Using Hysteresis (e.g., Schmitt Trigger, Etc.) Patents (Class 327/205)
  • Patent number: 11942998
    Abstract: An optical reception device includes: a light receiving element; an amplifier which receives and amplifies a current based on an input current from the light receiving element; a direct-current adjustment circuit which removes an offset current included in the input current; an alternating-current adjustment circuit which causes a part of the input current to flow therein; and a controller which controls the direct-current adjustment circuit and the alternating-current adjustment circuit. The controller includes an integrator configured to integrate an output of the amplifier and output a resultant output to two electric paths of a positive phase and a negative phase, and an inversion suppression circuit configured to operate so as to inject a current to the positive phase and extract a current from the negative phase when a negative phase potential of an output of the integrator is higher than a positive phase potential thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Naruto Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11611685
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium that provides an enhanced synchronization framework. One of the methods includes a primary and a second device that receive configuration information which identifies one or more actions to be performed by the secondary device when it receives specified pulses of a sequence of pulses from the primary device. The primary device transmits a sequence of pulses. The primary and the secondary device receive a particular pulse from the sequence of pulses. The secondary device determines whether the particular pulse satisfies one or more predetermined criteria and generates an instruction based on the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Rossignol, Harrison Pham
  • Patent number: 11569802
    Abstract: A temperature delay device includes a first thermal sensor, a second thermal sensor, an inverter, and a latch circuit. The first thermal sensor is configured to measure a first temperature of a chip to output a first input signal. The second thermal sensor is configured to measure a second temperature of the chip to output a second input signal. The inverter is coupled to the first thermal sensor, and is configured to reverse the first input signal so as to output a third input signal. The latch circuit is coupled to the inverter and the second thermal sensor, and is configured to output an output signal according to the second input signal and the third input signal. The first temperature is different from the second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wu-Der Yang
  • Patent number: 11552619
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first control circuit having an output and including a first comparator and a second control circuit coupled to the output of the first control circuit. The second control circuit includes a second comparator configured to: compare a first value to a reference frequency value, the first value indicating a frequency of a signal at the output of the first control circuit; and provide an adjustment value to change a hysteresis window of the first comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kashyap Jayendra Barot, Suvadip Banerjee, Sreeram Subramanyam Nasum
  • Patent number: 11486913
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a driver that is connected with a pin, receives an input signal, and outputs an output signal to the pin in response to the input signal, a core circuit that transfers the input signal to the driver, and a monitor circuit that receives the input and output signals and detects a stuck voltage state of the output signal based on the input and output signals. The monitor circuit includes a first detection circuit that detects the stuck voltage state when the input and output signals are logically incorrect, a second detection circuit that detects the stuck voltage state when the input and output signals are logically correct and when the output signal is at a low level, and a third detection circuit that detects the stuck voltage state when the input and output signals are logically correct and when the output signal is at a high level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyunseok Nam
  • Patent number: 11323109
    Abstract: A clockless delay adaptation loop configured to adapt to random data includes a first and a second delay line, an autocorrelator, and a controller. The autocorrelator receives an input signal for the delay adaptation loop and the output from the first delay line, and includes a first logic circuit configured to output a first autocorrelation and a second logic circuit configured to output a second autocorrelation. The controller is configured generate a control signal for one of the first and second delay lines based on the first and second autocorrelations. In some examples, the first logic circuit is an XNOR gate, and the second logic circuit is an OR gate. In some examples, the OR gate can have a gain that is two times a gain of the XNOR gate. In some examples, an amplifier having two times the gain of the XNOR gate is coupled to the OR gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Abishek Manian, Surya Theja Golakonda, Robin Gupta
  • Patent number: 11121686
