Patents Assigned to Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
  • MONOLITHIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT SWITCH DEVICE WITH OUTPUT CURRENT BALANCING FOR PARALLEL-CONNECTION
    Publication number: 20170170655
    Abstract: An electrical circuit includes a monolithic integrated circuit (IC) switch device that includes a first pin, a second pin, and a power switch that connects the first pin to the second pin through the power switch when the electrical circuit is turned ON. The monolithic IC switch device includes an adaptive safe operating area (SOA) circuit that limits allowable current through the power switch based on temperature, such as the temperature of the power switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James NGUYEN, Ying XIAO
  • Switching controller with reduced inductor peak-to-peak ripple current variation
    Patent number: 9660516
    Abstract: A switching controller having an over voltage protection circuit is disclosed. The over voltage protection circuit detects whether the output voltage is higher than an over voltage threshold and turns on the rectifier when the output voltage is higher than an over voltage threshold. The over voltage protection circuit detects whether a current flowing through a rectifier is lower than a negative current limit and further turns off the rectifier for a time period when the current flowing through the rectifier is lower than the negative current limit. The off time period varies inversely with the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John Fogg
  • Digital isolator and the method thereof
    Patent number: 9621383
    Abstract: An isolator system has a transmitter configured to generate a first pair of buffered differential signals base based on an input signal; an isolation barrier having an input side coupled to the transmitter to receive the first pair of buffered differential signals, and an output side configured to provide a second pair of differential signals; and a receiver coupled to the output side of isolation barrier to receive the second pair of differential signals, wherein the receiver provides an output signal based on restoring the second pair of differential signals into a third pair of differential signals, wherein the output signal is converted from the third pair of differential signals and is a duplicate of the input signal with inherited propagation delays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Joseph Urienza
  • DIGITALLY CALIBRATED VOLTAGE REGULATORS FOR POWER MANAGEMENT
    Publication number: 20170083649
    Abstract: A computer provides a graphical user interface for displaying a virtual representation of a voltage regulator and for accepting a user requirement for the voltage regulator. The computer automatically determines an internal calibration setting of the voltage regulator that meets the user requirement. The computer simulates operation of the voltage regulator as calibrated with the internal calibration setting. The internal calibration setting is downloaded to the voltage regulator. A calibration controller of the voltage regulator receives the internal calibration setting and outputs digital calibration bits in accordance with the internal calibration setting. The digital calibration bits works in conjunction with interface circuits to adjust circuits of a voltage regulator core to digitally calibrate the voltage regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric YANG, Michael HSING
  • Switching circuit and the method thereof
    Patent number: 9595952
    Abstract: A switching circuit having a low side driver providing a three-level low side drive signal keeps a low side power switch slightly on during a dead time between the low side power switch turn off and a high side power switch turn on, thus a current flowing through a body diode is mostly distributed to the slightly on low side power switch instead of the body diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Braun
  • Switching converter and associated discharge method
    Patent number: 9590503
    Abstract: A switching converter has an input port for receiving an input voltage and an output port for providing an output voltage. The switching converter has a power stage, an energy stored circuit, a power conversion circuit and a control circuit. The power stage has an input terminal coupled to the input port and an output terminal coupled to the output port. The energy stored circuit is charged by the input voltage and provides a first bias voltage which maintains a predetermined time period after the input voltage is less than a predetermined voltage level. The power conversion circuit provides a second bias voltage. The control circuit provides a control signal to control the power stage and discharges the output voltage based on a discharge control signal, wherein the control circuit is powered by either the first bias voltage or the second bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Pengjie Lai, Jian Jiang
  • Schottky diodes with mesh style region and associated methods
    Patent number: 9583561
    Abstract: A Schottky diode comprising a cathode region, an anode region and a guard ring region, wherein the anode region may comprise a metal Schottky contact, and the guard ring region may comprise an outer guard ring and a plurality of inner open stripes inside the outer guard ring, and wherein the inner open stripes has a shallower junction depth than the outer guard ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Ji-Hyoung Yoo
