Linearly Acting Patents (Class 323/273)
  • Patent number: 12158769
    Abstract: A current booster circuit, which can be coupled between a gate driver and a power switch, includes controlled current sources and current sensors to provide a scaled copy of the booster input current at the booster output while operating in a current-gain mode during on-to-off or off-to-on switching periods. During switched-on or switched-off periods, the booster can pull the output to the high or low rail, respectively, through low-impedance circuitry to hold the switch on or off. A voltage and/or current feedback path between the booster output and the booster input permits the booster to control the voltage input during switching operation. The current booster devices and methods can be compatible with both smart and conventional gate drivers of either the voltage-driven or current-driven variety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Johan Tjeerd Strydom
  • Patent number: 12154497
    Abstract: An example electronic device including a power supply circuit may include a battery; a display module including a display panel; a regulator; a power supply circuit configured to: based on an input voltage of the battery, provide a first voltage and a second voltage to the display module, and provide a third voltage to the regulator; and a switch control circuit configured to: control a switching operation of the power supply circuit, wherein the power supply circuit includes: a first power circuit and a second power circuit, wherein the first power circuit includes multiple switch elements, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, a third capacitor, and a first inductor, and is configured to: for a first time interval, based on a drive signal of the switch control circuit, charge the first capacitor and the second capacitor, based on a current of the first inductor and discharge the third capacitor to provide a first output current to the display module, and for a second time interval, based on a drive signal
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hangseok Choi, Sangwoo Kang
  • Patent number: 12093068
    Abstract: A regulator circuit included in a computer system may include a control circuit and multiple pass circuits that source respective supply currents to a regulated power supply node by adjusting respective conductance values between an input power supply node and the regulated power supply node. The number of pass circuits can be adjusted on a design-by-design basis based on a threshold load current for the regulator circuit or on a threshold conductance between the input power supply node and the regulated power supply node. The control circuit adjusts the respective conductance values using a combination of respective sense currents generated by the multiple pass circuits along with a reference voltage and a voltage level of the regulated power supply node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Wigley, Tiago Filipe Galhoz Patrao, Mircea-Andrei Lazar, Nathan F. Hanagami, Jay B. Fletcher, Enrico Zanetti
  • Patent number: 12045075
    Abstract: A supply-glitch-tolerant voltage regulator includes a regulated voltage node and an output transistor having a source terminal, a gate terminal, and a drain terminal. The source terminal is coupled to the regulated voltage node. The supply-glitch-tolerant voltage regulator includes a first current generator coupled between a first node and a first power supply node. The supply-glitch-tolerant voltage regulator includes a second current generator coupled between the first node and a second power supply node. The supply-glitch-tolerant voltage regulator includes a feedback circuit coupled to the first current generator and the second current generator and is configured to adjust a voltage on the first node based on a reference voltage and a voltage level on the regulated voltage node. The supply-glitch-tolerant voltage regulator includes a diode coupled between the drain terminal and the first power supply node and a resistor coupled between the gate terminal and the first node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Viktor Zsolczai, Andras V. Horvath, Peter Onody
  • Patent number: 12039343
