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. 08, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 26, 1999
Stephen W Hobrecht, Los Altos, CA (US);
Linear Technology Corporation, Milpitas, CA (US);
Abstract
Circuits and methods for implementing both a soft-start function and a short-circuit timer function in voltage regulator controller circuits using only a single package pin are provided. The soft-start and short-circuit timer functions are performed by measuring the voltage across an external capacitor as the capacitor is charged and discharged by a function control circuit. The soft-start function is performed by charging the capacitor from a completely discharged state using a current source in the function control circuit and by using the capacitor voltage as a current limit signal to gradually increase the current drawn from a voltage source to the normal operating level. The short-circuit timer function is performed by using the charge and discharge times of the capacitor to delay the shutdown of the voltage regulator in response to a short-circuit detection.