Patents by Inventor Frank Kronmueller

Frank Kronmueller 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: 11625055
    Abstract: A linear regulator which has a pass device coupled between an input voltage level and an output node, a voltage divider circuit for generating a feedback voltage that depends on an output voltage at the output node, and an operational amplifier for controlling the pass device, the operational amplifier receiving the feedback voltage and a reference voltage at its inputs is presented. The operational amplifier has: an input stage that receives the feedback voltage and the reference voltage at its inputs, an amplifier stage that receives an output of the input stage at its input, and a current injection circuit for sourcing current into an intermediate node between the input stage and the amplifier stage, or sinking a current from the intermediate node. The disclosure further relates to a corresponding method of operating a linear regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Carlos Azevedo, Ambreesh Bhattad, Frank Kronmueller, Mahir Uka, Benedikt Wolf
  • Patent number: 11526185
    Abstract: A solid-state circuit is presented which may comprise a pass device, a control circuit, and a leakage current compensation circuit. The pass device may have a first terminal, a second terminal and a drive terminal, wherein the first terminal of the pass device is coupled with an input terminal of the solid-state circuit, and wherein the second terminal of the pass device is coupled with an output terminal of the solid-state circuit. The control circuit may be coupled with the drive terminal of the pass device and may be configured to drive the pass device with a driving voltage. The leakage current compensation circuit may be configured to receive a leakage current of the pass device and may be configured to forward said leakage current as a bias current to said control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Ambreesh Bhattad, Frank Kronmueller
  • Patent number: 11092989
    Abstract: A regulator configured to provide at an output node a load current at an output voltage is described. The regulator comprises a pass transistor for providing the load current at the output node. Furthermore, the regulator comprises feedback means for deriving a feedback voltage from the output voltage at the output node. In addition, the regulator comprises a differential amplifier configured to control the pass transistor in dependence of the feedback voltage and in dependence of a reference voltage. The regulator further comprises compensation means configured to determine a sensed current which is indicative of the load current at the output node. Furthermore, the compensation means are configured to adjust an operation point of the regulator in dependence of the sensed current and in dependence of a value of a track impedance of a conductive track which links the output node to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hande Kurnaz, Ambreesh Bhattad, Gary Hague, Frank Kronmueller
  • Publication number: 20210109553
    Abstract: A solid-state circuit is presented which may comprise a pass device, a control circuit, and a leakage current compensation circuit. The pass device may have a first terminal, a second terminal and a drive terminal, wherein the first terminal of the pass device is coupled with an input terminal of the solid-state circuit, and wherein the second terminal of the pass device is coupled with an output terminal of the solid-state circuit. The control circuit may be coupled with the drive terminal of the pass device and may be configured to drive the pass device with a driving voltage. The leakage current compensation circuit may be configured to receive a leakage current of the pass device and may be configured to forward said leakage current as a bias current to said control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Ambreesh Bhattad, Frank Kronmueller
  • Patent number: 10969810
    Abstract: A voltage regulator and a method are presented. The regulator has a pass device coupled to an input node at an input voltage. Furthermore, the voltage regulator has a regulator circuit to control the pass device to provide a regulated output voltage at an output node based on the input voltage. Components of the regulator circuit are arranged and operated between the input node and the output node. The voltage regulator allows a load of the voltage regulator to be arranged between the output node and a reference node at a reference voltage, wherein the reference voltage differs from the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Jan Grabinski, Frank Kronmueller
  • Patent number: 10963032
    Abstract: A power supply and a method to provide power to a load via a power delivery network are presented. The power delivery network adds a pole and/or zero to a transfer function of the power supply. The power supply has a feedback unit to sense a load voltage at the load and to provide a feedback voltage which is indicative of the load voltage. The power supply has an input amplifier provides an error voltage based on the feedback voltage. The power supply has a power converter to provide power to the power delivery network depending on the error voltage. The power supply has an equalization unit to add a zero and/or a pole to the transfer function of the power supply, such that the pole and/or zero of the power delivery network is partially compensated. The equalization unit is located between an input amplifier and a power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Frank Kronmueller, Mark Childs, Ahmed Shaban
  • Publication number: 20200278709
    Abstract: A linear regulator which has a pass device coupled between an input voltage level and an output node, a voltage divider circuit for generating a feedback voltage that depends on an output voltage at the output node, and an operational amplifier for controlling the pass device, the operational amplifier receiving the feedback voltage and a reference voltage at its inputs is presented. The operational amplifier has: an input stage that receives the feedback voltage and the reference voltage at its inputs, an amplifier stage that receives an output of the input stage at its input, and a current injection circuit for sourcing current into an intermediate node between the input stage and the amplifier stage, or sinking a current from the intermediate node. The disclosure further relates to a corresponding method of operating a linear regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Carlos Azevedo, Ambreesh Bhattad, Frank Kronmueller, Mahir Uka, Benedikt Wolf
