Patents by Inventor Iulian Mirea
Iulian Mirea 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: 11916026Abstract: In certain aspects, a clamp includes first and second transistors coupled in series between a power bus and a ground. The clamp also includes a resistive voltage divider configured to bias a gate of the first transistor and a gate of the second transistor based on a supply voltage on the power bus. The clamp further includes a capacitive voltage divider configured to turn on the first and second transistors in response to a voltage transient on the power bus exceeding a trigger threshold voltage.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2019Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Jongshick Ahn, Iulian Mirea, Chung-Ti Hsu
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Patent number: 11671081Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a regulator. The regulator generally includes a source follower circuit and a low-voltage assist circuit. The low-voltage assist circuit generally includes a first transistor having a gate coupled to an output node of the source follower circuit, a voltage comparison circuit having a first input coupled to a source of the first transistor and a second input coupled to a control input node of the source follower circuit, and a second transistor having a gate coupled to an output of the voltage comparison circuit and a drain coupled to the output node of the source follower circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2020Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Mukesh Bansal, Iulian Mirea, Xun Liu
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Patent number: 11271599Abstract: An envelope tracking system includes an envelope signal generator, a supply modulator coupled to the envelope signal generator, the supply modulator comprising a switching regulator path configured to provide an output voltage at an output node to a power amplifier when in an average power tracking (APT) mode, the switching regulator path configured to operate together with a linear path to provide the output voltage at the output node to the power amplifier when in an envelope tracking (ET) mode, a capacitor having a first and second terminal, the first terminal coupled to ground, a switch coupled between the output node and the second terminal of the capacitor, the switch being configured to selectively disconnect the capacitor from the output node, and a circuit coupled between the output node and the second terminal of the capacitor, the circuit comprising a bi-directional current-limiting switch, the circuit configured to charge or discharge the capacitor such that a voltage across the capacitor changesType: GrantFiled: December 17, 2020Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Iulian Mirea, Gerard James Wimpenny, Jingxue Lu, Jongshick Ahn
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Patent number: 11258409Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide a high voltage switch with a fast turn-off. An example power supply circuit generally includes a capacitive element for coupling to a power terminal of an amplifier, a first switch configured to be closed in a first mode and to be open in a second mode, a second switch coupled in series between the first switch and the capacitive element and configured to be closed in the first mode and to be open in the second mode, a first circuit coupled to the first switch and configured to charge the capacitive element and power the amplifier in the first mode, and a buffer circuit having an output coupled to a first node and configured to output a first voltage level greater than half of a second voltage level at a second node.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2020Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Justin Philpott, Xiaocheng Jing, Jingxue Lu, Iulian Mirea
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Publication number: 20220021348Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide a high voltage switch with a fast turn-off. An example power supply circuit generally includes a capacitive element for coupling to a power terminal of an amplifier, a first switch configured to be closed in a first mode and to be open in a second mode, a second switch coupled in series between the first switch and the capacitive element and configured to be closed in the first mode and to be open in the second mode, a first circuit coupled to the first switch and configured to charge the capacitive element and power the amplifier in the first mode, and a buffer circuit having an output coupled to a first node and configured to output a first voltage level greater than half of a second voltage level at a second node.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2020Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Justin PHILPOTT, Xiaocheng JING, Jingxue LU, Iulian MIREA
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Publication number: 20210194517Abstract: An envelope tracking system includes an envelope signal generator, a supply modulator coupled to the envelope signal generator, the supply modulator comprising a switching regulator path configured to provide an output voltage at an output node to a power amplifier when in an average power tracking (APT) mode, the switching regulator path configured to operate together with a linear path to provide the output voltage at the output node to the power amplifier when in an envelope tracking (ET) mode, a capacitor having a first and second terminal, the first terminal coupled to ground, a switch coupled between the output node and the second terminal of the capacitor, the switch being configured to selectively disconnect the capacitor from the output node, and a circuit coupled between the output node and the second terminal of the capacitor, the circuit comprising a bi-directional current-limiting switch, the circuit configured to charge or discharge the capacitor such that a voltage across the capacitor changesType: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2020Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Iulian MIREA, Gerard James WIMPENNY, Jingxue LU, Jongshick AHN
