Patents by Inventor Terry Cleveland

Terry Cleveland 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: 9660535
    Abstract: A switch mode power supply (SMPS) converter is periodically run backwards by using a synchronous switch instead of the normally used commutating diode. By running the SMPS converter backwards the SMPS output capacitor can be discharged very quickly to provide a fast turn off of (no current through) the LED's, thereby solving the color shift problem. This enables positioning the output voltage of the SMPS up or down by actively charging or discharging the bulk output capacitor. Having the capability of actively charging or discharging the bulk output capacitor allows generation of a current source comprising substantially square, e.g., substantially full current when on and substantially no current when off, current pulses that are preferable for driving LED lighting applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Scott Dearborn, Terry Cleveland
  • Patent number: 8957651
    Abstract: An intelligent pulse width modulation (PWM) controller adapts a switch mode power supply (SMPS) system's operating parameters to optimize efficiency, remove hot spots and isolate faults by integrating a microcontroller, PWM digital circuits and analog circuits into a single integrated circuit, thereby reducing the number of external connections, silicon die area and integrated circuit packages. A communications interface is used to communicate with a host system for monitoring operating parameters of the SMPS, e.g., current, voltage, efficiency, operating temperature, diagnostics, etc. In addition, the communications interface may be used to alter the operating parameters (objectives) of the SMPS during operation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Terry Cleveland, Clifford Ellison, III, Scott Dearborn, Keith Pazul
  • Patent number: 8786266
    Abstract: A high voltage switching regulator has significantly reduced current sensing delay between measurement of input current and generation of sensed current values, while maintaining good accuracy of the current through a power transistor using current replication and a current conveyor. High sensing accuracy of the input current ensures good load regulation, and low sensing delay ensures fixed duty cycle over a wide range of output currents and high input to output voltage ratios. A current conveyor is used to transfer high side current values to low side control circuits, e.g., pulse width modulation (PWM) control. The current conveyor is always on, e.g., some current flow is always present, thus minimizing any current measurement delay. This is accomplished by dynamically biasing the current conveyor by draining to ground a current equal to the sensed current. Wherein balancing of the current conveyor is ensured and offset at the input of the current conveyor is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Philippe Deval, Philippe Gimmel, Marius Budaes, Daniel Leonescu, Terry Cleveland, Scott Dearborn
  • Patent number: 8692530
    Abstract: An intelligent pulse width modulation (PWM) controller adapts a switch mode power supply (SMPS) system's operating parameters to optimize efficiency, remove hot spots and isolate faults by integrating a microcontroller, PWM digital circuits and analog circuits into a single integrated circuit, e.g., a mixed signal device, thereby reducing the number of external connections, silicon die area and integrated circuit packages. A lossless inductor current sense technique integrates a matched, tunable complimentary filter with the intelligent SMPS controller for accurately measuring current through the power inductor of the SMPS without introducing losses in the power circuit. The complimentary filter is adjusted by the microcontroller to significantly reduce the effects of component tolerances, accurately measuring the power inductor current for precise closed loop control and over current protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Terry Cleveland, Clifford Ellison, III, Scott Dearborn, Keith Pazul
  • Patent number: 8456147
    Abstract: An intelligent pulse width modulation (PWM) controller adapts a switch mode power supply (SMPS) system's operating parameters to optimize efficiency, remove hot spots and isolate faults by integrating a microcontroller, PWM digital circuits and analog circuits into a single integrated circuit, thereby reducing the number of external connections, silicon die area and integrated circuit packages. A lossless inductor current sense technique integrates a matched, tunable complimentary filter with the intelligent SMPS controller for accurately measuring current through the power inductor of the SMPS without introducing losses in the power circuit. The complimentary filter is adjusted by the microcontroller to significantly reduce the effects of component tolerances, accurately measuring the power inductor current for precise closed loop control and over current protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Terry Cleveland, Clifford Ellison, III, Scott Dearborn, Keith Pazul
  • Publication number: 20120139518
    Abstract: An intelligent pulse width modulation (PWM) controller adapts a switch mode power supply (SMPS) system's operating parameters to optimize efficiency, remove hot spots and isolate faults by integrating a microcontroller, PWM digital circuits and analog circuits into a single integrated circuit, thereby reducing the number of external connections, silicon die area and integrated circuit packages. A communications interface is used to communicate with a host system for monitoring operating parameters of the SMPS, e.g., current, voltage, efficiency, operating temperature, diagnostics, etc. In addition, the communications interface may be used to alter the operating parameters (objectives) of the SMPS during operation thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Terry Cleveland, Clifford Ellison, III, Scott Dearborn, Keith Pazul
  • Publication number: 20120139517
    Abstract: An intelligent pulse width modulation (PWM) controller adapts a switch mode power supply (SMPS) system's operating parameters to optimize efficiency, remove hot spots and isolate faults by integrating a microcontroller, PWM digital circuits and analog circuits into a single integrated circuit, thereby reducing the number of external connections, silicon die area and integrated circuit packages. A lossless inductor current sense technique integrates a matched, tunable complimentary filter with the intelligent SMPS controller for accurately measuring current through the power inductor of the SMPS without introducing losses in the power circuit. The complimentary filter is adjusted by the microcontroller to significantly reduce the effects of component tolerances, accurately measuring the power inductor current for precise closed loop control and over current protection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Terry Cleveland, Clifford Ellison, III, Scott Dearborn, Keith Pazul
  • Publication number: 20120133347
    Abstract: An intelligent pulse width modulation (PWM) controller adapts a switch mode power supply (SMPS) system's operating parameters to optimize efficiency, remove hot spots and isolate faults by integrating a microcontroller, PWM digital circuits and analog circuits into a single integrated circuit, e.g., a mixed signal device, thereby reducing the number of external connections, silicon die area and integrated circuit packages. A lossless inductor current sense technique integrates a matched, tunable complimentary filter with the intelligent SMPS controller for accurately measuring current through the power inductor of the SMPS without introducing losses in the power circuit. The complimentary filter is adjusted by the microcontroller to significantly reduce the effects of component tolerances, accurately measuring the power inductor current for precise closed loop control and over current protection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Terry Cleveland, Clifford Ellison, III, Scott Dearborn, Keith Pazul
  • Publication number: 20110187340
    Abstract: A high voltage switching regulator has significantly reduced current sensing delay between measurement of input current and generation of sensed current values, while maintaining good accuracy of the current through a power transistor using current replication and a current conveyor. High sensing accuracy of the input current ensures good load regulation, and low sensing delay ensures fixed duty cycle over a wide range of output currents and high input to output voltage ratios. A current conveyor is used to transfer high side current values to low side control circuits, e.g., pulse width modulation (PWM) control. The current conveyor is always on, e.g., some current flow is always present, thus minimizing any current measurement delay. This is accomplished by dynamically biasing the current conveyor by draining to ground a current equal to the sensed current. Wherein balancing of the current conveyor is ensured and offset at the input of the current conveyor is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Philippe Deval, Philippe Gimmel, Marius Budaes, Daniel Leonescu, Terry Cleveland, Scott Dearborn