Switching Circuits For Extracting Power From An Electric Power Source And Associated Methods
Granted: February 23, 2012
Application Number:
20120044014
An integrated circuit chip includes a first input port, a first output port, and first and second transistors electrically coupled in series across the first input port. The second transistor is also electrically coupled across the first output port and is adapted to provide a path for current flowing through the first output port when the first transistor is in its non-conductive state. The integrated circuit chip additionally includes first driver circuitry for driving gates of the…
SENSING AND FEEDBACK WITH ENHANCED STABILITY IN A CURRENT MODE CONTROL VOLTAGE REGULATOR
Granted: February 2, 2012
Application Number:
20120025796
The disclosed embodiments of voltage regulators incorporate a current mode control architecture. In one embodiment, a voltage regulator includes a power switch having an input and an output. The power switch is configured to provide a first voltage during a first conduction period and a second voltage during a second conduction period. An output filter is coupled between the power switch output and an output terminal to be coupled to a load. An adjustment device is coupled to sense a…
SENSING AND FEEDBACK IN A CURRENT MODE CONTROL VOLTAGE REGULATOR
Granted: February 2, 2012
Application Number:
20120025799
The disclosed embodiments of voltage regulators incorporate a current mode control architecture. In one embodiment, a comparator mechanism triggers a transition in a power switch when the error in the regulated output voltage is equal to a proportionally scaled value of current provided at an output filter. The voltage regulator includes a power switch having an input and an output. The power switch is configured to provide a first voltage during a first conduction period and a second…
CONTROLLED DELIVERY OF A CHARGING CURRENT TO A BOOST CAPACITOR OF A VOLTAGE REGULATOR
Granted: December 29, 2011
Application Number:
20110316500
Disclosed are devices, apparatus, circuitry, components, mechanisms, modules, units, systems, and processes for controlling a power switch of a voltage regulator. A capacitor is coupled to an output of the power switch. Charge delivery circuitry is coupled to the capacitor and configured to provide a charging current to the capacitor. Charge control circuitry can be coupled to the charge delivery circuitry and configured to selectively allow the providing of the charging current to the…
FEEDBACK FOR CONTROLLING THE SWITCHING FREQUENCY OF A VOLTAGE REGULATOR
Granted: December 29, 2011
Application Number:
20110316502
Disclosed are devices, apparatus, circuitry, components, mechanisms, modules, units, systems, and processes for controlling the switching frequency of a voltage regulator. Frequency monitoring and adjustment circuitry is coupled to sense a switching frequency of a power switch coupled to an output filter of the voltage regulator. The frequency monitoring and adjustment circuitry is configured to provide a frequency adjustment signal based on the sensed switching frequency. Power switch…
POWDER CORE MATERIAL COUPLED INDUCTORS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
Granted: November 17, 2011
Application Number:
20110279100
A multi-phase coupled inductor includes a powder core material magnetic core and first, second, third, and fourth terminals. The coupled inductor further includes a first winding at least partially embedded in the core and a second winding at least partially embedded in the core. The first winding is electrically coupled between the first and second terminals, and the second winding electrically is coupled between the third and fourth terminals. The second winding is at least partially…
LATERAL DOUBLE-DIFFUSED MOSFET
Granted: June 9, 2011
Application Number:
20110133274
A LDMOS transistor is implemented in a first impurity region on a substrate. The LDMOS transistor has a source that includes a second impurity region. The second impurity region is implanted into the surface of the substrate within the first impurity region. Additionally, the LDMOS transistor has a drain that includes a third impurity region. The third impurity region is implanted into the surface of the substrate within the first impurity region. The third impurity region is spaced a…
INTEGRATED ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT AND TEST TO DETERMINE THE INTEGRITY OF A SILICON DIE
Granted: June 9, 2011
Application Number:
20110133747
A detection circuit and one or more wires or circuit traces are included in a die. The combination is used to detect mechanical failure of the substrate, e.g. silicon after singulation of the dice from the wafer. Failures may be detected at different regions or planes within the die, and the tests may be performed during operation of the packaged die and integrated circuit, even after installation and during operation of a larger electronic device in which it is incorporated. This is…
Voltage Regulator with Communication Ring Scheme
Granted: July 30, 2009
Application Number:
20090189576
A voltage regulator coupled to an unregulated DC input voltage source by an input terminal, and to a load by an output terminal is disclosed. The voltage regulator converts an input voltage at the input terminal to an output voltage at the output terminal. The voltage regulator includes a master controller and one or more slaves, and the master controller and each slave can communicate using a ring communication scheme. A command generated by the master controller can be passed from the…
Method For Making Magnetic Components With M-Phase Coupling, And Related Inductor Structures
Granted: July 16, 2009
Application Number:
20090179723
An M phase coupled inductor includes a magnetic core including a first end magnetic element, a second end magnetic element, and M legs disposed between and connecting the first and second end magnetic elements. M is an integer greater than one. The coupled inductor further includes M windings, where each winding has a substantially rectangular cross section. Each one of the M windings is at least partially wound about a respective leg.
