Field-effect Transistor Patents (Class 327/427)
  • Patent number: 8306757
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to very large scale FET arrays for analyte measurements. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes. In one example, chemFET arrays facilitate DNA sequencing techniques based on monitoring changes in hydrogen ion concentration (pH), changes in other analyte concentration, and/or binding events associated with chemical processes relating to DNA synthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Wolfgang Hinz, Kim L. Johnson, James M. Bustillo
  • Publication number: 20120274580
    Abstract: An apparatus that is configurable to perform a forward scan, a row scan, and a column scan is disclosed. The apparatus includes a path selection module coupled to a transmitter and a receiver. The path selection module includes a row-transmit switch, a column-receive switch, a row-receive switch, and a column-transmit switch that are configurable to form various transmit paths and receive paths to perform the forward scan, a row scan, and a column scan. The row-transmit switch and the column-transmit switch cascades switching transistors to protect against large voltage swings present in an output of the transmitter, controls the gate voltage that is applied to these switching transistors to protect against the large voltage swings, and includes additional protection circuitry to ensure their reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Amory SOBEL, Xin DAI
  • Publication number: 20120274386
    Abstract: A semiconductor circuit which can have stable input output characteristics is provided. Specifically, a semiconductor circuit in which problems caused by the leakage current of a switching element are suppressed is provided. A field-effect transistor in which a wide band gap semiconductor, such as an oxide semiconductor, is used in a semiconductor layer where a channel is formed is used for a switching element included in a switched capacitor circuit. Such a transistor has a small leakage current in an off state. When the transistor is used as a switching element, a semiconductor circuit which has stable input output characteristics and in which problems caused by the leakage current are suppressed can be fabricated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kouhei Toyotaka
  • Publication number: 20120274385
    Abstract: A transmission gate includes first and second transmission path terminals, a series connection of first and second field effect transistors (FETs), and a control circuit. The channels of the first and second FETs are coupled in series between the first transmission path terminal and the second transmission path terminal, such that a channel contact of the first FET is coupled to the second transmission path terminal and a channel contact of the second FET is coupled to the first transmission path terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Giacomo Curatolo
  • Patent number: 8299842
    Abstract: A bidirectional switch includes a semiconductor switch Q3 having a gate and main electrodes serving as a drain and source. The semiconductor switch has a HEMT structure so that one of the main electrodes having a lower voltage than the other serves as a virtual source and the other main electrode as a virtual drain. The semiconductor switch receives a gate signal between the gate and the virtual source, to turn on/off a current in both directions. A gate signal generator 13 is connected between the gate and virtual source of the semiconductor switch, to apply the gate signal to the gate of the semiconductor switch. An overvoltage protection circuit is connected between the virtual drain and gate of the semiconductor switch. The overvoltage protection circuit has a resistor 16 and a constant voltage diode 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Sato
  • Patent number: 8299841
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a discharge circuit and a control circuit. The discharge circuit includes a first transistor connected between a gate of an output transistor and an output terminal, and a capacitor connected to a gate of the first transistor, and discharges a gate voltage of the output transistor to the output terminal by turning on the first transistor with an electric charge of the capacitor. The control circuit includes a charge path, a first discharge path, and a second discharge path. The first discharge path discharges an electric charge of the charged capacitor when the system turns off. The second discharge path discharges the electric charge of the capacitor for a time period longer than a time period for discharging the output transistor by the discharge circuit upon detection of an abnormality in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Fukuhara, Tsuyoshi Mitsuda
  • Publication number: 20120268194
    Abstract: In a conventional analog buffer circuit composed of polycrystalline semiconductor TFTs, a variation in the output is large. Thus, a measure such as to provide a correction circuit has been taken. However, there has been such a problem that a circuit and driver operation are complicated. Therefore, a gate length and a gate width of a TFT composing an analog buffer circuit is set to be larger. Also, a multi-gate structure is adopted thereto. In addition, the arrangement of channel regions is devised. Thus, the analog buffer circuit having a small variation is obtained without using a correction circuit, and a semiconductor device having a small variation can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun KOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20120270512
