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. 01, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 14, 1998
Richard Todd Owen, Fremont, CA (US);
Dennis O'Neill, Monte Sereno, CA (US);
Linear Technology Corporation, Milpitas, CA (US);
Abstract
The circuits and methods of the present invention provide multiple-input, single-output, low-dropout voltage regulators that use at least two output stages to drive an output terminal that may be connected to an output load. An error amplifier may also be used to regulate the voltage provided by these output stages to the output terminal. In one embodiment, this error amplifier also is used in conjunction with detection and control circuitry to select the output stage or stages providing power to the output terminal. In other embodiments, only the detection and control circuitry is used to select the output stage or stages providing power to the output terminal. The regulators allow power to be provided by a primary power source regardless of the primary power source's voltage relative to other power sources by measuring the voltage provided at the output terminal or by detecting dropout in an output stage, rather than by comparing the voltages provided by the power sources.