Patents by Inventor Erick Omar Torres

Erick Omar Torres 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: 10666137
    Abstract: An inductor conducts a first current, which is variable. A first transistor is coupled through the inductor to an output node. The first transistor alternately switches on and off in response to a voltage signal, so that the first current is: enhanced while the first transistor is switched on in response to the voltage signal; and limited while the first transistor is switched off in response to the voltage signal. A second transistor is coupled to the first transistor. The second transistor conducts a second current, which is variable. On/off switching of the second transistor is independent of the voltage signal. Control circuitry senses the second current and adjusts the voltage signal to alternately switch the first transistor on and off in response to: the sensing of the second current; and a voltage of the output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Erick Omar Torres, Harish Venkataraman, Philomena C. Brady
  • Patent number: 10270336
    Abstract: A circuit includes a current sensor to sense a switching current flowing at input side of a switching DC-DC converter. An output capacitor filters an output voltage at an output side of the switching DC-DC converter. A feed-forward circuit passes a portion of the sensed switching current to a feedback path on the output side of the switching DC-DC converter simulating a changing effective series resistance (ESR) of the output capacitor to facilitate operating stability in the switching DC-DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Erick Omar Torres
  • Publication number: 20190081564
    Abstract: An inductor conducts a first current, which is variable. A first transistor is coupled through the inductor to an output node. The first transistor alternately switches on and off in response to a voltage signal, so that the first current is: enhanced while the first transistor is switched on in response to the voltage signal; and limited while the first transistor is switched off in response to the voltage signal. A second transistor is coupled to the first transistor. The second transistor conducts a second current, which is variable. On/off switching of the second transistor is independent of the voltage signal. Control circuitry senses the second current and adjusts the voltage signal to alternately switch the first transistor on and off in response to: the sensing of the second current; and a voltage of the output node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Erick Omar Torres, Harish Venkataraman, Philomena C. Brady
  • Patent number: 10128749
    Abstract: An inductor conducts a first current, which is variable. A first transistor is coupled through the inductor to an output node. The first transistor alternately switches on and off in response to a voltage signal, so that the first current is: enhanced while the first transistor is switched on in response to the voltage signal; and limited while the first transistor is switched off in response to the voltage signal. A second transistor is coupled to the first transistor. The second transistor conducts a second current, which is variable. On/off switching of the second transistor is independent of the voltage signal. Control circuitry senses the second current and adjusts the voltage signal to alternately switch the first transistor on and off in response to: the sensing of the second current; and a voltage of the output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Erick Omar Torres, Harish Venkataraman, Philomena C. Brady
  • Publication number: 20180269785
    Abstract: A circuit includes a current sensor to sense a switching current flowing at input side of a switching DC-DC converter. An output capacitor filters an output voltage at an output side of the switching DC-DC converter. A feed-forward circuit passes a portion of the sensed switching current to a feedback path on the output side of the switching DC-DC converter simulating a changing effective series resistance (ESR) of the output capacitor to facilitate operating stability in the switching DC-DC converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Erick Omar Torres
  • Patent number: 9979287
    Abstract: A circuit includes a current sensor to sense a switching current flowing at input side of a switching DC-DC converter. An output capacitor filters an output voltage at an output side of the switching DC-DC converter. A feed-forward circuit passes a portion of the sensed switching current to a feedback path on the output side of the switching DC-DC converter simulating a changing effective series resistance (ESR) of the output capacitor to facilitate operating stability in the switching DC-DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Erick Omar Torres
  • Patent number: 9621304
    Abstract: A method of decoding a biphase mark coded (BMC) data stream. A BMC encoded signal (BMC signal) including a preamble and data payload is received at a receiver which includes a BMC decoder state machine (state machine). The preamble is processed using the state machine including measuring a total duration spanning at least three transitions to provide a ?2 UI duration measure, a calculated 0.75 UI duration value (0.75 UI duration value) is generated from the ?2 UI duration measure, and the 0.75 UI duration value is compared to a programmed UI range. Provided the 0.75 UI duration value is within the programmed UI range data, respective bits are extracted bit-by-bit from the data payload using the 0.75 UI duration value to obtain unencoded data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Gary Franklin Chard, Erick Omar Torres, Karan Singh Jain
  • Patent number: 9413232