    Abstract: Provided are a transfer gate circuit that has reduced disturbance in an output waveform thereof, a power combining circuit using the transfer gate circuit, and a transmission device and a communication device that use the power combining circuit. The transfer gate circuit includes: output terminals (3, 4); a transistor (5) including a drain connected to the output terminal (3); a transistor (6) including a drain connected to the output terminal (4); transistors (7, 8) each including a drain connected to the output terminal (3) and each including a source connected to a ground potential; and transistors (9, 10) each including a drain connected to the output terminal (4) and each including a source connected to the ground potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Nagayama, Yasuhiko Fukuoka, Sadao Igarashi, Shinji Isoyama
  • Publication number: 20120262220
    Abstract: Switches comprising a normally-off semiconductor device and a normally-on semiconductor device in cascode arrangement are described. The switches include a capacitor connected between the gate of the normally-on device and the source of the normally-off device. The switches may also include a zener diode connected in parallel with the capacitor between the gate of the normally-on device and the source of the normally-off device. The switches may also include a pair of zener diodes in series opposing arrangement between the gate and source of the normally-off device. Switches comprising multiple normally-on and/or multiple normally-off devices are also described. The normally-on device can be a JFET such as a SiC JFET. The normally-off device can be a MOSFET such as a Si MOSFET. The normally-on device can be a high voltage device and the normally-off device can be a low voltage device. Circuits comprising the switches are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: SEMISOUTH LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventor: Nigel SPRINGETT
  • Patent number: 8289067
    Abstract: A method and system for bandwidth enhancement using hybrid inductors are disclosed and may include providing an electrical impedance that increases with frequency via hybrid inductors comprising a transistor, a capacitor, an inductor, and a resistor. A first terminal of the hybrid inductors may comprise a first terminal of the transistor. A second terminal of the transistor may be coupled to a first terminal of the resistor and a first terminal of the capacitor. A second terminal of the resistor may comprise a second terminal of the hybrid inductors. A third terminal of the transistor may be coupled to a first terminal of an inductor, and a second terminal of the inductor may be coupled to a second terminal of the capacitor. The hybrid inductors may be configured by varying transconductance, resistance, and/or capacitance and may be utilized as an amplifier load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Luxtera Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Kucharski
  • Patent number: 8289066
    Abstract: An analog switch configuration includes a gate control circuit coupled between an input of a switch and a gate of the switch. The gate control circuit passes voltage changes on the input of the switch to the gate of the switch to decrease the influence the inherent gate to input capacitance has on the bandwidth of the switch. By reducing the change in voltage across the inherent capacitance, the current through the capacitance in decreased as well as its influence on the bandwidth of the configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd.
    Inventor: Dianbo Guo
  • Patent number: 8289068
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for switching without any interruption between two winding taps (tap n, tap n+1) of a tap-changing transformer, wherein each of the two winding taps is connected to the common load output line via in each case one mechanical switch (Ds) and a series circuit, arranged in series thereto, comprising two IGBTs (Ip, In) which are switched in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Brueckl, Dieter Dohnal, Hans-Henning Lessmann-Mieske
  • Patent number: 8283968
    Abstract: An analog switch including at least one first MOS transistor capable of transferring a signal from a first terminal to a second terminal; a connection circuit for bringing a substrate terminal of the first transistor to a voltage which is a function of the voltages of the first and second terminals; and a circuit for controlling a control voltage of the first transistor with the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble) SAS
    Inventor: Serge Ramet
  • Publication number: 20120242396
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a switching device and method configured to receive a signal at a signal input, to provide the signal at an output in a first state without an applied voltage at a first control input, and to isolate the signal from the output in a second state with an applied voltage at the first control input. In an example, the switching device can include first, second, and third transistors, wherein the source of the first transistor is coupled to the drain of the second transistor and to the gate of the third transistor, wherein the signal input is coupled to the drain of the first transistor and to the drain of the third transistor, and wherein the output is coupled to the source of the third transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Tony Cheng Han Lee, Shawn Barden
  • Publication number: 20120242395
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including a capacitor bank is disclosed. The capacitor bank includes one or more cells. Each cell may include two capacitors in series and a transistor in parallel with one of the capacitors. The transistor switches a capacitance of the parallel capacitor in or out of a larger circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Yongwang Ding
  • Publication number: 20120242397
