Patents by Inventor Sorin Laurentiu Negru

Sorin Laurentiu Negru 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).

  • Publication number: 20240120850
    Abstract: A power converter including an inductor, a first power switch, a second power switch, a third power switch, a fourth power switch, a sixth power switch, a first flying capacitor, a third flying capacitor, a seventh power switch, an eighth power switch, a ninth power switch, a tenth power switch, a twelfth power switch, a second flying capacitor, and a fourth flying capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Renesas Design (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Sorin Laurentiu NEGRU, Sabin EFTIMIE
  • Patent number: 11855474
    Abstract: A method of charging a battery having a first voltage and a second voltage. In a first phase, applying a constant current to the battery; in a second phase, applying current pulses to the battery; repeating iteratively sampling the first voltage during a current pulse to obtain a measurement of the first voltage; sampling the first voltage during a current pause to obtain a measurement of the second voltage; generating a dynamic reference voltage based on the fixed reference voltage and on a difference between the measurement of the first voltage and the second voltage. There is a comparing the measurement of the first voltage with the dynamic reference voltage. There is a stopping of the current pulses when the measurement of the first voltage is equal to the dynamic reference voltage and the measurement of the second voltage is equal to the fixed reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Sorin Laurentiu Negru
  • Publication number: 20220311260
    Abstract: A method of charging a battery having a first voltage and a second voltage. In a first phase, applying a constant current to the battery; in a second phase, applying current pulses to the battery; repeating iteratively sampling the first voltage during a current pulse to obtain a measurement of the first voltage; sampling the first voltage during a current pause to obtain a measurement of the second voltage; generating a dynamic reference voltage based on the fixed reference voltage and on a difference between the measurement of the first voltage and the second voltage. There is a comparing the measurement of the first voltage with the dynamic reference voltage. There is a stopping of the current pulses when the measurement of the first voltage is equal to the dynamic reference voltage and the measurement of the second voltage is equal to the fixed reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventor: Sorin Laurentiu Negru
  • Patent number: 10033199
    Abstract: A reconfigurable multi-battery pack system for inclusion in a hand held device for more efficiently energizing battery powered operation of both a buck DC-DC converter and a boost DC-DC converter included in the device. Also disclosed is a power management circuit that autonomously: 1. connects the batteries in parallel during battery recharging; and 2. connects at least two (2) of the batteries in series when the batteries are not being recharged and are energizing operation of the DC-DC converters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Sorin Laurentiu Negru
  • Patent number: 9917510
    Abstract: A system and method of increasing the efficiency in multi-stage power converters by providing an open loop charge pump stage which reacts in part based on information from a closed loop multi-phase buck converter stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: DIALOG SEMICONDUCTOR (UK) LIMITED
    Inventors: Ershad Ahmed, Sorin Laurentiu Negru, Chi-Man Ng, Alin Gherghescu
  • Publication number: 20180026526
    Abstract: A system and method of increasing the efficiency in multi-stage power converters by providing an open loop charge pump stage which reacts in part based on information from a closed loop multi-phase buck converter stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Ershad Ahmed, Sorin Laurentiu Negru, Chi-Man Ng, Alin Gherghescu
  • Publication number: 20170012443
    Abstract: A reconfigurable multi-battery pack system for inclusion in a hand held device for more efficiently energizing battery powered operation of both a buck DC-DC converter and a boost DC-DC converter included in the device. Also disclosed is a power management circuit that autonomously: 1. connects the batteries in parallel during battery recharging; and 2. connects at least two (2) of the batteries in series when the batteries are not being recharged and are energizing operation of the DC-DC converters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventor: Sorin Laurentiu Negru
  • Patent number: 9461487
    Abstract: A reconfigurable multi-battery pack system for inclusion in a hand held device for more efficiently energizing battery powered operation of both a buck DC-DC converter and a boost DC-DC converter included in the device. Also disclosed is a power management circuit that autonomously: 1. connects the batteries in parallel during battery recharging; and 2. connects at least two (2) of the batteries in series when the batteries are not being recharged and are energizing operation of the DC-DC converters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Sorin Laurentiu Negru
  • Patent number: 9307590
