Particular Frequency Control Means Patents (Class 331/34)
  • Patent number: 12155384
    Abstract: A system for reference clock frequency correction is described. The system comprises a compensation module configured to (i) receive, as input, an oscillator signal and one or more control signals, (ii) generate a compensation signal based on the oscillator signal and the one or more control signals, wherein the generated compensation signal is a discretized sinusoidal signal having a controllable frequency, and (iii) output the generated compensation signal. The system further comprises a mixer block configured to (i) receive, as input, the generated compensation signal and the oscillator signal, and (ii) generate an output clock signal by mixing the generated compensation signal with the oscillator signal. A soft-switching method to reduce the effect of quantization noise is further described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Stathera IP Holding, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikola Katic, Javid Musayev
  • Patent number: 12132485
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a ring-oscillator with glitch-free frequency-tuning. The disclosed ring-oscillator at least includes multiple delay stages coupled in series within a ring loop and having a first delay stage, a capacitor bank coupled between an output of the first delay stage and ground, and a timing block configured to receive an output signal of the first delay stage and at least one controlling signal. The at least one controlling signal determines at least one capacitor in the capacitor bank connecting or disconnecting to the ring loop. The timing block is configured to pass or not pass the at least one controlling signal to the capacitor bank based on whether the output signal of the first delay stage meets a certain condition. Therefore, the connection or disconnection of the at least one capacitor does not cause a significant voltage change at the output of the first delay stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeroen Cornelis Kuenen, Hendrik Arend Visser, Anton Willem Roodnat, Dan Laurentiu Zupcau
  • Patent number: 12095472
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transceiver circuit including a transmitter circuit, a frequency synthesizer and control circuit. The transmitter circuit is configured to generate a transmission signal, wherein the transmission signal is transmitted through an antenna. The frequency synthesizer is configured to generate a clock signal for the transmitter circuit to generate the transmission signal. The control circuit is configured to generate a first control signal to control the frequency synthesizer to determine a loop bandwidth of the frequency synthesizer; wherein when the transceiver circuit operates in a standby mode, the control circuit generates the first control signal to make the frequency synthesizer have a first loop bandwidth; and after a period of time after the transceiver circuit is switched from the standby mode to a transmission mode, the control circuit generates the first control signal to make the frequency synthesizer have a second loop bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Wei-Cheng Lin, Ching-Her Huang, Yi-Chang Shih, Yu-Jung Li
  • Patent number: 12021537
    Abstract: A circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a time-to-digital converter (TDC), and an evaluation circuit coupled to the TDC and a phase-locked loop (PLL) external to the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Chao Chieh Li, Chia-Chun Liao, Min-Shueh Yuan, Chih-Hsien Chang
  • Patent number: 11979164
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit, a first oscillation circuit receives a first clock signal and outputs a second clock signal synchronized with the first clock signal in frequency and phase. A second oscillation circuit receives a control signal and outputs a third clock signal having a frequency corresponding to the received control signal. A detection circuit detects a frequency difference between the second clock signal and the third clock signal. A determination circuit determines whether a frequency locked state is established between the first clock signal and the second clock signal. A control circuit varies the control signal, such that the frequency difference decreases while the frequency locked state has not been established and increases after the frequency locked state is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyohito Sato
  • Patent number: 11959995
    Abstract: A PLL has a tunable resonator including an inductance and variable capacitance coupled between first and second nodes, and capacitances coupleable between the nodes. A control node is coupled to the variable capacitance and receives a control signal for tuning the resonator. A biasing circuit biases the resonator to generate an output. A PFD circuit senses timing offset of the output with respect to a reference and asserts first or second digital signals dependent on the sign of the timing offset. A charge pump generates the control signal based on the first and second digital signals. A timer asserts a timing signal in response to a pulse sensed in a reset signal and de-asserts the timing signal after a time interval. A calibrator couples selected capacitances between the first and second nodes as a function of the second digital signal, in response to assertion of the timing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alessandro Finocchiaro, Alessandro Parisi, Andrea Cavarra, Giuseppe Papotto, Giuseppe Palmisano
