Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090167868 | Camera handling system - A test handler is controlled by a tester to transport, select, focus and test miniature digital camera modules. The modules are loaded onto a transport tray and moved on a conveyer to a robot. The robot selects the untested modules from the tray an alternately places the modules into two test stations. A first test station focuses and tests a first module while the second test station is loaded with a second module, thus burying the handling time for the modules within the test time. The robot returns tested modules to the transport tray, and when all modules on the tray are tested, moves the tray out of the test handler. A second tray with untested modules is positioned at the robot while the tested modules of the first tray are being focus fixed and sorted into part number bins. The overlap of operations buries handling time within the focus and test time so that the limitation of total test time is depending on focus and test operations. | 07-02-2009 |
20090167869 | Camera handling system - A test handler is controlled by a tester to transport, select, focus and test miniature digital camera modules. The modules are loaded onto a transport tray and moved on a conveyer to a robot. The robot selects the untested modules from the tray an alternately places the modules into two test stations. A first test station focuses and tests a first module while the second test station is loaded with a second module, thus burying the handling time for the modules within the test time. The robot returns tested modules to the transport tray, and when all modules on the tray are tested, moves the tray out of the test handler. A second tray with untested modules is positioned at the robot while the tested modules of the first tray are being focus fixed and sorted into part number bins. The overlap of operations buries handling time within the focus and test time so that the limitation of total test time is depending on focus and test operations. | 07-02-2009 |
20090268035 | Multiple frame grabber - A system is presented that applies M×N×K computational units to calculating image parameters on N picture images captured simultaneously by N digital camera devices, where there are N groups of frame grabber units, each containing M frame grabbers in which there are K computational units. The data operated on by a computational unit is separate and independent from the image data operated on by the other computational units. This results in a performance speedup of M×N×K compared to one computational unit making the same computations. A master frame grabber unit controls the illumination of the N digital camera devices, and synchronizes the illumination with the clocks of the N digital camera devices. | 10-29-2009 |
20100097015 | Distance measurement with capacitive sensor - Circuits and methods to read out capacitive sensors for distance measurement used by a position control system having a high accuracy and low noise have been disclosed. The ratio or difference of the capacitances of two sensor capacitors is used to determine the distance of an object from a target position. A sense amplifier is using auto-zero methods to achieve a long term stability. A sample-and-hold circuit using double correlated sampling methods minimizes noise. Low cost capacitors can be used with the sample-and-hold circuit because not the absolute value of capacitances but only the ratio of capacitances are relevant. A high resolution is ensured also by significant over-sampling of the control loop. | 04-22-2010 |
20100134062 | DC converter using motor coil - Circuits and methods system for a DC-to-DC conversion using the inductance of a motor coil are disclosed. The invention is especially applicable for mobile electronic devices having a motor and requiring a DC-to-DC conversion. By using the coil of the motor for DC-to-DC conversion and for the purpose of a motor no space for an additional coil is required. For motor control an H-bridge arrangement is provided allowing motor movement in both directions, to brake and free run. By adding two diodes and a capacitor and modulation of a switch of the H-bridge a DC-to-DC conversion has been made possible. | 06-03-2010 |
20100188561 | Intelligent light source with synchronization with a digital camera - An intelligent light source for use with the test of a digital camera module provides a plurality of shapes of light. A fast light pulse is created with turn-on and turn-off transitions less than or equal to one microsecond. Other waveform shapes comprise a ramp and a sinusoid, and all shapes can be made to occur once or repetitively. The magnitude of the light has a range from 0.01 LUX to 1000 LUX, and the ramp has a ramp time that has a range from microseconds to 100 ms. The light comprises of a plurality of colors created by serial connected strings of LED devices, where the LED devices in a string emit the same color. The light emanating from the light source is calibrated using a photo diode and the control of a tester by adjusting offset voltages of a DAC controlling a current through the LED strings. | 07-29-2010 |