  • Publication number: 20200225690
    Abstract: A regulator configured to provide at an output node a load current at an output voltage is described. The regulator comprises a pass transistor for providing the load current at the output node. Furthermore, the regulator comprises feedback means for deriving a feedback voltage from the output voltage at the output node. In addition, the regulator comprises a differential amplifier configured to control the pass transistor in dependence of the feedback voltage and in dependence of a reference voltage. The regulator further comprises compensation means configured to determine a sensed current which is indicative of the load current at the output node. Furthermore, the compensation means are configured to adjust an operation point of the regulator in dependence of the sensed current and in dependence of a value of a track impedance of a conductive track which links the output node to a load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Hande Kurnaz, Ambreesh Bhattad, Gary Hague, Frank Kronmueller
  • Patent number: 10705550
    Abstract: A power converter comprising an error amplifier, a reference current circuit branch and load current circuit branch is presented. The error amplifier is configured to generate an error signal based on a reference value and an output signal at an output of the power converter. The reference current circuit branch comprises a modulation device configured to modulate, based on the error signal, a reference current in the reference current circuit branch. The load current circuit branch comprises a first output transistor configured to adjust, based on the reference current, an output current at the output of the power converter. In addition, the power converter may comprise a slave current circuit branch with a second output transistor configured to adjust, based on the reference current, a slave current in the slave current circuit branch for controlling an external slave power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Ambreesh Bhattad, Frank Kronmueller
  • Publication number: 20200117225
    Abstract: A voltage regulator and a method are presented. The regulator has a pass device coupled to an input node at an input voltage. Furthermore, the voltage regulator has a regulator circuit to control the pass device to provide a regulated output voltage at an output node based on the input voltage. Components of the regulator circuit are arranged and operated between the input node and the output node. The voltage regulator allows a load of the voltage regulator to be arranged between the output node and a reference node at a reference voltage, wherein the reference voltage differs from the output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Jan Grabinski, Frank Kronmueller
  • Patent number: 10613565
    Abstract: A regulator configured to provide at an output node a load current at an output voltage is described. The regulator comprises a pass transistor for providing the load current at the output node. Furthermore, the regulator comprises feedback means for deriving a feedback voltage from the output voltage at the output node. In addition, the regulator comprises a differential amplifier configured to control the pass transistor in dependence of the feedback voltage and in dependence of a reference voltage. The regulator further comprises compensation means configured to determine a sensed current which is indicative of the load current at the output node. Furthermore, the compensation means are configured to adjust an operation point of the regulator in dependence of the sensed current and in dependence of a value of a track impedance of a conductive track which links the output node to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hande Kurnaz, Ambreesh Bhattad, Gary Hague, Frank Kronmueller
  • Patent number: 10545521
    Abstract: A linear regulator with a pass device having a first terminal, a second terminal and a drive terminal is presented. The first terminal of the pass device is coupled with the supply voltage of the linear regulator. The second terminal of the pass device is coupled with the output of the linear regulator. A driver stage is coupled with the supply voltage of the linear regulator, and the drive terminal of the pass device drives the pass device with a driving voltage. A compensating circuit compensates for a change in a voltage difference between the drive terminal of the pass device and the supply voltage of the linear regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Carlos Zamarreno Ramos, Ambreesh Bhattad, Frank Kronmueller
  • Publication number: 20190384372
    Abstract: A power supply and a method to provide power to a load via a power delivery network are presented. The power delivery network adds a pole and/or zero to a transfer function of the power supply. The power supply has a feedback unit to sense a load voltage at the load and to provide a feedback voltage which is indicative of the load voltage. The power supply has an input amplifier provides an error voltage based on the feedback voltage. The power supply has a power converter to provide power to the power delivery network depending on the error voltage. The power supply has an equalization unit to add a zero and/or a pole to the transfer function of the power supply, such that the pole and/or zero of the power delivery network is partially compensated. The equalization unit is located between an input amplifier and a power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Frank Kronmueller, Mark Childs, Ahmed Shaban
  • Publication number: 20190384344
    Abstract: A current generator circuit and a method to provide a negative higher order temperature coefficient, nHOTC, current is presented. The circuit has a current source to provide a reference current. Furthermore, the circuit has a MOS current mirror to derive a current at an output of the MOS current mirror from the reference current at an input of the MOS current mirror. In addition, the circuit has a bipolar current mirror to derive a current at an output of the bipolar current mirror from the reference current at an input of the bipolar current mirror. The output of the MOS current mirror and the output of the bipolar current mirror are arranged in series, to provide a combined current. The bipolar current mirror exhibits a mirror ratio 1:k, with 0<k<1. Furthermore, the circuit has an output to provide the nHOTC current based on the combined current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Ambreesh Bhattad, Rainer Krenzke, Frank Kronmueller
