The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 16, 2022
Filed:
Jul. 01, 2020
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
James Murdock, Richardson, TX (US);
Danielle Griffith, Richardson, TX (US);
Per Torstein Roine, Oslo, NO;
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A reference generator provides a reference output voltage that is continuously available while providing certain efficiencies of a duty-cycled voltage regulator. The reference output voltage is generated by a sample-and-hold circuit that is coupled to a voltage regulator. On command, the sample-and-hold circuit samples a low dropout voltage regulator that may be referenced by a bandgap circuit. During hold periods of the sample-and-hold circuit, the voltage regulator, in particular the bandgap circuit, may be disabled in order to conserve power. A sample cycle by the sample-and-hold circuit may be triggered by a signal received from a configurable finite state machine. The reference generator is effectively duty cycled in a manner that conserves available battery power, while still providing a constant reference output that is always available. The reference generator is especially suited for low-power, battery operated applications.