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. 12, 1997
Filed:
May. 24, 1995
Francesco Pulvirenti, Acireale, IT;
Gregorio Bontempo, Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, IT;
Roberto Gariboldi, Lacchiarella, IT;
SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Consorzio per la Ricerca Sulla Microelettronica nel Mezzogiorno, Catania, IT;
Abstract
Power consumption by the driving circuitry of an output stage, employing a slew-rate controlling operational amplifier, is reduced by modulating the level of the current output by the operational amplifier in function of the working conditions of the output stage. Switching delay may also be effectively reduced. An auxiliary current generator forces an additional current through the conducting one of the pair of input transistors of the operational amplifier only during initial and final phases of a transition, essentially when the slew rate control loop ceases to be effective. The boosting of the bias current through the conducting input transistor is determined by the degree of unbalance of the differential input stage of the operational amplifier, without the use of dissipative sensing elements.