Patents by Inventor Roland Karl Son

Roland Karl Son 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: 11515870
    Abstract: A system includes an output terminal and a linear switch circuit coupled to the output terminal. The linear switch circuit includes a first power field-effect transistor (FET) having: a first channel width; a control terminal; a first current terminal; and a second current terminal, wherein the second current terminal is coupled to the output terminal. The linear switch circuit also includes a second power FET having: a second channel width smaller than the first channel width; a control terminal; a first current terminal coupled to the first current terminal of the first power FET; and a second current terminal coupled to the output terminal. The system also comprises a control circuit coupled to the control terminal of the first power FET and to the control terminal of the second power FET. The control circuit detects a drain-to-source voltage (VDS) saturation condition and controls the first and second power FETs accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Roland Karl Son, Craig Bennett Greenberg, Indumini Ramuthu
  • Publication number: 20210242866
    Abstract: A system includes an output terminal and a linear switch circuit coupled to the output terminal. The linear switch circuit includes a first power field-effect transistor (FET) having: a first channel width; a control terminal; a first current terminal; and a second current terminal, wherein the second current terminal is coupled to the output terminal. The linear switch circuit also includes a second power FET having: a second channel width smaller than the first channel width; a control terminal; a first current terminal coupled to the first current terminal of the first power FET; and a second current terminal coupled to the output terminal. The system also comprises a control circuit coupled to the control terminal of the first power FET and to the control terminal of the second power FET. The control circuit detects a drain-to-source voltage (VDS) saturation condition and controls the first and second power FETs accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Roland Karl Son, Craig Bennett Greenberg, Indumini Ramuthu
  • Patent number: 11018663
    Abstract: A system includes an output terminal and a linear switch circuit coupled to the output terminal. The linear switch circuit includes a first power field-effect transistor (FET) having: a first channel width; a control terminal; a first current terminal; and a second current terminal, wherein the second current terminal is coupled to the output terminal. The linear switch circuit also includes a second power FET having: a second channel width smaller than the first channel width; a control terminal; a first current terminal coupled to the first current terminal of the first power FET; and a second current terminal coupled to the output terminal. The system also comprises a control circuit coupled to the control terminal of the first power FET and to the control terminal of the second power FET. The control circuit detects a drain-to-source voltage (VDS) saturation condition and controls the first and second power FETs accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Roland Karl Son, Craig Bennett Greenberg, Indumini Ranmuthu
  • Patent number: 10979037
    Abstract: In described examples, a power interface subsystem includes power transistors, each having: a conduction path coupled between a battery terminal and an accessory terminal; and a control terminal. A differential amplifier has: a first input coupled to the battery terminal; a second input coupled to the accessory terminal; and an output node. An offset voltage source is coupled to cause an offset of a selected polarity at one of the inputs to the differential amplifier. The offset has a first polarity in a first operating mode and a second polarity in a second operating mode. Gate control circuitry is coupled to apply a control level at the control terminal(s) of selected one(s) of the power transistors responsive to a voltage at the output node, and to apply an off-state control level to the control terminal(s) of unselected one(s) of the power transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sujan Kundapur Manohar, Roland Karl Son, Juergen Luebbe, Eddie W. Yu
  • Publication number: 20210091764
    Abstract: A system includes an output terminal and a linear switch circuit coupled to the output terminal. The linear switch circuit includes a first power field-effect transistor (FET) having: a first channel width; a control terminal; a first current terminal; and a second current terminal, wherein the second current terminal is coupled to the output terminal. The linear switch circuit also includes a second power FET having: a second channel width smaller than the first channel width; a control terminal; a first current terminal coupled to the first current terminal of the first power FET; and a second current terminal coupled to the output terminal. The system also comprises a control circuit coupled to the control terminal of the first power FET and to the control terminal of the second power FET. The control circuit detects a drain-to-source voltage (VDS) saturation condition and controls the first and second power FETs accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Roland Karl SON, Craig Bennett GREENBERG, Indumini RANMUTHU
  • Publication number: 20190058463
    Abstract: In described examples, a power interface subsystem includes power transistors, each having: a conduction path coupled between a battery terminal and an accessory terminal; and a control terminal. A differential amplifier has: a first input coupled to the battery terminal; a second input coupled to the accessory terminal; and an output node. An offset voltage source is coupled to cause an offset of a selected polarity at one of the inputs to the differential amplifier. The offset has a first polarity in a first operating mode and a second polarity in a second operating mode. Gate control circuitry is coupled to apply a control level at the control terminal(s) of selected one(s) of the power transistors responsive to a voltage at the output node, and to apply an off-state control level to the control terminal(s) of unselected one(s) of the power transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Sujan Kundapur Manohar, Roland Karl Son, Juergen Luebbe, Eddie W. Yu
  • Patent number: 10116291
    Abstract: In described examples, a power interface subsystem includes power transistors, each having: a conduction path coupled between a battery terminal and an accessory terminal; and a control terminal. A differential amplifier has: a first input coupled to the battery terminal; a second input coupled to the accessory terminal; and an output node. An offset voltage source is coupled to cause an offset of a selected polarity at one of the inputs to the differential amplifier. The offset has a first polarity in a first operating mode and a second polarity in a second operating mode. Gate control circuitry is coupled to apply a control level at the control terminal(s) of selected one(s) of the power transistors responsive to a voltage at the output node, and to apply an off-state control level to the control terminal(s) of unselected one(s) of the power transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sujan Kundapur Manohar, Roland Karl Son, Juergen Luebbe, Eddie W. Yu
  • Patent number: 9831852
    Abstract: In described examples, a transistor has: a source and a drain coupled between a supply voltage and an output terminal; and a gate terminal. A charge pump has: an output node coupled to the gate terminal; and a clock input. An oscillator is coupled to generate a clock signal. A clock enable circuit is coupled to: receive the clock signal; and selectively output the clock signal to the clock input, responsive to an enable signal. A comparator is coupled to output the enable signal in response to a comparison between a reference current and a current through a series resistor. The series resistor is coupled to the gate terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Emmanuel Osei Boakye, Roland Karl Son, Juergen Luebbe
  • Publication number: 20170063369
    Abstract: In described examples, a transistor has: a source and a drain coupled between a supply voltage and an output terminal; and a gate terminal. A charge pump has: an output node coupled to the gate terminal; and a clock input. An oscillator is coupled to generate a clock signal. A clock enable circuit is coupled to: receive the clock signal; and selectively output the clock signal to the clock input, responsive to an enable signal. A comparator is coupled to output the enable signal in response to a comparison between a reference current and a current through a series resistor. The series resistor is coupled to the gate terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Emmanuel Osei Boakye, Roland Karl Son, Juergen Luebbe
  • Publication number: 20170047731
    Abstract: In described examples, a power interface subsystem includes power transistors, each having: a conduction path coupled between a battery terminal and an accessory terminal; and a control terminal. A differential amplifier has: a first input coupled to the battery terminal; a second input coupled to the accessory terminal; and an output node. An offset voltage source is coupled to cause an offset of a selected polarity at one of the inputs to the differential amplifier. The offset has a first polarity in a first operating mode and a second polarity in a second operating mode. Gate control circuitry is coupled to apply a control level at the control terminal(s) of selected one(s) of the power transistors responsive to a voltage at the output node, and to apply an off-state control level to the control terminal(s) of unselected one(s) of the power transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Sujan Kundapur Manohar, Roland Karl Son, Juergen Luebbe, Eddie W. Yu