Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160134199 | HIGH VOLTAGE ANALOG SWITCH - A high voltage analog switch can be used in medical ultrasound applications. The high voltage analog switch can pass high voltage transducer excitation signals without necessarily having any high voltage power supplies. The high voltage analog switch can include three output switches, with one of the output switches having a clamp circuit for ensuring that transistors of an output switch on an input end of the high voltage analog switch remain OFF when the high voltage analog switch is OFF. | 05-12-2016 |
20150356226 | REMOTE CONFIGURATION OF VOLTAGE REGULATOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - A design server provides an online service for remotely configuring a voltage regulator integrated circuit (IC). A customer may employ a customer computing device to connect to the design server. The design server may receive from the customer computing device a user requirement for the voltage regulator IC. The design server may select one or more external components to configure the voltage regular IC to meet the user requirement. The design server may automatically place an order for the external components online. The external components may be available from commercial partners of the vendor of the voltage regulator IC. | 12-10-2015 |
20150280560 | MULTI-PHASE SMPS WITH LOOP PHASE CLOCKS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A multi-phase SMPS has N switching circuits; a setting signal generator generating a setting signal based on an output signal of the SMPS; a clock signal generator generating a system clock signal; and a controller receiving the setting signal and the system clock signal, the controller generating N shifted phase clock signals according to the system clock signal, and the N shifted phase clock signals forming loop phase clocks, and the controller further generates N switching control signals based on the setting signal and the N shifted phase clock signals. | 10-01-2015 |
20150222171 | CURRENT DETECTION AND EMULATION CIRCUIT, AND METHOD THEREOF - A current detection circuit for detecting a current in a SMPS which has a first switch and a second switch; a current sensing circuit sensing a second switch current flowing through the second switch and providing a current sensing signal; and a current emulation circuit which generates a first current according to the current sensing signal and generate a second current according to the first current source, and the current emulation circuit further providing a current emulation signal based on the first current source and the second current source; wherein a current detection signal during a first period is proportional to the current emulation signal, and the current detection signal during a second period is proportional to the current sensing signal. | 08-06-2015 |
20150187931 | HIGH VOLTAGE PMOS AND THE METHOD FOR FORMING THEREOF - A high voltage PMOS replacing the lightly doped region of the drain region with a low voltage P-well adopted in the low voltage devices, so as to save a mask. In order to achieve the high breakdown voltage and the low on resistance, a thick gate oxide applied in the DMOS is inserted. The N-type well region surrounding the source region may be replaced by a low voltage N-well adopted in the low voltage device to further save a mask. | 07-02-2015 |
20150162819 | SHORT PROTECTION CIRCUIT FOR POWER SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED PROTECTION METHOD - A short protection circuit for protecting a power switch. The short protection circuit has a transistor and compares a differential voltage between a first end of the power switch and a second end of the power switch to a threshold voltage of the transistor only when the power switch is in an ON state; and wherein when the differential voltage is higher than the threshold voltage, the short protection circuit turns off the power switch. | 06-11-2015 |
20150084126 | LDMOS DEVICE WITH SHORT CHANNEL AND ASSOCIATED FABRICATION METHOD - A method of fabricating an LDMOS device includes: forming a gate of the LDMOS device on a semiconductor substrate; performing tilt body implantation by implanting dopants of a first conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate using a mask, wherein the tilt body implantation is implanted at an angle from a vertical direction; performing zero tilt body implantation by implanting dopants of the first conductivity type using the same mask, wherein the zero tilt body implantation is implanted with zero tilt from the vertical direction, and wherein the tilt body implantation and the zero tilt body implantation are configured to form a body region of the LDMOS device; and forming a source region and a drain contact region of the LDMOS device, wherein the source region and the drain contact region are of a second conductivity type. | 03-26-2015 |
20150061611 | BOOTSTRAP REFRESH CONTROL CIRCUIT, POWER CONVERTER AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - A power converter having a bootstrap refresh control circuit and a method for controlling the power converter. The bootstrap refresh control circuit is configured to monitor a bootstrap voltage across a bootstrap capacitor and to provide an enhanced high side driving signal to a high side switch of the power converter. The bootstrap refresh control circuit is further configured to controlling the charging of the bootstrap capacitor through regulating the on and off switching of the high side switch and a low side switch based on the bootstrap voltage. The bootstrap refresh control circuit can refresh the bootstrap voltage in time to support driving the high side switch normally, without causing large spikes in an output voltage of the power converter and without influencing the power conversion efficiency of the power converter. | 03-05-2015 |
