Patents by Inventor Nien-Hui Kung

Nien-Hui Kung 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).

  • Publication number: 20140320091
    Abstract: In a control method for supplying power, a first power regulator supplies a first current and an output voltage to a second power regulator and the second power regulator supplies a second current to a load. The method includes: increasing the output voltage and detecting the second current; determining whether the second current suddenly drops as the output voltage increases; when the second current drops, defining a level of the output voltage which corresponds to a starting point of the sudden drop as an upper limit; when the output voltage increases but the second current neither increases nor suddenly drops, defining a level of the output voltage corresponding to a point where the second current stops increasing as a lower limit; and setting the output voltage to be lower than or equal to the upper limit, and higher than or equal to the lower limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nien-Hui Kung
  • Publication number: 20140312855
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a multi-purpose power management chip and a power path control circuit. The multi-purpose power management chip includes: a switch circuit including at least one power transistor; a switch control circuit for generating a first switch signal to control an operation of the power transistor to thereby control the power conversion between an input terminal and an output terminal; a power path management circuit for controlling the charging operation from the output terminal to the battery; a current source for supplying a current to the battery; and a path selection circuit for determining whether the charging operation to the battery is controlled by the power path management circuit and the current source or not according to whether a power path power transistor is provided on the power path or not.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nien-Hui Kung
  • Patent number: 8836294
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a switching regulator, a control circuit and a control method therefor. The switching regulator comprises an upper gate switch, a lower gate switch, and an inductor connected to a switching node. When a current passing through the upper gate switch or the inductor is lower than a threshold, the lower gate switch is kept OFF until a next cycle, and during the cycle wherein the lower gate switch is OFF, the upper gate switch is turned ON for a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventor: Nien-Hui Kung
  • Publication number: 20140191742
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for controlling a voltage regulator, including steps of: converting an input voltage to an output voltage and providing an output current; sensing the output current; reducing the output voltage; and when the reduction of the output voltage causes the output current to change, setting the output voltage back to a value which does not change the output current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nien-Hui Kung, Wei-Chung Chang
  • Publication number: 20140159492
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a power bank circuit. The power bank circuit includes a charger circuit, a battery circuit, a power conversion circuit, a temperature detecting circuit and a current distribution circuit. The charger circuit receives an input voltage and provides a charging current to the battery circuit. The power conversion circuit converts a battery voltage to an output voltage and provides an output current. The temperature detecting circuit detects the temperature of the packaged structure. When the temperature of the packaged structure exceeds a first predetermined temperature, the current distribution circuit first reduces the output current. When the temperature of the packaged structure exceeds a second predetermined temperature, the current distribution circuit then reduces the charging current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: Nien-Hui Kung
  • Publication number: 20140159644
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a charger circuit and a charging control method for charging a battery. When the battery voltage reaches a predetermined voltage, the charge storage quantity of the battery is measured to determine whether to charge the battery according to a constant current mode wherein the battery is charged by a constant current, or the battery voltage is a target to be regulated to a target voltage according to a constant voltage mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: Nien-Hui Kung
  • Publication number: 20140152104
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a multi-output switching regulator and a multi-output power supply method. The multi-output switching regulator includes: a power stage circuit for operating at least a power switch included therein and only one inductor included therein in response to a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, thereby converting an input voltage to a converted voltage; a multiple outputs circuit for receiving the converted voltage to generate a plurality of output currents; a voltage detecting circuit for generating a feedback signal according to the converted voltage; and a PWM signal generation circuit for generating the PWM signal in response to the feedback signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventor: Nien-Hui Kung
  • Patent number: 8698449
    Abstract: A charger for a portable device includes a USB detector connected to a data pin to detect the effective resistance on the data pin before a USB transceiver is enabled, to identify USB or adapter plug in and control a charging current for a battery accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Li-Wei Lee, Nien-Hui Kung, Kwan-Jen Chu, Ying-Hsin Hsing
  • Publication number: 20140084845
    Abstract: The present invention provides a charger circuit for supplying power from an external power source to a first common node and charging a second common node from the first common node; a regulator circuit is coupled between the external power source and the first common node. The charger circuit includes a switching regulator power stage for controlling charging to the second common node. The switching regulator power stage supplies power to the second common node according to detected voltage at the first common node, detected voltage at the second common node, and charging current to the second common node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventor: Nien-Hui Kung
  • Publication number: 20140084684
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power supply circuit, which includes a plurality of switchable bidirectional regulators, respectively coupled between a first common node and a plurality of external terminals, and each external terminal has a switchable connection selectively electrically connectable to a external power source for receiving power supply from the external power source or to an external device for charging the external device. Each switchable bidirectional regulator includes: an upper power transistor switch, a lower power transistor switch, an inductor, and a buck-boost controller for controlling operations of the upper power transistor switch and the lower power transistor switch to perform either buck or boost voltage conversion according to a mode control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventor: Nien-Hui Kung
  • Publication number: 20140062435