    Abstract: Diagnostics and boot up for AV hardware and software of a computer system of an autonomous vehicle may be performed based at least on receiving a shutdown or power off indication, then a computing state of the computer system may be suspended with the computer system entering a low-power mode. The suspended computing state can be rapidly restored without requiring a reboot and diagnostics for key-on. To ensure the integrity of the saved computing state, the computer system may exit the low-power mode, rerun the diagnostics, reload the programs, and then reenter the low-power mode. Restoring the suspended computing state may be triggered by a user inserting an ignition key, pressing a button to turn on the vehicle, opening a door to the vehicle, remotely unlocking the vehicle, remotely starting the vehicle, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Mitchell Darren Luban, Krishna Sitaraman, Bhavesh Parekh, Michael Truog, Hari Krishnan, Karl Friedrich Greb
  • Patent number: 11990883
    Abstract: An electronically controllable resistor (ECR) designed for changing the resistance of a portion of a circuit comprises a voltage converter, a subtractor, an instrumental resistor (IR), and an executive element (EE) which can include at least one MOSFET or IGBT or a vacuum tube. There are a high-potential and two control voltage sources. The converter, which can use logarithmic amplifiers or be digital, is adapted to multiply the high-potential voltage by one of the control voltages and divide by another one. The resulting intermediate voltage is applied to the subtractor and compared therein with a voltage drop on the IR created by the current flowing through the IR and the EE. Thus, the ECR resistance can be regulated. The ECR makes it possible to achieve a wide range of resistance values, down to ultra-small values, while maintaining tolerance to destabilizing factors, including temperature. Also claimed is an ECR control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Drive CJSC
    Inventors: Yuriy I. Romanov, Stanislav V. Maletskiy
  • Patent number: 11960311
    Abstract: A linear voltage regulator with isolated supply current is disclosed. The voltage regulator is configured and controlled such that its output current closely matches its input current (any quiescent current consumed by the regulator is negligible relative to the amount of current passed by the regulator). In certain implementations, the voltage regulator is implemented as an analog component. In other implementations, the voltage regulator includes or cooperates with digital elements, such as an analog-to-digital converter, a digital processing core, or a digital-to-analog converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth N. Kazarians, Adam S. Trock, Jalal Elidrissi, Fatemeh Delijani
  • Patent number: 11955889
    Abstract: A buck voltage regulator device comprises a coupled inductor, a high-side switch electrically connected between an electrical energy source and a primary winding of the coupled inductor, a first low-side switch electrically connected between the primary winding and a ground node, a second low-side switch electrically connected between an auxiliary winding of the coupled inductor and the ground node, a first output node electrically connected to the primary winding, a second output node electrically connected to the auxiliary winding, a first output storage capacitor electrically connected to the primary winding between the first output node and the ground node, and a second output storage capacitor electrically connected to the auxiliary winding and between the second output node and the ground node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Robert M. Martinelli
  • Patent number: 11936347
    Abstract: An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) can drive semiconductor devices, such as, radio frequency amplifiers, switches, etc. The ASIC can include a supply and reference voltage generation circuit, a digital core, a clock generator, a plurality of analog-to-digital converters, low and high-speed communications interfaces, drain and gate sensing circuits (that can include one or more current sense amplifiers), and a gate driver circuit. The ASIC can be a low voltage semiconductor integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Epirus, Inc.
    Inventors: Padraig James Cooney, Denpol Kultran, Ronald Chang, Harry Bourne Marr, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11936373
    Abstract: Pre-conditioning circuitry for pre-conditioning a node of a circuit to support a change in operation of the circuit, wherein the circuit is operative to change a state of the node to effect the change in operation of the circuit, and wherein the pre-conditioning circuitry is configured to apply a voltage, current or charge directly to the node to reduce the magnitude of the change to the state of the node required by the circuit to achieve the change in operation of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic Inc.
