Patents Assigned to Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
  • CURRENT DETECTION AND AVERAGING CIRCUIT FOR SWITCHING POWER SUPPLIES WITH A HALF-BRIDGE SWITCH CIRCUIT TOPOLOGY
    Publication number: 20170338739
    Abstract: A power supply includes a half-bridge circuit. The power supply further includes an output inductor connected to a switch node that is common to a high side switch and a low side switch of the half-bridge. During a turn ON time of the low side switch, a current detection circuit of the power supply samples and holds in a capacitor a valley of an inductor current flowing through the output inductor. Also during the turn ON time of the low side switch, the current detection circuit samples and holds in another capacitor a peak of the inductor current. During a turn OFF time of the low side switch, a sense inductor current that is representative of the inductor current is generated by combining the charges stored in the capacitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James NGUYEN, Francis YU
  • COPPER STRUCTURES WITH INTERMETALLIC COATING FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT CHIPS
    Publication number: 20170330853
    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: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Hunt Hang JIANG
  • Current detection and averaging circuit for switching power supplies with a half-bridge switch circuit topology
    Patent number: 9812963
    Abstract: A power supply includes a half-bridge circuit. The power supply further includes an output inductor connected to a switch node that is common to a high side switch and a low side switch of the half-bridge. During a turn ON time of the low side switch, a current detection circuit of the power supply samples and holds in a capacitor a valley of an inductor current flowing through the output inductor. Also during the turn ON time of the low side switch, the current detection circuit samples and holds in another capacitor a peak of the inductor current. During a turn OFF time of the low side switch, a sense inductor current that is representative of the inductor current is generated by combining the charges stored in the capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Nguyen, Francis Yu
  • Frequency jittering control circuit and the method thereof
    Patent number: 9787196
    Abstract: A control method of frequency jittering with a switching mode power supply, comprising: turning on and off a power switch of the switching mode power supply alternatively; updating a peak current signal of the switching mode power supply at a beginning of an on time of the power switch according to a length of a switching period before the beginning of the on time of the power switch, wherein the peak current signal varies as the length of the switching period changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Siran Wang
  • Voltage control circuit for memory cell and the method thereof
    Patent number: 9779827
    Abstract: A voltage control circuit for a memory cell having a floating gate transistor and a capacitive device, comprising a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a first output terminal and a second input terminal, wherein the first input terminal is configured to receive a power supply voltage, the second input terminal is configured to receive a ground reference, and wherein based on the power supply voltage and the ground reference, the first output terminal and the second output terminal respectively provides a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal, and wherein a voltage value of the first voltage signal is twice the power supply voltage, and a maximum of a voltage difference between the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal is three times the power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Tianzhu Zhang, Da Chen
  • Multi-phase voltage converter with fault instruction circuit
    Patent number: 9780640
    Abstract: A switching circuit with a fault instruction circuit used in a voltage converter or a multi-phase voltage converter. The switching circuit has a pin, the pin is configured to receive a control signal during a normal operation, and the pin is also configured to output a fault instruction signal when one or more faults occur in the switching circuit. The instruction signal represents each of the one or more faults with a particular value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Nguyen, Rohan Samsi
  • Semiconductor device having conductive bump with improved reliability
    Patent number: 9768135
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a semiconductor device having conductive bumps formed on a conductive redistribution layer and associated method for manufacturing. The semiconductor device may further include a first type shallow trench formed on a passivation layer overlying a semiconductor substrate. The conductive redistribution layer is formed in the first type shallow trench. A polyimide layer may be formed between neighboring conductive redistribution layers should a plurality of the conductive redistribution layers are formed with or without the first type shallow trench formed for each of the plurality of conductive redistribution layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ze-Qiang Yao, Fayou Yin, Xiaodan Shang
  • Copper structures with intermetallic coating for integrated circuit chips
    Patent number: 9754909
    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: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Hunt Hang Jiang
  • Current balance circuit and the method thereof
    Patent number: 9734917
    Abstract: A current balance circuit for a power management device having a first current channel and a second current channel, having: a first current sense circuit configured to detect a current flowing through the first current channel, and to provide a first current sense signal indicative of the current flowing through the first current channel; wherein the current balance circuit draws current from the second current channel to the first current channel based on the first current sense signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Xingwei Wang, Junyong Gong, Brent Hughes
  • Digitally calibrated voltage regulators for power management
    Patent number: 9684745
    Abstract: A computer provides a graphical user interface for displaying a virtual representation of a voltage regulator and for accepting a user requirement for the voltage regulator. The computer automatically determines an internal calibration setting of the voltage regulator that meets the user requirement. The computer simulates operation of the voltage regulator as calibrated with the internal calibration setting. The internal calibration setting is downloaded to the voltage regulator. A calibration controller of the voltage regulator receives the internal calibration setting and outputs digital calibration bits in accordance with the internal calibration setting. The digital calibration bits works in conjunction with interface circuits to adjust circuits of a voltage regulator core to digitally calibrate the voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Yang, Michael Hsing
  • MONOLITHIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT SWITCH DEVICE WITH OUTPUT CURRENT BALANCING FOR PARALLEL-CONNECTION
    Publication number: 20170170655
    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: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James NGUYEN, Ying XIAO
  • Switching controller with reduced inductor peak-to-peak ripple current variation
    Patent number: 9660516
    Abstract: A switching controller having an over voltage protection circuit is disclosed. The over voltage protection circuit detects whether the output voltage is higher than an over voltage threshold and turns on the rectifier when the output voltage is higher than an over voltage threshold. The over voltage protection circuit detects whether a current flowing through a rectifier is lower than a negative current limit and further turns off the rectifier for a time period when the current flowing through the rectifier is lower than the negative current limit. The off time period varies inversely with the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John Fogg
  • DIGITALLY CALIBRATED VOLTAGE REGULATORS FOR POWER MANAGEMENT
    Publication number: 20170083649
    Abstract: A computer provides a graphical user interface for displaying a virtual representation of a voltage regulator and for accepting a user requirement for the voltage regulator. The computer automatically determines an internal calibration setting of the voltage regulator that meets the user requirement. The computer simulates operation of the voltage regulator as calibrated with the internal calibration setting. The internal calibration setting is downloaded to the voltage regulator. A calibration controller of the voltage regulator receives the internal calibration setting and outputs digital calibration bits in accordance with the internal calibration setting. The digital calibration bits works in conjunction with interface circuits to adjust circuits of a voltage regulator core to digitally calibrate the voltage regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric YANG, Michael HSING
  • Digitally calibrated voltage regulators for power management
    Patent number: 9541973
    Abstract: A computer provides a graphical user interface for displaying a virtual representation of a voltage regulator and for accepting a user requirement for the voltage regulator. The computer automatically determines an internal calibration setting of the voltage regulator that meets the user requirement. The computer simulates operation of the voltage regulator as calibrated with the internal calibration setting. The internal calibration setting is downloaded to the voltage regulator. A calibration controller of the voltage regulator receives the internal calibration setting and outputs digital calibration bits in accordance with the internal calibration setting. The digital calibration bits works in conjunction with interface circuits to adjust circuits of a voltage regulator core to digitally calibrate the voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Yang, Michael Hsing
  • MULTIPHASE POWER SUPPLY WITH CONSTANT ON-TIME DC-DC CONVERTERS
    Publication number: 20160315538
    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: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James NGUYEN, Yan DONG, Jinghai ZHOU, Rohan SAMSI
  • Monolithic integrated circuit switch device with output current balancing for parallel-connection
    Patent number: 9467136
    Abstract: An electrical circuit includes monolithic integrated circuit (IC) switch devices that are connected in parallel. A monolithic IC switch device 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 a current balancing circuit that controls the power switch to reduce an output current of the monolithic IC switch device when the output current of the monolithic IC switch device increases above the average of the output currents of monolithic IC switch devices in the electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James Nguyen
  • Multi-phase SMPS with loop phase clocks and control method thereof
    Patent number: 9407148
    Abstract: A multi-phase SMPS has N switching circuits; a setting signal generator generating a setting signal based on an output signal of the SMPS; a clock signal generator generating a system clock signal; and a controller receiving the setting signal and the system clock signal, the controller generating N shifted phase clock signals according to the system clock signal, and the N shifted phase clock signals forming loop phase clocks, and the controller further generates N switching control signals based on the setting signal and the N shifted phase clock signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Yanchuan Guo
  • High voltage analog switch
    Patent number: 9401659
    Abstract: A high voltage analog switch can be used in medical ultrasound applications. The high voltage analog switch can pass high voltage transducer excitation signals without necessarily having any high voltage power supplies. The high voltage analog switch can include three output switches, with one of the output switches having a clamp circuit for ensuring that transistors of an output switch on an input end of the high voltage analog switch remain OFF when the high voltage analog switch is OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimes Lei, Kee Chee Tiew
  • SMART SWITCH FOR CONNECTING AN INPUT POWER SUPPLY TO A LOAD
    Publication number: 20160182039
    Abstract: A monolithic integrated circuit (IC) switch device includes an input pin that receives an input power supply and an output pin that is connected to a load. The monolithic IC switch device includes driving circuitry that controls a switching operation of a power switch to connect and disconnect the input power supply to and from the load. A microcontroller can enable or disable the monolithic IC switch device based on indicator signals received by the microcontroller from the monolithic IC switch device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ying XIAO, Rohan SAMSI, Jinghai ZHOU
  • HIGH VOLTAGE ANALOG SWITCH
    Publication number: 20160134199
    Abstract: A high voltage analog switch can be used in medical ultrasound applications. The high voltage analog switch can pass high voltage transducer excitation signals without necessarily having any high voltage power supplies. The high voltage analog switch can include three output switches, with one of the output switches having a clamp circuit for ensuring that transistors of an output switch on an input end of the high voltage analog switch remain OFF when the high voltage analog switch is OFF.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimes LEI, Kee Chee TIEW