Patents by Inventor Michael Lüders
Michael Lüders 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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Publication number: 20240113611Abstract: A circuit includes a half-bridge circuit is configured to provide a switching voltage responsive to respective high-side and low-side drive signals. High-side slew control circuitry is configured to provide a high-side slew-compensated control signal responsive to a high-side enable signal and a slew current signal representative of a slew rate at a switching output. A high-side driver is configured to provide the high-side drive signal responsive to the high-side slew-compensated control signal. Low-side slew control circuitry is configured to provide a low-side slew-compensated drive signal responsive to a low-side enable signal and the slew current signal. A low-side driver is configured to provide the low-side drive signal responsive to the low-side slew-compensated control signal. A capacitor is coupled between the high-side and low-side slew control circuitry and is configured to convert the slew rate to the slew current signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2022Publication date: April 4, 2024Inventors: Maik Peter KAUFMANN, Stefan HERZER, Michael LUEDERS
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Publication number: 20230344467Abstract: A circuit support structure includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer, isolation material containing the first and second metal layers, an isolation circuit, a first plurality of contact pads, and a second plurality of contact pads. The isolation circuit includes a first circuit element in the first metal layer and a second circuit element in the second metal layer and electrically isolated from the first circuit element by the isolation material. The first plurality of contact pads is adapted to be coupled to a first integrated circuit on the circuit support structure and includes a first contact pad electrically coupled to the first circuit element. The second plurality of contact pads is adapted to be coupled to a second integrated circuit on the circuit support structure and includes a second contact pad electrically coupled to the second circuit element.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Applicant: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Michael Lueders, Giacomo Calabrese, Nicola Bertoni
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Publication number: 20230336167Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed for cross-conduction detection. An example apparatus includes a cross detector circuit including a first transistor and a second transistor, the first transistor coupled to a load, a third transistor coupled to a first controlled delay circuit and the first transistor, a fourth transistor coupled to a second controlled delay circuit and to the third transistor at a phase node, and a control circuit coupled to the first controlled delay circuit, the second controlled delay circuit, and the load.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventors: Gaetano Maria Walter Petrina, Michael Lueders, Nicola Rasera
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Patent number: 11728798Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed for cross-conduction detection. An example apparatus includes a cross detector circuit including a first transistor and a second transistor, the first transistor coupled to a load, a third transistor coupled to a first controlled delay circuit and the first transistor, a fourth transistor coupled to a second controlled delay circuit and to the third transistor at a phase node, and a control circuit coupled to the first controlled delay circuit, the second controlled delay circuit, and the load.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Gaetano Maria Walter Petrina, Michael Lueders, Nicola Rasera
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Patent number: 11716117Abstract: A circuit support structure includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer, isolation material containing the first and second metal layers, an isolation circuit, a first plurality of contact pads, and a second plurality of contact pads. The isolation circuit includes a first circuit element in the first metal layer and a second circuit element in the second metal layer and electrically isolated from the first circuit element by the isolation material. The first plurality of contact pads is adapted to be coupled to a first integrated circuit on the circuit support structure and includes a first contact pad electrically coupled to the first circuit element. The second plurality of contact pads is adapted to be coupled to a second integrated circuit on the circuit support structure and includes a second contact pad electrically coupled to the second circuit element.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Michael Lueders, Giacomo Calabrese, Nicola Bertoni
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Patent number: 11621708Abstract: A startup circuit adapted to be coupled to an input voltage supply and operable to supply an output voltage at an output terminal, the startup circuit including: a first transistor having a first control terminal, a first current terminal and a second current terminal, the first current terminal adapted to be coupled to the input voltage supply and the second current terminal coupled to the output terminal; a precharge circuit having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, the second terminal adapted to be coupled to the input voltage supply and the third terminal coupled to the first control terminal; a current limiter coupled to the precharge circuit, the first control terminal and the second current terminal; a second transistor having a second control terminal, a third current terminal and a fourth current terminal, the third current terminal coupled to the precharge circuit and the second control terminal adapted to be coupled to a control signal; and a third transistor having a third cType: GrantFiled: May 7, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Michael Lueders, Johan Strydom, Cetin Kaya, Maik Peter Kaufmann
