnection of the device from the power converter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The power converter of claim 16, wherein the power converter detects disconnection of the device from the power converter by at least one of: detecting, by the primary controller, in at least one of the applied voltage signal and a scaled primary voltage signal, a drop in a primary current through the first coil of the transformer in the power converter; detecting, by the secondary controller, no load request from the device over at least one duty cycle; and receiving, by the secondary controller, an inverse device wake-up signal from the device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The power converter of claim 11, wherein the operation of detecting the connection of the device to the power converter occurs upon at least one of: the secondary controller detecting a change in an arbitrary device potential; and the device connecting the device battery to the secondary controller by closing a device switch. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The power converter of claim 18, wherein the device switch remains closed during the transition from standby mode to powered mode.