With Plural Condition Sensing Patents (Class 323/275)
  • Patent number: 8547079
    Abstract: Provided is a voltage regulator capable of enabling overcurrent protection in a state in which an output current is large even if an input/output voltage difference is small, without waiting until the output voltage decreases. A sense current that a sense transistor flows is detected by a differential amplifier circuit, and hence, in the state in which the input/output voltage difference is small and the output current is large, the overcurrent protection can be enabled even when the output voltage does not decrease. Further, a good fold-back characteristic can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Heng Socheat
  • Patent number: 8547077
    Abstract: A voltage regulator with adaptive Miller compensation includes a first amplifier and a second amplifier. An adaptive compensation circuit includes serially connected compensation capacitor and a compensation transistor coupled to the second amplifier. A bias circuit generates a proper bias control voltage to dynamically control the adaptive compensation circuit in a manner that the adaptive compensation transistor operates in a deep triode region with weakly-inverted channel or strongly-inverted channel. An output circuit generates an output voltage according to which the feedback voltage is generated. The resistance of the compensation transistor varies according to a load of the voltage regulator under control of the bias control voltage. The bias circuit generates a mirror current that copies at least a portion of a current flowing in the output circuit, and the bias control voltage is then generated according to the mirror current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Skymedi Corporation
    Inventor: Jung-Fu Chang
  • Publication number: 20130200866
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated device includes transistor between input and output terminals, an amplifying device, and a control circuit that activates or deactivates the amplifying device according to an input voltage. When the input voltage is higher than a specified value, the control circuit activates the amplifying device to regulate a monitoring voltage to a value equal to a reference voltage, and outputs a control voltage to act on the gate of the transistor. When the input voltage is lower than the specified value, the control circuit deactivates the amplifying device so that a predetermined gate voltage is applied to the gate of the transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventor: Hidefumi KUSHIBE
  • Patent number: 8487603
    Abstract: A voltage generating circuit of semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a voltage controller that detects the level of an external supply voltage and outputs a voltage control signal; a voltage supplier that outputs the external supply voltage or a first internal voltage in response to the voltage control signal; and a first reference voltage generator that is supplied with an output voltage of the voltage supplier and generates a first reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Khil-Ohk Kang
  • Patent number: 8471539
    Abstract: A low drop out (LDO) voltage regulator having an error amplifier, a power transistor, a first voltage division unit, a compensation control unit and a compensation bias current source is provided. The error amplifier generates a control voltage according to a first reference voltage and a feedback voltage. The power transistor generates an output voltage at a drain of the power transistor according to the control voltage. The first voltage division unit divides the output voltage to generate the feedback voltage. The compensation control unit generates a compensation control signal to the compensation bias current source according to the control voltage, the output voltage and a compensation bias, so as to make the compensation bias current source generate a compensation bias current, in which the compensation bias is inversely proportional to a supply voltage and ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chen-Yu Wu
  • Patent number: 8436595
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing voltage undershoot and overshoot of a voltage regulator are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an undershoot/overshoot regulation circuit comprises a control node having a control voltage. The regulation circuit also comprises a control circuit configured to increase the control voltage in response to a load being applied to an output node of a voltage regulator and decrease the control voltage in response to the load being removed from the output node. The regulation circuit also comprises a control capacitor including a first terminal coupled to the control node and a second terminal coupled to a gate node of the voltage regulator. The control capacitor is configured to increase a gate voltage at the gate node in response to the increase of the control voltage, and decrease the gate voltage in response to the decrease of the control voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: John Wayne Simmons, Kai Zhong
  • Patent number: 8400124
