Patents by Inventor Mengzhe Ma

Mengzhe Ma 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: 8476878
    Abstract: A startup circuit for use in a DC-DC converter having an input voltage terminal and an output voltage terminal, with the output voltage terminal connected to an output capacitor and with said converter including a pass transistor for transferring charge from the input terminal to the output terminal. The startup circuit includes a control circuit configured to cause the pass transistor to conduct an output current during start up when the output terminal voltage is approaching a final regulated voltage, with the output current being comprised of first and second current components, with the first current component being proportional to the output voltage and the second current component being proportional to the input voltage, with the two components being combined so as to resist changes in the power dissipation in the pass transistor during startup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Siew K. Hoon, Mengzhe Ma
  • Publication number: 20120120688
    Abstract: A startup circuit for use in a DC-DC converter having an input voltage terminal and an output voltage terminal, with the output voltage terminal connected to an output capacitor and with said converter including a pass transistor for transferring charge from the input terminal to the output terminal. The startup circuit includes a control circuit configured to cause the pass transistor to conduct an output current during start up when the output terminal voltage is approaching a final regulated voltage, with the output current being comprised of first and second current components, with the first current component being proportional to the output voltage and the second current component being proportional to the input voltage, with the two components being combined so as to resist changes in the power dissipation in the pass transistor during startup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Siew K. Hoon, Mengzhe Ma
  • Patent number: 7430133
    Abstract: A switched-capacitor type voltage regulator is provided. The regulator includes a flying capacitor and switches, including first and second transistors which operate as switches. The switches are arranged to operate such that the flying capacitor is coupled to an input voltage during a first phase, and switched to provide an output voltage during a second phase. During the first phase, the first transistor is employed to couple the capacitor to the input voltage, and a second transistor is employed to couple (the other side of) the capacitor to another node (e.g. Ground). Additionally, another switch is coupled between the gate and the drain of either the first transistor or the second transistor. Also, during the first phase, if the input voltage is greater than the output voltage, the other switch is closed so that the transistor that the other switch is connected to operates as a diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: William J. McIntyre, Mengzhe Ma