Patents by Inventor Tien-Tzu Chen
Tien-Tzu Chen 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: 20060125454Abstract: A switching circuit operates with a first operating state and a second operating state. During the first operating state, the switching circuit allows a switching current to linearly increase. During the second operating state, the switching circuit allows the switching current to linearly decrease. A control circuit is coupled to the switching circuit for controlling the switching circuit to operate with the first operating state or the second operating state. A setting circuit generates a threshold signal for the control circuit to ensure that during the first operating state the switching current linearly increases to become higher than or equal to a current value set by the threshold signal. Thereby, the switching current is prevented from linearly decreasing to reverse polarity during the second operating state.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2004Publication date: June 15, 2006Inventors: Tien-Tzu Chen, Guang-Nan Tzeng
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Patent number: 7050914Abstract: A voltage detection unit generates a detection voltage signal representative of a potential difference caused by a current to be detected. A reference current generation unit generates a first reference current and a second reference current having a linear relationship therebetween. In response to the detection voltage signal and the first reference current, a transfer unit determines a first operation voltage. Furthermore, the transfer unit determines a second operation voltage and a transfer current in response to the first operation voltage and the second reference current. The second operation voltage is substantially equal to the first operation voltage. A detection current signal having a linear relationship with the current to be detected is generated through subtracting at least the second reference current from the transfer current.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2004Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Aimtron Technology Corp.Inventors: Guang-Nan Tzeng, Tien-Tzu Chen
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Publication number: 20060089814Abstract: A voltage detection unit generates a detection voltage signal representative of a potential difference caused by a current to be detected. A reference current generation unit generates a first reference current and a second reference current having a linear relationship therebetween. In response to the detection voltage signal and the first reference current, a transfer unit determines a first operation voltage. Furthermore, the transfer unit determines a second operation voltage and a transfer current in response to the first operation voltage and the second reference current. The second operation voltage is substantially equal to the first operation voltage. A detection current signal having a linear relationship with the current to be detected is generated through subtracting at least the second reference current from the transfer current.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2004Publication date: April 27, 2006Inventors: Guang-Nan Tzeng, Tien-Tzu CHEN
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Patent number: 7009857Abstract: A charge pump is driven by at least one clock signal, for converting a supply voltage source into a pumping voltage. The pumping voltage is a function of an amplitude of the at least one clock signal such that an absolute value of the pumping voltage is larger when the amplitude of the at least one clock signal is larger. The amplitude of the at least one clock signal is so modulated as to gradually change from an activation value during an amplitude modulation period. The amplitude modulation period lasts longer than a period of the at least one clock signal by one or more metric orders. The charge pump is activated by the at least one clock signal with the amplitude of the activation value. Thereafter, the charge pump is controlled in such a way that the absolute value of the pumping voltage gradually changes along with the modulation of the amplitude of the at least one clock signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2004Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignee: Aimtron Technology Corp.Inventors: Tien-Tzu Chen, Guang-Nan Tzeng
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Patent number: 6995603Abstract: First and second clocks are applied to first and second capacitors, respectively. First and second former-stage clocks are applied to first and second former-stage capacitors, respectively. A first switch couples the second former-stage capacitor with the first capacitor. A second switch couples the first former-stage capacitor with the second capacitor. A first reverse current preventing circuit couples a control electrode of the first switch alternately with the second capacitor and the second former-stage capacitor. A second reverse current preventing circuit couples a control electrode of the second switch alternately with the first capacitor and the first former-stage capacitor. Falling edges of the first and second clocks occur earlier than falling edges of the first and second former-stage clocks, respectively. Rising edges of the first and second former-stage clocks occur earlier than rising edges of the first and second clocks, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2004Date of Patent: February 7, 2006Assignee: Aimtron Technology Corp.Inventors: Tien-Tzu Chen, Guang-Nan Tzeng
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Publication number: 20050195017Abstract: First and second clocks are applied to first and second capacitors, respectively. First and second former-stage clocks are applied to first and second former-stage capacitors, respectively. A first switch couples the second former-stage capacitor with the first capacitor. A second switch couples the first former-stage capacitor with the second capacitor. A first reverse current preventing circuit couples a control electrode of the first switch alternately with the second capacitor and the second former-stage capacitor. A second reverse current preventing circuit couples a control electrode of the second switch alternately with the first capacitor and the first former-stage capacitor. Falling edges of the first and second clocks occur earlier than falling edges of the first and second former-stage clocks, respectively. Rising edges of the first and second former-stage clocks occur earlier than rising edges of the first and second clocks, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2004Publication date: September 8, 2005Inventors: Tien-Tzu CHEN, Guang-Nan TZENG
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Publication number: 20050174815Abstract: A charge pump is driven by at least one clock signal, for converting a supply voltage source into a pumping voltage. The pumping voltage is a function of an amplitude of the at least one clock signal such that an absolute value of the pumping voltage is larger when the amplitude of the at least one clock signal is larger. The amplitude of the at least one clock signal is so modulated as to gradually change from an activation value during an amplitude modulation period. The amplitude modulation period lasts longer than a period of the at least one clock signal by one or more metric orders. The charge pump is activated by the at least one clock signal with the amplitude of the activation value. Thereafter, the charge pump is controlled in such a way that the absolute value of the pumping voltage gradually changes along with the modulation of the amplitude of the at least one clock signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2004Publication date: August 11, 2005Inventors: Tien-Tzu CHEN, Guang-Nan TZENG