  • Patent number: 11947672
    Abstract: A voltage glitch detector includes a ring oscillator, a plurality of counters, a combined result circuit, and a result evaluation circuit. The ring oscillator includes a plurality of series-connected stages. An output of a last stage of the ring oscillator is coupled to an input of a first stage of the ring oscillator. Each counter of the plurality of counters has an input coupled to a node located between two stages of the plurality of series-connected stages. The combined result circuit is coupled to each of the plurality of counters. The combined result circuit combines the count values received from each counter of the plurality of counters to provide a combined result. The result evaluation circuit is coupled to compare the combined result with a reference value to determine when a voltage glitch is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Andreas Bernardus Maria Jansman, Andreas Lentz
  • Patent number: 11936391
    Abstract: In some examples, a circuit includes a phase frequency detector (PFD) having a first input, a second input, and an output. The circuit also includes a control circuit having an input and an output, the control circuit input coupled to the output of the PFD. The circuit also includes a modulation circuit having an input and an output, the modulation circuit input coupled to the output of the control circuit. The circuit also includes an oscillator having an oscillator input and an oscillator output, the oscillator input coupled to the output of the modulation circuit and the output of the oscillator coupled to the second input of the PFD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Ruediger Kuhn, Maciej Jankowski
  • Patent number: 11929753
    Abstract: A non-linear charge pump for phased lock loops. Furthermore, an auxiliary charge pump apparatus, comprising a positive switch electrically connected to a current source configured to supplement power to a charge pump, a negative switch electrically connected to a current sink configured to discharge power from the charge pump, a windowing comparator, further comprising an input signal received from a phase-locked loop, a first comparator configured to compare the input signal against a high voltage threshold, a second comparator configured to compare the input signal against a low voltage threshold, an AND logic gate configured to provide a window signal and an activation circuit electrically connected to the positive switch and negative switch. Additionally, a non-linear charge pump system and method for reacquiring frequency lock of a phase lock loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jia-Chi Samuel Chieh, Henry Ngo
  • Patent number: 11909355
    Abstract: To prevent an undesired operating mode of voltage-controlled oscillation (VCO) circuitry from dominating a desired operating mode (e.g., an in-phase operating mode or an out-of-phase operating mode), a supply reset and ramp pulse may be provided to the VCO circuitry when switching to a new mode, such that supply voltage to the VCO circuitry is reset (e.g., set to 0 V or another reference voltage), and gradually increased or ramped up back to a steady-state voltage (e.g., used to maintain a mode) within a time duration. Additionally or alternatively, a switch control bootstrap pulse may be provided to the VCO circuitry that is bootstrapped to (e.g., applied instantaneously or concurrently with) switching the VCO circuitry to the new mode. After a time duration, the VCO circuitry may switch back to a steady-state voltage (e.g., used to maintain the new mode).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hongrui Wang, Abbas Komijani
  • Patent number: 11876519
    Abstract: An oscillation circuit has a first oscillator having output nodes of n stages, where n is an integer of 3 or more, a second oscillator having output nodes of n stages, and a third oscillator having output nodes of n stages. An output node at an a-th stage of the first oscillator and an output node at an a-th stage of the second oscillator are connected with each other, where a is an integer of 1 or more and n or less and an output node at a b-th stage of the second oscillator and an output node at a b-th stage of the third oscillator are connected with each other, where b is an integer of 1 or more and n or less different from a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yosuke Toyama, Tuan Thanh Ta, Satoshi Kondo, Akihide Sai, Toshiki Sugimoto, Kentaro Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 11817823
    Abstract: To prevent an undesired operating mode of voltage-controlled oscillation (VCO) circuitry from dominating a desired operating mode (e.g., an in-phase operating mode or an out-of-phase operating mode), a supply reset and ramp pulse may be provided to the VCO circuitry when switching to a new mode, such that supply voltage to the VCO circuitry is reset (e.g., set to 0 V or another reference voltage), and gradually increased or ramped up back to a steady-state voltage (e.g., used to maintain a mode) within a time duration. Additionally or alternatively, a switch control bootstrap pulse may be provided to the VCO circuitry that is bootstrapped to (e.g., applied instantaneously or concurrently with) switching the VCO circuitry to the new mode. After a time duration, the VCO circuitry may switch back to a steady-state voltage (e.g., used to maintain the new mode).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hongrui Wang, Abbas Komijani
  • Patent number: 11791833
    Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator analog-to-digital converter (VCO-ADC) includes a first source follower coupled between a first input terminal and a first internal node; a first VCO having an input coupled to a second internal node; a first variable resistor coupled between the first internal node and the second internal node; and a digital signal processing component coupled between an output of the first VCO and a output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Ruben Garvi Jimenez-Ortiz, Luis Hernandez-Corporales, Guillermo Alejandro Lopez Fernandez, Carlos Andres Perez Cruz, Andres Quintero Alonso
  • Patent number: 11757457
    Abstract: A phase synchronization circuit includes: an oscillation circuit that includes a variable current generation unit that generates a variable current of a current amount corresponding to a control voltage and a fixed current generation unit that generates a fixed current of a current amount corresponding to a correction code and generates an output clock signal having a frequency corresponding to the total current amount of the variable current and the fixed current; a feedback circuit that generates a feedback clock signal based on the output clock signal; a control voltage generation circuit that generates the control voltage to make a frequency of the output clock signal become a desired frequency in a normal operation mode; and a correction code generation circuit that generates the correction code in a calibration mode, in which in the calibration mode, the control voltage generation circuit outputs a fixed one of the control voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: SOCIONEXT INC.
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Osawa
  • Patent number: 11758076
    Abstract: A clock generator device includes a detector circuit, a calibration circuit, and a free running oscillator. The detector circuit is configured to determine whether a reference clock signal is received from a transmission interface to output an enable signal. The calibration circuit is configured to generate a first signal in response to the enable signal and an output clock signal, and compare the first signal with a predetermined value to generate a calibration signal. The free running oscillator is configured to adjust a frequency of the output clock signal in response to the calibration signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: SIGMASTAR TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Ping Wang, Hsiu-Hua Lin, Yu-Hung Kuo
  • Patent number: 11750033
    Abstract: A method comprises detecting a signal representing a current level at a power switch of a resonant converter with a sense switch coupled to the power switch and formed on a same semiconductor die, wherein the resonant converter comprises a primary side and a secondary side magnetically coupled to the primary side, and adjusting a capacitance of a variable capacitance network of the resonant converter based upon the current level of the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Quanten Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Hengchun Mao, Bo Yang, Zeng Li
  • Patent number: 11718519
    Abstract: A packaged environmental sensor includes a supporting structure and a sensor die, which incorporates an environmental sensor and is arranged on a first side of the supporting structure. A control chip is coupled to the sensor die and is arranged on a second side of the supporting structure opposite to the first side. A lid is bonded to the first side of the supporting structure and is open towards the outside in a direction opposite to the supporting structure. The sensor die is housed within the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventor: Marco Omar Ghidoni
  • Patent number: 11711416
    Abstract: A signal processing method includes obtaining, by a signal processing apparatus, a network delay time with respect to a device connected to the signal processing apparatus via a network, obtaining an input signal, determining an allowable upper limit of a delay time for an output signal corresponding to the obtained input signal based on the obtained network delay time and a total allowable delay time, selecting a signal processing having a longest delay time that is less than or equal to the allowable upper limit of the delay time, performing the selected signal processing on the obtained input signal, and transmitting the obtained input signal on which the selected signal processing has been performed, as the output signal, to the device connected to the signal processing apparatus via the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi Ukai
  • Patent number: 11677316
    Abstract: A variable duty cycle switching signal at a switching frequency is applied to a switching current regulation circuit arrangement energizing a current storage circuit assembly. Switching of the variable duty cycle switching signal is controlled by an upper and a lower threshold current level. The upper and lower threshold current levels vary with time following an average current value time variation. Additionally, frequency jitter is introduced in the variable duty cycle switching signal by: defining at least a frequency modulation window around a limit frequency identifying a limit value for an acceptable EMI; and applying an amplitude modulation of the upper and/or lower threshold current levels varying with time, wherein the amplitude modulation is applied in a time interval between times when the switching frequency enters and exit the frequency window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Sebastiano Messina, Marco Torrisi
