Using A Linearly Acting Final Control Device Patents (Class 323/303)
  • Patent number: 8248049
    Abstract: In an NMOSFET-base linear charger, a pair of common gate charging NMOSFET and sensing NMOSFET have their sources coupled together or virtually shorted to each other, so that these two NMOSFETs have a same gate-source voltage and thereby the sensing NMOSFET reflects the drain-source current of the charging NMOSFET on its drain-source current. From the drain-source current of the sensing NMOSFET, a current sensing signal is generated to control the gate voltage of the charging NMOSFET. By implementing the current source with NMOSFETs, the linear charger has smaller die area and less power loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Nien-Hui Kung, Kwan-Jen Chu
  • Patent number: 8218340
    Abstract: A synchronous rectification type DC-DC converter equipped with a burst mode prevents backward flows of currents on the secondary side thereof. The DC-DC converter turns off a control signal of a switching element on the primary side when the load thereof becomes light, and includes a voltage converting transformer, a first switching element connected to the primary side coil of the transformer, a primary side control circuit performing on-off control of the first switching element, a synchronously rectifying second switching element connected to the secondary side coil, and a secondary side control circuit performing on-off control of the second switching element. A pulse width ensuring circuit ensures that the pulse width of the control signal performing on-off control of the first switching element does not become equal to or less than the original width of a PWM pulse when entering the burst mode and when exiting the burst mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Sato, Takumi Hyuugaji
  • Patent number: 8217638
    Abstract: A linear regulator and methods of regulation are provided. In one implementation, a linear regulator is provided. The linear regulator can receive an input voltage, generate an internal bias voltage in response to the received input voltage. The linear regulator can determine if the input voltage meets one or more first criteria and second criteria, and adjust an output voltage based on the internal bias voltage if the input voltage meets the one or more first criteria. The linear regulator also can supply the input voltage directly to the load if the input voltage meets the one or more second criteria. In some implementations, the linear regulator can generate an internal bias voltage that is clamped within a desired operating range if the input voltage meets the one or more first criteria, and adjusts one or more electronic circuits using the internal bias voltage to provide the adjusted output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Ying Tian Li, Sakti P. Rana, Kuong Hoo, legal representative
  • Publication number: 20120139520
    Abstract: The invention relates to a linear regulator comprising input means configured to receive an input voltage, output means configured to deliver an output voltage, a shunt element coupled to said input means and said output means, and configured to be passed through by a current and to exhibit across its terminals a voltage drop independent of said current, controllable by-pass means coupled between said input means and said output means, and configured to have a first state for by-passing said shunt element and a second state for not by-passing said shunt element, and control means coupled to said input means and configured to place said by-pass means in their first state or in their second state depending on the value of said input voltage. The invention also relates to an electronic device comprising such a linear regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: ST-ERICSSON SA
    Inventor: Zhenhua Wang
  • Patent number: 8154270
    Abstract: An input protection circuit (IPC) may prevent an input signal from propagating into a system, such as an integrated circuit (IC), when the voltage level of the input signal exceeds a specified value. The IPC may be configured to compare the input signal voltage, which may be that of an external input signal received by the system, with a reference voltage, which may be the power supply voltage. If the input signal voltage exceeds the reference voltage, the output of the IPC may be set to the value of a specified clamp voltage. If the input signal voltage does not exceed the reference voltage, the output of the IPC may track (or follow) the input signal voltage. For certain integrated circuits, the IPC may be configured to provide circuit protection for an input signal voltage ranging between 0V to 5V, and a power supply voltage ranging between 3.0V and 3.6V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation
    Inventors: Jane Xu, Steven Burstein, Jay D. Popper
  • Patent number: 8085028
    Abstract: As for a transistor, overlapped are factors such as a variation of a gate insulation film which occurs due to a difference of a manufacturing process and a substrate used and a variation of a crystalline state in a channel forming region and thereby, there occurs a variation of a threshold voltage and mobility of a transistor. This invention provides an electric circuit which used a rectification type device in which an electric current is generated only in a single direction, when an electric potential difference was applied to electrodes at both ends of the device. Then, the invention provides an electric circuit which utilized a fact that, when a signal voltage is inputted to one terminal of the rectification type device, an electric potential of the other terminal becomes an electric potential offset only by the threshold voltage of the rectification type device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Kimura, Yasuko Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20110273158
    Abstract: A control circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention for a DC-DC converter which has an input, an output and a series connection of a differentiator, a comparator unit, and an integrator. The series connection is coupled in between the input and the output. The comparator unit has an inverting amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Loreto Mateu, Markus Pollak, Peter Spies
