Patents by Inventor Christopher A. Menkus

Christopher A. Menkus 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).

  • Publication number: 20250096812
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a set of N unit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) having a common architecture, and which provide an aggregate data rate. Moreover, the integrated circuit includes control logic that selects subsets of the set of N unit ADCs in order to realize sub-ADCs of different data rates that can each be an arbitrary integer multiple of an inverse of N times the aggregate data rate of the N unit ADCs. Furthermore, the control logic may dynamically select the subsets on the fly or on a frame-by-frame basis. This dynamically selection may occur at boot time and/or a runtime. Additionally, the given different data rate may correspond to one or more phases of a multi-phase clock in the integrated circuit, where the multiphase clock may include a number of phases corresponding to a number of possible subsets, and given selected subsets may not use all of the available phases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Applicant: AyDeeKay LLC dba Indie Semiconductor
    Inventors: Setu Mohta, Christopher A. Menkus, David Kang
  • Patent number: 12184299
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a set of N unit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) having a common architecture, and which provide an aggregate data rate. Moreover, the integrated circuit includes control logic that selects subsets of the set of N unit ADCs in order to realize sub-ADCs of different data rates that can each be an arbitrary integer multiple of an inverse of N times the aggregate data rate of the N unit ADCs. Furthermore, the control logic may dynamically select the subsets on the fly or on a frame-by-frame basis. This dynamically selection may occur at boot time and/or a runtime. Additionally, the given different data rate may correspond to one or more phases of a multi-phase clock in the integrated circuit, where the multiphase clock may include a number of phases corresponding to a number of possible subsets, and given selected subsets may not use all of the available phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: AyDee Kay LLC
    Inventors: Setu Mohta, Christopher A. Menkus, David Kang
  • Publication number: 20240340019
    Abstract: A conversion circuit that performs analog-to-digital conversion is described. During operation, the conversion circuit receives an input signal. Then, the conversion circuit performs analog-to-digital conversion and provides a quantized output corresponding to the input signal based at least in part on a first power-supply voltage and a second power-supply voltage of the conversion circuit. For example, the quantized output may be based at least in part on a comparison of the input signal to the first power-supply voltage and the second power-supply voltage. Moreover, the first power-supply voltage and the second power-supply voltage may specify a full-scale range of the conversion circuit. When the full-scale range exceeds a second full-scale range associated with reference voltages that are other than the first power-supply voltage and the second power-supply voltage, the quantized output may correspond to a larger number of bits than when the full-scale range equals the second full-scale range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: AyDeeKay LLC dba Indie Semiconductor
    Inventors: Christopher A. Menkus, Robert W. Kim
  • Patent number: 12040815
    Abstract: A conversion circuit that performs analog-to-digital conversion is described. During operation, the conversion circuit receives an input signal. Then, the conversion circuit performs analog-to-digital conversion and provides a quantized output corresponding to the input signal based at least in part on a first power-supply voltage and a second power-supply voltage of the conversion circuit. For example, the quantized output may be based at least in part on a comparison of the input signal to the first power-supply voltage and the second power-supply voltage. Moreover, the first power-supply voltage and the second power-supply voltage may specify a full-scale range of the conversion circuit. When the full-scale range exceeds a second full-scale range associated with reference voltages that are other than the first power-supply voltage and the second power-supply voltage, the quantized output may correspond to a larger number of bits than when the full-scale range equals the second full-scale range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Ay Dee Kay LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Menkus, Robert W. Kim
  • Publication number: 20230412183
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may include a full-scale reference generation circuit that corrects for variation in the gain or full scale of a set of interleaved analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). Notably, the full-scale reference generation circuit may provide a given full-scale or reference setting for a given interleaved ADC, where the given full-scale setting corresponds to a predefined or fixed component and a variable component (which may specify a given full-scale correction for a given full scale). For example, the full-scale reference generation circuit may include a full-scale reference generator replica circuit that outputs a fixed current corresponding to the fixed component. Furthermore, the full-scale reference generation circuit may include a full-scale reference generator circuit that outputs a first voltage corresponding to the given full-scale setting based at least in part on the fixed current and a variable current that, at least in part, specifies the given full-scale correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: AyDeeKay LLC dba Indie Semiconductor
