Plural Devices In Series Patents (Class 327/436)
  • Publication number: 20150002210
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an internal high voltage terminal supplied with an internal high voltage, an internal negative voltage terminal supplied with an internal negative voltage, a monitoring pad suitable for monitoring the internal high and negative voltages, a first switch suitable for controlling electrical connection between the high voltage terminal and the monitoring pad and including two or more transistors coupled in series, and a second switch suitable for controlling electrical connection between the negative voltage terminal and the monitoring pad and including two or more transistors coupled in series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Sang-Ho LEE
  • Patent number: 8922268
    Abstract: Radio-frequency (RF) switch circuits are disclosed having adjustable resistance to provide improved switching performance. RF switch circuits include at least one field-effect transistor (FET) disposed between first and second nodes, each of the FET having a respective gate and body. An adjustable-resistance circuit is connected to either or both of the respective gate and body of the FET(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Anuj Madan, Fikret Altunkilic, Guillaume Alexandre Blin
  • Patent number: 8896159
    Abstract: A low-leakage IO circuit is provided. The IO circuit includes an impedance path between a pad and a power supply. The impedance path bypasses a signal path of the pad and includes a switch circuit. According to a relationship between voltages of the power supply and the pad of the IO circuit, the switch circuit selectively conducts the impedance path. When the power supply provides power normally, the switch circuit conducts the impedance path to provide a pull-up resistor between the pad and the power supply. When the power supply provides no power and its voltage is lower than a voltage of the pad, the switch circuit disconnects the conducting path to effectively reduce power leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Chun-Wen Yeh
  • Patent number: 8860495
    Abstract: An electronic component includes a depletion-mode transistor, an enhancement-mode transistor, and a resistor. The depletion-mode transistor has a higher breakdown voltage than the enhancement-mode transistor. A first terminal of the resistor is electrically connected to a source of the enhancement-mode transistor, and a second terminal of the resistor and a source of the depletion-mode transistor are each electrically connected to a drain of the enhancement-mode transistor. A gate of the depletion-mode transistor can be electrically connected to a source of the enhancement-mode transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Transphorm Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh K. Lal, Robert Coffie, Yifeng Wu, Primit Parikh, Yuvaraj Dora, Umesh Mishra, Srabanti Chowdhury, Nicholas Fichtenbaum
  • Patent number: 8847668
    Abstract: An RF switch includes a transistor and a compensation capacitor circuit. The compensation capacitor circuit includes a first compensation capacitor and a second compensation capacitor of the same capacitance. The compensation capacitor circuit is used to improve voltage distribution between a control node and a first node of the transistor and between the control node and a second node of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: RichWave Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Chih-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 8847667
    Abstract: An RF switch circuit for switching RF signals includes a first terminal and a second terminal and a series connection of a plurality of transistors between the first terminal of the RF switch circuit and the second terminal of the RF switch circuit. Furthermore, the RF switch circuit includes a control circuit configured to conductively couple, in a high impedance state of the RF switch circuit, the first terminal of the RF switch circuit to a control terminal of a first transistor in a series of the series connection of the plurality of transistors. The second terminal of the RF switch circuit is conductively coupled to a control terminal of a last transistor in the series of the series connection of the plurality of transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Hans Taddiken, Thomas Boettner
  • Patent number: 8841956
    Abstract: A High Voltage switch configuration having an input terminal which receives an input signal and an output terminal which issues an output signal to a load. The High Voltage switch configuration comprises at least a first and a second diode, being placed in antiseries between said input and output terminals and having a pair of corresponding terminals in common, in correspondence of a first internal circuit node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giulio Ricotti, Paolo Bompieri, Sandro Rossi
  • Patent number: 8829975
    Abstract: A method and corresponding circuits for operating a parallel DMOS switch that includes a pair of P-type DMOS devices connected in series with each other and in parallel with a pair of N-type DMOS devices connected in series with each other. The method and circuits involve turning the switch on by applying gate signals to the DMOS device pairs which are generated using at least one source voltage of a DMOS device pair. The switch is turned off by setting the gate signals equal to the respective source voltages of the DMOS device pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: David Aherne
