Texas Instruments Corporation

Active-semi, Inc.

Triune Systems, LLC

Active-semi (bvi) Inc.

James Allen Kohout

Ross Eliot Teggatz

Wayne T Chen

Brett E Smith

David John Baldwin

Amer H Atrash

Jonathan Robert Knight

Narasimhan Trichy

John H Carpenter, Jr

Shanmuganand Chellamuthu

Luthuli E Dake

Brett Jason Thompsen

Lakshmi Sri Jyothi Chimakurthy

A current sense method comprises generating a voltage across a first current mirror of a current sense apparatus, the voltage being proportional to a current flowing through the current sense apparatus when the current is greater than a predetermined current value and applying a minimum drain-to-source voltage limiter to the first current mirror of the current sense apparatus when the current is less than the predetermined current value, wherein, as a result of applying the minimum drain-to-source voltage limiter to the first current mirror, the voltage across the first current mirror is clamped to a predetermined voltage value.

Current sense apparatus for battery charger systems

Disclosed are advances in the arts with novel methods and apparatus for detecting faulty connections in an electrical system. Exemplary preferred embodiments include monitoring techniques and systems for monitoring signals at one or more device loads and analyzing the monitored signals for determining fault conditions at the device loads and/or at the main transmission lines. The invention preferably provides the capability to test and monitor electrical interconnections without fully activating the host system.

Electrical line status monitoring system

Current metering for transitioning to low power operation in switching regulators is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a method is provided that includes generating pulse width modulated charging cycles that enable current to flow to an inductor to adjust an output voltage, and detecting a skipped charging cycle. The method also includes determining whether a number of charging cycles are skipped over a time interval that begins when the skipped charging cycle is detected. The method also includes transitioning to a low power operating mode if it determined that the number of charging cycles have been skipped over the selected time interval. During the low power operating mode pulse frequency modulated charging cycles are generated that enable the current to flow to the inductor to generate the output voltage.

Current metering for transitioning between operating modes in switching regulators

A current sense apparatus comprises a first switch having a first terminal connected to a power source and a second terminal connected to a battery, a second switch comprising a gate connected to a gate of the first switch and a first terminal connected to the first terminal of the first switch, a first operational amplifier having a first input connected to the second terminal of the first switch and a second input connected to a second terminal of the second switch, a second operational amplifier having an output connected to the gate of the first switch, a first input coupled to the first terminal of the first switch and a second input coupled to the second terminal of the first switch and a reference voltage source connected to one input of the second operational amplifier.

Apparatus and methods are provided to automatically detect and control a load switch for a wireless power receiver. In one novel aspect, a method is provided to adaptively control the load switch based on the output condition of a rectified output according to a predefined criteria. In one embodiment of the invention, the methods to adaptively control the load switch comprises a first stage that turns on the load switch quickly; a second stage that stops turning on the load switch and holds the load switch at its current value; a third stage that slowly pulls down the load switch; and a fourth stage that quickly turns off the load switch. In another embodiment, an integrated circuit for a wireless power pick up unit is provided to control the load switch adaptively based on a rectified output feedback and a predefined criteria.

Auto load switch detection for wireless power receiver

The invention provides advances in the arts with useful and novel driver methods. The invention provides circuit driver and control methods for relatively high-current drivers, usable with relatively low-voltage battery power sources. Preferred embodiments include one or more high series resistance capacitors electrically connected with a power source. A low resistance driver circuit regulates power supplied from the capacitors to the load.

Driver method

Apparatus and methods are provided to power an N-type load switch using a bootstrap capacitor. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit for a wireless power receiver comprises a first rectifier input terminal (RX), a second rectifier input terminal (RX), a first bootstrap terminal (HSB), a second bootstrap terminal (HSB), and a load switch terminal (LSW). A first and a second bootstrap circuit are coupled with HSBand HSBto power the rectifier in a regular mode. A load switch driver circuit is coupled between LSW and either HSBor HSB. In the regular mode the load switch driver circuit powers a load switch through a corresponding bootstrap circuit. In an output shutdown mode, an output shutdown circuit is turned on to turn off the load switch. In one embodiment, the load switch is external to the integrated circuit. In another embodiment, the load switch is internal to the integrated circuit.

Apparatus and methods of N-type load switch using bootstrap gate drive for wireless power receiver

Apparatus and methods are provided for bootstrap and over voltage protection (OVP) combination clamping. In one embodiment, method is provided to use the same bootstrap capacitors and bootstrap terminals for an over voltage protection circuit. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit for a wireless power receiver comprises a first rectifier input terminal RX, a second rectifier input terminal RX, a first bootstrap terminal HSB, a second bootstrap terminal HSB. A first and a second bootstrap circuit are coupled to HSBand HSBto power the rectifier circuit in a regular mode. A over voltage protection (OVP) circuit is coupled between HSBand HSB. The OVP circuit is turned on to connect HSBand HSBtogether in an OVP mode.

Apparatus and methods of bootstrap and over voltage combination clamp for wireless power receiver

A switched mode power supply has a high side switching transistor coupled between a voltage source and a load for generating the output voltage at the load. A driver circuit drives the high side switching transistor. A first resistor divider is coupled to the output voltage and has a first tap. An error amplifier has a first input coupled to the first tap and a compensated feedback loop. A second resistor divider is coupled to the output voltage and has a second tap, resistance of the second resistor divider being less than resistance of the first resistor divider. A switch is coupled to the second tap and to the first input of the error amplifier for connecting the second tap to the first input of the error amplifier when the output voltage of the switched mode power supply reaches a first predetermined voltage.

Switched mode power supply having improved transient response

Various driver circuit apparatuses and methods for driving an electrical signal are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments provide a driver circuit including a controlled-slew rate input circuit, a buffer that is connected to the controlled-slew rate input circuit, and an output driver that is connected to the buffer. The driver circuit is adapted to drive an output signal from the output driver based on an input signal to the controlled-slew rate input circuit. The impedance at the input of the output driver is lower than the impedance at the output of the controlled-slew rate input circuit.

Local interconnect network transceiver driver

A method and apparatus for a Regulator that automatically configures to work in either SMPS mode or linear mode are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes inputting a constant current source to a CBoot_pin for a first predetermined amount of time upon enabling an autodetect circuit by a Regulator control circuit. The CBoot voltage at the CBoot_pin is then determined to see if the CBBoot voltage at the CBoot_pin is above a predetermined CBoot voltage for a second predetermined amount of time. The Regulator is then switched to operate in SMPS mode if the CBoot voltage is substantially continuously above the predetermined CBoot voltage for a second predetermined amount of time. The SMPS is operated in linear mode if the CBoot voltage is substantially continuously below or equal to the predetermined CBoot voltage for a second predetermined amount of time.

Growing community of inventors

Dallas, TX, United States of America

James Allen Kohout