Method and system for solar panel peak-power transfer using input voltage regulation
Granted: March 4, 2014
Patent Number:
8664920
An apparatus and method for charging a battery includes a battery to be charged, a power delivery path configured for delivering power to the battery, and an integrated switching battery charger configured for charging a battery by delivering output power to the battery via the power delivery path based on input power from an input power source. The integrated switching battery charger includes an output voltage regulation loop and an input voltage regulation loop, both of which are…
Systems and methods for randomizing component mismatch in an ADC
Granted: February 11, 2014
Patent Number:
8648741
Circuits and methods for converting a signal from analog to digital. A random number generator provides a random number to a memory. The memory is preconfigured to include codes of predetermined digital to analog (DAC) configurations that provide the maximum amount of DAC gradient suppression. At least one Flash reference generation DAC (FRGD) has an input coupled to the memory unit and an output providing a reference voltage level for its respective Flash comparator. The Flash…
Method and system for solar panel peak-power transfer using input voltage regulation
Granted: January 14, 2014
Patent Number:
8629658
An apparatus and method for charging a battery. The disclosed apparatus includes a battery to be charged, a power delivery path configured for delivering power to the battery, and an integrated switching battery charger configured for charging a battery by delivering output power to the battery via the power delivery path based on input power from an input power source. In the disclosed apparatus for charging a battery, the integrated switching battery charger includes an output voltage…
Autonomous multi-device event synchronization and sequencing technique eliminating master and slave assignments
Granted: January 7, 2014
Patent Number:
8627132
An apparatus and method for event synchronization. One or more devices that have a plurality of events to be carried out in a scheduled order in time are connected to a single shared time position clock (TPCLK). There are one or more sequencing controllers coupled with the one or more devices and configured to control the timing of high and low states of the shared TPCLK in accordance with the scheduled order. The synchronization among the plurality of events in the scheduled order is…
Circuitry to prevent overvoltage of circuit systems
Granted: December 31, 2013
Patent Number:
8619400
An overvoltage protection method and circuit includes a positive supply input node, an output node, and a negative supply node. The overvoltage protection circuit further includes a first functional circuit configured to turn ON a MOSFET and maintain it in a low resistance state. A second functional circuit is configured to detect an overvoltage and control the gate of the MOSFET to regulate a voltage at the output node. A third functional circuit is configured to provide a startup…
Accuracy of a volt-second clamp in an isolated DC-DC converter
Granted: November 26, 2013
Patent Number:
8593839
A novel system and methodology for providing a volt-second clamp. A DC/DC conversion system configured for producing an output voltage in response to an input voltage has a transformer with a primary winding responsive to the input voltage and a secondary winding for producing the output voltage. The conversion system has a power switch coupled to the primary winding of the transformer and controlled with a converter control signal, such as a PWM control signal. The power switch is…
Bidirectional power converters
Granted: November 26, 2013
Patent Number:
8593115
Circuits and methods for bidirectional power conversion are provided that allow mobile and other devices to generate power suitable to support multiple modes of operation. The bidirectional power converters of the present invention may operate in both step up and step down configurations rather than having a single dedicated conversion function and use many of the same components thereby reducing converter size and complexity.