  • Patent number: 8829977
    Abstract: There is provided a high frequency switch including: a first signal transferring unit including a plurality of first switching devices and at least one first diode device individually connected to control terminals of the plurality of first switching devices to enable or block signal flow between a common port transmitting and receiving a first high frequency signal and a first port inputting and outputting the first high frequency signal; and a second signal transferring unit including a plurality of second switching devices and at least one second diode device individually connected to control terminals of the plurality of second switching devices to enable or block signal flow between the common port transmitting and receiving a second high frequency signal and a second port inputting and outputting the second high frequency signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chan Yong Jeong
  • Publication number: 20140240030
    Abstract: A semiconductor switch circuit includes first semiconductor switch units and second semiconductor switch units. The first semiconductor switch units each have a first threshold and two first ends. One first end is connected to a common terminal. The second semiconductor switch units each have a second threshold and two second ends. One second end is connected to the other first end of the first semiconductor switch units. The second threshold is lower than the first threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Takayuki Teraguchi
  • Patent number: 8786002
    Abstract: In terms of achieving a reduction in the cost of an antenna switch, there is provided a technology capable of minimizing harmonic distortion generated in the antenna switch even when the antenna switch is particularly formed of field effect transistors formed over a silicon substrate. Between the source region and the drain region of each of a plurality of MISFETs coupled in series, a distortion compensating capacitance circuit is coupled which has a voltage dependency such that, in either of the cases where a positive voltage is applied to the drain region based on the potential of the source region and where a negative voltage is applied to the drain region based on the potential of the source region, the capacitance decreases to a value smaller than that in a state where the potential of the source region and the potential of the drain region are at the same level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Kondo, Masatoshi Morikawa, Satoshi Goto
  • Patent number: 8779840
    Abstract: There is provided a high frequency switch capable of suppressing deterioration in distortion characteristics. The high frequency switch includes: a common port outputting a transmission signal to an antenna; a plurality of transmission ports each having the transmission signal input thereto; and a plurality of switching units each connected between the plurality of transmission ports and the common port to conduct or block the transmission signal from each of the transmission ports to the common port, wherein each of the switching units has one or more metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) formed on a silicon substrate, and a capacitor connected between a body terminal of a MOSFET connected to the common port among the MOSFETs and a terminal of the MOSFET connected to the common port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sugiura, Eiichiro Otobe, Koki Tanji, Norihisa Otani
  • Patent number: 8772880
    Abstract: A high-speed semiconductor integrated circuit device is achieved by adjusting an offset voltage. For example, dummy NMOS transistors MND1 (MND1a and MND1b) and MND2 (MND2a and MND2b) are connected to drain outputs of NMOS transistors MN1 and MN2 operated according to differential input signals Din_p and Din_n, respectively. The MND1 is arranged adjacent to the MN1, and a source of the MND1a and a drain of the MN1 share a diffusion layer. The MND2 is arranged adjacent to the MN2, and a source of the MND2a and a drain of the MN2 share a diffusion layer. The MND1 and the MND2 function as dummy transistors for suppressing variations in process of the MN1 and the MN2 and, and besides, they also function as means for adjusting the offset voltage by appropriately applying an offset-amount setting signal OFST to each gate to provide a capacitor to either the MN1 or the MN2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Fukuda, Hiroki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8766672
    Abstract: An electronic switching device comprises a first bipolar junction transistor (BJT) (2a) adapted to control the flow of current between a pair of switching terminals; a charge recovery circuit coupled to the base of the first BJT (2a) and adapted to establish a supply voltage across a capacitor (5) by storing in the capacitor (5) charge carriers accumulated in the base of the first BJT (2a) during application of a base drive current, the quantity of accumulated charge carriers depending on the base drive current; and a controllable current source (4) adapted to control the base drive current, thereby controlling the supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Anton Cornelis Blom
  • Patent number: 8749297
