With Plural Condition Sensing Patents (Class 323/275)
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Patent number: 10873327Abstract: A hot swap controller circuit includes a comparator and current control circuitry. The comparator is configured to compare voltage across a power transistor controlled by the hot swap controller circuit to a predetermined threshold voltage. The current control circuitry is coupled to the comparator. The current control circuitry is configured to limit current through the power transistor to no higher than a predetermined high current based on the voltage across the transistor being less than the predetermined threshold voltage. The current control circuitry is also configured to limit the current through the transistor to be no higher than a predetermined low current based on the voltage across the transistor being greater than the predetermined threshold voltage. The predetermined high current is greater than the predetermined low current.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2020Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Artem Andreevich Rogachev
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Patent number: 10848058Abstract: An embodiment circuit includes a charge pump configured to receive an input voltage at an input terminal, and a clock signal at a clock input, the charge pump being further configured to produce a first output voltage that is a multiple of the input voltage by a factor N. The circuit further includes an input stage including a reference terminal configured to receive a reference voltage, and an output terminal configured to provide the input voltage to the charge pump. The circuit also includes a capacitive element coupled to the charge pump and chargeable to a second output voltage, and a feedback network including a first feedback loop configured to feed back the first output voltage to an input of the input stage, and a second feedback loop configured to maintain a fixed offset between the first output voltage and the second output voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2017Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventor: Calogero Marco Ippolito
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Patent number: 10700518Abstract: A control circuit for controlling multiple power supplies having their outputs coupled in series is configured to in response to an output current reaching a defined current threshold of a power supply of the power supplies, control the power supply to operate in its constant current mode so that the output current is regulated at the defined current threshold as the remaining power supplies operate in their constant voltage mode, and in response to the output voltage of the power supply reaching a defined voltage threshold, control the power supply to operate in its constant voltage mode so that the power supply provides a first regulated output voltage to its output as the remaining power supplies provide a second regulated output voltage different than the first regulated output voltage to their output. Various other systems, power supplies, control circuit and methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2015Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Astec International LimitedInventors: Antonio Remetio Soleño, Ronnie Bachiller Gozun, Eric Ortaliz Henares, Vincent Vicente Vivar
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Patent number: 10658856Abstract: A battery management system (BMS) used in a battery pack, the battery pack has a discharging switch coupled between a battery and a load, and the load has a capacitor charged by the battery pack. The BMS has a driver circuit having a power supply terminal to receive a drive voltage, a ground reference terminal coupled to receive the battery pack voltage and an output terminal coupled to a control terminal of the discharging switch. The BMS generates a normal drive voltage and a ramp drive voltage, and the normal drive voltage is selected as the drive voltage when the voltage difference between the battery voltage and the battery pack voltage is less than a threshold voltage, and the ramp drive voltage is selected as the drive voltage when the voltage difference between the battery voltage and the battery pack voltage is higher than the threshold voltage.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.Inventors: Paolo Baruzzi, Kai Chen
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Patent number: 10637237Abstract: This invention provides a power switch circuit and a power circuit using the power switch circuit. In particular, the power switch circuit includes a first reverse current monitoring circuit and a second reverse current monitoring circuit. The first reverse current monitoring circuit is coupled to a power transistor, and is configured to detect whether a reverse current flows through the power transistor to a voltage input terminal for a predetermined period of time, and only if yes, turn off the power transistor. The second reverse current monitoring circuit is coupled to the power transistor, and is configured to detect whether a reverse current flows through the power transistor to the voltage input terminal, and if yes, turn off the power transistor immediately.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2017Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Green Solution Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Li-Min Lee, Zhong-Wei Liu, Shian-Sung Shiu, Yong-Heng Jiang
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Patent number: 10630195Abstract: A converter includes a first diode having an anode and a cathode connected respectively to an input terminal and a first output terminal, a second diode having an anode and a cathode connected respectively to a second output terminal and the input terminal, a first transistor connected between the first output terminal and the input terminal, a second transistor connected between the input terminal and the second output terminal, and a bidirectional switch connected between the input terminal and a third output terminal and including third to sixth diodes and a third transistor. Each of the first diode, the second diode, and the third transistor is made of a wide bandgap semiconductor. Each of the first and second transistors and the third to sixth diodes is made of a semiconductor other than the wide bandgap semiconductor.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2016Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Keisuke Ohnishi, Shoichi Abe, Kazunori Sanada