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes a potential relation between a common emitter amplifier circuit (amplifier circuit body) including an NPN transistor (bipolar transistor) and a clamp circuit which maintains a potential relation between a base-collector of the NPN transistor of the common emitter amplifier circuit. The clamp circuit includes a level shift circuit and a clamp diode for suppressing a decrease in the collector potential of the NPN transistor of the common emitter amplifier circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Kajiyama, Tadahiro Nabeta
  • Patent number: 11119126
    Abstract: Techniques for a slope detector for voltage droop monitoring are described herein. An aspect includes receiving an input voltage by a circuit. Another aspect includes producing, by the circuit, a filtered offset voltage based on the input voltage. Another aspect includes determining whether the input voltage is lower than the filtered offset voltage. Yet another aspect includes, based on the input voltage being lower than the filtered offset voltage, indicating an imminent voltage droop condition in the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Erik English, Michael Sperling
  • Patent number: 11104314
    Abstract: A wheel speed sensor interface receives an analog signal from a wheel speed sensor and converts the analog signal to a digital wheel speed sensor output signal. A detector circuit is configured to detect a transient occurring within a voltage source powering the wheel speed sensor, and compensate the digital wheel speed sensor output signal as a function of the detection of the transient so that it is an accurate representation of a wheel speed detected by the wheel speed sensor. The detector circuit includes a current mirror coupled to the voltage source, and outputs a compensation current to a current comparator of the wheel speed sensor interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Sébastien Abaziou, Benoit Alcouffe, Jean Christophe Patrick Rince
  • Patent number: 11070198
    Abstract: A delay independent differential hysteresis receiver. The differential hysteresis receiver uses two parallel paths in a first receiver stage, each path having a comparator with a dedicated offset on the complimentary inputs. A second receiver stage includes a hold circuit that brings the two parallel paths of the first receiver stage together to form a receiver hysteresis output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventors: Manish Garg, Ankit Agrawal
  • Patent number: 10848135
    Abstract: A receiver circuit holds an output voltage at a first output voltage level using a first device of a first type coupled between a first node and a first power supply node, and a second device of a second type coupled between the first node and the first power supply node. The first device is selectively enabled using an input signal. The second device is selectively enabled using a feedback signal. The second device is substantially larger than the first device. The receiver circuit switches the output voltage from the first output voltage level to a second output voltage level responsive to an input voltage level transitioning across a first threshold voltage level from a first input voltage level to a second input voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish Sahu, Girish Anathahally Singrigowda, Aniket Bharat Waghide, Prasanth K. Vallur
  • Patent number: 10811085
    Abstract: A dual rail device includes a first power domain circuit coupled to a first power supply through a first header control switch and a second power domain circuit coupled to a second power supply. The first and second power supplies have different steady-state voltage levels. The first power domain circuit is interfaced to the second power domain circuit. The device also includes a power detector circuit for providing a control signal for the first header control switch responsive to a voltage level of the second power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yangsyu Lin, Chiting Cheng
  • Patent number: 10763840
    Abstract: A comparator circuit includes a first comparator, a second comparator and an inverter. The first comparator includes two N-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) transistors, two first P-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) transistors and two second PMOS transistors. A gate of the NMOS transistors respectively receives first and second voltages, and sources of the first PMOS transistors are connected to first and second resistors, respectively. The first comparator outputs differential output signals from drains of the NMOS transistors according to the voltage difference between the first and second voltages. An output of the second comparator is connected to gates of the first PMOS transistors of the first comparator. An input of the inverter is connected to the output of the second comparator, and an output of the inverter is connected to gates of the PMOS transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: LITE-ON SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Meng-Tong Tan, You-Fa Wang
  • Patent number: 10749509
    Abstract: A capacitive-coupled level shifter includes: an input having a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal, the input configured to receive a modulated signal in a first voltage domain; a comparator circuit configured to shift the modulated signal to a second voltage domain higher than the first voltage domain; and a capacitive divider circuit comprising a first capacitive divider branch coupling the positive input terminal of the input to a positive input terminal of the comparator circuit and a second capacitive divider branch coupling the negative input terminal of the input to a negative input terminal of the comparator circuit. The first capacitive divider branch and the second capacitive divider branch are symmetric so as to cancel out a common mode voltage of the modulated signal. A level shifter system which includes the capacitive-coupled level shifter is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Giacomo Cascio, Salvatore Angelo Della Fortuna
