Using A Three Or More Terminal Semiconductive Device As The Final Control Device Patents (Class 323/349)
  • Patent number: 11799492
    Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit includes a first amplifier, a second amplifier and a transistor. Respective first input terminals of the first and second amplifiers are coupled to a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage, respectively. A connection terminal of the transistor is coupled to a supply voltage. A control terminal of the transistor is selectively coupled to one of respective output terminals of the first and second amplifiers. When the control terminal of the transistor is coupled to the output terminal of the first amplifier, another connection terminal of the transistor is coupled to a second input terminal of the first amplifier to output a regulated voltage. When the control terminal of the transistor is coupled to the output terminal of the second amplifier, the another connection terminal of the transistor is coupled to a second input terminal of the second amplifier to output the regulated voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: M31 TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ching-Hsiang Chang, Yu-Hsun Chien
  • Patent number: 11720127
    Abstract: A voltage generation circuit includes an amplifier configured to detect a difference between a reference voltage and a feedback voltage according to a control signal and a bias current, and configured to generate a driving signal. The voltage generation circuit also includes a driver configured to generate an internal voltage by driving an external voltage according to the driving signal. The amount of the bias current may be forcibly adjusted by the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Suk Hwan Choi
  • Patent number: 11721387
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for compensating for kickback noise are described. A regulator may include an input circuit, a bias circuit, and an enable circuit. The regulator may be configured so that the enable circuit is positioned between the input circuit and the bias circuit. A balance resistor may be included in a path between an input of the regulator and a gate of a bias transistor included in the bias transistor. A size of the balance resistor may be based on an amount of charge drawn by the bias transistor during an activation event. Dimensions of the bias transistor may be modified based on an amount of charge drawn by the bias transistor during an activation event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Lu Chu, Dong Pan
  • Patent number: 11698669
    Abstract: A hierarchical, scalable power delivery system is disclosed. The power delivery system includes a first level of power converter circuitry configured to generate one or more first level regulated supply voltages, and a second level of power converter circuitry configured to generate one or more second level regulated supply voltages. The first level of power converter circuitry receives an input supply voltage, while the second level power converter circuitry receives the one or more first level supply voltages. The second level power converter circuitry is configured to provide the second level regulated supply voltages to a computing element configured to operate as a single, logical computer system, the computing element being configured to operate in a number of power configurations having differing numbers of load circuits. Different portions of the hierarchical power delivery system may be selectively enabled for corresponding ones of the power configurations of the computing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Cox, Jamie L. Langlinais, Inder M. Sodhi
  • Patent number: 11520363
    Abstract: A system comprising: a LDO regulator configured to receive a supply voltage and provide an output voltage based on a function of the supply voltage, the LDO regulator switchable between at least a first and second mode, wherein the first and second modes each define the output voltage provided to the output terminal based on different functions of the supply voltage; and a digital logic controller configured to select the mode of the LDO regulator by control signalling to the LDO regulator, the digital logic controller configured to receive power for the provision of the control signalling from the LDO regulator; wherein the LDO regulator comprises LDO start-up circuitry configured to cause the LDO regulator, during start-up, to default to a predetermined one of the first and second mode and the LDO start-up circuitry further configured to prevent the digital logic controller from controlling the mode of the LDO regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Antonius Martinus Jacobus Daanen, Klaas-Jan de Langen, Sybren Matthias Bouwhuis
  • Patent number: 11233414
    Abstract: A battery module (5) for a motor vehicle. The battery module (5) includes a battery unit (2), a negative pole (21), a positive pole (22), a switching unit (60), which is connected electrically in series with the battery unit (2) and has at least one controllable switching element, and a management system (30) for controlling the at least one switching element. A hold circuit (40) is provided, which is connected to the management system (30) and to the switching unit (60) in such a way that a control signal from the management system (30) can be transferred through the hold circuit (40) to the switching unit (60), and is designed such that, in an active state of the hold circuit (40), a control signal from the management system (30) to open the at least one switching element can be transferred to the switching unit (60) with a time delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Jochen Weber, Joerg Schneider, Peter Kohn, Sabine Arnold, Thomas Kaiser
  • Patent number: 11031930