    Abstract: A startup circuit for starting up a self-supplied voltage regulator which initiates startup by applying a voltage from a voltage supply to the startup circuit thus causing a voltage at an output node to rise. This rise will start the operation of the differential amplifier of the voltage regulator. When the voltage at the output node has reached the desired final output voltage, the startup circuit disconnects from the voltage regulator. The criterion for switching off the startup circuit is determined by a comparator which compares the output current capability of the voltage regulator with its output current plus the startup current. Inputs to the differential amplifier, such as the reference voltage, derive their power from the output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Stellberger, Frank Schwiderski
  • Publication number: 20130002217
    Abstract: A level detector, an internal voltage generator including the level detector, and a semiconductor memory device including the internal voltage generator are provided. The internal voltage generator includes a level detector that compares a threshold voltage that varies with temperature with an internal voltage to output a comparative voltage, and an internal voltage driver that adjusts an external supply voltage in response to the comparative voltage and that outputs an internal voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: KI-HEUNG KIM, YONG-HO CHO, JI-HOON LIM, SEONG-JIN JANG, TAE-YOON LEE
  • Patent number: 8299767
    Abstract: In some implementations, a method of dynamically maintaining a device's operation within a safe operating area (SOA) may include sensing instantaneous voltage and current of the device; determining, based on the sensed instantaneous voltage and current, a value that represents a power dissipated in the device; using the determined dissipated power and a model of thermal behavior of the device to model a junction temperature of the device; and controlling operation of the device based on the modeled junction temperature. A programmable SOA circuit including sensing, scaling, filtering, and controlling functions may be packaged on a single die or in a package with a power transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Picor Corporation
    Inventors: Claudio Tuozzolo, Aiman Alhoussami, John P. Clarkin, Robert M. Lanoue, Andreas Gerasimos Ladas
  • Patent number: 8228647
    Abstract: An electrical power diagnostic system includes a system housing, a power saw management system, and a user interface. The system housing is electrically connected with the power unit of the power saw, wherein the system housing includes a control panel provided thereon for allowing a user to adjust an operational parameter through the control panel. The power saw management system includes a control processor mounted within the system housing to electrically communicate with the power saw, wherein the control processor is pre-programmed to manage operational parameters of the power saw and supervise actual operation of the power saw machine and the saw blade in such a manner that when abnormal operating condition of the power saw machine is detected, the control processor is adapted to selectively adjust the operational parameters of the power saw machine for stopping the abnormal operating condition from continuously happening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Inventor: Wy Peron Lee
  • Patent number: 8222878
    Abstract: A voltage regulator uses a comparing apparatus having hysteresis characteristics. The voltage regulator includes a comparator for comparing a comparison voltage with a reference voltage, and outputs a result of the comparison; a switching controller for generating a plurality of switching signals in response to the comparison result; resistors connected in the form of a string, to divide the comparison voltage into a plurality of voltages; and a switching box for selecting one of the plural voltages, as the comparison voltage, in response to the switching signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Hoon Bea, Hwan Cho
  • Publication number: 20120161732
    Abstract: A voltage regulator is configurable to operate in a linear regulator mode or a buck regulator mode. To operate in the buck regulator mode, the voltage regulator is coupled to an inductor. To determine whether an inductor is coupled to voltage regulator, and thus whether the voltage regulator can be configured in the buck regulator mode, a detection circuit determines whether a regulator output of the voltage regulator resists a change in current driven to the regulator output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: ATMEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kai Renton, Frode Milch Pedersen, Jan Rune Herheim
  • Publication number: 20120163047
    Abstract: A startup circuit includes a MOSFET that is connected between a startup power source and an auxiliary power source made of a smoothing capacitor and passes a startup current from the startup power source to the smoothing capacitor, a JFET that has a drain terminal connected to a drain terminal of the MOSFET and a source terminal connected through a resistor to a gate terminal of the MOSFET, and a pinch-off voltage controller that controls a pinch-off voltage of the JFET to a first reference voltage at startup and to a second reference voltage, which is lower than the first reference voltage, after startup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki KUBOTA, Satoshi Kondou
