Patents by Inventor Fabio Ongaro
Fabio Ongaro 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).
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Publication number: 20240096291Abstract: Systems and methods for electronic displays to use reference voltages to control driving current of illuminators are provided. The reference voltages are used to reduce or eliminate cross talk in driving voltages among different illuminators and driving voltage variations from frame to frame. The transient performance of the driving current of the illuminator (e.g., the current rise/decline time, current overshoot issue, current settling time) may be improved by implementing the reference voltages.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Ming Sun, Nicola Rasera, Robert D Zucker, Johan L Piper, Denis M Darmon, Fabio Ongaro, Xiaofeng Wang
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Patent number: 11594957Abstract: A dual-stage boost converter is disclosed. The boost converter includes a charge pump and a boost stage. The charge pump is coupled between an input voltage source and the boost stage. The charge pump is coupled to receive the input voltage and configured to generate an intermediate voltage that is greater than the input voltage received from the input voltage source. The boost stage includes an inductor coupled to receive the intermediate voltage and is configured to generate an output voltage that is greater than or equal to the intermediate voltage.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bogdan-Eugen Matei, Cristian Grecu, Fabio Ongaro, Giovanni Saccomanno, Siarhei Meliukh, Yesim Inam
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Publication number: 20220302826Abstract: A dual-stage boost converter is disclosed. The boost converter includes a charge pump and a boost stage. The charge pump is coupled between an input voltage source and the boost stage. The charge pump is coupled to receive the input voltage and configured to generate an intermediate voltage that is greater than the input voltage received from the input voltage source. The boost stage includes an inductor coupled to receive the intermediate voltage and is configured to generate an output voltage that is greater than or equal to the intermediate voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2021Publication date: September 22, 2022Inventors: Bogdan-Eugen Matei, Cristian Grecu, Fabio Ongaro, Giovanni Saccomanno, Siarhei Meliukh, Yesim Inam
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Patent number: 11264900Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) control method for a boost converter and apparatus for carrying out the method. A boost converter includes an inductor and a transistor coupled thereto. A control circuit is arranged to control the transistor to cause current pulsed to be sourced through the inductor. When operating in a PFM mode, the control circuit may control the timing of pulses such that, at the beginning of a specified time period, current pulses may be sourced with no spacing between successive pulses. After a desired number of pulses have been sourced, no pulses are sourced for the remainder of the specified time period. Nevertheless, the number of pulses sourced over the time period corresponds to a desired average frequency of pulses.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2020Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: Apple IncInventors: Bogdan-Eugen Matei, Alessandro Molari, Fabio Ongaro, Giovanni Saccomanno, Hao Zhou
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Patent number: 11152846Abstract: A DC-DC converter providing adaptive peak current control is disclosed. A DC-DC converter includes an inductor having first and second terminals coupled to a voltage source and a transistor, respectively. The DC-DC circuit further includes a control circuit configured to control activation of the transistor. A first control block of the control circuit controls the transistor (and thus the inductor peak current) using pulse frequency modulation (PFM). A second control block controls the transistor using pulse width modulation (PWM) and PFM. In a first mode of operation, the control circuit activates the transistor, using PFM, such that the peak-to-peak current through the inductor has a fixed value. In a second mode of operation, the control circuit activates the transistor such that the peak-to-peak current through the inductor is modulated, using both PWM and PFM.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2020Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bogdan-Eugen Matei, Alessandro S. Molari, Angelo Bassi, Fabio Ongaro, Giovanni Saccomanno
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Publication number: 20210257911Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) control method for a boost converter and apparatus for carrying out the method. A boost converter includes an inductor and a transistor coupled thereto. A control circuit is arranged to control the transistor to cause current pulsed to be sourced through the inductor. When operating in a PFM mode, the control circuit may control the timing of pulses such that, at the beginning of a specified time period, current pulses may be sourced with no spacing between successive pulses. After a desired number of pulses have been sourced, no pulses are sourced for the remainder of the specified time period. Nevertheless, the number of pulses sourced over the time period corresponds to a desired average frequency of pulses.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2020Publication date: August 19, 2021Inventors: Bogdan-Eugen Matei, Alessandro Molari, Fabio Ongaro, Giovanni Saccomanno, Hao Zhou
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Publication number: 20210218343Abstract: A DC-DC converter providing adaptive peak current control is disclosed. A DC-DC converter includes an inductor having first and second terminals coupled to a voltage source and a transistor, respectively. The DC-DC circuit further includes a control circuit configured to control activation of the transistor. A first control block of the control circuit controls the transistor (and thus the inductor peak current) using pulse frequency modulation (PFM). A second control block controls the transistor using pulse width modulation (PWM) and PFM. In a first mode of operation, the control circuit activates the transistor, using PFM, such that the peak-to-peak current through the inductor has a fixed value. In a second mode of operation, the control circuit activates the transistor such that the peak-to-peak current through the inductor is modulated, using both PWM and PFM.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2020Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventors: Bogdan-Eugen Matei, Alessandro S. Molari, Angelo Bassi, Fabio Ongaro, Giovanni Saccomanno
