Patents Assigned to Monolithic Power Systems
  • AC switch with DC voltage generation
    Patent number: 10615598
    Abstract: An electrical circuit has a first integrated AC switch circuit connecting a first load to an AC voltage when the first integrated AC switch circuit is ON and a second integrated AC switch circuit connecting a second load to the AC voltage when the second integrated AC switch circuit is ON. The first integrated AC switch circuit generates a first DC voltage across a first capacitor and provides a pulse signal. When a VCCE pin of the second integrated AC switch circuit is coupled to a reference ground, a second capacitor is charged by the second integrated AC switch circuit to provide a second DC voltage. And when the VCCE pin of the second integrated AC switch circuit is floating or pulls high, the second capacitor is charged by the pulse signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jian Jiang, Pengjie Lai, Bo Zhou, Junyong Gong, Eric Yang
  • 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
  • Control circuit and control method for multi-output DC-DC converter
    Patent number: 10554127
    Abstract: A multi-output DC-DC converter with constant on time control. The multi-output DC-DC converter has N clock signals, and N switching circuits converting an input voltage signal to N output voltage signals respectively. The N clock signals have the same frequency and a predetermined phase shift between every two successive clock signals of the N clock signals. When the N switching circuits are operated in a steady state, each of the N switching circuits is synchronized with a corresponding one of the N clock signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junyong Gong
  • 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
  • Multi-channel switching mode power supply and control method thereof
    Patent number: 10523106
    Abstract: A method for controlling a multi-channel SMPS having N switching circuits. The method is generating a fast system clock and N load indication signals indicative of load statuses of the N switching circuits, then generating N clock control signals based on the preset pulses of the fast system clock and the N load indication signals. If one of the N switching circuits is detected to transit from a heavy load condition to a light load condition, forming the corresponding clock control signal based on the first pulse of the fast system clock after the corresponding load indication signal transits from the first state to the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yike Li
  • Control circuit for voltage regulator with slew rate controlled reference signal generating and associated method
    Patent number: 10523107
    Abstract: A method for controlling a voltage regulator is receiving a voltage identification code which has a pulse width modulation signal, providing a duty signal via measuring a duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal, calculating a target voltage based on the duty signal, providing a reference signal based on the duty signal and the target voltage. If it is judged that the duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal increases, the reference signal is restricted increasing or keeping its value without decreasing, and if it is judged that the duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal decreases, the reference signal is restricted decreasing or keeping its value without increasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Binci Xu, Lijie Jiang, Chao Liu, Tao Zhao
  • 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
  • Load transient detection method used in multi-phase converters
    Patent number: 10498241
    Abstract: A control method of multi-phase converters, wherein the multi-phase converter includes a plurality of switching circuits coupled in parallel between an input voltage and a load. The control method includes: comparing a feedback signal with a reference signal to generate a comparison signal, wherein the feedback signal is indicative of an output voltage provided to the load; determining the number of switching circuits for power operation based on the load current; detecting a period of the comparison signal; comparing the detected period of the comparison signal with a time threshold to determine whether a transient rise of load current has occurred; and getting all the switching circuits into power operation if a transient rise of load current is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaokang Wu, Lijie Jiang, Binci Xu
  • Driving circuit and method for buck-boost converter with bootstrap voltage refresh
    Patent number: 10491112
    Abstract: A driving circuit and method for buck-boost converter with bootstrap voltage refresh. The driving circuit includes a first bootstrap capacitor provided a first bootstrap voltage to drive the corresponding switch, and a second bootstrap capacitor provided a second bootstrap voltage to drive the corresponding switch. When converter operates in buck mode and the first or second bootstrap voltage is smaller than a threshold, the driving circuit generates current signals to respectively charge the first and second bootstrap capacitors based on an input voltage, and the first and second bootstrap voltages. When converter operates in boost mode and the first or second bootstrap voltage is smaller than the threshold, the driving circuit generates current signals to respectively charge the first and second bootstrap capacitors based on an output voltage, and the first and second bootstrap voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lei Li
  • 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
  • Over current protecting circuit and the method thereof
    Patent number: 10468973
    Abstract: An over current protecting circuit, used with a switching converter having a switch, having: a current limiting circuit, configured to receive a limit indicating signal and to provide an on time signal to control an on time period of the switch based on the limit indicating signal, wherein if the limit indicating signal indicates a current flowing through the switch of the switching converter is larger than a limiting threshold, the on time period of a next switching cycle of the switch is subtracted with a first period, otherwise, the on time period of the switch of the next switching cycle is added with a second period; wherein a maximum on time period of the switch is fixed to be an on time reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaokang Wu, Qian Ouyang, Yu Zhang, Xiaogang Wei
  • 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
  • Control circuit for synchronous rectifier and the method thereof
    Patent number: 10432104
    Abstract: A synchronous switching converter with an energy storage component and a synchronous rectifier coupled to the energy storage component, having: a secondary control circuit configured to receive a slew rate threshold adjusting signal and a voltage across the synchronous rectifier, and to provide a secondary control signal; wherein the secondary control circuit detects a slew rate of the voltage across the synchronous rectifier, and maintains the synchronous rectifier being off when the slew rate of the voltage across the synchronous rectifier is lower than a slew rate threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hui Li, Lei Miao, Siran Wang, Lin Feng
  • Signal amplifying system in a hall detecting and amplifying system
    Patent number: 10432159
    Abstract: A signal amplifying system having an oscillator and an amplifying circuit. The oscillator has a first resistor with a first resistance R1 and a first capacitor with a first capacitance C1, and generates an oscillating signal having a frequency f which equals to k1/(R1*C1), k1 is a first proportional parameter. The amplifying circuit has an input terminal to receive an input signal and amplifies the input signal under the control of the oscillating signal. The amplifying circuit has a second resistor with a second resistance R2 and a second capacitor with a second capacitance C2. The amplifying circuit has a ?3 dB bandwidth W?3 dB which equals to k2/(R2*C2), k2 is a second proportional parameter. In this signal amplifying system, the product of the first resistance R1 and the first capacitance C1 is proportional to the product of the second resistance R2 and the second capacitance C2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhijiang Yang
  • 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
  • Resonant converter with improved light load efficiency and the method thereof
    Patent number: 10425013
    Abstract: A resonant converter highly improves light load efficiency. The resonant converter blocks control signals which are used to control power switches in an input power stage and an output stage in light load condition until an output voltage drops to a preset value. The input power stage and the output stage are coupled by way of a resonant net and a transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Qian Ouyang
  • 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
  • Control circuit for voltage regulator with reference signal generating and associated method
    Patent number: 10404153
    Abstract: A method for controlling a voltage regulator is receiving a voltage identification code which has a pulse width modulation signal, providing a duty signal via measuring a duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal, calculating a target voltage based on the duty signal, providing a reference signal via filtering the duty signal by a first filter if the voltage identification code varies, and providing the reference signal via filtering the duty signal by a second filter if the reference signal is in a range determined by the target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Binci Xu, Lijie Jiang, Chao Liu, Tao Zhao