  • Patent number: 8193801
    Abstract: A method for feeding DC power to an amplifier module for a pulsed load, the method comprising providing current pulses from a DC power supply; charging a capacitor configuration in the amplifier module; providing an output voltage via a voltage regulated power supply; feeding current pulses to the pulsed load from the capacitor configuration, determining an output current (Iout) pulse configuration appearing during feeding the load from the capacitor configuration; providing a pulsed input current (Iin) from the DC power supply based upon the determined output pulsed current; and limiting the maximum current level of the input current pulses to a pre-determined level by a control and pulse shaping circuit to be substantially lower compared to the peak current of the output current pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Saab AB
    Inventors: Hannes Illipe, Wolfgang Staberg
  • Patent number: 8183711
    Abstract: A power extractor suitable for locations proximate to the sink of a signal channel is disclosed. The power extractor can generate power from the signal channel without substantially disturbing a quality of signals within the channel. In one embodiment, the power extraction circuit can include: a current source coupled to a sink side of a signal channel, where the signal channel is independent of any power supply signal, the current source being high impedance to maintain signal quality within the signal channel; a first regulator configured to generate a first regulated supply from a current derived from the signal channel using the current source; and a second regulator coupled to the first regulator, where the second regulator is configured to generate a second regulated supply from the first regulated supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Quellan, Inc.
    Inventors: Georgios Asmanis, Faouzi Chaahoub
  • Patent number: 8174251
    Abstract: A series regulator with an over current protection circuit regulates output current by controlling an output transistor. A current sense transistor output depends on the conductivity of the output transistor. A current limiting transistor controls the conductivity of the output transistor. A current supply provides current to a constant current source and a converter output of a current to voltage converter. The converter output is connected to a control electrode of the current limiting transistor. A first differential transistor couples the current sense transistor to the constant current source and a second differential transistor couples the current supply to the constant current source. The current sense transistor controls the second differential transistor to vary a control current. When the control current matches a threshold value, the current limiting transistor limits maximum current flow through the output transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kimura
  • Patent number: 8134353
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a multi-phase power converter, and a control circuit and a control method of the multi-phase power converter. The multi-phase power converter comprises multiple power conversion phases. The method comprises: determining whether to enter a phase-shedding mode; at a first time when entering the phase-shedding mode, disabling at least one of the power conversion phases; and at another time when entering the phase-shedding mode, disabling at least another one of the power conversion phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Ching-Jan Chen, Chun-Shih Huang, Kuo-Lung Tseng, Dan Chen
  • Patent number: 8129966
    Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit and control method therefor. The circuit includes input and output terminals, an output transistor to pass a current from the input terminal to the output terminal according to a control signal, a reference voltage generator unit to generate and output a reference voltage, an output voltage detector unit to detect an output voltage output from the output terminal and generate and output a proportional voltage proportional to a detected voltage, a first error amplifier unit to control the output transistor to make the proportional voltage equal to the reference voltage, and a second error amplifier unit to respond to fluctuation in the output voltage faster than the first error amplifier unit and increase the output current from the output transistor for a period of time when the output voltage rapidly drops. Current consumption of the second error amplifier unit is changed according to the output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiki Takagi
  • Patent number: 8129968