20100259623 | Intelligent light source with synchronization with a digital camera - An intelligent light source for use with the test of a digital camera module provides a plurality of shapes of light. A fast light pulse is created with turn-on and turn-off transitions less than or equal to one microsecond. Other waveform shapes comprise a ramp and a sinusoid, and all shapes can be made to occur once or repetitively. The magnitude of the light has a range from 0.01 LUX to 1000 LUX, and the ramp has a ramp time that has a range from microseconds to 100 ms. The light comprises of a plurality of colors created by serial connected strings of LED devices, where the LED devices in a string emit the same color. The light emanating from the light source is calibrated using a photo diode and the control of a tester by adjusting offset voltages of a DAC controlling a current through the LED strings. | 10-14-2010 |
20110176053 | Camera shutter - Systems and methods using the same to achieve a camera having precise timing of a camera shutter, which can be used also for a controllable aperture, are disclosed. The aperture can be controlled continuously and can therefore be used for video cameras. The shutter system is controlled by a feedback loop. The shutter blades are moved by at least one linear motor, a position sensor senses the actual position and speed of the blades. The movement of the blades can be stopped any time to get an aperture desired. For capturing an image in a first step a global reset is opening (activating) every pixel of the image sensor after the shutter is opened. In order to achieve a short active light exposure time (below 1 ms), after the global reset, the mechanical shutter invented closes rapidly after a defined active light exposure time. An active light exposure time is the time span between the image sensor is activated and the mechanical shutter is closed. In order to achieve a precise timing the shutter of the present invention uses electronic control and a feedback loop to control the actual position of the shutter. | 07-21-2011 |
20110268434 | Lens barrel retention systems of a camera module - Systems and methods to achieve an auto-focus camera module having a retention system with low friction have been disclosed. A magnetic retention system holds the carrier of the camera module, the ball bearings, and the movable lens barrel together. In case of a major mechanical shock the force of the magnetic retention system may not be sufficient to hold the parts together. Therefore a hook, which is deployed on a fixed part of the carrier of the camera module, is introduced in order to hold the parts together when a mechanical shock occurs. The hook does only engage in the movable lens barrel in a shock condition, the hook does not touch the lens barrel under normal operation conditions, hence not causing any friction if no shock occurs. | 11-03-2011 |
20110269317 | Energy transfer via rolling elements of rolling-element bearings - Systems and methods are disclosed for x-y tables wherein rolling elements of rolling-element bearings are transferring electrical energy between a fixed part of the x-y table and a movable part of the x-y table. The electrical energy transferred could be power to electrical devices as well as signals to and from devices on the movable part of the x-y table. Electrically conducting rolling elements are moving on electrically conducting grooves on the fixed and movable part of the x-y table. Conductor tracks on the fixed and movable part are connected to the grooves and to devices on the movable platform. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the x-y table is part of a camera wherein linear motors, preferably with integrated position sensing, are moving the x-y table back to a home position in case of a dislocation due to a mechanical shock. The invention allows an exact and fast positioning of an x-y table without requiring a flexible cable. The rolling-element bearings could be ball bearings, roller bearings, needle bearings, or other kind of bearings having electrically conductive rolling elements. | 11-03-2011 |
20110273789 | Linear motor with integral position sensor - Systems and methods for a linear motor having an integrated position sensing of the anchor of the motor are disclosed. An integrated position sensing of the anchor is achieved by sensing the inductance of one or more coils driving the anchor. The anchor comprises at least one permanent magnet. The inductance is dependent on a current position of the anchor. The anchor is driven by PWM pulses. A control unit controls the duration of driving the anchor and the duration of sensing the inductance. In normal operation during about 80% of a motor control period the anchor is driven and during a remaining time the inductance is sensed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the linear motors invented are used in a camera module driving a lens barrel and a shutter. | 11-10-2011 |
20110298480 | Compensation of parasitic capacitances of capacitive sensors - Circuits and methods for compensating the impact of parasitic capacitances on capacitive sensors have been achieved. The charge of a compensation capacitor assigned to each capacitive sensor is used to neutralize the charge of the parasitic capacitor. | 12-08-2011 |
