Patents by Inventor Atsuhiro Ichikawa

Atsuhiro Ichikawa 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: 10860042
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a control circuit for a high side driver forms alternate signals to control a store mode and a maintain mode. An embodiment of the control circuit stores a voltage that is greater than an input voltage which results in storing a large charge for at least a portion of one of the cycles. The charge is used to supply operating voltage to the driver for at least a portion of another of the cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Ichikawa, Keita Ikai
  • Patent number: 10775816
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a control circuit for a high side driver controls a store mode and a maintain mode. An embodiment of the control circuit stores a voltage that is greater than an input voltage which results in storing a large charge for at least a portion of one of the cycles. The charge is used to supply operating voltage to the driver for at least a portion of another of the cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Ichikawa, Keita Ikai
  • Publication number: 20200228111
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a control circuit for a high side driver controls a store mode and a maintain mode. An embodiment of the control circuit stores a voltage that is greater than an input voltage which results in storing a large charge for at least a portion of one of the cycles. The charge is used to supply operating voltage to the driver for at least a portion of another of the cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Atsuhiro ICHIKAWA, Keita IKAI
  • Publication number: 20200225687
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a control circuit for a high side driver forms alternate signals to control a store mode and a maintain mode. An embodiment of the control circuit stores a voltage that is greater than an input voltage which results in storing a large charge for at least a portion of one of the cycles. The charge is used to supply operating voltage to the driver for at least a portion of another of the cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Atsuhiro ICHIKAWA, Keita IKAI
  • Patent number: 10009015
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an automatic zeroing circuit is provided that includes an automatic zeroing circuit, comprising a first voltage adjustment circuit coupled for receiving an induced voltage and a second voltage adjustment circuit coupled for receiving a common voltage. A comparator having an inverting input terminal coupled to the first voltage adjustment circuit and a noninverting input terminal coupled to the second voltage adjustment circuit. In accordance with another embodiment, a method for automatically zeroing a detection circuit includes receiving a first back electromotive force at a first voltage level and shifting the first back electromotive force from the first voltage level to a second voltage level. A comparator circuit is calibrated and the first back electromotive force is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Satoshi Yokoo, Atsuhiro Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9912268
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a sensor-less detection circuit is provided that includes a first voltage adjustment circuit coupled for receiving an induced voltage and a second voltage adjustment circuit coupled for receiving a common voltage. A differential amplifier has an inverting input terminal coupled to the first voltage adjustment circuit and a noninverting input terminal coupled to the second voltage adjustment circuit. In accordance with another embodiment, a method for detecting a motor rotor position is provided that includes receiving a first back electromotive force that is at a first voltage level and shifting the first back electromotive force from the first voltage level to a second voltage level. The first back electromotive force is filtered to generate a first filtered voltage; and a first motor rotor position signal is generated in response to comparing the first filtered voltage with a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Satoshi Yokoo, Atsuhiro Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9793841
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a sensor-less detection circuit is provided that includes a first voltage adjustment circuit coupled for receiving an induced voltage and a second voltage adjustment circuit coupled for receiving a common voltage. A differential amplifier has an inverting input terminal coupled to the first voltage adjustment circuit and a noninverting input terminal coupled to the second voltage adjustment circuit. In accordance with another embodiment, a method for detecting a motor rotor position is provided that includes receiving a first back electromotive force that is at a first voltage level and shifting the first back electromotive force from the first voltage level to a second voltage level. The first back electromotive force is filtered to generate a first filtered voltage; and a first motor rotor position signal is generated in response to comparing the first filtered voltage with a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Satoshi Yokoo, Atsuhiro Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20160320207
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a sensor-less detection circuit is provided that includes a first voltage adjustment circuit coupled for receiving an induced voltage and a second voltage adjustment circuit coupled for receiving a common voltage. A differential amplifier has an inverting input terminal coupled to the first voltage adjustment circuit and a noninverting input terminal coupled to the second voltage adjustment circuit. In accordance with another embodiment, a method for detecting a motor rotor position is provided that includes receiving a first back electromotive force that is at a first voltage level and shifting the first back electromotive force from the first voltage level to a second voltage level. The first back electromotive force is filtered to generate a first filtered voltage; and a first motor rotor position signal is generated in response to comparing the first filtered voltage with a reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Satoshi Yokoo, Atsuhiro Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20160320208
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a sensor-less detection circuit is provided that includes a first voltage adjustment circuit coupled for receiving an induced voltage and a second voltage adjustment circuit coupled for receiving a common voltage. A differential amplifier has an inverting input terminal coupled to the first voltage adjustment circuit and a noninverting input terminal coupled to the second voltage adjustment circuit. In accordance with another embodiment, a method for detecting a motor rotor position is provided that includes receiving a first back electromotive force that is at a first voltage level and shifting the first back electromotive force from the first voltage level to a second voltage level. The first back electromotive force is filtered to generate a first filtered voltage; and a first motor rotor position signal is generated in response to comparing the first filtered voltage with a reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Satoshi Yokoo, Atsuhiro Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20160322963