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an integrated circuit for system calibration, applicable to a power supply, comprising: a comparison module, having a feedback input end coupled to a feedback signal and a reference input end coupled to an analog reference signal for delivering a status signal; a detection and control module, for generating a reference signal and a calibration value according to the status signal, wherein the calibration value is derived from the reference signal at an instant when the status signal changes state, and the calibration value is stored into a calibration value register; a memory module, for receiving, storing and outputting the calibration value; and a reference signal generator, receiving the calibration value to provide the analog reference signal. The present invention can therefore be used to automatically calibrate a system with fewer external components to provide qualified systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Grenergy Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Yen-Hui Wang, Wei-Chun Hsiao
  • Patent number: 8115461
    Abstract: A power supply circuit with low noise and low power consumption and a battery device using the power supply circuit. If a voltage VDD is higher than a prescribed voltage, a charge pump circuit 140A is operated in “½ mode” (a step-down ratio of “2”), steps down the voltage VDD, and outputs an intermediate voltage VCPO. Since the voltage VDD is stepped down, the intermediate voltage VCPO being input into a first LDO 135 is about half the case where no step-down is carried out, and the power being consumed in a MOS transistor Q11 (FIG. 3) of the first LDO 135 is greatly reduced. Therefore, the increase in power consumption of the first LDO 135 due to a voltage increase in the voltage VDD can be suppressed. Also, since the heat sink of the first LDO 135 can be reduced in size or omitted by the suppression of power consumption, the size and weight of the device can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Katsura Yoshio
  • Patent number: 8080983
    Abstract: A power element bypass and voltage regulation circuit shutdown is used in a low drop out (LDO) bypass voltage regulator to minimize current drawn by the voltage regulator circuit when the supply input voltage approaches the regulated output voltage of the voltage regulation circuit. Two modes of operation are used in the low drop out (LDO) bypass voltage regulator. A regulate mode is used when the supply input voltage is greater than the reference voltage input, and a track mode is used when the supply input voltage is less than or equal to approximately the regulated output voltage of the voltage regulation circuit. Hysteresis may be introduced when switching between the regulate and track modes of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Ruan Lourens, Razvan Enachescu, Marc Tiu
  • Patent number: 8080982
    Abstract: A low drop-out (LDO) voltage regulator with efficient frequency compensation is disclosed. The LDO voltage regulator includes an error amplifier, a transmission element, a voltage divider and a pole control unit. The error amplifier generates a control signal according to a reference voltage and a feedback voltage. The transmission element is coupled to the error amplifier, and adjusts an input voltage to generate an output voltage according to the control signal. The voltage divider is coupled to the transmission element, and performs a voltage division operation on the output voltage to generate the feedback voltage. The pole control unit is coupled to the transmission element, and provides and adjusts an output capacitor of the LDO voltage regulator to fix a frequency of a pole according to variation of an output impedance of the transmission element, so as to maintain loop stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Ying-Yao Lin, Cheng-Chung Hsu
  • Patent number: 8072197
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power-managed socket adapted for connecting to an electrical device and thus providing the electrical device with power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yu-Ping Tsou, Cheng-Ting Lin, An-Peng Wang, Chun-Yu Chen, Wu-Chi Ho
  • Patent number: 8044646
    Abstract: Various apparatuses, methods and systems for a voltage regulator are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments provide an apparatus for regulating a voltage including an N-channel transistor that is connected between an input and an output, an error amplifier that is connected to the output, a capacitor that is connected between the error amplifier and a gate of the N-channel transistor, and a comparator that is connected to a node between the error amplifier and the capacitor. The apparatus also includes a charge pump that is switchably connected to the gate of the N-channel transistor. The apparatus is adapted to connect the charge pump to the gate of the N-channel transistor when a voltage at the node between the error amplifier and the capacitor rises above a threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Erhan Ozalevli, Luthuli E. Dake, Gregory Romas, Ching-yuh Tsay
  • Patent number: 8040118
