Patents by Inventor Daniel Marvin Kinzer

Daniel Marvin Kinzer 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: 10461161
    Abstract: A lateral transistor includes a source a gate and a drain connection to a transition layer within a semiconductor substrate. One or more capacitively coupled floating field plates are connected to the source connection such that the source voltage is uniformly distributed across the field plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: NAVITAS SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel Marvin Kinzer
  • Patent number: 10446542
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed. The device includes a substrate including GaN, a two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) inducing layer on the substrate, and a lateral transistor on the 2DEG inducing layer. The lateral transistor includes source and drain contacts to the 2DEG inducing layer, a gate stack between the source and drain contacts, and a field plate between the gate and the drain contact. The device also includes one or more insulation layers on the 2DEG inducing layer, where the field plate is spaced apart from the 2DEG inducing layer by the insulation layers, and a conductor on the insulation layers, where a first portion of the conductor is spaced apart from the 2DEG inducing layer by the insulation layers by a distance less than 200 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Navitas Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Marvin Kinzer
  • Patent number: 10404256
    Abstract: A half bridge GaN circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a low side power switch configured to be selectively conductive according to one or more input signals, a high side power switch configured to be selectively conductive according to the one or more input signals, and a high side power switch controller, configured to control the conductivity of the high sigh power switch based on the one or more input signals. The high side power switch controller includes a capacitor, and a logic circuit, wherein the capacitor is configured to capacitively couple a signal based on the input signals to the logic circuit, and the logic circuit is configured to control the conductivity of the high sigh power switch based on the capacitively coupled signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: NAVITAS SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Santosh Sharma, Marco Giandalia, Daniel Marvin Kinzer, Thomas Ribarich
  • Patent number: 10396579
    Abstract: An electronic circuit is disclosed. The electronic circuit includes a GaN substrate, a first power supply node on the substrate, an output node, a signal node, and an output component on the substrate, where the output component is configured to generate a voltage at the output node based at least in part on a voltage at the signal node. The electronic circuit also includes a capacitor coupled to the signal node, where, the capacitor is configured to selectively cause the voltage at the signal node to be greater than the voltage of the first power supply node, such that the output component causes the voltage at the output node to be substantially equal to the voltage of the first power supply node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: NAVITAS SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Marvin Kinzer, Santosh Sharma, Ju Zhang
  • Publication number: 20190214993
    Abstract: A half bridge GaN circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a low side power switch configured to be selectively conductive according to one or more input signals, a high side power switch configured to be selectively conductive according to the one or more input signals, and a high side power switch controller, configured to control the conductivity of the high sigh power switch based on the one or more input signals. The high side power switch controller includes a capacitor, and a logic circuit, wherein the capacitor is configured to capacitively couple a signal based on the input signals to the logic circuit, and the logic circuit is configured to control the conductivity of the high sigh power switch based on the capacitively coupled signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: Navitas Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Santosh Sharma, Marco Giandalia, Daniel Marvin Kinzer, Thomas Ribarich
  • Patent number: 10333327
    Abstract: GaN-based half bridge power conversion circuits employ control, support and logic functions that are monolithically integrated on the same devices as the power transistors. In some embodiments a low side GaN device communicates through one or more level shift circuits with a high side GaN device. Both the high side and the low side devices may have one or more integrated control, support and logic functions. Some devices employ electro-static discharge circuits and features formed within the GaN-based devices to improve the reliability and performance of the half bridge power conversion circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Navitas Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Marvin Kinzer, Santosh Sharma, Ju Jason Zhang
  • Patent number: 10305472
    Abstract: GaN-based half bridge power conversion circuits employ control, support and logic functions that are monolithically integrated on the same devices as the power transistors. In some embodiments, a low side GaN device communicates through one or more level shift circuits with a high side GaN device. Both the high side and the low side devices may have one or more integrated control, support and logic functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Navitas Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Marvin Kinzer, Santosh Sharma, Ju Zhang
  • Publication number: 20190158086
    Abstract: GaN-based half bridge power conversion circuits employ control, support and logic functions that are monolithically integrated on the same devices as the power transistors. In some embodiments, a low side GaN device communicates through one or more level shift circuits with a high side GaN device. Both the high side and the low side devices may have one or more integrated control, support and logic functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel Marvin Kinzer, Santosh Sharma, Ju Zhang
  • Publication number: 20190148961
    Abstract: GaN-based half bridge power conversion circuits employ control, support and logic functions that are monolithically integrated on the same devices as the power transistors. In some embodiments a low side GaN device communicates through one or more level shift circuits with a high side GaN device. Both the high side and the low side devices may have one or more integrated control, support and logic functions. Some devices employ electro-static discharge circuits and features formed within the GaN-based devices to improve the reliability and performance of the half bridge power conversion circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel Marvin Kinzer, Santosh Sharma, Ju Jason Zhang
  • Patent number: 10277048
    Abstract: GaN-based half bridge power conversion circuits employ control, support and logic functions that are monolithically integrated on the same devices as the power transistors. In some embodiments a low side GaN device communicates through one or more level shift circuits with a high side GaN device. Both the high side and the low side devices may have one or more integrated control, support and logic functions. Some devices employ electro-static discharge circuits and features formed within the GaN-based devices to improve the reliability and performance of the half bridge power conversion circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Navitas Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Marvin Kinzer, Santosh Sharma, Ju Zhang
  • Patent number: 10269687
    Abstract: Electronic packages are formed from a generally planar leadframe having a plurality of leads coupled to a GaN-based semiconductor device, and are encased in an encapsulant. The plurality of leads are interdigitated and are at different voltage potentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Navitas Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Marvin Kinzer
