Patents by Inventor Graeme G. Mackay
Graeme G. Mackay 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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Publication number: 20220393576Abstract: A battery management system configured to electrically couple to a battery may include a boost converter comprising a plurality of switches arranged to provide a boosted output voltage at an output of the boost converter from a source voltage of the battery and a bypass switch coupled between the battery and the output, wherein the battery management system is operable in a plurality of modes comprising a bypass mode wherein the source voltage is bypassed to the output and when the battery management system is in the bypass mode, at least one switch of the plurality of switches is enabled to increase a conductance between the battery and the output.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2022Publication date: December 8, 2022Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Eric J. KING, John L. MELANSON, Graeme G. MACKAY, Lingli ZHANG
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Patent number: 11522460Abstract: A method for controlling a current associated with a power converter may comprise controlling the current based on at least a peak current threshold level for the current and a valley current threshold level for the current, and further controlling the current based on a duration of time that the power converter spends in a switching state of the power converter.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Jason W. Lawrence, Graeme G. Mackay, Sakkarapani Balagopal
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Patent number: 11522440Abstract: A power delivery system may include a power converter configured to electrically couple to a power source and further configured to supply electrical energy to one or more loads electrically coupled to an output of the power converter and control circuitry configured to control the power converter in accordance with a control variable.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Ajit Sharma, Jason W. Lawrence, Graeme G. Mackay
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Patent number: 11515707Abstract: A power delivery system may include a power converter configured to electrically couple to a power source and further configured to supply electrical energy to one or more loads electrically coupled to an output of the power converter, and control circuitry configured to select a constraint factor from a plurality of different constraint factors based on at least one of an input voltage to the power converter and a power level available to the power converter, and control the power converter in accordance with the constraint factor.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2021Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Graeme G. Mackay, Ajit Sharma, Jason W. Lawrence, Eric J. King
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Patent number: 11476766Abstract: A system for controlling a current in a power converter may include an outer control loop configured to use an outer set of output voltage thresholds for an output voltage generated by the power converter in order to provide hysteretic control of the current, an inner control loop configured to use an inner set of output voltage thresholds for the output voltage in order to provide continuous control of the current, the inner control loop further configured to measure a time duration required for the output voltage to cross a single pair of two output voltage thresholds of the inner set of output voltage thresholds in order to determine an input-referred estimate of a current load of the power converter and set a peak current threshold and a valley current threshold for the current based on the input-referred estimate of the current load.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Jason W. Lawrence, Eric J. King, Graeme G. Mackay, Theodore M. Burk
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Patent number: 11469661Abstract: A battery management system configured to electrically couple to a battery may include a boost converter comprising a plurality of switches arranged to provide a boosted output voltage at an output of the boost converter from a source voltage of the battery and a bypass switch coupled between the battery and the output, wherein the battery management system is operable in a plurality of modes comprising a bypass mode wherein the source voltage is bypassed to the output and when the battery management system is in the bypass mode, at least one switch of the plurality of switches is enabled to increase a conductance between the battery and the output.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Eric J. King, John L. Melanson, Graeme G. MacKay, Lingli Zhang
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Patent number: 11463008Abstract: A system may include a power converter configured to convert a source voltage from a power source to an output voltage at an output capacitor at an output of the power converter, a dual-mode power converter electrically coupled to the power converter, the dual-mode power converter having a plurality of switches and a power inductor, an energy storage element electrically coupled to the dual-mode power converter, and control circuity configured to, when the output voltage is below a threshold voltage magnitude, control the plurality of switches to operate the dual-mode power converter as a buck converter in order to transfer energy from the energy storage element to the output capacitor via an electrical current through the power inductor.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2020Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Graeme G. Mackay, Eric J. King, Ajit Sharma