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a charge control circuit for supplying power from an external power source to a first common node and charging a second common node from the first common node. A regulator circuit is coupled between the external power source and the first common node, and a transistor is coupled between the first common node and the second common node. The present invention detects an operation parameter of the transistor and controls an internal voltage source to generate a non-predetermined voltage difference accordingly. When the sum of the voltage at the second common node and the non-predetermined voltage is equal to or higher than the reference voltage, the voltage at the first common node is regulated to a level higher than the voltage at the second common node, and the transistor is in an optimum conductive state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Chien-Ping Lu, Nien-Hui Kung, Li-Wei Lee, Chia-Hsiang Lin, Chen-Hsiang Hsiao, Ko-Ching Su
  • Patent number: 8653795
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a charger circuit. The charger circuit comprises a control circuit and at least two charging paths. The control circuit determines to activate or inactivate each charging path according to a battery feedback signal representing the charging status. Accordingly, the battery is charged by input power in an optimal way so that the charging efficiency is improved and the overheating problem is solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Hsuan-Kai Wang, Nien-Hui Kung, Wei-I Li
  • Patent number: 8648573
    Abstract: A charger for a portable device includes a USB detector connected to a data pin to detect the effective resistance on the data pin before a USB transceiver is enabled, to identify USB or adapter plug in and control a charging current for a battery accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Li-Wei Lee, Nien-Hui Kung, Kwan-Jen Chu, Ying-Hsin Hsing
  • Publication number: 20130335006
    Abstract: A charge control circuit supplies power from an external power source to a first common node and charges a second common node. A regulator circuit is coupled between the external power source and the first common node, and a transistor is coupled between the first common node and the second common node. A current sensing and control device senses the current from the first common node to the second common node and generates a first control signal. A first voltage sensing and control device senses a voltage at the first common node, and generates a conduction control signal to control the transistor. A second voltage sensing and control device senses a voltage at the second common node, and generates a second control signal. The regulator circuit provides system power to the first common node according to the first control signal and the second control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventor: Nien-Hui Kung
  • Publication number: 20130328540
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a buck switching regulator and a control circuit thereof, wherein the buck switching regulator converts an input voltage to an output voltage. The buck switching regulator includes: a power stage including an upper-gate switch, a lower-gate switch and an inductor, which are coupled to a switching node, wherein the upper-gate switch is electrically connected to the input voltage; a transistor electrically connected between the inductor and the output voltage; and a driver circuit, which controls the upper-gate switch and the lower-gate switch at least according to a current flowing through the transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: Nien-Hui Kung
  • Publication number: 20130241296
    Abstract: A switching voltage regulator for a power converter is disclosed. The power converter includes a power source selector, a regulator controller, and an inductor. The switching voltage regulator includes: a first power input terminal; a second power input terminal; a first switch having a first terminal coupled with the first power input terminal; a second switch having a first terminal coupled with the second power input terminal; a third switch having a first terminal coupled with a second terminal of the first switch and a second terminal of the second switch; and a fourth switch having a first terminal, coupled with a second terminal of the third switch, for coupling with the inductor. Control terminals of the first switch and the second switch are utilized for coupling with the power source selector. Control terminals of the third switch and the fourth switch are utilized for coupling with the regulator controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nien-Hui KUNG
  • Patent number: 8525484
    Abstract: A charger for a portable device includes a USB detector connected to a data pin to detect the effective resistance on the data pin before a USB transceiver is enabled, to identify USB or adapter plug in and control a charging current for a battery accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Li-Wei Lee, Nien-Hui Kung, Kwan-Jen Chu, Ying-Hsin Hsing
  • Patent number: 8502511
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a buck switching regulator including a power stage, a driver circuit and a bootstrap capacitor. The power stage includes an upper-gate switch, a first lower-gate switch and a second lower-gate switch. The first upper-gate switch is electrically connected between an input terminal and a switching node. The first lower-gate switch is connected in parallel with the second lower-gate switch, both of which are electrically connected between the switching node and a first node. The driver circuit controls the operation of the upper-gate switch and the first lower-gate switch. The bootstrap capacitor is electrically connected between a boot node and the switching node, wherein the boot node is electrically connected to a supply voltage. When a voltage across the bootstrap capacitor is smaller than a reference voltage, the second lower-gate switch is turned on to charge the bootstrap capacitor from the supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Nien-Hui Kung
  • Publication number: 20130181522
    Abstract: A power management control circuit controls a first power transistor to convert a input voltage to an output voltage and controls a second power transistor to charge a battery from the output voltage. The first power transistor is coupled between the input voltage and the output voltage, and the second power transistor is coupled between the output voltage and the battery. The power management control circuit includes: a detection transistor detecting a current through the second power transistor and generating a charging reference voltage; an amplifier comparing the output voltage with the voltage of the battery to generate an amplified signal for controlling the charging reference voltage; a comparator comparing a reference voltage with the charging reference voltage to generate an EOC (End of Charge) signal for determining whether to stop charging the battery; and an offset voltage compensation device compensating an input offset voltage of the amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventors: Hsuan-Kai Wang, Nien-Hui Kung
  • Publication number: 20130181683
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a battery charging circuit adjusting a charging voltage or a charging current according to a battery temperature, which includes: a power stage circuit including at least one power transistor switch and converting input power to charging power by operating the power transistor switch within a temperature range, wherein the charging power includes the charging voltage and the charging current; a reference signal generator obtaining signals representing the battery temperature and generating a reference signal accordingly; and a control circuit generating a switch signal according to the reference signal for operating the power transistor of the power stage circuit, wherein the charging voltage or the charging current is gradually increased as the battery temperature increases in a lower range within the temperature range or gradually decreased as the battery temperature increases in a higher range within the temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventors: Hsuan-Kai Wang, Nien-Hui Kung, Chieh-Wei Chen