Patents by Inventor Kevin Scoones

Kevin Scoones 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: 12372559
    Abstract: In one example, an apparatus comprises: a first transistor coupled between a power terminal and a switching terminal; a second transistor coupled between the power terminal and a first sense terminal; a third transistor coupled between the switching terminal and a ground terminal; a fourth transistor coupled between a second sense terminal and the ground terminal; a first variable current source coupled to the first sense terminal; a second variable current source coupled to the second sense terminal; a processing circuit having first, second, third, and fourth inputs and first and second outputs, the first input coupled to the switching terminal, the second input coupled to the first sense terminal, the third input coupled to the ground terminal, the fourth input coupled to the second sense terminal, the first output coupled to the first variable current source, and the second output coupled to the second variable current source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kevin Scoones, Vamsinath Peddireddy, Orlando Lazaro
  • Patent number: 12368437
    Abstract: Described embodiments include a power driver circuit having a first transistor coupled between an input voltage terminal and an intermediate terminal, and having a first control terminal. A second transistor is coupled between the intermediate terminal and a switching terminal, and has a second control terminal coupled to an output of a gate drive circuit. A first diode has a first anode coupled to the input voltage terminal, and a first cathode coupled to the first control terminal through a resistor. A first voltage clamp circuit is coupled between the first control terminal and the intermediate terminal. A second voltage clamp circuit is coupled between the first control terminal and the switching terminal. A second diode is coupled between the first control terminal and a voltage supply terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ahmed Essam Hashim, Kevin Scoones
  • Publication number: 20250112600
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first power stage circuit having a first output and a power terminal, and a second power stage circuit having a second output and the power terminal. The apparatus further includes a control circuit having a control input, a first control output, and a second control output. In an example, the control input is coupled to the power terminal, the first control output is coupled to the first output, and the second control output is coupled to the second output. In an example, the control circuit is configured to, responsive to a first voltage at the power terminal being below a threshold voltage, set the first and second outputs to a second voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2023
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Pourya Assem, Yogesh Ramadass, Kevin Scoones, Tim Merkin, Zejian Wang, Jianquan Liao, Yinglai Xia
  • Publication number: 20250080108
    Abstract: Described embodiments include a power driver circuit having a first transistor coupled between an input voltage terminal and an intermediate terminal, and having a first control terminal. A second transistor is coupled between the intermediate terminal and a switching terminal, and has a second control terminal coupled to an output of a gate drive circuit. A first diode has a first anode coupled to the input voltage terminal, and a first cathode coupled to the first control terminal through a resistor. A first voltage clamp circuit is coupled between the first control terminal and the intermediate terminal. A second voltage clamp circuit is coupled between the first control terminal and the switching terminal. A second diode is coupled between the first control terminal and a voltage supply terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: Ahmed Essam Hashim, Kevin Scoones
  • Publication number: 20250048028
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first power stage circuit having a first output and a power terminal, and a second power stage circuit having a second output and the power terminal. The apparatus further includes a control circuit having a control input, a first control output, and a second control output. In an example, the control input is coupled to the power terminal, the first control output is coupled to the first output, and the second control output is coupled to the second output. In an example, the control circuit is configured to, responsive to a first voltage at the power terminal being below a threshold voltage, set the first and second outputs to a second voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Pourya Assem, Kevin Scoones, Pavol Balaz, Tim Merkin, Zejian Wang, Jianquan Liao
  • Publication number: 20240372462
    Abstract: Control circuits for DC-DC power converters. In one example, a control circuit includes a voltage control loop configured to produce a control voltage based on an output voltage of a DC-DC converter and a reference voltage, and a current control loop configured to produce a control current based on the control voltage. The current control loop may be further configured to adjust the control current based on a signal proportional to an input voltage of the DC-DC converter to provide an adjusted control current that is inversely proportional to the input voltage, and to produce, based on the adjusted control current and an inductor current in an inductor of the DC-DC converter, a drive signal to drive one or more power transistors of the DC-DC converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: Kevin Scoones, Orlando Lazaro, Ntiamoah Kwarteng
  • Publication number: 20240364219
    Abstract: A power converter includes a power stage circuit having a control input and an output. A pulse width modulation (PWM) controller has a control output coupled to the control input of the power stage. A compensator includes a passive component and a switch coupled to the passive component. The switch has a switch control input coupled to the control output of the PWM controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2023