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Publication number: 20230038798Abstract: Described embodiments include a rectifier circuit comprising a first resistor with first and second resistor terminals, and a second resistor with third and fourth resistor terminals. The first and third resistor terminals are coupled to an auxiliary power terminal. A current source is coupled between the second resistor terminal and a ground terminal. An amplifier has a first amplifier input coupled to the second resistor terminal, and a second amplifier input coupled to the fourth resistor terminal. A first transistor is coupled between the fourth resistor terminal and a damping terminal, and has a first control terminal coupled to the first amplifier output. A gate drive circuit has an input coupled to the damping terminal. A second transistor is coupled between the damping terminal and a bootstrap supply terminal, and has a second control terminal coupled to an output of the gate drive circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Inventors: Michael Lueders, Cetin Kaya, Johan Strydom, Paul Brohlin
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Publication number: 20220399328Abstract: A depletion-mode current source having a saturation current of sufficient accuracy for use as a pre-charge circuit in a start-up circuit of an AC-to-DC power converter is fabricated using an enhancement-mode-only process. The depletion-mode current source can be fabricated on the same integrated circuit (IC) as a gallium nitride field-effect transistor (FET) and resistive and capacitive components used in the start-up circuit, without affecting the enhancement-mode-only fabrication process by requiring additional masks or materials, as would be required to fabricate a depletion-mode FET on the same IC as an enhancement-mode FET. The current source includes a resistive patterned two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) or two-dimensional hole gas (2DHG) channel coupled between two terminals and one or more metal field plates extending from one of the terminals and overlying the patterned area of the channel, the field plates being separated from the channel and from each other by dielectric layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2021Publication date: December 15, 2022Inventors: Maik Peter Kaufmann, Michael Lueders, CHANG SOO SUH
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Patent number: 11489441Abstract: Reference voltage generation circuits and related methods are disclosed. An example reference voltage generation circuit includes a voltage generating circuit including an enhancement mode (E-mode) gallium nitride (GaN) transistor, the voltage generating circuit to, in response to a first clock signal having a first phase, generate a first voltage associated with the E-mode GaN transistor, and, in response to a second clock signal having a second phase different from the first phase, generate a second voltage associated with the E-mode GaN transistor, and a switching capacitor circuit coupled to the voltage generating circuit, the switching capacitor circuit to generate a reference voltage based on a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Maik Peter Kaufmann, Michael Lueders, Bernhard Wicht
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Publication number: 20220311242Abstract: An IC, comprising a first rail supply, a second rail supply, an external pad coupled to one of the first rail supply and the second rail supply, and an ESD protection circuit coupled to the external pad. The ESD protection circuit includes a slew rate detector coupled to the external pad, an amplifier coupled to an output of the slew rate detector, a one-shot coupled to an output of the amplifier, and a clamp circuit coupled an output of the one-shot.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Inventors: Karim Thomas Taghizadeh Kaschani, Michael Lüders, Cetin Kaya
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Publication number: 20220270960Abstract: In described examples, a device includes an interconnect substrate that has an aperture through the interconnect substrate. An integrated circuit (IC) die that has an on-chip element is mounted on the interconnect substrate with the on-chip element aligned with and facing the aperture. The IC die is over-molded with mold compound only on one side of the interconnect substrate so that the aperture remains free of mold compound to allow the on-chip element to have access to the environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2021Publication date: August 25, 2022Inventors: Ernst Georg Muellner, Michael Lueders
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Publication number: 20220244638Abstract: A permanent resist, such as TMMF, is used when patterning conductive material on a substrate, enabling lines that have a higher line-to-space ratio (L/S) or a higher aspect ratio (T/L) or both. Pattern density can thus be increased, allowing for improved performance (e.g., greater efficiency, in the case of transformer coil patterning) and greater heat dissipation. As examples, the permanent-resist-based patterning fabrication methods can be used to create transformer coils within an integrated circuit (IC) module, or a routable lead frame for one or more IC dies.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2021Publication date: August 4, 2022Inventors: Hidetoshi Inoue, Kenji Kawano, Yuki Sato, Takafumi Ando, Michael Lueders, Stefan Herzer, Jeffrey Morroni
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Patent number: 11405033Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed to drive a transistor. An example apparatus includes a regulator including a first input terminal adapted to be coupled to a control terminal of a transistor, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal, a first stage including a first input terminal coupled to the first output terminal of the regulator and an output terminal adapted to be coupled to the control terminal of the transistor, and a second stage including an input terminal coupled to the second output terminal of the regulator, and an output terminal adapted to be coupled to the control terminal of the transistor.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2021Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Yong Xie, Michael Lüeders, Cetin Kaya
