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. 06, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 27, 1996
SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.1., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Abstract
A power supply regulator comprising a regulated-voltage source; a buffer connected to the voltage source; and a diode connected to the output of the buffer. A bootstrap capacitor is located between the diode and the output of a power stage; and the output of the power stage is switched between a low and a high value by a digital signal also supplied to the input of the buffer which therefore generates a switched regulated output voltage varying between a first value equal to the regulated voltage and a second lower value. The switched regulated voltage switches from the first to the second value before the output of the power stage switches to high, thus immediately disabling the diode and preventing current spikes due to minority carriers in the diode from being transmitted to the regulated-voltage source. The switched regulated voltage switches from the second to the first value before the output of the power stage switches to low, to permit charging of the bootstrap capacitor to the regulated voltage when the output is low.