Driving Multiple Parallel LEDs with Reduced Power Supply Ripple
Granted: October 8, 2009
Application Number:
20090251071
An LED driver is disclosed that drives LEDs connected in parallel. Instead of applying current to all the parallel-connected LEDs at the same time, under control of a common PWM brightness control signal, the application of current to each parallel path is staggered by using staggered brightness control signals. The turning on of the LEDs in the different parallel paths will have the same duty cycle but will be out of phase. This reduces ripple in the power supply by reducing the…
Threshold Evaluation Of EPROM Cells
Granted: October 1, 2009
Application Number:
20090244966
Evaluating an embedded EPROM in a host IC device involves using program circuitry to program/unprogram all of the floating-gate cells of the embedded EPROM, then simultaneously transmitting a predetermined test bias voltage to all of the programmed/unprogrammed floating-gate cells, and then evaluating the output terminals of all of the floating-gate cells using a logic (e.g., wired NOR or NAND) circuit, whereby successful operation of all of the embedded EPROM cells causes the wired…
Ethernet Physical Layer Transceiver with Auto-Ranging Function
Granted: October 1, 2009
Application Number:
20090245120
A method in an Ethernet physical transceiver device for selecting a transmission speed includes resetting a first register and a count value, establishing a link with a remote network device at a first transmission speed, incrementing the first register to a first value, monitoring the link by counting the number of detected false carrier events in the incoming transmission as the count value, and at the expiration of a first time period, comparing the count value of false carrier events…
Stacked LED Controllers
Granted: September 17, 2009
Application Number:
20090230883
A driver for driving a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) is formed of a plurality of LED controllers connected in series between a power supply and a reference voltage. Each controller drives one or more LEDs directly connected to it. Each controller has a voltage input terminal coupled to an output terminal of an adjacent upstream controller, and an output terminal coupled to the voltage input terminal of an adjacent downstream controller. Each controller has a normally-on…
Line Driver With Tuned On-Chip Termination
Granted: August 20, 2009
Application Number:
20090206886
A line driver includes current sources and resistors that form a bridge circuit in which a bridge resistor is connected between an internal node and ground, and a series resistor connected between the internal node and the driver's output node. The internal node is connected to receive a unit current from a first stage transistor, and the output node is connected to receive an amplified current from a second stage transistor that is N times the unit current. The bridge resistor is formed…
NO-TRIM LOW-DROPOUT (LDO) AND SWITCH-MODE VOLTAGE REGULATOR CIRCUIT AND TECHNIQUE
Granted: August 20, 2009
Application Number:
20090206919
An optimized output voltage circuit and technique obtainable without trimming is set forth. A voltage reference circuit and method devoid of trim resistors comprising a high gain amplifier, a plurality of bandgap resistors, and at least a plurality of bipolar devices interconnected across circuitry in a predetermined configuration having emitter areas greater than traditional emitter areas of traditional bipolar devices is set forth.
METHOD OF ACCURATE PREDICTION OF ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD) PERFORMANCE IN MULTI-VOLTAGE ENVIRONMENT
Granted: August 20, 2009
Application Number:
20090210210
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor wafer fabrication and more particularly but not exclusively to predictive, pre-fabrication methodologies for determining inefficiencies in an integrated circuit (IC) design. The present invention, in one or more implementations, provides an effective pre-production methodology for predicting the efficiency and behavior of a designed ESD protective circuit and testing the ESD protective circuit with a simulated IC. The method of the…
LED DRIVER CIRCUITS AND METHODS
Granted: August 6, 2009
Application Number:
20090195180
An LED driver circuit may include dimming circuitry. In particular, the LED driver circuit may include a switching converter, an LED and a switch. The LED may be electrically connected to the switching converter and the switch may be connected in parallel with the LED. The switching converter and/or the switch may be configured to be controlled to achieve dimming of the LED. Current may be supplied to the LED and the switch may be turned on and off to dim the LED. The switching converter…
PULSE WIDTH MODULATION CIRCUITS AND METHODS
Granted: August 6, 2009
Application Number:
20090196337
Noise reducing circuitry may be included in a pulse width modulation circuit. The pulse width modulation circuit may include a comparator adapted to receive an analog signal and a sawtooth signal and to compare such signals to generate a pulse width output. In general, the noise reducing circuitry may include a sawtooth signal generating circuit configured to generate a sawtooth signal including an up ramp and a sawtooth signal including a down ramp. A control circuit may be coupled to…
Controlling Current Through Serial LEDs Using a Low Voltage Transistor When Using a High Voltage Driver
Granted: July 30, 2009
Application Number:
20090189539
Various circuits are described herein where a series transistor used to control current through a string of LEDs, driven by a high voltage, is not subjected to the high voltage when the transistor is turned off pursuant to a PWM signal. To avoid the transistor experiencing the high voltage, the HV regulator is disabled shortly before the transistor is turned off and is enabled shortly after the transistor has turned back on. Control circuits for controlling the regulator and transistor…
Laser Turn-On Accelerator Independent of Bias Control Loop Bandwidth
Granted: July 30, 2009
Application Number:
20090190621
An accelerator circuit is incorporated in a laser diode system for accelerating the turn-on operation of the laser diode independent of the control loop bandwidth of the laser diode system. The accelerator circuit provides a boost current to a compensation capacitor upon laser turn-on which compensation capacitor operates to establish the control loop bandwidth of the laser diode system. The boost current enables the control loop to increase the bias current to the laser diode quickly.…
DUAL-CHANNEL LOAD SWITCH CIRCUITS, DEVICES INCLUDING A DUAL-CHANNEL LOAD SWITCH CIRCUIT AND METHODS OF SWITCHING LOAD CHANNELS
Granted: July 30, 2009
Application Number:
20090189450
A dual-channel load switch circuit may be provided for switching between first and second sources that generate respective input voltages. The circuit may include first and second channels adapted to receive the respective input voltages and to supply respective output voltages to a load element based on the respective input voltages. The first and second channels may each include first and second switching elements and first and second control circuitry. The second channel may include a…
POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR LIGHT EMITTING DIODES
Granted: July 23, 2009
Application Number:
20090184655
A power management system comprising: providing a one pin driver circuit; sourcing a managed current from the one pin driver circuit; and illuminating a light emitting diode by the managed current including reducing the managed current when the light emitting diode is not coupled.
