Patents Assigned to Sand Technology Inc.
  • Patent number: 9742266
    Abstract: Cycle timing of a charge pump is adapted according to monitoring of operating characteristics of a charge pump and/or peripheral elements coupled to the charge pump. In some examples, this adaptation provides maximum or near maximum cycle times while avoiding violation of predefine constraints (e.g., operating limits) in the charge pump and/or peripheral elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Arctic Sand Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Giuliano, Gregory Szczeszynski, Jeffrey Summit, Raymond Barrett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9712051
    Abstract: An apparatus for electric power conversion includes a converter having a regulating circuit and switching network. The regulating circuit has magnetic storage elements, and switches connected to the magnetic storage elements and controllable to switch between switching configurations. The regulating circuit maintains an average DC current through a magnetic storage element. The switching network includes charge storage elements connected to switches that are controllable to switch between plural switch configurations. In one configuration, the switches forms an arrangement of charge storage elements in which at least one charge storage element is charged using the magnetic storage element through the network input or output port. In another, the switches form an arrangement of charge storage elements in which an element discharges using the magnetic storage element through one of the input port and output port of the switching network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Arctic Sand Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Giuliano
  • Patent number: 9658635
    Abstract: Operation of a charge pump is controlled to optimize power conversion efficiency by using an adiabatic mode with some operating characteristics and a non-adiabatic mode with other characteristics. The control is implemented by controlling a configurable circuit at the output of the charge pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: ARCTIC SAND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Szczeszynski, Oscar Blyde
  • Publication number: 20170085172
    Abstract: An apparatus for coupling to capacitors to form a charge pump includes first and second sets of switch elements, and a controller. Switches in the first set couple terminals of capacitors to permit charge transfer between them. Switches in the second set couple terminals of at least some of the capacitors to either a high-voltage or a low-voltage terminal. The controller causes the switches to cycle through a sequence of states, each defining a corresponding configuration of the switch elements. At least three of the states define different configurations permitting charge transfer either between a first capacitor and a second capacitor, or between a first capacitor and one of the terminals. The configured cycle of states causes voltage conversion between the two terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: Arctic Sand Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Aichen Low, Gregory Szczeszynski, David Giuliano
  • Patent number: 9502968
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting voltage includes terminals coupled to external circuits at corresponding voltages and a switching network having driving circuits and semiconductor switches that interconnect capacitors in successive states to one another and to the terminals. The switches interconnect some capacitors to one another through a series of switches when an activation pattern causes them to be activated. Each driving circuit has power connections, a control input, and a drive output coupled to and controlling at least one switch. A drive output of one of them couples to and drives each switch. Some of the driving circuits are powered via corresponding power connections from at least one of the capacitors such that a voltage across the corresponding power connections is less than a highest of the corresponding voltages. The terminals and the switching network are constituents of a switched capacitor converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: ARCTIC SAND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: David Giuliano, Gregory Szczeszynski, Raymond Barrett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9497854
    Abstract: An apparatus having a power converter circuit having a first active layer having a first set of active devices disposed on a face thereof, a first passive layer having first set of passive devices disposed on a face thereof, and interconnection to enable the active devices disposed on the face of the first active layer to be interconnected with the non-active devices disposed on the face of the first passive layer, wherein the face on which the first set of active devices on the first active layer is disposed faces the face on which the first set of passive devices on the first passive layer is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: ARCTIC SAND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: David Giuliano
  • Patent number: 9362826
    Abstract: An apparatus for electric power conversion includes a converter having a regulating circuit and switching network. The regulating circuit has magnetic storage elements, and switches connected to the magnetic storage elements and controllable to switch between switching configurations. The regulating circuit maintains an average DC current through a magnetic storage element. The switching network includes charge storage elements connected to switches that are controllable to switch between plural switch configurations. In one configuration, the switches forms an arrangement of charge storage elements in which at least one charge storage element is charged using the magnetic storage element through the network input or output port. In another, the switches form an arrangement of charge storage elements in which an element discharges using the magnetic storage element through one of the input port and output port of the switching network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Arctic Sand Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Giuliano
  • Patent number: 9203299
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting a first voltage into a second voltage includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor power converter having a selectable conversion gain. converter includes a cascade multiplier switched capacitor network having capacitors, each of which electrically connects to a stack node and to a phase node. A controller causes the network to transition between first and second operation modes. In the first mode, at least one capacitor is isolated from a charge transfer path of the reconfigurable switched capacitor power converter. Consequently, in the first mode of operation, the power converter operates with a first gain. In the second mode, the power converter operates with a second conversion gain. Meanwhile, a third voltage across the at least one capacitor is free to assume any value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: ARTIC SAND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Aichen Low, David M. Giuliano, Gregory Szczeszynski, Jeff Summit, Oscar Blyde
  • Patent number: 9143037
    Abstract: An apparatus for power conversion comprises a voltage transformation element, a regulating element, and a controller; wherein, a period of the voltage transformation element is equal to a product of a coefficient and a period of the regulating circuit, and wherein the coefficient is selected from a group consisting of a positive integer and a reciprocal of said integer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: ARCTIC SAND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: David M. Giuliano
  • Patent number: 9041459
    Abstract: Operation of a charge pump is controlled to optimize power conversion efficiency by using an adiabatic mode with some operating characteristics and a non-adiabatic mode with other characteristics. The control is implemented by controlling a configurable circuit at the output of the charge pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: ARCTIC SAND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Szczeszynski, Oscar Blyde
  • Publication number: 20150077175
    Abstract: Cycle timing of a charge pump is adapted according to monitoring of operating characteristics of a charge pump and/or peripheral elements coupled to the charge pump. In some examples, this adaptation provides maximum or near maximum cycle times while avoiding violation of predefine constraints (e.g., operating limits) in the charge pump and/or peripheral elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Arctic Sand Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Giuliano, Gregory Szczeszynski, Jeffrey Summit, Raymond Barrett, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150077176
