Patents by Inventor Tzu-Huan Chiu

Tzu-Huan Chiu 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: 9395734
    Abstract: A control circuit of a power converter includes: an error detection circuit, configured to operably generate an error signal according to a reference signal and a feedback signal when coupling with an external feedback node of an external feedback circuit; an output signal detecting circuit, positioned inside the control circuit, configured to operably receive and detect an output signal of the power converter to generate a representative signal; an on time deciding circuit, coupled with the output signal detecting circuit, configured to operably generate an on time signal according to the representative signal; and a control signal generating circuit, coupled with the error detection circuit and the on time deciding circuit, configured to operably control on time of one or more power switches of the power converter according to the error signal and the on time signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hung-Yu Cheng, Tzu-Huan Chiu, Shuo-Wen Chang
  • Publication number: 20160070281
    Abstract: A control circuit of a power converter includes: an error detection circuit, configured to operably generate an error signal according to a reference signal and a feedback signal when coupling with an external feedback node of an external feedback circuit; an output signal detecting circuit, positioned inside the control circuit, configured to operably receive and detect an output signal of the power converter to generate a representative signal; an on time deciding circuit, coupled with the output signal detecting circuit, configured to operably generate an on time signal according to the representative signal; and a control signal generating circuit, coupled with the error detection circuit and the on time deciding circuit, configured to operably control on time of one or more power switches of the power converter according to the error signal and the on time signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Hung-Yu CHENG, Tzu-Huan CHIU, Shuo-Wen CHANG
  • Patent number: 9041374
    Abstract: A power converting circuit includes an upper gate switch, a transistor, a current source circuit, a comparator circuit, a delay circuit, and a pulse width modulation signal generating circuit. The transistor and the current source circuit provide a reference signal. The comparator circuit generates a comparing signal according to the reference signal and an output signal provided by the upper gate switch. The delay circuit generates a delay signal according to the comparing signal and a clock signal. The pulse width modulation signal generating circuit generates a control signal for the upper gate switch according to the delay signal and the clock signal for configuring the conduction status of the upper gate switch. The power converting circuit adjusts the conduction time of the upper gate switch according to the reference signal and the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hung-Yu Cheng, Chung-Lung Pai, Tzu Huan Chiu, Chien-Ping Lu
  • Publication number: 20140266133
    Abstract: A power converting circuit includes an upper gate switch, a transistor, a current source circuit, a comparator circuit, a delay circuit, and a pulse width modulation signal generating circuit. The transistor and the current source circuit provide a reference signal. The comparator circuit generates a comparing signal according to the reference signal and an output signal provided by the upper gate switch. The delay circuit generates a delay signal according to the comparing signal and a clock signal. The pulse width modulation signal generating circuit generates a control signal for the upper gate switch according to the delay signal and the clock signal for configuring the conduction status of the upper gate switch. The power converting circuit adjusts the conduction time of the upper gate switch according to the reference signal and the output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Hung-Yu CHENG, Chung-Lung PAI, Tzu Huan CHIU, Chien-Ping LU
  • Publication number: 20140210439
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a switching regulator and a control circuit thereof. The switching regulator includes a boost or buck-boost power stage, a first operation circuit and a bypass circuit. The power stage controls at least one power transistor switch included therein according to a first operation signal, to convert an input voltage to an output voltage at an output terminal. The first operation circuit generates the first operation signal in response to the output voltage or a related signal thereof. The bypass circuit includes a bypass transistor and a second operation circuit. When it is required to provide power to the output terminal promptly, the second operation circuit turns ON the bypass transistor, and when the input voltage is equal to the output voltage or equal to a sum of the output voltage plus a safety offset value, the second operation circuit turns OFF the bypass transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Tzu-Huan Chiu, Chung-Lung Pai, Hung-Yu Cheng, Shuo-Wen Chang
  • Patent number: 8638126