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Patent number: 6911867Abstract: The DC-DC converter of the present invention sets the soft start function in the error amplifier. With soft start added, the error amplifier's output voltage will follow the slowly ascending soft start voltage when the DC-DC converter is enabled. Then the soft start looses control over the error amplifier when the soft start voltage exceeds the steady state value of the error amplifier's output voltage. And meanwhile, the amplifier's input will take over the control. By doing so, the present invention significantly eradicates or reduces jitters caused by the output voltage of the error amplifier and the DC-DC converter.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2003Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: Aimtron Technology Corp.Inventors: Guang-Nan Tzeng, Tien Tzu Chen, Yung-Chih Chen
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Patent number: 6903537Abstract: A switching DC-to-DC converter includes multiple power supply channels, coupled in parallel between a DC voltage source and ground, for converting the DC voltage source into multiple DC output voltages that are separate from each other. An oscillator outputs multiple oscillating signals to render each of the multiple power supply channels make at least one switching transition differently in the time domain from others of the multiple power supply channels, thereby improving transient noise. The multiple oscillating signals include two triangular wave signals with a phase difference of 180 degrees and two pulse wave signals with a-phase difference of 180 degrees. Rising edges of the two pulse wave signals occur simultaneously with either a peak or a valley of the two triangular wave signals, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2003Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: Aimtron Technology Corp.Inventors: Guang-Nan Tzeng, Tien-Tzu Chen, Chi-Yang Chen
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Patent number: 6903935Abstract: A memory card with a static electricity conducting board has a circuit board, a partitioning board and a conducting board. The circuit board has two contacts. The partitioning board is mounted on the board and has two slots. The conducting board is mounted on the partitioning board and has two conducting tabs located respectively inside the slots and pressing respectively against the contacts on the circuit board. The conducting board attracts static electricity on the circuit board and the chip and keeps the circuit board and the chip from being damaged by the static electricity.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2004Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Inventor: Tien-Tzu Chen
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Publication number: 20050088151Abstract: A switching DC-to-DC converter includes multiple power supply channels, coupled in parallel between a DC voltage source and ground, for converting the DC voltage source into multiple DC output voltages that are separate from each other. An oscillator outputs multiple oscillating signals to render each of the multiple power supply channels make at least one switching transition differently in the time domain from others of the multiple power supply channels, thereby improving transient noise. The multiple oscillating signals include two triangular wave signals with a phase difference of 180 degrees and two pulse wave signals with a phase difference of 180 degrees. Rising edges of the two pulse wave signals occur simultaneously with either a peak or a valley of the two triangular wave signals, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2003Publication date: April 28, 2005Inventors: Guang-Nan Tzeng, Tien-Tzu Chen, Chi-Yang Chen
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Patent number: 6861830Abstract: A first oscillating signal presenting a peak, a valley, a rising portion gradually increasing from the valley to the peak, and a falling portion gradually decreasing from the peak to the valley is generated. A second oscillating signal presenting an instantly transiting edge, which occurs simultaneously with either the peak or the valley of the first oscillating signal, is generated. The first and the second oscillating signals are input to a first and a second power supply channels, respectively, for converting a DC voltage source into two separate DC output voltages. The first and the second oscillating signals cause at least one switching transition of the first power supply channel to occur separately in the time domain from at least one switching transition of the second power supply channel, thereby preventing transient spikes from superposing together.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2003Date of Patent: March 1, 2005Assignee: Aimtron Technology Corp.Inventors: Guang-Nan Tzeng, Tien-Tzu Chen, Chi-Yang Chen
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Patent number: 6791368Abstract: The present invention discloses a current sensing circuit and method of a high-speed driving stage, which comprises an input stage, a level converting unit, a feedback unit, a current mirror unit and a current shunting unit. The current sensing circuit is capable of linearly detecting the output current of the driving stage transistors, and directly condensing the detected current to an appropriate value using the geometric ratio of the transistors, so as to facilitate the subsequent signal processing circuit to use it for control purposes.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Aimtron Technology Corp.Inventors: Guang-Nan Tzeng, Tien Tzu Chen
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Publication number: 20040160270Abstract: The DC-DC converter of the present invention sets the soft start function in the error amplifier. With soft start added, the error amplifier's output voltage will follow the slowly ascending soft start voltage when the DC-DC converter is enabled. Then the soft start looses control over the error amplifier when the soft start voltage exceeds the steady state value of the error amplifier's output voltage. And meanwhile, the amplifier's input will take over the control. By doing so, the present invention significantly eradicates or reduces jitters caused by the output voltage of the error amplifier and the DC-DC converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2003Publication date: August 19, 2004Inventors: Guang-Nan Tzeng, Tien Tzu Chen, Yung-Chih Chen
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Publication number: 20040130359Abstract: The present invention discloses a current sensing circuit and method of a high-speed driving stage, which comprises an input stage, a level converting unit, a feedback unit, a current mirror unit and a current shunting unit. The current sensing circuit is capable of linearly detecting the output current of the driving stage transistors, and directly condensing the detected current to an appropriate value using the geometric ratio of the transistors, so as to facilitate the subsequent signal processing circuit to use it for control purposes.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2003Publication date: July 8, 2004Inventors: Guang-Nan Tzeng, Tien Tzu Chen
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Patent number: 6724989Abstract: A camera strobe recharging IC includes a one-shot unit, an R-S latch block unit, a PWM control unit, and a ready control unit. The one-shot unit provides square wave signals. The R-S latch block unit is electrically connected with the one-shot unit. The PWM control unit includes a reference voltage source, an oscillator, a PWM comparator, a voltage boost comparator, and a current source. The ready control unit includes an FET, which has a gate contact electrically connected with an output contact of the R-S latch block unit. Accordingly, the present invention is compact and structurally tiny to facilitate integration and is good at modulating charging current, accelerating charging, and automatically recharging.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2003Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Aimtron Technology Corp.Inventors: Ching-Kun Lin, Yung-Chih Chen, Tien-Tzu Chen