High-voltage LED drive scheme with partial power regulation
Granted: November 13, 2012
Patent Number:
8310165
A high-voltage LED drive scheme with multi-stage power regulation. The multi-stage power regulation applies two components of voltage to drive the LED strings. This scheme achieves high efficiency, small size and low cost.
Vertical discrete devices with trench contacts and associated methods of manufacturing
Granted: November 6, 2012
Patent Number:
8304825
The present technology is related generally to vertical discrete devices with a trench at the topside of the vertical discrete devices. The trench is filled with a conducting material. In this approach, a drain or cathode of the vertical discrete devices is electrically connected to the topside to result in a small area with low RON*AREA.
Power converters and methods for converting an input signal to an output voltage
Granted: October 16, 2012
Patent Number:
8289007
Power converters and associated methods of operation are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a power converter includes a first switch and a second switch electrically coupled to the first switch in series. The first switch is electrically coupled to a first node and to a second node via the second switch. The power converter further includes a capacitor and a third switch electrically coupled to the first node and to the second node via the capacitor and the second switch. The third…
Microelectronic packages with enhanced heat dissipation and methods of manufacturing
Granted: October 9, 2012
Patent Number:
8283758
Several embodiments of microelectronic packages with enhanced heat dissipation and associated methods of manufacturing are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a microelectronic package includes a semiconductor die having a first side and a second side opposite the first side and a lead frame proximate the semiconductor die. The lead frame has a lead finger electrically coupled to the first side of the semiconductor die. The microelectronic package also includes an encapsulant at least…
Switching mode power supply with burst mode and associated methods of control
Granted: September 25, 2012
Patent Number:
8274801
Switching mode power supplies (SMPS) that can operate in a control mode for a normal load condition and operate with a burst-mode controller for a light load condition are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for controlling the switching mode power supply includes when the load is in a light load condition, the switching mode power supply is controlled by a burst-mode controller.
Silicon-on-insulator devices with buried depletion shield layer
Granted: September 18, 2012
Patent Number:
8268697
A silicon-on-insulator device with a with buried depletion shield layer.
LED drivers with adaptive hysteretic control circuits and associated methods of operation
Granted: September 18, 2012
Patent Number:
8269423
Various embodiments of LED drivers and associated methods of are described below. In one embodiment, a method for controlling an LED driver includes receiving a reference voltage, receiving a feedback voltage from said LED driver, receiving said input voltage as a first feed forward voltage and said output voltage as a second feed forward voltage, generating a hysteretic width based on said first feed forward voltage and said second feed forward voltage, and generating a hysteretic band…
Switching mode power supply with a spectrum shaping circuit
Granted: September 18, 2012
Patent Number:
8270185
In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for a switching mode power supply. In one example, the switching mode power supply may include a transformer, a switching circuit and a switching control circuit. The transformer receives a DC input voltage on a primary winding and generates a DC output voltage on a secondary winding. The switching circuit, which may include a MOSFET switch, is coupled to the transformer and is configured to switch the…
LED circuit and method for controlling the average current of the LED
Granted: August 21, 2012
Patent Number:
8247984
An LED circuit is disclosed. The circuit senses the average current flowing through the LED. The sensed signal is compensated and modulated. The modulated signal is then used to control the ON/OFF state of a switch that supplies power to the LED.
Dual-mode constant load control circuits and associated methods
Granted: August 7, 2012
Patent Number:
8238124
Dual-mode AC/DC power converters and associated methods of operation are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the AC/DC converter includes a primary winding, a switching transistor coupled to the primary winding, the switching transistor configured to carry a drain-source current, and a feedback voltage port configured to carry a feedback voltage. The feedback voltage port is coupled to the switching transistor to switch off the switching transistor when the drain-source current reaches…
Frequency limitation method with time hysteresis used in quasi-resonant control
Granted: August 7, 2012
Patent Number:
8238123
A frequency limitation method used in quasi-resonant control of a switching regulator is disclosed. The switching frequency is limited through setting a minimum time limit, such as a minimum switching period or a minimum OFF time. The minimum time limit may be a first time limit or a second time limit. The minimum time limit is changed into another value if the minimum voltage point approaches the minimum time limit point, so as to eliminate the audible noise.
