Including Pre Or Post Regulation Patents (Class 323/266)
  • Patent number: 10128665
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a converter, an output voltage detector, an output voltage controller that performs control to make a detected value of an output voltage of the power supply apparatus approach a target value in accordance with a comparison result between an output voltage of the converter and a reference voltage, and an instructed value reader that reads an instructed value regarding the output voltage from outside. A pre-bias voltage is applied across output terminals from an external circuit connected to the output terminals also during a time when the converter stops an operation. At a time when the converter starts to operate, the output voltage is set such that the output voltage becomes identical or approximately identical to a pre-bias voltage. After the output voltage has become identical or approximately identical to the pre-bias voltage, the output voltage is set such that the output voltage becomes an instructed voltage instructed from outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Konishi, Hajime Shiji, Shouhei Hirose
  • Patent number: 10084384
    Abstract: Method and Apparatus for a switch mode power supply are disclosed. The switch mode power supply is efficient and generates a very small inductor current ripple and output voltage ripple. The switch mode power supply has a wider bandwidth and the filter components including magnetic storage element and the output capacitor can be made extremely smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Inventor: Sridhar Kotikalapoodi
  • Patent number: 10063132
    Abstract: A negative over-current protection circuit for a switching inverting converter is provided. The circuit contains an energy-storing element coupled to a power switch via a switching node, a current sensor adapted to sense a current at the switching node and to convert the current into a voltage. The circuit also contains a converter adapted to convert the voltage into a first current associated with a first domain, a level shifter adapted to convert the first current into a second current associated with a second domain and a current comparator adapted to compare the second current with a reference current and to provide a logic signal based on the comparison. A method of protecting a switching converter from an over-current is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Chi-Chia Huang, Yu Ta Lin
  • Patent number: 10050519
    Abstract: An improved power distribution architecture includes a voltage regulator configured to operate with its output voltage approximately equal to its input voltage for most of the time. The regulator set point can be set to follow the input voltage within a limited range and set to a minimum or maximum set point outside the range. An improved ZVSBB controller adaptively extends the I-O phase of the converter while the input to output voltage ratio is close to one and responds to changes in input-output voltage differential within a short response time. The controller may respond asymmetrically to voltage changes with a steep response to voltage differentials in the boost range and a shallow response to voltage differentials in the buck range. An improved ZVSBB converter may achieve a peak converter efficiency greater than 99% owing to substantial reductions in switching and inductor losses within a narrow input range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: VLT, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrizio Vinciarelli
  • Patent number: 10044275
    Abstract: A power delivery device and a control method are shown. The power delivery device includes a power conversion circuit, a power factor correction circuit, and an output voltage control circuit. The power conversion circuit includes a primary side and a secondary side, and is configured to receive an input voltage and convert the input voltage to an output voltage. The power factor correction circuit is electrically coupled to the primary side and configured to increase the power factor of the power delivery device. The output voltage control circuit is electrically coupled to the secondary side and configured to control the voltage level of the output voltage. When the voltage level of the output voltage is lower than a predetermined level, the power factor correction circuit is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Kun-Chi Lin, Chung-Chieh Cheng, Kun-Jang Kuo, Tien-He Chen, Shou-Chieh Lin
  • Patent number: 10044268
    Abstract: Devices and techniques for controlling voltage regulation are disclosed. A voltage regulation system may include one or more loads disposed on an integrated circuit, a DC-to-DC voltage regulation device at least partially disposed on the integrated circuit, and a second device disposed external to the integrated circuit and comprising circuitry configured to communicate with the controller of the voltage regulation device. The voltage regulation device may include one or more voltage regulation modules and a controller configured to control the one or more voltage regulation modules. The one or more voltage regulation modules may be configured to supply one or more voltage levels, respectively, to the one or more loads. The controller may be configured to disable at least one of the one or more voltage regulation modules based on a determination that the second device is not suitable for use with the voltage regulation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Empower Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: David Lidsky, Timothy Phillips, Gene Sheridan
