Abstract: Devices, such as mobile devices, may be exposed to short circuit and output overload events. To protect against such events, mobile devices typically include current limit circuits. Some current limit circuits may involve user programmable function. User programmable function may need accurate current limit detectors. Various embodiments of the present invention include devices and methods for detecting one or more programmed current limits. Some embodiments allow for a user application to select among parallel or serial configurations of current detection circuitry. Each such configuration may include multiple resistive devices of different resistive values.

Abstract: A reverse current comparator for use in switching regulators includes a differential stage configured to encode the difference in voltage between an N and a P input. The differential stage feeds one or more gain stages. At least one of the gain stages includes one or more hysteresis devices. When the voltage of the N input exceeds the voltage of the P input by a predetermined margin, the hysteresis device causes the regulator to enter a triggered state in which it outputs a non-zero output voltage. Subsequent changes to the N and P inputs do not change the regulator output until a RESET input is asserted and which point the regulator enters a reset state and is ready to be triggered.

Abstract: A SEPIC converter with over-voltage protection includes a high-side inductor that connects a node Vw to a node Vx. The node Vx is connected, in turn to ground by a power MOSFET. The node Vx is also connected to a node Vy by a first capacitor. The node Vy is connected to ground by a low-side inductor. A rectifier diode further connects the node Vy and a node Vout and an output capacitor is connected between the node Vout and ground. A PWM control circuit is connected to drive the power MOSFET. An over-voltage protection MOSFET connects an input supply to the PWM control circuit and the node Vw. A comparator monitors the voltage of the input supply. If that voltage exceeds a predetermined value Vref the comparator output causes the over-voltage protection MOSFET to disconnect the node Vw and the PWM control circuit from the input supply.

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.

Abstract: Devices, such as mobile devices, may be exposed to short circuit and output overload events. To protect against such events, mobile devices typically include current limit circuits. Some current limit circuits may involve user programmable function. User programmable function may need accurate current limit detectors. Various embodiments of the present invention include devices and methods for detecting one or more programmed current limits. Some embodiments allow for a user application to select among parallel or serial configurations of current detection circuitry. Each such configuration may include multiple resistive devices of different resistive values.

Abstract: A DC/DC converter including an inductor and a capacitor is started by connecting an input voltage to the inductor and shunting a current around the inductor so as to pre-charge the capacitor to a predetermined voltage.

Abstract: A control circuit comprises a PWM control circuit and a PWM skip control circuit. The PWM control circuit controls a switching circuit. The switching circuit acts as a current source for an output circuit and a load circuit. The PWM skip control circuit controls the operation of the PWM control circuit. When the output current of the switching circuit is below a predetermined threshold, the PWM skip control circuit stops the operation of the PWM control circuit. When the output voltage of the switching circuit is below a predetermined threshold, the PWM skip control circuit resumes the operation of the PWM control circuit.

Abstract: A lateral MOSFET formed in a substrate of a first conductivity type includes a gate formed atop a gate dielectric layer over a surface of the substrate, a drain region of a second conductivity type, a source region of a second conductivity type, and a body region of the first conductivity type which extends under the gate. The body region may have a non-monotonic vertical doping profile with a portion located deeper in the substrate having a higher doping concentration than a portion located shallower in the substrate. The lateral MOSFET is drain-centric, with the source region and a dielectric-filled trench surrounding the drain region.

Abstract: An isolation structure for a semiconductor device comprises a floor isolation region, a dielectric filled trench above the floor isolation region and a sidewall isolation region extending downward from the bottom of the trench to the floor isolation region. This structure provides a relatively deep isolated pocket in a semiconductor substrate while limiting the depth of the trench that must be etched in the substrate. An isolated junction field-effect transistor is formed in the isolated pocket.

Abstract: A low dropout regulator includes an error amplifier, an N-type depletion MOSFET, a first switch, a second switch, a low-pass filter resistor, and a low-pass filter capacitor. By switching on both the first switch and the second switch, a voltage level of an output node at a negative input terminal of the error amplifier may be rapidly raised to be close to and lower than a voltage level of an input node at a gate of the N-type depletion MOSFET. Both the first switch and the second switch are then switched off immediately so that the voltage level of the output node is gradually raised to be equal to the voltage level of the input node through the low-pass filter resistor.

