Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Robert F. Hightower
  • Method of forming an EEPROM device and structure therefor
    Patent number: 7776677
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an EEPROM device is formed to include a metal layer having an opening therethrough. The opening overlies a portion of a floating gate of the EEPROM device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: John J. Naughton, Matthew Tyler
  • Voltage reference circuit and method therefor
    Patent number: 7764059
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a voltage reference circuit is configured to use two differentially coupled transistors to form a delta Vbe for the voltage reference circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries L.L.C.
    Inventor: Paolo Migliavacca
  • Protection circuit and method therefor
    Patent number: 7751157
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a protection circuit includes a linear regulator remains enabled during a portion of a time while limiting an output voltage of the linear regulator to a first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Paolo Migliavacca
  • Parameter control circuit including charging and discharging current mirrors and method therefor
    Patent number: 7741827
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a single input terminal of a parameter control circuit is utilized to form two different parameters of the parameter control circuit. In another embodiment, the parameter control circuit can include charging and discharging current mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Terry Allinder, George H. Barbehenn
  • Switching power supply control
    Patent number: 7741824
    Abstract: A switching power supply controller includes a comparator to compare a feedback signal to a first limit and a second limit, one of which includes a ramp. Limit generators may be used to generate limit signals in response to power supply signals, control signals, and/or output signals. An error amplifier may be used to generate the feedback signal in response to an output signal and an input control signal. A switching power supply may alternatively include an oscillator that shifts the switching frequency in response to the input control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Tod F. Schiff
  • Method of forming a signal level translator and structure therefor
    Patent number: 7737754
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a first portion (20) of translator circuit (17) is configured to extract a first supply voltage level from a high level of an input signal, an inverter (25) is configured to operate from the first supply-voltage level and a second portion (30) of the translator circuit is configured to operate from a second supply voltage level (V2) that is greater than the first supply voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Hassan Chaoui
  • Method of forming a low resistance semiconductor contact and structure therefor
    Patent number: 7736984
    Abstract: In one embodiment, silicide layers are formed on two oppositely doped adjacent semiconductor regions. A conductor material is formed electrically contacting both of the two silicides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Gordon M. Grivna, Prasad Venkatraman
  • Low power voltage detection circuit and method therefor
    Patent number: 7733155
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a low power voltage detection circuit includes a first voltage detection device that receives power from an input voltage and a second voltage detection device receives power from an output of the low power voltage detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Frantisek Sukup, Josef Halamik, Christophe Basso
  • Method of testing a power supply controller and structure therefor
    Patent number: 7733116
    Abstract: A power supply controller (20) is configured to operate in a test mode that facilitates measuring the value of an output signal of an error amplifier (36) of the power supply controller (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Paolo Migliavacca
  • DC-DC converter controller having optimized load transient response and method thereof
    Patent number: 7728573
    Abstract: A power supply controller (25) is configured to accurately adjust the value of an output voltage of a power supply system (10) responsively to the output voltage increasing to an undesirable value. The controller (25) accurately limits an upper value of the output voltage during a light load condition, and rapidly reduces the value of the output voltage during a light load condition, and different control signals to control the switching of the output transistors facilitates rapidly reducing the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jose M. Capilla, Olivier Causse
  • Soft-start circuit and method therefor
    Patent number: 7719249
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a soft-start circuit is configured to form drive pulses that increase in width independently of the current through the power switch during a first portion of the soft-start operation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Ladislav Matyas, Francois Lhermite
  • Method of forming an integrated power device and structure
    Patent number: 7714381
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a vertical power transistor is formed on a semiconductor substrate with other transistors. A portion of the semiconductor layer underlying the vertical power transistor is doped to provide a low on-resistance for the vertical power transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Francine Y. Robb, Stephen P. Robb, Prasad Venkatraman, Zia Hossain
  • Semiconductor device with improved breakdown properties and manufacturing method thereof
    Patent number: 7709889
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device (20) comprising a trench (5) formed in a semiconductor substrate formed of a stack (4) of layers (1,2,3), a layer (6) of a first, grown dielectric material covering sidewalls and bottom of the trench (5), the layer (6) including one or more notches (13) at the bottom of the trench (5) and one or more spacers (14) formed of a second, deposited dielectric material to fill the one or more notches (13) in the layer (6) formed of the first, grown dielectric material. The semiconductor device (20) according to the present invention shows improved breakdown voltage and on-resistance. The present invention furthermore provides a method for the manufacturing of such semiconductor devices (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Peter Moens, Filip Bauwens, Joris Baele, Marnix Tack
  • DC-to-DC converter and method therefor
    Patent number: 7701180
    Abstract: In one embodiment a switched capacitor dc-dc converter uses the load current to assist in determining a supply configuration to use to form the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Bairanzade, Remi Gerber
  • EMI suppressing regulator
    Patent number: 7696740
    Abstract: A regulator circuit receives a power supply and provides a regulated power supply output suitable for integrated circuitry. It has a controllable current source circuit, a controller and a capacitor, such that an output of the controllable current source circuit can provide a lower frequency current part of the regulated power supply output, and the capacitor can supply a higher frequency current part of the regulated power supply output. The controllable current source circuit is controlled according to feedback from the regulated power supply output, and to restrict a rate of change of the output of the controllable current source circuit. The amount of EMI noise caused by high rate of change of current in power supply lines to the regulator circuit can be reduced. This can be done more efficiently or using a smaller capacitor than known arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Junfeng Zhou, Wim Dehaene
  • Voltage sense circuit and method therefor
    Patent number: 7692469
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a voltage sense circuit receives an ac input signal and forms a rectified output voltage that is representative of the ac input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Petr Kadanka
  • Switching power supply controller with unidirectional transient gain change
    Patent number: 7688050
    Abstract: A switching power supply controller has a nominal loop gain and transient loop gain that is only activated in response to an abrupt load change in one direction. The transient loop gain may be implemented with a series-connected diode and resistor combination arranged in a feedback configuration with an error amplifier. A large load change in one direction may swing the output of the error amplifier and forward bias the diode to create a non-linear gain change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Tod F. Schiff, Jerry Zhijun Zhai, Jun Zhao, Peng Liu
  • Charge pump circuit and method therefor
    Patent number: 7688052
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a charge pump circuit is used to keep a boost capacitor of a power supply system charged while the switch transistors are not switching such as when the power supply system is operating in a burst mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Antonin Rozsypal, Jan Grulich, Karel Ptacek
  • LED current controller and method therefor
    Patent number: 7688009
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an LED current control circuit is configured with a sample and hold circuit that samples an error signal of an error amplifier during one time and holds the sampled value during a second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Abdesselam Bayadroun
  • Power overload detection method and structure therefor
    Patent number: 7679874
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the bulk input voltage is used to form a reference signal that is used for controlling a switching power supply system to operate in a power overload operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: George H. Barbehenn, John D. Stone