Patents by Inventor Franz Prexl
Franz Prexl 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).
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Patent number: 10958173Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a processing element configured to couple to a first ramp generator and a second ramp generator and control the first ramp generator while a power converter is operating in a buck-boost mode of operation to generate a first ramp signal beginning at a first value and increasing to a second value during a first clock cycle and generate the first ramp signal beginning at the first value and increasing to a third value during a second clock cycle following the first clock cycle and control the second ramp generator while the power converter is operating in the buck-boost mode of operation to generate a second ramp signal beginning at a fourth value and decreasing to a fifth value during the first clock cycle and generate the second ramp signal beginning at the fourth value and decreasing to a sixth value during the second clock cycle.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2018Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Franz Prexl, Anmol Sharma
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Publication number: 20200212805Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a processing element configured to couple to a first ramp generator and a second ramp generator and control the first ramp generator while a power converter is operating in a buck-boost mode of operation to generate a first ramp signal beginning at a first value and increasing to a second value during a first clock cycle and generate the first ramp signal beginning at the first value and increasing to a third value during a second clock cycle following the first clock cycle and control the second ramp generator while the power converter is operating in the buck-boost mode of operation to generate a second ramp signal beginning at a fourth value and decreasing to a fifth value during the first clock cycle and generate the second ramp signal beginning at the fourth value and decreasing to a sixth value during the second clock cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2018Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventors: Franz PREXL, Anmol SHARMA
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Patent number: 10644595Abstract: A circuit, comprising a trapezoidal generator that comprises digital logic configured to couple at a first input to a loop controller and at a second input to a buck-boost region detector and a driver coupled to an output of the digital logic and configured to couple to at least one power transistor of a power converter.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2019Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Anmol Sharma, Franz Prexl
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Publication number: 20190238055Abstract: A circuit, comprising a trapezoidal generator that comprises digital logic configured to couple at a first input to a loop controller and at a second input to a buck-boost region detector and a driver coupled to an output of the digital logic and configured to couple to at least one power transistor of a power converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Anmol Sharma, Franz Prexl
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Publication number: 20190181753Abstract: A circuit, comprising a trapezoidal generator that comprises digital logic configured to couple at a first input to a loop controller and at a second input to a buck-boost region detector and a driver coupled to an output of the digital logic and configured to couple to at least one power transistor of a power converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2018Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventors: Anmol SHARMA, Franz PREXL
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Patent number: 10298126Abstract: A circuit, comprising a trapezoidal generator that comprises digital logic configured to couple at a first input to a loop controller and at a second input to a buck-boost region detector and a driver coupled to an output of the digital logic and configured to couple to at least one power transistor of a power converter.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2018Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Anmol Sharma, Franz Prexl
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Patent number: 9419431Abstract: One example includes a power converter system. The system includes a switching circuit configured to activate at least one power supply switch in response to a driver signal to provide an output voltage at an output based on an input voltage at an input and based on an inductor current associated with an inductor. The at least one power supply switch includes a parasitic diode that interconnects the inductor and the output. The system also includes a short-circuit protection system configured to detect a short-circuit condition and to deactivate the at least one power supply switch in response to the detection of the short-circuit condition to provide the inductor current from the inductor to the output through the parasitic diode in response to the deactivation of the at least one power supply switch.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2014Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS DEUTSCHLAND GMBHInventors: Franz Prexl, Mariangela De Martino
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Patent number: 9413239Abstract: An average current mode buck-boost DC to DC converter has a buck stage coupled between an input voltage source terminal and an output terminal. A boost stage is coupled between the input voltage source terminal and the output terminal. A current ramp control circuit generates a ramp signal for driving the buck and boost stages, the ramp signals being coupled to the buck and boost stages. A constant voltage related to the desired output voltage by a constant is applied directly to both a voltage control feedback loop for adjusting the output voltage and directly to an input to the current ramp control circuit, whereby the output voltage can be shifted from one voltage to another by feedforward control.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2014Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS DEUTSCHLAND GMBHInventors: Franz Prexl, Juergen Neuhaeusler
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Publication number: 20150333502Abstract: One example includes a power converter system. The system includes a switching circuit configured to activate at least one power supply switch in response to a driver signal to provide an output voltage at an output based on an input voltage at an input and based on an inductor current associated with an inductor. The at least one power supply switch includes a parasitic diode that interconnects the inductor and the output. The system also includes a short-circuit protection system configured to detect a short-circuit condition and to deactivate the at least one power supply switch in response to the detection of the short-circuit condition to provide the inductor current from the inductor to the output through the parasitic diode in response to the deactivation of the at least one power supply switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2014Publication date: November 19, 2015Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS DEUTSCHLAND GMBHInventors: Franz Prexl, Mariangela De Martino
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Publication number: 20150054478Abstract: An average current mode buck-boost DC to DC converter has a buck stage coupled between an input voltage source terminal and an output terminal. A boost stage is coupled between the input voltage source terminal and the output terminal. A current ramp control circuit generates a ramp signal for driving the buck and boost stages, the ramp signals being coupled to the buck and boost stages. A constant voltage related to the desired output voltage by a constant is applied directly to both a voltage control feedback loop for adjusting the output voltage and directly to an input to the current ramp control circuit, whereby the output voltage can be shifted from one voltage to another by feedforward control.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2014Publication date: February 26, 2015Inventors: Franz Prexl, Juergen Neuhaeusler
