Patents by Inventor Balu Balakrishnan

Balu Balakrishnan 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: 9019728
    Abstract: A secondary control circuit includes a voltage regulator circuit to be coupled to an output of a power converter to provide a regulated power supply. One or more switched loads is coupled between a first terminal to be coupled to the output of the power converter and an output ground terminal. One or more comparator circuits is coupled to a second terminal coupled to receive an output sense signal. Each one of the one or more comparator circuits is coupled to receive a respective one of one or more reference signals. Each respective one of the one or more reference signals is a scaled representation of a first one of the one or more reference signals. Each one of the one or more switched loads is coupled to be switched in response to an output of a respective one of the one or more comparator circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: David Michael Hugh Matthews, Balu Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian
  • Patent number: 8976561
    Abstract: An integrated circuit package for use in a switch mode power converter comprises an encapsulation and a lead frame. A portion of the lead frame is disposed within the encapsulation. The lead frame includes a first conductor having a first conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation. The lead frame also includes a second conductor galvanically isolated from the first conductor. The second conductor includes a second conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation proximate to and magnetically coupled to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductors. A first control die including a first control circuit is coupled to the first conductor. A second control die including a second control circuit is coupled to the second conductor. One or more control signals are communicated between the first and second control dice through the communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Publication number: 20140327108
    Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes an encapsulation and a lead frame with a portion of the lead frame disposed within the encapsulation. The lead frame includes a first conductor having a first conductive loop and a third conductive loop disposed within the encapsulation. The third conductive loop is wound in a direction relative to the first conductive loop such that the first conductive loop is coupled out of phase with the third conductive loop. The lead frame also includes a second conductor galvanically isolated from the first conductor. The second conductor includes a second conductive loop disposed within the encapsulation proximate to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: David Kung, David Michael Hugh Matthews, Balu Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20140307479
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a switching control and a sensor. The switching control generates a first signal to control switching of a power switch between a first state and a second state. The sensor receives a second signal from a single terminal of the controller during at least a portion of the time that the power switch is in the first state and during at least a portion of the time that the power switch is in the second state. The second signal is representative of a line input voltage during at least the portion of time that the power switch is in the first state and is representative of an output voltage during at least the portion of time that the power switch is in the second state. The sensor is coupled to be responsive to the first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Balu Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20140268938
    Abstract: A power converter controller includes an input sense circuit to receive an input sense signal representative of an input of a power converter. A zero-crossing detector is coupled to the input sense circuit to be responsive to the input sense signal falling below a first zero-crossing threshold and rising above a second zero-crossing threshold to determine zero-crossing intervals. A timer circuit is coupled to the zero-crossing detector to determine peak intervals and to synchronize an enable signal generated to enable the input sense circuit to sense the input of the power converter during the peak intervals of the input of the power converter. A comparator circuit is coupled to the input sense circuit and the timer circuit to detect if the input of the power converter is greater or less than one or more thresholds during the peak intervals of the input of the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: David Michael Hugh Matthews, Balu Balakrishnan, Zhao-Jun Wang
  • Publication number: 20140268922
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a drive circuit coupled to generate a drive signal to control switching of a power switch to control a transfer of energy from a power converter input to a power converter output. The controller also includes an input for receiving an enable signal including enable events responsive to the power converter output. The drive circuit is coupled to turn ON the power switch in response to the enable events and turn OFF the power switch in response to a power switch current reaching a current limit threshold. A current limit threshold generator is coupled to receive the drive signal from the enable events of the enable signal. The current limit threshold may be a ramp signal and the ramp signal along with the time between enable events may be used to modulate the drive signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Giao Minh Pham, Lance M. Wong
  • Publication number: 20140265896