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an automatic zeroing circuit is provided that includes an automatic zeroing circuit, comprising a first voltage adjustment circuit coupled for receiving an induced voltage and a second voltage adjustment circuit coupled for receiving a common voltage. A comparator having an inverting input terminal coupled to the first voltage adjustment circuit and a noninverting input terminal coupled to the second voltage adjustment circuit. In accordance with another embodiment, a method for automatically zeroing a detection circuit includes receiving a first back electromotive force at a first voltage level and shifting the first back electromotive force from the first voltage level to a second voltage level. A comparator circuit is calibrated and the first back electromotive force is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Satoshi Yokoo, Atsuhiro Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9041683
    Abstract: The invention provides an electrostatic capacity type touch sensor that is not influenced by a parasitic capacitor formed between a sensor line connected to a touch sensor pad and other signal line and provides a stable sensor output. A sensor line connected to a touch sensor pad is connected to a non-inverting input terminal (+) of a charge amplifier. An LED is disposed in the touch sensor pad, and the cathode of the LED is connected to an LED signal line. Since the LED signal line is disposed adjacent to the sensor line, a parasitic capacitor is formed between the LED signal line and the sensor line. In order to keep the capacitance of this parasitic capacitor constant, a pull-up resistor is connected to the LED signal line. The LED signal line is biased to a power supply potential Vdd by the pull-up resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Takayasu Otagaki, Atsuhiro Ichikawa, Hiroya Ito, Kazuhiro Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8618818
    Abstract: This invention offers an electrostatic capacity type touch sensor that can be calibrated in a short period of time at a moment when a finger of operator or the like does not touch a touch pad. An absolute value of a difference (AD0?AD2) between a first output voltage AD0 and a third output voltage AD2 is compared with a first threshold value Vtr1 in step S10. When the difference (AD0?AD2) between the output voltages is smaller than the first threshold value Vtr1, it is judged that the finger of operator or the like does not touch the touch pad, and it is judged which of an offset in a second output voltage AD1 and an offset in the third output voltage AD2 is smaller than the other. When the offset in the second output voltage AD1 is smaller than the offset in the third output voltage AD2, the modification to the second calibration data X1 is permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: On Semiconductor Trading, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayasu Otagaki, Atsuhiro Ichikawa, Hiroya Ito, Kazuhiro Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8619058
    Abstract: There is offered an electrostatic capacity type touch sensor capable of detecting a large number of touch positions with high accuracy. The electrostatic capacity type touch sensor is composed of a touch panel and a signal processing circuit. The touch panel is structured to include first through fourth detection electrodes, first and second common electric potential lines, a common electric potential wiring, a common electric potential terminal and first through fourth output terminals disposed on an insulating substrate. The signal processing circuit is structured to include a clock generator, a selection circuit, a charge amplifier, an A/D converter and an arithmetic unit. The charge amplifier detects a change in capacitance induced by that a finger of an operator touches the first through fourth detection electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: On Semiconductor Trading, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroya Ito, Takayasu Otagaki, Atsuhiro Ichikawa, Kazuhiro Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20120062464
    Abstract: The invention provides a touch sensor in which the numbers of channels and wires are decreased simultaneously and a simultaneous touch operation of a plurality of touch keys is realized. A keyboard includes 36 pieces of touch keys disposed in 6 rows and 6 columns, drive lines, and sensor lines on an insulation substrate. The touch key includes a center electrode disposed on the insulation substrate and an annular electrode disposed surrounding this center electrode. A sensor circuit includes a selection circuit and an electric charge amplifier. The electric charge amplifier detects the amount of change of a capacitance of an electrostatic capacitor formed between the center electrode and the annular electrode of the touch key connected to one sensor line selected by the selection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Takayasu OTAGAKI, Atsuhiro Ichikawa, Hiroya Ito
  • Publication number: 20120001869
    Abstract: There is offered an electrostatic capacity type touch sensor capable of detecting a large number of touch positions with high accuracy. The electrostatic capacity type touch sensor is composed of a touch panel and a signal processing circuit. The touch panel is structured to include first through fourth detection electrodes, first and second common electric potential lines, a common electric potential wiring, a common electric potential terminal and first through fourth output terminals disposed on an insulating substrate. The signal processing circuit is structured to include a clock generator, a selection circuit, a charge amplifier, an A/D converter and an arithmetic unit. The charge amplifier detects a change in capacitance induced by that a finger of an operator touches the first through fourth detection electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Hiroya ITO, Takayasu OTAGAKI, Atsuhiro ICHIKAWA, Kazuhiro HASEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20110199105
    Abstract: This invention offers an electrostatic capacity type touch sensor that can be calibrated in a short period of time at a moment when a finger of operator or the like does not touch a touch pad. An absolute value of a difference (AD0?AD2) between a first output voltage AD0 and a third output voltage AD2 is compared with a first threshold value Vtr1 in step S10. When the difference (AD0?AD2) between the output voltages is smaller than the first threshold value Vtr1, it is judged that the finger of operator or the like does not touch the touch pad, and it is judged which of an offset in a second output voltage AD1 and an offset in the third output voltage AD2 is smaller than the other. When the offset in the second output voltage AD1 is smaller than the offset in the third output voltage AD2, the modification to the second calibration data X1 is permitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Takayasu OTAGAKI, Atsuhiro Ichikawa, Hiroya Ito, Kazuhiro Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20110199331
    Abstract: The invention provides an electrostatic capacity type touch sensor that is not influenced by a parasitic capacitor formed between a sensor line connected to a touch sensor pad and other signal line and provides a stable sensor output. A sensor line connected to a touch sensor pad is connected to a non-inverting input terminal (+) of a charge amplifier. An LED is disposed in the touch sensor pad, and the cathode of the LED is connected to an LED signal line. Since the LED signal line is disposed adjacent to the sensor line, a parasitic capacitor is formed between the LED signal line and the sensor line. In order to keep the capacitance of this parasitic capacitor constant, a pull-up resistor is connected to the LED signal line. The LED signal line is biased to a power supply potential Vdd by the pull-up resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Takayasu OTAGAKI, Atsuhiro Ichikawa, Hiroya Ito, Kazuhiro Hasegawa