  • Patent number: 10034334
    Abstract: A system comprising a driver circuit wherein the driver circuit comprises a converter. The system further comprises a controller operable to control a ratio between an input voltage supplied to the driver circuit and a target output voltage to be output from the driver circuit by varying a pulse width modulated signal, and by switching between operating modes of said converter. The controller is configured to determine that the driver circuit is operating in an undesired state caused by a combination of the duty cycle and the operating mode of the converter. The system further comprises a resistance adjustment circuit configured to adjust an equivalent output resistance of the driver circuit in response to the controller determining that the driver circuit is operating in an undesired state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Junmin Jiang, Jie Fu, Harald Josef Gunther Radermacher, Shu Xu, Julia Delos Ayllon
  • Patent number: 10024889
    Abstract: Embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods including a switching converter having an output stage including a power switch or first switching device to convert an input switching signal to an output switching signal and a sensor stage including a second switching device and a third switching device. In embodiments, the sensor stage may be coupled to receive the output switching signal from the first switching device and to substantially replicate a condition of the first switching device to generate a continuous signal rather than a switched signal. In embodiments, the continuous signal may allow detection of a current level. In some embodiments, the current level may indicate an overcurrent event. A digital post-processing circuit may be coupled to the switching device to count a number of overcurrent events according to various embodiments. Other embodiments may also be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Intel IP Corporation
    Inventors: Holger Wenske, Stephan Henzler
  • Patent number: 10003261
    Abstract: A voltage or current regulated power converter for charging batteries, is described. The power converter comprises an inductor (L), a capacitor cell (C1, C2), switches (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8) and a controller. The controller controls the switches such that a commutation cycle of the power converter comprises a first phase, during which the capacitor cell and the inductor are arranged in series and during which a voltage across the serial arrangement of the capacitor cell and the inductor corresponds to Vin?Vout; a second phase, during which the capacitor cell and the inductor are arranged in series and during which the voltage across the serial arrangement of the capacitor cell and the inductor corresponds to ?Vout; and a third phase, during which the capacitor cell is floating and during which the voltage across the inductor corresponds to Vin?Vout or to ?Vout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Holger Petersen, Nicola Macri
  • Patent number: 9998010
    Abstract: An automatically reconfigurable Buck-Boost DC-DC converter having an input supply and an output voltage includes a linear regulator (LDO) for Buck configuration; a switched-capacitor DC-DC converter; a capacitor and switch array, and a gain selector to switch between the linear regulator (LDO) when an output DC level is higher than an input DC level (Buck configuration) and the switched-capacitor DC-DC converter when the output DC level is lower than the input DC level (Boost configuration).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Vidatronic Inc.
    Inventors: Sameh Ahmed Assem Ibrahim, Faisal Abdellatif Elseddeek Hussien, Mohamed Mostafa Saber Aboudina, Moises Emanuel Robinson
  • Patent number: 9991775
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a constant on-time converter having fast transient response, which adaptively adjusts an on-time and an off-time by a first compensation circuit and a second compensation circuit, to accordingly adjust an inductive current. When a load converts a light loading into a heavy loading, the constant on-time converter adaptively adjusts the on-time of the clock signal. When the load converts a heavy loading into a light loading, the constant on-time converter adaptively adjusts the off-time of the clock signal. Therefore, the output voltage can be adjusted rapidly in response to different load changes to enhance the transient response of the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hsin-Tai Lin, Chih-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 9985519
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a voltage generation circuit includes: a charge pump circuit configured to boost a voltage input to a first node and output a first signal to a second node; an operational amplifier configured to receive a first reference voltage and a first voltage obtained by dividing a voltage of the second node and output a second signal to a third node; a first transistor having a gate coupled to the third node, one terminal coupled to a power supply, and the other terminal coupled to the first node; a logic circuit configured to detect the voltage of the second node and output a third signal; and a charge-up circuit configured to receive the third signal and charge a voltage of the third node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinao Suzuki, Michio Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 9966866
