Patents by Inventor Otilia Neagoe
Otilia Neagoe 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: 8248286Abstract: A potentiometer and a method for adjusting an impedance. In accordance with an embodiment, the potentiometer may be a programmable multistage digital potentiometer that has a first stage comprising a non-shunted impedance, a second stage coupled between a reference terminal and the first stage, and a third stage coupled between the first stage and another reference terminal. In accordance with another embodiment, the potentiometer receives a wiper address and parses it into sections such that one section controls the first stage, a second portion controls portions of the second and third stages, and a third portion controls the other portions of the second and third stages to produce a desired impedance between a common wiper terminal and the reference terminals.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2010Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLCInventors: Otilia Neagoe, Radu H. Iacob
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Publication number: 20120026025Abstract: A potentiometer and a method for adjusting an impedance. In accordance with an embodiment, the potentiometer may be a programmable multistage digital potentiometer that has a first stage comprising a non-shunted impedance, a second stage coupled between a reference terminal and the first stage, and a third stage coupled between the first stage and another reference terminal. In accordance with another embodiment, the potentiometer receives a wiper address and parses it into sections such that one section controls the first stage, a second portion controls portions of the second and third stages, and a third portion controls the other portions of the second and third stages to produce a desired impedance between a common wiper terminal and the reference terminals.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Inventors: Otilia Neagoe, Radu H. Iacob
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Patent number: 7535395Abstract: Embodiments of a digital potentiometer are disclosed that require lesser numbers of components than conventional digital potentiometers. A first string of elemental impedance devices, and at least one bulk impedance device, are provided between first and second reference terminals. The first string of elemental impedance devices is tapped by wiper switches. The at least one bulk impedance device has an impedance greater than an impedance of the first string. If desired, second and third bypassable impedance device strings also may be provided between the first and second reference terminals, with the impedance of the respective second and third strings being between the impedance of the first string and the impedance of one bulk impedance device. One or more dummy structures each including an impedance device in parallel with a permanently-on switch also may be between the first and second reference terminals to improve linearity.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Gelu Voicu, Radu H. Iacob, Otilia Neagoe
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Patent number: 7345611Abstract: Embodiments of a digital potentiometer are disclosed that require lesser numbers of components than conventional digital potentiometers. A first string of elemental impedance devices, and at least one bulk impedance device, are provided between first and second reference terminals. The first string of elemental impedance devices is tapped by wiper switches. The at least one bulk impedance device has an impedance greater than an impedance of the first string. If desired, second and third bypassable impedance device strings also may be provided between the first and second reference terminals, with the impedance of the respective second and third strings being between the impedance of the first string and the impedance of one bulk impedance device. One or more dummy structures each including an impedance device in parallel with a permanently-on switch also may be between the first and second reference terminals to improve linearity.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2003Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Gelu Voicu, Radu H. Iacob, Otilia Neagoe
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Publication number: 20080048900Abstract: Embodiments of a digital potentiometer are disclosed that require lesser numbers of components than conventional digital potentiometers. A first string of elemental impedance devices, and at least one bulk impedance device, are provided between first and second reference terminals. The first string of elemental impedance devices is tapped by wiper switches. The at least one bulk impedance device has an impedance greater than an impedance of the first string. If desired, second and third bypassable impedance device strings also may be provided between the first and second reference terminals, with the impedance of the respective second and third strings being between the impedance of the first string and the impedance of one bulk impedance device. One or more dummy structures each including an impedance device in parallel with a permanently-on switch also may be between the first and second reference terminals to improve linearity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2007Publication date: February 28, 2008Applicant: Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Gelu Voicu, Radu Iacob, Otilia Neagoe
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Patent number: 7012555Abstract: Embodiments of a digital potentiometer are disclosed that require lesser numbers of components than conventional digital potentiometers. A first string of elemental impedance devices, and at least one bulk impedance device, are provided between first and second reference terminals. The first string of elemental impedance devices is tapped by wiper switches. The at least one bulk impedance device has an impedance greater than an impedance of the first string. If desired, second and third bypassable impedance device strings also may be provided between the first and second reference terminals, with the impedance of the respective second and third strings being between the impedance of the first string and the impedance of one bulk impedance device. One or more dummy structures each including an impedance device in parallel with a permanently-on switch also may be between the first and second reference terminals to improve linearity.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2003Date of Patent: March 14, 2006Assignee: Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Gelu Voicu, Radu H. Iacob, Otilia Neagoe
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Publication number: 20050052305Abstract: Embodiments of a digital potentiometer are disclosed that require lesser numbers of components than conventional digital potentiometers. A first string of elemental impedance devices, and at least one bulk impedance device, are provided between first and second reference terminals. The first string of elemental impedance devices is tapped by wiper switches. The at least one bulk impedance device has an impedance greater than an impedance of the first string. If desired, second and third bypassable impedance device strings also may be provided between the first and second reference terminals, with the impedance of the respective second and third strings being between the impedance of the first string and the impedance of one bulk impedance device. One or more dummy structures each including an impedance device in parallel with a permanently-on switch also may be between the first and second reference terminals to improve linearity.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2003Publication date: March 10, 2005Inventors: Gelu Voicu, Radu Iacob, Otilia Neagoe
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Publication number: 20050052306Abstract: Embodiments of a digital potentiometer are disclosed that require lesser numbers of components than conventional digital potentiometers. A first string of elemental impedance devices, and at least one bulk impedance device, are provided between first and second reference terminals. The first string of elemental impedance devices is tapped by wiper switches. The at least one bulk impedance device has an impedance greater than an impedance of the first string. If desired, second and third bypassable impedance device strings also may be provided between the first and second reference terminals, with the impedance of the respective second and third strings being between the impedance of the first string and the impedance of one bulk impedance device. One or more dummy structures each including an impedance device in parallel with a permanently-on switch also may be between the first and second reference terminals to improve linearity.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2003Publication date: March 10, 2005Inventors: Gelu Voicu, Radu Iacob, Otilia Neagoe