METHODS AND APPARATUS RELATED TO A PRECISION INPUT POWER PROTECTION DEVICE
Granted: September 18, 2014
Application Number:
20140268462
In one general aspect, an apparatus can include an input terminal and an overvoltage protection device coupled to the input terminal and configured to receive energy via the input terminal. The overvoltage protection device can have a breakdown voltage at an ambient temperature less than a target maximum operating voltage of a source configured to be received at the input terminal. The apparatus can also include an output terminal coupled to the overvoltage protection device and a load.
BATTERY STATE OF CHARGE TRACKING, EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT SELECTION AND BENCHMARKING
Granted: August 28, 2014
Application Number:
20140244225
A method includes calculating a first estimated state of charge (SOC) of a battery at a first time, receiving a voltage value representing a measured voltage across the battery at a second time, calculating a filter gain at the second time, and calculating a second estimated SOC of the battery at the second time based on the first estimated SOC, the voltage value, and the filter gain. Another method includes storing, in a memory, a library of equivalent circuit models representing a…
BATTERY STATE OF CHARGE TRACKING, EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT SELECTION AND BENCHMARKING
Granted: August 28, 2014
Application Number:
20140244193
A method includes calculating a first estimated state of charge (SOC) of a battery at a first time, receiving a voltage value representing a measured voltage across the battery at a second time, calculating a filter gain at the second time, and calculating a second estimated SOC of the battery at the second time based on the first estimated SOC, the voltage value, and the filter gain. Another method includes storing, in a memory, a library of equivalent circuit models representing a…
DIFFERENTIAL THERMISTOR CIRCUIT
Granted: August 28, 2014
Application Number:
20140241398
This document discusses, among other things, an apparatus and method for providing temperature information. In an example, an integrated circuit apparatus can include a first resistor configured to be coupled to a first terminal of a temperature-sensitive resistance, a second resistor configured to be coupled to a second terminal of the temperature-sensitive resistance, and a temperature information circuit configured to receive a first voltage from the first terminal of the…
METHODS AND APPARATUS RELATED TO CAPACITANCE REDUCTION OF A SIGNAL PORT
Granted: August 28, 2014
Application Number:
20140239447
In one general aspect, an apparatus includes a first capacitor defined by a dielectric disposed between a bump metal and a region of a first conductivity type, and a second capacitor in series with the first capacitor and defined by a PN junction including the region of the first conductivity type and a region of a second conductivity type. The region of the first conductivity type can be configured to be coupled to a first node having a first voltage, and the region of the second…
PRODUCTION OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE PASSIVE DEVICES USING EXISTING OPERATIONS OF A SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESS
Granted: August 21, 2014
Application Number:
20140231952
In one general aspect, a semiconductor processing method can include forming an N-type silicon region disposed within a P-type silicon substrate. The method can also include forming a field oxide (FOX) layer in the P-type silicon substrate where the FOX layer includes an opening exposing at least a portion of the N-type silicon region. The method can further include forming a reduced surface field (RESURF) oxide (ROX) layer having a first portion disposed on the exposed N-type silicon…
TEST CONTROL USING EXISTING IC CHIP PINS
Granted: August 21, 2014
Application Number:
20140237308
An apparatus and method are provided for testing normal circuitry in an integrated circuit, the method including writing test protocols into a plurality of test registers using an enable pin and a switch pin in a first mode, storing a logic high signal in one of the plurality of test registers once the writing is completed, switching from the first mode to a second mode if the one of the plurality of test registers stores the logic high signal, and testing the normal circuitry using the…
ISOLATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY USING COUPLED OSCILLATORS/ANTENNAS
Granted: August 21, 2014
Application Number:
20140233614
The present subject matter discusses, among other things, electrical isolation, and more particularly wireless electrical isolation methods and apparatus. IN an example, an electrical isolator can include a transmit circuit including a transmit antenna, and a receive circuit including a receive antenna. The transmit circuit can be configured to receive digital data and to modulate a transmit signal with the digital data, and to transmit the transit signal using the transmit antenna. The…
CLAMPING CIRCUIT AND DEVICE FOR EOS/SURGE/IEC
Granted: August 21, 2014
Application Number:
20140233139
This application discusses, among other things, protection methods and apparatus for integrated circuits. In an example, an apparatus to protect a circuit from transient electrical events can include a protection transistor configured to couple a terminal of the circuit to a reference potential during the transient events, and one or more diodes coupled in series between the terminal and a control node of the protection transistor, the one or more diodes configured to trigger the…
POWER SUPPLY PROTECTION SYSTEM
Granted: August 21, 2014
Application Number:
20140232454
