Patents by Inventor Paolo Nora
Paolo Nora 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: 20230318438Abstract: One or more examples relate, generally, to providing timing signals to gate drivers of a converter. An example apparatus for providing timing signals to gate drivers of a converter includes a circuit that includes a timing input, and a plurality of outputs. The timing input may receive an incoming timing signal. The plurality of outputs may couple to a respective plurality of gate drivers to control an output voltage of a converter. The circuit may provide respective timing signals, at respective ones of the plurality of outputs at least partially responsive to the incoming timing signal, the respective timing signals synchronized such that like edges of the respective timing signals coincide.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: Paolo Nora, Isaac Terasuth Ko, Claudiu Patru
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Patent number: 11575318Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a voltage converter including a control unit configured for operating in a hysteretic control mode. A control unit may be configured to receive a PWM signal, a duty cycle signal, at least one reference voltage, a factor of an output voltage of the voltage converter, and a factor of an input voltage of the voltage converter. The control unit may also be configured to compare the at least one reference voltage to the factor of the output voltage and the factor of the input voltage. Further, the control unit may be configured to generate a first control signal mirroring the PWM signal in response to at least one of: the factor of the input voltage being greater than the at least one reference voltage and the factor of the output voltage being greater than the at least one reference voltage.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2020Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Microchip Technology IncorporatedInventors: Alex Hsu, Paolo Nora
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Publication number: 20210083579Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a voltage converter including a control unit configured for operating in a hysteretic control mode. A control unit may be configured to receive a PWM signal, a duty cycle signal, at least one reference voltage, a factor of an output voltage of the voltage converter, and a factor of an input voltage of the voltage converter. The control unit may also be configured to compare the at least one reference voltage to the factor of the output voltage and the factor of the input voltage. Further, the control unit may be configured to generate a first control signal mirroring the PWM signal in response to at least one of: the factor of the input voltage being greater than the at least one reference voltage and the factor of the output voltage being greater than the at least one reference voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Alex Hsu, Paolo Nora
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Patent number: 10756627Abstract: A switch mode power supply (voltage converter) is adapted as a current-mode control buck regulator for different loading conditions. The voltage converter operates in a continuous conduction mode (CCM) during heavy load conditions using pulse width modulation (PWM). When a zero-current detector determines no inductor current during light load conditions (discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) region), the controller initiates adaptive duty control using pulse frequency modulation (PFM). Adaptive duty estimation circuitry provides controllable energy to charge the power inductor to maintain voltage accuracy and maximize efficiency when in the PFM mode. Using clock synchronization and a single control-loop, smooth transition between PFM, PWM, and bypass modes is automatically performed. Clock synchronization from a master oscillator provides a base for frequency division in different operation modes which gives controllable evenly distributed switching harmonics.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2018Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATEDInventors: Alex Hsu, Sam Tsui, Paolo Nora, Tsz Yin Man
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Publication number: 20190081546Abstract: A switch mode power supply (voltage converter) is adapted as a current-mode control buck regulator for different loading conditions. The voltage converter operates in a continuous conduction mode (CCM) during heavy load conditions using pulse width modulation (PWM). When a zero-current detector determines no inductor current during light load conditions (discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) region), the controller initiates adaptive duty control using pulse frequency modulation (PFM). Adaptive duty estimation circuitry provides controllable energy to charge the power inductor to maintain voltage accuracy and maximize efficiency when in the PFM mode. Using clock synchronization and a single control-loop, smooth transition between PFM, PWM, and bypass modes is automatically performed. Clock synchronization from a master oscillator provides a base for frequency division in different operation modes which gives controllable evenly distributed switching harmonics.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2018Publication date: March 14, 2019Applicant: Microchip Technology IncorporatedInventors: Alex Hsu, Sam Tsui, Paolo Nora, Tsz Yin Man
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Patent number: 9467051Abstract: A switching regulator using current mode control and adaptive slope compensation includes a DC correction circuit to introduce a DC correction signal to cancel the DC offset error generated by the slope compensation signal. In some embodiments, the DC correction signal is a function of the input voltage and the output voltage and is applied in response to the slope compensation signal being applied. In one embodiment, the DC correction signal is a linear function of the input voltage and the output voltage.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: Micrel, Inc.Inventors: Ioan Stoichita, Paolo Nora, Charles Vinn, Bruce Larson
