Panasonic has been granted a patent for a switching power supply apparatus. The apparatus includes a switching circuit and an even number of transformers. The transformers have identical cores, primary windings, and secondary windings. The primary windings of the transformers are connected in a way that allows current to flow between them, and the same applies to the secondary windings. The apparatus is designed to efficiently supply power and can be used in various applications. GlobalData’s report on Panasonic gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Panasonic, Hydrogen storage alloys was a key innovation area identified from patents. Panasonic's grant share as of September 2023 was 22%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Switching power supply apparatus with interconnected transformers and bridge circuit
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11777412B2) describes a switching power supply apparatus that includes a switching circuit and an even number of transformers. The switching circuit consists of multiple switching elements that form a bridge circuit. The transformers, specifically the first and second transformers, have identical cores and primary windings arranged around the cores. The primary windings have first and second terminals, while the secondary windings have third and fourth terminals.
In this apparatus, the primary windings of the first and second transformers are connected to each other, allowing current to flow from the first terminal of the first transformer to the second terminal of the first transformer, and from the second terminal of the second transformer to the first terminal of the second transformer. Similarly, the secondary windings of the first and second transformers are connected to each other, enabling current flow between the third and fourth terminals of both transformers.
The third terminal of the first transformer and the third terminal of the second transformer are individually connected to output terminals of the switching power supply apparatus. Additionally, the fourth terminal of the first transformer and the fourth terminal of the second transformer are connected to each other.
The patent also mentions various configurations and features of the switching power supply apparatus. For example, the first terminal of the first transformer and the first terminal of the second transformer can be individually connected to the switching circuit, while the second terminal of the first transformer and the second terminal of the second transformer are connected to each other. Alternatively, the first terminal of the first transformer and the second terminal of the second transformer can be connected to each other and further connected to the switching circuit, while the second terminal of the first transformer and the first terminal of the second transformer are connected to each other and further connected to the switching circuit.
The apparatus may also include a conductor portion positioned at predetermined distances from the first to fourth terminals of the transformers. This conductor portion can be capacitively coupled to the terminals and may include a ground conductor, a metal housing, a shield, or a heat sink.
Furthermore, the switching power supply apparatus can incorporate a noise filter to remove normal mode noise.
Overall, this patent describes a switching power supply apparatus with specific transformer configurations and various connection options, offering potential improvements in power supply efficiency and noise reduction.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
