Patents by Inventor Antonio Priego
Antonio Priego 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: 11218076Abstract: A switching converter circuit includes a hysteretic comparator with a reference voltage (VREF) node and a feedback node. The switching converter circuit also includes a switchable error amplifier circuit coupled to the feedback node of the hysteretic comparator. The switchable error amplifier circuit includes an error amplifier that is coupled to the feedback node during a power-save mode and that is decoupled from the feedback node during a deep power-save mode initiated in response to a duration of the power-save mode being greater than a time threshold.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2019Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Antonio Priego, Johann Erich Bayer, Gerhard Thiele
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Publication number: 20210376731Abstract: A circuit includes a first power converter having a first voltage input and a first output. The circuit also includes a second power converter having a second voltage input coupled to the first voltage input, a clock input, and a second output. A phase shifter is coupled between the first output and the clock input of the second power converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Erich-Johann Bayer, Gerhard Thiele, Antonio Priego
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Patent number: 10992229Abstract: An electrical system includes: 1) a buck converter; 2) a battery coupled to an input of the buck converter; and 3) a load coupled to an output of the buck converter. The buck converter includes a high-side switch, a low-side switch, and regulation loop circuitry coupled to the high-side switch and the low-side switch. The regulation loop circuitry includes a comparator with preamplifier gain adjustment circuitry configured to adjust a preamplifier gain of the comparator based on an overdrive voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Gerhard Thiele, Manuel Wiersch, Antonio Priego, Johann Erich Bayer, Stefan Herzer
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Publication number: 20200127569Abstract: A switching converter circuit includes a hysteretic comparator with a reference voltage (VREF) node and a feedback node. The switching converter circuit also includes a switchable error amplifier circuit coupled to the feedback node of the hysteretic comparator. The switchable error amplifier circuit includes an error amplifier that is coupled to the feedback node during a power-save mode and that is decoupled from the feedback node during a deep power-save mode initiated in response to a duration of the power-save mode being greater than a time threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2019Publication date: April 23, 2020Inventors: Antonio PRIEGO, Johann Erich BAYER, Gerhard THIELE
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Publication number: 20200127570Abstract: An electrical system includes: 1) a buck converter; 2) a battery coupled to an input of the buck converter; and 3) a load coupled to an output of the buck converter. The buck converter includes a high-side switch, a low-side switch, and regulation loop circuitry coupled to the high-side switch and the low-side switch. The regulation loop circuitry includes a comparator with preamplifier gain adjustment circuitry configured to adjust a preamplifier gain of the comparator based on an overdrive voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2019Publication date: April 23, 2020Inventors: Gerhard THIELE, Manuel WIERSCH, Antonio PRIEGO, Johann Erich BAYER, Stefan HERZER
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Patent number: 10630174Abstract: Disclosed examples include a transient event detector circuit to detect transient events in a switching converter, including a DLL circuit to detect changes in a duty cycle of a pulse width modulation signal used to operate a switching converter, and an output circuit to provide a status output signal in a first state when no transient event is detected, and to provide the status output signal in a second state indicating a transient event in the switching converter in response to a detected change in the duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Michael Couleur, Neil Gibson, Antonio Priego
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Patent number: 10615693Abstract: A system comprises a DC-to-DC voltage converter, the DC-to-DC voltage converter comprising: a high-side FET comprising a gate, a source, and a drain; a node coupled to the source of the high-side FET; a low-side FET comprising a gate, a source, and a drain coupled to the node; and a controller coupled to the gate of the high-side FET to switch on and off the high-side FET, and coupled to the gate of the low-side FET to switch on and off the low-side FET, the controller configured to switch on the low-side FET for a time interval before switching on the high-side FET and to switch off the low-side FET before switching on the high-side FET.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Syed Wasif Mehdi, Stefan Herzer, Antonio Priego
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Publication number: 20200106360Abstract: A switching converter circuit includes a voltage regulation loop configured to provide an output voltage (VOUT) based on an input voltage (VIN). The switching converter circuit also includes a 100% mode circuitry coupled to the voltage regulation loop, wherein the 100% mode circuitry is configured to apply an offset to VOUT in response to detecting that VIN is approaching VOUT.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2019Publication date: April 2, 2020Inventors: Antonio PRIEGO, Gerhard THIELE, Manuel WIERSCH, Johann Erich BAYER
