With Voltage Source Regulating Patents (Class 327/540)
  • Patent number: 7888991
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatus and methods having a clock path with a combination of current-mode logic (CML) based and complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Feng Lin
  • Publication number: 20110032112
    Abstract: A device for monitoring a voltage of a motherboard includes a first monitoring circuit, a second monitoring circuit, and an indicating circuit. The first and monitoring circuits are connected to output a control voltage. A value of the control voltage is determined according to a value of the voltage of the motherboard. The control voltage is reduced to control the indicating circuit. The indicating circuit indicates whether the voltage of the motherboard is normal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: JIN-LIANG XIONG
  • Patent number: 7880554
    Abstract: A device including a voltage regulator with an adaptive switching frequency circuit for noise-sensitive analog circuits, such as oscillatory systems with phase-lock loops (PLLs) and voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the device includes a reference clock oscillator, a low-jitter oscillator, a power supply including a clock signal input to regulate a power supply voltage for the low-jitter oscillator, a clock detector to generate a clock detector control signal when the low-jitter oscillator output frequency is stable, and a multiplexer to select between a reference clock oscillator output signal and a low-jitter oscillator output signal as the clock signal input to the power supply to mitigate effects of period jitter in the low-jitter oscillator output signal when the clock detector control signal is asserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ashwin Raghunathan, Marzio Pedrali-Noy
  • Patent number: 7880531
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for generating, regulating, and modifying various voltage levels on a semiconductor device using a current mirroring digital-to-analog voltage regulator. The voltage regulator operates by mirroring a reference current onto a selectable current level and controlling the selectable current level with a digital input to a plurality of switched CMOS devices connected in parallel. The switched CMOS devices generate the selectable current level responsive to the digital input and proportional to the reference current. The selectable current level is combined with an output of a voltage divider to generate a monitor signal. The monitor signal is compared to a reference voltage and the results of the comparison controls a charge pump to generate a pumped voltage. The pumped voltage is fed back to the voltage divider, which includes a feedback resistor and a reference resistor connected in series between the pumped voltage and ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jae Kwan Park
  • Patent number: 7872518
    Abstract: A circuit for detecting, whether a voltage difference is below a desired voltage difference comprises a voltage shift resistor, a current provider and a detection circuit. The current provider provides a current flowing through the voltage shift resistor such that the desired voltage difference across the voltage shift resistor is determined by a reference signal. The detection circuit is configured to compare a first voltage at a first input with a voltage at a second input to obtain a signal. The voltage shift resistor is coupled between a conductor for a second voltage and the second input, such that the voltage at the second input differs from the second voltage by the desired voltage difference, and wherein the detection circuit is configured to provide the signal, such that the signal indicates, whether the voltage difference between the first and the second voltage is below the desired voltage difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Uwe Weder, Christoph Mayerl, Julia Kresse, Christoph Saas, Dennis Tischendorf
  • Publication number: 20110006838
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gate control device for a JFET-type transistor comprising a gate, a drain and a source, said device comprising: a voltage generation circuit (11) comprising an output (out2) connected to the gate (G) of the transistor, said circuit being designed to generate at the output a reference gate-source voltage (VREF) following a predetermined voltage ramp, a voltage limiting circuit (12) designed to limit the reference gate-source voltage (VREF) to a predetermined maximum value (VGS—max) when the gate-source voltage (VGS) at the terminals of the JFET transistor has reached said maximum value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventor: Petar GRBOVIC
  • Patent number: 7868685
    Abstract: An electric circuit device operable under a power supply includes: a circuit; a first switch connected between the power supply and the circuit; a capacitor tending to produce a first leakage current; a second switch connected between the power supply and the capacitor, the second switch producing a second leakage current when it is cut off, the second leakage current being less than the first leakage current; and a switch controller for turning on the second switch while both the first switch and the second switch are turned off, and after a first time passes for turning on the first switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Tomoyasu Kitaura
  • Publication number: 20110001556
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first internal voltage generating unit configured to receive an external power and to generate a first internal voltage, and a second internal voltage generating unit configured to receive the first internal voltage, and to generate a second internal voltage having an absolute value of a target voltage level that is less than an absolute value of the first internal voltage, wherein the second internal voltage generating unit is initially enabled at a later time than the first internal voltage generating unit is initially enabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventor: Jong-Hwan KIM
  • Patent number: 7863689
    Abstract: Deep submicron wells of MOS transistors, implemented over an ungrounded well, exhibit two modes of operation: a current sink mode and a current source mode. While operation as a current sink is well understood and successfully controlled, it is also necessary to control the current provided in the current source mode of the well. A Schottky diode is connected between the well and the gate, the Schottky diode having a smaller barrier height than that of the PN junction of the well-to-source. For an NMOS transistor, current flows through the PN junction when the gate is high. When the gate is low, current flows through the Schottky diode. This difference of current flow results in a difference in transistor threshold, thereby achieving a dynamic threshold voltage using the current from the well when operating at the current source mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Semi Solutions, LLC.
