Patents Examined by Hieu P Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11431307
    Abstract: Sampler circuitry, having: an input node which receives an input voltage signal; a primary current path connected between high and low voltage supply nodes; a secondary current path connected between high and low voltage supply nodes; current mirror circuitry; and load circuitry having sampler switches which sample a current signal, where the input node is defined along the primary current path, the primary current path configured to carry a primary current dependent on the input voltage signal; the current mirror circuitry includes a primary side and a secondary side, the primary side connected along the primary current path and the secondary side connected along the secondary current path so that a secondary current dependent on the primary current is caused to flow along the secondary current path; and the load circuitry is connected along the secondary current path so that the secondary current at least partly forms the current signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: SOCIONEXT INC.
    Inventors: Armin Jalili Sebardan, Alistair John Gratrex
  • Patent number: 11424724
    Abstract: An amplifier includes an input circuit configured to receive an analog input signal and a feedback signal, and output an analog error signal based on the analog input signal and the feedback signal. An ADC is configured to convert the analog error signal into a digital signal in a phase domain. A digital control circuit is configured to generate a digital control signal based on the digital signal in the phase domain. An output circuit is configured to generate an amplified output signal based on the digital control signal, and a feedback circuit is configured generate the feedback signal based on the amplified output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Martin Kinyua, Eric Soenen
  • Patent number: 11418150
    Abstract: A circuit comprises an amplifier network including a first amplifier and a second amplifier and a first transistor having a first base. The first transistor is thermally isolated from the second amplifier. The circuit further comprises a second transistor having a second base. The second transistor is thermally linked to the second amplifier. The circuit further comprises coupling circuitry configured to couple the first base to the second base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A Cuggino, Anthony Francis Quaglietta
  • Patent number: 11418162
    Abstract: A bandpass parametric amplifier circuit includes a plurality of unit cells. At least one unit cell includes a first inductor having a first node coupled to a center conductor and a second node coupled to ground. There is a first capacitor having a first node coupled to the center conductor and a second node coupled to ground. There is a second inductor having a first node coupled to the center conductor. A second capacitor has a first node coupled to a second node of the second inductor. The second capacitor and the second inductor are in series with the center conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Baleegh Abdo
  • Patent number: 11418152
    Abstract: A number of biasing circuits for amplifiers including voltage controlled amplifier is presented. Also a number of field effect transistor circuits include voltage controlled attenuators or voltage controlled processing circuits. Example circuits include modulators, lower distortion variable voltage controlled resistors, sine wave to triangle wave converters, and or servo controlled biasing circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Inventor: Ronald Quan
  • Patent number: 11418159
    Abstract: The present invention provides a differential signal offset adjustment circuit, wherein first and second transistors are respectively coupled between a power supply line and a first current source, and between the power supply line and a second current source. First and second resistors are respectively coupled between the first transistor and a first variable current source, and between the second transistor and a second variable current source. Third and fourth transistors are respectively coupled between a third resistor and a third current source, and between a fourth resistor and a fourth current source, and have input terminals respectively coupled to the first and second resistors. Fifth and sixth transistors are respectively coupled between the power supply line and a fifth current source, and between the power supply line and a sixth current source, and have input terminals respectively coupled to the third and fourth transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: GRACE CONNECTION MICROELECTRONICS LIMITED
    Inventors: Pei Wei Chen, Hsien-Ku Chen
  • Patent number: 11411539
    Abstract: An amplifier device includes an amplifying unit and a bias module. The amplifying unit has a first end coupled to a voltage source configured to receive a source voltage, a second end configured to receive an input signal, and a third end coupled to a first reference potential terminal configured to receive a first reference potential. The first end of the amplifying unit is configured to output an output signal amplified by the amplifying unit. The bias module is coupled to the second end of the amplifying unit, and configured to receive a voltage signal to generate a bias current according to a first counter-gradient and a second counter-gradient, and provide the bias current to the amplifying unit. The voltage signal is a variable voltage. A supply current flowing into the amplifying unit and is adjusted in accordance with the voltage signal to stay within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: RichWave Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chih-Sheng Chen, Tien-Yun Peng, Hung-Chia Lo
  • Patent number: 11394355
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first buffer at which a predetermined signal is input and that outputs a first output signal; a second buffer at which an inverted signal of the predetermined signal is input and that outputs a second output signal; and a short circuit detection circuit that, in accordance with a potential difference between the first output signal and the second output signal, outputs a short circuit evaluation signal evaluating whether or not there is a ground fault in at least one of a first terminal at an output side of the first buffer or a second terminal at an output side of the second buffer or evaluating whether or not there is a short circuit between the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Suguru Kawasoe
  • Patent number: 11394351