    Inventors: Hamed Sadati, John A. Breslin, Sushanth Hegde, John L. Melanson
  • Patent number: 11929672
    Abstract: A power converter and a corresponding method of converting power are presented. The power converter includes a ground port, an input port for receiving an input voltage and an output port for providing an output voltage; an inductor; a flying capacitor; a network of switches; and a driver to drive the network of switches with a sequence of states during a drive period. The sequence of states includes a first state and a second state. In the first state one of the input port and the output port is coupled to the ground port via a first path comprising the inductor. In the second state the remaining state among the input port and the output port is coupled to the ground port via a second path and a third path, the second path comprising the flying capacitor and bypassing the inductor, and the third path comprising the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Renesas Design (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Holger Petersen
  • Patent number: 11927975
    Abstract: A switch circuit includes: a switch coupled to control an electrical parameter of a main circuit. A. PSRR of the main circuit is determined by the switch; a first driver configured to operably drive the switch, wherein the first driver is powered by a supply current; and a supply transistor configured to operably generate the supply current, wherein the supply transistor is biased in a subthreshold region, such that the PSRR of the main circuit is higher than a predetermined level within a predetermined frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INCORPORATION
    Inventor: Chuang-Shen Voo
  • Patent number: 11923137
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic actuator arrangement comprising an electromagnetic actuator device (2), in particular a camshaft adjusting device, having a housing (4) and at least one armature unit which can be driven, in response to the energization of a stationary, axially aligned coil unit, in or parallel to the axial direction and which is designed to interact with at least one slide and/or tappet unit (6, 7) extending in the axial direction, in particular a tappet unit (6, 7) effecting a camshaft adjustment of an internal combustion engine, and at least one switching gate (12) which can be arranged on a slide cam (14) and through which a transverse central plane (56) passes, wherein the actuator device (2) comprises a detection device for contactless magnetic and/or electrical interaction with the switching gate (12), which detection device comprises at least one magnetic field and/or electric field detection means which is designed to produce and/or detect a detection field acting directly
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ETO MAGNETIC GMBH
    Inventors: Timo Rigling, Markus Oczkowski
  • Patent number: 11893931
    Abstract: An electronic device including a power supply circuit according to the disclosure may include: a battery; a display module including a display panel; a regulator; a power supply circuit configured to: based on an input voltage of the battery, provide a first voltage and a second voltage to the display module, and provide a third voltage to the regulator; and a switch control circuit configured to: control a switching operation of the power supply circuit, wherein the power supply circuit includes: a first power circuit and a second power circuit, wherein the first power circuit includes multiple switch elements, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, a third capacitor, and a first inductor, and is configured to: for a first time interval, based on a drive signal of the switch control circuit, charge the first capacitor and the second capacitor, based on a current of the first inductor and discharge the third capacitor to provide a first output current to the display module, and for a second time interval, bas
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hangseok Choi, Sangwoo Kang
  • Patent number: 11886215
    Abstract: A voltage regulator comprises an output transistor with a controlled section connected between a first supply terminal and an output terminal. An amplifier comprises a reference input and a feedback input. A current mirror comprising a replica transistor. The current mirror is configured to mirror and attenuate a load current supplied by the output transistor to the replica transistor. A filter circuit is coupled to a controlled section of the replica transistor and coupled to the feedback input of the amplifier via the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventor: Carlo Fiocchi
  • Patent number: 11880216
    Abstract: Described embodiments include a voltage regulator circuit comprising an output voltage terminal configured to be coupled to a load that draws a load current, first and second amplifiers, and first, second, third, fourth and fifth transistors. The embodiment also includes a dynamic R-C network coupled between the third amplifier input and the seventh transistor current terminal, wherein the dynamic R-C network includes capacitors and MOS-based resistors, a third amplifier having a fourth amplifier input and a third amplifier output, wherein the fourth amplifier input is coupled to the output voltage terminal, and a capacitor that is coupled between the output voltage terminal and the fourth amplifier input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ramakrishna Ankamreddi, Isha Agrawal, Rohit Phogat
  • Patent number: 11875731
    Abstract: Provided are a drive module, a voltage generation method thereof, and a display device. The drive module includes a mainboard, a power chip, and a driver chip. The driver chip includes a main control unit and a base voltage generation unit. The main control unit is configured to determine the target value of a base voltage in the current drive display mode according to the current drive display mode, determine the optimal voltage multiplying relationship of the base voltage in the current drive display mode according to an analog reference voltage signal and the target value of the base voltage, calculate the actual output value of the base voltage according to the analog reference voltage signal and the optimal voltage multiplying relationship, and generate first instruction information including the actual output value. The base voltage generation unit generates the corresponding base voltage according to the first instruction information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: Wuhan Tianma Microelectronics Co., Ltd., Wuhan Tianma Microelectronics Co., Ltd. Shanghai Branch