  • Patent number: 10236877
    Abstract: A half bridge GaN circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a low side power switch, a high side power switch, and a high side power switch controller, configured to control the conductivity of the high sigh power switch based on the one or more input signals. The high side power switch controller includes a receiver input reset circuit configured to simultaneously receive first and second signals, wherein the first signal corresponds with the high side power switch being turned on, wherein the first signal corresponds with the high side power switch controller turning on the high side power switch, wherein the second signal corresponds with the high side power switch controller turning off the high side power switch, and wherein the receiver input reset circuit is further configured, in response to the first and second signals, to prevent the high side power switch from becoming non-conductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: NAVITAS SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Santosh Sharma, Daniel Marvin Kinzer, Ju Zhang
  • Patent number: 10224817
    Abstract: A half bridge circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes low side and high side power switches selectively conductive according to one or more control signals. The circuit also includes a low side power switch driver, configured to control the conductivity state of the low side power switch, and a high side power switch driver, configured to control the conductivity state of the high side power switch. The circuit also includes a controller configured to generate the one or more control signals, a high side slew detect circuit configured to prevent the high side power switch driver from causing the high side power switch to be conductive while the voltage at the switch node is increasing, and a low side slew detect circuit configured to prevent the low side power switch driver from causing the low side power switch to be conductive while the voltage at the switch node is decreasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Navitas Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Santosh Sharma, Thomas Ribarich, Victor Sinow, Daniel Marvin Kinzer
  • Publication number: 20190044357
    Abstract: GaN-based half bridge power conversion circuits employ control, support and logic functions that are monolithically integrated on the same devices as the power transistors. In some embodiments a low side GaN device communicates through one or more level shift circuits with a high side GaN device. Various embodiments of level shift circuits and their inventive aspects are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel Marvin Kinzer, Santosh Sharma, Ju Zhang
  • Patent number: 10193554
    Abstract: A half bridge GaN circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a low side power switch configured to be selectively conductive according to one or more input signals, a high side power switch configured to be selectively conductive according to the one or more input signals, and a high side power switch controller, configured to control the conductivity of the high sigh power switch based on the one or more input signals. The high side power switch controller includes a capacitor, and a logic circuit, wherein the capacitor is configured to capacitively couple a signal based on the input signals to the logic circuit, and the logic circuit is configured to control the conductivity of the high sigh power switch based on the capacitively coupled signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Navitas Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Santosh Sharma, Marco Giandalia, Daniel Marvin Kinzer, Thomas Ribarich
  • Patent number: 10170922
    Abstract: An electronic circuit is disclosed. The electronic circuit includes a GaN substrate, a first power supply node on the substrate, an output node, a signal node, and an output component on the substrate, where the output component is configured to generate a voltage at the output node based at least in part on a voltage at the signal node. The electronic circuit also includes a capacitor coupled to the signal node, where, the capacitor is configured to selectively cause the voltage at the signal node to be greater than the voltage of the first power supply node, such that the output component causes the voltage at the output node to be substantially equal to the voltage of the first power supply node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Navitas Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Marvin Kinzer, Santosh Sharma, Ju Zhang
  • Patent number: 10110221
    Abstract: A half bridge GaN circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a low side power switch, a high side power switch, and a high side power switch controller, configured to control the conductivity of the high sigh power switch based on the one or more input signals. The high side power switch controller includes a receiver input reset circuit configured to simultaneously receive first and second signals, wherein the first signal corresponds with the high side power switch being turned on, wherein the first signal corresponds with the high side power switch controller turning on the high side power switch, wherein the second signal corresponds with the high side power switch controller turning off the high side power switch, and wherein the receiver input reset circuit is further configured, in response to the first and second signals, to prevent the high side power switch from becoming non-conductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Navitas Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Santosh Sharma, Daniel Marvin Kinzer, Ju Zhang
  • Patent number: 9960764
    Abstract: GaN-based half bridge power conversion circuits employ control, support and logic functions that are monolithically integrated on the same devices as the power transistors. In some embodiments, a low side GaN device communicates through one or more level shift circuits with a high side GaN device. Both the high side and the low side devices may have one or more integrated control, support and logic functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Navitas Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Marvin Kinzer, Santosh Sharma, Ju Zhang
  • Publication number: 20180102661
    Abstract: GaN-based half bridge power conversion circuits employ control, support and logic functions that are monolithically integrated on the same devices as the power transistors. In some embodiments a low side GaN device communicates through one or more level shift circuits with a high side GaN device. Both the high side and the low side devices may have one or more integrated control, support and logic functions. Some devices employ electro-static discharge circuits and features formed within the GaN-based devices to improve the reliability and performance of the half bridge power conversion circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Marvin Kinzer, Santosh Sharma, Ju Zhang
  • Patent number: 9929652
    Abstract: A power circuit is disclosed. The power circuit includes a power capacitor and a power resistor connected to the power capacitor. The power circuit also includes a power integrated circuit, including a GaN-based substrate, a power FET on the substrate, and a driver on the substrate. The driver is configured to charge a gate of the power FET using current from a power node. The power integrated circuit also includes a first power voltage regulator on the substrate, where the driver is configured to receive current from the capacitor through the resistor while the driver charges the gate of the power FET, and where the first power voltage regulator is configured to provide current to the capacitor while the driver does not charge the gate of the power FET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Navitas Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Ribarich, Santosh Sharma, Ju Zhang, Marco Giandalia, Daniel Marvin Kinzer