Patents by Inventor Lance M. Wong

Lance M. Wong 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: 11487311
    Abstract: A method for providing a jitter signal for modulating a switching frequency of a power switch for a power converter. The method comprising receiving a drive signal representative of the switching frequency of the power switch, detecting the switching frequency from the drive signal, determining if the switching frequency is less than a first threshold frequency, and modulating a frequency of the jitter signal in response to determining if the switching frequency is less than the first threshold frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Giao Minh Pham, Lance M. Wong
  • Patent number: 11356010
    Abstract: A controller comprising a regulation circuit and a frequency request circuit. The regulation circuit configured to receive a signal representative of an output and a reference representative of a desired value of the output, the regulation circuit configured to output a regulation signal in response to a difference between the signal and the reference. The frequency request circuit configured to receive the regulation signal and outputs an increment signal representative of a request to increase a switching frequency and a decrement signal representative of a request to decrease the switching frequency in response to the regulation signal. The frequency request circuit configured to assert the increment signal when the output is less than the desired value for a duration longer than a first period and assert the decrement signal when the output is greater than the desired value for a duration longer than a second period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Sundaresan Sundararaj, Zhao-Jun Wang, Tiziano Pastore, Lance M. Wong
  • Patent number: 11349398
    Abstract: A controller to regulate a power converter includes a terminal that receives an enable signal including enable events representative of an output of the power converter. A drive circuit generates a drive signal to control switching of a power switch to control an energy transfer from an input to an output of the power converter. The drive circuit turns on the power switch when an enable event is received in the enable signal. A current limit threshold generator is coupled to the drive circuit to generate a threshold signal. The threshold signal increases in response to the power switch turning off and subsequently decreases. The threshold signal and a time between consecutive enable events are used to modulate the drive signal to regulate the output of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Giao Minh Pham, Lance M. Wong
  • Publication number: 20210351685
    Abstract: A controller comprising a regulation circuit and a frequency request circuit. The regulation circuit configured to receive a signal representative of an output and a reference representative of a desired value of the output, the regulation circuit configured to output a regulation signal in response to a difference between the signal and the reference. The frequency request circuit configured to receive the regulation signal and outputs an increment signal representative of a request to increase a switching frequency and a decrement signal representative of a request to decrease the switching frequency in response to the regulation signal. The frequency request circuit configured to assert the increment signal when the output is less than the desired value for a duration longer than a first period and assert the decrement signal when the output is greater than the desired value for a duration longer than a second period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Sundaresan Sundararaj, Zhao-Jun Wang, Tiziano Pastore, Lance M. Wong
  • Publication number: 20210333811
    Abstract: A method for providing a jitter signal for modulating a switching frequency of a power switch for a power converter. The method comprising receiving a drive signal representative of the switching frequency of the power switch, detecting the switching frequency from the drive signal, determining if the switching frequency is less than a first threshold frequency, and modulating a frequency of the jitter signal in response to determining if the switching frequency is less than the first threshold frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Giao Minh PHAM, Lance M. WONG
  • Patent number: 11095263
    Abstract: A signal amplifier for use in a power converter includes a variable reference generator coupled to generate a reference signal in response to a dimming control signal. A variable gain circuit is coupled to receive the reference signal, the gain signal, and a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter. The variable gain circuit is coupled to output a first adjusted signal in response to the reference signal and the gain signal. The variable gain circuit is coupled to output a second adjusted signal in response to the feedback signal and the gain signal. An auxiliary amplifier is coupled to output the gain signal in response to the first adjusted signal and a set signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Lance M. Wong, Qing McIntosh, Zhao-Jun Wang
  • Patent number: 11079778
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter including a jitter generator circuit coupled to receive a drive signal from a switch controller and generate a jitter signal. The jitter signal is a modulated jitter signal when the drive signal is below a first threshold frequency. The switch controller is coupled to a power switch coupled to an energy transfer element. The switch controller is coupled to receive a current sense signal representative of a current through the power switch. The switch controller is coupled to generate the drive signal to control switching of the power switch in response to the current sense signal and the jitter signal to control a transfer of energy from an input of the power converter to an output of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Giao Minh Pham, Lance M. Wong
