Patents Assigned to R2 Semiconductor, Inc
  • Patent number: 8362649
    Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of a multi-use voltage regulator providing a supply voltage to a power amplifier and at least one other device are disclosed. One method includes generating a plurality of regulated voltage supplies from an unregulated voltage. An output signal power level of the power amplifier is determined. A one of the regulated plurality of voltage supplies and the unregulated voltage supply is selected as a power amplifier voltage supply for the power amplifier based at least in part on the output signal power level of the power amplifier. If the selected power amplifier voltage supply is one of the plurality of regulated voltage supplies, then the selected one of the plurality of regulated voltage supplies is simultaneously provided to the power amplifier and the at least one other device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: R2 Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: David Fisher, Ravi Ramachandran
  • Publication number: 20120326680
    Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of generating a regulated voltage are disclosed. One method includes generating the regulated voltage through controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and shunt switch element. This method includes closing the series switch element during a first period, the series switch element comprising a plurality of series switch elements segments. The method includes applying a switching gate voltage to gates of series switching transistors of a subset of the plurality of series switch elements segments of the series switch element, wherein only the series switching transistors of the subset of the plurality of series switch elements segments of the series switch element turn on, while series protection transistor of more than the subset of the plurality of series switch elements segments of the series switch element turn on. The shunt switch element during is closed during a second period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: R2 SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Burns, James E.C. Brown
  • Patent number: 8339115
    Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of controlling a bypass resistance of a voltage regulator are disclosed. One method includes generating a regulated output voltage based upon a switching voltage. The switching voltage is generated through controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and a shunt switch element, the series switch element and the shunt switch element being connected between voltages based on an input voltage. Control of a duty cycle of the switching voltage is provided by sensing and feeding back the regulated output voltage. The bypass resistance is controlled based on an integration of a difference between the duty cycle and a maximum duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: R2 Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. C. Brown, Bret Rothenberg, Lawrence M. Burns
  • Publication number: 20120293156
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for assisting an output current of a voltage converter, are disclosed. One method includes detecting a request for a positive change in an output voltage of the voltage converter, selecting an output current assist value based on the requested positive change in the output voltage, for a predetermined load, and assisting the output current with the selected output assist current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: R2 SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Pablo Moreno Galbis, James E.C. Brown
  • Publication number: 20120274297
    Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of controlling a bypass resistance of a voltage regulator are disclosed. One method includes generating a regulated output voltage based upon a switching voltage. The switching voltage is generated through controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and a shunt switch element, the series switch element and the shunt switch element being connected between voltages based on an input voltage. Control of a duty cycle of the switching voltage is provided by sensing and feeding back the regulated output voltage. The bypass resistance is controlled based on an integration of a difference between the duty cycle and a maximum duty cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: R2 SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: James E.C. Brown, Bret Rothenberg, Lawrence M. Burns
  • Publication number: 20120257311
    Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of generating a regulated voltage are disclosed. One apparatus includes a voltage regulator. The voltage regulator includes regulator circuitry for generating a regulated voltage from a first power supply and a second power supply, and voltage spike protection circuitry for voltage-spike-protecting the regulator circuitry. The voltage spike protection circuitry includes a charge-storage circuit, and at least one switching element, wherein the at least one switching element comprises a plurality of switching block segments. The charge-storage circuit includes charge-storage circuit segments, and each charge-storage circuit segment is physically closer to at least one of the plurality of switching block segments the charge-storage circuit segment protects, than any other switching block segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: R2 SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Burns, David Fisher
  • Publication number: 20120244916
    Abstract: Embodiments for at methods, apparatus and systems for operating a voltage regulator are disclosed. One method includes generating, by a switching controller, a switching voltage through controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and a shunt switch element. Further, the method includes generating, by a switchable output filter, a regulated output voltage by filtering the switching voltage, wherein the switchable output filter comprises a plurality of capacitors that are selectively included within the switchable output filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: R2 SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: James E. C. Brown, Daniel Dobkin, Pablo Moreno Galbis, Cory Severson, Lawrence M. Burns
