Patents by Inventor Michael Jason Houston
Michael Jason Houston 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: 11942940Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for charging a bootstrap capacitor of a device during low power states are described. In an example, an apparatus can include a controller configured to enable a low power state of the device. The device can include a high side switching element and a low side switching element. The controller can, in response to the low power state of the device being enabled, operate the low side switching element of the device to charge the bootstrap capacitor of the device. The controller can, in response to the low power state of the device being enabled and a level of a control signal being a first level, activate the low side switching element to charge the bootstrap capacitor of the device.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2021Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.Inventors: Aaron Shreeve, Chun Cheung, Michael Jason Houston, Mehul Shah
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Patent number: 11817785Abstract: DAC control logic for controlling a DAC for supplying a target voltage VTARGET to a switching converter is disclosed. The DAC logic comprises control logic which is configured, in response to DAC ramp-down, to decrement DAC input code supplied to the DAC in a series of steps. The DAC control logic is configured, for at least some of the steps during ramp down, to wait until at least one switching cycle has occurred in the switching converter before decrementing the DAC input code from a current value to a new value.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2020Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.Inventors: Vipul Raithatha, Rob Cox, Allan Warrington, Vinod Aravindakshan Lalithambika, Michael Jason Houston
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Publication number: 20220399813Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a multiphase voltage regulator are described. The multiphase voltage regulator can include a plurality of power stages. A controller can be connected to the plurality of power stages. The controller can detect a number of activated power stages among the plurality of power stages. The controller can adjust a gain of a current sense feedback loop of the controller to control a load-transient response of the multiphase voltage regulator. The adjustment to the gain can be based on the number of activated power stages.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2021Publication date: December 15, 2022Applicant: Renesas Electronics America Inc.Inventors: Michael Jason HOUSTON, Mehul SHAH, Warren SCHROEDER, Akshat SHENOY
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Patent number: 11418118Abstract: One or more embodiments relate to a regulation loop control circuit for regulation of a parameter such as an input voltage or output voltage for a buck-boost converter. In these and other embodiments, the regulation loop control circuit is configured to select between an input voltage loop for regulation of the input voltage or an output voltage loop for regulation of the output voltage in response to an input voltage error, an output voltage error, and a threshold detector to protect the converter without sacrificing output voltage regulation and transient response.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2020Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS AMERICA INC.Inventors: Michael Jason Houston, Allan Warrington
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Publication number: 20220255537Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for charging a bootstrap capacitor of a device during low power states are described. In an example, an apparatus can include a controller configured to enable a low power state of the device. The device can include a high side switching element and a low side switching element. The controller can, in response to the low power state of the device being enabled, operate the low side switching element of the device to charge the bootstrap capacitor of the device. The controller can, in response to the low power state of the device being enabled and a level of a control signal being a first level, activate the low side switching element to charge the bootstrap capacitor of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2021Publication date: August 11, 2022Applicant: Renesas Electronics America Inc.Inventors: Aaron Shreeve, Chun Cheung, Michael Jason Houston, Mehul Shah
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Patent number: 11362590Abstract: One or more embodiments relate to a current limit mode control circuit for a buck-boost converter which can provide a stable switching of the converter by operating the converter in a current limit mode during an overcurrent condition, performing fewer state transitions while in the current limit mode, and/or by clamping (reducing to a lower value) the output of an error amplifier in the current limit mode for controlling a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal that drives the switching transistors.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2020Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS AMERICA INC.Inventors: Michael Jason Houston, Allan Warrington
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Patent number: 11258271Abstract: A voltage error signal is provided to a PWM controller of a voltage regular and used to produce a PWM signal that drives a power stage of the regulator. When operating in an adapter current limit regulation mode, an adapter current sense voltage, indicative of an adapter current, is compared to an adapter current reference voltage to produce an adapter current error signal. A compensator receives the adapter current error signal and outputs a compensated adapter current error signal. The adapter current sense voltage, or a high pass filtered version thereof, is subtracted from the compensated adapter current error signal to produce the voltage error signal provided to the PWM controller. Alternatively, an input voltage, or a high pass filtered version thereof, is added to the compensated adapter current error signal to produce the voltage error signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2019Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: INTERSIL AMERICAS LLCInventors: Michael Jason Houston, Lei Zhao
