Patents Assigned to Monolithic Power Systems
  • Means and associated methods for digitally controlling converter systems
    Patent number: 8618782
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention illustrate a means for digitally controlling a converter system and associated method. Wherein the means for digitally controlling a converter system comprises a means for generating a digital error signal according to an output voltage of the converter system and a reference voltage, a means for generating a digital control signal according to a digital reference signal and the digital error signal, and a means for generating a PWM signal according to the digital control signal in order to control the converter system. The means for digitally controlling a converter system and associated method at least alleviate the problem of limit-cycle oscillation, and promote the performance of system transient response and accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoming Li, Yunping Lang
  • Delay circuit and associated method
    Patent number: 8618857
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention disclose a delay circuit. The delay circuit comprises an inverter, a load capacitor, and a first voltage clamping module, wherein the first voltage clamping module generates a voltage drop configured to prolong the propagation delay time of the delay circuit as the power supply voltage decreases. The power supply dependent delay circuit may have a much larger propagation delay time at low power supply voltage than it at high power supply voltage at the rising-edge or falling-edge of an input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Yan Dong, Peng Xu
  • POWER TRANSISTOR AND ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING
    Publication number: 20130341715
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a lateral transistor and associated method for making the same. The lateral transistor comprises a gate formed over a first portion of a thin gate dielectric layer, and a field plate formed over a thick field dielectric layer and extending atop a second portion of the thin gate dielectric layer. The field plate is electrically isolated from the gate by a gap overlying a third portion of the thin gate dielectric layer and is electrically coupled to a source region. The lateral transistor according to an embodiment of the present invention may have reduced gate-to-drain capacitance, low specific on-resistance, and improved hot carrier lifetime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel M. McGregor
  • MULTI-PHASE SWITCHING-MODE POWER SUPPLY AND ASSOCIATED CONTROL METHOD
    Publication number: 20130342176
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a multi-phase switch-mode power supply (SMPS). The multi-phase SMPS may comprise a plurality of comparing circuits and a controller. Wherein each comparing circuit comprises a first input coupled to a threshold voltage, a second input coupled to a feedback signal of the output voltage, and an output configured to provide a load indication signal. The controller may have a plurality of inputs coupled to the outputs of the comparing circuit, and a plurality of outputs configured to provide control signals for driving a plurality of switches of the multi-phase SMPS. And the controller is configured to selectively turn on a plurality of the switches according to the load indication signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Yang, Lijie Jiang, Qian Ouyang, Xiaokang Wu, Bo Zhang
  • SPLIT TRENCH-GATE MOSFET WITH INTEGRATED SCHOTTKY DIODE
    Publication number: 20130328122
    Abstract: A split trench-gate MOSFET device and method for forming this device is disclosed. The device has a trench gate structure, comprising a shield electrode and two gate electrodes, wherein a substantial portion of shield electrode region is lower than the gate electrode region, and wherein a portion of the shield electrode region extends to the top surface between the two gate electrodes. The device further comprises a source metal layer, contacting to an initial layer, a well region, the shield electrode and a source region at the top surface, wherein the contact between the source metal layer and the initial layer forms a Schottky diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiesheng Li, Rongyao Ma, Lei Zhang
  • Multi-die packages incorporating flip chip dies and associated packaging methods
    Patent number: 8604597
    Abstract: The present technology discloses a multi-die package. The package comprises a lead frame structure and three dies including a first flip chip die, a second flip chip die and a third flip chip die stacked vertically. The first flip chip die is mounted on the bottom surface of the lead frame structure through the flip chip bumps; the second flip chip is mounted on the top surface of the first flip chip die through flip chip bumps; and the third flip chip die is mounted on the top surface of the lead frame structure through flip chip bumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Hunt Hang Jiang
  • Multi-mode dimming circuit
    Patent number: 8604710
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a multi-mode dimming circuit configurable to operate in a first dimming mode, a second dimming mode and a third dimming mode. The present disclosure also discloses separate dimming circuits for respectively realize the three dimming modes. In one embodiment the multi-mode dimming circuit may comprise a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a third input terminal, an output terminal, a resistive device, an oscillation circuit and a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit. Users may flexibly configure the multi-mode dimming circuit to operate in one of the three different dimming modes by varying the external devices and/or signals coupled to each of the first, second and third input terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bo Yu, Yuancheng Ren, Lei Du, Naixing Kuang, Zhijiang Yang
