National Semiconductor Corporation

Other

John Patrick Fairbanks

Hidehiko Suzuki

Quiescent currents in a circuit that includes a regulator are reduced by disabling selected portions of the circuit. A window comparator is selected activated to evaluate the input voltage such that a first operating mode is activated when the input voltage is within a predetermined voltage range and a second operating mode is activated when the input voltage is outside of the predetermined voltage range. The battery voltage is used a reference signal when the first mode is selected such that a voltage reference circuit can be disabled to reduce power, while the voltage reference circuit is enabled when the second mode is selected. Another comparator circuit is periodically activated to compare the reference signal to the output voltage. The regulator is disabled after the output voltage exceeds a first level. The output voltage collapses below a second level associated, the evaluation and regulation process is repeated.

Voltage regulator power management apparatus

A method for a modified 'Washers' tossing game are revealed. The method includes using modular panels with slots, colored washers, and stakes. Using the kit, a simple or complex course consisting of different target areas can be constructed. Sample rules for the new game are also disclosed.

Tossing game method

The present invention can be employed with any power supply circuit where it is desirable to employ a ratio adaptive, gated oscillator based step up switching regulator with a selectable duty cycle. By selecting a particular value for a capacitor coupled between the regulator's Frequency and Switch pins, a user can optimize the regulator's duty cycle for a particular application. Also, by adding a resistor in series with the capacitor, a time constant is created that limits the total charge transfer from taking place at high frequencies more than it does at low frequencies. Additionally, by selecting particular values for the capacitor and resistor, the user can adjust the duty cycle for an application as a function of the battery voltage and output voltage.

Ratio adaptive gated oscillator

A switching regulator circuit is arranged to provide a constant current to a load. The switching regulator circuit is operated in discontinuous current mode such that an inductor stores energy in a first part of an oscillation cycle, and discharges in a second part of the cycle. The trigger mechanism for the oscillator is disabled when the charged inductor couples energy to the load, and enabled after the inductor is detected as discharged. The energy stored in the inductor is proportional to the square of the on-time associated with switching regulator. Constant voltage load devices such as LEDs for a display can be driven by the switching regulator in an open-loop mode such that the current in the load devices is a linear function of the on-time.

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Roseville, CA, United States of America

John Patrick Fairbanks