National Semiconductor Corporation

Vivid Engineering, Inc.

Elena Potanina

Vladislav Potanin

Alexander Burinskiy

Igor Furlan

Khosrow Vijeh

Pavel Biryulin

George McLean

Potanin Vladislav

Richard Dye

Technologies are generally described for scaling a voltage regulator implemented as an integrated circuit (IC) that includes a power transistor configured to convert an input voltage to an output voltage, and a feedback loop configured to regulate the output voltage in response to a voltage change. At least one component of the voltage regulator may be selected for scaling, and a range of scaling factors may be identified for the component. An optimal coefficient may be determined for the scaling factors within the identified range through an empirical formulation and/or by running a circuit simulation based on parameters associated with voltage, load current, and load capacitance, for example. The optimal coefficient may be a coefficient that when applied to the component optimizes the performance of the IC and thus, the component may be scaled based on the optimal coefficient to achieve an optimized performance of the IC.

Scaling voltage regulators to achieve optimized performance

Technologies are generally described for a voltage regulator implemented as an integrated circuit (IC). The voltage regulator may include a power transistor configured to receive and convert an input voltage from a voltage source to an output voltage, and a feedback loop configured to regulate the output voltage in response to a change from a desired level. The feedback loop may include an error amplifier configured to determine and amplify a value difference between the output voltage and a reference output voltage, a voltage divider configured to generate voltage proportional to the output voltage such that a ratio is the value difference, and a first unity gain buffer configured to increase stability of the IC. In some examples, the feedback loop may include a second unity gain buffer and/or an overshoot suppressor circuit configured to reduce an output voltage fluctuation when a current consumed by the load is changed suddenly.

Scalable voltage regulator to increase stability and minimize output voltage fluctuations

Technologies are generally described for an integrated circuit that is designed to serve as the basis of SONAR sensors that provide high sensitivity, low noise, low cost, and electronically adjustable gain in a small package may incorporate transducer drivers and signal sensing functions. Electronically programmable gain of the circuit may provide flexibility in system designs for gain management, and eliminate a need for manual gain adjustments in production. Power may be supplied to the sensor(s) over a power line of the circuit from a direct current source through a resistor. The same line may also be used for communicating with the sensor(s). Data from the microcontroller may be transmitted to the sensor(s) using an open-drain driver transistor and received through another transistor isolating the micro-controller's input from potentially high voltages present on the power line.

Ultrasonic distance measurement controller

A method and circuit for adjusting a safety time-out in charging devices based on a charge current. According to one embodiment, a signal that is based on the charge current is employed to control an output of an oscillator, which controls an operation of a safety timer circuit. The safety timer circuit activates or deactivates a voltage-current (V-I) control loop of the charging device providing the safety time-out based on the charge current. In another embodiment, where a digital current-set circuit may be employed to determine a value of the charge current, a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) may provide the charge current limit to the V-I control loop, and another output of the digital current-set circuit may control the safety timer. In a further embodiment, a signal based on the charge current may be digitized and employed to control the safety timer comprising a time-out counter.

Circuit and method for adjusting safety time-out with charge current

A circuit for battery charging is provided. The circuit provides a charge current to a battery, and regulates the charge current with either linear regulation or switching regulation, based on operating conditions. In one embodiment, if the input voltage minus the battery voltage is less than a threshold (e.g. 100 mV), linear regulation is employed, and if the input voltage minus the battery voltage is greater than the threshold (e.g. 100 mV), switching regulation is employed. The threshold may be fixed, or the threshold may be adjustable based on die temperature or charge current.

Apparatus and method for dual mode battery charger with linear and switched control modes based on operating conditions

A method and circuit for simultaneously charging a battery and providing supply voltage to a load. The circuit includes a low-drop-out voltage (LDO) regulator and a constant-current, constant-voltage (CC-CV) regulator. In one embodiment, CC-CV regulator provides a control voltage to the LDO regulator generated by a voltage-controlled current source. As charge voltage approaches battery termination voltage, the control voltage is reduced regulating LDO regulator output to provide constant voltage while decreasing charge current to the battery. In another embodiment, a slow response amplifier and a current mirror in the CC-CV regulator provide a smooth and stable charging current to the battery that is decreased as battery charge approaches a full charge level, while maintaining constant supply voltage to the load. In a further embodiment, an externally programmable amplifier in the CC-CV regulator may enable use of the circuit with varying power sources.

