Patents by Inventor John N. Wilson
John N. Wilson 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: 11870440Abstract: A method for controlling a high-power drive device includes providing a current having a first predetermined current level to an output node during a first phase of a multi-phase turn-on process for the high-power drive device coupled to the output node. The method includes transitioning from the first phase to a second phase of the multi-phase turn-on process based on a first indication of a sensed voltage level on the output node during the first phase and a second indication of a time elapsed from a start of the first phase during the first phase. The method includes providing the current having a second predetermined current level to the output node during the second phase.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Ion C. Tesu, James E. Heckroth, Stefan N. Mastovich, John N. Wilson, Krishna Pentakota, Michael Ireland, Greg Ridsdale, Lyric Jackson
-
Publication number: 20230396202Abstract: A system for controlling a high-power drive device includes a fault detection integrated circuit product configured to provide an indication of a fault condition associated with the high-power drive device to a first terminal in a first voltage domain in response to detecting the fault condition in a second voltage domain. The system includes a gate driver controller integrated circuit product configured to drive a second terminal coupled to a control node in a second voltage domain based on a control signal and an enable signal received from a third terminal in the first voltage domain. The second voltage domain is higher than the first voltage domain. The system may include a redundant fault reporting integrated circuit product or an additional fault detection integrated circuit product configured to detect a second fault condition in the second voltage domain that is different from the fault condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Inventors: Asa S. Kirby, John N. Wilson
-
Publication number: 20220294427Abstract: A method for controlling a high-power drive device includes providing a current having a first predetermined current level to an output node during a first phase of a multi-phase turn-on process for the high-power drive device coupled to the output node. The method includes transitioning from the first phase to a second phase of the multi-phase turn-on process based on a first indication of a sensed voltage level on the output node during the first phase and a second indication of a time elapsed from a start of the first phase during the first phase. The method includes providing the current having a second predetermined current level to the output node during the second phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: Ion C. Tesu, James E. Heckroth, Stefan N. Mastovich, John N. Wilson, Krishna Pentakota, Michael Ireland, Greg Ridsdale, Lyric Jackson
-
Patent number: 11362646Abstract: A method for driving a high-power drive device includes providing a signal having a first predetermined signal level to an output node during a first phase of a multi-phase transition process. The method includes generating a first indication of a first parameter associated with the signal provided to the output node. The method includes generating a second indication of a second parameter associated with the signal provided to the output node. The method includes providing the signal having a second predetermined signal level to the output node during a second phase of the multi-phase transition process. The method includes transitioning from the first phase to the second phase based on the first indication and the second indication. A multi-die, distributed package technique addresses power dissipation requirements for a driver product based on size and associated power dissipation needs of the high-power drive device in a target application.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2020Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Ion C. Tesu, James E. Heckroth, Stefan N. Mastovich, John N. Wilson, Krishna Pentakota, Michael Ireland, Greg Ridsdale, Lyric Jackson
-
Publication number: 20220182004Abstract: A gate driver includes a variable strength driver circuit that provides an output signal to drive a high power device. The gate driver receives an update request from a host controller during an operating mode in which switching operations occur and updates one or more operating parameters associated with driving the high power device. The operating parameters including turn-on parameters, turn-off parameters, and soft shutdown parameters. The variable strength driver circuit uses the turn-on parameters for turn-on phases for the output signal, uses the turn-off parameters for turn-off phases for the output signal, and uses the soft shutdown parameters for soft shutdown phases for the output signal. The update request adjusts current, voltage, and/or time for one or more phases of the turn-on, turn-off and/or soft shutdown parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2021Publication date: June 9, 2022Inventors: James E. Heckroth, Ion C. Tesu, John N. Wilson
-