20120038779 | Multiple Frame Grabber - A system is presented that applies M×N×K computational units to calculating image parameters on N picture images captured simultaneously by N digital camera devices, where there are N groups of frame grabber units, each containing M frame grabbers in which there are K computational units. The data operated on by a computational unit is separate and independent from the image data operated on by the other computational units. This results in a performance speedup of M×N×K compared to one computational unit making the same computations. A master frame grabber unit controls the illumination of the N digital camera devices, and synchronizes the illumination with the clocks of the N digital camera devices. | 02-16-2012 |
20120039590 | Single actuator configuration for a camera module - Systems and methods for camera modules having a movable lens barrel, allowing a maximum lens diameter with minimal outside dimensions are disclosed. At least one single linear actuator is moving the lens barrel. Each actuator is deployed in an own corner of the camera module. The moving lens barrel is guided by rolling elements bearings. The actuator comprises a stator, comprising one or more coils wrapped around a rod of magnetic metal and an anchor comprising one or more permanent magnets, which are tightly attached to the lens barrel. An offset between the longitudinal center line of magnets of the anchor and the center of the stator generates a permanent force pushing the lens barrel in direction of the stator of the motor and consequently pushes protrusions on the lens barrel onto the rolling elements bearings, thus preventing the bearings to fall apart in case of a mechanical shock. | 02-16-2012 |
20120293671 | Image stabilization - A system to stabilize images of a digital camera adjusting to unintentional movements of the camera during capture of an image has been achieved. A gyroscopic sensor senses any movement of a camera by angular speed detection and via an electronic regulator at least two linear motors move an x-y table, carrying an optical sensor or a lens barrel of the camera, in a way to adjust the optical sensor to these movements. Position sensors, as e.g. sensors integrated in the linear motors, capacitive sensors, inductive sensors, or Hall sensors, sense the actual position of one or more movable plates of the x-y table and feed it back to the regulator. The movable plates of x-y table are guided by a multitude of rolling elements, e.g. ball bearings. | 11-22-2012 |
20130083235 | Single Actuator Configuration for a Camera Module - Systems and methods for camera modules having a movable lens barrel, allowing a maximum lens diameter with minimal outside dimensions are disclosed. At least one single linear actuator is moving the lens barrel. Each actuator is deployed in an own corner of the camera module. The moving lens barrel is guided by rolling elements bearings. The actuator comprises a stator, comprising one or more coils wrapped around a rod of magnetic metal and an anchor comprising one or more permanent magnets, which are tightly attached to the lens barrel. An offset between the longitudinal center line of magnets of the anchor and the center of the stator generates a permanent force pushing the lens barrel in direction of the stator of the motor and consequently pushes protrusions on the lens barrel onto the rolling elements bearings, thus preventing the bearings to fall apart in case of a mechanical shock. | 04-04-2013 |
20130200868 | Protection of an N-Channel Transistor - The present document relates to power converters. In particular, the present document relates to a scheme for operating a low side switch of a power converter in the safe operation area. A power converter converting an input voltage to an output voltage is described. The power converter comprises a low side switch configured to couple an inductor to ground during an on-state of the low side switch; wherein the inductor is configured to store energy to be provided to a load at the output of the power converter; and a protection switch in parallel to the low side switch, configured to reduce a voltage drop across the low side switch during at least part of a switch off time of the low side switch. | 08-08-2013 |
20130200928 | External Power Transistor Control - The present document relates to the control of an external power transistor. In particular, the present document relates to a method and system for avoiding ringing at the external power transistor subsequent to switching of the external power transistor. A driver circuit to generate a drive signal for switching a driven switch between an off-state and an on-state is described. The driver circuit comprises a drive signal generation unit configured to generate a high drive signal triggering the driven switch to switch to the on-state; wherein an output resistance of the driver circuit is adjustable; an oscillation detection unit to detect a degree of oscillation on the drive signal; and a resistance control unit to adjust the output resistance of the driver circuit based on the degree of oscillation on the drive signal. | 08-08-2013 |