    Abstract: Switch circuits are disclosed, for providing a single-ended and a differentially switched high-voltage output signals by switching a high supply voltage in response to at least one logic-level control signal. The switch that provides the single-ended switched high-voltage output signal includes a chain of at least three serially coupled field effect transistors (FETs). The chain receives the high supply voltage and switches it to output the high-voltage output signal. The switch that provides the differentially switched high-voltage output signal includes two differentially coupled chains, each having at least three serially coupled FETs. The chains receive the high supply voltage and switch it to output the differential high-voltage output signal. A control/bias circuit provides a control voltage to at least one of the FETs in the chains, responsive to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Agustinus Sutandi, Yanyi L. Wong
  • Patent number: 8729952
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a switching device including one or more field-effect transistors (FETs) and bias circuitry. The one or more FETs may transition between an off state and an on state to facilitate switching of a transmission signal. The one or more FETs may include a drain terminal, a source terminal, a gate terminal, and a body. The biasing circuitry may bias the drain terminal and the source terminal to a first DC voltage in the on state and a second DC voltage in the off state. The first and second DC voltages may be non-negative. The biasing circuitry may be further configured to bias the gate terminal to the first DC voltage in the off state and the second DC voltage in the on state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaomin Yang, James P. Furino, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8729740
    Abstract: A semiconductor relay of the invention includes first and second signal terminals, a substrate, a first switch circuit and a control circuit. The substrate includes signal patterns for forming a signal line between the first and second signal terminals. The first switch circuit has a semiconductor switch used to make or break the connection between the first and second signal terminals. The control circuit has a control IC for controlling the first switch circuit. The control IC is mounted on a land of the substrate. The land has a size corresponding to the control IC. A part or all of the land is included in a part of the signal patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Narutoshi Hoshino, Yuichi Niimura, Shinsuke Taka, Sachiko Mugiuda
  • Patent number: 8723589
    Abstract: A switching device for switching a current between a first terminal (1) and a second terminal (2) comprises a cascode circuit having a series connection of a first semiconductor switch (M) and a second semiconductor switch (J), wherein the two semiconductor switches (M, J) are connected to each other by a common point (13), and the first semiconductor switch (M) is controlled by way of a first control input in accordance with a voltage between the first control input and the first terminal (1), and the second semiconductor switch (J) is controlled by way of a second control input (4) in accordance with a voltage between the second control input (4) and the common point (13). To this end, a control circuit having a specifiable capacitance (C) is connected between the second terminal (2) and at least one of the control input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: ETH Zurich
    Inventors: Jürgen Biela, Johann W. Kolar, Daniel Aggeler
  • Patent number: 8717086
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cascode circuit using MOS transistors. In one embodiment, an adaptive cascode circuit can include: (i) a main MOS transistor; (ii) n adaptive MOS transistors coupled in series to the drain of the main MOS transistor, where n can be an integer greater than one; (iii) a shutdown clamping circuit connected to the gates of the n adaptive MOS transistors, where the shutdown clamping circuit may have (n+1) shutdown clamping voltages no larger than rated gate-drain voltages of the main MOS transistor and n adaptive MOS transistors; and (iv) n conduction clamping circuits coupled correspondingly to the gates of the adaptive MOS transistors, where the n conduction clamping circuits may have n conduction clamping voltages no larger than the conduction threshold voltages of the adaptive MOS transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) Ltd
    Inventors: Michael Grimm, Jun Chen
  • Publication number: 20140091854
    Abstract: A semiconductor relay device (1) includes a signal input unit (2) for inputting an alternating current signal for relay driving purpose, a direct current insulation member (3) for blocking a direct current electricity of the alternating current signal, a voltage multiplying circuit (5) for multiplying the signal voltage, after the direct current electricity has been blocked, by an integer number, and a relay circuit (4) including two metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (6, 7) having respective sources connected with each other and connected in a reverse series with each other and also having respective gates connected with each other. Those metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (6, 7) are caused to undergo a bidirectional ON-Off operation when the respective gates of those metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (6, 7) are brought into a conducting state by a signal of which voltage has been multiplied by the voltage multiplying circuit (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: OPTEX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuhito Murata
