Patents by Inventor Toru TAKUMA

Toru TAKUMA 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).

  • Publication number: 20220308612
    Abstract: Provided is an overcurrent protection circuit including an overcurrent detection unit configured to compare an output current flowing through a switch element and a predetermined overcurrent detection value to generate an overcurrent detection signal, an output activation detection unit configured to compare an output voltage and a predetermined threshold voltage to generate an output activation detection signal, a logic unit configured to combine the overcurrent detection signal and the output activation detection signal to generate a logic operation signal, and a diagnostic output unit configured to provide diagnostic output, the logic unit shifting the logic operation signal to a logic level of abnormal state when the overcurrent detection signal is shifted to a logic level of overcurrent detection state and holding the logic operation signal at that logic level, unless the output activation detection signal is shifted to a logic level of output activation state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Kenji MURAOKA, Toru TAKUMA
  • Patent number: 11394379
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a switch device including a switch element coupled between a power supply terminal and an output terminal, and an output abnormality detection circuit that. When an output current flowing during a turn-on period of the switch element is smaller than a threshold value, the output abnormality detection circuit detects an occurrence of an output abnormal condition, and increases a turn-on resistance of the switch element to determine which of a load-open condition and a short-to-power-supply-voltage condition is occurring at the output terminal on a basis of an output voltage at the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: ROHM Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Toru Takuma
  • Publication number: 20220158436
    Abstract: An overcurrent protection circuit includes a current control part configured to control conductance of a transistor so as to limit an output current flowing when the transistor is turned on to a predetermined upper limit or less, and a duty control part configured to forcibly turning on/off the transistor at a predetermined duty ratio when a temperature protection circuit detects a temperature abnormality in a state where the current control part limits the output current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Toru Takuma, Shuntaro Takahashi, Naoki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20220109439
    Abstract: A switch device includes a switching element that connects/disconnects a current path from a power supply terminal to a ground terminal via a load, and an overcurrent protection circuit that limits output current flowing in the switching element to be an overcurrent limit value or less. When an output short circuit of the load is detected, the overcurrent protection circuit decreases the overcurrent limit value to be lower as a power supply voltage is higher. In addition, the switch device preferably includes a switching element that connects/disconnects a current path from a power supply terminal to a ground terminal via a load, an intermittent control unit that intermittently drives the switching element when an abnormality is detected, and an output voltage monitoring portion that disables the intermittent control unit until an output voltage applied to the load reaches its target value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventor: Toru Takuma
  • Patent number: 11289894
    Abstract: An overcurrent protection circuit includes a current control part configured to control conductance of a transistor so as to limit an output current flowing when the transistor is turned on to a predetermined upper limit or less, and a duty control part configured to forcibly turning on/off the transistor at a predetermined duty ratio when a temperature protection circuit detects a temperature abnormality in a state where the current control part limits the output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Takuma, Shuntaro Takahashi, Naoki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20220045208
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer, an insulation gate-type first transistor which is formed in the semiconductor layer, an insulation gate-type second transistor which is formed in the semiconductor layer, and a control wiring which is formed on the semiconductor layer such as to be electrically connected to the first transistor and the second transistor, and transmits control signals that control the first transistor and the second transistor to be in ON states in a normal operation and that control the first transistor to be in an OFF state and the second transistor to be in an ON state in an active clamp operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Hajime OKUDA, Yoshinori FUKUDA, Toru TAKUMA, Shuntaro TAKAHASHI, Naoki TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20220037872
    Abstract: In order both to accommodate instantaneous current as well as overcurrent protection in accordance with the load, an overcurrent protection circuit has: a threshold value generation unit that, in accordance with a threshold value control signal, switches between setting an overcurrent detection threshold value to a first set value (? Iref) and a second set value (? Iset) lower than the first set value; an overcurrent detection unit that compares a sense signal in accordance with the current being monitored and the overcurrent detection value and generates an overcurrent protection signal; a reference value generation unit that generates a reference value (? Iset) in accordance with the seconds set value; a comparison unit that compares the sense signal and the reference value, and generates a comparison signal; and a threshold value control unit that monitors the comparison signal, and generates a threshold value control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Takuma, Naoki Takahashi, Shuntaro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11239837