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Patent number: 10591942Abstract: A voltage regulator which includes a differential amplifier circuit containing a first and second input transistors, controlling a gate-source voltage in each of the first and second input transistors including: a current source configured to drive the differential amplifier circuit; the first input transistor containing a gate; the second input transistor containing a gate; and a voltage controller including at least one of a first voltage control circuit to control a voltage at a tail connection point, a second voltage control circuit to control the voltage at the gate of the first input transistor, a third voltage control circuit to control the voltage at the tail connection point, and a fourth voltage control circuit to control the voltage at the gate of the second input transistor.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2019Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: ABLIC INC.Inventors: Tadakatsu Kuroda, Tsutomu Tomioka, Hideyuki Sawai, Michiyasu Deguchi
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Patent number: 10566965Abstract: A hot swap controller circuit includes a comparator and current control circuitry. The comparator is configured to compare voltage across a power transistor controlled by the hot swap controller circuit to a predetermined threshold voltage. The current control circuitry is coupled to the comparator. The current control circuitry is configured to limit current through the power transistor to no higher than a predetermined high current based on the voltage across the transistor being less than the predetermined threshold voltage. The current control circuitry is also configured to limit the current through the transistor to be no higher than a predetermined low current based on the voltage across the transistor being greater than the predetermined threshold voltage. The predetermined high current is greater than the predetermined low current.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2019Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Artem Andreevich Rogachev
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Patent number: 10539624Abstract: According to the invention, in an energy accumulator emulation the accuracy of energy accumulator emulation is increased in that a load current demand on the energy accumulator (20) is converted to a cell tester load current (IZ) of a real reference cell (6) based on the configuration of the energy accumulator (20) and the cell tester load current (IZ) is applied to the reference cell (6), and thereby the cell voltage (UZ) of the reference cell (6) is measured and the cell voltage (UZ) of the reference cell (6) is converted to a first energy accumulator voltage (UB) based on the configuration of the energy accumulator (20), a second energy accumulator voltage (UB_Mod) is calculated from the energy accumulator model (10) and the load current demand and the first energy accumulator voltage (UB) is compared to the second energy accumulator voltage (UB_Mod) and the energy accumulator model (10) is adjusted if the first energy accumulator voltage (UB) deviates by a specified tolerance range (TB) from the second enType: GrantFiled: March 10, 2015Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: AVL LIST GmbHInventor: Gottfried Schipfer
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Patent number: 10496117Abstract: A voltage regulator includes an overshoot detection circuit which detects an overshoot based on an output voltage, an overshoot suppression circuit which controls a gate voltage of an output transistor based on a detection signal of the overshoot detection circuit, a state monitoring circuit which monitors a state of the voltage regulator, a timer circuit which operates the overshoot detection circuit for a preset period in response to a signal of the state monitoring circuit, and a timer off circuit which shortens the preset period counted by the timer circuit in response to the detection of the overshoot.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2019Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: ABLIC INC.Inventor: Yasuhiko Ogura
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Patent number: 10425075Abstract: Driver circuits with S-shaped gate drive voltage curves for ramp-up and ramp-down of power field effect transistors are presented. In ramp-up, the S-shaped curve rapidly ramps the gate voltage of the power FET to its threshold. This ramp-up is self-terminating. The gate voltage of the power FET is slewed through saturation with a time constant. After a predetermined time, the gate of the power FET is driven to approach the supply voltage level. In ramp-down, the S-shaped curve rapidly ramps the gate voltage of the power FET down to its threshold voltage. This ramp-down is self-terminating. The gate voltage of the power FET is slewed through saturation. The gate-source voltage of the power FET is rapidly ramped down to zero. Such S-shaped curves for the gate drive signal allow the control of the transition times of the gate drive signal to acceptable levels of voltage/current spikes and electromagnetic interference.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2018Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) LimitedInventors: Kelly Consoer, Bryan Quinones, Kevin Yi Cheng Chang, Mark Mercer
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Patent number: 10389224Abstract: A power converter including: a regulator including an output terminal to output an output voltage according to a first reference voltage, the output terminal to be coupled to a load; and a controller coupled to the output terminal, the controller to increase a current at the output terminal when a voltage at the output terminal is lower than a second reference voltage, and to decrease the current at the output terminal when the voltage at the output terminal is greater than a third reference voltage.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2014Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.Inventor: Chaofeng Huang
