Texas Instruments Corporation

Ken Richard King

Mohammad Rashedul Hoque

Mark Charles Fischer

Jun J Hua

John Michael Ross

Mustapha Elmarkhi

A circuit providing voltage cell balancing is provided. The circuit includes a cell balancing network comprising separate switching circuits, each being configured to balance a respective cell voltage for a respective cell of a plurality of voltage cells based on a respective switching control signal. A control circuit includes a plurality of current sources, each of the plurality of current sources selectively connected to a respective one of the separate switching circuits to independently control operation of each of the separate switching circuits of the cell balancing network to balance the voltage across the plurality of voltage cells.

System and method for balancing voltages

Various apparatuses, methods and systems for a front end protection circuit with a dynamic charge pump system are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments provide an apparatus such as a voltage regulator, a current regulator, a driver circuit or a switch protection circuit. The apparatus includes an output switch, a switch controller and a voltage threshold detector. The apparatus operates in a reduced power mode when the threshold detector detects a feedback level passing a threshold. In some particular embodiments, the switch controller includes a charge pump and an oscillator that run at lower speeds to reduce power usage when the feedback level passes the threshold. In various embodiments, the feedback level is a voltage level at the output switch control input, the output voltage from the output switch, or the output current from the output switch.

Dynamic charge pump system for front end protection circuit

The present invention comprises a circuit and method for controlling current to a load. In an exemplary embodiment, the circuit makes the maximum charge time ('MCT') of a battery charging circuit () a function of the charging current. The MCT changes as the battery charging current changes. For low current the MCT would increase and for high current the MCT would decrease. The result is that MCT will always occur a short time after the battery is fully charged. In operation, the charging current can also be made a function of the temperature of devices within the charging circuit.

Dynamic control timer circuit and method

A control circuit is provided which includes a single programmable terminal for controlling a plurality of modes, functions or parameters in a programmable circuit with a minimum of program elements connected to the single programmable terminal. The program elements may illustratively be resistors, capacitors, inductors or other circuit components. In a first mode, for example, two program elements control a signal generating function in the programmable circuit. In a second mode, a voltage provided internally forces a condition at the programmable terminal to control another signal generating function. In both first and second modes, the values of the program elements, selectable by the user, also determine the particular frequencies of the respective generated signals. In a third mode, the signals generated in the first and second modes are compared to provide a control function. There is further provided an absolute value comparator responsive to either polarity of an input sense signal applied to a single sense terminal. A switched output results when the input exceeds a temperature compensated systematic offset inherent to the comparator without requiring any external threshold signal.

Control circuit having multiple functions set by a single programmable terminal

A control circuit is provided which includes a single programmable terminal for controlling a plurality of modes, functions or parameters in a programmable circuit with a minimum of program elements connected to the single programmable terminal. The program elements may illustratively be resistors, capacitors, inductors or other circuit components. In a first mode, for example, two program elements control a signal generating function in the programmable circuit. In a second mode in this example, a voltage provided internally forces a condition at the programmable terminal to control another signal generating function. In both first and second modes, the values of the program elements, selectable by the user, also determine the particular frequencies of the respective generated signals. In a third mode, the signals generated in the first and second modes are compared to provide yet another a control function. There is further provided an absolute value comparator responsive to either polarity of an input sense signal applied to a single sense terminal. A switched output results when the input exceeds a temperature compensated systematic offset inherent to the comparator without requiring external threshold signals.

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Lucas, TX, United States of America

Ken Richard King