    Inventors: Christopher A. Menkus, Robert W. Kim
  • Publication number: 20230261666
    Abstract: A conversion circuit that performs analog-to-digital conversion is described. During operation, the conversion circuit receives an input signal. Then, the conversion circuit performs analog-to-digital conversion and provides a quantized output corresponding to the input signal based at least in part on a first power-supply voltage and a second power-supply voltage of the conversion circuit. For example, the quantized output may be based at least in part on a comparison of the input signal to the first power-supply voltage and the second power-supply voltage. Moreover, the first power-supply voltage and the second power-supply voltage may specify a full-scale range of the conversion circuit. When the full-scale range exceeds a second full-scale range associated with reference voltages that are other than the first power-supply voltage and the second power-supply voltage, the quantized output may correspond to a larger number of bits than when the full-scale range equals the second full-scale range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: AyDeeKay LLC dba Indie Semiconductor
    Inventors: Christopher A. Menkus, Robert W. Kim
  • Patent number: 11716090
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may include a full-scale reference generation circuit that corrects for variation in the gain or full scale of a set of interleaved analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). Notably, the full-scale reference generation circuit may provide a given full-scale or reference setting for a given interleaved ADC, where the given full-scale setting corresponds to a predefined or fixed component and a variable component (which may specify a given full-scale correction for a given full scale). For example, the full-scale reference generation circuit may include a full-scale reference generator replica circuit that outputs a fixed current corresponding to the fixed component. Furthermore, the full-scale reference generation circuit may include a full-scale reference generator circuit that outputs a first voltage corresponding to the given full-scale setting based at least in part on the fixed current and a variable current that, at least in part, specifies the given full-scale correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: AyDee Kay LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Menkus, Robert W. Kim
  • Publication number: 20230238978
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a set of N unit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) having a common architecture, and which provide an aggregate data rate. Moreover, the integrated circuit includes control logic that selects subsets of the set of N unit ADCs in order to realize sub-ADCs of different data rates that can each be an arbitrary integer multiple of an inverse of N times the aggregate data rate of the N unit ADCs. Furthermore, the control logic may dynamically select the subsets on the fly or on a frame-by-frame basis. This dynamically selection may occur at boot time and/or a runtime. Additionally, the given different data rate may correspond to one or more phases of a multi-phase clock in the integrated circuit, where the multiphase clock may include a number of phases corresponding to a number of possible subsets, and given selected subsets may not use all of the available phases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: AyDeeKay LLC dba Indie Semiconductor
    Inventors: Setu Mohta, Christopher A. Menkus, David Kang
  • Patent number: 11632122
    Abstract: A conversion circuit that performs analog-to-digital conversion is described. During operation, the conversion circuit receives an input signal. Then, the conversion circuit performs analog-to-digital conversion and provides a quantized output corresponding to the input signal based at least in part on a first power-supply voltage and a second power-supply voltage of the conversion circuit. For example, the quantized output may be based at least in part on a comparison of the input signal to the first power-supply voltage and the second power-supply voltage. Moreover, the first power-supply voltage and the second power-supply voltage may specify a full-scale range of the conversion circuit. When the full-scale range exceeds a second full-scale range associated with reference voltages that are other than the first power-supply voltage and the second power-supply voltage, the quantized output may correspond to a larger number of bits than when the full-scale range equals the second full-scale range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: AyDeeKay LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Menkus, Robert W. Kim
  • Patent number: 11616511
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is described. This ADC includes a conversion circuit with multiple bit-conversion circuits. During operation, the ADC may receive an input signal. Then, the conversion circuit may asynchronously perform successive-approximation-register (SAR) analog-to-digital conversion of the input signal using the bit-conversion circuits, where the bit-conversion circuits to provide a quantized representation of the input signal. For example, the bit-conversion circuits may asynchronously and sequentially perform the SAR analog-to-digital conversion to determine different bits in the quantized representation of the input signal. Moreover, the ADC may selectively perform self-calibration of a global delay of the bit-conversions circuits. Note that the timing self-calibration may be iterative and subject to a constraint that a maximum conversion time is less than a target conversion time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: AyDeeKay LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Menkus, Robert W. Kim
