Patents by Inventor Manu Balakrishnan

Manu Balakrishnan 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: 11962234
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first rectifier having a first rectifier input and a first rectifier output. The circuit also includes a bridge circuit and a second rectifier. The bridge circuit is coupled to the first rectifier output. The bridge circuit has first, second, third, and fourth terminals. The first and second terminals are coupled to the first rectifier output, and the third and fourth terminals are adapted to be coupled to a primary winding of a transformer. The second rectifier has a second rectifier input and a second rectifier output. The second rectifier input is adapted to be coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Navaneeth Kumar Narayanasamy, Manu Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 11689111
    Abstract: A circuit includes a solid-state relay, a rectifier, and a current transformer-based power supply. The rectifier is adapted to be coupled to the solid-state relay. The rectifier is configured to provide a voltage to an output terminal responsive to the solid-state relay being in an off state. The current transformer-based power supply is coupled to the rectifier and is adapted to be coupled to a transformer. The current transformer-based power supply is configured to provide a voltage to the output terminal responsive to the solid-state relay being in an on state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Navaneeth Kumar Narayanasamy, Manu Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 11611343
    Abstract: A solid-state relay circuit includes an isolator circuit, a first output terminal, a second output terminal, and an output switch. The output switch is coupled to the isolator circuit, and includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and a diode. The first transistor is coupled to the first output terminal. The second transistor is coupled to the first transistor and the second output terminal. The diode is coupled to the first transistor, the second transistor, and ground, and is configured to block current flow from ground to the first transistor and the second transistor. The isolator circuit is coupled to the output switch and is configured to activate the first transistor and the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Navaneeth Kumar Narayanasamy, Manu Balakrishnan, Miroslav Oljaca
  • Publication number: 20230059110
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first rectifier having a first rectifier input and a first rectifier output. The circuit also includes a bridge circuit and a second rectifier. The bridge circuit is coupled to the first rectifier output. The bridge circuit has first, second, third, and fourth terminals. The first and second terminals are coupled to the first rectifier output, and the third and fourth terminals are adapted to be coupled to a primary winding of a transformer. The second rectifier has a second rectifier input and a second rectifier output. The second rectifier input is adapted to be coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Navaneeth Kumar NARAYANASAMY, Manu BALAKRISHNAN
  • Publication number: 20220329168
    Abstract: A circuit includes a solid-state relay, a rectifier, and a current transformer-based power supply. The rectifier is adapted to be coupled to the solid-state relay. The rectifier is configured to provide a voltage to an output terminal responsive to the solid-state relay being in an off state. The current transformer-based power supply is coupled to the rectifier and is adapted to be coupled to a transformer. The current transformer-based power supply is configured to provide a voltage to the output terminal responsive to the solid-state relay being in an on state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Navaneeth Kumar NARAYANASAMY, Manu BALAKRISHNAN
  • Patent number: 11444618
    Abstract: An electrical system includes a motor and a plurality of switch pairs, each switch pair having a high-side switch, a low-side switch, and a switch node coupled to the motor. The electrical system also includes gate driver circuitry coupled to each switch of the plurality of switch pairs. The electrical system also includes a controller coupled to the gate driver circuitry. The controller is configured to direct the gate driver circuitry to provide a first set of gate drive signals together with (i.e., overlapping pulses) a second set of gate drive signals, wherein the first set of gate drive signals is phase-shifted relative to the second set of gate drive signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Manu Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 11368111
    Abstract: A circuit comprises a multiphase gate driver to be coupled to a multiphase inverter for driving a multiphase motor. For each phase, the multi-phase gate driver is to, in accordance with a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal, turn on and off a high side transistor of a given pair of high and low side transistors of the multiphase inverter, discontinue the PWM control signal turn to the high side transistor of the given pair and turn off the high side transistor of the given pair, and turn on the low side transistor of the given pair until a current level through the low side transistor falls below a threshold, at which time, turn off the low side transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Manu Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20220149838
    Abstract: A solid-state relay circuit includes an isolator circuit, a first output terminal, a second output terminal, and an output switch. The output switch is coupled to the isolator circuit, and includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and a diode. The first transistor is coupled to the first output terminal. The second transistor is coupled to the first transistor and the second output terminal. The diode is coupled to the first transistor, the second transistor, and ground, and is configured to block current flow from ground to the first transistor and the second transistor. The isolator circuit is coupled to the output switch and is configured to activate the first transistor and the second transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Navaneeth Kumar NARAYANASAMY, Manu BALAKRISHNAN, Miroslav OLJACA
  • Patent number: 11271562
    Abstract: A solid-state relay circuit includes an isolator circuit, a first output terminal, a second output terminal, and an output switch. The output switch is coupled to the isolator circuit, and includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and a diode. The first transistor is coupled to the first output terminal. The second transistor is coupled to the first transistor and the second output terminal. The diode is coupled to the first transistor, the second transistor, and ground, and is configured to block current flow from ground to the first transistor and the second transistor. The isolator circuit is coupled to the output switch and is configured to activate the first transistor and the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Texas Instmments Incorporated
    Inventors: Navaneeth Kumar Narayanasamy, Manu Balakrishnan, Miroslav Oljaca
  • Publication number: 20210119629
