ISOLATED EPITAXIAL MODULATION DEVICE
Granted: February 23, 2012
Application Number:
20120044732
An isolated epitaxial modulation device comprises a substrate; a barrier structure formed on the substrate; an isolated epitaxial region formed above the substrate and electrically isolated from the substrate by the barrier structure; a semiconductor device, the semiconductor device located in the isolated epitaxial region; and a modulation network formed on the substrate and electrically coupled to the semiconductor device. The device also comprises a bond pad and a ground pad. The…
PARTIAL POWER MICRO-CONVERTER ARCHITECTURE
Granted: February 9, 2012
Application Number:
20120033466
A system and method for reducing the amount of power processed in a power converter during power generation is provided. In one aspect, the system includes a partial power converter connected between a set of power sources and a load. The partial power converter includes a primary power converter coupled to a first power source and a set of auxiliary power converters coupled to the remaining power sources. Moreover, the secondary power converters only process current that is necessary to…
REDUCING SHOOT-THROUGH IN A SWITCHING VOLTAGE REGULATOR
Granted: February 9, 2012
Application Number:
20120032657
Methods, apparatuses, and devices for a voltage regulator are provided. In certain examples, a method for preventing shoot-through in a voltage regulator includes determining whether an output stage for a voltage regulator is operating in a continuous-conduction mode (CCM) or a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM); and setting the voltage regulator in one of adaptive dead time mode and programmable dead time mode based on whether the output stage is operating in CCM or DCM.
MULTIPHASE DC-DC CONVERTER USING ZERO VOLTAGE SWITCHING
Granted: January 19, 2012
Application Number:
20120013313
A multiphase DC-DC converter including at least one conversion path, multiple switch capacitance networks, and a multiphase switch controller. Each conversion path includes first and second intermediate nodes. Each switch capacitance network includes a capacitance coupled in parallel with an electronic switch and is coupled to one of the intermediate nodes. The switch controller controls the switch capacitance networks using zero voltage switching. Multiple phases may be implemented as…
PROTECTING BOND PAD FOR SUBSEQUENT PROCESSING
Granted: January 12, 2012
Application Number:
20120007199
A method for opening a bond pad on a semiconductor device is provided. The method comprises removing a first layer to expose a first portion of the bond pad and forming a protective layer over the exposed first portion of the bond pad. The method further comprises performing subsequent processing of the semiconductor device and removing the protective layer to expose a second portion of the bond pad.
ASYMMETRIC ZERO-VOLTAGE SWITCHING FULL-BRIDGE POWER CONVERTERS
Granted: January 12, 2012
Application Number:
20120008359
Disclosed are full-bridge power converters providing DC output power at increased conversion efficiencies, and methods of operating full-bridge power converters providing DC output power at increased conversion efficiencies. In disclosed embodiments, the switches of the full-bridge are operated to reduce conduction losses and to provide for zero-voltage switching.
SCHOTTKY DIODE WITH COMBINED FIELD PLATE AND GUARD RING
Granted: January 12, 2012
Application Number:
20120007097
A Schottky diode comprising a merged guard ring and field plate defining a Schottky contact region is provided. A Schottky metal is formed over at least partially over the Schottky contact region and at least partially over the merged guard ring and field plate.
CLASS AB OUTPUT STAGES AND AMPLIFIERS INCLUDING CLASS AB OUTPUT STAGES
Granted: December 15, 2011
Application Number:
20110304393
A buffer stage includes a flipped voltage follower and an emitter follower. The flipped voltage follower is connected between a high voltage rail and a low voltage rail and include an input and an output. The emitter follower is also connected between the high voltage rail and the low voltage rail and includes an input and an output. A resistor connects the output of the flipped voltage follower to the output of the emitter follower. The input of the flipped voltage follower and the…
DIFFERENTIAL DRIVER WITH COMMON MODE VOLTAGE TRACKING AND METHOD
Granted: December 8, 2011
Application Number:
20110299577
In a transceiver, a transmitter circuit is provided substantially the same common-mode voltage regardless of whether the transceiver is in a transmitting or receiving mode. In one embodiment, the transmitter circuit includes a driver circuit which, in the transmission mode of the transceiver, drives an output differential signal, and which, in the receiving mode of the transceiver, provides a termination circuit for an input differential signal. A variable resistor is provided to connect…
I2C ADDRESS TRANSLATION
Granted: December 8, 2011
Application Number:
20110302344
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, devices and methods for translating I2C addresses. In accordance with an embodiment, a method for translating an I2C address includes receiving an original I2C address from a first I2C compatible device via an I2C-bus to which the first I2C compatible device is connected. The method also includes translating the original I2C address to a translated I2C address, and outputting the translated I2C address to a second I2C compatible…
TESTER HAVING DEVICE UNDER TEST POWER SUPPLY
Granted: December 8, 2011
Application Number:
20110298483
A tester includes a device under test (DUT) power supply (DPS) with and input and output includes an amplifier configured to set an output voltage of the DPS output equal to an input voltage for the DPS. The DPS has a first output stage coupled to the amplifier and configured to source and sink current at the output of the DPS between a first voltage rail and a third voltage rail. The DPS has a second output stage coupled to the amplifier and configured to source and sink current to the…
