Patents by Inventor Andrea Acquas
Andrea Acquas 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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Publication number: 20210018543Abstract: A power converter circuit included in a computer system may charge and discharge a switch node coupled to a regulated power supply node via an inductor. The power converter circuit may generate a reference clock signal using a system clock signal and a voltage level of the switch node. The reference clock signal may be used to initiate a charge cycle, whose duration may be based on generated ramp signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2019Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: Michael Couleur, Andrea Acquas, Nikola Jovanovic
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Patent number: 10884043Abstract: A power converter circuit included in a computer system may charge and discharge a switch node coupled to a regulated power supply node via an inductor. The power converter circuit may generate a reference clock signal using a system clock signal and a voltage level of the switch node. The reference clock signal may be used to initiate a charge cycle, whose duration may be based on generated ramp signals.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2019Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael Couleur, Andrea Acquas, Nikola Jovanovic
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Patent number: 10707761Abstract: A power converter circuit included in a computer system may charge and discharge a switch node coupled to a regulated power supply node via an inductor. During a charge cycle, the power converter circuit may generate a reference ramp signal that has an initial voltage level greater than that of the switch node. The power converter may also generate a sense ramp signal using the voltage level of the switch node, and halt the charge cycle using results of a comparison of the respective voltage levels of the reference ramp signal and the sense ramp signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2019Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael Couleur, Andrea Acquas, Nicola Rasera
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Patent number: 9532427Abstract: This application relates to a lighting system comprising a plurality of light emitting diode, LED, circuits, and a power source for providing a drive voltage to the plurality of LED circuits. For each LED circuit, the lighting system comprises a first variable resistance element connected between the respective LED circuit and ground, and a first feedback circuit configured to control a voltage at a first node between the respective LED circuit and the respective first variable resistance element to a first voltage. The lighting system further comprises a current source and a second variable resistance element connected between the current source and ground, wherein each first variable resistance element is configured to attain a resistance value depending on a resistance value attained by the second variable resistance element.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2016Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) LimitedInventors: Fulvio Schiappelli, Jiri Ledr, Alessandro Angeli, Andrea Acquas
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Publication number: 20160316537Abstract: This application relates to a lighting system comprising a plurality of light emitting diode, LED, circuits, and a power source for providing a drive voltage to the plurality of LED circuits. For each LED circuit, the lighting system comprises a first variable resistance element connected between the respective LED circuit and ground, and a first feedback circuit configured to control a voltage at a first node between the respective LED circuit and the respective first variable resistance element to a first voltage. The lighting system further comprises a current source and a second variable resistance element connected between the current source and ground, wherein each first variable resistance element is configured to attain a resistance value depending on a resistance value attained by the second variable resistance element.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2016Publication date: October 27, 2016Inventors: Fulvio Schiappelli, Jiri Ledr, Alessandro Angeli, Andrea Acquas
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Patent number: 9407144Abstract: A current mode control buck-boost converter with improved performance utilizes separate buck and boost pulses. The buck-boost converter utilizes a buck/boost decision method with continuous control voltage for buck and boost mode, therefore eliminating transients in the control loop between operation modes and preventing voltage overshoots. If switching in Boost mode and the buck duty cycle is smaller than a set duty cycle, then in the next cycle Buck mode switching will occur. It is possible to track a Buck comparator output and the related duty cycle during Boost mode operation. Thus a mode change decision will only be dependent on a single input. A control loop will incorporate a single loop filter and error amplifier, wherein control voltages for Buck comparator and Boost comparator will be related.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2014Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) LimitedInventors: Kemal Ozanoglu, Selcuk Talay, Pier Cavallini, Dieter Graefje, Andrea Acquas