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Publication number: 20220286050Abstract: A system may include a power converter having a maximum allowable input power drawn from a power source, an energy storage element coupled to an output of the power converter at a top plate of the energy storage element, wherein the energy storage element is configured to store excess energy, and control circuity configured to, when an input power of the power converter exceeds the maximum allowable input power, cause excess energy stored in the energy storage element to be consumed by circuitry coupled to the output of the power converter, and in order to maintain positive voltage headroom for the circuitry coupled to the output of the power converter, selectively couple a bottom plate of the energy storage element to the power source such that excess energy stored by the circuitry coupled to the output of the power converter is consumed from the energy storage device when the input power of the power converter exceeds the maximum allowable input power.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2022Publication date: September 8, 2022Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Eric J. KING, Ajit SHARMA, Lingli ZHANG, Christian LARSEN, Graeme G. MACKAY
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Patent number: 11424682Abstract: A system for controlling a current in a power converter may include an outer control loop configured to use an outer set of output voltage thresholds for an output voltage generated by the power converter in order to provide hysteretic control of the current, an inner control loop configured to use an inner set of output voltage thresholds for the output voltage in order to provide continuous control of the current, the inner control loop further configured to measure a time duration required for the output voltage to cross a single pair of two output voltage thresholds of the inner set of output voltage thresholds in order to determine an input-referred estimate of a current load of the power converter and set a peak current threshold and a valley current threshold for the current based on the input-referred estimate of the current load.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Jason W. Lawrence, Eric J. King, Graeme G. Mackay, Theodore M. Burk
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Publication number: 20220231603Abstract: A method for determining if an inductor coupled to a switching network has been electrically shorted may include applying a voltage across the inductor for a predetermined period of time, controlling an impedance in an electrical path of a voltage source generating the voltage and the inductor, sensing an inductor current through the inductor, comparing the inductor current with a predetermined current threshold, and determining whether the inductor has been electrically shorted based on the inductor current, the predetermined current threshold, and the predetermined period of time.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2021Publication date: July 21, 2022Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Hasnain AKRAM, Graeme G. MACKAY, Lingli ZHANG, Ruoxin JIANG, Sakkarapani BALAGOPAL, Theodore M. BURK
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Patent number: 11392151Abstract: A power delivery system may include a power converter configured to electrically couple to a power source and further configured to supply electrical energy to one or more loads electrically coupled to an output of the power converter and control circuitry configured to determine whether a voltage node in the power delivery system has fallen below a warning threshold voltage, determine whether the voltage node has fallen below a critical threshold voltage, wherein the critical threshold voltage is lesser than the warning threshold voltage, in response to a voltage of the voltage node falling below the warning threshold voltage, decrease a maximum current drawn by the power converter from a first current level to a second current level, and in response to a voltage of the voltage node falling below the critical threshold voltage, decrease a maximum current drawn by the power converter from the second current level to a third current level.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2021Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Graeme G. MacKay, Ajit Sharma, Jason W. Lawrence, Qiang Li
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Patent number: 11387732Abstract: A system may include a power converter having a maximum allowable input power drawn from a power source, an energy storage element coupled to an output of the power converter at a top plate of the energy storage element, wherein the energy storage element is configured to store excess energy, and control circuity configured to, when an input power of the power converter exceeds the maximum allowable input power, cause excess energy stored in the energy storage element to be consumed by circuitry coupled to the output of the power converter, and in order to maintain positive voltage headroom for the circuitry coupled to the output of the power converter, selectively couple a bottom plate of the energy storage element to the power source such that excess energy stored by the circuitry coupled to the output of the power converter is consumed from the energy storage device when the input power of the power converter exceeds the maximum allowable input power.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Eric J. King, Ajit Sharma, Lingli Zhang, Christian Larsen, Graeme G. Mackay
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Publication number: 20220035389Abstract: A power delivery system may include a power converter configured to electrically couple to a power source and further configured to supply electrical energy to one or more loads electrically coupled to an output of the power converter and control circuitry configured to determine whether a voltage node in the power delivery system has fallen below a warning threshold voltage, determine whether the voltage node has fallen below a critical threshold voltage, wherein the critical threshold voltage is lesser than the warning threshold voltage, in response to a voltage of the voltage node falling below the warning threshold voltage, decrease a maximum current drawn by the power converter from a first current level to a second current level, and in response to a voltage of the voltage node falling below the critical threshold voltage, decrease a maximum current drawn by the power converter from the second current level to a third current level.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Graeme G. MACKAY, Ajit SHARMA, Jason W. LAWRENCE, Qiang LI
