Patents by Inventor Congzhong Huang

Congzhong Huang 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: 9515556
    Abstract: A method of regulating voltage with a switching regulator is disclosed. The method includes sensing an output voltage provided by the regulator. If the output voltage drops below a low voltage threshold, a burst of one or more current pulses is provided. If the output voltage raises above a high voltage threshold during the burst, discontinuing the burst of current pulses. The method includes counting a number of the one or more current pulses in the burst, and comparing the number of the one or more current pulses with at least one pulse threshold. The upper current threshold is adjusted based on the number of the one or more current pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Intersil Americas LLC
    Inventors: Xiping Yang, Sisan Shen, Congzhong Huang
  • Patent number: 9491822
    Abstract: A multi-channel LED driver includes a plurality of linear current regulators, each connected to a bottom of a string of series connected LEDs of a multi-channel LED that controls a bias current and the string of series connected LEDs responsive to an LED bias reference voltage. A dynamic headroom regulation voltage control circuit monitors the headroom regulation voltage at the bottom of each string of the series connected LEDs in the multi-channel LED and generates a reference voltage controlling each of the headroom regulation voltages responsive to the LED bias reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Intersil Americas LLC
    Inventors: Xuelin Wu, Xiping Yang, Congzhong Huang
  • Publication number: 20150311795
    Abstract: A method of regulating voltage with a switching regulator is disclosed. The method includes sensing an output voltage provided by the regulator. If the output voltage drops below a low voltage threshold, a burst of one or more current pulses is provided. If the output voltage raises above a high voltage threshold during the burst, discontinuing the burst of current pulses. The method includes counting a number of the one or more current pulses in the burst, and comparing the number of the one or more current pulses with at least one pulse threshold. The upper current threshold is adjusted based on the number of the one or more current pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Xiping Yang, Sisan Shen, Congzhong Huang
  • Patent number: 8981737
    Abstract: A buck/boost voltage regulator generates a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage and a plurality of control signals. The buck/boost voltage regulator includes a plurality of switching transistors responsive to the plurality of control signals. Control circuitry monitors the regulated output voltage and generates the plurality of control signals responsive thereto. The control circuitry controls the operation of the plurality of switching transistors to enable a charging phase in a first mode of operation, a pass through phase in a second mode of operation and a discharge phase in a third mode of operation within the buck/boost voltage regulator to eliminate occurrence of a four switch switching condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Intersil Americas LLC
    Inventors: Congzhong Huang, Shea Petricek
  • Patent number: 8896279
    Abstract: A multi-phase non-inverting buck boost voltage converter has a plurality of buck boost voltage regulators. Each regulator is associated with a separate phase for generating a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage. A plurality of current sensors are each associated with one of the plurality of buck boost voltage regulators for monitoring an input current to the associated buck boost voltage regulator and generating a current sense signal for the associated phase. A plurality of buck boost mode control circuitries are each associated with one of the buck boost regulator for controlling an associated buck boost voltage regulator using peak current mode control in a buck mode of operation and valley current mode control in boost mode of operation responsive to a common error voltage and the associated current sense signal. The plurality of buck boost mode control circuitries provides current balancing between the phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Intersil Americals LLC
    Inventors: Xuelin Wu, Congzhong Huang, Shea Petricek
  • Patent number: 8754623
    Abstract: A DC-DC voltage converter has a pair of switching transistors to provide an output voltage and are alternately switched in a boost mode of operation responsive to control signals. An inductor is connected to the pair of switching transistor and has an inductor current flowing there through. A current sensor monitors an input current and generates a current sense signal responsive thereto. Control circuitry generates the control signals to the second pair of switching transistors responsive to the current sense signal, the output voltage and a current limit signal, wherein when the current limit signal indicates the inductor current exceeds a current limit the control signals configure the pair of switching transistors to decrease the inductor current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Intersil Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Congzhong Huang, Sicheng Chen, Xuelin Wu
  • Patent number: 8564259
