Using A Three Or More Terminal Semiconductive Device As The Final Control Device Patents (Class 323/265)
  • Publication number: 20150100174
    Abstract: A passive component with temperature compensation and an electronic device using the same are provided. The electronic device includes a central processor unit (CPU), a filter and a power conversion circuit. The filter includes the passive component and a variable resistor. The passive component includes an inductor and a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) resistor. The NTC resistor is contacted with a surface of the inductor, and the NTC resistor and the inductor are disposed in a package. The power conversion circuit provides a current information to the CPU according to a partial voltage difference of the filter. The power conversion circuit controls an output voltage through the filter according to a first control signal of the CPU, so as to provide the output voltage. The electronic device further includes an embedded controller. The embedded controller controls the variable resistor according to a second control signal of the CPU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Po-Yu Li, Kuan-Chi Juan, Meng-Chieh Tsai
  • Patent number: 9000742
    Abstract: A signal generating circuit includes: a first signal amplifying circuit arranged to generate a first amplified signal according to a first supply current, a reference signal, and an output signal of the signal generating circuit; a soft-start circuit arranged to generate a control signal according to a soft-start signal; a current controlled circuit arranged to generate the first supply current according to the soft-start signal; and a pass transistor arranged to generate an output signal according to an error amplified signal and the control signal. The error amplified signal is derived from the first amplified signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: MediaTek Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Xi Chen, Chien-Wei Kuan
  • Publication number: 20150091537
    Abstract: Reference signal generators using thermistors are disclosed. An apparatus includes a first device having a first temperature coefficient and a thermistor having a second temperature coefficient having a sign opposite to that of the first temperature coefficient. A circuit maintains equivalence of a first signal and a second signal and offsets a first temperature variation of the first device using a second temperature variation of the thermistor to generate the second signal having a low temperature coefficient. The first device may be a bipolar transistor configured to generate a base-emitter voltage and coupled in series with the thermistor. The first signal may be a first voltage on a first node. The second signal may be a second voltage on a second node. The circuit may be configured to maintain effective equivalence of the first voltage and the second voltage. The apparatus may include a resistor coupled to the second node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron J. Caffee, Brian G. Drost
  • Publication number: 20150077070
    Abstract: A voltage regulator that provides feedforward cancellation of power supply noise is disclosed. The voltage regulator includes a process tracking circuit that receives a supply voltage and generates a proportional voltage. A tracking capacitor is coupled to the process tracking circuit and generates an injection voltage based on the proportional voltage. An Ahuja compensated regulator generates a regulated voltage. The injection voltage is provided on a feedback path of the Ahuja compensated regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Shuaeb Fazeel, Eeshan Miglani, Visvesvaraya Pentakota, Shagun Dusad
  • Publication number: 20150035507
    Abstract: A dual mode voltage regulator according to one embodiment includes a passive regulator circuit; a switching regulator circuit; and a controller circuit configured to monitor operational parameters of the dual mode voltage regulator and selectively couple either the passive regulator circuit or the switching regulator circuit between an input voltage port and an output load. The selective coupling is based on the monitoring of parameters including current through the output load, voltage at the input voltage port and voltage at the output load as well as the availability of a system clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Cowley, Andrew D. Talbot, Isaac Ali, Keith Pinson, Colin L. Perry, Matthew T. Aitken, Chi Man Kan, Mark S. Mudd, Stephen J. Spinks, Alan J. Martin, William L. Barber
  • Publication number: 20150002110
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided. The apparatus comprises a plurality of devices forming a positive feedback loop for driving a regulated output voltage towards a reference voltage. Device ratios of at least two of the plurality of devices are set such that the positive feedback loop is stable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Saurabh Kumar Singh, Nitin Bansal, Kallol Chatterjee
  • Publication number: 20150002111
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for reducing power loss in the case of an active electrical current output of a field device for determining and/or influencing a process variable, wherein the process variable is represented via a selectable electrical current value, comprising an external voltage supply, a voltage regulator and a control loop associated with the voltage regulator, wherein the control loop is so embodied that the voltage regulator, as a function of the presently set electrical current value, so controls the voltage to an external load connected in parallel with the electrical current output that the external load receives essentially only the respectively required voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Matthias Brudermann, Antoine Simon, Nikolai Fink, Daniel Kollmer, Ole Koudal
  • Publication number: 20150001938
