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:
Oct. 29, 1996
Filed:
Jan. 03, 1994
Kimio Shibata, Tokyo, JP;
Seiko Instruments Inc., , JP;
Abstract
In an electronic circuit having a voltage supply means, a load means, and a regulating means, in order to limit the current flowing through a load, a supply voltage/current regulator is provided which comprises a voltage dividing circuit for dividing the supply voltage of a voltage supply, a reference voltage generator for generating a reference voltage, and a differential amplifier for comparing the divider output voltage and the reference voltage and for producing an output signal in accordance with the difference. The output signal is provided to the base of a transistor connected between the voltage supply and the load. The transistor is effective limit the current flow through the load such that the supply voltage does not decrease below a predetermined limit. By limiting the flow of current through the load such that the supply voltage does not decrease below a predetermined limit, the load may be driven continuously without the problem of lock-up common in ordinary voltage regulators. Thus, when the voltage source is a conventional battery, and the internal resistance of the battery increases due to the large load current or low ambient temperature, the load may nevertheless be driven continuously.