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Patent number: 10373539Abstract: Disclosed are a power supply unit and a display device including the same, which prevent a source drive IC from being damaged by a supply reversal between a VDD voltage and an HVDD voltage. The power supply unit may include a first voltage generator that generates a first voltage and a first voltage line connected to the first voltage generator for supplying the first voltage to a plurality of first source drive ICs of the display panel. A second voltage generator is included that generates a second voltage, and a second voltage line is connected to the second voltage generator for supplying the second voltage to a plurality of second source drive ICs of the display panel. The power supply unit may further include a diode circuit that includes at least one diode connected between the first voltage line and the second voltage line.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Seunghwan Kim, Young Sun Kim
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Patent number: 10361190Abstract: A standard cell circuit includes a standard cell unit and a first resistive device. The standard cell unit is coupled to at least one resistor. The first resistive device is coupled to the standard cell unit and provides a first current path for a first current to flow through.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2016Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.Inventors: Kin-Hooi Dia, Hugh Thomas Mair, Shao-Hua Huang, Wen-Yi Lin
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Patent number: 10345840Abstract: A novel low dropout regulator (LDO) is presented. The LDO includes the generation of a first feedback signal and a second feedback signal. The first feedback signal and a reference signal connect to a first error amplifier. The second feedback signal and the first error amplifier output signal connect to a second error amplifier. The output signal from the second error amplifier is coupled to the gate of a FET transistor. The FET transistor can be either a p-channel FET transistor, an n-channel FET transistor, a NMOS pass transistor, or a PMOS pass transistor. The positive input terminal or the negative input terminal of the first amplifier or of the second amplifier therefore need to be configured accordingly. When the source of the FET transistor is connected to the input voltage VIN, the drain of the FET transistor is the output voltage VOUT; when the drain of the FET transistor is connected to the input voltage VIN, the source of the FET transistor is the VOUT.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2019Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Inventor: Hua Cao
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Patent number: 10331152Abstract: A circuit for generating an output voltage, and regulating the output voltage to a target voltage, is described. The circuit comprises a pass device coupled between an input voltage level and an output voltage level, an error amplifier stage configured to generate a first control voltage on the basis of a reference voltage and the output voltage, a buffer stage configured to generate a drive signal for the pass device on the basis of the first control voltage, and a tracking circuit configured to track a voltage across the pass device and to generate a second control voltage on the basis of the voltage across the pass device. The buffer stage comprises a variable resistance element, for limiting a current flowing through the buffer stage on the basis of the second control voltage.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2018Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) LimitedInventors: Mihail Jefremow, Dan Ciomaga, Gennadii Tatarchenkov, Stephan Drebinger, Fabio Rigoni
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Patent number: 10326436Abstract: A hot swap controller circuit includes a comparator and current control circuitry. The comparator is configured to compare voltage across a power transistor controlled by the hot swap controller circuit to a predetermined threshold voltage. The current control circuitry is coupled to the comparator. The current control circuitry is configured to limit current through the power transistor to no higher than a predetermined high current based on the voltage across the transistor being less than the predetermined threshold voltage. The current control circuitry is also configured to limit the current through the transistor to be no higher than a predetermined low current based on the voltage across the transistor being greater than the predetermined threshold voltage. The predetermined high current is greater than the predetermined low current.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2017Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Artem Andreevich Rogachev
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Patent number: 10291053Abstract: An adaptive constant current-constant voltage (CC-CV) transition circuit comprises an amplifier, a series-pass device with current sense, a feedback network and a constant current controller to provide a stable and smooth transition between a constant voltage mode and a constant current mode, and vice versa. A voltage regulator loop comprises an amplifier, an optional buffer, a series-pass device with current sense and a feedback network which provides a feedback voltage to the amplifier. A current regulation loop comprises the amplifier, the optional buffer, the series-pass device, the feedback network and a constant current controller comprising a trans-impedence amplifier and a transconductance comparator which generate a current signal to a pseudo-constant bias (PCB) and a voltage signal to the adaptive compensation network (ACN) of the amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2018Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Miot LimitedInventors: Ka Wai Ho, King Man Lai, Chiu Sing Celement Tse