    Abstract: A distributed power system that is connected to a utility grid during both daytime and nighttime includes a plurality of power supplies including a solar array, a non-isolated DC-DC converter that has an input terminal and an output terminal and raises, at a predetermined step-up ratio, a DC voltage input from the power supplies via the input terminal and outputs the DC voltage via the output terminal, an inverter that converts the DC voltage output from the DC-DC converter via the output terminal into an alternating current, and a potential adjustment section that adjusts a potential at a negative electrode of the solar array to a potential higher than a potential at a negative electrode of the inverter at least during nighttime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tsubota, Tomoya Irie, Kunio Aono, Takao Mizokami, Masao Mabuchi, Kenji Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9967969
    Abstract: A multilayer printed circuit board includes a plurality of wire layers and mounted with a switching power supply, wherein at least three broad patterns, which are formed on at least three wire layers, and a via for connecting the at least three broad patterns are provided to a power supply path connecting a connector, which is to be connected to an external power supply, and the switching power supply, a first capacitor is connected to the connector-side broad pattern, a second capacitor is connected to the switching power supply-side broad pattern, and a ?-type filter is configured with parasitic inductance, which is generated by the at least three broad patterns and the via, the first capacitor, and the second capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9948180
    Abstract: A Buck switching regulator includes first Buck switching regulator circuitry is operable to generate a first output voltage from an input voltage and operable to generate a first sensed voltage having a value that is proportional to an output current being provided by the first Buck switching regulator circuitry. The first Buck switching regulator circuitry receives an input current and operates at a first duty cycle determined by a duty cycle signal. Input current sensing circuitry includes second Buck switching regulator circuitry coupled to the first Buck regulator switching circuitry to receive the duty cycle signal and to receive the first sensed voltage as an input voltage to the second Buck switching regulator circuitry. The second Buck switching regulator circuitry is operable responsive to the duty cycle signal to generate a second output voltage from the first sensed voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: INTERSIL AMERICAS INC
    Inventor: Robert L. Lyle, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9948192
    Abstract: A power system includes DC-DC power conversion circuitry that has a first switch and a second switch on either side of a transformer. An amount of power transfer from a primary side to the secondary side of the DC-DC power conversion circuitry is controlled based on an amount of on-time or off-time of the first switch. A power threshold is determined corresponding to a lowest amount of power transfer that results in soft switching of the second switch with a constant off-time of the first switch. The DC-DC power conversion circuitry is operated in a quasi-resonant mode when the amount of power transfer from the primary side to the secondary side of the DC-DC power conversion circuitry is less than the power threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jongwon Shin, Masanori Ishigaki
  • Patent number: 9936551
    Abstract: An LED driver comprising a power converter for powering an LED unit and a control unit for controlling the power converter is provided. The power converter comprising an input terminal for receiving a rectified AC supply voltage, and an output terminal for supplying a current to the LED unit, and the control unit comprising an input for receiving a supply signal representative of the supply voltage and an output for providing a control signal to the power converter. The control unit is further arranged to: determine the control signal for controlling the power converter based on the supply signal, and control the power converter to supply the current to the LED unit based on the control signal, the current being amplitude modulated in synchronism or in phase with the rectified AC supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: ELDOLAB HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Marc Saes, Petrus Johannes Maria Welten
  • Patent number: 9923479
    Abstract: A power supply includes a boost converter, a capacitor, a step-down converter and a control unit. The boost converter, when activated, converts an input voltage into a boost voltage. The capacitor has a bulk voltage which is equal to the boost voltage when the boost converter is activated. The step-down converter converts the boost voltage into a step-down voltage for output. While the boost converter is deactivated, the control unit samples the input voltage and the bulk voltage, calculates an estimated value, and determines a calibration parameter. While the boost converter is activated, the control unit calculates a calibration value for enabling the boost converter to convert the input voltage with reference to the calibration value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignees: Lite-On Electronics (Guangzhou) Limited, Lite-On Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yu-Shun Liu, Shi-en Wang, Shun-Hung Lo