  • Digitally calibrated voltage regulators for power management
    Patent number: 9541973
    Abstract: A computer provides a graphical user interface for displaying a virtual representation of a voltage regulator and for accepting a user requirement for the voltage regulator. The computer automatically determines an internal calibration setting of the voltage regulator that meets the user requirement. The computer simulates operation of the voltage regulator as calibrated with the internal calibration setting. The internal calibration setting is downloaded to the voltage regulator. A calibration controller of the voltage regulator receives the internal calibration setting and outputs digital calibration bits in accordance with the internal calibration setting. The digital calibration bits works in conjunction with interface circuits to adjust circuits of a voltage regulator core to digitally calibrate the voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Yang, Michael Hsing
  • COPPER STRUCTURES WITH INTERMETALLIC COATING FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT CHIPS
    Publication number: 20160351520
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) chip includes a copper structure with an intermetallic coating on the surface. The IC chip includes a substrate with an integrated circuit. A metal pad electrically connects to the integrated circuit. The copper structure electrically connects to the metal pad. A solder bump is disposed on the copper structure. The surface of the copper structure has a coating of intermetallic. The copper structure can be a redistribution layer and a copper pillar that is disposed on the redistribution layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Hunt Hang JIANG
  • Method for fabricating low-cost isolated resurf LDMOS and associated BCD manufacturing process
    Patent number: 9502251
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a LDMOS device in a semiconductor substrate of a first doping type, including: implanting a series of dopants into the semiconductor substrate using a first mask, and forming a first region of a second doping type adjacent to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, a second region of the first doping type located beneath the first region, and a third region of the second doping type located beneath the second region; implanting dopants into the semiconductor substrate using a second mask, and forming a fourth region of the second doping type adjacent to the first, second and third regions, wherein the fourth region extends from the surface of the semiconductor substrate to approximately the same depth as the third region; and implanting dopants into the first region using a third mask, and form a first well of the first doping type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Joel M. McGregor, Jeesung Jung, Ji-Hyoung Yoo, Eric K. Braun
  • MULTIPHASE POWER SUPPLY WITH CONSTANT ON-TIME DC-DC CONVERTERS
    Publication number: 20160315538
    Abstract: A multiphase power supply includes several constant ON-time (COT) DC-DC converter integrated circuits (ICs), with each COT DC-DC converter IC providing an output voltage of a phase of the multiphase power supply. The COT DC-DC converter ICs are sequentially turned ON one after another in interleaved fashion. A COT DC-DC converter IC receives a control signal at a take pin and, in response, turns ON its output switch. The COT DC-DC converter IC generates another control signal at a pass pin. The next COT DC-DC converter IC turns ON its output switch in response to receiving the other control signal from the previous COT DC-DC converter IC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James NGUYEN, Yan DONG, Jinghai ZHOU, Rohan SAMSI
  • Offline power converter and the method thereof
    Patent number: 9472943
    Abstract: An offline power converter provides low EMI and quick reaction by slowly turning off a power switch at normal operation, and fast turning off the power switch when surge event happens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Urienza, Peng Liu
  • Voltage regulator with hybrid adaptive voltage position and control method thereof
    Patent number: 9473027
    Abstract: A voltage regulator with hybrid adaptive voltage position includes a resistor, a controllable current source, a current DAC and an error amplifier. The resistor has a first terminal coupled to the output voltage of the voltage regulator and a second terminal. The controllable current source is coupled to the second terminal of the resistor to provide a main current proportional to the output current of the voltage regulator. The current DAC is configured to receive a digital signal and the output current, and provide a tuning current to the second terminal of the resistor based on the digital signal and the output current. The error amplifier generates a compensation signal based on a reference voltage and the voltage at the second terminal of the resistor, so as to adjust the output voltage of the voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Yan Dong
  • SMPS with adaptive COT control and method thereof
    Patent number: 9467045