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Publication number: 20200106357Abstract: An electrical system includes: 1) a buck converter; 2) a battery coupled to an input of the buck converter; and 3) a load coupled to an output of the buck converter. The buck converter includes a high-side switch, a low-side switch, and regulation loop circuitry coupled to the high-side switch and the low-side switch. The regulation loop circuitry includes: 1) a main comparator; 2) a bias current source coupled to the main comparator and configured to provide a bias current to the main comparator; and 3) a dynamic biasing circuit coupled to the main comparator and configured to add a supplemental bias current to the bias current in 100% mode of the buck converter. The supplemental bias current varies depending on an input voltage (VIN) and an output voltage (VOUT) of the buck converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2019Publication date: April 2, 2020Inventors: Manuel WIERSCH, Gerhard THIELE, Antonio PRIEGO, Johann Erich BAYER
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Patent number: 10601412Abstract: Disclosed examples include self-biased DLL circuits to generate a bias current signal proportional to a repetition frequency of a first signal representing continuous switching or discontinued switching operation of the DC-DC converter. The DLL circuit includes a monostable multivibrator to provide a pulse output signal in response to an edge of the first signal with a pulse duration set by a control current signal, a phase detector to provide output signals according to a phase difference between an edge of the pulse output signal and the first signal, and an output circuit to provide an output signal according to the phase detector output signals and according to an offset signal, to provide the bias current signal according to the output signal, and to provide the control current signal according to the output signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2018Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Michael Couleur, Neil Gibson, Antonio Priego
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Publication number: 20200007035Abstract: A system comprises a DC-to-DC voltage converter, the DC-to-DC voltage converter comprising: a high-side FET comprising a gate, a source, and a drain; a node coupled to the source of the high-side FET; a low-side FET comprising a gate, a source, and a drain coupled to the node; and a controller coupled to the gate of the high-side FET to switch on and off the high-side FET, and coupled to the gate of the low-side FET to switch on and off the low-side FET, the controller configured to switch on the low-side FET for a time interval before switching on the high-side FET and to switch off the low-side FET before switching on the high-side FET.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2018Publication date: January 2, 2020Inventors: Syed Wasif MEHDI, Stefan Herzer, Antonio PRIEGO
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Patent number: 10340803Abstract: A DC-to-DC voltage converter includes a converter input for receiving a DC voltage. A first switch is coupled between the input and a first node. A second switch is coupled between the first node and a ground. An inductor is coupled between the first node and a converter output. A capacitor is coupled between the converter output and ground. An output voltage synthesizer is coupled to the converter input and the converter output for synthesizing the voltage at the first node and for generating a control signal for at least one of the first switch and the second switch in response to the voltages at the converter input and the converter output.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2016Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Neil Gibson, Michael Couleur, Antonio Priego, Stefan Herzer, Syed Wasif Mehdi
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Publication number: 20190123632Abstract: A timing regulation circuit includes a fixed and tunable timer. A current source generates a source current I1 proportional to an inductor voltage ?V1 of a DC-DC converter during an energizing phase and a current source generates a sink current I2 proportional to inductor voltage ?V2 during a de-energizing phase. The fixed timer controls a first switch in series with I1 or I2 and the tunable timer controls a balancing switch in series with the other current. I1 or I2 is coupled by the first switch and the other current is coupled by the balancing switch to a common capacitor that provides a regulation voltage to the tunable timer which outputs a regulated duration (Tregulated) for an energizing or de-energizing phase. When Tregulated closes the balancing switch the common capacitor provides a predicted current returning inductor current to a starting value when all phases finish for providing a volt-second balance.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: MICHAEL COULEUR, NEIL GIBSON, ANTONIO PRIEGO
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Publication number: 20190123641Abstract: Disclosed examples include a transient event detector circuit to detect transient events in a switching converter, including a DLL circuit to detect changes in a duty cycle of a pulse width modulation signal used to operate a switching converter, and an output circuit to provide a status output signal in a first state when no transient event is detected, and to provide the status output signal in a second state indicating a transient event in the switching converter in response to a detected change in the duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Michael Couleur, Neil Gibson, Antonio Priego