  • Patent number: 11652443
    Abstract: A circuit device includes an oscillation circuit and a processing circuit that generates capacitance control data. The oscillation circuit includes a variable capacitance circuit whose capacitance value is variably controlled based on the capacitance control data, and an oscillation frequency thereof is controlled based on the capacitance value of the variable capacitance circuit. The variable capacitance circuit includes a capacitor array. The capacitor array includes a plurality of capacitors each having a binary-weighted capacitance value, and a plurality of switches that are on-off controlled based on the capacitance control data. The processing circuit outputs the capacitance control data, which is subjected to dithering, so as to switch the capacitance value of the variable capacitance circuit between a first capacitance value and a second capacitance value in a time division manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Inventors: Yuichi Toriumi, Hideo Haneda, Teppei Higuchi, Atsushi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11626861
    Abstract: A ring oscillator including: an oscillation circuit including an even number of inverters connected in a ring configuration, the oscillation circuit outputting a clock signal; plural potential fixing circuits respectively connected between pairs of the inverters, each of plural potential fixing circuits being switchable between a connected and a disconnected state in response to a first control signal; and an adjustment circuit that adjusts a drive capability of the inverters based on a second control signal, wherein, during startup, the drive capability is controlled to be a first capability, in which the potential fixing circuits are connected, by the first control signal, and wherein, after a predetermined time has elapsed after the first control signal is output, the drive capability is controlled to be a second capability, higher than the first capability, in which the potential fixing circuits are disconnected, by the second control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: LAPIS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Manabu Furuta
  • Patent number: 11581851
    Abstract: A relaxation oscillator includes a resistor-capacitor (RC) circuit, an integration capacitor, a sampling circuit, and a controllable oscillator. The RC circuit performs an RC charging operation to set a first voltage, performs an RC discharging operation to set a second voltage, and performs a reset operation to reset the first voltage to a first reference voltage and reset the second voltage to a second reference voltage. The sampling circuit performs a charge delivery operation to sample a voltage difference between the first voltage and the second voltage, and transfers the voltage difference to the integration capacitor. The controllable oscillator generates an output clock in response to a control input provided by the integration capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventor: Fan-Wei Liao
  • Patent number: 11513507
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for controlling a manufacturing process in a manner that protects sensitive information from misuse by different entities involved in the manufacturing process. According to the present disclosure, a blueprint providing information regarding subcomponents of a product to be manufactured may be provided to a synthesizer device. The synthesizer device may engage in two-party computation with IP providers to generate a set of machine commands, which may be encrypted, and then provide a message including the set of machine commands to a manufacturer device. The manufacturer device may obtain authorization from the IP provider(s) based on the message, where the authorization may enable the manufacturer device to configure a manufacturing process in accordance with the set of machine commands to manufacture the subcomponents of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Accenture Global Solutions Limited
    Inventors: Zhijie Wang, Teresa Sheausan Tung, Kirby James Linvill
  • Patent number: 11515838
    Abstract: A resonant tank includes a first capacitor formed on a semiconductor substrate, a first inductor formed on the semiconductor substrate, a second capacitor formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a second inductor formed on the semiconductor substrate. The first capacitor, the first inductor, the second capacitor, and the second inductor are connected in a ring configuration, with each capacitor connected between a pair of the inductors and with each inductor connected between a pair of the capacitors. An amplifier circuit is coupled to the resonant tank and configured to amplify a signal in the resonant tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Bushman, James Caldwell
  • Patent number: 11508898
    Abstract: Piezoelectric devices are described fabricated in packaging buildup layers. In one example, a package has a plurality of conductive routing layers and a plurality of organic dielectric layers between the conductive routing layers. A die attach area has a plurality of vias to connect to a microelectronic die, the vias connecting to respective conductive routing layers. A piezoelectric device is formed on an organic dielectric layer, the piezoelectric device having at least one electrode coupled to a conductive routing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Feras Eid, Shawna M. Liff
