Patents Assigned to Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
  • Publication number: 20140062444
    Abstract: A boundary conduction mode (BCM) switching regulator controls a power stage to convert an input voltage to an output voltage or output current. The BCM switching regulator detects whether it is operating in continuous conduction mode (CCM) or discontinuous conduction mode (DCM), and adjusts the On-time, Off-time, or frequency of the power stage accordingly, so that the switching regulator operates in or near BCM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, R.O.C.
    Inventor: Jing-Meng Liu
  • Publication number: 20140055178
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an adaptive phase-shifted synchronization clock generation circuit and a method for generating phase-shifted synchronization clock. The adaptive phase-shifted synchronization clock generation circuit includes: a current source generating a current which flows through a node to generate a node voltage on the node; a reverse-proportional voltage generator coupled to the node for generating a voltage which is reverse-proportional to the node voltage; a ramp generator receiving a synchronization input signal and generating a ramp signal; a comparator comparing the reverse-proportional voltage to the ramp signal; and a pulse generator for generating a clock signal according to an output from the comparator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Isaac Chen, An-Tung Chen
  • Patent number: 8653594
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a double diffused metal oxide semiconductor (DMOS) device and a manufacturing method thereof. The DMOS device includes: an isolation structure for defining device regions; a gate with a ring-shaped structure; a drain located outside the ring; and a lightly doped drain, a source, and a body electrode located inside the ring. To increase the sub-threshold voltage at the corners of the gate, the corners are located completely on the isolation structure, or the lightly doped drain is apart from the corners by a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Ching-Yao Yang, Tsung-Yi Huang, Huan-Ping Chu, Hung-Der Su
  • Patent number: 8653795
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a charger circuit. The charger circuit comprises a control circuit and at least two charging paths. The control circuit determines to activate or inactivate each charging path according to a battery feedback signal representing the charging status. Accordingly, the battery is charged by input power in an optimal way so that the charging efficiency is improved and the overheating problem is solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Hsuan-Kai Wang, Nien-Hui Kung, Wei-I Li
  • Patent number: 8643354
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a multi-phase switching regulator, a driver circuit of a multi-phase switching regulator, and a control method of a multi-phase switching regulator. The multi-phase switching regulator includes: at least two power stages, switching power transistors in the power stages to convert an input voltage to an output voltage according to pulse width modulation (PWM) signals generated by corresponding PWM controllers respectively; and a current balance circuit, generating a current balance signal according to the current of the corresponding power stage and a phase adjustment signal to averagely distribute current over the active power stages. In the present invention, the gain of the current balance circuit is adjustable, to avoid or reduce output voltage overshoot and undershoot when the phase number changes, while the current balance function is still achieved in normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Yu-Wei Chang, Yuan-Huang Cheng, Ting-Hung Wang, Chia-Jung Lee, Chung-Sheng Cheng
  • Patent number: 8643993
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a short-circuit detection circuit and a short-circuit detection method. The short-circuit detection circuit detects whether an output node is short-circuited to a first predetermined level. A first switch circuit which is controlled by a control signal is coupled between the output node and a second predetermined level. The short-circuit detection circuit includes: a determination circuit, which is coupled between the output node and the second predetermined level, wherein when the determination circuit is enabled, it generates a determination signal according to whether the output node is short-circuited to the first predetermined level; and a second switch circuit, which generates a short-circuit detection signal according to the determination signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chen Tsai, Wei-Lun Hsieh, Tung-Han Tsai, Ming-Jun Hsiao
  • Patent number: 8638126
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a rail-to-rail comparator. The rail-to-rail comparator includes: a positive voltage rail providing a positive supply voltage, a ground voltage rail providing a ground voltage, an input stage, and an output stage. The input stage includes: a positive and a negative input terminals for receiving a first input signal and a second input signal; a first differential amplifier circuit, which includes a pair of depletion NMOS transistors to generate a first pair of differential currents; and a second differential amplifier circuit, which includes a pair of native NMOS transistors to generate a second pair of differential currents. The output stage is coupled to the first differential amplifier circuit and the second differential amplifier circuit, and generates an output signal related to a difference between the first input signal and the second input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Chieh-Min Lo, Tzu-Huan Chiu, Chien-Sheng Chen, Chien-Ping Lu
  • Patent number: 8604767
    Abstract: A boundary conduction mode (BCM) switching regulator controls a power stage to convert an input voltage to an output voltage or output current. The BCM switching regulator detects whether it is operating in continuous conduction mode (CCM) or discontinuous conduction mode (DCM), and adjusts the On-time, Off-time, or frequency of the power stage accordingly, so that the switching regulator operates in or near BCM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventor: Jing-Meng Liu
  • Patent number: 8531166
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a constant on-time switching regulator, a control method therefor, and an on-time calculation circuit for calculating an on-time period of a constant on-time switching regulator. The on-time calculation circuit calculates on-time according to practical conditions. It includes: a driver gate receiving a gate signal of a power switch in a switching regulator, the driver gate operating between high and low levels of a first reference voltage and ground; a low pass filter receiving an output from the driver gate and generating a second reference voltage, a ratio between the second reference voltage and the first reference voltage being substantially the same as a duty ratio of the gate signal; and an on-time generator comparing the second reference voltage with a ramp signal to determine an on-time of the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Li-Wen Fang, Ting-Jung Tai, Chih-Hao Yang
  • Patent number: 8525258
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for controlling the impurity density distribution in semiconductor device and a semiconductor device made thereby. The control method includes the steps of: providing a substrate; defining a doped area which includes at least one first region; partially masking the first region by a mask pattern; and doping impurities in the doped area to form one integrated doped region in the first region, whereby the impurity concentration of the first region is lower than a case where the first region is not masked by the mask pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Tsung-Yi Huang, Ying-Shiou Lin
  • Publication number: 20130215651