    Inventors: Yang Yang, Lei Suo, Chaoqun Zhu
  • Patent number: 11853092
    Abstract: A device is provided. The device includes an operational amplifier, an output circuit, a first capacitor, and a second capacitor. The operational amplifier is configured to generate an output according to a feedback signal. The output circuit is configured to generate a first current signal in response to a supply voltage and the output of the operational amplifier. The first current signal includes a first ripple signal. The first capacitor and the second capacitor are coupled in parallel between the operational amplifier and the output circuit. The first capacitor is configured to receive the first current signal and feedback to the operational amplifier the first ripple signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Hsiang Wang, Jaw-Juinn Horng
  • Patent number: 11790996
    Abstract: In certain aspects, a circuit for power leakage blocking can include a voltage generation circuit that includes an amplifier connected at a negative input to a reference voltage and providing an output to a gate of a first transistor. A drain voltage of the first transistor can be fed back to a positive input of the amplifier. The voltage generation circuit can receive a first voltage at a source of the first transistor. The voltage generation circuit can supply a second voltage at a drain of the first transistor. The circuit can further include a pair of transistors. The pair of transistors can include a second transistor and a third transistor. Respective bulks of the pair of transistors can be connected to a bulk of the first transistor. The gates of the pair of transistors can be controlled according to a comparison between the first voltage and the second voltage, such that only one of the pair of transistors is on at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: YANGTZE MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ruxin Wei
  • Patent number: 11777497
    Abstract: A circuit, which might be a full-bridge driver circuit, comprises a first PMOS high-side transistor device and a first NMOS low-side transistor device. The circuit further comprises turn-on circuitry configured to turn on the first PMOS high-side transistor device while simultaneously turning on the first NMOS low-side transistor device, by routing charge stored in a gate of the first PMOS high-side transistor device to a gate of the first NMOS low-side transistor device, to charge the gate of the first NMOS low-side transistor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Derek Bernardon
  • Patent number: 11733725
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a voltage regulator includes a transistor having a load current path connecting an input node with an output node, wherein the input node is configured to receive an input voltage and the output node is configured to provide an output voltage. The voltage regulator further includes a main control loop coupled between the output node and a control electrode of the transistor and configured to control a voltage applied to the control electrode so that the output voltage matches a set-point. Furthermore, the voltage regulator includes a supplemental control loop that is coupled between the output node and the control electrode of the transistor and configured to detect a transient in the output voltage and to adjust the voltage applied to the control electrode in response to the detection of a transient. A corresponding method is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Cristian-Valentin Raducan, Alina-Teodora Cirlescu, Marius-Georghe Neag
  • Patent number: 11662758
    Abstract: A voltage regulator can include an input device, a current mirror, one or more offset control circuits, an output device, and a positive feedback loop. The input device can be configured to receive a source voltage from a voltage source. The current mirror can be coupled to the input device and configured to provide load current regulation within the voltage regulator. The one or more offset control circuits can be configured to balance voltage levels within the voltage regulator. The output device can include at least a first transistor that is matched to a second transistor within the voltage regulator such that the matching is configured to provide supply regulation within the voltage regulator. The positive feedback loop can be formed at least in part by the current mirror, the first transistor and the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA AVX Components (San Diego), Inc.
    Inventors: Syed Khursheed Enam, Amin Shameli, Mansoorali Companywala, Jesse Shih-Chieh Hsin
  • Patent number: 11644486
    Abstract: A power circuit includes at least one power detector coupled to both a first power voltage input via a pin or pad and a second power voltage supplied into a component, and configured to output a sensed power voltage changed from the first power voltage in response to a drop of the second power voltage, and a comparator configured to compare the sensed power voltage with a reference voltage to output a power sensing result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Myung Hwan Lee
  • Patent number: 11599133
    Abstract: Disclosed is a power supply that automatically switches between a voltage regulation mode and an over current protection mode, as needed. The power supply includes a voltage regulator that generates a first control voltage for applying to the control terminal of a pass transistor during a voltage regulation mode to maintain an output voltage at a desired voltage level. The power supply includes a current limiter that generates a second control voltage for applying to the control terminal of the pass transistor during an over current protection mode to prevent an output current from rising above a maximum output current limit. The power supply includes additional circuitry that detects when over current protection is required and automatically switches the control voltage applied to the control terminal from the first control voltage to the second control voltage or vice versa, as necessary. Also disclosed is an associated power supply method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: GlobalFoundries U.S. Inc.
