Patents by Inventor Christopher D. Bridge

Christopher D. Bridge has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8618779
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a regulator circuit. The regulator circuit can controllably connect a first voltage to an inductor using a first switch and can controllably connect a second voltage to the inductor using a second switch. The first switch can be turned off and the second switch can be turned on for a duration proportional to a difference between the first voltage and a third voltage, divided by the first voltage. The first switch can be turned off and the second switch can be turned on for a duration proportional to the third voltage divided by the first voltage. One of the first or third voltages can correspond to a desired output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: James Garrett, Christopher D. Bridge
  • Patent number: 8279645
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a power converter system includes a plurality of variable frequency power converters and a plurality of synchronization circuits. Each variable frequency power converter has a switching frequency. Each synchronization circuit is associated with a respective one of the plurality of variable frequency power converters. A control circuit is coupled to and coordinates the plurality of synchronization circuits. The plurality of synchronization circuits and the control circuit are operable to synchronize the switching frequencies of the variable frequency power converters to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher D. Bridge, Laszlo Balogh
  • Publication number: 20110199797
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a power converter system includes a plurality of variable frequency power converters and a plurality of synchronization circuits. Each variable frequency power converter has a switching frequency. Each synchronization circuit is associated with a respective one of the plurality of variable frequency power converters. A control circuit is coupled to and coordinates the plurality of synchronization circuits. The plurality of synchronization circuits and the control circuit are operable to synchronize the switching frequencies of the variable frequency power converters to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher D. Bridge, Laszlo Balogh
  • Publication number: 20110121806
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a regulator circuit. The regulator circuit can controllably connect a first voltage to an inductor using a first switch and can controllably connect a second voltage to the inductor using a second switch. The first switch can be turned off and the second switch can be turned on for a duration proportional to a difference between the first voltage and a third voltage, divided by the first voltage. The first switch can be turned off and the second switch can be turned on for a duration proportional to the third voltage divided by the first voltage. One of the first or third voltages can correspond to a desired output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: James Garrett, Christopher D. Bridge
  • Patent number: 7933132
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a power converter system includes a plurality of variable frequency power converters and a plurality of synchronization circuits. Each variable frequency power converter has a switching frequency. Each synchronization circuit is associated with a respective one of the plurality of variable frequency power converters. A control circuit is coupled to and coordinates the plurality of synchronization circuits. The plurality of synchronization circuits and the control circuit are operable to synchronize the switching frequencies of the variable frequency power converters to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher D. Bridge, Laszlo Balogh
  • Publication number: 20090267658
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a power converter system includes a plurality of variable frequency power converters and a plurality of synchronization circuits. Each variable frequency power converter has a switching frequency. Each synchronization circuit is associated with a respective one of the plurality of variable frequency power converters. A control circuit is coupled to and coordinates the plurality of synchronization circuits. The plurality of synchronization circuits and the control circuit are operable to synchronize the switching frequencies of the variable frequency power converters to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher D. Bridge, Laszlo Balogh
  • Patent number: 6246592
    Abstract: A power supply having a transformer-coupled power converter cascaded with a buck power converter. The transformer-coupled power converter operates in a free-running mode at a nearly 100% maximum duty cycle to convert an input voltage to an intermediate voltage. The buck power converter produces a regulated output voltage from the intermediate voltage. The power supply further includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller employing leading-edge modulation of complementary control signals used to control buck switches in the buck converter. The PWM controller is synchronized to primary-side free-running switches of the transformer-coupled power converter by a synchronization signal that is fed-forward across an isolation boundary via a signal transformer. The power supply also may also employ a soft-switching technique to reduce switching losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Laszlo Balogh, Christopher D. Bridge, William M. Andreycak