WAY OUT OF BALANCE (WOB) CURRENT CORRECTION FOR USE WITH A MULTI-PHASE DC-DC CONVERTER
Granted: December 16, 2010
Application Number:
20100315051
Provided herein are circuits, systems and methods that monitor for way out of balance (WOB) conditions within a multi-phase DC-DC converter, and adjust a balance between currents through channels of the DC-DC converter, in dependence on detected WOB conditions.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SYNCHRONOUS SWITCH FOR A SYNCHRONOUS CONVERTER
Granted: December 16, 2010
Application Number:
20100315059
An apparatus comprises a synchronous converter for providing a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage, a control PWM signal to a control switch of the synchronous converter and a synchronous PWM signal to a synchronous switch of the synchronous converter. A first circuit generates the control PWM signal and the synchronous PWM signal responsive to a PWM control signal. The first circuit limits a maximum duty cycle of the synchronous PWM signal to a predetermined level.
COMPONENT FAULT DETECTION FOR USE WITH A MULTI-PHASE DC-DC CONVERTER
Granted: December 16, 2010
Application Number:
20100315847
Provided herein are circuits, systems and methods that monitor for a fault within a multi-phase DC-DC converter. This can include monitoring the channels of the DC-DC converter for way out of balance (WOB) conditions, and monitoring for a component fault in dependence on detected WOB conditions. A fault can be detected if, during a predetermined period of time, one of the WOB conditions occurs at least a specified amount of times more than another one of the WOB conditions. The DC-DC…
JUNCTION BARRIER SCHOTTKY DIODE
Granted: December 16, 2010
Application Number:
20100314708
A junction barrier Schottky diode has an N-type well having a surface and a first peak impurity concentration; a P-type anode region in the surface of the well, and having a second peak impurity concentration; an N-type cathode contact region in the surface of the well and laterally spaced from a first wall of the anode region, and having a third peak impurity concentration; and a first N-type region in the surface of the well and laterally spaced from a second wall of the anode region,…
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ORING PHASES TO OVERCOME DUTY CYCLE LIMITATIONS IN A MULTI-PHASE BOOST CONVERTER
Granted: December 2, 2010
Application Number:
20100301826
A multiphase boost converter includes a multiphase PWM controller for generating a plurality of PWM signals. A plurality of boost converters are each associated with a separate phase connected between an input voltage node and an output voltage node and generating an output voltage responsive to an input voltage and the plurality of PWM signals. Phase nodes of each of the plurality of boost converters are ORed to each other.
NEGATIVE CAPACITANCE SYNTHESIS FOR USE WITH DIFFERENTIAL CIRCUITS
Granted: December 2, 2010
Application Number:
20100301940
Provided herein are methods and circuits that reduce a differential capacitance at differential nodes of a differential circuit while boosting the common mode capacitance at the differential nodes, where the differential circuit includes a pair of inputs and differential outputs. A negative capacitance is generated between differential nodes of the differential circuit, which can be accomplished by connecting a negative capacitance circuit between the differential nodes of the…
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CELL BALANCING AND CHARGING
Granted: November 25, 2010
Application Number:
20100295509
An apparatus for charging a plurality of series connected battery cells, includes a first and second input terminals for providing a charging voltage to the plurality of series connected battery cell. A transformer includes a primary side associated with the charging voltage and a secondary side includes a plurality of portions. Each of the plurality of portions is connected across at least one of the plurality of series connected battery cell. A switch in series between each of the…
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CELL BALANCING AND CHARGING
Granted: November 25, 2010
Application Number:
20100295510
An apparatus for charging a plurality of series connected battery cells includes first and second input terminals for providing a charging voltage to the plurality of series connected battery cells. A transformer includes a primary side associated with the charging voltage and a secondary side including a plurality of portions. Each of the plurality of portions connected across at least two of the plurality of series connected battery cells. A first switch in series between each of the…
CAPACITIVE DIVIDER TRANSMISSION SCHEME FOR IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS ISOLATION
Granted: November 11, 2010
Application Number:
20100284452
A communication system comprising a first and second transceiver is provided. The first transceiver has a first and second port coupled to a communication medium, wherein a first differential capacitor couples the first and second ports together. The second transceiver has a third and fourth port each AC coupled to the communication medium, wherein a second differential capacitor couples the third and fourth ports together.
CONTROL MODE FOR ZVS CONVERTER AT RESONANT OPERATING FREQUENCIES
Granted: November 11, 2010
Application Number:
20100284203
A zero volt switching voltage converter comprises a switching network including a plurality of switches for generating control signals responsive to an input voltage source and switching control signals. Circuitry generates a regulated output voltage responsive to the control current. Control circuitry generates the switching control signals wherein the switching control signals operate the plurality of switches at a resonant frequency of the zero volt switching voltage converter.
