Solder flow-impeding plug on a lead frame
Granted: April 18, 2017
Patent Number:
9627297
Embodiments described herein relate to a packaged component including a lead frame and a non-conductive plug disposed between two or more adjacent sections of the lead frame. The plug is composed of a non-conductive material functions to impede the flow of solder along edges of the two or more adjacent sections during second level solder reflow events that occur after encapsulation of the packaged component. The plug includes a main portion disposed within a space between the two or more…
Hysteretic current mode buck-boost control architecture
Granted: April 4, 2017
Patent Number:
9614380
A hysteretic current mode buck-boost voltage regulator including a buck-boost voltage converter, a switching controller, a window circuit, a ramp circuit, and a timing circuit. The timing circuit may be additional ramp circuits. The voltage converter is toggled between first and second switching states during a boost mode, is toggled between third and fourth switching states during a buck mode, and is sequentially cycled through each switching state during a buck-boost mode. The ramp…
Packaged circuit with a lead frame and laminate substrate
Granted: April 4, 2017
Patent Number:
9613889
Embodiments of the subject application provide for a circuit comprising: a lead frame having a first plurality of exposed terminals, the lead frame defining a plane; a laminate substrate in the plane defined by the lead frame, adjacent to the lead frame, and electrically coupled to the lead frame, the laminate substrate having a first surface including a second plurality of exposed terminals and a second surface opposite the first surface; a first one or more dies mounted on the lead…
Systems and methods for video content analysis
Granted: March 28, 2017
Patent Number:
9609348
Video analytics systems and methods are described that typically comprise a video encoder operable to generate macroblock video analytics metadata (VAMD) from a video frame. Functional modules receive the VAMD and an encoded version of the video frame is configured to generate video analytics information related to the frame using the VAMD and the encoded video frame. The downstream decoder can use the VAMD to obtain a global motion vector related to the frame, detect and track motion of…
Stacked inductor-electronic package assembly and technique for manufacturing same
Granted: March 28, 2017
Patent Number:
9607917
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…
Mixed format media transmission systems and methods
Granted: March 21, 2017
Patent Number:
9602784
Systems and methods for operating cameras are described. An image signal received from an image sensor can be processed as a plurality of video signals representative of the image signal. An encoder may combine baseband and digital video signals in an output signal for transmission over a cable. The video signals may include substantially isochronous baseband and digital video signals. The baseband video signal can comprise a standard definition analog video signal and the digital video…
Sensing a phase-path current in a coupled-inductor power supply
Granted: March 21, 2017
Patent Number:
9602005
An embodiment of a power supply includes an output node, inductively coupled phase paths, and a sensor circuit. The output node is configured to provide a regulated output signal, and the inductively coupled phase paths are each configured to provide a respective phase current to the output node. And the sensor circuit is configured to generate a sense signal that represents the phase current flowing through one of the phase paths. For example, because the phase paths are inductively…
Enhanced peak current-mode pulse-width-modulated (PWM) switching regulators
Granted: March 21, 2017
Patent Number:
9600063
A system, switching regulators, and methods of control for enhanced peak current-mode PWM switching regulators are disclosed. For example, a switching regulator is disclosed, which includes a master controller circuit and a slave controller circuit coupled to the master controller circuit, wherein the slave controller circuit is configured to generate a ripple current at a first ripple node, and a sensor circuit is configured to sense the ripple current at the first ripple node and…
High-side sensing of zero inductor current for step-down DC-DC converter
Granted: March 7, 2017
Patent Number:
RE46333
A DC to DC converter circuit includes circuitry for generating a PWM waveform signal at a phase node of a DC to DC converter responsive to an input voltage and a monitor monitored output voltage. The circuitry further includes a high side switching transistor connected between the input voltage and a phase node and a low side switching transistor connected between the phase node and ground. An output filter is connected to the circuitry for generating the PWM waveform signal. The output…
Methods for fabricating a plurality of optoelectronic devices from a wafer that includes a plurality of light detector sensor areas
Granted: February 14, 2017
Patent Number:
9570649
Optoelectronic devices (e.g., optical proximity sensors), methods for fabricating optoelectronic devices, and systems including optoelectronic devices, are described herein. An optoelectronic device includes a light detector die that includes a light detector sensor area. A light source die is attached to a portion of the light detector die that does not include the light detector sensor area. An opaque barrier is formed between the light detector sensor area and the light source die,…
Wafer level optical proximity sensors and systems including wafer level optical proximity sensors
Granted: February 14, 2017
Patent Number:
9570648
