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:
May. 08, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 01, 1999
Douglas T Hayden, Boise, ID (US);
Other;
Abstract
A battery powered device using a method for efficiently supplying operational power to a measurement system for brief periods of time for the purpose of maximizing battery life while minimizing circuit size and cost is described. The device employs a highly integrated, low power consumption microcontroller with general purpose output port pins whose logic level is under control of a software program. The microcontroller output pins contain substantial series impedance to the power supplying or power returning terminal which prohibits significant current delivery through the port pin and therefore normally limits the use of such output pins to setting a digital signal status into other logic circuitry. Also contained within the device is a differential voltage comparator being used as a measurement system which requires a substantial supply current to operate. Operating the measurement system continuously from the battery supply would reduce the lifetime of the battery powered device substantially and using external switching devices for controlling power delivery to the measurement system adds cost and complexity to the device. The device described provides for operation of the measurement system by pulsed power supplied directly from an output port of the microcontroller.