Patents by Inventor Gerhard Thiele
Gerhard Thiele 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: 11218076Abstract: A switching converter circuit includes a hysteretic comparator with a reference voltage (VREF) node and a feedback node. The switching converter circuit also includes a switchable error amplifier circuit coupled to the feedback node of the hysteretic comparator. The switchable error amplifier circuit includes an error amplifier that is coupled to the feedback node during a power-save mode and that is decoupled from the feedback node during a deep power-save mode initiated in response to a duration of the power-save mode being greater than a time threshold.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2019Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Antonio Priego, Johann Erich Bayer, Gerhard Thiele
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Publication number: 20210376731Abstract: A circuit includes a first power converter having a first voltage input and a first output. The circuit also includes a second power converter having a second voltage input coupled to the first voltage input, a clock input, and a second output. A phase shifter is coupled between the first output and the clock input of the second power converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Erich-Johann Bayer, Gerhard Thiele, Antonio Priego
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Patent number: 11101727Abstract: A power converter includes a watchdog circuit having an input adapted to be coupled to a pause signal of a switching power supply. The watchdog circuit is configured to provide a start signal at an output thereof based on the pause signal indicating that the power converter has stopped switching for a threshold duration that is less than an audible range. A pulse generator circuit has an input coupled to the output of the watchdog circuit and is configured to generate at least one pulse based on the start signal. A switch circuit has an input terminal adapted to be coupled to an input voltage and at least one other terminal adapted to be coupled to an inductor. The switch circuit is configured to provide negative current from an output of the power converter through the at least one other terminal based on the at least one pulse.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2020Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Anmol Sharma, Thomas Keller, Gerhard Thiele
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Publication number: 20210257898Abstract: A power converter includes a watchdog circuit having an input adapted to be coupled to a pause signal of a switching power supply. The watchdog circuit is configured to provide a start signal at an output thereof based on the pause signal indicating that the power converter has stopped switching for a threshold duration that is less than an audible range. A pulse generator circuit has an input coupled to the output of the watchdog circuit and is configured to generate at least one pulse based on the start signal. A switch circuit has an input terminal adapted to be coupled to an input voltage and at least one other terminal adapted to be coupled to an inductor. The switch circuit is configured to provide negative current from an output of the power converter through the at least one other terminal based on the at least one pulse.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2020Publication date: August 19, 2021Inventors: ANMOL SHARMA, THOMAS KELLER, GERHARD THIELE
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Patent number: 10992229Abstract: An electrical system includes: 1) a buck converter; 2) a battery coupled to an input of the buck converter; and 3) a load coupled to an output of the buck converter. The buck converter includes a high-side switch, a low-side switch, and regulation loop circuitry coupled to the high-side switch and the low-side switch. The regulation loop circuitry includes a comparator with preamplifier gain adjustment circuitry configured to adjust a preamplifier gain of the comparator based on an overdrive voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Gerhard Thiele, Manuel Wiersch, Antonio Priego, Johann Erich Bayer, Stefan Herzer
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Patent number: 10965216Abstract: An integrated circuit comprising: a high-side pMOSFET comprising a drain and a gate; a node coupled to the drain of the high-side pMOSFET; a voltage-to-current circuit comprising a first nMOSFET and a first resistor, the first nMOSFET comprising a gate and a source, the first resistor comprising a terminal coupled to the source of the first nMOSFET; an error amplifier comprising an output port coupled to the gate of the first nMOSFET; a skip clamp nMOSFET comprising a source coupled to the output port of the error amplifier; and a current limit clamp pMOSFET comprising a source coupled to the output port of the error amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2018Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Gerhard Thiele, Manuel Wiersch
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Publication number: 20200127569Abstract: A switching converter circuit includes a hysteretic comparator with a reference voltage (VREF) node and a feedback node. The switching converter circuit also includes a switchable error amplifier circuit coupled to the feedback node of the hysteretic comparator. The switchable error amplifier circuit includes an error amplifier that is coupled to the feedback node during a power-save mode and that is decoupled from the feedback node during a deep power-save mode initiated in response to a duration of the power-save mode being greater than a time threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2019Publication date: April 23, 2020Inventors: Antonio PRIEGO, Johann Erich BAYER, Gerhard THIELE
