Patents by Inventor Karl J Couglar

Karl J Couglar 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: 20190165747
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for regulated voltage distribution are disclosed. Distribution elements can pass a regulated voltage provided by a single voltage regulator to thereby distribute the regulated voltage. A distribution element of the distribution elements can be included in a feedback path that provides a feedback signal to an input of the voltage regulator. The voltage regulator can be a low dropout voltage regulator, for example. The regulated voltage can be used in a variety of applications, for example, as a bias voltage for a power amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Karl J. Couglar, Ryan Michael Pratt, David Kennedy Homol
  • Patent number: 10236847
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing variable regulated voltages are disclosed. Variable voltage control elements can adjust a regulated voltage provided by a single voltage regulator, thereby providing a variable regulated voltage. The regulated voltage can be used in a variety of applications, for example, as a bias voltage for a power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl J. Couglar, Ryan Michael Pratt, David Kennedy Homol
  • Publication number: 20170279424
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing variable regulated voltages are disclosed. Variable voltage control elements can adjust a regulated voltage provided by a single voltage regulator, thereby providing a variable regulated voltage. The regulated voltage can be used in a variety of applications, for example, as a bias voltage for a power amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Karl J. Couglar, Ryan Michael Pratt, David Kennedy Homol
  • Patent number: 9667210
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing variable regulated voltages are disclosed. Variable voltage control elements can adjust a regulated voltage provided by a single voltage regulator, thereby providing a variable regulated voltage. The regulated voltage can be used in a variety of applications, for example, as a bias voltage for a power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl J. Couglar, Ryan Michael Pratt, David Kennedy Homol
  • Publication number: 20160252917
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing variable regulated voltages are disclosed. Variable voltage control elements can adjust a regulated voltage provided by a single voltage regulator, thereby providing a variable regulated voltage. The regulated voltage can be used in a variety of applications, for example, as a bias voltage for a power amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Karl J. Couglar, Ryan Michael Pratt, David Kennedy Homol
  • Patent number: 8461897
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for well buffering are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) switch having a gate, a drain, a source, and a well. The source and drain are formed in the well, and the gate is formed adjacent the well between the source and drain. The source is configured to receive a bias voltage from a power amplifier. The apparatus further includes a gate bias control block for biasing the gate voltage of the switch, a well bias control block for biasing the well voltage of the switch, and a buffer circuit for increasing the impedance between the well bias control block and the well of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David K Homol, Karl J Couglar
  • Patent number: 8421438
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for diffusion sensing are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) switch and a switch sense block. The switch includes a gate, a drain, a source, and a well. The source and drain are formed in the well. The gate is formed adjacent the well between the source and drain, and the source is configured to receive a bias voltage from a power amplifier. The switch sense block is configured to measure a signal indicative of the voltage of at least one of the source or drain voltage of the switch and to generate an output signal based on the measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan M Pratt, Karl J Couglar, David K Homol
  • Patent number: 8330530
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for disabling well bias are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) switch having a gate, a drain, a source, and a well. The source and drain are formed in the well. The gate is formed adjacent the well between the source and drain, and the source is configured to receive a bias voltage from a power amplifier. The apparatus further includes a well bias control block for biasing the well voltage of the first switch and a disable circuit for disabling the well bias control block so as to prevent the well bias control block from biasing the well. The well bias control block can bias the well voltage of the first switch to at least two voltage levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David K Homol, Karl J Couglar
  • Publication number: 20110298444
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for diffusion sensing are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) switch and a switch sense block. The switch includes a gate, a drain, a source, and a well. The source and drain are formed in the well. The gate is formed adjacent the well between the source and drain, and the source is configured to receive a bias voltage from a power amplifier. The switch sense block is configured to measure a signal indicative of the voltage of at least one of the source or drain voltage of the switch and to generate an output signal based on the measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan M. Pratt, Karl J. Couglar, David K. Homol
  • Publication number: 20110298280
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing regulated voltages are disclosed. Using a single voltage regulator, a plurality of regulated voltages can be generated with a voltage distribution function. In addition, variable voltage control elements can be used to adjust a regulated voltage, thereby providing a variable regulated voltage. Together, voltage distribution and variable voltage control can create variable voltage distribution of regulated voltages. These regulated voltages can be used in a variety of applications, for example, as a bias voltage for a power amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: Skyworks Solutions, Inc
    Inventors: David K. Homol, Karl J. Couglar, Ryan M. Pratt
  • Publication number: 20110298526
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for disabling well bias are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) switch having a gate, a drain, a source, and a well. The source and drain are formed in the well. The gate is formed adjacent the well between the source and drain, and the source is configured to receive a bias voltage from a power amplifier. The apparatus further includes a well bias control block for biasing the well voltage of the first switch and a disable circuit for disabling the well bias control block so as to prevent the well bias control block from biasing the well. The well bias control block can bias the well voltage of the first switch to at least two voltage levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Homol, Karl J. Couglar
  • Publication number: 20110298523
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for well buffering are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) switch having a gate, a drain, a source, and a well. The source and drain are formed in the well, and the gate is formed adjacent the well between the source and drain. The source is configured to receive a bias voltage from a power amplifier. The apparatus further includes a gate bias control block for biasing the gate voltage of the switch, a well bias control block for biasing the well voltage of the switch, and a buffer circuit for increasing the impedance between the well bias control block and the well of the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Homol, Karl J. Couglar
  • Publication number: 20110298432
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing variable regulated voltages are disclosed. Variable voltage control elements can adjust a regulated voltage provided by a single voltage regulator, thereby providing a variable regulated voltage. The regulated voltage can be used in a variety of applications, for example, as a bias voltage for a power amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: Skyworks Solutions, Inc
    Inventors: Karl J. Couglar, Ryan M. Pratt
  • Patent number: 8008970
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for enabled switch detection are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) switch having a gate, a drain, a source, and a well. The source and drain are formed in the well, and the gate is formed adjacent the well between the source and drain. The source is configured to receive a radio frequency signal from a first power amplifier. The apparatus further includes a switch enable detect block configured to compare a signal indicative of the gate voltage of the first switch to a first reference signal and to generate an output comparison signal based at least partly on the comparison. The apparatus further includes a power amplifier bias control block configured to enable the first power amplifier based at least partly on the output comparison signal from the switch sense block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Homol, Karl J Couglar, Hua Wang, Ryan M Pratt