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Patent number: 10270346Abstract: A multiphase power regulator includes a plurality of phases coupled in parallel to provide a load current as a combination of phase currents at an output voltage, each phase including at least one power transistor switched to provide a respective phase current based at least in part on a comparator output signal, and a current-sense low pass filter to sense the phase current. The regulator further includes a gm stage to generate the current set point voltage based at least in part on the output voltage, a comparator to compare a voltage from the current-sense low pass filters to the current set point voltage and a current set point adjustment circuit to provide an auxiliary control signal to decrease the current set point voltage responsive to a change in comparator output and then to increase the current set point voltage responsive to another change in comparator output.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2017Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Antonio Priego, Neil Gibson, Syed Wasif Mehdi
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Patent number: 10243464Abstract: A controller including a voltage synthesizer for a switching regulator includes a synthesizer input to be coupled to an input of the regulator. First and second replica switching transistors are connected at a first node. A resistor couples between the first node and a second node, and a capacitor couples between the second node and ground. A transconductance stage compares a voltage sampled onto the capacitor to the output voltage of the regulator and generates an output signal in response to the comparison. A first switch couples between first and second inputs of the transconductance stage. The first switch is turned on during each cycle of operation of the voltage synthesizer to reset the capacitor voltage to the output voltage of the regulator.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Syed Wasif Mehdi, Neil Gibson, Antonio Priego
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Patent number: 10199929Abstract: Disclosed examples include a transient event detector circuit to detect transient events in a switching converter, including a DLL circuit to detect changes in a duty cycle of a pulse width modulation signal used to operate a switching converter, and an output circuit to provide a status output signal in a first state when no transient event is detected, and to provide the status output signal in a second state indicating a transient event in the switching converter in response to a detected change in the duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2016Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Michael Couleur, Neil Gibson, Antonio Priego
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Patent number: 10148177Abstract: A multi-phase power converter includes a plurality of power channels arranged in parallel to drive an output of the power converter, and a channel selection circuit. Each of the power channels includes a driver, a feedback control circuit coupled to an output of the driver, and a comparator coupled to the feedback control circuit. The channel selection circuit is coupled to the feedback control circuit of each of the power channels. The channel control circuit is configured to: select a different specific one of the power channels to activate in each of a plurality of phases, and introduce an offset voltage into each of the feedback control circuits, except the feedback control circuit of the specific one of the power channels. The feedback control circuit is configured to apply the offset to bias driver output feedback voltage away from a threshold voltage at which the power channel is activated.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2016Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Stefan Herzer, Michael Couleur, Antonio Priego
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Publication number: 20180294726Abstract: A multiphase power regulator includes a plurality of phases coupled in parallel to provide a load current as a combination of phase currents at an output voltage, each phase including at least one power transistor switched to provide a respective phase current based at least in part on a comparator output signal, and a current-sense low pass filter to sense the phase current. The regulator further includes a gm stage to generate the current set point voltage based at least in part on the output voltage, a comparator to compare a voltage from the current-sense low pass filters to the current set point voltage and a current set point adjustment circuit to provide an auxiliary control signal to decrease the current set point voltage responsive to a change in comparator output and then to increase the current set point voltage responsive to another change in comparator output.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2017Publication date: October 11, 2018Inventors: Antonio PRIEGO, Neil GIBSON, Syed Wasif MEHDI
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Publication number: 20180294724Abstract: A controller including a voltage synthesizer for a switching regulator includes a synthesizer input to be coupled to an input of the regulator. First and second replica switching transistors are connected at a first node. A resistor couples between the first node and a second node, and a capacitor couples between the second node and ground. A transconductance stage compares a voltage sampled onto the capacitor to the output voltage of the regulator and generates an output signal in response to the comparison. A first switch couples between first and second inputs of the transconductance stage. The first switch is turned on during each cycle of operation of the voltage synthesizer to reset the capacitor voltage to the output voltage of the regulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2017Publication date: October 11, 2018Inventors: Syed Wasif MEHDI, Neil GIBSON, Antonio PRIEGO