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Patent number: 11394380Abstract: Gate drivers and auto-zero comparators are disclosed. An example integrated circuit includes a transistor comprising a gate terminal and a current terminal, a gallium nitride (GaN) gate driver coupled to the gate terminal, the GaN gate driver configured to adjust operation of the transistor, and an enhancement mode GaN comparator coupled to at least one of the transistor the GaN gate driver, the enhancement mode GaN comparator configured to compare a voltage to a reference voltage, the voltage based on current from the current terminal, the GaN gate driver configured to adjust the operation of the transistor based on the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Maik Peter Kaufmann, Michael Lueders, Cetin Kaya
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Publication number: 20220208755Abstract: The present invention provides a capacitor having a first structure made of a metal layer and a second structure made of the same metal layer and a dielectric layer between the first and the second metal structure, wherein the dielectric layer has a relative permittivity greater than 4, in particular greater than 6. It also provides a monolithically integrated circuit including such a capacitor and optionally other components. A method of manufacturing such a capacitor is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2020Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Naveen Tipirneni, Maik Peter Kaufmann, Michael Lueders, Jungwoo Joh
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Publication number: 20210376718Abstract: Reference voltage generation circuits and related methods are disclosed. An example reference voltage generation circuit includes a voltage generating circuit including an enhancement mode (E-mode) gallium nitride (GaN) transistor, the voltage generating circuit to, in response to a first clock signal having a first phase, generate a first voltage associated with the E-mode GaN transistor, and, in response to a second clock signal having a second phase different from the first phase, generate a second voltage associated with the E-mode GaN transistor, and a switching capacitor circuit coupled to the voltage generating circuit, the switching capacitor circuit to generate a reference voltage based on a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2020Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Maik Peter Kaufmann, Michael Lueders, Bernhard Wicht
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Patent number: 11171570Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus to facilitate high side control of a switching power converter are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a latch including a first node coupled to a first source of a first switch and an output coupled to a first gate of the first switch; a first diode coupled to the first node and a second node; a second diode coupled to the second node and ground; a second switch coupled to a voltage source and the second node; and a third switch including a third gate coupled to the second switch, a third source coupled to the second node, and a third drain coupled to the latch.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Cetin Kaya, Paul Brohlin, Michael Lueders, Johan Strydom
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Publication number: 20210297075Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed to drive a transistor. An example apparatus includes a regulator including a first input terminal adapted to be coupled to a control terminal of a transistor, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal, a first stage including a first input terminal coupled to the first output terminal of the regulator and an output terminal adapted to be coupled to the control terminal of the transistor, and a second stage including an input terminal coupled to the second output terminal of the regulator, and an output terminal adapted to be coupled to the control terminal of the transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Yong Xie, Michael Lüeders, Cetin Kaya
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Publication number: 20210265992Abstract: A startup circuit adapted to be coupled to an input voltage supply and operable to supply an output voltage at an output terminal, the startup circuit including: a first transistor having a first control terminal, a first current terminal and a second current terminal, the first current terminal adapted to be coupled to the input voltage supply and the second current terminal coupled to the output terminal; a precharge circuit having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, the second terminal adapted to be coupled to the input voltage supply and the third terminal coupled to the first control terminal; a current limiter coupled to the precharge circuit, the first control terminal and the second current terminal; a second transistor having a second control terminal, a third current terminal and a fourth current terminal, the third current terminal coupled to the precharge circuit and the second control terminal adapted to be coupled to a control signal; and a third transistor having a third cType: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2021Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Michael Lueders, Johan Strydom, Cetin Kaya, Maik Peter Kaufmann
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Publication number: 20210258045Abstract: A circuit support structure includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer, isolation material containing the first and second metal layers, an isolation circuit, a first plurality of contact pads, and a second plurality of contact pads. The isolation circuit includes a first circuit element in the first metal layer and a second circuit element in the second metal layer and electrically isolated from the first circuit element by the isolation material. The first plurality of contact pads is adapted to be coupled to a first integrated circuit on the circuit support structure and includes a first contact pad electrically coupled to the first circuit element. The second plurality of contact pads is adapted to be coupled to a second integrated circuit on the circuit support structure and includes a second contact pad electrically coupled to the second circuit element.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2021Publication date: August 19, 2021Inventors: Michael Lueders, Giacomo Calabrese, Nicola Bertoni