Method and apparatus for synchronous buck with active negative current modulation
Granted: July 17, 2012
Patent Number:
8222879
A circuit is disclosed that includes a buck voltage regulator electrically coupled to an active current modulator. The active current modulator is operable to detect a negative current in the low-side switch of the buck voltage regulator circuit during a light mode operation. Whenever the negative current is detected, the active negative current modulator causes the low-side switch to stay ON in a linear mode and limits the negative current to a predetermined current level.
Method and apparatus for external control mode step down switching regulator
Granted: June 26, 2012
Patent Number:
8207714
A switching regulator integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed that includes a switch circuit that further includes a first switch and a second switch, a mode selector circuit controlled by external circuitry to select between a first mode and a second mode, and a control circuit. In response to a feedback signal from the switch circuit, when the first mode is selected, the control circuit toggles the first switch and the second switch ON and OFF alternately at a fixed first frequency. When…
High voltage NMOS with low on resistance and associated methods of making
Granted: June 12, 2012
Patent Number:
8198679
High voltage NMOS devices with low on resistance and associated methods of making are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for making N typed MOSFET devices includes forming an N-well and a P-well with twin well process, forming field oxide, forming gate comprising an oxide layer and a conducting layer, forming a P-base in the P-well, the P-base being self-aligned to the gate, side diffusing the P-base to contact the N-well, and forming N+ source pickup region and N+ drain…
Constant on-time converter and the method of operation
Granted: June 12, 2012
Patent Number:
8198880
The present invention discloses a control circuit for constant on-time converter and a control method thereof. The proposed constant on-time DC/DC converter stabilizes the system and improves the performance of the load transient response without large equivalent series resistance of the output capacitor.
Power converter integrated circuit floor plan and package
Granted: May 1, 2012
Patent Number:
8169088
For a DC to DC converter circuit integrated on a packaged die, the relative positions of various die pads and power MOSFETs on the die for a small outline integrated circuit package are described.
Voltage converters with integrated low power leaker device and associated methods
Granted: May 1, 2012
Patent Number:
8169801
Voltage converters with integrated low power leaker device and associated methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a voltage converter includes a switch configured to convert a first electrical signal into a second electrical signal different than the first electrical signal. The voltage converter also includes a controller operatively coupled to the switch and a leaker device electrically coupled to the controller. The controller is configured to control the on and off gates of…
Power converters and associated methods of control
Granted: April 24, 2012
Patent Number:
8164218
SIMO power converters and associated methods of control are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of converting a signal input signal into multiple output signals includes supplying power to a plurality of output terminals based on a signal input signal, detecting a voltage at individual output terminals, determining an arithmetic relationship between the detected voltages of the output terminals, and adjusting the power supplied to the plurality of output terminals based at…
Methods and apparatus for driving discharge lamps
Granted: April 17, 2012
Patent Number:
8159141
Methods and apparatus for driving discharge lamps are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for driving a discharge lamp includes generating a switching signal to drive a discharge lamp, monitoring a working status of the discharge lamp, and determining whether the discharge lamp is operating abnormally based at least in part on the monitored working status. The method also includes decreasing a duty cycle of the switching signal when the discharge lamp is determined to operate…
High bandwidth, rail-to-rail differential amplifier with input stage transconductance amplifier
Granted: March 27, 2012
Patent Number:
8143948
An error amplifier expected to exhibit rail-to-rail operation, high bandwidth, and high slew rate, is described, the error amplifier comprising a first stage to receive an input differential voltage and to provide transconductance gain, an intermediate stage to provide current gain, and an output stage to drive a load.
