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. 14, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 13, 2001
Richard Allen Eldridge, Florence, SC (US);
The ESAB Group, Inc., Florence, SC (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a modified buck regulator circuit capable of providing two output voltage levels. The circuit includes an inductive element connected between the input and output of the circuit. Further, the circuit includes an auto-transformer and two switches creating separate current paths with a load connected to the output of the circuit. In one mode, the switches are operated in parallel to provide a first voltage across the load. Because the switches are in parallel with respect to each other, the load current is divided between the two switches. In a second mode, the switches are operated in a push-pull mode. In this mode, the auto-transformer steps down the load voltage and also effectively steps down the current across each switch. As such, the buck regulator circuit of the present invention may provide two separate voltages, while also reducing the current across the switches of the buck regulator circuit.