System and method for charging capacitors using automatic cell balancing
Granted: November 19, 2013
Patent Number:
8587263
A circuit for charging a capacitor block including series-connected capacitive elements has an input node for receiving an input, an output node coupled to the capacitor block, a third capacitive element connectable to the input node and the output node, and first and second switching circuitries coupled to the third capacitive element. A voltage sensor determines a relationship between first voltage at the first capacitive element and second voltage at the second capacitive element to…
Feedback control of a DC/DC power converter
Granted: November 19, 2013
Patent Number:
8587274
A current mode power conversion system and method are described that provide a stable output voltage and a maximum-limited output current to a load. The system comprises: a feedback control linearly operable so as to control the output voltage across the load during constant load conditions, and non-linearly operable so as to control the output voltage across the load during certain detected changes in load conditions above a predetermined threshold so as to speed up the transient…
Balancing temperatures in a multi-phase DC/DC converter
Granted: November 19, 2013
Patent Number:
8587272
A temperature compensation circuit is used in a peak current control multi-phased DC/DC converter. Each phase has a duty cycle needed to generate a regulated output voltage of the converter. The temperature for each phase in the converter is sensed to generate corresponding first signals for all the phases. The first signals are averaged to generate a second signal corresponding to the average temperature of all the phases. For each phase, a third signal is generated corresponding to the…
Providing power to powered device having multiple power supply inputs
Granted: November 12, 2013
Patent Number:
8581438
A system for providing power to a load, having first and second power supply inputs respectively responsive to first and second input signals from first and second power supply sources to supply power to the load. For example, the first power supply input may be configured for supplying the load with power received from a communication link, such as an Ethernet link, and the second power supply input may be configured for supplying the load with power from an auxiliary power source. A…
Simultaneously-sampling single-ended and differential two-input analog-to-digital converter
Granted: November 5, 2013
Patent Number:
8576104
An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) system configured to receive a first and a second analog quantity and to provide a plurality of numerical parameters representative of the first and second analog quantities. The ADC system includes a first, a second, and a third ADC circuit, and a digital interface circuit. The first ADC circuit is configured to provide a first code representative of the first analog quantity and to provide a first analog residue quantity representative of the first…
Isolated flyback converter with efficient light load operation
Granted: October 29, 2013
Patent Number:
8570772
A flyback converter uses primary side sensing to sense the output voltage for regulation feedback. Such sensing requires a predetermined minimum duty cycle even with very light load currents. Therefore, such a minimum duty cycle may create an over-voltage condition. In the flyback phase, after a minimum duty cycle of the power switch at light load currents, a synchronous rectifier turns off approximately when the current through the secondary winding falls to zero to create a…
Circuitry and methodology for driving multiple light emitting devices
Granted: October 15, 2013
Patent Number:
8558760
High efficiency drive circuitry for a group of parallel-connected light emitting devices, in which each device is driven in series by a respective source of bias current. The maximum voltage drop among the group of biased light emitting devices is determined and in response, a control voltage to drive all the light emitting device at the lowest effective voltage for the LED group is produced.
Frequency mixer topology providing high linearity, low noise and high gain
Granted: October 15, 2013
Patent Number:
8558605
Frequency conversion circuitry has an input node for receiving an input signal at a first frequency and an output node for producing an output signal at a second frequency different from the first frequency. A mixer circuit is responsive to the input signal for producing a signal at the second frequency. A step down impedance transformation circuit is coupled between the input node and an input of the mixer circuit for providing input impedance of the mixer circuit lower than impedance…
Measuring cable resistance in system for providing power over communication cable
Granted: October 8, 2013
Patent Number:
8552749
A system for providing power to a powered device over a communication cable has a cable resistance measuring mechanism that determines values of response signals detected in response to supplying each of at least three reference signals over the communication cable, and determines the resistance of a pair of wires in the cable based on these values. The cable resistance measuring mechanism may be configured for determining resistance of an Ethernet cable that delivers power to the…
Bidirectional power converters
Granted: September 17, 2013
Patent Number:
8536840
Circuits and methods for bidirectional power conversion are provided that allow mobile and other devices to generate power suitable to support multiple modes of operation. The bidirectional power converters of the present invention may operate in both step up and step down configurations rather than having a single dedicated conversion function and use many of the same components thereby reducing converter size and complexity. In some embodiments, the converter of the present invention…
Method and system for developing low noise bandgap references
Granted: August 13, 2013
Patent Number:
8508211
Method and system for developing low noise bandgap references. A stacked ?VBE generator is disclosed for generating ?VBE. The stacked ?VBE generator includes an error amplifier configured to generate an output based on an error signal provided by a first stack of the ?VBE generator. The first stack of the ?VBE is coupled to a first sub-circuit and the error amplifier to form a closed loop. The first sub-circuit is coupled to a power supply and ground and configured to provide a source…
Bootstrap transistor circuit
Granted: August 6, 2013
Patent Number:
8502594
A switch circuit is described, where a switch to be controlled is formed of two NMOS transistors having their source terminals connected together and their gate terminals connected together. Their drain terminals are the input and output terminals of the switch. A driver circuit controls a bootstrap circuit that is formed of a latching circuit and a capacitor. When the switch is in an off state, the driver circuit connects the capacitor to a charging voltage source for charging the…
Stacked interposer leadframes
Granted: July 23, 2013
Patent Number:
8492884
A stacked leadframe assembly is disclosed. The stacked leadframe assembly includes a first die having a surface that defines a mounting plane, a first leadframe stacked over and attached to the first die, a second die stacked over and attached to the first leadframe; and a second leadframe stacked over and attached to the second die. The leadframes have die paddles with extended side panels that have attachment surfaces in the mounting plane.
