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).
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Patent number: 11435768Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 29, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: STMicroelectronics (China) Investment Co. LtdInventors: Zhenghao Cui, Fei Wang, Ming Jiang
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Patent number: 11169002Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 26, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SAInventors: Hao Wang, Zhenghao Cui
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Publication number: 20200356125Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2020Publication date: November 12, 2020Applicant: STMicroelectronics (China) Investment Co. LtdInventors: Zhenghao CUI, Fei Wang, Ming Jiang
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Patent number: 10761551Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 25, 2019Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: STMicroelectronics (China) Investment Co. LtdInventors: Zhenghao Cui, Fei Wang, Ming Jiang
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Publication number: 20200271479Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2020Publication date: August 27, 2020Inventors: Hao WANG, Zhenghao CUI
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Patent number: 10520963Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 30, 2018Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Zhenghao Cui, Yadan Shen
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Publication number: 20190317537Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2019Publication date: October 17, 2019Applicant: STMicroelectronics (China) Investment Co. LtdInventors: Zhenghao CUI, Fei Wang, Ming Jiang
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Patent number: 10379555Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 15, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: STMicroelectronics (China) Investment Co. LtdInventors: Zhenghao Cui, Fei Wang, Ming Jiang
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Publication number: 20190196524Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2018Publication date: June 27, 2019Inventors: Zhenghao CUI, Yadan SHEN
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Patent number: 10088856Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 5, 2017Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Alvin Xu, Qingjie Ma, Yang Wang, Yan He, Jun Ma, Zhenghao Cui, Jingwei Xu
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Publication number: 20180181151Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2017Publication date: June 28, 2018Inventors: Alvin XU, Qingjie MA, Yang WANG, Yan HE, Jun MA, Zhenghao CUI, Jingwei XU
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Patent number: 9977445Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 23, 2016Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Beijing) R&D Co. LtdInventor: Zhenghao Cui
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Patent number: 9813051Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 24, 2016Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Beijing) R&D Co. LtdInventor: Zhenghao Cui
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Publication number: 20170235321Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2016Publication date: August 17, 2017Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Beijing) R&D Co. LtdInventor: Zhenghao Cui
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Publication number: 20170237421Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2016Publication date: August 17, 2017Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Beijing) R&D Co. LtdInventor: Zhenghao Cui
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Publication number: 20170160759Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2017Publication date: June 8, 2017Applicant: STMicroelectronics (China) Investment Co. LtdInventors: Zhenghao Cui, Fei Wang, Ming Jiang
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Patent number: 9651964Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 13, 2015Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (CHINA) INVESTMENT CO. LTDInventors: Zhenghao Cui, Fei Wang, Ming Jiang
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Patent number: 9651965Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 12, 2015Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (CHINA) INVESTMENT CO. LTDInventors: Zhenghao Cui, Ming Jiang
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Patent number: 9651966Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 26, 2015Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: STMicroelectronics (China) Investment Co. LtdInventors: Zhenghao Cui, Kun Kun Zheng
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Publication number: 20170090493Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2015Publication date: March 30, 2017Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (CHINA) INVESTMENT CO. LTDInventors: Zhenghao Cui, Ming Jiang