20150061543 | METHODS FOR DRIVING AN LED LIGHTING DEVICE AND CIRCUITS THEREOF - A method for driving an LED lighting device includes receiving an input voltage from a battery unit and converting the input voltage into a driving current to drive the LED lighting device. The method further includes detecting whether the battery unit is in a low battery state. When the low battery state of the battery unit is detected, the driving current is reduced. | 03-05-2015 |
20140319608 | HIGH VOLTAGE FET DEVICE WITH VOLTAGE SENSING - A high voltage FET device provides drain voltage information with less overall silicon area consumption by forming a spiral resistance poly structure over a drift region of the high voltage FET device. The spiral resistance poly structure has an inner most end coupled to a drain region, and an outer most end coupled to a reference ground. | 10-30-2014 |
20140307491 | OFFLINE POWER CONVERTER AND THE METHOD THEREOF - An offline power converter provides low EMI and quick reaction by slowly turning off a power switch at normal operation, and fast turning off the power switch when surge event happens. | 10-16-2014 |
20140266092 | REFERENCE COMPENSATION MODULE AND SWITCHING REGULATOR CIRCUIT COMPRISING THE SAME - A switching regulator circuit and a reference compensation module employed for compensating a reference signal in the switching regulator circuit. The switching regulator circuit with a reference ground having an average offset voltage referenced to a package ground pin, wherein the average offset voltage is proportional to an output current of the switching regulator circuit with a first factor. The reference compensation module may be configured to receive a second reference signal having a bandgap reference voltage with respect to the reference ground and a reference compensation signal proportional to the output current with a second factor, and configured to provide the first reference signal based on compensating the second reference signal with the reference compensation signal to substantially cancel out the average offset voltage from the first reference signal with respect to the ground pin. | 09-18-2014 |
20140197515 | HIGH VOLTAGE CIRCUIT LAYOUT STRUCTURE - A high voltage circuit layout structure has a P-type substrate; a first N-type tub, a second N-type tub, a third N-type tub, a first P-type tub with a first width and a second P-type tub with a second width formed on the P-type substrate; wherein the first P-type tub is formed between the first N-type tub and the second N-type tub; and the second P-type tub is formed between the second N-type tub and the third N-type tub. | 07-17-2014 |
20140151792 | HIGH VOLTAGE HIGH SIDE DMOS AND THE METHOD FOR FORMING THEREOF - A high voltage high side DMOS removing the N-buried layer from the DMOS bottom provides lower Ron*A at given breakdown voltage. The high voltage high side DMOS has a P-type substrate, an epitaxial layer, a field oxide, an N-type well region a gate oxide, a gate poly, a P-type base region, a deep P-type region, an N-type lightly doped well region, a first N-type highly doped region, a second N-type highly doped region and a P-type highly doped region. | 06-05-2014 |
20140125302 | COT CONVERTER WITH CONTROLLED FREQUENCY AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - A SMPS having a switch; an output port coupled to a load, configured to provide a voltage feedback signal and a current feedback signal; an on-time generator, having an input end coupled to the current feedback signal, and having an output end providing a time signal indicating a time period; and a PWM generator, having a first input end coupled to the voltage feedback signal, a second input end coupled to the time signal, and an output end providing a PWM signal that is coupled to the control end of the switch, and wherein the PWM signal is configured to turn ON the switch when the voltage feedback signal is lower than a threshold voltage, and the PWM signal is configured to turn OFF the switch after the time period. | 05-08-2014 |
20140043875 | OFF-LINE REGULATOR AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - The present invention discloses an off-line regulator. The off-line regulator comprises a rectification circuit configured to rectify an AC line voltage into a rectified line voltage; a pass device coupled between the rectified line voltage and a first capacitor, the pass device is configured to be turned ON or OFF according to a comparison signal indicating whether the rectified line voltage is over a threshold voltage. The first capacitor delivers an interim voltage into a converter which supplies power to a load. Wherein a second capacitor coupled across a driver which driving the pass device is charged by the first capacitor when the comparison signal is at a first state, and the driver is boosted when the comparison signal is at a second state. | 02-13-2014 |
20140024186 | METHOD FOR FORMING DUAL GATE INSULATION LAYERS AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING DUAL GATE INSULATION LAYERS - Method of forming dual gate insulation layers and semiconductor device having dual gate insulation layers is disclosed. The method of forming dual gate insulation layers comprises forming a first thin layer of a thick gate insulation layer on a semiconductor substrate by oxidizing the semiconductor substrate, depositing a second thicker layer of the thick gate insulation layer on the first thin layer, removing a portion of the thick gate insulation layer to expose a surface area of the semiconductor substrate and forming a thin gate insulation layer on the exposed surface area of the semiconductor substrate. The method of forming dual gate insulation layers, when applied in fabricating semiconductor devices having dual gate insulation layers and trench isolation structures, may help to reduce a silicon stress near edges of the trench isolation structures and reduce/alleviate/prevent the formation of a leaky junction around the edges of the trench isolation structures. | 01-23-2014 |