20130214819 | Multi-Level Output Comparator - The present document relates to a method and system for determining the voltage level of an input signal compared to a reference voltage, providing a plurality of level indications regarding an input voltage with respect to a reference voltage. The multi-level comparator comprises an input stage converting the input voltage into a first current and converting the reference voltage into a second current; and a plurality of comparator stages, each comprising a first current amplification unit amplifying the first current with a first gain, a second current amplification unit amplifying the second current with a second gain, and an output port providing an indication whether the first comparator current is smaller or larger than the second comparator current; wherein respective ratios of the first gain and the second gain of the plurality of comparator stages are different. | 08-22-2013 |
20130221862 | Method and System for Avoiding Flicker of SSL Devices - This disclosure relates to illumination systems. In particular it relates to a method and system for avoiding flicker (in particular 100 Hz or 120 Hz flicker) in solid state lighting devices such as LED or OLED assemblies. A controller for a driver circuit of a solid state lighting device (SSL) is described. The driver circuit comprises a power converter to convert a varying input voltage into a drive voltage for the SSL device. The input voltage is derived from a rectified AC mains voltage and frequency. The power converter is used with a maximum voltage step-up conversion ratio. The controller synchronizes to the mains frequency and determines a plurality of pulse intervals repeated at a pulse frequency where the pulse frequency is greater than a perceptual frequency of light intensity variations perceivable by a human eye. | 08-29-2013 |
20130221947 | Battery Wake-Up - Circuits and methods for fast detection of a low voltage in the range of few μVolts have been achieved. In a preferred embodiment the low voltage represents a current via a shunt resistor and the circuit is used to generate a digital wake-up signal. In regard of the wake-up application the circuit invented is activated periodically and in case of a certain level of the voltage drop, e.g. 50 μV, at the shunt resistor. The time required for a measurement of the voltage drop is inclusive calibration and integration time far below 1 ms. It is obvious that the circuit invented can be used for any measurements of very small voltages. | 08-29-2013 |
20130235632 | Active Rectifier with Modulation - Described is a rectification circuit to generate a direct current at an output of the rectification circuit subject to an alternating voltage at an input of the rectification circuit. The rectification circuit comprises: coupling means at the input to receive the alternating voltage from a galvanically decoupled electronic subsystem; a first switch arranged between the coupling means and the output to block current in a first direction and to conduct current in a second direction, wherein a resistance of the first switch is adjustable; a first modulation unit to receive encoded information; mapping the encoded information to a first modulation state, wherein each modulation state specifies a resistance value and/or a temporal evolution of the resistance value; adjusting the resistance of the first switch, thereby modulating the current conducted by the first switch according to the first modulation state. | 09-12-2013 |
20130257277 | High Efficiency Inductor-less Off-Line LED Driver - The present document relates to providing power for driving SSL devices. A power converter converts a varying input voltage to supply an output voltage to a SSL device in series with a current source. The power converter comprises one or more capacitors; a plurality of switches to couple the capacitors in a plurality of configurations. A control unit operates the power converter in a plurality of operational modes providing a corresponding plurality of different conversion ratios between the input/output voltages. The operational modes comprise a first phase and a second phase, during which the capacitors are differently arranged. The control unit controls the switches to alternate between the phases at a commutation cycle rate. The control unit sets the operational mode based on the varying input voltage. | 10-03-2013 |
20130285710 | High Side Driver with Power Supply Function - The present document discloses a driver circuit for the high side switch of a half bridge at ultra-high voltage. The half bridge comprises the high side switch coupled to an input voltage Vin and to a midpoint of a low side switch. The driver circuit comprises a control signal generation unit generating a stream of control pulses and a control logic generating a gate voltage for the high side switch using a supply voltage Vcc based on the control pulses, a supply voltage capacitor generating the supply voltage Vcc, and a decoupling capacitor coupled on a first side to the control signal generation unit and on a second side to the control logic, to the midpoint of the half bridge via a first charging switch, and to the supply voltage capacitor via a second charging switch. | 10-31-2013 |