  • Patent number: 11474130
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for hardware security comprises a voltage glitch detection processing system comprising an oscillator circuit that generates and outputs a local oscillator clock which is a function of a supply voltage; a counter clocked by the oscillator circuit to generate at least one count value; and a capture section that synchronizes the at least one count value into a system clock domain for detecting a voltage glitch in the supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Andreas Lentz, Andreas Bernardus Maria Jansman
  • Patent number: 11463073
    Abstract: There are provided a signal width repair circuit and method, and an electronic device. The signal width repair circuit includes: a delay circuit, configured to receive an input signal, and delay the input signal for a preset duration to obtain a delayed signal, the input signal being a high-level signal; a signal reconstruction circuit, configured to receive the input signal and the delayed signal, and repair the input signal and the delayed signal to obtain a repaired signal; and a signal selection circuit, configured to receive the input signal and the repaired signal and select one of the input signal and the repaired signal for output, to obtain a target signal that has a width satisfying a preset width, the preset duration being equal to or greater than a duration with the preset width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Xian Fan
  • Patent number: 11456699
    Abstract: Oscillator circuits, electronic devices, and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an oscillator circuit includes a plurality of oscillator transistors comprising a plurality of gates, a plurality of adjustment transistors coupled to the plurality of gates, a differential output coupled to the plurality of oscillator transistors, a plurality of current transistors configured to receive one or more mixed bias current outputs, and generate a main current based on the one or more mixed bias current outputs, the one or more mixed bias current outputs and the main current being substantially constant over a range of temperatures, and one or more switches configured to set an oscillation frequency of the differential output by driving a first portion of a main current through at least one of the plurality of oscillator transistors, and driving a second portion of the main current through at least one of the plurality of adjustment transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Bohannon, Kevin Fronczak, Jason Inman
  • Patent number: 11444573
    Abstract: The invention discloses an oscillator, including a voltage switching circuit, a voltage adjustment circuit and a frequency generation circuit. The voltage switching circuit receives an output voltage signal whereby the output voltage signal switches a first input voltage signal to a first voltage level signal and switches a second input voltage signal to a second voltage level signal. The voltage adjustment circuit receives the first voltage level signal and the second voltage level signal, whereby the first voltage level signal and the second voltage level signal generate the first adjustment voltage signal and the second adjustment voltage signal. The frequency generation circuit is connected to the voltage adjustment circuit, and receives the first adjustment voltage signal and the second adjustment voltage signal to generate the first output frequency signal and the second output frequency signal according to the first adjustment voltage signal and the second adjustment voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: KaiKuTek Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Chun-Hung Wang, Chen-Lun Lin, Guan-Sian Wu, Chin-Wei Kuo, Ming Wei Kung, Wen-Sheng Cheng, Chun-Hsuan Kuo
  • Patent number: 11424736
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure related to a method of phase extension using a delay circuit including delay devices coupled in series. The method includes receiving a clock signal, generating multiple delayed versions of the clock signal, wherein each of the delayed versions of the clock signal is delayed by a different number of the delay devices, and combining high phases or low phases of the delayed versions of the clock signal to obtain a combined clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Keith Alan Bowman, Daniel Yingling, Dipti Ranjan Pal
  • Patent number: 11362700
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a frequency accumulator to produce a frequency ramp, and a symbol modulator to receive symbols and to add to the frequency ramp frequency offsets representative of the symbols, to produce a modulated frequency ramp for a modulated chirp. The apparatus includes a spreading factor controller to control a roll-over rate of the modulated frequency ramp responsive to spreading factor and frequency bandwidth control signals, to control a spreading factor and a frequency bandwidth of the modulated chirp. The apparatus includes a center frequency controller to control a center frequency of the modulated frequency ramp responsive to a center frequency control signal. The apparatus includes a phase accumulator to accumulate frequency samples of the modulated frequency ramp to produce phase samples corresponding to the modulated chirp, and a vector rotator to rotate the phase samples based on an input vector to produce a modulated chirp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: CISCO SYSTEMS CANADA CO.