    Abstract: An electric circuit for powering a load using an IPD includes a charge pump and a comparator. A first conductive path connects the charge pump to a positive node of the comparator. A second conductive path connects the battery to a negative node of the comparator and is also connected to a ground. A third conductive path connecting an output of the comparator to the IPD. A second diode is disposed on the third conductive path with the anode connected to the IPD and the cathode connected to an output of the comparator. The comparator generates a low output signal when the charge pump voltage is less than the battery voltage so as to provide a path for current from the battery to flow through the first diode into the output of the comparator and to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Vibhor Singh, Robert C. Grooms, Keith Griffin
  • Patent number: 10996281
    Abstract: A calibration current load is selectively coupled to an output of a pulse frequency modulated (PFM) DC-DC converter during a calibration operation to increase charge supplied from a battery supplying an input voltage to the converter. A voltage across a sense resistor in series with the battery is integrated during a measurement interval while the calibration current load is coupled to the output. A charge drawn per pulse from the battery is determined based on the sense resistor, the integrated voltage and the number of pulses during the measurement interval. Alternatively, a first PFM frequency is determined with a first calibration current load coupled to the converter output. A second PFM frequency is determined with a second calibration current load. The charge drawn per pulse from the battery is determined based on the first and second PFM frequencies and the first and second calibration current loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Sonntag, Timothy J. Dupuis, Jinwen Xiao
  • Patent number: 10671111
    Abstract: A power management unit comprises a controller, an oscillator circuit, and a monitoring circuit. The controller is configured to control operation of a power converter circuit in a low power mode and an active mode. The oscillator circuit is configured to generate clock signals in the low power mode to control the operation of the power converter circuit. The monitoring is circuit configured when in the low power mode to receive a regulated output voltage from the power converter circuit, compare the regulated output voltage to a specified voltage threshold, and turn off the oscillator circuit when the regulated output voltage is greater than the specified threshold voltage and turn on the oscillator circuit when the regulated output voltage is less than the specified threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Michele Spaggiari, Miguel A. Ruiz, Jose Tejada
  • Patent number: 10127876
    Abstract: A gate driving circuit includes a plurality of stages, a k-th stage (where k is a natural number) of the plurality of stages being configured to receive a clock signal, a (k?1)-th carry signal from a (k?1)-th stage of the plurality of stages, a (k+1)-th carry signal from a (k+1)-th stage of the plurality of stages, a (k+2)-th carry signal from a (k+2)-th stage of the plurality of stages, a first ground voltage, a second ground voltage, and a third ground voltage, and to output a k-th gate signal and a k-th carry signal, the k-th stage including a first pull down circuit configured to discharge the k-th gate signal as the third ground voltage in response to the (k+1)-th carry signal, and the third ground voltage having a lower voltage level than the first ground voltage and having a higher voltage level than the second ground voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kye-uk Lee, Kee-bum Park, Sihyun Ahn, Jaewon Kim, Byoungsun Na, Yoomi Ra
  • Patent number: 9923454
    Abstract: A circuit for sensing gate voltage of a power FET. A switching circuit includes a switching FET having a high voltage rating, its drain coupled to the gate of the power FET, and its source coupled to an output node. A first feedback loop is coupled to the gate of the switching FET to facilitate sensing rising gate voltage. A second feedback loop is coupled to the gate of the switching FET to facilitate sensing falling gate voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Zheng Li, Wai Cheong Chan
  • Patent number: 9830670
    Abstract: An electronic device operative to monitor and control processes and operations based on the power cost of those processes and operations are provided. The electronic device can identify processes or networked devices requiring power, determine the expected amount of power required for the process or networked device, and calculate the cost of the power requirement. For example, the electronic device can receive data or algorithms defining the manner in which a power supplier computes the cost of consumed power, and predict the expected cost of the particular power requirement. Based on the importance of the process or device, and the expected power cost, the electronic device can perform a process or provide power to a networked device, or alternatively delay or cancel a process to ensure that the power cost of the device remains within preset boundaries (e.g., the power cost of the device or of a home network of devices does not exceed a maximum cap).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Fadell
  • Patent number: 9584115
    Abstract: A switch includes a power transistor configured to switch an input voltage to a load. The switch further includes a charge pump and a duty cycle controller. The charge pump is coupled to the power transistor and includes an enable input to cause the charge pump to be turned on and off. The duty cycle controller is coupled to the charge pump and is configured to duty cycle the charge pump based on a comparison of a signal of a gate of the power transistor to a reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Justin Patrick Vogt, Susan Ann Curtis, David John Baldwin
