Reduced-noise reference voltage platform for a voltage converter device
Granted: October 25, 2016
Patent Number:
9478442
An electronic system, a reduced-noise reference voltage platform for a voltage converter device, and a method of manufacture of a reduced-noise reference voltage platform for a voltage converter device are disclosed. For example, the reduced-noise reference voltage (e.g., ground) platform includes a first conductor unit, a second conductor unit, and an insulator unit interposed between a first surface of the first conductor unit and a first surface of the second conductor unit. The…
I2C address translation
Granted: October 25, 2016
Patent Number:
9477634
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…
System, circuit and method for converting a differential voltage signal including a high common mode voltage component to a ground referenced signal for battery voltage managment
Granted: August 16, 2016
Patent Number:
9419644
A system, circuit and method for converting a differential voltage signal including a high common mode voltage component to a ground referenced signal are disclosed. For example, a circuit for converting a differential voltage signal including a high common mode voltage component to a ground referenced signal is disclosed. The circuit includes a comparator configured to receive a differential voltage signal including a high common mode voltage component, and output a digital signal…
Current synthesizer correction
Granted: August 16, 2016
Patent Number:
9419627
An adjustable current-synthesizer may generate synthesized current representative of an actual current, according to a model of a circuit that produces the actual current. The current synthesizer may under-sample a current sense signal derived from the actual current to obtain a few samples of the actual current, which are then used to adjust the synthesized current, thereby ensuring accuracy of the synthesized current. Sample values of the actual current are compared with corresponding…
Injection locked phasing for a peak-valley multiphase regulator
Granted: July 26, 2016
Patent Number:
9401639
A system and method capable of injection locking the phases of a peak-valley multiphase regulator includes comparing an output voltage error signal with a ramp control signal and providing a corresponding slope reset signal, using transitions of the slope reset signal to develop a equally spaced high side ramp signals and equally spaced low side ramp signals, and injecting a corresponding one of the high side signals and a corresponding one of the low side ramp signals into each of the…
System and method for cell balancing and charging using a serially coupled inductor and capacitor
Granted: July 19, 2016
Patent Number:
9397508
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…
Fast recovery scheme of transconductance gain for folded cascode amplifier
Granted: July 5, 2016
Patent Number:
9385658
A folded cascode amplifier (FCA) including cascode stages coupled in a stacked cascode configuration, an input stage, and a switch circuit. The stages may include first and second P-type stages and first and second N-type stages, in which the first N-type stage and the input stage receive first and second bias voltages, respectively. The switch circuit couples a first cascode bias voltage to the second P-type stage and couples a second cascode bias voltage to the first N-type stage in a…
Semiconductor structures for enhanced transient response in low dropout (LDO) voltage regulators
Granted: July 5, 2016
Patent Number:
9383618
Systems, semiconductor structures, electronic circuits and methods for enhanced transient response in Low Dropout (LDO) voltage regulators are disclosed. For example, a semiconductor structure for enhanced transient response in an LDO voltage regulator is disclosed, which includes a first current mirror circuit coupled to an input connection and an output connection of the LDO voltage regulator, a second current mirror circuit coupled to the input connection of the LDO voltage regulator.…
Hysteretic controlled buck-boost converter
Granted: June 28, 2016
Patent Number:
RE46045
An apparatus includes a buck boost converter for generating a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage. The buck boost converter includes an inductor, a first pair of switching transistors responsive to a first PWM signal and a second pair of switching transistors responsive to a second PWM signal. An error amplifier generates an error voltage responsive to the regulated output voltage and a reference voltage. A control circuit generates the first PWM signal and the second…
Advanced clock synchronization circuit
Granted: June 7, 2016
Patent Number:
9362927
A circuit and method for switching between a system's internal clock and an external synchronization clock when a stable external clock has been detected, and for switching back to operating the system using said internal clock when a predetermined number of sequential external clock pulses exceed a predetermined switching period dropout threshold or are otherwise missing.