    Inventor: Robert Strain
  • Publication number: 20100327961
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes: a target circuit whose at least power supply voltage is variable; a power supply voltage providing circuit feeding the target circuit with a power supply voltage; and a minimum energy point monitor circuit detecting an energy-minimizing power supply voltage which minimizes a change in the energy consumed by the target circuit upon a change in the power supply voltage. The power supply voltage delivered by the power supply voltage providing circuit is controlled so as to be equal to the energy-minimizing power supply voltage detected by the minimum energy point monitor circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Ikenaga, Masahiro Nomura
  • Publication number: 20100327962
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a reference voltage generating block, a circuit block, and a transmission line. The reference voltage generating block generates a first reference voltage and generates and outputs a digital code corresponding to the level of the first reference voltage. The circuit block converts the digital code into a second reference voltage and uses the second reference voltage for operation related to the function of the semiconductor integrated circuit. The transmission line is connected between the reference voltage generating block and the circuit block to allow transmission of the digital code to the circuit block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventor: Dong Uk LEE
  • Patent number: 7859323
    Abstract: A negative output regulator circuit (24) is provided with clamp circuits CLP (X1, X2, Q1, Q2), which detect a current generated when the output of a negative voltage (VM) is stopped and fixing the voltage of an output end (T2) at a prescribed value. Generation of a positive voltage at an output terminal is suppressed without increasing chip size nor making the sequence complicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenya Kondo
  • Patent number: 7859324
    Abstract: High-accuracy overcurrent detection is performed, while a loss resulting from the current detection is significantly reduced. A switch section outputs the voltage between the both terminals of a current detection resistor using an AND signal between an output signal from a hysteresis comparator and an output signal from a pre-driver. The voltage is filtered by an electrostatic capacitor element and a resistor, and inputted to a comparator. The comparator makes a comparison between the signals inputted to the two input terminals thereof, and outputs the result of the comparison to a digital filter. When an overcurrent begins to flow in a power supply unit, the levels of the voltages inputted to the two input terminals of the comparator are inverted so that the comparator outputs an inversion signal to the digital filter. The digital filter outputs a detection signal to an overcurrent detection circuit when an arbitrary time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Yamashita, Yasuhiko Kokami, Masahiro Ishihara, Toshiyuki Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 7859325
    Abstract: A CPU core voltage supply circuit includes a reference voltage generator, a differential operation amplifier, a power element, a feedback circuit and a first capacitor. The reference voltage generator outputs a first reference voltage. The differential operation amplifier has a positive input end, a negative input end and an output end. The positive input end is connected to the reference voltage generator for receiving the first reference voltage. The power element has a receiving terminal and a current output terminal. The receiving terminal is connected to the output end of the differential operation amplifier. The feedback circuit is connected to the current output terminal and outputs a feedback voltage to the negative input end of the differential operation amplifier. The first capacitor has an end connected to the current output terminal of the power element and the other end receiving a first voltage, thereby providing a CPU core voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-Wen Chiu, Chih-Wan Hsu, Hsi-Ho Hsu
  • Patent number: 7856072
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reduce jitter dependent on data patterns by an interface receiver. Another object of the present invention is to provide an LSI capable of automatically adjusting a delay time for jitter reduction so as to be able to control its setting for each device. Since the jitter dependent on the data patterns can be expected according to how the previous state is being placed, the state of data received by the receiver is held, and the timing provided to fetch input data is adjusted according to the held state and the input data. As a control mechanism lying in the receiver, for determining a delay time dependent on the form of mounting, a driver transmits and receives pulse data set at one-cycle intervals and pulse data set at two-cycle intervals as test patterns. The receiver has an automatic control mechanism for determining a delay time optimal to a system from the difference between a rising time of each of pulses different in pulse width and its falling time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideki Osaka, Yoji Nishio, Seiji Funaba, Kazuyoshi Shoji
  • Publication number: 20100315158
    Abstract: The disclosed invention provides apparatus and methods for dynamic biasing in electronic systems and circuits. The apparatus and methods disclosed provide non-linear biasing responsive to monitored load conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: TRIUNE IP LLC
    Inventors: Amer Atrash, Ross Teggatz, Brett Smith
  • Patent number: 7852139