  • Patent number: 9354645
    Abstract: A voltage regulating circuit is provided for regulating an output voltage in order to minimize an absolute difference between a level of said output voltage and a reference level. The voltage regulating circuit comprises a voltage regulator and a reference level generator. The reference level generator generates an internal reference level on the basis of said output voltage level and said reference level such that said internal reference level does not exceed said output voltage level by more than a maximum allowed increment. The voltage regulator regulates said output voltage in order to minimize an absolute difference between said output voltage level and said internal reference level. A method of regulating an output voltage is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Priel, Dan Kuzmin, Sergey Sofer
  • Patent number: 9306403
    Abstract: A battery module includes lithium-ion battery cells and at least one discharge circuit configured to discharge the battery cells. The discharge circuit includes a control signal input, a switch, and a resistor and is configured to close the switch in reaction to a control signal at the control signal input, in order to electrically connect terminals of the battery module. The battery module can then be reliably discharged by a corresponding control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Holger Fink
  • Patent number: 9270268
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide for compensating impedance calibration circuits. In one embodiment, a compensated impedance calibration circuit, includes: a variable resistor network including a tunable resistor and a fixed resistor; and an external resistance network including a target external precision resistor and a parasitic distribution resistance; wherein a resistance of the variable resistor network is proportional to a resistance of the external resistance network, such that a ratio of an output voltage of the variable resistor network to a power supply voltage is constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian D. Jones, Jeffrey H. Sloan, Xiaopeng Wang
  • Patent number: 9183786
    Abstract: A constant current driving circuit includes a control integrated circuit which generates a switching signal, a switching device which switches an input power supply voltage based on the switching signal, a rectifying diode which rectifies a current of the input power supply voltage, a smoothing inductor which smoothes the current of the input power supply voltage, and a smoothing condenser which outputs an output current. The control integrated circuit includes a reference signal generator which generates a reference signal having information about a target constant current, a comparator which compares the current of the input power supply voltage with the reference signal, a flip-flop circuit which outputs a flip-flop signal having information about a time period during which a set state is maintained, and a delay circuit which outputs the switching signal to the switching device based on the flip-flop signal to control the switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sachiyo Yamada
  • Patent number: 8981734
    Abstract: A power source generation circuit includes a regulator circuit which receives an external power source voltage VDDA from an external power source, and generates a predetermined internal power source voltage on a given terminal VDD; and a charging circuit which connects the external power source and the given terminal when the external power source voltage VDDA supplied from the external power source is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichi Sadayuki, Kazuki Yoshioka
  • Publication number: 20140380068
    Abstract: A system including control logic, a voltage reference, a sense amplifier, and a voltage supply circuit is presented. The sense amplifier may be configured to detect a current state of the voltage supply circuit output compared to the reference voltage. The voltage supply circuit may be configured to capture and preserve the current state to be used as a previous state. The voltage regulator may be configured to compare the current state to one or more previous states and adjust the voltage regulator output based on the comparison. Control logic may be configured to enable the voltage reference output in response to a signal. Control logic may be configured to enable the sense amplifier at a time after the voltage reference is stable. Control logic may be configured to disable the voltage reference output in response to the sense amplifier generating an output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Bo Tang, Ajay Kumar Bhatia
  • Publication number: 20140327425
    Abstract: A portable electronic apparatus and a power management method are provided. The portable electronic apparatus includes a power manager and a controller. The power manager is used to receive a supply power generated by a power adapter. The power manager determines whether to generate a detecting signal by detecting whether a voltage value variation of the supply power is greater than a preset range. The power manager generates a current detecting value according to an input current provided by the supply power. The controller receives the detecting signal and the current detecting value, and generates an input current limit value according to a receiving status of the detecting signal and the current detecting value. The power manager controls the input current according to the input current limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Wei-Chih Lin, Chih-Chuan Kung
  • Patent number: 8878513
