Patents Examined by John W Poos
  • Patent number: 11626878
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a pad; a control circuit; a plurality of high-potential-side circuit regions having distances to the pad different from each other, each including a gate drive circuit, a SET-side level shifter, a RESET-side level shifter, and a circular wire; a SET-side wire electrically connects the pad with the SET-side level shifters; and a RESET-side wire electrically connects the pad with the RESET-side level shifters, wherein the circular wire located closer to the pad is electrically connected to the SET-side wire and the RESET-side wire via the circular wire 8u located further from the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akihiro Jonishi
  • Patent number: 11626840
    Abstract: A circuit for subharmonic detection includes in-phase and quadrature mixers, first and second filters, and a processing circuit. The in-phase mixer has a first mixer input and a first mixer output. The quadrature mixer has a second mixer input and a second mixer output, the first mixer input coupled to the second mixer input. The first filter circuit has a first filter input and a first filter output, the first filter input coupled to the first mixer output. The second filter circuit has a second filter input and a second filter output, the second filter input coupled to the second mixer output. The processing circuit has a first input and a second input, the first input of the processing circuit coupled to the first filter output, the second input of the processing circuit coupled to the second filter output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Arpan Sureshbhai Thakkar, Pranav Kumar, Yogesh Darwhekar
  • Patent number: 11622052
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a generation unit that generates a PWM wave based on a sound signal; and a processing unit that converts the PWM wave to a square wave. The processing unit includes: a first counter that determines a pulse width of the PWM wave; a comparison unit that compares a first difference value, obtained by subtracting the pulse width in a second cycle being a cycle immediately preceding a first cycle from the pulse width in the first cycle, and a second difference value obtained by subtracting the pulse width in a cycle immediately preceding the second cycle from the pulse width in the second cycle; and an output unit that outputs the square wave while switching a state thereof in a case where a sign of the first difference value changes from that of the second difference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ken Nagata
  • Patent number: 11621592
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a wireless power transmitter module includes a sensing grid configured to detect a receiver, a movable wireless power transmitter unit including a wireless power transmitter coil, and a two-dimensional linear motor including a plurality of linear motor coils configured to move the movable wireless power transmitter unit in a two-dimensional plane towards a location of the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: SPARK CONNECTED LLC
    Inventors: Petru Emanuel Stingu, Kenneth Moore, Yulong Hou, Ruwanga Dassanayake
  • Patent number: 11616499
    Abstract: A bi-directional buffer for applications using in an I2C or SMBUS or other bus systems. The bi-directional buffer has an input terminal to receive an input voltage signal and an output terminal for providing an output voltage signal, and the output voltage signal follows the input voltage signal. The output voltage signal is regulated to have a first bias voltage greater than the input voltage signal by a first operational amplifier, or to have a second bias voltage greater than the input voltage signal by a second operational amplifier, the second bias voltage is smaller than the first bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong Zhou
  • Patent number: 11615819
    Abstract: A voltage generation circuit includes a noise attenuation circuit configured to attenuate a noise of a second power voltage which has a level that is at least two times higher than that of a first power voltage, and a multi-stage voltage pump configured to receive a noise-attenuated second power voltage from the noise attenuation circuit and generate at least one of plural target voltages, each target voltage having a different level. The first and second power voltages are individually input from an external device via different pins or pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Lee Hyun Kwon
  • Patent number: 11616508
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a delay estimation device and a delay estimation method. The delay estimation device includes a pulse generator, a digitally controlled delay line (DCDL), a time-to-digital converter (TDC), and a control circuit. The pulse generator receives a reference clock signal, outputs a first clock signal in response to a first rising edge of the reference clock signal, and outputs a second clock signal in response to a second rising edge of the reference clock signal. The DCDL receives the first clock signal from the pulse generator and converts the first clock signal into phase signals based on a combination of delay line codes. The TDC samples the phase signals to generate a timing code based on the second clock signal. The control circuit estimates a specific delay between the first clock signal and the second clock signal based on the timing code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Tso Lin, Chin-Ming Fu, Mao-Ruei Li
  • Patent number: 11616502
