Patents by Inventor James Nguyen

James Nguyen 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).

  • Publication number: 20150381043
    Abstract: A SMPS has a switch, an inductor, a zero current detection circuit for detecting the current flowing through the inductor, a load judgment circuit and a control signal generating circuit. The load judgment circuit is coupled to the zero current detection circuit and provides a plurality of status signals based on a zero current duration of the inductor current. The control signal generating circuit generates a control signal which transits from a first state to a second state when a feedback signal satisfies a preset condition, and the control signal transits from the second state to the first state after an on time of the switch, and wherein the on time is controlled based on the plurality of status signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: James Nguyen, Scott Yi
  • Publication number: 20150061628
    Abstract: A power converter and a clock module employed for providing a clock signal to the power converter. The power converter converts an input voltage to an output voltage based on at least the switching on and off of a main switch. The clock module monitors a deviation of the output voltage from its desired value and compares the deviation with a predetermined threshold window to provide a clock control signal. The clock module further regulates the clock signal in response to the clock control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: James Nguyen, Yike Li
  • Patent number: 8541987
    Abstract: A discharge circuit for an EMI filter capacitor includes normally-ON transistors. The normally-ON transistors may be controlled to limit current through them when an AC source is coupled across the discharge circuit. When the AC source is disconnected from the discharge circuit, the normally-ON transistors turn ON to allow current flow through them. The current flow allows the EMI filter capacitor to be discharged by a discharge resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Disney, Michael Hsing, James Nguyen, James Moyer
  • Patent number: 8390969
    Abstract: The present invention provides a smoke-free ESD protection structure used in integrated circuit devices. A JFET or n-channel MOS transistor is coupled between an I/O pad, and a transistor and diode, wherein the JFET or n-channel MOS transistor limits the current flowing through the diode and transistor to prevent the integrated circuit device from heating up and catching on fire or smoke during the smoke test. Moreover, the integrated circuit device will not be damaged by the smoke test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20120007567
    Abstract: A discharge circuit for an EMI filter capacitor includes normally-ON transistors. The normally-ON transistors may be controlled to limit current through them when an AC source is coupled across the discharge circuit. When the AC source is disconnected from the discharge circuit, the normally-ON transistors turn ON to allow current flow through them. The current flow allows the EMI filter capacitor to be discharged by a discharge resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Donald R. DISNEY, Michael HSING, James NGUYEN, James MOYER
  • Publication number: 20120007138
    Abstract: The present invention provides a smoke-free ESD protection structure used in integrated circuit devices. A JFET or n-channel MOS transistor is coupled between an I/O pad, and a transistor and diode, wherein the JFET or n-channel MOS transistor limits the current flowing through the diode and transistor to prevent the integrated circuit device from heating up and catching on fire or smoke during the smoke test. Moreover, the integrated circuit device will not be damaged by the smoke test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventor: James Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7671304
    Abstract: A multiple zone temperature controller for a hot runner injection molding system. The temperature controller includes inputs for signals from two or more thermocouples corresponding to two or more heating zones. The thermocouple inputs are time-division multiplexed and the output is amplified and input to a microcontroller. The microcontroller manages and controls operation of power switching stages for controlling the power supplied to heating elements corresponding to each of the heating zones. The multiplexer is a low impedance switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Mold-Masters (2007) Limited
    Inventor: James Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7258536
    Abstract: A control module is attached to a machine platen of an injection molding machine. The control module is coupled to at least one sensor that reports a value of a processing condition associated with an injection mold and is disposed within the injection mold. The control module is also coupled to at least one controllable device that varies the processing condition of the injection mold and is disposed within the injection mold. The control module collects and processes sensor output, and provides a control signal to at least one controllable device. A display interface module is linked to the control module. The display interface module accepts user-entered data set-points, provides the user-entered data set-points to the control module, and collects the processed sensor output from the control module for display to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Mold-Masters Limited
    Inventors: George Olaru, James Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20070096710
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for controlling switching regulators to automatically switch from a traditional pulse-width modulation (PWM) mode, when the load current is higher than a predetermined value, to a pulse-frequency modulation (PFM) mode, when the load current drops to a point lower than the predetermine value. Switching modes increases the efficiency of the regulator when the load current is low without provoking a large output voltage transient. In some embodiments, a single switching cycle regulates the output in the PFM mode, which reduces the switching losses and enhances the efficiency of the regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: James Nguyen, Thomas Chiang, Christopher Falvey
  • Publication number: 20060081719
    Abstract: A multiple zone temperature controller for a hot runner injection molding system. The temperature controller includes inputs for signals from two or more thermocouples corresponding to two or more heating zones. The thermocouple inputs are time-division multiplexed and the output is amplified and input to a microcontroller. The microcontroller manages and controls operation of power switching stages for controlling the power supplied to heating elements corresponding to each of the heating zones. The multiplexer is a low impedance switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Inventor: James Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20050073862
    Abstract: A switching power converter and method of controlling an output voltage thereof using predictive sensing of magnetic flux provides a low-cost switching power converter via primary-side control using a primary-side winding. The power converter has improved immunity to parasitic phenomena and other variations within the power converter components. An integrator is used to generate a voltage analog that represents magnetic flux within a power magnetic element via an integration of a voltage on a primary-side winding of the power magnetic element. A detection circuit detects the end of a half-cycle of post-conduction resonance that occurs in the power magnetic element subsequent to the energy level in the power magnetic element reaching zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Publication date: April 7, 2005
    Inventors: Alexander Mednik, David Schie, James Nguyen, Wei Gu
  • Publication number: 20040258787
    Abstract: A control module is attached to a machine platen of an injection molding machine. The control module is coupled to at least one sensor that reports a value of a processing condition associated with an injection mold and is disposed within the injection mold. The control module is also coupled to at least one controllable device that varies the processing condition of the injection mold and is disposed within the injection mold. The control module collects and processes sensor output, and provides a control signal to at least one controllable device. A display interface module is linked to the control module. The display interface module accepts user-entered data set-points, provides the user-entered data set-points to the control module, and collects the processed sensor output from the control module for display to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: Mold-Masters Limited
    Inventors: George Olaru, James Nguyen
  • Patent number: D525592
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Mold-Masters Limited
    Inventor: James Nguyen