Patents by Inventor Akihito YAHAGI

Akihito YAHAGI has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9207694
    Abstract: Provided is a voltage regulator capable of accurately adjusting a tail current of a differential amplifier circuit without adding a test terminal. The voltage regulator includes: a constant current circuit for causing the tail current of the differential amplifier circuit to flow; a protection circuit; a current output circuit for outputting a current of the constant current circuit to a test terminal for measuring characteristics of the protection circuit; a switch circuit for stopping a function of the protection circuit; and a fuse provided between the test terminal and the current output circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Akihito Yahagi, Takashi Imura
  • Patent number: 9071047
    Abstract: Provided is a voltage regulator including an overcurrent protection circuit using a simple circuit. The voltage regulator includes the overcurrent protection circuit including: a first sense transistor having a gate connected to an output terminal of an error amplifier circuit and a drain connected to a sense resistor; a second sense transistor having a gate connected to the output terminal of the error amplifier circuit; and a control transistor having a gate connected to an output terminal of a control circuit, a source connected to a drain of the second sense transistor, and a drain connected to the sense resistor, in which the control transistor is turned on in response to a detection signal output by the control circuit until a reference voltage exceeds a predetermined voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Akihito Yahagi, Yotaro Nihei
  • Publication number: 20140347022
    Abstract: Provided is a voltage regulator capable of accurately adjusting a tail current of a differential amplifier circuit without adding a test terminal. The voltage regulator includes: a constant current circuit for causing the tail current of the differential amplifier circuit to flow; a protection circuit; a current output circuit for outputting a current of the constant current circuit to a test terminal for measuring characteristics of the protection circuit; a switch circuit for stopping a function of the protection circuit; and a fuse provided between the test terminal and the current output circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Akihito YAHAGI, Takashi IMURA
  • Patent number: 8896277
    Abstract: Provided is a voltage regulator including a soft-start circuit having a small area and capable of suppressing an inrush current by causing a reference voltage circuit to rise gently with time. In the soft-start circuit, a capacitor is connected to an output of a reference voltage circuit driven by a constant current of a constant current circuit, and hence the soft-start circuit can raise a reference voltage gently to prevent an inrush current with a small area. After the end of a soft-start period, the constant current circuit is disconnected, and the reference voltage circuit is driven by a power source. Thus, the operation becomes stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Akihito Yahagi, Takashi Imura
  • Publication number: 20140029141
    Abstract: Provided is a voltage regulator including an overcurrent protection circuit using a simple circuit. The voltage regulator includes the overcurrent protection circuit including: a first sense transistor having a gate connected to an output terminal of an error amplifier circuit and a drain connected to a sense resistor; a second sense transistor having a gate connected to the output terminal of the error amplifier circuit; and a control transistor having a gate connected to an output terminal of a control circuit, a source connected to a drain of the second sense transistor, and a drain connected to the sense resistor, in which the control transistor is turned on in response to a detection signal output by the control circuit until a reference voltage exceeds a predetermined voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Instrument Inc.
    Inventors: Akihito YAHAGI, Yotaro NIHEI