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Publication number: 20220037908Abstract: A power delivery system may include a power converter configured to electrically couple to a power source and further configured to supply electrical energy to one or more loads electrically coupled to an output of the power converter and control circuitry configured to monitor a first voltage derived from the power source, wherein the first voltage is indicative of a total power demanded by the power converter, and control a limit for a current supplied from the power source to the one or more loads based on comparison of the first voltage to a threshold voltage, wherein the threshold voltage is indicative of a point within a range of operation of the power converter at which the power converter delivers a maximum amount of power to the one or more loads.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2020Publication date: February 3, 2022Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Graeme G. MACKAY, Ajit SHARMA, Jason W. LAWRENCE, Lingli ZHANG
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Publication number: 20220037989Abstract: A power delivery system may include a power converter configured to electrically couple to a power source and further configured to supply electrical energy to one or more loads electrically coupled to an output of the power converter and control circuitry configured to control the power converter in accordance with a control variable.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Ajit SHARMA, Jason W. LAWRENCE, Graeme G. MACKAY
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Publication number: 20220037903Abstract: A system may include a power source, a power converter having an input coupled to the power source and an output for supplying electrical energy to a load, and a control circuit for controlling operation of the power converter. The control circuit may include a first feedback control subsystem configured to monitor an output voltage present at the output of the power converter and regulate the output voltage at or about a predetermined regulated voltage level in a normal mode of operation of the power converter and a second feedback control subsystem configured to monitor an input voltage present between the power source and the input of the power converter and responsive to the input voltage decreasing below a predetermined minimum voltage level, causing the power converter to operate in a protection mode of operation in order to maintain the input voltage at or about the predetermined minimum voltage level.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Graeme G. MACKAY, Ajit SHARMA, Jason W. LAWRENCE, Eric J. KING
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Publication number: 20220037888Abstract: A power delivery system may include a power converter configured to electrically couple to a power source and further configured to supply electrical energy to one or more loads electrically coupled to an output of the power converter, and control circuitry configured to select a constraint factor from a plurality of different constraint factors based on at least one of an input voltage to the power converter and a power level available to the power converter, and control the power converter in accordance with the constraint factor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Graeme G. MACKAY, Ajit SHARMA, Jason W. LAWRENCE, Eric J. KING
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Publication number: 20220037907Abstract: A power delivery system may include a power converter configured to electrically couple to a power source and further configured to supply electrical energy to one or more loads electrically coupled to an output of the power converter and control circuitry comprising a feedback loop configured to monitor a voltage derived from the power source and control a limit for a current supplied from the power source to the one or more loads based on the voltage derived from the power source.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2020Publication date: February 3, 2022Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Graeme G. MACKAY, Ajit SHARMA, Jason W. LAWRENCE
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Publication number: 20220029537Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a power conversion system may include a power converter configured to receive an input voltage and generate an output voltage, a bypass switch arranged in parallel with the power converter and arranged to couple the input voltage to the output voltage when the bypass switch is activated, and a control circuit configured to control the power converter and the bypass switch based on the output voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Jason W. LAWRENCE, Graeme G. MACKAY, Theodore M. BURK, Sakkarapani BALAGOPAL
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Publication number: 20220029538Abstract: A method for controlling a current associated with a power converter may comprise controlling the current based on at least a peak current threshold level for the current and a valley current threshold level for the current, and further controlling the current based on a duration of time that the power converter spends in a switching state of the power converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Jason W. LAWRENCE, Graeme G. MACKAY, Sakkarapani BALAGOPAL