Patents by Inventor Richard K. Stair

Richard K. Stair 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: 8264211
    Abstract: Various systems, methods and apparatuses are provided herein for limiting power dissipation in a switch. As one example, a method for limiting power dissipation is disclosed. The method includes monitoring current through the switch, and based at least in part on detecting that the current is at least as great as a predetermined current limit, regulating the current to the predetermined current limit. The method also includes measuring an amount of power dissipated in the switch while the current is being regulated, and opening the switch when the amount of power has reached a predetermined power limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert Martinez, Richard K. Stair
  • Patent number: 7932703
    Abstract: A delay applied to a turn-on time for a high side switch in a switch mode power converter prevents oscillation between continuous and discontinuous conduction modes under light load conditions. The delay equalizes turn-on time for a high side switch with respect to continuous and discontinuous modes, so that turn-on time is not treated differently between the different modes. The delay value can be set for be equivalent to a propagation delay through a driver for a low side switch, in addition to a turn-off time for the low side switch. The addition of the delay element tends to maintain the switch mode power converter in a discontinuous mode under light load conditions and avoids oscillation between discontinuous and continuous conduction modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul L. Brohlin, Stephen Terry, Richard K. Stair
  • Publication number: 20100002472
    Abstract: A delay applied to a turn-on time for a high side switch in a switch mode power converter prevents oscillation between continuous and discontinuous conduction modes under light load conditions. The delay equalizes turn-on time for a high side switch with respect to continuous and discontinuous modes, so that turn-on time is not treated differently between the different modes. The delay value can be set for be equivalent to a propagation delay through a driver for a low side switch, in addition to a turn-off time for the low side switch. The addition of the delay element tends to maintain the switch mode power converter in a discontinuous mode under light load conditions and avoids oscillation between discontinuous and continuous conduction modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul L. Brohlin, Stephen Terry, Richard K. Stair
  • Publication number: 20090001948
    Abstract: Various systems, methods and apparatuses are provided herein for limiting power dissipation in a switch. As one example, a method for limiting power dissipation is disclosed. The method includes monitoring current through the switch, and based at least in part on detecting that the current is at least as great as a predetermined current limit, regulating the current to the predetermined current limit. The method also includes measuring an amount of power dissipated in the switch while the current is being regulated, and opening the switch when the amount of power has reached a predetermined power limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert Martinez, Richard K. Stair
  • Patent number: 6501305
    Abstract: The buffer/driver for low dropout regulators (LDO) uses a feedback amplifier with low output impedance to drive the gate of the pass device MP6 of the regulator. This effectively pushes the gate pole out to a higher frequency. The feedback amplifier is designed for very high slew rate and high bandwidth while running at very low quiescent current. The circuit enhances the LDO performance, stability, and slew rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gabriel A. Rincon-Mora, Richard K. Stair
  • Publication number: 20020079935
    Abstract: The buffer/driver for low dropout regulators (LDO) uses a feedback amplifier with low output impedance to drive the gate of the pass device MP6 of the regulator. This effectively pushes the gate pole out to a higher frequency. The feedback amplifier is designed for very high slew rate and high bandwidth while running at very low quiescent current. The circuit enhances the LDO performance, stability, and slew rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Gabriel A. Rincon-Mora, Richard K. Stair