Patents by Inventor John Fogg
John Fogg 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: 11467612Abstract: Exemplary embodiments may include a method of applying a charging pulse to an output capacitor, detecting satisfaction of a charging threshold, ending the charging pulse in response to the detecting the satisfaction of the charging threshold, and discharging the sampling capacitor in response to the detecting the satisfaction of the charging threshold. In some embodiments, once a sampling capacitor voltage drops below a discharging threshold, a charging pulse is applied. Exemplary embodiments may also include an apparatus with a controller coupled to an input node, a timer coupled to the controller, an inductive charger coupled to the controller, to an input node, and to an output node, and a sensor coupled to the controller and the output node. Exemplary embodiments may further include an apparatus where a sensor with a sampling capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the output node and a second terminal coupled to the controller and the inductive charger.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Renesas Eledctronics America Inc.Inventors: Ratko Mandic, John Fogg, Julian Zhu, Daniel Zheng
-
Publication number: 20210011503Abstract: Exemplary embodiments may include a method of applying a charging pulse to an output capacitor, detecting satisfaction of a charging threshold, ending the charging pulse in response to the detecting the satisfaction of the charging threshold, and discharging the sampling capacitor in response to the detecting the satisfaction of the charging threshold. In some embodiments, once a sampling capacitor voltage drops below a discharging threshold, a charging pulse is applied. Exemplary embodiments may also include an apparatus with a controller coupled to an input node, a timer coupled to the controller, an inductive charger coupled to the controller, to an input node, and to an output node, and a sensor coupled to the controller and the output node. Exemplary embodiments may further include an apparatus where a sensor with a sampling capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the output node and a second terminal coupled to the controller and the inductive charger.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Applicant: Renesas Electronics America Inc.Inventors: Ratko Mandic, John Fogg, Julian Zhu, Daniel Zheng
-
Patent number: 9660516Abstract: A switching controller having an over voltage protection circuit is disclosed. The over voltage protection circuit detects whether the output voltage is higher than an over voltage threshold and turns on the rectifier when the output voltage is higher than an over voltage threshold. The over voltage protection circuit detects whether a current flowing through a rectifier is lower than a negative current limit and further turns off the rectifier for a time period when the current flowing through the rectifier is lower than the negative current limit. The off time period varies inversely with the input voltage.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.Inventor: John Fogg
-
Patent number: 9467045Abstract: A SMPS has a switching circuit and a controller. The switching circuit has an input terminal and an output terminal, and also includes a switch and an inductor, wherein the switching circuit regulates an output voltage at the output terminal based on an input voltage at the input terminal by controlling a switching action of the switch. The controller generates a switching control signal to control the switch, where the switching control signal transits from a first state to a second state when an output signal at the output terminal satisfies a predetermined condition, and the switching control signal transits from the second state to the first state after a period of time. And a switching frequency of the switch and an inductor ripple current of the inductor both vary with the input voltage.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: John Fogg, Jian Jiang, Junyong Gong
-
Publication number: 20160172999Abstract: A switching controller having an over voltage protection circuit is disclosed. The over voltage protection circuit detects whether the output voltage is higher than an over voltage threshold and turns on the rectifier when the output voltage is higher than an over voltage threshold. The over voltage protection circuit detects whether a current flowing through a rectifier is lower than a negative current limit and further turns off the rectifier for a time period when the current flowing through the rectifier is lower than the negative current limit. The off time period varies inversely with the input voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2014Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventor: John Fogg
-
Publication number: 20160087528Abstract: A SMPS has a switching circuit and a controller. The switching circuit has an input terminal and an output terminal, and also includes a switch and an inductor, wherein the switching circuit regulates an output voltage at the output terminal based on an input voltage at the input terminal by controlling a switching action of the switch. The controller generates a switching control signal to control the switch, where the switching control signal transits from a first state to a second state when an output signal at the output terminal satisfies a predetermined condition, and the switching control signal transits from the second state to the first state after a period of time. And a switching frequency of the switch and an inductor ripple current of the inductor both vary with the input voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2014Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: John Fogg, Jian Jiang, Junyong Gong
-
Publication number: 20060145673Abstract: A voltage regulating circuit, such as a voltage regulator or battery charger, limits inrush current by buffering an associated supply input decoupling capacitor through a current path that is selectively configured to have a high impedance for startup charging of the decoupling capacitor at a low current, and a low impedance for normal operations of the circuit. Where the circuit uses multiple supply input connections for operation from two or more supply voltages, it may include buffering for each one of two or more supply input connections. It may further include a crossover switching control circuit that ensures make-before-break switching between supply input connections to avoid supply interruptions to the circuit during switchover.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2005Publication date: July 6, 2006Inventors: John Fogg, Robert Walker, Warren Schroeder
-
Patent number: 6377032Abstract: An apparatus and method for virtual current sensing in a DC-DC switched mode power supply. In a fixed frequency implementation, when a switching phase begins, the phase node goes high when the high-side switching transistor is turned on. At this point, a first programmable current source begins charging a current sensing capacitor and the voltage across the capacitor simulates the rising slope of the voltage across a conventional current sensing resistor. Simultaneously, a ramp capacitor beginning at a reference voltage is charged by a second programmable current source. When the sum of the voltages across the two capacitors exceeds an error voltage, the phase node goes low when the drive signal to the transistor is turned off. At this point, a third programmable current source begins discharging the current sensing capacitor and the voltage across the capacitor simulates the falling slope of the current across the conventional resistor.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2000Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: Semtech CorporationInventors: Joseph M. Andruzzi, John Fogg, William E. Rader, III
-
Patent number: 6239509Abstract: A step-down switched-mode power supply circuit includes a transformer having at least one primary winding and at least one secondary winding, a current sensing device for sensing a current through a primary winding of the transformer, a first switch and a second switch, a first comparator for determining if the current through the current sensing device exceeds a threshold, a voltage regulator coupled to the secondary winding to produce a regulated voltage, a second comparator for determining if the regulated voltage has drooped below an acceptable level, a counter coupled to the second comparator for generating a signal having a fixed number of switch cycles, and control circuitry for generating signals controlling the first switch and the second switch and responsive to the first comparator to enter a power saving mode disabling the signals, and to the second comparator to temporarily exit the power saving mode for a fixed number of cycles when the regulated voltage has drooped below an acceptable level.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2000Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Assignee: Semtech CorporationInventors: William Edward Rader, III, John Fogg
-
Patent number: 6057607Abstract: A step-down switched-mode power supply circuit includes a transformer having at least one primary winding and at least one secondary winding, a current sensing device for sensing a current through a primary winding of the transformer, a first switch and a second switch, a first comparator for determining if the current through the current sensing device exceeds a threshold, a voltage regulator coupled to the secondary winding to produce a regulated voltage, a second comparator for determining if the regulated voltage has drooped below an acceptable level, a counter coupled to the second comparator for generating a signal having a fixed number of switch cycles, and control circuitry for generating signals controlling the first switch and the second switch and responsive to the first comparator to enter a power saving mode disabling the signals, and to the second comparator to temporarily exit the power saving mode for a fixed number of cycles when the regulated voltage has drooped below an acceptable level.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1999Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Semtech CorporationInventors: William Edward Rader, III, John Fogg