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Patent number: 9214866Abstract: A power system for providing an output current at a regulated system output voltage includes a first power stage and a second power stage, each being a constant on-time (COT) controlled power converter. The first and second power stages generate respective first and second regulated output voltage having reduced or very small output ripple at a common output voltage node. The first and second power stages each includes a ripple injection circuit to inject a ripple signal to the feedback control circuit in each power stage. The power system further includes a current sharing control circuit configured to measure a first output current of the first power stage and a second output current of the second power stage, and to generate a control signal to modulate the feedback control circuit of the second power stage to force the second output current to equal to the first output current.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2013Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: Micrel, Inc.Inventor: Paolo Nora
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Publication number: 20150200593Abstract: A switching regulator using current mode control and adaptive slope compensation includes a DC correction circuit to introduce a DC correction signal to cancel the DC offset error generated by the slope compensation signal. In some embodiments, the DC correction signal is a function of the input voltage and the output voltage and is applied in response to the slope compensation signal being applied. In one embodiment, the DC correction signal is a linear function of the input voltage and the output voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2014Publication date: July 16, 2015Inventors: Ioan Stoichita, Paolo Nora, Charles Vinn, Bruce Larson
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Publication number: 20140375288Abstract: A power system for providing an output current at a regulated system output voltage includes a first power stage and a second power stage, each being a constant on-time (COT) controlled power converter. The first and second power stages generate respective first and second regulated output voltage having reduced or very small output ripple at a common output voltage node. The first and second power stages each includes a ripple injection circuit to inject a ripple signal to the feedback control circuit in each power stage. The power system further includes a current sharing control circuit configured to measure a first output current of the first power stage and a second output current of the second power stage, and to generate a control signal to modulate the feedback control circuit of the second power stage to force the second output current to equal to the first output current.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2013Publication date: December 25, 2014Inventor: Paolo Nora
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Patent number: 7898830Abstract: An apparatus, such as a Buck converter system, for generating an output voltage while at the same time monitoring whether an overload or over current condition occurs at the output, and protecting the system if the overload or over current condition occurs. The apparatus includes a first circuit adapted to monotonically change a control voltage from a first voltage (e.g., approximately ground potential) towards a second voltage (e.g., a reference voltage VREF); a second circuit adapted to generate the output voltage based on the control voltage; a third circuit adapted to detect whether a magnitude of an output current exceeds a current threshold; and a fourth circuit adapted to change the control voltage from the second voltage towards the first voltage in response to the third circuit detecting that the magnitude of the output current exceeds the current threshold.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2008Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.Inventors: Charles A. Casey, Federico Piccitto, Paolo Nora, Marcello Criscione
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Patent number: 6346798Abstract: A modular power supply system includes DC—DC converters connected n parallel and functioning in a PWM mode. The modular power supply system controls current sharing among the DC—DC converters using a single wire current sharing control bus that drives in parallel the inputs of all the DC—DC converters. The output of each DC—DC converter is applied to a logic OR circuit. Each converter has an identical logic circuit between its output and the single wire current sharing control bus.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2000Date of Patent: February 12, 2002Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Marco Passoni, Paolo Nora, Enrico Dallago, Gabriele Sassone
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Patent number: 5920471Abstract: A method for preparing power factor control integrated circuits which generate linear pulse width modulation (PWM) waveforms is presented. The method of pulse width modulation waveform generation involves providing a capacitor; fast charging the capacitor; and controlling a discharge rate of the capacitor to ensure a constant switching period and a linear PWM waveform. The method is applicable for any single-phase ac/dc converter topology that performs power factor correction. Unlike conventional techniques which utilize three feedback loops, the method of the present invention reduces the total number of feedback loops to two, eliminates input voltage sensing and achieves the same objective. This method results in significant integrated circuit simplification, such as elimination of multiplier, squarer and divider circuits in the control integrated circuit and reduces the cost of the integrated circuit.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1997Date of Patent: July 6, 1999Assignees: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics, SRL, Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.Inventors: Jayendar Rajagopalan, Paolo Nora, Fred C. Lee