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, apparatus and methods for passing a signal in a power down state. An example switch device can include a first depletion-mode transistor configured to pass an analog signal between a first node and a second node in a first state and to isolate the first node from the second node in a second state, a control circuit coupled to a control node of the first depletion-mode transistor and configured to isolate the control node from a first supply input in the first state and to couple the control node to the first supply input in the second state, and a tracking circuit configured to couple the control node of the first depletion-mode transistor to the first node during the first state and to isolate the control node of the first depletion-mode transistor from the first node in the second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Julie Lynn Stultz, James Joseph Morra, Steven Macaluso
  • Patent number: 8269549
    Abstract: A power supply circuit for a PCI-E slot includes a control chip, a first electronic switch, and a second electronic switch. The control chip determines a status of a motherboard, outputting a control signal. A first terminal of the first electronic switch is connected to the control chip to receive the control signal, and connected to a +3.3V dual power supply of the motherboard through a first resistor. A second terminal of the first electronic switch is grounded. A third terminal of the first electronic switch is connected to a first terminal of the second electronic switch, and connected to the +3.3V dual power supply through a second resistor. A second terminal of the second electronic switch is connected to the +3.3V dual power supply. A third terminal of the second electronic switch is connected to a PCI-E slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Chung Lin, Wu Jiang
  • Publication number: 20120229191
    Abstract: A hybrid neutral transfer switch in an electrical system to transfer a load between multiple AC power sources is provided. The hybrid neutral transfer switch includes a neutral gate controlled device connected to a neutral input of each of the multiple power sources and a mechanical transfer switch that switches between the neutral input of each of the power sources. During the transfer of power from one power source to another power source, the neutral gate controlled devices are activated and/or deactivated in conjunction with the switching of the mechanical transfer switch from one neutral input to another neutral input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: LAYERZERO POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: James M. Galm, Ged Butkus, Milind M. Bhanoo
  • Publication number: 20120229192
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit which reduces an increase in the level of a harmonic signal of an RF transmission output signal at the time of supplying an RF transmission signal to a bias generation circuit of an antenna switch, including an antenna switch having a bias generation circuit, a transmitter switch, and a receiver switch. The on/off state of a transistor of the transmitter switch coupled between a transmitter port and an I/O port is controlled by a transmit control bias. The on/off state of the transistors of the receiver switch coupled between the I/O port and a receiver port is controlled by a receiver control bias. An RF signal input port of the bias generation circuit is coupled to the transmit port, and a negative DC output bias generated from a DC output port is supplied to a gate control port of transistors of the receiver switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Kaoru KATOH, Shigeki KOYA, Shinichiro TAKATANI, Yasushi SHIGENO, Akishige NAKAJIMA, Takashi OGAWA
  • Publication number: 20120223763
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device which avoids an adverse effect of high temperatures due to a switching element and in which a circuit to prevent false firing is arranged on the same substrate as the switching element. An N-channel type MOSFET 10 and a JFET 30 of an N-channel type containing a semiconductor material of silicon carbide are individually arranged in proximity on conductive patterns 51, 52 on a substrate 5, and a gate electrode 13 of the MOSFET 10 and a drain electrode 31 of the JFET 30 are connected by a lead 61. When an external drive signal for on/off control of MOSFET 10 propagates between source electrode 32 and drain electrode 31 of JFET 30, the channel resistance of JFET 30 is changed to a large/small value according to a low/high level of gate voltage between source electrode 32 and gate electrode 33, whereby a leading edge of a switching waveform between drain electrode 11 and source electrode 12 of MOSFET 10 comes to have a gentler slope than a trailing edge thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Sawada
  • Publication number: 20120223930
    Abstract: An inverter circuit includes: a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor, and a fifth transistor; an input terminal and an output terminal; and a capacitor. The capacitor is inserted between a gate of the second transistor and one of a source and a drain of the second transistor in which the one is located on an output terminal side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Teturou Yamamoto, Katsuhide Uchino
  • Publication number: 20120218025
    Abstract: An electronic component comprising a half bridge adapted for operation with an electrical load having an operating frequency is described. The half bridge comprises a first switch and a second switch each having a switching frequency, the first switch and the second switch each including a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the first switch and the second terminal of the second switch are both electrically connected to a node. The electronic component further includes a filter having a 3 dB roll-off frequency, the 3 dB roll-off frequency being less than the switching frequency of the switches but greater than the operating frequency of the electrical load. The first terminal of the filter is electrically coupled to the node, and the 3 dB roll-off frequency of the filter is greater than 5 kHz.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: TRANSPHORM INC.