  • Patent number: 8686758
    Abstract: I/O circuits and a method for transmitting different types of I/O signals are disclosed. An embodiment of the I/O circuit comprises multiple transistors with multiple switches coupled to the transistors. The switches may be used to selectively couple the transistors to a power source or to another transistor to form different transistor configurations. The transistors may be configured to form a parallel configuration or a stacked configuration. Stacking up transistors may reduce voltage swings in the transistors and subsequently reduce degradation in the transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Ket Chiew Sia, Choong Kit Wong, Boon Jin Ang
  • Patent number: 8675811
    Abstract: A circuit which is constituted by a plurality of n-channel transistors includes, in at least one embodiment, a transistor (T1) which has a drain terminal to which an input signal is supplied and a source terminal from which a output signal is supplied; and a transistor (T2) which has a drain terminal to which a control signal is supplied and a source terminal connected to a gate terminal of the transistor (T1). A gate terminal of the transistor (T2) is connected to the source terminal of the transistor (T2). With the arrangement, it is possible to provide (i) a semiconductor device which is constituted by transistors having an identical conductivity type and which is capable of reducing an influence of noise, and (ii) a display device including the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Etsuo Yamamoto, Yasushi Sasaki, Yuhichiroh Murakami, Shige Furuta
  • Publication number: 20140055192
    Abstract: A circuit topology for limiting saturation current in power transistors is disclosed. The circuit topology includes a normally-on transistor and a normally-off transistor coupled in series. A limiter circuit is coupled between a gate of the normally-on transistor and a source of the normally-off transistor for limiting the steady-state maximum gate-to-source voltage VGS of the normally-on transistor, which in turn limits the saturation current that flows through the normally-on transistor and the normally-off transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Andrew P. Ritenour, Dan Schwob
  • Patent number: 8659345
    Abstract: A switch level circuit (110) with dead time self-adapting control, which minimizes the switching loss in a switching power supply converter with synchronous rectification by changing a dead time between a high-side control transistor (10) and a low-side synchronous rectifying transistor (11). The switch level circuit (110) includes the high-side control transistor (10) and the low-side synchronous rectifying transistor (11) which are controlled to be on and off by external control signals, and a waveform with a given duty cycle is outputted at a node (LX) between the two transistors. The switch level circuit (110) also includes a control module for adjusting the dead time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Southeast University
    Inventors: Shen Xu, Weifeng Sun, Miao Yang, Sichao Liu, Youshan Jin, Shengli Lu, Longxing Shi
  • Patent number: 8653880
    Abstract: A switch circuit includes: first, second, and third input-output terminals; a first switching element connected between the first and second input-output terminals; a second switching element connected between the third input-output terminal and a grounding point; a third switching element connected between the first and third input-output terminals; a fourth switching element connected between the second input-output terminal and the grounding point; a first control voltage applying terminal connected to control terminals of the first and second switching elements; a second control voltage applying terminal connected to control terminals of the third and fourth switching elements; first and second resistors connected between the control terminals of the first and second switching elements and the first control voltage applying terminal, respectively; and first and second diodes connected in parallel with the first and second resistors, respectively, and having cathodes connected to the first control voltage
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Tsukahara
  • Patent number: 8610490
    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: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Giulio G. Marotta, Carlo Musilli, Stefano Perugini, Alessandro Torsi, Tommaso Vali
  • Patent number: 8604864
    Abstract: Devices and methods for improving voltage handling and/or bi-directionality of stacks of elements when connected between terminals are described. Such devices and method include use of symmetrical compensation capacitances, symmetrical series capacitors, or symmetrical sizing of the elements of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Tero Tapio Ranta, Shawn Bawell, Robert W. Greene, Christopher N. Brindle, Robert Mark Englekirk
  • Patent number: 8598937
    Abstract: An electronic component includes a depletion-mode transistor, an enhancement-mode transistor, and a resistor. The depletion-mode transistor has a higher breakdown voltage than the enhancement-mode transistor. A first terminal of the resistor is electrically connected to a source of the enhancement-mode transistor, and a second terminal of the resistor and a source of the depletion-mode transistor are each electrically connected to a drain of the enhancement-mode transistor. A gate of the depletion-mode transistor can be electrically connected to a source of the enhancement-mode transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Transphorm Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh K. Lal, Robert Coffie, Yifeng Wu, Primit Parikh, Yuvaraj Dora, Umesh Mishra, Srabanti Chowdhury, Nicholas Fichtenbaum
