Patents by Inventor Eric J. King

Eric J. King 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: 20210050832
    Abstract: A method for operating a charge pump having a variable switching frequency may include comparing a target minimum output voltage with an output voltage generated at an output of the charge pump and controlling switching of switches of the charge pump based on the comparison such that the variable switching frequency varies as an output current driven by the charge pump varies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Jason W. LAWRENCE, Eric J. KING, Christian LARSEN, Hasnain AKRAM, Eric KIMBALL
  • Patent number: 10921159
    Abstract: A system may include a first resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, a second resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, and a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the first resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and the second resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and configured to measure first phase information associated with the first resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, measure second phase information associated with the second resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, and based on the first phase information and the second phase information, determine a displacement of a mechanical member relative to the first resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Tejasvi Das, Zhong You, Siddharth Maru, Eric J. King, Johann G. Gaboriau, Luke Lapointe, Matthew Beardsworth
  • Patent number: 10917013
    Abstract: A boost converter may include a first stage comprising a first dual anti-wound inductor constructed such that its windings generate opposing magnetic fields in its magnetic core, and a second stage comprising a second dual anti-wound inductor constructed such that its windings generate opposing magnetic fields in its magnetic core. The boost converter may also include control circuitry for controlling the first stage and the second stage to have a plurality of phases comprising a first phase wherein a first coil of the first dual anti-wound inductor and a second coil of the second dual anti-wound inductor are coupled in parallel between a power supply and a ground voltage and a second phase wherein the first coil of the first dual anti-wound inductor and the second coil of the second dual anti-wound inductor are coupled in series between the power supply and the ground voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Melanson, Eric J. King, Jason W. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 10908200
    Abstract: A system may include a resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, a driver configured to drive the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor at a driving frequency, and a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and configured to measure phase information associated with the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and based on the phase information, determine a displacement of a mechanical member relative to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, wherein the displacement of the mechanical member causes a change in an impedance of the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhong You, Siddharth Maru, Tejasvi Das, Luke Lapointe, Eric J. King, Anthony S. Doy, Srdjan Marjianovic, Drew Kinney, Matthew Beardsworth, Emmanuel Marchais
  • Publication number: 20200403588
    Abstract: A system may include a charge pump configured to boost an input voltage of the charge pump to an output voltage greater than the input voltage, a current mode control loop for current mode control of a power amplifier powered by the output voltage of the charge pump, and a controller configured to, in a current-limiting mode of the controller, control an output power of the charge pump to ensure that an input current of the charge pump is maintained below a current limit, control the power amplifier by placing the power amplifier into a high-impedance mode during the current-limiting mode, and control state variables of a loop filter of the current mode control loop during the current-limiting mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric J. KING, Emmanuel MARCHAIS
  • Publication number: 20200382078
    Abstract: A power output circuit supplies an audio power output signal that is adjusted to prevent clipping when needed based on an estimate of available energy from the power supply supplying the power output circuit. The power output circuit may be an audio power output circuit that generates an audio power output signal from samples of an audio program that are stored in a buffer. A processing block determines an energy requirement for producing the audio power output signal from the audio program and adjusts an amplitude of the audio power output signal in conformity with the determined energy requirement and an available energy determined for the power supply so that the audio power output signal is reproduced without clipping of the audio power output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Hoff, Eric J. King
  • Patent number: 10848061
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a power converter having a power supply input for receiving an input power supply voltage generated by a power supply, an output for generating an output voltage to a load, and a power inductor coupled between the power supply input and the output may and further include an energy storage element coupled to the power supply input, the power inductor, and the output such that operation of the power inductor is split temporally between delivering energy to the energy storage element and delivering energy to the load, and operation of the energy storage element is split temporally between delivering energy to the load and receiving energy from one or both of the power supply and the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. King, Siddharth Maru, John L. Melanson
