James Allen Kohout

US Patent:

6859020, Feb 22, 2005

Filed:

Oct 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/270921

Inventors:

David J. Baldwin - Allen TX, US
James A. Kohout - Dallas TX, US

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G05F001/44

US Classification:

323283, 323222, 323224

Abstract:

A DC/DC converter has a semiconductor switch coupled to an inductor, a capacitor and a rectifier. A comparator is coupled to across the rectifier to detect a polarity reversal during the second portion of converter operation to place the converter in a low power mode if the voltage across the rectifier is of an appropriate polarity for reverse current flow. The rectifier may be a synchronous rectifier transistor and the voltage converter placed in a low power mode when the polarity across the synchronous rectifier indicates that reverse current flow is possible. A timing circuit delays the generation of the control signal to place the converter in a low power mode until the steady state current is below a predetermined threshold for a predetermined amount of time. The synchronous rectifier may be turned OFF when the current through the converter falls below another predetermined threshold value and the voltage across the synchronous rectifier will become the voltage across the parasitic diode of the FET synchronous rectifier.

US Patent:

6969979, Nov 29, 2005

Filed:

Mar 9, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/797780

Inventors:

James A. Kohout - Dallas TX, US
David J. Baldwin - Allen TX, US

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G05F001/56

US Classification:

323282

Abstract:

A switching regulator having a control circuit that automatically senses when a low power mode should be initiated without the use of expensive external components nor an extensive amount of external components is disclosed herein. The switching regulator includes an input switching device, a driver, an inductor, a first output switching device, a second output switching device and an output node. The control circuit includes a low power switching device connected to the output node and the second end of the inductor. An amplifier connects the low power switching device and the first output switching device. A first current mirror couples to the amplifier to mirror the difference between the output current through the output load and the current supplied at the second end of the inductor. A second current mirror couples to the first current mirror to mirror the current difference through a current source and a capacitor connected in parallel across the current source. A comparator compares the voltage generated by the capacitor with a predetermined voltage source.

US Patent:

6995483, Feb 7, 2006

Filed:

Oct 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/271016

Inventors:

James A. Kohout - Dallas TX, US
David J. Baldwin - Allen TX, US

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G05F 3/06
G05F 1/44
H03M 1/66
H02M 3/335

US Classification:

307151, 323271, 323282, 323287, 341144, 363 24

Abstract:

A synchronous DC-DC regulator, adapted to receive a high side pulsed signal and a low side pulsed signal that is substantially the inverse of the high side pulsed signal. The regulator includes an inductor, and a capacitor having one port connected to ground, and having a second port providing an output voltage of the DC-DC regulator. A driver is provided for driving pulses of current to the inductor when the high side pulsed signal is asserted. An undercurrent sense circuit is adapted to sense a driving current flowing through the driver and to assert a disable signal when the driving current is less than a predetermined amount. An enable/disable circuit is adapted to allow the low side pulsed signal to turn the switch on when the disable signal is not asserted, and to not allow the low side pulsed signals from turning the switch on when the disable signal is asserted.

US Patent:

7479770, Jan 20, 2009

Filed:

Apr 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/116835

Inventors:

James Allen Kohout - Dallas TX, US
David John Baldwin - Allen TX, US

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G05F 1/40
H03K 17/16

US Classification:

323271, 327381

Abstract:

A system and method is provided for driving a power field-effect transistor (FET). In one embodiment, a system comprises a control circuit that generates a control signal to provide a gate voltage of the power FET. The system further comprises a slope control circuit coupled between the control circuit and the power FET that is operative to dynamically control the rate-of-change of a gate voltage of the power FET to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) emissions and power loss resulting from switching the power FET.

US Patent:

7710089, May 4, 2010

Filed:

Mar 3, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/681758

Inventors:

James Allen Kohout - Dallas TX, US
Brett Jason Thompsen - Dallas TX, US

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G05F 1/56
G05F 1/59

US Classification:

323273, 323282, 323901

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

7940076, May 10, 2011

Filed:

Jun 6, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/479802

Inventors:

Lakshmi Sri Jyothi Chimakurthy - Dallas TX, US
James Kohout - Dallas TX, US

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

H03K 17/16
H03K 19/003

US Classification:

326 27, 326 88

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

7982447, Jul 19, 2011

Filed:

Dec 15, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/335255

Inventors:

Shanmuganand Chellamuthu - Richardson TX, US
James A. Kohout - Dallas TX, US
Luthuli E. Dake - McKinney TX, US

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G05F 1/40

US Classification:

323285, 323282

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

20110227525, Sep 22, 2011

Filed:

Jan 18, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/008712

Inventors:

Eric Blackall - Richardson TX, US
James Kohout - Dallas TX, US
Ross Teggatz - McKinney TX, US
Wayne Chen - Plano TX, US

Assignee:

TRIUNE IP LLC - Richardson TX

International Classification:

H02J 7/04

US Classification:

320107, 320162

Abstract:

The invention provides methods, circuits and systems for charging batteries and other storage media including methods steps and apparatus for monitoring one or more parameters such that a charger may be operated in a first mode to deliver charge to the storage medium and/or load, and when at least one of the monitored parameters reaches a selected threshold level, the operation of the charger in the first mode is terminated in favor of operation in a second mode, delivering a different level of charge from the charger.

Address:

9818 Cross Crk Ct, Dallas, TX 75243

Phone:

(972)6904299

VIN:

1FMEU648X8UA10435

Make:

FORD

Model:

EXPLORER

Year:

2008