    Inventors: Tung Trong Nguyen, Ha Hoang Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11323067
    Abstract: The present invention provides an oscillator circuit and a semiconductor integrated circuit, which can suppress the upper limit of the frequency of a clock signal due to an error of the constant current circuit. The oscillator circuit of the present invention includes a constant current circuit, an oscillator, and a current limiting circuit. The constant current circuit generates a first output current according to a supply voltage. The current limiting circuit receives the first output current and generates a second output current, and establishes an upper limit for the second output current when the supply voltage drops below a lower limit of a guaranteed operational range of the constant current circuit. The oscillator generates a clock signal according to the second output current. By establishing the upper limit for the second output current, the upper limit of the frequency of the clock signal can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: WINDBOND ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Masafumi Nakatani, Hiroki Murakami
  • Patent number: 11251768
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a piezoelectric element, a package, a temperature sensitive component and a conductive adhesive. The package includes a base body and a connection conductor. The base body has electric insulation and configures a space. The space is sealed and holds the piezoelectric element. The connection conductor is located on a predetermined surface of the base body. The predetermined surface is on an outer side relative to the space. The temperature sensitive component includes apart terminal and converts temperature to an electrical signal. The conductive adhesive is configured by a thermosetting resin containing a conductive filler and is bonded to the connection conductor and the part terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuki Terauchi, Motoharu Andou, Yoshiaki Yokoo
  • Patent number: 11251771
    Abstract: In a crystal unit, a substrate is rectangle-shaped. A frame includes a pair of portions located in regions on the sides of a pair of short sides of the substrate on the lower surface of the substrate and forms a concave portion between these pair of portions. An electrode pad is located on the upper surface of the substrate. A connection pad is located on the lower surface of the substrate within the frame. A plurality of external terminals are located on the lower surface of the frame. A crystal element is mounted on the electrode pad. A temperature sensing element is mounted on the connection pad. A ratio S2/S1 of an area S1 of a rectangular region formed by an outer edge of the lower surface of the frame and an area S2 of a smallest rectangular region containing all of the external terminals is 0.75 to 0.91.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Teramura
  • Patent number: 11245358
    Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator is provided. The voltage controlled oscillator includes a current controlled oscillator, a voltage to current conversion circuit and a noise cancellation circuit. The current controlled oscillator is configured to receive a bias current and generate an oscillating signal with an oscillating frequency according to the bias current. The voltage to current conversion circuit is coupled to a power supply voltage and configured to generate a supply current according to an input voltage. The noise cancellation circuit is configured to receive a bias voltage and the supply current from the voltage to current conversion circuit, and configured to generate a noise cancellation current in response to power supply voltage variation and cancel the noise cancellation current from the supply current to generate the bias current. The bias voltage of the noise cancellation circuit is coupled to an internal voltage of the voltage to current conversion circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Cheng-Dao Su, Tzu-Cheng Yang, Chih-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 11201587
    Abstract: A piezoelectric oscillator includes a base member; a piezoelectric resonator mounted on an upper surface of the base member; a lid member joined to the upper surface so as to hermetically seal the piezoelectric resonator; an electronic component mounted on a lower surface of the base member; a mounting frame joined to the lower surface so as to surround the electronic component; and a heat conduction path disposed on the base member and/or the mounting frame. The heat conduction path is electrically isolated from both of the piezoelectric resonator and the electronic component in the piezoelectric oscillator and has heat conductivity. The heat conduction path includes a first heat conduction portion inside where the base member and the mounting frame overlap, and a second heat conduction portion connected to the first heat conduction portion and disposed outside where the base member and the mounting frame overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Noto
  • Patent number: 11171602
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses an RC oscillating circuit. A first end of a capacitor is grounded, a second end of the capacitor is connected to a charging path, a discharging path and a comparator, A first input end of a comparator is connected to first reference voltage. An output end of the comparator outputs a first output signal and is connected to a control end of the discharging path. The first reference voltage provides the flipped voltage of the comparator The first output signal forms an output clock signal. A first regulating circuit is configured to regulate the magnitude of the charging current and realize coarse frequency tuning. A second regulating circuit is configured to regulate the magnitude of the first reference voltage and realize fine frequency tuning. The disclosure has the advantages of low power consumption, fast start, high precision and wide tuning range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Shanghai Huahong Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Xiao Hong
