Intersil Americas Inc.

Renesas Electronics America Inc.

Barry Concklin

Dimitrios Katsis

Ha Chu Vu

Peter John Mole

Daryl Chamberlin

Lokesh Kumath

Muthukumaran Chandrasekaran

Matthew Cole

Bin Liu

Apparatuses, devices, and methods for operating a multi-level voltage converter are described. A semiconductor device can include a circuit, where the circuit can include a plurality of current sources. The circuit can be configured to measure a flying capacitor voltage across a flying capacitor of a multi-level voltage converter. The circuit can be further configured to compare the flying capacitor voltage with a voltage level equivalent to an intermediate voltage that is between ground and an input voltage being provided to the multi-level voltage converter. The circuit can be further configured to, based on a result of the comparison, switch a current source among the plurality of current sources to maintain the flying capacitor voltage at the intermediate voltage.

Flying capacitor startup circuit for multi-level voltage converter

Example implementations include a method of pre-bootup fault monitor of a LASER diode driver output, by applying a first power to a pre-bootup fault monitor device, setting a fault condition at the pre-bootup fault monitor device to a no-fault state, initiating the pre-bootup fault monitor device, determining whether a first impedance of driver output satisfies an impedance threshold, and in response to a determination that the first impedance satisfies the impedance threshold, applying a second power to the output device. Example implementations also include a system with a LASER output device, and a pre-bootup fault monitor device operatively coupled to the LASER output device, and operable to activate in response to receiving a first power, set a fault condition to a no-fault state, determine whether a first impedance of the output driver satisfies an impedance threshold, and, in response to a determination that the first impedance satisfies the impedance threshold, apply a second power to the LASER output device, and a power-on reset controller operatively coupled to the pre-bootup fault monitor and operable to, in response to the determination that the first impedance satisfies the impedance threshold, deactivate the pre-bootup fault monitor.

Device and method for pre-bootup fault control of a driver output

Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and circuits for use with a system including a light emitting element (e.g., a laser diode or light emitting diode) that is driven by a current produced by a current output digital-to-analog converter (DAC), wherein the light emitting element or the DAC is powered by a supply voltage produced by a voltage supply. In accordance with an embodiment, a measure indicative of a voltage at an output of the DAC is obtained, wherein the voltage at the output of the DAC is indicative of a voltage headroom available for the DAC. The measure indicative of the voltage at the output of the DAC is compared to one or more predetermined references, and the supply voltage is controlled based on the comparison(s).

Systems and methods for dynamic power management for use with a video display device

A segmented digital-to-analog converter (DAC) includes a plurality of sub-DACs, each of which is adapted to receive a separate reference current that specifies a transfer function of the sub-DAC. A magnitude of the reference current provided to each sub-DAC is separately programmable to thereby separately control a gain of each sub-DAC. The output of the DAC can be used to drive a load having a load transfer function that differs from a desired transfer function. In an embodiment, the separate reference currents provided the sub-DACs of the DAC are programmed to implement a DAC transfer function that causes the DAC and the load (driven by the output of the DAC) to collectively have an effective transfer function that is substantially similar to the desired transfer function.

Systems including a programmable segmented DAC and methods for use therewith

Portions of a digital signal are buffered prior to being provided to a sub-system (e.g., a segmented DAC of a LDD) that is responsive to the digital signal. While being buffered, there is a determination, based on the buffered portions of the digital signal, of when one or more portions of the sub-system and/or another sub-system can be switched from a first state to a second state, where the second state results in less power dissipation than the first state. Additionally, or alternatively, while the portions of the digital signal are being buffered, there can be a determination, based on the buffered portions of the digital signal, of when one or more system related parameters can be adjusted to temporarily reduce power dissipation. Based on results of the determination(s), the state of one or more portions of the sub-system and/or another sub-system is/are selectively switched from the first state to the second state, or vice versa. Eventually, the portions of the digital signal are provided to the sub-system so that the sub-system can respond to the portions of the digital signal.

Data look ahead to reduce power consumption

Provided herein are segmented digital to analog converters (DACs), methods for use therewith, and systems that include one or more such DACs. According to an embodiment, a DAC includes a plurality of sub-DACs, a DAC input adapted to receive a multi-bit digital input and a DAC output adapted to output an analog output current in response to and indicative of the digital input. Each sub-DAC is adapted to receive a separate reference current that specifies a transfer function of the sub-DAC. A magnitude of the reference current provided to each sub-DAC is separately programmable to thereby separately control a gain of each sub-DAC.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Barry Concklin