  • Publication number: 20120229102
    Abstract: Another embodiment includes a voltage regulator. The voltage regulator includes a series switch element connected between a first voltage supply and a common node, the series switch element comprising an NMOS series switching transistor, a shunt switch element connected between the common node and a second voltage supply, the shunt switch element comprising an NMOS shunt switching transistor. The voltage regulator further includes means for closing the series switch element during a first period by applying a switching gate voltage to a gate of the NMOS series switch transistor of the series switch element, wherein the switching gate voltage has a voltage potential of at least a threshold voltage greater than a voltage potential of the common node, means for closing the shunt switch element during a second period, the shunt switch element comprising an NMOS shunt switching transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: R2 SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Burns, David Fisher
  • Patent number: 8248044
    Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of controlling a bypass resistance of a voltage regulator are disclosed. One method includes generating a regulated output voltage based upon a switching voltage. The switching voltage is generated through controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and a shunt switch element, the series switch element and the shunt switch element being connected between voltages based on an input voltage. A control of a duty cycle of the switching voltage is provided by sensing and feeding back the regulated output voltage. The bypass resistance is controlled based on a parameter related to the duty cycle, wherein the control of the duty cycle is persistent during the control of the bypass resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: R2 Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. C. Brown, Bret Rothenberg, Lawrence M. Burns
  • Patent number: 8233250
    Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of generating a regulated voltage are disclosed. One apparatus includes a voltage regulator. The voltage regulator includes regulator circuitry for generating a regulated voltage from a first power supply and a second power supply, and voltage spike protection circuitry for voltage-spike-protecting the regulator circuitry, wherein the voltage spike protection circuitry includes a dissipative element and a charge-storage circuit. One method includes a method of generating a regulated voltage. The method includes regulator circuitry generating a regulated voltage from an input voltage, and voltage-spike-protecting the regulator circuitry with voltage spike protection circuitry, wherein the voltage spike protection circuitry includes a dissipative element and a charge-storage circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: R2 Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Burns, David Fisher
  • Patent number: 8212536
    Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of generating a regulated voltage are disclosed. One method includes generating the regulated voltage though controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and shunt switch element, the series switch element being connected between a first voltage supply and a common node, and the shunt switch being connected between the common node and a second supply voltage. The series switch element includes an NMOS series switching transistor stacked with an NMOS series protection transistor, and closing the series switch element during a first period includes applying a switching gate voltage to a gate of the NMOS series switch transistor of the series switch element, wherein the switching gate voltage has a voltage potential of at least a threshold voltage greater than a voltage potential of the common node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: R2 Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Burns, David Fisher
  • Publication number: 20120105039
    Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus for controlling timing of switch control signals of a switching voltage regulator disclosed. One method includes generating a regulated output voltage based upon a switching voltage, generating the switching voltage through controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and a shunt switch element, and controlling, by a delay block, the closing and opening of the series switch element and a shunt switch element. The delay block control includes receiving, by the delay block, a timing signal, generating a one of a series switch control signal and a shunt switch control signal by controllably delaying the timing signal with a first delay, and generating one other of the series switch control signal and the shunt switch control signal by inverting, and controllably delaying the timing signal with a second delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: R2 SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventor: James E.C. Brown
  • Publication number: 20120105034
    Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of controlling a dead time of a switching voltage regulator are disclosed. One method includes generating a regulated output voltage based upon a switching voltage. The method included generating the switching voltage through controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and a shunt switch element, wherein the dead time comprises time that both the series switch element and the shunt switch element are open. The duration of the dead time is adjusted based on a rate of change of the switching voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: R2 SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: James E. C. Brown, Lawrence M. Burns
  • Publication number: 20120105045
