# US 2019/0245449 A1 · 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 2019/0245449 A1 - Document ID: US20190245449A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/390,396 - Filed: 2019-04-22 - Published: 2019-08-08 - 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/US20190245449A1 ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power converter, comprising: a transformer having a first coil, a second coil and a third coil; wherein the first coil and the third coil are located on a primary side of the transformer and the first coil is selectively electrically connectable to a power source; wherein the second coil is located on a secondary side of the transformer and is selectively electrically connectable to an adaptive device; a secondary switch configured to selectively electrically connect the second coil with the adaptive device; and a secondary controller configured to control an operating state of the secondary switch; wherein during a secondary switch first operating state, the secondary switch permits conduction of electricity from the adaptive device through the second coil; wherein during a secondary switch second operating state, the secondary switch inhibits conduction of electricity from the adaptive device through the second coil; and wherein the secondary controller controls operating states of the secondary switch based upon a device signal received from the adaptive device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, wherein the power converter is configured to operate, at any given time, in one of at least of a standby mode, a transition mode and a powered mode; wherein during the standby mode, the power converter does not provide electrical power to the adaptive device; wherein during the powered mode, the power converter provides electrical power to the adaptive device; and wherein during the transition mode, the power converter transitions from the standby mode to the powered mode; and wherein the secondary controller is configured to control operating states of the secondary switch based upon a then desired operating mode for the power converter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The power converter of claim 2, wherein the secondary controller is powered by the adaptive device during the transition mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The power converter of claim 3, wherein during the standby mode, the secondary controller configures the secondary switch [S2] into the secondary switch second operating state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The power converter of claim 4, wherein during the standby mode, the secondary controller periodically toggles the secondary switch between the second switch first operating state and the second switch second operating state to provide a trickle charge to the adaptive device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The power converter of claim 5, comprising: a first switch configured to selectively electrically connect the first coil with the power source; a primary controller configured to: control an operating state of the first switch; receive a third coil signal generated by the third coil, and detect changes in the third coil signal; wherein during a first switch first operating state, the first switch permits conduction of electricity from the power source through the first coil during two or more switching cycles; wherein during a first switch second operating state, the first switch inhibits conduction of electricity from the power source through the first coil; and wherein during the standby mode, the primary controller configures the first switch into the first switch second operating state; and monitors the third coil signal for a detectable change in the third coil signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The power converter of claim 6, wherein the detectable change in the third coil signal arises upon the second switch being configured from the secondary switch second operating state into the secondary switch first operating state. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The power converter of claim 2, comprising: a first switch configured to selectively electrically connect the first coil with the power source; a primary switch driver configured to control an operating state of the first switch; and a primary wake-up circuit configured to detect a change in a third coil signal generated by the third coil; wherein upon detecting the change in the third coil signal, the primary wake-up circuit instructs the primary switch driver to begin controlling the operating state of the first switch such that an output power provided by the power converter to the adaptive device has at least one of a constant voltage and a constant current over two or more switching cycles. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The power converter of claim 2, wherein during the powered mode; the first coil induces an output voltage and an output current in the second coil; wherein the output voltage and the output current provide electrical power to the adaptive device; and the secondary controller controls a duty cycle of the secondary switch by periodically configuring the secondary switch between the secondary switch first operating state and the secondary switch second operating state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The power converter of claim 9, wherein the secondary switch comprises a MOSFET transistor having a body diode with a conduction loss when the MOSFET is configured into the secondary switch second operating state; and wherein the secondary controller controls the duty cycle of the secondary switch to minimize the conduction loss. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The power converter of claim 9, comprising: a first switch configured to selectively electrically connect the first coil with the power source; wherein during a first switch first operating state, the first switch permits conduction of electricity from the power source through the first coil over two or more switching cycles; wherein during a first switch second operating state, the first switch inhibits conduction of electricity from the power source through the first coil; a primary controller configured to control an operating state of the first switch; and a feedback circuit configured to communicate, to the primary controller, a feedback signal corresponding to the output voltage and the output current; wherein the feedback signal is utilized by the primary controller to control the two or more switching cycles of the first switch during the first switch first operating state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The power converter of claim 1, wherein the secondary controller configures the secondary switch into the secondary switch first operating state upon receiving a device wake-up signal from the adaptive device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The power converter of claim 12, wherein the device wake-up signal is received after establishment of an electrical connection between the adaptive device and the power converter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The power converter of claim 13, wherein the adaptive device has an associated adaptive device resistance; wherein the secondary controller comprises a third secondary port electrically grounded via a first resistance; wherein the secondary controller is configured to detect the establishment of an electrical connection between the adaptive device and the power converter, via the third secondary port, by detecting a change occurring in a voltage potential at the third secondary port when the secondary port is connected to a voltage divider circuit formed by the adaptive device resistance and the first resistance. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The power converter of claim 2, comprising: a first switch configured to selectively electrically connect the first coil with the power source; wherein during a first switch first operating state, the first switch permits conduction of electricity from the power source through the first coil over two or more switching cycles; wherein during a first switch second operating state, the first switch inhibits conduction of electricity from the power source through the first coil; and a primary controller configured to: control an operating state of the first switch, receive a third coil signal generated by the third coil, and detect changes in the third coil signal; wherein during the transition mode, the secondary controller configures the secondary switch into the secondary switch first operating state; the second coil induces currents in the third coil resulting in a change in the third coil signal; and the primary controller, upon detecting the change in the third coil signal, configures the first switch into the first switch first operating state. ### Claim 16 A power converter, comprising: a transformer having a first coil, a second coil and a third coil; wherein the first coil and the third coil are located on a primary side of the transformer and the first coil is selectively electrically connectable to a power source; wherein the second coil is located on a secondary side of the transformer and is selectively electrically connectable to an adaptive device; a first switch configured to selectively electrically connect the first coil with the power source; wherein during a first switch first operating state, the first switch permits conduction of electricity from the power source through the first coil over two or more switching cycles; wherein during a first switch second operating state, the first switch inhibits conduction of electricity from the power source through the first coil; and a primary controller configured to: control an operating state of the first switch, receive a third coil signal generated by the third coil, and while the first switch is configured in the first switch second operating state, detect a change in the third coil signal; and when the change in the third coil signal is detected, configure the first switch into the first switch first operating state. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The power converter of claim 16, wherein the change in the third coil signal occurs when the second coil conducts electricity provided by the adaptive device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The power converter of claim 17, wherein the third coil signal is a scaled representation of a voltage across the third coil and is proportional to the voltage across the third coil. ### Claim 19 A method for controlling transitions of a power converter from a standby mode to a powered mode, comprising: receiving a device wake-up signal from an adaptive device; configuring a secondary switch into a secondary switch first operating state, during which the secondary switch permits conduction of electricity from the adaptive device through a second coil of a transformer; detecting a change in a voltage across a third coil of the transformer; and configuring a first switch into a first switch first operating state; wherein during the first switch first operating state, the first switch selectively electrically connect a first coil of the transformer with a power source to permit conduction of electricity from the power source through the first coil over two or more switching cycles. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising: communicating a feedback signal from a secondary side to a primary side using an opto-coupler circuit; wherein a primary side of the power converter includes a primary controller, the first switch, the first coil and the third coil; wherein a secondary side of the power converter include a secondary controller, the second coil and the secondary switch; wherein the secondary controller performs the operations of receiving the device wake-up signal and configuring the secondary switch into the secondary switch first operating state; and wherein the primary controller performs the operations of detecting a change in the voltage across the third coil and configuring the first switch into the first switch first operating state.