    Abstract: A regulator for providing a plurality of output voltages is provided. The regulator includes a basic unit and a plurality of replica units. The basic unit amplifies an input voltage to obtain a core voltage according to a first control signal. Each of the replica units outputs one of the output voltages according to the input voltage and one of a plurality of second control signals, wherein at least two of the output voltages have different voltage levels. The first control signal is set according to the second control signals, to make the voltage level of the core voltage substantially equal to or less than a maximum voltage level of the output voltages and substantially equal to or greater than a minimum voltage level of the output voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mediatek Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: KianTiong Wong
  • Publication number: 20140300292
    Abstract: A programmable current source programmable current source circuit has DAC current source providing an incrementally programmable current levels. A programmable reference current source adjusts a compliance factor of the DAC current source. An input adjustment code indicating an output current amplitude is adjusted by a adjustment code modification circuit when the output current is less than the activation compliance level and generates a signal to set the reference current to a lower level to adjust the compliance factor of the DAC current source to a lower level to decrease power dissipation in the programmable current source at lower current levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Dialog Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventor: Rupert Howes
  • Publication number: 20140266143
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a voltage regulator, an activity adjustment signal from a digital circuit. The method also includes controlling one or more variable impedance elements of the voltage regulator to modify an output voltage provided to the digital circuit. The output voltage is based at least in part on the activity adjustment signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Martin Saint-Laurent, Yuhe Wang
  • Publication number: 20140225521
    Abstract: A line voltage signal at a first voltage and a first current supplied by a line voltage switching device responsive to a sensed or detected event can be provided to a first node of a regulator. A portion of the line voltage signal can be passed at the first voltage through a capacitive device in the regulator and provided at a second node for return to an electrical circuit containing a load device. The remaining portion of the line voltage signal can be passed to a voltage divider comprising at least a first resistive device and a second resistive device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: EXPRESS IMAGING SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: William G. Reed
  • Patent number: 8669752
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for controlling circuit resistance values used for detection of a device in an inline powered system. The system comprises a source device, either a current source or a voltage source, associated with an inline power device. The system also comprises a resistance control circuit comprising a transistor having an emitter, a base and a collector, and a first resistor coupled between the emitter and the collector. In response to the resistance control circuit receiving a relatively low current from the source device, the transistor is configured to be in an off state so that current from the source device flows through the first resistor have a value selected in order to maintain a sufficient resistance during an inline power device detection mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick Roland Schindler
  • Publication number: 20130307519
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a power supply, a load, a switching module, a voltage converting module, and a control module. The switching module establishes an electrical connection between the power supply and the voltage converting module when the electronic device is powered on. The voltage converting module is powered on through the switching module and outputs a working voltage. The control module is thus powered on. When the electronic device is powered off, the switching module is turned off, the voltage converting module stops outputting the working voltage, and the control module is disabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventor: DONG-LIANG REN
  • Patent number: 8587369
    Abstract: A down-converting voltage generating circuit includes a reference voltage providing unit, an initial setting unit, a driving unit, and a driving force control unit. The reference voltage providing unit provides a reference voltage to a first node. The initial setting unit drops a voltage level of the first node to substantially a level of a ground voltage when an initial setting signal is activated. The driving unit drives a down-converted voltage derived from an external voltage in response to the voltage level of the first node. The driving force control unit is connected to the driving unit, and controls a driving force for driving the down-converted voltage of the driving unit in response to the initial setting signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Chae Kyu Jang, Jong Hyun Wang, Sang Don Lee
  • Publication number: 20130285638