    Abstract: A phase interpolator capable of preventing a glitch from being generated during a clock signal switching operation and a clock signal selector thereof are provided. The clock signal selector includes a selector and a selection signal generator. The selector receives multiple clock signals with different phases. The selector selects one of the clock signals according to a selection signal to generate a selected clock signal. The selection signal generator is coupled to the selector and generates the selection signal. When the selector switches from selecting a first clock signal to selecting a second clock signal as the selected clock signal, the selection signal generator generates a set time point according to a transition point of one of the first clock signal and the second clock signal whose phase lags behind a phase of the other, and generates the selection signal according to the set time point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: ALi Corporation
    Inventors: Yi Ting Chen, Ming-Ta Lee
  • Patent number: 11616141
    Abstract: In an example, an integrated circuit includes a junction-gate field effect transistor (JFET), a current generator, a dynamic filter, and an output transistor. The JFET has a JFET gate, a JFET source, and a JFET drain, the JFET drain adapted to be coupled to a power supply. The current generator has a current generator input and current generator outputs, the current generator input coupled to the JFET source and a first of the current generator outputs coupled to the JFET gate. The dynamic filter has a dynamic filter input and a dynamic filter output, the dynamic filter input coupled to a second of the current generator outputs. The output transistor has an output transistor gate coupled to the dynamic filter output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sundeep Lakshmana Javvaji, Shalakha Singhal
  • Patent number: 11611334
    Abstract: A duty margin monitoring circuit, coupled to a functional circuit which generates a first output signal in response to a target signal, includes a modulation circuit, a replica circuit and an error detection circuit. The modulation circuit is arranged to receive the target signal and modulate the target signal to generate a modulated target signal. The replica circuit is arranged to receive the modulated target signal and generate a second output signal in response to the modulated target signal. The error detection circuit is coupled to the functional circuit and the replica circuit to receive the first output signal and the second output signal and arranged to generate an error detection result according to the first output signal and the second output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Shou-En Liu, Wen-Sung Chiang, Ming-Han Hsieh, Keng-Jui Chang, Lin-Chien Chen
  • Patent number: 11605868
    Abstract: An isolator includes a lower electrode, a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer, an upper electrode, and a low permittivity portion. The first insulating layer is provided on the lower electrode, and includes a protruding portion in an upper portion of the first insulating layer. The second insulating layer is provided on the protruding portion, extends sideways from a region directly above the protruding portion, and has a specific permittivity higher than a specific permittivity of the first insulating layer. The upper electrode is in contact with an upper surface of the second insulating layer. The low permittivity portion is in contact with a side surface of the protruding portion and a lower surface of the second insulating layer. The low permittivity portion has a specific permittivity lower than the specific permittivity of the first insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ohguro
  • Patent number: 11595034
    Abstract: A load switch includes a switch input, a switch output, a first field-effect transistor (FET), and a second FET. The switch input is adapted to be coupled to a controller output of a controller. The switch output is adapted to be coupled to a controller input of the controller. The first FET has a gate and a source. The gate of the first FET is coupled to the switch input. The second FET has a gate and a source. The gate of the second FET is coupled to the source of the first FET. The source of the second FET is coupled to the switch output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Cameron Wayne Phillips, Wenchao Qu, Tianhong Yang, Md Abidur Rahman
  • Patent number: 11595032
    Abstract: A delay circuit provides a programmable delay and includes an input selector circuit to select between a loop delay output signal and an input signal. A loop delay circuit provides a loop delay to the input signal and supplies the loop delay output signal. The input signal can be recirculated through the loop delay circuit to extend the range of the delay. The input selector circuit selects the feedback signal during recirculation. A variable delay circuit provides a variable delay to the loop delay output signal after the recirculation is complete and supplies a variable delay output signal. An output selector circuit selects the output of the output selector circuit during the recirculation and selects the variable delay output signal after the recirculation is complete to thereby provide a delayed signal with the delay based on the loop delay, the number of loops of recirculation, and the variable delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Vivek Sarda
  • Patent number: 11579649