    Abstract: A buck boost converter generates a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage and switching control signals. Switching control circuitry generates the switching control signals responsive to the regulated output voltage, a maximum duty cycle signal and a mode signal. Mode control circuitry generates the maximum duty cycle signal and the mode signal responsive to a buck PWM signal and a boost PWM signal, a first clock signal and a second clock signal phase shifted from the first clock signal by a fixed, programmable amount. A phase shifter generates the first clock signal and the second clock signal responsive to a reference voltage and a synchronization signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Intersil Americas LLC
    Inventors: Sicheng Chen, Congzhong Huang, Xuelin Wu
  • Patent number: 8339116
    Abstract: A buck voltage converter comprises an upper switching transistor connected between an input voltage node and a phase node. The upper switching transistor turns on and off responsive to a first drive signal. A lower switching transistor is connected between the phase node and ground. The lower switching transistor turns on and off responsive to a second drive signal. An inductor is connected the phase node and an output voltage node. Control circuitry generates the first drive signal and the second drive signal responsive to a feedback voltage monitored at the output voltage node and a phase at the phase node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Congzhong Huang, Haito Hu, Sicheng Chen
  • Patent number: 8334683
    Abstract: A DC-DC voltage converter has a pair of switching transistors to provide an output voltage and are alternately switched in a boost mode of operation responsive to control signals. An inductor is connected to the pair of switching transistor and has an inductor current flowing there through. A current sensor monitors an input current and generates a current sense signal responsive thereto. Control circuitry generates the control signals to the second pair of switching transistors responsive to the current sense signal, the output voltage and a current limit signal, wherein when the current limit signal indicates the inductor current exceeds a current limit the control signals configure the pair of switching transistors to decrease the inductor current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Congzhong Huang, Sicheng Chen, Xuelin Wu
  • Patent number: 8305055
    Abstract: A non-inverting buck boost voltage converter includes a buck boost voltage regulation circuitry for generating a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage. A current sensor monitors an input current to the buck boost voltage regulation circuitry. Buck boost mode control circuitry controls the buck boost voltage regulation circuitry using peak current mode control in a buck mode of operation and valley current mode control in boost mode of operation responsive to the monitored input current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Xuelin Wu, Congzhong Huang, Michael M. Walters
  • Publication number: 20120229110
    Abstract: A buck/boost voltage regulator generates a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage and a plurality of control signals. The buck/boost voltage regulator includes a plurality of switching transistors responsive to the plurality of control signals. Control circuitry monitors the regulated output voltage and generates the plurality of control signals responsive thereto. The control circuitry controls the operation of the plurality of switching transistors to enable a charging phase in a first mode of operation, a pass through phase in a second mode of operation and a discharge phase in a third mode of operation within the buck/boost voltage regulator to eliminate occurrence of a four switch switching condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: CONGZHONG HUANG, SHEA PETRICEK
  • Publication number: 20120229107
    Abstract: A current sense amplifier includes a high-side current sense amplifier and a low-side current sense amplifier. The high-side current sense amplifier provides a current sense voltage signal for use with a voltage regulator and generates the current sense voltage signal responsive to a first current sensed through a high-side switching transistor in a first mode when the high-side switching transistor is turned on and the low-side switching transistor is turned off. The high-side current sense amplifier generates the current sense voltage signal responsive to a second current through the low-side switching transistor in a second mode when the low-side switching transistor is turned on and the high-side switching transistor is turned off. The low-side current sense amplifier senses the second current through the low-side switching transistor and generates a current control signal to the high-side current sense amplifier in the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: SICHENG CHEN, CONGZHONG HUANG, SHEA PETRICEK
  • Publication number: 20120105038
    Abstract: A buck boost converter generates a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage and switching control signals. Switching control circuitry generates the switching control signals responsive to the regulated output voltage, a maximum duty cycle signal and a mode signal. Mode control circuitry generates the maximum duty cycle signal and the mode signal responsive to a buck PWM signal and a boost PWM signal, a first clock signal and a second clock signal phase shifted from the first clock signal by a fixed, programmable amount. A phase shifter generates the first clock signal and the second clock signal responsive to a reference voltage and a synchronization signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: SICHENG CHEN, CONGZHONG HUANG, XUELIN WU
  • Publication number: 20120081016
