Patents by Inventor Marian Niculae
Marian Niculae 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).
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Patent number: 7791314Abstract: A power supply topology according to one embodiment includes a first path coupled to a controllable DC power source, a second path coupled to a rechargeable battery, and a third path coupled to a system load, the three paths coupled to a common node. The topology may further include a unidirectional switch coupled to the first path and a selectively unidirectional switch coupled to the second path. The topology may further include a power management control circuit including a wake up circuit having a comparison circuit and an output decision circuit. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2008Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: O2Micro International LimitedInventors: Constantin Bucur, Vlad Mihail Popescu-Stanesti, Marian Niculae, Daryl Nees
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Patent number: 7777463Abstract: A method includes coupling a variable output DC power source to power control circuitry, and detecting a type of the variable output DC power source in response to the coupling operation. In one embodiment, the detecting operation may include sending an interrogation signal from the power control circuitry to the variable output DC power source, and evaluating a response to the interrogation signal to determine the type of said variable output DC power source. Power control circuitry may include source type recognition circuitry configured to detect a type of a variable output DC power source in response to a coupling of the variable output DC power source to the power control circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2005Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: O2Micro International LimitedInventors: Marian Niculae, Constantin Bucur, William Densham
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Publication number: 20100171467Abstract: A battery pack including at least one battery cell, a switch, and battery state monitoring circuitry. The battery state monitoring circuitry may be configured to control an ON resistance of the switch to a first ON resistance when the switch is ON and the battery pack is in a stand-by-state and to control the ON resistance to a second ON resistance when the switch is ON and said battery pack is not in said stand-by-state, the first ON resistance greater than the second ON resistance. A cordless electrical device and method consistent with embodiments are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2010Publication date: July 8, 2010Applicant: O2MICRO INTERNATIONAL LIMITEDInventors: Constantin Bucur, Marian Niculae
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Publication number: 20100171502Abstract: A battery pack including at least one battery cell, a switch, and battery state monitoring circuitry. The battery state monitoring circuitry may be configured to control an ON resistance of the switch to a first ON resistance when the switch is ON and the battery pack is in a stand-by-state and to control the ON resistance to a second ON resistance when the switch is ON and said battery pack is not in said stand-by-state, the first ON resistance greater than the second ON resistance. A cordless electrical device and method consistent with embodiments are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2010Publication date: July 8, 2010Applicant: O2MICRO INTERNATIONAL LIMITEDInventors: Constantin Bucur, Marian Niculae
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Patent number: 7683577Abstract: A battery pack including at least one battery cell, a switch, and battery state monitoring circuitry. The battery state monitoring circuitry may be configured to control an ON resistance of the switch to a first ON resistance when the switch is ON and the battery pack is in a stand-by-state and to control the ON resistance to a second ON resistance when the switch is ON and said battery pack is not in said stand-by-state, the first ON resistance greater than the second ON resistance. A cordless electrical device and method consistent with embodiments are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2005Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: O2Micro International LimitedInventors: Constantin Bucur, Marian Niculae
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Publication number: 20100066318Abstract: A supply topology comprising an AC to DC or DC to DC adapter and an electronic device with an active system, a battery, and an adapter controller implements closed-loop control of adapter output voltage to limit power consumption by the electronic device to a value related to maximum adapter power. The adapter couples a signal representing maximum adapter power to a control line connected to the electronic device and the electronic device couples an error signal representing the difference between instantaneous power consumption and adapter maximum power onto the same control line. The adapter adjusts its output voltage in response to the magnitude of the error signal. An adapter controller in the electronic device sets a limit for allocating current to battery charging from the signal representing maximum adapter power, with battery charging current approaching zero as instantaneous power consumption approaches maximum adapter power.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2009Publication date: March 18, 2010Inventors: Doru CIOACA, Constantin BUCUR, Alexandru HARTULAR, Marian NICULAE
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Patent number: 7622830Abstract: A supply topology comprising an AC to DC or DC to DC adapter and an electronic device with an active system, a battery, and an adapter controller implements closed-loop control of adapter output voltage to limit power consumption by the electronic device to a value related to maximum adapter power. The adapter couples a signal representing maximum adapter power to a control line connected to the electronic device and the electronic device couples an error signal representing the difference between instantaneous power consumption and adapter maximum power onto the same control line. The adapter adjusts its output voltage in response to the magnitude of the error signal. An adapter controller in the electronic device sets a limit for allocating current to battery charging from the signal representing maximum adapter power, with battery charging current approaching zero as instantaneous power consumption approaches maximum adapter power.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2006Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: O2Micro International LimitedInventors: Doru Cioaca, Constantin Bucur, Alexandru Hartular, Marian Niculae
