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:
Jun. 20, 1989
Filed:
May. 10, 1988
Kevin J Lonergan, Palmer Lake, CO (US);
Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard, MA (US);
Abstract
An overcurrent sensing circuit for use with a voltage regulator, such as a linear post regulator for a power supply, utilizes a field effect transistor (FET) both as the pass element for the voltage regulator, and as a current sense resistor. The output voltage from the FET is fed back to an input of a differential amplifier, which generates a control voltage for the gate of the FET, so that the output voltage will remain constant. If an overcurrent condition occurs through the FET, the control voltage will exceed a set point, thus driving the FET into saturation, and sensing circuitry will generate an overcurrent output that can be utilized to shut off the regulator. A single sensing circuit can be used for multiple regulators if desired.