  • Patent number: 8598939
    Abstract: A T/R switch applicable to an ultrasonograph and capable of transmitting a signal reflected from a living body over a wide band with low noise without causing erroneous operation of the switch or element destruction even when the potential of a transmission signal or reflected signal changes includes: a common source terminal commonly and serially coupling the source terminals of two MOS transistors; a common gate terminal commonly coupling the gate terminals of the two MOS transistors; a main switch, the drain terminals of which are connected to input/output terminals; and a floating voltage circuit which is connected to the common gate terminal and common source terminal, makes the common gate terminal potential follow, in phase, variation in the common source terminal potential, and sends a signal to turn the switch on or off to the common gate terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Shimizu, Satoshi Hanazawa, Toshio Shinomiya, Hiroyasu Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 8587361
    Abstract: An RF switch circuit for switching RF signals includes a first terminal and a second terminal and a series connection of a plurality of transistors between the first terminal of the RF switch circuit and the second terminal of the RF switch circuit. Furthermore, the RF switch circuit includes a control circuit configured to conductively couple, in a high impedance state of the RF switch circuit, the first terminal of the RF switch circuit to a control terminal of a first transistor in a series of the series connection of the plurality of transistors. The second terminal of the RF switch circuit is conductively coupled to a control terminal of a last transistor in the series of the series connection of the plurality of transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Hans Taddiken, Thomas Boettner
  • Publication number: 20130300494
    Abstract: An output circuit includes a current source and a first MOS transistor coupled in series between a power supply terminal and an output terminal. The first MOS transistor includes a backgate coupled to a drain of the second MOS transistor. The second MOS transistor includes a source coupled to a source of a third MOS transistor. The second MOS transistor includes a source coupled to backgates of the second and third MOS transistors. The backgates of the second and third MOS transistors are in a floating condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Kazuhiro MITSUDA, Shinji Miyata
  • Patent number: 8581656
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Giacomo Curatolo
  • Patent number: 8575991
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a resistor-sharing switching circuit including: a first switching device and a second switching device; and a resistor whose first end is connected to a control signal input end to which a control signal for controlling bodies of the first switching device and the second switching device is applied and whose second end is connected to the bodies of the first switching device and the second switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Sin Kim, Sung Hwan Park
  • Patent number: 8570093
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cascode circuit using MOS transistors. In one embodiment, an adaptive cascode circuit can include: (i) a main MOS transistor; (ii) n adaptive MOS transistors coupled in series to the drain of the main MOS transistor, where n can be an integer greater than one; (iii) a shutdown clamping circuit connected to the gates of the n adaptive MOS transistors, where the shutdown clamping circuit may have (n+1) shutdown clamping voltages no larger than rated gate-drain voltages of the main MOS transistor and n adaptive MOS transistors; and (iv) n conduction clamping circuits coupled correspondingly to the gates of the adaptive MOS transistors, where the n conduction clamping circuits may have n conduction clamping voltages no larger than the conduction threshold voltages of the adaptive MOS transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Grimm, Jun Chen
  • Publication number: 20130241608
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a unit phase mixer in combination with an input buffer. The unit phase mixer has a pull-up path for pulling an output terminal up to a first voltage. The pull-up path has a first transistor responsive to a first enable signal and a series connected second transistor responsive to a first clock signal. The unit phase mixer has a pull-down path for pulling the output terminal down to a second voltage. The pull-down path has a third transistor responsive to a second clock signal and a series connected fourth transistor responsive to a second enable signal. The input buffer skews the first and second clock signals by different amounts to enable a break-before-make method of operation so that the first voltage is not connected to the second voltage. The unit phase mixer can be used as a building block in more complex mixers which may include the ability to weight the input clocks as well as providing feed-forward paths for certain of the signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chang-ki Kwon, Eric Booth