  • Publication number: 20210028708
    Abstract: A controller to regulate a power converter includes a terminal that receives an enable signal including enable events representative of an output of the power converter. A drive circuit generates a drive signal to control switching of a power switch to control an energy transfer from an input to an output of the power converter. The drive circuit turns on the power switch when an enable event is received in the enable signal. A current limit threshold generator is coupled to the drive circuit to generate a threshold signal. The threshold signal increases in response to the power switch turning off and subsequently decreases. The threshold signal and a time between consecutive enable events are used to modulate the drive signal to regulate the output of the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Giao Minh Pham, Lance M. Wong
  • Patent number: 10892679
    Abstract: A controller includes a current limit generator that generates a current limit threshold. A switch controller receives the current limit threshold, an enable signal, and a current sense signal representative of a current through a power switch. The switch controller generates a drive signal to control switching of the power switch to control the transfer of energy from an input of the power converter to an output of the power converter in response to the enable signal and the current sense signal. The switch controller outputs the drive signal to turn on the power switch in response to the enable signal and turns off the power switch when the current sense signal reaches the current limit threshold. A jitter generator generates a jitter signal for jittering a switching period of the drive signal. The current limit threshold is modulated by the jitter signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Giao Minh Pham, Lance M. Wong, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Publication number: 20200358413
    Abstract: A signal amplifier for use in a power converter includes a variable reference generator coupled to generate a reference signal in response to a dimming control signal. A variable gain circuit is coupled to receive the reference signal, the gain signal, and a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter. The variable gain circuit is coupled to output a first adjusted signal in response to the reference signal and the gain signal. The variable gain circuit is coupled to output a second adjusted signal in response to the feedback signal and the gain signal. An auxiliary amplifier is coupled to output the gain signal in response to the first adjusted signal and a set signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance M. Wong, Qing Mclntosh, Zhao-Jun Wang
  • Patent number: 10826375
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter comprising a request control circuit coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter. The request control circuit is coupled to generate a request signal for controlling a power switch. The request signal can include a synchronization signal in response to the feedback signal and a jitter average signal. The synchronization signal is generated by the request transmitter circuit and corresponds to an average on time for controlling the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhao-Jun Wang, Sundaresan Sundararaj, Tiziano Pastore, Qing McIntosh, Lance M. Wong
  • Patent number: 10811977
    Abstract: A controller to regulate a power converter includes a terminal coupled to receive an enable signal including enable events representative of an output of the power converter. A drive circuit is coupled to generate a drive signal to control switching of a power switch to control a transfer of energy from an input of the power converter to the output of the power converter. The drive circuit is coupled to turn on the power switch when an enable event is received in the enable signal. A current limit threshold generator is coupled to the drive circuit to generate a current limit threshold signal. The current limit threshold signal varies each switching cycle of the power switch. A time between consecutive enable events in the enable signal is the switching cycle of the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Giao Minh Pham, Lance M. Wong
  • Publication number: 20200218298
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter including a jitter generator circuit coupled to receive a drive signal from a switch controller and generate a jitter signal. The jitter signal is a modulated jitter signal when the drive signal is below a first threshold frequency. The switch controller is coupled to a power switch coupled to an energy transfer element. The switch controller is coupled to receive a current sense signal representative of a current through the power switch. The switch controller is coupled to generate the drive signal to control switching of the power switch in response to the current sense signal and the jitter signal to control a transfer of energy from an input of the power converter to an output of the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Giao Minh Pham, Lance M. Wong
  • Publication number: 20200186021
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter comprising a request control circuit coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter. The request control circuit is coupled to generate a request signal for controlling a power switch. The request signal can include a synchronization signal in response to the feedback signal and a jitter average signal. The synchronization signal is generated by the request transmitter circuit and corresponds to an average on time for controlling the power switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhao-Jun Wang, Sundaresan Sundararaj, Tiziano Pastore, Qing McIntosh, Lance M. Wong
