Patents by Inventor Zhenghao Cui

Zhenghao Cui 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: 11435768
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes two input pairs of opposite type transistors, p-type and n-type, to provide a soft-start functionality for gradually increasing the voltage regulator's output voltage from zero, or a voltage below the thresholds of the n-type transistors, to an operational voltage. The voltage regulator operates in a soft-start mode during which a variable input voltage signal is ramped up to allow the output voltage to reach the operational voltage, and a normal-operation mode during which the operational voltage is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (China) Investment Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Zhenghao Cui, Fei Wang, Ming Jiang
  • Patent number: 11169002
    Abstract: A sensor system and a joystick including the sensor system. The sensor system comprises a magnetic field sensor, and first and second magnetic sources. The first magnetic source is rotatable relative to a sensitive surface of the sensor and generates a first magnetic field contribution of at least quadrupolar order. The second magnetic source is pivotable with respect to the sensitive surface and generates a second magnetic field contribution. The sensor is configured for detecting at least an in-plane component of a superimposition field of the first and second magnetic contributions at a plurality of lateral measurement locations on the sensitive surface, obtaining measurements, and determining a rotation angle for the first source from the field gradient measurements and two angular directions for the second source from the field mean measurements. Lateral measurement locations are arranged into two pairs of diametrically opposite measurement locations with respect to the sensitive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventors: Hao Wang, Zhenghao Cui
  • Publication number: 20200356125
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes two input pairs of opposite type transistors, p-type and n-type, to provide a soft-start functionality for gradually increasing the voltage regulator's output voltage from zero, or a voltage below the thresholds of the n-type transistors, to an operational voltage. The voltage regulator operates in a soft-start mode during which a variable input voltage signal is ramped up to allow the output voltage to reach the operational voltage, and a normal-operation mode during which the operational voltage is maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (China) Investment Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Zhenghao CUI, Fei Wang, Ming Jiang
  • Patent number: 10761551
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes two input pairs of opposite type transistors, p-type and n-type, to provide a soft-start functionality for gradually increasing the voltage regulator's output voltage from zero, or a voltage below the thresholds of the n-type transistors, to an operational voltage. The voltage regulator operates in a soft-start mode during which a variable input voltage signal is ramped up to allow the output voltage to reach the operational voltage, and a normal-operation mode during which the operational voltage is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (China) Investment Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Zhenghao Cui, Fei Wang, Ming Jiang
  • Publication number: 20200271479
    Abstract: A sensor system and a joystick including the sensor system. The sensor system comprises a magnetic field sensor, and first and second magnetic sources. The first magnetic source is rotatable relative to a sensitive surface of the sensor and generates a first magnetic field contribution of at least quadrupolar order. The second magnetic source is pivotable with respect to the sensitive surface and generates a second magnetic field contribution. The sensor is configured for detecting at least an in-plane component of a superimposition field of the first and second magnetic contributions at a plurality of lateral measurement locations on the sensitive surface, obtaining measurements, and determining a rotation angle for the first source from the field gradient measurements and two angular directions for the second source from the field mean measurements. Lateral measurement locations are arranged into two pairs of diametrically opposite measurement locations with respect to the sensitive surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Hao WANG, Zhenghao CUI
  • Patent number: 10520963
    Abstract: Regulating voltages at inputs of an electronic device by performing at least the following: receiving, at a voltage monitoring circuit, a monitoring voltage corresponding to a power system, determining, at the voltage monitoring circuit, whether the monitoring voltage is equal to or exceeds a monitoring threshold voltage, receiving, at the voltage monitoring circuit, an output indicating whether an inputted reference voltage and an inputted feedback voltage at a comparator circuit differs, regulating, at the voltage monitoring circuit, a feedback voltage to match the inputted reference voltage based on the output and a determination that the monitoring voltage is equal to or exceeds the monitoring threshold voltage, and providing, from the voltage monitoring circuit, the feedback voltage as an updated inputted feedback voltage for the comparator circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Zhenghao Cui, Yadan Shen
  • Publication number: 20190317537
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes two input pairs of opposite type transistors, p-type and n-type, to provide a soft-start functionality for gradually increasing the voltage regulator's output voltage from zero, or a voltage below the thresholds of the n-type transistors, to an operational voltage. The voltage regulator operates in a soft-start mode during which a variable input voltage signal is ramped up to allow the output voltage to reach the operational voltage, and a normal-operation mode during which the operational voltage is maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (China) Investment Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Zhenghao CUI, Fei Wang, Ming Jiang
