Richard Scott Nicholson

US Patent:

8093941, Jan 10, 2012

Filed:

Feb 18, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/708533

Inventors:

Bradford Lawrence Hunter - Austin TX, US
Richard David Nicholson - Austin TX, US
Tsing Hsu - Allen TX, US

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G05F 1/10

US Classification:

327536

Abstract:

Systems and devices for dynamically scaled charge pumping are presented. Example embodiments of the disclosed systems of dynamically scaled charge pumping enable regulation of the output voltage at a particular ratio and to dynamically control the ratio based on the input voltage. A charge pumping circuit is enabled by an oscillator. The charge pump oscillator is enabled by the output of a comparator. The comparator compares an input voltage to a comparator voltage, which is a divided version of the output voltage. The output voltage is referenced to a regulated voltage and the comparison voltage is divided between the two voltages by a resistor divider. The regulated voltage remains flat until the input voltage equals the reference voltage. At that point, the regulated voltage will begin to rise and follow the input voltage. Before the reference voltage is reached, the output voltage equals the input voltage multiplied by the resistor divider ratio.

US Patent:

20110068735, Mar 24, 2011

Filed:

Sep 22, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/564911

Inventors:

Richard David Nicholson - Austin TX, US
Garry Ross Elder - Rockwall TX, US

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

H02J 7/00
H02J 7/04

US Classification:

320107, 320134

Abstract:

Systems and methods for accurate control of battery pre-charge current use external charge FET external discharge FET for accurate control of battery pre-charge current. A low Vdiode or other component and series resistor form a parallel path around the discharge FET. It is preferable for the component to have a voltage drop significantly less than that of the parasitic diode in the FET when carrying current in one direction and substantially higher voltage drop in the other direction. During a pre-charge condition, the discharge FET is turned off, and a servo amplifier monitors the voltage across the series resistor. The servo amplifier controls the gate of the charge FET such that a desired current is flowing from the charger to the battery.

US Patent:

20110089992, Apr 21, 2011

Filed:

Feb 5, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/700895

Inventors:

Bradford Lawrence Hunter - Austin TX, US
Richard David Nicholson - Austin TX, US
Wallace Edward Matthews - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED - Dallas TX

International Classification:

H03K 17/687

US Classification:

327427

Abstract:

The disclosure presented herein provides example embodiments of systems for accurate multiplexing. The systems and methods presented may be suitable for non-limiting examples of analog to digital conversion with a switched input voltage (for a switched capacitor application) or any circuit with high voltage/high accuracy voltage multiplexing. In an example embodiment, pulsed current sources may be implemented to rapidly turn on and turn off the selected and unselected multiplexer ports while maintaining relatively low power consumption. A Kelvin input port may allow a high voltage input to be accurately sensed by avoiding a voltage drop associated with a selected pass gate p-channel FET channel resistance and parasitic wire resistance. The Kelvin input port biases the gate of a pass FET structure whose body terminals are allowed to remain floating.

US Patent:

20120139547, Jun 7, 2012

Filed:

Dec 6, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/961450

Inventors:

Allen Y. Chen - Austin TX, US
Richard Nicholson - Aptos CA, US

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G01N 27/416

US Classification:

324433, 324434

Abstract:

Example embodiments of the systems and methods of cell imbalance detection disclosed herein may prevent any cell of a multi-cell battery pack from exceeding over voltage conditions of the battery. In an example embodiment, automatic cell imbalance detection may be performed using two cells in series. The example embodiment determines the relative cell voltages. If a difference between the two cells of more than a certain threshold is detected, a cell balancing circuit may be activated to discharge the cell with the higher voltage. Example embodiments use no microprocessor, nor an ADC. An advantage of this approach over previous solutions is the relative knowledge of the cell voltages.