    Inventors: James Honea, Yifeng Wu
  • Patent number: 8248148
    Abstract: A power supply switch apparatus includes a main outlet, first and second load outlets, a manual switch, and first and second electronic switches. The positive terminal of the main outlet is connected to the positive terminal of the first load outlet and connected to the second terminal of the first electronic switch. The third terminal of the first electronic switch is connected to the positive terminal of the second load outlet. The first terminal of the first electronic switch is connected to the second terminal of the second electronic switch and connected to a voltage terminal through a first resistor. The third terminal of the second electronic switch is grounded. The first terminal of the second electronic switch is connected to the voltage terminal through the manual switch and a second resistor in that order, and grounded through a third resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chi-Wen Chen
  • Patent number: 8248116
    Abstract: A technique for a reverse conducting semiconductor device including an IGBT element domain and a diode element domain that utilize body regions having a mutual impurity concentration, that makes it possible to adjust an injection efficiency of holes or electrons to the diode element domain, is provided. When a return current flows in the reverse conducting semiconductor device that uses an NPNP-type IGBT, a second voltage that is higher than a voltage of an emitter electrode is applied to second trench gate electrodes of the diode element domain. N-type inversion layers are formed in the periphery of the second trench gate electrodes, and the electrons flow therethrough via a first body contact region and a drift region which are of the same n-type. The injection efficiency of the electrons to the return current is increased, and the injection efficiency of the holes is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akitaka Soeno, Jun Saito
  • Patent number: 8242812
    Abstract: A buffer circuit in accordance with an embodiment comprises output transistors connected between a first fixed voltage terminal and an output terminal, and gate control transistors connected between a second fixed voltage terminal and a gate of one of the output transistors or between two of gates of the output transistors. The output transistors are configured to turn on to change a voltage of the output terminal. The gate control transistors are configured to apply a gate voltage to the gates of the output transistors. A gate of each of the gate control transistors is applied with a certain voltage, such that when a source of each of the gate control transistors changes from a first potential to a second potential, a potential difference between the gate and the source attains a threshold voltage or greater, whereby each of the gate control transistors is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaru Koyanagi, Fumiyoshi Matsuoka, Yasuhiro Suematsu
  • Patent number: 8242830
    Abstract: A power supply control circuit comprises an output transistor 32 which controls supply of electric power to a load and a gate driving circuit which generates control signals “a” and “b” for controlling on/off of the output transistor based on an external input signal. A first discharge path includes a first depletion-type N-channel MOS transistor provided between a gate and a source of the output transistor and discharges a gate charge of the output transistor based on the control signals, when turning off the output transistor. A second discharge path includes a first depletion-type N-channel MOS transistor discharges more slowly than the first discharge path. A diode is coupled to the first depletion-type N-channel MOS transistor in series and detects that a gate voltage of the output transistor has fallen to a prescribed voltage level, and cuts off a first discharge path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Soma, Akihiro Nakahara
  • Publication number: 20120200335
    Abstract: One high-frequency switch Qm supplied with transmit and receive signals to ON, and another high-frequency switch Qn supplied with a signal of another system to OFF are controlled. In the other high-frequency switch Qn, to set V-I characteristics of near-I/O gate resistances Rg1n-Rg3n of a near-I/O FET Qn1 near to a common input/output terminal I/O connected with an antenna are set to be higher in linearity than V-I characteristics of middle-portion gate resistances Rg3n and Rg4n of middle-portion FETs Qn3 and Qn4. Thus, even in case that an uneven RF leak signal is supplied to near-I/O gate resistances Rg1n-Rg3n, and middle-portion gate resistances Rg3n and Rg4n, the distortion of current flowing through the near-I/O gate resistances Rg1n-Rg3n near to the input/output terminal I/O can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeki Koya, Shinichiro Takatani, Takashi Ogawa, Akishige Nakajima, Yasushi Shigeno
  • Patent number: 8232827
    Abstract: A semiconductor switch includes: a first terminal; a second terminal; a switch section including a through FET connected between the first terminal and the second terminal and a shunt FET connected between the second terminal and a first ground terminal; a first control terminal configured to drive the through FET; a second control terminal configured to drive the shunt FET; and a driver provided on a substrate together with the switch section and configured to provide a differential output to the first control terminal and the second control terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshitomo Sagae, Toshiki Seshita