20130295424 | Electrolyte-Based Battery Cell, Method and System for Determining the State of Charge of Electrolyte-Based Batteries - An electrolyte-based battery cell, having a positive electrode active material layer formed adjacent to a positive electrode collector, a negative electrode active material layer formed adjacent to a negative electrode collector, a separator which has surfaces facing respective surfaces of said active material layers, an electrolyte kept within the separator, the active material layers and there between, and a conductivity measuring means for measuring an electric conductivity of the electrolyte. Also disclosed are a system, and method, for determining the state of charge of an electrolyte-based battery. | 11-07-2013 |
20140028356 | Bypass for On-Chip Voltage Regulator - The present document relates to a reduction of heat generated in driver circuits comprising voltage regulators. A circuit arrangement comprises a driver circuit configured to generate a control signal for driving a power switch. The driver circuit comprises a voltage regulator configured to generate a second voltage from a supply voltage, a drive unit configured to generate the control signal based on the supply voltage and configured to provide the control signal to a control interface of the driver circuit, and a logic component operating at the second voltage and drawing a second current, and configured to control the drive unit. Furthermore, the circuit arrangement comprises bypass circuitry coupled at an input to the control interface and configured to provide at an output at least part of the second current to the logic component. | 01-30-2014 |
20140055174 | Low Current Start Up Including Power Switch - The present document relates to a start-up circuit comprising a power switch wherein a circuit charges a supply voltage capacitor. The capacitor provides a supply voltage to a power switch; the power switch forms a switched power converter with a power converter network. The circuit comprises a source and gate interface for coupling the circuit to the power switch; a capacitor interface couples the circuit to the supply voltage capacitor; a start-up path couples the gate interface to the capacitor interface; wherein the startup path provides a voltage at the gate interface which is at or above a threshold voltage of the power switch; and a charging path couples the source interface to the capacitor interface; wherein the charging path provides a charging current to the capacitor interface, when the power switch is in on-state. | 02-27-2014 |
20140097824 | Current Measurement Via Gate of External Transistor - A control circuit for a switch, configured to measure the drain-to-source current of the switch is described. The control circuit is configured to control an external transistor and comprises a control pin coupled to the gate of an external transistor. The external transistor and a level shifting unit are coupled to the control pin and configured to isolate an AC current from the control pin; at a time instant subsequent to the first pulse duration, the isolated AC component of the voltage potential is indicative of a drain-to-source current through the external transistor. | 04-10-2014 |
20140167631 | Circuit and Method for Detecting the Duration of the Interruption of a Mains Input - A power supply or driver circuit configured to provide electrical energy at a drive voltage. The driver circuit converts electrical energy at an input voltage to the electrical energy at the drive voltage. A controller is configured to control the power converter to provide electrical energy at the drive voltage. The controller stops operation at an interruption of electrical energy to the driver circuit. The controller is configured to resume operation subsequent restoration of electrical energy to the driver circuit. The controller is configured to maintain the timing voltage above a first voltage level when the controller is in operation and to determine the duration of an interruption of electrical energy to the driver circuit. | 06-19-2014 |
20140167640 | Back-up Capacitor - This invention relates to driver circuits used within high voltage power supplies, e.g. for light bulb assemblies. A driver circuit providing electrical energy at an output derived from electrical energy at an input is described. The driver circuit comprises a power converter, a controller, a supply voltage capacitor, and is configured to provide a supply voltage to the controller. A start-up resistor is coupled to the input of the driver circuit, charges the supply voltage capacitor, and is coupled to the supply voltage capacitor during start-up of the driver circuit. A back-up capacitor is coupled to the output of the driver circuit and with the supply voltage capacitor if a voltage at the back-up capacitor exceeds the supply voltage by a forward voltage threshold, and is decoupled from the supply voltage capacitor if the supply voltage exceeds the voltage at the back-up capacitor by a reverse voltage threshold. | 06-19-2014 |