    Inventor: Shatabda Saha
  • Patent number: 11599132
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes an amplifier and an output transistor. The amplifier is coupled to an output node of the output transistor for providing an output voltage to a load device. The amplifier circuit also includes a slew-rate control circuit coupled to a gate node of the output transistor and configured to control voltage rise of the gate node of the output transistor during power-up to reduce output voltage overshoot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Nuvoton Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chang-Xian Wu, Bal S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 11588342
    Abstract: A charging circuit applied to a first electronic device includes a charging interface, a charging module coupled therewith and configured to detect a connection between the charging interface and a second electronic device, and adjust a current output to the second electronic device, a reverse charging protocol module, and a control module. The reverse charging protocol module is configured to determine a reverse charging protocol matched with the charging current of the second electronic device. The control module is coupled with the charging module and the reverse charging protocol module, and configured to acquire the reverse charging protocol determined by the reverse charging protocol module in response to the connection between the charging interface and the second electronic device, and control the charging module to adjust the current output to the second electronic device based on the reverse charging protocol. The charging circuit can increase the reverse charging current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jie Fan, Changyu Sun
  • Patent number: 11550349
    Abstract: A linear power supply circuit according to the present invention is provided with: an output transistor provided between an input end to which an input voltage is applied and an output end to which an output voltage is applied; a driver for driving the output transistor; and a feedback unit for feeding, back to the driver, information about an output electrical current that is output from the output end. The driver drives the output transistor on the basis of the difference between a voltage based on the output voltage and a reference voltage, as well as the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Takobe, Yuhei Yamaguchi, Yukihiro Watanabe, Shingo Hashiguchi
  • Patent number: 11522535
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a first circuit. The first circuit includes a first switch element having a first end coupled to a first node to which a first voltage is supplied, a second end coupled to the first terminal, and a gate coupled between the first node and the second terminal, and a second switch element coupled between the first node and the first terminal. The first circuit is configured to switch the first switch element from OFF state to ON state when supply of the first voltage is interrupted, and switch the second switch element from OFF state to ON state while maintaining the first switch element in ON state when a voltage of the first terminal changes to a second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hibiki Otsu, Shuji Toda
  • Patent number: 11509324
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital conversion system includes an analog-to-digital converter and a power supply. The analog-to-digital converter is configured to convert an analog input signal to generate a digital output signal, and configured to generate a control signal according to a state of converting the analog input signal. The power supply is configured to provide a supply voltage to the analog-to-digital converter, and change the ability to provide the supply current of the power supply according to the control signal to stabilize the supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shun-Ta Wu, Chun-Hsiung Chang, Chung-Ming Tseng, Shih-Hsiung Huang
  • Patent number: 11496126
    Abstract: Various methods and circuital arrangements for leakage reduction in MOS devices are presented. A pull-up circuit is selectively coupled to a gate of the MOS device to provide control of a voltage to the gate that is larger than a source voltage. Voltage switching circuits selectively couple different voltages to the body and/or back-gate terminals of the MOS device. During a standby mode of operation, the leakage current of the MOS device is decreased by driving the MOS device further into its subthreshold leakage region. During the standby mode, a threshold voltage of the MOS device is increased by coupling a voltage higher than the source voltage to the body and/or back-gate terminals. The MOS device can be a pass device used in low dropout regulator (LDO). During the standby mode, the LDO maintains output regulation by driving the MOS device further into its subthreshold leakage region and/or increasing the threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: PSEMI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Buddhika Abesingha
  • Patent number: 11487312
    Abstract: A low dropout voltage regulator that in one configuration provides a drive signal to regulate an output voltage in response thereto includes an error amplifier, an intermediate amplifier, a buffer amplifier, and a compensation network. The error amplifier has a first input for receiving a reference voltage, a second input for receiving a feedback signal representative of the output voltage, a first output, and a second output. The intermediate amplifier has a first input coupled to the first output of said error amplifier, a second input coupled to the second output of the error amplifier, and an output. The buffer amplifier has a first input coupled to the output of the intermediate amplifier, and an output for providing the drive signal. The compensation network has a first terminal coupled to the first input of the intermediate amplifier, and a second terminal coupled to the output of the intermediate amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Paolo Migliavacca