    Abstract: An electronic circuit includes a functional circuit in series with at least one first current source between two terminals of application of a power supply voltage. The first current source is controllable between an operating mode where it delivers a fixed current, independent from the power consumption of said functional circuit, and an operating mode where it delivers a variable current, depending on the power consumption of the functional circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Jimmy Fort
  • Publication number: 20140327416
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a power device formed by an NMOS transistor having a drain terminal coupled to an input voltage, a source terminal providing an output voltage and a gate terminal receiving a gate drive signal; and an integrated AC/DC control loop configured to access the output voltage and to generate the gate drive signal based on a value of the output voltage in relation to a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage. The AC control portion generates a gate drive control signal which is AC coupled to the gate terminal of the power device as an AC component of the gate drive signal. The DC control portion controls a DC voltage level of the gate drive signal. The AC control portion is powered by the input voltage while the DC control portion is powered by a high supply voltage greater than the input voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Micrel, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolf Gerardus van Ettinger, Paul Wilson
  • Publication number: 20140306671
    Abstract: A system can include a device under test (DUT) having a DUT voltage, a cable connected to the DUT, the cable having a cable inductance, and a power supply configured as a current source to provide a wide bandwidth voltage source to the DUT, wherein the DUT voltage is independent of the cable inductance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Keithley Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Cawley, Wayne Goeke, Gregory Sobolewski
  • Patent number: 8841891
    Abstract: A multiple output DC-to-DC voltage converter using a new time-multiplexed-capacitor converter algorithm and related circuit topologies is herein disclosed. One embodiment of this invention includes a flying capacitor, a first output node, a second output node, and a switching network. The switching network configured to provide the following modes of circuit operation: 1) a first mode where the positive electrode of the flying capacitor is connected to an input voltage and the negative electrode of the flying capacitor is connected to ground; 2) a second mode where the negative electrode of the flying capacitor is connected to the input voltage and the positive electrode of the flying capacitor is connected to the first output node; and 3) a third mode where the positive electrode of the flying capacitor is connected to ground and the negative electrode of the flying capacitor is connected to the second output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Analogic Technologies Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard K. Williams
  • Publication number: 20140266317
    Abstract: A voltage regulator for controlling an output device in accordance with embodiments includes an error amplifier; a controlled conductance output device; and a load predicting circuit; wherein an output of the error amplifier and an output of the load predicting circuit are summed to control the output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: D.C. Sessions
  • Publication number: 20140266087
    Abstract: Among other things, techniques and systems are provided to pre-charge a node of a primary circuit, such as a voltage regulator or bandgap voltage reference, via a start-up circuit. The node is charged to a specified voltage during a pre-charge operation that occurs while the primary-circuit is powered-off. The pre-charge operation comprises discharging a voltage from the node during a first portion of the pre-charge operation and re-charging the node to the specified voltage during a second portion of the pre-charge operation. In some embodiments, the specified voltage is substantially equivalent to a switching voltage of a drive transistor of the primary circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventor: Chi-Hsiang Weng
  • Publication number: 20140253072
    Abstract: A soft-start/soft-stop (SS) controller for a voltage regulator. The SS controller includes a power up/down detector configured to perform at least one selected from a group consisting of detecting a power on condition of the voltage regulator to determine a start-up time period and detecting a power off condition of the voltage regulator to determine a shut-down time period, and a ramped reference voltage signal generator configured to perform at least one selected from a group consisting of increasing a voltage level of a ramped reference voltage signal using a pre-determined ramp-up rate during the start-up time period and decreasing the voltage level of the ramped reference voltage signal using a pre-determined ramp-down rate during the shut-down time period, wherein the ramped reference voltage signal is supplied to the voltage regulator for controlling an output voltage level of the voltage regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: VIDATRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Faisal Abdellatif Elseddeek Ali Hussien, Mohamed Mostafa Saber Aboudina, Moises E. Robinson
  • Patent number: 8823341
    Abstract: The systems and methods of auto-configurable switching/linear regulation disclosed herein enable a device to operate in both DC-to-DC switching regulation and linear regulation applications. The systems and methods disclosed herein differentiate between switching and linear mode. If the application is for a linear regulator, there will only be a capacitor on the output. If the application is for switching mode regulation, there will be an inductor and a capacitor on the output. Then based on the determination, the mode is selected and the hardware is converted into switching regulator operation or linear regulator operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Sudhir Polarouthu, Suresh Mallala, Ranjit Kumar Dash, Sundara Siva Rao Giduturi