    Abstract: A system for controlling a light source includes a control circuit to be coupled to an ac source to receive an ac signal. The control circuit includes an input controller coupled to receive an input control signal and dimming command circuitry coupled to the input controller and coupled to receive the ac signal. The dimming command circuitry is coupled to remove one or more portions of a predetermined duration from the ac signal followed by a substantially full ac signal in response to the input control signal. A lighting driver circuit is to be coupled to a light source and coupled to receive the ac signal from the control circuit. The lighting driver circuit is coupled to drive the light source to have a light output adjusted in response to the removed one or more portions of the predetermined duration from the ac signal by the dimming command circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Balu Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20140254214
    Abstract: A power converter controller includes a primary controller that is galvanically isolated from a secondary controller. The primary controller controls a state of a power switch during a first mode of operation according to a switching pattern defined by the primary controller. During a second mode of operation, the primary controller controls the state of the power switch in response to control signals received via a communication link. The secondary controller operates in a powered down state during the first mode of operation. The secondary controller initiates a transition operation with the primary controller that transitions the primary controller and the secondary controller from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation. In the second mode of operation, the secondary controller transmit the control signals to the primary controller via the communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian, Sheng Liu
  • Publication number: 20140254202
    Abstract: A voltage comparator includes an amplifier coupled to receive an input signal at an amplifier input and generate an output signal at an amplifier output in response to the input signal. The amplifier includes a current generation circuit coupled to generate a first current flowing through a first branch and a second current flowing through a second branch. A first transistor has a first terminal coupled to the amplifier input and a second terminal coupled to the first branch. A second transistor has a third terminal coupled to the second branch, a fourth terminal coupled to a reference voltage. A second control terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the first control terminal. An output circuit is coupled to the amplifier output to generate a comparator output signal in response to the output signal. The amplifier output is coupled to the second branch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian, Leif Lund
  • Publication number: 20140254212
    Abstract: A power converter controller includes a primary controller and a secondary controller. The primary controller is coupled to receive one or more request signals from the secondary controller and transition a power switch from an OFF state to an ON state in response to each of the received request signals. The primary controller is coupled to detect a turn-off condition when the power switch is in the ON state and transition the power switch from the ON state to the OFF state in response to detection of the turn-off condition. The secondary controller is galvanically isolated from the primary controller. The secondary controller is coupled to transmit the request signals to the primary controller and control the amount of time between the transmission of each of the request signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: David Michael Hugh Matthews, Balu Balakrishnan, David Kung
  • Publication number: 20140254213
    Abstract: A secondary control circuit includes a voltage regulator circuit to be coupled to an output of a power converter to provide a regulated power supply. One or more switched loads is coupled between a first terminal to be coupled to the output of the power converter and an output ground terminal. One or more comparator circuits is coupled to a second terminal coupled to receive an output sense signal. Each one of the one or more comparator circuits is coupled to receive a respective one of one or more reference signals. Each respective one of the one or more reference signals is a scaled representation of a first one of the one or more reference signals. Each one of the one or more switched loads is coupled to be switched in response to an output of a respective one of the one or more comparator circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: David Michael Hugh Matthews, Balu Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian
  • Patent number: 8816596
    Abstract: An integrated circuit controller for use in a light emitting diode (LED) driver includes a comparator, an input signal absence timer and a regulator circuit. The comparator receives a first voltage representative of an ac input signal and compares the first voltage with a reference voltage. The input signal absence timer determines whether the first voltage is less than the reference voltage for a threshold duration and in response thereto generates a detect signal indicating that a portion of an ac half cycle is absent from the ac input signal. The regulator circuit controls switching of a switch to regulate a transfer of energy from the ac input signal to an LED load. The regulator circuit is disabled from switching the switch in response to the detect signal indicating the absence of the portion of the ac half cycle from the ac input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Balu Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 8818296
    Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes an encapsulation and lead frame with a portion of the lead frame disposed within the encapsulation. The lead frame includes a first conductor formed in the lead frame having a first conductive loop and a third conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation. A second conductor is formed in the lead frame galvanically isolated from the first conductor. The second conductor includes a second conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation proximate to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductors. The third conductive loop is wound in an opposite direction relative to the first conductive loop in the encapsulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: David Kung, David Michael Hugh Matthews, Balu Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 8796560