  • Publication number: 20120188001
    Abstract: An electronic control apparatus includes a switching element having a control terminal; an ON-drive constant-current circuit for supplying a constant current to the control terminal, thereby charging the control terminal of the switching element with electrical charge; an OFF-drive switching element for discharging electrical charge from the control terminal of the switching element by being turned ON; and a control circuit adapted to control the ON-drive constant-current circuit and the OFF-drive switching element in response to a drive signal being inputted, thereby controlling the voltage of the control terminal of the switching element to drive the switching element. The ON-drive constant-current circuit includes a current control transistor and a current detection element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunichi Mizobe, Tsuneo Maebara, Kazunori Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20120188002
    Abstract: A modularized capacitor array includes a plurality of capacitor modules. Each capacitor module includes a capacitor and a switching device that is configured to electrically disconnect the capacitor. The switching device includes a sensing unit configured to detect the level of leakage of the capacitor so that the switching device disconnects the capacitor electrically if the leakage current exceeds a predetermined level. Each capacitor module can include a single capacitor plate, two capacitor plates, or more than two capacitor plates. The leakage sensors and switching devices are employed to electrically disconnect any capacitor module of the capacitor array that becomes leaky, thereby protecting the capacitor array from excessive electrical leakage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Louis L. Hsu, Xu Ouyang, Chih-Chao Yang
  • Patent number: 8228113
    Abstract: A power semiconductor module includes a normally on, controllable first power semiconductor switch including at least one first power semiconductor chip, and a normally off, controllable second power semiconductor switch including at least one second power semiconductor chip. The load paths of the first power semiconductor switch and of the second power semiconductor switch are connected in series. The control terminals of all first power semiconductor chips are permanently electrically conductively connected to a conductor track to which no load terminal of any of the first power semiconductor chips is permanently electrically conductively connected, and to which no load terminal and no control terminal of any of the second power semiconductor chips are permanently electrically conductively connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Daniel Domes
  • Patent number: 8228112
    Abstract: A circuit includes an amplifier having an input and an output; and at least one transistor comprising at least one terminal and at least one isolated well. The input of the amplifier is electrically connected to the at least one terminal of the transistor; and the output of the amplifier is electrically connected to the at least one isolated well of the at least one transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Scott Kevin Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20120182061
    Abstract: A radio-frequency switch circuit of the invention includes: n-stage through FETs (field effect transistors) connected in series between the antenna terminal and each of the radio-frequency terminals, where n is a natural number; a radio-frequency leakage prevention resistor connected to a gate of the through FETs; a control signal line commonly connected to the gates of the n-stage through FETs connected to the same radio-frequency terminal; and a resistor connected to each of at least two of the control signal lines and connected to the radio-frequency leakage prevention resistor in series The two control signal lines are capacitively coupled between the resistor and the through FETs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Toshiki Seshita, Hirotsugu Wakimoto
  • Patent number: 8222929
    Abstract: Switch pre-driver systems and methods are described. The present switch pre-driver systems and methods facilitate switch driver breakdown protection, reduction of leakage current, and avoidance of false switching. In one embodiment, a switch system includes a switch driver, a switch pre-driver, and a mode detection circuit. The switch driver drives a voltage. The switch pre-driver controls the switch driver. The mode detection circuit notifies the switch pre-driver of a mode condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: King Kwan
  • Patent number: 8222949
    Abstract: Embodiments of circuits, devices, and methods related to a radio frequency switch are disclosed. In various embodiments, a circuit may comprise a series path including a series transistor to be switched on during a first mode of operation; a shunt path including a shunt transistor to be switched off during the first mode of operation; and a return path including a return transistor to be switched on during the first mode of operation. Other embodiments may also be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Triquint Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Wolfram Stiebler