Publication number: 20220182041Abstract: A method for driving a high-power drive device includes providing a signal having a first predetermined signal level to an output node during a first phase of a multi-phase transition process. The method includes generating a first indication of a first parameter associated with the signal provided to the output node. The method includes generating a second indication of a second parameter associated with the signal provided to the output node. The method includes providing the signal having a second predetermined signal level to the output node during a second phase of the multi-phase transition process. The method includes transitioning from the first phase to the second phase based on the first indication and the second indication. A multi-die, distributed package technique addresses power dissipation requirements for a driver product based on size and associated power dissipation needs of the high-power drive device in a target application.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2020Publication date: June 9, 2022Inventors: Ion C. Tesu, James E. Heckroth, Stefan N. Mastovich, John N. Wilson, Krishna Pentakota, Michael Ireland, Greg Ridsdale, Lyric Jackson
-
Publication number: 20210305927Abstract: A system for controlling a high-power drive device includes a fault detection integrated circuit product configured to provide an indication of a fault condition associated with the high-power drive device to a first terminal in a first voltage domain in response to detecting the fault condition in a second voltage domain. The system includes a gate driver controller integrated circuit product configured to drive a second terminal coupled to a control node in a second voltage domain based on a control signal and an enable signal received from a third terminal in the first voltage domain. The second voltage domain is higher than the first voltage domain. The system may include a redundant fault reporting integrated circuit product or an additional fault detection integrated circuit product configured to detect a second fault condition in the second voltage domain that is different from the fault condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2020Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Asa S. Kirby, John N. Wilson
-
Patent number: 10917081Abstract: An apparatus controls a high-power drive device external to a package of a gate driver circuit. A first circuit charges the control node over a first length of time in response to a first signal through the first node indicating an absence of a fault condition and a first level of a control signal. A second circuit discharges the control node over a second length of time in response to a second signal through the second node indicating the absence of the fault condition and a second level of a control signal. A third circuit includes a current amplifier and is configured as a soft shutdown path to discharge the control node over a third length of time in response to the first signal through the first node indicating a presence of the fault condition. The third length of time is different from the second length of time.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2020Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.Inventors: Long Nguyen, Ion C. Tesu, Michael L. Duffy, John N. Wilson
-
Patent number: 8754542Abstract: A gate drive circuit includes a first gate terminal, a second gate terminal, and a driver circuit including an input and including an output coupled to the first gate terminal. The driver circuit is configured to provide a drive signal to the first gate terminal to control a first switch to selectively couple a first current path to a first wire pair of a network port. The gate drive circuit further includes a switch including a first terminal coupled to the output of the driver circuit, a second terminal coupled to the second gate terminal, and a control terminal responsive to a switch control signal to selectively couple the output of the driver circuit to the second gate terminal to control a second switch to selectively couple a second current path to a second wire pair of the network port.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.Inventors: John Gammel, John N. Wilson
-
Publication number: 20130076133Abstract: A gate drive circuit includes a first gate terminal, a second gate terminal, and a driver circuit including an input and including an output coupled to the first gate terminal. The driver circuit is configured to provide a drive signal to the first gate terminal to control a first switch to selectively couple a first current path to a first wire pair of a network port. The gate drive circuit further includes a switch including a first terminal coupled to the output of the driver circuit, a second terminal coupled to the second gate terminal, and a control terminal responsive to a switch control signal to selectively couple the output of the driver circuit to the second gate terminal to control a second switch to selectively couple a second current path to a second wire pair of the network port.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Inventors: John Gammel, John N. Wilson
-
Patent number: 6017060Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a housing (70) defining a chamber (80). The housing (70) also defines a vent passage (86) communicating the chamber (80) with the atmosphere outside the housing. A gas generator (120) associated with the housing (70), when actuated, generates gas in the chamber (80). A pressure relief plug (140) blocks gas flow through the vent passage (86) when the pressure relief plug is at a first temperature. The pressure relief plug (140) is made of a material which melts at a second temperature above the first temperature causing the vent passage (86) to become unblocked. The pressure relief plug (140) is insertable into the vent passage (86) and has a snap action connection with the housing (70).Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1997Date of Patent: January 25, 2000Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: John N. Wilson, Steven Stoll