  • Patent number: 9906133
    Abstract: An electric source control apparatus has: a determining device for determining whether a converter operates in a first mode or a second mode, wherein the first mode prioritizes increase of efficiency of the electric power conversion than the second mode does and the second mode prioritizes suppression of increase of element temperature of the switching element than the first mode does; and a controlling device for controlling the converter so that (i) a switching pattern becomes a first pattern, if the converter operates in the first mode and (ii) the switching pattern becomes a second pattern, if the converter operates in the second mode, wherein the first pattern is capable of increasing the efficiency of the electric power conversion more than the second pattern is and the second pattern is capable of suppressing the increase of the element temperature more than the first pattern is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoyoshi Takamatsu, Masaki Okamura, Shuji Tomura, Masanori Ishigaki, Naoki Yanagizawa
  • Patent number: 9904305
    Abstract: A low drop-out voltage regulator includes an error amplifier that generates an amplified error voltage, the error amplifier including a first input for receiving a reference voltage, a second input for receiving a feedback voltage, a bias terminal for receiving an adaptive bias current, and an output. A pass gate providing an output voltage includes a first input connected to a supply voltage and a second input connected to the error amplifier output. A feedback network generating the feedback voltage includes a first terminal connected to the output of the pass gate and a second terminal connected to the second input of the error amplifier. An adaptive bias network providing the adaptive bias current includes a first transistor connected to the bias terminal of the error amplifier, a second transistor connected to the first transistor as a current mirror, and a third transistor connected in parallel with the pass gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Cavium, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan K. Brown, JingDong Deng
  • Patent number: 9892670
    Abstract: A power management driver includes a boost converter, a plurality of regulators, a sequence controller, and an operation controller. The boost converter converts an input voltage to a source drive voltage for drive a source driver based on a drive enable signal. The regulators regulate the source drive voltage to generate a plurality of drive voltages. The regulators corresponding to a respective number of predetermined devices. The sequence controller controls the timing for providing the source drive voltage to the source driver. The operation controller adjusts active periods of first and second control signals to control the regulators and the sequence controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong-Min Seo, Sung-Chun Park
  • Patent number: 9880575
    Abstract: A power converter includes a power supply node, an output node, a plurality of driving units, a feedback unit, a comparator, and a control unit. Two or more of the plurality of driving units are configured to be activated or to be deactivated responsive to a plurality of control signals. The feedback unit is configured to provide a feedback voltage based on an output voltage at the output node. The comparator is configured to provide an indication signal. The control unit is configured to generate the plurality of control signals based on the indication signal. The control unit is configured to, through the plurality of control signals, increase or decrease a number of activated driving units of the plurality of driving units by one or more predetermined increments at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Chia Liang Tai
  • Patent number: 9859798
    Abstract: A switching control circuit alternately turns on/off, at a switching frequency at which the impedance of a multi-resonant circuit becomes inductive, switching elements with a dead time therebetween. In an operation in the third quadrant of current-voltage characteristics of the switching elements, the switching elements are turned on by supplying a control signal to control terminals of the switching elements, and a dead time is determined so as to satisfy tc?td<(tc+ta), tc representing a commutation period in which the voltages across both ends of the switching circuits change, ta representing a period corresponding to the operation in the third quadrant, and td representing the dead time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Hosotani
  • Patent number: 9851730
    Abstract: Voltage droop control is disclosed. A device includes a first component coupled to an external power supply and a second component coupled to the external power supply. The first component includes a first input configured to receive a first voltage, a first internal power supply configured to be charged by the external power supply in response to the first voltage corresponding to a first logical value, and a voltage droop controller configured to output a second voltage via a first output. The second voltage corresponds to the first logical value in response to a first voltage level of the first internal power supply satisfying a second voltage level. The second component includes a second input configured to receive the second voltage from the first output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Sanjay Bhagawan Patil, Daniel Stasiak, Martin Pierre Saint-Laurent, Rui Li, Bin Liang, Sei Seung Yoon, Chulmin Jung
