Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Robert F. Hightower
  • Multi-current battery charger circuit and method therefor
    Patent number: 7456611
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a battery charger is configured to provide a normal charge current during a first time period and to supply a maintenance current after the first time period expires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Charles E. Mullett, Jefferson W. Hall
  • Single pin multi-function signal detection method and structure therefor
    Patent number: 7457138
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a multi-function signal sensor is configured to receive a signal having a plurality of states and to offset the input signal by a first amount for values of the input signal that are greater than a first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries L.L.C.
    Inventors: Senpeng Sheng, Juan Carlos Pastrana
  • PWM controller and method therefor
    Patent number: 7453298
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a PWM controller is configured to form a control signal that has reduced noise. The control signal is used to adjust a frequency of a clock signal of the PWM controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Radim Mlcousek, Pavel Latal
  • Power supply controller and method therefor
    Patent number: 7446517
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a power supply controller uses a first clock of a first frequency to initiate a PWM cycle in a first operating mode and uses a second clock having a higher frequency to initiate a PWM cycle in a second operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gang Chen, Lung Wai Chris Chan, Chi Tak Leung
  • Power supply controller method and structure
    Patent number: 7447601
    Abstract: A power supply controller determines the value of an input power and uses the value of the input power to regulate a value of the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Francois Lhermite, Joel Turchi
  • Negative current compensation method and circuit
    Patent number: 7443699
    Abstract: A power supply controller (10, 60, 70) uses a negative current (36) of a power transistor (16, 71) to detect the valley point for enabling the power transistor when driving an inductor (17). The negative current occurs when the inductor is de-magnetized and can be used for controlling the time to enable the power transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Francois Lhermite
  • Power factor correction circuit and method therefor
    Patent number: 7400517
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a power factor correction circuit is configured to use a stored value of a feedback signal to assist in regulating the value of an output voltage and to bypass the sample and hold circuit if the output voltage increase to an upper limit or decreases to a lower limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Terry Allinder
  • Fan out buffer and method therefor
    Patent number: 7397288
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a fan out buffer has the inputs of a plurality of output followers connected to the output of a plurality of distribution gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Ira E. Baskett
  • Method of forming a secondary-side controller and structure therefor
    Patent number: 7385832
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a secondary-side controller is configured to detect a burst-mode of operation and responsively block or prevent sending drive pulses to a power transistor that is coupled in the secondary side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Terry Allinder
  • Method of forming a programmable voltage regulator and structure therefor
    Patent number: 7382676
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a programmable voltage regulator stores data representing a programmable configuration of the regulator. The regulator is configured to verify the validity of the stored data before using it to control the operation of the programmable voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Brian M. Ballweber, David F. Moeller, Stephen W. Dow
  • Method of forming an integrated voltage protection device and structure
    Patent number: 7382594
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a voltage protection circuit uses two back-to-back transistors to receive an unprotected voltage and form a protected voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Paolo Migliavacca
  • Method of forming an EPROM cell and structure therefor
    Patent number: 7365383
    Abstract: An EPROM cell includes a control gate and a control transistor. A portion of the control transistor is formed as a portion of the control gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gennadiy Nemtsev, Yingping Zheng, Rajesh S. Nair
  • PWM power supply controller having multiple PWM signal assertions and method therefor
    Patent number: 7345464
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a PWM power supply controller asserts a PWM control signal synchronously to a clock signal of the PWM controller and also asserts the PWM control signal asynchronously to the clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Jeremy F. Steele
  • Secondary side power supply controller and method therefor
    Patent number: 7345896
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a power supply controller generates a PWM control signal that is subsequently used to control a portion of current flow in a primary side of a power supply system. THE PWM control signal is coupled to a secondary of the power supply system and used to control a synchronous rectifier that is coupled within the secondary side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Dhaval Dalal
  • Method of forming a power supply controller and device therefor
    Patent number: 7321499
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a power supply controller uses a ramp signal to form current sense ramp compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L L C
    Inventors: Josef Halamik, Radim Mlcousek, Pavel Londak
  • High voltage sensor device and method therefor
    Patent number: 7306999
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a high voltage element is formed overlying a doped semiconductor region that can be depleted during the operation of the high voltage element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jefferson W. Hall, Mohammed Tanvir Quddus
  • Method of forming a self-aligned transistor
    Patent number: 7300850
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a transistor is formed to use two conductors to make electrical connection to one of the active regions of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gordon M. Grivna
  • PWM regulator with discontinuous mode and method therefor
    Patent number: 7298124
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a power supply controller has a variable frequency oscillator that is used for controlling a PWM controller. The power supply controller varies a frequency of the variable frequency oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kwok Kei Toby Kan, Tak Ming Leung
  • Bi-directional transistor and method therefor
    Patent number: 7297603
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a transistor is formed to conduct current in both directions through the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Robb, Francine Y. Robb, Robert F. Hightower
  • Multi-chip semiconductor connector assemblies
    Patent number: 7298034
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a multi-chip semiconductor connector is utilized for forming a semiconductor package having a plurality of semiconductor die. The multi-chip semiconductor connector is utilized to mechanically attach the plurality of semiconductor die together and to provide electrical connection to the plurality of semiconductor die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Francis J. Carney, Phillip Celaya, Joseph K. Fauty, James P. Letterman, Stephen St. Germain, Jay A. Yoder