Vertical and horizontal circuit assemblies
Granted: November 16, 2021
Patent Number:
11177203
In a general aspect, an apparatus can include a leadframe including a plurality of leads disposed along a single edge of the apparatus. The apparatus can also include an assembly including a substrate and a plurality of semiconductor die disposed on the substrate, the assembly being mounted on the leadframe and an inductor having a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the inductor can be electrically coupled with the leadframe via a first conductive clip, where the…
Charge pump circuit for providing voltages to multiple switch circuits
Granted: May 25, 2021
Patent Number:
11018577
A charge pump circuit generates a charge pump voltage that powers a bias circuit. The bias circuit generates a reference current and generates switch currents from the reference current. Gate-source voltages are generated from the switch currents and applied to switching components of switch circuits to connect two nodes. The gate-source voltages can be generated in the bias circuit and provided to the switch circuits. The gate-source voltages can also be generated in the switch…
Control circuit and method therefor
Granted: May 11, 2021
Patent Number:
11005377
In one embodiment, a power supply controller, or alternately a semiconductor device having a power supply controller, may have a first circuit configured to form a sense signal that is representative of a signal from an auxiliary winding of a transformer. A feedback circuit may be configured to allow the sense signal to increase in response to a turn-off of the power switch, to subsequently detect a second increase of the sense signal prior to subsequently turning on the power switch,…
Power supply with near valley switching in near valley window time period
Granted: January 19, 2021
Patent Number:
10897206
A switched-mode power supply with near valley switching includes a quasi-resonant converter. The converter includes a switch element that is turned on not only at the valley, but also in a window range of ?tNVW close to the valley, where the voltage across the switch element is at its minimum. This advantageously reduces switching loss and maintains a balance between efficiency and frequency variation.
Inductor current emulation for output current monitoring
Granted: January 5, 2021
Patent Number:
10886833
A switch mode power supply controller includes a switch terminal adapted to be coupled to an inductor that drives a load, high- and low-side switches a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit, and a current monitor circuit. The PWM circuit is coupled to a feedback terminal for receiving a feedback signal, and alternatively drives the high-side switch and the low-side switch with a duty cycle set using the feedback signal to regulate an output voltage to a desired level in a work mode, and…
Trench-based power semiconductor devices with increased breakdown voltage characteristics
Granted: December 15, 2020
Patent Number:
10868113
Exemplary power semiconductor devices with features providing increased breakdown voltage and other benefits are disclosed.
Switch device with switch circuits that provide high voltage surge protection
Granted: November 3, 2020
Patent Number:
10826488
A switch device includes a common node that is connected to end nodes, such as that of computer interface ports. The switch device includes several switch circuits that can be connected in series to form a switch path between the common node and an end node. A switch circuit can include a main switch, such as a transistor that can be configured to withstand a positive or negative voltage surge by automatically changing the connection of its gate.
Switch mode power supply with ramp generator for wide frequency range pulse width modulator or the like
Granted: November 3, 2020
Patent Number:
10826471
A switch mode power supply includes an error amplifier, an oscillator, a pulse width modulation logic circuit, and an output stage. The oscillator includes a current generator that receives a clock signal and provides a current proportional to a frequency of the clock signal, a current mirror having an input coupled to the output of the current generator, and a first capacitor having a first terminal coupled to an output of the current mirror and providing a ramp signal, and a second…
Self identification and pollution detection in USB Type-C
Granted: October 27, 2020
Patent Number:
10817457
A paddle board includes an electronic marker circuit configured to indicate at least one capability of a cable assembly to a device coupled to the cable assembly and to select the device as one of a source or a sink, the paddle board being powered by the device, a register configured to store at least one variable value associated with at least one of the cable assembly and the paddle board, and a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the paddle board and configured to…
Packaged semiconductor devices with laser grooved wettable flank and methods of manufacture
Granted: October 27, 2020
Patent Number:
10818582
In a general aspect, a method for producing a packaged semiconductor device can include coupling a semiconductor device to a leadframe structure having a signal lead that is electrically coupled with the semiconductor device. The method can also include forming, with a laser, a groove in the signal lead, the groove having a first sidewall and a second sidewall, and applying solder plating to the signal lead, including the first sidewall and the second sidewall of the groove. The method…