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Publication number: 20090278499Abstract: A method for efficiently charging a battery. The method includes producing a first signal having a voltage level dependent on the voltage of the battery comparing the voltage level of the first signal with a settable voltage representative of a maximum battery charging current, and producing a second signal representative of a charging current to be provided to the battery, the second signal having a voltage level selected to be the lower voltage level between the first signal and the settable voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2009Publication date: November 12, 2009Applicant: O2Micro, Inc.Inventors: Marian Niculae, Constantin Bucur
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Patent number: 7583067Abstract: Power control circuitry and method for controlling a variable output DC power source. The power control circuitry may include a first comparator to compare a signal representative of an output current level of the variable output DC power source with a threshold level and provide a first output signal in response to the comparison. The power control circuitry may further include threshold input circuitry to provide the threshold level to the first comparator, the threshold level being a fixed threshold level if an output voltage of the variable output DC power source is less than or equal to a first fixed voltage level, the threshold level being a variable threshold level if the output voltage is greater than the first fixed voltage level.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2006Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: O2Mcro International LimitedInventors: Marian Niculae, Constantin Bucur
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Publication number: 20090206795Abstract: A selector circuit configured to select among a DC power source and a plurality of batteries for an electronic device. The selector circuit is responsive to an output signal from an associated power management unit. The selector circuit is further configured to permit parallel operation of two or more of the batteries. The selector circuit may further act to independently verify power conditions and override instructions from the PMU in certain instances to enhance power supply safety and battery life such as by preventing inter battery current flow from a higher potential battery to a lower potential battery coupled in parallel.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2009Publication date: August 20, 2009Applicant: O2Micro International LimitedInventors: Vlad Popescu Stanesti, Marian Niculae, Constantin Bucur
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Patent number: 7564220Abstract: A method for efficiently charging a battery. The method includes producing a first signal having a voltage level dependent on the voltage of the battery, comparing the voltage level of the first signal with a settable voltage representative of a maximum battery charging current, and producing a second signal representative of a charging current to be provided to the battery, the second signal having a voltage level selected to be the lower voltage level between the first signal and the settable voltage.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2006Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: O2Micro International Ltd.Inventors: Marian Niculae, Constantin Bucur
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Publication number: 20090167091Abstract: A selector circuit configured to select among a DC power source and a plurality of batteries for an electronic device. The selector circuit includes a first comparator configured to compare a first input signal representative of a voltage level of the DC power source with a first threshold level and provide a first output signal representative of a difference between the first input signal and the first threshold level, and a selector output circuit. The selector output circuit is configured to provide selector output signals that control selection among the DC power source and the plurality of batteries. The selector output circuit providing said selector output signals to select the DC source and deselect the plurality of batteries if the first output signal is representative of the voltage level of said DC power source being greater than the first threshold level.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2009Publication date: July 2, 2009Applicant: O2MICRO INTERNATIONAL LIMITEDInventors: Vlad Popescu-Stanesti, Marian Niculae, Constantin Bucur
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Publication number: 20090160500Abstract: A driving circuit for an N-channel Metal Oxide Semiconductor (NMOS) transistor can include a charge pump unit and a driver coupled to the charge pump. The charge pump can receive a source voltage and output an output voltage higher than the source voltage, where the source voltage is applied to a source terminal of the NMOS transistor. The driver receives the output voltage of the charge pump unit and converts the output voltage to a driving voltage operable for conducting the NMOS transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2008Publication date: June 25, 2009Inventors: Marian Niculae, Alexandru Hartular, Dan Simion, Guoying Yi