  • Patent number: 8013587
    Abstract: A power supply circuit includes: an input terminal; a DC voltage converter that converts a DC input voltage supplied to the input terminal into a DC output voltage; an output terminal that outputs the DC output voltage; a bypass circuit provided to the DC voltage converter between the input terminal and the output terminal; and a monitor control unit that monitors whether or not the DC input voltage satisfies a predetermined condition to be processed in the DC voltage converter, so as to connect the input terminal to the output terminal via the bypass circuit if the DC input voltage does not satisfy the predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Mitsuo Saeki, Kouichi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7973567
    Abstract: Power over Ethernet (PoE) communication systems provide power and data communications over the same communications link, where a power source device (PSE) provides DC power (for example, 48 volts DC) to a powered device (PD). The DC power is transmitted simultaneously over the same communications medium with the high speed data from one node to the other node. The PSE typically includes a controller that controls the DC power provided to the PD at the second node of the communications link. The PSE controller measures the voltage, current, and temperature of the outgoing and incoming DC supply lines to characterize the power requirements of the PD. The PSE controller includes a resistorless switch to measure the current. The resistorless switch includes a sense transistor and a current mirror to allowing the PSE controller to calculate the current based upon a replica current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Pieter Vorenkamp
  • Patent number: 7960953
    Abstract: A regulator circuit stabilizes the input voltage applied to an input terminal before outputting the output voltage via an output terminal. An output transistor is provided between the input terminal and the output terminal. An error amplifier adjusts the voltage applied to the control terminal of the output transistor such that a voltage that corresponds to the output voltage approaches a predetermined reference voltage. A fluctuation detection capacitor is provided on a path from the input terminal to the grounded terminal. One terminal of the fluctuation detection capacitor is set to a fixed electric potential. In a case that the input voltage is lower than the voltage at the other terminal of the fluctuation detection capacitor, an undershoot suppressing circuit forcibly reduces the gate voltage of the output transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki Inoue
  • Patent number: 7932705
    Abstract: A variable input voltage regulator includes a first circuit configured to convert a first voltage from a first voltage source to a first current, and a second circuit electrically coupled to the first circuit and configured to mirror the first current to a voltage output node. The variable input voltage regulator further includes a third circuit electrically coupled to the voltage output node of the second circuit and configured to supply additional current to the voltage output node from a second voltage of a second voltage source in response to a control input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Seongwon Kim, Daniel M. Dreps
  • Publication number: 20110074377
    Abstract: To provide a time constant circuit and the like capable of acquiring a characteristic of an output voltage that attenuates gradually after attenuating steeply, compared to a characteristic that attenuates monotonously. The time constant circuit includes: a series/parallel circuit formed by serially connecting a plurality of parallel circuits each formed with a resistance element and a capacitance element between a first terminal and a second terminal; and a voltage-dividing resistance element connected between a third terminal connected to the second terminal and a fourth terminal. A first parallel circuit is formed with a first resistance element and a first capacitance element, a second parallel circuit with a second resistance element and a second capacitance element, and an n-th parallel circuit with an n-th resistance element and an n-th capacitance element. Note that ā€œnā€ is the number of the parallel circuits and it is an integer of 2 or larger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: NEC LCD TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Kouichi OOGA
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7898230
    Abstract: An integrated circuit assembly includes a voltage level generator, a level shifter, a bandgap reference generator and a voltage regulator. The voltage level generator generates output voltage level signals in response to a supply voltage. The level shifter receives the output voltage level signals from the voltage level generator and generates first and second sets of control signals. The bandgap reference generator receives a reference voltage input and generates a bandgap reference signal. The voltage regulator receives a supply voltage, the bandgap reference signal the first and second sets of control signals from the level shifter and generates a constant output voltage under varying circuit conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Chang-Hyeon Lee, Joshua Cho, Pete Good
  • Patent number: 7863874
    Abstract: A linear voltage regulator is provided having a first transistor connected between a terminal for an input voltage and a terminal for an output voltage, a reference voltage source for producing a reference voltage, a first resistor, a second resistor, a second transistor, wherein the first resistor, the second resistor, and the second transistor are series-connected between the terminal for the output voltage and a reference voltage, and constitute a voltage divider, wherein a divided output voltage is present at a tap of the voltage divider, and also having a differential amplifier with an inverting input and a non-inverting input, wherein the inverting input is connected to the reference voltage source, the non-inverting input is connected to the tap of the voltage divider, and an output terminal of the differential amplifier is connected to a control terminal of the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Atmel Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Oelmaier
