Texas Instruments Corporation

Other

Rex M Teggatz

Ross Eliot Teggatz

David John Baldwin

Li Li

Joseph A Devore

Baoson Nguyen

Wayne Tien-Feng Chen

Suribhotla Rajasekhar

Sanmukh Makan Patel

Valerian Mayega

An embodiment of the invention provides a method of reducing a drop in voltage on a pre-biased output of a DC-DC step-down switching converter. A high side switch is activated to conduct a first current to the pre-biased output. After the high side switch is activated, a low side switch is activated to draw a second current from the pre-biased output such that the magnitude of the first current is greater than the magnitude of the second current for at least a portion of a time period T. After the time period Tends, the magnitudes of the first and second currents are changed to maintain a predetermined voltage on the pre-biased output.

Pre-bias control for switched mode power supplies

System and method for controlling current across a load. A preferred embodiment comprises a current varying circuit (such as current varying circuit) that can create a sequence of voltage drops in a driver circuit (such as the driver circuit) coupled to an inductive load (such as the inductive load). By initially producing a large voltage drop and then stepping the voltage drop down gradually, the current in the inductive load can be rapidly removed without producing a current undershoot, which, in certain applications, can result in unwanted noise and vibration.

Current control via a variable voltage snubbing network

A programmable voltage regulator configurable for reverse blocking and double power density is disclosed herein. The programmable voltage regulator includes an error amplifier that couples to receive a reference voltage. A first NMOS pass transistor connects between an auxiliary voltage input node and the output terminal of the voltage regulator, wherein the first NMOS pass transistor is biased by the output of the error amplifier. Connected between the source of the first NMOS pass transistor and the second input of the error amplifier, a feedback network provides feedback for the voltage regulator. A second NMOS pass transistor connects between the first power supply and the auxiliary voltage input node. Furthermore, an independent node control circuit biases the second NMOS pass transistor such that in a first mode of operation, a first control signal input is operable to receive a signal for controlling the second NMOS pass transistor during reverse battery condition. In a second mode of operation, independent node control circuit includes a second control signal input that is operable to couple to the output terminal of the error amplifier while simultaneously the first power supply rail is operable to couple to the output terminal of the voltage regulator to provide double power density.

Programmable voltage regulator configurable for double power density and reverse blocking

An integrated circuit having a protected output field effect transistor (FET) (,). A drain-gate clamp circuit (,) is coupled to divert charge from the power FET drain electrode to the power FET gate electrode when excessive drain-source voltage is present. A drain-source current limit circuit (,) is coupled to divert charge from the power FET gate electrode to the power FET source electrode when a preselected drain-source current is achieved. A current limit inhibit circuit (,) is coupled between the current limit circuit and the power FET gate electrode, and having a control electrode coupled to the drain-gate clamp circuit. The current limit inhibit circuit (,) disables the current limit circuit (,) when charge flows in the drain-gate clamp circuit (,).

Current limited power MOSFET device with improved safe operating area

A method of improving efficiency in a boost regulator circuit includes the steps of transferring energy stored in a load to an energy storage component and transferring energy back from the energy storage component to the load. This method may be actuated in a boost regulator circuit having a first energy storage component, means for initiating and discontinuing energy storage in the first energy storage component, a capacitive load, a bi-directional drive circuit coupled to the first energy storage component, a second energy storage component coupled to the drive circuit, and means for transferring energy between the capacitive load and the second energy storage component, wherein when the voltage having a first polarity across the capacitive load reaches a predetermined voltage it transfers the energy in the capacitive load to the second energy storage component and subsequently transfers the energy back to the capacitive load in the second polarity, thereby conserving energy and substantially reducing power consumption of the boost regulator circuit.

Boost regulator circuit with stoarge capacitor for reduced power

A boost regulator circuit includes a rechargeable power supply Vcc, an energy storage component 22 coupled to the rechargeable power supply, a load C.sub.L, and a bi-directional drive means (S1-S6, 20 and 27) for delivering energy from the energy storage component 22 to the load C.sub.L. The bi-directional drive means allows energy transferred to the load to be recovered back to the rechargeable power supply Vcc before switching the load C.sub.L in an opposite direction, thereby effectuating an efficient management of energy and extending the life of the rechargeable power supply Vcc.

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Sachse, TX, United States of America

Rex M Teggatz