    Abstract: A wake-up circuit used in an electronic device, the electronic device comprising a power supply and a load. The wake-up circuit includes a receiving unit receiving a wake-up signal, a control unit continuously generating an enable signal for a first predetermined time period when the receiving unit receives the wake-up signal, a voltage converter, and a processing unit. The power supply provides a secondary voltage to the voltage converter when the electronic device is in the standby state; the voltage converter converts the secondary voltage to a working voltage in response to the enable signal. The processing unit is powered by the working voltage to generate the enable signal and output the enable signal to the voltage converter and generates a control signal when the processing unit determines that the wake-up signal is a power-on command, the control signal controls the power supply to power the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: BIN-SONG MA
  • Publication number: 20130271107
    Abstract: A Voltage regulator includes a first input terminal configured to receive an input supply voltage, includes a second input terminal configured to receive a regulated output supply voltage as a function of the input supply voltage or to receive a test supply voltage and comprises a power transistor including an input terminal configured to receive the input supply voltage and including an output terminal configured to generate the regulated output supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Nicolas Bernard Grossier, Sabyasachi Das, V Srinivasan
  • Publication number: 20130241430
    Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein describe the dynamic control of a switching power converter between different operation modes of the switching power converter. In one embodiment, the operation modes of the switching power converter include a switching mode and a linear mode. The switching power converter may be included in a LED lamp system according to one embodiment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: IWATT, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Kwok-Cheung Lee, Chuanyang Wang, Jiang Chen, Liang Yan
  • Patent number: 8519692
    Abstract: An output voltage of a voltage regulator is set to within a prescribed voltage range in a short time. The voltage regulator comprises: an amplifier (AMP) that amplifies a difference between a reference voltage and a voltage proportional to an output voltage; an NMOS transistor (MN1) that has a control terminal connected to an output terminal of the amplifier (AMP) and that drops a power supply voltage to output an output voltage; a first capacitive element (C1) that has a first terminal connected to the output terminal of the amplifier (AMP) and a second terminal connected to ground; a second capacitive element (C2) that has a first terminal connected to the output terminal of the amplifier (AMP); and a control circuit (11) that, subsequent to supply of the power supply voltage, controls operation activation of the amplifier (AMP) and also supplies a drive signal to a second terminal of the second capacitive element (C2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20130214869
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a resistance R whose resistance value varies in response to a substrate temperature variation; a resistance corrector that is coupled in series with the resistance R and switches its resistance value by a preset resistance step width to suppress a resistance value variation of the resistance R; a first voltage generator for generating a first voltage that varies in response to the substrate temperature; a second voltage generator for generating second voltages Vf1 to Vfn?1 for specifying the first voltage at a point when a switching operation of the resistance value of the resistance corrector is performed; and a resistance switch unit for switching the resistance value of the resistance corrector by comparing the first voltage and the second voltages Vf1 to Vfn?1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Renesas Electronics Corporation
  • Patent number: 8502509
    Abstract: A power conversion system and power control method for reducing cross regulation effect uses a voltage feedback adjustment circuit to modulate an error signal fed back from an output voltage so as to predict the energy of an output corresponding to its load states. While the energy delivered to an output terminal with its load remaining the same does not change, the energy delivered to an output terminal with its load changing is adjusted accordingly. The power conversion system thus effectively reduces the cross regulation effect and obtains excellent steady system output and transient response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-shin Wu, Ke-Horng Chen
  • Patent number: 8484497
    Abstract: An integrated circuit 2 is provided with a first power supply conductor 8 coupled via header transistors 14 to 26 to a second power supply conductor 10. Logic circuitry 4, 6 draws its power supply from the second power supply conductor. When switching from a sleep mode to an operating mode the header transistors 14 to 26 are divided into a plurality of sets of transistors which are switched on in a predetermined sequence using controller circuitry 28. The controller circuitry 28 senses the voltage of the second power supply conductor 10 to determine when each set of header transistors should be switched on. In this way, the in-rush current within the integrated circuit 2 associated with the switch from the sleep state to the operating state can be held within a predetermined range of a target in-rush current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventors: Sanjay Bhagwan Patil, Valentina Gomez, Antony Sebastine
  • 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: 8354832
    Abstract: A method for reducing noise in an output of a voltage regulator at frequencies above a closed loop bandwidth, by providing a noise injection path for injecting external noise into the voltage regulator, where the noise injection path becomes active at the frequencies above the closed loop bandwidth, where the noise injection path reduces the noise in the output of the voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Shujiang Wang, Joseph Anidjar, Shawn M. Logan, Chunbing Guo, HaoQiong Chen
