IP Library Granted Patent US 8,729,959
Granted Patent B1
US 8,729,959 · App. 13/962,975 · Granted May 20, 2014

Voltage generating apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,729,959
App. No.
13/962,975
Granted
May 20, 2014
Kind
B1
Abstract

A voltage generating apparatus is provided. The voltage generating apparatus includes a reference voltage generator and an output voltage generator. The reference voltage generator is used for generating a reference voltage, and the reference voltage generator decides to generate the reference voltage or not according to a control signal. The output voltage generator includes a comparator, a variable resistor and a current source. The comparator compares the reference voltage and an output voltage to generator a calibrating signal. A resistance of the variable resistor is decided by the calibrating signal. The current source provides an output current to flow through the variable resistor for generating the output voltage. Wherein, the reference voltage is generated during an initial timing period, and the generator is turned off after the initial timing period. The initial timing period is determined according to the control signal.

Claims (36)

1. A voltage generating apparatus, comprising:

a reference voltage generator for generating a reference voltage, the reference voltage generator deciding to generate the reference voltage or not according to a control signal; and

an output voltage generator coupled to the reference voltage generator, the output voltage generator comprising:

a comparator comparing the reference voltage and an output voltage to generate a calibrating signal;

a variable resistor coupled to the comparator, a resistance of the variable resistor being decided by the calibrating signal;

a current source coupled to the variable resistor, the current source providing an output current to flow through the variable resistor for generating the output voltage;

a binary search logic circuit coupled between the comparator and the variable resistor, wherein the binary search logic circuit generates the calibrating signal according to an output of the comparator by a binary search algorithm; and

a diode, wherein a cathode of the diode is coupled to a reference ground, and an anode of the diode is coupled to the variable resistor,

wherein the reference voltage is generated during an initial timing period, and the generator is turned off after the initial timing period, the initial timing period is determined according to the control signal.

2. The voltage generating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the current source comprises:

a first transistor having a first end, a second end and a control end, wherein the first end of the first transistor is coupled to an operating voltage, the second end of the first transistor is coupled to the variable resistor, the output voltage is generated on the second end of the first transistor;

a second transistor having a first end, a second end and a control end, wherein the first end of the second transistor is coupled to the operating voltage, the control end of the second transistor is coupled to the control end of the first transistor;

a third transistor having a first end, a second end and a control end, wherein the first end of the third transistor is coupled to the operating voltage, the control end of the third transistor is coupled to the control end of the second transistor and the second end of the third transistor;

a fourth transistor having a first end, a second end and a control end, wherein the first end of the fourth transistor is coupled to the second end of the second transistor and the control end of the fourth transistor, the second end of the fourth transistor is coupled to a reference ground;

a fifth transistor having a first end, a second end and a control end, wherein the first end of the fifth transistor is coupled to the second end of the third transistor, the control end of the fifth transistor is coupled to the control end of the fourth transistor; and

a resistor coupled between the second end of the fifth transistor and the reference ground.

3. The voltage generating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the reference voltage generator comprises:

a current generator receiving a control signal, a first bias voltage and a second bias voltage, wherein the first current generator generates a first and second currents according to the first and second bias voltages during the initial timing period;

a first resistor, wherein a first end of the first resistor is coupled to the first current generator for receiving a first part of the first current;

a second resistor having a first end for receiving a second part of the first current;

a third resistor having a first end coupled to a second end of the second resistor;

a first transistor having a first end, a second end and a control end, wherein the first end of the first transistor is coupled to a second end of the first resistor, the second and control ends of the first transistor are coupled to a reference ground;

a second transistor having a first end, a second end and a control end, wherein the first end of the first transistor is coupled to a second end of the third resistor, the second and control ends of the second transistor are coupled to the reference ground;

a fourth resistor, wherein a first end of the fourth resistor is coupled to the current generator for receiving the second current, a second end of the fourth resistor is coupled to the reference ground;

a first amplifier having a first input end, a second input end and an output end, wherein the first input end of the first amplifier is coupled to the second end of the first resistor and the second input end of the first amplifier is coupled to the second end of the second resistor, the output end of the first amplifier generates the first bias voltage; and

a second amplifier having a first input end, a second input end and an output end, wherein the first input end of the second amplifier is coupled to the second end of the second resistor, the second input end of the second amplifier is coupled to the first end of the fourth resistor, the output end of the second amplifier generates the second bias voltage.

4. The voltage generating apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the initial timing period is determined by the control signal.

5. The voltage generating apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the current generator comprises:

a third transistor has a first end, a second end and a control end, wherein the first end of the third transistor is coupled to an operating voltage, the control end of the third transistor receives the first bias voltage, the second end of the third transistor provides the first current;

a fourth transistor has a first end, a second end and a control end, wherein the first end of the fourth transistor is coupled to the operating voltage, the control end of the fourth transistor receives the second bias voltage, and the second end of the fourth transistor is coupled to the second end of the third transistor; and

a fifth transistor having a first end, a second end and a control end, wherein the first end of the fifth transistor is coupled to the operating voltage, the control end of the fifth transistor receives the second bias voltage, and the second end of the fifth transistor provides the second current.

6. The voltage generating apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the current generator further comprises:

a first chopper having a first input end, a second input end, a first output end and a second output end, wherein the first and second input ends of the first chopper are respectively coupled to the second ends of the first and second resistors, the first and second output ends of the first chopper are respectively coupled to the first and second input ends of the first amplifier.

7. The voltage generating apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the current generator further comprises:

a second chopper having a first input end, a second input end, a first output end and a second output end, wherein the first and second input ends of the second chopper are respectively coupled to the first ends of the third and fourth resistors, the first and second output ends of the second chopper are respectively coupled to the first and second input ends of the second amplifier.

8. The voltage generating apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein each of the first and the second amplifiers has a chopper output stage.

Assignments (17)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060894/0437 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059363/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059863/0400 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059358/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 059666/0545 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059333/0222 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057935/0474 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055671/0612 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053468/0705 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053466/0011 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 053311/0305 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047103/0206 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 046426/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2017
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041675/0617 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2015
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY (BARBADOS) II INCORPORATED
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 036640/0944 →
MERGER Recorded Sep 13, 2015
From: ISSC TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY (BARBADOS) II INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 036597/0936 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 13, 2013
From: CHEN, YI-LUNG
To: ISSC TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
Reel/Frame 030993/0498 →