Patents by Inventor Chii-Fa Chiou
Chii-Fa Chiou 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: 8547033Abstract: A solid state lighting controller arranged for use with a single stage power factor correction switched mode power supply, a light emitting diode (LED) string and a current sense element arranged to sense current through the LED string, the solid state lighting controller constituted of: a current governor in series with the LED string exhibiting a governor differential amplifier and a governor electronically controlled switch responsive to the output of the governor differential amplifier, the current governor arranged to limit current flow through the LED string responsive to a current limit reference; and a feedback circuit exhibiting an error amplifier, the feedback circuit arranged to feedback a signal to the power factor correction switched mode power supply controller whose value is a function of the difference between the current through the LED string sensed by the current sense element and a target current signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2011Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Microsemi Corp.—Analog Mixed Signal Group Ltd.Inventors: Yair Darshan, Chii-Fa Chiou, David K Lacombe
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Publication number: 20120081017Abstract: A solid state lighting controller arranged for use with a single stage power factor correction switched mode power supply, a light emitting diode (LED) string and a current sense element arranged to sense current through the LED string, the solid state lighting controller constituted of: a current governor in series with the LED string exhibiting a governor differential amplifier and a governor electronically controlled switch responsive to the output of the governor differential amplifier, the current governor arranged to limit current flow through the LED string responsive to a current limit reference; and a feedback circuit exhibiting an error amplifier, the feedback circuit arranged to feedback a signal to the power factor correction switched mode power supply controller whose value is a function of the difference between the current through the LED string sensed by the current sense element and a target current signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2011Publication date: April 5, 2012Applicant: MICROSEMI CORP. - ANALOG MIXED SIGNAL GROUP LTD.Inventors: Yair DARSHAN, Chii-Fa CHIOU, David K. LACOMBE
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Patent number: 7965046Abstract: A driver circuit or controller flexibly drives either a half-bridge or a full-bridge switching network in a backlight inverter without modification, redundant circuitry or additional components. The driver circuit includes four outputs to provide four respective driving signals that establish a periodic timing sequence using a zero-voltage switching technique for semiconductor switches in the switching network.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2009Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Microsemi CorporationInventor: Chii-Fa Chiou
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Patent number: 7906943Abstract: A power conversion circuit operates in a discontinuous switching mode over a wide range of loading conditions and varies a coil peak current to maintain efficiency over the wide range of loading conditions. The coil peak current is adjustable based at least in part on a feedback signal generated in response to a load condition.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Microsemi CorporationInventors: Yuji Isobe, Chii-Fa Chiou
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Patent number: 7868603Abstract: A feed-forward correction circuit in a PWM controller adjusts an error signal inversely with respect to a supply voltage for a switching voltage regulator to quickly compensate for changes or transients in the supply voltage. The adjusted error signal is provided to a PWM comparator to control a duty cycle of an output signal. The switching voltage regulator can be a DC-to-DC converter or a DC-to-AC converter, and the output signal is used to generate one or more driving signals to control semiconductor switches in the switching voltage regulator. The feed-forward correction circuit uses an offset compensation technique or a translinear circuit to maintain a substantially inverse product relationship between the supply voltage and the duty cycle of the output signal, thereby reducing overshoots and undershoots in a regulated output voltage of the switching voltage regulator.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2007Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Microsemi CorporationInventors: David K. Lacombe, Chii-Fa Chiou, George C. Henry
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Publication number: 20100090611Abstract: A driver circuit or controller flexibly drives either a half-bridge or a full-bridge switching network in a backlight inverter without modification, redundant circuitry or additional components. The driver circuit includes four outputs to provide four respective driving signals that establish a periodic timing sequence using a zero-voltage switching technique for semiconductor switches in the switching network.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2009Publication date: April 15, 2010Applicant: MICROSEMI CORPORATIONInventor: Chii-Fa Chiou
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Patent number: 7646152Abstract: A driver circuit or controller flexibly drives either a half-bridge or a full-bridge switching network in a backlight inverter without modification, redundant circuitry or additional components. The driver circuit includes four outputs to provide four respective driving signals that establish a periodic timing sequence using a zero-voltage switching technique for semiconductor switches in the switching network.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2006Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: Microsemi CorporationInventor: Chii-Fa Chiou