20140015017 | HIGH VOLTAGE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND THE ASSOCIATED METHOD OF MANUFACTURING - The present disclosure discloses a high voltage semiconductor device and the associated methods of manufacturing. In one embodiment, the high voltage semiconductor device comprises: an epitaxial layer, a first low voltage well formed in the epitaxial layer; a second low voltage well formed in the epitaxial layer; a high voltage well formed in the epitaxial layer, wherein the second low voltage well is surrounded by the high voltage well; a first highly doping region formed in the first low voltage well; a second highly doping region and a third highly doping region formed in the second low voltage well, wherein the third highly doping region is adjacent to the second highly doping region; a field oxide formed in the epitaxial layer as a shallow-trench isolation structure; and a gate region formed on the epitaxial layer. | 01-16-2014 |
20140004662 | MICROELECTRONIC FLIP CHIP PACKAGES WITH SOLDER WETTING PADS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF MANUFACTURING | 01-02-2014 |
20130342176 | MULTI-PHASE SWITCHING-MODE POWER SUPPLY AND ASSOCIATED CONTROL METHOD - The present invention discloses a multi-phase switch-mode power supply (SMPS). The multi-phase SMPS may comprise a plurality of comparing circuits and a controller. Wherein each comparing circuit comprises a first input coupled to a threshold voltage, a second input coupled to a feedback signal of the output voltage, and an output configured to provide a load indication signal. The controller may have a plurality of inputs coupled to the outputs of the comparing circuit, and a plurality of outputs configured to provide control signals for driving a plurality of switches of the multi-phase SMPS. And the controller is configured to selectively turn on a plurality of the switches according to the load indication signals. | 12-26-2013 |
20130341715 | POWER TRANSISTOR AND ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING - The present disclosure discloses a lateral transistor and associated method for making the same. The lateral transistor comprises a gate formed over a first portion of a thin gate dielectric layer, and a field plate formed over a thick field dielectric layer and extending atop a second portion of the thin gate dielectric layer. The field plate is electrically isolated from the gate by a gap overlying a third portion of the thin gate dielectric layer and is electrically coupled to a source region. The lateral transistor according to an embodiment of the present invention may have reduced gate-to-drain capacitance, low specific on-resistance, and improved hot carrier lifetime. | 12-26-2013 |
20130328122 | SPLIT TRENCH-GATE MOSFET WITH INTEGRATED SCHOTTKY DIODE - A split trench-gate MOSFET device and method for forming this device is disclosed. The device has a trench gate structure, comprising a shield electrode and two gate electrodes, wherein a substantial portion of shield electrode region is lower than the gate electrode region, and wherein a portion of the shield electrode region extends to the top surface between the two gate electrodes. The device further comprises a source metal layer, contacting to an initial layer, a well region, the shield electrode and a source region at the top surface, wherein the contact between the source metal layer and the initial layer forms a Schottky diode. | 12-12-2013 |
20130308349 | SWITCHING REGULATOR, THE CONTROL CIRCUIT AND THE METHOD THEREOF - A switching regulator that decreases power loss and resolves thermal issues by jumping its switching frequency to a maximum frequency when its load reaches a peak load. | 11-21-2013 |
20130300493 | ANALOG SWITCHING CIRCUIT, ASSOCIATED CONTROL CIRCUIT AND METHOD - The present invention discloses an analog switching circuit having a first terminal receiving an input signal, a second terminal providing an output signal and a control terminal receiving a switching control signal. The analog switching circuit has a first logic circuit providing a first control signal and a second control signal based on the switching control signal; an NMOS and a PMOS coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal, and controlled by the first control signal and the second control signal respectively; a first control circuit controls the backgate voltage of the NMOS based on the input signal and the switching control signal; and a second control circuit controls the backgate voltage of the PMOS based on the input signal and the switching control signal. | 11-14-2013 |
20130257502 | DELAY CIRCUIT AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - The embodiments of the present invention disclose a delay circuit. The delay circuit comprises an inverter, a load capacitor, and a first voltage clamping module, wherein the first voltage clamping module generates a voltage drop configured to prolong the propagation delay time of the delay circuit as the power supply voltage decreases. The power supply dependent delay circuit may have a much larger propagation delay time at low power supply voltage than it at high power supply voltage at the rising-edge or falling-edge of an input signal. | 10-03-2013 |