    Abstract: A low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator that includes an error amplifier which compares a reference voltage with a feedback voltage of an output voltage and outputs an error signal based on the result of the comparison, the error amplifier being biased by an input voltage; a first MOS transistor having a gate electrically connected to the error signal, a source electrically connected to the input voltage and a drain electrically connected to the output voltage; a voltage divider which transmits a predetermined part of the output voltage to the error amplifier as feedback voltage; and a level limiter which limits a level of the output voltage from changing beyond and below an offset voltage when a level of a load current changes. In accordance with embodiments, A predetermined number of comparators and MOS transistor type-switches are provided to enhance the slew ratio of the regulated output voltage and to reduce standby electricity consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Il Cho, Sung-Man (Chang woo) Pang (Ha)
  • Patent number: 8026703
    Abstract: A voltage regulator and method of using the same are provided that improve wakeup-time and reduce power wastage in switching a device from standby or sleep-mode to active mode. Generally, the voltage regulator includes: (i) a standby regulator having a high-impedance node (NGATE); (ii) an active regulator having a high-impedance node (dominant pole node); (iii) a compensation capacitor; and (iv) a switching circuit to couple the compensation capacitor to the high-impedance node (NGATE) of the standby regulator while the device is in sleep-mode to pre-charge the compensation capacitor, and to couple the compensation capacitor to the high-impedance node (dominant pole node) of the active regulator while the device is in active or non-sleep-mode. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Naga Radha Krishna Damaraju, Srikanth Reddy Tiyyagura
  • Patent number: 8018213
    Abstract: The measurement of a current through a load transistor is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Christian Arndt
  • Patent number: 8013580
    Abstract: A controller for use with a power converter including a switch configured to conduct to provide a regulated output characteristic at an output of the power converter, and method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the controller includes a linear control circuit, coupled to the output, configured to provide a first control signal for the switch as a function of the output characteristic. The controller also includes a nonlinear control circuit, coupled to the output, configured to provide a second control signal for the switch as a function of the output characteristic. The controller is configured to select one of the first and second control signals for the switch in response to a change in an operating condition of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Enpirion, Inc.
    Inventors: Pedro Alou Cervera, Jose Antonio Cobos Márquez, Ashraf W. Lotfi, Andrés Soto del Pecho
  • Patent number: 7994761
    Abstract: A regulator comprising a linear regulator. The linear regulator may comprise a preamplifier, a first radio frequency (RF) transistor and a second radio frequency (RF) transistor. An output of the preamplifier stage may be provided to a biasing terminal of the first RF transistor and a biasing terminal of the second RF transistor. Also, the first and second RF transistors may be electrically connected in series between a positive supply voltage and a negative supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Astec International Limited
    Inventors: Piotr Markowski, Lin Guo Wang
  • Patent number: 7965067
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises an error amplifier that amplifies the difference between a reference voltage and a feedback voltage, a first variable impedance circuit coupled to the error amplifier that receives a control voltage from the error amplifier, a charge pump coupled to the variable impedance that receives an input voltage from the variable impedance, and a Miller compensator coupled to the charge pump and to the first variable impedance circuit. The Miller compensator receives the output voltage and output current from the charge pump. It also outputs the feedback voltage, adjusts the control voltage, and has a zero-pole that is proportional to a power of the output current of the charge pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Janne Antti Grönthal, Jarkko Antero Routama, Kimmo Kristian Hauskaviita, Jonne Jalmar Sebastian Lindeberg
  • Patent number: 7960954
    Abstract: The invention discloses a voltage adjusting apparatus including a power adaptor, a first resistor, a current detecting module, a second resistor, and a voltage feedback controlling module. The power adaptor outputs a first current first. The first resistor is used to convert the first current to a first voltage. The current detecting module is used to convert the first voltage to a second current. The second resistor is used to convert the second current to a second voltage. The voltage feedback controlling module is used to convert the second voltage to a third voltage. The power adaptor is used to convert the third voltage to a fourth voltage and output the fourth voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: ASUSTek Computer Inc.
