Analog Devices,inc.

Analog Devices Global

Colm F Slattery

Albert C O'Grady

Colin Gerard Lyden

Denis Martin O'Connor

Patrick C Kirby

Donal P Geraghty

Michal Brychta

Aidan J Cahalane

Michael Collins

Valerie Hamilton

James F Caffrey

Sean Smith

Systems for monitoring or control can include reconfigurable input and output channels. Such reconfigurable channels can include as few as a single terminal and a ground pin, or such channels can include three or four terminal configuration such as for use in four-terminal resistance measurements. Channel reconfiguration can be accomplished such as using software-enabled or firmware-enabled control of channel hardware. Such channel hardware can include analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion capability, including use of a digital-to-analog converter to provide field power or biasing. In an example, the interface circuit can provide a selectable impedance.

Configurable hardware platform for measurement or control

Controlling the output voltage of a power supply involve determining a remote load coupled to the power supply and setting the output voltage based on the determined remote load and a predetermined maximum current for the power supply. The remote load may be measured, for example, by applying a predetermined current to the load, measuring the voltage across the load, and computing the effective load (resistance) value based on the supplied current and the measured voltage. Such measurement may be done using an analog-to-digital converter.

Power supply control

A single chip integrated circuit measuring circuit () for determining a characteristic of the impedance of an external complex impedance circuit () for facilitating characterization of the impedance of the complex impedance circuit () comprises a signal generating circuit () for generating a variable frequency stimulus signal for applying to the complex impedance circuit (). A first receiving circuit () receives a response signal from the complex impedance circuit () in response to the stimulus signal and conditions the response signal. A first analog-to-digital converter () converts the conditioned response signal to a first digital output signal, which is read from the first analog-to-digital converter () through a first digital output port (). The response signal from the complex impedance circuit () is a current signal, and a current to voltage converter circuit () converts the response signal to a voltage signal. A first RMS to DC level converting circuit () converts the AC voltage of the response signal to a DC voltage level, and a fourth multiplexer () selectively applies the voltage response signal or the DC voltage level signal to the first analog-to-digital converter (), depending on whether it is desired that the first digital output signal should be indicative of the phase shift or amplitude change in the response signal relative to the stimulus signal. A second receiving circuit () receives the stimulus signal, and similarly converts the stimulus signal to a second digital output signal for facilitating comparison of the response signal with the stimulus signal.

Measuring circuit and a method for determining a characteristic of the impedance of a complex impedance element for facilitating characterization of the impedance thereof

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Tipperary, Ireland

Colm F Slattery