    Abstract: A high-linearity amplifier including a main operational amplifier, a feedback circuit, and a compensation circuit is shown. The feedback circuit couples an output signal of the main operational amplifier to an input port of the main operational amplifier. The compensation circuit is coupled to the input port of the main operational amplifier to compensate for the non-linearity of the feedback circuit. A signal coupled to the input port of the main operational amplifier through the compensation circuit has an inverse phase compared to the output signal of the main operational amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventor: Sung-Han Wen
  • Patent number: 11387786
    Abstract: An amplifier includes amplifier circuits connected in series between a ground and a power supply, each amplifier circuit includes: a transistor; and a first capacitance, one end of which is connected to a drain of the transistor, a first amplifier circuit connected closest to the power supply includes a load connected between the drain of the transistor and the power supply, each of the amplifier circuits except for the first amplifier circuit includes a load connected between the drain of the transistor of an own amplifier circuit and a source of the transistor of an amplifier circuit adjacent to the own amplifier circuit, each of the amplifier circuits except for an amplifier circuit connected farthest from the power supply includes a second capacitance connected between the source of the transistor and the ground, and the second capacitance has a capacitance value larger than a capacitance value of the first capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Yoichi Kawano
  • Patent number: 11387793
    Abstract: This application relates to amplifier circuitry, in particular class-D amplifiers, operable in open-loop and closed-loop modes. An amplifier (300) has a forward signal path for receiving an input signal (SIN) and outputting an output signal (SOUT) and a feedback path operable to provide a feedback signal (SFB) from the output. A feedforward path provide a feedforward signal (SFF) from the input and a combiner (105) is operable to determine an error signal (?) based on a difference between the feedback signal and the feedforward signal. The feedforward comprises a compensation module (201) configured to apply a controlled transfer function to the feedforward signal in the closed-loop mode of operation, such that an overall transfer function for the amplifier is substantially the same in the closed-loop mode of operation and the open-loop mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: John Paul Lesso
  • Patent number: 11381208
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for continuous time linear equalization. Embodiments include a differential amplifier including a first transistor and a second transistor, wherein the differential amplifier includes a peak-generating path and a peak-reduction path. Embodiments also include at least one switch and at least one capacitor located between a source and a drain of at least one of the first transistor and the second transistor to create a capacitive path between the source and drain, wherein the at least one switch and at least one capacitor are configured to reduce bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Clarence Kar Lun Tam, Guillaume Fortin
  • Patent number: 11381205
    Abstract: A potentiostat circuit for controlling a work electrode voltage and for measuring a work electrode current is disclosed. The disclosed potentiostat circuit implementations have a topology and include elements to provide a plurality of benefits. The plurality of benefits includes an enlarged range of controllable work electrode voltages and bidirectional work electrode current measurements, high immunity from temperatures variations and process mismatch. The disclosed potentiostat circuit implementations can be used in applications requiring accuracy, low power consumption, and small size. The applications can include portable and/or multichannel electrochemical applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Moez Kanoun
  • Patent number: 11378621
    Abstract: A digital output monitor circuit includes a first digital circuit that performs mutual conversion between serial data and parallel data, a second digital circuit that decodes data output from the first digital circuit and generates a control signal for an analog circuit, and a third digital circuit that converts at least the control signal for an analog circuit into digital data. The first digital circuit converts the data output from the third digital circuit into serial data and outputs as an output data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Matsuyama, Satoshi Matsumura, Kazuhiro Nakamuta, Toshiki Matsumura
  • Patent number: 11380481
    Abstract: A radio transmitter includes a power amplifier configured to receive an input voltage signal and output an output voltage signal; a transformer configured to receive the output voltage signal and output a load voltage signal to a load; a sensing inductor configured to output a sensed current signal in accordance with a magnetic coupling with the transformer; a digitally controlled phase shifter configured to receive the output voltage signal and output a phase-shifted voltage signal in accordance with a phase control code; a mixer configured to output a mixed current signal in accordance with a mixing of the sensed current signal and the phase-shifted voltage signal; and a transimpedance amplifier with of a low-pass response configured to convert the mixed current signal into a mean voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventors: Serkan Sayilir, Poh-boon Leong, Chia-Liang (Leon) Lin
  • Patent number: 11366004
    Abstract: An electronic device for detecting the weight of a capsule for a pharmaceutical product is provided with: a plurality of detection electrodes, which face a respective one of a plurality of sectors into which the capsule is divided in a main extension direction thereof, each one of the detection electrodes forming a respective detection capacitor with a common plate defined by a capsule-holding element which holds the capsule; and an electronic circuit having a plurality of detection stages, each operatively coupled to a respective one of the detection electrodes so as to detect, in an independent and exclusive manner, a capacitive variation of the respective detection capacitor and to generate a respective output quantity, which is a function of the capacitive variation and indicative of the weight of the respective sector of the capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: MG 2—S.R.L.
