Patents Assigned to Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
  • SYMMETRICAL POWER STAGES FOR HIGH POWER INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
    Publication number: 20200153341
    Abstract: A circuit assembly for a power converter includes a substrate, power stage integrated circuit (IC) dies, and output inductors that connect switch nodes of the power stage IC dies to an output node of the power converter. The power stage IC dies are mounted on one side of the substrate and the output inductors are mounted on an opposing side of the substrate. Two output inductors go through a magnetic core. A heatsink is attached to surfaces of the power stage IC dies. A power stage IC die has a pair of switching transistors, and a switch node formed by the switching transistors is connected by an output inductor to the output node of the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinghai ZHOU, Chia-Hsin CHANG
  • High brightness LED matrix driving system
    Patent number: 10631376
    Abstract: A LED driving system for a LED matrix having a plurality of LEDs connected in parallel. The LED driving system includes a plurality of driving modules. Each one of the plurality of driving modules drives a corresponding one of the plurality of LEDs. The plurality of LEDs are divided into a plurality of groups. The plurality of driving modules drive the plurality of LEDs ON successively group by group. In each one of the plurality of groups, the LESs are driven ON successively row by row, and for each row in each one of the plurality of groups, the LEDs are driven ON successively column by column with a programmed delay time between the LEDs in every two successive columns. Each one of the plurality of driving modules can include a grayscale control module for adjusting a brightness of the corresponding one of the plurality of LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Zheng Luo, Junjian Zhao, Chao Liu, Tong Chen, Yu-Huei Lee
  • Symmetrical power stages for high power integrated circuits
    Patent number: 10581327
    Abstract: A circuit assembly for a power converter includes power stage blocks and heat-dissipating substrate. A power stage block includes a power stage IC die, an output inductor that is connected to a switch node of the power stage IC die, and capacitors that form an output capacitor of the power stage block. The output capacitors of the power stage blocks are symmetrically arranged. The output inductors can be placed on the same side of the substrate as the power stage IC dies, or on a side of the substrate that is opposite to the side where the power stage IC dies are disposed. A power stage block may generate two output phases of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinghai Zhou, Chia-Hsin Chang
  • Constant-frequency control method with fast transient
    Patent number: 10566901
    Abstract: A control circuit and method for a voltage converter. The control circuit having a ramp circuit, a reference generating circuit, a comparison circuit and a logic circuit. The ramp circuit generates a ramp signal that decreases from the moment the power switch is turned off and increases from the moment the power switch is turned on. The reference generating circuit generates a reference voltage. The comparison circuit compares the reference voltage with the sum of the feedback voltage and the ramp signal to generate a comparison signal. The logic circuit uses the comparison signal and a clock signal to generate the control signal to control a power switch of the voltage converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Zheng Luo
  • Power supply and power supplying method with power backup and power sharing
    Patent number: 10523048
    Abstract: A power supply covering both power sharing and power backup functions run in a more efficient and flexible way. The power supply adopts a power sharing converter coupled between a first bus terminal and a second bus terminal, so that if one of the bus terminals provides insufficient power, the other bus terminal kicks in by way of the power sharing converter to provide power support. In addition, a storage capacitor may also kick in to provide power support if one of the bus terminals provide insufficient power via or not via the power sharing converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Pengjie Lai, Jian Jiang
  • Voltage regulator with nonlinear adaptive voltage position and control method thereof
    Patent number: 10498234
    Abstract: A voltage regulator has a switching circuit and a control circuit. The switching circuit provides an output voltage and an output current. The control circuit provides a switching control signal to the switching circuit to adjust the output voltage, such that the output voltage decreases with a first slope as the output current increases when the output current is less than a first current level, the output voltage decreases with a second slope as the output current increases when the output current is larger than the first current level and is less than a second current level, and the output voltage decreases with a third slope as the output current increases when the output current is larger than the second current level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chao Liu, Daocheng Huang, Lijie Jiang, Wangmiao Hu, Jinghai Zhou
  • Smart communication interface for LED matrix control
    Patent number: 10470264