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Patent number: 11038413Abstract: A power converter circuit that includes a switch node coupled to a regulated power supply node via an inductor may, in response an assertion of a control signal, source current to the regulated power supply node. In response to initiating a charge cycle, a control circuit may assert the control signal. During an assertion of the control signal, the control circuit may adjust a slope of a transition of the control signal using a voltage level of the switch node.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Giovanni Saccomanno, Bogdan-Eugen Matei, Fabio Ongaro
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Publication number: 20210075321Abstract: A power converter circuit that includes a switch node coupled to a regulated power supply node via an inductor may, in response an assertion of a control signal, source current to the regulated power supply node. In response to initiating a charge cycle, a control circuit may assert the control signal. During an assertion of the control signal, the control circuit may adjust a slope of a transition of the control signal using a voltage level of the switch node.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2019Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: Giovanni Saccomanno, Bogdan-Eugen Matei, Fabio Ongaro
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Patent number: 10924012Abstract: A power converter circuit that includes a switch node coupled to a regulated power supply node via an inductor may, during a charge cycle, source current to the switch node, and source a bypass current to the regulated power supply node using a regulator control signal. A control circuit may initiate the charge cycle using a first reference voltage level and a sensed inductor current, and generate the regulator control signal using a second reference voltage level and a voltage level of the regulated power supply node.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2019Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Yesim Inam, Miguel A. Dos Santos, Fabio Ongaro
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Patent number: 10644592Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for efficiently generating a stable output for a transient load for one or more components are described. In various embodiments, a power converter includes two feedback loops to separate the stability and the equivalent output resistance, which allows the bandwidth to increase. The first loop includes a compensator receiving an output current of an amplifier. Additionally, a first converter and a first current mirror generate a target current based on the output current of the amplifier. Based on the target current, multiple step-down converters generate an output voltage, which is returned to the amplifier through a resistor. The second loop includes a second converter with a first order series RC filter to reduce the second loop's response time. A second current mirror receives current from the second converter and generates a dynamically adapting feedback current, which flows through the resistor in the first loop.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2018Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Fabio Ongaro, Michael Couleur
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Patent number: 10425009Abstract: A regulator circuit that employs coupled inductors with on-time modulation is disclosed. The regulator circuit includes a driver circuit coupled via first and second inductors to a power supply node of a load circuit, and may charge the power supply node via the first inductor for a first charging period, and charge the power supply node via the second inductor for a second charging period. A control circuit may determine durations of the first and second charging periods using respective pluralities of currents.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2018Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael Couleur, Fabio Ongaro, Dashun Xue
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Publication number: 20190229622Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of pulse control circuits and a control circuit. A given pulse control circuit of the plurality of pulse control circuits may source a current pulse to the output power signal based on a comparison of a particular feedback signal of a plurality of feedback signals and a target voltage signal. The control circuit may offset a voltage level of each feedback signal of a first subset of the plurality of feedback signals. The first subset may exclude a first feedback signal. In response to a determination that a period of time has ended, the control circuit may offset a voltage level of each feedback signal of a second subset of the plurality of feedback signals. The second subset may include the first feedback signal and exclude a second feedback signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2019Publication date: July 25, 2019Inventors: Michael Couleur, Fabio Ongaro, Nikola Jovanovic, Frank Trautmann
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Patent number: 10348198Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for generating a stable output voltage for one or more components by checking feedback information for an entire clock period are described. In various embodiments, a power converter generates an output voltage for one or more components. When the load current drawn by the one or more components changes, an inductor current of a low pass filter and monitored by a current sense amplifier also changes. The clock period is divided into a high phase and a low phase with one of the phases being a relatively short phase. During the relatively short phase, the current sense amplifier does not have sufficient time to measure feedback information. Instead of selecting a voltage output of the current sense amplifier, control logic selects a voltage output of a voltage generator, which emulates a voltage ramp with a slope of the inductor current during the relatively short phase.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Fabio Ongaro, Michael Couleur