  • Publication number: 20120176827
    Abstract: A controller, power converter, and a related method for secondary side control of a switch are disclosed herein. An embodiment of the present invention includes a controller. The controller comprises a drain to source voltage (VDS voltage) input configured to receive the VDS voltage of a transistor, a gate drive output configured to output a gate drive voltage to a gate of the transistor, and control logic configured to initiate a minimum on time signal independent of triggering the gate drive voltage to activate the transistor. A related method comprises comparing a VDS voltage of a transistor to a plurality of voltage threshold levels, driving a gate of the transistor when the VDS voltage crosses a predetermined voltage threshold, and asserting a minimum on time signal when the VDS voltage crosses another predetermined voltage threshold independent of driving the gate of the transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: Integrated Device Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrey Malinin
  • Patent number: 8217705
    Abstract: Voltage switches, memory devices, memory systems, and methods for switching are disclosed. One such voltage switch uses a pair of switch circuits coupled in series, each switch circuit being driven by a level shift circuit. Each switch circuit uses a group of series coupled transistors with a parallel control transistor where the number of transistors in each group may be determined by an expected switch input voltage and a maximum allowable voltage drop for each transistor. A voltage of a particular state of an enable signal is shifted up to the switch input voltage by the level shift circuits. The particular state of the enable signal turns on the voltage switch such that the switch output voltage is substantially equal to the switch input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Giulio G. Marotta, Carlo Musilli, Stefano Perugini, Alessandro Torsi, Tommaso Vali
  • Patent number: 8212604
    Abstract: An analog T switch is disclosed which has high isolation in the off state. The analog T switch can include series-connected NMOS transistors having separate gate control. The gates of the NMOS transistors can be isolated from one another to improve off state isolation of the analog T switch. The analog switch can include series-connected PMOS transistors having separate gate control. The gates of the PMOS transistors can be isolated from one another to improve off state isolation of the analog T switch. The analog T switch can include a substrate voltage control circuit that controls the voltage of the substrate regions in which the PMOS transistors are formed. The substrate voltage control circuit can isolate the substrate regions of the PMOS transistors from one another in the off state to improve off state isolation of the analog T switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Guo Dianbo
  • Publication number: 20120161850
    Abstract: A method includes setting a mode of operation of a buffer circuit outputting an output signal. The mode of operation is set to a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation. The output signal is substantially in-phase with an input signal received by the buffer circuit when the mode of operation is the first mode. The output signal is substantially out of phase with the input signal when the mode of operation is the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Rajagopalan Rangarajan, Chinmaya Mishra
  • Publication number: 20120161849
    Abstract: A power supply circuit for a PCI-E slot includes a control chip, a first electronic switch, and a second electronic switch. The control chip determines a status of a motherboard, outputting a control signal. A first terminal of the first electronic switch is connected to the control chip to receive the control signal, and connected to a +3.3V dual power supply of the motherboard through a first resistor. A second terminal of the first electronic switch is grounded. A third terminal of the first electronic switch is connected to a first terminal of the second electronic switch, and connected to the +3.3V dual power supply through a second resistor. A second terminal of the second electronic switch is connected to the +3.3V dual power supply. A third terminal of the second electronic switch is connected to a PCI-E slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD
    Inventors: CHENG-CHUNG LIN, WU JIANG
  • Publication number: 20120161848
    Abstract: The invention relates to a driver circuit used to transmit a digital signal from a source device to a destination device. The driver circuit provides a controlled switching time to improve digital signal quality, while reducing electromagnetic interference. In the circuit, a pair of first switches of a first plurality are coupled in parallel between a first current node and respective ones of first and second output terminals. A plurality of pairs of second switches of a second plurality are coupled in parallel between a respective second current node and the first and second output terminals. Timing circuitry applies input signals to the pair of first switches and successive input signals to the pairs of second switches so as to develop a staggered voltage across a load coupled between the first and second output terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics Pvt. Ltd.