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Publication number: 20200127570Abstract: An electrical system includes: 1) a buck converter; 2) a battery coupled to an input of the buck converter; and 3) a load coupled to an output of the buck converter. The buck converter includes a high-side switch, a low-side switch, and regulation loop circuitry coupled to the high-side switch and the low-side switch. The regulation loop circuitry includes a comparator with preamplifier gain adjustment circuitry configured to adjust a preamplifier gain of the comparator based on an overdrive voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2019Publication date: April 23, 2020Inventors: Gerhard THIELE, Manuel WIERSCH, Antonio PRIEGO, Johann Erich BAYER, Stefan HERZER
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Publication number: 20200106357Abstract: An electrical system includes: 1) a buck converter; 2) a battery coupled to an input of the buck converter; and 3) a load coupled to an output of the buck converter. The buck converter includes a high-side switch, a low-side switch, and regulation loop circuitry coupled to the high-side switch and the low-side switch. The regulation loop circuitry includes: 1) a main comparator; 2) a bias current source coupled to the main comparator and configured to provide a bias current to the main comparator; and 3) a dynamic biasing circuit coupled to the main comparator and configured to add a supplemental bias current to the bias current in 100% mode of the buck converter. The supplemental bias current varies depending on an input voltage (VIN) and an output voltage (VOUT) of the buck converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2019Publication date: April 2, 2020Inventors: Manuel WIERSCH, Gerhard THIELE, Antonio PRIEGO, Johann Erich BAYER
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Publication number: 20200106360Abstract: A switching converter circuit includes a voltage regulation loop configured to provide an output voltage (VOUT) based on an input voltage (VIN). The switching converter circuit also includes a 100% mode circuitry coupled to the voltage regulation loop, wherein the 100% mode circuitry is configured to apply an offset to VOUT in response to detecting that VIN is approaching VOUT.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2019Publication date: April 2, 2020Inventors: Antonio PRIEGO, Gerhard THIELE, Manuel WIERSCH, Johann Erich BAYER
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Patent number: 10608538Abstract: A device includes a first transistor coupled to a ground node and a current source. The first transistor includes a control terminal coupled to a reference voltage source, where the current source is coupled to an input voltage source. The device includes a second transistor coupled to the input voltage source, where the second transistor includes a control terminal coupled to the first transistor. The device includes a third transistor coupled to the second transistor, where the third transistor includes a control terminal coupled to an output voltage node. The device includes a fourth transistor coupled to the third transistor, where the fourth transistor includes a control terminal coupled to the output voltage node. The device includes a fifth transistor coupled to the fourth transistor and a resistor, where the fifth transistor includes a control terminal coupled to the fourth transistor. The resistor is coupled to the ground node.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2019Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Manuel Wiersch, Gerhard Thiele
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Publication number: 20200099299Abstract: An integrated circuit comprising: a high-side pMOSFET comprising a drain and a gate; a node coupled to the drain of the high-side pMOSFET; a voltage-to-current circuit comprising a first nMOSFET and a first resistor, the first nMOSFET comprising a gate and a source, the first resistor comprising a terminal coupled to the source of the first nMOSFET; an error amplifier comprising an output port coupled to the gate of the first nMOSFET; a skip clamp nMOSFET comprising a source coupled to the output port of the error amplifier; and a current limit clamp pMOSFET comprising a source coupled to the output port of the error amplifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2018Publication date: March 26, 2020Inventors: Gerhard THIELE, Manuel WIERSCH
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Patent number: 10298127Abstract: A DCDC converter includes a transconductance amplifier, a comparator, a current driving component, an output impedance, a switch, a clamp resistor and a p-channel FET. The transconductance amplifier outputs a transconductance current and a switch control signal. The comparator has a two n-channel FET inputs forming a differential pair and outputs a compared signal. The current driving component generates an output current based on the compared signal. The output impedance component generates an output DC voltage based on the output current. The switch is between the two n-channel FETs and can open and close based on the switch control signal. The clamp resistor is arranged in series with the switch. The p-channel FET is in series with the clamp resistor and is controlled by the output DC voltage.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Gerhard Thiele, Erich Bayer
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Publication number: 20170229966Abstract: A DCDC converter includes a transconductance amplifier, a comparator, a current driving component, an output impedance, a switch, a clamp resistor and a p-channel FET. The transconductance amplifier outputs a transconductance current and a switch control signal. The comparator has a two n-channel FET inputs forming a differential pair and outputs a compared signal. The current driving component generates an output current based on the compared signal. The output impedance component generates an output DC voltage based on the output current. The switch is between the two n-channel FETs and can open and close based on the switch control signal. The clamp resistor is arranged in series with the switch. The p-channel FET is in series with the clamp resistor and is controlled by the output DC voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2017Publication date: August 10, 2017Inventors: Gerhard Thiele, Erich Bayer