DEVICES WITH ADJUSTABLE DUAL-POLARITY TRIGGER-AND HOLDING-VOTAGE/CURRENT FOR HIGH LEVEL OF ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE PROTECTION IN SUB-MICRON MIXED SIGNAL CMOS/BICMOS INTEGRATED
Granted: November 24, 2011
Application Number:
20110284922
Symmetrical/asymmetrical bidirectional S-shaped I-V characteristics with trigger voltages ranging from 10 V to over 40 V and relatively high holding current are obtained for advanced sub-micron silicided CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor)/BiCMOS (Bipolar CMOS) technologies by custom implementation of P1-N2-P2-N1//N1-P3-N3-P1 lateral structures with embedded ballast resistance 58, 58A, 56, 56A and periphery guard-ring isolation 88-86. The bidirectional protection devices…
DC/DC POWER CONVERTER HAVING ACTIVE SELF DRIVING SYNCHRONOUS RECTIFICATION
Granted: November 24, 2011
Application Number:
20110286245
A DC/DC voltage converter includes a transformer having a primary side and a secondary side. Primary side circuitry is connected to the primary side and includes a first pair of switching transistors controlled responsive to first control signals from the primary side of the transformer and receiving an input voltage. Secondary side circuitry is connected to the secondary side and includes a second pair of switching transistors controlled responsive to second control signals from the…
METHOD OF FORMING AN INSULATOR LAYER IN A SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURE AND STRUCTURES RESULTING THEREFROM
Granted: November 10, 2011
Application Number:
20110272756
An electronic system, method of manufacture of a semiconductor structure, and one or more semiconductor structures are disclosed. For example, a method of manufacture of a semiconductor structure is disclosed, which includes forming a first semiconductor substructure over a semiconductor substrate, forming a first spacer layer over the first semiconductor substructure and the semiconductor substrate, and forming a second semiconductor substructure over at least a portion of the first…
VOLTAGE LEVEL SHIFTING WITH REDUCED POWER CONSUMPTION
Granted: November 10, 2011
Application Number:
20110273430
In an embodiment, a voltage level shifter circuit includes a first terminal configured to be connected to a high voltage supply rail (Vs+), a second terminal configured to be connected to a low voltage supply rail (Vs?), and an output voltage (VOUT) terminal. The voltage level shifter can also include a compensation voltage (VCOMP) node. Additionally, the voltage level shifter includes a plurality of switches configurable in a plurality of configurations, and control circuitry configured…
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTION AND COMPENSATION OF AGGRESSIVE OUTPUT FILTERS FOR SWITCHED MODE POWER SUPPLIES
Granted: October 27, 2011
Application Number:
20110260703
A controller for a switched mode power supply converting an input voltage to a regulated output voltage according to one embodiment includes a control network and a detection network. The control network develops a pulse width control signal for regulating a level of the output voltage. The detection network detects a phase lag of the output voltage and adjusts operation of the control network based on the phase lag. The phase lag may be determined from any parameter incorporating phase…
Systems and Methods for Improving Antenna Isolation Using Signal Cancellation
Granted: October 20, 2011
Application Number:
20110256857
Interference compensation circuits can isolate a victim antenna from an aggressor antenna, which causes the antennas to appear as being spaced further apart. The interference compensation circuit can obtain samples of signals generated by a transmitter for transmission by the aggressor antenna and process the samples to generate an interference compensation signal. The generated interference compensation signal can be applied to a signal path between the victim antenna and a receiver to…
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE WITH CONDUCTIVE TRENCHES TO CONTROL ELECTRIC FIELD
Granted: October 13, 2011
Application Number:
20110249134
An imaging system, semiconductor device, and method of manufacture of a photo-detector device are disclosed. For example, an imaging system is disclosed, which includes a photo-detector unit including a plurality of conductive trenches formed within the photo-detector unit, and a plurality of electrical contacts, each electrical contact connected to a respective conductive trench. The imaging system further includes a light data processor unit coupled to an output of the photo-detector…
MULTI-PHASE NON-INVERTING BUCK BOOST VOLTAGE CONVERTER
Granted: October 6, 2011
Application Number:
20110241636
A multi-phase non-inverting buck boost voltage converter has a plurality of buck boost voltage regulators. Each regulator is associated with a separate phase for generating a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage. A plurality of current sensors are each associated with one of the plurality of buck boost voltage regulators for monitoring an input current to the associated buck boost voltage regulator and generating a current sense signal for the associated phase. A…
COUPLING TOLERANT PRECISION CURRENT REFERENCE WITH HIGH PSRR
Granted: October 6, 2011
Application Number:
20110241734
Embodiments of the present invention are related to circuits and methods for generating a reference current (Idc). In an embodiment, a voltage-to-current converter circuit is used to generate the reference current (Idc) in dependence on a reference voltage (Vref) and a precision resistor (R0), wherein Idc=Vref/R0. A capacitor (C0) is used to shunt noise that couples into the voltage-to-current converter. A frequency dependent feedback network is used to compensate for instabilities…