  • Publication number: 20140197739
    Abstract: A protection circuit of a DC-DC converter is disclosed. An input terminal of the DC-DC converter receives an input voltage and an output terminal of the DC-DC converter provides an output voltage. The DC-DC converter includes an output stage between the input terminal and the output terminal The protection circuit includes a current sensor, a comparator, a determining circuit, and a protection control circuit. The current sensor provides a sensing signal. The comparator compares a default over-voltage with the sensing signal to provide an over-current control signal. The determining circuit provides a determining control signal. The protection control circuit determines whether to enable a short protection according to the over-current control signal and the determining control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: UPI SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventor: Wen-Fu Lu
  • Patent number: 8760131
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a power device formed by an NMOS transistor having a drain terminal coupled to an input voltage, a source terminal providing an output voltage and a gate terminal receiving a gate drive signal; and an integrated AC/DC control loop configured to access the output voltage and to generate the gate drive signal based on a value of the output voltage in relation to a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage. The AC control portion generates a gate drive control signal which is AC coupled to the gate terminal of the power device as an AC component of the gate drive signal. The DC control portion controls a DC voltage level of the gate drive signal. The AC control portion is powered by the input voltage while the DC control portion is powered by a high supply voltage greater than the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Micrel, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolf Gerardus van Ettinger, Paul Wilson
  • Patent number: 8760130
    Abstract: The electronic apparatus includes a direct-current voltage generation part that generates a direct-current voltage from a commercial power supply; a switching part that switches between an on-state in which the direct-current voltage from the direct-current voltage generation part is output, and an off-state in which the output of the direct-current voltage is shut down, a control part that controls operation of the direct-current voltage generation part; and a power supply maintaining part connected to the direct-current voltage generation part, the power supply maintaining part instructing the switching part to be in the on-state or the off-state, and consequently, enables provision of a soft-switch electronic apparatus that after recovery of a power failure, automatically returns to a state before occurrence of the power failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Inventor: Hideaki Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20140167849
    Abstract: A differential amplification circuit includes a first current control unit configured to control driving current in response to a voltage level difference between first input voltage and second input voltage, a second current control unit configured to control the driving current in response to a voltage level difference between the second input voltage independent from temperature and a temperature voltage depending on the temperature, and a signal output unit configured to generate a detection signal in response to the driving current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventors: Jae-Boum PARK, Cheol-Hoe KIM
  • Patent number: 8742736
    Abstract: A distributed power supply delivery network includes an analog biased circuit array having current sources for delivering current to adjacent circuits, and a resistive ladder of resistor elements, where each resistor element is disposed between adjacent current sources. A tuned IR voltage drop network is included to match voltage drops across the resistive ladder. The tuned IR voltage drop network includes series connected resistors and a static current draw to induce the IR drop. The resistors may be matched with respect to the distributed power supply delivery system. The current source providing the static current for the IR drop may be programmed based on the power supply delivery load, in order to adjust the voltage drop across the biasing delivery route and match the voltage drop in the referenced power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Charles Myers
  • Publication number: 20140145690
    Abstract: An internal voltage generation circuit includes a reference voltage generator and an internal voltage generator. The reference voltage generator is configured to adjust resistance values according to test signals and to generate an upper limit reference voltage and a lower limit reference voltage whose levels are determined according to the resistance values. The internal voltage generator is configured to generate an internal voltage which is driven according to the levels of the upper and lower limit reference voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventors: Jae Wook LEE, Chang Ho DO
  • Publication number: 20140117950
    Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit includes a differential amplifier stage. The gate terminal of a first n-channel MOSFET is coupled to an output of the differential amplifier stage. A resistor is coupled between the drain terminal and gate terminal of the first n-channel MOSFET. The drain terminal of the first n-channel MOSFET drives the gate of a second n-channel MOSFET whose drain terminal is at the input of a current mirror circuit. An output of the current mirror circuit forms the regulated voltage output. A feedback circuit is coupled between the regulated voltage output and one input of the voltage regulator circuit. Another input of the voltage regulator circuit is configured to receive a reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS ASIA PACIFIC PTE LTD