    Inventor: Hsiao Wen Chen
  • Patent number: 7911191
    Abstract: A voltage regulator has a device for regulating an output voltage, having an input to receive an input voltage and an output to deliver an output voltage of a constant level, and a device for correcting a drop-out voltage violation, coupled to the device for regulating, to determine an occurrence of a drop-out voltage violation and to cause the device for regulating to change the level of the output voltage upon detection of the drop-out voltage violation. A method for regulating an output voltage has the steps of receiving an input voltage, generating and outputting a regulated output voltage of a constant level, monitoring occurrence of a drop-out voltage violation, and causing a change of the level of the output voltage upon detection of the drop-out voltage violation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Michael Lewis
  • Publication number: 20110050186
    Abstract: A voltage reducing circuit includes an internal power supply section configured to reduce an external power supply voltage supplied from an external power supply to an internal power supply voltage which is lower than the external power supply voltage based on a reference voltage. A first current control section is configured to control a current flowing through the internal power supply section when the internal power supply voltage is lower than a setting voltage. A second current control section is configured to control the current flowing through the internal power supply section when the internal power supply voltage exceeds the setting voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: Toshikatsu JINBO
  • Patent number: 7893671
    Abstract: A regulator to provide an output voltage of a constant level at an output node. In an embodiment, the regulator contains a pass transistor to provide a conductive path between a pair of terminals, with the resistance offered by the path being determined by a control voltage on a third terminal of the pass transistor and the conductive path coupling a first reference potential (e.g., power supply) to the output node. An amplifier generates the control voltage based on a difference of a reference voltage and a voltage proportionate to the output voltage. A control unit turns on a current source when the voltage at the output node is below the desired constant level and turns on a current sink when voltage at said output node is above the constant level, to quickly correct for any variations in the output voltage due to load changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Paramjeet Singh Sahni, Gangaikondan Subramani Visweswaran
  • Patent number: 7893668
    Abstract: A method for regulating a voltage in an integrated circuit device includes providing a first regulated output based upon a first voltage input range and subsequently receiving the first regulated output and providing a second regulated output based upon a second voltage input range of the first regulated output. A circuit is further provided that operates accordingly. Additionally, a clipper circuit is provided at the input to protect for over voltage conditions that may results, for example, from a charging battery to cause an output voltage of the battery to substantially exceed ordinary output voltage levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Alireza Zolfaghari
  • Patent number: 7863875
    Abstract: A voltage regulator may be configured to detect variation in load current and control transient response when the load current has a high slew rate or varies at high repetition rates. A linear control circuit may be employed to control charging of an output capacitor and a load of the regulator. Upon detection of high load current step-up change at high slew rates, a non-linear control circuit may be activated. The fast load current step change may be detected by comparing an output voltage of the regulator to a feedback input of an error amplifier of the linear control circuit. The output of the error amplifier may be clamped to prevent output voltage ring-back when using the non-linear control circuit or to control load release dip. Output voltage overshoot may be controlled by turning OFF a top switch that charges the output capacitor before the inductor current becomes zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Yigang Guo, Francesco Carobolante
  • Patent number: 7855536
    Abstract: Source voltage and substrate voltage are supplied to a semiconductor integrated circuit 1E from the regulator circuits 11C and 21C of a power supply circuit 1C via a power detection compensating circuit 1D. The power efficiency value of a regulator is stored in the resistor file 13D, various detection information and power values are input to an operator 14D, the power values and the power efficiency values of the regulator circuits 11C and 21C are accumulated, and the power sum of a semiconductor integrated circuit 1E and a power supply circuit 1C are output. Minimum power implementation information corresponding to the various detection information of the semiconductor integrated circuit 1E is stored in an LUT 15D. Variable resistances R1a and R2a are controlled for determining the reference voltage values of the regulator circuits 11C and 21C so that the power sum is the minimum power value by comparing the minimum power implementation information with the output 14D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Masaya Sumita
  • Patent number: 7843674