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an isolated power converter circuit and a control method thereof. The isolated power converter circuit includes: a transformer circuit, a power switch circuit, an opto-coupler circuit, and a control circuit. The transformer circuit includes a first winding and a second winding. The power switch circuit is coupled to the transformer circuit to control it according to a driving signal. The opto-coupler circuit generates a feedback signal. The control circuit is coupled to the power switch circuit and the opto-coupler circuit, for generating the driving signal according to the feedback signal. The control circuit includes a distinguishing circuit for distinguishing a status of the feedback signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Chia-Wei Liao, Jing-Meng Liu
  • Patent number: 8513894
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a light emitting device control method for adjusting the brightness of the light emitting device by an AC signal, comprising: receiving a signal having a turn ON angle and converting the signal to a DC signal; obtaining an average of the DC signal level, the average being a function of the turn ON angle; determining a reference voltage of a current source circuit according to the average of the DC signal level; and controlling a current flow through the light emitting device by the current source circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Pei-Cheng Huang, Ching-Jung Tseng, Jing-Meng Liu
  • Patent number: 8508209
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a switching regulator including: a power stage having an upper gate device and a lower gate device coupled with each other, for converting an input voltage to an output voltage and generating a phase voltage at a node between the upper gate device and the lower gate device; and a control circuit including: a switch operation circuit controlling the power stage, the switch operation circuit generating a test signal turning on the upper gate device for a period of time and then turning it off; and a comparator for generating a ready signal indicating that the input voltage is ready according to comparison between the phase voltage and a reference voltage after the upper gate device is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Jo-Yu Wang, Wei-Jhih Wen
  • Patent number: 8501567
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a manufacturing method of a high voltage device. The high voltage device is formed in a first conductive type substrate. The high-voltage device includes: a second conductive type buried layer; a first conductive type high voltage well; and a second conductive type body. The high voltage well is formed by the same step for forming a first conductive type well or a first conductive type channel stop layer of a low voltage device formed in the same substrate. The body is formed by the same step for forming a second conductive type well of the low voltage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Tsung-Yi Huang, Yuh-Chyuan Wang
  • Patent number: 8441196
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a multi-color light emitting device circuit, which includes: multiple light emitting device strings of different colors, a timing control circuit, a power regulator circuit, and preferably a dark feedback circuit. Each light emitting device string has multiple light emitting devices coupled in series. The number of the light emitting devices of each light emitting device string is determined by an operational voltage of the light emitting device, wherein at least two of the light emitting device strings have different numbers of the light emitting devices, such that voltage drops of the two light emitting device strings are closer to each other than in a case wherein the two light emitting device strings have the same number of the light emitting devices, and the response time of the light emitting device strings are increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventor: Jing-Meng Liu
  • Patent number: 8427128
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a control circuit for reducing output ripple in a constant on-time switching regulator and a method thereof, for controlling a power stage. The control circuit determines whether a zero current period wherein an output current is zero is longer than a threshold period, and switches the on-time period to a shorter period if it is longer, whereby the power stage operates according to the shorter period while still in the discontinuous conduction mode (DCM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventor: Yu-Nung Tsai
  • Patent number: 8421150
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a high voltage device and a manufacturing method thereof. The high voltage device is formed in a first conductive type substrate, wherein the substrate has an upper surface. The high voltage device includes: a second conductive type buried layer, which is formed in the substrate; a first conductive type well, which is formed between the upper surface and the buried layer; and a second conductive type well, which is connected to the first conductive type well and located at different horizontal positions. The second conductive type well includes a well lower surface, which has a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is directly above the buried layer and electrically coupled to the buried layer; and the second part is not located above the buried layer and forms a PN junction with the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation R.O.C.
    Inventors: Tsung-Yi Huang, Huan-Ping Chu
  • Patent number: 8400127
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an average current regulator, a driver circuit of an average current regulator, and a method for regulating an average current. The average current regulator includes: a power stage including at least one power transistor which switches according to a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to convert an input voltage to an output current; a feedback circuit coupled to the power stage, for generating a feedback signal; an ON-time controller coupled to the feedback circuit, for receiving the feedback signal and generating an ON-time signal according to the feedback signal and an average reference signal relating to a target average current; and a PWM controller, for generating the PWM signal according to the ON-time signal to regulate the average of the output current to the target average current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation R.O.C.
    Inventors: An-Tung Chen, Isaac Y. Chen, Chien-Fu Tang
  • Patent number: 8400072
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a light emitting device driver circuit and a method for driving a light emitting device. In the present invention, the secondary windings of a transformer provide positive and negative secondary voltages, so as to generate positive and negative output voltages. A light emitting device circuit is coupled between the positive and negative output voltages. As such, the specification to withstand high voltage for a device in the circuit is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Pei-Cheng Huang, Jing-Meng Liu, Roland Van Roy
  • Patent number: 8369443
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a single-wire asynchronous serial interface, and a method for transmitting commands and data through one transmission wire, wherein the transmission wire is capable of transmitting signals of three level states. The disclosed interface comprises a signal level extraction circuit receiving signals transmitted through the wire and outputting logic or functional bits according to the received signals; a clock extraction circuit generating clock signals according to the functional bits, and a memory circuit controlled by the clock signals and storing the logic bits. The disclosed method comprises: using two of the level states to represent logic 0 and logic 1, and the third of the states as a functional bit; and determining whether a group of signals is a command or data by the existence of a functional bit within the group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation R.O.C.
    Inventor: Isaac Y. Chen