Patents by Inventor Timothy B. Merkin

Timothy B. Merkin 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: 9991801
    Abstract: An LLC converter includes an input having a first node and a second node. A first switch is coupled between the first node and a third node and a second switch is coupled between the third node and the second node. A transformer having a first transformer input is coupled to the third node. A resonant capacitor is coupled to a second transformer input and a first input of a summer. A voltage ramp generator is coupled to a second input of the summer, the summer for summing voltages at the first input and the second input. The converter further includes circuitry for generating control signals for the first switch and the second switch in response to the output of the summer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Fan Wang, Timothy B. Merkin, Brent A. McDonald, Joseph Michael Leisten
  • Publication number: 20180048236
    Abstract: An LLC converter includes an input having a first node and a second node. A first switch is coupled between the first node and a third node and a second switch is coupled between the third node and the second node. A transformer having a first transformer input is coupled to the third node. A resonant capacitor is coupled to a second transformer input and a first input of a summer. A voltage ramp generator is coupled to a second input of the summer, the summer for summing voltages at the first input and the second input. The converter further includes circuitry for generating control signals for the first switch and the second switch in response to the output of the summer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Fan Wang, Timothy B. Merkin, Brent A. McDonald, Joseph Michael Leisten
  • Patent number: 9712151
    Abstract: A circuit for minimizing variation over process, voltage and temperature for edge rate over and propagation delay. The circuit includes at least two first buffers for decoupling large nonlinear parasitic capacitors of the main drivers, at least two second buffers for level shifting to the at least two first buffers, at least two voltage sources for initializing the stage of at least one of the first or the second buffer, and a current source generator coupled to the voltage source of the second buffers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Byungchul B. Jang, Timothy B. Merkin
  • Publication number: 20150311893
    Abstract: A circuit for minimizing variation over process, voltage and temperature for edge rate over and propagation delay. The circuit includes at least two first buffers for decoupling large nonlinear parasitic capacitors of the main drivers, at least two second buffers for level shifting to the at least two first buffers, at least two voltage sources for initializing the stage of at least one of the first or the second buffer, and a current source generator coupled to the voltage source of the second buffers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Byungchul B. Jang, Timothy B. Merkin
  • Patent number: 8742819
    Abstract: Circuitry (10-2) for limiting the maximum amount of current (IREF) flowing through a first electrode (DRAIN) of a first transistor (T1) includes an amplifier (14) having an output coupled by a conductor (19) to a control electrode of the first transistor and limiting circuitry (17) including reference current sensing circuitry (22,TSENSE) having a reference current source (IREF—SENSE). A reference current sensing transistor (TSENSE) has a control electrode coupled to the control electrode of the first transistor, a first electrode coupled to a terminal (20) of the reference current source, and a second electrode (SOURCE) coupled to a second electrode of the first transistor. A buffer (T2) has an input coupled to the terminal of the reference current source. The maximum amount is limited in accordance with the reference current source to prevent an increase in magnitude of voltage applied by the amplifier to the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Timothy B. Merkin, Susan A. Curtis, Harish Venkataraman
  • Publication number: 20140084994
    Abstract: Circuitry (10-2) for limiting the maximum amount of current (IREF) flowing through a first electrode (DRAIN) of a first transistor (T1) includes an amplifier (14) having an output coupled by a conductor (19) to a control electrode of the first transistor and limiting circuitry (17) including reference current sensing circuitry (22, TSENSE) having a reference current source (IREF—SENSE). A reference current sensing transistor (TSENSE) has a control electrode coupled to the control electrode of the first transistor, a first electrode coupled to a terminal (20) of the reference current source, and a second electrode (SOURCE) coupled to a second electrode of the first transistor. A buffer (T2) has an input coupled to the terminal of the reference current source. The maximum amount is limited in accordance with the reference current source to prevent an increase in magnitude of voltage applied by the amplifier to the first transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Timothy B. Merkin, Susan A. Curtis, Harish Venkataraman