  • Patent number: 11442480
    Abstract: A power supply circuit in which an increase in a leakage current can be suppressed is provided. In a power supply circuit in which a main LDO unit outputs a first internal voltage during a normal operation and a sub LDO unit outputs a sleep voltage during a sleep operation, the sleep voltage is applied to a drain of a transistor, and an external voltage higher than the sleep voltage is applied to a gate and a back gate thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: LAPIS Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Yoshioka, Yoichi Fueki
  • Patent number: 11417258
    Abstract: Provided is a drive module. A main control unit in the drive module is configured to determine, according to the output voltage of the electrical energy storage unit, an optimal analog reference voltage output efficiency value of a power supply chip, determine, according to the output voltage of the electrical energy storage unit and the optimal analog reference voltage output efficiency value of the power supply chip, a voltage value of an analog reference voltage, and generate, according to the voltage value of the analog reference voltage, a control instruction corresponding to pulse signal information. A pulse signal generation unit is configured to generate a corresponding pulse signal according to the control instruction. An analog reference voltage unit in the power supply chip is configured to receive an electrical signal output by the electrical energy storage unit, and generate, according to the pulse signal, a corresponding analog reference voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: WUHAN TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yang Yang, Xiangzi Kong, Bojia Lv
  • Patent number: 11416014
    Abstract: A triggered sink circuit for a linear voltage regulator, such as low-dropout voltage regulator (LDO), is disclosed. The triggered sink circuit is activated only when needed to sink current from an output in response to a transient load change. The triggered sink circuit includes a large sink transistor that when activated drains current from the output of the LDO to quickly restore an output voltage back towards a regulated value, thereby improving a load transient response to the load change. The improved load transient response prevents the output transistor of the LDO from being completely deactivated to restore regulation. Accordingly, the LDO's response to a subsequent load transient can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Petr Kadanka
  • Patent number: 11402456
    Abstract: A current sensing circuit for sensing a current flowing through a current sense resistor, wherein the current sense resistor is configured to receive a variable power input voltage. The current sensing circuit includes: a current sense amplifier having a first input terminal configured to be coupled to a first terminal of the current sense resistor to receive the power input voltage, a second input terminal configured to be coupled to a second terminal of the current sense resistor, and an output terminal for providing a current sensing signal indicative of the current flowing through the current sense resistor; and a calibration circuit configured to be coupled to the first input terminal of the current sense amplifier. The calibration circuit is configured to convert the power input voltage into a calibration current, and provide the calibration current to the current sense amplifier, so as to reduce a change in the current sensing signal caused by a change in the power input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Xavier Trulls Fortuny
  • Patent number: 11338747
    Abstract: A linear power supply circuit is provided with: an output transistor; and a driver for driving the output transistor on the basis of the difference between a voltage based on an output voltage and a reference voltage. The driver is provided with: a differential amplifier for outputting a voltage according to the difference between the voltage based on the output voltage and the reference voltage; a capacitor one end of which has an output of the differential amplifier applied thereto and the other end of which has the voltage based on the output voltage applied thereto; a converter for converting a voltage based on the output of the differential amplifier into an electrical current and outputting the electrical current; and a current amplifier for amplifying the electrical current of the output of the converter. The supply voltage of the differential amplifier is a first constant voltage or the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Takobe, Yuhei Yamaguchi, Tetsuo Tateishi, Takeshi Nagata
  • Patent number: 11340643
    Abstract: A linear regulator circuit having fast transient response includes an error amplifier (EA) circuit and an output stage circuit. The EA circuit amplifies a difference between a feedback signal and a reference signal to generate an error amplified signal. The output stage circuit includes at least one output power switch which is controlled by the error amplified signal to generate an output signal at an output node. The EA circuit includes at least one pre-stage amplifier circuit which includes a current source circuit, a differential input circuit, a first, a second and a third current mirror circuits and at least one feedback capacitor. One differential transistor of the differential input circuit, the first and the second current mirror circuit form a positive potential feedback (PPFB) loop. The feedback capacitor is coupled between the output node and at least one inverting node at the PPFB loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Min-Hung Hu