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Patent number: 10261534Abstract: Methods and systems for a low-dropout regulator may comprise a voltage regulator comprising: (a) a pass transistor having a first terminal at a control gate, a voltage input at a second terminal, and a voltage output at a third terminal, and (b) an adaptive control circuit (ACC), electrically coupled to a reference voltage and each of the terminals of the pass transistor. The ACC may determine a ?V between the second and third terminals and cause an error signal to be applied to the first terminal to keep ?V essentially constant as the voltage input varies. The ACC may include a voltage summing circuit electrically coupled to the reference voltage and the input voltage to generate a comparison value. An error amplifier electrically coupled to the control gate and to the voltage summing circuit may generate the error signal from the comparison value and the output voltage.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2015Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Maxlinear, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Nabicht, Branislav Petrovic
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Patent number: 10193535Abstract: Provided are an oscillation circuit, a booster circuit, and a semiconductor device capable of reducing power consumption when a power supply voltage is high. In a ring oscillator circuit which is the oscillation circuit, a PMOS transistor in each of inverter circuits has a substrate connected to a first power supply voltage, and a source connected to a drain of a PMOS transistor, which is a first constant current element configured to control a supply current to the inverter circuit, and the PMOS transistor, which is the first constant current element, has a source connected to a second power supply voltage VREG, which serves as a constant voltage when the first power supply voltage is at a predetermined voltage or higher.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2017Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: ABLIC INC.Inventor: Masaya Murata
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Patent number: 10175708Abstract: A power source device includes an output transistor connected between an input node at which an input voltage can be received and an output node at which an output voltage corresponding to the input voltage can be output according to a control voltage applied to a gate of the output transistor, a first amplifier that includes a first transistor element and a second transistor element having gates to which a first voltage is applied, receives a feedback voltage corresponding to the output voltage, and outputs a second voltage corresponding to a voltage difference between the feedback voltage and a reference voltage, a monitor transistor having a gate to which the first voltage is applied, a first current source that supplies a first current to the first amplifier, and a second current source that supplies a second current to the first amplifier according to a current flowing in the monitor transistor.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2017Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Akio Ogura
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Patent number: 10166939Abstract: When supplying electric power to a load from a power supply via a parallel circuit of two electrical wires having the same wiring resistance, a vehicular power supply control device uses a current measurement unit in intelligent power devices (IPDs) to measure a passing current flowing in a semiconductor switching device in each of the electrical wires. Then, in order to match the temperatures of the electrical wires as estimated by a present temperature estimation unit base on the measured current, a target duty ratio in a PWM control for reducing the passing current in the semiconductor switching device of the IPD on one electrical wire is calculated in a target duty ratio calculation unit, and the semiconductor switching device of the one IPD is turned on and off by a PWM/DC control and shutoff determination unit with the calculated target duty ratio.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2017Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshihide Nakamura, Keisuke Ueta, Yoshinori Ikuta, Yasuyuki Shigezane, Shuuji Satake
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Patent number: 10152072Abstract: A wide-tuning range low output impedance flip voltage follower (FVF) low dropout regulator (LDO) for large capacitor switching loads is disclosed. In some implementations, the LDO includes an operational amplifier and a FVF. The FVF can have a gain device, a source follower device, and an adaptive level shifter coupled between a drain of the source follower device and a gate of the gain device.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2017Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Mahmoud Mohamed Rashad Ibrahim Elhebeary, Sameer Wadhwa
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Patent number: 10082784Abstract: A process transmitter includes device circuitry that generates values that are to be conveyed on a current loop. A series control transistor is in series between the current loop and the device circuitry and a saturation prevention circuit prevents the series control transistor from entering saturation.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2015Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: ROSEMOUNT INC.Inventors: Clarence Edward Holmstadt, Robert Ernest LaRoche, Steven J. McCoy
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Patent number: 10074304Abstract: What is disclosed are systems and methods of compensation of images produced by active matrix light emitting diode device (AMOLED) and other emissive displays. The electrical output of a pixel is compared with a reference value to adjust an input for the pixel. In some embodiments an integrator is used to integrate a pixel current and a reference current using controlled integration times to generate values for comparison.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2016Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: Ignis Innovation Inc.Inventor: Gholamreza Chaji