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for clock duty cycle correction and deskew are provided. In certain embodiments, a clock distribution circuit includes a clock driver that provides a differential clock signal to a clock slicer over a pair of transmission lines. The clock distribution circuit further includes a resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) tuning circuit for providing termination between the pair of transmission lines and a differential input to the clock slicer. The RLC tuning circuit includes a pair of resistor digital-to-analog converters (resistor DACs or RDACs) coupled to the pair of transmission lines and a pair of controllable inductor-capacitor (LC) circuits coupled to the pair of transmission lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 11579643
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an AVS scanning method, wherein the AVS scanning method includes the steps of: mounting a system on chip (SoC) on a printed circuit board (PCB), and connecting the SoC to a storage unit; enabling the SoC to read a boot code from the storage unit, and executing the boot code to perform an AVS scanning operation on the SoC to determine a plurality of target supply voltages respectively corresponding to a plurality of operating frequencies of the SoC to establish an AVS look-up table; and storing the AVS look-up table into the SoC or the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Chao-Min Lai, Hung-Wei Wang, Tang-Hung Chang, Han-Chieh Hsieh, Chun-Yi Kuo
  • Patent number: 11573594
    Abstract: A method for providing a reference clock signal, comprising: generating, by an oscillator, a first clock signal having a first frequency, the first clock signal being coupled to a frequency synthesizer; generating, by the frequency synthesizer, a second clock signal based on the first clock signal, the second clock signal having a second frequency different from the first frequency; outputting a reference clock signal to one or more components of an electronic device, the reference clock signal being one of the first clock signal or the second clock signal; identifying one or more spurious frequency components; and monitoring the reference clock signal for a presence of the one or more spurious frequency components, the monitoring comprising: in response to determining the presence of at least one of the one or more spurious frequency components, selecting a different one of the first clock signal or the second clock signal to be the reference clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: U-BLOX AG
    Inventors: Norman Beamish, Brian Morley
  • Patent number: 11569824
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a device with a voltage-controlled oscillator that receives an enable signal, receives a reset signal, and provides internal pulse signals including one or more coarse internal pulse signals and multiple fine internal pulse signals. The device may have a coarse sampler that receives the one or more coarse internal pulse signal and provides a coarse sampled output signal. The device may have a fine sampler that receives the multiple fine internal pulse signals and provides a fine sampled output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Arm Limited
    Inventors: Shidhartha Das, Yunpeng Cai, Supreet Jeloka
  • Patent number: 11569730
    Abstract: A power supply device includes a pulse frequency modulation controller circuitry and a cycle controller circuitry. The pulse frequency modulation controller circuitry is configured to adjust a transiting speed of a first signal according to at least one control bit, and to compare the first signal with a first reference voltage to generate a second signal, and to generate a driving signal to a power converter circuit according to an output voltage, a second reference voltage, and the second signal, in which the power converter circuit is configured to generate the output voltage according to the driving signal. The cycle controller circuitry is configured to detect a frequency of the driving signal according to a clock signal having a predetermined frequency, in which the predetermined frequency is set based on a frequency range capable of being heard by humans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shih-Cheng Wang, Hung-Wan Liu, Shih-Chieh Chen, Chun-Fu Chang, Liang-Hui Li
  • Patent number: 11558042
    Abstract: A multi-phase signal control circuit includes: a comparator, configured to compare a triangular wave signal with a feedback control signal to output a first pulse width modulation signal, where the feedback control signal is a signal fed back by the power stage circuit; a phase switch circuit, configured to receive a phase switch signal and the first pulse width modulation signal to generate a first phase signal and a second phase signal, where the first phase signal and the second phase signal are used to control the power stage circuit to generate an output voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yue Chen, Jiake Wang, Liang Chen
  • Patent number: 11558062
    Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein relate to control circuitry configured to turn on and off the ADC driver. In some embodiments, the control circuitry is configured to turn on and off the ADC driver in synchronization with sampling activity of an ADC, in particular based on when an ADC is sampling. The control circuitry may be configured to turn on the ADC driver during the hold phase of the ADC a time period before the track phase and to turn off the ADC driver during the hold phase a time period after the track phase. In some embodiments, the control circuitry is configured to control a duty cycle of the ADC driver turning on and off. In some embodiments, the control circuitry is configured to control a ratio between an off current and an on current in the ADC driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Sewook Hwang, Jungwook Yang, Kailiang Chen, Nevada J. Sanchez, Keith G. Fife