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Patent number: 8841895Abstract: An average current mode buck-boost DC to DC converter has a buck stage coupled between an input voltage source terminal and an output terminal. A boost stage is coupled between the input voltage source terminal and the output terminal. A current ramp control circuit generates a ramp signal for driving the buck and boost stages, the ramp signals being coupled to the buck and boost stages. A constant voltage related to the desired output voltage by a constant is applied directly to both a voltage control feedback loop for adjusting the output voltage and directly to an input to the current ramp control circuit, whereby the output voltage can be shifted from one voltage to another by feedforward control.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2012Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbHInventors: Franz Prexl, Juergen Neuhaeusler
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Publication number: 20130320949Abstract: An average current mode buck-boost DC to DC converter has a buck stage coupled between an input voltage source terminal and an output terminal. A boost stage is coupled between the input voltage source terminal and the output terminal. A current ramp control circuit generates a ramp signal for driving the buck and boost stages, the ramp signals being coupled to the buck and boost stages. A constant voltage related to the desired output voltage by a constant is applied directly to both a voltage control feedback loop for adjusting the output voltage and directly to an input to the current ramp control circuit, whereby the output voltage can be shifted from one voltage to another by feedforward control.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbHInventors: Franz Prexl, Juergen Neuhaeusler
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Patent number: 8531168Abstract: An electronic device for DC-DC conversion of an input voltage into an output voltage is provided. The electronic device includes a current mode control loop for controlling a sensed current of the DC-DC conversion by comparing a voltage level indicating a magnitude of the sensed current with a reference voltage level indicating the maximum admissible magnitude of the sensed current. The reference voltage level is dynamically adjusted in response to a change of an input voltage level.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2010Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbHInventors: Franz Prexl, Juergen Neuhaeusler
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Patent number: 8035311Abstract: An electronic device includes circuitry for driving a light-emitting diode (LED) or other light-emitting semiconductor device.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2008Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbHInventors: Franz Prexl, Erich-Johann Bayer, Juergen Neuhaeusler
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Patent number: 7940037Abstract: An electronic device is provided comprising a driver for light emitting semiconductor devices. The driver includes a first MOS transistor (MN1) coupled with a channel to the light emitting semiconductor device at an output node. The first MOS transistor (MN1) is configured to determine a current through the light emitting semiconductor device (LED). A control loop is provided so as to control the first MOS transistor to maintain the magnitude of the current through the light emitting semiconductor device at a target value when a voltage drop across the first MOS transistor (MN1) changes. A second MOS transistor is coupled to the output node and biased so as to supply an auxiliary current to the output node, when the voltage drop across the first MOS transistor drops below a minimum voltage level and a feedback loop is provided to reduce the current through the light emitting semiconductor device by an amount proportional to the auxiliary current.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2008Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbHInventor: Franz Prexl
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Publication number: 20110068754Abstract: An electronic device for DC-DC conversion of an input voltage into an output voltage is provided. The electronic device includes a current mode control loop for controlling a sensed current of the DC-DC conversion by comparing a voltage level indicating a magnitude of the sensed current with a reference voltage level indicating the maximum admissible magnitude of the sensed current. The reference voltage level is dynamically adjusted in response to a change of an input voltage level.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbHInventors: Franz Prexl, Juergen Neuhaeusler
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Patent number: 7595616Abstract: A control circuit for a polarity inverting buck-boost DC-DC converter, includes an operational trans-conductance amplifier that has inputs to which a sensed voltage difference signal is applied and an output connected to an input of a voltage-to-duty-cycle converter. A compensation capacitance is connected between the output of the amplifier and a fixed supply terminal. The compensation capacitance includes a first capacitor that is permanently connected between the output of the amplifier and the fixed supply terminal and a second capacitor that has a switched connection between the output of the amplifier and the fixed supply terminal. The first capacitor has a small capacitance compared to the second capacitor. The switched connection of the second capacitor is controlled by a continuous-discontinuous mode detection circuit.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2005Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbHInventors: Franz Prexl, Kevin Scoones, Stefan Reithmaier
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Publication number: 20090096388Abstract: An electronic device is provided comprising a driver for light emitting semiconductor devices. The driver includes a first MOS transistor (MN1) coupled with a channel to the light emitting semiconductor device at an output node. The first MOS transistor (MN1) is configured to determine a current through the light emitting semiconductor device (LED). A control loop is provided so as to control the first MOS transistor to maintain the magnitude of the current through the light emitting semiconductor device at a target value when a voltage drop across the first MOS transistor (MN1) changes. A second MOS transistor is coupled to the output node and biased so as to supply an auxiliary current to the output node, when the voltage drop across the first MOS transistor drops below a minimum voltage level and a feedback loop is provided to reduce the current through the light emitting semiconductor device by an amount proportional to the auxiliary current.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2008Publication date: April 16, 2009Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS DEUTSCHLAND GMBHInventor: Franz Prexl
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Patent number: 7518346Abstract: A buck-boost DC/DC converter includes an inductor and a power stage having a set of switches selectively connecting the inductor between a voltage input, a voltage output and a reference level in accordance with buck or boost mode. The converter has a switch control providing control signals to the set of switches in the power stage. A comparator provides to the switch control a first pulse width modulation signal in buck mode and a second pulse width modulation signal in boost mode. A ramp generator provides to the comparator a first ramp signal for buck mode and a second ramp signal for boost mode. An overlap control provides a ramp shift signal to the ramp generator in response to a detection signal that indicates activity of the switches in the power stage. The ramp shift signal adjusts the first and second ramp signals relative to each other so as to minimize any gap and any overlap between the first and second ramp signals.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2007Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbHInventors: Franz Prexl, Erich Bayer, Juergen Neuhaeusler
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Publication number: 20090072755Abstract: An electronic device includes circuitry for driving a light-emitting diode (LED) or other light-emitting semiconductor device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2008Publication date: March 19, 2009Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS DEUTSCHLAND GMBHInventors: Franz Prexl, Erich-Johann Bayer, Juergen Neuhaeusler