  • Patent number: 9847712
    Abstract: Transient or fault conditions for a switched capacitor power converter are detected by measuring one or more of internal voltages and/or currents associated with switching elements (e.g., transistors) or phase nodes, or voltages or currents at terminals of the converter, and based on these measurements detect that a condition has occurred when the measurements deviate from a predetermined range. Upon detection of the condition fault control circuitry alters operation of the converter, for example, by using a high voltage switch to electrically disconnect at least some of the switching elements from one or more terminals of the converter, or by altering timing characteristics of the phase signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Aichen Low, David M. Giuliano, Gregory Szczeszynski, Jeff Summit, Oscar Blyde
  • Patent number: 9804612
    Abstract: An exemplary power supply includes a low side switch and a high side switch. A driver controls operation of the high side switch. A bootstrap capacitor supplies power to the driver. An energy storage portion is in parallel with the bootstrap capacitor to provide control over whether a voltage of the bootstrap capacitor drops below a desired voltage. A voltage regulator is in parallel with the bootstrap capacitor for limiting current provided to the bootstrap capacitor and for regulating a voltage of the bootstrap capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Daryl J. Marvin, Steven M. Millett
  • Patent number: 9792128
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing accelerated loading of operating system and application programs upon system boot or application launch are disclosed. In one aspect, a method for providing accelerated loading of an operating system comprises the steps of: maintaining a list of boot data used for booting a computer system; preloading the boot data upon initialization of the computer system; and servicing requests for boot data from the computer system using the preloaded boot data. In another aspect, a method for providing accelerated launching of an application program comprises the steps of: maintaining a list of application data associated with an application program; preloading the application data upon launching the application program; and servicing requests for application data from a computer system using the preloaded application data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Realtime Data, LLC
    Inventors: James J. Fallon, John Buck, Paul F. Pickel, Stephen J. McErlain
  • Patent number: 9787206
    Abstract: A flyback converter is described that includes a synchronous rectification integrated circuit (SRIC). The SRIC is configured to determine an actual turn-on time associated with a secondary switching element during an initial switching cycle and determine an error time that defines approximately a difference between the actual turn-on time and a predicted turn-on time associated with the secondary switching element. The predicted turn-on time defines approximately an amount of time to delay switching-off the secondary switching element after initially switching-on the secondary switching element, during an initial switching cycle of the secondary switching element. During a subsequent switching cycle of the secondary switching element, the SRIC is further configured to delay switching-off the secondary switching element for a period of time approximately equal to the predicted turn-on time and the error time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Xiaowu Gong
  • Patent number: 9735667
    Abstract: A management circuit for a power supply is provided. The power supply includes a power factor correction circuit and a power conversion circuit. An output of the power factor correction circuit is coupled to an input of the power conversion circuit. The management circuit includes a power factor correction controller, a pulse width modulation controller and a control circuit. The power factor correction controller controls power factor correction of the power factor correction circuit. The pulse width modulation controller controls power conversion of the power conversion circuit. The control circuit selectively activates the pulse width modulation controller according to a first activated signal generated by an input power of the power supply. After the pulse width modulation controller is activated, the control circuit generates a second activated signal based on the first activated signal. The control circuit activates the power factor conversion controller according to the second activated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: FSP TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Kuo-Fan Lin
  • Patent number: 9735701
    Abstract: A resonant wireless power receiver that includes an electromagnetic resonator having one or more inductive elements that are arranged to form a receiver coil and a network of passive components arranged to form a matching network. A rectifier circuit converts ac power from the electromagnetic resonator to dc power. An available-power indicator measures the rectified power to assess the instantaneous power available to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: MEDIATEK Singapore Ptd. Ltd.