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating an internal voltage in a semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first voltage generating unit configured to detect a feedback voltage level of a first internal voltage and perform a pumping operation, thereby generating a first internal voltage, and a second voltage generating unit configured to generate a second internal voltage by detecting a feedback voltage level of the second internal voltage, performing level shifting on the detected feedback voltage level, receiving the first internal voltage, and generating the second internal voltage based on the level shifted feedback voltage signal and the received first internal voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Young-Do Hur
  • Patent number: 7852143
    Abstract: A system that includes: multiple transistors that comprise a first transistor that is maintained in a weak inversion state; wherein sources of the multiple transistors are coupled to a low current source; wherein drains of the multiple transistors are coupled to a voltage supply source; a first amplifier that has a positive input, negative input and an output; wherein the positive input receives an input voltage; wherein the negative input is coupled to a source of the first transistor; wherein the output is coupled to a gate of the first transistor and to a multiplication and subtracting circuit; a multiplication and subtraction circuit that is coupled to the first amplifier and outputs an output signal that equals a difference between the input voltage and a product of a current reduction variable and a voltage reduction signal; wherein the voltage reduction signal is associated with a current reduction factor; wherein the output signal is provided to a second transistor that is maintained in weak inversion
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Advasense Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Vladimir Koifman, Noam Eshel, Zeituni Golan
  • Patent number: 7852141
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement is described for selectively generating an analog current output value or an analog voltage output value as a function of an analog input value. Optionally, the analog current output value or the analog voltage output value may also be a function of an input base value or a signed input correction value. The circuit arrangement includes a current control unit, a voltage control unit, a current output source is triggered by the current control unit, and a voltage output source triggered by the voltage control unit. The current output source and voltage output source of the circuit arrangement may be triggered in parallel and are connected in series on the output side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: i f m electronic GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz Walter
  • Patent number: 7852142
    Abstract: An amplifying circuit receives an output from a comparator. The output is provided to each gate of first, second and third transistors. First and second resistors are connected in series. The first and second resistors and a first diode are connected to a drain of the first transistor. Second diodes are connected in parallel. The second diodes are connected to one end of a third resistor. The other end of the third resistor is connected to a drain of the second transistor. Fourth and fifth resistors are connected in series. One end of the fourth resistor is connected to the drain of the second transistor. The comparator receives first and second feedback voltages respectively obtained from a connection node between the first and second resistors and a connection node between the fourth and fifth resistors. A drain of the third transistor outputs a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ryu Ogiwara, Daisaburo Takashima
  • Patent number: 7847624
    Abstract: A disclosed invention is an internal power supply circuit, which generates an internal power supply from a first power supply. The circuit comprises a first internal step-down power supply generation unit, which generates a first internal step-down power supply from the first power supply; a normal second internal step-down power supply generation unit, which generates a second internal step-down power supply from the first internal step-down power supply in the normal operating state, and which, at the time of power supply startup, begins operation to generate the second internal step-down power supply at a first timing at which a voltage of the first internal step-down power supply reaches a prescribed reference level; and, a startup power supply load unit, which begins to consume, before the first time, current from the first internal step-down power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Atsumasa Sako
  • Patent number: 7847622
    Abstract: An electric circuit device includes: a power supply line; a load circuit; a current supply controller which compares a voltage of the power supply line with a certain voltage; and a current supply circuit which supplies a electric current from the power supply line to the load circuit and changes the electric current during a supply of the electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kenichi Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20100301926
    Abstract: Techniques for forming a first electronic circuit including a plurality of instances of a repeatable circuit element include the steps of: obtaining a total number of instances of the repeatable circuit element in a design of an IC including the first electronic circuit and at least a second electronic circuit; and configuring at least one functional parameter of the first electronic circuit as a function of the total number of instances of the repeatable circuit element in the IC to thereby satisfy a prescribed minimum composite manufacturing yield of the IC and/or at least one specification of the IC under prescribed operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Richard Bruce Dell, Ross A. Kohler, Richard J. McPartland, Wayne E. Werner
