Patents Assigned to Empower Semiconductor, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20200218301
    Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system includes a substrate, and a first chip on the substrate, where a load circuit is integrated on the first chip. The system also includes a second chip on the substrate, where a power delivery circuit is configured to deliver current to the load circuit according to a regulated voltage at a node. The power delivery circuit includes a first circuit configured to generate an error signal based at least in part on the regulated voltage, and a voltage generator including power switches configured to modify the regulated voltage according to the error signal, where the first circuit of the power delivery circuit is integrated on the first chip, and where at least a portion of the power switches of the power delivery circuit are integrated on the second chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: David Lidsky
  • Patent number: 10622890
    Abstract: A switched-mode power regulator circuit has four solid-state switches connected in series and a capacitor and an inductor that regulate power delivered to a load. The solid-state switches are operated such that a voltage at the load is regulated by repetitively (1) charging the capacitor causing a current to flow in the inductor and (2) discharging the capacitor causing current to flow in the inductor. The power regulator circuit may be configured to operate with zero current switching at frequencies in the range of 100 MHz, enabling it to be fabricated on a unitary silicon die along with the load that it powers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Alan Phillips
  • Publication number: 20200112242
    Abstract: A switched-mode power regulator circuit has four solid-state switches connected in series and a capacitor and an inductor that regulate power delivered to a load. The solid-state switches are operated such that a voltage at the load is regulated by repetitively (1) charging the capacitor causing an increase in current flow in the inductor followed by a decrease in current flow in the inductor and before the current flow in the inductor stops, (2) discharging the capacitor causing an increase in current flow in the inductor followed by a decrease in current flow in the inductor and before the current flow in the inductor stops, repeating (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Applicant: EMPOWER SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Alan Phillips, Parag Oak
  • Publication number: 20200052595
    Abstract: A circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a power supply node and a system configured to receive current from the power supply node at a regulated voltage and to generate one or more control signals indicating an anticipated change in the current. The circuit also includes a voltage regulator configured to provide the current to the power supply node and to drive the power supply node with the regulated voltage, where the value of the regulated voltage is based at least in part on the one or more control signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: EMPOWER SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Parag Oak, David Lidsky
  • Publication number: 20200052594
    Abstract: A buck voltage converter is disclosed. The buck voltage generator includes a controller configured to generate one or more pulse width modulation (PWM) signals, and a plurality of serially connected switches configured to receive the PWM signals and to generate an output voltage signal at an output terminal based on the received PWM signals. The output voltage signal has an average voltage corresponding with a duty cycle of the PWM signals, a first switch of the plurality of serially connected switches has a first breakdown voltage and a second switch of the plurality of serially connected switches has a second breakdown voltage, and the first breakdown voltage is less than the second breakdown voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: EMPOWER SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy Alan Phillips
  • Publication number: 20190341849
    Abstract: A switched-mode power regulator circuit has four solid-state switches connected in series and a capacitor and an inductor that regulate power delivered to a load. The solid-state switches are operated such that a voltage at the load is regulated by repetitively (1) prefluxing the inductor then charging the capacitor causing an increased current to flow in the inductor and (2) prefluxing the inductor then discharging the capacitor causing increased current to flow in the inductor. The inductor prefluxing steps enable the circuit to provide increased output voltage and/or increased output current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: EMPOWER SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Alan Phillips, Parag Oak
  • Patent number: 10468963
    Abstract: A switched-mode power regulator circuit has four solid-state switches connected in series and a capacitor and an inductor that regulate power delivered to a load. The solid-state switches are operated such that a voltage at the load is regulated by repetitively (1) charging the capacitor causing an increase in current flow in the inductor followed by a decrease in current flow in the inductor and before the current flow in the inductor stops, (2) discharging the capacitor causing an increase in current flow in the inductor followed by a decrease in current flow in the inductor and before the current flow in the inductor stops, repeating (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: EMPOWER SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Alan Phillips, Parag Oak
  • Patent number: 10389246