    Inventors: Eng Jye Ng, Kien Beng Tan
  • Publication number: 20140049234
    Abstract: There is provided a regulator for controlling an output voltage, capable of stabilizing the voltage output from the regulator. The regulator for controlling an output voltage may include an output current generating unit generating an output current according to a reference voltage, an output voltage detecting unit detecting an output voltage using the output current, according to resistors provided therein, and a controlling unit comparing the output voltage with a preset reference output voltage to control the reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Tah Joon PARK, Yong Il KWON
  • Patent number: 8648580
    Abstract: A regulator for providing a low dropout voltage at an output node of the regulator is provided. An amplifier has a non-inverting input terminal for receiving an input voltage, an inverting input terminal and an output terminal. A first resistor is coupled between a ground and the inverting input terminal of the amplifier. A second resistor is coupled to the inverting input terminal of the amplifier. A first transistor is coupled between a voltage source and the second resistor. A current source coupled between the voltage source and a gate of the first transistor provides a bias current. A second transistor coupled between the first transistor and a current mirror has a gate coupled to the output terminal of the amplifier. The first and second transistors are different type MOS transistors. The replica unit generates the low dropout voltage according to a voltage of the output terminal of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mediatek Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: KianTiong Wong
  • Patent number: 8643346
    Abstract: A potential converter device with a first storage capacitor implemented to be supplied with energy from an energy source to acquire a first potential form at the first storage capacitor, and a second storage capacitor implemented to be supplied with energy from the first storage capacitor to acquire a second potential form at the second storage capacitor. The potential converter device further has a converter electrically connected between the first and second storage capacitors and implemented to execute an energy transmission from the first storage capacitor to the second storage capacitor if the first potential form reaches a first potential threshold value and until the first potential form reaches a second potential threshold value, wherein the first potential threshold value is greater regarding its magnitude than the second potential threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Frank Foerster, Peter Spies
  • Patent number: 8633709
    Abstract: A system for testing a motherboard performance includes a control device, a voltage processing circuit, a voltage regulating circuit and a voltage feedback circuit. The control device stores a plurality of predetermined voltage values and outputs control signals according to the plurality of predetermined voltage values. The voltage processing circuit receives the control signal and outputs a plurality of PWM signals according to the control signal. The voltage regulating circuit receives the plurality of PWM signal and outputs a plurality of DC voltage to a plurality of voltage input terminals of the motherboard. The voltage feedback circuit collects voltage signals at the plurality of voltage input terminals of the motherboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ling-Yu Xie, Xing-Ping Xie
  • Publication number: 20130320942
    Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit and a method for operating the voltage regulator circuit are described. In one embodiment, a voltage regulator circuit includes an input terminal to receive an input signal from a power interface, an output terminal to output an output signal using the input signal, an output voltage monitor circuit configured to compare the voltage of the output signal with a predetermined voltage threshold, and a current limit circuit configured to limit current flowing on a path from the input terminal to the output terminal to a transient current limit level. The transient current limit level is lower than a predefined current limit threshold of the power interface. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Madan Mohan Reddy Vemula
  • Publication number: 20130314000
    Abstract: A load driving device disclosed in the specification includes a power supply circuit for supplying to a load an output voltage converted from an input voltage, a detection voltage generation circuit for generating a detection voltage which varies depending on a magnitude of a voltage drop which across the load, and a control circuit for controlling the power supply circuit so that it performs output feedback control of the output voltage, on the basis of the detection voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sadakazu MURAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20130300386
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) device is provided that includes at least one internal voltage regulator arranged to receive a voltage supply signal at a first input thereof, receive a control signal at a second input thereof, regulate the received voltage supply signal in accordance with the received control signal, and provide a regulated voltage supply signal at an output thereof. The IC device further includes at least one voltage regulation power control module operably coupled to the second input of the at least one internal voltage regulator and arranged to provide the control signal thereto. The voltage regulation power control module is further arranged to receive at least one IC device conditional indication, and generate the control signal for the at least one internal voltage regulator based at least partly on an available thermal power budget for the IC device corresponding to the at least one IC device conditional indication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Freescale Semiconductor. Inc.
