Patents by Inventor Erik J. Mentze

Erik J. Mentze 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: 10194498
    Abstract: Power consumption in a start-up circuit for a LED-based light bulb may be reduced by digitally switching a transistor of the start-up circuit coupled to the input voltage. When the transistor is digitally switched between on and off, a reduced amount of power is dissipated by the transistor, because it may not enter a saturation region of operation where the resistance of the transistor between drain and source terminals increases. The transistor may be coupled to a voltage regulator for generating one or more output voltages, including a supply voltage for a host controller IC. The transistor may be switched on and off by a digital signal generated by logic circuitry, which may decide to switch the transistor on and off based on a voltage level at an output of the voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Erik J. Mentze, Karl Thompson
  • Patent number: 10104724
    Abstract: Power consumption in a start-up circuit for a LED-based light bulb may be reduced by digitally switching a transistor of the start-up circuit coupled to the input voltage. When the transistor is digitally switched between on and off, a reduced amount of power is dissipated by the transistor, because it may not enter a saturation region of operation where the resistance of the transistor between drain and source terminals increases. The transistor may be coupled to a voltage regulator for generating one or more output voltages, including a supply voltage for a host controller IC. The transistor may be switched on and off by a digital signal generated by logic circuitry, which may decide to switch the transistor on and off based on a voltage level at an output of the voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Erik J. Mentze, Karl Thompson
  • Patent number: 9860945
    Abstract: Power consumption in a start-up circuit for a LED-based light bulb may be reduced by digitally switching a transistor of the start-up circuit coupled to the input voltage. When the transistor is digitally switched between on and off, a reduced amount of power is dissipated by the transistor, because it may not enter a saturation region of operation where the resistance of the transistor between drain and source terminals increases. The transistor may be coupled to a voltage regulator for generating one or more output voltages, including a supply voltage for a host controller IC. The transistor may be switched on and off by a digital signal generated by logic circuitry, which may decide to switch the transistor on and off based on a voltage level at an output of the voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Erik J. Mentze, Karl Thompson
  • Publication number: 20170359872
    Abstract: Power consumption in a start-up circuit for a LED-based light bulb may be reduced by digitally switching a transistor of the start-up circuit coupled to the input voltage. When the transistor is digitally switched between on and off, a reduced amount of power is dissipated by the transistor, because it may not enter a saturation region of operation where the resistance of the transistor between drain and source terminals increases. The transistor may be coupled to a voltage regulator for generating one or more output voltages, including a supply voltage for a host controller IC. The transistor may be switched on and off by a digital signal generated by logic circuitry, which may decide to switch the transistor on and off based on a voltage level at an output of the voltage regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: ERIK J. MENTZE, KARL THOMPSON
  • Publication number: 20150257231
    Abstract: Power consumption in a start-up circuit for a LED-based light bulb may be reduced by digitally switching a transistor of the start-up circuit coupled to the input voltage. When the transistor is digitally switched between on and off, a reduced amount of power is dissipated by the transistor, because it may not enter a saturation region of operation where the resistance of the transistor between drain and source terminals increases. The transistor may be coupled to a voltage regulator for generating one or more output voltages, including a supply voltage for a host controller IC. The transistor may be switched on and off by a digital signal generated by logic circuitry, which may decide to switch the transistor on and off based on a voltage level at an output of the voltage regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Erik J. Mentze, Karl Thompson
  • Publication number: 20150257218
    Abstract: Power consumption in a start-up circuit for a LED-based light bulb may be reduced by digitally switching a transistor of the start-up circuit coupled to the input voltage. When the transistor is digitally switched between on and off, a reduced amount of power is dissipated by the transistor, because it may not enter a saturation region of operation where the resistance of the transistor between drain and source terminals increases. The transistor may be coupled to a voltage regulator for generating one or more output voltages, including a supply voltage for a host controller IC. The transistor may be switched on and off by a digital signal generated by logic circuitry, which may decide to switch the transistor on and off based on a voltage level at an output of the voltage regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Erik J. Mentze, Karl Thompson
  • Patent number: 7112995
    Abstract: A shifter circuit comprises a high and low voltage buffer stages and an output buffer stage. The high voltage buffer stage comprises multiple transistors arranged in a transistor stack having a plurality of intermediate nodes connecting individual transistors along the stack. The transistor stack is connected between a voltage level being shifted to and an input voltage. An inverter of this stage comprises multiple inputs and an output. Inverter inputs are connected to a respective intermediate node of the transistor stack. The low voltage buffer stage has an input connected to the input voltage and an output, and is operably connected to the high voltage buffer stage. The low voltage buffer stage is connected between a voltage level being shifted away from and a lower voltage. The output buffer stage is driven by the outputs of the high voltage buffer stage inverter and the low voltage buffer stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Idaho Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik J. Mentze, Herbert L. Hess, Kevin M. Buck, David F. Cox
  • Patent number: 7061298
    Abstract: A shifter circuit comprises, in one embodiment, an input voltage divider stage comprising multiple transistors arranged in a transistor stack defining a plurality of intermediate nodes. The transistor stack is connected between an input signal and ground and has at least one output. An inverting buffer stage is connected to a supply voltage and coupled to the input voltage divider's output. The inverting buffer stage is configured to provide an inverted output signal. Means are provided for stepping up the inverted output signal, receiving a stepped up output signal and providing a level-shifted output signal at a voltage level lower than that of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Idaho Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik J. Mentze, Herbert L. Hess, Kevin M. Buck, David F. Cox
  • Patent number: 7030654
    Abstract: Shifter circuits comprise a matched translation stack comprising at least first and second stacks each of which comprising multiple transistors. The matched translation stack is configured to provide a primary logic level shift between a voltage level away from which a shift is desired (VddL) and a voltage level to which the shift is desired (VddH). One or more high voltage buffer stages are provided, at least one of which being connected with and biased by the matched translation stack. At least one high voltage buffer stage comprises multiple transistors arranged in a transistor stack that is biased by the first stack of the matched translation stack, and is connected to receive an input supplied by the second stack of the matched translation stack. The high voltage buffer stage also comprises an inverter that drives an output stage which is also driven by a low voltage buffer stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Idaho Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik J. Mentze, Herbert L. Hess, Kevin M. Buck, David F. Cox