Balancer for multiple field effect transistors arranged in a parallel configuration
Granted: September 29, 2020
Patent Number:
10790810
In at least one general aspect, an apparatus can include a first field effect transistor (FET) device and a second FET device. The apparatus can include a characterization circuit coupled to the first FET device and the second FET device where the characterization circuit can be configured to characterize a responsiveness of each of the first FET device and the second FET device. The apparatus can include a balancer configured to produce a modified gate drive signal for the first FET…
Intelligent contact charging devices and methods
Granted: September 29, 2020
Patent Number:
10790689
In a general aspect, a charging apparatus can include a power converter circuit configured to supply, from an input voltage, charging power for charging a battery of an electronic device; and a control circuit configured to determine a charging current limit and a charging voltage of the power converter circuit for charging the battery. Determining the charging current limit and the charging voltage can include: setting the current limit of the power converter circuit to an initial…
Methods and apparatus related to termination regions of a semiconductor device
Granted: August 18, 2020
Patent Number:
10749027
In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a semiconductor region, and a trench defined within the semiconductor region. The trench can have a depth aligned along a vertical axis and have a length aligned along a longitudinal axis orthogonal to the vertical axis. The trench can have a first portion of the length included in a termination region of the semiconductor region and can have a second portion of the length included in an active region of the semiconductor region.
Power supply circuit, method, and portable device
Granted: July 21, 2020
Patent Number:
10720770
The disclosure provides a power supply circuit including an external power source, an ID pin provided in a universal serial bus (USB) port on a printed circuit board (PCB), and an internal power and signal management subsystem. The external power source is configured to power the internal power and signal management subsystem via the ID pin. A power supply method and a portable device are also disclosed.
Battery charge termination voltage reduction
Granted: May 26, 2020
Patent Number:
10666070
This document discusses, among other things, apparatus, systems, and methods to prevent a voltage of a charging battery from exceeding a voltage threshold, including receiving charging information from a battery and controlling an output current of a travel adapter, including adjusting the received battery current information using a load current to prevent the voltage of the battery from exceeding a voltage threshold, and providing output current limit information to the travel adapter…
Battery state of charge tracking, equivalent circuit selection and benchmarking
Granted: May 26, 2020
Patent Number:
10664562
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…
Multiple pulse ignition system control
Granted: April 28, 2020
Patent Number:
10634109
In a general aspect, an ignition circuit can include a control circuit that is coupled with an engine control unit (ECU) to receive a command signal from the ECU. The control circuit can include a multi-pulse generator configured to, in response to the command signal, generate a multi-pulse drive signal. The multi-pulse drive signal can include a first pulse cycle having a first duty cycle, a second pulse cycle having a second duty cycle, and a dwell period during which the multi-pulse…
Power factor correction circuit and method
Granted: April 21, 2020
Patent Number:
10630170
A Power Factor Correction (PFC) circuit includes an oscillator circuit. The oscillator circuit receives a valley detect signal indicating a zero current condition, determines a blanking time according to an operational cycle of the PFC circuit, and determines to initiate the operational cycle according to the valley detect signal and the blanking time. Determining the blanking time includes selecting one of a plurality of predetermined blanking times according to a count of operational…
Semiconductor device and method therefor
Granted: February 11, 2020
Patent Number:
10560027
In one embodiment, a power supply controller, or alternately a semiconductor device having a power supply controller, may have a first circuit configured to form a sense signal that is representative of a signal from an auxiliary winding of a transformer. A feedback circuit may be configured to allow the sense signal to increase in response to a turn-off of the power switch, to subsequently detect a second increase of the sense signal prior to subsequently turning on the power switch,…
Substrate interposer on a leadframe
Granted: January 28, 2020
Patent Number:
10546847
In one general aspect, a device can include a leadframe including at least one of an external input terminal or an external output terminal, an interposer made of an insulating material, and a redistribution layer coupled to the interposer and made of a conductive material. The redistribution layer can include a plurality of traces. The device can also include a semiconductor die disposed between the redistribution layer and the leadframe.