    Inventors: Anand Satyamoorthy, Patrick Stanley Riehl
  • Patent number: 9729077
    Abstract: A power controller monitors and controls supply of AC power to a load. A power supply derives DC power supply voltages from the input AC power. The power supply includes power dissipation circuit that dissipates excess power as a function of one of the supply voltages. A voltage sensing circuit provides a voltage sense signal that is a function of the voltage of the input AC power. A digital processor controls a switch that connects a load to the AC power based upon the voltage sensed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Stein
  • Patent number: 9716443
    Abstract: A radio frequency transponder circuit, comprising: an AC-DC converter (70) connected to an RF input terminal (21a) and a DC output terminal (81) and operable to convert an RF signal (RFA) at the RF input terminal (21a) to a DC output signal (VDD) at the DC output terminal (81); and a voltage limiting circuit (50) connected to the RF input terminal (21a) and operable to limit the amplitude of the RF signal (RFA); wherein the voltage limiting circuit (50) comprises a NMOS limiting transistor (51) in parallel with a complimentary PMOS limiting transistor (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Lukas Zoescher
  • Patent number: 9698672
    Abstract: An input filter for a power electronic system includes a series-pass device arranged to control an input characteristic of a power converter, and a control mechanism arranged to control an operation of the series-pass device during a power conversion process, so as to filter a noise signal generated by the power converter from reaching a power source of the power electronic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: City University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Shu Hung Henry Chung, Kuen Faat Yuen, Wing To Fan
  • Patent number: 9690315
    Abstract: A system includes a capacitor and a current source configured to draw a constant input current from a power source and to generate an output current. The current source includes an n-type field effect transistor that is biased to operate as a constant current source. The current source is configured to provide the output current to the capacitor and charge the capacitor during a first time period associated with operation of a load. The current source is also configured to provide the output current to the load and the capacitor is configured to provide an additional current to the load during a second time period associated with operation of the load. The load could represent an electronic device having a time-varying output power characteristic, such as a wireless radio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Everett E. Baker, Bashirul A. Polash, Christopher D. Ballard
  • Patent number: 9684323
    Abstract: A regulator circuit includes a first MOS transistor having a current channel connected between an input terminal and an output terminal, a regulator control circuit configured to control an amount of a current flowing through the current channel of the first MOS transistor towards the output terminal, a second MOS transistor having a current channel connected between the input terminal and the current channel of the first MOS transistor, and a body diode, a forward direction of which is along a direction from the input terminal to the output terminal, and a switch control circuit configured to switch off the second MOS transistor when a voltage at the input terminal decreases to a predetermined value that is equal to or greater than a voltage at the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Chikashi Nakagawara
  • Patent number: 9674911
    Abstract: An arbitrary alignment is provided for a series of pulses controlling a switch that in turn controls a current in an LED. Each pulse is generated according to a target time responsive to a reference time in a corresponding cycle of a synchronization clock. Each pulse has a leading portion that precedes its target time and a trailing portion subsequent to its target time. The arbitrary alignment defines the relative size of the leading portion to the trailing portion such that these relative sizes are incrementally changed across successive ones of the pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: DIALOG SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventors: Lingxin Kong, Nailong Wang, Ze Han
  • Patent number: 9665112
    Abstract: A regulator circuit can include a cascaded topology, comprising a first integrated low-dropout (LDO) regulator circuit having a supply node, the first integrated LDO regulator circuit configured to provide a first loop bandwidth and configured to provide a regulated first output voltage to an intermediate node using energy provided by the supply node, and a second integrated LDO regulator circuit having an input coupled to the intermediate node, the second LDO regulator circuit configured to provide a second loop bandwidth and configured to provide a regulated second output voltage to an output node, where the second loop bandwidth is narrower than the first loop bandwidth. The regulator circuit need not require an external capacitor. The regulator circuit can be used to provide one or more of enhanced power supply rejection and noise performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventors: Amit Kumar Singh, Nitish Kuttan, Sriram Ganesan
  • Patent number: 9654007