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a rail-to-rail comparator. The rail-to-rail comparator includes: a positive voltage rail providing a positive supply voltage, a ground voltage rail providing a ground voltage, an input stage, and an output stage. The input stage includes: a positive and a negative input terminals for receiving a first input signal and a second input signal; a first differential amplifier circuit, which includes a pair of depletion NMOS transistors to generate a first pair of differential currents; and a second differential amplifier circuit, which includes a pair of native NMOS transistors to generate a second pair of differential currents. The output stage is coupled to the first differential amplifier circuit and the second differential amplifier circuit, and generates an output signal related to a difference between the first input signal and the second input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Chieh-Min Lo, Tzu-Huan Chiu, Chien-Sheng Chen, Chien-Ping Lu
  • Patent number: 8547078
    Abstract: Methods are proposed for a buck boost voltage regulator to monitor the output voltage or both the inductor current and the output voltage of the buck boost voltage regulator to control the buck boost voltage regulator to reduce the switching times of the power switches of the buck boost voltage regulator to improve the light load efficiency of the buck boost voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Tzu-Huan Chiu, Kwan-Jen Chu, Chien-Ping Lu, Wei-Hsin Wei
  • Publication number: 20130181776
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a rail-to-rail comparator. The rail-to-rail comparator includes: a positive voltage rail providing a positive supply voltage, a ground voltage rail providing a ground voltage, an input stage, and an output stage. The input stage includes: a positive and a negative input terminals for receiving a first input signal and a second input signal; a first differential amplifier circuit, which includes a pair of depletion NMOS transistors to generate a first pair of differential currents; and a second differential amplifier circuit, which includes a pair of native NMOS transistors to generate a second pair of differential currents. The output stage is coupled to the first differential amplifier circuit and the second differential amplifier circuit, and generates an output signal related to a difference between the first input signal and the second input signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventors: CHIEH-MIN LO, Tzu-Huan Chiu, Chien-Sheng Chen, Chien-Ping Lu
  • Publication number: 20130049721
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a linear regulator and a control circuit therefor. The linear regulator includes: a power device coupled between an input voltage and an output voltage; a first error amplifier including a depletion NMOS differential circuit comparing a feedback signal related to the output voltage with a reference signal; a second error amplifier including a native NMOS differential circuit comparing the feedback signal with the reference signal; and a start-up circuit which enables the first error amplifier to dominate control and drive the power device when the linear regulator is at a first stage of a start-up period and enables the second error amplifier to dominate control and drive the power device when the linear regulator is at a second stage after the first stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: CHIEH-MIN LO, Tzu-Huan Chiu
  • Patent number: 8294439
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a buck-boost switching regulator, and a control circuit and a method therefor, to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. The control method comprises: obtaining a feedback signal relating to the output voltage; comparing the feedback signal with a reference voltage to generate an error amplified signal; when the error amplified signal is between a first voltage (V1) and a second voltage (V2), causing the switching regulator to operate in a buck conversion mode; when the error amplified signal is between a third voltage (V3) and a fourth voltage (V4), causing the switching regulator to operate in a boost conversion mode; and when the error amplified signal is between the second voltage and the third voltage, causing the switching regulator to operate in a buck-boost conversion mode in which each power switch operates according to a respective predetermined pulse width, wherein V1<V2<V3<V4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-Ping Lu, Kwan-Jen Chu, Tzu-Huan Chiu
  • Publication number: 20120111497
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a complex epoxy resin adhesive added with carbon nanotubes, and the complex epoxy resin adhesive can be prepared in advance and then stored at room temperature. When use, the preheating step is no longer required anymore, and the complex epoxy resin adhesive mixed with carbon nanotubes is coated uniformly onto an adhering position, and microwave is used for heating and curing the adhesive, so as to achieve the dual effects of surpassing the enhanced curing property of a simple epoxy resin and reducing the curing time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Shih-Chin Chang, Tsun-Hsu Chang, Tzu-Huan Chiu, Tsung-Han Chen
  • Patent number: 8169159
    Abstract: A LED driver is disclosed for providing a current for LED lighting. The LED driver includes an inductor and a controller having a power switch, and the inductor, the power switch and a LED to be driven are configured to be an asynchronous boost converter. Because the driven LED serves as a rectifier diode of the asynchronous boost converter, the controller may have fewer components and requires smaller die area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chien-Ping Lu, Wei-Hsin Wei, Kwan-Jen Chu, Tzu-Huan Chiu
  • Patent number: 8164317