    Abstract: A switch device includes a switching element that connects/disconnects a current path from a power supply terminal to a ground terminal via a load, and an overcurrent protection circuit that limits output current flowing in the switching element to be an overcurrent limit value or less. When an output short circuit of the load is detected, the overcurrent protection circuit decreases the overcurrent limit value to be lower as a power supply voltage is higher. In addition, the switch device preferably includes a switching element that connects/disconnects a current path from a power supply terminal to a ground terminal via a load, an intermittent control unit that intermittently drives the switching element when an abnormality is detected, and an output voltage monitoring portion that disables the intermittent control unit until an output voltage applied to the load reaches its target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Takuma
  • Patent number: 11183829
    Abstract: In order both to accommodate instantaneous current as well as overcurrent protection in accordance with the load, an overcurrent protection circuit has: a threshold value generation unit that, in accordance with a threshold value control signal, switches between setting an overcurrent detection threshold value to a first set value (?Iref) and a second set value (?Iset) lower than the first set value; an overcurrent detection unit that compares a sense signal in accordance with the current being monitored and the overcurrent detection value and generates an overcurrent protection signal; a reference value generation unit that generates a reference value (?Iset) in accordance with the seconds set value; a comparison unit that compares the sense signal and the reference value, and generates a comparison signal; and a threshold value control unit that monitors the comparison signal, and generates a threshold value control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Takuma, Naoki Takahashi, Shuntaro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11128288
    Abstract: A switching device has, for example, a first terminal configured to be connected to an application node for a first voltage, a second terminal configured to be connected to the first end of a load, a third terminal configured to be connected to the second end of the load and to an application node for a second voltage, a switching element configured to be connected between the first and second terminals, a first active clamper configured to limit the output voltage at the second terminal with reference to the first voltage in a first state, and a second active clamper configured to limit the output voltage with reference to the second voltage in a second state different from the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Takuma, Shuntaro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11128117
    Abstract: A protection circuit includes: a high-side switch connected to a power terminal to which a predetermined power supply voltage VBB is supplied from an onboard battery; and an NMOS transistor MT1 connected to the high-side switch and configured to prevent an electrical conduction to the high-side switch when the onboard battery is reverse-connected to the power terminal, wherein a semiconductor integrated circuit is protected from a breakdown due to the reverse connection of the external power supply. A semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus includes the above-mentioned protection circuit configured to protect a semiconductor integrated circuit connected between the power terminal and the ground terminal, from an electro-static discharge breakdown. The protection circuit is connected to the clamp circuit unit inserted between the power terminal and the ground terminal, and is configured to protect the clamp circuit unit from a breakdown when the external power supply is reverse-connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Takahashi, Shuntaro Takahashi, Toru Takuma
  • Publication number: 20210288637
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an overcurrent protection circuit configured to, upon detection of an output current that flows through a switch element reaching a first overcurrent limit value, reduce an overcurrent limit value for the output current from the first overcurrent limit value to a second overcurrent limit value smaller than the first overcurrent limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventor: Toru TAKUMA
  • Publication number: 20210143810
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a switch device including a switch element coupled between a power supply terminal and an output terminal, and an output abnormality detection circuit that. When an output current flowing during a turn-on period of the switch element is smaller than a threshold value, the output abnormality detection circuit detects an occurrence of an output abnormal condition, and increases a turn-on resistance of the switch element to determine which of a load-open condition and a short-to-power-supply-voltage condition is occurring at the output terminal on a basis of an output voltage at the output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventor: Toru TAKUMA
  • Publication number: 20200403393