  • Patent number: 10379555
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes two input pairs of opposite type transistors, p-type and n-type, to provide a soft-start functionality for gradually increasing the voltage regulator's output voltage from zero, or a voltage below the thresholds of the n-type transistors, to an operational voltage. The voltage regulator operates in a soft-start mode during which a variable input voltage signal is ramped up to allow the output voltage to reach the operational voltage, and a normal-operation mode during which the operational voltage is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (China) Investment Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Zhenghao Cui, Fei Wang, Ming Jiang
  • Publication number: 20190196524
    Abstract: Regulating voltages at inputs of an electronic device by performing at least the following: receiving, at a voltage monitoring circuit, a monitoring voltage corresponding to a power system, determining, at the voltage monitoring circuit, whether the monitoring voltage is equal to or exceeds a monitoring threshold voltage, receiving, at the voltage monitoring circuit, an output indicating whether an inputted reference voltage and an inputted feedback voltage at a comparator circuit differs, regulating, at the voltage monitoring circuit, a feedback voltage to match the inputted reference voltage based on the output and a determination that the monitoring voltage is equal to or exceeds the monitoring threshold voltage, and providing, from the voltage monitoring circuit, the feedback voltage as an updated inputted feedback voltage for the comparator circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Zhenghao CUI, Yadan SHEN
  • Patent number: 10088856
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture for negative output voltage active clamping using a floating bandgap reference and temperature compensation are disclosed. An example load switch includes a floating bandgap reference circuit to generate a bandgap reference voltage. A resistor divider is to generate a resistor divider voltage. A temperature compensator to apply a temperature compensation current to the resistor divider to create a temperature compensated resistor divider voltage. A power transistor is to be enabled when the temperature compensated resistor divider voltage is less than the bandgap reference voltage. The example load switch can work under negative output voltage clamping and get better accuracy drain to source clamped voltage of power transistor for inductive load condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Alvin Xu, Qingjie Ma, Yang Wang, Yan He, Jun Ma, Zhenghao Cui, Jingwei Xu
  • Publication number: 20180181151
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture for negative output voltage active clamping using a floating bandgap reference and temperature compensation are disclosed. An example load switch includes a floating bandgap reference circuit to generate a bandgap reference voltage. A resistor divider is to generate a resistor divider voltage. A temperature compensator to apply a temperature compensation current to the resistor divider to create a temperature compensated resistor divider voltage. A power transistor is to be enabled when the temperature compensated resistor divider voltage is less than the bandgap reference voltage. The example load switch can work under negative output voltage clamping and get better accuracy drain to source clamped voltage of power transistor for inductive load condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Alvin XU, Qingjie MA, Yang WANG, Yan HE, Jun MA, Zhenghao CUI, Jingwei XU
  • Patent number: 9977445
    Abstract: An electronic device disclosed herein includes a linear output stage configured to generate an output voltage to an output node as a function of an input voltage, and a buck output stage configured to generate the output voltage to the output node as a function of the input voltage. Control circuitry is configured to enable the linear output stage and disable the buck output stage if a current demanded by a load to maintain the output voltage at a desired level is less than a limit current, and enable the buck output stage and disable the linear output stage a delay period of time after enabling the buck output stage, if the current demanded by the load to maintain the output voltage at the desired level is greater than the limit current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Beijing) R&D Co. Ltd
    Inventor: Zhenghao Cui
  • Patent number: 9813051
    Abstract: An electronic circuit is for switching a power transistor having a drain coupled to a drain node, a source coupled to a lower voltage supply, and a gate coupled to a gate node. The electronic circuit includes first current generation circuitry to generate a first current to flow into the gate node in response to assertion off an ON signal, the first current being substantially constant. Second current generation circuitry generates a second current to flow into the gate node in response to deassertion of an OFF signal, the second current being inversely proportional to a gate to source voltage of the power transistor. First comparison circuitry compares a drain voltage at the drain node to a reference voltage, and activates third current generation circuitry to generate a third current to flow into the gate node when the drain voltage is less than the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Beijing) R&D Co. Ltd
    Inventor: Zhenghao Cui
  • Publication number: 20170235321