    Abstract: A package includes a body that encapsulates a semiconductor die, the body having a first pair of opposing lateral sides, a second pair of opposing lateral sides, a top, and a bottom. The bottom has a primary surface and a plurality of protrusions that extend outward from the primary surface. When the package is mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) the protrusions contact the PCB and the primary surface is disposed a first distance away from the PCB. The package further includes a plurality of leads that extend outward from the first pair of opposing lateral sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Brad L. Hawthorne, Stephan Bäurle
  • Patent number: 8773871
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a sensor coupled to receive a signal from a single terminal of the controller. The signal from the single terminal represents an output voltage of the power converter during at least a portion of an off time of a power switch and a line input voltage during a portion of an on time of the power switch. A switching control is to be coupled to switch the power switch to regulate the output of the power converter in response to the sensor. A power limiter is coupled to the sensor to output a power limit signal to the switching control in response to the line input voltage of the power converter. The switching control is further coupled to switch the power switch to regulate the output of the power converter in response to the power limit signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex B. Djenguerian, Balu Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20140153297
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an ON/OFF controller for regulating an output of a switched mode power supply by selectively enabling current conduction by a power switch within enabled switching cycles and disabling current conduction by the power switch within disabled switching cycles. The controller includes a logic block and a time-to-frequency converter. The logic block generates a drive signal that enables the current conduction by the power switch within respective enabled switching cycles and disables the current conduction by the power switch within respective disabled switching cycles. The time-to-frequency converter generates a variable-frequency clock signal that defines durations of the switching cycles, where the time-to-frequency converter increases a duration of a switching cycle in response to a decrease in duration of current conduction by the power switch in a previously enabled switching cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian, Leif Lund
  • Patent number: 8742771
    Abstract: An example integrated control circuit includes a regulator, a first comparator, a second comparator, and a counter. The regulator is to charge, during a time period, a capacitor. The first comparator is to provide an output indicating when a voltage on the capacitor reaches a first threshold voltage. The second comparator is coupled to provide an output indicating when the voltage on the capacitor reaches a second threshold voltage. The counter is coupled to begin counting in response to the first threshold voltage being reached and is coupled to stop counting in response to the second threshold voltage being reached. The counter is coupled to provide an output representative of the capacitance value of the capacitor during the time period and the integrated control circuit receives a bias current at the terminal from the capacitor to provide power to operate the integrated control circuit after the time period has ended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: David Michael Hugh Matthews, Alex B. Djenguerian, Kent Wong, Balu Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20140140115
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) comprises a rectifier/regulator circuit coupled to receive an ac source voltage and output a regulated dc voltage. The rectifier/regulator circuit includes first and second switching elements that provide charging current when enabled. The first and second switching elements do not provide charging current when disabled. A sensor circuit is coupled to sense the regulated dc voltage and generate a feedback control signal coupled to the rectifier/regulator circuit that enables the first and second switching elements when the regulated do voltage is above a target voltage, and disables the first and second switching elements when the regulated do voltage is below the target voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: David Kung, Balu Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20140133186
    Abstract: An integrated circuit package for use in a switch mode power converter comprises an encapsulation and a lead frame. A portion of the lead frame is disposed within the encapsulation. The lead frame includes a first conductor having a first conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation. The lead frame also includes a second conductor galvanically isolated from the first conductor. The second conductor includes a second conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation proximate to and magnetically coupled to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductors. A first control die including a first control circuit is coupled to the first conductor. A second control die including a second control circuit is coupled to the second conductor. One or more control signals are communicated between the first and second control dice through the communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Publication number: 20140131843
    Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes an encapsulation and a lead frame. A portion of the lead frame is disposed within encapsulation. The lead frame includes a first conductor having a first conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation. The lead frame also includes a second conductor that is galvanically isolated from the first conductor. The second conductor includes a second conductive loop that is substantially disposed within the encapsulation proximate to and magnetically coupled to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, David Michael Hugh Matthews