  • Class G audio amplifiers and associated methods of operation
    Patent number: 8605915
    Abstract: The present technology is directed to class G audio amplifiers and the associated methods of operation. In one embodiment, a class G audio amplifier includes an input port, an audio output stage, a level detector, and a charge pump. The class G audio amplifier regulates the power supplies of the audio output stage according to the input signal, so as to realize high efficiency and high quality audio output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Haishi Wang, Zhengwei Zhang, Rui Wang, Jinyan Lin
  • High voltage junction field effect transistor with spiral field plate
    Patent number: 8598637
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a junction field effect transistor having a substrate, wherein formed on the substrate is a graded n-doped region having a high doping concentration in an inner region and a low doping concentration in an outer region, with a p-doped buried region adjacent to the graded n-doped region near the outer region, and a spiral resistor connected to the graded n-doped region at its inner region and at its outer region. An ohmic contact at the inner region provides the drain, an ohmic contact at the outer region provides the source, and an ohmic contact at the substrate provides the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Hsing, Martin E. Garnett, Ognjen Milic
  • Triac dimmer compatible WLED driving circuit and method thereof
    Patent number: 8598802
    Abstract: The present technology is generally related to Triac dimmer compatible driving circuits and methods thereof. The present technology also provides an electronic transformer that is integrated in the Traic dimmer compatible driving circuit. In one embodiment, the electronic transformer detects the conduction angles of an output AC voltage from the Triac dimmer and converts said output AC voltage into a PWM DC voltage having a duty cycle regulated by said conduction angles. Said PWM DC voltage is then applied to a WLED driver for driving a WLED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Huang, Lei Du
  • Circuit and method for voltage regulator output voltage trimming
    Patent number: 8593121
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a voltage regulator including a trimming circuit. The present disclosure also discloses a method for trimming an output voltage of a voltage regulator. In one embodiment the voltage regulator may include a power conversion module, a feedback and trimming module and a control module. The voltage regulator may be able to provide an output voltage that could be regulated to a plurality of output values, the feedback and trimming module may be able to trim the plurality of output values to their desired values successively and independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yike Li, Jiangyun Zhou
  • Compensation circuit for constant current regulation of power supply and method thereof
    Patent number: 8593841
    Abstract: A compensation circuit and method for constant current regulation of switching mode power supply are disclosed. The ringing waveform of a feedback signal, indicative of the output current of the power supply, causes error. To eliminate the error, a current source charges a capacitor in response to a demagnetizing oscillation signal indicative of the error caused by the ringing waveform of the feedback signal. The voltage across the capacitor is compared to a reference signal to generate a more accurate signal indicative of the conductive time of a secondary diode in a secondary winding of the switching mode power supply. This more accurate signal is inputted to a logic circuit to generate a constant current control signal to control a power switch of the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Siran Wang, Yuancheng Ren, Junming Zhang, En Li
  • MULTI-PHASE SWITCHING CONVERTER AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF
    Publication number: 20130307498
    Abstract: A multi-phase switching converter comprising a plurality of switching circuits, a comparing circuit and a control circuit. The comparing circuit generates a comparison signal based on a reference signal and the output voltage of the multi-phase switching converter. The control circuit can turn on the following switching circuit based on the comparison signal only after the time from the current switching circuit being turned on reaches a first time threshold or the off-time of the current switching circuit reaches a second time threshold, wherein the first time threshold is longer than the second time threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: CHENGDU MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lijie Jiang, Qian Ouyang, Xiaokang Wu, Bo Zhang, Suhua Luo, Yuancheng Ren, Eric Yang
  • SWITCHING REGULATOR, THE CONTROL CIRCUIT AND THE METHOD THEREOF
    Publication number: 20130308349
    Abstract: A switching regulator that decreases power loss and resolves thermal issues by jumping its switching frequency to a maximum frequency when its load reaches a peak load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Yangwei Yu, Yuancheng Ren, Junming Zhang, Sicong Lin, Jian Zhao
