Patents by Inventor Osamu Souma

Osamu Souma 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: 9421925
    Abstract: A power device possesses a built-in fuse function and can continue to normally operate after a short circuit failure. The power device includes a plurality of output cells, a plurality of bonding wires provided corresponding to the output cells, and a control terminal driving circuit. Each of the output cells includes an output transistor. First side electrodes of the output transistors are commonly coupled to a first power source. Each of second side electrodes of the output transistors is coupled to an output terminal through the corresponding bonding wire. The control terminal driving circuit supplies a drive signal to the control terminals of the individual output transistors to control the output transistors. Each of the bonding wires is designed to be fused and cut if the output transistor included in the corresponding output cell fails and is shorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Souma
  • Publication number: 20150138680
    Abstract: A first overcurrent detection unit detects whether a drain-source voltage of an output transistor is greater than or equal to a first reference value and outputs a first detection signal. A second overcurrent detection unit detects whether an output current passing through the output transistor is greater than or equal to a second reference value and outputs a second detection signal. When receiving the first detection signal indicating that the drain-source voltage is greater than or equal to the first reference value, a latch circuit latches the second detection signal; when receiving the first detection signal indicating that the drain-source voltage is smaller than the first reference value, the latch circuit outputs the second detection signal without latching it. Based on the output of the latch circuit, the drive circuit controls the output transistor to either turn it off or turn it on and off alternately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu SOUMA
  • Patent number: 8941963
    Abstract: A first overcurrent detection unit detects whether a drain-source voltage of an output transistor is greater than or equal to a first reference value and outputs a first detection signal. A second overcurrent detection unit detects whether an output current passing through the output transistor is greater than or equal to a second reference value and outputs a second detection signal. When receiving the first detection signal indicating that the drain-source voltage is greater than or equal to the first reference value, a latch circuit latches the second detection signal; when receiving the first detection signal indicating that the drain-source voltage is smaller than the first reference value, the latch circuit outputs the second detection signal without latching it. Based on the output of the latch circuit, the drive circuit controls the output transistor to either turn it off or turn it on and off alternately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Souma
  • Publication number: 20140180540
    Abstract: A power device possesses a built-in fuse function and can continue to normally operate after a short circuit failure. The power device includes a plurality of output cells, a plurality of bonding wires provided corresponding to the output cells, and a control terminal driving circuit. Each of the output cells includes an output transistor. First side electrodes of the output transistors are commonly coupled to a first power source. Each of second side electrodes of the output transistors is coupled to an output terminal through the corresponding bonding wire. The control terminal driving circuit supplies a drive signal to the control terminals of the individual output transistors to control the output transistors. Each of the bonding wires is designed to be fused and cut if the output transistor included in the corresponding output cell fails and is shorted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu SOUMA
  • Patent number: 8698549
    Abstract: A power device possesses a built-in fuse function and can continue to normally operate after a short circuit failure. The power device includes a plurality of output cells, a plurality of bonding wires provided corresponding to the output cells, and a control terminal driving circuit. Each of the output cells includes an output transistor. First side electrodes of the output transistors are commonly coupled to a first power source. Each of second side electrodes of the output transistors is coupled to an output terminal through the corresponding bonding wire. The control terminal driving circuit supplies a drive signal to the control terminals of the individual output transistors to control the output transistors. Each of the bonding wires is designed to be fused and cut if the output transistor included in the corresponding output cell fails and is shorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Souma
  • Publication number: 20130332750
    Abstract: A first overcurrent detection unit detects whether a drain-source voltage of an output transistor is greater than or equal to a first reference value and outputs a first detection signal. A second overcurrent detection unit detects whether an output current passing through the output transistor is greater than or equal to a second reference value and outputs a second detection signal. When receiving the first detection signal indicating that the drain-source voltage is greater than or equal to the first reference value, a latch circuit latches the second detection signal; when receiving the first detection signal indicating that the drain-source voltage is smaller than the first reference value, the latch circuit outputs the second detection signal without latching it. Based on the output of the latch circuit, the drive circuit controls the output transistor to either turn it off or turn it on and off alternately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: Osamu SOUMA
  • Patent number: 8111491
