IP Library Granted Patent US 9,343,915
Granted Patent B2
US 9,343,915 · App. 13/784,184 · Granted May 17, 2016

Semiconductor device including charging system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,343,915
App. No.
13/784,184
Granted
May 17, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

The semiconductor device includes the charging system including: electric power generating unit for supplying electric power; electric power storing unit for storing electric power generated by the electric power generating unit; switch unit provided in a charging path for charging the electric power storing unit with the electric power generated by the electric power generating unit; a comparator driven by the electric power generated by the electric power generating unit for comparing a reference voltage and a stored voltage of the electric power storing unit; and a level converter provided between the comparator and the switch unit for, based on a result of a comparison made by the comparator, converting a level of a generated voltage to a level of the stored voltage and outputting a resultant signal to the switch unit.

Claims (25)

1. A semiconductor device including a charging system, comprising:

electric power generating means that supplies electric power;

electric power storing means that stores electric power generated by the electric power generating means;

a switch in a charging path for charging the electric power storing means with the electric power generated by the electric power generating device;

a comparator driven by the electric power generated by the electric power generating means for comparing a reference voltage and a stored voltage of the electric power storing means; and

a level converter between the comparator and the switch, the level converter including a first inverter driven by a ground voltage and the stored voltage and a second inverter driven by the ground voltage and a generated voltage of the electric power generating means, the level converter converting a level of the generated voltage to a level of the stored voltage based on a result of a comparison made by the comparator, and outputting a resultant signal to the switch,

wherein the level converter further comprises:

a first output terminal that outputs one of the ground voltage and the stored voltage based on the result of the comparison; and

a second output terminal that outputs one of the ground voltage and the generated voltage based on the result of the comparison.

2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the reference voltage is the generated voltage of the electric power generating means.

3. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the reference voltage is a constant voltage output from a constant voltage circuit.

4. The semiconductor device according to claim 3 ,

wherein the constant voltage output from the constant voltage circuit is, a voltage at the same level as the generated voltage when the generated voltage is smaller than an overcharge preventing voltage, and

a voltage at the same level as the overcharge preventing voltage when the generated voltage is equal to or larger than the overcharge preventing voltage.

5. The semiconductor device according to claim 3 ,

wherein the switch comprises:

a first MOS transistor having a back gate terminal and one diffusion terminal which are connected to the electric power storing means side; and

a second MOS transistor having a back gate terminal and one diffusion terminal which are connected to the electric power generating means side and another diffusion terminal which is connected to another diffusion terminal of the first MOS transistor,

wherein the first output terminal is connected to a gate terminal of the first MOS transistor, and

wherein the second output terminal is connected to a gate terminal of the second MOS transistor.

6. The semiconductor device according to claim 4 , wherein the switch comprises:

a first MOS transistor having a back gate terminal and one diffusion terminal which are connected to the electric power storing means side; and

a second MOS transistor having a back gate terminal and one diffusion terminal which are connected to the electric power generating means side and another diffusion terminal which is connected to another diffusion terminal of the first MOS transistor,

wherein the first output terminal is connected to a gate terminal of the first MOS transistor, and

wherein the second output terminal is connected to a gate terminal of the second MOS transistor.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 12, 2018
From: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: ABLIC INC.
Reel/Frame 045567/0927 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EXECUTION DATE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 037783 FRAME: 0166. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Feb 23, 2016
From: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC
To: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037903/0928 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC
To: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION .
Reel/Frame 037783/0166 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2013
From: MITANI, MAKOTO; WATANABE, KOTARO
To: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
Reel/Frame 029929/0703 →