Patents by Inventor Bassem AlNahas

Bassem AlNahas 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: 9621041
    Abstract: A controller for a Buck-Boost converter includes a feedback control circuit responsive to the converter output and configured to generate a control signal for the Buck switch and a feed forward control circuit responsive to the input voltage and configured to generate a control signal for the Boost switch. The feed forward circuit is decoupled from the converter output and may be programmable to select a predetermined output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaowu Sun, Bassem Alnahas
  • Patent number: 9614428
    Abstract: A buck-boost switching regulator has an output voltage boost circuit to provide a boosted output voltage. The boosted voltage is used to generate higher voltage control signals to gates of NMOS switches, resulting in an ability to operate at lower input voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Garvey, Bassem Alnahas, Vijay Mangtani
  • Patent number: 9615413
    Abstract: An LED driver circuit selects a regulated voltage value for use in driving one or more LEDs based on dimming duty cycle. In some embodiments, the regulated voltage value may be selected in accordance with a function that decreases monotonically with increasing dimming duty cycle. In this manner, LED current accuracy can be achieved at lower dimming duty cycles, while still achieving enhanced operational efficiency at higher dimming duty cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Pranav Raval, Bassem Alnahas, Nai-Chi Lee
  • Publication number: 20160233767
    Abstract: A controller for a Buck-Boost converter includes a feedback control circuit responsive to the converter output and configured to generate a control signal for the Buck switch and a feed forward control circuit responsive to the input voltage and configured to generate a control signal for the Boost switch. The feed forward circuit is decoupled from the converter output and may be programmable to select a predetermined output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaowu Sun, Bassem Alnahas
  • Patent number: 9347998
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring battery voltage includes a first capacitor configured to receive a charge from a battery. A first switch may be configured to selectively couple the first capacitor to the battery. A second capacitor may be coupled to a reference potential. A second switch may be configured to selectively couple the second capacitor to the first capacitor to transfer at least a portion of the charge on the first capacitor to the second capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Szczeszynski, Bassem Alnahas
  • Patent number: 9320094
    Abstract: Electronic circuits provide an error signal to control a regulated output voltage signal generated by a controllable DC-DC converter for driving one or more series connected strings of light emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Szczeszynski, Bassem Alnahas, Vijay Mangtani
  • Publication number: 20150303807
    Abstract: A buck-boost switching regulator has an output voltage boost circuit to provide a boosted output voltage. The boosted voltage is used to generate higher voltage control signals to gates of NMOS switches, resulting in an ability to operate at lower input voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Garvey, Bassem Alnahas, Vijay Mangtani
  • Publication number: 20150181671
    Abstract: Electronic circuits provide an error signal to control a regulated output voltage signal generated by a controllable DC-DC converter for driving one or more series connected strings of light emitting diodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Szczeszynski, Bassem Alnahas, Vijay Mangtani
  • Patent number: 9007000
    Abstract: Electronic circuits provide an error signal to control a regulated output voltage signal generated by a controllable DC-DC converter for driving one or more series connected strings of light emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Szczeszynski, Bassem Alnahas, Vijay Mangtani
  • Patent number: 8994279
    Abstract: Control circuits and techniques are provided for use with DC-DC converters. The circuits and techniques may, in some implementations, be used with LED driver systems. In some embodiments control circuits are provided that rely on multiple different feedback paths to adjust a duty cycle of a DC-DC converter. In some embodiments, control circuits are provided that switch between multiple capacitors to provide as duty cycle control signal for use with a DC-DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Pranav Raval, Gregory Szczeszynski, Bassem Alnahas, Nai-Chi Lee
  • Publication number: 20150061528
    Abstract: An LED driver circuit selects a regulated voltage value for use in driving one or more LEDs based on dimming duty cycle. In some embodiments, the regulated voltage value may be selected in accordance with a function that decreases monotonically with increasing dimming duty cycle. In this manner, LED current accuracy can be achieved at lower dimming duty cycles, while still achieving enhanced operational efficiency at higher dimming duty cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Pranav Raval, Bassem Alnahas, Nai-Chi Lee
  • Patent number: 8957607
    Abstract: A control circuit used to control a DC-DC converter includes a duty cycle control unit to control a duty cycle of the DC-DC converter and a hysteretic control unit to maintain a voltage at an output of the DC-DC converter within a narrow range during certain operational time periods. The hysteretic control unit may maintain the converter output voltage within the range by alternately enabling and disabling the duty cycle control unit based on feedback from the DC-DC converter output. In at least one embodiment, the control circuit is used within LED driver circuitry for driving a plurality of LED channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Allergo Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Pranav Raval, Gregory Szczeszynski, Bassem Alnahas
  • Publication number: 20140312914
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring battery voltage includes a first capacitor configured to receive a charge from a battery. A first switch may be configured to selectively couple the first capacitor to the battery. A second capacitor may be coupled to a reference potential. A second switch may be configured to selectively couple the second capacitor to the first capacitor to transfer at least a portion of the charge on the first capacitor to the second capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Szczeszynski, Bassem Alnahas
  • Publication number: 20140210359
    Abstract: Control circuits and techniques are provided for use with DC-DC converters. The circuits and techniques may, in some implementations, be used with LED driver systems. In some embodiments control circuits are provided that rely on multiple different feedback paths to adjust a duty cycle of a DC-DC converter. In some embodiments, control circuits are provided that switch between multiple capacitors to provide as duty cycle control signal for use with a DC-DC converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Pranav Raval, Gregory Szczeszynski, Bassem Alnahas, Nai-Chi Lee
  • Publication number: 20140125236
    Abstract: Electronic circuits provide an error signal to control a regulated output voltage signal generated by a controllable DC-DC converter for driving one or more series connected strings of light emitting diodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Szczeszynski, Bassem Alnahas, Vijay Mangtani
  • Publication number: 20140055045
    Abstract: A control circuit used to control a DC-DC converter includes a duty cycle control unit to control a duty cycle of the DC-DC converter and a hysteretic control unit to maintain a voltage at an output of the DC-DC converter within a narrow range during certain operational time periods. The hysteretic control unit may maintain the converter output voltage within the range by alternately enabling and disabling the duty cycle control unit based on feedback from the DC-DC converter output. In at least one embodiment, the control circuit is used within LED driver circuitry for driving a plurality of LED channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Pranav Raval, Gregory Szczeszynski, Bassem Alnahas
  • Publication number: 20120181939
    Abstract: Electronic circuits provide an error signal to control a regulated output voltage signal generated by a controllable DC-DC converter for driving one or more series connected strings of light emitting diodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Szczeszynski, Bassem AlNahas, Vijay Mangtani
  • Patent number: 8169161
    Abstract: Electronic circuits provide an error signal to control a regulated output voltage signal generated by a controllable DC-DC converter for driving one or more series connected strings of light emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Szczeszynski, Bassem AlNahas, Vijay Mangtani
  • Publication number: 20090128045
    Abstract: Electronic circuits provide an error signal to control a regulated output voltage signal generated by a controllable DC-DC converter for driving one or more series connected strings of light emitting diodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Gregory Szczeszynski, Bassem AlNahas, Vijay Mangtani