    Abstract: A motor-drive circuit comprising: a current-passage-control circuit to perform ON/OFF control of a drive transistor connected to a motor coil to pass current through the motor coil; an overcurrent-state-detection circuit to detect whether current passing through the drive transistor is in an overcurrent state where the current exceeds a predetermined threshold value; a charging and discharging circuit to start charging a capacitor in response to detecting the overcurrent state by the overcurrent-state-detection circuit and subsequently discharge the capacitor in response to not detecting the overcurrent state; and an overcurrent-protection-control circuit to stop the ON/OFF control to turn off the drive transistor, for an elapsed charging period for a charging voltage of the capacitor at a predetermined voltage to exceed a threshold voltage, and determine whether to perform such an overcurrent-protection-control as to turn off the drive transistor by detection of the overcurrent state, after the charging peri
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 7834602
    Abstract: A feedback power control system includes: a multiplying unit receiving a work voltage corresponding to a voltage drop of an electrical component, and a feedback voltage corresponding to a work current flowing through the electrical component, and outputting a measuring voltage corresponding to a consumed power of the electrical component and having a value equal to a product of a value of the work voltage and a value of the feedback voltage; a control unit receiving the measuring voltage from the multiplying unit, and a reference voltage, and outputting a control voltage corresponding to a voltage difference between the measuring voltage and the reference voltage; and a regulating unit providing the feedback voltage to the multiplying unit, and including an amplifier that receives the feedback voltage from a series connection of transistor and a resistor coupled to the electrical component, and the control voltage from the control unit and that controls operation of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: National Chi Nan University
    Inventors: Tai-Ping Sun, Chia-Hung Wang, Wei-Shun Cheng
  • Patent number: 7821242
    Abstract: A constant voltage circuit for converting an input voltage input from an input terminal, converting the input voltage to a predetermined constant voltage, and outputting the converted voltage from an output terminal is disclosed that includes an output transistor for outputting a current corresponding to a control signal from the input terminal to the output terminal, a control circuit part for controlling operation of the output transistor so that a proportional voltage proportional to the voltage output from the output terminal is equal to a reference voltage, and a pseudo-load current control circuit part for supplying a pseudo-load current from the output terminal when detecting that the output transistor is switched off according to a voltage difference between the input voltage and a voltage of a gate of the output transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiki Takagi
  • Patent number: 7791322
    Abstract: An exemplary DC-DC converting circuit (2) includes an input terminal (20), a regulating circuit (21), a bleeder circuit (23), an output terminal (25), a voltage-controlling terminal (26), and a load (24). The input terminal, the regulating circuit, the bleeder circuit, and the output terminal are connected in series. The output terminal is grounded via the load. The voltage-controlling terminal is configured to supply a controlling voltage that controls the regulating circuit, and the bleeder circuit is configured to supply a stable divided voltage to the output terminal for output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignees: Innocom Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Chimei Innolux Corporation
    Inventors: Hong-Bo Zhou, Tong Zhou
  • Patent number: 7786713
    Abstract: A series regulator circuit for reducing current consumption, enabling switching between different current consumption modes, and suppressing output voltage fluctuations. A constant current source 20, connected to an input voltage line, is connected to a ground voltage line via a resistor element 21 and transistor B1. Gate terminals of transistors M2, M4 are connected between the constant current source 20 and transistor B1. The transistor M2 is connected to the input voltage line via a transistor M1 activated in a high current mode. The source terminals of the transistors M2, M4 function as the series regulator circuit output terminal, which is connected to the ground voltage line via a resistor element 23 and transistor M3, activated in a high current mode, or via resistor elements 24, 25. A connection node between the resistor elements 24, 25 is connected to a base voltage of the transistor B1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kimura
  • Patent number: 7777464
    Abstract: A mixed type frequency compensating circuit is disclosed. The mixed type frequency compensating circuit includes an integral component sub-circuit of a voltage-amplifier-type frequency compensating circuit and a proportional component sub-circuit of a transconductance-amplifier-type frequency compensating circuit. The integral component sub-circuit amplifies an input voltage signal in a voltage mode. The proportional component sub-circuit amplifies the input voltage signal in a current mode. Accordingly, the mixed type frequency compensating circuit may occupy a small area in a semiconductor integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Hwa Jung, Dong-Hee Kim, Kyung-Goo Lee, Dong-Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 7777463
