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. 24, 2001
Filed:
May. 15, 2000
Salvatore Portaluri, Pavia, IT;
Alessandro Savo, Pavia, IT;
Maurizio Nessi, Como, IT;
Luigi Eugenio Garbelli, Mapello, IT;
Giorgio Sciacca, Pavia, IT;
STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Abstract
A driver circuit includes a half-bridge output stage including two transistors with a common terminal for connection as the driver output to a coil of a DC motor. Two amplifiers drive the transistors in the push-pull operation and two capacitors are connected between the driver output and one input of a respective amplifier to form feedback loops for controlling the output slew-rate. Two current generators are selectively connected to an input of either of the amplifiers through respective pairs of switches. A commutation sequencer turns on and off the switches according to a commutation program. Comparators are connected to the drive output for detecting predetermined output voltage conditions and providing the commutation sequencer with signals for conditioning the commutation program as a function of the detected voltage conditions.