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Patent number: 10045421Abstract: The disclosure is directed at a system, power supplied to a solid state lighting (SSL) device when an operational fault condition is sensed such as when the power level being supplied to the device is sensed to be meeting or higher than an expected or predetermined level. The system, method and apparatus provide a recovery aspect which means that the SSL device will not be automatically shut down (or power being supplied to the SSL device will not be immediately stopped) upon the discovery of the operational fault condition but will enter a recovery mode.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2017Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: LUMASTREAM CANADA ULCInventors: David Tikkanen, Kyle Hathaway
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Patent number: 10013005Abstract: Apparatus and method relating to voltage regulation is disclosed. In an apparatus thereof, an integrated circuit includes a first differential opamp having a first gain. The first differential opamp is configured to receive a reference voltage and a feedback voltage. A second differential opamp has a second gain less than the first gain. The second differential opamp is configured to receive the reference voltage and the feedback voltage. A driver transistor is configured to provide an output voltage at an output voltage node and to receive a gating voltage output from the second differential opamp. A differential output of the first differential opamp is configured for gating a current source transistor of the second differential opamp. A capacitor is connected to the driver transistor and the current source transistor.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2017Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: XILINX, INC.Inventor: Sharat Babu Ippili
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Patent number: 9966119Abstract: A reference selection circuit may be provided. The reference selection circuit may include a plurality of reference drivers configured to respectively output a plurality of reference voltages having different voltage levels, and a plurality of selectors configured to select any one of the plurality of reference voltages based on a selection signal, and output the selected reference voltage to a monitoring pad.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2017Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: SK hynix Inc.Inventor: Young Joo Kim
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Patent number: 9880203Abstract: Current detection circuit of a semiconductor device provided with a shunt resistor, a voltage division ratio adjustment resistor and a selection circuit which selects a voltage division ratio of the latter and has enhancement type MOSFETs and Zener Zaps as trimming elements. One of the Zener Zaps is trimmed and a divided voltage of the voltage division ratio adjustment resistor connected in parallel with the shunt resistor is outputted. The detected voltage in which variation of the resistance of the shunt resistor has been cancelled is therefore outputted. As the shunt resistor and the voltage division ratio adjustment resistor are laminated together, it is possible to obtain a current detection circuit with a small area, which can detect a current flowing into a shunt resistor with high accuracy.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2015Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Hideaki Katakura, Yoshiaki Toyoda
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Patent number: 9634480Abstract: A circuit for protecting a semiconductor element is provided in a system for supplying power from an input node to an output node. The circuit has an analog multiplier responsive to a voltage across the semiconductor element and a current flowing through the semiconductor element to produce an output voltage. A transconductance amplifier is coupled to an output of the analog multiplier for receiving the output voltage of the analog multiplier to produce an output current. An analog RC circuit coupled to the output of the transconductance amplifier is configurable to include a selected number of resistive elements having selected resistance values and a selected number of capacitive elements having selected capacitance values. The configuration of the RC circuit is carried out to provide an RC thermal model that reproduces a desired thermal behavior of the semiconductor element.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2014Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Daniel James Eddleman, Mitchell Edward Lee, Zhizhong Hou
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Patent number: 9634481Abstract: A circuit for protecting a semiconductor element is provided in a system for supplying power from an input node to an output node. The circuit has an analog multiplier responsive to a voltage across the semiconductor element and a current flowing through the semiconductor element to produce an output voltage. A transconductance amplifier is coupled to an output of the analog multiplier for receiving the output voltage of the analog multiplier to produce an output current. An analog RC circuit coupled to the output of the transconductance amplifier is configurable to include a selected number of resistive elements having selected resistance values and a selected number of capacitive elements having selected capacitance values. The configuration of the RC circuit is carried out to provide an RC thermal model that reproduces a desired thermal behavior of the semiconductor element.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2016Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Daniel James Eddleman, Mitchell Edward Lee, Zhizhong Hou