  • Patent number: 11327516
    Abstract: A power supply control apparatus includes a voltage control transistor connected between a DC voltage input terminal and an output terminal; a control circuit controlling the voltage control transistor according to an output feedback voltage; and a first external terminal receiving an output control signal to control an output voltage. The control circuit includes a first error amplifier outputting a voltage according to an electric potential difference between a voltage divided by a first voltage dividing circuit which divides the output voltage of the output terminal and a predetermined reference voltage; and an output changing circuit including a second error amplifier receiving a voltage input in the first external terminal, a transistor having a control terminal receiving the output of the second error amplifier, and a current mirror circuit connected to the voltage input terminal which transfers an electric current flowing in the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichiro Maki, Yoichi Takano, Katsuhiro Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 11294412
    Abstract: An example apparatus includes power amplification circuitry and current-level switch circuitry. The power amplification circuitry has a first input port, a second input port, and field-effect transistor (FET) circuitry, the FET circuitry to operate in a saturation mode while drawing power provided at the first input port from a first power source. The current-level switch circuitry is to sense a change in a current-level used to maintain the FET circuitry in the saturation mode and, in response to the sensed change in the current-level, to cause the power amplification circuitry to draw power provided at the second input port from a second power source while maintaining the saturation mode of the FET circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Christian Vincent Sorace, Ludovic Oddoart, Fabien Boitard
  • Patent number: 11277896
    Abstract: An active gain control circuit includes a voltage divider having a variable resistance configured to attenuate a rectified input line voltage to produce a reference signal, a filter circuit configured to extract a DC-level reference voltage from the reference signal, and an operational amplifier configured to receive the DC-level reference voltage and a comparison voltage, and to generate a gate control signal based on a difference between the comparison voltage and the DC-level reference voltage, wherein a resistance of the voltage divider is controlled by the gate control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: ERP POWER, LLC
    Inventor: James H. Mohan
  • Patent number: 11237581
    Abstract: A low-dropout voltage system comprising a current supply with a transistor circuitry, a mode switch capacitor, and a decoupling capacitor, wherein the mode switch capacitor facilitates the low-drop voltage system to swiftly transition from a low mode with a minimal to no transient current output to a high mode with a transient current of about 6 mA by dynamically biasing the transistor circuitry while limiting a voltage or current draw from an external power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Niranjan Shankar, Sreeram Subramanyam Nasum
  • Patent number: 11209850
    Abstract: A termination voltage regulation apparatus with transient response enhancement includes a termination voltage regulator and a transient response enhancer. The termination voltage regulator provides a termination voltage at a termination voltage terminal, including first and second switching units. The transient response enhancer, coupled to the termination voltage regulator, is utilized for enhancing transient response of the termination voltage regulator, including a first enhancement circuit for sensing a first signal associated with the first switching unit and enabling a first control terminal of the first switching unit to be at a first voltage in response to the first signal in a sinking mode; and a second enhancement circuit for sensing a second signal associated with the second switching unit and enabling a second control terminal of the second switching unit to be at a second voltage in response to the second signal in a sourcing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: ELITE SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Yao-Wei Yang
  • Patent number: 11201543
    Abstract: A system includes a current mirror coupled to a first transistor, the first transistor includes a first gate, a first current terminal, and a second current terminal, a controller coupled to the current mirror and a converter, the controller is to output a delayed signal for a second transistor, the second transistor being a part of the converter, and a source voltage coupled to the current mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Tawen Mei
  • Patent number: 11163327