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Patent number: 9577517Abstract: A DCDC converter includes a transconductance amplifier, a comparator, a current driving component, an output impedance, a switch, a clamp resistor and a p-channel FET. The transconductance amplifier outputs a transconductance current and a switch control signal. The comparator has a two n-channel FET inputs forming a differential pair and outputs a compared signal. The current driving component generates an output current based on the compared signal. The output impedance component generates an output DC voltage based on the output current. The switch is between the two n-channel FETs and can open and close based on the switch control signal. The clamp resistor is arranged in series with the switch. The p-channel FET is in series with the clamp resistor and is controlled by the output DC voltage.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2014Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbHInventors: Gerhard Thiele, Erich Bayer
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Publication number: 20150123638Abstract: A DCDC converter includes a transconductance amplifier, a comparator, a current driving component, an output impedance, a switch, a clamp resistor and a p-channel FET. The transconductance amplifier outputs a transconductance current and a switch control signal. The comparator has a two n-channel FET inputs forming a differential pair and outputs a compared signal. The current driving component generates an output current based on the compared signal. The output impedance component generates an output DC voltage based on the output current. The switch is between the two n-channel FETs and can open and close based on the switch control signal. The clamp resistor is arranged in series with the switch. The p-channel FET is in series with the clamp resistor and is controlled by the output DC voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2014Publication date: May 7, 2015Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS DEUTSCHLAND GMBHInventors: Gerhard Thiele, Erich Bayer
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Patent number: 8970199Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device and a method for DC-DC conversion using a comparator for generating an output signal for driving a power switch of a switch mode DC-DC converter. The electronic device is configured to reduce a bias current of the comparator with a first slope in response to a decreasing load and to increase the bias current of the comparator with a second slope in response to an increasing load, wherein the second slope is steeper than the first slope.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2010Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbHInventors: Kevin Scoones, Gerhard Thiele, Neil Gibson
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Patent number: 8436601Abstract: A DC-DC converter has high-side power and low-side power transistors connected in series between supply terminals, an inductor connected between the power transistors and an output terminal. A comparator compares the output voltage with a reference voltage. A detector detects when inductor current approaches zero. A timer is configured to determine a minimum ON time of the high-side power transistor optimized for a particular value inductor. A current detector detects current flow in the back-gate diode of the low-side power transistor. timer is configured to determine an overriding ON time in response to the back-gate current detector. Logic provides control signals to gate power transistors in response to the comparator and the longer one of the minimum ON time and the overriding ON time. The minimum ON time for the high-side power transistor is adjusted in response to the actual inductance of the inductor.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2011Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbHInventors: Gerhard Thiele, Konrad Wagensohner, Josy Bernard
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Publication number: 20110204860Abstract: A DC-DC converter has high-side power and low-side power transistors connected in series between supply terminals, an inductor connected between the power transistors and an output terminal. A comparator compares the output voltage with a reference voltage. A detector detects when inductor current approaches zero. A timer is configured to determine a minimum ON time of the high-side power transistor optimized for a particular value inductor. A current detector detects current flow in the back-gate diode of the low-side power transistor. timer is configured to determine an overriding ON time in response to the back-gate current detector. Logic provides control signals to gate power transistors in response to the comparator and the longer one of the minimum ON time and the overriding ON time. The minimum ON time for the high-side power transistor is adjusted in response to the actual inductance of the inductor.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2011Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbHInventors: Gerhard Thiele, Konrad Wagensohner, Josy Bernard
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Publication number: 20100308784Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device and a method for DC-DC conversion using a comparator for generating an output signal for driving a power switch of a switch mode DC-DC converter. The electronic device is configured to reduce a bias current of the comparator with a first slope in response to a decreasing load and to increase the bias current of the comparator with a second slope in response to an increasing load, wherein the second slope is steeper than the first slope.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2010Publication date: December 9, 2010Applicant: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Kevin Scoones, Gerhard Thiele, Neil Gibson