  • 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: 7782041
    Abstract: A linear regulator is described that includes a mode selection circuit. In one implementation, the mode selection circuit is operable to receive an input voltage and to set an operation mode to one of a first mode or a second mode (e.g., based on a voltage level of the input voltage) so as to generate an output voltage. For example, when the voltage level of the input voltage is within a voltage range, the mode selection circuit can set the first mode as the operation mode to supply the input voltage as the output voltage to a load without voltage regulation. Similarly, when the voltage level of the input voltage is outside the voltage range, the mode selection circuit can set the second mode as the operation mode to regulate the output voltage to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Ying Tian Li, Sakti P. Rana, Kuong Hoo, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7782094
    Abstract: Power over Ethernet (PoE) communication systems provide power and data communications over the same communications link, where a power source device (PSE) provides DC power (for example, 48 volts DC) to a powered device (PD). The DC power is transmitted simultaneously over the same communications medium with the high speed data from one node to the other node. The PSE typically includes a controller that controls the DC power provided to the PD at the second node of the communications link. The PSE controller measures the voltage, current, and temperature of the outgoing and incoming DC supply lines to characterize the power requirements of the PD. The PSE controller includes a resistorless switch to measure the current. The resistorless switch includes a sense transistor and a current mirror to allowing the PSE controller to calculate the current based upon a replica current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Pieter Vorenkamp
  • Publication number: 20100207596
    Abstract: An input protection circuit (IPC) may prevent an input signal from propagating into a system, such as an integrated circuit (IC), when the voltage level of the input signal exceeds a specified value. The IPC may be configured to compare the input signal voltage, which may be that of an external input signal received by the system, with a reference voltage, which may be the power supply voltage. If the input signal voltage exceeds the reference voltage, the output of the IPC may be set to the value of a specified clamp voltage. If the input signal voltage does not exceed the reference voltage, the output of the IPC may track (or follow) the input signal voltage. For certain integrated circuits, the IPC may be configured to provide circuit protection for an input signal voltage ranging between 0V to 5V, and a power supply voltage ranging between 3.0V and 3.6V.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Jane Xu, Steven Burstein, Jay D. Popper
  • Patent number: 7764058
    Abstract: As for a transistor, overlapped are factors such as a variation of a gate insulation film which occurs due to a difference of a manufacturing process and a substrate used and a variation of a crystalline state in a channel forming region and thereby, there occurs a variation of a threshold voltage and mobility of a transistor. This invention provides an electric circuit which used a rectification type device in which an electric current is generated only in a single direction, when an electric potential difference was applied to electrodes at both ends of the device. Then, the invention provides an electric circuit which utilized a fact that, when a signal voltage is inputted to one terminal of the rectification type device, an electric potential of the other terminal becomes an electric potential offset only by the threshold voltage of the rectification type device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Kimura, Yasuko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7741818
    Abstract: A voltage regulator is disclosed. The voltage regulator includes an output unit for converting an input voltage provided by a power source into a predetermined voltage, and for outputting the converted voltage, a monitoring unit for determining whether the input voltage provided by the power source is greater than a reference voltage, and a step-up unit for stepping up the input voltage provided by the power source if the monitoring unit determines that the input voltage is less than the reference voltage. The output unit includes a converting unit for converting the stepped-up voltage into the predetermined voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Agari
  • Patent number: 7688046
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for performing power conversion operations in a portable device are used to convert an input voltage to a voltage at an output. The conversion operations use a two-stage conversion to convert the input voltage to a first voltage and to convert the first voltage to a second voltage. A switching frequency is altered with changes in the input voltage. The switching frequency is selected based on the input voltage level and/or to maintain a substantially consistent ripple at the output, which can correspond to the first voltage and/or the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Li Li, Ronil D. Patel
  • Publication number: 20090206817
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a high voltage drive circuit comprising drive and sense electrodes formed substantially in a single plane. The device effects signal transfer between drive and receive circuits through the drive and sense electrodes by capacitive means, and permits high voltage devices, such as IGBTs, to be driven thereby without the use of high voltage transistors, thereby eliminating the need to use expensive fabrication processes such as SOI when manufacturing high voltage gate drive circuits and ICs. The device may be formed in a small package using, by way of example, using CMOS or other conventional low-cost semiconductor fabrication and packaging processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Avago Technologies ECBU (Singapore) Ple. Ltd.