    Abstract: Operation of a charge pump is controlled to optimize power conversion efficiency by using an adiabatic mode with some operating characteristics and a non-adiabatic mode with other characteristics. The control is implemented by controlling a configurable circuit at the output of the charge pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Arctic Sand Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Szczeszynski, Oscar Blyde
  • Patent number: 8922282
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier includes a low impedance pre-driver driving the input of a common-source output amplifier stage. The preamplifier includes a first transistor that has a first terminal coupled to a preamplifier RF input node, a second terminal coupled to a preamplifier RF output node, and a third terminal coupled to a supply voltage node. A first inductor is coupled between the RF output node and a bias voltage node. A voltage difference between respective first and second voltages on the RF input node and the RF output node that are substantially in phase, determines current through the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Black Sand Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Susanne Paul, Marius Goldenberg
  • Publication number: 20140327479
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting voltage includes terminals coupled to external circuits at corresponding voltages and a switching network having driving circuits and semiconductor switches that interconnect capacitors in successive states to one another and to the terminals. The switches interconnect some capacitors to one another through a series of switches when an activation pattern causes them to be activated. Each driving circuit has power connections, a control input, and a drive output coupled to and controlling at least one switch. A drive output of one of them couples to and drives each switch. Some of the driving circuits are powered via corresponding power connections from at least one of the capacitors such that a voltage across the corresponding power connections is less than a highest of the corresponding voltages. The terminals and the switching network are constituents of a switched capacitor converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Arctic Sand Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Giuliano, Gregory Szczeszynski, Raymond Barrett, JR.
  • Patent number: 8860396
    Abstract: An apparatus for electric power conversion includes a converter having a regulating circuit and switching network. The regulating circuit has magnetic storage elements, and switches connected to the magnetic storage elements and controllable to switch between switching configurations. The regulating circuit maintains an average DC current through a magnetic storage element. The switching network includes charge storage elements connected to switches that are controllable to switch between plural switch configurations. In one configuration, the switches forms an arrangement of charge storage elements in which at least one charge storage element is charged using the magnetic storage element through the network input or output port. In another, the switches form an arrangement of charge storage elements in which an element discharges using the magnetic storage element through one of the input port and output port of the switching network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Arctic Sand Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Giuliano
  • Publication number: 20140301057
    Abstract: An apparatus having a power converter circuit having a first active layer having a first set of active devices disposed on a face thereof, a first passive layer having first set of passive devices disposed on a face thereof, and interconnection to enable the active devices disposed on the face of the first active layer to be interconnected with the non-active devices disposed on the face of the first passive layer, wherein the face on which the first set of active devices on the first active layer is disposed faces the face on which the first set of passive devices on the first passive layer is disposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Arctic Sand Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David Giuliano
  • Publication number: 20140268945
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting a first voltage into a second voltage includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor power converter having a selectable conversion gain. converter includes a cascade multiplier switched capacitor network having capacitors, each of which electrically connects to a stack node and to a phase node. A controller causes the network to transition between first and second operation modes. In the first mode, at least one capacitor is isolated from a charge transfer path of the reconfigurable switched capacitor power converter. Consequently, in the first mode of operation, the power converter operates with a first gain. In the second mode, the power converter operates with a second conversion gain. Meanwhile, a third voltage across the at least one capacitor is free to assume any value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Arctic Sand Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Aichen Low, David M. Giuliano, Gregory Szczeszynski, Jeff Summit, Oscar Blyde
  • Publication number: 20140266132
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting a first voltage into a second voltage includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor power converter having a selectable conversion gain. converter includes a cascade multiplier switched capacitor network having capacitors, each of which electrically connects to a stack node and to a phase node. A controller causes the network to transition between first and second operation modes. In the first mode, at least one capacitor is isolated from a charge transfer path of the reconfigurable switched capacitor power converter. Consequently, in the first mode of operation, the power converter operates with a first gain. In the second mode, the power converter operates with a second conversion gain. Meanwhile, a third voltage across the at least one capacitor is free to assume any value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Arctic Sand Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Aichen Low, David M. Giuliano, Gregory Szczeszynski, Jeff Summit, Oscar Blyde
  • Patent number: 8817501
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting a first voltage into a second voltage includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor power converter having a selectable conversion gain. converter includes a cascade multiplier switched capacitor network having capacitors, each of which electrically connects to a stack node and to a phase node. A controller causes the network to transition between first and second operation modes. In the first mode, at least one capacitor is isolated from a charge transfer path of the reconfigurable switched capacitor power converter. Consequently, in the first mode of operation, the power converter operates with a first gain. In the second mode, the power converter operates with a second conversion gain. Meanwhile, a third voltage across the at least one capacitor is free to assume any value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Arctic Sand Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Aichen Low, David M. Giuliano, Gregory Szczeszynski, Jeff Summit, Oscar Blyde
  • Patent number: 8774741
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier (PA) is reconfigured to operate in a low power mode from a high power mode. The RF PA has a first RF amplifier is connected to the first and second inputs of a first transformation network. The RF PA has a second a second RF amplifier connected to a second transformation network. During high power mode, both RF amplifiers drive a load coupled to the transformation networks. In low power mode the first RF amplifier is disabled and the first and second inputs of the first transformation are coupled together so as to change the load impedance seen by the second RF amplifier. The second RF amplifier continues to supply power to the load during operation in the low power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Black Sand Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Susanne A. Paul, Marius Goldenberg