  • Patent number: 8497727
    Abstract: A double pole double throw switch device is provided. The device includes a first path circuit, a second path circuit, a third path circuit and a fourth path circuit. The first terminals of the first and second path circuits are coupled to a first port, and the second terminals of the first and second path circuits are respectively coupled to a third port and a fourth port. The first terminals of the third and fourth path circuits are coupled to a fourth port, and the second terminals of the third and fourth path circuits are respectively coupled to the second port and the third port. Each path circuit includes a switch module and a functional switch circuit. When a switch module is turned on, its corresponding functional switch circuit is turned off, and when the switch module is turned off, its corresponding functional switch circuit is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: RichWave Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Jui-Chieh Chiu, Chih-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 8482337
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20130162023
    Abstract: A series-parallel switch circuit is constituted by connecting, in parallel, multiple series switch circuits in which a first switch receiving electric current and a second switch outputting the electric current are connected in series. Middle points of the multiple series switch circuits are joined. When the series-parallel switch circuit is turned on, the second switches constituting the series-parallel switch circuit are turned on, and thereafter, the first switches constituting the series-parallel switch circuit are turned on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8441303
    Abstract: A system includes a voltage pump to generate a first pump voltage from an analog voltage signal. The system further includes switching pad to receive an analog signal from an external source and route the analog signal to analog processing circuitry over one or more analog signal busses based on the first pump voltage and the analog voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: James H. Shutt, Harold Kutz, Timothy Williams, Bruce Byrkett
  • Patent number: 8441128
    Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement includes a circuit carrier, bonding wire and at least N half bridge circuits. The circuit carrier includes a first metallization layer, a second metallization layer, an intermediate metallization layer arranged between the first metallization layer and the second metallization layer, a first insulation layer arranged between the intermediate metallization layer and the second metallization layer, and a second insulation layer arranged between the first metallization layer and the intermediate metallization layer. Each half bridge circuit includes a controllable first semiconductor switch and a controllable second semiconductor switch. The first semiconductor switch and the second semiconductor switch of each half bridge circuit are arranged on that side of the first metallization layer of the circuit carrier facing away from the second insulation layer. The bonding wire is directly bonded to the intermediate metallization layer of the circuit carrier at a first bonding location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Daniel Domes
  • Publication number: 20130093499
    Abstract: A power switch includes a control circuit, a cross-coupled amplifier, a first switching circuit coupled between a first output terminal and the first controlled ground terminal, and a second switching circuit coupled between a second output terminal and the second controlled ground terminal. The control circuit is configured to connect the second controlled ground terminal to a ground during a first period that a voltage level at the first output terminal is switched from the ground to a first voltage level and to set the second controlled ground terminal at an elevated ground level during a second period that the voltage level at the first output terminal remains at the first voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hsu-Shun CHEN, Cheng-Hsiung KUO, Gu-Huan LI, Yue-Der CHIH
  • Patent number: 8410840
    Abstract: Devices and methods for improving voltage handling and/or bi-directionality of stacks of elements when connected between terminals are described. Such devices and method include use of symmetrical compensation capacitances, symmetrical series capacitors, or symmetrical sizing of the elements of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Tero Tapio Ranta, Shawn Bawell, Robert W. Greene, Christopher N. Brindle, Robert Mark Englekirk
  • Patent number: 8405444
    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: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Giulio G. Marotta, Carlo Musilli, Stefano Perugini, Alessandro Torsi, Tommaso Vali
  • Patent number: 8399929
    Abstract: To provide a technique that can maintain uniformity of semiconductor elements and wirings microfabricated, while maintaining the mounting efficiency of circuit cells onto a chip. Respective gate electrodes of an n-channel type MISFET and another n-channel type MISFET forming a NAND circuit cell are coupled to the same node, and simultaneously perform respective on-off operations according to the same input signal. These n-channel type MISFETs are arranged adjacent to each other, and electrically coupled in series. Respective gate electrodes of a p-channel type MISFET and another p-channel type MISFET forming the NAND circuit cell are coupled to the same node, and simultaneously perform respective on-off operations according to the same input signal. These p-channel type MISFETs are arranged adjacent to each other, and electrically coupled in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroharu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8395435