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Patent number: 9628204Abstract: A communication device system includes a communication device (1) and a reception power monitoring device (2). The communication device (1) includes a reception processing unit (10) that outputs a signal intensity voltage (Vin) in accordance with a signal level of a received signal, and a monitoring terminal signal generator circuit (30) that generates a monitoring terminal signal (Vout) by current amplification of a level shift voltage generated by shifting a level of the signal intensity voltage (Vin) by an offset voltage (Voff) corresponding to a voltage value of a power supply voltage of an external device. The reception power monitoring device (2) includes a constant voltage generator circuit that outputs a constant voltage from the monitoring terminal signal (Vout), and a voltage converter circuit that operates based on the constant voltage and outputs a display level indication signal reflecting a voltage level of the monitoring terminal signal (Vout).Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: NEC CorporationInventor: Satoshi Iino
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Patent number: 9608516Abstract: A battery discharge circuit has a switching circuit and a controller. The switching circuit is coupled between a battery and a load. The controller is configured to generate a control signal to control the switching circuit. When the battery voltage drops below a first reference voltage, the controller adjusts the control signal to regulate the battery voltage to be equal to the first reference voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2014Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: CHENGDU MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS CO., LTD.Inventors: Min Xu, Qiming Zhao
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Patent number: 9591713Abstract: The disclosure is directed at a system, method and apparatus for monitoring and limiting power supplied to a solid state lighting (SSL) device when an operational fault condition is sensed such as when the power level being supplied to the device is sensed to be meeting or higher than an expected or predetermined level. The system, method and apparatus provide a recovery aspect which means that the SSL device will not be automatically shut down (or power being supplied to the SSL device will not be immediately stopped) upon the discovery of the operational fault condition but will enter a recovery mode. The system may be used for white light general illumination applications as well as to color changing applications.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: LUMASTREAM CANADA ULCInventors: David Tikkanen, Kyle Hathaway
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Patent number: 9566821Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a plasma-generation high-frequency power supply which generates plasma in a processing chamber, a biasing high-frequency power supply which applies high-frequency bias electric power to an electrode on which a sample is placed, a monitor which monitors a peak-to-peak value of the high-frequency bias electric power applied to the electrode, an electrostatic chuck power supply which makes the electrode electrostatically attract the sample, a self-bias voltage calculating unit which calculates self-bias voltage of the sample by monitoring the peak-to-peak value of the high-frequency bias electric power applied to the electrode, and an output voltage control unit which controls output voltage of the electrostatic chuck power supply based on the calculated self-bias voltage.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2012Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Takamasa Ichino, Ryoji Nishio, Shinji Obama
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Patent number: 9553453Abstract: A method, apparatus, system and computer program is provided for controlling an electric power system, including implementation of a voltage control and conservation (VCC) system used to optimally control the independent voltage and capacitor banks using a linear optimization methodology to minimize the losses in the EEDCS and the EUS. An energy validation process system (EVP) is provided which is used to document the savings of the VCC and an EPP is used to optimize improvements to the EEDCS for continuously improving the energy losses in the EEDS. The EVP system measures the improvement in the EEDS a result of operating the VCC system in the “ON” state determining the level of energy conservation achieved by the VCC system.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2014Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: Dominion Resources, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Tyler, Phillip W. Powell
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Patent number: 9541934Abstract: A linear regulator circuit includes: a power switch having a first terminal coupled to an input voltage, a second terminal coupled to an output voltage, and a control terminal; an error amplifier, controlling the control terminal of the power switch according to a comparison between a feedback signal related to the output voltage and a reference signal; a first node, coupled between the error amplifier and the power switch; a transistor, coupled to the first node to provide a current path; and a body control unit, coupled between the input voltage and a body of the transistor, wherein when a change occurs in the input voltage, the body control unit controls a body voltage of the transistor to adjust a current in the current path, to correspondingly control a voltage of the first node, such that the control terminal of the power switch responds to the change.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventor: Chin-Yuan Wei
