Patents by Inventor Alberto Alessandro Angelo PUGGELLI
Alberto Alessandro Angelo PUGGELLI 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).
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Patent number: 11949334Abstract: A power converter is disclosed. The power converter includes a switching circuit configured to source current to a switch node that is coupled, via an inductor, to a regulated power supply node. A DC resistance sensing circuit includes a first filter and a second filters. The first filter circuit is configured to filter a voltage level of a first terminal of the inductor to generate a first filtered signal, while the second filter circuit is configured to filter a voltage level of a second terminal of the inductor to generate a second filtered signal. A control circuit is configured to adjust the operation of the switching circuit using a voltage level of the regulated power supply node, the first filtered signal, and the second filtered signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2021Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jonathan F. Bolus, Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Fabio Gozzini, Hao Zhou
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Patent number: 11742762Abstract: An apparatus includes a control circuit and a voltage regulator circuit coupled to a regulated power supply node. The voltage regulator circuit is configured to generate a power signal on the regulated power supply node using a reference voltage level. The apparatus further includes a control circuit that is configured to determine an operating mode using results of a comparison of a threshold value and a load current being drawn from the regulated power supply node by a load circuit. The control circuit may be further configured to set, in a first operating mode, the reference voltage level independently of the load current, and set, in a second operating mode, the reference voltage level using the load current.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2022Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Hubert Attah, Hao Zhou, Shawn Searles
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Publication number: 20230188035Abstract: A power converter is disclosed. The power converter includes a switching circuit configured to source current to a switch node that is coupled, via an inductor, to a regulated power supply node. A DC resistance sensing circuit includes a first filter and a second filters. The first filter circuit is configured to filter a voltage level of a first terminal of the inductor to generate a first filtered signal, while the second filter circuit is configured to filter a voltage level of a second terminal of the inductor to generate a second filtered signal. A control circuit is configured to adjust the operation of the switching circuit using a voltage level of the regulated power supply node, the first filtered signal, and the second filtered signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2021Publication date: June 15, 2023Inventors: Jonathan F. Bolus, Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Fabio Gozzini, Hao Zhou
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Publication number: 20230086364Abstract: An apparatus includes a control circuit and a voltage regulator circuit coupled to a regulated power supply node. The voltage regulator circuit is configured to generate a power signal on the regulated power supply node using a reference voltage level. The apparatus further includes a control circuit that is configured to determine an operating mode using results of a comparison of a threshold value and a load current being drawn from the regulated power supply node by a load circuit. The control circuit may be further configured to set, in a first operating mode, the reference voltage level independently of the load current, and set, in a second operating mode, the reference voltage level using the load current.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Inventors: Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Hubert Attah, Hao Zhou, Shawn Searles
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Patent number: 11456670Abstract: An apparatus includes a control circuit and a voltage regulator circuit coupled to a regulated power supply node. The voltage regulator circuit is configured to generate a power signal on the regulated power supply node using a reference voltage level. The apparatus further includes a control circuit that is configured to determine an operating mode using results of a comparison of a threshold value and a load current being drawn from the regulated power supply node by a load circuit. The control circuit may be further configured to set, in a first operating mode, the reference voltage level independently of the load current, and set, in a second operating mode, the reference voltage level using the load current.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2020Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Hubert Attah, Hao Zhou, Shawn Searles
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Patent number: 11431249Abstract: A power converter circuit that includes a switch node coupled to a regulated power supply node via an inductor is configured to regulate a voltage level of a power supply node using a particular one of multiple available operating modes. In response to receiving a command to reduce the voltage level of the power supply node, the power converter circuit begins to reduce the voltage level of the power supply node, while autonomously selecting different ones of available operating modes. The power converter circuit may compare to the voltage level of the power supply node to boundary levels and select a different operating mode when the voltage level of the power supply node exceeds one of the boundaries. By switching operating modes during the negative slew of the voltage level of the power supply node, the power converter may maintain a target efficiency during the reduction in voltage.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2020Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Ofir Gilad, Floyd L. Dankert, Hubert Attah, Sanjay Pant, Shawn Searles, Georg Diebel
