Patents Examined by Jung H. Kim
  • Patent number: 8723595
    Abstract: The voltage generator provided by the present invention includes: a first current source, a second current source, a first resistor, a reference voltage generator, a first amplifier and a second amplifier. The first current source generates a first current and a second current with a first temperature coefficient according to a first bias voltage. The second current source generates a third current and a fourth current with a second temperature coefficient according to a second bias voltage. The reference voltage generator provides a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage according to the first and third currents. The first amplifier generates the first bias voltage according to the first and second reference voltages. The second amplifier generates the second bias voltage according to the second and third reference voltages. Wherein, the first temperature coefficient and the second temperature coefficient are complementary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: ISSC Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Yi-Lung Chen
  • Patent number: 8723589
    Abstract: A switching device for switching a current between a first terminal (1) and a second terminal (2) comprises a cascode circuit having a series connection of a first semiconductor switch (M) and a second semiconductor switch (J), wherein the two semiconductor switches (M, J) are connected to each other by a common point (13), and the first semiconductor switch (M) is controlled by way of a first control input in accordance with a voltage between the first control input and the first terminal (1), and the second semiconductor switch (J) is controlled by way of a second control input (4) in accordance with a voltage between the second control input (4) and the common point (13). To this end, a control circuit having a specifiable capacitance (C) is connected between the second terminal (2) and at least one of the control input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: ETH Zurich
    Inventors: Jürgen Biela, Johann W. Kolar, Daniel Aggeler
  • Patent number: 8723553
    Abstract: A method for determining an effective frequency offset by circuitry is described. The method includes determining a first frequency offset average over a first half of a syncword. The method also includes determining a second frequency offset average over the entire syncword. The method further includes determining a third frequency offset average over a second half of the syncword. The method additionally includes determining an effective frequency offset at an end of the syncword based on the first frequency offset average, the second frequency offset average and the third frequency offset average.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: RaviKiran Gopalan
  • Patent number: 8717083
    Abstract: A method including receiving an input signal; amplifying the input signal to generate an output signal using a cascade of a plurality of amplifier stages including a first amplifier stage and a last amplifier stage; generating a voltage signal by sensing the output signal in a noninvasive manner so that the sensing results in substantially no change to the output signal; generating a current signal from the voltage signal using a transconductance amplifier; and injecting the current signal into an output node of the first amplifier stage in a noninvasive manner so that the injecting results in substantially no change to an amplification function of the first amplifier stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Chia-Liang Lin
  • Patent number: 8717091
    Abstract: A control circuit for a power converter is disclosed, having a shared pin, a driving circuit, a current source, a sampling circuit, and a signal processing circuit. The shared pin is used for coupling with an output end of the power converter through a resistor. The driving circuit is used for conducting a switch of the power converter. The current source provides a current to the resistor through the shared pin. The sampling circuit samples the signal on the shared pin for generating a first sampling value and a second sampling value. When the difference between the first sampling value and the second sampling value is less than a predetermined value, the signal processing circuit configures the driving circuit to adjust at least one of the conduction time and the conduction frequency of the switch according to an output signal of the power converter received from the shared pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Chih Lai, Isaac Y. Chen, Chien-Fu Tang, Jiun-Hung Pan
  • Patent number: 8710905
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are bias voltage generating circuits configured for switching power supplies, and associated control methods. In one embodiment, a bias voltage generating circuit can include: (i) a first control circuit configured to compare a drain-source voltage of a switch against a bias voltage; (ii) a capacitor, with the bias voltage across the capacitor; (iii) a second control circuit configured to control the switch, and that is enabled when the bias voltage is at least as high as an expected bias voltage; (iv) the first control circuit being configured to control the capacitor to charge when the drain-source voltage of the switch is greater than the bias voltage; and (v) the bias voltage being less than an overvoltage protection voltage when the capacitor charges, and where the overvoltage protection voltage comprises a voltage that is a predetermined amount higher than the expected bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) Ltd.
