Nxp B.v.

Microchip Technology Inc.

Ge Wang

Harold Garth Hanson

Ezana Haile Aberra

Chi Lung Wong

Ronaldo Francisco

Ling Su

A power supply is disclosed. The power supply includes a switch to regulate an input voltage and a current sense transistor to sense current through the switch. The power supply further includes a switching control to control a switching frequency of the switch. A programmable pulse skip circuit coupled to the switching control is also included. The switching control is configured to alter the switching frequency based on a pulse skip control signal received from the programmable pulse skip circuit. The programmable pulse skip circuit produces the pulse skip control signal based on an external control signal inputted to the programmable pulse skip circuit and the sensed current by the current sense transistor.

PWM mode boost switching regulator with programmable pulse skip mode

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, methods, and systems for presenting boosted power regulation to a load. These aspects include a power-switching circuit that selectively passes current in response to a boost-converter control circuit. A current-control circuit selectively powers the load in response to the power-switching circuit passing current.

Closed-loop boost drivers with responsive switching control

Circuits and methods concerning voltage surge protection are disclosed. In an example embodiment, an apparatus includes a switching circuit configured to enable a current path between a first node and a second node in a first mode and disable the current path in a second mode. A biasing circuit configured to, in the surge protection mode, prevent a voltage surge at the first node from enabling the current path to the second node by biasing a voltage of the control node.

Electrostatic discharge protection

One example discloses a watchdog circuit: wherein the watchdog circuit is configured to receive a primary ground from a primary power supply, and a backup ground from a backup power supply; wherein the watchdog circuit includes a ground switch coupled to the primary ground and the backup ground; and wherein the ground switch is configured to isolate the primary ground from the backup ground in response to a fault signal.

Watchdog circuit

Embodiments of an amplifier for a constant-current light-emitting diode (LED) driver circuit and a constant-current LED driver integrated circuit (IC) device having the amplifier are described. In one embodiment, an amplifier includes a folded cascode input stage including chopping switch circuits configured to perform frequency chopping to reduce an input offset of the amplifier and a rail-to-rail output stage connected to the folded cascode input stage. The rail-to-rail output stage includes slew rate enhancement circuits.

Amplifier for a constant-current LED driver circuit and constant-current LED driver IC device

One example discloses a voltage regulator, comprising: a power supply input; a regulated voltage output; an output transistor configured to provide a first current from the power supply input to the regulated voltage output based on a control voltage; and a current amplifier configured to provide a second current from the power supply input to the regulated voltage output based on the control voltage; wherein the output transistor and the current amplifier are coupled in parallel between the power supply input and the regulated voltage output.

NMOS-based voltage regulator

A low dropout regulator (LDO) is disclosed. The LDO includes a transistor loop including a first transistor coupled to a second transistor. The first transistor and the second transistor coupled to a first resistor and a second resistor. The first resistor being coupled to ground and second resister coupled to the first resistor. The LDO further includes an output transistor coupled to the second transistor and a power supply line. The output transistor further coupled to a pair of input transistors coupled to the power supply line. One of the input transistors coupled to a third resistor, wherein the third resistor coupled to a fourth resistor and the fourth resistor coupled to ground. The LDO also includes a fifth resistor coupled to an output of the output transistor. The fifth resistor is coupled to the first transistor.

Self-referenced low-dropout regulator

Embodiments of a current mirror for a constant-current light-emitting diode (LED) driver system and a constant-current LED driver integrated circuit (IC) device having the current mirror are described. In one embodiment, a current mirror includes at least one current mirror cell. Each of the at least one current mirror cell includes semiconductor circuits configured to generate an output current based on a reference current and a control module configured to alternately and continuously charge the semiconductor circuits in response to non-overlapping clock signals.

Current mirror and constant-current LED driver system for constant-current LED driver IC device

Apparatuses and methods concerning regulation of load currents are disclosed. As an example, one apparatus includes a first clock generation circuit configured to generate a first clock signal with a frequency spectrum having a first frequency range. A second clock generation circuit is configured to produce a second clock signal by spreading the frequency spectrum of the first clock signal to have a second frequency range that is wider than the first frequency range. The second clock signal has a frequency spectrum extending outside of the frequency range. The apparatus includes a third circuit configured to regulate a voltage at a supply node as a function of the second clock signal. A current regulation circuit is configured to regulate current in a circuit path, from the supply node and passing through a load circuit coupled to the current regulator, as a function of the first clock signal.

Low-noise current regulation circuits

Capacitance multiplier circuitry provides an increased equivalent capacitance, and may be implemented using a desirably small footprint. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, a capacitor provides a first capacitance across first and second plates, and capacitance multiplier circuitry operates with the capacitor to provide a second equivalent capacitance that is a multiple of the first capacitance. The capacitance multiplier circuitry includes a first circuit path having a first resistor between the first plate and a common terminal, and a second circuit path having a switch and a second resistor between the second plate and the common terminal. An amplifier has differential inputs respectively corresponding to the first and second circuit paths and provides the second equivalent capacitance by controlling operation of the switch based upon the differential inputs and the respective resistances provided by the resistors in the first and second circuit paths.

Capacitance multiplier and method

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to detecting crossings such as zero crossings that can pose problems to circuit operation. In accordance with an example embodiment, two or more circuits are implemented for detecting signal crossings of an electrical signal during respective time cycles, such that at least one of the circuits is operating to detect such a crossing at all times. Each circuit undergoes a reset condition, which is controlled to ensure that at least one circuit remains operating for detecting zero crossing.

Signal crossing detection

A analog integrated sensor device has an interface with only a single ground line and a single signal line configured to receive power and output an analog value. A power capacitor is coupled between the ground line and the single signal line. An analog sensor circuitry is operable to be powered by the power capacitor and further operable to output an analog output signal on the single signal line once the power capacitor has bee charged sufficiently.

Growing community of inventors

Chandler, AZ, United States of America

Ge Wang