Patents by Inventor Shawn Searles

Shawn Searles 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: 11967528
    Abstract: Systems that include integrated circuit dies and voltage regulator units are disclosed. Such systems may include a voltage regulator module and an integrated circuit mounted in a common system package. The voltage regulator module may include a voltage regulator circuit and one or more passive devices mounted to a common substrate, and the integrated circuit may include a System-on-a-chip. The system package may include an interconnect region that includes wires fabricated on multiple conductive layers within the interconnect region. At least one power supply terminal of the integrated circuit may be coupled to an output of the voltage regulator module via a wire included in the interconnect region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vidhya Ramachandran, Jun Zhai, Chonghua Zhong, Kunzhong Hu, Shawn Searles, Joseph T. DiBene, II, Mengzhi Pang
  • Publication number: 20240126353
    Abstract: A power converter circuit included in a computer system may include a phase circuit and a sample circuit. The phase circuit compares a voltage level of the regulated power supply node to a reference voltage to generate a demand current that is used to adjust the voltage level of the regulated power supply node. The phase circuit also digitizes the demand current and stores the resultant bit stream in a memory circuit. The sample circuit generates timestamp information that points to particular storage locations in the memory circuit that correspond to trigger events, allowing the operation of the power converter circuit to be analyzed during different circumstances as well as to adjust operating parameters of the power converter circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Shawn Searles, Fabio Gozzini, Sanjay Pant, Inder M. Sodhi
  • Patent number: 11953967
    Abstract: A power management subsystem included in a computer system may include a host device and a power circuit group. The power circuit group includes multiple power circuits arranged in a tree-like structure. The resources of the multiple power circuits are mapped to corresponding addresses within a common address space. The host device sends, via a first communication bus, commands to a branch power circuit of the multiple power circuits, which, in turn, relays the commands, using a second communication bus, to corresponding ones of the other power circuits based on respective power resources specified in the commands received from the host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Searles, Preethi Damodaran, Ofir Gilad, Michele De Fazio, Inder M. Sodhi, Enrico Zanetti, Olivier Girard, Lothar Münch, Andrea Barsanti, Andrea Lazzeri
  • Publication number: 20240069621
    Abstract: A power delivery system included in a computer system using multiple power converter circuits to generate respective voltage levels on multiple power supply nodes. The power delivery system includes a step-down power converter circuit that generates a voltage level for use by host and follower power converter circuits. The host power converter circuit generates an external demand current that is shared by multiple follower power converter circuits to regulate the voltage level on the multiple power supply nodes. The power delivery system can be scaled to different platforms of the computer system by adjusting the number of follower power converter circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Shawn Searles, Sanjay Pant, Ludmil N. Nikolov, Tiago Filipe Galhoz Patrao, Enrico Zanetti, Hao Zhou, Vincenzo Bisogno
  • Publication number: 20230369972
    Abstract: A power management circuit included in a computer system regulates a voltage level of a power supply node used by other circuits in the computer system. The power management circuit includes a control circuit and multiple phase circuits coupled to the regulated power supply node via corresponding inductors. The control circuit selectively activates particular ones of the multiple phase circuits allowing them source respective currents to the regulated power supply node. The control circuit also selectively activates particular ones of other phase circuits that are external to the power management circuit and coupled to the regulated power supply node via their own corresponding inductors. Once activated, the external phase circuits source respective currents to the regulated power supply node via their corresponding inductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Hao Zhou, Sarfraz Shaikh, Jay B. Fletcher, Sanjay Pant, Mark A. Yoshimoto, Vincenzo Bisogno, Shawn Searles
  • Publication number: 20230353048
    Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit included in a computer system may employ a control circuit and a switch array that includes multiple switch circuits. Different groups of switch circuits that include respective groups of switch devices are coupled between an input power supply node and corresponding regulated power supply nodes. To maintain desired respective voltages on the regulated power supply nodes, the control circuit compares the voltages of the regulated power supply nodes to corresponding reference voltages and, based on results of the comparisons, opens and closes various ones of the switch devices included in the different groups of switch circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Jay B. Fletcher, Nathan F. Hanagami, Sanjay Pant, Hao Zhou, Shawn Searles
  • Patent number: 11803219
