Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100013548 | POWER EFFICIENT CHARGE PUMP WITH CONTROLLED PEAK CURRENTS - A charge pump which uses a current limit resistor to limit in-rush current and peak currents. An additional advantage of such a charge pump is that, when being coupled to a boost converter or other switching converter utilizing an inductive energy storage element, it may avoid unnecessary power dissipation caused by the current limit resistor. | 01-21-2010 |
20100109740 | Clamp networks to insure operation of integrated circuit chips - Clamp networks are provided to insure successful operation of a variety of electronic circuits that are realized in the form of integrated circuit chips. These networks are especially suited for use in chips in which on-chip circuits generate a voltage to bias the chip substrate relative to the chip ground. The clamp networks are configured to drive a current between the chip ground and the chip substrate whenever the chip substrate begins to rise above the chip ground during turn on of the chip input voltage. The clamp networks thus insure that the chip substrate is properly biased when the input voltage has been established and that the chip, therefore, functions as intended. | 05-06-2010 |
20100156871 | Temperature-compensation networks - Temperature-compensation network embodiments are provided to generate compensation signals which may be useful in improving the performance of a variety of important systems. An embodiment includes a limit current mirror configured to provide a limit current, a current generator to provide a slope current whose magnitude varies with temperature, and an output current mirror positioned to receive the limit current and the slope current and configured to provide a compensation current. In addition, a floating voltage reference is provided for use in various networks which include the temperature-compensation networks. The temperature-compensation networks may be used to improve performance in systems such as a panel driver which provides turn-on and turn-off gate voltages to transistors in liquid crystal displays. | 06-24-2010 |
20100182085 | Error amplifier structures - Error amplifier structures are provided to generate an error signal in response to the difference between an input signal (e.g., a feedback current) and a reference signal (e.g., a bias current). Amplifier embodiments generally include a reference generator and a differencing amplifier. In at least one embodiment, the error generator is arranged to generate first and second bias voltages that correspond to the bias current. In at least one embodiment, the differencing amplifier is configured to provide a reference current to an output node in response to the first bias voltage, provide a feedback current to the output node in response to the second bias voltage, and generate an error current in response to a voltage at the output node. The error amplifier structures are suited for use in various systems such as negative switching regulators. | 07-22-2010 |
20110210878 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-OUTPUT COMPARATORS AND ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTERS - An analog-to-digital converter with comparators with multiple, inter-coupled, outputs is provided, which may be also called a Benorion Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) or a Benorion Converter. The analog-to-digital converter includes a plurality of comparators operably coupled for receiving an analog input signal and configured for comparing the analog input signal with a plurality of voltage reference signals. Each comparator of the plurality is configured for generating a plurality of comparator outputs comprising a primary comparator output, and at least one additional comparator output selected from the group consisting of positive comparator outputs and negative comparator. The analog-to-digital converter further includes a plurality of composite outputs, each composite output of the plurality comprising a combination of the primary comparator output from a corresponding comparator of the plurality and at least one additional comparator output from at least one additional comparator of the plurality of comparators. Other comparators and methods are provided. | 09-01-2011 |
20120223647 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR REDUCING POWER IN DRIVING DISPLAY PANELS - Energy sharing circuits and related methods are disclosed herein. A high voltage can be selectively coupled to a first source line and a low voltage can be selectively coupled to a second source line during a first time period. During a subsequent time period, a first coupling switch is activated to inductively couple the first source line to the second source line and diode block the second source line from the first source line. During a subsequent time period, the low voltage is selectively coupled to the first source line and the high voltage is selectively coupled to the second source line. During a subsequent time period, a second coupling switch is activated to inductively couple the second source line to the first source line and diode block the first source line from the second source line. | 09-06-2012 |
20120235241 | LOW ON-RESISTANCE POWER TRANSISTOR, POWER CONVERTER, AND RELATED METHOD - A power transistor and a power converter are disclosed that may improve the on-resistance and corresponding silicon area of a power transistor. The power transistor may comprise a drain, a source, and a channel therebetween divided into a plurality of transistor stripes, the plurality of transistor stripes being grouped in a plurality of different groups. The power transistor may further comprise a first top metal associated with one of the drain and the source, and a second top metal associated with the other of the drain and the source. The second top metal includes at least one portion that is coupled to different groups of transistor stripes. A related method for determining a layout topology of a power transistor is also disclosed. | 09-20-2012 |
20120235846 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR REDUCING ERRORS IN ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERTERS - Successive approximation Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and related methods are disclosed. A successive approximation ADC includes a comparator with a comparator output and inputs coupled to a common model signal and a compare input. Control logic generates one or more control signals responsive to the comparator output. A capacitor array includes first sides of capacitors operably coupled to an array output. The capacitor arrays selectively couples each of second sides of the capacitors to an analog input signal and one or more input reference signals responsive to the one or more control signals. A voltage limiter is operably coupled between the array output and the compare input of the comparator and limits a voltage on the compare input to within a predefined range relative to the array output. The successive approximation ADC may also be configured differentially with a second comparator and a second voltage limiter. | 09-20-2012 |