  • Patent number: 10585444
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter including a jitter generator circuit coupled to receive a drive signal from a switch controller and generate a jitter signal. The jitter signal is a modulated jitter signal when the drive signal is below a first threshold frequency. The switch controller is coupled to a power switch coupled to an energy transfer element. The switch controller is coupled to receive a current sense signal representative of a current through the power switch. The switch controller is coupled to generate the drive signal to control switching of the power switch in response to the current sense signal and the jitter signal to control a transfer of energy from an input of the power converter to an output of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Giao Minh Pham, Lance M. Wong
  • Publication number: 20190393775
    Abstract: A controller includes a current limit generator that generates a current limit threshold. A switch controller receives the current limit threshold, an enable signal, and a current sense signal representative of a current through a power switch. The switch controller generates a drive signal to control switching of the power switch to control the transfer of energy from an input of the power converter to an output of the power converter in response to the enable signal and the current sense signal. The switch controller outputs the drive signal to turn on the power switch in response to the enable signal and turns off the power switch when the current sense signal reaches the current limit threshold. A jitter generator generates a jitter signal for jittering a switching period of the drive signal. The current limit threshold is modulated by the jitter signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Giao Minh Pham, Lance M. Wong, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Patent number: 10447149
    Abstract: A controller includes a switch controller, a current limit generator, a jitter modulator, and an arithmetic operator circuit. The switch controller is coupled to generate a drive signal to control switching of a power switch in response to a current sense signal and a modulated current limit signal to control a transfer of energy from an input of a power converter to an output of the power converter. The current limit generator is coupled to generate a current limit signal. The jitter modulator is coupled to generate a jitter signal for jittering a switching period of the drive signal without an oscillator. The arithmetic operator circuit is coupled to receive the current limit signal and the jitter signal and is coupled to generate a modulated current limit signal in response to the current limit signal and the jitter signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Giao Minh Pham, Lance M. Wong, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Publication number: 20190149040
    Abstract: A controller includes a switch controller, a current limit generator, a jitter modulator, and an arithmetic operator circuit. The switch controller is coupled to generate a drive signal to control switching of a power switch in response to a current sense signal and a modulated current limit signal to control a transfer of energy from an input of a power converter to an output of the power converter. The current limit generator is coupled to generate a current limit signal. The jitter modulator is coupled to generate a jitter signal for jittering a switching period of the drive signal without an oscillator. The arithmetic operator circuit is coupled to receive the current limit signal and the jitter signal and is coupled to generate a modulated current limit signal in response to the current limit signal and the jitter signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Giao Minh Pham, Lance M. Wong, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Publication number: 20190068063
    Abstract: A controller to regulate a power converter includes a terminal coupled to receive an enable signal including enable events representative of an output of the power converter. A drive circuit is coupled to generate a drive signal to control switching of a power switch to control a transfer of energy from an input of the power converter to the output of the power converter. The drive circuit is coupled to turn on the power switch when an enable event is received in the enable signal. A current limit threshold generator is coupled to the drive circuit to generate a current limit threshold signal. The current limit threshold signal varies each switching cycle of the power switch. A time between consecutive enable events in the enable signal is the switching cycle of the power switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Giao Minh Pham, Lance M. Wong
  • Patent number: 10218263
    Abstract: A controller includes a switch controller coupled to a power switch coupled to an energy transfer element. The switch controller is coupled to receive a current sense signal representative of a drain current through the power switch. The switch controller is coupled to generate a drive signal to control switching of the power switch in response to the current sense signal and a modulated current limit signal to control a transfer of energy from an input to an output of the power converter. A control modulator is coupled to generate a first signal. A jitter modulator is coupled to generate a second signal. The second signal is a periodic signal having a modulation time period that is greater than a switching period of the drive signal. An arithmetic operator circuit is coupled to generate the modulated current limit signal in response to the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Giao Minh Pham, Lance M. Wong, David Michael Hugh Matthews