National Semiconductor Corporation

Christopher B Richardson

Wei Gu

The present invention provides a versatile system for providing a current-mode switching controller&#x2014;in low voltage commercial semiconductor technologies&#x2014;that is compatible with applications having very high input voltage ranges. The system provides an output transistor and a sense element coupled to the output transistor. A waveform representative of current charging across the sense element is recognized. First and second charging elements are provided, and the second charging element is adapted to charge at a rate twice as fast as the first charging element. First and second switching elements, coupled to the first and second charging elements, respectively, are adapted to activate the first and second charging elements responsive to a rising edge of the waveform. An output charge element is provided, and a sample and hold construct is adapted to transfer a charge value&#x2014;to the output charge element&#x2014;that corresponds to an average of the charge values of the first and second charging elements upon a falling edge of the waveform.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Christopher B Richardson