Linear Technology Corporation

Roger A Zemke

Robert Peter Jurgilewicz

Trevor Wayne Barcelo

David B Bell

Samuel Hodson Nork

Victor F Fleury

Steven Leo Martin

David Justin Simmons

An apparatus and method for event synchronization. One or more devices that have a plurality of events to be carried out in a scheduled order in time are connected to a single shared time position clock (TPCLK). There are one or more sequencing controllers coupled with the one or more devices and configured to control the timing of high and low states of the shared TPCLK in accordance with the scheduled order. The synchronization among the plurality of events in the scheduled order is achieved based on the high and low states of the shared TPCLK and such synchronization of the plurality of events in the scheduled order is operated without the presence of master and slave devices.

Autonomous multi-device event synchronization and sequencing technique eliminating master and slave assignments

Current control circuitry for controlling current supplied from a source, that may be a current-constrained source, to a load and a battery. A current limit control circuit limits current supplied by the source to the load in accord with a programmed current limit. Load current is measured, and an input charger control circuit controls magnitude of current to the battery based on the difference between measured load current and battery current programmed to be supplied to the battery, such that the sum of load current and battery current is maintained within the programmed current limit.

Current control circuitry and methodology for controlling current from current constrained source

A power manager is configured to manage power for a battery-powered application. A power source, a load and a battery are interconnected through a circuit path. Power from the power source is provided to the load and battery by a switching regulator. Various implementations are presented.

Power manager and power managing method for battery-powered application

A power management system including a battery-powered application, in which an input current is supplied by a source of current that may be a current-constrained source, such as a USB port, to a battery for charging the battery and to an application load. Battery charging current is supplied to the battery for a period of time based on magnitude of battery charging current, so that charging current of lesser magnitude is applied to the battery for a greater period of time. In accord with one implementation, battery charging current is determined by monitoring the difference between a programmed charging current, dependent on battery type, and magnitude of current used by the load. Change of battery charging current due to voltage mode charging, when charge current begins to drop as the battery approaches full charge, is detected, and in response, the charging period is set to a fixed charging period based on the battery.

Power management circuit and methodology for battery-powered systems

A low voltage pull-down circuit for maintaining a node at a logic LOW voltage is provided. When a logic LOW is desired, the circuit provides a low-impedance path from the node to ground. The node may be pulled-up to a logic HIGH voltage, for example, by removing the low-impedance path and allowing a voltage source to reach the node through a resistor or transistor. A low voltage pull-down circuit may be provided in a power supervision circuit for systems that operate with, for example, low power conditions. The open-drain node is utilized as a power-on-reset node that provides a LOW logic signal to a system when the power being supplied to the system is below a predetermined voltage threshold.

Low voltage pull-down circuit

A low voltage pull-down circuit for maintaining a node at a logic LOW voltage is provided. When a logic LOW is desired, the circuit provides a low-impedance path from the node to ground. The node may be easily pulled-up to a logic HIGH voltage, for example, by simply removing the low-impedance path and allowing a voltage source to reach the node through a resistor or transistor.

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Londonderry, NH, United States of America

Roger A Zemke