20140184862 | EXTENDED DYNAMIC RANGE IN COLOR IMAGERS - A digital color imager providing an extended luminance range, an improved color implementation and enabling a method for an easy transformation into another color space having luminance as a component has been achieved. Key of the invention is the addition of white pixels to red, green and blue pixels. These white pixels have either an extended dynamic rang as described by (U.S. Pat. No. 6,441,852 to Levine et al.) or have a larger size than the red, green, or blue pixels used. The output of said white pixels can be directly used for the luminance values Y of the destination color space. Therefore only the color values and have to be calculated from the RGB values, leading to an easier and faster calculation. As an example chosen by the inventor the conversion to YCbCr color space has been shown in detail. | 07-03-2014 |
20140201543 | Recharging of the Gate Charge of a Transistor - Power switches operate with reduced power consumption. A circuit controls a power switch via its gate having a gate capacitor. The circuit comprises an on-control switch coupling the gate of the power switch with a charge supply to provide a gate charge to the gate capacitor of the power switch, thereby putting the power switch to the on-state; a transformer and an off-control switch coupling the gate of the power switch with ground via a primary winding of the transformer to discharge the gate capacitor of the power switch, thereby causing a discharge current through the primary winding and thereby putting the power switch to the off-state; wherein a secondary winding is coupled to the charge supply, such that a current, which is induced in the secondary winding, recharges the charge supply. | 07-17-2014 |
20140210377 | Converter One Pin Sensing - Power converters, such as switched-mode power converters comprise a reduced number of sensing pins. A power converter is configured to convert electrical energy at an input voltage into electrical energy at an output voltage. The power converter comprises a power switch configured to be switched between on- and off-states; and a controller configured to generate a control signal for putting the power switch into the on-state and off-state, respectively; wherein the control signal is generated based on a first and second measurement signal from the power converter external to the controller. The controller comprises a sensing pin configured to sense the first measurement signal, when the power switch is in on-state, and configured to sense the second measurement signal, when the power switch is in off-state. | 07-31-2014 |
20140217886 | Programmable Solid State Light Bulb Assemblies - A driver circuit for programmable solid state light bulb assemblies including light emitting diodes is operable to provide a drive current to a light source of the light bulb assembly. The controller comprises a data storage unit storing a test scenario for calibration of the light bulb assembly; wherein the test scenario indicates a sequence of states of the light source; wherein a state of the light source is associated with settings of the driver circuit; a data input unit receiving a command signal via a modulated electricity supply signal; and a data processing unit retrieving the test scenario from the data storage unit; in dependence of the received command signal, generating a control signal for operating the light source in at least one state of the sequence of states of the test scenario; and to output the control signal. | 08-07-2014 |
20140217887 | Controllers for Solid State Light Bulb Assemblies - Controllers for driver circuits of solid state light bulb assemblies including light emitting diodes comprise a power converter, a data storage unit operable to store data items relating to an operating behavior of the light bulb assembly, a temperature sensor operable to determine a chip temperature of the controller, and a data processing unit operable to receive the chip temperature, to retrieve the stored data items from the data storage unit, to generate a control signal in dependence upon the chip temperature and the retrieved data items, and to output the control signal to the power converter for operation of the light source. | 08-07-2014 |
20140217918 | Driver Circuits for Solid State Light Bulb Assemblies - A driver circuit of solid state light bulb assemblies including light emitting diodes comprises a first power converter stage converting an input voltage into an intermediate voltage; a second power converter stage converting the intermediate voltage into a drive voltage for the light source; and a controller. The controller comprises a first control unit generating a first control signal for the first power converter stage; a second control unit generating a second control signal for the second power converter stage; and a state control unit determining a target state of the light source; wherein the first and second control units are receiving information indicative of the target state; and wherein the first and second control units are generating the first and second control signals based on the information indicative of the target state. | 08-07-2014 |