    Abstract: An electronic device disclosed herein includes a linear output stage configured to generate an output voltage to an output node as a function of an input voltage, and a buck output stage configured to generate the output voltage to the output node as a function of the input voltage. Control circuitry is configured to enable the linear output stage and disable the buck output stage if a current demanded by a load to maintain the output voltage at a desired level is less than a limit current, and enable the buck output stage and disable the linear output stage a delay period of time after enabling the buck output stage, if the current demanded by the load to maintain the output voltage at the desired level is greater than the limit current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Beijing) R&D Co. Ltd
    Inventor: Zhenghao Cui
  • Publication number: 20170237421
    Abstract: An electronic circuit is for switching a power transistor having a drain coupled to a drain node, a source coupled to a lower voltage supply, and a gate coupled to a gate node. The electronic circuit includes first current generation circuitry to generate a first current to flow into the gate node in response to assertion off an ON signal, the first current being substantially constant. Second current generation circuitry generates a second current to flow into the gate node in response to deassertion of an OFF signal, the second current being inversely proportional to a gate to source voltage of the power transistor. First comparison circuitry compares a drain voltage at the drain node to a reference voltage, and activates third current generation circuitry to generate a third current to flow into the gate node when the drain voltage is less than the reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Beijing) R&D Co. Ltd
    Inventor: Zhenghao Cui
  • Publication number: 20170160759
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes two input pairs of opposite type transistors, p-type and n-type, to provide a soft-start functionality for gradually increasing the voltage regulator's output voltage from zero, or a voltage below the thresholds of the n-type transistors, to an operational voltage. The voltage regulator operates in a soft-start mode during which a variable input voltage signal is ramped up to allow the output voltage to reach the operational voltage, and a normal-operation mode during which the operational voltage is maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (China) Investment Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Zhenghao Cui, Fei Wang, Ming Jiang
  • Patent number: 9651964
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes two input pairs of opposite type transistors, p-type and n-type, to provide a soft-start functionality for gradually increasing the voltage regulator's output voltage from zero, or a voltage below the thresholds of the n-type transistors, to an operational voltage. The voltage regulator operates in a soft-start mode during which a variable input voltage signal is ramped up to allow the output voltage to reach the operational voltage, and a normal-operation mode during which the operational voltage is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (CHINA) INVESTMENT CO. LTD
    Inventors: Zhenghao Cui, Fei Wang, Ming Jiang
  • Patent number: 9651965
    Abstract: A linear regulator circuit includes a power transistor coupled between an input voltage node and an output voltage node. A control circuit of the linear regulator includes a feedback network having an input coupled to the output voltage node and an output configured to generate a feedback voltage. An error amplifier receives a reference voltage and the feedback voltage to generate an error signal. A driver circuit receives the error signal and has an output coupled to drive a control terminal of the power transistor. A first power supply terminal of the driver circuit is coupled to a first power supply node and a second power supply terminal of the driver circuit is coupled to the output voltage node. The bias current for operation of the driver circuit is accordingly directly sourced to the output voltage node to support low quiescent current operation of the regulator circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (CHINA) INVESTMENT CO. LTD
    Inventors: Zhenghao Cui, Ming Jiang
  • Patent number: 9651966
    Abstract: A linear regulator includes a drive circuit having an input and an output, with the output configured to drive a control terminal of a power transistor for the delivery of a load current. An error amplifier functions to amplify a difference between a reference signal and a feedback signal to generate an error signal at the input of the drive circuit. A compensation circuit includes a series circuit formed by a compensation capacitor and a variable resistance circuit, where the series circuit is coupled to the input of the drive circuit. A current sensing circuit operates to sense the load current. The resistance of the variable resistance circuit is varied in response to the sensed load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (China) Investment Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Zhenghao Cui, Kun Kun Zheng
  • Publication number: 20170090493
    Abstract: A linear regulator circuit includes a power transistor coupled between an input voltage node and an output voltage node. A control circuit of the linear regulator includes a feedback network having an input coupled to the output voltage node and an output configured to generate a feedback voltage. An error amplifier receives a reference voltage and the feedback voltage to generate an error signal. A driver circuit receives the error signal and has an output coupled to drive a control terminal of the power transistor. A first power supply terminal of the driver circuit is coupled to a first power supply node and a second power supply terminal of the driver circuit is coupled to the output voltage node. The bias current for operation of the driver circuit is accordingly directly sourced to the output voltage node to support low quiescent current operation of the regulator circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (CHINA) INVESTMENT CO. LTD
    Inventors: Zhenghao Cui, Ming Jiang