    Abstract: A multi-channel LED driver includes a plurality of linear current regulators, each connected to a bottom of a string of series connected LEDs of a multi-channel LED that controls a bias current and the string of series connected LEDs responsive to an LED bias reference voltage. A dynamic headroom regulation voltage control circuit monitors the headroom regulation voltage at the bottom of each string of the series connected LEDs in the multi-channel LED and generates a reference voltage controlling each of the headroom regulation voltages responsive to the LED bias reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: XUELIN WU, XIPING YANG, CONGZHONG HUANG
  • Publication number: 20120049810
    Abstract: A DC-DC voltage converter has a pair of switching transistors to provide an output voltage and are alternately switched in a boost mode of operation responsive to control signals. An inductor is connected to the pair of switching transistor and has an inductor current flowing there through. A current sensor monitors an input current and generates a current sense signal responsive thereto. Control circuitry generates the control signals to the second pair of switching transistors responsive to the current sense signal, the output voltage and a current limit signal, wherein when the current limit signal indicates the inductor current exceeds a current limit the control signals configure the pair of switching transistors to decrease the inductor current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: CONGZHONG HUANG, SICHENG CHEN, XUELIN WU
  • Patent number: 8067929
    Abstract: A DC to DC converter circuit includes circuitry for generating a PWM waveform signal at a phase node of a DC to DC converter responsive to an input voltage and a monitor output voltage. The circuitry further includes a high side switching transistor connected between the input voltage and a phase node and a low side switching transistor connected between the phase node and ground. An output filter is connected to the circuitry for generating the PWM waveform signal. The output filter includes an inductor having a first side connected to the phase node and a second side connected to an output voltage node. Detection circuitry detects zero current crossings in the inductor responsive to a voltage across the high side switching transistor and a voltage across the low side switching transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Intersil Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Congzhong Huang, Sisan Shen
  • Publication number: 20110241636
    Abstract: A multi-phase non-inverting buck boost voltage converter has a plurality of buck boost voltage regulators. Each regulator is associated with a separate phase for generating a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage. A plurality of current sensors are each associated with one of the plurality of buck boost voltage regulators for monitoring an input current to the associated buck boost voltage regulator and generating a current sense signal for the associated phase. A plurality of buck boost mode control circuitries are each associated with one of the buck boost regulator for controlling an associated buck boost voltage regulator using peak current mode control in a buck mode of operation and valley current mode control in boost mode of operation responsive to a common error voltage and the associated current sense signal. The plurality of buck boost mode control circuitries provides current balancing between the phases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: XUELIN WU, CONGZHONG HUANG, SHEA PETRICEK
  • Publication number: 20110227549
    Abstract: A buck voltage converter comprises an upper switching transistor connected between an input voltage node and a phase node. The upper switching transistor turns on and off responsive to a first drive signal. A lower switching transistor is connected between the phase node and ground. The lower switching transistor turns on and off responsive to a second drive signal. An inductor is connected the phase node and an output voltage node. Control circuitry generates the first drive signal and the second drive signal responsive to a feedback voltage monitored at the output voltage node and a phase at the phase node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: CONGZHONG HUANG, Haitao Hu, SICHENG CHEN
  • Publication number: 20110187336
    Abstract: A non-inverting buck boost voltage converter includes a buck boost voltage regulation circuitry for generating a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage. A current sensor monitors an input current to the buck boost voltage regulation circuitry. Buck boost mode control circuitry controls the buck boost voltage regulation circuitry using peak current mode control in a buck mode of operation and valley current mode control in boost mode of operation responsive to the monitored input current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: XUELIN WU, CONGZHONG HUANG, MICHAEL M. WALTERS
  • Patent number: RE46333
    Abstract: A DC to DC converter circuit includes circuitry for generating a PWM waveform signal at a phase node of a DC to DC converter responsive to an input voltage and a monitor monitored output voltage. The circuitry further includes a high side switching transistor connected between the input voltage and a phase node and a low side switching transistor connected between the phase node and ground. An output filter is connected to the circuitry for generating the PWM waveform signal. The output filter includes an inductor having a first side connected to the phase node and a second side connected to an output voltage node. Detection circuitry detects zero current crossings in the inductor responsive to a voltage across the high side switching transistor and a voltage across the low side switching transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Intersil Americas LLC
    Inventors: Congzhong Huang, Sisan Shen