  • Patent number: 10503188
    Abstract: A voltage regulator is presented. The output node of the voltage regulator is coupled to an output capacitor via a conductive path that exhibits a parasitic inductance. The voltage regulator has an output amplification stage for deriving the output current at the output node from the input voltage at the input node in dependence of a drive voltage at an intermediate node of the voltage regulator. The voltage regulator has an intermediate amplification stage for providing the drive voltage at the intermediate node based on a differential output voltage. A differential amplification stage determines the differential output voltage in dependence of the output voltage and in dependence of a reference voltage. The voltage regulator has a sensing unit to provide a load indication which is indicative of the output current and a variable impedance coupled to the intermediate node, where the variable impedance is dependent on the load indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Carlos Zamarreno Ramos, Frank Kronmueller, Ambreesh Bhattad
  • Patent number: 10469065
    Abstract: A circuit for operating a transistor device that acts as a switch is presented. The circuit includes the transistor device and a control circuit coupled to a gate of the transistor device. The control circuit is adapted to selectively apply at least a first voltage level, a second voltage level, and a third voltage level to the gate of the transistor device, wherein the first, second, and third voltage levels are distinct voltage levels. The disclosure further relates to a method of operating a transistor device that acts as a switch. The proposed circuit provides additional gate voltages, by contrast to conventional two-level gate drivers. By appropriate choice of the additional gate voltages, reverse mode conductance losses of the transistor device can be reduced and/or to the Safe Operating Area (SOA) of the transistor device can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Horst Knoedgen, Christoph N. Nagl, Nebojsa Jelaca, Frank Kronmueller, Ambreesh Bhattad
  • Publication number: 20190273487
    Abstract: A circuit for operating a transistor device that acts as a switch is presented. The circuit includes the transistor device and a control circuit coupled to a gate of the transistor device. The control circuit is adapted to selectively apply at least a first voltage level, a second voltage level, and a third voltage level to the gate of the transistor device, wherein the first, second, and third voltage levels are distinct voltage levels. The disclosure further relates to a method of operating a transistor device that acts as a switch. The proposed circuit provides additional gate voltages, by contrast to conventional two-level gate drivers. By appropriate choice of the additional gate voltages, reverse mode conductance losses of the transistor device can be reduced and/or to the Safe Operating Area (SOA) of the transistor device can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Horst Knoedgen, Christoph N. Nagl, Nebojsa Jelaca, Frank Kronmueller, Ambreesh Bhattad
  • Publication number: 20190235549
    Abstract: A regulator configured to provide at an output node a load current at an output voltage is described. The regulator comprises a pass transistor for providing the load current at the output node. Furthermore, the regulator comprises feedback means for deriving a feedback voltage from the output voltage at the output node. In addition, the regulator comprises a differential amplifier configured to control the pass transistor in dependence of the feedback voltage and in dependence of a reference voltage. The regulator further comprises compensation means configured to determine a sensed current which is indicative of the load current at the output node. Furthermore, the compensation means are configured to adjust an operation point of the regulator in dependence of the sensed current and in dependence of a value of a track impedance of a conductive track which links the output node to a load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Hande Kurnaz, Ambreesh Bhattad, Gary Hague, Frank Kronmueller
  • Patent number: 10333408
    Abstract: A half bridge circuit and a method for its operation are presented. The half bridge circuit contains a high-side switch, a latch for providing a drive signal for the high-side switch, a first transistor device acting as a level shifter for shifting a voltage level at an input of the latch. The first transistor device is coupled between a supply voltage level and ground, and the voltage level at the input of the latch is shifted in accordance with a current that flows through the first transistor device. A second transistor device is coupled between the supply voltage level and ground, in parallel to the first transistor device. There is a current mirror for mirroring a current that flows through the second transistor device. There is a circuit path for feeding the mirrored current to an intermediate node between the supply voltage level and the first transistor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Horst Knoedgen, Christoph N. Nagl, Nebojsa Jelaca, Frank Kronmueller, Ambreesh Bhattad
  • Publication number: 20190187735
    Abstract: A voltage regulator is presented. The output node of the voltage regulator is coupled to an output capacitor via a conductive path that exhibits a parasitic inductance. The voltage regulator has an output amplification stage for deriving the output current at the output node from the input voltage at the input node in dependence of a drive voltage at an intermediate node of the voltage regulator. The voltage regulator has an intermediate amplification stage for providing the drive voltage at the intermediate node based on a differential output voltage. A differential amplification stage determines the differential output voltage in dependence of the output voltage and in dependence of a reference voltage. The voltage regulator has a sensing unit to provide a load indication which is indicative of the output current and a variable impedance coupled to the intermediate node, where the variable impedance is dependent on the load indication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Carlos Zamarreno Ramos, Frank Kronmueller, Ambreesh Bhattad