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Publication number: 20190109537Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for efficiently generating a stable output for a transient load for one or more components are described. In various embodiments, a power converter includes two feedback loops to separate the stability and the equivalent output resistance, which allows the bandwidth to increase. The first loop includes a compensator receiving an output current of an amplifier. Additionally, a first converter and a first current mirror generate a target current based on the output current of the amplifier. Based on the target current, multiple step-down converters generate an output voltage, which is returned to the amplifier through a resistor. The second loop includes a second converter with a first order series RC filter to reduce the second loop's response time. A second current mirror receives current from the second converter and generates a dynamically adapting feedback current, which flows through the resistor in the first loop.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Inventors: Fabio Ongaro, Michael Couleur
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Patent number: 10256728Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of pulse control circuits and a control circuit. A given pulse control circuit of the plurality of pulse control circuits may source a current pulse to the output power signal based on a comparison of a particular feedback signal of a plurality of feedback signals and a target voltage signal. The control circuit may offset a voltage level of each feedback signal of a first subset of the plurality of feedback signals. The first subset may exclude a first feedback signal. In response to a determination that a period of time has ended, the control circuit may offset a voltage level of each feedback signal of a second subset of the plurality of feedback signals. The second subset may include the first feedback signal and exclude a second feedback signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2017Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael Couleur, Fabio Ongaro, Nikola Jovanovic, Frank Trautmann
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Publication number: 20190068054Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for generating a stable output voltage for one or more components by checking feedback information for an entire clock period are described. In various embodiments, a power converter generates an output voltage for one or more components. When the load current drawn by the one or more components changes, an inductor current of a low pass filter and monitored by a current sense amplifier also changes. The clock period is divided into a high phase and a low phase with one of the phases being a relatively short phase. During the relatively short phase, the current sense amplifier does not have sufficient time to measure feedback information. Instead of selecting a voltage output of the current sense amplifier, control logic selects a voltage output of a voltage generator, which emulates a voltage ramp with a slope of the inductor current during the relatively short phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2017Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventors: Fabio Ongaro, Michael Couleur
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Publication number: 20180367038Abstract: A regulator circuit that employs coupled inductors with on-time modulation is disclosed. The regulator circuit includes a driver circuit coupled via first and second inductors to a power supply node of a load circuit, and may charge the power supply node via the first inductor for a first charging period, and charge the power supply node via the second inductor for a second charging period. A control circuit may determine durations of the first and second charging periods using respective pluralities of currents.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2018Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: Michael Couleur, Fabio Ongaro, Dashun Xue
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Patent number: 10141841Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for efficiently generating a stable output for a transient load for one or more components are described. In various embodiments, a power converter includes two feedback loops to separate the stability and the equivalent output resistance, which allows the bandwidth to increase. The first loop includes a compensator receiving an output current of an amplifier. Additionally, a first converter and a first current mirror generate a target current based on the output current of the amplifier. Based on the target current, multiple step-down converters generate an output voltage, which is returned to the amplifier through a resistor. The second loop includes a second converter with a first order series RC filter to reduce the second loop's response time. A second current mirror receives current from the second converter and generates a dynamically adapting feedback current, which flows through the resistor in the first loop.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2017Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Fabio Ongaro, Michael Couleur
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Publication number: 20180248481Abstract: A regulator circuit that employs coupled inductors with on-time modulation is disclosed. The regulator circuit includes a driver circuit coupled via first and second inductors to a power supply node of a load circuit, and may charge the power supply node via the first inductor for a first charging period, and charge the power supply node via the second inductor for a second charging period. A control circuit may determine durations of the first and second charging periods using respective pluralities of currents.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2017Publication date: August 30, 2018Inventors: Michael Couleur, Fabio Ongaro, Dashun Xue