Patents Examined by Quan Tra
  • Patent number: 11644494
    Abstract: Circuitry for driving a load, the circuitry comprising: driver circuitry; load sensing circuitry; and a parameter estimation engine, wherein the circuitry is operable in: a driving mode of operation in which the driver circuitry supplies a drive signal to a load coupled to the circuitry; and a load sensing mode of operation, for estimating a characteristic of a load coupled to the circuitry based on a signal output by the load sensing circuitry in response to a stimulus signal supplied to the driver circuitry, and wherein the circuitry is operable to perform a calibration operation in which the parameter estimation engine generates a circuit parameter for use in the load sensing mode based, at least in part, on a signal generated by the circuitry in response to a calibration stimulus signal supplied to the driver circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Chandra B. Prakash, Tejasvi Das, Siddharth Maru
  • Patent number: 11641196
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for maintaining a stable power supply to a circuit when activating/deactivating a switch in order to accelerate the switching time of the switch. The gate of a FET is coupled to a switch driver. The switch driver is powered by a positive power supply and a negative power supply. When the switch is to be activated/deactivated, the gate is first coupled to a reference potential (i.e., ground) for a “reset period” to reduce any positive/negative charge that has been accumulated in the FET. At the end of the reset period, the gate is then released from the reference potential and the switch driver drives the gate to the desired voltage level to either activate or deactivate the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventor: Chengkai Luo
  • Patent number: 11641201
    Abstract: A device includes a first switch and a first diode connected in parallel between a midpoint and a first terminal of the hybrid power device, a second switch and a second diode connected in parallel between the midpoint and a second terminal of the hybrid power device, a third switch coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal, and a third diode connected between the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dianbo Fu, Zhaohui Wang, Jun Zhang, Lei Shi
  • Patent number: 11637548
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes storage circuits, such latches. In one embodiment, a circuit includes a plurality of latches, each latch including a first N-type transistor formed in a first P-type material, a first P-type transistor formed in a first N-type material, a second N-type transistor formed in a second P-type material, and a second P-type transistor formed in a second N-type material. The first and second N-type transistors are formed in different P-wells and the first and second P-type transistors are formed in different N-wells. In other storage circuits, charge extraction transistors are coupled to data storage nodes and are biased in a nonconductive state. These techniques make the data storage circuits more resilient, for example, to an ionizing particle striking the circuit and generating charge carriers that would otherwise change the state of the storage node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Yanzhong Xu, Tracey DellaRova
  • Patent number: 11632106
    Abstract: A switch device includes a first node, a switch unit, an adjustment switch, an impedance element, a second node and a detection unit. A first terminal of the switch unit is coupled to the first node. A first terminal and a second terminal of the adjustment switch are respectively coupled to a second terminal of the switch unit and a reference voltage terminal. A first terminal and a second terminal of the impedance element are respectively coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal of the adjustment switch. The detection unit is coupled to the second node, and a control terminal of the switch unit and a control terminal of the adjustment switch. The detection unit detects a node signal at the second node to accordingly control the switch unit and the adjustment switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: RichWave Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chih-Sheng Chen, Chih-Che Lin, Yu-Siang Huang, Hsuan-Der Yen
  • Patent number: 11626869
    Abstract: A comparator includes a second-stage circuit, a first input circuit, a second input circuit, a first cross-coupled circuit and a second cross-coupled circuit. The first input circuit is configured to generate a first data terminal voltage and a first reference terminal voltage. The first cross-coupled circuit is configured to perform mutual positive feedback on the first data terminal voltage and the first reference terminal voltage to generate a first differential signal. The second input circuit is configured to generate a second data terminal voltage and a second reference terminal voltage. The second cross-coupled circuit is configured to perform mutual positive feedback on the second data terminal voltage and the second reference terminal voltage to generate a second differential signal. The second-stage circuit is configured to amplify and latch the first differential signal or the second differential signal in a regeneration phase to output a comparison signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Yinchuan Gu
  • Patent number: 11626236
    Abstract: An inductor includes a first metallization layer multi-turn trace. The inductor also includes a second metallization layer multi-turn trace coupled to the first metallization layer multi-turn trace through at least one first via. The inductor further includes a plurality of discrete third metallization layer trace segments coupled to the second metallization layer multi-turn trace through a plurality of second vias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Jonghae Kim, Changhan Hobie Yun, Je-Hsiung Lan, Ranadeep Dutta
  • Patent number: 11626755
