# US 2019/0379290 A1 · Device and Method for Converting Input Voltage to Output Voltage > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0379290 A1 - Document ID: US20190379290A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/005,741 - Filed: 2018-06-12 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-12 - Assignees: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Junichi TAKADA; Mitsutomo YOSHINAGA; Toshihiro NAKANO; Koichi SHIOTSU; Satoshi FUNAKOSHI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190379290A1 ## CPC - H02M 3/33507: {with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters (H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take precedence)} - G06F 1/26: Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) - H02M 1/32: Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection - H02M 1/36: Means for starting or stopping converters - H02M 1/0006: {Arrangements for supplying an adequate voltage to the control circuit of converters} - H02M 1/0032: {Control circuits allowing low power mode operation, e.g. in standby mode} - H02M 1/0096: {Means for increasing hold-up time, i.e. the duration of time that a converter's output will remain within regulated limits following a loss of input power} - H02M 3/335: using semiconductor devices only - 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) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A device and method for controlling a power converter. The device includes an activation terminal configured to obtain a first voltage based on the input voltage; a controlling terminal configured to obtain a second voltage based on the output voltage; and a digital controller configured to obtain a driving power based on the first voltage and/or the second voltage; the digital controller is configured to obtain the driving power at least based on the first voltage when the power converter is stopped. Therefore, a sufficient driving power can be provided for the digital controller even when the power converter is stopped. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for controlling a power converter which converts an input voltage to an output voltage; wherein the device comprises: an activation terminal configured to obtain a first voltage based on the input voltage; a controlling terminal configured to obtain a second voltage based on the output voltage; and a digital controller configured to obtain a driving power based on the first voltage and/or the second voltage; wherein the digital controller is configured to obtain the driving power at least based on the first voltage when the power converter is stopped; wherein the first voltage is converted to a controlling voltage, and the controlling voltage is provided into the digital controller as the driving power when the controlling voltage is lower than or equal to a predetermined voltage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the digital controller is further configured to obtain the driving power at least based on the first voltage when the power converter is started. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the digital controller is further configured to obtain the driving power at least based on the second voltage when the power converter is working. ### Claim 4 (canceled) ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the first voltage is decreased by more than or equal to 10% to generate the controlling voltage, and/or, the controlling voltage is equal to the second voltage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the device further comprises: a switching element configured to provide the first voltage of the activation terminal to the controlling terminal when the switching element is on. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device according to claim 6, wherein the switching element is configured to be on according to an instruction from the digital controller or another controller when the power converter is stopped. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The device according to claim 6, wherein the switching element is configured to be off according to an instruction from the digital controller or another controller when the power converter is working. ### Claim 9 A device for controlling a power converter which converts an input voltage to an output voltage; wherein the device comprises: a digital controller configured to obtain a driving power to perform a controlling the power converter; a startup circuit configured to generate a controlling voltage according to an instruction from the digital controller; wherein the digital controller is configured to obtain the driving power based on the controlling voltage when the power converter is stopped, wherein the controlling voltage is provided into the digital controller as the driving power when the controlling voltage is lower than or equal to a predetermined voltage is detected. ### Claim 10 (canceled) ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The device according to claim 9, wherein the controlling voltage is provided into the digital controller as the driving power when an internal trigger signal is generated to make the digital controller to a stopping stage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The device according to claim 9, wherein the startup circuit further comprises: a switching element configured to provide the controlling voltage when the switching element is on. ### Claim 13 A method for controlling a power converter which converts an input voltage to an output voltage; wherein the method comprises: obtaining a first voltage by an activation terminal based on the input voltage; obtaining a second voltage by a controlling terminal based on the output voltage; and obtaining a driving power by a digital controller based on the first voltage and/or the second voltage; wherein the driving power is obtained at least based on the first voltage when the power converter is stopped; wherein the first voltage is converted to a controlling voltage, and the controlling voltage is provided into the digital controller as the driving power when the controlling voltage is lower than or equal to a predetermined voltage. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the driving power is obtained at least based on the first voltage when the power converter is started. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the driving power is obtained at least based on the second voltage when the power converter is working. ### Claim 16 (canceled) ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the first voltage is decreased by more than or equal to 10% to generate the controlling voltage, and/or, the controlling voltage is equal to the second voltage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the method further comprises: providing the first voltage of the activation terminal by a switching element to the controlling terminal when the switching element is on. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the switching element is configured to be on according to an instruction from the digital controller or another controller when the power converter is stopped. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the switching element is configured to be off according to an instruction from the digital controller or another controller when the power converter is working.