  • Patent number: 8339188
    Abstract: A system includes power saving circuitry to revive a system controller from a sleep mode for performance of operations in an active mode. The system also includes a regulator including a floating gate reference device to generate output voltage and current capable of powering the power saving circuitry during the sleep mode. A method includes generating a reference voltage and current with a float gate device, and powering wake-up circuitry with the reference voltage and current while in a power saving mode. The wake-up circuitry is configured to activate a main system controller from the power saving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: John Silver, Harold Kutz, Gary Moscaluk
  • Patent number: 8325129
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a back light assembly that emits light on a liquid crystal panel; and an inverter that controls brightness of the light emitted from the back light assembly according to a difference between video data of at least three frames that are sequentially inputted to the liquid crystal panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong Kyoung Oh
  • Publication number: 20120293099
    Abstract: An electronic power apparatus is provided, including a circuit board having a conductive pads and a sense pad coupled to an output signal, and an actuator having a wiper portion accommodating a conductive wiper. The wiper includes a first end arranged to engage the sense pad and a second end arranged to slidably engage at least one of the conductive pads on the circuit board. The conductive pads are arranged in a first row of conductive pads and a second row of conductive pads in parallel with and at a distance to the first row of conductive pads. An alignment of the second row of conductive pads is offset with respect to the first row of conductive pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Velderman, Michael K. Forster
  • Publication number: 20120274307
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a regulating transistor and a control circuit. The regulating transistor has a first current electrode for providing a regulated voltage, a second current electrode, and a control electrode. The control circuit has an output coupled to the control electrode of the regulating transistor, and an input coupled to the first current electrode of the regulating transistor. The control circuit includes a first inverting gain stage having a first load element, and a second inverting gain stage having a second load element. One of the first or second load elements is characterized as being a diode and the other of the first or second load elements is biased by a bias circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventor: Ravindraraj Ramaraju
  • Patent number: 8258767
    Abstract: A power conversion system and power control method for reducing cross regulation effect uses a voltage feedback adjustment circuit to modulate an error signal fed back from an output voltage so as to predict the energy of an output corresponding to its load states. While the energy delivered to an output terminal with its load remaining the same does not change, the energy delivered to an output terminal with its load changing is adjusted accordingly. The power conversion system thus effectively reduces the cross regulation effect and obtains excellent steady system output and transient response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-shin Wu, Ke-Horng Chen
  • Patent number: 8258771
    Abstract: A circuit device includes: a power supply circuit; and a logic circuit, the power supply circuit supplying a first power supply voltage and a second power supply voltage to the logic circuit, the first power supply voltage supplied by the power supply circuit periodically changing with a first reference voltage as a reference voltage, the second power supply voltage supplied by the power supply circuit periodically changing with a second reference voltage as a reference voltage, the power supply circuit supplying, due to resonance, the first power supply voltage and the second power supply voltage that repeat a first period during which a voltage difference between the first power supply voltage and the second power supply voltage is decreasing and a second period during which the voltage difference is increasing, and the logic circuit performing adiabatic circuit operation with the supply of the first and the second power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hisao Sato, Atsushi Yamada, Norikazu Tsukahara, Toshikazu Kuwano, Yasuhiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8247992
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode (LED) driver circuit is provided, which includes a transistor, a current regulator, a release diode, and a voltage clamping device. The transistor is coupled in series with an LED string. The LED string is coupled between the transistor and a bus voltage. The current regulator is coupled to the transistor for regulating the current through the transistor and the LED string to a predetermined current. The release diode has an anode coupled between the LED string and the transistor. The voltage clamping device is coupled to the cathode of the release diode for clamping the voltage level at the cathode of the release diode to a predetermined voltage. The voltage clamping device protects the transistor from breakdown when the transistor is turned off for dimming control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Green Mark Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Kwang-Hwa Liu, Shen-Yao Liang
  • Patent number: 8212648