    Abstract: In order both to accommodate instantaneous current as well as overcurrent protection in accordance with the load, an overcurrent protection circuit has: a threshold value generation unit that, in accordance with a threshold value control signal, switches between setting an overcurrent detection threshold value to a first set value (?Iref) and a second set value (?Iset) lower than the first set value; an overcurrent detection unit that compares a sense signal in accordance with the current being monitored and the overcurrent detection value and generates an overcurrent protection signal; a reference value generation unit that generates a reference value (?Iset) in accordance with the seconds set value; a comparison unit that compares the sense signal and the reference value, and generates a comparison signal; and a threshold value control unit that monitors the comparison signal, and generates a threshold value control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Takuma, Naoki Takahashi, Shuntaro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10790657
    Abstract: In order both to accommodate instantaneous current as well as overcurrent protection in accordance with the load, an overcurrent protection circuit has: a threshold value generation unit that, in accordance with a threshold value control signal, switches between setting an overcurrent detection threshold value to a first set value (? Iref) and a second set value (? Iset) lower than the first set value; an overcurrent detection unit that compares a sense signal in accordance with the current being monitored and the overcurrent detection value and generates an overcurrent protection signal; a reference value generation unit that generates a reference value (? Iset) in accordance with the seconds set value; a comparison unit that compares the sense signal and the reference value, and generates a comparison signal; and a threshold value control unit that monitors the comparison signal, and generates a threshold value control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Takuma, Naoki Takahashi, Shuntaro Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20200251894
    Abstract: An overcurrent protection circuit includes a current control part configured to control conductance of a transistor so as to limit an output current flowing when the transistor is turned on to a predetermined upper limit or less, and a duty control part configured to forcibly turning on/off the transistor at a predetermined duty ratio when a temperature protection circuit detects a temperature abnormality in a state where the current control part limits the output current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Takuma, Shuntaro Takahashi, Naoki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20200212664
    Abstract: A switching device has, for example, a first terminal configured to be connected to an application node for a first voltage, a second terminal configured to be connected to the first end of a load, a third terminal configured to be connected to the second end of the load and to an application node for a second voltage, a switching element configured to be connected between the first and second terminals, a first active clamper configured to limit the output voltage at the second terminal with reference to the first voltage in a first state, and a second active clamper configured to limit the output voltage with reference to the second voltage in a second state different from the first state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Toru TAKUMA, Shuntaro TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 10658831
    Abstract: An overcurrent protection circuit includes a current control part configured to control conductance of a transistor so as to limit an output current flowing when the transistor is turned on to a predetermined upper limit or less, and a duty control part configured to forcibly turning on/off the transistor at a predetermined duty ratio when a temperature protection circuit detects a temperature abnormality in a state where the current control part limits the output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Takuma, Shuntaro Takahashi, Naoki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20190190512
    Abstract: A switch device includes a switching element that connects/disconnects a current path from a power supply terminal to a ground terminal via a load, and an overcurrent protection circuit that limits output current flowing in the switching element to be an overcurrent limit value or less. When an output short circuit of the load is detected, the overcurrent protection circuit decreases the overcurrent limit value to be lower as a power supply voltage is higher. In addition, the switch device preferably includes a switching element that connects/disconnects a current path from a power supply terminal to a ground terminal via a load, an intermittent control unit that intermittently drives the switching element when an abnormality is detected, and an output voltage monitoring portion that disables the intermittent control unit until an output voltage applied to the load reaches its target value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toru TAKUMA
  • Publication number: 20190123541
    Abstract: In order both to accommodate instantaneous current as well as overcurrent protection in accordance with the load, an overcurrent protection circuit has: a threshold value generation unit that, in accordance with a threshold value control signal, switches between setting an overcurrent detection threshold value to a first set value (? Iref) and a second set value (? Iset) lower than the first set value; an overcurrent detection unit that compares a sense signal in accordance with the current being monitored and the overcurrent detection value and generates an overcurrent protection signal; a reference value generation unit that generates a reference value (? Iset) in accordance with the seconds set value; a comparison unit that compares the sense signal and the reference value, and generates a comparison signal; and a threshold value control unit that monitors the comparison signal, and generates a threshold value control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Takuma, Naoki Takahashi, Shuntaro Takahashi