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a power system with temperature compensation control, for selectively supplying power from an external power source or a battery to a load, or charging the battery from the external power source, the power system comprising a buck converter electrically connected between the external power source and the load, and a temperature compensation control circuit for adjusting an output voltage of the buck converter according to a sensed temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Tzu-Huan Chiu
  • Patent number: 8085014
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a dual power switch and a voltage regulator using the dual power switch. The dual power switch comprises a PMOS power switch and an NMOS power switch connected in parallel and operating according to corresponding predetermined conditions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Nien-Hui Kung, Kwan-Jen Chu, Chun-Tsung Chen, Tzu-Huan Chiu
  • Patent number: 7994728
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a boost driver circuit which converts an input voltage to an output voltage and supplies it to a load, the boost driver circuit comprising: a power transistor electrically connected with a node between the input voltage and the output voltage; a pulse width modulation driver circuit for controlling the operation of the power transistor; an output node electrically connected with the output voltage; a feedback node electrically connected with the load; a low voltage transistor electrically connected with the feedback node; and a clamp and fast discharge circuit electrically connected with the feedback node for discharging the feedback node when the voltage at the feedback node is higher than a predetermined voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kwan-Jen Chu, Nien-Hui Kung, Tzu-Huan Chiu, Chien-Ping Lu
  • Patent number: 7940596
    Abstract: A switching regulator includes a low-side switch having a body diode. During the low-side switch is on, a zero-current sense circuit monitors the inductor current of the switching regulator and triggers a signal to turn off the low-side switch when the inductor current falls down to a zero-current threshold, to prevent reverse inductor current from the output terminal of the switching regulator. A body-diode turn-on time controller monitors the turn-on time of the body diode and adjusts the zero-current threshold according thereto, and the turn-on time of the body diode can be reduced to an optimal interval subsequently. The self-adjustable zero-current threshold is adaptive according to the application conditions, such as the inductor size, input voltage and output voltage of the switching regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Kwan-Jen Chu, Nien-Hui Kung, Tzu-Huan Chiu, Chien-Ping Lu
  • Publication number: 20110050192
    Abstract: Methods are proposed for a buck boost voltage regulator to monitor the output voltage or both the inductor current and the output voltage of the buck boost voltage regulator to control the buck boost voltage regulator to reduce the switching times of the power switches of the buck boost voltage regulator to improve the light load efficiency of the buck boost voltage regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: TZU-HUAN CHIU, KWAN-JEN CHU, CHIEN-PING LU, WEI-HSIN WEI
  • Patent number: 7876000
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power path control circuit comprising: an input node for receiving an external power; a first power transistor electrically connected between the input node and a first node, for controlling power supplied from the input node to the first node; a second power transistor electrically connected between the first node and a battery, for controlling power supplied from the battery to the first node; an error amplifier including an output electrically connected with a gate of the second power transistor, a first input terminal electrically connected with the first node, and a second input terminal electrically connected with the battery, wherein a voltage difference is allocated between the two input terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Tzu-Huan Chiu, Kwan-Jen Chu, Nien-Hui Kung
  • Publication number: 20110001461
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a buck-boost switching regulator, and a control circuit and a method therefor, to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. The control method comprises: obtaining a feedback signal relating to the output voltage; comparing the feedback signal with a reference voltage to generate an error amplified signal; when the error amplified signal is between a first voltage (V1) and a second voltage (V2), causing the switching regulator to operate in a buck conversion mode; when the error amplified signal is between a third voltage (V3) and a fourth voltage (V4), causing the switching regulator to operate in a boost conversion mode; and when the error amplified signal is between the second voltage and the third voltage, causing the switching regulator to operate in a buck-boost conversion mode in which each power switch operates according to a respective predetermined pulse width, wherein V1<V2<V3<V4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Chien-Ping LU, Kwan-Jen CHU, Tzu-Huan CHIU
  • Publication number: 20100156363
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a power system with temperature compensation control, for selectively supplying power from an external power source or a battery to a load, or charging the battery from the external power source, the power system comprising a buck converter electrically connected between the external power source and the load, and a temperature compensation control circuit for adjusting an output voltage of the buck converter according to a sensed temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventor: Tzu-Huan Chiu