    Inventor: Rajeev Jain
  • Publication number: 20120162836
    Abstract: In a stacked chip system, an IO circuit connected to a TSV pad for IO and a switch circuit constitute an IO channel in each chip, the IO channels as many as the maximum scheduled number of stacks are coupled together and connected to constitute an IO group, and the chip has one or more such IO groups. Each TSV pad for IO is connected with a through via to an IO terminal at the same position in a chip of another layer. On an interposer, if the actual number of stacks is less than the maximum scheduled number of stacks, connection pads for IO in adjacent IO groups on the interposer are connected via a conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Futoshi FURUTA, Kenichi Osada
  • Patent number: 8207760
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for implementing a semiconductor switch multi-stage drive circuit. The disclosed method and an apparatus reduce losses in a semiconductor switch when it is turned from an off state to an on state or from an on state to an off state. The reduction in losses is achieved without influencing the dv/dt across the semiconductor switch during a first time period while the semiconductor switch is switching. This reduction in losses is therefore achieved with very little increase in the noise generated due to rapid dv/dt during the first time period when the semiconductor switch is switching. The configuration of the circuitry to achieve this reduction in switching losses is such that benefits are less sensitive to manufacturing tolerances and temperature effects than alternative semiconductor switch drive schemes to achieve similar results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Giao Minh Pham
  • Patent number: 8207779
    Abstract: A control circuit for controlling a switching device having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal is disclosed. The control circuit includes a first diode for coupling to the first terminal of the switching device, a second diode for coupling to the second terminal of the switching device, a first transistor for coupling to the control terminal of the switching device, and a second transistor coupled to the second diode. The first transistor is coupled to the first diode. The control circuit is configured to allow current flow in only one direction between the first and second terminals of the switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Astec International Limited
    Inventors: Zong Bo Hu, Ying Qu, Kevin Donald Wildash, Wai Kin Chan, Wing Ling Cheng
  • Publication number: 20120154018
    Abstract: There is provided a high frequency semiconductor switch having an FET designed in consideration of characteristics required for a transmission terminal and a reception terminal. The high frequency semiconductor switch includes a plurality of field effect transistors that each include a source region and a drain region formed on a substrate to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance, a gate formed on the substrate to be disposed at the predetermined distance, a source contact formed on the substrate to be connected with the source region, and a drain contact formed on the substrate to be connected with the drain region. A distance between a source contact and a drain contact of a reception terminal side transistor is longer than a distance between a source contact and a drain contact of a transmission terminal side transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Sugiura
  • Patent number: 8203365
    Abstract: A circuit is for generating a signal that indicates whether or not an input current exceeds a pre-established threshold current and, in the affirmative case, that is representative of the difference between the input current and the threshold current. The circuit includes a diode-connected transistor biased with a first constant current in a saturation functioning condition, a sense transistor mirrored to the diode-connected transistor and biased in a linear (triode) functioning condition, a load transistor connected in series to the sense transistor, biased with a second constant current and the control terminal of which is connected in common with the respective terminals of the diode-connected transistor and of the sense transistor. The input current to be compared is injected to a common current node of the load transistor and of the sense transistor, and the output voltage is available on the other current node of the load transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventors: Gianluca Valentino, Luigino D'Alessio, Giancarlo Candela
  • Patent number: 8203376
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer stack 13 formed on a substrate 11 and having a channel region, a first electrode 16A and a second electrode 16B formed spaced apart from each other on the semiconductor layer stack 13, a first gate electrode 18A formed between the first electrode 16A and the second electrode 16B, and a second gate electrode 18B formed between the first gate electrode 18A and the second electrode 16B. A first control layer 19A having a p-type conductivity is formed between the semiconductor layer stack 13 and the first gate electrode 18A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Morita, Manabu Yanagihara, Hidetoshi Ishida, Yasuhiro Uemoto, Hiroaki Ueno, Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Daisuke Ueda
  • Patent number: 8203377
    Abstract: A DC-coupled two-stage gate driver circuit for driving a junction field effect transistor (JFET) is provided. The JFET can be a wide bandgap junction field effect transistor (JFET) such as a SiC JFET. The driver includes a first turn-on circuit, a second turn-on circuit and a pull-down circuit. The driver is configured to accept an input pulse-width modulation (PWM) control signal and generate an output driver signal for driving the gate of the JFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: SS SC IP, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Lynn Kelley, Fenton Rees
  • Publication number: 20120146705
    Abstract: A pass-gate has a passageway between an input node and an output node. The pass-gate selectively opens or closes the passageway for a signal at the input node under control of a voltage. The pass-gate has a field-effect transistor with a gate electrode and a current channel. The current channel is arranged between the input node and the output node. The gate electrode receives the voltage. The pass-gate is configured so as to have the voltage at the control electrode substantially follow the signal at the input node when the passageway is open to the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Gerrit Willem Den Besten
  • Patent number: 8198935
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for capacitive voltage division are provided, an example apparatus having an input and an output and including a first switched capacitor circuit. In some embodiments, the capacitive voltage divider includes first and second MOSFETs. A first capacitor is coupled between the drain of the first MOSFET and the input to the capacitive voltage divider. A first circuit coupled to the drain of the first MOSFET is configured to pull down the drain of the first MOSFET and thus apply a reverse bias to a first junction diode internal to the first MOSFET between the drain and the bulk of the first MOSFET. A second capacitor is coupled between the source of the first MOSFET and the drain of the second MOSFET. A second circuit is configured to reverse bias a second junction diode between the drain and bulk of the second MOSFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Entropic Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Wai Lim Ngai