Patents Examined by Thomas J. Hiltunen
  • Patent number: 11114941
    Abstract: A device includes a buck converter coupled to an input node and an output node, and a linear voltage regulator coupled to the input node and to the output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Riazdeen Buhari
  • Patent number: 11106231
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed that includes a load circuit, and a voltage regulator circuit configured to provide a load voltage and a load current to the load circuit. The voltage regulator circuit can regulate the load voltage based on the load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Vitor Moreira Gomes, Ricardo Pureza Coimbra, Andre Luis Vilas Boas
  • Patent number: 11106230
    Abstract: An amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulation system includes a linear regulator circuit powered by input direct current (DC) power at a first voltage level and that generates regulated DC power at a second voltage level tracking the first voltage level. The system also includes an intermediate DC power switching circuit that receives a digital data signal and selectively couples an intermediate power node with the input DC power at the first voltage level when the digital data signal represents a first binary value, and with the regulated DC power at the second voltage level when the digital data signal represents a second binary value. The ASK modulation system also includes a radio frequency (RF) driver circuit powered by intermediate DC power received at the intermediate power node and that delivers RF output power representative of the digital data signal to a load at an RF carrier frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: R. Tissa Karunasiri, Scott Kenneth Arfin
  • Patent number: 11099589
    Abstract: An error amplifier circuit receives first and second input signals and provides an error amplifier output signal indicative of the difference between the first and second input signals. The error amplifier circuit implements a proportional-integrator-differentiator (PID) circuit having a differential input signal path and including a proportional amplifier circuit, an integrator amplifier circuit, and a differentiator amplifier circuit. The differentiator amplifier circuit receives an AC coupled input signal. The error amplifier circuit sums the output from the proportional amplifier circuit, the integrator amplifier circuit and the differentiator amplifier circuit to provide the error amplifier output signal where the error amplifier output signal is referenced to a first bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor (Cayman) Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven P. Laur, Rhys Philbrick, Nicholas Archibald
  • Patent number: 11088617
    Abstract: An electronic device includes: a clock booster configured to generate a boosted intermediate voltage greater than a source voltage, wherein the clock booster includes: a controller capacitor configured to store energy for providing a control signal, wherein the control signal is for controlling charging operations to generate the boosted intermediate voltage based on the source voltage, and a booster capacitor configured to store energy according to the control signal for providing the boosted intermediate voltage; and a secondary booster operatively coupled to the clock booster, the secondary booster configured to generate an output voltage based on the boosted intermediate voltage, wherein the output voltage is greater than both the source voltage and the boosted intermediate voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michele Piccardi
  • Patent number: 11088275
    Abstract: A method for operating a superjunction transistor device and a transistor arrangement are disclosed. The method includes operating the superjunction transistor device in a diode state. Operating the superjunction transistor device in the diode state includes applying a bias voltage different from zero between a drift region of at least one transistor cell of the superjunction transistor device and a compensation region of a doping type complementary to a doping type of the drift region. The compensation region adjoins the drift region, and a polarity of the bias voltage is such that a pn-junction between the drift region and the compensation region is reverse biased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Hans Weber, Christian Fachmann, Franz Hirler, Matteo-Alessandro Kutschak, Andreas Riegler
  • Patent number: 11083030
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe techniques for encoding beacon signals in wireless power delivery environments. More specifically, techniques are disclosed for encoding beacon signals to isolate client devices for wireless power delivery in wireless power delivery environments. The beacon signals can be encoded or modulated with a transmission code that is provided to selected clients in the wireless power delivery environment. In this manner, beacon signals from the select clients can be identified and the corresponding client devices isolated for wireless power delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Ossia Inc.
    Inventors: Hatem Ibrahim Zeine, Prithvi Shylendra, Anas Alfarra
  • Patent number: 11082051
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for timing offset compensation of frequency synthesizers are provided herein. In certain embodiments, an electronic system includes a frequency synthesizer, such as a fractional-N phase-locked loop (PLL), which generates an output clock signal based on timing of a reference clock signal. Additionally, the electronic system includes an integer PLL configured to compensate for a timing offset, such as a phase offset and/or frequency offset, of the frequency synthesizer based on timing of the output clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global Unlimited Company
    Inventor: Gordon John Allan
  • Patent number: 11075542
    Abstract: A device to-be-charged, a wireless charging apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes: a voltage converting circuit, configured to receive an input voltage and convert the input voltage to obtain an output voltage and an output current of the voltage converting circuit; a wireless transmitting circuit, configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal according to the output voltage and the output current of the voltage converting circuit to conduct wireless charging on a device to-be-charged; and a first control circuit, configured for wireless communication with the device to-be-charged during the wireless charging to acquire an output voltage and/or an output current of a step-down circuit fed back by the device to-be-charged, and adjust the output voltage and/or the output current of the voltage converting circuit according to the output voltage and/or the output current of the step-down circuit to adjust a transmission power of the electromagnetic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Shiming Wan
  • Patent number: 11073852
    Abstract: An electronic load apparatus is provided and adapted to allow an enhanced driving circuit to be disposed between a voltage-dividing circuit and power components to ensure the driving capability of the power components not coupled to a control circuit to thereby adjust a response voltage quickly, shorten a response time period and thus increase overall response speed, suppress transient voltage variation and thus preclude a signal delay otherwise arising from a load circuit, allow the power components series-connected in an electronic load apparatus to be driven quickly, reduce the risk of damaging the power components, and enhance the stability and reliability of the electronic load apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: CHROMA ATE INC.
