BIDIRECTIONAL SIGNAL CONVERSION
Granted: June 23, 2011
Application Number:
20110149611
An embodiment includes coupling a first intermediate node between a first inductor and a first winding of a transformer to a reference node during a first portion of a first switching cycle, uncoupling the first intermediate node from the reference node and coupling the first intermediate node to a signal-storage element during a second portion of the first switching cycle, coupling a second winding of the transformer between the reference node and a second converter node during the…
BIDIRECTIONAL SIGNAL CONVERSION
Granted: June 23, 2011
Application Number:
20110149609
An embodiment of a controller for a multidirectional signal converter is operable to cause the converter to regulate a first signal at a first converter node, and to have a switch timing that is independent of a direction of power transfer between the first converter node and a second converter node. For example, in an embodiment, such a controller may be part of a bidirectional voltage converter that handles power transfer between two loads. Such a voltage converter may have improved…
METHODS OF FORMING A THERMAL CONDUCTION REGION IN A SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURE AND STRUCTURES RESULTING THEREFROM
Granted: June 16, 2011
Application Number:
20110140232
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 semiconductor layer over a thermal conduction layer, forming an isolation region over the thermal conduction layer, and forming a thermal conduction region in the isolation region.
THERMAL MATCHING IN SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES USING HEAT DISTRIBUTION STRUCTURES
Granted: June 16, 2011
Application Number:
20110141696
Embodiments described herein provide a chip, comprising a first device on a substrate and a second device on the substrate. The chip further comprises a heat distribution structure in thermal proximity to the first device and the second device, wherein the heat distribution structure is thermally isolated and reduces a thermal gradient between the first device and the second device.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELAYING PHASE SHIFT WITHIN A DC/DC CONVERTER
Granted: June 9, 2011
Application Number:
20110133553
A multi-output DC/DC voltage regulator has a master regulator for providing a first output voltage pulse responsive to an input voltage. The master regulator generates a synchronization signal that ramps from a first level up to a second level and discharges back to the first level responsive to the first output voltage pulse. At least one slave regulator provides a second output voltage pulse responsive the input voltage and a delay signal. The at least one slave regulator includes…
CONTROLLER AND DRIVER COMMUNICATION FOR SWITCHING REGULATORS
Granted: June 9, 2011
Application Number:
20110133716
Pulse width modulation (PWM) controllers and output stage driver circuits and related methods of communicating switching regulator mode information. The controller includes circuitry that recognizes intervals when the load driven by the regulator is in a low power mode. Responsive to recognizing the low power mode, the controller generates a PWM mode signal having at least three (3) different levels including at least one intermediate level that is coupled to at least one driver. Based…
CONTROLLER AND DRIVER COMMUNICATION FOR SWITCHING REGULATORS
Granted: June 9, 2011
Application Number:
20110133717
Pulse width modulation (PWM) controllers and output stage driver circuits and related methods of communicating switching regulator mode information. The controller includes circuitry that recognizes intervals when the load driven by the regulator is in a low power mode. Responsive to recognizing the low power mode, the controller generates a PWM mode signal having at least three (3) different levels including at least one intermediate level that is coupled to at least one driver. Based…
STACKED INDUCTOR-ELECTRONIC PACKAGE ASSEMBLY AND TECHNIQUE FOR MANUFACTURING SAME
Granted: June 9, 2011
Application Number:
20110134613
An embodiment of a circuit includes a circuit module and an inductor disposed over and electrically coupled to the module. Disposing the inductor over the module may reduce the area occupied by the circuit as compared to a circuit where the inductor is disposed adjacent to the module, or to a circuit where the inductor is disposed in the module adjacent to other components of the module. Furthermore, disposing the inductor outside of the module may allow one to install or replace the…
CIRCUITS AND METHODS TO PRODUCE A BANDGAP VOLTAGE WITH LOW-DRIFT
Granted: June 2, 2011
Application Number:
20110127987
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a bandgap voltage reference circuit includes a group of X current sources, a plurality of circuit branches, and a plurality of switches. Each of the X current sources (where X?3) produces a corresponding current that is substantially equal to the currents produced by the other current sources within the group. The plurality of circuit branches of the bandgap voltage reference circuit are collectively used to produce a bandgap…
ROTATING GAIN RESISTORS TO PRODUCE A BANDGAP VOLTAGE WITH LOW-DRIFT
Granted: June 2, 2011
Application Number:
20110127988
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a bandgap voltage reference circuit includes a plurality of circuit branches, a plurality of resistors and a plurality of switches. The plurality of switches are used to selectively change over time which of the resistors are connected to be within a first one of the circuit branches and which of the resistors are connected to be within a second one of the circuit branches, to thereby reduce the effects that long term drift of…
PROGRAMMABLE POWER SUPPLY CONTROLLER AND METHODOLOGY FOR AUTOMATIC PHASE ADJUSTMENT OF A PWM OUTPUT SIGNAL
Granted: May 26, 2011
Application Number:
20110121795
A controller and methodology for a power supply are disclosed. The controller includes output channels for providing a pulse width modulation (PWM) voltage signal for driving a load, for example, a microprocessor. Each channel provides a portion of the PWM signal. The controller receives user input information and uses that information to automatically determine window sizes. A window size defines the maximum output current level for a given window. The controller uses feedback signals…
REFERENCE VOLTAGE GENERATORS FOR USE IN DISPLAY APPLICATIONS
Granted: May 26, 2011
Application Number:
20110122056
A multi-reference voltage generator includes an interface controller, a first bank of N m-bit registers and a second bank of N m-bit registers. A first multiplexer has inputs connected to outputs of the first and second bank of registers. An m-bit digital-to-analog (DAC) has an m-bit parallel input connected to an output of the first multiplexer. An analog demultiplexer has an input connected to an analog output of the m-bit DAC. Each voltage storage device in a first group of N voltage…
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING START UP OF A VOLTAGE REGULATOR SYSTEM WITH INDEPENDENT VOLTAGE REGULATION
Granted: May 19, 2011
Application Number:
20110115450
A multichannel voltage regulator includes a plurality of voltage regulator modules for generating a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage and a feedback voltage. Synchronization circuitry controls a release of PWM signals during soft start within each of the plurality of voltage regulator modules. The PWM signals release are synchronized to occur substantially at a same point in time.