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Patent number: 9541928Abstract: A power supply device includes: a comparator that compares an error voltage and a slope voltage to generate a comparison signal; a PWM pulse generation portion that generates a PWM pulse based on a clock signal and the comparison signal; an on-time fixed pulse generation portion that uses the comparison signal as a trigger to generate an on-time fixed pulse where an on-time and an on-time number are constant; a one shot pulse generation portion that generates once, when a soft start voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage, a one shot pulse where the on-time and the on-time number are constant; and a selector that selects any one of the PWM pulse, the on-time fixed pulse and the one shot pulse.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2013Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yuhei Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 9525353Abstract: A switching power-supply device performs a control of an output voltage by switching operation of a switching element and has an integrated circuit including the switching element and a driving circuit for performing on-and-off control of the switching element. The integrated circuit includes an input terminal connected to the switching element, a voltage detection circuit, which detects a voltage of the input terminal, a timing control circuit, which controls a timing of detecting the voltage by the voltage detection circuit, and a control unit, which performs a control according to the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2014Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., LTD.Inventors: Akira Hayakawa, Masaaki Shimada, Yoshimichi Tadamasa
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Patent number: 9450511Abstract: A full wave rectifier (270) for use as part a differential signal detector (400) detects both high and low envelopes of differential signals (RXa, RXb) at a pair of differential inputs (202, 204) and provides a sense signal (VSENSE) at an output (220) thereof. The differential signal detector (400) includes both the full wave rectifier (270) and a voltage reference source (260) having a circuit architecture in common, and a comparator for comparing the sense signal (VSENSE) with a reference voltage (VREF). The circuit configuration of both the full wave rectifier (270) and the voltage reference source (260) include first and second differential input circuits (271 and 273, 261 and 263) each including a pair of field effect transistors (2722, 2742 and 2762, 2782; 2622, 2642 and 2662, 2682) of different conductivity type having respective source terminals (2728, 2748; 2768, 2788; 2628, 2648; 2668, 2688) coupled together.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2014Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.Inventors: Santiago L. Bortman, Eric H. Naviasky
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Patent number: 9423809Abstract: The present invention concerns a low dropout (LDO) regulator of regulating an output signal, the LDO regulator comprising an input stage (15) and an output stage (17), the input stage being adapted to receive a reference signal (VREF) and a feed-back signal (VF) depending on an output signal (VOUT), and to output an intermediate signal based on the feedback signal and on the reference signal, wherein the LDO regulator further comprises a gain stage (16) having a given gain value, which is configurable and wherein the output signal is regulated based on the gain value of the gain stage and on the intermediate signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2012Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: ST-Ericsson SAInventors: Alexandre Pons, Frédéric Lebon
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Patent number: 9355671Abstract: A method of controlling laser output in a heat assisted magnetic recording device can be performed by control circuitry in a data storage device. The method includes measuring a temperature, measuring laser output power of a laser, determining a power error by subtracting an optimal laser output power from the measured laser output power and comparing the power error to at least one threshold to determine whether an applied current to the laser needs to be adjusted. The at least one threshold is related to how great the power error can be while maintaining the integrity of data on a recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2014Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Tim Rausch, Jon D. Trantham, John W. Dykes, Won Choul Yang
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Patent number: 9325174Abstract: A method, apparatus, system and computer program is provided for controlling an electric power system, including implementation of a voltage control and conservation (VCC) system used to optimally control the independent voltage and capacitor banks using a linear optimization methodology to minimize the losses in the EEDCS and the EUS. An energy validation process system (EVP) is provided which is used to document the savings of the VCC and an EPP is used to optimize improvements to the EEDCS for continuously improving the energy losses in the EEDS. The EVP system measures the improvement in the EEDS a result of operating the VCC system in the “ON” state determining the level of energy conservation achieved by the VCC system.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2014Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Dominion Resources, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Tyler, Phillip W. Powell
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Patent number: 9287774Abstract: A power converter control circuit includes a feedback circuit and a pulse width modulation signal generating circuit for configuring a power stage circuit to provide power to a load. The feedback circuit generates a first gain signal and a second gain signal according to an output voltage sensing signal coupled with the load. The feedback circuit further generates a feedback signal according to the first gain signal and the second gain signal. The pulse width modulation signal generating circuit configures the operation of the power stage circuit according to the feedback signal and a reference signal. Moreover, the feedback circuit and the pulse width modulation signal generating circuit are configured on the same integrated circuit package.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2014Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Ching-Jan Chen, Shao-Hung Lu, Jian-Rong Huang
