Michael Lane Houston

US Patent:

7898236, Mar 1, 2011

Filed:

Aug 15, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/192234

Inventors:

Michael J. Houston - Cary NC, US
Christopher S. Saunders - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

Intersil Americas Inc. - Milpitas CA

International Classification:

G05F 1/40

US Classification:

323284, 323271

Abstract:

A method for operating a voltage regulator controller, for use in a voltage regulator including coupled inductors, is provided as follows. A first signal is generated for driving a first switch of the voltage regulator. A second signal is generated driving a first switch of the voltage regulator. The voltage regulator determines whether a light-load condition exists. Upon determining the existence of a light-load condition, adjusting the phase difference between said first and second signals so that the first and second signals are approximately in-phase.

US Patent:

8076922, Dec 13, 2011

Filed:

Jun 9, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/136023

Inventors:

Jia Wei - Cary NC, US
Michael Jason Houston - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

Intersil Americas Inc. - Milpitas CA

International Classification:

H01F 29/14

US Classification:

323331, 323224, 323272

Abstract:

An embodiment of an inductor assembly includes a core, a first conductor, and a second conductor. The core includes first and second members, a first group of one or more forms extending between the members, a second group of one or more forms extending between the members, and an isolating region that magnetically isolates the first group of forms from the second group of forms. The first conductor is wound about a first one of the forms in the first group, and the second conductor is wound about a second one of the forms in the second group. Such an inductor assembly may allow both coupled and uncoupled inductors to be disposed on a common core, thus potentially reducing the cost and size of the inductors as compared to the coupled inductors being disposed on one core and the uncoupled inductors being disposed on another core.

US Patent:

8125207, Feb 28, 2012

Filed:

Nov 23, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/952954

Inventors:

Michael J. Houston - Cary NC, US
Christopher S. Saunders - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

Intersil Americas Inc. - Milpitas CA

International Classification:

G05F 1/40
G05F 1/575

US Classification:

323284, 323212, 323237, 323271

Abstract:

A method for operating a voltage regulator controller, for use in a voltage regulator including coupled inductors, is provided as follows. A first signal is generated for driving a first switch of the voltage regulator. A second signal is generated driving a first switch of the voltage regulator. The voltage regulator determines whether a light-load condition exists. Upon determining the existence of a light-load condition, adjusting the phase difference between said first and second signals so that the first and second signals are approximately in-phase.

US Patent:

8179116, May 15, 2012

Filed:

Jun 9, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/136023

Inventors:

Jia Wei - Cary NC, US
Michael Jason Houston - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

Intersil Americas LLC - Milpitas CA

International Classification:

H01F 29/14

US Classification:

323331, 323224, 323272

Abstract:

An embodiment of an inductor assembly includes a core, a first conductor, and a second conductor. The core includes first and second members, a first group of one or more forms extending between the members, a second group of one or more forms extending between the members, and an isolating region that magnetically isolates the first group of forms from the second group of forms. The first conductor is wound about a first one of the forms in the first group, and the second conductor is wound about a second one of the forms in the second group. Such an inductor assembly may allow both coupled and uncoupled inductors to be disposed on a common core, thus potentially reducing the cost and size of the inductors as compared to the coupled inductors being disposed on one core and the uncoupled inductors being disposed on another core.

US Patent:

8319484, Nov 27, 2012

Filed:

Dec 12, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/334440

Inventors:

Michael Jason Houston - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

Intersil Americas Inc. - Malpitas CA

International Classification:

G05F 1/00

US Classification:

323272, 323283, 323285

Abstract:

A method and system control the adding or dropping of phases in a multiphase voltage regulator. The regulator has an efficiency and this efficiency of the regulator is calculated for a given number of phases being activated from an output voltage, input voltage, output current, and duty cycle of the regulator. The efficiency of the regulator is also calculated if a phase is added using the derivative of the duty cycle as a function of the output current. The efficiency of the regulator is further calculated if a phase is dropped using the derivative of the duty cycle as a function of the output current. From these operations of calculating, a phase is either added, dropped, or the phase is maintained at its current value to thereby optimize the efficiency of the regulator.

US Patent:

8362752, Jan 29, 2013

Filed:

Jun 9, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/136014

Inventors:

Jia Wei - Cary NC, US
Michael Jason Houston - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

Intersil Americas Inc. - Milpitas CA

International Classification:

G05F 1/618
G05F 1/59

US Classification:

323272, 323284

Abstract:

An embodiment of a power supply includes an input node that receives an input voltage, an output node on which a regulated output voltage is provided, an odd number of magnetically coupled phase paths each coupled between the input and output nodes, and a first magnetically uncoupled phase path coupled between the input and output nodes. Such a power supply can improve its efficiency by activating different combinations of the coupled and uncoupled phase paths depending on the load conditions. For example, the power supply may activate only an uncoupled phase path during light-load conditions, may activate only coupled phase paths during moderate-load conditions, and may activate both coupled and uncoupled phase paths during heavy-load conditions and during a step-up load transient.

US Patent:

8570009, Oct 29, 2013

Filed:

Jun 9, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/136014

Inventors:

Jia Wei - Cary NC, US
Michael Jason Houston - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

Intersil Americas Inc. - Milpitas CA

International Classification:

G05F 1/618
G05F 1/59

US Classification:

323272, 323284

Abstract:

An embodiment of a power supply includes an input node that receives an input voltage, an output node on which a regulated output voltage is provided, an odd number of magnetically coupled phase paths each coupled between the input and output nodes, and a first magnetically uncoupled phase path coupled between the input and output nodes. Such a power supply can improve its efficiency by activating different combinations of the coupled and uncoupled phase paths depending on the load conditions. For example, the power supply may activate only an uncoupled phase path during light-load conditions, may activate only coupled phase paths during moderate-load conditions, and may activate both coupled and uncoupled phase paths during heavy-load conditions and during a step-up load transient.

US Patent:

20100085024, Apr 8, 2010

Filed:

Jul 6, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/498287

Inventors:

Michael Jason Houston - Cary NC, US
Shawn Evans - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

INTERSIL AMERICAS INC. - Milpitas CA

International Classification:

G05F 1/10

US Classification:

323281

Abstract:

An embodiment of a power-supply controller includes a control circuit and a detection circuit. The control circuit has a signal characteristic, and is operable in response to a regulated output signal and a reference signal to cause at least one power-supply phase to generate the regulated output signal. The detection circuit is operable to detect a change in the regulated output signal, and to alter the signal characteristic of the control circuit in response to the detected change.