Combined LDO regulator and battery charger

A method for providing precise current regulation and limitation for a power supply is provided. The method includes amplifying any difference between a load current signal and a current setting reference signal with a feedback loop amplifier to generate a feedback signal. A power output signal is generated based on the feedback signal. An output signal for the power supply is generated based on the power output signal. The load current signal and the current setting reference signal are generated based on the power output signal. An offset error signal is generated based on the load current signal and the current setting reference signal. A differential bias for the feedback loop amplifier is adjusted based on the offset error signal.

Method and system for providing precise current regulation and limitation for a power supply

A charge current control system is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention includes a voltage detecting component that determines whether voltage stored by a load is at a voltage threshold. Also included are current supplying components that supply a charge current to the load that attains a plurality of magnitudes. The supply of the charge current is facilitated by a single charge current pass component over the course of a charge cycle. The magnitude of the charge current is based on the outcome of a determination of whether the minimum voltage threshold is reached.

Method and system for charge current control

Balanced offset compensation is provided for a differential amplifier circuit. Two sets of three switches are employed between respective inputs and outputs of the differential amplifier to shunt the outputs to the input terminals during auto-zeroing phase. By opening and closing different combinations of the switches during auto-zeroing and operation phases, differential degradation due to unbalanced leakage currents is substantially reduced.

Balanced offset compensation circuit

A method and circuit for stabilizing a frequency of a clock generator comprising a ring oscillator with respect to manufacturing process variations and a circuit temperature. A bias circuit comprising a current mirror and cascade circuits provides a compensated bias current based on a gate source voltage and drain source voltage of an output transistor, where the two voltages are independent of transistor parameters and circuit temperature. As a result, the ring oscillator frequency is stabilized with respect to those parameters.

Integrated clock generator tolerant to device parameter variation

A power limiting circuit is disclosed. The power limiting circuit includes a temperature sensing circuit that outputs a temperature signal that is proportional to temperature over a temperature range. The power limiting circuit also includes a regulation circuit coupled to the temperature sensing circuit and controlled by the temperature signal. The regulation circuit operates in a manner that is proportional to the temperature.

Power limiting circuit

A method for communicating with portable device batteries is described. Many portable devices such as cellular phones may employ a wide variety of batteries with different types, capabilities, and the like. Batteries may be retrofitted with additional circuitry that is arranged to provide information about the battery such as capacity, type, charging status, and the like to the portable device. However, additional pins for communication between the battery and the portable device may increase manufacturing cost, reduce reliability, and the like. In addition, many batteries nowadays have a resistor between their ground pin and temperature sense pin that may be used for sensing temperature of the battery as well as providing battery type information to the portable device. The present invention employs a one wire transceiver using the existing temperature sense pin and the resistor, thereby allowing additional information exchange with the battery without increasing manufacturing cost or reducing reliability.

Battery temperature sensor pin used as communication channel

A circuit for charging a battery by selecting among two available power sources while providing overcharging and temperature protection to the battery and managing a charging current is described. A power pass and sense circuit is arranged to provide charge voltage from either power source based on control voltages from a current/voltage control circuit, which receives control signals from a logic control and timer circuit, a sensed voltage from a current setting circuit and reference and temperature voltages from a voltage reference and thermo-sense circuit. Differential amplifiers controlling power pass transistors are turned on and off depending on a power source availability and selection. A power supply circuit provides global supply voltages to all subcircuits preventing reverse current to power sources and stable supply independent of a power source availability. A pair of transistors arranged to operate as body-switcher protect power pass and sense transistors against reverse bias current.

Dual-source CMOS battery charger

A method and circuit for providing a regulated current to a load stabilized with respect to the load current, a load voltage, and a circuit temperature. The circuit includes a power pass device, a current sense device, a voltage sense amplifier, a reference device, a temperature sense device, and a current control device. In one embodiment, the current control device receives a first signal based on the sensed load current, a second signal based on the sensed load voltage, a third signal based on the circuit temperature, and a reference signal. A lesser of the second, third, and reference signals is selected and differentially combined with the first signal. A control signal is derived from the combination to control a regulation of the load current. In a further embodiment, an external signal may be provided to the current control device for stabilization with respect to an external parameter.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Elena Potanina