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Patent number: 9281747Abstract: Disclosed are devices, apparatus, circuitry, components, mechanisms, modules, systems, and processes for controlling a voltage regulator in response to information from a load. In some implementations, transient minimizer circuitry is coupled to receive a notification signal indicating a change or an anticipated change in an electrical characteristic of the load. The transient minimizer circuitry is configured to generate a state command signal responsive to the notification signal. The state command signal indicates a state of the voltage regulator. The switching control circuitry is coupled to receive the state command signal from the transient minimizer circuitry. The switching control circuitry is configured to operate switch circuitry to control the state of the voltage regulator in accordance with the state command signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2013Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: Volterra Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Bradley J. Suppanz, Ognjen Djekic
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Patent number: 9235196Abstract: There are provided a constant voltage circuit that features low current consumption and stable operation, and an analog electronic clock provided with the constant voltage circuit. The constant voltage circuit includes a differential amplifier circuit which is turned on/off by a predetermined signal and which controls the voltage of a gate of an output transistor on the basis of a reference voltage and a feedback voltage that are received, a switch circuit which is connected to an output terminal of the differential amplifier circuit and which is turned on/off by a predetermined signal, and a voltage holding circuit which is connected between the gate of the output transistor and a power supply terminal and which has a resistor and a capacitor connected in series. An analog electronic clock provided with the foregoing constant voltage circuit that supplies a voltage to at least an oscillation circuit and a frequency division circuit.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2014Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.Inventors: Kotaro Watanabe, Makoto Mitani
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Patent number: 9236799Abstract: A current generator includes an amplifier having a first terminal configured to receive an input voltage, at least one tunable resistor coupled to a second terminal of the amplifier, a resistor calibration circuit coupled to the at least one tunable resistor, and at least one transistor. A gate of the at least one transistor is coupled to an output of the amplifier, and a terminal of the at least one transistor is coupled to the at least one tunable resistor or a load. The resistor calibration circuit is configured to adjust a resistance setting of the at least one tunable resistor to control a current level of the current generator based on a power supply voltage or a current of a reference resistor.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2013Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Ming-Chieh Huang, Chan-Hong Chern, Chih-Chang Lin
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Patent number: 9170592Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for an integrated voltage regulator with open loop digital control for power stepping. In one aspect, a method for regulating an output voltage includes receiving data indicative of a power setting associated with an identified state of an electrical circuit, the power setting based on a load current demand of the electrical circuit in the identified state, enabling one or more parallel driver segments based on the received data indicative of the power setting. The method further includes sourcing by the enabled one or more parallel driver segments sufficient current to meet the load current demand of the electrical circuit in the identified state while maintaining the output voltage at a predetermined voltage level, and providing the output voltage to the electrical circuit at the predetermined voltage level.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2012Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Michael Seymour, Daniel J. Russell
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Patent number: 9166473Abstract: A current mode power conversion system and method operates in cycles. Each cycle includes an on time and an off time. The system includes an inductor connected to store energy during the on time of each cycle and use the energy during the off time of each cycle. The system provides a stable output voltage and a maximum-limited output current to a load during constant load conditions. The system comprises a feedback control linearly operable so as to control the output voltage across the load during constant load conditions, and non-linearly operable so as to control the output voltage across the load during certain detected changes in load conditions as a function of the derivative of the current in the inductor so as to speed up the transient response of the power conversion system when a fault condition exists.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2011Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Terry Groom, Shuo Chen
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Patent number: 9141123Abstract: A maximum power point tracking controller includes an input port for electrically coupling to an electric power source, an output port for electrically coupling to a load, a control switching device, and a control subsystem. The control switching device is adapted to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states to transfer power from the input port to the output port. The control subsystem is adapted to control switching of the control switching device to regulate a voltage across the input port, based at least in part on a signal representing current flowing out of the output port, to maximize a signal representing power out of the output port.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2012Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Volterra Semiconductor LLCInventors: Michael D. McJimsey, Anthony J. Stratakos, Ilija Jergovic, Xin Zhang, Kaiwei Yao, Vincent W. Ng, Phong T. Nguyen, Artin Der Minassians