Patents by Inventor Stephen L. Colino

Stephen L. Colino 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: 11687110
    Abstract: A multi-channel current pulse generator for driving a plurality of loads with unique positive terminals and a shared negative terminal. The pulse generator comprises a pulse control transistor and, for each load, a load capacitor and a charging control transistor. The pulse control transistor allows or blocks current pulses through the loads and has a drain terminal connected to the shared negative terminal, a source terminal connected to ground, and a gate terminal for receiving a load driver control signal. The load capacitors are discharged by current pulses through the corresponding loads. The charging control transistors allow or block charging currents for the corresponding load capacitors. The pulse control transistor is preferably an enhancement mode GaN FET and is chosen to withstand current pulses through a maximum number of loads to be driven simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Efficient Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Glaser, Stephen L. Colino
  • Patent number: 10797601
    Abstract: A current pulse generator circuit configured to be monolithically integrated into a single semiconductor die and provide high pulsing frequencies. A first GaN FET transistor controls the charging of a capacitor in a boost converter. A second GaN FET transistor controls the discharging of the capacitor through a load, such as a laser diode, connected to the boost converter. Both GaN FET transistors are preferably enhancement mode GaN FETs and may be integrated into the single semiconductor die, together with gate drivers. The diode in a conventional boost converter circuit can also be implemented in the present invention as a GaN FET transistor, and also integrated into the single semiconductor die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Efficient Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Glaser, Stephen L. Colino
  • Patent number: 10749514
    Abstract: A circuit for providing an adjustable output driver current for use in LiDAR or other similar GaN driver applications. The circuit creates an appropriate gate-to-source voltage, VGS, for a high-current GaN driver FET to obtain a desired, high slew-rate driver current, IDRV. An externally provided reference current is used to create the required VGS for the driver FET, which is stored on an external capacitor. The value of the capacitor far exceeds the relatively low input-capacitance of the GaN driver FET. When a pulse IDRV of desired value is needed, the voltage on the capacitor is impinged upon the gate of the driver FET, thereby creating the desired IDRV. The reference charging circuit replenishes any charge lost on the capacitor, so that the same desired IDRV can be obtained on the next command pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Efficient Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Lee, Ravi Ananth, Michael Chapman, John S. Glaser, Stephen L. Colino
  • Publication number: 20200099244
    Abstract: A multi-channel current pulse generator for driving a plurality of loads with unique positive terminals and a shared negative terminal. The pulse generator comprises a pulse control transistor and, for each load, a load capacitor and a charging control transistor. The pulse control transistor allows or blocks current pulses through the loads and has a drain terminal connected to the shared negative terminal, a source terminal connected to ground, and a gate terminal for receiving a load driver control signal. The load capacitors are discharged by current pulses through the corresponding loads. The charging control transistors allow or block charging currents for the corresponding load capacitors. The pulse control transistor is preferably an enhancement mode GaN FET and is chosen to withstand current pulses through a maximum number of loads to be driven simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: John S. Glaser, Stephen L. Colino
  • Publication number: 20200076413
    Abstract: A circuit for providing an adjustable output driver current for use in LiDAR or other similar GaN driver applications. The circuit creates an appropriate gate-to-source voltage, VGS, for a high-current GaN driver FET to obtain a desired, high slew-rate driver current, IDRV. An externally provided reference current is used to create the required VGS for the driver FET, which is stored on an external capacitor. The value of the capacitor far exceeds the relatively low input-capacitance of the GaN driver FET. When a pulse IDRV of desired value is needed, the voltage on the capacitor is impinged upon the gate of the driver FET, thereby creating the desired IDRV. The reference charging circuit replenishes any charge lost on the capacitor, so that the same desired IDRV can be obtained on the next command pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Edward Lee, Ravi Ananth, Michael Chapman, John S. Glaser, Stephen L. Colino
  • Publication number: 20200028436
    Abstract: A current pulse generator circuit configured to be monolithically integrated into a single semiconductor die and provide high pulsing frequencies. A first GaN FET transistor controls the charging of a capacitor in a boost converter. A second GaN FET transistor controls the discharging of the capacitor through a load, such as a laser diode, connected to the boost converter. Both GaN FET transistors are preferably enhancement mode GaN FETs and may be integrated into the single semiconductor die, together with gate drivers. The diode in a conventional boost converter circuit can also be implemented in the present invention as a GaN FET transistor, and also integrated into the single semiconductor die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: John S. Glaser, Stephen L. Colino
  • Patent number: 9331191