MEMORY ARRAY OF FLOATING GATE-BASED NON-VOLATILE MEMORY CELLS
Granted: May 19, 2011
Application Number:
20110116318
A memory array comprises a plurality of memory cells organized in a matrix of rows and columns. Each of the memory cells includes a high voltage access transistor, a floating gate memory transistor electrically connected to the access transistor, and a coupling capacitor electrically connected to the memory transistor. A first set of word lines are each electrically connected to the capacitor in each of the memory cells in a respective row. A second set of word lines are each…
MEMORY ARRAY OF FLOATING GATE-BASED NON-VOLATILE MEMORY CELLS
Granted: May 19, 2011
Application Number:
20110116319
A memory array comprises a plurality of memory cells organized in a matrix of rows and columns. Each of the memory cells includes a high voltage access transistor, a floating gate memory transistor electrically connected to the access transistor, and a coupling capacitor electrically connected to the memory transistor. A first set of word lines are each electrically connected to the capacitor in each of the memory cells in a respective row. A second set of word lines are each…
MEMORY ARRAY OF FLOATING GATE-BASED NON-VOLATILE MEMORY CELLS
Granted: May 19, 2011
Application Number:
20110116324
A memory array comprises a plurality of memory cells organized in a matrix of rows and columns. Each of the memory cells includes a high voltage access transistor, a floating gate memory transistor electrically connected to the access transistor, and a coupling capacitor electrically connected to the memory transistor. A first set of word lines are each electrically connected to the capacitor in each of the memory cells in a respective row. A second set of word lines are each…
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EQUALIZING THE SMALL SIGNAL RESPONSE OF VARIABLE PHASE VOLTAGE REGULATORS
Granted: May 12, 2011
Application Number:
20110109284
A control circuit for a variable phase voltage regulator comprises an error amplifier to generate a difference signal based on a difference between a reference voltage and a signal representative of a voltage at an output node of the variable phase voltage regulator. The control circuit also comprises a variable phase compensator to amplify the difference signal to produce a modified difference signal to compensate for effects of varying the number of active phases in the variable phase…
APPARATUS AND METHODOLOGY FOR MAXIMUM POWER POINT TRACKING FOR A SOLAR PANEL
Granted: May 12, 2011
Application Number:
20110109346
Circuitry and methodology for tracking the maximum power point (MPP) of a solar panel is disclosed. The voltage and current generated by the solar panel are monitored and used to generate a pulse signal for charging a capacitor. The changes in the voltage and current generated by the solar panel are also monitored, and that information is used to generate a pulse signal for discharging the capacitor. The charging and the discharging pulse signals are used to charge and discharge the…
INTEGRATED NON-LINEARITY (INL) AND DIFFERENTIAL NON-LINEARITY (DNL) CORRECTION TECHNIQUES FOR DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERTERS (DACS)
Granted: May 12, 2011
Application Number:
20110109487
INL values are determined for a plurality of sub-segments of a DAC that is adapted to accept N bit digital input codes, and a first set of correction codes that can be used to reduce to a range of INL values (to thereby improve linearity of the DAC) are determined and stored. Additionally, DNL values are determined for the plurality of sub-segments for which INL values were determined, and a second set of correction codes that can be used to ensure that all values of DNL >?1 (to…
LED DRIVER WITH OPEN LOOP DIMMING CONTROL
Granted: May 5, 2011
Application Number:
20110101877
An LED driver with open loop dimming including a full wave rectifier circuit, a DC/DC converter, and an oscillator circuit. The rectifier is configured to receive an input voltage in the form of an AC conductive angle modulated voltage and to provide a rectified voltage. The DC/DC converter converts the rectified voltage to an output voltage and an output current, where the output current has a magnitude which varies proportionately with a square of a quadratic mean of the input voltage.…