  • Patent number: 10734984
    Abstract: A latch comparator which includes a preamplifier and a latch circuit. The preamplifier circuit operates amplification on a pair of differential input signals, and generates a pair of pre-amplified differential signals. The latch circuit receives the pre-amplified differential signals, compares the pair of pre-amplified differential signals, and generates a pair of latched comparison signals. The latch circuit includes a latch and a switch circuit. First and second input terminals of the latch receive the pre-amplified differential signals. The switch circuit includes a switch coupling between one of the first and second input terminals of the latch and the preamplifier circuit. The switch receives one of the pair of latched comparison signals as a control signal, and is switched in response to the one of the latched comparison signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Zhang, Yan Huang, Jianluo Chen
  • Patent number: 10630274
    Abstract: A comparator includes a folded cascode stage having positive and negative outputs. The folded cascode stage includes: a common-mode voltage regulation circuit that includes resistive elements that are respectively situated between each of the outputs and a common-mode node. A compensation circuit is configured to regulate a difference between the voltages on the outputs, and is configured to generate a constant and continuous compensation current in the two resistive elements. A hysteresis circuit is configured to offset voltages on the outputs, and to generate a hysteresis current in the two resistive elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
    Inventors: Yohan Joly, Vincent Binet
  • Patent number: 10411676
    Abstract: A voltage comparator (1) has a high switching speed and simplicity of design. It minimizes pulse-width distortion of input digital signals when functioning as a digital input buffer in high speed communications applications. In addition it provides a simple hysteresis circuit (31) that is easily tuneable with a reference current. The hysteresis circuit (31) is dependent on a reference current. This current may be chosen to have a proportionality to temperature, supply, or another selectable parameter, and may be programmable, in order to create the desired hysteresis performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: FIRECOMMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Colm Donovan, Ciaran Cahill, Patrick Murphy
  • Patent number: 10348283
    Abstract: A voltage converter includes a comparator that continuously monitors an output voltage of the voltage converter. The comparator includes a first comparator core utilizing first and second switched capacitors and a second comparator core using third and fourth switched capacitors. The first comparator core is powered down or in a refresh mode while the second comparator core is monitoring the output voltage. The second comparator core is powered down or in the refresh mode while the first comparator core is monitoring the output voltage. The first and second switched capacitors are configured in series with an amplifier stage of the first comparator core while the first comparator core is monitoring the output voltage. The refresh mode charges the first (third) and second (fourth) switched capacitors to a scaled version of the output voltage and a reference voltage less an offset voltage, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Sonntag, Svajda Miroslav, Dazhi Wei
  • Patent number: 10291118
    Abstract: A power supply, comprising a controller comprising a first switch coupled between a first node and a second node, a first resistor coupled between the second node and a third node, a second resistor coupled between the first node and a fourth node, a capacitor coupled between the fourth node and a fifth node, an amplifier coupled at a first input to the fourth node, at a second input to the third node, and at an output to the fifth node, and a comparator coupled at a first input to the fifth node and at a second input to the third node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Rejin Kanjavalappil Raveendranath, Sudhir Polarouthu, Jasjot Singh Chadha
  • Patent number: 10221782
    Abstract: An in-cylinder pressure detecting apparatus for detecting a pressure in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is provided. The in-cylinder pressure detecting apparatus comprises a pressure detecting element mounted on a tip-portion of a fuel injection device which injects fuel into the combustion chamber, and an amplifying circuit unit having an amplifying circuit which amplifies a signal output from the pressure detecting element and outputs a pressure detection signal. An in-cylinder pressure detecting unit integrated fuel injection device is configured by integrating an in-cylinder pressure detecting unit with the fuel injection device. The in-cylinder pressure detecting unit includes the pressure detecting element, the amplifying circuit unit, and a connecting member connecting the pressure detecting element with the amplifying circuit unit. The in-cylinder pressure detecting unit integrated fuel injection device is mounted on the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., CITIZEN FINEDEVICE CO., LTD., CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shusuke Akazaki, Masanori Yomoyama, Tetsuya Aiba, Kazuo Takahashi, Takayuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9967505
