Patents by Inventor Samuli Antti Hallikainen

Samuli Antti Hallikainen 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: 11011985
    Abstract: A voltage reducing circuit comprises a power switch circuit portion comprising a high-side and low-side field-effect-transistors connected at a switch node. The power switch circuit portion has an on-state wherein the high-side transistor is enabled and the low-side transistor is disabled and, vice versa, an off-state. An energy storage circuit portion comprising an inductor connected to the switch node is arranged to provide an output voltage. A drive circuit portion receives a pulse width modulation control signal and outputs pulse width modulated (PWM) drive signals. A pre-biasing circuit portion applies bias voltages to the gate terminals of the high-side and low-side transistors in response to the PWM drive signals, wherein the pre-biasing circuit portion is arranged such that the bias voltage applied to the gate terminal of the currently disabled transistor is set to an intermediate voltage before switching between the on-state and off-state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Nordic Semiconductor ASA
    Inventor: Samuli Antti Hallikainen
  • Patent number: 10587192
    Abstract: A voltage reducing circuit includes a power switch circuit portion having high-side and low-side field-effect-transistors connected at a switch node. The power switch circuit portion has an on-state wherein the high-side transistor is enabled and the low-side transistor is disabled and, vice versa, an off-state. An energy storage circuit portion including an inductor connected to the switch node is arranged to provide an output voltage. A timer determines a falltime duration required for the output voltage to fall to a threshold value. A controller switches the voltage reducing circuit between a first mode of operation in which a periodic pulse width modulated drive signal is applied to the high-side and low-side field-effect-transistors; and a second mode of operation in which a pulse is applied to the high-side and low-side field-effect-transistors only if the output voltage reaches the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Nordic Semiconductor ASA
    Inventor: Samuli Antti Hallikainen
  • Publication number: 20190245440
    Abstract: A voltage reducing circuit comprises a power switch circuit portion comprising a high-side and low-side field-effect-transistors connected at a switch node. The power switch circuit portion has an on-state wherein the high-side transistor is enabled and the low-side transistor is disabled and, vice versa, an off-state. An energy storage circuit portion comprising an inductor connected to the switch node is arranged to provide an output voltage. A timer determines a falltime duration required for the output voltage to fall to a threshold value. A controller switches the voltage reducing circuit between a first mode of operation in which a periodic pulse width modulated drive signal is applied to the high-side and low-side field-effect-transistors; and a second mode of operation in which a pulse is applied to the high-side and low-side field-effect-transistors only if the output voltage reaches the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: NORDIC SEMICONDUCTOR ASA
    Inventor: Samuli Antti Hallikainen
  • Publication number: 20190222121
    Abstract: A voltage reducing circuit comprises a power switch circuit portion comprising a high-side and low-side field-effect-transistors connected at a switch node. The power switch circuit portion has an on-state wherein the high-side transistor is enabled and the low-side transistor is disabled and, vice versa, an off-state. An energy storage circuit portion comprising an inductor connected to the switch node is arranged to provide an output voltage. A drive circuit portion receives a pulse width modulation control signal and outputs pulse width modulated (PWM) drive signals. A pre-biasing circuit portion applies bias voltages to the gate terminals of the high-side and low-side transistors in response to the PWM drive signals, wherein the pre-biasing circuit portion is arranged such that the bias voltage applied to the gate terminal of the currently disabled transistor is set to an intermediate voltage before switching between the on-state and off-state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: NORDIC SEMICONDUCTOR ASA
    Inventor: Samuli Antti Hallikainen