    Abstract: A solid-state relay circuit includes an isolator circuit, a first output terminal, a second output terminal, and an output switch. The output switch is coupled to the isolator circuit, and includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and a diode. The first transistor is coupled to the first output terminal. The second transistor is coupled to the first transistor and the second output terminal. The diode is coupled to the first transistor, the second transistor, and ground, and is configured to block current flow from ground to the first transistor and the second transistor. The isolator circuit is coupled to the output switch and is configured to activate the first transistor and the second transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Navaneeth Kumar NARAYANASAMY, Manu BALAKRISHNAN, Miroslav OLJACA
  • Patent number: 10965240
    Abstract: A hardware-based detection system includes, among other things, a signal-generating circuit for generating a signal which is functionally related to current in a motor winding, a reference current, and a duration of time. The system may also include a comparator circuit for comparing the generated signal to a reference signal, and for thereby detecting an over-temperature condition in the motor winding. If desired, a compensating circuit may be used to generate a variable reference signal as a function of ambient temperature. A method of operating a detection system is also disclosed. If desired, the detection system may be completely implemented in hardware using an uncomplicated analog circuit architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Manu Balakrishnan, Abhishek Vishwa
  • Patent number: 10895608
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of detecting movement of a plunger of the solenoid includes detecting a peak (IPEAK) in a current signal applied to a coil of the solenoid. A predetermined threshold is added to the current signal applied to the coil of the solenoid to generate a level shifted signal. The level shifted signal and the peak signal are compared to detect movement of a plunger of the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Navaneeth Kumar Narayanasamy, Manu Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20200287486
    Abstract: A circuit comprises a multiphase gate driver to be coupled to a multiphase inverter for driving a multiphase motor. For each phase, the multi-phase gate driver is to, in accordance with a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal, turn on and off a high side transistor of a given pair of high and low side transistors of the multiphase inverter, discontinue the PWM control signal turn to the high side transistor of the given pair and turn off the high side transistor of the given pair, and turn on the low side transistor of the given pair until a current level through the low side transistor falls below a threshold, at which time, turn off the low side transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventor: Manu Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20200186144
    Abstract: An electrical system includes a motor and a plurality of switch pairs, each switch pair having a high-side switch, a low-side switch, and a switch node coupled to the motor. The electrical system also includes gate driver circuitry coupled to each switch of the plurality of switch pairs. The electrical system also includes a controller coupled to the gate driver circuitry. The controller is configured to direct the gate driver circuitry to provide a first set of gate drive signals together with (i.e., overlapping pulses) a second set of gate drive signals, wherein the first set of gate drive signals is phase-shifted relative to the second set of gate drive signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventor: Manu BALAKRISHNAN
  • Publication number: 20200076349
    Abstract: A hardware-based detection system includes, among other things, a signal-generating circuit for generating a signal which is functionally related to current in a motor winding, a reference current, and a duration of time. The system may also include a comparator circuit for comparing the generated signal to a reference signal, and for thereby detecting an over-temperature condition in the motor winding. If desired, a compensating circuit may be used to generate a variable reference signal as a function of ambient temperature. A method of operating a detection system is also disclosed. If desired, the detection system may be completely implemented in hardware using an uncomplicated analog circuit architecture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Manu BALAKRISHNAN, Abhishek VISHWA
  • Patent number: 10581351
    Abstract: A circuit comprises a multiphase gate driver to be coupled to a multiphase inverter for driving a multiphase motor. For each phase, the multi-phase gate driver is to, in accordance with a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal, turn on and off a high side transistor of a given pair of high and low side transistors of the multiphase inverter, discontinue the PWM control signal turn to the high side transistor of the given pair and turn off the high side transistor of the given pair, and turn on the low side transistor of the given pair until a current level through the low side transistor falls below a threshold, at which time, turn off the low side transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Manu Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20190235010
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of detecting movement of a plunger of the solenoid includes detecting a peak (IPEAK) in a current signal applied to a coil of the solenoid. A predetermined threshold is added to the current signal applied to the coil of the solenoid to generate a level shifted signal. The level shifted signal and the peak signal are compared to detect movement of a plunger of the solenoid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Navaneeth Kumar Narayanasamy, Manu Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20190229655
    Abstract: A circuit comprises a multiphase gate driver to be coupled to a multiphase inverter for driving a multiphase motor. For each phase, the multi-phase gate driver is to, in accordance with a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal, turn on and off a high side transistor of a given pair of high and low side transistors of the multiphase inverter, discontinue the PWM control signal turn to the high side transistor of the given pair and turn off the high side transistor of the given pair, and turn on the low side transistor of the given pair until a current level through the low side transistor falls below a threshold, at which time, turn off the low side transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventor: Manu BALAKRISHNAN
  • Patent number: 10317453
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of detecting movement of a plunger of the solenoid includes detecting a peak (IPEAK) in a current signal applied to a coil of the solenoid. A predetermined threshold is added to the current signal applied to the coil of the solenoid to generate a level shifted signal. The level shifted signal and the peak signal are compared to detect movement of a plunger of the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Navaneeth Kumar Narayanasamy, Manu Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20180292445
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of detecting movement of a plunger of the solenoid includes detecting a peak (IPEAK) in a current signal applied to a coil of the solenoid. A predetermined threshold is added to the current signal applied to the coil of the solenoid to generate a level shifted signal. The level shifted signal and the peak signal are compared to detect movement of a plunger of the solenoid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Navaneeth Kumar Narayanasamy, Manu Balakrishnan