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:
Nov. 25, 1997
Filed:
Nov. 07, 1995
Ghassan R Gebara, Spring, TX (US);
Compaq Computer Corporation, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A circuit that monitors and disables power supply signals to a microprocessor in a computer system utilizing a main power supply and secondary voltage regulators. The circuit detects whether the voltages supplied by the secondary voltage regulators to the microprocessor fall within a predetermined range that is governed by microprocessor requirements. If a supply voltage falls outside its specified range, the circuit turns on a metal-oxide-silicon field effect transistor (MOSFET) connected between one of the main power supply voltages and ground, effectively shorting the primary supply voltage to ground. This activates fault detection circuitry internal to the main power supply, causing the main power supply to shut down, thereby removing all power supply voltages to the microprocessor.