CONTROLLER AND DRIVER COMMUNICATION FOR SWITCHING REGULATORS
Granted: November 11, 2010
Application Number:
20100283523
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…
LONG RANGE PROXIMITY AND/OR MOTION DETECTOR WITH AMBIENT LIGHT DETECTION CAPABILITIES
Granted: November 4, 2010
Application Number:
20100277075
Provided herein are optical sensor systems that can be used for ambient light detection, proximity detection and motion detection, as well as to larger systems that include such an optical sensor system, and to related methods. In an embodiment, the optical sensor system includes a front end, an ambient light channel, a proximity channel and a motion channel. In an embodiment, offset and gain of the proximity channel is adjusted based on motion detected by the motion channel.
METHOD FOR ACCURACY IMPROVEMENT ALLOWING CHIP-BY-CHIP MEASUREMENT CORRECTION
Granted: November 4, 2010
Application Number:
20100281320
A method for allowing measurement corrections on a chip-by-chip basis. Error correction values are generated responsive to the input value to a circuit of the calibrated integrated circuit chip and to a measured value from the circuit of the calibrated integrated circuit chip. The error correction values are stored within an error correction table within a nonvolatile memory of the integrated circuit chip.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING OUTPUT VOLTAGE LEVEL INFORMATION FROM PHASE VOLTAGE FOR SWITCHED MODE REGULATOR CONTROLLERS
Granted: October 28, 2010
Application Number:
20100270995
A controller integrated circuit for a switched mode regulator which converts an input voltage to an output voltage. The controller includes a phase pin, a modulation circuit and a filter. The modulation circuit is configured to regulate the output voltage using the input voltage and output voltage level information. The filter has an input coupled to the phase pin and an output providing the output voltage level information which approximates the output voltage based on phase pin…
POWER-SUPPLY CONTROLLER
Granted: October 21, 2010
Application Number:
20100264895
An embodiment of a power-supply controller includes a signal combiner and a control circuit. The signal combiner is operable to generate a combined feedback signal from sense and output feedback signals that are respectively derived from a sense signal and a regulated output signal, and the signal combiner is operable to receive the sense signal from a sense circuit that is operable to generate the sense signal while a current is flowing through an inductor and while a switch that is…
OPTICAL SENSORS THAT REDUCE SPECTRAL REFLECTIONS
Granted: October 14, 2010
Application Number:
20100258710
An optical sensor device, according to an embodiment of the present invention, includes a light source and a light detector. The light source includes one or more light emitting elements, and the light detector includes one or more light detecting elements. A first opaque light barrier portion, between the light source and the light detector, is configured to block light from being transmitted directly from the light source to the light detector. A second opaque light barrier portion,…
OPTICAL SENSORS THAT REDUCE SPECTRAL REFLECTIONS
Granted: October 14, 2010
Application Number:
20100258712
An optical sensor device comprises a light source, a light detector, and an opaque light barrier including a first portion to block light from being transmitted directly from the source to the detector. A second portion of the light barrier extends from the first portion in a direction towards the light source, such that a portion of the second portion covers at least a portion of light emitting element(s) of the source, to reduce an amount of specular reflections, if a light…
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT PIN AS BOTH A CURRENT LIMITING INPUT AND AN OPEN-DRAIN OUTPUT
Granted: October 14, 2010
Application Number:
20100259279
An integrated circuit comprises at least one pin and has at least one resistor connected between a reference voltage and the at least one pin. Current measurement circuitry applies a voltage across the at least one resistor and measures a current at the at least one pin responsive to the applied voltage in a first mode of operation. The measured current enables determination of a current limit set point for the integrated circuit. In a second mode of operation, the at least one resistor…
OPTICAL SENSORS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING OPTICAL SENSORS
Granted: October 14, 2010
Application Number:
20100259766
Provided herein are optical sensor devices, methods for making the same, and systems including the same. An optical sensor device, according to an embodiment, includes a light detector die and a light source die attached to the same or different die attachment substrates so that there is a space between the light source die and the light detector die. A light transmissive material covers the light detector die, the light source die and at least a portion of the space between the light…
ACTIVE AREA BONDING COMPATIBLE HIGH CURRENT STRUCTURES
Granted: October 14, 2010
Application Number:
20100261344
A method of forming a semiconductor structure is provided. One method comprises forming a device region between a substrate and a bond pad. Patterning a conductor between the bond pad and the device region with gaps. Filling the gaps with insulation material that is harder than the conductor to form pillars of relatively hard material that extend through the conductor and forming an insulation layer of the insulation material between the conductor and the bond pad.