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Publication number: 20210184661Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a regulator. The regulator generally includes a source follower circuit and a low-voltage assist circuit. The low-voltage assist circuit generally includes a first transistor having a gate coupled to an output node of the source follower circuit, a voltage comparison circuit having a first input coupled to a source of the first transistor and a second input coupled to a control input node of the source follower circuit, and a second transistor having a gate coupled to an output of the voltage comparison circuit and a drain coupled to the output node of the source follower circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2020Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Mukesh BANSAL, Iulian MIREA, Xun LIU
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Patent number: 11005368Abstract: A method for unbalancing a tri-level switching regulator uses hysteretic control when switching across multiple states of the tri-level switching regulator. The method includes determining a battery voltage and an output voltage of the tri-level switching regulator. The method also includes dynamically adjusting at least one of a first hysteretic window of a first hysteretic comparator associated with a second switching state of the tri-level switching regulator and a second hysteretic window of a second hysteretic comparator associated with a first switching state of the tri-level switching regulator based on the battery voltage and the output voltage.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Mukesh Bansal, Pengfei Li, Moataz Abdelsamie Abdelfattah, Iulian Mirea, Song Shi
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Patent number: 10978947Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for a single-inductor multiple-output (SIMO) power converter with a cross-regulation switch. An example apparatus includes a power source and a SIMO power converter. The SIMO power converter includes an input node coupled to the power source, a first node, a second node, a ground node, and an inductor coupled between the first node and the second node. The single-inductor multiple-output power converter also includes a first switch coupled between the input node and the first node, a second switch coupled between the first node and the ground node, and a cross-regulation switch coupled between the input node and the second node.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2019Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Sally Amin, Lin Xue, Iulian Mirea, Song Shi
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Publication number: 20210083576Abstract: A method for unbalancing a tri-level switching regulator uses hysteretic control when switching across multiple states of the tri-level switching regulator. The method includes determining a battery voltage and an output voltage of the tri-level switching regulator. The method also includes dynamically adjusting at least one of a first hysteretic window of a first hysteretic comparator associated with a second switching state of the tri-level switching regulator and a second hysteretic window of a second hysteretic comparator associated with a first switching state of the tri-level switching regulator based on the battery voltage and the output voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2019Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Mukesh BANSAL, Pengfei LI, Moataz Abdelsamie ABDELFATTAH, Iulian MIREA, Song SHI
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Patent number: 10951170Abstract: A power amplifier (PA) circuit includes a circuit for generating a supply voltage at an upper voltage rail for a power amplifier (PA). The circuit includes a DC-to-DC converter for generating a voltage from which the supply voltage is generated; a linear amplifier for sourcing or sinking current to or from the upper voltage rail via a capacitor for performing fine adjustment of the supply voltage; a first switching device coupled between an output of the linear amplifier and a lower voltage rail to selectively assist the linear amplifier sink current through the capacitor to deal with actual or anticipated transient response of the supply voltage; and a second switching device coupled between the upper voltage rail and the lower voltage rail to selectively discharge the capacitor in response to actual or anticipated transient response of the supply voltage.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2019Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Michael McGowan, Iulian Mirea
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Patent number: 10819233Abstract: A power converter includes a voltage source for generating an input voltage, and a regulation circuit for generating a set of output voltages based on the input voltage. The regulation circuit regulates the set of output voltages in different manners based on whether the set of output voltages is greater or less than a set of corresponding reference voltages, respectively. If one or more output voltages are less than one or more of the corresponding reference voltages, the regulation circuit regulates only those one or more output voltages during a current regulation interval based on an error voltage related to one or more differences between the one or more output voltages and the corresponding one or more reference voltages, respectively. If all output voltages are greater than the corresponding reference voltages, the regulation circuit regulates only the output voltage associated with the largest load current during the current regulation interval.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2019Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Lin Xue, Iulian Mirea, Xiaocheng Jing, Jongshick Ahn, Amir Parayandeh, Linfei Guo
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Publication number: 20200328677Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for a single-inductor multiple-output (SIMO) power converter with a cross-regulation switch. An example apparatus includes a power source and a SIMO power converter. The SIMO power converter includes an input node coupled to the power source, a first node, a second node, a ground node, and an inductor coupled between the first node and the second node. The single-inductor multiple-output power converter also includes a first switch coupled between the input node and the first node, a second switch coupled between the first node and the ground node, and a cross-regulation switch coupled between the input node and the second node.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2019Publication date: October 15, 2020Inventors: Sally Amin, Lin Xue, Iulian Mirea, Song Shi