    Abstract: A method includes coupling a variable output DC power source to power control circuitry, and detecting a type of the variable output DC power source in response to the coupling operation. In one embodiment, the detecting operation may include sending an interrogation signal from the power control circuitry to the variable output DC power source, and evaluating a response to the interrogation signal to determine the type of said variable output DC power source. Power control circuitry may include source type recognition circuitry configured to detect a type of a variable output DC power source in response to a coupling of the variable output DC power source to the power control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: O2Micro International Limited
    Inventors: Marian Niculae, Constantin Bucur, William Densham
  • Patent number: 7772814
    Abstract: A step-down circuit generates a second power supply lower than a first power supply. The step-down circuit includes an output terminal connected to a load circuit, an output transistor connected between the first power supply and the output terminal, and having a gate terminal connected to a first node, a monitor transistor connected between the first power supply and a second node, and having a gate terminal connected to the first node, and a feedback circuit which sets a gate voltage of the output transistor in accordance with a difference between a voltage obtained by dividing a voltage of the second node and a reference voltage. A size of the monitor transistor is changed in accordance with an operation mode of the load circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Suematsu, Katsumi Abe
  • Patent number: 7772817
    Abstract: A constant voltage circuit which is capable of quickly responding to a sudden change of an output voltage includes an output transistor, and first and second error amplifiers. The output transistor outputs a power with an output voltage and an output current to a load. The first error amplifier is configured to increase a response speed with respect to changes of the output voltage in accordance with an increase of the output current so as to control operations of the output transistor. The second error amplifier has a response speed faster than the first error amplifier with respect to changes of the output voltage, and is configured to decrease a gain thereof in response to a drain current of the output transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Takagi, Yusuke Minakuchi
  • Patent number: 7768339
    Abstract: Provided is a voltage regulator for limiting a rush current from an output stage transistor. The voltage regulator includes an output current limiting circuit having a low detection current value and an output current limiting circuit having a high detection current value, and is structured so as to enable operation of the output current limiting circuit having a low detection current value during a time period from a state in which an overheat protection circuit detects overheat and an output current is stopped to a state in which an overheat protection is canceled and a predetermined time passes. Accordingly, after the overheat protection is cancelled, an excessive rush current can be limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Teruo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7747884
    Abstract: A power supply circuit for a motherboard includes a first resistor, a second resistor, a Schottky diode, and a direct current (DC) voltage source. The Schottky diode includes a first anode, a second anode, and a cathode. The first anode of the Schottky diode is respectively coupled to terminals of the first and second resistors, another terminal of each of the first and second resistors is respectively coupled to a power supply and ground. The second anode of the Schottky diode is coupled to the DC voltage source, the cathode of the Schottky diode is coupled to a south bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ke-You Hu, Feng-Long He
  • Patent number: 7723968
    Abstract: A linear voltage regulator includes a first transistor, a feedback circuit, and a control circuit. The first transistor includes a first terminal coupled to an input terminal of the regulator, a second terminal coupled to an output terminal of the regulator, and a control terminal. The first transistor is configured to provide a load current to the output terminal at a desired voltage level based on a control signal on the control terminal. The feedback circuit is coupled to the output terminal and is configured to generate a feedback signal based on an actual voltage level at the output terminal. The control circuit is configured to provide, based on the feedback signal, the control signal at a level to substantially maintain an output voltage at the output terminal at the desired voltage level. An operating current of the control circuit is configured to increase, by a limited amount, responsive to a transient increase in the load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Fabio Hideki Okuyama, Andre Luis Do Couto
  • Patent number: RE42307
    Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter includes one or more power switches, a pulse width modulation circuit for generating control pulses for the power switches, and an output inductor connected to the power switches. A thermally compensated current sensor is connected to an intrinsic current sensing element exhibiting a temperature-based parameter non-linearity. The thermally compensated current sensor has a temperature coefficient that substantially matches a temperature coefficient of an intrinsic power converter element used to measure current flow, thus linearizing the current measurement. Also, a current feedback loop circuit cooperates with the pulse width modulation circuit to control the power switches responsive to the thermally compensated current sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Michael M. Walters, Matthew B. Harris, Bogdan M. Duduman