    Inventors: Gek Yong Ng, Fun Kok Chow, Richard Kok Keong Lum
  • Patent number: 7573251
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high efficiency voltage regulator. It includes an input transistor coupled to a voltage source to provide a supply voltage. A detection circuit is coupled to the voltage source and the supply voltage to generate a control signal and an enable signal in response to voltage levels of the voltage source and the supply voltage. A charge pump circuit is coupled to the detection circuit and the input transistor to turn on the input transistor in response to the control signal. A control transistor is connected to the detection circuit and the input transistor to turn off the input transistor in response to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Wei-Hsuan Huang
  • Publication number: 20090174386
    Abstract: A power supply device including a diode bridge, a converter module, and an inrush control module. The diode bridge is adapted to rectify an input voltage. The converter module is coupled to the diode bridge and is adapted to convert the input voltage into a direct current regulated output voltage. The inrush control module is connected to the diode bridge and is adapted to gradually activate a transistor and to limit an inrush current peak value based upon a zero crossing being detected in the input voltage. A method for limiting the inrush current peak value is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS, LP
    Inventors: Lucian Popescu, Constantin D. Livescu
  • Patent number: 7557556
    Abstract: Provided is a voltage control circuit which suppresses a calorific value that generates when short-circuit fault occurs even if a voltage value of an input voltage is large. At the time of short-circuit fault, an additional control voltage Va whose voltage value becomes larger when the voltage value of the input voltage Vin is larger is input to the voltage control p-channel MOS transistor (110) from a transistor control MOS transistor (160), to thereby increase resistance of the voltage control p-channel MOS transistor (110) to suppress a short-circuit current. As a result, when the input voltage Vin is larger, the current value of a holding current or a calorific value after the short-circuit protecting operation has been conducted can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Takao Nakashimo
  • Patent number: 7554306
    Abstract: An integrated circuit assembly includes a voltage level generator, a level shifter, a bandgap reference generator and a voltage regulator. The voltage level generator generates output voltage level signals in response to a supply voltage. The level shifter receives the output voltage level signals from the voltage level generator and generates first and second sets of control signals. The bandgap reference generator receives a reference voltage input and generates a bandgap reference signal. The voltage regulator receives a supply voltage, the bandgap reference signal the first and second sets of control signals from the level shifter and generates a constant output voltage under varying circuit conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Chang-Hyeon Lee, Joshua Cho, Pete Good
  • Patent number: 7542308
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter is provided with a control circuit 6 which comprises a drive signal generator 11 for producing on-off signals to a control terminal of a MOS-FET 3 in synchronization with pulse signals VOSC from an oscillator 10; an intermittent controller 12 for producing a control signal VC1 to drive signal generator 11 in response to the level of detection signal from an output voltage detector 5 to convert MOS-FET 3 to the intermittent operation during the light load period; and a power control circuit 16 for ceasing power supply VCC to oscillator 10 in response to control signal VC1 from intermittent controller 12 to stop production of pulse signal VOSC from oscillator 10 for the cessation term of MOS-FET 3 during the intermittent operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyasu Yamada
  • Patent number: 7525294
    Abstract: A voltage regulator system is provided, which receives a first voltage and produces a regulated voltage. Such a device does not include any transistor supporting the first voltage, but does include transistors supporting at most a second voltage lower than the first voltage and includes division means, which include a first transistor connected in series with at least one second transistor, which division means receive the first voltage and generate the regulated voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Atmel Nantes SA
    Inventor: Philippe Messager
  • Patent number: 7518347
    Abstract: A regulator circuit is provided which has a reference voltage outputting unit, a first operational amplifier, a voltage-dividing unit, and a second operational amplifier. The reference voltage outputting unit is connected to a power source voltage, has a rectifying element, and outputs a first reference voltage. The first reference voltage is input to the first operational amplifier, and the first operational amplifier outputs a second reference voltage equal to the first reference voltage. The second reference voltage is input to the voltage-dividing unit, and the voltage-dividing unit outputs a third reference voltage having a voltage lower than the second reference voltage. The third reference voltage is input to the second operational amplifier, and the second operational amplifier outputs an output voltage equal to the third reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Oyama