    Abstract: A power converter circuit included in a computer system may include a phase circuit and a sample circuit. The phase circuit compares a voltage level of the regulated power supply node to a reference voltage to generate a demand current that is used to adjust the voltage level of the regulated power supply node. The phase circuit also digitizes the demand current and stores the resultant bit stream in a memory circuit. The sample circuit generates timestamp information that points to particular storage locations in the memory circuit that correspond to trigger events, allowing the operation of the power converter circuit to be analyzed during different circumstances as well as to adjust operating parameters of the power converter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Searles, Fabio Gozzini, Sanjay Pant, Inder M. Sodhi
  • Publication number: 20230335440
    Abstract: Systems that include integrated circuit dies and voltage regulator units are disclosed. Such systems may include a voltage regulator module and an integrated circuit mounted in a common system package. The voltage regulator module may include a voltage regulator circuit and one or more passive devices mounted to a common substrate, and the integrated circuit may include a System-on-a-chip. The system package may include an interconnect region that includes wires fabricated on multiple conductive layers within the interconnect region. At least one power supply terminal of the integrated circuit may be coupled to an output of the voltage regulator module via a wire included in the interconnect region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Vidhya Ramachandran, Jun Zhai, Chonghua Zhong, Kunzhong Hu, Shawn Searles, Joseph T. DiBene, II, Mengzhi Pang
  • Publication number: 20230333625
    Abstract: A power management subsystem included in a computer system may include a host device and a power circuit group. The power circuit group includes multiple power circuits arranged in a tree-like structure. The resources of the multiple power circuits are mapped to corresponding addresses within a common address space. The host device sends, via a first communication bus, commands to a branch power circuit of the multiple power circuits, which, in turn, relays the commands, using a second communication bus, to corresponding ones of the other power circuits based on respective power resources specified in the commands received from the host device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Shawn Searles, Preethi Damodaran, Ofir Gilad, Michele De Fazio, Inder M. Sodhi, Enrico Zanetti, Olivier Girard, Lothar Münch, Andrea Barsanti, Andrea Lazzeri
  • Patent number: 11742762
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a control circuit and a voltage regulator circuit coupled to a regulated power supply node. The voltage regulator circuit is configured to generate a power signal on the regulated power supply node using a reference voltage level. The apparatus further includes a control circuit that is configured to determine an operating mode using results of a comparison of a threshold value and a load current being drawn from the regulated power supply node by a load circuit. The control circuit may be further configured to set, in a first operating mode, the reference voltage level independently of the load current, and set, in a second operating mode, the reference voltage level using the load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Hubert Attah, Hao Zhou, Shawn Searles
  • Patent number: 11722060
    Abstract: A converter circuit, included in a power converter circuit, may generate a given voltage level on a regulated power supply node of a computer system. A control circuit may monitor a voltage level and assert a control signal in response to a determination that a regulation event has occurred. A boost converter circuit, included in the power converter circuit, may inject charge into to the regulated power supply node via a capacitor, in response to an assertion of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Zyuban, Norman J. Rohrer, Shawn Searles
  • Patent number: 11714480
    Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit included in a computer system may generate a voltage level on a power supply signal using a source power supply signal and based initial values of one or more operation parameters derived from wafer-level test data. One or more operation characteristics of the voltage regulator circuit may be sampled, by a measurement circuit, at multiple time points to generated measurement data. A control circuit may adapt operation of the voltage regulator circuit based on the measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jay B. Fletcher, Karthik Manickam, Bo Yang, Vincent R. von Kaenel, Shawn Searles, Hubert Attah, Nir Dahan, Olivier Girard
  • Patent number: 11695336
    Abstract: A power management circuit included in a computer system regulates a voltage level of a power supply node used by other circuits in the computer system. The power management circuit includes a control circuit and multiple phase circuits coupled to the regulated power supply node via corresponding inductors. The control circuit selectively activates particular ones of the multiple phase circuits allowing them source respective currents to the regulated power supply node. The control circuit also selectively activates particular ones of other phase circuits that are external to the power management circuit and coupled to the regulated power supply node via their own corresponding inductors. Once activated, the external phase circuits source respective currents to the regulated power supply node via their corresponding inductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hao Zhou, Sarfraz Shaikh, Jay B. Fletcher, Sanjay Pant, Mark A. Yoshimoto, Vincenzo Bisogno, Shawn Searles
  • Patent number: 11688437