  • Patent number: 7843255
    Abstract: There is disclosed a regulator for a charge pump having an input signal and generating an output signal at a value greater than the input signal. The charge pump comprises at least a capacitor and at least a device for charging and discharging the capacitor; the regulator comprises means having at the input said signal exiting the charge pump and a reference signal. Said means are able to generate a supply signal for said at least a device in response to the value of the difference between the output signal of the charge pump and said reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marco Poles, Marco Pasotti
  • Patent number: 7843256
    Abstract: An internal voltage generator includes a pull-up driver to pull-up drive a supply terminal of an internal voltage, a pull-down driver to pull-down drive the supply terminal of the internal voltage, a pull-up driving control unit to turn on the pull-up driver when a first feedback voltage corresponding to the internal voltage becomes lower than a reference voltage, and a pull-down driving control unit to turn on the pull-down driver when a second feedback voltage becomes higher than the reference voltage, the second feedback voltage having a voltage level corresponding to that of the internal voltage and lower than that of the first feedback voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Chang-Ho Do
  • Patent number: 7839203
    Abstract: An adaptive capacitor charge/discharge network tailors the rate-of-change of a capacitor. The network includes two circuit groups with two or more parallel circuit branches, each branch including a current source and a controllable switch connected in series. The parallel circuit branches of one group are connected to Vss, and the parallel circuit branches of the other group are connected to Vdd. All the parallel circuit branches are connected to one plate of a capacitor, the other plate of the capacitor is connected to either Vss or Vdd. A control circuit controls the switch status, and incrementally controls the charge/discharge of the capacitor according to a predetermined order and a predetermined timing sequence to achieve a desired tailored charge/discharge curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: William MacLean, Paul David Ranucci
  • Patent number: 7839205
    Abstract: A step-down circuit is connected between a power supply node for supplying a supply voltage and an internal power supply line for supplying a power to the object circuit and steps-down the supply voltage, and supplies the stepped-down voltage to the object circuit through the internal power supply line. The step-down circuit includes a comparison circuit that compares a reference voltage with the voltage of the internal power supply line, and a driver that adjusts a current flowing between the internal power supply line and the power supply node according to the comparison result of the comparison circuit. The activity level of the driver is controlled so as to rise in a predetermined rising period synchronously with an activated operation of the object circuit and to fall in a predetermined falling period that comes after the rising period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Atsunori Hirobe
  • Patent number: 7839204
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a voltage detector configured to detect a voltage level of an external power supply voltage, a first core voltage generation driver configured to operate when the external power supply voltage is in a high level region and a second core voltage generation driver configured to operate when the external power supply voltage is in a low level region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Jae-Boum Park
  • Publication number: 20100289553
    Abstract: A semi-adaptive voltage scaling method and device for determining minimal supply voltages for digital electronic semiconductor circuitry, e.g., microprocessors, of electronic devices under production testing and “real” operating conditions. The SAVS operates in a closed-loop during a production test phase of the circuitry and in an open-loop mode in an application (operation) phase of the semiconductor circuitry. During production testing, a lowermost level of the supply voltage for the semiconductor circuitry is determined at one single defined temperature at which operating specifications of the circuit are met. The lowermost level is stored in a dedicated electronic memory of the circuitry together with temperature dependent parameters. Afterwards, when the digital electronic circuitry is operated in a “real” application, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: ST-ERICSSON SA
    Inventor: Zhenhua Wang
  • Patent number: 7830201
    Abstract: An internal voltage control apparatus capable of reducing current consumption and a semiconductor memory device using the same includes an enable signal generating unit for generating an enable signal in response to an active signal and an internal voltage driving unit driven by the active signal and the enable signal, wherein the internal voltage driving unit drives an internal voltage by comparing the internal voltage and a reference voltage and then generating first and second driving signals, and wherein the enable signal generating unit receives the second driving signal and then determines enablement of the enable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Won Oh Lee
  • Patent number: 7830200