  • Publication number: 20090015070
    Abstract: Circuits and methods for paralleling voltage regulators are provided. Improved current sharing and regulation characteristics are obtained by coupling control terminals of the voltage regulators together which results in precise output voltages and proportional current production. Distributing current generation among multiple paralleled voltage regulators improves heat dissipation and thereby reduces the likelihood that the current produced by the voltage regulators will be temperature limited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventor: Robert C. Dobkin
  • Publication number: 20080309306
    Abstract: An exemplary power control circuit (24) includes a scaler circuit (245) configured for outputting a control signal, a voltage converter (27) configured for converting a received voltage into a plurality of desired voltages, a first control unit (28), a second control unit (29), and a coupling circuit (26). The first control unit is configured for controlling whether a first voltage is applied to the voltage converter. The second control unit is configured for controlling whether to transmit a second voltage applied thereto. The coupling circuit is between the first and second control units. The coupling circuit enables the second control unit to function ahead of the voltage converter according to the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventor: Shun-Ming Huang
  • Patent number: 7456625
    Abstract: As for a transistor, overlapped are factors such as a variation of a gate insulation film which occurs due to a difference of a manufacturing process and a substrate used and a variation of a crystalline state in a channel forming region and thereby, there occurs a variation of a threshold voltage and mobility of a transistor. This invention provides an electric circuit which used a rectification type device in which an electric current is generated only in a single direction, when an electric potential difference was applied to electrodes at both ends of the device. Then, the invention provides an electric circuit which utilized a fact that, when a signal voltage is inputted to one terminal of the rectification type device, an electric potential of the other terminal becomes an electric potential offset only by the threshold voltage of the rectification type device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Kimura, Yasuko Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20080284403
    Abstract: A high-side current sense circuit comprises a sense resistance Rsense connected in series with a signal having an associated current to be measured I, which develops voltages V1 and V2 on either side of Rsense. A differential gain stage powered by supply voltages VCC and VEE produces an output voltage which varies with the difference between its input signals. To keep the common mode portion of the input signal between voltages VCC and VEE, a voltage modification circuit subtracts or adds a common mode voltage to or from V1 and V2 to produce modified voltages V1? and V2?, which are coupled to the gain stage inputs. The voltage modification circuit is arranged to ensure that VEE?V1? and V2??VCC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Evaldo M. Miranda, Anthonius Bakker
  • Patent number: 7443149
    Abstract: A regulator circuit is provided which suppresses a variation in output voltage upon occurrence of a variation in input voltage or output current without any increase in steady-state power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltc.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Nishimura, Hiroki Inoue, Nobuhiro Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20080246457
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a voltage up-conversion circuit includes a modulated voltage generator circuit, where the modulated voltage generator circuit is configured to receive an input voltage and generate a modulated voltage, and where the modulated voltage generator circuit includes at least one transistor. The voltage up-conversion circuit further includes a switching circuit coupled to the modulated voltage generator circuit, where the switching circuit is configured to couple the modulated voltage to a load capacitor when the modulated voltage is at a high level and decouple the modulated voltage to the load capacitor when the modulated voltage is at a low level. In the voltage up-conversion circuit, the load capacitor reaches a voltage greater a breakdown voltage of the at least one transistor in the modulated voltage generator circuit. The breakdown voltage can be a reliability breakdown voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Bin Zhao
  • Patent number: 7429851
    Abstract: A disclosed constant voltage power supply circuit (1) has an input terminal (Vdd), an output terminal (Vout), a constant voltage power supply unit (2) that generates a constant voltage (Vo1) with a ripple voltage (Vri), and a ripple removing circuit unit (3) for removing the ripple voltage so that a constant voltage (V1) without the ripple voltage is output at the output terminal (OUT). The ripple removing circuit unit comprises a resistor (R1) connected between the constant voltage power supply unit and the output terminal; a ripple voltage detection circuit unit (5) for detecting the ripple voltage and outputting a signal depending on the detected ripple voltage; and a current circuit unit (6, 7) for receiving the signal from the ripple voltage detection circuit unit and supplying a current (io1) to the output terminal or absorbing a current (io2) from the resistor in response to the received signal, so as to cancel the ripple voltage at the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Junji Nishida