    Inventors: MICHAEL PRIEL, Dan Kuzmin, Anton Rozen
  • Patent number: 8552697
    Abstract: A switched-mode power converter power converter, in one preferred embodiment with eight switches connected between three ports and an inductive element, with a donor (charging) port, a receptor port (load) and donor/receptor port (storage) operated so that energy may be switch between any of the ports regardless of the polarity and magnitude of the inductor current at the beginning of a chopping cycle. In one embodiment of the invention power conversion and power factor correction are accomplished in a single stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: CogniPower, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas E. Lawson, William H. Morong
  • Publication number: 20130257397
    Abstract: A current calibration method and the associated control circuit are provided. The method includes: providing a predetermined voltage to the differential output for obtaining an accurate current passing through the panel resistor during a calibration procedure and, providing a driving current to the differential output according to the accurate current during a normal operation procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Chih-Tien Chang, Ju-Ming Chou
  • Publication number: 20130257396
    Abstract: A bandgap reference circuit includes a first circuit, a second circuit and a third circuit. The first circuit is for generating a first current and a first voltage according to a first reference voltage. The second circuit is coupled to the first circuit, for generating a second voltage according to the first voltage. The third circuit is coupled to the first circuit and the second circuit, for generating a voltage offset according to the first current, and generating a bandgap reference voltage according to the second voltage and the voltage offset. The first circuit and the second circuit complement each other for offsetting variations of the bandgap reference voltage due to temperature changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventor: Ming-Sheng Tung
  • Publication number: 20130223114
    Abstract: When an overcurrent detection section detects an overcurrent, a control circuit performs ON-OFF control for switching devices each switchable between a forward direction and a reverse direction, in a mode in which a current having flowed is reduced, such that when the mode is a mode in which a current is passed through any of diodes, a switching device connected in parallel with the current-passed diode is turned ON. Thus, even when an overcurrent occurs, the current flowing in the diode connected in parallel with the switching device is reduced, and the diode is protected from being deteriorated or broken by the overcurrent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Nakayama, Satoshi Azuma
  • Patent number: 8519686
    Abstract: A solid state power controller (SSPC) for soft start of a direct current (DC) link capacitor of a DC power distribution system includes a power input connected to a DC power source of the DC power distribution system; a plurality of power switches arranged in parallel, the plurality of power switches being connected to a power output of the SSPC, the power output being connected to the DC link capacitor; and an SSPC controller configured to: pulse width modulate the plurality of power switches with a phase-shifted sequence in a current limiting mode; determine whether soft start is complete; and in response to determining that the soft start is complete, turn on the plurality of switches at a maximum gate-source voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Joshua C. Swenson, Vietson M. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20130181691
    Abstract: An output control apparatus of a solar cell for controlling output of the solar cell is an output control apparatus of a solar cell for controlling output of the solar cell, the output control apparatus provided with: a first controlling device for sequentially increasing a load for extracting the output from a load in an increase area in which the output increases with respect to an increase in the load; a detecting device for detecting a decrease in the output with respect to the increase in the load in a process of sequentially increasing the load; and a second controlling device for rapidly reducing the load to an initial load which belongs to the increase area in comparison with the process of sequentially increasing the load in cases where a change in the output is detected, the first controlling device sequentially increasing the load again after the load is reduced to the initial load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiki Fukada
  • Publication number: 20130176006
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a power device formed by an NMOS transistor having a drain terminal coupled to an input voltage, a source terminal providing an output voltage and a gate terminal receiving a gate drive signal; and an integrated AC/DC control loop configured to access the output voltage and to generate the gate drive signal based on a value of the output voltage in relation to a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage. The AC control portion generates a gate drive control signal which is AC coupled to the gate terminal of the power device as an AC component of the gate drive signal. The DC control portion controls a DC voltage level of the gate drive signal. The AC control portion is powered by the input voltage while the DC control portion is powered by a high supply voltage greater than the input voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: MICREL, INC.