    Abstract: A circuit (200) can include a bias protection circuit (204) and a reference circuit (202). A bias protection circuit (204) can generate an internal power supply voltage (Vsuppi) from a higher device power supply (Vcch) with low voltage transistors and no resistors. A lower internal power supply voltage (Vsuppi) can be provided by buffer transistors (M5 and M6) that are biased according to limit section (206) that generates a bias voltage (biasn2) based on a threshold voltage drop and a feedback bias voltage (biasn1) from reference circuit (202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: T. V. Chanakya Rao, Badrinarayanan Kothandaraman
  • Publication number: 20100277229
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device includes a diaphragm capacitor, connected between a capacitor biasing voltage source and a ground. A source follower circuit is coupled to the diaphragm capacitor. An amplifier is coupled to the source follower circuit to amplify the voltage signal as an output voltage signal. A programmable trimming circuit is implemented with the amplifier to trim a gain or implemented with the capacitor biasing voltage source to trim voltage applied on the diaphragm capacitor. Whereby, the output voltage signal has a target sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: Solid State System Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Hsing Lee, Tsung-Min Hsieh, Shao-Yi Wu
  • Patent number: 7825704
    Abstract: A threshold personalization circuit for a reset or supervisor chip includes personalization fuses, which shift a resistor divider to provide a variety of selectable voltage thresholds. The personalization fuses may provide hundreds of millivolts of adjustment. The threshold personalization circuit further includes trim fuses to fine tune the threshold to within a few millivolts of the target threshold voltage. The threshold personalization circuit includes a test mode to cycle through to a particular personalization trim, such that at prelaser testing the personalized value is found (the fuse blow for personalization is emulated) and then the trim fuse amount can be based on the actual final personalized voltage. This results in very accurate threshold voltages for all personalized values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: David McClure
  • Publication number: 20100271115
    Abstract: An internal voltage generating circuit of a semiconductor device includes a first voltage driver configured to pull up an internal voltage terminal during a period where a level of the internal voltage terminal is lower than a target level, and a second voltage driver configured to pull up the internal voltage terminal during a predefined time in each period corresponding to a frequency of an external clock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventor: Chang-Ho DO
  • Publication number: 20100271114
    Abstract: A system corrected programmable integrated circuit is applied to a power supply and includes a comparator unit, a digital output unit and a programming unit. The comparator unit includes an external feedback voltage input end and a reference voltage input end for inputting a feedback voltage and a reference voltage respectively, such that when the feedback voltage equals the reference voltage, the comparator unit transmits a control signal to the digital output unit. When receiving the control signal, the digital output unit stops outputting the reference voltage and the current reference voltage is recorded as a programming voltage for outputting to the programming unit. When receiving the programming voltage, the programming unit programs the programming voltage and transmits the voltage to the reference voltage input end. Accordingly, the present invention automatically detects and compensates a system error to reduce external element, yet still achieving a qualified range of product specification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Yen-Hui WANG, Wei-Chun Hsiao
  • Patent number: 7821321
    Abstract: A combined bandgap generator and temperature sensor for an integrated circuit is disclosed. Embodiments of the invention recognize that bandgap generators typically contain at least one temperature-sensitive element for the purpose of cancelling temperature sensitivity out of the reference voltage the bandgap generator produces. Accordingly, this same temperature-sensitive element is used in accordance with the invention as the means for indicating the temperature of the integrated circuit, without the need to fabricate a temperature sensor separate and apart from the bandgap generator. Specifically, in one embodiment, a voltage across a temperature-sensitive junction from a bandgap generator is assessed in a temperature conversion stage portion of the combined bandgap generator and temperature sensor circuit. Assessment of this voltage can be used to produce a voltage- or current-based output indicative of the temperature of the integrated circuit, which output can be binary or analog in nature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: David Zimlich
  • Patent number: 7821330
    Abstract: A circuit and a method for extending the lifetime of a semiconductor chip. The circuit including a voltage reference generator, a voltage switch, a threshold voltage regulator device and a threshold voltage monitor device tunes an automatic internal power supply. The voltage reference generator provides one or more reference voltage levels that are transmitted to the voltage switch. The threshold voltage monitor device monitors the threshold voltage of the device, triggering the voltage switch to select a reference level for use as a voltage reference for the regulator when the threshold voltage of the monitored device exceeds a predetermined value. The regulator then converts the external power supply to an internal supply and holds it at the predetermined reference level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ping-Chuan Wang, Jong-ru Guo, Louis L. Hsu, Zhijian Yang
