Power saving method in an integrated circuit programming and control circuit
Granted: July 17, 2007
Patent Number:
7245148
A circuit in an integrated circuit having an input terminal to be coupled to a resistor network for selecting one of multiple digital states in the integrated circuit includes a voltage decode circuit, a control circuit and a power-up control circuit. The first input terminal receives an input voltage having a voltage value associated with the multiple digital states. The voltage decode circuit receives the input voltage and generates a voltage decode signal indicative of the voltage…
Pulse frequency modulated voltage regulator with linear regulator control
Granted: June 12, 2007
Patent Number:
7230408
A PFM-type voltage regulator circuit converts an unregulated input voltage into a regulated output voltage using a first transistor controlled by a pulse control circuit and a second transistor controlled by a linear regulator circuit. The linear regulator circuit controls the second transistor when the regulated output voltage falls to a predetermined minimum target voltage level, thereby maintaining the regulated output voltage at the minimum target voltage level. The pulse control…
Propagation delay characteristic comparator circuit
Granted: June 5, 2007
Patent Number:
7227388
A comparator circuit having improved operational characteristics. A predetermined voltage drop device is provided, such as an exemplary embodiment Schottky diode, having an anode connected to circuit power supply voltage and an output stage of the comparator and a cathode connected to an input stage of the comparator. The predetermined voltage drop device effects a lowering of the power supply voltage for the output stage bias between said power supply voltage and said common voltage.…
Apparatus and method for encoding signals
Granted: May 29, 2007
Patent Number:
7224727
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for encoding and/or decoding signals. The encoding apparatus includes a variable impedance being coupled with an encoder. The variable impedance establishes a select voltage at the encoder. The encoder is further coupled with an input signal, wherein the encoder generates a modulated output as dictated by the select voltage. The decoding apparatus includes an integrator, a comparator and at least a first variable impedance. The…
Switching regulator with programmable output levels using a single input pin
Granted: May 15, 2007
Patent Number:
7218086
A switching regulator provides programming output current control through a single input terminal by modifying the reference voltage in the control loop of the switching regulator. The switching regulator includes a first input terminal receiving a program input voltage indicative of a desired output current, a voltage divider receiving a first reference voltage and providing a second reference voltage at a first node between the first and second resistors and a third reference voltage…
Method for starting a voltage-mode switching power supply into a biased load
Granted: May 8, 2007
Patent Number:
7215108
A method for starting up a voltage-mode switching power supply into a biased load includes computing a ratio of the load voltage at the biased load to an input voltage of the switching power supply, generating a first signal indicative of the duty cycle of the voltage-mode switching power supply, comparing the first signal indicative of the duty cycle to the ratio, and turning on an output stage of the voltage-mode switching power supply only when the first signal indicative of the duty…
Integrating chip scale packaging metallization into integrated circuit die structures
Granted: May 1, 2007
Patent Number:
7211893
Wafer-level chip-scale packaging technology is used for improving performance or reducing size of integrated circuits by using metallization of pad-to-bump-out beams as part of the integrated circuit structure. Chip-scale packaging under bump metal is routed to increase the thickness of top metal of the integrated circuit, increasing current carrying capability and reducing resistance. An exemplary embodiment for a power MOSFET array integrated structure is described. Another exemplary…
Input/output circuit for handling unconnected I/O pads
Granted: April 10, 2007
Patent Number:
7202701
A circuit coupled to an input-output bond pad (I/O pad) in an integrated circuit including an input buffer, an output buffer and a pad management circuit. The pad management circuit receives a first data signal, a first output enable signal, and a configuration signal indicative of the connection state of the I/O pad, and generates a second data signal and a second output enable signal. When the configuration signal indicates the I/O pad is to be connected to a package pin, the pad…
Laser turn-on accelerator independent of bias control loop bandwidth
Granted: April 10, 2007
Patent Number:
7203213
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.…
Schottky diode device with aluminum pickup of backside cathode
Granted: March 27, 2007
Patent Number:
7195952
An integrated circuit package includes a semiconductor chip having a passivation layer forming the top surface of the semiconductor chip and a metal pad formed on the passivation layer and a discrete electronic device having a first terminal formed on a first surface and a second terminal formed on a second surface opposite the first surface of the discrete electronic device where the first surface of the discrete electronic device is attached to the metal pad using a conductive adhesive…