    Inventor: Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 8710906
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including a substrate, multiple devices, and voltage control devices. The devices may include high threshold, low threshold, and standard threshold voltage devices. The devices and the voltage control devices are distributed across and coupled to the same substrate. Each voltage control device is configured to apply a back bias voltage at one of multiple discrete offset voltage levels. At least one voltage control device applies a first offset voltage level for back biasing high threshold voltage devices and at least one voltage control device applies a second offset voltage level for back biasing low threshold voltage devices. The selection of back biasing is based on relative population density of the different types of devices and varies across the substrate. Fine grain reverse back biasing reduces leakage current while reducing any performance decrease. Fine grain forward back biasing improves performance while reducing any leakage current increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Anis M. Jarrar, Stefano Pietri, Steven K. Watkins
  • Patent number: 8710913
    Abstract: According to one aspect of this disclosure, a circuit arrangement is provided, the circuit arrangement including an electronic component coupled to at least one common power supply node and configured to provide a first signal having a variation in time that is based on power supply via the at least one common power supply node; a detecting circuit coupled to the electronic component, the detecting circuit being configured to detect the first signal and to provide a digital switch array control signal based on the variation in time of the first signal; and a switch array coupled between the at least one common power supply node and at least one power supply source, the switch array being configured to control the power supply via the at least one common power supply node based on the digital switch array control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Mobile Communications GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Baumann, Christian Pacha, Peter Mahrla
  • Patent number: 8704591
    Abstract: A reference circuit includes an NMOS transistor, a PMOS transistor and a bias circuit. The NMOS transistor includes a source connected with a first voltage supply and a gate adapted to receive a first bias signal. The PMOS transistor includes a source connected with a second voltage supply, a gate adapted to receive a second bias signal, and a drain connected with a drain of the NMOS transistor at an output of the reference circuit. The bias circuit generates the first and second bias signals. Magnitudes the first and second bias signals are configured to control a reference signal generated by the reference circuit such that when the reference signal is near a quiescent value of the reference signal, a current in the reference circuit is below a first level, and when the reference signal is outside of the prescribed limits, the current in the reference circuit increases nonlinearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Pankaj Kumar, Pramod Parameswaran, Vani Deshpande, Makeshwar Kothandaraman
  • Patent number: 8704590
    Abstract: A control circuit for a power converter includes a shared pin, a driving circuit, a current source, a sampling circuit, and a signal processing circuit. The shared pin is coupled with an output end of the power converter through a resistor. The driving circuit conducts a switch of the power converter. The current source provides a current to the resistor through the shared pin. The sampling circuit samples the signal on the shared pin for generating a first sampling value and a second sampling value. The signal processing circuit calculates a first difference between the first sampling value and a first reference value, and a second difference between the second sampling value and a second reference value. When the difference between the first difference and the second difference is less than a predetermined value, the signal processing circuit may therefore configure the conduction time or frequency of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Chih Lai, Isaac Y Chen, Chien-Fu Tang, Jiun-Hung Pan
  • Patent number: 8704589
    Abstract: A reference voltage circuit corrects for bandgap voltage shifts induced during fabrication. The reference voltage circuit generates a reference voltage using first and second base-emitter pairs. The reference voltage circuit sums the voltage across the first base-emitter pair with a difference voltage. During a first time period, the difference voltage is the voltage across the first base-emitter pair minus the voltage across the second base-emitter pair, and during a second time period, the difference voltage is the voltage across the second base-emitter pair minus the voltage across the first base-emitter pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Jeff Kotowski, Andre Gunther
  • Patent number: 8704555
    Abstract: An integrated circuit comprises reference voltage generation circuitry for providing a reference voltage for use within a transmission of electrical signals. The reference voltage generation circuitry comprises a reference voltage node operably coupled via a plurality of resistance elements to a plurality of signal nodes such that the reference voltage node assumes as the reference voltage an average of the voltage values of the signal nodes to which it is coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Anton Rozen, Dan Kuzmin, Michael Priel
  • Patent number: 8704584