    Abstract: Embodiments for methods and apparatuses for controlling a skew time of switches of a switching voltage regulator are disclosed. One method includes generating a switching voltage through closing and opening of a series switch and a shunt switch as controlled by a series switch control signal and a shunt switch control signal. An error signal is generated that is proportional to a relative displacement of an on-interval of the series switch and an off-interval of the shunt switch. A relative delay of the series switch control signal and the shunt switch control signal is adjusted based on the error signal, and a regulated output voltage is generated based upon the switching voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: R2 SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Burns, James E.C. Brown
  • Patent number: 8145149
    Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of a wireless transceiver are disclosed. For one embodiment, the wireless transceiver includes a transmit chain, wherein the transmit chain includes a power amplifier. The wireless transceiver additionally includes a receiver chain that is tunable to receive wireless signals over at least one of multiple channels, wherein the multiple channels are predefined. Further, the wireless transceiver includes a voltage converter. The voltage converter provides a supply voltage to the power amplifier, and operates at a single switching frequency, wherein the single switching frequency and all harmonics of the single switching frequency fall outside of the multiple channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: R2 Semiconductor, Inc
    Inventors: Ravi Ramachandran, Frank Sasselli
  • Publication number: 20110309679
    Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of a multi-use voltage regulator providing a supply voltage to a power amplifier and at least one other device are disclosed. One method includes generating a plurality of regulated voltage supplies from an unregulated voltage. An output signal power level of the power amplifier is determined. A one of the regulated plurality of voltage supplies and the unregulated voltage supply is selected as a power amplifier voltage supply for the power amplifier based at least in part on the output signal power level of the power amplifier. If the selected power amplifier voltage supply is one of the plurality of regulated voltage supplies, then the selected one of the plurality of regulated voltage supplies is simultaneously provided to the power amplifier and the at least one other device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: R2 SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: David Fisher, Ravi Ramachandran
  • Publication number: 20110312287
    Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of a wireless transceiver are disclosed. For one embodiment, the wireless transceiver includes a transmit chain, wherein the transmit chain includes a power amplifier. The wireless transceiver additionally includes a receiver chain that is tunable to receive wireless signals over at least one of multiple channels, wherein the multiple channels are predefined. Further, the wireless transceiver includes a voltage converter. The voltage converter provides a supply voltage to the power amplifier, and operates at a single switching frequency, wherein the single switching frequency and all harmonics of the single switching frequency fall outside of the multiple channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: R2 SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Ravi Ramachandran, Frank Sasselli
  • Publication number: 20110234187
    Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of controlling a bypass resistance of a voltage regulator are disclosed. One method includes generating a regulated output voltage based upon a switching voltage. The switching voltage is generated through controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and a shunt switch element, the series switch element and the shunt switch element being connected between voltages based on an input voltage. A control of a duty cycle of the switching voltage is provided by sensing and feeding back the regulated output voltage. The bypass resistance is controlled based on a parameter related to the duty cycle, wherein the control of the duty cycle is persistent during the control of the bypass resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: R2 Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. C. Brown, Bret Rothenberg, Lawrence M. Burns
  • Publication number: 20110148368
    Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of generating a regulated voltage are disclosed. One method includes generating the regulated voltage though controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and shunt switch element, the series switch element being connected between a first voltage supply and a common node, and the shunt switch being connected between the common node and a second supply voltage. The series switch element includes an NMOS series switching transistor stacked with an NMOS series protection transistor, and closing the series switch element during a first period includes applying a switching gate voltage to a gate of the NMOS series switch transistor of the series switch element, wherein the switching gate voltage has a voltage potential of at least a threshold voltage greater than a voltage potential of the common node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: R2 SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Burns, David Fisher
  • Publication number: 20110148200
    Abstract: Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of generating a regulated voltage are disclosed. One apparatus includes a voltage regulator. The voltage regulator includes regulator circuitry for generating a regulated voltage from a first power supply and a second power supply, and voltage spike protection circuitry for voltage-spike-protecting the regulator circuitry, wherein the voltage spike protection circuitry includes a dissipative element and a charge-storage circuit. One method includes a method of generating a regulated voltage. The method includes regulator circuitry generating a regulated voltage from an input voltage, and voltage-spike-protecting the regulator circuitry with voltage spike protection circuitry, wherein the voltage spike protection circuitry includes a dissipative element and a charge-storage circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: R2 SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Burns, David Fisher