Devices and methods provide a protection device for maintaining a steady output on a gate driver terminal despite fluctuations in a power supply, the protection device including low voltage detection circuitry configured to monitor the power supply and detect fluctuations in the power supply; and gate isolation circuitry configured to isolate the gate driver terminal from the power supply if the low voltage detection circuitry detects a fluctuation in the power supply, wherein a voltage…
LDMOS DEVICE WITH DOUBLE-SLOPED FIELD PLATE
Granted: August 21, 2014
Application Number:
20140231911
In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a channel region disposed in a semiconductor substrate, a gate dielectric disposed on the channel region and a drift region disposed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the channel region. The apparatus can further include a field plate having an end portion disposed between a top surface of the semiconductor substrate and the gate dielectric The end portion can include a surface in contact with the gate dielectric, the surface…
DATA-ON-SUPPLY REPEATER
Granted: August 14, 2014
Application Number:
20140226697
This application discusses methods and apparatus for a data-on-supply repeater. In an example, a repeater can include a repeater circuit configured to receive a power signal at an input and to provide a representation of a received analog data signal at an output, a direction detector configured to receive the power signal from a first bus conductor of a plurality of bus conductors, to identify the first buss conductor of the plurality of bus conductors as a transmitting conductor, and…
PERMANENT LOCKOUT ATTACK DETECTION
Granted: August 7, 2014
Application Number:
20140223557
This document discusses, among other things, an attack detection module configured to permanently shut down a slave device after a number of consecutive attacks.
SECURE CRYPTO KEY GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION
Granted: August 7, 2014
Application Number:
20140219442
This document discusses, among other things, a method of distributing authentication keys that can prevent certain forms of circuit fabrication piracy. In an example, a method can include selecting a number of authentication keys for generation at a key generation computer, generating a random number using a random number generator of the key generation computer, generating the number of authentication keys using the random number and a key generation algorithm stored in the memory of…
PRODUCTION OF MULTIPLE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES USING A SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESS
Granted: July 31, 2014
Application Number:
20140213024
In one general aspect, a method can include implanting a first dopant, simultaneously, in a portion of a laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) device and in a portion of a resistor device included in a semiconductor device. The method can also include implanting a second dopant, simultaneously, in a portion of the LDMOS device and in a portion of a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) device in the semiconductor device.
Hybrid Continuous and Discontinuous Mode Operation
Granted: July 24, 2014
Application Number:
20140203790
This disclosure is directed to hybrid continuous and discontinuous mode operation. In general, a system comprising a control module and voltage converter module may be configured to operate in a continuous conduction mode (CCM) until a current through an inductor in the voltage converter module is determined to be at or below zero (e.g., negative). The controller may then transition to operating the voltage converter module in a discontinuous control mode (DCM). Some or all of the DCM…
FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR AND SCHOTTKY DIODE STRUCTURES
Granted: July 24, 2014
Application Number:
20140203355
In accordance with an embodiment a structure can include a monolithically integrated trench field-effect transistor (FET) and Schottky diode. The structure can include a first gate trench extending into a semiconductor region, a second gate trench extending into the semiconductor region, and a source region flanking a side of the first gate trench. The source region can have a substantially triangular shape, and a contact opening extending into the semiconductor region between the first…
POWER SUPPLY WITH DC BREAKER SWITCH AND REDUCED REGULATED DC LINK VOLTAGE
Granted: July 17, 2014
Application Number:
20140198543
Generally, this disclosure provides circuits and methods to reduce and regulate DC link voltage in a power supply through the use of a DC breaker circuit. The breaker circuit may include a breaker switch configured to couple an input stage circuit of a power supply to an output stage circuit of the power supply and to provide a regulated DC link voltage to the output stage circuit, the level of the DC link voltage based on switching states of the breaker switch. The breaker circuit may…
PARASITIC ISOLATION COMMUNICATION SWITCH
Granted: July 10, 2014
Application Number:
20140193003
This document discusses, among other things, a switch multiplexer having a common connector, the switch multiplexer including a first switch configured to receive a first signal at or above a ground (GND) reference and a second switch configured to receive a second signal that swings positive and negative about ground. The switch multiplexer includes a negative charge pump configured to bias the first switch with a negative charge pump voltage lower than the most negative voltage swing…
Start-Up Circuitry
Granted: July 3, 2014
Application Number:
20140184285
One embodiment provides a start-up circuit that includes start-up switch circuitry comprising a switch coupled an input voltage rail and configured to generate a start-up voltage; wherein the start-up switch circuitry is configured to generate the start-up voltage to have a predefined voltage level within a predetermined time period. The start-up circuit also includes first controller circuitry configured to control the switch to turn ON and OFF based on, at least in part, the start-up…