Integrated device technology using a buried power buss for major device and circuit advantages
Granted: February 27, 2007
Patent Number:
7183193
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…
Single chip radio receiver with decoder and controllable baseband filter
Granted: February 27, 2007
Patent Number:
7184741
A single chip receiver is disclosed herein. The chip only requires an external antenna for operation. A decoder is formed on chip for performing logical operations on demodulated digital data. A baseband filter is controlled by external control signals to have one of a plurality of discrete frequency response bandwidths depending on the type of signal to be received. To compensate for process variations in the implementation of the IC, bias currents setting the operating conditions for…
Operations, administration and maintenance (OAM) systems and methods for packet switched data networks
Granted: February 13, 2007
Patent Number:
7177325
The invention includes a protocol, systems and methods for operating, administering, and maintaining (OAM) physical links in a network that carries packet switched data. A network control point implementing the protocol assigns addresses to all ports of the network, discovers network topology and capabilities, and initializes remote parameters through OAM frames sent to the ports. The OAM protocol maintains all physical transmission links through the communication of OAM frames with…
Wafer carrier checker and method of using same
Granted: January 30, 2007
Patent Number:
7169018
A tool and method for assessing whether a disk carrier, and especially a carrier for holding semiconductor disks, is properly dimensioned. The tool has a body that includes a socket in which a portion of the disk carrier will seat fully if the disk carrier is properly dimensioned. Alignment structures may be provided in the socket to align with features of the carrier to assist in determining whether the disk carrier is properly dimensioned. The socket may include two spaced apart…
Frequency compensation scheme for a switching regulator using external zero
Granted: January 30, 2007
Patent Number:
7170264
A compensation circuit in a monolithic switching regulator controller being incorporated in a closed loop feedback system of a switching regulator includes an amplifier configured in a unity gain feedback configuration with a first resistor and including a non-inverting input terminal receiving the feedback voltage and an inverting input terminal coupled to a first terminal of the switching regulator controller. The compensation circuit further includes a first capacitor and a third…
Surge delay for current limiter
Granted: January 30, 2007
Patent Number:
7170732
A surge current delay time period is added to a current limit delay time period in order to permit a longer time for a possibly temporary larger-than-steady-state electrical current, such as for a start-up power requirement. A system is described for permitting a legitimate surge current by distinguishing true over-current fault conditions from temporary surges in terms of high current duration time.
Automatic control of laser diode current and optical power output
Granted: January 23, 2007
Patent Number:
7166826
An automatic power control system provides a control signal that regulates the output power of at least one laser diode. Coarse adjustment of the control signal is provided by a first means, preferably a digital variable resistor, while fine adjustment and compensation is provided by a second means, preferably by a digital-to-analog converter that receives an input signal proportional to a sensed control system parameter. The control system includes an operational amplifier having a…
Runt-pulse-eliminating multiplexer circuit
Granted: January 16, 2007
Patent Number:
7164296
A multiplexer circuit for selecting one of first and second input signals based on a first input select signal includes a multiplexer, a control circuit and an enable buffer. The multiplexer selects one of the first and second input signals based on a second input select signal generated by the control circuit and provides a second output signal. The control circuit receives the second output signal and the first input select signal to generate the second input select signal and an…
Voltage multiplier circuit including a control circuit providing dynamic output voltage control
Granted: January 16, 2007
Patent Number:
7164309
A voltage multiplier circuit includes a control circuit and a first voltage multiplier stage. The control circuit receives a power supply voltage and a reference voltage and provides a first output voltage being the difference between a first selected voltage and the power supply voltage where the first selected voltage is a function of the reference voltage and is independent of variations in the power supply voltage. The first voltage multiplier stage receives the first output voltage…
System for monitoring medical parameters
Granted: January 9, 2007
Patent Number:
7161484
Described is a system for monitoring medical parameters of a being, in particular a human being, comprising medical functional means including at least one sensor section for detecting at least one predetermined medical parameter, a transmitting means for transmitting the medical parameter(s) detected by said sensor section, said transmitting means being adapted to be provided at the being, and a remote serving means for receiving and processing the medical parameter(s) from said…