20130176009 | SMART LOW DROP-OUT VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - The present disclosure discloses a low drop-out voltage regulator and an electronic device comprising the same. The present disclosure also discloses a method for converting a power supply voltage to a regulated output voltage. The low drop-out voltage regulator comprises a pass device controllable to convert a power supply voltage to a regulated output voltage; and a controller configured to receive an input signal and to provide a driving signal to the control terminal of the pass device based on the input signal, wherein when the input signal is within a predetermined range, the driving signal turns the pass device ON, and the power supply voltage charges the output voltage; and wherein when the input signal is without the predetermined range, the driving signal turns the pass device OFF, and the power supply voltage stops charging the output voltage. | 07-11-2013 |
20130176004 | SWITCHING MODE POWER SUPPLY - The present disclosure discloses a switching mode power supply with constant peak current mode control. During the operation of the switching mode power supply, in one hand, the current flowing through a high-side switch is sensed and compared to a current reference signal to control the turning off of the high-side switch; in the other hand, the output voltage is sensed and compared to a voltage reference signal to control the turning on of the high-side switch. In addition, the current reference signal may be adjusted to a lower value when the switching mode power supply enters light load condition. By using the above control method, the system performance is highly increased. | 07-11-2013 |
20130086396 | POWER SUPPLY FOR PROCESSOR AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - 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 adjusting circuit adjusts the reference voltage in a plurality of steps until the reference voltage reaches a target value corresponding to the VID code. The reference adjusting circuit adjusts the reference voltage by a preset value during each step, and proceeds to adjust the reference voltage by a next step only after the output voltage reaches a predetermined scope of the reference voltage. | 04-04-2013 |
20130083577 | OFFLINE LOW VOLTAGE DC OUTPUT CIRCUIT WITH INTEGRATED FULL BRIDGE RECTIFIERS - The present disclosure discloses an offline low voltage DC output circuit with integrated full bridge rectifiers. The offline low voltage DC output circuit comprises two depletion high voltage pass transistors and a bridge rectifier, wherein most of the voltage is dropped across the pass transistor device. In one embodiment, the offline low voltage DC output circuit further comprises a ballast resistor to minimize substrate injection. | 04-04-2013 |
20130082689 | METHODS FOR SENSING CURRENT IN A SWITCHING REGULATOR - In one embodiment, a current sensing circuit includes a differential current sensing amplifier adapted for sensing a voltage drop across a main transistor, the differential current sensing amplifier being adapted for providing a switched current output to a timing circuit which is adapted for providing a timing signal to one or more switching current sample-and-hold circuits based on a current waveform of the switched current output, and the one or more switching current sample-and-hold circuits, each of which are adapted for producing a substantially continuous output current. In another embodiment, a method for detecting a current includes driving a main transistor with a first current, driving one or more sensing transistors with a second current, measuring a sensing inductor current of the one or more sensing transistors, and determining the first current based on the sensing inductor current, wherein the sensing inductor current is related to the first current. | 04-04-2013 |
20130082669 | SCALABLE MULTIPHASE-REGULATOR POWER-INTEGRATED CIRCUIT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING SCALABLE POWER TO THE SAME - In one embodiment, a modular master chip includes an output module, a phase control module in communication with the output module, the phase control module including a master chip switch, wherein the phase control module is adapted for regulating the master chip switch at one or more interleaved clock speeds with one or more phase shifts, and a control module in communication with the output module and the phase control module, the control module being adapted for monitoring an amount of current drawn by a current load, determining one or more interleaved clock speeds, sending the one or more interleaved clock speeds, and regulating a scalable amount of current supplied to the current load by adjusting a number of output modules contributing to the scalable amount of current supplied to the current load. More methods and systems are described according to other embodiments. | 04-04-2013 |
20130077364 | POWER CONVERTER AND THE METHOD THEREOF - The present disclosure discloses a power converter providing a low output voltage from an offline AC. The power converter defines a voltage window for the input AC signal. Inside the voltage window, the rectified DC waveform is passed through to the output and the storage capacitor; outside the voltage window, the power converter is idle (or the output is blocked from input) and let the output storage capacitor alone supply the load. | 03-28-2013 |