20140252989 | Active Avalanche Protection for Fly Back Converter - The present document relates to power converters. In particular, the present document relates to the protection of the power switches of power converters. A controller configured to control a switched-mode power converter is described. The controller comprises a control pin for controlling a state of a power switch of the switched-mode power converter using a control signal; and a sensing pin for receiving a sensed current signal indicative of a current through the power switch. The controller is configured to detect a break-through situation of the power switch based on the state of the power switch and based on the sensed current signal. | 09-11-2014 |
20140268921 | Topology Detection - Driver circuits comprise power converters detecting automatically a topology used by the driver circuits. A controller controls a plurality of different types of power converters in accordance to a corresponding plurality of different operation modes. The controller comprises a measurement pin coupled to a first topology resistor of a first power converter of a type from the plurality of different types. The different types of power converters comprise topology resistors of corresponding different resistor values. The controller senses a voltage at the measurement pin wherein the voltage at the measurement pin is indicative of a voltage drop at the first topology resistor. Furthermore, the controller determines a type of the first power converter based on the sensed voltage, and selects an operation mode for controlling the first power converter. | 09-18-2014 |
20140285092 | Magnetic Coil / Transformer Modulation - A communication system with SSL light bulb assemblies comprises a first and a second transceiver. The first transceiver comprises a magnet, and the second transceiver comprises a switched-mode power converter which comprises an inductor element with an inductor core material having a magnetic field dependent permeability. The magnet and the inductor core material of the inductor element are magnetically coupled. The first transceiver is configured to modulate a magnetic field generated by the magnet to generate a modulated downstream magnetic field indicative of downstream data, and the second transceiver is configured to extract the downstream data from a measurement signal from the power converter. The measurement signal is dependent on an inductor value of the inductor element. | 09-25-2014 |
20140375225 | VCC Charge and Free-Wheeling Detection Via Source Controlled MOS Transistor - A driver circuit using a power converter allows free-wheeling detection and/or provision of supply voltage. A circuit controls a switching state of a power switch. A first port of the switch is coupled to an inductor. The circuit is coupled to a control port of the switch wherein the control port of the switch is different from the first port of the switch. The circuit comprises a unit generating a signal for controlling the switching state of the switch wherein the signal is provided to the control port of the switch. Furthermore, the circuit comprises free-wheeling sensing means to detect an oscillation of a voltage at a measurement port of the switch wherein the measurement port of the switch is different from the first port of the switch and wherein the oscillation of the voltage at the measurement port indicates free-wheeling of the inductor. | 12-25-2014 |
20150077075 | Control Circuit for Multiple High Side Switches - The present document relates to the control of high side switches, e.g. the high side switches of half bridges. In particular, the present document relates to an efficient control circuit for controlling a plurality of high side switches. A control circuit for controlling a plurality of parallel high side switches of a respective plurality of parallel bridges is described. The control circuit comprises a charge provisioning unit configured to provide an electrical charge. Furthermore, the control circuit comprises a plurality of sets of high control switches for the plurality of high side switches, respectively; wherein each set of high control switches is configured to arrange the charge provisioning unit in parallel to a gate-source capacitance of the respective high side switch. In addition, the control circuit comprises a controller configured to, during a phase of a plurality of different phases, control a respective set of high control switches from the plurality of sets of high control switches to arrange the charge provisioning unit in parallel to the gate-source capacitance of the respective high side switch from the plurality of high side switches, to switch on the respective high side switch. | 03-19-2015 |
20150078059 | On-Chip Voltage Generation for a Programmable Memory Device - The present document relates to the programming of programmable memory devices, e.g. one-time programmable (OTP) memory device. In particular, the present document relates to efficient methods and systems for generating the supply voltage for programming a programmable memory device. A controller configured to control the programming of a data word into a programmable memory device is described. The controller is configured to set one or more digital control signals for programming the data word into the programmable memory device. Furthermore, the controller is configured to, subsequent to setting the one or more digital control signals, increasing a device supply voltage for the programmable memory device from a default operation level to a programming level. | 03-19-2015 |