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Patent number: 11245332Abstract: One or more embodiments relate to a reference voltage control circuit for a buck-boost converter. According to certain aspects, embodiments can increase or decrease the reference voltage for an error amplifier for controlling a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal when there is a change in the mode of operation. In these and other embodiments, the reference voltage control circuit is configured to modify the reference voltage by increasing or decreasing the reference voltage when there is a change in the mode of operation, so as to reduce overshoot or undershoot disturbances in the regulated output voltage during such transitions.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2020Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS AMERICA INC.Inventors: Michael Jason Houston, Allan Warrington
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Patent number: 11205915Abstract: According to certain aspects, the present embodiments are related to systems and methods providing an autonomous adapter pass through mode in a battery charger. For example, when an adapter is connected to the battery charger, but the system is idling, embodiments allow for power from the adapter to be directly coupled to the battery charger output, and main switching to be stopped, thereby dramatically reducing battery charger current consumption. These and other embodiments provide various circuitry and techniques to ensure that the battery is protected in this mode. According to further aspects, the present embodiments provide for the charger itself to autonomously enter and exit the adapter pass through mode, thereby eliminating the need for excessive processing overhead in components external to the battery charger.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2019Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: Renesas Electronics AmericaInventors: John H. Carpenter, Jr., Mehul Shah, Michael Jason Houston
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Publication number: 20210135679Abstract: DAC control logic for controlling a DAC for supplying a target voltage VTARGET to a switching converter is disclosed. The DAC logic comprises control logic which is configured, in response to DAC ramp-down, to decrement DAC input code supplied to the DAC in a series of steps. The DAC control logic is configured, for at least some of the steps during ramp down, to wait until at least one switching cycle has occurred in the switching converter before decrementing the DAC input code from a current value to a new value.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2020Publication date: May 6, 2021Applicant: Renesas Electronics America Inc.Inventors: Vipul Raithatha, Rob Cox, Allan Warrington, Vinod Aravindakshan Lalithambika, Michael Jason Houston
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Patent number: 10727744Abstract: The system and method creates a substantially constant output voltage ripple in a buck converter in discontinuous conduction mode by varying the on-time of a pulse width modulator (PWM) signal driving the buck converter when the buck converter is operating in discontinuous conduction mode. A first signal is generated that is a function of the switching frequency of the buck converter. This signal is low-pass filtered and compared with a second signal that is a function of the switching frequency of the buck converter when operating in continuous conduction mode and with constant PWM on-time. The output signal generated by the comparator is a signal that is equal to the ratio of the first signal and the second signal. The on-time of a voltage controlled oscillator is controlled by the output signal, the oscillator signal causing the on-time of the PWM signal to vary in a controlled fashion.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2017Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Intersil Americas LLCInventors: Michael Jason Houston, Steven Patrick Laur
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Publication number: 20200136397Abstract: A voltage error signal is provided to a PWM controller of a voltage regular and used to produce a PWM signal that drives a power stage of the regulator. When operating in an adapter current limit regulation mode, an adapter current sense voltage, indicative of an adapter current, is compared to an adapter current reference voltage to produce an adapter current error signal. A compensator receives the adapter current error signal and outputs a compensated adapter current error signal. The adapter current sense voltage, or a high pass filtered version thereof, is subtracted from the compensated adapter current error signal to produce the voltage error signal provided to the PWM controller. Alternatively, an input voltage, or a high pass filtered version thereof, is added to the compensated adapter current error signal to produce the voltage error signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2019Publication date: April 30, 2020Applicant: Intersil Americas LLCInventors: Michael Jason HOUSTON, Lei ZHAO
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Patent number: 10523025Abstract: A voltage error signal is provided to a PWM controller of a voltage regular and used to produce a PWM signal that drives a power stage of the regulator. When operating in an adapter current limit regulation mode, an adapter current sense voltage, indicative of an adapter current, is compared to an adapter current reference voltage to produce an adapter current error signal. A compensator receives the adapter current error signal and outputs a compensated adapter current error signal. The adapter current sense voltage, or a high pass filtered version thereof, is subtracted from the compensated adapter current error signal to produce the voltage error signal provided to the PWM controller. Alternatively, an input voltage, or a high pass filtered version thereof, is added to the compensated adapter current error signal to produce the voltage error signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2017Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Intersil Americas LLCInventors: Michael Jason Houston, Lei Zhao
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Publication number: 20190222031Abstract: According to certain aspects, the present embodiments are related to systems and methods providing an autonomous adapter pass through mode in a battery charger. For example, when an adapter is connected to the battery charger, but the system is idling, embodiments allow for power from the adapter to be directly coupled to the battery charger output, and main switching to be stopped, thereby dramatically reducing battery charger current consumption. These and other embodiments provide various circuitry and techniques to ensure that the battery is protected in this mode. According to further aspects, the present embodiments provide for the charger itself to autonomously enter and exit the adapter pass through mode, thereby eliminating the need for excessive processing overhead in components external to the battery charger.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: John H. CARPENTER, JR., Mehul SHAH, Michael Jason HOUSTON