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Patent number: 7501720Abstract: A selector circuit configured to select among a DC power source and a plurality of batteries for an electronic device. The selector circuit includes a first comparator configured to compare a first input signal representative of a voltage level of the DC power source with a first threshold level and provide a first output signal representative of a difference between the first input signal and the first threshold level, and a selector output circuit. The selector output circuit is configured to provide selector output signals that control selection among the DC power source and the plurality of batteries. The selector output circuit providing said selector output signals to select the DC source and deselect the plurality of batteries if the first output signal is representative of the voltage level of said DC power source being greater than the first threshold level.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2005Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignee: O2Micro International LimitedInventors: Vlad Popescu-Stanesti, Marian Niculae, Constantin Bucur
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Publication number: 20090045775Abstract: A charging circuit for controlling a system charging parameter provided to a host of rechargeable batteries, wherein the host of batteries includes at least a first battery and second battery that may be coupled in parallel. The charging circuit provides for fast charging of rechargeable batteries in parallel. Independent current and voltage sensing for each battery enables parallel charging of batteries at different charging currents. The charging circuit may be configured to accept either analog or digital signals from an associated power management unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2008Publication date: February 19, 2009Applicant: O2Micro International LimitedInventors: Vlad Popescu Stanesti, Marian Niculae, Constantin Bucur
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Patent number: 7489110Abstract: A selector circuit configured to select among a DC power source and a plurality of batteries for an electronic device. The selector circuit is responsive to an output signal from an associated power management unit. The selector circuit is further configured to permit parallel operation of two or more of the batteries. The selector circuit may further act to independently verify power conditions and override instructions from the PMU in certain instances to enhance power supply safety and battery life such as by preventing inter battery current flow from a higher potential battery to a lower potential battery coupled in parallel.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2006Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Assignee: O2Micro InternationalInventors: Vlad Popescu Stanesti, Marian Niculae, Constantin Bucur
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Publication number: 20080231117Abstract: A power supply topology according to one embodiment includes a first path coupled to a controllable DC power source, a second path coupled to a rechargeable battery, and a third path coupled to a system load, the three paths coupled to a common node. The topology may further include a unidirectional switch coupled to the first path and a selectively unidirectional switch coupled to the second path. The topology may further include a power management control circuit including a wake up circuit having a comparison circuit and an output decision circuit. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2008Publication date: September 25, 2008Applicant: O2MICRO INTERNATIONAL LIMITEDInventors: Constantin Bucur, Vlad Popescu-Stanesti, Marian Niculae, Daryl Nees
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Patent number: 7414381Abstract: A charging circuit for controlling a system charging parameter provided to a host of rechargeable batteries, wherein the host of batteries includes at least a first battery and second battery that may be coupled in parallel. The charging circuit provides for fast charging of rechargeable batteries in parallel. Independent current and voltage sensing for each battery enables parallel charging of batteries at different charging currents. The charging circuit may be configured to accept either analog or digital signals from an associated power management unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2006Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: O2Micro International LimitedInventors: Vlad Popescu-Stanesti, Marian Niculae, Constantin Bucur
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Patent number: 7348760Abstract: A wake up circuit according to one embodiment includes a comparison circuit and an output decision circuit. The comparison circuit may be adapted to receive a first signal representative of a charging current level provided to a battery via a path and a second signal representative of a predetermined wake up current level and to provide a comparison output signal in response to the first and second signal. The output decision circuit may be adapted to receive at least the comparison output signal and a selector signal from a selector circuit, the output decision circuit providing one of the comparison output signal and the selector signal to a switch to control a state of the switch, the switch coupled to the path.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2004Date of Patent: March 25, 2008Assignee: O2Micro International LimitedInventors: Constantin Bucur, Vlad Popescu-Stanesti, Marian Niculae, Daryl Nees
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Publication number: 20070030714Abstract: An enabling circuit for enabling a DC-DC converter having a capacitor coupled to an output terminal of the DC-DC converter to be controlled by a control signal. The enabling circuit may include a comparison circuit configured to compare a feedback signal representative of a charge on the capacitor with a signal representative of a reference charge and to provide an output to in response to the comparison to enable the DC-DC converter to be controlled by the control signal if the charge on the capacitor is less than the reference charge. The enabling circuit may also include a discharge path configured to discharge the charge on the capacitor if the charge is greater than the reference charge. A related system and method are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2006Publication date: February 8, 2007Applicant: O2MICRO INTERNATIONAL LIMITEDInventors: Constantin Bucur, Marian Niculae