Patents by Inventor Mark Tuckwell

Mark Tuckwell 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: 10404217
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing inductor ringing of a voltage converter are provided. In certain configurations, a voltage converter includes an inductor connected between a first node and a second node, a plurality of switches, and a bypass circuit having an activated state and a deactivated state. The switches includes a first switch connected between a battery voltage and the first node, a second switch connected between the first node and a ground voltage, a third switch connected between the second node and the ground voltage, and a fourth switch connected between the second node and the output. The bypass circuit includes a first pair of transistors connected between the first node and the second node and configured to turn on to bypass the inductor in the activated state and to turn off in the deactivated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignees: Skyworks Solutions, Inc., SnapTrack, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Harris Robert Popplewell, Jakub F. Pingot, Florinel G. Balteanu, Martin Wilson, Mark Tuckwell
  • Publication number: 20180294776
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing inductor ringing of a voltage converter are provided. In certain configurations, a voltage converter includes an inductor connected between a first node and a second node, a plurality of switches, and a bypass circuit having an activated state and a deactivated state. The switches includes a first switch connected between a battery voltage and the first node, a second switch connected between the first node and a ground voltage, a third switch connected between the second node and the ground voltage, and a fourth switch connected between the second node and the output. The bypass circuit includes a first pair of transistors connected between the first node and the second node and configured to turn on to bypass the inductor in the activated state and to turn off in the deactivated state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Peter Harris Robert Popplewell, Jakub F. Pingot, Florinel G. Balteanu, Martin Wilson, Mark Tuckwell
  • Patent number: 9948241
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing inductor ringing of a voltage converter are provided. In certain configurations, a voltage converter includes an inductor connected between a first node and a second node, a plurality of switches, and a bypass circuit having an activated state and a deactivated state. The switches includes a first switch connected between a battery voltage and the first node, a second switch connected between the first node and a ground voltage, a third switch connected between the second node and the ground voltage, and a fourth switch connected between the second node and the output. The bypass circuit includes a first pair of transistors connected between the first node and the second node and configured to turn on to bypass the inductor in the activated state and to turn off in the deactivated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignees: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC., SNAPTRACK, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Harris Robert Popplewell, Jakub F. Pingot, Florinel G. Balteanu, Martin Wilson, Mark Tuckwell
  • Publication number: 20170230007
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing inductor ringing of a voltage converter are provided. In certain configurations, a voltage converter includes an inductor connected between a first node and a second node, a plurality of switches, and a bypass circuit having an activated state and a deactivated state. The switches includes a first switch connected between a battery voltage and the first node, a second switch connected between the first node and a ground voltage, a third switch connected between the second node and the ground voltage, and a fourth switch connected between the second node and the output. The bypass circuit includes a first pair of transistors connected between the first node and the second node and configured to turn on to bypass the inductor in the activated state and to turn off in the deactivated state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Peter Harris Robert Popplewell, Jakub F. Pingot, Florinel G. Balteanu, Martin Wilson, Mark Tuckwell
  • Patent number: 9673707
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for bypassing an inductor of a voltage converter are provided. In one embodiment, a voltage converter includes an inductor and a bypass circuit that selectively bypasses the inductor based on a state of a bypass control signal. The inductor includes including a first end electrically connected to a first node and a second end electrically connected to a second node. The bypass circuit includes a first p-type field effect transistor and a second p-type field effect transistor electrically connected in series between the first node and the second node. The first p-type field effect transistor includes a body electrically connected to a first voltage, and the second p-type field effect transistor includes a body electrically connected to a second voltage greater than the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignees: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC., SNAPTRACK, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Harris Robert Popplewell, Jakub F. Pingot, Florinel G. Balteanu, Martin Wilson, Mark Tuckwell
  • Publication number: 20160043644
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for bypassing an inductor of a voltage converter are provided. In one embodiment, a voltage converter includes an inductor and a bypass circuit that selectively bypasses the inductor based on a state of a bypass control signal. The inductor includes including a first end electrically connected to a first node and a second end electrically connected to a second node. The bypass circuit includes a first p-type field effect transistor and a second p-type field effect transistor electrically connected in series between the first node and the second node. The first p-type field effect transistor includes a body electrically connected to a first voltage, and the second p-type field effect transistor includes a body electrically connected to a second voltage greater than the first voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Peter Harris Robert Popplewell, Jakub F. Pingot, Florinel G. Balteanu, Martin Wilson, Mark Tuckwell
  • Patent number: 9197128
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for voltage converter bypass circuits are provided. In one embodiment, a voltage conversion system includes a bypass circuit and a voltage converter including an inductor and a plurality of switches configured to control a current through the inductor. The bypass circuit includes a first p-type field effect transistor, a second p-type field effect transistor, a first n-type field effect transistor, and a second n-type field effect transistor. The first and second n-type field effect transistors are electrically in series between a first end and a second end of the inductor. Additionally, the first and second p-type field effect transistor transistors are electrically connected in series between the first end and the second end of the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignees: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC., SNAPTRACK, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Harris Robert Popplewell, Jakub F. Pingot, Florinel G. Balteanu, Martin Wilson, Mark Tuckwell
  • Publication number: 20140300334
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for voltage converter bypass circuits are provided. In one embodiment, a voltage conversion system includes a bypass circuit and a voltage converter including an inductor and a plurality of switches configured to control a current through the inductor. The bypass circuit includes a first p-type field effect transistor, a second p-type field effect transistor, a first n-type field effect transistor, and a second n-type field effect transistor. The first and second n-type field effect transistors are electrically in series between a first end and a second end of the inductor. Additionally, the first and second p-type field effect transistor transistors are electrically connected in series between the first end and the second end of the inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Peter Harris Robert Popplewell, Jakub F. Pingot, Florinel G. Balteanu, Martin Wilson, Mark Tuckwell
  • Patent number: 8786371
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for voltage converters are provided. In one embodiment, a voltage conversion system includes a bypass circuit and a voltage converter including an inductor and a plurality of switches configured to control a current through the inductor. The bypass circuit includes a first p-type field effect transistor (PFET), a second PFET, a first n-type field effect transistor (NFET), and a second NFET. The first and second NFET transistors and the first and second PFET transistors are electrically connected between a first end and a second end of the inductor such that a source of the first PFET transistor and a drain of the first NFET transistor are electrically connected to the first end of the inductor and such that a drain of the second PFET transistor and a source of the second NFET transistor are electrically connected to the second end of the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: Skyworks Solutions, Inc., Nujira Ltd
    Inventors: Peter Harris Robert Popplewell, Jakub F Pingot, Florinel G Balteanu, Martin Wilson, Mark Tuckwell