Method For Making Magnetic Components With N-Phase Coupling, And Related Inductor Structures
Granted: October 9, 2008
Application Number:
20080246577
Methods and structures for constructing a magnetic core of a coupled inductor. The method provides for constructing N-phase coupled inductors as both single and scalable magnetic structures, where N is an integer greater than 1. The method additionally describes how such a construction of the magnetic core may enhance the benefits of using the scalable N-phase coupled inductor. The first and second magnetic cores may be formed into shapes that, when coupled together, may form a single…
Lateral Double-Diffused Mosfet (LDMOS) Transistor and a Method of Fabricating the Same
Granted: September 6, 2007
Application Number:
20070207600
Methods and systems for monolithically fabricating a lateral double-diffused MOSFET (LDMOS) transistor having a source, drain, and a gate on a substrate, with a process flow that is compatible with a CMOS process flow are described.
Method of Fabricating a Lateral Double-Diffused Mosfet
Granted: July 19, 2007
Application Number:
20070166896
A method of monolithically fabricating an LDMOS transistor with a fabrication process that is compatible with a sub-micron CMOS fabrication process. The specification further describes an LDMOS transistor. The LDMOS transistor is implemented in a first impurity region on a substrate. The LDMOS transistor has a source that includes a second impurity region. The second impurity region is implanted into the surface of the substrate within the first impurity region. Additionally, the LDMOS…
VOLTAGE REGULATOR WITH INDUCTOR BANKS
Granted: April 5, 2007
Application Number:
20070076452
A voltage regulator coupled to an unregulated DC input voltage source by an input terminal, and to a load by an output terminal is disclosed. The voltage regulator converts an input voltage at the input terminal to an output voltage at the output terminal. The voltage regulator includes one or more slaves, and each slave includes a switching circuit which serves as a power switch for alternately coupling and decoupling the input terminal to an intermediate node. The voltage regulator…
Digital voltage regulator using current control
Granted: March 18, 2004
Application Number:
20040052098
A digitally implemented voltage regulator in which a switching circuit intermittently couples the input terminal and the output terminal in response to a digital control signal. A current sensor generates a digital first feedback signal derived from the current passing through the switching circuit, and a voltage sensor generates a digital second feedback signal derived from the output voltage. A digital controller receives and uses the digital feedback signals to generate the digital…
Testing integrated circuits and integrated power transistors
Granted: November 6, 2003
Application Number:
20030206025
A switching regulator that has first, second, third and fourth terminals, a first power transistor disposed between the first terminal and a first node, a second power transistor disposed between the first node and a second node, a filter including a capacitor and an inductor, and a controller. The first power transistor is partitioned into a plurality of individually-addressable first transistor segments. The second node couples the second and fourth terminals. The second power…
Switching regulator with multiple power transistor driving voltages
Granted: July 10, 2003
Application Number:
20030128015
A voltage regulator has an input terminal, an output terminal, a first transistor connecting the input terminal to an intermediate terminal, a second transistor connecting the intermediate terminal to ground, a controller that drives the first and second transistors to alternately couple the intermediate terminal between the input terminal and ground, and a filter disposed between the input terminal and the output terminal to provide a substantially DC voltage at the output terminal. The…
Digital voltage regulator using current control
Granted: November 8, 2001
Application Number:
20010038277
A digitally implemented voltage regulator in which a switching circuit intermittently couples the input terminal and the output terminal in response to a digital control signal. A current sensor generates a digital first feedback signal derived from the current passing through the switching circuit, and a voltage sensor generates a digital second feedback signal derived from the output voltage. A digital controller receives and uses the digital feedback signals to generate the digital…
Transistor pattern for voltage regulator
Granted: November 1, 2001
Application Number:
20010035746
A voltage regulator with an input terminal and an output terminal has a printed circuit board, a substrate mounted on the printed circuit board, and a first flip-chip type integrated circuit chip mounted on the substrate. The first integrated circuit chip includes a first power switch fabricated therein to alternately couple and decouple the input terminal to the output terminal. A filter is disposed to provide a substantially DC voltage at the output terminal, and a control circuit…