    Abstract: Example comparators as disclosed herein may include a first comparator comprising a first plurality of device areas, wherein the first plurality of device areas at least includes a first comparator input device area, a first comparator cascode device area, and a first comparator current mirror area, and a second comparator comprising a second plurality of device areas, wherein the second plurality of device areas at least includes a second comparator input device area, a second comparator cascode device area, and a second comparator current mirror area, where the second comparator input area is disposed between the first comparator input area and the first comparator cascode device area, the first comparator cascode device area is disposed between the second comparator input area and the second comparator cascode device area, the first comparator current mirror area is disposed between the first comparator cascode device area and the second comparator current mirror area, the second comparator cascode device
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Ebihara
  • Patent number: 9912311
    Abstract: Provided is a reconfigurable amplifier. The reconfigurable amplifier includes a gain circuit including a gain path configured to amplify an input signal, and a feed forward circuit including a feed forward path configured to receive the input signal and perform feed forward compensation on the input signal, and a first control circuit configured to perform the feed forward compensation in a first mode by activating the feed forward path, and deactivate the feed forward path in a second mode different from the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: So-Young Kang, Thomas Byung-Hak Cho, Hee-Seon Shin, Su-Seob Ahn, Jong-Mi Lee, Min-Gyu Jo
  • Patent number: 9748944
    Abstract: A transistor device may include an n-type transistor. The transistor device may further include a first bias voltage unit, which is electrically connected to the n-type transistor and configured to apply a first positive bias voltage to a drain terminal of the n-type transistor when the n-type transistor is in an off state. The transistor device may further include a second bias voltage unit electrically, which is connected to the n-type transistor and configured to apply a second positive bias voltage to a source terminal of the n-type transistor when the n-type transistor is in the off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventor: Junhong Feng
  • Patent number: 9746501
    Abstract: A voltage detector to detect the voltage level of a switched power supply associated with a power gated region of an integrated circuit. The voltage detection circuit, which can be described as a modified Schmitt trigger circuit, comprises PMOS and NMOS transistors, and an added stack of NMOS transistors to set the output to a value of 1 in response to detection of an input voltage at the input greater than an operational voltage of the switched power supply, for example approximately 80% VDD and above. A pull-down circuit actively pulls the circuit output low before the circuit input drops below the low input threshold. Optional additional NMOS transistors provide the capability to adjust the threshold. The voltage detector circuit can be calibrated and used to detect whether or not the switched power supply associated with a power gated design has reached its operational voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Microsemi Solutions (U.S.), Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Shih Hao Chang
  • Patent number: 9515785
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are taught for quickly determining whether a Loss of Signal (LOS) condition has occurred for a receiver which includes an internal reference clock, a LOS circuit and a Clock and Data Recovery (CDR) circuit. The CDR circuit recovers the clock and data of an incoming signal. However, the LOS circuit can determine whether a received incoming signal includes an active signal, independent of said CDR circuit such that it samples said incoming signal utilizing said internal reference clock to determine a loss of signal prior to said CDR recovering the clock of said incoming signal. The LOS circuit includes an analog voltage threshold stage which samples the incoming signal, and produces at least one sample stream indicative of transitions in the incoming signal. The LOS circuit further includes a digital transition stage which counts transitions in order to discriminate between an active signal and noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Davide Tonietto, Henry Wong
  • Patent number: 9325298
    Abstract: A receiving circuit includes first input transistors of a first conductivity type including control terminals to which differential input signals are applied; load transistors of a second conductivity type connected between a first wiring to which a first voltage is supplied and first terminals of the first input transistors; second input transistors of the second conductivity type including control terminals to which the differential input signals are applied; a latch circuit connected between a second wiring to which a second voltage is supplied and first terminals of the second input transistors; and conversion transistors of the second conductivity type connected in parallel to the second input transistors, the conversion transistors including control terminals that are connected to output nodes to which the first input transistors and the load transistors are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SOCIONEXT INC.