    Abstract: An electrical current (“I”) digital-to-analog converter (“IDAC”) (60) supplies a specified electrical current to at least one light emitting diode. The IDAC (60) includes a plurality of current sources/sinks (26): a. that are connected in parallel so a total amount of current flowing through the at least one LED equals the sum of their individual electrical currents; and b. at any instant in time individual current sources/sinks (26) are either: 1. turned on: or 2. turned off. When the specified electrical current being supplied exceeds a pre-established threshold (94), a sequence of individual current sources/sinks (26) are turned on ever more quickly to produce a. non-linearly increasing electrical current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Sorin Laurentiu Negru, Sule Cetin, Parinda Mekara
  • Publication number: 20160066371
    Abstract: An electrical current (“I”) digital-to-analog converter (“IDAC”) (60) supplies a specified electrical current to at least one light emitting diode. The IDAC (60) a plurality of current sources/sinks (26): a. that are connected in parallel so a total amount of current flowing through the at least one LED equals the sum of their individual electrical currents; and b. at any instant in time individual current sources/sinks (26) are either: 1. turned on: or 2. turned off. When the specified electrical current being supplied exceeds a pre-established threshold (94), a sequence of individual current sources/sinks (26) are turned on ever more quickly to produce a non-linearly increasing electrical current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Sorin Laurentiu Negru, Sule Cetin, Parinda Mekara
  • Publication number: 20150188331
    Abstract: A reconfigurable multi-battery pack system for inclusion in a hand held device for more efficiently energizing battery powered operation of both a buck DC-DC converter and a boost DC-DC converter included in the device. Also disclosed is a power management circuit that autonomously: 1. connects the batteries in parallel during battery recharging; and 2. connects at least two (2) of the batteries in series when the batteries are not being recharged and are energizing operation of the DC-DC converters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventor: Sorin Laurentiu Negru
  • Patent number: 7633463
    Abstract: A LED driver is connectible to several series connected RGB LEDs which connect in series with a current generator. A plurality of LED switches are respectively connectible across one RGB LED. Each LED switch, operating in response to a binary signal is either open to permit electrical current to flow through the RGB LED, or closed to shunt current around that RGB LED. By varying respective duty cycles of the binary signals the LED driver is adapted for controlling operation of the combined RGB LEDs so they emit differing colors of light. An adaptive boost converter LED driver continuously adjusts voltage applied across the series connected RGB LEDs to be only that required for operating those LEDs through which open LED switches permit current to flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Sorin Laurentiu Negru
  • Publication number: 20090033373
    Abstract: A programmable after-package, on-chip reference voltage trim circuit for an integrated circuit having a plurality of programmable trim cells generating a programmed sequence. A converter is provided to convert the bit sequence into a trim current. The trim current is added to an initial value of a reference voltage to be trimmed, as generated by the integrated circuit. Once the correct value of the trim current is determined, isolation circuitry is programmed to isolate the trim circuitry from the remainder of the IC, thereby freeing the logic and package pins associated with the IC for use by users of the IC. The preferred trim circuitry includes fuses which are blown in accordance with a bit value supplied to the trim cell to permanently fix a trim current value, once a best fit value is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: O2Micro International Limited
    Inventors: You-Yuh Shyr, Sorin Laurentiu Negru
  • Patent number: 7436222
    Abstract: A programmable after-package, on-chip reference voltage trim circuit for an integrated circuit having a plurality of programmable trim cells generating a programmed sequence. A converter is provided to convert the bit sequence into a trim current. The trim current is added to an initial value of a reference voltage to be trimmed, as generated by the integrated circuit. Once the correct value of the trim current is determined, isolation circuitry is programmed to isolate the trim circuitry from the remainder of the IC, thereby freeing the logic and package pins associated with the IC for use by users of the IC. The preferred trim circuitry includes fuses which are blown in accordance with a bit value supplied to the trim cell to permanently fix a trim current value, once a best fit value is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: O2Micro International Limited
    Inventors: You-Yuh Shyr, Sorin Laurentiu Negru
  • Patent number: 7319346