Current mode control modulator with combined control signals and improved dynamic range
Granted: May 17, 2016
Patent Number:
9342086
A modulator for controlling a switch circuit of a voltage regulator, including a sense circuit that provides a current sense signal indicative of current through the output inductor, a ramp circuit that develops a ramp voltage on a ramp node using the current sense signal, an error circuit that develops an error signal indicative of output voltage error and that injects the error signal into the ramp node to adjust the ramp voltage, a comparator circuit that compares the ramp voltage…
PWM/PFM controller for use with switched-mode power supply
Granted: May 10, 2016
Patent Number:
9337726
A controller, for use with an SMPS DC-DC converter, includes a PWM/PFM generator and a switch driver. The PWM/PFM generator simultaneously generates CTRLPWM and CTRLPFM signals in dependence on a CTRL signal. The switch driver generates a drive signal in dependence on both the CTRLPWM and CTRLPFM signals. The drive signal is used to control a power switch of the DC-DC converter. The CTRL signal is generated in dependence on a feedback signal indicative of an output voltage or current of…
Current limiting scheme for a converter
Granted: April 12, 2016
Patent Number:
9312772
A modulator configured to control switching of current through an inductor of a converter according to a current limiting scheme while converting an input voltage to an output voltage, which includes a current limit generator and a comparator network. The current limit generator is configured to provide a periodic ramping current limit value based on either the input voltage or the output voltage, an inductance of the inductor, a timing signal, and a predetermined maximum output current…
Wafer Level optoelectronic device packages and methods for making the same
Granted: April 5, 2016
Patent Number:
9305967
Described herein are methods for fabricating a plurality of optoelectronic devices, and the optoelectronic devices resulting from such methods. One such method includes performing through silicon via (TSV) processing on a wafer, which includes a plurality of light detector sensor regions, to thereby form a plurality of vias, and then tenting and plating the vias and performing wafer back metallization. Thereafter, plurality of light source dies are attached to a top surface of the wafer,…
System and method of dynamic droop for switched mode regulators
Granted: March 29, 2016
Patent Number:
9300202
A regulator system with dynamic droop including a regulator control network which is adapted to control regulation of an output voltage to a reference level, a DC droop network which provides a droop signal to modify the reference level based on output load according to a predetermined DC load line, and a dynamic droop network which adjusts the droop signal to delay recovery to the predetermined DC load line within an AC load line tolerance in response to a load transient. A transient…
System and method for providing a full fail-safe capability in signal transmission networks
Granted: March 1, 2016
Patent Number:
9276779
Systems and methods for providing a full fail-safe capability in signal transmission networks are disclosed. For example, a system for providing a full fail-safe capability in signal transmission networks includes at least a first electronic circuit to transmit and receive signals or data, at least one driver unit coupled to the at least a first electronic circuit, and at least one receiver unit coupled to the at least a first electronic circuit and the at least one driver unit. The at…
Current-responsive active rectification for a power supply operable in a discontinuous mode
Granted: February 16, 2016
Patent Number:
9263963
An embodiment is an apparatus that includes an energy-storage circuit and a rectifying circuit. The energy-storage circuit is configured to generate a current that flows in a direction, and the rectifying circuit is configured to substantially block the current from flowing in a reverse direction in response to the current. Such an apparatus may be configured to block a reverse current before it begins to flow. For example, such an apparatus may include a transistor disposed in the path…
Systems and methods for forming isolated devices in a handle wafer
Granted: February 9, 2016
Patent Number:
9257525
A method for through active-silicon via integration is provided. The method comprises forming an electrical device in a handle wafer. The method also comprises forming an isolation layer over the handle wafer and the electrical device and joining an active layer to the isolation layer. Further, the method comprises forming at least one trench through the active layer and the isolation layer to expose a portion of the handle wafer and depositing an electrically conductive material in the…
Mixed format media transmission systems and methods
Granted: February 9, 2016
Patent Number:
9258624
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…
Internal compensation for power management integrated circuits
Granted: February 9, 2016
Patent Number:
9257906
A voltage regulator integrated circuit comprises a control circuit driving at least one power switch to provide a regulated voltage at an output of an inductor/capacitor (LC) circuit coupled to the at least one power switch; an error amplifier having a first input coupled to a feedback signal representative of the regulated output voltage and a second input coupled to a reference signal; and a compensation network coupled to an output of the error amplifier and configured to provide a…