    Inventors: Tunehiko Moriuchi, Hiromitsu Osawa
  • Patent number: 9263121
    Abstract: Described is an apparatus for memory write assist which consumes low power during write assist operation. The apparatus comprises: a power supply node; a device operable to adjust voltage on the power supply node; and a feedback unit coupled to the power supply node, the feedback unit to control the device in response to a voltage level of the voltage on the power supply node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Eric A. Karl, Yong-Gee Ng, Cyrille Dray
  • Patent number: 9233611
    Abstract: A proximity detection circuit is contemplated to detect connection of a cordset to a vehicle charging system or connection of another device to some other electrical circuit where it may be desirable to facilitate detection. A short protection circuit may be included as part of the proximity detection circuit to facilitate disconnection in the event of a shorter other condition where undesirable currents and/or voltages may be propagated to other systems of portions of the vehicle charging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Krzysztof Klesyk
  • Patent number: 9202584
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a power supply slew rate detector may include a filter circuit having a capacitive element operably coupled to a power supply output provided to a flash memory circuit and a resistive element operably coupled to the capacitive element and to ground, and a Schmitt trigger including an input operably coupled to a node between the capacitive element and the resistive element, the Schmitt trigger further including an output configured to indicate a slew rate of the power supply output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Titov Saez, Walter Luis Tercariol
  • Patent number: 9018989
    Abstract: A low-power wideband Power-on-Reset (PoR) and supply brown out detection circuit is proposed, wherein a technique for accurately controlling the PoR trip points and hysteresis voltage is presented. The PoR circuit includes a CMOS circuit with asymmetric rise and fall delays for monitoring wideband supply voltage transients including supply brown out. Being a non-bandgap and non-comparator based circuit, it consumes a very small power and Si area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventors: Pralay Mandal, Sajal Kumar Mandal
  • Patent number: 9007100
    Abstract: A high-side semiconductor-switch driving method includes generating power for controlling a high side semiconductor switch. The high side semiconductor switch has a control terminal and the power allows a current to flow into the control terminal of the high side semiconductor switch to switch the high side semiconductor switch. The voltage at the control terminal of the high side semiconductor switch is quantified. The power dependent on the voltage at the control terminal of the high side semiconductor switch is controlled so that the current provided is increased when the voltage at the control terminal indicates that the current is not sufficient to switch the high side semiconductor switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Michael Asam, Helmut Herrmann
  • Patent number: 9000819
    Abstract: A resistive switching element can be used in a nonvolatile digital Schmitt trigger circuit or a comparator circuit. The Schmitt trigger circuit can include a resistive switching circuit, and a reset circuit. The resistive switching circuit can provide a hysteresis behavior suitable for Schmitt trigger operation. The reset circuit can be operable to reset the resistive switching circuit to a high resistance state. The comparator circuit can include a resistive switching circuit, a reset circuit, and a threshold setting circuit. The resistive switching circuit can include a resistive switching element, and can be operable to provide a signal comparing an input voltage with the set or reset threshold voltage of the resistive switching element. The threshold setting circuit can be operable to modify the set or reset threshold of the resistive switching element, effectively changing the reference voltage for the comparator circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Federico Nardi, Yun Wang
  • Patent number: 8975926
    Abstract: A comparator used in a clock signal generation circuit compares two input signals and generates an output signal. The comparator has first and second input transistors coupled to the input signals. First and second hysteresis transistors are coupled between the input transistors and an output stage of the comparator, and apply hysteresis to a comparison of the input signals. First and second hysteresis control transistors are coupled between the input transistors and the hysteresis transistors to isolate the hysteresis transistors from the input transistors under control of a hysteresis enable signal. The comparator is operable in a first mode or a second mode based on a hysteresis enable signal. In the first mode the comparator applies hysteresis to the comparison of the input signals and in the second mode, compares the input signals without hysteresis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenzhong Zhang, Chris C. Dao, Jehoda Refaeli, Yi Zhao
  • Patent number: 8930591
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a microcontroller unit (MCU). The MCU includes a buffer and an analog comparator that are coupled to an input of the MCU. The MCU is adapted to selectively determine a logic value of a digital signal applied to the input of the MCU from an output signal of the buffer or from an output signal of the analog comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Westwick
  • Patent number: 8922263
    Abstract: The power consumption of a data sampling unit that selects a phase of a clock signal appropriate for sampling payload data is reduced at an input interface. A semiconductor integrated circuit includes an input interface and internal core circuits. The input interface includes a hysteresis circuit and a data sampling unit. The hysteresis circuit detects an input signal between first and second input thresholds as a sleep command. The data sampling unit selects an appropriate phase of a sampling clock signal in accordance with a synchronizing signal and samples payload data. When a sleep command is detected, a sleep signal is also supplied to the internal core circuits and the data sampling unit and they are controlled into a low-power consumption state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kamizuma, Taizo Yamawaki, Yukinori Akamine, Koji Maeda