  • Patent number: 7821328
    Abstract: Various apparatuses, methods and systems for a front end protection circuit with a dynamic charge pump system are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments provide an apparatus such as a voltage regulator, a current regulator, a driver circuit or a switch protection circuit. The apparatus includes an output switch, a switch controller and a voltage threshold detector. The apparatus operates in a reduced power mode when the threshold detector detects a feedback level passing a threshold. In some particular embodiments, the switch controller includes a charge pump and an oscillator that run at lower speeds to reduce power usage when the feedback level passes the threshold. In various embodiments, the feedback level is a voltage level at the output switch control input, the output voltage from the output switch, or the output current from the output switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Mohammad Rashedul Hoque, Ken R. King
  • Publication number: 20100264983
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for governing power dissipation in a semiconductor device. For example, various embodiments of the present invention provide semiconductor devices that include a first function circuit, a second function circuit, and a power state change control circuit. The power state change control circuit is operable to determine a combination of power states of the first function circuit and the second function circuit that provides an overall power dissipation within a power dissipation level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: George Nation, Jon W. Byrn, Gary Delp
  • Patent number: 7816977
    Abstract: Core voltage generator including a comparison unit configured to compare a reference voltage with a feedback core voltage to output a difference between the reference voltage and the feedback core voltage, an amplification unit configured to output a core voltage by amplifying an external power supply voltage according to an output signal of the comparison unit and a mute unit configured to maintain a voltage level of an output terminal of the amplification unit at a ground voltage level when the output of the core voltage is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Yoon-Jae Shin
  • Publication number: 20100259316
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes at least one first transistor configured to control conductance between an input power line and an output power line, at least one second transistor configured to control conductance between the input power line and the output power line, a first buffer configured to supply a first control signal for driving the at least one first transistor to a first control line connected to the at least one first transistor, a second buffer configured to generate a second control signal for driving the at least one second transistor upon receipt of the first control signal supplied through the first control line and supply the second control signal to a second control line connected to the at least one second transistor, and at least one capacitor connected between the first control line and the output power line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Fujita, Yousuke Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 7812663
    Abstract: A bandgap voltage reference circuit includes an operational amplifier, a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a first resistor, a second resistor, a first diode, a second diode, and a divider. The first transistor, the second transistor, and the third transistor form current mirrors. The reference current of the current mirrors is generated according to the first diode, the second diode, and the first resistor. The reference voltage of the voltage reference circuit is output from the first end of the second resistor. The divider is coupled to the second end of the second resistor so that the reference voltage of the voltage reference circuit can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ralink Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Tzuen-Hwan Lee, Ching-Chuan Lin
  • Publication number: 20100253420
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first line driver, a second line driver, a charge pump, and a control logic circuit coupled to the first line driver and the second line driver and configured to disable the charge pump when both a first control signal associated with the first line driver and a second control signal associated with the second line driver indicate a charge pump disable state. A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a first control signal and a second control signal, disabling a charge pump when both the first control signal and the second control signal indicate a charge pump disable state, and operating the charge pump to boost a voltage when the first control signal, the second control signal, or both indicate a charge pump active state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: FUTUREWEI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Ruijie Xiao, Guozhu Long, Zhilei Zhao
  • Publication number: 20100253421