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Kevin Scoones, Youngbok Kim, Orlando Lazaro, Reza Sharifi
  • Publication number: 20240288890
    Abstract: In one example, an apparatus comprises a voltage reference circuit. The voltage reference circuit has a voltage reference terminal and includes a first circuit, a first semiconductor junction device, and a second semiconductor junction device coupled between the voltage reference terminal and a ground terminal. The first circuit is configured to generate a first voltage that increases with a temperature. The first semiconductor junction device is configured to generate a second voltage that decreases with the temperature. The second semiconductor junction device is configured to generate a third voltage that decreases with the temperature. The voltage reference circuit is configured to generate a fourth voltage between the voltage reference terminal and the ground terminal based on a sum of the first voltage and a combination of the second and third voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Sowmya Sankaranarayanan, Orlando Lazaro, Kevin Scoones, Avinash Bhat
  • Publication number: 20240146267
    Abstract: The techniques and circuits, described herein, include solutions for auto-zeroing in auto-zero amplifiers in the presence of high frequency alternating current (AC) noise. In some aspects, first and second inputs of an auto-zero amplifier are coupled to a differential voltage with high AC noise. During an auto-zero phase, a first switching network decouples the inputs of a first amplifier, comprised within the auto-zero amplifier, from the differential voltage with high AC noise. In some examples, the inputs of the first amplifier may be connected to a regulated direct current (DC) voltage. The regulated DC voltage provides a more accurate auto-zero for the auto-zero amplifier, such that higher overall accuracy is achieved during an operation phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Chienyu Huang, Peng Cao, Kevin Scoones
  • Patent number: 11916426
    Abstract: A system includes: a switching converter circuit adapted to be coupled between an input voltage source and a load; and an integrated circuit adapted to be coupled between the input voltage source and a battery and configured to charge the battery. The integrated circuit has: a monitoring circuitry adapted to be coupled to the battery and configured to detect a transient fault condition of the integrated circuit; a power stage adapted to be coupled between the input voltage source and the battery, the power stage having a power switch; and a control circuit coupled between the monitoring circuitry and the power stage, the control circuit configured to provide a control signal to adjust a conductivity of the power switch responsive to a detected transient fault condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hakan Oner, Kevin Scoones
  • Patent number: 11824391
    Abstract: A device includes an amplifier having inverting and non-inverting inputs and an output. The device includes a capacitor coupled to a first node and to ground, a resistor coupled to the first node and the amplifier output, and a first switch coupled to the first node and a current sink, which is coupled to ground. The device includes AND gate having inputs and an output coupled to control terminal of first switch. The device includes a first comparator having non-inverting and inverting inputs and an output coupled to an AND gate input; a second comparator having a non-inverting input coupled to the amplifier output, an inverting input coupled to a transistor stack, and an output coupled to an AND gate input; and a second switch coupled to the transistor stack and to a current source, the second switch having a control terminal coupled to the first comparator output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hakan Oner, Kevin Scoones
  • Publication number: 20230314484
    Abstract: In one example, an apparatus comprises: a first transistor coupled between a power terminal and a switching terminal; a second transistor coupled between the power terminal and a first sense terminal; a third transistor coupled between the switching terminal and a ground terminal; a fourth transistor coupled between a second sense terminal and the ground terminal; a first variable current source coupled to the first sense terminal; a second variable current source coupled to the second sense terminal; a processing circuit having first, second, third, and fourth inputs and first and second outputs, the first input coupled to the switching terminal, the second input coupled to the first sense terminal, the third input coupled to the ground terminal, the fourth input coupled to the second sense terminal, the first output coupled to the first variable current source, and the second output coupled to the second variable current source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin Scoones, Vamsinath Peddireddy, Orlando Lazaro
  • Patent number: 11362587
    Abstract: In described examples of methods and control circuitry to control a multi-level power conversion system, the control circuitry generates PWM signals having a duty cycle to control an output signal. The duty cycle is adjustable in different switching cycles. States of the system's switches are adjustable in one or more intervals within the switching cycles. In response to a voltage across a capacitor of the system being outside a non-zero voltage range, the control circuitry adjusts states of the switches in two intervals to discharge or charge the capacitor in a given switching cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Orlando Lazaro, Kevin Scoones, Alvaro Aguilar, Jeffrey Anthony Morroni, Sombuddha Chakraborty
  • Patent number: 11101735