    Inventors: Rudolf Gerardus van Ettinger, Paul Wilson
  • Patent number: 8484497
    Abstract: An integrated circuit 2 is provided with a first power supply conductor 8 coupled via header transistors 14 to 26 to a second power supply conductor 10. Logic circuitry 4, 6 draws its power supply from the second power supply conductor. When switching from a sleep mode to an operating mode the header transistors 14 to 26 are divided into a plurality of sets of transistors which are switched on in a predetermined sequence using controller circuitry 28. The controller circuitry 28 senses the voltage of the second power supply conductor 10 to determine when each set of header transistors should be switched on. In this way, the in-rush current within the integrated circuit 2 associated with the switch from the sleep state to the operating state can be held within a predetermined range of a target in-rush current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventors: Sanjay Bhagwan Patil, Valentina Gomez, Antony Sebastine
  • Patent number: 8462527
    Abstract: Power from an AC source at a source voltage is converted for delivery to a load at a DC load voltage, where the source voltage may vary between a high line voltage and a low line voltage in a normal operating range. DC-DC voltage transformation and isolation are provided in a first power conversion stage, the first stage having a CA input for receiving power from the source and a CA output for delivering a galvanically isolated unregulated AC adapter module (UAAM) voltage. First stage circuitry for performing the first power conversion stage is provided in a self-contained adapter module having input terminals for connection to the AC source and an output connected to the CA output for providing power to a second power conversion stage wherein the second power conversion stage is external to the adapter module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: VLT, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrizio Vinciarelli
  • Patent number: 8462470
    Abstract: An automatic power-off and actuation circuit for a fan comprises a drive unit, a detection unit, a voltage-modulating unit, a comparison unit, an auto-restart unit, a regulation unit and a controlled IC, wherein the detection unit is electrically connected to the drive unit, the voltage-modulating unit is electrically connected to the detection unit, the comparison unit is electrically connected to the voltage-modulating unit, the auto-restart unit is electrically connected to the comparison unit, the regulation unit is electrically connected to the auto-restart unit and the drive unit, and the controlled IC is electrically connected to the regulation unit and the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: ADDA Corp.
    Inventors: Ching-Cheng Ma, Ting-Cheng Lan
  • Publication number: 20130119952
    Abstract: A power supply system includes a first connector, a second connector, a first circuit for detecting a magnitude of a current drawn from an energy source by the power supply system and providing a related output related, and a second circuit for adjusting an output voltage supplied to the second connector based on output of the first circuit. The output voltage supplied to the second connector is at a first value when the output of the first circuit is below a first threshold. Further, the output voltage supplied to the second connector is at a second value, greater than said first value, when the output of the first circuit is above a second threshold. The output voltage supplied to the second connector is at a third value, between said first and second values, when the output of the first circuit is between the first and second thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: So-Yu Weng, Wen-Hung Huang, Yung Fa Chueh
  • Publication number: 20130113445
    Abstract: A power conversion circuit of two feedback loops is disclosed that includes a feedback control circuit for ramping up or down a commanded voltage to a load (e.g., LEDs). The second feedback loop feeds into the first feedback loop, and the second feedback loop operates at a slower bandwidth than the first feedback loop. When ramping up or down the commanded voltage, a voltage overshoot results because of delay in the system. The overshoot can be compensated for by a final adjustment to the commanded voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: ATMEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles Cai, Jeff Kotowski, Kien Vi
  • Publication number: 20130106372
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a transformer provides a voltage. A regulating circuit coupled to the transformer regulates the voltage to provide either a first voltage or a second voltage that is independent of the first voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas P. Sawyers
  • Patent number: 8428709
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for controlling the application of current and/or voltage to deliver drug from patient contacts of an electrotransport drug delivery device by indirectly controlling and/or monitoring the applied current without directly measuring from the cathode of the patient terminal. In particular, described herein are electrotransport drug delivery systems including constant current delivery systems having a feedback current and/or voltage control module that is isolated from the patient contacts (e.g., anodes and cathodes). The feedback module may be isolated by a transistor from the patient contacts; feedback current and/or voltage control measurements may be performed at the transistor rather than at the patient contact (e.g., cathode).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: Incline Therapeutics, Inc., Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley E. White, Paul Hayter, John Lemke, Scot Satre, Corinna X. Chen, Brian W. Read, Jason E. Dougherty
  • Publication number: 20130076319
    Abstract: A control circuit includes: a first current generating circuit arranged for generating at least one output current according to a reference signal; a second current generating circuit arranged for generating a reference current corresponding to the reference signal according to the reference signal; and a follower circuit coupled to the second current generating circuit for generating a control current according to the reference current, and feeding back the control current to the first current generating circuit from the second current generating circuit in a signal-following manner to control the reference signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventor: Cheng Tao