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Patent number: 9392661Abstract: This application relates to a lighting system comprising a plurality of light emitting diode, LED, circuits, and a power source for providing a drive voltage to the plurality of LED circuits. For each LED circuit, the lighting system comprises a first variable resistance element connected between the respective LED circuit and ground, and a first feedback circuit configured to control a voltage at a first node between the respective LED circuit and the respective first variable resistance element to a first voltage. The lighting system further comprises a current source and a second variable resistance element connected between the current source and ground, wherein each first variable resistance element is configured to attain a resistance value depending on a resistance value attained by the second variable resistance element.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2015Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) LimitedInventors: Fulvio Schiappelli, Jiri Ledr, Alessandro Angeli, Andrea Acquas
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Publication number: 20160169947Abstract: A measurement circuit for providing the maximum and/or minimum voltage of a time-variant electrical input signal is presented. The measurement circuit contains a voltage reference unit to provide voltage reference signals and a comparator unit comprising multiple comparators. Each comparator receiving the electrical input signal at a first comparator input and a different voltage reference signal from the voltage reference unit at its second comparator input. The comparator unit provides comparator output signals based on said electrical input signal and said voltage reference signals. A logic unit receives the comparator output signals and provides a voltage output signal indicative of the maximum and/or minimum voltage of the electrical input signal based on the comparator output signals. The logic unit provides adaptation information to the voltage reference entity. The is adaptation information is dependent on the comparator output signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2015Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: Michele De Fazio, Andrea Acquas, Fabio Rigoni
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Publication number: 20160095181Abstract: This application relates to a lighting system comprising a plurality of light emitting diode, LED, circuits, and a power source for providing a drive voltage to the plurality of LED circuits. For each LED circuit, the lighting system comprises a first variable resistance element connected between the respective LED circuit and ground, and a first feedback circuit configured to control a voltage at a first node between the respective LED circuit and the respective first variable resistance element to a first voltage. The lighting system further comprises a current source and a second variable resistance element connected between the current source and ground, wherein each first variable resistance element is configured to attain a resistance value depending on a resistance value attained by the second variable resistance element.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2015Publication date: March 31, 2016Inventors: Fulvio Schiappelli, Jiri Ledr, Alessandro Angeli, Andrea Acquas
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Publication number: 20150357914Abstract: A current mode control buck-boost converter with improved performance utilizes separate buck and boost pulses. The buck-boost converter utilizes a buck/boost decision method with continuous control voltage for buck and boost mode, therefore eliminating transients in the control loop between operation modes and preventing voltage overshoots. If switching in Boost mode and the buck duty cycle is smaller than a set duty cycle, then in the next cycle Buck mode switching will occur. It is possible to track a Buck comparator output and the related duty cycle during Boost mode operation. Thus a mode change decision will only be dependent on a single input. A control loop will incorporate a single loop filter and error amplifier, wherein control voltages for Buck comparator and Boost comparator will be related.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2014Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventors: Kemal Ozanoglu, Selcuk Talay, Pier Cavallini, Dieter Graefje, Andrea Acquas
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Patent number: 9084330Abstract: This invention relates to control circuits for LED systems with a feedback loop to regulate a drive voltage. A controller for the system is proposed comprising a plurality of LED circuits and a controllable power source. The controller comprises a control unit configured to cause regulation of the drive voltage based on a determination of a plurality of feedback voltages and a fault condition detecting means. At least one of the LED circuits is determined as having a fault condition if the respective feedback voltage is below a fault threshold. In response to a detected fault condition, a test voltage is applied to a cathode of the fault circuit to confirm the presence of a fault condition.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor GmbHInventors: Christian Wolf, Andrea Acquas, Stanly Jacob, Marcelo DePaula Campos
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Publication number: 20140152180Abstract: This invention relates to control circuits for LED systems with a feedback loop to regulate a drive voltage. A controller for the system is proposed comprising a plurality of LED circuits and a controllable power source. The controller comprises a control unit configured to cause regulation of the drive voltage based on a determination of a plurality of feedback voltages and a fault condition detecting means. At least one of the LED circuits is determined as having a fault condition if the respective feedback voltage is below a fault threshold. In response to a detected fault condition, a test voltage is applied to a cathode of the fault circuit to confirm the presence of a fault condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2013Publication date: June 5, 2014Inventors: Christian Wolf, Andrea Acquas, Stanly Jacob, Marcelo DePaula Campos