20120104467 | SELF-ALIGNED CONTACT STRUCTURE TRENCH JFET - According to one embodiment, a self-aligned trench structure junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET) includes a silicon substrate, two or more trenches having a P-type polysilicon gate region near a bottom portion of the trench and an interlayer dielectric layer (ILDL) above the P-type polysilicon gate region, a channel region separating each trench including epitaxial silicon, an N+ source region above the channel region extending between a top of each trench, and a source metal above the N+ source region. In another embodiment, a self-aligned trench structure JFET includes a silicon substrate, two or more trenches having an N-type polysilicon gate region near a bottom portion of the trench and an ILDL above the N-type polysilicon gate region, a channel region separating each trench including epitaxial silicon, a P+ source region above the channel region extending between a top of each trench, and a source metal above the P+ source region. | 05-03-2012 |
20110241642 | VOLTAGE CONVERTER - A voltage converter includes an input circuit that is designed to receive an input voltage. The voltage converter includes a switch circuit comprising a pair of switches that receive the input voltage through the input circuit. The voltage converter includes an output circuit configured to supply current at a regulated voltage. The voltage converter includes a feedback circuit that generates a feedback signal. The voltage converter includes a switch control circuit that generates a switch control signal during an operational mode of circuit operation. The voltage converter includes an idle mode control circuit that generates an idle mode control signal during the operational mode and causes the switch circuit to turn off one of the switches for a period of time. The voltage converter includes a switch turn-off circuit that generates a second control signal, which causes the switch circuit to turn off the other switch. | 10-06-2011 |
20100117555 | PULSE DIMMING CIRCUIT AND THE METHOD THEREOF - The present invention provides a pulse dimming circuit and a method thereof. The pulse dimming circuit is compatible for both DC input signal and PWM input signal using only one circuit board. | 05-13-2010 |
20090243569 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONOUS BUCK WITH ACTIVE NEGATIVE CURRENT MODULATION - 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. | 10-01-2009 |
20090243568 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONOUS BOOST VOLTAGE REGULATORS WITH ACTIVE NEGATIVE CURRENT MODULATION - A switch-mode synchronous boost voltage regulator is disclosed that includes a boost voltage regulator and an active current modulator. The active current modulator detects a negative current flowing through the high-side switch during a light load condition. When the negative current is detected, the active current modulator is operable to maintain the high-side switch “on” in a linear mode and to limit the negative current to a predetermined current level. | 10-01-2009 |
20090153127 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTERNAL CONTROL MODE STEP DOWN SWITCHING REGULATOR - 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 a second mode is selected, the control circuit causes the second switch to turn OFF completely and the first switch to switch ON and OFF at a variable second frequency. | 06-18-2009 |
20090140655 | SIMPLE PROTECTION CIRCUIT AND ADAPTIVE FREQUENCY SWEEPING METHOD FOR CCFL INVERTER - A CCFL inverter circuit integrates a feedback circuit and protection circuit together. For both in-phase and out-of-phase applications, sensed lamp voltages can be used for open lamp and short lamp detection and sensed currents can be used for open lamp detection. The driving circuit adjusts the open lamp frequency by using a duty cycle control signal so that the driving circuit can always achieve the desired lamp voltage gain. | 06-04-2009 |
20090096511 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE SWITCH MODE VOLTAGE REGULATORS - A circuit configuration for a high power switch-mode voltage regulator circuit is disclosed that includes an array of Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) switching transistors electrically coupled to one another at their drains and sources, and a plurality of gate driver circuits. Each gate driver circuit is coupled substantially close to the gate and dedicated to driving only one MOS switching transistor. | 04-16-2009 |
20090096435 | LAYOUT SCHEMES AND APPARATUS FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE DC-DC OUTPUT STAGE - A layout method that enables a high power switch mode voltage regulator integrated circuit to generate a large output current and achieve substantially low switching loss is disclosed. The layout method includes forming an array of switching elements on a semiconductor die, each switching element including a plurality of discrete transistors configured to have a substantially reduced ON resistance; and forming a plurality of gate driver circuits on the same die among the switching elements, all using a single metal process. Each gate driver circuit placed substantially close to and dedicated to drive only one switching element so that the gate coupling capacitance resistance product is substantially reduced. | 04-16-2009 |
20080258651 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPEN LAMP PROTECTION - A detector circuit monitors the phase relationship between the lamp voltage and the excitation voltage, and if one or more conditions are met, triggers the open lamp protection process in a discharge lamp system. The detection circuit can be incorporated into a lamp voltage feedback circuit and implemented on the integrated circuit level with less cost and circuit complexity. | 10-23-2008 |