Optoelectronic devices (e.g., optical proximity sensors), methods for fabricating optoelectronic devices, and systems including optoelectronic devices, are described herein. An optoelectronic device includes a light detector die that includes a light detector sensor area. A light source die is attached to a portion of the light detector die that does not include the light detector sensor area. An opaque barrier is formed between the light detector sensor area and the light source die,…
Charging system with adaptive power management
Granted: February 7, 2017
Patent Number:
9564772
An embodiment of a charger may include an input, at least one switch having a first node coupled to a reference voltage, a current sensor coupled between the input and a second node of the at least one switch, an output coupled to a third node of the at least one switch, and a charge controller coupled to the input to determine an input voltage, to the current sensor to determine an input current and to control inputs of the at least one switch. The at least one switch may be responsive…
Audio frequency deadband system and method for switch mode regulators operating in discontinuous conduction mode
Granted: January 17, 2017
Patent Number:
9548659
A controller for controlling operation of a switching regulator including a modulator, a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) controller, an audible DCM (ADCM) controller, and a sub-sonic discontinuous conduction mode (SBDCM) controller. The modulator generally operates in a continuous conduction mode. The DCM controller modifies operation to DCM during low loads. The ADCM controller detects when the switching frequency is less than a super-sonic frequency threshold and modifies operation…
Body contact layouts for semiconductor structures
Granted: January 3, 2017
Patent Number:
9536952
Body contact layouts for semiconductor structures are disclosed. In at least one exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor structure comprises: a plurality of gates disposed on a semiconductor layer, each gate extending parallel to a y-axis in a coordinate space; a source region disposed between two of the plurality of gates; a plurality of body contacts disposed in each source region; and wherein a portion of each source region, adjacent to the gate, has a width extending parallel to the…
Lead frame having a perimeter recess within periphery of component terminal
Granted: January 3, 2017
Patent Number:
9536852
Embodiments described herein relate to a packaged circuit including a lead frame having at least one recess pattern on an internal surface thereof. The at least one recess pattern includes a perimeter recess that defines a perimeter around one or more raised surfaces. The packaged circuit also includes a component having one or more terminals. One of the terminals is mounted to the one or more raised surfaces such that the terminal covers the perimeter recess, wherein the perimeter…
Back-to-back stacked dies
Granted: December 20, 2016
Patent Number:
9524957
Embodiments disclosed herein provide for a circuit including first die having an active side and a backside, wherein the first die is flip-chip mounted to a carrier. The circuit also includes a second die stacked on the backside of the first die, wherein the second die is stacked on the first die such that a backside of the second die is facing the backside of the first die and an active side of the second die faces away from the first die.
Current pulse count control in a voltage regulator
Granted: December 6, 2016
Patent Number:
9515556
A method of regulating voltage with a switching regulator is disclosed. The method includes sensing an output voltage provided by the regulator. If the output voltage drops below a low voltage threshold, a burst of one or more current pulses is provided. If the output voltage raises above a high voltage threshold during the burst, discontinuing the burst of current pulses. The method includes counting a number of the one or more current pulses in the burst, and comparing the number of…
Scanning projectors that use guard bands to reduce color shifts, and methods and controllers for use therewith
Granted: November 22, 2016
Patent Number:
9503701
A scanning projector system includes a controller, a driver and one or more micro-mirror(s). The controller produces first, second and third pixel data in dependence on a video signal. The driver drives first, second and third light emitting elements in dependence on the first, second and third pixel data produced by the controller, to thereby emit light of first, second and third colors. The micro-mirror(s) project an image in dependence on light beams produced in dependence on the…
Adjusting a current threshold of a power supply such that an output ripple voltage is within a set range
Granted: November 22, 2016
Patent Number:
9502974
In an embodiment, a power-supply controller includes switching circuitry and an adjuster circuit. The switching circuitry is configured to cause a charging current to flow until the charging current has a predetermined relationship to a threshold, and to cause a discharging current to flow to an output node that carries an output voltage after the charging current. And the adjuster circuit is configured to adjust the threshold such that a ripple voltage superimposed on the output voltage…
LED driver with adaptive dynamic headroom voltage control
Granted: November 8, 2016
Patent Number:
9491822
A multi-channel LED driver includes a plurality of linear current regulators, each connected to a bottom of a string of series connected LEDs of a multi-channel LED that controls a bias current and the string of series connected LEDs responsive to an LED bias reference voltage. A dynamic headroom regulation voltage control circuit monitors the headroom regulation voltage at the bottom of each string of the series connected LEDs in the multi-channel LED and generates a reference voltage…