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Patent number: 11296597Abstract: A power converter circuit included in a computer system includes a switched-capacitor circuit as well as one or more bypass devices, and generates a particular voltage on a regulated power supply node. In response to situations that can result in a rapid transient of the voltage level on the regulated power supply node (e.g., upscaling or downscaling), the power converter circuit may activate the bypass devices to source or sink current from the regulated power supply node. By employing both the switched-capacitor circuit and the bypass devices, the power converter may be able to more rapidly adjust the voltage level of the regulated output supply node, as well as maintain voltage across the devices and capacitors included in the switched-capacitor circuit within specified tolerances.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Ahmed M. Sawaby
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Publication number: 20220103065Abstract: A power converter circuit included in a computer system includes a switched-capacitor circuit as well as one or more bypass devices, and generates a particular voltage on a regulated power supply node. In response to situations that can result in a rapid transient of the voltage level on the regulated power supply node (e.g., upscaling or downscaling), the power converter circuit may activate the bypass devices to source or sink current from the regulated power supply node. By employing both the switched-capacitor circuit and the bypass devices, the power converter may be able to more rapidly adjust the voltage level of the regulated output supply node, as well as maintain voltage across the devices and capacitors included in the switched-capacitor circuit within specified tolerances.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2020Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Ahmed M. Sawaby
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Publication number: 20220069704Abstract: A power converter circuit that includes a switch node coupled to a regulated power supply node via an inductor is configured to regulate a voltage level of a power supply node using a particular one of multiple available operating modes. In response to receiving a command to reduce the voltage level of the power supply node, the power converter circuit begins to reduce the voltage level of the power supply node, while autonomously selecting different ones of available operating modes. The power converter circuit may compare to the voltage level of the power supply node to boundary levels and select a different operating mode when the voltage level of the power supply node exceeds one of the boundaries. By switching operating modes during the negative slew of the voltage level of the power supply node, the power converter may maintain a target efficiency during the reduction in voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2020Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Ofir Gilad, Floyd L. Dankert, Hubert Attah, Sanjay Pant, Shawn Searles, Georg Diebel
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Publication number: 20210257912Abstract: An apparatus includes a control circuit and a voltage regulator circuit coupled to a regulated power supply node. The voltage regulator circuit is configured to generate a power signal on the regulated power supply node using a reference voltage level. The apparatus further includes a control circuit that is configured to determine an operating mode using results of a comparison of a threshold value and a load current being drawn from the regulated power supply node by a load circuit. The control circuit may be further configured to set, in a first operating mode, the reference voltage level independently of the load current, and set, in a second operating mode, the reference voltage level using the load current.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2020Publication date: August 19, 2021Inventors: Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Hubert Attah, Hao Zhou, Shawn Searles
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Patent number: 10958164Abstract: A power converter circuit included in a computer system may include multiple switched-capacitor circuits that may each be configured to generate a particular voltage level on a regulated power supply node according to a corresponding conversion ratio. A control circuit may, in response to detection of a regulation event, sequentially change the conversion ratios of the multiple-switched capacitor circuits.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2020Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Ahmed M. Sawaby
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Patent number: 10833579Abstract: A switching capacitor regulator, comprising: a switching capacitor configured to switch between a first state and a second state, wherein, in the first state, a first node of the switching capacitor is coupled to a second terminal, and a second node of the switching capacitor is coupled to a fixed voltage level, and wherein, in the second state, the first node is coupled to a first terminal, and the second node is coupled to the second terminal; a power switch configured to couple the second node to the second terminal when the switching capacitor is in the second state; and a flying inverter configured to control the power switch, wherein the flying inverter has a positive power terminal and a negative power terminal, wherein the positive power terminal is coupled to the first node, and wherein the negative power terminal is coupled to the second node.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2017Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Lion Semiconductor Inc.Inventors: Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Zhipeng Li, Thomas Li
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Patent number: 10770972Abstract: The present disclosure provides an asymmetric switching capacitor regulator that is capable of providing an output voltage, covering a wide voltage range, with a high efficiency. The disclosed switching capacitor regulator is configured to generate a wide range of an output voltage by differentiating a voltage across one or more switching capacitors from a voltage across the rest of the switching capacitors in the switching capacitor regulator.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2019Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Lion Semiconductor Inc.Inventors: John Crossley, Hanh-Phuc Le, Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli
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Patent number: 10719099Abstract: The present disclosure shows a reconfigurable Dickson Star SC regulator that can support multiple conversion ratios by reconfiguring between various modes. The reconfigurable Dickson Star SC regulator is designed to reduce the number of redundant capacitors by reusing capacitors and switches across multiple modes of operation (across multiple conversion ratios). The present disclosure also shows a hybrid (e.g., two-stage) voltage regulator.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2019Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Lion Semiconductor Inc.Inventors: Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Thomas Li, Wonyoung Kim, John Crossley, Hanh-Phuc Le
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Patent number: 10601311Abstract: Circuits for a voltage regulator are provided, comprising: an inductor having a first side coupled to an input voltage; a first flying capacitor; a second flying capacitor; and a plurality of switches, wherein: in a first state, the plurality of switches couple: a second side of the inductor to a second side of the first flying capacitor and an output node; a first side of the first flying capacitor to a first side of the second flying capacitor; and a second side of the second flying capacitor to a voltage supply, in a second state, the plurality of switches couple: the second side of the inductor to the first side of the second flying capacitor; the second side of the second flying capacitor to the output node and the first side of the first flying capacitor; and the second side of the first flying capacitor to the voltage supply.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2018Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Lion Semiconductor Inc.Inventors: Hans Meyvaert, Zhipeng Li, Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Thomas Li
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Patent number: 10541603Abstract: Circuits comprising: an inductor having a first side connected to VIN; a first switch having a first side connected to a second side of the inductor; a second switch having a first side connected to VIN; a first capacitor having a first side connected to a second side of the second switch; a third switch having a first side connected to a second side of the first switch; a fourth switch having a first side connected to a second side of the third switch; a fifth switch having a first side connected to a second side of the first capacitor and to a second side of the fourth switch, and having a second side coupled to a voltage source; and a second capacitor having a first side connected to the first side of the fourth switch, and having a second side connected to the second side of the fifth switch.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2017Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Lion Semiconductor Inc.Inventors: Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Thomas Li, Wonyoung Kim, John Crossley, Hanh-Phuc Le
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Publication number: 20190312511Abstract: The present disclosure provides an asymmetric switching capacitor regulator that is capable of providing an output voltage, covering a wide voltage range, with a high efficiency. The disclosed switching capacitor regulator is configured to generate a wide range of an output voltage by differentiating a voltage across one or more switching capacitors from a voltage across the rest of the switching capacitors in the switching capacitor regulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2019Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: John Crossley, Hanh-Phuc Le, Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli
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Patent number: 10411490Abstract: Voltage regulator systems include, in part, a regulator comprising an input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the regulator is configured to receive an input voltage from an adapter at the input terminal and provide an output voltage at the output terminal, wherein the regulator comprises at least one switched capacitor regulator operating in a first conversion mode corresponding to a first conversion factor. The voltage regulator systems also include a controller configured to control an operation of the regulator, wherein the controller is configured to determine when a conversion ratio of the regulator is greater than the first conversion factor, and, in response, to send a request to the adapter to decrease the input voltage.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Lion Semiconductor Inc.Inventors: Aaron Melgar, Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Thomas Li, Zhipeng Li, Hans Meyvaert, John Crossley, Wonyoung Kim
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Publication number: 20190272001Abstract: The present disclosure shows a reconfigurable Dickson Star SC regulator that can support multiple conversion ratios by reconfiguring between various modes. The reconfigurable Dickson Star SC regulator is designed to reduce the number of redundant capacitors by reusing capacitors and switches across multiple modes of operation (across multiple conversion ratios). The present disclosure also shows a hybrid (e.g., two-stage) voltage regulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2019Publication date: September 5, 2019Inventors: Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Thomas Li, Wonyoung Kim, John Crossley, Hanh-Phuc Le
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Patent number: RE49763Abstract: A feedback system that can control hybrid regulator topologies that have multiple converters or regulators connected in series is described. The hybrid regulator can include at least two regulators: a switched inductor regulator and a switched-capacitor regulator. The feedback system can simplify feedback design for the hybrid regulator that can include multiple converter stages and can control the feedback to improve the efficiency of a hybrid regulator.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2021Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Lion Semiconductor Inc.Inventors: Hanh-Phuc Le, John Crossley, Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Wonyoung Kim