    Abstract: A programmable after-package, on-chip reference voltage trim circuit for an integrated circuit having a plurality of programmable trim cells generating a programmed sequence. A converter is provided to convert the bit sequence into a trim current. The trim current is added to an initial value of a reference voltage to be trimmed, as generated by the integrated circuit. Once the correct value of the trim current is determined, isolation circuitry is programmed to isolate the trim circuitry from the remainder of the IC, thereby freeing the logic and package pins associated with the IC for use by users of the IC. The preferred trim circuitry includes fuses which are blown in accordance with a bit value supplied to the trim cell to permanently fix a trim current value, once a best fit value is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: O2Micro International Limited
    Inventors: You-Yuh Shyr, Sorin Laurentiu Negru
  • Publication number: 20070170980
    Abstract: A constant current output charge pump includes a switch module configured to compare a reference voltage with a load voltage and output a switch signal, a voltage margin control module configured to compare a first voltage and a second voltage with an output voltage and output a voltage margin control signal, a clock control module, a charge pump module, a current control module and a load module. The clock control module is configured to capture the switch signal and the voltage margin control signal and output a first clock signal and a second clock signal according to a system to the charge pump module for charging the input voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: California Micro Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Shin Wu, Sorin Laurentiu Negru
  • Publication number: 20040216019
    Abstract: A programmable after-package, on-chip reference voltage trim circuit for an integrated circuit having a plurality of programmable trim cells generating a programmed sequence. A converter is provided to convert the bit sequence into a trim current. The trim current is added to an initial value of a reference voltage to be trimmed, as generated by the integrated circuit. Once the correct value of the trim current is determined, isolation circuitry is programmed to isolate the trim circuitry from the remainder of the IC, thereby freeing the logic and package pins associated with the IC for use by users of the IC. The preferred trim circuitry includes fuses which are blown in accordance with a bit value supplied to the trim cell to permanently fix a trim current value, once a best fit value is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: You-Yuh Shyr, Sorin Laurentiu Negru
  • Patent number: 6720800
    Abstract: A programmable after-package, on-chip reference voltage trim circuit for an integrated circuit having a plurality of programmable trim cells generating a programmed sequence. A converter is provided to convert the bit sequence into a trim current. The trim current is added to an initial value of a reference voltage to be trimmed, as generated by the integrated circuit. Once the correct value of the trim current is determined, isolation circuitry is programmed to isolate the trim circuitry from the remainder of the IC, thereby freeing the logic and package pins associated with the IC for use by users of the IC. The preferred trim circuitry includes fuses which are blown in accordance with a bit value supplied to the trim cell to permanently fix a trim current value, once a best fit value is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: 02Micro International Limited
    Inventors: You-Yuh Shyr, Sorin Laurentiu Negru
  • Publication number: 20030085741
    Abstract: A programmable after-package, on-chip reference voltage trim circuit for an integrated circuit having a plurality of programmable trim cells generating a programmed sequence. A converter is provided to convert the bit sequence into a trim current. The trim current is added to an initial value of a reference voltage to be trimmed, as generated by the integrated circuit. Once the correct value of the trim current is determined, isolation circuitry is programmed to isolate the trim circuitry from the remainder of the IC, thereby freeing the logic and package pins associated with the IC for use by users of the IC. The preferred trim circuitry includes fuses which are blown in accordance with a bit value supplied to the trim cell to permanently fix a trim current value, once a best fit value is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: You-Yuh Shyr, Sorin Laurentiu Negru
  • Patent number: 6504735
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter for converting DC power received from a high-voltage DC power supply to a well-regulated output voltage that is significantly lower than the received voltage. The converter includes a regulated voltage-reduction stage which receives high-voltage DC electrical power and supplies DC electrical power at a voltage which is lower than that received. The converter also includes a separately regulated electrically isolated stage, energized by electrical power received from the voltage-reduction stage, that supplies DC electrical power to a load at the significantly lower output voltage. A feedback circuit couples an output signal from the output of the isolation-stage for regulating operation of the voltage-reduction stage and of the isolation stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: 02 Micro International Ltd.
    Inventors: Sorin Laurentiu Negru, Gabriel Andreis Nicolescu