  • Patent number: 8901980
    Abstract: A dynamic hysteresis comparator has a threshold voltage level with dynamic hysteresis for sensing small changes in differential input signals at the input, while controlling a duration that an output voltage state will remain fixed for preventing the output of the comparator from changing state in an unstable fashion or “chattering”. The comparator has a dynamic hysteresis circuit connected to an output of a trigger circuit of the comparator that detects when a decision is made that a first input of the comparator is greater than or lesser than a second input of the comparator causing an output of the comparator to change state. Once the decision causing the change of state of the output is detected, any decisions determining that second input is now lesser than or greater than the first input are prevented from causing the output of the comparator from changing state for a fixed time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Naish, Mark Childs
  • Patent number: 8872554
    Abstract: Externally configurable power-on-reset systems and methods for integrated circuits are disclosed that utilize internal power-on-reset circuitry and reset control circuitry to provide operational configurations determined by external connections. In one configuration where no dedicated external reset signal is desired, the reset control circuitry relies upon the internal power-one-reset circuitry to generate the internal reset control signal. In another configuration where an external reset signal is utilized, the reset control circuitry relies upon the external reset signal, which overrides the internal power-on-reset circuitry, to generate the internal reset control signal. In further configurations, the reset control circuitry utilizes logic circuitry controlled through a digital interface to determine when the internal reset control signal can be de-asserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: Pio Balmelli
  • Patent number: 8860398
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, apparatus and methods for an edge rate driver for a power converter switch. In an example, the driver can include an input node configured to receive a pulse width modulated signal, a first switch configured to couple a control node of the power converter switch to a supply voltage during a first state, a second switch configured to couple the control node of the power converter switch to a reference voltage during a second state, and a first current source configured to supply charge current to the first switch when the power converter switch transitions from the second state to the first state, the charge current configured to charge a parasitic capacitance of the power converter switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Michael David Mulligan, Timothy Alan Dhuyvetter
  • Publication number: 20140266366
    Abstract: A compensated hysteresis circuit comprises a hysteresis circuit including an output node and a first control transistor. The first control transistor provides feedback to the hysteresis circuit. A temperature and voltage compensation circuit includes a self-biasing threshold control circuit including an input coupled to the output node of the hysteresis circuit, and a first trim transistor coupled between the first control transistor of the hysteresis circuit and the self-biasing threshold control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: JACOB T. WILLIAMS, JEFFREY C. CUNNINGHAM, GILLES J. MULLER, KARTHIK RAMANAN
  • Patent number: 8836366
    Abstract: A system and method for testing circuits. A generated input voltage waveform for a first phase of a test may use transitions with a voltage swing between expected low and high trigger points for an integrated circuit (IC) with hysteresis. A generated input voltage waveform for a second phase of the test may use transitions with a voltage swing between the expected low trigger point and a high sub-threshold value. The high sub-threshold value may be a tolerable voltage difference below the expected high trigger point. A generated input voltage waveform for a third phase of the test may use transitions with a voltage swing between the expected high trigger point and a low sub-threshold value. The low sub-threshold value may be a tolerable voltage difference above the expected low trigger point. The expected trigger points and sub-threshold values may be found from earlier characterization studies for the IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anh T. Hoang, Brian S. Park, Patrick D. McNamara
  • Patent number: 8823419
    Abstract: A ping pong comparator voltage monitoring circuit which includes first and second comparators having inputs connected to a voltage Vin to be monitored, and second inputs connected to first and second nodes, respectively. A multiplexer alternately couples the first and second comparator outputs to an output in response to a periodic control signal. A ground-referenced voltage Vref1 is provided at a third node and a voltage Vref2 referenced to Vref1 is at a fourth node. A hysteresis hyst1 is switchably connected between the third and first nodes, and a hysteresis hyst2 is switchably connected between the fourth and second nodes. Hyst1 and hyst2 are switched in when the mux output toggles due to a rising Vin, and are switched out when the mux output toggles due to a falling Vin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Analog Devices Technology
    Inventors: Finbarr O'Leary, Michael Edward Bradley, Naiqian Ren, George R. Spalding, Nigel David Brooke
  • Patent number: 8816740
    Abstract: A buffer circuit includes a first inverter circuit that inverts an input signal, a second inverter circuit that inverts the output signal of the first inverter circuit, an impedance element connected between the first inverter circuit and the second inverter circuit, a first conductivity type switching element that increases a potential of the output node of the second inverter circuit when the input signal exceeds a first threshold voltage, and a second conductivity type switching element that decreases a potential of the output node of the second inverter circuit when the input signal is lower than a second threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Toshiki Seshita
