Patents Assigned to Empower Semiconductor, Inc.
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Publication number: 20200218301Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2019Publication date: July 9, 2020Applicant: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.Inventor: David Lidsky
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Patent number: 10622890Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 29, 2017Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Alan Phillips
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Publication number: 20200112242Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2019Publication date: April 9, 2020Applicant: EMPOWER SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Alan Phillips, Parag Oak
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Publication number: 20200052595Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 4, 2019Publication date: February 13, 2020Applicant: EMPOWER SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.Inventors: Parag Oak, David Lidsky
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Publication number: 20200052594Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 4, 2019Publication date: February 13, 2020Applicant: EMPOWER SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.Inventor: Timothy Alan Phillips
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Publication number: 20190341849Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2019Publication date: November 7, 2019Applicant: EMPOWER SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Alan Phillips, Parag Oak
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Patent number: 10468963Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 10, 2018Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: EMPOWER SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Alan Phillips, Parag Oak
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Patent number: 10389246Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 29, 2017Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Alan Phillips, Parag Oak
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Patent number: 10355584Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 29, 2018Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Parag Oak, David Lidsky
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Publication number: 20190115823Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2018Publication date: April 18, 2019Applicant: EMPOWER SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Alan Phillips, Parag Oak
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Patent number: 10050625Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 27, 2015Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Parag Oak, David Lidsky
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Patent number: 10044268Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 4, 2015Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Phillips, Gene Sheridan
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Patent number: 9843258Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 23, 2016Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.Inventor: Timothy Alan Phillips
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Patent number: 9780656Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 2, 2015Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Alan Phillips
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Patent number: 9780663Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 17, 2016Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: EMPOWER SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Alan Phillips, Parag Oak