Patents by Inventor Craig Cassella

Craig Cassella 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).

  • Voltage regulators with multiple transistors
    Patent number: 10284072
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a high-side device, a low-side device, and a controller. The high-side device includes first and second transistors each coupled between an input terminal and an intermediate terminal, where the first transistor has a higher breakdown voltage than the second transistor. The low-side device is coupled between the intermediate terminal and a ground terminal. The controller is configured to drive the high-side and low-side devices to (a) alternately couple the intermediate terminal to the input terminal and the ground terminal and (b) cause the first transistor to control a voltage across the second transistor during switching transitions of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Volterra Semiconductor LLC
    Inventors: Marco A. Zuniga, Chiteh Chiang, Yang Lu, Badredin Fatemizadeh, Amit Paul, Jun Ruan, Craig Cassella
  • VOLTAGE REGULATORS WITH MULTIPLE TRANSISTORS
    Publication number: 20170338731
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a high-side device, a low-side device, and a controller. The high-side device includes first and second transistors each coupled between an input terminal and an intermediate terminal, where the first transistor has a higher breakdown voltage than the second transistor. The low-side device is coupled between the intermediate terminal and a ground terminal. The controller is configured to drive the high-side and low-side devices to (a) alternately couple the intermediate terminal to the input terminal and the ground terminal and (b) cause the first transistor to control a voltage across the second transistor during switching transitions of the second transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Marco A. Zuniga, Chiteh Chiang, Yang Lu, Badredin Fatemizadeh, Amit Paul, Jun Ruan, Craig Cassella
  • Voltage regulators with multiple transistors
    Patent number: 9722483
    Abstract: A voltage regulator has an input terminal and a ground terminal. The voltage regulator includes a high-side device, a low side device, and a controller. The high-side device is coupled between the input terminal and an intermediate terminal. The high-side device includes first and second transistors each coupled between the input terminal and the intermediate terminal, such that the first transistor controls a drain-source switching voltage of the second transistor. The low-side device is coupled between the intermediate terminal and the ground terminal. The controller drives the high-side and low-side devices to alternately couple the intermediate terminal to the input terminal and the ground terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Volterra Semiconductor LLC
    Inventors: Marco A. Zuniga, Chiteh Chiang, Yang Lu, Badredin Fatemizadeh, Amit Paul, Jun Ruan, Craig Cassella
  • Testing of LDMOS device
    Patent number: 9362388
    Abstract: A method for testing an LDMOS transistor by measuring leakage current between the source and drain in the presence of a bias voltage. The leakage current is indicative of defects in the structure of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Volterra Semiconductor LLC
    Inventors: Marco A. Zuniga, Craig Cassella
  • Voltage Regulators with Multiple Transistors
    Publication number: 20140266113
    Abstract: A voltage regulator has an input terminal and a ground terminal. The voltage regulator includes a high-side device, a low side device, and a controller. The high-side device is coupled between the input terminal and an intermediate terminal. The high-side device includes first and second transistors each coupled between the input terminal and the intermediate terminal, such that the first transistor controls a drain-source switching voltage of the second transistor. The low-side device is coupled between the intermediate terminal and the ground terminal. The controller drives the high-side and low-side devices to alternately couple the intermediate terminal to the input terminal and the ground terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Volterra Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Marco A. Zuniga, Chiteh Chiang, Yang Lu, Badredin Fatemizadeh, Amit Paul, Jun Ruan, Craig Cassella