    Abstract: A variable attenuator, including at least a one-stage attenuator circuit, including at least a signal input end, a signal output end, a common grounded end, a first serial resistor, a first parallel resistor, a first parallel switch, and a first serial switch. The first serial resistor is disposed between the signal input and the signal output end. The signal input end, the signal output end, and the first serial resistor form a main signal circuit. The first parallel resistor is connected between the main signal circuit and the common grounded end. The first parallel switch is connected in parallel with the first serial resistor, and the first serial switch is connected in series with the first parallel resistor. During operation of the variable attenuator, as the parallel switch is switched on to eliminate attenuation, the serial switch is switched off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Yantel Corporation
    Inventors: Yuejun Yan, Yeupeng Yan
  • Publication number: 20110316518
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a voltage regulator, and a control circuit and a control method therefor. The method for controlling a voltage regulator comprises: receiving a dynamic voltage identification signal which instructs the voltage regulator to change its output voltage to a target voltage, and generating a compensation signal to shorten an interval for the output voltage of the voltage regulator to reach the target voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Chieh-Min Feng, Ting-Hung Wang, Chung-Sheng Cheng, Jian-Rong Huang
  • Publication number: 20110298385
    Abstract: Disclosed are controllable drive circuits for powering an organic light emitting diode (OLED) or other electronic load. According to one implementation, a circuit structure is provided that applies a pulse width modulated (PWM) drive current to an OLED. The time-average drive current to the OLED can be modulated in accordance with a periodically sampled control signal. In turn, the luminance of the OLED can be suitably varied over a control range. Circuit structures provided may be fabricated at least in part on a common substrate such that respective integrated circuit devices are defined. In one or more implementations, at least a portion of drive circuits may be fabricated within a 65 nanometer (or smaller) environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventor: Jose Luis Ceballos
  • Patent number: 7952309
    Abstract: A rotating electrical machine control device includes an inverter; a resolver; a unit; a three-phase/two-phase modulation switching unit; and a motor control unit that switches to a two-phase modulation in a specific region where an electric noise given to the resolver by a rotating electrical machine is large, even in a region where the modulation ratio is smaller than the three-phase/two-phase modulation switching boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin A W Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Nishimura, Masuho Sakakibara, Yoshinari Nakagawa, Yoshinori Oono
  • Publication number: 20110121813
    Abstract: A circuit device includes: a power supply circuit; and a logic circuit, the power supply circuit supplying a first power supply voltage and a second power supply voltage to the logic circuit, the first power supply voltage supplied by the power supply circuit periodically changing with a first reference voltage as a reference voltage, the second power supply voltage supplied by the power supply circuit periodically changing with a second reference voltage as a reference voltage, the power supply circuit supplying, due to resonance, the first power supply voltage and the second power supply voltage that repeat a first period during which a voltage difference between the first power supply voltage and the second power supply voltage is decreasing and a second period during which the voltage difference is increasing, and the logic circuit performing adiabatic circuit operation with the supply of the first and the second power supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisao SATO, Atsushi YAMADA, Norikazu TSUKAHARA, Toshikazu KUWANO, Yasuhiro TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 7863876
    Abstract: A reference voltage regulation circuit (143) is provided in which one or more input voltage signals (Vref, Vref?) are selectively coupled to a configurable amplifier (114) which is coupled through a sample and hold circuit (120) to a voltage follower circuit (122) which is coupled in feedback to the configurable amplifier (114) for generating an adjusted output voltage at a circuit output (130), where the voltage follow circuit comprises a resistor divider circuit (126) that is controlled by a calibration signal (Cal<n:0>) generated by a counter circuit (128) selectively coupled to the output of the configurable amplifier when configured as a comparator for generating the calibration signal in response to a clock signal, where the calibration signal represents a voltage error component (Verror, Voffset) that is removed from the circuit output when the calibration signal is applied to the resistor divider circuit during normal operational.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Cook, Tahmina Akhter, Jeffrey C. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 7830151
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying a voltage in an information handling system. A modulated voltage signal output circuit linked to an amplitude control element. The amplitude control element linked to a voltage output circuit, the output circuit including one or more electrical energy-storage elements to receive an electrical current. The voltage output circuit having one or more electronic switches to alter the current passing to the energy-storage element(s) to provide a modulated voltage output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Leszek Brukwicz, Ayedin Nikazm