SYSTEM AND METHOD OF IMPROVED PRESSURE CONTROL IN HORIZONTAL DIFFUSION FURNACE SCAVENGER SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING SILICON OXIDE GROWTH
Granted: July 9, 2009
Application Number:
20090176181
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor wafer fabrication and more particularly but not exclusively to advanced process control methodologies for controlling oxide formation using pressure. The present invention, in one or more implementations, includes a pressure stabilization system to dynamically adjust scavenger pressure in a furnace during wafer fabrication in relation to a pressure formation range, value, or one or more pressure indicators in a wafer fabrication…
Data Slicer Reference Generator For Multiple Burst Data Signals
Granted: July 2, 2009
Application Number:
20090168928
A slice level reference generator and method for performing improved data slicing operations when gaps are present in a data stream is disclosed that involves applying a nominal reference signal to the comparator the during signal gaps. In one embodiment, a receiver circuit includes a slice level detector and a comparator that operate in a conventional manner, and control circuitry that utilizes a signal detector and a switch to store a slice level reference signal generated by the slice…
INTEGRATED DEVICE TECHNOLOGY USING A BURIED POWER BUSS FOR MAJOR DEVICE AND CIRCUIT ADVANTAGES
Granted: June 25, 2009
Application Number:
20090159561
A method for providing an improved integrated circuit device is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing active and passive areas in the substrate, providing a plurality of slots in the substrate after providing the active and passive areas, and oxidizing the plurality of slots. The method further comprises providing metal in each of the plurality of slots, providing a dielectric coating over the slots, and providing etched contacts in select areas remote from the location…
Overcurrent Protection Circuit When Setting Current Using a Package Control Pin
Granted: June 11, 2009
Application Number:
20090147425
An overcurrent protection circuit for a current setting circuit is disclosed herein that prevents a user-selectable current from exceeding a current limit when an incorrect current selecting component (or current selecting circuit) is connected to an external control pin of a package by the user, or when the control pin is inadvertently grounded. The protection circuit senses a current (A1*Iset) mirrored from the user-set current (Iset). If the mirrored current is above a threshold, the…
Relay Switch Including an Energy Detection Circuit
Granted: June 4, 2009
Application Number:
20090140579
A semiconductor relay switch having two data ports receiving incoming signals and a power supply terminal receiving a power supply voltage is responsive to a power supply voltage level and an energy level of the incoming signals to open and close its conduction paths. The relay switch is open when a valid power supply level is detected and when there is no supply power on the power supply terminal but a high energy level is detected in the incoming signals. The relay switch is closed to…
Automatic Clock and Data Alignment
Granted: May 28, 2009
Application Number:
20090138742
A circuit is described for automatically adjusting a phase of an input register load clock to be synchronized with transitions of data bits forming an n-bit word. The circuit detects the first transition of a data bit in the n-bit word. The circuit then time-shifts the input clock, to generate a shifted clock, so that a triggering edge of the shifted clock occurs sometime after generation of the transition detect signal, such as in the middle third of a data cycle. Shifting the input…
Compact Frequency Compensation Circuit And Method For A Switching Regulator Using External Zero
Granted: May 21, 2009
Application Number:
20090128110
A compensation circuit in a monolithic switching regulator controller being incorporated in a closed loop feedback system of a switching regulator includes error amplifier having an output terminal with an output impedance and a degeneration resistance terminal coupled to a first terminal of the switching regulator controller. The compensation circuit includes a first resistor and a first capacitor connected in series between the output terminal of the error amplifier and a ground…