    Abstract: In a described example, an apparatus includes a first switch coupled between a terminal for receiving an input voltage and a top plate node, and having a first control terminal; a second switch coupled between the top plate node and a switching node, and having a second control terminal; a third switch coupled between the switching node and a bottom plate node and having a third control terminal; a fourth switch coupled between the bottom plate node and a ground terminal, and having a fourth control terminal; a flying capacitor coupled between the top plate node and the bottom plate node; a fifth switch coupled between the top plate node and an auxiliary node; a sixth switch coupled between the auxiliary node and the bottom plate node; and an auxiliary capacitor coupled between the auxiliary control terminal and a ground terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kevin Scoones, Orlando Lazaro, Alvaro Aguilar, Jeffrey Anthony Morroni, Reza Sharifi, Saurav Bandyopadhyay
  • Patent number: 10778029
    Abstract: A driver circuit includes two high-side switches and a single low-side switch, output inductor, and output capacitor. By having multiple high-side switches, the driver can regulate power from multiple charging devices. The high-side switches share a channel with an input capacitor for that channel and the channels are connected to the low-side switch at a common node. When the capacitor for one of the channels becomes charged quickly, the capacitor of the other channel will balance itself with the charged capacitor. To avoid damaging the high-side switches, a low-impedance bridge and driver circuit is connected between the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Siew Hoon, Kevin Scoones, Jairo D. Olivares, Kai Zhu
  • Patent number: 10651736
    Abstract: A power converter device includes a set of switches configured to switch between at least three input-side voltage levels to provide output pulses. The power converter device also includes a control circuit for the set of switches, wherein the control circuit configured to selectively switch the power converter device between a continuous conduction mode of operation (CCM) having a first charge per pulse and a discontinuous conduction mode of operation (DCM) having a second charge per pulse, the second charge per pulse being greater than the first charge per pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Orlando Lazaro, Alvaro Aguilar, Jeffrey Morroni, Kevin Scoones, Reza Sharifi
  • Publication number: 20200059109
    Abstract: A driver circuit includes two high-side switches and a single low-side switch, output inductor, and output capacitor. By having multiple high-side switches, the driver can regulate power from multiple charging devices. The high-side switches share a channel with an input capacitor for that channel and the channels are connected to the low-side switch at a common node. When the capacitor for one of the channels becomes charged quickly, the capacitor of the other channel will balance itself with the charged capacitor. To avoid damaging the high-side switches, a low-impedance bridge and driver circuit is connected between the channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Siew Hoon, Kevin Scoones, Jairo D. Olivares, Kai Zhu
  • Publication number: 20200021196
    Abstract: In a described example, an apparatus includes a first switch coupled between a terminal for receiving an input voltage and a top plate node, and having a first control terminal; a second switch coupled between the top plate node and a switching node, and having a second control terminal; a third switch coupled between the switching node and a bottom plate node and having a third control terminal; a fourth switch coupled between the bottom plate node and a ground terminal, and having a fourth control terminal; a flying capacitor coupled between the top plate node and the bottom plate node; a fifth switch coupled between the top plate node and an auxiliary node; a sixth switch coupled between the auxiliary node and the bottom plate node; and an auxiliary capacitor coupled between the auxiliary control terminal and a ground terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin Scoones, Orlando Lazaro, Alvaro Aguilar, Jeffrey Anthony Morroni, Reza Sharifi, Saurav Bandyopadhyay
  • Patent number: 10491023
    Abstract: A driver circuit includes two high-side switches and a single low-side switch, output inductor, and output capacitor. By having multiple high-side switches, the driver can regulate power from multiple charging devices. The high-side switches share a channel with an input capacitor for that channel and the channels are connected to the low-side switch at a common node. When the capacitor for one of the channels becomes charged quickly, the capacitor of the other channel will balance itself with the charged capacitor. To avoid damaging the high-side switches, a low-impedance bridge and driver circuit is connected between the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Siew Hoon, Kevin Scoones, Jairo D. Olivares, Kai Zhu
  • Patent number: 10468988
    Abstract: In a described example, an apparatus includes a first switch coupled between a terminal for receiving an input voltage and a top plate node, and having a first control terminal; a second switch coupled between the top plate node and a switching node, and having a second control terminal; a third switch coupled between the switching node and a bottom plate node and having a third control terminal; a fourth switch coupled between the bottom plate node and a ground terminal, and having a fourth control terminal; a flying capacitor coupled between the top plate node and the bottom plate node; a fifth switch coupled between the top plate node and an auxiliary node; a sixth switch coupled between the auxiliary node and the bottom plate node; and an auxiliary capacitor coupled between the auxiliary control terminal and a ground terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin Scoones, Orlando Lazaro, Alvaro Aguilar, Jeffrey Anthony Morroni, Reza Sharifi, Saurav Bandyopadhyay