    Abstract: A smart communication interface for a LED driving system driving a LED matrix having a plurality of LEDs. The smart communication interface may have a data write transaction structure in write mode. The data write transaction structure includes an address code for identifying a corresponding one LED among the plurality of LEDs; an R/W indicating code for indicating whether the smart communication interface is in write mode; and a grayscale command code for indicating a programmed grayscale command value for the corresponding one LED identified by the address code. The smart communication interface may include a data read transaction structure in read mode. The data read transaction structure includes the address code, the R/W indicating code and a grayscale read-back code for indicating a grayscale command value for the corresponding one LED identified by the address code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Zheng Luo, Junjian Zhao, Chao Liu, Tong Chen, Yu-Huei Lee
  • Copper structures with intermetallic coating for integrated circuit chips
    Patent number: 10461052
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) chip includes a copper structure with an intermetallic coating on the surface. The IC chip includes a substrate with an integrated circuit. A metal pad electrically connects to the integrated circuit. The copper structure electrically connects to the metal pad. A solder bump is disposed on the copper structure. The surface of the copper structure has a coating of intermetallic. The copper structure can be a redistribution layer and a copper pillar that is disposed on the redistribution layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Hunt Hang Jiang
  • Current sensing system and current sensing method
    Patent number: 10451657
    Abstract: A current sensing system uses a Hall effect device. A conductor carrying a target current is shaped in a way such that two regions with opposite magnetic field directions crossed there through are created at a silicon die which contains the Hall effect devices placed in a mirror way. The Hall effect devices react the magnetic field to generate a Hall voltage when a bias current is applied, which is then processed by a process circuit and an operational unit, so that a differential signal indicative of the target current is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Serge Reymond, Pavel Kejik
  • SYMMETRICAL POWER STAGES FOR HIGH POWER INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
    Publication number: 20190296645
    Abstract: A circuit assembly for a power converter includes power stage blocks and heat-dissipating substrate. A power stage block includes a power stage IC die, an output inductor that is connected to a switch node of the power stage IC die, and capacitors that form an output capacitor of the power stage block. The output capacitors of the power stage blocks are symmetrically arranged. The output inductors can be placed on the same side of the substrate as the power stage IC dies, or on a side of the substrate that is opposite to the side where the power stage IC dies are disposed. A power stage block may generate two output phases of the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinghai ZHOU, Chia-Hsin CHANG
  • Monolithic integrated circuit switch device with output current balancing for parallel-connection
    Patent number: 10418986
    Abstract: An electrical circuit includes a monolithic integrated circuit (IC) switch device that includes a first pin, a second pin, and a power switch that connects the first pin to the second pin through the power switch when the electrical circuit is turned ON. The monolithic IC switch device includes an adaptive safe operating area (SOA) circuit that limits allowable current through the power switch based on temperature, such as the temperature of the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Nguyen, Ying Xiao
  • Symmetrical power stages for high power integrated circuits
    Patent number: 10361631
    Abstract: A circuit assembly for a power converter includes power stage blocks. A power stage block includes a power stage IC die, an output inductor that is connected to a switch node of the power stage IC die, and capacitors that form an output capacitor of the power stage block. The output capacitors of the power stage blocks are symmetrically arranged. The output inductors can be placed on the same side of the substrate as the power stage IC dies, or on a side of the substrate that is opposite to the side where the power stage IC dies are disposed. A power stage block may generate two output phases of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Jinghai Zhou, Chia-Hsin Chang
  • Charging circuit and the method thereof
    Patent number: 10348111
    Abstract: A charging circuit adopts a plurality of feedback control circuits, a constant time signal generator and a logic circuit to control the operation of a power switch. The charge circuit needs no oscillator with high frequency, error amplifier with high speed and high accuracy, or compensation circuit with complicated structure, so the system portability is highly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Min Xu, Xiaoqing Li, Qiming Zhao
  • DC-DC converter with transient control and the method thereof
    Patent number: 10348197