    Abstract: A GaN transistor with reduced output capacitance and a method form manufacturing the same. The GaN transistor device includes a substrate layer, one or more buffer layer disposed on a substrate layer, a barrier layer disposed on the buffer layers, and a two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) formed at an interface between the barrier layer and the buffer layer. Furthermore, a gate electrode is disposed on the barrier layer and a dielectric layer is disposed on the gate electrode and the barrier layer. The GaN transistor includes one or more isolation regions formed in a portion of the interface between the at least one buffer layer and the barrier layer to remove the 2DEG in order to reduce output capacitance Coss of the GaN transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Efficient Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Colino, Jianjun Cao, Robert Beach, Alexander Lidow, Alana Nakata, Guangyuan Zhao, Yanping Ma, Robert Strittmatter, Michael A. De Rooji, Chunhua Zhou, Seshadri Kolluri, Fang Chang Liu, Ming-Kun Chiang, Jiali Cao, Agus Jauhar
  • Patent number: 9246355
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first p-channel laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor formed over the semiconductor substrate and additional p-channel LDMOS transistors formed over the semiconductor substrate. First drain and gate electrodes are formed over the substrate and are coupled to the first LDMOS transistor. Additional drain and gate electrodes are formed over the substrate and are coupled to the second LDMOS transistor. A common source electrode for the first and second LDMOS transistors is also formed over the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jacek Korec, Stephen L. Colino
  • Publication number: 20150028390
    Abstract: A GaN transistor with reduced output capacitance and a method form manufacturing the same. The GaN transistor device includes a substrate layer, one or more buffer layer disposed on a substrate layer, a barrier layer disposed on the buffer layers, and a two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) formed at an interface between the barrier layer and the buffer layer. Furthermore, a gate electrode is disposed on the barrier layer and a dielectric layer is disposed on the gate electrode and the barrier layer. The GaN transistor includes one or more isolation regions formed in a portion of the interface between the at least one buffer layer and the barrier layer to remove the 2DEG in order to reduce output capacitance Coss of the GaN transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Stephen L. Colino, Jianjun Cao, Robert Beach, Alexander Lidon, Alana Nakata, Guangyuan Zhao, Yanping Ma, Robert Strittmatter, Michael A. De Rooji, Chunhua Zhou, Seshadri Kolluri, Fang Chang Liu, Ming-Kun Chiang, Jiali Cao, Agus Jauhar
  • Publication number: 20140001855
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first p-channel laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor formed over the semiconductor substrate and additional p-channel LDMOS transistors formed over the semiconductor substrate. First drain and gate electrodes are formed over the substrate and are coupled to the first LDMOS transistor. Additional drain and gate electrodes are formed over the substrate and are coupled to the second LDMOS transistor. A common source electrode for the first and second LDMOS transistors is also formed over the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jacek KOREC, Stephen L. Colino
  • Patent number: 8552585
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first p-channel laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor formed over the semiconductor substrate and additional p-channel LDMOS transistors formed over the semiconductor substrate. First drain and gate electrodes are formed over the substrate and are coupled to the first LDMOS transistor. Additional drain and gate electrodes are formed over the substrate and are coupled to the second LDMOS transistor. A common source electrode for the first and second LDMOS transistors is also formed over the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jacek Korec, Stephen L. Colino
  • Publication number: 20110198927
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first p-channel laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor formed over the semiconductor substrate and additional p-channel LDMOS transistors formed over the semiconductor substrate. First drain and gate electrodes are formed over the substrate and are coupled to the first LDMOS transistor. Additional drain and gate electrodes are formed over the substrate and are coupled to the second LDMOS transistor. A common source electrode for the first and second LDMOS transistors is also formed over the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Lehigh Valley Incorporated
    Inventors: Jacek Korec, Stephen L. Colino
  • Patent number: 7952145
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first p-channel laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor formed over the semiconductor substrate and additional p-channel LDMOS transistors formed over the semiconductor substrate. First drain and gate electrodes are formed over the substrate and are coupled to the first LDMOS transistor. Additional drain and gate electrodes are formed over the substrate and are coupled to the second LDMOS transistor. A common source electrode for the first and second LDMOS transistors is also formed over the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Lehigh Valley Incorporated
    Inventors: Jacek Korec, Stephen L. Colino
  • Publication number: 20080197411
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first p-channel laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor formed over the semiconductor substrate and additional p-channel LDMOS transistors formed over the semiconductor substrate. First drain and gate electrodes are formed over the substrate and are coupled to the first LDMOS transistor. Additional drain and gate electrodes are formed over the substrate and are coupled to the second LDMOS transistor. A common source electrode for the first and second LDMOS transistors is also formed over the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: CICLON SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE CORP.
    Inventors: Jacek Korec, Stephen L. Colino