    Inventors: Chun-Sheng Hung, Hsiang-Yu Wu, Chi-Chiao Cheng, Chien-Hsing Huang
  • Patent number: 11068011
    Abstract: A signal generating device includes: a first circuit arranged to generate a first current to a first bipolar junction transistor therein; a second circuit coupled to the first circuit via an output terminal for generating a second current to a second BJT therein; and a first control circuit coupled to the first circuit and the second circuit, for generating a first adjusting current and a second adjusting current to the first circuit and the second circuit for adjusting the first current and the second current such that the first circuit and the second circuit outputs a temperature-dependent signal on the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventor: Chia Liang Tai
  • Patent number: 11056972
    Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a power converter is disclosed, comprising: an input configured to receive an input voltage; an output configured to provide an output voltage; a power switching block coupled between the input and the output; a controller configured to control the power switching block, wherein the controller is configured to open and close switches comprised in the power switching block, wherein the controller is further configured to control a resistance of the power switching block. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a power converter is conceived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Melaine Philip, Fabien Boitard
  • Patent number: 11056930
    Abstract: A device operative to transfer power and communicate wirelessly includes a drive-sense circuit (DSC), memory that stores operational instructions, and processing module(s). The DSC generates a drive signal based on a reference signal and provides the drive signal to a first coil via a single line and via a resonating capacitor, and simultaneously senses the drive signal via the single line, to facilitate electromagnetic coupling to a second coil to transfer power wirelessly to another device. The DSC also detects electrical characteristic(s) of the drive signal including whether a communication signal is transmitted from another device and generates a digital signal representative thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: John Christopher Price, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Phuong Huynh
  • Patent number: 11057033
    Abstract: A power module includes a plurality of power semiconductor devices. The plurality of power semiconductor devices includes an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) and a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) coupled in parallel between a first power switching terminal and a second power switching terminal. The IGBT and the MOSFET are silicon carbide devices. By providing the IGBT and the MOSFET together, a tradeoff between forward conduction current and reverse conduction current of the power module, the efficiency, and the specific current rating of the power module may be improved. Further, providing the IGBT and the MOSFET as silicon carbide devices may significantly improve the performance of the power module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Robert Van Brunt, Adam Barkley, Sei-Hyung Ryu, Zachary Cole, Kraig J. Olejniczak
  • Patent number: 11056924
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a foreign substance detection method, and an apparatus and a system therefor. A foreign substance detection method in a wireless power transmitter, according to an embodiment of the present invention, may comprise the steps of: if an object placed in a charging area is detected, searching for a current peak frequency with a maximum quality factor value in an available frequency band; receiving, from a wireless power receiver, a foreign substance detection state packet including a reference peak frequency; determining a foreign substance detection reference frequency on the basis of the reference peak frequency; and determining whether or not a foreign substance is present by comparing the current peak frequency with the foreign substance detection reference frequency. Therefore, the present invention has an advantage of being capable of detecting a foreign substance more effectively and accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Il Kwon, Jae Hee Park
  • Patent number: 11043940
    Abstract: A time difference amplifier (TDA) including a first delay storage unit (DSU) configured to generate a first output signal including a first transition in response to a first transition of a first input signal and a first transition of a first read signal, and a second DSU configured to generate a second output signal including a second transition in response to a second transition of a second input signal and a second transition of a second read signal. A first delay between the first and second transitions of the first and second output signals is based on a second delay between the first and second transitions of the first and second input signals and a third delay between the first and second transitions in the first and second read signals. First and second delay elements generate the first and second read signals by delaying the first and second input signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Luis Filipe Brochado Reis
  • Patent number: 11031866
    Abstract: A charge pump circuit comprises a series circuit of a number N of stage circuits. A stage circuit comprises a converter circuit, a stage output, a stage input coupled via the converter circuit to the stage output, a first clock input and a second clock input coupled to the converter circuit, a control input and an activation transistor having a control terminal coupled to the control input and a first terminal coupled to the stage output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: ams International AG
    Inventors: Mark Niederberger, Adrian Ryser, Luca Bettini
  • Patent number: 11025236
    Abstract: A flip-flop circuit using AOI and OAI includes: a MUX unit with a multiplexer selecting between a first signal and a second signal; a master unit with two OAI, wherein the first OAI is coupled between a first node N1 and a third node N3, the second OAI is coupled between a second node N2 and a fourth node N4; a slave unit with two AOI, wherein the first AOI is coupled between the third node N3 and a fifth node N5, the second AOI is coupled between the fourth node N4 and a sixth node N6; and a clock for controlling the two AOI and the two OAI, the clock is connected to the first and the second AOI and the first and the second OAI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Po-Chia Lai, Chi-Lin Liu, Greg Gruber, Stefan Rusu
  • Patent number: 11022654
    Abstract: A system includes a controller that is configured to generate a plurality of switch control signals; a plurality of electrical circuit elements, the plurality of electrical circuit elements being characterized by a plurality of impedances, respectively; a plurality of voltage sources; and a plurality of switches that are programmable to couple the plurality of electrical circuit elements to the plurality of voltage sources responsive to the plurality of switch control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE RESEARCH FOUNDATION, KEYSIGHT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Fei Wang, Wen Zhang, Bernhard Holzinger
  • Patent number: 11018533
    Abstract: A calibration device includes a controller configured to communicate a plurality of input voltage signals having different determined frequencies to a first power exchange coil. Also, the calibration device includes a load unit coupled to a second power exchange coil, where the load unit includes at least a first electrical load and a second electrical load. Further, the calibration device includes a voltage sensor configured to measure a plurality of first output voltage signals across the first electrical load and a plurality of second output voltage signals across the second electrical load, and where the controller is configured to determine an optimal operating frequency of a wireless power transfer system based on the plurality of input voltage signals, the plurality of first output voltage signals, and the plurality of second output voltage signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Viswanathan Kanakasabai, Arun Kumar Raghunathan, Satishbabu Bhogineni