    Abstract: An electronic device for delivering DC power includes a load, a power end, an upper gate switch including a first end coupled to the power, a second end, and a third end, for conducting connection between the first and third ends according to the signal level of the second end, a lower gate switch including a first end coupled to the third end of the upper gate switch, a second end, and a third end coupled to ground, for conducting connection between the first and third ends according to the signal level of the second end, an inductor, and a switch control unit, coupled to the second end of the upper gate switch and the second end of the lower gate switch, for switching the upper gate switch between an ON state and an OFF state, and switching the lower gate switch between an ON state and a semi-ON state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventor: Kang Sheng
  • Patent number: 7808306
    Abstract: A power supply voltage control apparatus capable of freely setting a clock period setting margin according to a system clock frequency, and capable of converging power supply voltage to minimum power supply voltage where normal operation is possible in a short period of time without errors in operation of internal circuits in response to changes in the system clock frequency is provided. Power supply voltage control apparatus is provided with a first frequency-divider that frequency-divides the system clock at a first frequency-diving ratio, a second frequency-divider that frequency-divides an output of a voltage control oscillator at a second frequency-dividing ratio, a phase comparator/frequency comparator that carries out a phase comparison/frequency comparison on the respective output signals of the first and second frequency-dividers, and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Ito
  • Publication number: 20100244939
    Abstract: An internal voltage generation circuit includes an initial driver configured to sense an internal voltage for a predetermined period of time from the beginning of an active mode and to drive a driving signal, which is used for driving the internal voltage to a level of an external voltage, to a first level, an initial driving terminator configured to drive the driving signal to a second level if the internal voltage is higher than a target level, and a comparison driver configured to drive the driving signal so as to maintain the internal voltage at a target level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Ho Uk Song
  • Patent number: 7800390
    Abstract: Provided is a load fluctuation compensation circuit for compensating a power source voltage supplied to an operation circuit, the load fluctuation compensation circuit including: a periodic signal changing section that receives a power source voltage from a power source shared with the operation circuit, and outputs a changed signal resulting from changing a supplied periodic signal according to the power source voltage; a phase comparator that compares a phase of the periodic signal with a phase of the changed signal outputted from the periodic signal changing section; an initializing section that generates a bias voltage supplied to the periodic signal changing section and adjusts a phase difference between the periodic signal and the changed signal to a preset value, based on the comparison result of the phase comparator; a controller that holds the bias voltage outputted from the initializing section when the phase difference between the periodic signal and the changed signal has become the preset value;
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventor: Masakatsu Suda
  • Publication number: 20100231291
    Abstract: A power supply which supplies power to a circuit board includes a support unit, an electricity output unit and a voltage converting module. The circuit board, the electricity output unit and the voltage converting module are electrically connected to the support unit. The voltage converting module can convert an output voltage of the electricity output unit to a working voltage of the circuit board. The power supply has a low manufacturing cost and can support an electricity output unit with different voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicants: SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., CHI MEI COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: FAN WU
  • Patent number: 7791405
    Abstract: A voltage controller for controlling an output voltage to a predetermined value. The voltage controller has a first terminal configured to connect a supply voltage, a second terminal configured to output the output voltage, a control voltage generating unit configured to provide a control voltage, and a control transistor. The control transistor is connected as a series controller between the first terminal and the second terminal. The control voltage can be applied to the control terminal of the control transistor, wherein the output voltage is controlled in a manner dependent on the supply voltage and the control voltage. Furthermore, an offset voltage is superposed on the control voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Mario Motz
  • Patent number: RE42116
    Abstract: A low-dropout regulator comprises a high-gain error amplifier having a differential input stage and a single-ended output, a high-swing high-positive-gain second stage with input connecting to the output of the error amplifier and a single-ended output, a p-type MOS transistor with gate terminal connecting to the output of the second stage, source terminal connecting to the supply voltage, and drain terminal to the output of the low-dropout regulator. A first-order high-pass feedback network connects the output of the low-dropout regulator and the positive input of the error amplifier, and a damping-factor-control means comprising a negative gain stage with a feedback capacitor connects the input and output of this gain stage. A capacitor is connected between the output of the error amplifier and the output of the low-dropout regulator, while a voltage reference connects to the negative input of the error amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Ka Nang Leung, Kwok Tai Philip Mok