Monolithic Power Systems Patent Grants

Voltage converters with reduced output frequency variations and associated methods

Granted: October 28, 2014
Patent Number: 8872501
A switch-mode voltage converter has a switching transistor coupled between an input voltage (Vin) and the ground and a controller coupled directly between the input voltage (Vin) and the ground. The controller periodically turns on the switching transistor for a generally constant period of time. The controller is further coupled to a DC bias voltage (Vbias) and generates a control current based on the input voltage (Vin) and the DC bias voltage (Vbias) for generating a switching signal…

Audio amplifier with closed-loop power

Granted: September 30, 2014
Patent Number: 8848945
The present technology relates generally to a closed-loop power stage and audio amplifier circuits comprising the same. The present technology further provides a method for controlling an amplifier circuit. The closed-loop power stage is configured to receive a PWM input signal having a first frequency and a first duty cycle, a power supply voltage, and a bias signal related to the power supply voltage, and to output a square-wave signal having a second frequency and a second duty cycle.…

Switch-mode power supply controller and associated method

Granted: September 16, 2014
Patent Number: 8836310
A controller having an on-time controller, an off-time controller, a switch control signal generator, and a jittering signal generator, wherein the jittering signal generator couples jitter into the on-time or the off-time of a primary switch of the power supply. Therefore the EMI performance may be improved.

Switching mode power supply with virtual current sensing and associated methods

Granted: September 16, 2014
Patent Number: 8836304
The present technology is related generally to a switching mode power supply with virtual current sensing. The switching mode power supply comprises a power stage that includes a first power switch and a second power switch coupled in series. The switching mode power supply senses a first current flowing through the first power switch during on-time and provides a virtual current sense signal that is proportional to a second current flowing through the second power switch during on-time.…

Integrated power converter package with die stacking

Granted: August 19, 2014
Patent Number: 8810013
An integrated circuit for implementing a switch-mode power converter is disclosed. The integrated circuit comprises at least a first semiconductor die having an electrically quiet surface, a second semiconductor die for controlling the operation of said first semiconductor die stacked on said first semiconductor die having said electrically quiet surface and a lead frame structure for supporting said first semiconductor die and electrically coupling said first and second semiconductor…

Low leakage and/or low turn-on voltage Schottky diode

Granted: August 19, 2014
Patent Number: 8809988
A Schottky diode and a method of manufacturing the Schottky diode are disclosed. The Schottky diode has an N-well or N-epitaxial layer with a first region, a second region substantially adjacent to an electron doped buried layer that has a donor electron concentration greater than that of the first region, and a third region substantially adjacent to the anode that has a donor electron concentration that is less than that of the first region. The second region may be doped with implanted…

Sample and hold circuit with toggle control and method thereof

Granted: August 12, 2014
Patent Number: 8803719
A sample and hold circuit and the method thereof are disclosed. The sample and hold circuit may be applied in voltage regulators or other circuits. The sample and hold circuit comprises: an input terminal configured to receive an input signal; an output terminal configured to provide an output signal; a control circuit configured to receive the input signal and the output signal, and wherein based on the input signal and the output signal, the control circuit generates a digital signal,…

Driving circuit for low voltage drop bridge rectifier and method thereof

Granted: August 5, 2014
Patent Number: 8797775
The embodiments of the present circuit and method disclose a bridge rectifier and a driving circuit. The bridge rectifier having a first input, a second input, a first output, and a second output may comprise two high side diodes and two low side switches. The driving circuit may be coupled to the first input of the bridge rectifier and the second input of the bridge rectifier, and the driving circuit may be configured to provide a first driving signal and a second driving signal. The…

Methods of manufacturing lateral diffused MOS devices with layout controlled body curvature and related devices

Granted: August 5, 2014
Patent Number: 8796100
The present invention discloses a method of manufacturing an N-type LDMOS device. The method comprises forming a gate above the semiconductor substrate; forming a body, comprising forming a Pwell apart from the gate and forming a Pbase partly in the Pwell, wherein the Pbase is wider and shallower than the Pwell; and forming an N-type source and a drain contact region. Wherein the body curvature of the LDMOS device is controlled by adjusting the layout width of the Pwell.