  • MULTI-PHASE SWITCHING CONVERTER WITH OVERLAP MODE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF
    Publication number: 20130307503
    Abstract: A multi-phase switching converter and control method thereof. The multi-phase switching converter includes a plurality of switching circuits and a controller. The output terminals of the plurality of switching circuits are coupled together to provide an output voltage to a load. The controller is configured to generate a plurality of control signals to turn on the plurality of switching circuits successively. When a load current increase is detected, the controller operates in an overlap mode and at least two switching circuits subsequent to the current switching circuit are turned on simultaneously. After the overlap mode, the controller resumes to the interleave mode and turns on the plurality of switching circuits successively from the switching circuit subsequent to the at least two switching circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: CHENGDU MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qian Ouyang, Lijie Jiang, Xiaokang Wu, Bo Zhang, Suhua Luo
  • Internal high-voltage current source in an AC/DC power converter
    Patent number: 8587973
    Abstract: AC/DC power converters having an under voltage lockout circuit with first and second thresholds and associated methods of operation are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the first threshold is greater than the second threshold. The under voltage lockout circuit is configured to enable a current source to charge the capacitor when the voltage across the capacitor is less than the second threshold. The under voltage lockout circuit is configured to shut off the current source and to enable a pulse width modulator circuit to switch a transistor when the voltage is greater than the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: En Li
  • CHARGE-PUMP VOLTAGE DIVIDER AND ASSOCIATED CONTROL METHOD
    Publication number: 20130300385
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention disclose a charge-pump voltage divider and associated start-up method. The charge-pump voltage divider comprises a start-up circuit that can regulate an inrush current during start up. The start-up circuit comprises a switch, which operates in linear region state during start-up, and operates in switching state after the start-up completes. The charge-pump voltage divider may further comprise a load control switch configured to ensure the start-up is independent of a load current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taofeng Li, Yike Li
  • SYNCHRONOUS RECTIFICATION CIRCUIT AND ASSOCIATED ZERO-CROSSING DETECTION METHOD
    Publication number: 20130300400
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention disclose a synchronous rectification circuit and associated zero-crossing detection method. The synchronous rectification circuit includes a synchronous rectifier having a source, a drain, and at least two gates. The synchronous rectifier having N MOS cells connected in parallel, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 2. Through comparing a voltage signal across the drain and the source of the synchronous rectifier with a first and a second threshold voltage, part of the N MOS cells is turned off once the voltage signal is equal to the first threshold voltage, and the left part of the N MOS cells is turned off once the voltage signal is equal to the second threshold voltage. Thus, the accuracy of zero-crossing detection is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: CHENGDU MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jiangyun Zhou
  • ANALOG SWITCHING CIRCUIT, ASSOCIATED CONTROL CIRCUIT AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20130300493
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an analog switching circuit having a first terminal receiving an input signal, a second terminal providing an output signal and a control terminal receiving a switching control signal. The analog switching circuit has a first logic circuit providing a first control signal and a second control signal based on the switching control signal; an NMOS and a PMOS coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal, and controlled by the first control signal and the second control signal respectively; a first control circuit controls the backgate voltage of the NMOS based on the input signal and the switching control signal; and a second control circuit controls the backgate voltage of the PMOS based on the input signal and the switching control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Da Chen, Zhengwei Zhang, Wei Mao
  • ISOLATED SWITCHING MODE POWER SUPPLY AND THE METHOD THEREOF
    Publication number: 20130300384
    Abstract: An isolated switching mode power supply, having: a transformer having a primary winding, a secondary winding and a third winding; a current limit comparator configured to provide a current limit signal based on the current sense signal and the peak current signal; a logic circuit configured to provide a logic control signal based on the frequency control signal and the current limit signal; a startup control circuit configured to generate a startup control signal based on the current sense signal; a load detecting circuit configured to provide a load detecting signal based on the second feedback signal and the switching signal; and a selector configured to provide the logic control signal or the startup control signal based on the load detecting signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: CHENGDU MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Siran Wang, Junming Zhang, Yuancheng Ren