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Publication number: 20090160422Abstract: A power conversion circuit operates in a discontinuous switching mode over a wide range of loading conditions and varies a coil peak current to maintain efficiency over the wide range of loading conditions. The coil peak current is adjustable based at least in part on a feedback signal generated in response to a load condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2007Publication date: June 25, 2009Applicant: Microsemi CorporationInventors: Yuji Isobe, Chii-Fa Chiou
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Patent number: 7414371Abstract: A controller for an inverter provides variable gain control in a voltage regulation loop to prevent overshoot in an output voltage of the inverter. A feedback circuit senses the output voltage and provides a voltage feedback signal to the controller. The controller includes a voltage conversion circuit and an error amplifier as part of the voltage regulation loop. A gain control block varies a circuit parameter in the voltage conversion circuit or the error amplifier such that regulation of the output voltage starts at a relatively lower voltage level and increases smoothly to a desired level.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2006Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: Microsemi CorporationInventors: Hwangsoo Choi, Chii-Fa Chiou
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Publication number: 20080084196Abstract: A feed-forward correction circuit in a PWM controller adjusts an error signal inversely with respect to a supply voltage for a switching voltage regulator to quickly compensate for changes or transients in the supply voltage. The adjusted error signal is provided to a PWM comparator to control a duty cycle of an output signal. The switching voltage regulator can be a DC-to-DC converter or a DC-to-AC converter, and the output signal is used to generate one or more driving signals to control semiconductor switches in the switching voltage regulator. The feed-forward correction circuit uses an offset compensation technique or a translinear circuit to maintain a substantially inverse product relationship between the supply voltage and the duty cycle of the output signal, thereby reducing overshoots and undershoots in a regulated output voltage of the switching voltage regulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2007Publication date: April 10, 2008Applicant: Microsemi CorporationInventors: David K. Lacombe, Chii-Fa Chiou, George C. Henry
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Publication number: 20070014130Abstract: A driver circuit or controller flexibly drives either a half-bridge or a full-bridge switching network in a backlight inverter without modification, redundant circuitry or additional components. The driver circuit includes four outputs to provide four respective driving signals that establish a periodic timing sequence using a zero-voltage switching technique for semiconductor switches in the switching network.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2006Publication date: January 18, 2007Inventor: Chii-Fa Chiou
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Patent number: 7161309Abstract: A compensation circuit for protecting a lamp from a large transient current. The compensation circuit may include a saw tooth generator configured to generate a saw tooth signal with an amplitude corresponding to a supply voltage of the lamp. A pulse width modulated signal may be generated by a comparator of the compensation circuit based on the saw tooth signal and a DC signal. The duty cycle of the pulse width modulated signal may be used by a controller to control the duration of time that current flows through the lamp. When the supply voltage of the lamp transitions from a low voltage to a high voltage, the amplitude of the saw tooth signal increases. When the amplitude of the saw tooth signal increases, the duty cycle of the pulse width modulated signal decreases thereby causing the controller to decrease the duration of time that current flows through the lamp.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2004Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: Microsemi CorporationInventors: Chii-Fa Chiou, Yuji Yoshida
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Patent number: 7112929Abstract: A driver circuit or controller flexibly drives either a half-bridge or a full-bridge switching network in a backlight inverter without modification, redundant circuitry or additional components. The driver circuit includes four outputs to provide four respective driving signals that establish a periodic timing sequence using a zero-voltage switching technique for semiconductor switches in the switching network.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2005Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Assignee: Microsemi CorporationInventor: Chii-Fa Chiou
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Publication number: 20060049778Abstract: A compensation circuit for protecting a lamp from a large transient current. The compensation circuit may include a saw tooth generator configured to generate a saw tooth signal with an amplitude corresponding to a supply voltage of the lamp. A pulse width modulated signal may be generated by a comparator of the compensation circuit based on the saw tooth signal and a DC signal. The duty cycle of the pulse width modulated signal may be used by a controller to control the duration of time that current flows through the lamp. When the supply voltage of the lamp transitions from a low voltage to a high voltage, the amplitude of the saw tooth signal increases. When the amplitude of the saw tooth signal increases, the duty cycle of the pulse width modulated signal decreases thereby causing the controller to decrease the duration of time that current flows through the lamp.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2004Publication date: March 9, 2006Inventors: Chii-Fa Chiou, Yuji Yoshida