Abstract: Devices, such as mobile devices, may be exposed to short circuit and output overload events. To protect against such events, mobile devices typically include current limit circuits. Some current limit circuits may involve user programmable function. User programmable function may need accurate current limit detectors. One approach to improving resolution and accuracy of current limit detectors using a single resistive device is to magnify the operating current range. Various embodiments of the present invention include devices and methods for detecting pre-programmed current limits.

Abstract: A variety of isolation structures for semiconductor substrates include a trench formed in the substrate that is filled with a dielectric material or filled with a conductive material and lined with a dielectric layer along the walls of the trench. The trench may be used in combination with doped sidewall isolation regions. Both the trench and the sidewall isolation regions may be annular and enclose an isolated pocket of the substrate. The isolation structures are formed by modular implant and etch processes that do not include significant thermal processing or diffusion of dopants so that the resulting structures are compact and may be tightly packed in the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Isolated CMOS transistors formed in a P-type semiconductor substrate include an N-type submerged floor isolation region and a filled trench extending downward from the surface of the substrate to the floor isolation region. Together the floor isolation region and the filled trench form an isolated pocket of the substrate which contains a P-channel MOSFET in an N-well and an N-channel MOSFET in a P-well. The substrate does not contain an epitaxial layer, thereby overcoming the many problems associated with fabricating the same.

Abstract: A variety of isolation structures for semiconductor substrates include a trench formed in the substrate that is filled with a dielectric material or filled with a conductive material and lined with a dielectric layer along the walls of the trench. The trench may be used in combination with doped sidewall isolation regions. Both the trench and the sidewall isolation regions may be annular and enclose an isolated pocket of the substrate. The isolation structures are formed by modular implant and etch processes that do not include significant thermal processing or diffusion of dopants so that the resulting structures are compact and may be tightly packed in the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A transistor is formed inside an isolation structure which includes a floor isolation region and a trench extending from the surface of the substrate to the floor isolation region. The trench may be filled with a dielectric material or may have a conductive material in a central portion with a dielectric layer lining the walls of the trench.

Abstract: A freewheeling DC/DC step-down converter includes a high-side MOSFET, an inductor and an output capacitor connected between the input voltage and ground. A freewheeling clamp, which includes a freewheeling MOSFET and diode, is connected across the inductor. When the high-side MOSFET is turned off, a current circulates through the inductor and freewheeling clamp rather than to ground, improving the efficiency of the converter. The converter has softer diode recovery and less voltage overshoot and noise than conventional Buck converters and features unique benefits during light-load conditions.

Abstract: An isolated diode comprises a floor isolation region, a dielectric-filled trench and a sidewall region extending from a bottom of the trench at least to the floor isolation region. The floor isolation region, dielectric-filled trench and a sidewall region are comprised in one terminal (anode or cathode) of the diode and together form an isolated pocket in which the other terminal of the diode is formed. In one embodiment the terminals of the diode are separated by a second dielectric-filled trench and sidewall region.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate includes a pair of trenches filled with a dielectric material. Dopant introduced into the mesa between the trenches is limited from diffusing laterally when the substrate is subjected to thermal processing. Therefore, semiconductor devices can be spaced more closely together on the substrate, and the packing density of the devices can be increased. Also trench constrained doped region diffuse faster and deeper than unconstrained diffusions, thereby reducing the time and temperature needed to complete a desired depth diffusion. The technique may be used for semiconductor devices such as bipolar transistors as well as isolation regions that electrically isolate the devices from each other. In one group of embodiments, a buried layer is formed at an interface between an epitaxial layer and a substrate, at a location generally below the dopant in the mesa.

Abstract: A bootstrap circuit is utilized in a bulk circuit using an NMOS transistor as a power switch. The bootstrap circuit includes a first PMOS transistor coupled between an internal power source and an offset capacitor, and a second PMOS transistor coupled between the gate of the first PMOS transistor and the offset capacitor, and an NMOS transistor coupled between the gate of the first PMOS transistor and ground. When the power switch is turned on, the second PMOS transistor is turned on for turning off the first PMOS transistor. When the power switch is turned off, the NMOS transistor is turned on for turning on the first PMOS transistor.

Abstract: A gate driver for a power MOSFET in, for example, a DC-DC converter switches the MOSFET between a fully-on condition and a low-current condition instead of switching the MOSFET between fully-on and fully-off conditions. The amount of charge that must be transferred to charge and discharge the gate of the MOSFET is thereby reduced, and the efficiency of the MOSFET is improved. A trimming process is used to adjust the magnitude of the voltage supplied by the gate driver to the gate of the power MOSFET in the low-current condition.