LED driver circuits with current envelope control

Granted: July 29, 2014
Patent Number: 8791648
A light emitting diode (LED) driver circuit controls switching of an output transistor. The LED driver circuit monitors inductor current flowing through an output inductor that is coupled to one or more LEDs. In response to detecting that the inductor current has reached a peak value, the LED driver circuit switches OFF the output transistor. The LED driver circuit switches ON the output transistor in response to detecting zero crossing of the inductor current. The LED driver circuit may…

Reference adjusting power supply for processor and control method thereof

Granted: July 29, 2014
Patent Number: 8791676
The present invention provides a power supply for processor and control method thereof. The power supply comprises a reference adjusting circuit and a voltage regulator. The reference adjusting circuit is configured to receive a VID code from a processor, and adjust a reference voltage based on the VID code. The voltage regulator is coupled to the reference adjusting circuit and converts an input voltage into an output voltage in accordance to the reference voltage. The reference…

Voltage regulator with adaptive hysteretic control

Granted: July 8, 2014
Patent Number: 8773090
A voltage regulator with adaptive hysteretic control. The voltage regulator may include a top switch (e.g., MOSFET) configured to couple a power supply supplying an input voltage to a load. An adaptive hysteretic control circuit of the voltage regulator may turn on the top switch when the feedback voltage reaches the low threshold and turn off the top switch when the feedback voltage reaches the high threshold. The adaptive hysteretic control circuit may adjust the upper and lower…

Bridgeless PFC converter and the method thereof

Granted: July 1, 2014
Patent Number: 8766605
A bridgeless PFC (power factor correction) converter with improved efficiency is disclosed. The bridgeless PFC converter comprises: a first input terminal and a second input terminal configured to receive an input AC signal; an output terminal; an inductor set comprising N inductors, wherein a first terminal of each inductor is coupled to the first input terminal; and an output stage comprising (N+1) switching circuits coupled between the output terminal and a ground node.

High-voltage transistor device

Granted: June 24, 2014
Patent Number: 8759912
A high-voltage transistor device comprises a spiral resistive field plate over a first well region between a drain region and a source region of the high-voltage transistor device, wherein the spiral resistive field plate is separated from the first well region by a first isolation layer, and is coupled between the drain region and the source region. The high-voltage transistor device further comprises a plurality of first field plates over the spiral resistive field plate with each…

Peak current control circuit for switching mode power supply and method thereof

Granted: June 10, 2014
Patent Number: 8749997
A switching mode power supply with improved peak current control is disclosed. A varying reference signal is adopted to limit the peak current in the energy storage component. The varying reference signal is an exponential function of a time period when a power switch is ON, wherein the power switch is coupled to the energy storage component. The varying reference signal may be generated by a circuit comprising a RC circuit and one or several voltage sources.

Constant on-time converter with stabilizing operation and method thereof

Granted: June 10, 2014
Patent Number: 8749216
A constant on-time converter has an input terminal, an output terminal, a feedback circuit, an operating circuit, a comparison circuit, a timer, a driving circuit and a switching circuit. The operating circuit is coupled to a compensation signal adjusted by a digital controller, and the compensation signal rises up to a predetermined amplitude when a feedback signal is less than a reference signal.

Schottky diodes with dual guard ring regions and associated methods

Granted: June 10, 2014
Patent Number: 8749014
The present invention discloses a Schottky diode. The Schottky diode comprises a cathode region, an anode region and a guard ring region. The anode region may comprise a metal Schottky contact. The guard ring region may comprise an outer guard ring and a plurality of inner guard stripes inside the outer guard ring. And wherein the inner guard stripe has a shallower junction depth than the outer guard ring.

High voltage switching device the method for forming thereof

Granted: June 10, 2014
Patent Number: 8748990
A high voltage switching device and associated method of manufacturing, the high voltage switching device having a substrate, an epitaxial layer, a source region, a drain region, a drift region, a gate oxide, a filed oxide, a gate and a snake shaped poly.

U-shape RESURF MOSFET devices and associated methods of manufacturing

Granted: June 10, 2014
Patent Number: 8748980
The present technology discloses a U-shape RESURF MOSFET device. Wherein the MOSFET device comprises a drain having a drain contact region and a drift region, a source, a body, a gate and a recessed-FOX structure. Wherein the recessed-FOX structure is between the gate and the drift region vertically and between the body and the drain contact region laterally, and wherein the recessed-FOX structure is configured to make the drift region into a U shape. The present technology further…

Vertical power transistor die packages and associated methods of manufacturing

Granted: June 3, 2014
Patent Number: 8742490
The present technology is directed generally to a semiconductor device. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a first vertical transistor and a second vertical transistor, and the first vertical transistor is stacked on top of the second vertical transistor. The first vertical transistor is mounted on a lead frame with the source electrode of the first vertical transistor coupled to the lead frame. The second vertical transistor is stacked on the first vertical transistor…