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Publication number: 20050218825Abstract: A driver circuit or controller flexibly drives either a half-bridge or a full-bridge switching network in a backlight inverter without modification, redundant circuitry or additional components. The driver circuit includes four outputs to provide four respective driving signals that establish a periodic timing sequence using a zero-voltage switching technique for semiconductor switches in the switching network.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2005Publication date: October 6, 2005Inventor: Chii-Fa Chiou
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Patent number: 6803825Abstract: A transimpedance amplifier uses a pseudo-differential configuration to improve dynamic range and to minimize signal distortion in an optical receiver. The optical receiver includes a photodiode that converts a light signal to an electrical current signal, and the transimpedance amplifier converts the electrical current signal to a pair of differential voltage signals for further processing. The electrical current signal is provided to the transimpedance amplifier by connecting a cathode of the photodiode to a first input amplifier via a DC-blocking capacitor and directly connecting an anode of the photodiode to a second input amplifier. The transimpedance amplifier includes a DC correction circuit that generates a correction current in response to an output of the first input amplifier. The correction current is added to an input of the second input amplifier to adjust a DC offset at an output of the second input amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2003Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Microsemi CorporationInventors: Chii-Fa Chiou, Yuji Isobe
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Patent number: 6784750Abstract: A transimpedance amplifier selectively activates DC compensation to optimize a signal-to-noise ratio for an optical receiver. The optical receiver includes a photodiode that converts a light signal to an electrical current signal, and the transimpedance amplifier converts the electrical current signal to a pair of differential voltage signals for further processing. The electrical current signal is provided to the transimpedance amplifier by connecting a cathode of the photodiode to a first input amplifier via a DC blocking capacitor and by directly connecting an anode of the photodiode to a second input amplifier. The transimpedance amplifier includes a DC correction circuit that generates a correction current when an output of the first input amplifier exceeds a predefined threshold. The correction current is added to an input of the second input amplifier to adjust a DC offset at an output of the second input amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2003Date of Patent: August 31, 2004Assignee: Microsemi CorporationInventors: Chii-Fa Chiou, Yuji Isobe, Yuji Yoshida
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Patent number: 6674595Abstract: A hard disk drive (HDD) circuit (10) having feedback provided to an input of an differential amplifier setting the amplifier input impedance close to a flexible printed circuit (FPC) characteristic impedance. A matched source and input impedance produces a generally flat gain frequency response. As the result of flat response and wider gain bandwidth, white noise without high frequency peaking can be obtained. Feedback resistors (R5) provide feedback according to the present invention which is superior in terms of the input referred noise since the feedback attenuates both the input signal from the sensor and the noise from the amplifier. Feedback resistors (R5) may be connected through AC coupling capacitors to compensate the voltage differences between amplifier input and output. The circuit of the present invention provides a method to connect the feedback resistors directly from amplifier outputs to inputs which have a different potential.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2000Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Chii-Fa Chiou, Yuji Isobe
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Publication number: 20030219260Abstract: A transimpedance amplifier uses a pseudo-differential configuration to improve dynamic range and to minimize signal distortion in an optical receiver. The optical receiver includes a photodiode that converts a light signal to an electrical current signal, and the transimpedance amplifier converts the electrical current signal to a pair of differential voltage signals for further processing. The electrical current signal is provided to the transimpedance amplifier by connecting a cathode of the photodiode to a first input amplifier via a DC-blocking capacitor and directly connecting an anode of the photodiode to a second input amplifier. The transimpedance amplifier includes a DC correction circuit that generates a correction current in response to an output of the first input amplifier. The correction current is added to an input of the second input amplifier to adjust a DC offset at an output of the second input amplifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2003Publication date: November 27, 2003Inventors: Chii-Fa Chiou, Yuji Isobe
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Publication number: 20030218508Abstract: A transimpedance amplifier selectively activates DC compensation to optimize a signal-to-noise ratio for an optical receiver. The optical receiver includes a photodiode that converts a light signal to an electrical current signal, and the transimpedance amplifier converts the electrical current signal to a pair of differential voltage signals for further processing. The electrical current signal is provided to the transimpedance amplifier by connecting a cathode of the photodiode to a first input amplifier via a DC blocking capacitor and by directly connecting an anode of the photodiode to a second input amplifier. The transimpedance amplifier includes a DC correction circuit that generates a correction current when an output of the first input amplifier exceeds a predefined threshold. The correction current is added to an input of the second input amplifier to adjust a DC offset at an output of the second input amplifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2003Publication date: November 27, 2003Inventors: Chii-Fa Chiou, Yuji Isobe, Yuji Yoshida