  • Patent number: 8786482
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a pin and a current source for driving current through the pin into an external resistor such as a resistor on a circuit board to generate a pin voltage. The integrated circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter for converting the pin voltage into a digital value, such as an address for the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Lattice Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Bartel, Spiro Sassalos
  • Patent number: 8786317
    Abstract: Disclosed is a low voltage detection circuit. The low voltage detection circuit includes, a voltage comparison circuit, an output stage, an electric current circuit, and a judgment circuit. When the voltage comparison circuit detects that the voltage of the detection target is a predetermined voltage value or less, an output state of the output stage is promptly changed. When the voltage comparison circuit detects that the voltage of the detection target is a predetermined voltage value or more, the output state of the output stage is changed after a delay time obtained by the electric current circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Terada, Shinichiro Maki
  • Patent number: 8766692
    Abstract: A Schmitt trigger inverter circuit can include a first inverter. The first inverter can include a first pull-up device, a first pull-down device and a second pull-down device. The first inverter can receive an input signal. The Schmitt trigger inverter circuit can include a second inverter coupled in series with the first inverter and including an output that generates an output signal. The Schmitt trigger inverter circuit further can include a switch coupled to the output of the second inverter circuit and that is selectively enabled by the output signal. The switch can couple a predetermined reference voltage to a source terminal of the first pull-down device when in an enabled state. Coupling the predetermined reference voltage to the source terminal of the first pull-down device can alter a threshold voltage of the Schmitt trigger inverter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Chandrika Durbha, Edward Cullen, Ionut C. Cical
  • Patent number: 8736333
    Abstract: Schmitt trigger with rail-to-rail or near rail-to-rail hysteresis. In some embodiments, a method includes switching an output of a Schmitt trigger from a first logic state to a second state in response to an input meeting a threshold, where the threshold is applied to a first transistor of a first doping type and the input is applied to a second transistor of the first doping type, the first and second transistors operably coupled to each other through a current mirror of a second doping type. The first doping type may be an n-type, the second doping type may be a p-type, and the threshold may be a rising threshold having a value within 10% of a supply voltage. Alternatively, the first doping type may be a p-type, the second doping type may be an n-type, and the threshold may be a falling threshold having a value within 10% of ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter L. Terçariol, Richard Titov Lara Saez
  • Patent number: 8688305
    Abstract: In a method, system and apparatus for managing vehicle energy, the amount of electric power needed for operating a vehicle is calculated, a surplus amount of electric power that is the current amount of battery power less the calculated amount of electric power is sold, or a number of received location information signals according to the current amount of battery power is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: SK Planet Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoon Jeong Choi, Dae Lim Son, Eun Bok Lee, Jun Yong Jung
  • Patent number: 8653754
    Abstract: A current driving circuit may include a reference voltage input terminal; a resistor connection terminal; an output terminal via which the light emitting element is connected; a reference voltage generating unit; a transistor arranged such that one terminal thereof is connected to the resistor connection terminal; and an operational amplifier including first and second non-inverting input terminals and a single inverting input terminal, and arranged such that the output terminal thereof is connected to a control terminal of the transistor, the internal reference voltage is input to the first non-inverting input terminal, the external reference voltage is input to the second non-inverting input terminal, and the inverting input terminal thereof is connected to the resistor connection terminal. When the external resistor is connected between the resistor connection terminal and a ground terminal, a driving current is output via the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Kikuchi, Masao Yonemaru, Takashi Oki
  • Patent number: 8633734
    Abstract: A bi-directional comparator compares two input signals and applies a hysteresis level to the smaller input signal only after the output signal switches logical states and when the two input signals are within a predetermined range of each other. In one embodiment, the hysteresis applied to the smaller input signal is removed when the two input signals are no longer within the predetermined range of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Micrel, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Casey, Richard Zhu, Cameron Jackson
  • Patent number: 8625370
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a P-type MOS transistor and two or more N-type MOS transistors connected together in series between a first and a second power supply, an input terminal connected to a gate terminal of the P-type MOS transistor and gate terminals of the two or more N-type MOS transistors, an output terminal which is a connection node between the P-type MOS transistor and one of the two or more N-type MOS transistors connected to the P-type MOS transistor, and one or more capacitors connected to the output terminal. The drive capability of the P-type MOS transistor is higher than the overall drive capability of the two or more N-type MOS transistors connected together in series. Therefore, a semiconductor integrated circuit is provided in which fluctuations in the delay time of a delay circuit caused by variations in transistor characteristics can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Yamagami