  • Patent number: 10826452
    Abstract: A system may include a charge pump configured to boost an input voltage of the charge pump to an output voltage greater than the input voltage, a current mode control loop for current mode control of a power amplifier powered by the output voltage of the charge pump, and a controller configured to, in a current-limiting mode of the controller, control an output power of the charge pump to ensure that an input current of the charge pump is maintained below a current limit, control the power amplifier by placing the power amplifier into a high-impedance mode during the current-limiting mode, and control state variables of a loop filter of the current mode control loop during the current-limiting mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. King, Emmanuel Marchais
  • Patent number: 10819238
    Abstract: A power supply system and method include multiple power conversion units (PCUs) with independent power generation control and a PCU-to-PCU regulation of power, handoff control system to transfer control of power regulation to a load among the PCUs. The multiple PCUs maintain independent power generation control to collectively provide power to the load and handoff regulation of the power to the load from one PCU to another PCU. The term “handoff” refers to communication between PCUs that affects a transfer and acceptance of regulation of power control. The independent PCU power generation control with singularly located but transferable control of the regulation of power provides a flexible dynamic power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric J. King, Eric B. Smith, Hasnain Akram, Sean Davis
  • Patent number: 10812024
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a system may include an impedance estimator configured to estimate an impedance of a load and generate a target current based at least on an input voltage and the impedance, a voltage feedback loop responsive to a difference between the input voltage and an output voltage of the load, and a current controller configured to, responsive to the voltage feedback loop, the impedance estimator, and the input voltage, generate an output current to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. King, John L. Melanson, Siddharth Maru
  • Patent number: 10790749
    Abstract: A system may include a first capacitor, a first switched-mode power supply configured to deliver energy from a power source to the first capacitor at an output load of the first switched-mode power supply, a second capacitor having a capacitance larger than the first capacitor, a second switched-mode power supply configured to deliver energy from the power source or a second power source to the second capacitor and one or more switching elements coupled between the first capacitor and the second capacitor. The system may operate in a plurality of modes, including a first mode in which the first switched-mode power supply transfers energy to the first capacitor and the second capacitor, a second mode in which the second capacitor transfers energy to the first capacitor, and a third mode in which first switched-mode power supply transfers energy to the first capacitor and the second capacitor and the second switched-mode power supply transfers energy to the first capacitor and the second capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. King, Eric B. Smith, Mark May
  • Patent number: 10756689
    Abstract: A system may include an input configured to receive a first signal representative of a second signal to be driven to an amplifier input of an amplifier, processing circuitry configured to process the first signal in order to generate the second signal from the first signal such that the processing circuitry limits a current driven by the amplifier to an output load of the amplifier, and an output configured to drive the second signal to the amplifier input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Lindemann, John L. Melanson, Eric J. King
  • Patent number: 10734885
    Abstract: A method may include controlling switching behavior of switches of a switch-mode power supply based on a desired physical quantity associated with the switch-mode power supply, wherein the desired physical quantity is based at least in part on a slope compensation signal, generating the slope compensation signal to have a compensation value of approximately zero as seen by a compensation control loop of the switch-mode power supply, and modifying the slope compensation signal on successive switching cycles of the switch-mode power supply to account for differences in an output of the compensation control loop and an average current of an inductor of the switch-mode power supply in at least one phase of a switching period of a switching cycle of the switch-mode power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. King, Siddharth Maru, Thomas Hoff, Graeme G. Mackay
  • Publication number: 20200235712
    Abstract: A power converter may include an input for receiving an input signal and output for generating an intermediate signal that is a power converted signal from the input signal wherein the intermediate signal is determined based on various parameters of a signal path that utilizes the intermediate signal, wherein the various parameters comprise one or more of the following: a peak output signal of the signal path, energy requested over a period of time by the signal path, available energy from an energy source to the power converter, stored energy at an output of the power converter, and stored energy of a battery for providing electrical energy at the input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. MAY, Eric J. KING, Christian LARSEN, Eric EKLUND