  • Patent number: 11049856
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device which is a facedown mounting, chip-size-package-type semiconductor device and includes: a transistor element including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a control electrode which controls a conduction state between the first electrode and the second electrode; a plurality of first resistor elements each including a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrodes of the first resistor elements being electrically connected to the second electrode of the transistor element; one or more external resistance terminals to which the second electrodes of the plurality of first resistor elements are physically connected; a first external terminal electrically connected to the first electrode of the transistor element; and an external control terminal electrically connected to the control electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION JAPAN
    Inventors: Kazuma Yoshida, Ryosuke Okawa, Tsubasa Inoue
  • Patent number: 10936005
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling clock generation. A system includes a processor configured to execute instructions retrieved from memory, and a clock generation system coupled to the processor. The clock generation system is configured to generate a clock signal that the processor applies to execute the instructions. The clock generation system includes a plurality of configuration registers and selection circuitry. Each of the configuration registers includes fields that control a frequency of the clock signal. The selection circuitry selects which of the plurality of configuration registers determines the frequency at a given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Joerg Harald Hans Jochen Schreiner, Marcus Herzog
  • Patent number: 10826507
    Abstract: A clock product includes a phase-locked loop configured to generate an output clock signal based on an input digital value and a feedback digital value. The input digital value corresponds to a first clock edge of a frequency-divided input clock signal and the feedback digital value corresponds to a second clock edge of a feedback clock signal. The clock product includes an input fractional divider configured to generate the input digital value based on an input clock signal, a divider value, and an input clock period digital code corresponding to a period of the input clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Xue-Mei Gong, James D. Barnette
  • Patent number: 10784877
    Abstract: Programmable timer circuits are disclosed. One timer circuit may include a reference circuit configured to generate a bias current, a current controlled oscillator configured to receive the bias current c, and a frequency divider network configured to divide an output of the oscillator. The timer circuit may be capable of timing for 24 hour period, while using less than 5nA of quiescent current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory James Fisher, Donald Scott Langford, Randall B. Pugh, Adam Toner
  • Patent number: 10756693
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device is disclosed. The integrated circuit device includes a capacitor array, a decoder circuit, and an integrated circuit. The capacitor array includes a plurality of capacitor units. The decoder circuit is coupled to the capacitor array. The integrated circuit is coupled to the decoder circuit. The decoder circuit is configured to conduct part of the plurality of capacitor units, and to un-conduct part of the plurality of capacitor units, so as to adjust a capacitance value coupled to the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kai-Po Shang, Jui-Hsiu Jao
  • Patent number: 10714982
    Abstract: A resonator and resonator method are provided. The resonator includes an inductor, a capacitor, and a switch configured to maintain energy in at least one of the inductor and the capacitor for a select period of time and to enable variability of energy in the at least one of the inductor and the capacitor for another period of time, to set a resonating frequency of the inductor and the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seungchul Jung, Jongpal Kim, Wonseok Lee
  • Patent number: 10635129
    Abstract: A frequency calibration method applied to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device includes: coupling the USB device to a USB host, wherein the USB device comprises at least a programmable oscillator; utilizing the USB device to extract a low frequency periodic signal from the USB host; calibrating the programmable oscillator of the USB device according to the low frequency periodic signal, to make the programmable oscillator generate an oscillating signal having a predetermined frequency; and when the USB device receives the low frequency periodic signal from the USB host, controlling the USB device to generate a predetermined signal having a frequency higher than a frequency of the low frequency periodic signal to the USB host, to make the USB host continuously generate the low frequency periodic signal to the USB device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Silicon Motion, Inc.