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Patent number: 10804854Abstract: A tri-level converter provides three levels of power supply to a power amplifier that includes a supply path. The supply path has a first transistor and a first inherent body diode associated with the first transistor, as well as a second transistor and a second inherent body diode associated with the second transistor. A polarity of the second body diode is reversed relative to a polarity of the first body diode. A first driver is configured to drive the first transistor and the first inherent body diode to control a power supply, including a battery supply signal, to an output of the tri-level converter. The tri-level converter is coupled to a switching node.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2019Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Moataz Abdelsamie Abdelfattah, Mukesh Bansal, Iulian Mirea, Song Shi, Pengfei Li
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Patent number: 10622983Abstract: A current comparator including a first comparator configured to generate a first output signal based on a comparison of a first current to at least a second current; a second comparator configured to generate a second output signal based on a comparison of the first current to at least a third current; and a circuit configured to: direct the first current to the first comparator to perform the comparison of the first current to the at least the second current while blocking the first current from being applied to the second comparator; or direct the first current to the second comparator to perform the comparison of the first current to the at least the third current while blocking the first current from being applied to the first comparator.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2019Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Michael McGowan, Iulian Mirea
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Publication number: 20200076299Abstract: A power converter includes a voltage source for generating an input voltage, and a regulation circuit for generating a set of output voltages based on the input voltage. The regulation circuit regulates the set of output voltages in different manners based on whether the set of output voltages is greater or less than a set of corresponding reference voltages, respectively. If one or more output voltages are less than one or more of the corresponding reference voltages, the regulation circuit regulates only those one or more output voltages during a current regulation interval based on an error voltage related to one or more differences between the one or more output voltages and the corresponding one or more reference voltages, respectively. If all output voltages are greater than the corresponding reference voltages, the regulation circuit regulates only the output voltage associated with the largest load current during the current regulation interval.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2019Publication date: March 5, 2020Inventors: Lin XUE, Iulian MIREA, Xiaocheng JING, Jongshick AHN, Amir PARAYANDEH, Linfei GUO
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Publication number: 20200058603Abstract: In certain aspects, a clamp includes first and second transistors coupled in series between a power bus and a ground. The clamp also includes a resistive voltage divider configured to bias a gate of the first transistor and a gate of the second transistor based on a supply voltage on the power bus. The clamp further includes a capacitive voltage divider configured to turn on the first and second transistors in response to a voltage transient on the power bus exceeding a trigger threshold voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2019Publication date: February 20, 2020Inventors: Jongshick AHN, Iulian MIREA, Chung-Ti HSU
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Publication number: 20200052682Abstract: A current comparator including a first comparator configured to generate a first output signal based on a comparison of a first current to at least a second current; a second comparator configured to generate a second output signal based on a comparison of the first current to at least a third current; and a circuit configured to: direct the first current to the first comparator to perform the comparison of the first current to the at least the second current while blocking the first current from being applied to the second comparator; or direct the first current to the second comparator to perform the comparison of the first current to the at least the third current while blocking the first current from being applied to the first comparator.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2019Publication date: February 13, 2020Inventors: Michael MCGOWAN, Iulian MIREA
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Publication number: 20200052654Abstract: A power amplifier (PA) circuit includes a circuit for generating a supply voltage at an upper voltage rail for a power amplifier (PA). The circuit includes a DC-to-DC converter for generating a voltage from which the supply voltage is generated; a linear amplifier for sourcing or sinking current to or from the upper voltage rail via a capacitor for performing fine adjustment of the supply voltage; a first switching device coupled between an output of the linear amplifier and a lower voltage rail to selectively assist the linear amplifier sink current through the capacitor to deal with actual or anticipated transient response of the supply voltage; and a second switching device coupled between the upper voltage rail and the lower voltage rail to selectively discharge the capacitor in response to actual or anticipated transient response of the supply voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2019Publication date: February 13, 2020Inventors: Michael MCGOWAN, Iulian MIREA
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Patent number: 10128798Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for operating an envelope tracking power supply. The method may include receiving, from a modem of a device, information indicative of a transmit waveform statistic of a signal to be wirelessly transmitted by the device. The method may further include adjusting a configuration of the envelope tracking power supply based on the transmit waveform statistic of the signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2017Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Joseph Duncan, Thomas Marra, Song Shi, Iulian Mirea