Patents by Inventor James Edward Heckroth

James Edward Heckroth 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: 11942925
    Abstract: A method for operating a gate driver system includes measuring a first parameter according to a first priority schedule synchronously to a first edge of a switching signal generated by a gate driver integrated circuit and having a variable duty cycle. The method includes after measuring the first parameter of the gate driver system and prior to a second edge of the switching signal, measuring at least a second parameter of the gate driver system according to a first round-robin schedule synchronously to the first edge of the switching signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: James Edward Heckroth, Ion Constantin Tesu
  • Publication number: 20230421146
    Abstract: A method for operating a gate driver system includes measuring a first parameter according to a first priority schedule synchronously to a first edge of a switching signal generated by a gate driver integrated circuit and having a variable duty cycle. The method includes after measuring the first parameter of the gate driver system and prior to a second edge of the switching signal, measuring at least a second parameter of the gate driver system according to a first round-robin schedule synchronously to the first edge of the switching signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: James Edward Heckroth, Ion Constantin Tesu
  • Patent number: 11817854
    Abstract: A technique for powering gate drivers in a half-bridge configuration uses a single external power supply to power each gate driver. A single on-chip regulator regulates the positive turn-on voltage for each switch. The regulator overhead, is also used as the negative voltage for turn-off, thus transferring the low-frequency variation of the external power supply to the negative turn-off voltage. Accordingly, a single on-chip regulator generates both the positive turn-on voltage and the negative turn-off voltage. In at least one embodiment, reuse of the switch turn-off current further reduces on-chip power dissipation. The on-chip regulator's output filter capacitor discharges during turn-on of the external power switching device. During turn-off, the current that discharges the switch gate capacitance recharges the regulator filter capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Ion Constantin Tesu, Joselyn Torres-Torres, Stefan Noel Mastovich, James Edward Heckroth, Krishna Pentakota, Long Van Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11804827
    Abstract: A method for validating operation of a driver integrated circuit includes providing a signal using an output node. The signal is provided using multiple set points in response to a change in state of an input signal. Each set point corresponds to a different phase of a multi-phase transition of the signal. The method includes providing a timer value at an end of a phase of the multi-phase transition and determining whether the signal is in a target signal range of the phase based on the timer value at the end of the phase, a predetermined value defining the target signal range of the phase, and a predetermined time limit for the phase. A current through the output node may be provided using the multiple set points, and a voltage on the output node may have the multi-phase transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: James Edward Heckroth, Ion Constantin Tesu
  • Publication number: 20230188119
    Abstract: A method for validating operation of a driver integrated circuit includes providing a signal using an output node. The signal is provided using multiple set points in response to a change in state of an input signal. Each set point corresponds to a different phase of a multi-phase transition of the signal. The method includes providing a timer value at an end of a phase of the multi-phase transition and determining whether the signal is in a target signal range of the phase based on the timer value at the end of the phase, a predetermined value defining the target signal range of the phase, and a predetermined time limit for the phase. A current through the output node may be provided using the multiple set points, and a voltage on the output node may have the multi-phase transition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: James Edward Heckroth, Ion Constantin Tesu
  • Patent number: 11575369
    Abstract: A method for operating a gate driver system includes measuring a first parameter according to a first priority schedule synchronously to a first edge of a switching signal generated by a gate driver integrated circuit and having a variable duty cycle. The method includes after measuring the first parameter of the gate driver system and prior to a second edge of the switching signal, measuring at least a second parameter of the gate driver system according to a first round-robin schedule synchronously to the first edge of the switching signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: James Edward Heckroth, Ion Constantin Tesu
  • Publication number: 20220190821
    Abstract: A technique for powering gate drivers in a half-bridge configuration uses a single external power supply to power each gate driver. A single on-chip regulator regulates the positive turn-on voltage for each switch. The regulator overhead, is also used as the negative voltage for turn-off, thus transferring the low-frequency variation of the external power supply to the negative turn-off voltage. Accordingly, a single on-chip regulator generates both the positive turn-on voltage and the negative turn-off voltage. In at least one embodiment, reuse of the switch turn-off current further reduces on-chip power dissipation. The on-chip regulator's output filter capacitor discharges during turn-on of the external power switching device. During turn-off, the current that discharges the switch gate capacitance recharges the regulator filter capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Ion Constantin Tesu, Joselyn Torres-Torres, Stefan Noel Mastovich, James Edward Heckroth, Krishna Pentakota, Long Van Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20220190818
    Abstract: A method for operating a gate driver system includes measuring a first parameter according to a first priority schedule synchronously to a first edge of a switching signal generated by a gate driver integrated circuit and having a variable duty cycle. The method includes after measuring the first parameter of the gate driver system and prior to a second edge of the switching signal, measuring at least a second parameter of the gate driver system according to a first round-robin schedule synchronously to the first edge of the switching signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: James Edward Heckroth, Ion Constantin Tesu