    Abstract: A multi-power-mode ultra-low-power address detector for Radio Frequency (RF) wakeup receivers is provided herein. The address detector is implemented when combined charging and wake-up of a device is required. The method includes a set of components to process a complex address waveform. This address includes a preamble composed of a pulse with a specific width, followed by a digital Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) modulated bit pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: American University of Beirut
    Inventors: Ahmed Abed Benbuk, Nour Kouzayha, Joseph Costantine, Zaher Dawy
  • Patent number: 11611276
    Abstract: A charge pump circuit includes a sub-circuit, which is a pumping stage circuit or an output stage circuit. The sub-circuit includes an input terminal, an output terminal, a transistor, a first capacitive device, a first diode device, and a second diode device. The transistor has a first source/drain (S/D) terminal coupled with the input terminal, a second S/D terminal coupled with the output terminal, and a gate terminal. The first capacitive device has a first end coupled with the gate terminal of the transistor and a second end configured to receive a first driving signal. The first diode device has a cathode coupled with the second S/D terminal of the transistor and an anode coupled with the gate terminal of the transistor. The second diode device has a cathode coupled with the gate terminal of the transistor and an anode coupled with the second S/D terminal of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Alan Roth, Eric Soenen
  • Patent number: 11606031
    Abstract: Power supply circuit having low quiescent current for a bypass mode. One example power supply circuit generally includes a transistor; a switching node coupled to a source of the transistor; a power supply rail; a capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the power supply rail and having a second terminal coupled to the switching node; a gate driver having an output coupled to a gate of the transistor, having a first power input coupled to the power supply rail, and having a second power input coupled to the switching node; logic having a first input coupled to the first terminal of the capacitor, having a second input coupled to the second terminal of the capacitor, and having a first output; and a pullup circuit having a control input coupled to a second output of the logic and having an output coupled to the gate of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Hector Ivan Oporta, Daragh MacGabhann, Chunping Song, Yi Wang, Ji Hoon Hyun
  • Patent number: 11601124
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a DC switch for disconnecting a DC line. The switch may include: a power semiconductor switch arranged in a current path of the DC line; a first sensor for measuring the input and output voltages; a second sensor for measuring the current flowing through the DC line; and a controller for the power semiconductor switch. The control device is configured to: switch on the DC switch for a first time period; determine the input voltage present; determine the output voltage present at the end of the first time period; determine the current intensity present at the end of the first time period; and determine an inductance and/or capacitance from the determined values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Karsten Handt, Stefan Hänsel
  • Patent number: 11601092
    Abstract: Radio frequency (RF) mixer circuits having a complementary frequency multiplier module that requires no balun to multiply a lower frequency base oscillator signal to a higher frequency local oscillator (LO) signal, and which has a significantly reduced IC area compared to balun-based frequency multipliers. In one embodiment, the complementary frequency multiplier module includes a complementary pair of FETs controlled by an applied base oscillator signal. The complementary FETs are coupled to a common-gate FET amplifier and alternate becoming conductive in response to the base oscillator signal. The alternating switching of the complementary FETs in response to the opposing phases of the base oscillator signal cause the common-gate FET amplifier to output a higher frequency local oscillator (LO) signal. The LO signal is coupled to the LO input of a mixer or mixer core of a type suitable for use in conjunction with a frequency multiplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventor: John Birkbeck
  • Patent number: 11602024
    Abstract: A control device may be configured to control an amount of power delivered to one or more electrical loads and provide various feedback associated with the control device and/or the electrical loads. The control device may be a wall-mounted device or a battery-powered remote control device. The feedback may indicate the amount of power delivered to the one or more electrical loads. The feedback may also indicate a low battery condition. The control device may include a light bar and/or one or more indicator lights for providing the feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Patent number: 11595033
    Abstract: Described embodiments include a comparator circuit comprising an input voltage terminal, a reference voltage terminal, and a rising edge decode circuit having inputs coupled to the input voltage terminal and the reference voltage terminal. The rising edge output provides a rising edge decode signal indicating the input signal transitioned from being smaller than the reference voltage signal to being larger than the reference voltage signal. A falling edge decode circuit has inputs coupled to the input voltage terminal and the reference voltage terminal, and a falling edge output providing a falling edge decode signal indicating that the input signal transitioned from being larger than the reference voltage signal to being smaller than the reference voltage signal. Also, a decode logic circuit provides a comparator output in response to the rising edge decode signal and the falling edge decode signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Vishnuvardhan Reddy Jaladanki, Preetam Charan Anand Tadeparthy