    Abstract: A driver device drives a load circuit by a common output signal from a first driver transistor and a second driver transistor. The driver device includes a first pre-driver unit that outputs a first driver control signal to the first driver transistor in response to the input signal; and a second pre-driver unit that outputs a second driver control signal to the second driver transistor in response to the input signal. The first pre-driver unit controls the first driver control signal in such a manner that the first driver control signal is rounded in the vicinity of a threshold of the first driver transistor and is sharply changed in a region exceeding the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yoji Shimazaki, Naoya Shibayama
  • Patent number: 8698552
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a first component susceptible to a wearout effect, operation of which first component depends on an operating parameter, and a second component having an on-state and an off-state. The electronic device further comprises a time estimator for updating an estimate of an accumulated time the second component was in the on-state; and a controller for controlling the operating parameter on the basis of the accumulated time estimate so as to respond to the expected wearout effect. The first component and the second component may be the same, or the first component may have an on-state correlated to the on-state of the second component. The operating parameter may, for example, be a level or amplitude or correction value of one of the following: a voltage applied at the first component, an electric current fed to the first component, and a power provided to the first component. A method of operating such an electronic device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Priel, Anton Rozen, Yossi Shoshany
  • Patent number: 8674757
    Abstract: The invention provides a switching system. The switching system comprises an H bridge, a current router, and a control circuit. The H bridge comprises a first switch and a second switch coupled to a first output node and a third switch and a fourth switch coupled to a second output node, wherein a load is coupled between the first output node and the second output node. The current router comprises a first shunt switch and a second shunt switch coupled between the first output node and the second output node. The control circuit generates a first control signal to control the first switch and the fourth switch, generates a second control signal to control the second switch and the third switch, generates a third control signal to control the first shunt switch, and generates a fourth control signal to control the second shunt switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: NeoEnergy Microelectronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Li-Te Wu, Wei-Chan Hsu
  • Patent number: 8669786
    Abstract: A clock phase shift detector circuit may include a phase detector that receives a first and a second clock signal, whereby the phase detector generates a phase signal based on a phase difference between the first and the second clock signal. A first integrator is coupled to the phase detector, receives the phase signal, and generates an integrated phase signal. A second integrator receives the first clock signal and generates an integrated first clock signal. A comparator is coupled to the first and the second integrator, whereby the comparator receives the integrated phase signal and the integrated first clock signal. The comparator may then generate a control signal that detects a change between the phase difference of the first and the second clock signal and an optimized phase difference based on an amplitude comparison between the integrated phase signal and the integrated first clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kai D. Feng, Jong-ru Guo, Trushil N. Shah, Ping-Chuan Wang, Zhijian Yang
  • Patent number: 8664983
    Abstract: A clock data recovery circuit includes a sampler circuit, a filter circuit, a control circuit, and a phase shift circuit. The sampler circuit samples input data in response to a clock signal. The filter circuit is coupled to the sampler circuit. The control circuit is coupled to the filter circuit. The phase shift circuit provides the clock signal to the sampler circuit. The control circuit causes the phase shift circuit to shift a phase of the clock signal by a first phase shift, and by a second phase shift after the phase of the clock signal has shifted by the first phase shift, in response to the filter circuit indicating to shift the phase of the clock signal by more than a predefined phase shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Lip Kai Soh
  • Patent number: 8664985
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a solution to reduce locking time with satisfactory performance without the need for significant footprint area for the phase lock loop (PLL) circuits by boosting phase frequency detector (PFD) and charge pump (CP) gains through various circuitry configurations that employ one or more flip-flops, delay elements and advanced circuitry techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Li Hsueh, Jing-Hong Conan Zhan
  • Patent number: 8665008
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device that includes a bias line to which a bias current flows, a switch circuit controlling an amount of the bias current based on a control signal, a control line to which the control signal is supplied, and a cancellation circuit substantially cancelling a potential fluctuation of the bias line caused by changing the control signal, the potential fluctuation propagating via a parasitic capacitance between the control line and the bias line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Yokou, Isao Nakamura, Manabu Ishimatsu
  • Patent number: 8660233
    Abstract: A counter in a non-volatile memory including at least two sub-counters, each counting with a different modulo, an increment of the counter being transferred on a single one of the sub-counters and the sub-counters being incremented sequentially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Proton World International N.V.
    Inventors: Michel Dawirs, Jean-Louis Modave