    Abstract: An amplifier system includes a differential amplifier and a calibration circuit. In response to a calibration operation, the calibration circuit generates a calibration value based on a test output signal generated by the differential amplifier circuit using a test input signal. The calibration value may be used to adjust loading of internal nodes of the differential amplifier circuit to compensate for imbalance in the differential amplifier circuit resulting from variation in manufacturing. By compensating for the imbalance, the offset of the differential amplifier may be reduced, allowing resolution of smaller differential voltages, thereby improving the performance of circuits employing the differential amplifier circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Dreesen, Shawn Searles, Jaemyung Lim, Jacek R. Wiatrowski
  • Patent number: 11675380
    Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit may generate a regulated voltage level using a voltage level of a feedback node. The regulated voltage level may be distributed, via a power distribution network, to package power supply node of a package, into which an integrated circuit has been mounted. Power switches included in the integrated circuit may couple the package power supply node to respective local power supply nodes in the integrated circuit. A particular power switch may selectively couple different ones of the local power supply nodes to the feedback node, allowing the voltage regulator circuit to compensate for reductions in the regulated voltage level due to the power distribution network, as well as adjust the regulated voltage level based on power consumptions of load circuits coupled to the local power supply nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Searles, Victor Zyuban, Mohamed Abu-Rahma
  • Patent number: 11670548
    Abstract: Systems that include integrated circuit dies and voltage regulator units are disclosed. Such systems may include a voltage regulator module and an integrated circuit mounted in a common system package. The voltage regulator module may include a voltage regulator circuit and one or more passive devices mounted to a common substrate, and the integrated circuit may include a System-on-a-chip. The system package may include an interconnect region that includes wires fabricated on multiple conductive layers within the interconnect region. At least one power supply terminal of the integrated circuit may be coupled to an output of the voltage regulator module via a wire included in the interconnect region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vidhya Ramachandran, Jun Zhai, Chonghua Zhong, Kunzhong Hu, Shawn Searles, Joseph T. DiBene, II, Mengzhi Pang
  • Patent number: 11669145
    Abstract: A power management subsystem included in a computer system may include a host device and a power circuit group. The power circuit group includes multiple power circuits arranged in a tree-like structure. The resources of the multiple power circuits are mapped to corresponding addresses within a common address space. The host device sends, via a first communication bus, commands to a branch power circuit of the multiple power circuits, which, in turn, relays the commands, using a second communication bus, to corresponding ones of the other power circuits based on respective power resources specified in the commands received from the host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Searles, Preethi Damodaran, Ofir Gilad, Michele De Fazio, Inder M. Sodhi, Enrico Zanetti, Olivier Girard, Lothar Münch, Andrea Barsanti, Andrea Lazzeri
  • Publication number: 20230086364
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a control circuit and a voltage regulator circuit coupled to a regulated power supply node. The voltage regulator circuit is configured to generate a power signal on the regulated power supply node using a reference voltage level. The apparatus further includes a control circuit that is configured to determine an operating mode using results of a comparison of a threshold value and a load current being drawn from the regulated power supply node by a load circuit. The control circuit may be further configured to set, in a first operating mode, the reference voltage level independently of the load current, and set, in a second operating mode, the reference voltage level using the load current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli, Hubert Attah, Hao Zhou, Shawn Searles
  • Publication number: 20230080624
    Abstract: A power management subsystem included in a computer system may include a host device and a power circuit group. The power circuit group includes multiple power circuits arranged in a tree-like structure. The resources of the multiple power circuits are mapped to corresponding addresses within a common address space. The host device sends, via a first communication bus, commands to a branch power circuit of the multiple power circuits, which, in turn, relays the commands, using a second communication bus, to corresponding ones of the other power circuits based on respective power resources specified in the commands received from the host device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Shawn Searles, Preethi Damodaran, Ofir Gilad, Michele De Fazio, Inder M. Sodhi, Enrico Zanetti, Olivier Girard, Lothar Münch, Andrea Barsanti, Andrea Lazzeri
  • Publication number: 20220406522
    Abstract: An inductor is disclosed, including a first wire, a non-conductive material, and a shell. The non-conductive material may cover the first wire, with a portion of each end of the first wire uncovered. The shell may include a top portion and a bottom portion and include at least one magnetized layer and at least one gap between the first portion and the second portion. The shell may also surround a portion of the non-conductive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: David P. Cappabianca, Joseph T. DiBene, II, Shawn Searles, Le Wang, Yizhang Yang, Sean Cian O'Mathuna, Santosh Kulkarni, Paul McCloskey, Zoran Pavlovic, William Lawton, Graeme Maxwell, Joseph O'Brien, Hugh Charles Smiddy