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:
Apr. 28, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 23, 1996
Applicant:
Inventors:
Assignee:
SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H02M / ; G05F / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
363 41 ; 363131 ; 323222 ; 323285 ;
Abstract
Switching losses in a DC-to-DC converter idling in a pulse-skipping mode are reduced by inhibiting any intervening turn-off command by a PWM control loop of the converter for as long as the current through the inductor of the converter remains below a minimum threshold value set by a dedicated comparator. The method is implemented by employing a comparator with a certain hysteresis and by logically masking the switching to a logic '0' of a high frequency clock (switching) signal of the converter for the entire period of time the current in the inductor remains below the minimum threshold.