    Abstract: Switches with connected bulk for improved switching performance and bias resistors for even voltage distribution to improve reliability are described. In an exemplary design, a switch may include a plurality of transistors coupled in a stack and at least one resistor coupled to at least one intermediate node in the stack. The transistors may have (i) a first voltage applied to a first transistor in the stack and (ii) a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage applied to bulk nodes of the transistors. The resistor(s) may maintain matching bias conditions for the transistors when they are turned off. In one exemplary design, one resistor may be coupled between the source and drain of each transistor. In another exemplary design, one resistor may be coupled between each intermediate node and the first voltage. The resistor(s) may maintain the source of each transistor at the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM, Incorporated
    Inventors: Marco Cassia, Jeremy D. Dunworth
  • Patent number: 8390342
    Abstract: A high voltage switch circuit of a semiconductor device includes a buffer circuit configured to output a control signal in response to an input signal and a boost circuit configured to output a block selection signal to an output terminal by connecting a current path between a voltage supply node and the output terminal in response to the control signal, and to block the current path in case where the control signal falls from a high voltage level to a low voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Chae Kyu Jang
  • Publication number: 20130049760
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a switch for turning on/off the connection between a first terminal and a second terminal. The switch includes a first transistor circuit configured from two transistors connected in series between the first terminal and the second terminal; and a second transistor circuit having a gate terminal connected to source terminals of the two transistors and a source terminal connected to gate terminals of the two transistors. The connection between the first terminal and the second terminal is changed over between on and off states by changing over a potential to the source terminal of the second transistor circuit between high and low levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Ono, Naoto Yanase, Hiroyasu Tagami, Nobuhiko Shigyo, Toshio Suzuki, Kouzi Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 8373586
    Abstract: Configurable analog input circuits are provided. An analog input circuit may include a plurality of configurable input channels, at least one analog-to-digital converter, and at least one processor. Each input channel may include a plurality of switches utilized to select a type of input signal received via the input channel and a set of input terminals selectively utilized to correspond with the selected type of input signal. The at least one analog-to-digital converter may be configured to convert, for each of the plurality of input channels, the selected type of input signal into a digital output. The at least one processor may be configured to control operation of the plurality of switches associated with each of the plurality of configurable input channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Milton Alley, Ye Xu
  • Patent number: 8373495
    Abstract: Conventional current sharing circuits, which can be used in drivers for liquid crystal displays (LCDs), for example, often use bipolar transistors. However, bipolar transistors are not available in many CMOS processes. Thus, a current sharing circuit is provided here that employs CMOS transistors. In particular, the circuit provided here uses a current mirror and pass circuit to assist in providing this current sharing function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten I. Stoerk, Joerg T. Kirchner
  • Patent number: 8368453
    Abstract: A switch can be implemented by a switch circuit, which can include a pair of NMOS transistors connected in series as pass-through transistors to transmit an input signal at an input terminal to produce an output signal at output terminal in response to an active state of a switching signal, and a pair of PMOS transistors connected in series as pass-through transistors to transmit the input signal at the input terminal to produce the output signal at output terminal in response to the active state of the switching signal. The switch circuit can also include a switch network connecting, in response to the active state of the switching signal, sources to bodies of the pairs of NMOS and PMOS transistors, and connecting, in response to an inactive state of the switching signal, the bodies of the pair of NMOS transistors to a first reference voltage, the bodies of the pair of PMOS transistors to a second reference voltage, and the sources of the pairs of NMOS and PMOS transistors to a third reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Enrique Company Bosch, John Anthony Cleary