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a circuit having a two-stage amplifier coupled to a transistor array and to a comparator, the transistor array being configured to provide an output to a load, the transistor array including transistors. The circuit includes a controller coupled to the comparator and to the transistor array, the two-stage amplifier being configured to modulate a current density in the transistor array via gate terminals of the transistors, wherein, by using the comparator and the controller, the two-stage amplifier is configured to modulate a number of the transistors that are to couple to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Miguel E. Perez, Michael Sperling
  • Patent number: 11150677
    Abstract: Disclosed are a series regulator and electronic equipment. The series regulator includes a first amplifier that drives a first transistor connected between a power supply and a load, a second amplifier that drives a second transistor connected in parallel to the first transistor, an amplifier control circuit that controls whether or not operation of the first amplifier is possible according to the load, and a first overcurrent protection circuit that limits a first output current flowing in the first transistor to a first overcurrent set value or smaller. The first overcurrent protection circuit carries out variable control of the first overcurrent set value according to a second output current flowing in the second transistor. The electronic equipment includes the series regulator and a load that receives power supply from the series regulator and operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto Yasusaka
  • Patent number: 11144080
    Abstract: High-resolution switched digital regulators are disclosed having fast cross corner and variable temperature response, with constrained ripple. The strength of the power transistors utilized by the regulator are adjusted to control the current delivered to the load. The regulators utilize a slow control loop in parallel with a primary fast switching loop. The slow loop uses the switching signal of the primary loop to estimate the load current and set the power transistor size accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corp.
    Inventors: Sudhir Kudva, John Wilson
  • Patent number: 11119519
    Abstract: For example, a linear power supply includes an output transistor connected between an input terminal of an input voltage and an output terminal of an output voltage, an internal power supply configured to step down the input voltage to generate a predetermined internal power supply voltage, a reference voltage generator configured to generate a predetermined reference voltage from the internal power supply voltage, an amplifier configured to generate a drive signal for the output transistor such that a feedback voltage in accordance with the output voltage is equal to the reference voltage, a drive current generator configured to generate a drive current for the amplifier, and a drive current controller configured to detect a variation of the internal power supply voltage to variably control the drive current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Yasusaka
  • Patent number: 11121573
    Abstract: A power converter can be implemented as a series of power conversion stages, including a wireless power conversion stage. In typical embodiments, the power converter receives power directly from mains voltage and outputs power to a battery within an electronic device. A transmitter side of the power converter converts alternating current received from a power source (e.g., mains voltage) to an alternating current suitable for applying to a primary coil of the wireless power conversion stage of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: InHwan Oh, Zaki Moussaoui, Rohan Dayal, Bharat K. Patel, Manisha P. Pandya, Weihong Qiu, Malhar V. Bhatt
  • Patent number: 11105830
    Abstract: A voltage detector includes a first voltage detection circuit, a second voltage detection circuit, and a voltage divider circuit having a first node for providing a first divided voltage, and a second node for providing a second divided voltage. The second voltage detection circuit has a comparator circuit including a first input end connected to the first node and a second input end connected to a reference voltage. The first voltage detection circuit has a first NMOS transistor including a gate to which the second divided voltage is applied, and a constant current source with one end connected to the first NMOS transistor. The first NMOS transistor is configured to turn on in response to the second divided voltage being higher than a second threshold voltage and turn off in response to the second divided voltage being lower than the second threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Ablic Inc.
    Inventor: Teruo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11092989
    Abstract: A regulator configured to provide at an output node a load current at an output voltage is described. The regulator comprises a pass transistor for providing the load current at the output node. Furthermore, the regulator comprises feedback means for deriving a feedback voltage from the output voltage at the output node. In addition, the regulator comprises a differential amplifier configured to control the pass transistor in dependence of the feedback voltage and in dependence of a reference voltage. The regulator further comprises compensation means configured to determine a sensed current which is indicative of the load current at the output node. Furthermore, the compensation means are configured to adjust an operation point of the regulator in dependence of the sensed current and in dependence of a value of a track impedance of a conductive track which links the output node to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hande Kurnaz, Ambreesh Bhattad, Gary Hague, Frank Kronmueller