    Abstract: A SMPS has a switching circuit and a controller. The switching circuit has an input terminal and an output terminal, and also includes a switch and an inductor, wherein the switching circuit regulates an output voltage at the output terminal based on an input voltage at the input terminal by controlling a switching action of the switch. The controller generates a switching control signal to control the switch, where the switching control signal transits from a first state to a second state when an output signal at the output terminal satisfies a predetermined condition, and the switching control signal transits from the second state to the first state after a period of time. And a switching frequency of the switch and an inductor ripple current of the inductor both vary with the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: John Fogg, Jian Jiang, Junyong Gong
  • Monolithic integrated circuit switch device with output current balancing for parallel-connection
    Patent number: 9467136
    Abstract: An electrical circuit includes monolithic integrated circuit (IC) switch devices that are connected in parallel. A monolithic IC switch device includes a first pin, a second pin, and a power switch that connects the first pin to the second pin through the power switch when the electrical circuit is turned ON. The monolithic IC switch device includes a current balancing circuit that controls the power switch to reduce an output current of the monolithic IC switch device when the output current of the monolithic IC switch device increases above the average of the output currents of monolithic IC switch devices in the electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James Nguyen
  • Multi-phase SMPS with loop phase clocks and control method thereof
    Patent number: 9407148
    Abstract: A multi-phase SMPS has N switching circuits; a setting signal generator generating a setting signal based on an output signal of the SMPS; a clock signal generator generating a system clock signal; and a controller receiving the setting signal and the system clock signal, the controller generating N shifted phase clock signals according to the system clock signal, and the N shifted phase clock signals forming loop phase clocks, and the controller further generates N switching control signals based on the setting signal and the N shifted phase clock signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Yanchuan Guo
  • High voltage analog switch
    Patent number: 9401659
    Abstract: A high voltage analog switch can be used in medical ultrasound applications. The high voltage analog switch can pass high voltage transducer excitation signals without necessarily having any high voltage power supplies. The high voltage analog switch can include three output switches, with one of the output switches having a clamp circuit for ensuring that transistors of an output switch on an input end of the high voltage analog switch remain OFF when the high voltage analog switch is OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimes Lei, Kee Chee Tiew
  • SMART SWITCH FOR CONNECTING AN INPUT POWER SUPPLY TO A LOAD
    Publication number: 20160182039
    Abstract: A monolithic integrated circuit (IC) switch device includes an input pin that receives an input power supply and an output pin that is connected to a load. The monolithic IC switch device includes driving circuitry that controls a switching operation of a power switch to connect and disconnect the input power supply to and from the load. A microcontroller can enable or disable the monolithic IC switch device based on indicator signals received by the microcontroller from the monolithic IC switch device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ying XIAO, Rohan SAMSI, Jinghai ZHOU
  • HIGH VOLTAGE ANALOG SWITCH
    Publication number: 20160134199
    Abstract: A high voltage analog switch can be used in medical ultrasound applications. The high voltage analog switch can pass high voltage transducer excitation signals without necessarily having any high voltage power supplies. The high voltage analog switch can include three output switches, with one of the output switches having a clamp circuit for ensuring that transistors of an output switch on an input end of the high voltage analog switch remain OFF when the high voltage analog switch is OFF.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimes LEI, Kee Chee TIEW
  • Bootstrap refresh control circuit, power converter and associated method
    Patent number: 9312773
    Abstract: A power converter having a bootstrap refresh control circuit and a method for controlling the power converter. The bootstrap refresh control circuit is configured to monitor a bootstrap voltage across a bootstrap capacitor and to provide an enhanced high side driving signal to a high side switch of the power converter. The bootstrap refresh control circuit is further configured to controlling the charging of the bootstrap capacitor through regulating the on and off switching of the high side switch and a low side switch based on the bootstrap voltage. The bootstrap refresh control circuit can refresh the bootstrap voltage in time to support driving the high side switch normally, without causing large spikes in an output voltage of the power converter and without influencing the power conversion efficiency of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Yike Li