    Inventors: Antonio Tagliavini, Andrea Ferrari, Nicola Querzani, Mauro Minghetti
  • Patent number: 11368134
    Abstract: This application relates to circuitry for monitoring for instability of an amplifier. The amplifier (100) has a first signal path between an amplifier input (INN) and an amplifier output (VOUT) and a feedback path from the output to form a feedback loop with at least part of the first signal path. A comparator (212) has a first input configured to receive a first signal (INN) derived from a first amplifier node which is part of said feedback loop and a second input configured to receive a second signal (INP) derived from a second amplifier node which varies with the signal at the amplifier input but does not form part of said feedback loop. The comparator is configured to compare the first signal to the second signal and generate a comparison signal (COMP), wherein in the event of amplifier instability the comparison signal comprises a characteristic indicative of amplifier instability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Sameer Baveja, Hamed Sadati
  • Patent number: 11368130
    Abstract: A direct current (DC) offset protection circuit includes: a DC offset detection circuit and a control circuit. The DC offset detection circuit is arranged to detect whether a DC component exists in pulse-width-modulation (PWM) signals and accordingly generate a DC offset detection result. The control circuit is arranged to control an audio system according to the DC offset detection result. The DC offset detection circuit comprises a PWM polarity judgment circuit, a cascaded integrator-comb (CIC) filter and a DC offset judgment circuit. The PWM polarity judgment circuit is arranged to judge a polarity of complementary PWM signals and accordingly generate a polarity indication value. The CIC filter is arranged to generate a filter output signal by averaging a plurality of polarity indication values. The DC offset judgment circuit is arranged to generate the DC offset detection result by comparing the filter output signal with a predetermined DC threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Elite Semiconductor Microelectronics Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yuan Chiu, Hsiang-Yu Yang
  • Patent number: 11368132
    Abstract: Systems and methods include a circuit having a plurality of integrator circuits arranged in series and configured to receive an input signal at a first of the plurality of integrators and generate an output signal at a last of the plurality of integrators, a filter arranged to receive a feedback signal comprising the output signal and generate a filtered feedback signal, which is applied to the input signal before input to the first of the plurality of integrators, and a feedback signal path configured to receive the feedback signal and apply the feedback signal to an input of a second of the plurality of integrators. The circuit may include a class-D amplifier and/or a delta-sigma modulator. The input signal may include an analog audio signal that is amplifier to drive an audio speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Dan Shen, Yunfu Zhang, Lorenzo Crespi
  • Patent number: 11349440
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a circuit implementation for extending the bandwidth of an amplifier. The extended bandwidth amplifier includes an amplifier coupled between an input node and an output node of the extended bandwidth amplifier. The amplifier has an input capacitance and an output capacitance. The extended bandwidth amplifier additionally includes a first digitally-trimmable negative-capacitance capacitor coupled between the input node of the extended bandwidth amplifier and a power supply terminal. The digitally-trimmable negative-capacitance capacitor includes a first branch, a second branch, and a controller. The first branch includes a first capacitor having a first negative capacitance, and a first switch. The second branch includes a second capacitor having a second negative capacitance, and a second switch. The controller is configured to turn on the first switch and the second switch based on the input capacitance of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aly Ismail, Amr O Haggag