Patents by Inventor Timothy Freitas

Timothy Freitas 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).

  • Methods and apparatus for soft start and soft turnoff of linear voltage regulators
    Patent number: 6188210
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the soft start of linear regulators for controlling inrush current. In linear regulators having a pass transistor controlled by a regulator control circuit, the regulator control circuit is disabled until the regulator output reaches a predetermined threshold level. On startup, an additional transistor is coupled with a resistor and capacitor to the control terminal of the pass transistor in such a way as to provide for the slow turn-on of the pass transistor. During this time, the control circuit for the pass transistor is held inoperative. After the regulator output reaches a predetermined threshold, the pass transistor control circuit becomes operative and the slow start circuitry becomes inoperative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Ophir RF, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Tichauer, Rodger Erickson, Timothy Freitas, Xianjun Mao