    Abstract: A switched-mode power regulator circuit has four solid-state switches connected in series and a capacitor and an inductor that regulate power delivered to a load. The solid-state switches are operated such that a voltage at the load is regulated by repetitively (1) prefluxing the inductor then charging the capacitor causing an increased current to flow in the inductor and (2) prefluxing the inductor then discharging the capacitor causing increased current to flow in the inductor. The inductor prefluxing steps enable the circuit to provide increased output voltage and/or increased output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Alan Phillips, Parag Oak
  • Patent number: 10355584
    Abstract: A circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a power supply node and a system configured to receive current from the power supply node at a regulated voltage and to generate one or more control signals indicating an anticipated change in the current. The circuit also includes a voltage regulator configured to provide the current to the power supply node and to drive the power supply node with the regulated voltage, where the value of the regulated voltage is based at least in part on the one or more control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Parag Oak, David Lidsky
  • Publication number: 20190115823
    Abstract: A switched-mode power regulator circuit has four solid-state switches connected in series and a capacitor and an inductor that regulate power delivered to a load. The solid-state switches are operated such that a voltage at the load is regulated by repetitively (1) charging the capacitor causing an increase in current flow in the inductor followed by a decrease in current flow in the inductor and before the current flow in the inductor stops, (2) discharging the capacitor causing an increase in current flow in the inductor followed by a decrease in current flow in the inductor and before the current flow in the inductor stops, repeating (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: EMPOWER SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Alan Phillips, Parag Oak
  • Patent number: 10050625
    Abstract: Techniques and devices for level-shifting a signal are described. A level-shifting circuit may include an input terminal and components. The input terminal may be configured to receive a logical signal compatible with a first power domain. The components may be configured to convert the logical signal to a second power domain and to provide the converted logical signal at an output terminal. The components may include a resistive device coupled between the output terminal and the input terminal, and/or a capacitive device coupled between the resistive device and the input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Parag Oak, David Lidsky
  • Patent number: 10044268
    Abstract: Devices and techniques for controlling voltage regulation are disclosed. A voltage regulation system may include one or more loads disposed on an integrated circuit, a DC-to-DC voltage regulation device at least partially disposed on the integrated circuit, and a second device disposed external to the integrated circuit and comprising circuitry configured to communicate with the controller of the voltage regulation device. The voltage regulation device may include one or more voltage regulation modules and a controller configured to control the one or more voltage regulation modules. The one or more voltage regulation modules may be configured to supply one or more voltage levels, respectively, to the one or more loads. The controller may be configured to disable at least one of the one or more voltage regulation modules based on a determination that the second device is not suitable for use with the voltage regulation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Phillips, Gene Sheridan
  • Patent number: 9843258
    Abstract: A buck voltage converter is disclosed. The buck voltage generator includes a controller configured to generate one or more pulse width modulation (PWM) signals, and a plurality of serially connected switches configured to receive the PWM signals and to generate an output voltage signal at an output terminal based on the received PWM signals. The output voltage signal has an average voltage corresponding with a duty cycle of the PWM signals, a first switch of the plurality of serially connected switches has a first breakdown voltage and a second switch of the plurality of serially connected switches has a second breakdown voltage, and the first breakdown voltage is less than the second breakdown voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Alan Phillips
  • Patent number: 9780656
    Abstract: A switched-mode power regulator circuit has four solid-state switches connected in series and a capacitor and an inductor that regulate power delivered to a load. The solid-state switches are operated such that a voltage at the load is regulated by repetitively (1) charging the capacitor causing a current to flow in the inductor and (2) discharging the capacitor causing current to flow in the inductor. The power regulator circuit may be configured to operate with zero current switching at frequencies in the range of 100 MHz, enabling it to be fabricated on a unitary silicon die along with the load that it powers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Alan Phillips
  • Patent number: 9780663
    Abstract: A switched-mode power regulator circuit has four solid-state switches connected in series and a capacitor and an inductor that regulate power delivered to a load. The solid-state switches are operated such that a voltage at the load is regulated by repetitively (1) prefluxing the inductor then charging the capacitor causing an increased current to flow in the inductor and (2) prefluxing the inductor then discharging the capacitor causing increased current to flow in the inductor. The inductor prefluxing steps enable the circuit to provide increased output voltage and/or increased output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: EMPOWER SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Alan Phillips, Parag Oak