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter with transient control. The DC-DC converter includes a power switching circuit, a current to voltage converter, a PI circuit 403, a voltage to current converter 404 and a logic and control circuit 405. The DC-DC converter obtains the transient information of a current flowing through the power switching circuit, to slow down the variation of the output voltage, so as to eliminate the overshot issue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chao Liu, Lijie Jiang, Qian Ouyang, Xiaokang Wu
  • Current driving control for high brightness LED matrix
    Patent number: 10342083
    Abstract: A LED driving system for a LED matrix having a plurality of LEDs connected in parallel. The LED driving system includes a plurality of driving modules. Each one of the plurality of driving modules drives a corresponding one of the plurality of LEDs. Each one of the plurality of driving modules can include a local current driver receiving a reference current and providing a driving current to the corresponding one LED, and a local current tuning module receiving a U-bit current tuning command to tune the driving current for the corresponding one LED to reach a desired driving current using the U-bit current tuning command which provides a predetermined number of tuning steps ranging from 0 to 2U.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Zheng Luo, Junjian Zhao, Tong Chen, Yu-Huei Lee
  • Boost converter and the method thereof
    Patent number: 10284086
    Abstract: A boost converter having an inductor having a first terminal coupled to an input port to receive the input voltage; a high side switch coupled between the inductor and an output port; a low side switch coupled between the inductor and a ground reference; and a control circuit configured to receive a feedback signal indicative of the output voltage and a reference signal, and to provide a high side control signal and a low side control signal based on the feedback signal and the reference signal; wherein the low side switch on time period is controlled to be constant by the low side control signal when the input voltage and the output voltage are fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Yike Li
  • Multiphase power supply with constant on-time DC-DC converters
    Patent number: 10270343
    Abstract: A multiphase power supply includes several constant ON-time (COT) DC-DC converter integrated circuits (ICs), with each COT DC-DC converter IC providing an output voltage of a phase of the multiphase power supply. The COT DC-DC converter ICs are sequentially turned ON one after another in interleaved fashion. A COT DC-DC converter IC receives a control signal at a take pin and, in response, turns ON its output switch. The COT DC-DC converter IC generates another control signal at a pass pin. The next COT DC-DC converter IC turns ON its output switch in response to receiving the other control signal from the previous COT DC-DC converter IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Nguyen, Yan Dong, Jinghai Zhou, Rohan Samsi
  • Bi-directional snapback ESD protection circuit
    Patent number: 10263420
    Abstract: An ESD protection circuit having a discharging transistor and a body snatching circuit. The discharging transistor is electrically coupled between a first node and a second node. The gate and the body of the discharging transistor are electrically coupled together. The body snatching circuit receives the voltages at the first and second nodes and outputs either the voltage at the first node or the voltage at the second node based on which of these two voltages have a lower value. The output voltage of the body snatching circuit is provided to the body of the discharging transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Braun
  • SYMMETRICAL POWER STAGES FOR HIGH POWER INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
    Publication number: 20190109538
    Abstract: A circuit assembly for a power converter includes power stage blocks. A power stage block includes a power stage IC die, an output inductor that is connected to a switch node of the power stage IC die, and capacitors that form an output capacitor of the power stage block. The output capacitors of the power stage blocks are symmetrically arranged. The output inductors can be placed on the same side of the substrate as the power stage IC dies, or on a side of the substrate that is opposite to the side where the power stage IC dies are disposed. A power stage block may generate two output phases of the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinghai ZHOU, Chia-Hsin CHANG
  • AC-DC converting apparatus and method thereof
    Patent number: 10250143
    Abstract: An AC/DC converting apparatus having first and second input nodes for receiving an AC input voltage Vin, a first pair of switches for coupling a first terminal of a first inductor to the first input node and ground, a second pair of switches for coupling a second terminal of the first inductor to an output node for providing a DC output voltage Vout and ground, a third pair of switches for coupling a first terminal of a second inductor to the second input node and ground, and a fourth pair of switches for coupling a second terminal of the second inductor to the output node and ground. The first pair of switches is turned ON when Vin is in a first portion having a first polarity, the third pair of switches is turned ON when Vin is in a second portion having a second polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Jiang, Eric Yang, Di Han