    Inventor: Liang-Hsuan Lu
  • Patent number: 10601409
    Abstract: A circuit, method, and system are disclosed for sampling a signal. The system includes a sampler circuit configured to sample input signals when a clock signal is at a first level to produce sampled signals, a detection circuit that is coupled to the sampler circuit, and a feedback circuit that receives an output signal and generates the clock signal. The detection circuit pre-charges the sampled signals when the clock signal is at a second level and, using threshold adjusted inverters, detects voltage levels of each sampled signal to produce detected voltage level signals, where a threshold voltage of the threshold adjusted inverters is entirely outside of a transition voltage range of the sampler circuit. In response to one of the detected voltage level signals transitioning from the second level to the first level, the detection circuit transitions the output signal from the first level to the second level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Poulton, Sudhir Shrikantha Kudva, Stephen G. Tell, John Michael Wilson
  • Patent number: 10530297
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a reference voltage generation circuit configured to generate reference voltages Va and Vb capable of adjusting a primary temperature characteristic, and an oscillation circuit configured to output an oscillation signal using the reference voltages Va and Vb, in which the oscillation circuit includes a frequency/current conversion circuit that is driven by the reference voltage Va and outputs a current Ie in accordance with a frequency of a feedback signal, a control voltage generation circuit configured to generate a control voltage in accordance with a potential difference between a voltage in accordance with the current Ie and the reference voltage Vb, a voltage control oscillation circuit configured to output the oscillation signal having a frequency in accordance with the control voltage, and a frequency division circuit configured to divide a frequency of the oscillation signal and output the resulting signal as the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Guoqiang Zhang, Kosuke Yayama
  • Patent number: 10382044
    Abstract: A frequency synthesizer includes: an oscillating section that generates a first signal; a frequency ratio measuring section that measures a frequency ratio of the first signal and a second signal by using the first signal and the second signal; a comparing section that compares the frequency ratio, which is measured by the frequency measuring section, with a target value of a frequency ratio; and a filter that is disposed on a preceding stage of the comparing section. A frequency of the first signal of the oscillating section is adjusted on the basis of a comparison result of the comparing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Todorokihara, Aritsugu Yajima, Tetsuro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10348315
    Abstract: A phase-locked loop (PLL) has an oscillator, a counter and a register to sample the oscillator phase as an integer number. A phase predictor uses a fractional-N frequency control word (FCW) to calculate a predicted phase as an integer number. The integer difference between the sampled phase and the predicted phase is used as loop filter input, to generate an oscillator control signal that adjusts the oscillator frequency. The phase predictor may provide noise shaping, for example via a MASH modulator. A first sleep mode control signal blocks a reference clock and feedback of the oscillator clock to the counter. It may also freeze loop filter parameters and block the output clock. A second sleep mode control signal may stop the oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Perceptia IP Pty Ltd
    Inventors: André Grouwstra, Julian Jenkins
  • Patent number: 10284210
    Abstract: Embodiments include apparatuses, methods, and systems for open-loop voltage regulation and drift compensation for a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO). In embodiments, a communication circuit may include a DCO, an open-loop voltage regulator, and a calibration circuit. The open-loop voltage regulator may receive a calibration voltage and may generate a regulated voltage. The regulated voltage may be passed to the DCO. During a calibration mode, the calibration circuit may compare the regulated voltage to a reference voltage and adjust the calibration voltage based on the comparison to provide the regulated voltage with a target value. During a monitoring mode, the calibration circuit may receive a tuning code that is used to tune the DCO and further adjust the calibration voltage based on a value of the tuning code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shenggao Li, Guluke Tong, Sujatha B. Gowder, Fulvio Spagna
  • Patent number: 10236890
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a mode determination unit configured to determine a power mode based on a temperature of the semiconductor device and a reference temperature, the power mode including one of a first mode which sets the operating frequency of the operation clock to be a first operating frequency and a second mode which sets the operating frequency of the operation clock to be a second operating frequency, and output a control signal according to the power mode to a clock generating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiko Gomi, Tetsuya Suzuki