    Abstract: A Charge Pump Buck Converter (CPBC) includes a BC including an inductor and a CP coupled in parallel. Control logic is coupled to a switch driver coupled to a power switch(es). Control circuitry includes a voltage sensor sensing Vout and a voltage level generator for generating a first voltage level coupled to the CP stage and a second voltage level coupled to a duty cycle/rate generator block providing an input to an under voltage (UV) monitor coupled between OUT and the control logic. The control circuitry disables the CP when Vout>a first Vout level and controls the BC to regulate to a second Vout level>the first Vout level. During handoff between CP and BC during power up if Vout drops below a UV threshold, the UV monitor block modifies an input applied to the control logic for increasing charging supplied to the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Erick Omar Torres, Byungchul Jang
  • Patent number: 9385600
    Abstract: A switch-mode DC-DC voltage converter including a boost stage in the form of a charge pump and a buck stage. Control circuitry is provided that enables the operation of the buck stage while the charge pump stage is also enabled, followed by disabling of the charge pump stage as the input voltage and output voltage increase. The buck converter stage is constructed so that it regulates the output voltage at a voltage above that which disables the charge pump stage. Conduction losses in the main current path, due to the necessity of a power FET or other switching device, are avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Erick Omar Torres, Harish Venkataraman, Byungchul Jang
  • Publication number: 20160072385
    Abstract: A circuit includes a current sensor to sense a switching current flowing at input side of a switching DC-DC converter. An output capacitor filters an output voltage at an output side of the switching DC-DC converter. A feed-forward circuit passes a portion of the sensed switching current to a feedback path on the output side of the switching DC-DC converter simulating a changing effective series resistance (ESR) of the output capacitor to facilitate operating stability in the switching DC-DC converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventor: Erick Omar TORRES
  • Publication number: 20150381317
    Abstract: A method of decoding a biphase mark coded (BMC) data stream. A BMC encoded signal (BMC signal) including a preamble and data payload is received at a receiver which includes a BMC decoder state machine (state machine). The preamble is processed using the state machine including measuring a total duration spanning at least three transitions to provide a ?2 UI duration measure, a calculated 0.75 UI duration value (0.75 UI duration value) is generated from the ?2 UI duration measure, and the 0.75 UI duration value is compared to a programmed UI range. Provided the 0.75 UI duration value is within the programmed UI range data, respective bits are extracted bit-by-bit from the data payload using the 0.75 UI duration value to obtain unencoded data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: GARY FRANKLIN CHARD, ERICK OMAR TORRES, KARAN SINGH JAIN
  • Publication number: 20150381035
    Abstract: A Charge Pump Buck Converter (CPBC) includes a BC including an inductor and a CP coupled in parallel. Control logic is coupled to a switch driver coupled to a power switch(es). Control circuitry includes a voltage sensor sensing Vout and a voltage level generator for generating a first voltage level coupled to the CP stage and a second voltage level coupled to a duty cycle/rate generator block providing an input to an under voltage (UV) monitor coupled between OUT and the control logic. The control circuitry disables the CP when Vout>a first Vout level and controls the BC to regulate to a second Vout level>the first Vout level. During handoff between CP and BC during power up if Vout drops below a UV threshold, the UV monitor block modifies an input applied to the control logic for increasing charging supplied to the inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: ERICK OMAR TORRES, BYUNGCHUL JANG
  • Publication number: 20150326121
    Abstract: An inductor conducts a first current, which is variable. A first transistor is coupled through the inductor to an output node. The first transistor alternately switches on and off in response to a voltage signal, so that the first current is: enhanced while the first transistor is switched on in response to the voltage signal; and limited while the first transistor is switched off in response to the voltage signal. A second transistor is coupled to the first transistor. The second transistor conducts a second current, which is variable. On/off switching of the second transistor is independent of the voltage signal. Control circuitry senses the second current and adjusts the voltage signal to alternately switch the first transistor on and off in response to: the sensing of the second current; and a voltage of the output node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Erick Omar Torres, Harish Venkataraman, Philomena C. Brady
  • Publication number: 20150145497
    Abstract: A switch-mode DC-DC voltage converter including a boost stage in the form of a charge pump and a buck stage. Control circuitry is provided that enables the operation of the buck stage while the charge pump stage is also enabled, followed by disabling of the charge pump stage as the input voltage and output voltage increase. The buck converter stage is constructed so that it regulates the output voltage at a voltage above that which disables the charge pump stage. Conduction losses in the main current path, due to the necessity of a power FET or other switching device, are avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Erick Omar Torres, Harish Venkataraman, Byungchul Jang