  • Patent number: 11594960
    Abstract: A controller includes a phase frequency detection circuit which has a first input coupled to receive a reference clock input, a second input coupled to receive a high-side active output, and an output configured to provide a PFD output. The controller includes a control loop filter which has a first input coupled to receive a slew rate input, a second input coupled to receive the PFD output, and an output configured to provide a high-side length output. The controller includes a pulse generation circuit which has a first input coupled to receive the high-side active output, a second input coupled to receive the high-side length output, and an output configured to provide a fine pulse output. The controller includes a latch configured to provide the high-side active output responsive to a comparison output and the fine pulse output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Janne Matias Pahkala, Juha Olavi Hauru
  • Patent number: 11588455
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes multiple transistors, a set of input routing circuits, and a set of output routing circuits. Each output routing circuit corresponds to an input routing circuit. Each input routing circuit and its corresponding output routing circuit are controlled by one or more control signals. Each input routing circuit is configured to selectively connect each transistor of a transistor pair to a first input terminal of the amplifier circuit, a second input terminal of the amplifier circuit, or a third input terminal of the amplifier based on a value of the one or more control signals. Each output routing circuit is configured to selectively connect each transistor of the transistor pair to a first output terminal of the amplifier circuit, a second output terminal of the amplifier circuit, or a calibration circuit based on the value of the one or more control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Erhan Ozalevli
  • Patent number: 11588493
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a circuitry. The circuitry includes a comparator and a signal correlated circuit. The comparator includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal. The signal correlated circuit includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal. The first input terminal is coupled to receive a first input signal. The second input terminal is coupled to receive a second input signal independent from the first input signal. The first output terminal is configured to generate a first output signal and to send the first output signal to the first input terminal of the comparator. The second output terminal is configured to generate a second output signal and to send the second output signal to the second input terminal of the comparator. The first output signal and the second output signal are correlated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Chung-Ting Lu, Chih-Chiang Chang, Chung-Chieh Yang
  • Patent number: 11579642
    Abstract: A power detection circuit for detecting powering down of a voltage domain in an integrated circuit is disclosed. The power detection circuit is placed in or near the voltage domain in the integrated circuit to provide power detection on the integrated circuit. The power detection circuit detects powering down of the voltage domain to provide an isolation enable signal to another voltage domain that interfaces with the powering down voltage domain. The isolation enable signal may be used by an isolation cell coupled to the non-powering down voltage domain to prevent corrupted logic being received from the powering down voltage domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vivekanandan Venugopal, Ajay Bhatia
  • Patent number: 11569807
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a voltage comparator circuit, a power management circuit and an electronic device. The voltage comparator circuit compares a voltage difference between a positive electrode input terminal and a negative electrode input terminal with a threshold voltage. An amplifier circuit includes a first input node and a second input node, and amplifies a voltage difference between the first input node and the second input node. The input switch circuit, in a first phase, applies a predetermined voltage of one of the positive electrode input terminal and the negative electrode input terminal to the first input node and the second input node of the amplifier circuit; and in a second phase, applies a voltage of the positive electrode input terminal to the first input node of the amplifier circuit, and applies a voltage of the negative electrode input terminal to the second input node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuaki Shimada
  • Patent number: 11557964
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for operating a charge pump in a high-efficiency low-ripple burst mode. In an example aspect, the apparatus includes a charge pump with a flying capacitor, a switching circuit, and a burst-mode controller. The switching circuit is coupled to the flying capacitor and configured to selectively: be in a burst configuration to charge and discharge the flying capacitor based on a clock signal; or be in a pulse-skipping configuration. The burst-mode controller is coupled to the switching circuit and configured to trigger the switching circuit to transition from the pulse-skipping configuration to the burst configuration at a time that occurs between rising edges of the clock signal. The burst-mode controller is also configured to cause charging of the flying capacitor to occur for approximately half a period of the clock signal responsive to triggering the switching circuit to transition from the pulse-skipping configuration to the burst configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Stuart Pullen, Jialei Xu, Chunping Song, Ta-Tung Yen