  • Publication number: 20130069608
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a measurement circuit for obtaining a value representing a magnitude of an output capacitance connected at an output node of the voltage regulator. A correction circuit in the voltage regulator modifies a compensation circuit internal to the voltage regulator based on the value. The modification of the compensation circuit is done to ensure that sufficient stability margins to accommodate the output capacitance are ensured for the main feedback loop in the voltage regulator. In an embodiment, a voltage proportional to the output capacitance is detected at start-up of the voltage regulator, and a corresponding binary signal is generated. The logic value of the binary signal is used to add or remove components and/or circuit portions in the compensation circuit to ensure stability. The voltage regulator is thus designed to support a wide range of output capacitance values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Vikram Gakhar, Preetam Charan Anand Tadeparthy
  • Patent number: 8400135
    Abstract: A self-oscillating switch circuit is configured for use in a switching DC-DC converter (switched mode power supply (SMPS)). The self-oscillating switch circuit comprises an input terminal (Tin1, Tin2) for receiving power from a power supply (51) and an output terminal (Tont1, Tont2) for supplying power to a load. The load may be a high-power LED, for example. The self-oscillating switch circuit further comprises a power switch semi-> conductor device (Q1) having a control terminal and a control semi-conductor device (Q2) coupled to the power switch semi-conductor device. The power switch semi-conductor device is configured for controlling a load current between the input terminal and the output terminal and the control semi-conductor device is configured for supplying a control signal to the control terminal of the power switch semi-conductor device for controlling switching of the power switch semi-conductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Jeroen Snelten
  • Publication number: 20130043839
    Abstract: A system and method for digital management and control of power conversion from battery cells. The system utilizes a power management and conversion module that uses a CPU to maintain a high power conversion efficiency over a wide range of loads and to manage charge and discharge operation of the battery cells. The power management and conversion module includes the CPU, a current sense unit, a charge/discharge unit, a DC-to-DC conversion unit, a battery protection unit, a fuel gauge and an internal DC regulation unit. Through intelligent power conversion and charge/discharge operations, a given battery type is given the ability to emulate other battery types by conversion of the output voltage of the battery and adaptation of the charging scheme to suit the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: SOLAREDGE LTD.
    Inventor: Solaredge Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130033241
    Abstract: Disclosed is a DC-DC converter including: a switch unit controlling a flow of a current based on a buck-boost topology; a short circuit unit short circuited or opened according to an external setting to change a topology of the switch unit; an inductor storing a current induced by the switch unit; a topology selecting unit selecting a topology in response to an external input signal and generating a signal corresponding to the selected topology; a pulse width modulating unit generating a signal for determining an operation time of the switch unit; a reverse flow detecting unit detecting a reverse flow of a current flowing through the switch unit to generate a signal; and a switch control unit controlling the switch unit in response to signals of the topology selecting unit, the pulse width modulating unit and the reverse flow detecting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Sewan HEO, Yil Suk YANG, Jong Kee KWON
  • Patent number: RE44061
    Abstract: A DC power conversion circuit with constant current output includes a DC voltage source, a driving circuit and a control signal generator. The DC voltage source is used for providing DC power. The driving circuit includes a switch, a resistor, a diode, and an inductor. The switch has three ends, one used for receiving a control signal. Furthermore, the switch is used for conducting or cutting off a coupling between the other two ends according to the control signal. The resistor is coupled between the switch and a first grounding end. The diode has a first end and a second end coupled to a second grounding end. The inductor has a first end coupled to the first grounding end, and a second end coupled to a load circuit. The control signal generator generates the control signal for the second end of the switch according to a current of the resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: IML International
    Inventor: Shih-Yuan Wang
  • Patent number: RE44136
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptively configuring an array of voltage transformation modules is disclosed. The aggregate voltage transformation ratio of the adaptive array is adjusted to digitally regulate the output voltage for a wide range of input voltages. An integrated adaptive array having a plurality of input cells, a plurality of output cells, or a plurality of both is also disclosed. The input and output cells may be adaptively configured to provide an adjustable transformer turns ratio for the adaptive array or in the case of an integrated VTM, an adjustable voltage transformation ratio for the integrated VTM. A controller is used to configure the cells and provide digital regulation of the output. A converter having input cells configured as a complementary pair, which are switched out of phase, reduces common mode current and noise. Series connected input cells are used for reducing primary switch voltage ratings in a converter and enabling increased operating frequency or efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: VLT, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrizio Vinciarelli