  • Publication number: 20080211476
    Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit comprising a first circuit functioning as a voltage dependent resistor, the first circuit having an input coupled to a voltage source and an output and having a resistance dependent on the voltage applied across the circuit by the voltage source such that the resistance increases as the applied voltage increases; and a regulator coupled to the output of the first circuit for providing a regulated output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL RECTIFIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Melvin Kit Ho Chow
  • Patent number: 7414442
    Abstract: In a two-stage inverter circuit including an inverter circuit constituted by first and second FETs and an inverter circuit constituted by two FETs, a source and a gate of a third FET are connected to a first power source and a second power source, respectively. A drain of the third FET is connected to a source of the first FET. A source and a gate of a fourth FET are connected to the first power source and the second power source, respectively. A drain of the fourth FET is connected to a source of a seventh FET. A gate of the seventh FET is connected to the second power source, and a drain of the seventh FET is connected to a back gates of the first, third, fourth, seventh and fifth FETs. The drain of the third FET is connected to the drain of the fourth FET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Osamu Uno
  • Patent number: 7411375
    Abstract: An apparatus for issuance of at least one electrical output signal (Iout), wherein the desired electrical current level of the output signal (Iout) is predeterminable, including: at least one measuring resistor, at which the electrical current level of the output signal (Iout) is measurable; at least one adjuster, via which the electrical current level of the output signal (Iout) is settable; and at least one controller, which compares the electrical current level of the output signal (Iout) measured at the measuring resistor with the electrical current level desired for the output signal (Iout), and which controls the electrical current level of the output signal (Iout) via the adjuster; wherein the controller and the measuring resistor are connected with an electric base-potential (VGND); and wherein the base-potential (VGND) is a reference potential for the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Wetzer GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Konrad, Thomas Haerle, Christian Schneid
  • Publication number: 20080180082
    Abstract: A power regulator with a constant-voltage output is provided, which includes a voltage regulator module and a voltage buffer module, wherein the voltage regulator module is spaced from a load by the voltage buffer module, so that an output voltage of the voltage regulator module is not affected by the current of the load, thereby enhancing the output precision of the power regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: INVENTEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Cheng-Shun Fan
  • Patent number: 7391201
    Abstract: Circuits and methods to achieve a regulated analog switch being capable to provide an output-voltage not exceeding a defined limit are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment a car battery provides a supply voltage up to 40 Volts, wherein a load must not have an output voltage higher than 22 Volts. The drain-source ON-resistance of the switch, realized by a high-voltage MOSFET, is kept to a minimum. The voltage regulation of the preferred embodiment is performed by a single stage operational amplifier and a two-stage amplifier having Miller compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventor: Cang Ji
  • Patent number: 7362083
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter with an inductor connected in series with a power transistor between first and second terminals of a DC supply source, and with a modulator circuit that has a control output connected to a control gate of the power transistor. The modulator circuit provides a periodic pulse signal the duty cycle of which determines an output voltage at an output terminal of the converter. The modulator circuit comprises an oscillator that determines the frequency of the periodic pulse signal. The modulator circuit also comprises a feedforward structure that determines an approximated duty cycle for the pulse signal based on the value of the input voltage, the sensed output voltage and the amount of current flow in the inductor. An error amplifier in the modulator has a first input connected to a reference voltage source, a second input connected to the output terminal of the converter and an output that supplies a corrective signal used by the modulator to adjust the duty cycle of the pulse signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland, GmbH
    Inventors: Kevin Scoones, Joerg Kirchner
  • Patent number: 7327203