    Abstract: A multiple phase, multiple stage SMPC system includes at least one single stage phase SMPC circuit that converts an input voltage to an output voltage applied to an electronic load circuit and at least one multiple stage phase SMPC circuit. The at least one multiple stage phase SMPC circuit has at least one primary stage phase SMPC circuit generates, monitors, and controls an intermediate voltage and at least one secondary stage phase SMPC circuit converts the intermediate voltage to the output voltage. The at least one secondary stage phase has a voltage conditioner that transforms the intermediate voltage to a reference voltage that is approximately the level of the output voltage. The at least one primary stage phase SMPC circuit monitors and controls the intermediate voltage to force the at least one secondary stage phase to make its output current a correct portion of the total load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Mark Childs
  • Patent number: 9641263
    Abstract: An improved, adaptive and uniformly applicable estimation of the percentage or fraction of a broadband communication system (BCS) plant that is monitored for signal egress during a given period of time is provided by generating and collecting polygons along all possible routes traversed by BCS service vehicles within a service area, preferably by comparison with a roadway map, to define the service area with improved accuracy. The number of polygons generated and collected is then limited by the number of polygons in which DCS service vehicles have been reported in a given period of time or inspection interval. The limited number of polygons is then divided by the number of polygons generated and collected to determine a fraction or percentage of the BCS system which has been monitored during the given time period and can be used in a computation of a cumulative leakage index (CLI) value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ComSonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Gregory Jones, Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 9612638
    Abstract: A method may include, in an information handling system comprising a power system having a plurality of voltage regulator phases, during a configuration mode of the power system, determining connectivity between the plurality of voltage regulator phases and a primary power rail and connectivity between the plurality of voltage regulator phases and a secondary power rail based on population of output inductors in one or more of a plurality of first phase output inductor footprint locations or one or more of a plurality of second phase output inductor footprint locations, wherein each of the plurality of phase output inductor footprint locations is respectively coupled to an first output of a respective voltage regulator phase of the plurality of voltage regulator phases and is coupled to a respective power rail of the information handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Stuart Allen Berke, Abey K. Mathew
  • Patent number: 9608515
    Abstract: A circuit and method to filter a signal is provided. The circuit includes a notch filter circuit to receive an input signal and first and second tuning signals and to provide an output signal. The notch filter circuit has an input-output frequency response that includes a stopband region. The stopband region has a center frequency and has an attenuation level that is based at least on a tuning signal. The tunable filter circuit further includes a tuning circuit operable in at least two modes to generate the tuning signal. The at least two modes includes a tuning mode and a filtering mode. The tuning circuit generates the tuning signal such that the attenuation level of the stopband region is greater in the filtering mode than in the tuning mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventors: Patrick J Meehan, Thomas Conway, Adrian Paul Brokaw, Donal G. O'Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9608617
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a short circuit protection circuit with small area and less current-consuming. A short circuit protection circuit 14 includes a transistor M11 and a resistor R11, serially connected between a source and a drain of an output transistor 11 (transistor M10); and a transistor M12, connected between the source and a gate of the output transistor 11 and forming a current mirror together with the transistor M11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Yasusaka
  • Patent number: 9588529
    Abstract: Circuits and methodologies related to high-voltage tolerant regulators are disclosed. In some implementations, a voltage regulator can be configured to be capable of being in a regulating state and a bypass state. In the regulating state, an input voltage greater than a selected value can be regulated so as to yield a desired output voltage such as a substantially constant voltage. In the bypass state, an input voltage at or less than the selected value can be regulated so as to yield an output voltage that substantially tracks the input voltage. Such a capability of switching between two modes can provide advantageous features such as reducing the likelihood of damage in a powered circuit due to high input voltage, and extending the operating duration of a power source such as a rechargeable battery. Also disclosed are examples of how the foregoing features can be implemented in different products and methods of operation and fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Florinel G. Balteanu, Jakub F. Pingot, Peter Harris Robert Popplewell
  • Patent number: 9565726