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Patent number: 10348204Abstract: An electronic system, DC-DC voltage converter, method of operating a buck-boost DC-DC converter, and method for power mode transitioning in a DC-DC voltage converter are disclosed. For example, one method includes receiving a compensated error signal associated with an output voltage of the DC-DC voltage converter, determining a power mode of operation of the DC-DC voltage converter, and if the power mode of operation is a first mode, outputting a first control signal to regulate the output voltage of the DC-DC voltage converter. If the power mode of operation is a second mode, outputting a second control signal to regulate the output voltage of the DC-DC voltage converter, and if the power mode of operation is a third mode, outputting a third control signal to regulate the output voltage of the DC-DC voltage converter.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2018Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Intersil Americas LLCInventor: Michael Jason Houston
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Patent number: 10090688Abstract: Systems and methods for overcurrent protection in a battery charger are provided. For example, a method for overcurrent protection may include controlling a switching regulator to direct electrical current between the switching regulator and a battery port; sensing a voltage drop that is related to the electrical current passing between the switching regulator and the battery port; applying a first ramp voltage to the sensed voltage drop generating a modified sensed voltage drop; comparing the modified sensed voltage drop against at least one reference voltage; and when the modified sensed voltage drop exceeds the at least one reference voltage, changing operation of the switching regulator to protect the battery charger from an overcurrent state.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2015Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: INTERSIL AMERICAS LLCInventors: Michael Jason Houston, John Stuart Kleine, Lei Zhao, Jia Wei
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Publication number: 20180166992Abstract: An electronic system, DC-DC voltage converter, method of operating a buck-boost DC-DC converter, and method for power mode transitioning in a DC-DC voltage converter are disclosed. For example, one method includes receiving a compensated error signal associated with an output voltage of the DC-DC voltage converter, determining a power mode of operation of the DC-DC voltage converter, and if the power mode of operation is a first mode, outputting a first control signal to regulate the output voltage of the DC-DC voltage converter. If the power mode of operation is a second mode, outputting a second control signal to regulate the output voltage of the DC-DC voltage converter, and if the power mode of operation is a third mode, outputting a third control signal to regulate the output voltage of the DC-DC voltage converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2018Publication date: June 14, 2018Applicant: Intersil Americas LLCInventor: Michael Jason HOUSTON
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Publication number: 20180076641Abstract: A voltage error signal is provided to a PWM controller of a voltage regular and used to produce a PWM signal that drives a power stage of the regulator. When operating in an adapter current limit regulation mode, an adapter current sense voltage, indicative of an adapter current, is compared to an adapter current reference voltage to produce an adapter current error signal. A compensator receives the adapter current error signal and outputs a compensated adapter current error signal. The adapter current sense voltage, or a high pass filtered version thereof, is subtracted from the compensated adapter current error signal to produce the voltage error signal provided to the PWM controller. Alternatively, an input voltage, or a high pass filtered version thereof, is added to the compensated adapter current error signal to produce the voltage error signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Applicant: Intersil Americas LLCInventors: Michael Jason HOUSTON, Lei ZHAO
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Patent number: 9882488Abstract: An electronic system, DC-DC voltage converter, method of operating a buck-boost DC-DC converter, and method for power mode transitioning in a DC-DC voltage converter are disclosed. For example, one method includes receiving a compensated error signal associated with an output voltage of the DC-DC voltage converter, determining a power mode of operation of the DC-DC voltage converter, and if the power mode of operation is a first mode, outputting a first control signal to regulate the output voltage of the DC-DC voltage converter. If the power mode of operation is a second mode, outputting a second control signal to regulate the output voltage of the DC-DC voltage converter, and if the power mode of operation is a third mode, outputting a third control signal to regulate the output voltage of the DC-DC voltage converter.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2016Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: INTERSIL AMERICAS LLCInventor: Michael Jason Houston
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Patent number: 9748781Abstract: A voltage error signal VERR is provided to a PWM controller of a voltage regular and used to produce a PWM signal that drives a power stage of the regulator. When operating in an adaptor current limit regulation mode, an adaptor current sense voltage VACS, indicative of an adapter current IA, is compared to an adapter current reference voltage VAC_REF to produce an adapter current error signal VAC_ERR. A compensator receives the adapter current error signal VAC_ERR and outputs a compensated adapter current error signal. The adaptor current sense voltage VACS, or a high pass filtered version thereof, is subtracted from the compensated adapter current error signal to produce the voltage error signal VERR provided to the PWM controller. Alternatively, an input voltage VIN, or a high pass filtered version thereof, is added to the compensated adapter current error signal to produce the voltage error signal VERR.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2014Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: INTERSIL AMERICAS LLCInventors: Michael Jason Houston, Lei Zhao