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).

  • Patent number: 10958173
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Franz Prexl, Anmol Sharma
  • Publication number: 20200212805
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Franz PREXL, Anmol SHARMA
  • Patent number: 10644595
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Anmol Sharma, Franz Prexl
  • Publication number: 20190238055
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Anmol Sharma, Franz Prexl
  • Publication number: 20190181753
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Anmol SHARMA, Franz PREXL
  • Patent number: 10298126
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Anmol Sharma, Franz Prexl
  • Patent number: 9419431
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Prexl, Mariangela De Martino
  • Patent number: 9413239
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Prexl, Juergen Neuhaeusler
  • Publication number: 20150333502
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Prexl, Mariangela De Martino
  • Publication number: 20150054478
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Franz Prexl, Juergen Neuhaeusler
  • Patent number: 8841895
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Prexl, Juergen Neuhaeusler
  • Publication number: 20130320949
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Prexl, Juergen Neuhaeusler
  • Patent number: 8531168
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Prexl, Juergen Neuhaeusler
  • Patent number: 8035311
    Abstract: An electronic device includes circuitry for driving a light-emitting diode (LED) or other light-emitting semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Prexl, Erich-Johann Bayer, Juergen Neuhaeusler
  • Patent number: 7940037
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Prexl
  • Publication number: 20110068754
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Prexl, Juergen Neuhaeusler
  • Patent number: 7595616
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Prexl, Kevin Scoones, Stefan Reithmaier
  • Publication number: 20090096388
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventor: Franz Prexl
  • Patent number: 7518346
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Prexl, Erich Bayer, Juergen Neuhaeusler
  • Publication number: 20090072755
    Abstract: An electronic device includes circuitry for driving a light-emitting diode (LED) or other light-emitting semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Prexl, Erich-Johann Bayer, Juergen Neuhaeusler