    Abstract: An overvoltage protection circuit includes an output transistor coupled between a power supply and an output terminal, the output terminal including a terminal for being coupled to a load and a dynamic clamping circuit and a clamp selection transistor coupled in series between the power supply terminal and a control terminal of the output transistor. The clamp selection transistor is coupled between the dynamic clamping circuit and a control terminal of the output transistor. In addition, the clamp selector transistor includes an N-channel type transistor, a control terminal of the N-channel type transistor being coupled to a ground potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Souma
  • Publication number: 20100259860
    Abstract: An overvoltage protection circuit includes an output transistor coupled between a power supply and an output terminal, the output terminal including a terminal for being coupled to a load and a dynamic clamping circuit and a clamp selection transistor coupled in series between the power supply terminal and a control terminal of the output transistor. The clamp selection transistor is coupled between the dynamic clamping circuit and a control terminal of the output transistor. In addition, the clamp selector transistor includes an N-channel type transistor, a control terminal of the N-channel type transistor being coupled to a ground potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Souma
  • Patent number: 7768752
    Abstract: An overvoltage protection circuit includes an output transistor connected between a first power supply and an output terminal, a load connected to the output terminal, a dynamic clamping circuit for controlling a voltage difference between the first power supply and the output terminal, and a clamp selection switch electrically connected between the dynamic clamping circuit and the output terminal, and a conductive condition of the clamp selection switch is determined according to a comparison between a reference voltage and a voltage of the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Souma
  • Patent number: 7265958
    Abstract: The overcurrent protection circuit has a first output voltage detection circuit which compares an output voltage with a first reference value in a first timing after the output circuit starts outputting the output voltage, a second output voltage detection circuit which compares the output voltage with a second reference value in a second timing, and an output control circuit which stops the output from the output circuit according to the output from the first or second output voltage detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Souma
  • Publication number: 20070014064
    Abstract: An overvoltage protection circuit includes an output transistor connected between a first power supply and an output terminal, a load connected to the output terminal, a dynamic clamping circuit for controlling a voltage difference between the first power supply and the output terminal, and a clamp selection switch electrically connected between the dynamic clamping circuit and the output terminal, and a conductive condition of the clamp selection switch is determined according to a comparison between a reference voltage and a voltage of the output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Applicant: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Osamu Souma
  • Patent number: 7088126
    Abstract: An output circuit includes a source follower constituted by a n-channel MOS transistor, having a drain connected to a power source and a source connected to an output terminal, and applying an output voltage to a load through the output terminal when a gate is charged, a voltage detector determining if the output voltage is at a first voltage or at a second voltage level, a first discharge circuit discharging the gate of the source follower according to an inputted turn-off signal when the output voltage is at the first voltage level, and stopping discharging the gate of the source follower when the output voltage decreases to the second voltage level and a second discharge circuit discharging the gate of the source follower more gradually than the first discharge circuit does according to the turn-off signal when the output voltage decreases from the first voltage to the second voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Nakahara, Osamu Souma
  • Publication number: 20050184710
    Abstract: The overcurrent protection circuit has a first output voltage detection circuit which compares an output voltage with a first reference value in a first timing after the output circuit starts outputting the output voltage, a second output voltage detection circuit which compares the output voltage with a second reference value in a second timing, and an output control circuit which stops the output from the output circuit according to the output from the first or second output voltage detection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Applicant: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Osamu Souma
  • Publication number: 20050134315
    Abstract: An output circuit comprises a source follower constituted by a n-channel MOS transistor, having a drain connected to a power source and a source connected to an output terminal, and applying an output voltage to a load through the output terminal when a gate is charged according to an inputted turn-on signal, a voltage detector determining if the output voltage is at a first voltage level substantially the same as a voltage level of the power source or at a second voltage level lower than the first voltage level, a first discharge circuit discharging the gate of the source follower according to an inputted turn-off signal when the output voltage is at the first voltage level, and stopping discharging the gate of the source follower when the output voltage decreases from the first voltage level to the second voltage level and a second discharge circuit discharging the gate of the source follower more gradually than the first discharge circuit does according to the turn-off signal when the output voltage decrea
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Applicant: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Nakahara, Osamu Souma