    Abstract: A solid-state lighting system comprises a plurality of light-emitting devices (e.g., light-emitting diodes) and an alternating current to direct current (AC-DC) converter that converts AC power to DC power for powering the plurality of light-emitting devices. The AC-DC converter is configured to perform AC-DC conversion directly, without the need for or use of a bridge rectifier or step-down transformer. According to one aspect of the invention, the light-emitting devices of the solid-state lighting system are autonomous and individually powered by a plurality of DC power supplies generated from the DC power produced by the AC-DC converter. According to another aspect, a plurality of phase-offset dimmer control signals are generated based on waveform distortions in a dimming signal produced by a conventional dimmer switch. The phase-offset dimmer control signals are used to individually control the dimming of the light-emitting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Inventor: Earl W. McCune, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9543826
    Abstract: An audible noise avoiding circuit and a DC-DC boost converter for a DC-DC boost converter are provided. The audible noise avoiding circuit comprises a timing controller and a linear regulator. The timing controller discharges a timing capacitor to a low voltage according to switching of the DC-DC boost converter. A sink output stage of the liner regulator is coupled to the output voltage node. When the voltage of the timing capacitor is higher than a threshold voltage, the compensation unit compensates the output of the operational amplifier for gradually turning on the sink output stage in order to gradually reduce the voltage of the output voltage node. A predetermined charging time interval is defined by the time interval of charging the timing capacitor from the low voltage to the threshold voltage, the reciprocal of the predetermined time interval is a frequency in the ultrasonic wave frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Anpec Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Yuan Chen, Tzu-Yang Yen
  • Patent number: 9541973
    Abstract: A computer provides a graphical user interface for displaying a virtual representation of a voltage regulator and for accepting a user requirement for the voltage regulator. The computer automatically determines an internal calibration setting of the voltage regulator that meets the user requirement. The computer simulates operation of the voltage regulator as calibrated with the internal calibration setting. The internal calibration setting is downloaded to the voltage regulator. A calibration controller of the voltage regulator receives the internal calibration setting and outputs digital calibration bits in accordance with the internal calibration setting. The digital calibration bits works in conjunction with interface circuits to adjust circuits of a voltage regulator core to digitally calibrate the voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Yang, Michael Hsing
  • Patent number: 9531276
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power source is specified. The power source comprises a first converter (1) for converting an input voltage (UE) to an intermediate circuit voltage (UZK, UZK1), an intermediate circuit capacitor (2) and a second converter (3) for converting the intermediate circuit voltage (UZK, UZK1) to an output voltage (UA). A process is being controlled at the output of the second converter (3). A digital process controller predetermines at least one parameter and/or the value thereof to control the intermediate circuit voltage (UZK, UZK1) for the first converter (1) depending on an event at the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Knoll, Alfred Hiesmayr
  • Patent number: 9529375
    Abstract: Single inductor-multiple output (SIMO) DC-DC converter, having an output node which is coupled to one side of the single inductor to receive a load current. A plurality of output switches which are coupled to the output node for switching the load current from the output node to a plurality of output lines is provided. Each output line has a load capacitor. Further, each output line may comprise a charge pump which is coupled to the output switch and the load capacitor of the output line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Erich J. Bayer
  • Patent number: 9520795
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a power supply controller may be configured to form a status signal that is representative of a secondary current by substantially removing a primary magnetization component from a primary current signal and to use the status signal to form a first signal that is representative of a delivered output power, and configured to adjust an on-time of one of a first or second switch responsively to the delivered output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Roman Stuler, Vaclav Drda
  • Patent number: 9519041
    Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating on-die analog current sensors are disclosed. The methods can be routinely applied to perform a calibration such as during a system initialization or boot procedure or during other times when the system is in a sleep or power saving mode of operation. The systems determine a leakage current in the device under present environmental conditions. A baseline load current determined under the present temperature and input voltage is retrieved and used to determine a total leakage current. A reproducible and stable dynamic load is controllably applied to provide a known current to the on-die analog current sensor. A third mechanism permits repeatable adjustments to the known current that span the operational range of the on-die integrated current sensor. The responsiveness of the disclosed mechanisms ensures that temperature induced leakage does not increase significantly during a current sensor calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Mahadevamurty Nemani