Patents by Inventor Ting-Kuei Kuan

Ting-Kuei Kuan 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: 11201625
    Abstract: Phase-locked loops (PLLs) are provided. A PLL includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), a frequency divider and a track-and-hold charge pump. The VCO is configured to provide an output clock corresponding to a pumping current. The frequency divider is configured to provide a feedback signal according to the output clock. The track-and-hold charge pump is configured to provide the pumping current according to a reference clock and the feedback signal. The track-and-hold charge pump includes a track-and-hold circuit, a pumping switch and a pulse width modulator (PWM). The track-and-hold circuit is coupled to the frequency divider and configured to sample the feedback signal according to the reference clock. The PWM is configured to provide a PWM signal to control the pumping switch according to the reference clock, so as to provide the pumping current corresponding to the sampled feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ting-Kuei Kuan, Cheng-Hsiang Hsieh, Chen-Ting Ko, Ruey-Bin Sheen, Chih-Hsien Chang
  • Publication number: 20210028789
    Abstract: Phase-locked loops (PLLs) are provided. A PLL includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), a frequency divider and a track-and-hold charge pump. The VCO is configured to provide an output clock corresponding to a pumping current. The frequency divider is configured to provide a feedback signal according to the output clock. The track-and-hold charge pump is configured to provide the pumping current according to a reference clock and the feedback signal. The track-and-hold charge pump includes a track-and-hold circuit, a pumping switch and a pulse width modulator (PWM). The track-and-hold circuit is coupled to the frequency divider and configured to sample the feedback signal according to the reference clock. The PWM is configured to provide a PWM signal to control the pumping switch according to the reference clock, so as to provide the pumping current corresponding to the sampled feedback signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Ting-Kuei KUAN, Cheng-Hsiang HSIEH, Chen-Ting KO, Ruey-Bin SHEEN, Chih-Hsien CHANG
  • Patent number: 10855292
    Abstract: Phase-locked loops (PLLs) are provided. A PLL includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), a frequency divider, a track-and-hold charge pump, and a frequency tracking circuit. The VCO is configured to provide an output clock corresponding to a pumping current. The frequency divider is configured to divide the output clock to provide a feedback signal. The track-and-hold charge pump is configured to provide the pumping current according to a reference clock and the feedback signal. The frequency tracking circuit is configured to decrease frequency error between the feedback signal and the reference clock. The track-and-hold charge pump includes a pumping switch and a pulse width modulator (PWM). The PWM is configured to provide a PWM signal to control the pumping switch according to the reference clock, so as to provide the pumping current corresponding to the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Ting-Kuei Kuan, Cheng-Hsiang Hsieh, Chen-Ting Ko, Ruey-Bin Sheen, Chih-Hsien Chang
  • Publication number: 20200127668
    Abstract: Phase-locked loops (PLLs) are provided. A PLL includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), a frequency divider, a track-and-hold charge pump, and a frequency tracking circuit. The VCO is configured to provide an output clock corresponding to a pumping current. The frequency divider is configured to divide the output clock to provide a feedback signal. The track-and-hold charge pump is configured to provide the pumping current according to a reference clock and the feedback signal. The frequency tracking circuit is configured to decrease frequency error between the feedback signal and the reference clock. The track-and-hold charge pump includes a pumping switch and a pulse width modulator (PWM). The PWM is configured to provide a PWM signal to control the pumping switch according to the reference clock, so as to provide the pumping current corresponding to the feedback signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Ting-Kuei KUAN, Cheng-Hsiang HSIEH, Chen-Ting KO, Ruey-Bin SHEEN, Chih-Hsien CHANG
  • Patent number: 10523218
    Abstract: Track-and-hold charge pumps and PLL are provided. A track-and-hold charge pump includes a track-and-hold circuit, a transconductance amplifier, a pulse width modulator (PWM), and a pumping switch coupled to the transconductance amplifier. The track-and-hold circuit samples an input signal according to a reference clock. The transconductance amplifier converts the sampled input signal into a current. The PWM provides a PWM signal according to the reference clock. The pumping switch is controlled by the PWM signal, to provide an output current according to the current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ting-Kuei Kuan, Cheng-Hsiang Hsieh, Chen-Ting Ko, Ruey-Bin Sheen, Chih-Hsien Chang
  • Patent number: 10374617
    Abstract: A phase-locked loop circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a digital bang-bang phase-locked loop (PLL) electrically connected to an input clock signal connection and an output clock signal connection, and a down-sampling circuit connected to the input clock signal connection. The circuit also includes a digitally-controlled delay line receiving an output of the down-sampling circuit, and an injection pulser receiving an output of the digitally-controlled delay line and connected to provide an injection pulse to a portion of the digital bang-bang phase-locked loop (PLL). The circuit further includes an injection timing calibration circuit connected to a control input of the digitally-controlled delay line. The circuit provides calibration of injection timing and bandwidth optimization, thereby reducing jitter in an output signal from the PLL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD
    Inventors: Ting-Kuei Kuan, Chin-Yang Wu, Ruey-Bin Sheen, Chih-Hsien Chang
  • Publication number: 20190058480
    Abstract: A phase-locked loop circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a digital bang-bang phase-locked loop (PLL) electrically connected to an input clock signal connection and an output clock signal connection, and a down-sampling circuit connected to the input clock signal connection. The circuit also includes a digitally-controlled delay line receiving an output of the down-sampling circuit, and an injection pulser receiving an output of the digitally-controlled delay line and connected to provide an injection pulse to a portion of the digital bang-bang phase-locked loop (PLL). The circuit further includes an injection timing calibration circuit connected to a control input of the digitally-controlled delay line. The circuit provides calibration of injection timing and bandwidth optimization, thereby reducing jitter in an output signal from the PLL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: TING-KUEI KUAN, CHIN-YANG WU, RUEY-BIN SHEEN, CHIH-HSIEN CHANG
  • Publication number: 20180302096
    Abstract: Track-and-hold charge pumps and PLL are provided. A track-and-hold charge pump includes a track-and-hold circuit, a transconductance amplifier, a pulse width modulator (PWM), and a pumping switch coupled to the transconductance amplifier. The track-and-hold circuit samples an input signal according to a reference clock. The transconductance amplifier converts the sampled input signal into a current. The PWM provides a PWM signal according to the reference clock. The pumping switch is controlled by the PWM signal, to provide an output current according to the current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Ting-Kuei KUAN, Cheng-Hsiang HSIEH, Chen-Ting KO, Ruey-Bin SHEEN, Chih-Hsien CHANG
  • Patent number: 9831880
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically controlling one or more parameters of a digital phase-locked loop (DPLL) circuit are provided. A phase error signal generated by a phase detector of the DPLL circuit is received. A delayed version of the phase error signal is generated. A product of the phase error signal and the delayed version of the phase error signal is generated. The product is integrated, and a first output for controlling a gain of a proportional path of the DPLL circuit is generated based on the integrated product. The first output is down-sampled. A least-mean-square (LMS) filter is used to generate a second output that minimizes a value of the down-sampled output. A gain of an integral path of the DPLL is controlled based on the second output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventor: Ting-Kuei Kuan