  • Publication number: 20230013568
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may include a full-scale reference generation circuit that corrects for variation in the gain or full scale of a set of interleaved analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). Notably, the full-scale reference generation circuit may provide a given full-scale or reference setting for a given interleaved ADC, where the given full-scale setting corresponds to a predefined or fixed component and a variable component (which may specify a given full-scale correction for a given full scale). For example, the full-scale reference generation circuit may include a full-scale reference generator replica circuit that outputs a fixed current corresponding to the fixed component. Furthermore, the full-scale reference generation circuit may include a full-scale reference generator circuit that outputs a first voltage corresponding to the given full-scale setting based at least in part on the fixed current and a variable current that, at least in part, specifies the given full-scale correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: AyDeeKay LLC dba Indie Semiconductor
    Inventors: Christopher A. Menkus, Robert W. Kim
  • Patent number: 11515883
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a set of N unit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) having a common architecture, and which provide an aggregate data rate. Moreover, the integrated circuit includes control logic that selects subsets of the set of N unit ADCs in order to realize sub-ADCs of different data rates that can each be an arbitrary integer multiple of an inverse of N times the aggregate data rate of the N unit ADCs. Furthermore, the control logic may dynamically select the subsets on the fly or on a frame-by-frame basis. This dynamically selection may occur at boot time and/or a runtime. Additionally, the given different data rate may correspond to one or more phases of a multi-phase clock in the integrated circuit, where the multiphase clock may include a number of phases corresponding to a number of possible subsets, and given selected subsets may not use all of the available phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: AyDeeKay LLC
    Inventors: Setu Mohta, Christopher A. Menkus, David Kang
  • Publication number: 20220311448
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is described. This ADC includes a conversion circuit with multiple bit-conversion circuits. During operation, the ADC may receive an input signal. Then, the conversion circuit may asynchronously perform successive-approximation-register (SAR) analog-to-digital conversion of the input signal using the bit-conversion circuits, where the bit-conversion circuits to provide a quantized representation of the input signal. For example, the bit-conversion circuits may asynchronously and sequentially perform the SAR analog-to-digital conversion to determine different bits in the quantized representation of the input signal. Moreover, the ADC may selectively perform self-calibration of a global delay of the bit-conversions circuits. Note that the timing self-calibration may be iterative and subject to a constraint that a maximum conversion time is less than a target conversion time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: AyDeeKay LLC dba Indie Semiconductor
    Inventors: Christopher A. Menkus, Robert W. Kim
  • Patent number: 11424753
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is described. This ADC includes a conversion circuit with multiple bit-conversion circuits. During operation, the ADC may receive an input signal. Then, the conversion circuit may asynchronously perform successive-approximation-register (SAR) analog-to-digital conversion of the input signal using the bit-conversion circuits, where the bit-conversion circuits to provide a quantized representation of the input signal. For example, the bit-conversion circuits may asynchronously and sequentially perform the SAR analog-to-digital conversion to determine different bits in the quantized representation of the input signal. Moreover, the ADC may selectively perform self-calibration of a global delay of the bit-conversions circuits. Note that the timing self-calibration may be iterative and subject to a constraint that a maximum conversion time is less than a target conversion time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Ay Dee Kay LLC
    Inventors: Robert W. Kim, Christopher A. Menkus
  • Patent number: 11424752
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may include a full-scale reference generation circuit that corrects for variation in the gain or full scale of a set of interleaved analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). Notably, the full-scale reference generation circuit may provide a given full-scale or reference setting for a given interleaved ADC, where the given full-scale setting corresponds to a predefined or fixed component and a variable component (which may specify a given full-scale correction for a given full scale). For example, the full-scale reference generation circuit may include a full-scale reference generator replica circuit that outputs a fixed current corresponding to the fixed component. Furthermore, the full-scale reference generation circuit may include a full-scale reference generator circuit that outputs a first voltage corresponding to the given full-scale setting based at least in part on the fixed current and a variable current that, at least in part, specifies the given full-scale correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: AyDeeKay LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Menkus, Robert W. Kim