    Abstract: A PWM signal generation circuit and a PWM control circuit are provided in which the duty ratio is easily changed and which can also avoid adverse impact from ambient temperature changes and the like. At the beginning of charging a capacitor with a current flow, a voltage level at a connection point between the negative input terminal of a comparator and the capacitor is still below a charging threshold. When the charging threshold is exceeded, the comparator is inverted to a low state and a current flows into an output point of the comparator to start discharging the capacitor. At the beginning of discharging from the capacitor, the voltage level at the connection point is still above the discharging threshold. However, when the voltage level falls below the discharging threshold, the comparator returns to a high state, and the charging operation again takes over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Asada
  • Patent number: 7279872
    Abstract: A circuit for processing a supply voltage with a voltage peak to obtain an output signal with reduced or eliminated voltage peak, comprises a first capacitance and a second capacitance, wherein a controllable resistor is formed between the first and second capacitance in series to the same, which has a high resistance when a voltage at the first capacitance is smaller than an input voltage set value, and whose resistance is reduced to a lower resistance when the input voltage at the first capacitance is higher than or equal to the input voltage set value, so that finally, when the output voltage at the second capacitance reaches an output voltage set value, the controllable resistor is substantially no longer visible, but connects the two capacitances in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Hackner, Roland Ernst, Hans-Peter Hohe
  • Patent number: 7248031
    Abstract: As for a transistor, overlapped are factors such as a variation of a gate insulation film which occurs due to a difference of a manufacturing process and a substrate used and a variation of a crystalline state in a channel forming region and thereby, there occurs a variation of a threshold voltage and mobility of a transistor. This invention provides an electric circuit which used a rectification type device in which an electric current is generated only in a single direction, when an electric potential difference was applied to electrodes at both ends of the device. Then, the invention provides an electric circuit which utilized a fact that, when a signal voltage is inputted to one terminal of the rectification type device, an electric potential of the other terminal becomes an electric potential offset only by the threshold voltage of the rectification type device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Kimura, Yasuko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7218086
    Abstract: A switching regulator provides programming output current control through a single input terminal by modifying the reference voltage in the control loop of the switching regulator. The switching regulator includes a first input terminal receiving a program input voltage indicative of a desired output current, a voltage divider receiving a first reference voltage and providing a second reference voltage at a first node between the first and second resistors and a third reference voltage at a second node between the second and third resistors, and a precision active pulldown circuit coupled to receive the program input voltage and operative to pull down the second reference voltage at the first node in response to the program input voltage. In operation, the third reference voltage is used in the control loop of the switching regulator to control the output current of the switching regulator in response to the program input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Micrel, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Ritter, Bruce Hennig, Ralf J. Muenster
  • Patent number: 7215103
    Abstract: A method and circuit for automatically lowering a quiescent current at a predetermined threshold. A compact and low power current comparator is employed to detect the power consumption conditions, and issues a control signal to lower current consumption within a power management circuit. By dynamically resizing bias device geometries, a minimum quiescent current of an electronic device may be further reduced. Moreover, the control signal may also be used to engage modification of circuit dynamics to improve circuit performance and mitigate a response profile during recovery from a low power operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Kern W. Wong, Kenneth Robert Marasco
  • Patent number: 7208918
    Abstract: An inverter device is mounted on the rotating electric machine body The inverter device includes a module unit having a converter circuit and a control unit that controls the operation of the converter circuit. The converter circuit is configured by connecting a plurality of the following series circuits in parallel, each of the series circuits includes a P-channel MOS semiconductor device disposed at a higher potential side and an N-channel MOS semiconductor device disposed at a lower potential side which are electrically connected in series. An electric power that is supplied from a battery or an electric power that is supplied to the battery is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Shirakawa, Mutsuhiro Mori, Masamitsu Inaba, Tatsumi Yamauchi, Masahiro Iwamura, Keiichi Mashino, Masanori Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7196917
    Abstract: A circuit and method of dithering the switching frequency of an off-line power factor corrected (PFC) pre-regulator. The circuitry used to dither the frequency is advantageously accomplished by taking advantage of the PWM's internal timing circuitry. This invention reduces narrow band EMI and eliminates the need to provide specialty PWM controllers to achieve dithering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Michael J. O'Loughlin