Patents by Inventor Robert K. Kong

Robert K. Kong 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: 10873335
    Abstract: In a computer system, a phase-locked loop circuit may generate a clock signal using a reference signal. The phase-locked loop circuit may include a programmable divider stage that includes multiple divider stages. When a frequency calibration is initiated on the phase-locked loop circuit, a control circuit may generate a pause signal in response to one or more of the divider stages reaching a particular logic state. The programmable divider stage may hold the one or more of the divider stages in the particular logic state using the pause signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Cristian Marcu, Feng Zhao, Wei Deng, Chunwei Chang, Robert K. Kong, Saeed Chehrazi
  • Publication number: 20200350919
    Abstract: In a computer system, a phase-locked loop circuit may generate a clock signal using a reference signal. The phase-locked loop circuit may include a programmable divider stage that includes multiple divider stages. When a frequency calibration is initiated on the phase-locked loop circuit, a control circuit may generate a pause signal in response to one or more of the divider stages reaching a particular logic state. The programmable divider stage may hold the one or more of the divider stages in the particular logic state using the pause signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Cristian Marcu, Feng Zhao, Wei Deng, Chunwei Chang, Robert K. Kong, Saeed Chehrazi
  • Patent number: 10623007
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an oscillator circuit that may generate a clock signal with a frequency that is based on a voltage level of a control node, and a charge pump circuit that includes a first current source and a second current source. The first current source may be coupled between a first supply node and a first circuit node. The second current source may be coupled between a second supply node and a second circuit node. The charge pump circuit may be configured to pre-charge the first and second circuit nodes to voltage levels that differ from the control node and the first and second supply nodes. In addition, the charge pump circuit may select, based on phase information, either the first or second circuit node, and then modify, based on a voltage level of the selected circuit node, a voltage level of the control node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Kong, Shaobo Liu, Dennis M. Fischette, Jr., Patrick J Landy
  • Patent number: 10291243
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an oscillator, a frequency divider, a phase circuit, a charge pump, and a filter. The frequency divider may generate an early feedback signal using a clock signal, and may assert a feedback signal a number of periods of the clock signal after asserting the early feedback signal. The phase circuit may generate a charge control signal using a reference clock signal and the feedback signal, and may generate a discharge control signal using the early feedback signal, the reference clock signal, and the feedback signal. The charge pump may charge or discharge a circuit node using the charge control signal and the discharge control signal to generate a frequency control signal. The filter circuit may attenuate at least one frequency component of the frequency control signal. The oscillator circuit may modify a frequency of the clock signal using the frequency control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Kong, Feng Zhao, Wei Deng
  • Publication number: 20180241405
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an oscillator, a frequency divider, a phase circuit, a charge pump, and a filter. The frequency divider may generate an early feedback signal using a clock signal, and may assert a feedback signal a number of periods of the clock signal after asserting the early feedback signal. The phase circuit may generate a charge control signal using a reference clock signal and the feedback signal, and may generate a discharge control signal using the early feedback signal, the reference clock signal, and the feedback signal. The charge pump may charge or discharge a circuit node using the charge control signal and the discharge control signal to generate a frequency control signal. The filter circuit may attenuate at least one frequency component of the frequency control signal. The oscillator circuit may modify a frequency of the clock signal using the frequency control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Robert K. Kong, Feng Zhao, Wei Deng
  • Patent number: 9954542
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an oscillator, a frequency divider, a phase circuit, a charge pump, and a filter. The frequency divider may generate an early feedback signal using a clock signal, and may assert a feedback signal a number of periods of the clock signal after asserting the early feedback signal. The phase circuit may generate a charge control signal using a reference clock signal and the feedback signal, and may generate a discharge control signal using the early feedback signal, the reference clock signal, and the feedback signal. The charge pump may charge or discharge a circuit node using the charge control signal and the discharge control signal to generate a frequency control signal. The filter circuit may attenuate at least one frequency component of the frequency control signal. The oscillator circuit may modify a frequency of the clock signal using the frequency control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Kong, Feng Zhao, Wei Deng