  • Publication number: 20220216880
    Abstract: A conversion circuit that performs analog-to-digital conversion is described. During operation, the conversion circuit receives an input signal. Then, the conversion circuit performs analog-to-digital conversion and provides a quantized output corresponding to the input signal based at least in part on a first power-supply voltage and a second power-supply voltage of the conversion circuit. For example, the quantized output may be based at least in part on a comparison of the input signal to the first power-supply voltage and the second power-supply voltage. Moreover, the first power-supply voltage and the second power-supply voltage may specify a full-scale range of the conversion circuit. When the full-scale range exceeds a second full-scale range associated with reference voltages that are other than the first power-supply voltage and the second power-supply voltage, the quantized output may correspond to a larger number of bits than when the full-scale range equals the second full-scale range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: AyDeeKay LLC dba Indie Semiconductor
    Inventors: Christopher A. Menkus, Robert W. Kim
  • Publication number: 20220166440
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a set of N unit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) having a common architecture, and which provide an aggregate data rate. Moreover, the integrated circuit includes control logic that selects subsets of the set of N unit ADCs in order to realize sub-ADCs of different data rates that can each be an arbitrary integer multiple of an inverse of N times the aggregate data rate of the N unit ADCs. Furthermore, the control logic may dynamically select the subsets on the fly or on a frame-by-frame basis. This dynamically selection may occur at boot time and/or a runtime. Additionally, the given different data rate may correspond to one or more phases of a multi-phase clock in the integrated circuit, where the multiphase clock may include a number of phases corresponding to a number of possible subsets, and given selected subsets may not use all of the available phases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: AyDeeKay LLC dba Indie Semiconductor
    Inventors: Setu Mohta, Christopher A. Menkus, David Kang
  • Publication number: 20220149858
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is described. This ADC includes a conversion circuit with multiple bit-conversion circuits. During operation, the ADC may receive an input signal. Then, the conversion circuit may asynchronously perform successive-approximation-register (SAR) analog-to-digital conversion of the input signal using the bit-conversion circuits, where the bit-conversion circuits to provide a quantized representation of the input signal. For example, the bit-conversion circuits may asynchronously and sequentially perform the SAR analog-to-digital conversion to determine different bits in the quantized representation of the input signal. Moreover, the ADC may selectively perform self-calibration of a global delay of the bit-conversions circuits. Note that the timing self-calibration may be iterative and subject to a constraint that a maximum conversion time is less than a target conversion time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: AyDeeKay LLC dba Indie Semiconductor
    Inventors: Christopher A. Menkus, Robert W. Kim
  • Publication number: 20220149854
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may include a full-scale reference generation circuit that corrects for variation in the gain or full scale of a set of interleaved analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). Notably, the full-scale reference generation circuit may provide a given full-scale or reference setting for a given interleaved ADC, where the given full-scale setting corresponds to a predefined or fixed component and a variable component (which may specify a given full-scale correction for a given full scale). For example, the full-scale reference generation circuit may include a full-scale reference generator replica circuit that outputs a fixed current corresponding to the fixed component. Furthermore, the full-scale reference generation circuit may include a full-scale reference generator circuit that outputs a first voltage corresponding to the given full-scale setting based at least in part on the fixed current and a variable current that, at least in part, specifies the given full-scale correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: AyDeeKay LLC dba Indie Semiconductor
    Inventors: Christopher A. Menkus, Robert W. Kim
  • Patent number: 7236115
    Abstract: A circuit for reducing the maximum magnitude of the total current on each of a plurality of buses for an amplifier stage in a folding analog to digital converter. Each amplifier stage bus couples multiple transconductance circuits to a load. Also, each of the transconductance circuits is configured to output a separate transconductance current to its respective bus. Separate current source circuits are configured to provide a separate source current locally at the output of each of the transconductance circuits such that substantially less than the full amount of each transconductance current reaches the respective bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher A. Menkus, Robert Callaghan Taft