  • Patent number: 10720835
    Abstract: A method may include monitoring a current through a power inductor of a boost converter and detecting when a mathematical integral of a difference between the current as monitored and a desired average current for the power inductor is equal to zero. Another method may include in a first mode of operation of a boost converter, controlling switching behavior of switches of the boost converter to regulate an output voltage generated by the boost converter and in a second mode of operation of the boost converter, controlling switching behavior of switches of the boost converter to regulate an input current received by the boost converter. Another method may include monitoring a current through a power inductor of a boost converter and detecting when the current as monitored exceeds a maximum current for the power inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. King, Eric B. Smith
  • Publication number: 20200225786
    Abstract: A system may include a resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and configured to at a plurality of periodic intervals, measure phase information associated with the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and based on the phase information, determine a displacement of a mechanical member relative to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor. The system may also include a driver configured to drive the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor at a driving frequency and a driving amplitude, wherein at least one of the driving frequency and the driving amplitude varies among the plurality of periodic intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Siddharth MARU, Tejasvi DAS, Luke LAPOINTE, Srdjan MARIJANOVIC, Zhong YOU, Drew KINNEY, Anthony S. DOY, Eric J. KING
  • Publication number: 20200204076
    Abstract: A boost converter may include a first stage comprising a first dual anti-wound inductor constructed such that its windings generate opposing magnetic fields in its magnetic core, and a second stage comprising a second dual anti-wound inductor constructed such that its windings generate opposing magnetic fields in its magnetic core. The boost converter may also include control circuitry for controlling the first stage and the second stage to have a plurality of phases comprising a first phase wherein a first coil of the first dual anti-wound inductor and a second coil of the second dual anti-wound inductor are coupled in parallel between a power supply and a ground voltage and a second phase wherein the first coil of the first dual anti-wound inductor and the second coil of the second dual anti-wound inductor are coupled in series between the power supply and the ground voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: John L. MELANSON, Eric J. KING, Jason W. LAWRENCE
  • Publication number: 20200204073
    Abstract: A system may include a power converter comprising at least one stage having a dual anti-wound inductor constructed such that its windings generate opposing magnetic fields in its magnetic core and a current control subsystem for controlling an electrical current through the dual anti-wound inductor. The current control subsystem may be configured to minimize a magnitude of a magnetizing electrical current of the dual anti-wound inductor to prevent core saturation of the dual anti-wound inductor and regulate an amount of output electrical current delivered by the power converter to the load in accordance with a reference input signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Jason W. LAWRENCE, John L. MELANSON, Eric J. KING
  • Publication number: 20200186095
    Abstract: A mobile device may include a power supply configured to generate a supply voltage, a power converter configured to generate a converted voltage from the supply voltage wherein the converted voltage is significantly different than the supply voltage, and a plurality of power domains. The plurality of power domains may include a first power domain global to the mobile device and comprising a first plurality of electronic components powered from the supply voltage and a second power domain global to the mobile device and comprising a second plurality of electronic components powered from the converted voltage, wherein power requirements of each of the second plurality of electronic components are significantly higher than power requirements of each of the first plurality of electronic components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventor: Eric J. KING
  • Patent number: 10659887
    Abstract: A system may include a charge pump configured to transfer electrical energy from a source of electrical energy coupled to an input of the charge pump to an energy storage device coupled to an output of the charge pump and configured to store the electrical energy transferred from the source of electrical energy, a power converter configured to transfer electrical energy from the energy storage device to an output of the power converter, wherein the power converter comprises a first plurality of switches and a power inductor arranged such that one switch of the first plurality of switches is coupled between the power inductor and the output of the charge pump, an output stage configured to transfer electrical energy between the output of the power converter to a load coupled to an output of the output stage, the output stage comprising a second plurality of switches, and a controller configured to generate an output voltage at the output of the output stage as an amplified version of an input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. King, Christian Larsen, Anthony S. Doy